Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Competencies required in service-related and non-service-related industries: Graduates' views on importance

This paper explored Taiwanese college graduates' perception differences of the importance degree of industrially required work competencies. The researchers randomly surveyed 500 college graduates participating in the Quality Manpower Cultivation Projects executed by Taiwan Ministry of Education-An one-year practical training served as a way out of immediate employment for new graduates of bachelor degree. The findings of the study showed that graduates' perceptions of importance of employability competencies differed in industrial type. Distinct perception differences were found between the graduates undertaking internships in service-related organizations and those in non-service-related ones.
International staging system for multiple myeloma.

PURPOSE There is a need for a simple, reliable staging system for multiple myeloma that can be applied internationally for patient classification and stratification. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical and laboratory data were gathered on 10,750 previously untreated symptomatic myeloma patients from 17 institutions, including sites in North America, Europe, and Asia. Potential prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate techniques. Three modeling approaches were then explored to develop a staging system including two nontree and one tree survival assessment methodologies. RESULTS Serum beta2-microglobulin (Sbeta2M), serum albumin, platelet count, serum creatinine, and age emerged as powerful predictors of survival and were then used in the tree analysis approach. A combination of Sbeta2M and serum albumin provided the simplest, most powerful and reproducible three-stage classification. This new International Staging System (ISS) was validated in the remaining patients and consists of the following stages: stage I, Sbeta2M less than 3.5 mg/L plus serum albumin > or = 3.5 g/dL (median survival, 62 months); stage II, neither stage I nor III (median survival, 44 months); and stage III, Sbeta2M > or = 5.5 mg/L (median survival, 29 months). The ISS system was further validated by demonstrating effectiveness in patients in North America, Europe, and Asia; in patients less than and > or = 65 years of age; in patients with standard therapy or autotransplantation; and in comparison with the Durie/Salmon staging system. CONCLUSION) The new ISS is simple, based on easy to use variables (Sbeta2M and serum albumin), and recommended for early adoption and widespread use.
CYP83A1 is required for metabolic compatibility of Arabidopsis with the adapted powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe cruciferarum.

Aliphatic glucosinolates function in the chemical defense of Capparales. The cytochrome P450 83A1 monooxygenase (CYP83A1) catalyzes the initial conversion of methionine-derived aldoximes to thiohydroximates in the biosynthesis of glucosinolates, and thus cyp83a1 mutants have reduced levels of aliphatic glucosinolates. Loss of CYP83A1 function leads to dramatically reduced parasitic growth of the biotrophic powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe cruciferarum on Arabidopsis thaliana. The cyp83a1 mutants support less well the germination and appressorium formation of E. cruciferarum on the leaf surface and post-penetration conidiophore formation by the fungus. By contrast, a myb28-1 myb29-1 double mutant, which totally lacks aliphatic glucosinolates, shows a wild-type level of susceptibility to E. cruciferarum. The cyp83a1 mutants also lack very-long-chain aldehydes on their leaf surface. Such aldehydes support appressorium formation by E. cruciferarum in vitro. In addition, when chemically complemented with the C26 aldehyde n-hexacosanal, cyp83a1 mutants can again support appressorium formation. The mutants further accumulate 5-methylthiopentanaldoxime, the potentially toxic substrate of CYP83A1. Loss of powdery mildew susceptibility by cyp83a1 may be explained by a reduced supply of the fungus with inductive signals from the host and an accumulation of potentially fungitoxic metabolites.
“I No Like Get Caught Using Drugs”: Explanations for Refusal as a Drug-Resistance Strategy for Rural Native Hawaiian Youths

This exploratory study examines the use of explanations for refusal as a drug-resistance strategy for rural Native Hawaiian youths. Fourteen gender-specific focus groups were conducted within seven middle or intermediate schools on the Island of Hawai‘i (N = 64). Participants were asked to describe drug-resistance strategies in response to 15 hypothetical culturally specific drug-related problem scenarios developed from earlier research. The findings indicate that variations in the types of explanations used for refusal were based on the type of drug offerer in the associated scenario (i.e., peer/friend, cousin, or parent). Participants also described the rationales for the use of different explanations with different drug offerers. The findings suggest that culturally grounded drug prevention programs for Hawaiian youths should incorporate the use of specific types of explanations for refusal, depending on the youths' relationship to the drug offerer.
Control of abscisic acid synthesis.

The abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthetic pathway involves the formation of a 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid precursor. Oxidative cleavage then results in the formation of xanthoxin, which is subsequently converted to ABA. A number of steps in the pathway may control ABA synthesis, but particular attention has been given to the enzyme involved in the oxidative cleavage reaction, i.e. 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED). Cloning of a gene encoding this enzyme in maize was first reported in 1997. Mapping and DNA sequencing studies indicated that a wilty tomato mutant was due to a deletion in the gene encoding an enzyme with a very similar amino acid sequence to this maize NCED. The potential use of this gene in altering ABA content will be discussed together with other genes encoding ABA biosynthetic enzymes.
Purification and characterization of mRNA cap-binding protein from Drosophila melanogaster embryos

A protein with specific affinity for the mRNA cap structure was purified both from the postribosomal supernatant and from the ribosomal high-salt wash of Drosophila melanogaster embryos by m7GTP-Sepharose chromatography. This protein had an apparent molecular mass of 35 kilodaltons (kDa) in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a size very different from those of the cap-binding proteins that have been characterized thus far. Drosophila 35-kDa cap-binding protein (CBP) could also be isolated from the ribosomal high-salt wash as part of a salt-stable protein complex consisting of polypeptides of 35, 72, and 140 to 180 kDa. Polyclonal antibodies against Drosophila 35-kDa CBP neither reacted with eucaryotic initiation factor 4E from rabbit reticulocytes nor affected mRNA translation in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system. However, in a cell-free system from Drosophila embryos, mRNA translation was specifically inhibited by these antibodies. The requirement of 35-kDa CBP for mRNA translation in Drosophila was diminished under ionic conditions in which the importance of mRNA cap structure recognition was reduced. Despite the structural differences between Drosophila 35-kDa CBP and mammalian initiation factor 4E, both proteins were functionally interchangeable in the in vitro translation system from Drosophila embryos.
Strategies for Building Peer Surgical Coaching Relationships

Importance Peer surgical coaching is a promising approach for continuing professional development. However, scant guidance is available for surgeons seeking to develop peer-coaching skills. Executive coaching research suggests that effective coaches first establish a positive relationship with their coachees by aligning role and process expectations, establishing rapport, and cultivating mutual trust. Objective To identify the strategies used by peer surgical coaches to develop effective peer-coaching relationships with their coachees. Design, Setting, and Participants Drawing on executive coaching literature, a 3-part framework was developed to examine the strategies peer surgical coaches (n = 8) used to initially cultivate a relationship with their coachees (n = 11). Eleven introductory 1-hour meetings between coaching pairs participating in a statewide surgical coaching program were audiorecorded, transcribed, and coded on the basis of 3 relationship-building components. Once coded, thematic analysis was used to organize coded strategies into thematic categories and subcategories. Data were collected from October 10, 2014, to March 20, 2015. Data analysis took place from May 26, 2015, to July 20, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures Strategies and potentially counterproductive activities for building peer-coaching relationships in the surgical context to inform the future training of surgical coaches. Results Coaches used concrete strategies to align role and process expectations about the coaching process, to establish rapport, and to cultivate mutual trust with their coachees during introductory meetings. Potential coaching pitfalls are identified that could interfere with each of the 3 relationship-building components. Conclusions and Relevance Peer-nominated surgical coaches were provided with training on abstract concepts that underlie effective coaching practices in other fields. By identifying the strategies used by peer surgical coaches to operationalize these concepts, empirically based strategies to inform other surgical coaching programs are provided.
Predictors of psychological outcome in patients with eating disorders: A routine outcome monitoring study.

