Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From Proactive Personality to Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Mediating Role of Harmony

The objective of the present study was to examine the moderating role of interpersonal harmony in the relation of proactive personality with organizational citizenship behavior. 158 employees in Chinese state-owned companies completed the Proactive Personality Scale (Bateman & Crant, 1993), Harmony scale, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior Questionnaire. Proactive personality had insignificant correlation with job dedication. The correlation between interpersonal facilitation and proactive personality was significant but quite low. Results of the hierarchical regression analyses indicated that when demographic variables were controlled, Harmony had significant moderating effects on the relations of proactive behavior and job dedication/interpersonal facilitation. In the high Harmony group, the correlation between proactive personality and organizational citizenship behavior was significant; whereas in the low Harmony group, this correlation was not significant.
Teaching Theory Construction With Initial Grounded Theory Tools

This article addresses criticisms of qualitative research for spawning studies that lack analytic development and theoretical import. It focuses on teaching initial grounded theory tools while interviewing, coding, and writing memos for the purpose of scaling up the analytic level of students’ research and advancing theory construction. Adopting these tools can improve teaching qualitative methods at all levels although doctoral education is emphasized here. What teachers cover in qualitative methods courses matters. The pedagogy presented here requires a supportive environment and relies on demonstration, collective participation, measured tasks, progressive analytic complexity, and accountability. Lessons learned from using initial grounded theory tools are exemplified in a doctoral student’s coding and memo-writing excerpts that demonstrate progressive analytic development. The conclusion calls for increasing the number and depth of qualitative methods courses and for creating a cadre of expert qualitative methodologists.
Mean field games systems of first order

We consider a system of mean field games with local coupling in the deterministic limit. Under general structure conditions on the Hamiltonian and coupling, we prove existence and uniqueness of the weak solution, characterizing this solution as the minimizer of some optimal control of Hamilton-Jacobi and continuity equations. We also prove that this solution converges in the long time average to the solution of the associated ergodic problem.
Effect of pH on the rate of myosin head detachment in molluscan catch muscle: are myosin heads involved in the catch state?

SUMMARY Moderate alkalisation is known to terminate the catch state of bivalve mollusc smooth muscles such as the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of Mytilus edulis L. In the present study, we investigated the effect of moderate alkalisation (pH 7.2-7.7 vs control pH 6.7) on the myosin head detachment rate in saponin-skinned fibre bundles of ABRM in order to investigate the possible role of myosin heads in the force maintenance during catch. The detachment rate of myosin heads was deduced from two types of experiments. (1) In stretch experiments on maximally Ca2+-activated fibre bundles (pCa 4.5), the rate of force decay after stepwise stretch was assessed. (2) In ATP step experiments, the rate of force decay from high force rigor (pCa>8) was evaluated. The ATP step was induced by photolysis of caged ATP. We found that moderate alkalisation induces relaxation of skinned fibres in catch, thereby reducing both force and stiffness, whereas it does not accelerate the rate of myosin head detachment. This acceleration, however, would be expected if catch would be simply due to myosin heads remaining sustainably attached to actin filaments. Thus, the myosin heads may be less involved in catch than generally assumed. Catch may possibly depend on a different kind of myofilament interconnections, which are abolished by moderate alkalisation.
Utility of immunochemistry in cytology

Background: The role played by cytology in primary diagnosis is undeniable. With improved management protocols and targeted therapy, the need for accurate diagnosis has become mandatory. Immunochemistry and molecular techniques are increasingly being used on limited tissue samples. Aims: This study was conducted to find out the impact of immunocytochemistry (ICC) on cytology material in cytology practice. Materials and Methods: Immunochemistry was done on alcohol-fixed smears and cell-block preparations. It was done with i6000 BioGenex autostainer using BioGenex reagents. Results: A total of 148 cases occurring over a period of 3 years (September 2010-June 2013) were analyzed. Staining was done on cytology smears in 77 cases and on cell-block sections in 71 cases. ICC helped in diagnosis in 8 cases, confirmed the diagnosis in 26 cases, helped in subtyping in 60 cases, and helped in prognostication in 6 cases. ICC has altered the diagnosis in two cases. It was noncontributory in 43 cases, and the material was inadequate in three cases. Conclusion: In 102 cases (69%), ICC proved to be a useful adjunct in the diagnosis and prognostication; hence, its use is recommended in practice to aid in cytology services.
Insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 expression predicts unfavorable prognosis in patients with neuroblastoma

Insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 (IMP3) has been reported to enhance proliferation and invasion in various cancers. The role of IMP3 on neuroblastoma (NB) is unknown. We aimed to clarify the prognostic significance of IMP3 expression in patients with NB. By microarray analysis, high IMP3 expression was found in patients with poor outcome. IMP3 expression in 90 NB samples was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining to correlate with clinical stages, histology, and patient outcome. Positive IMP3 expression was detected in 52 of 90 patients, and was significantly correlated with undifferentiated histology, advanced stages, MYCN amplification, and poor outcome. In subgroups, positive IMP3 expression could predict an even worse prognosis in patients with advanced disease, with normal MYCN status, or with MYCN amplification (P = 0.005, P = 0.001, and P = 0.033, respectively). The IMP3 expression decreased by induction of differentiation with retinoid acid treatment in SK‐N‐DZ and SK‐N‐SH cells in vitro. The invasion ability of NB cells also decreased as IMP3 knockdown by using RNA interference in vitro. In summary, high expression of IMP3 in NB might contribute to the undifferentiated phenotype and invasive behaviors, leading to a poor prognosis. Determining IMP3 expression in NB could help to improve a personalized therapy. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 2191–2198)
Effects of food supplements on juvenile development in Common hamsters (Cricetus cricetus)

Der Feldhamster (Cricetus cricetus), ein fakultativer Winterschlafer (Hibernator), speichert Energiereserven in Form von Korperfett und legt Futterspeicher als Vorbereitung fur den Winter an – eine sowohl zeitliche als auch energetische Herausforderung, vor allem fur die Junghamster. Ziel dieser Studie war, zu untersuchen, ob die Entwicklung juveniler Feldhamster durch zusatzliches, ausschlieslich den Jungtieren angebotenes Futter, positiv beeinflusst werden kann. Die Datenerhebung fand von Marz–November 2014 statt. Mit Hilfe der Fang/ Wiederfang Methode wurden u.a. die morphometrischen Parameter der Tiere erfasst, sowie der Korperfettanteil der Tiere mittels eines validierten Computer-Models errechnet. Nach der Entwohnung wurden den Junghamstern einmalig 200 g Sonnenblumenkerne angeboten. Es zeigte sich, dass die zugefutterten Tiere in der zweiten Woche nach der Futterzugabe einen hoheren Gewichtszuwachs aufwiesen, als die Kontroll-Tiere. Dieser Unterschied bestand zu einem spateren Zeitpunkt nicht mehr. In allen anderen untersuchten Parametern (Gewicht, Korperfettanteil, Koperfettzuwachs und Korperlangenmase) konnten keine Unterschiede festgestellt werden. Bei den zugefutterten Weibchen konnte in den ersten beiden Wochen nach der Futterzugabe ein hoherer Gewichtszuwachs, sowie ein hoherer Korperfettzuwachs festgestellt werden. Spater in der Saison bestanden diese Unterschiede nicht mehr. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Tiere das fettreiche Futter nach der Zugabe zum Teil gefressen haben mussen. Dies spiegelt sich sowohl in den hoheren Gewichts-, als auch Korperfettzuwachsraten wider. Da der Effekt aber nur kurzzeitig anhielt, ist es wahrscheinlich, dass die Junghamster nicht in der Lage waren, das hochwertige Futter langfristig gegenuber Artgenossen zu verteidigen, vor allem unter Berucksichtigung der nachweislich hohen Populationsdichte im Gebiet.
Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of Bacteriophage Therapy in Treatment of Subclinical Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis in Lactating Dairy Cattle

ABSTRACT Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the udder caused by microbial infection. Mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is a major concern to the dairy industry due to its resistance to antibiotic treatment and its propensity to recur chronically. Growing concerns surrounding antibiotic resistance have spurred research into alternative treatment methods. The ability of lytic S. aureus bacteriophage K to eliminate bovine S. aureus intramammary infection during lactation was evaluated in a placebo-controlled, multisite trial. Twenty-four lactating Holstein cows with preexisting subclinical S. aureus mastitis were treated. Treatment consisted of 10-ml intramammary infusions of either 1.25 × 1011 PFU of phage K or saline, administered once per day for 5 days. The cure rate was established by the assessment of four serial samples collected following treatment. The cure rate was 3 of 18 quarters (16.7%) in the phage-treated group, while none of the 20 saline-treated quarters were cured. This difference was not statistically significant. The effects of phage intramammary infusion on the bovine mammary gland were also studied. In healthy lactating cows, a single infusion of either filter-sterilized broth lysate or a CsCl gradient-purified phage preparation elicited a large increase in the milk somatic cell count. This response was not observed when phage was infused into quarters which were already infected with S. aureus. Phage-infused healthy quarters continued to shed viable bacteriophage into the milk for up to 36 h postinfusion. The phage concentration in the milk suggested that there was significant degradation or inactivation of the infused phage within the gland.
High work disability rate among rheumatoid arthritis patients in Lithuania.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate labor force characteristics among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Lithuania. To assess if Lithuania's transition from a state-planned to a free-market economy after 1990 changed the employment perspectives of patients with RA. METHODS RA patients, age 16-65 years (n = 238), were randomly selected from the RA register in Vilnius. They completed questions about sociodemographics, working status, and disease characteristics, they underwent a clinical examination, and they completed the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Short Form 36. RESULTS Age- and sex-adjusted employment was 24.2% lower and work disability 51.7% higher in patients compared with the general population in Lithuania. After 10 years of disease, 48% of the patients had withdrawn from the labor force. In those with a paid job, the average sick leave in the past year was 31.9 days compared with the national average of 10.8 days. Although disease activity was not significantly different in employed compared with work-disabled patients, physical function and perceived quality of life (except general health) were worse among patients with work disability. The change in economic organization in 1990 was noted to increase the risk for work withdrawal by a factor of 2.75 (95% confidence interval 1.68-4.53). CONCLUSION In Lithuania, the impact of RA on work disability is important. Although work disability in Lithuanian patients with RA seems more pronounced compared with reports from Western societies, variables associated with work disability are comparable. The transition to a market-orientated economy in 1990 increased the risk of becoming work disabled.
Phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system of bacteria.

