Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Happiness and Mental Health

The constructs of mental health and happiness overlap with each other to a substantial degree. Positive or negative feelings are intrinsic to each and to their opposites, and the constructs, although distinct, have partly similar causes and consequences. The vitamin model summarized here originated primarily as a perspective on mental health (Warr, 1987) but has since been applied mainly to happiness or unhappiness in settings such as paid work, unemployment and retirement (e.g., Warr, 2007). This chapter also focuses on happiness and unhappiness; it outlines main aspects of the framework as modified over several years. Conceptual Starting Points Building on a wide range of earlier perspectives, the vitamin model seeks to be distinctive in three principal respects. First it aims for comprehensiveness in outlook and content, bringing together themes and research findings from diverse models, focusing on sources from within the person as well as from the environment, and including many mental processes beyond conventional types of appraisal. The framework also explicitly addresses different levels of scope, embracing processes in a person’s life as a whole, within separate domains (family life, a social institution, paid work, unemployment, and so on), and also as part of attitudes to particular things, events or ideas. These three levels of scope may be referred to as “context-free”, “domain-specific” and “facet-specific” respectively. Many approaches to this area are stress-oriented, being focused explicitly and entirely on harmful aspects of the environment and ways to cope with those. That immediately cuts out huge sections of experience, and generates a particular set of orienting concepts and research methods which necessarily exclude other ways of thinking. Schaubroeck (2012, p. 86) has drawn attention to dangers arising from over-reliance on any theoretical framework: “(a) restricting the boundaries of the phenomena that are considered relevant, (b) introducing barriers to changing or supplanting theories, (c) biasing estimation of relationships due to omitted variables, (d) encouraging authors to exclude contrary evidence and insights from their narratives, and (e) limiting how scholars evaluate theoretical contributions”. The vitamin model seeks to minimize those kinds of constraint. Although the framework inevitably creates its own conceptual template, that is intended to be less restrictive than others. Second, the model does not follow the common practice of conceptualization in terms of mutually exclusive categories of elements, such as “resources” as a group or in terms of sets of stressors which are designated as one or other of “challenges” or “hindrances”. Such approaches are fraught with problems of definition and boundary-setting, and can lead to simplifying
Stimulation of Acid Sphingomyelinase Activity by Lysosomal Lipids and Sphingolipid Activator Proteins

Abstract Acid sphingomyelinase is a watersoluble, lysosomal glycoprotein that catalyzes the degradation of membrane bound sphingomyelin into phosphorylcholine and ceramide. Sphingomyelin itself is an important component of the extracellular leaflet of various cellular membranes. The aim of the present investigation was to study sphingomyelin hydrolysis as a membrane bound process. We analyzed the degradation of sphingomyelin by recombinant, highly purified acid sphingomyelinase in a detergentfree, liposomal assay system. In order to mimic the in vivo intralysosomal conditions as closely as possible a number of negatively charged, lysosomally occuring lipids including bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate and phosphatidylinositol were incorporated into substratecarrying liposomes. Dolichol and its phosphate ester dolicholphosphate were also included in this study. Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate and phosphatidylinositol were both effective stimulators of sphingomyelin hydrolysis. Dolichol and dolicholphosphate also significantly increased sphingomyelin hydrolysis. The influence of membrane curvature was investigated by incorporating the substrate into small (SUVs) and large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) with varying mean diameter. Degradation rates were substantially higher in SUVs than in LUVs. Surface plasmon resonance experiments demonstrated that acid sphingomyelinase binds strongly to lipid bilayers. This interaction is significantly enhanced by anionic lipids such as bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate. Under detergent free conditions only the sphingolipid activator protein SAPC had a pronounced influence on sphingomyelin degradation in both neutral and negatively charged liposomes, catalyzed by highly purified acid sphingomyelinase, while SAPA, B and D had no noticeable effect on sphingomyelin degradation.
Evaluation and Field Validation of PCR Tests for Detection of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in Subclinically Infected Pigs