BACKGROUND Identifying predictors of psychological outcome for patients with eating disorders may improve the effectiveness of treatment. Patients with different pre-treatment characteristics and symptoms may benefit from different therapies. This study aimed to identify potential predictors of treatment outcome in a large naturalistic cohort of patients with an eating disorder. METHOD The study sample included patients (N = 1153) with all types of eating disorders who were receiving residential, day, or outpatient treatment. Remission was defined by means of four different indicators based on the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire global score: 1. achieving reliable change; 2. showing a 50% reduction in baseline symptom severity; 3. reaching the clinical significance cut-off point; and 4. a combination of indicators 2 and 3. Potential predictor variables were investigated in univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. RESULTS Different predictors were found for the four outcome criteria. Patients with high levels of interpersonal distrust at baseline were less likely to have achieved reliable change in eating disorder psychopathology. Higher self-esteem and less body dissatisfaction at baseline was independently associated with a symptom reduction of more than 50% and/or reaching the clinical significance cut-off point. Contrary to our expectations, no differences in outcome were found between the eating disorder subtypes. DISCUSSION Clinically, it is important to reduce the risk of poor outcome and to achieve a rapid response in treatment using an intervention designed for this purpose, such as shared decision making or an intervention directed at self-esteem or body image, which may act as a catalyst for change. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:863-873).
Ultrastructure of retinal ganglion cell death after axotomy in chick embryos

Axotomy often leads to neuronal death, which occurs after a particularly short delay in immature animals. Tectal lesions were made in embryonic day (E) 12 chick embryos, thereby axotomizing the retinal ganglion cells of the contralateral eye, which then died within 3 days. We here describe the ultrastructural changes in the axotomized ganglion cells. The main changes were nuclear invagination and type 3B (cytoplasmic type) cell death characterized by dilation of the perinuclear space, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. However, nuclear invagination was never seen in type 3B dying cells. All the axotomy‐induced retinal ganglion cell death appears to have been of type 3B; apoptosis was not induced by axotomy, as was confirmed by additional light microscopic experiments showing that it did not increase the frequency of apoptotic markers revealed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (the TUNEL method) labeling and immunoreactivity for activated caspase‐3. However, the latter methods did show small numbers of apoptotic cells dying naturally even in control retinas. After the death of the axotomized ganglion cells, they were phagocytosed mainly in Müller processes. The present findings open up the chick tectal lesion model as a system for analyzing type 3B neuronal death in vivo. J. Comp. Neurol. 453:361–371, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The determination of molecular weight of bacterial genome DNA from renaturation rates.

A new method is described for the determination of the total molecular weight of haploid genome DNA. It is based on initial optical renaturation rate measurements of precisely known concentrations of fragmented DNA. The theoretical basis of the measurement is presented. The actual state of replication of the genome has little effect. The exact conditions and the effects of DNA concentration, renaturation time, size of DNA fragments, buffer concentration, optimal temperature and % (G + C) have been determined. Several types of bacterial DNA of known genome size were included as a control. As an application, the DNA genome size have been determined of 40 different bacteria. The method appears to offer advantages by its simplicity, rapidity and reproducibility.
Widely tunable Fabry-Perot filter using Ga(Al)As-AlOx deformable mirrors

A microelectromechanically tunable Fabry-Perot (FP) microinterferometer is demonstrated using Ga(Al)As-AlO/sub x/ DBR micromirrors separated by an air gap. The broad-spectral response of Ga(Al)As-AlO/sub x/ distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) micromirrors allows 3-dB bandwidth of the cavity to remain narrow and stable over the tuning range. Two devices with different number of mirror structures were demonstrated exhibiting linewidths of 0.5 and 2.0 nm, tuning ranges of 59 and 83 nm, respectively. In addition to a fundamental FP spatial mode, we also observe higher order spatial modes that we associate with a lensing effect caused by partially oxidized AlGaAs layers within the mirror layers.
A Survey of ICESat Coastal Altimetry Applications: Continental Coast, Open Ocean Island, and Inland River