Numerous gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria take up carbohydrates through the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS). This system transports and phosphorylates carbohydrates at the expense of PEP and is the subject of this review. The PTS consists of two general proteins, enzyme I and HPr, and a number of carbohydrate-specific enzymes, the enzymes II. PTS proteins are phosphoproteins in which the phospho group is attached to either a histidine residue or, in a number of cases, a cysteine residue. After phosphorylation of enzyme I by PEP, the phospho group is transferred to HPr. The enzymes II are required for the transport of the carbohydrates across the membrane and the transfer of the phospho group from phospho-HPr to the carbohydrates. Biochemical, structural, and molecular genetic studies have shown that the various enzymes II have the same basic structure. Each enzyme II consists of domains for specific functions, e.g., binding of the carbohydrate or phosphorylation. Each enzyme II complex can consist of one to four different polypeptides. The enzymes II can be placed into at least four classes on the basis of sequence similarity. The genetics of the PTS is complex, and the expression of PTS proteins is intricately regulated because of the central roles of these proteins in nutrient acquisition. In addition to classical induction-repression mechanisms involving repressor and activator proteins, other types of regulation, such as antitermination, have been observed in some PTSs. Apart from their role in carbohydrate transport, PTS proteins are involved in chemotaxis toward PTS carbohydrates. Furthermore, the IIAGlc protein, part of the glucose-specific PTS, is a central regulatory protein which in its nonphosphorylated form can bind to and inhibit several non-PTS uptake systems and thus prevent entry of inducers. In its phosphorylated form, P-IIAGlc is involved in the activation of adenylate cyclase and thus in the regulation of gene expression. By sensing the presence of PTS carbohydrates in the medium and adjusting the phosphorylation state of IIAGlc, cells can adapt quickly to changing conditions in the environment. In gram-positive bacteria, it has been demonstrated that HPr can be phosphorylated by ATP on a serine residue and this modification may perform a regulatory function.
Chimaerism analyses and subsequent immunological intervention after stem cell transplantation in patients with juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia

Chimaerism analysis was performed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of short‐tandem repeat markers in 30 children following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML). Fourteen patients always had complete chimaerism (CC); one of them relapsed after the discontinuation of the study and 13 continued in complete remission (CR). Mixed chimaerism (MC) was noted in 16 patients. Of those 12 patients demonstrated increasing MC (i‐MC); 10 relapsed and two achieved CC following discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy (IST). Four other patients demonstrating only transient MC are alive in CR. MC with up to 20% of autologous cells could be successfully eradicated without induction of severe graft‐versus‐host disease when IST was reduced or discontinued directly after the first demonstration of MC. At the same time, MC with up to 10% of autologous cells could disappear without intervention. The interval between MC and relapse ranged from 0–320 d (median 38 d). Donor leucocyte infusion was given to six patients with i‐MC, but only one patient responded. Peripheral blood seems as valuable as bone marrow for chimaerism studies. In conclusion, serial quantitative chimaerism studies can identify patients with i‐MC who are at high risk for relapse of JMML. Immediate withdrawal of IST is advised in these patients.
Constrained Wavelet Tree Quantization for Image Watermarking