ABSTRACT Eight PCR tests were evaluated for their abilities to detect Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in swine tonsils. At first they were compared regarding their specificities by using A. pleuropneumoniae and related bacterial species and their analytical sensitivities by using tonsils experimentally infected in vitro. PCRs were carried out both directly with tonsil homogenates (direct PCR) and after culture of the sample (after-culture PCR). Most tests demonstrated good specificities; however, some tests gave false-positive results with some non-A. pleuropneumoniae species. High degrees of variation in the analytical sensitivities among the tests were observed for the direct PCRs (109 to 102 CFU/g of tonsil), whereas those of most of the after-culture PCRs were similar (102 CFU/g of tonsil). In a second phase, the effects of sample storage time and storage conditions were evaluated by using tonsils from experimentally infected animals. Storage at −20°C allowed the detection of the organism for at least 4 months. Finally, the omlA PCR test described by Savoye et al. (C. Savoye et al., Vet. Microbiol. 73:337-347, 2000) and the commercially available Adiavet App PCR test were further validated with field samples. Their effectiveness was compared to those of standard and immunomagnetic separation-based methods of bacterial isolation. In addition, a comparison of tonsil biopsy specimens (from living animals) and whole tonsils (collected at the slaughterhouse) was also conducted. A. pleuropneumoniae was neither isolated nor detected by PCR from a herd serologically negative for A. pleuropneumoniae. PCR was more sensitive than the standard isolation method with whole tonsils from three infected herds. After-culture PCR offered the highest degree of sensitivity (93 and 83% for the omlA and Adiavet App PCRs, respectively). The PCR detection rate was higher with whole tonsils than with tonsil biopsy specimens. Good agreement (κ = 0.65) was found between the presence of A. pleuropneumoniae in tonsils and the individual serological status of the animals.
Promoter-specific transactivation of hepatitis B virus transcription by a glutamine- and proline-rich domain of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1

The cloned transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) transactivates transcription from the hepatitis B virus (HBV) large surface antigen promoter but does not influence the transcriptional activities of the other three HBV promoters. This indicates that this transcription factor can differentially influence the activities of the HBV promoter. By using a transient-transfection system, the major domain of the HNF1 polypeptide involved in transcriptional activation of the large surface antigen promoter in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2.1 has been mapped to a region that is rich in glutamine and proline residues (9 of 18) and is different from the previously identified regions of this factor responsible for in vitro transcriptional activation of a promoter containing human albumin promoter HNF1 binding sites. The human albumin promoter HNF1 binding site mediates transcriptional activation through the same HNF1 polypeptide domain as the HBV large surface antigen promoter HNF1 binding site in transient-transfection assays with HepG2.1 cells, suggesting that HNF1 may possess multiple transcriptional activation domains.
Ocular and Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials: A Study To Determine Whether Air- or Bone-Conducted Stimuli Are Optimal

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether bone-conducted vibration (BCV) or air-conducted sound (ACS) is the optimal mode for eliciting both ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) and cervical VEMPs (cVEMPs). Design: Twelve healthy volunteers, five patients with unilateral chronic otitis media, and 10 patients with unilateral Meniere disease underwent oVEMP and cVEMP tests using ACS and BCV stimulation modes in a random order. Results: In healthy controls, BCV mode at Fz had a significantly higher response rate and larger nI-pI amplitude of oVEMPs than that of the ACS mode. In cVEMPs, a significantly higher response rate was noted in BCV mode at inion, when compared with ACS mode. However, no significant difference was noted in the p13-n23 amplitude between these two modes. In five chronic otitis media ears, absence of oVEMPs and cVEMPs in ACS mode and presence of oVEMPs and cVEMPs in BCV mode were shown. In 10 patients with Meniere disease, BCV mode elicited higher response rates of oVEMPs and cVEMPs in the pathological ears than ACS mode did. Conclusions: Using BCV mode, Fz and inion may be the optimal sites for eliciting oVEMPs and cVEMPs, respectively. Thus, BCV mode can be substituted for ACS mode to elicit oVEMPs and cVEMPs in the future, especially in “mass detection. ” In contrast, ACS mode provides an essential clinical merit of site selectivity.
Enhanced metamemory at delays: why do judgments of learning improve over time?