ICESat satellite laser altimetry provides an unprecedented set of global elevation measurements of the Earth, yielding great detail over ice, land and ocean surfaces. Coastal regions in particular, including seamless land-water transitions, benefit from the small footprint (50 to 90 m), high resolution (40 Hz, ~170 m along-track), and high precision (2 to 3 cm) of ICESat. We discuss the performance and character of ICESat data in three example coastal scenarios: continental coast (Louisiana-Mississippi Gulf Coast, USA, including Lake Pontchartrain), open ocean island (Funafuti, Tuvalu), and an inland river (confluence of Tapajos and Amazon rivers, Brazil). Water elevations are compared to tide gauge heights and to TOPEX and Jason-1 radar altimetry. In demonstrating the utilization of ICESat, we also present examples of: laser waveform shapes over a variety of surface types (water, land, and vegetation); vegetation canopy heights (detecting large-scale destruction from Hurricane Katrina comparing data before and after); sub-canopy surface water; measurements of waves; and examination of along-stream river slope and comparisons of river stage to hydrologically-driven GRACE geoid change.
Dietary omega-3 fatty acid, ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 intake, inflammation, and survival in long-term hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Mortality in long-term hemodialysis patients is high, mostly attributed to cardiovascular events, and may be related to chronic inflammation. We hypothesized that the anti-inflammatory benefits of higher dietary intake of omega-3 compared with omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids may modulate the inflammatory processes and decrease death risk. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study using linear and Cox proportional regressions. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 145 hemodialysis patients from 8 DaVita dialysis clinics in Southern California in 2001-2007. PREDICTORS Intake of dietary omega-3 and ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 using 3-day food record supplemented by dietary interview. OUTCOMES 1-year change in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level and 6-year survival. RESULTS Patients were aged 53 ± 14 years (mean ± SD) and included 43% women and 42% African Americans. Median dietary omega-3 intake, ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 intake, baseline serum CRP level, and change in CRP level over 1 year were 1.1 (25th-75th percentile, 0.8-1.6) g/d, 9.3 (25th-75th percentile, 7.6-11.3), 3.1 (25th-75th percentile, 0.8-6.8) mg/L, and +0.2 (25th-75th percentile, -0.4 to +0.8) mg/L, respectively. In regression models adjusted for case-mix, dietary calorie and fat intake, body mass index, and history of hypertension, each 1-unit higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 intake was associated with a 0.55-mg/L increase in serum CRP level (P = 0.03). In the fully adjusted model, death HRs for the first (1.7-<7.6), second (7.6-<9.3), third (9.3-<11.3), and fourth (11.3-17.4) quartiles of dietary omega-6 to omega-3 ratio were 0.39 (95% CI, 0.14-1.18), 0.30 (95% CI, 0.09-0.99), 0.67 (95% CI, 0.25-1.79), and 1.00 (reference), respectively (P for trend = 0.06). LIMITATIONS 3-day food record may underestimate actual dietary fat intake at an individual level. CONCLUSIONS Higher dietary omega-6 to omega-3 ratio appears to be associated with both worsening inflammation over time and a trend toward higher death risk in hemodialysis patients. Additional studies including interventional trials are needed to examine the association of dietary fatty acids with clinical outcomes in these patients.
The Nuclear and Adherent Junction Complex Component Protein Ubinuclein Negatively Regulates the Productive Cycle of Epstein-Barr Virus in Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) productive cycle is initiated by the expression of the viral trans-activator EB1 (also called Zebra, Zta, or BZLF1), which belongs to the basic leucine zipper transcription factor family. We have previously identified the cellular NACos (nuclear and adherent junction complex components) protein ubinuclein (Ubn-1) as a partner for EB1, but the function of this complex has never been studied. Here, we have evaluated the consequences of this interaction on the EBV productive cycle and find that Ubn-1 overexpression represses the EBV productive cycle whereas Ubn-1 downregulation by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increases virus production. By a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, we show that Ubn-1 blocks EB1-DNA interaction. We also show that in epithelial cells, relocalization and sequestration of Ubn-1 to the tight junctions of nondividing cells allow increased activation of the productive cycle. We propose a model in which Ubn-1 is a modulator of the EBV productive cycle: in proliferating epithelial cells, Ubn-1 is nuclear and inhibits activation of the productive cycle, whereas in differentiated cells, Ubn-1 is sequestrated to tight junctions, thereby allowing EB1 to fully function in the nucleus.
Immunomagnetic techniques for the enrichment and detection of isolated breast carcinoma cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood.

