Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
National norms for the expanded version of the inventory of depression and anxiety symptoms (IDAS-II).

OBJECTIVES The present study developed normative data for the expanded version of the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS-II). The IDAS-II is a self-report measure containing 18 factor-analytically derived scales, each assessing a specific symptom of internalizing disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. These normative data were used to examine group differences in internalizing symptoms across demographic characteristics. METHOD A total of 1,836 Mechanical Turk users (47.6% male; mean age = 35.6) completed the IDAS-II; the sample was weighted to be representative of the U.S. population on gender, age, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS Percentiles were derived for each of the IDAS-II scales. Age was the demographic characteristic most consistently associated with lower internalizing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides information on the distribution of specific internalizing symptoms in a large national sample, as well as on how these symptoms are related to demographic characteristics.
Investigating the Fate of Activated Sludge Extracellular Proteins in Sludge Digestion Using Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

The fate of activated sludge extracellular proteins in sludge digestion was investigated using three different cation‐associated extraction methods and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). Extraction methods used were the cation exchange resin (CER) method for extracting calcium (Ca 2+) and magnesium (Mg 2+), sulfide extraction for removing iron, and base treatment (pH 10.5) for dissolving aluminum. Extracellular polymeric substances extracted were then subjected to SDS‐PAGE, and the resultant protein profiles were examined before and after sludge digestion. The SDS‐PAGE results showed that three methods led to different SDS‐PAGE profiles for both undigested and digested sludges. The results further revealed that CER‐extracted proteins remained mainly undegraded in anaerobic digestion, but were degraded in aerobic digestion. While the fate of sulfide‐ and base‐extracted proteins was not clear for aerobic digestion, their changes in anaerobic digestion were elucidated. Most sulfide‐extracted proteins were removed by anaerobic digestion, while the increase in protein band intensity and diversity was observed for base‐extracted proteins. These results suggest that activated sludge flocs contain different fractions of proteins that are distinguishable by their association with certain cations and that each fraction undergoes different fates in anaerobic and aerobic digestion. The proteins that were resistant to degradation and generated during anaerobic digestion were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Protein identification results and their putative roles in activated sludge and anaerobic digestion are discussed in this study.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Genes Expressed in Shoot Apical Meristems June

The above-ground portion of a plant develops from the shoot apical meristem. An abundant source of apical meristems was obtained from cauliflower heads. Meristematic cDNAs were identified by differential screening and used to isolate corresponding Arabidopsis thaliana genes. Transcriptional promoters from Arabidopsis clones were fused to the 8-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and introduced into plants, and GUS expression was used to analyze temporal and spatial regulation of the promoters. One promoter (meri-5) directed GUS expression in the meristematic dome and not the surrounding leaf primordia. The meri-5 promoter also directed GUS expression at branching points in the shoot and root. A second meristematic gene was found to be a histone (H3) gene. The H3 promoter was isolated and fused to GUS. Expression of the H3-GUS fusion in transgenic tobacco showed preferential expression in the peripheral zone and a lack of noticeable staining in the central zone.
Philippine Language Resources: Applications, Issues, and Directions

In this paper, we present our collective effort to gather, annotate, and model various language resources for use in different research projects. This includes those that are available online such as tweets, Wikipedia articles, game chat, online radio, and religious text. The different applications, issues and directions are also discussed in the paper. Future works include developing a language web service. A subset of the resources will be made temporarily available online at: http://bit.ly/1MpcFoT.
Effect of sodium chloride on transport of bacteria in a saturated aquifer material

Determinations were made of the influence of NaCl concentration, cell density, and flow velocity on the transport of Pseudomonas sp. strain KL2 through columns of aquifer sand under saturated conditions. A pulse-type boundary condition was used. The experiments were conducted by using 0.3-m-long Plexiglas columns with an internal diameter of 0.05 m. When a 1-h pulse of a 0.01 M NaCl solution containing 10(8) cells per ml was added at a flow rate of 10(-4) m s-1, the bacterial density in the effluent never exceeded 2.2% of the density of cells added, and only 1.5% of the bacteria passed through the aquifer material. In contrast, when the bacteria were applied in distilled water, the relative cell density in the effluent approached 100%, and 60% of the bacteria were transported through the aquifer solids. Under these conditions, the breakthrough of Pseudomonas sp. strain KL2 was slower than chloride. When the flow rate was 2.0 x 10(-4) m s-1, the cell density in the effluent reached 7.3% of that added in 0.01 M NaCl solution, but only 3.9% of the bacteria were transported through the aquifer particles. On the other hand, the density in the effluent approached 100% of that added in deionized water, and 77% of the added bacteria were recovered. When the density of added cells was 10(9) cells per ml at a flow rate of 10(-4) m s-1, the densities in the effluent reached 70 and 100% of those added in salt solution and deionized water, respectively, and 44 and 57% of the bacteria were transported through the aquifer solids. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Investigation of PDMS as coating on CMUTs for imaging