Judgments of learning (JOLs) made after a 5-min delay are almost perfectly accurate: the "delayed-JOL effect" (T. O. Nelson & J. Dunlosky, 1991). The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have been the subject of debate. This study examined the effects of delays and short-term memory (STM) distraction on memory and metamemory (JOLs). STM distraction (2.5-30 s) immediately following encoding increased both JOL accuracy and mean cued recall. However, JOLs made after longer delays (4-5 min) were even more accurate. In addition, making a JOL at longer delays improved cued-recall performance. Conditional probabilities of cued recall (given successful initial retrieval) also increased over time and with interference, indicating that delayed JOLs may alter what they assess. Finally, increased confidence was associated with shorter JOL latencies only at delays. The results are consistent with an accessibility view of metamemory (e.g., A. Koriat, 1993).
Determination of the domain structure of the 7S and 11S globulins from soy proteins by XRD and FTIR.

BACKGROUND The 7S and 11S fractions from soybean proteins have interesting high nutritional and excellent functional properties. The aim of this research was to improve the functional properties of soy proteins by studying the effect of bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles on the conformation of the 7S and 11S globulins using Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. RESULTS Fourier transform infrared revealed that the intensity of the 7S and 11S globulin bands from AOT reverse micelle extraction at 1600-1700, 1480-1575, 1220-1300, 3330, 1448 and 1395 cm(-1) was higher than from aqueous buffer. X-ray diffraction data showed that the intensities of 7S globulin using two extraction methods at 2θ about 10° were significantly different (P < 0.05), about 22° slightly increased. The intensities of 11S globulin at 2θ about 10° and 22° were similar. The average distance between particles (dhkl ) for 7S globulin with aqueous buffer extraction at 2θ about 10° was greater than AOT reverse micelle extraction. CONCLUSION This study showed the potential of reverse micelles as a protocol for extracting the 7S and 11S globulins for analytical purposes. The results represent a new avenue for determining the structures of the 7S and 11S globulins.
Role of bifidobacteria in the hydrolysis of chlorogenic acid

This study aimed to explore the capability of potentially probiotic bifidobacteria to hydrolyze chlorogenic acid into caffeic acid (CA), and to recognize the enzymes involved in this reaction. Bifidobacterium strains belonging to eight species occurring in the human gut were screened. The hydrolysis seemed peculiar of Bifidobacterium animalis, whereas the other species failed to release CA. Intracellular feruloyl esterase activity capable of hydrolyzing chlorogenic acid was detected only in B. animalis. In silico research among bifidobacteria esterases identified Balat_0669 as the cytosolic enzyme likely responsible of CA release in B. animalis. Comparative modeling of Balat_0669 and molecular docking studies support its role in chlorogenic acid hydrolysis. Expression, purification, and functional characterization of Balat_0669 in Escherichia coli were obtained as further validation. A possible role of B. animalis in the activation of hydroxycinnamic acids was demonstrated and new perspectives were opened in the development of new probiotics, specifically selected for the enhanced bioconversion of phytochemicals into bioactive compounds.
Activation of shallow B and BF2 implants in Si using Excimer laser annealing