Detection of isolated tumor cells (TC) in bone marrow (BM) from patients with breast cancer is usually accomplished by immunocytochemical (ICC) analysis of up to 2 X 10(6) mononuclear cells (MNC). However, this method is cumbersome if large numbers of BM cells (i.e. > 1 X 10(7) cells) are to be analyzed. This emphasizes the need for TC enrichment strategies. This report describes immunomagnetic separation (IMS) techniques for enrichment and detection of viable breast carcinoma cells in BM and peripheral blood (PB). The positive IMS technique was performed by incubation of MNC with 2.8 microns magnetic particles (rat antimouse IgG1 M280-Dynabeads) coated with monoclonal antibody (mAb) against epithelial surface antigens. The rosetted tumor cells were then visualized by ICC staining using alkaline phosphatase-conjugated A45-B/B3 anticytokeratin mAb (Fab). The negative IMS technique was performed by incubation of MNC with anti-CD45-coated M450-Dynabeads (4.5 microns), followed by ICC staining of the nonrosetted cells. When 1000, 100, and 10 breast carcinoma cells were mixed with 1 X 10(7) MNC, an average of 748 (n = 9), 70 (n = 10), and 7.8 TC (n = 8), respectively, were detected with the positive IMS technique. With the negative IMS technique, 648 (n = 8), 57.8 (n = 6), and 7.3 TC (n = 6), respectively, were detected. The analysis of 1 X 10(7) MNC with the IMS techniques was compared with the ICC analysis of 2 X 10(6) unseparated MNC. A mean 3.7-fold (range 1.5-6.4) to 4.2-fold (2.5-8.2) (positive IMS) and 3.1-fold (range 2.0-5.0) to 3.8-fold (2.0-6.0) (negative IMS) higher TC detection frequency was achieved after enrichment by IMS in experiments with 100 and 1000 TC/10(7) MNC. The IMS techniques were used for examination of BM samples from locally advanced breast cancer patients. A 5.3-fold mean increase (range 2.1-13.3) in the number of TC detected was obtained when the use of positive and negative IMS together was compared with the direct ICC analysis of unseparated MNC (n = 11). Enrichment of TC by IMS techniques enables us to examine large numbers of MNC from BM or PB, which can result in the detection and characterization of minimal residual disease with increased sensitivity and specificity.
Application of interactive evolutionary strategy in fault-tolerant system capable of online self-repairing

Evolution mechanism is widely used in triple different-structure modular redundant (D-TMR) fault tolerant system to protect different modules and realise online self-repairing. How to enhance the efficiency and diversity of the generated module by evolution strategy is among the most commonly discussed. The paper puts forward a two-stage mutation evolution strategy (TMES) based on improved virtual reconfigurable architecture platform to evolve combination logical circuit. In order to improve the scalability and increase the diversity of the generated circuit, interactive evolution strategy and heterogeneous degree evaluation are introduced, and then interactive TMES (ITMES) and improved ITMES (IITMES) are presented. The proposed schemes are tested with the evolutions of a 2-bit multiplier, a 3-bit multiplier, and a 3-bit full adder. The obtained results demonstrate that IITMES scheme has better average generation and more circuit type of generated successful individual, and has the potential to strengthen the reliability of the D-TMR system.
The Health and Health Behaviors of a Sample of African American Pastors

There is growing concern for the health status of clergy in light of recent studies showing high rates of chronic health conditions and obesity. This manuscript examined the health and health behaviors of South Carolinian African Methodist Episcopal (AME) pastors (n = 40). A majority of pastors were overweight or obese (93%) with hypertension (68%); half had two or more chronic health conditions, 35% had high cholesterol, 30% arthritis, and 20% diabetes. On average, pastors had a waist circumference that put them at an increased risk for disease. Yet, with the exception of fruit and vegetable consumption (mean = 3.4 ± 4.0 cups/day), pastors generally engaged in positive health behaviors. Understanding where the greatest needs lie is the first step in developing programs that can improve pastor health, which may ultimately improve the health of their congregations.