A protective layer is necessary for Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (CMUTs) to be used for imaging purpose. The layer should both protect the device itself and the patient while maintaining the performance of the device. In this work Sylgard 170 PDMS is tested as coating material for CMUTs through comparison of transmit pressure and receive sensitivity in immersion of coated and uncoated elements. It is seen that the transmitted pressure decreases with 27% and the receive sensitivity decreases 35%when applying the coating using a dam and fill principle. This matches well with the estimated value of 31 %. With the coating, the center frequency was found to be decreased from 4.5 MHz to 4.1 MHz and the fractional bandwidth was increased from 77 % to 84 % in transmit. In receive the center frequency was found to decrease from 4.4 MHz to 3.9 MHz and the fractional bandwidth was decreased from 108 % to 92 %, when applying the PDMS coating.
An Integrated Approach to Shape and Color-Based Image Retrieval of Rotated Objects Using Hidden Markov Models

An integrated approach to shape and color-based image retrieval, where the cues color and shape are both utilized in a local rather than a global way, is presented in this paper. An experimental retrieval system has been developed, which enables the user to search a color image database intuitively for presenting simple sketches. In order to be able to perform an elastic matching, which is especially needed in sketch-based image retrieval, objects in the images are represented by Hidden Markov Models. The use of streams (sets of features that are assumed to be statistically independent) within the HMM framework allows the integration of shape and color derived features into a single model, thereby allowing to control the influence of the different streams via stream weights. The approach has been evaluated on a color image database containing 120 different isolated objects with arbitrary orientation and showed good retrieval results with several users. Futhermore, the use of HMMs allows efficient pruning and thus a fast retrieval even with large databases.
Age, memory type, and the phenomenology of autobiographical memory: Findings from an Italian sample

The present research explored differences in phenomenology between two types of memories, a general self-defining memory and an earliest childhood memory. A sample of 76 Italian participants were selected and categorised into two age groups: 20–30 years and 31–40 years. The Memory Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ) was administered, taking note of latency and duration times of the narratives. Consistent with the literature, the self-defining memory differed significantly from the earliest childhood memory in terms of phenomenology, with the recency of the memory associated with more intense phenomenological experience. The self-defining memory took longer to retrieve and narrate than the earliest childhood memory. Meaningful differences also emerged between the two age groups: Participants in their 30s rated their self-defining memory as more vivid, coherent, and accessible than participants in their 20s. According to latency findings, these differences suggest an expanded period of identity consolidation for younger adults. Further applications of the MEQ should be carried out to replicate these results with other samples of young adults.
Ingested Energy Differs between Populations of the Toad Bufo bankorensis from Different Altitudes

We measured ingested energy (Ei) and apparent digestibility efficiency (ADE) in two populations of Bufo bankorensis from different altitudes at three temperatures and during two seasons to test the hypothesis that the optimal temperature range (Topt) for Ei and ADE has shifted to the lower range in highland toads and winter toads. The Topt for Ei was 22°C for the lowland and highland toads and did not vary between seasons, thus falsifying the hypothesis. ADE of the toads was 96%–99% at 15°–30°C, and there was no difference between populations or seasons. Furthermore, when fed with fast‐moving prey, the toads from both altitudes had similarly low Ei at 15°C; when fed with slow‐moving prey, the highland toads increased Ei at 15°C, but the lowland toads did not. These results suggest that the toads from different altitudes had different appetites, even though their feeding locomotion was hampered in both populations at low temperatures.
A Single Stage Flyback PFC Converter for Testing Distance Relay Systems

In this paper, a single stage flyback pfc converter is used as a power supply of a testing distance relay system. The flyback pfc converter topology, operation and control are presented. A fast and robust sliding mode control of the input current is also presented. The sliding mode controller enables also high power factor and nearly sinusoidal input current. The dc output voltage of the converter is controlled by a proportional integral (PI) controller. Simulation and experimental results from a laboratory prototype are presented and discussed.
Single molecule optical measurements of orientation and rotations of biological macromolecules

Subdomains of macromolecules often undergo large orientation changes during their catalytic cycles that are essential for their activity. Tracking these rearrangements in real time opens a powerful window into the link between protein structure and functional output. Site-specific labeling of individual molecules with polarized optical probes and measurement of their spatial orientation can give insight into the crucial conformational changes, dynamics, and fluctuations of macromolecules. Here we describe the range of single molecule optical technologies that can extract orientation information from these probes, review the relevant types of probes and labeling techniques, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies for addressing specific inquiries.
Subcapsular liver tumors treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation: a prospective comparison with nonsubcapsular liver tumors for safety and effectiveness.