We have used laser thermal annealing (LTA) to activate shallow B and BF2 implants in p-type SOI wafers. Several characterization techniques have been employed in our investigations, such as SiPHER photoluminescence (PL) scans, Sheet resistance measurements (Rs), SIMS and AFM analyses. In sub-melt regime, there is no significant redistribution of implanted dopants; furthermore, BF2 implanted sample exhibits lower boron activation compared with B implanted one. In melt regime, a characteristic box-like doping profile appears, with a depth corresponding to the melting depth controllable by LTA energy setting. However, at a given annealing energy, BF2-implanted Si has a larger melting depth than the B-implanted one. In both cases, a dramatic enhancement in defect curing (PL Increase) and in dopants activation (Rs decrease) has been observed on melting. On the other hand, surface roughness is suddenly increased with the appearance of peaks in surface morphology around the melting threshold.
Investigating Effect of Postannealing Time on Positive Bias Stress Stability of In–Ga–Zn–O TFT by Conductance Method

The conductance method was used to investigate the positive bias stress (PBS) degradation mechanism of In-Ga-Zn-O (IGZO) thin-film transistor (TFT). The effects of postannealing time on the PBS degradation mechanism were investigated. The stabilization of the donorlike interface defects was found to be the reason for the threshold voltage instability in the IGZO-TFT under the PBS test. The donorlike defects at the front channel interface and in the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) SiOx acted as the electron trapping centers. The electron trapping resistance of the PE-CVD SiOx was improved by increasing the postannealing time, resulting in an improvement in the PBS stability. However, long-time postannealing-induced creation of the deep acceptorlike interface defects in the TFT under the PBS. The energy distribution of the created deep acceptorlike interface defects was revealed using the conductance measurement.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in rats treated with erythropoietin and intravenous iron.

PURPOSE To use a rat model for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) that was administered high-dose gadodiamide to determine whether the co-administration of erythropoietin (Epo) and intravenous iron potentiated development of skin lesions that are thought to be a marker for the development of NSF. MATERIALS AND METHODS The local committee for animal research approved this study. High-dose gadodiamide was administered, 2.5 mmol per kilogram of body weight for 20 days, or 500 times the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved dose, to four groups of Hannover-Wistar rats: group A, gadodiamide only; B, gadodiamide and Epo; C, gadodiamide and intravenous iron; and D, gadodiamide, Epo, and intravenous iron. The animals were sacrificed 7 days after final injection, and the authors examined dermal histologic findings from each animal and measured metal deposition by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. To compare the effect of metal deposition and cellularity, a linear mixed effects model was used to fit the data within PROC MIXED modeled with rat-specific random effects, and subsequently a Dunnett adjustment was performed. RESULTS Rats treated with gadodiamide and both Epo and intravenous iron (group D) had significantly worse skin lesions at gross and histologic analysis (P = .004) compared with the rate treated with gadodiamide only (group A). Group D also had increased levels of deposited gadolinium as measured by means of mass spectrometry (P = .012). CONCLUSION With a rat model similar to those already existing in the literature, skin changes were more marked in animals exposed to gadodiamide, Epo, and intravenous iron, as opposed to those animals exposed to gadodiamide alone; this experiment suggests that great caution may be warranted when prescribing gadolinium-based contrast agents to patients receiving Epo and intravenous iron.
A Note on the Changes in the Relative Wages of Lep Hispanic Men between 1980 and 2000

Using the Juhn-Murphy-Pierce (1993) wage decomposition technique, we analyzed changes in the earnings differential between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white men in the United States between 1980 and 2000. The empirical findings, based on decennial census data, indicate that limited-English-proficient (LEP) Hispanic men gained in their relative earnings position compared to English-fluent Hispanics during the 1990s. Our interpretation is that the relative demand for LEP Hispanic workers has risen in recent years.
The influence of a diet of mixed feed containing zeolite on the course of cecal coccidiosis in broilers

In order to investigate cecal coccidiosis in broilers fed zeolite mixtures two experiments were performed. The first was carried out in vitro, where the concentration of anticoccidial medicine not adsorbed by zeolites was determined by a spectrophotometric method. In the second experiment 100 one-day old broilers were divided into two groups that were fed with mixed feed containing the anticoccidial (salinomycin-Na) with or without a zeolite additive. Two to 7 days after artificial infection with an Eimeria tenella culture, the birds were killed and pathoanatomical, pathohistological and coprological investigations carried out. The results showed that the intensity of infection was more pronounced in animals that received salinomycin-Na and zeolite in their feed than in those that received no zeolite. Both the experiment in vitro as well as the coprological investigation showed that bonding of salinomycin-Na by zeolite occurred leaving a smaller amount of anticoccidial, that was not able to provide the anticipated protective effect.
High penetration and anti-islanding analysis of multi-single phase inverters in an apartment complex