This paper investigates the operations of the wavelet tree based quantization and proposes a constrained wavelet tree quantization for image watermarking. The wavelet coefficients of the cover image are grouped into super trees for watermark embedding where quantization is performed. The watermark bits are extracted based on a modulus approach and the minimum mean comparison of the super tree coefficients efficiently distinguishes which super tree is quantized. Without the needs of the requantization index at the decoder, the constrained quantization of the super trees reduces the uncertainty of the maximum likelihood detection. Therefore, the robustness of the proposed scheme can be effectively improved. This study has performed intensive comparison for the proposed scheme with the non-constrained tree quantization method under various geometric and nongeometric attacks. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed technique yields better performance with higher degree of robustness.
Leflunomide-associated weight loss in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of weight loss in patients treated with leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis at an arthritis referral center. METHODS We queried 35 rheumatologists at the Robert Breck Brigham Arthritis Center to determine if weight loss had occurred as an adverse event in patients treated with leflunomide between November 1998 and January 2000. Five such patients were identified and their clinical course was reviewed. RESULTS Five of 70 patients who had begun leflunomide therapy had significant weight loss that could not be linked to other identifiable etiologies. The amount of weight loss was substantial in this group of patients, ranging from 19 pounds to 53 pounds. All patients had normal levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and no other gastrointestinal complaints; evaluation revealed no other cause for the weight loss. Despite the significant weight loss, 4 of the 5 patients continued to take the drug due to its efficacy. CONCLUSION Significant weight loss is a potential adverse event in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with leflunomide. Awareness of this may obviate the need for extensive medical evaluations.
Did the 18 Drinking Age Promote High School Dropout? Implications for Current Policy.

OBJECTIVE Disagreement exists over whether permissive minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws affected underage adolescents (e.g., those age 17 years with the MLDA of 18). We used MLDA changes during the 1970s and 1980s as a natural experiment to investigate how underage exposure to permissive MLDA affected high school dropout. METHOD MLDA exposure was added to two data sets: (a) the 5% public use microdata samples of the 1990 and 2000 censuses (n = 3,671,075), and (b) a combined data set based on the 1991-1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiological Survey (NLAES) and the 2001-2002 National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; n = 16,331). We used logistic regression to model different thresholds of MLDA on high school dropout. We also estimated models conditioned on demographic variables and familial risk of developing alcohol problems. RESULTS Only the MLDA of 18 predicted high school dropout. Exposure was associated with 4% and 13% higher odds of high school dropout for the census and NLAES/NESARC samples, respectively. We noted greater impact on women (5%-18%), Blacks (5%-19%), and Hispanics (6%). Self-report of parental alcohol problems was associated with 40% higher odds, which equals a 4.14-point increase in dropout rate for that population. CONCLUSIONS The MLDA of 18 likely had a large impact on high school dropout rates, suggesting that the presence of legal-aged peers in a high school setting increased access to alcohol for younger students. Our results also suggest that policy can promote less dangerous drinking behavior even when familial risk of alcohol use disorders is high.
Title: Neuroplastic changes occur early in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

250) Perineural tumor invasion of intrapancreatic nerves, neurogenic inflammation, and tumor metastases along extrapancreatic nerves are key features of pancreatic malignancies. Animal studies show that chronic pancreatic inflammation produces hypertrophy and hypersensitivity of pancreatic afferents and that sensory fibers may themselves drive inflammation via neurogenic mechanisms. Whereas genetic mutations are required for cancer development, inflammation has been shown to be a precipitating event that can accelerate the transition of precancerous lesions to cancer. These observations led us to hypothesize that inflammation that accompanies early phases of PDAC would produce pathologic changes in pancreatic neurons and innervation. Using a lineage labeled genetically engineered mouse model of PDAC we found that pancreatic neurotrophic factor mRNA expression and sensory innervation increased dramatically when only pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) were apparent. These changes correlated with pain-related decreases in exploratory behavior and increased expression of nociceptive genes in sensory ganglia. At later stages, cells of pancreatic origin could be found in the celiac and sensory ganglia along with metastases to the spinal cord. These results demonstrate that the nervous system participates in all stages of PDAC, including those that precede appearance of cancer. on June 9, 2017. © 2014 American Association for Cancer Research. cancerres.aacrjournals. org Downloaded from Author manuscripts have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication but have not yet been edited. Author Manuscript Published OnlineFirst on January 21, 2014; DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-13-2050
Macaque prefrontal activity associated with extensive tool use

Macaques can utilize tools sequentially on a single object or they can modify functions effectively in a relevant context. Two Japanese macaques were scanned by positron emission tomography with H215O during a tool combination task and two control tasks (single tool task and simple stick-waving task). In the tool combination task, monkeys were required to use two identical tools properly in different functions. We found increased activity in the bilateral prefrontal cortex (area 9/46), bilateral intraparietal sulcus regions, right cerebellum, and bilateral early visual cortices during the tool combination task with the right hand, compared with the single tool task. These results suggest that interactions between the fronto-cerebellar and the fronto-parietal circuit are responsible for appropriate and effective modifications of tools in their functions.