PURPOSE To assess the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of subcapsular liver tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board, and all patients gave written informed consent. One hundred eighty-one patients (79 men, 102 women; age range, 36-85 years) underwent ultrasonographically (US) guided percutaneous RF ablation of 361 primary or secondary (metastatic) liver tumors. Forty-four patients had one or more subcapsular nodules (group 1), and 137 had nonsubcapsular nodules only (group 2). Overall, 80 nodules were subcapsular and 281 were nonsubcapsular. The completeness of the ablation was assessed with contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) 1 month after RF ablation. If residual tumor was documented, RF ablation was repeated. All patients in whom the ablation was complete after the first or second ablation session were monitored with CT or contrast-enhanced US every 3 months. Major complication, complete ablation, and local tumor progression rates were compared by using the chi(2) test or Fisher exact test. RESULTS Three (7%) major complications (intraperitoneal bleeding, skin burn, and tumor seeding) occurred in group 1, and two (1.5%) cases of tumor seeding occurred in group 2 (P = .093). No RF ablation-related deaths occurred. The complete ablation rate was 98% (43 of 44 patients) in group 1 and 98.5% (135 of 137 patients) in group 2 (P = .756). The local tumor progression rate after a median follow-up of 25 months (range, 13-54 months) was 16% (seven of 43 patients) in group 1 and 9.6% (13 of 135 patients) in group 2 (P = .355). CONCLUSION The difference in major complication rate between the subcapsular and nonsubcapsular liver tumors was not significant. The safety of RF ablation of subcapsular tumors seems acceptable, and the effectiveness is comparable to that of RF ablation of nonsubcapsular tumors.
Targeted deletion of the ara operon of Salmonella typhimurium enhances L-arabinose accumulation and drives PBAD-promoted expression of anti-cancer toxins and imaging agents

Tumor-specific expression of antitumor drugs can be achieved using attenuated Salmonella typhimurium harboring the PBAD promoter, which is induced by L-arabinose. However, L-arabinose does not accumulate because it is metabolized to D-xylulose-5-P by enzymes encoded by the ara operon in Salmonellae. To address this problem, we developed an engineered strain of S. typhimurium in which the ara operon is deleted. Linear DNA transformation was performed using λ red recombinase to exchange the ara operon with linear DNA carrying an antibiotic-resistance gene with homology to regions adjacent to the ara operon. The ara operon-deleted strain and its parental strain were transformed with a plasmid encoding Renilla luciferase variant 8 (RLuc8) or cytolysin A (clyA) under the control of the PBAD promoter. Luciferase assays demonstrated that RLuc8 expression was 49-fold higher in the ara operon-deleted S. typhimurium than in the parental strain after the addition of L-arabinose. In vivo bioluminescence imaging showed that the tumor tissue targeted by the ara operon-deleted Salmonella had a stronger imaging signal (∼30-fold) than that targeted by the parental strain. Mice with murine colon cancer (CT26) that had been injected with the ara operon-deleted S. typhimurium expressing clyA showed significant tumor suppression. The present report demonstrates that deletion of the ara operon of S. typhimurium enhances L-arabinose accumulation and thereby drives PBAD-promoted expression of cytotoxic agents and imaging agents. This is a promising approach for tumor therapy and imaging.
T‐cell‐independent granuloma formation in response to Mycobacterium avium: role of tumour necrosis factor‐α and interferon‐γ

SUMMARY We used Mycobacterium avium infection in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice to examine T‐cell‐independent mechanisms of inflammatory cell recruitment. SCID mice infected with a virulent strain of M. avium (TMC724) were able to recruit macrophages to sites of mycobacterial replication and formed organized and coherent granulomas in the absence of functional T cells. Phagocyte recruitment was almost totally ablated by neutralization of either tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) or interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) in vivo demonstrating that granuloma formation was dependent on the presence of these cytokines. This was concomitant with a reduction in the in situ cytokine mRNA levels otherwise induced in infected mice, for chemokines, pro‐inflammatory and regulatory cytokines, including TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and IL‐10. Furthermore, in vivo treatment of infected mice with anti‐asialo GM‐1 antisera, which depletes natural killer (NK) cells, prevented recruitment of inflammatory cells. In vitro studies confirmed that M. avium was able to elicit IFN‐γ from SCID spleen in a dose‐dependent manner. These data show for the first time that secretion of IFN‐γ from NK cells can mediate a T‐cell‐independent pathway of granuloma formation and cellular infiltration in response to mycobacteria.
Microbial Community Succession during Lactate Amendment and Electron Acceptor Limitation Reveals a Predominance of Metal-Reducing Pelosinus spp