With increasing penetration of multi-inverter photovoltaic (PV) systems into the distribution network, concern is beginning to reemerge regarding the possibility of multi-inverter unintentional islanding. This paper discusses a study to probe anti-islanding and voltage rise issues for a specific hybrid anti-islanding method (common to many commercial inverters) in a proposed high-penetration PV installation at a residential development in Salem, MA. Two sets of studies were run, one involving the specific feeder involved in this installation, and the other a more generic study that deliberately sought the Non-Detection Zone (NDZ) of the hybrid anti-islanding method in the multiple-inverter case. The paper discusses the results of both of these studies, and makes recommendations to assist utilities in deciding when anti-islanding studies might be needed in fielded systems.
Ectopic colonization of primordial germ cells in the chick embryo lacking the gonads

Chick primordial germ cells (PGCs) first appear in the extraembryonic region in the early embryo, then temporarily circulate via the blood vascular system and finally migrate into the gonadal anlagen. In the present study, we examined the trend of ectopic distribution of PGCs in the chick embryo when its future gonadal region had been removed a t an early stage. Embryos at stage 10, from which the caudal third region was excised, were incubated until they reached stages 14 to 20. In embryos at stage 14, about 80% of the total PGCs were found in the capillaries of the yolk sac, whereas others were observed in the head, mainly in the mesenchyme and small vessels close to the neural tube. From stage 18 onward, many PGCs accumulated in the embryo proper; about 90% of them colonized in the head region around the neural tube. These ectopic PGCs in the head were found in the capillaries, sometimes as thrombi or emerging from them into the adjacent mesenchyme. These results show that, when the chick embryo lacked gonads, the PGCs could be concentrated in the head region and migrated from the capillaries into the mesenchyme.
p27Kip1 Stabilization and G1 Arrest by 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Ovarian Cancer Cells Mediated through Down-regulation of Cyclin E/Cyclin-dependent Kinase 2 and Skp1-Cullin-F-box Protein/Skp2 Ubiquitin Ligase*

p27Kip1 (p27) is a tumor suppressor whose stability is controlled by proteasome-mediated degradation, a process directed in part by cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)-mediated phosphorylation of p27 at Thr187 and its subsequent interaction with the Skp1-Cullin-F-box protein/Skp2 (Skp2) ubiquitin ligase. The present study shows that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) arrests ovarian cancer cells in G1 by stabilizing the p27 protein. 1,25(OH)2D3 initiates a chain of events by decreasing the amounts of cyclin E and cyclin E-associated CDK2 activity. As a result, p27 phosphorylation at Thr187 and consequently the interaction with Skp2 are decreased. 1,25(OH)2D3 also increases p27 stability by decreasing the abundance of Skp2. It is the combined effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on both the CDK2-dependent phosphorylation of p27, and thus its affinity for Skp2, and Skp2 expression that dramatically increases the stability of the p27 protein. Similar to its effects in ovarian cancer cells, 1,25(OH)2D3 induces p27 accumulation in wild type mouse embryo fibroblasts and arrests wild type but not p27-null mouse embryo fibroblasts in G1. Stable expression of Skp2 in OVCAR3 cells diminishes the G1 arrest and decreases the growth response to 1,25(OH)2D3. Taken together, the results of this study identify p27 as the key mediator of 1,25(OH)2D3-induced growth suppression in G1 and show that the hormone achieves this by decreasing the activity of CDK2 and reducing the abundance of Skp2, which act together to degrade p27.