ABSTRACT The determination of the success of in situ bioremediation strategies is complex. By using controlled laboratory conditions, the influence of individual variables, such as U(VI), Cr(VI), and electron donors and acceptors on community structure, dynamics, and the metal-reducing potential can be studied. Triplicate anaerobic, continuous-flow reactors were inoculated with Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater from the Hanford, WA, 100-H area, amended with lactate, and incubated for 95 days to obtain stable, enriched communities. The reactors were kept anaerobic with N2 gas (9 ml/min) flushing the headspace and were fed a defined medium amended with 30 mM lactate and 0.05 mM sulfate with a 48-h generation time. The resultant diversity decreased from 63 genera within 12 phyla to 11 bacterial genera (from 3 phyla) and 2 archaeal genera (from 1 phylum). Final communities were dominated by Pelosinus spp. and to a lesser degree, Acetobacterium spp. , with low levels of other organisms, including methanogens. Four new strains of Pelosinus were isolated, with 3 strains being capable of Cr(VI) reduction while one also reduced U(VI). Under limited sulfate, it appeared that the sulfate reducers, including Desulfovibrio spp. , were outcompeted. These results suggest that during times of electron acceptor limitation in situ, organisms such as Pelosinus spp. may outcompete the more-well-studied organisms while maintaining overall metal reduction rates and extents. Finally, lab-scale simulations can test new strategies on a smaller scale while facilitating community member isolation, so that a deeper understanding of community metabolism can be revealed.
Second-site revertants of the P1 copN22 copy mutant

Miniplasmids with the P1 copN22 mutation have a copy number about seven times that of the wild type. Selection for reduced copy number from this plasmid led to the isolation of second-site pseudorevertants, called poc mutants. DNA sequence analysis showed that all six independent poc mutants have a single base change in the same codon of the repA gene. This implicates the amino acid at this location, either directly or indirectly, in interactions important for copy number control.
Observations of Ice Nucleation and Propagation in Plants Using Infrared Video Thermography

We evaluated the use of infrared (IR) video thermography to observe directly ice nucleation and propagation in plants. An imaging radiometer with an HgCdTe long-wave (8–12 [mu]m) detector was utilized to image the thermal response of plants during freezing. IR images were analyzed in real time and recorded on videotape. Information on the videotape was subsequently accessed and analyzed utilizing IR image analysis software. Freezing of water droplets as small as 0.5 [mu]L was clearly detectable with the radiometer. Additionally, a comparison of temperature tracking data collected by the radiometer with data collected with thermocouples showed close correspondence. Monitoring of an array of plant species under different freezing conditions revealed that ice nucleation and propagation are readily observable by thermal imaging. In many instances, the ice nucleation-active bacterium Pseudomonas syringae placed on test plants could be seen to initiate freezing of the whole plant. Apparent ice nucleation by intrinsic nucleators, despite the presence of ice nucleation-active bacteria, was also evident in some species. Floral bud tissues of peach (Prunus persica) could be seen to supercool below the temperature of stem tissues, and ice nucleation at the site of insertion of the thermocouple was frequently observed. Rates of propagation of ice in different tissues were also easily measured by thermal imaging. This study demonstrates that IR thermography is an excellent method for studying ice nucleation and propagation in plants.
Histone H 2 B Deubiquitination Is Required for Transcriptional Activation of FLOWERING LOCUS C and for Proper Control of Flowering in Arabidopsis 1 [ C ] [ W ] [ OA ]

The spectrum of histone modifications at a given locus is a critical determinant for the correct output of gene expression. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), many studies have examined the relationship between histone methylation and gene expression, but few studies exist on the relationship between other covalent histone modifications and gene expression. In this work, we describe the role of histone H2B deubiquitination in the activation of gene expression and the consequence of a perturbation of histone H2B deubiquitination in the timing of the floral transition in Arabidopsis. A mutation in a H2B deubiquitinase, UBIQUITIN-SPECIFIC PROTEASE26 (UBP26), results in an early-flowering phenotype. In the ubp26 mutant, mRNA levels of the floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and other related family members is decreased. Furthermore, this mutant accumulates H2B monoubiquitination, and has decreased levels of H3K36 trimethylation and increased levels of H3K27 trimethylation at the FLC locus. Thus, UBP26 is required for transcriptional activation of FLC through H2B deubiquitination and is consistent with a model in which deubiquitination is necessary for the accumulation of H3K36 trimethylation and the proper level of transcriptional activation.