Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Job Satisfaction of Vocational Agriculture Teachers in the Southeastern United States.

Job satisfaction of vocational agriculture teachers in the South­ eastern United States was examined. A total of 355 teachers from seven states— Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, Arkansas, and North Carolina— responded to the survey. Job satisfaction was mea­ sured by the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) which had six scales— work on present job, present pay, opportunities for promotion, supervision on present job, people on the job, and job in general. Fourteen demog­ raphic variables selected to be used as independent variables were age, highest degree completed, current annual salary, years of teaching ex­ perience, number of months employed per year, average number of students per class, average number of periods (1 hour) teaching per day, enroll­ ment of school, population of community, number of professional organ­ izations affiliated with, sex, geographical location, marital status, and religious affiliation. Three objectives were developed— (1) to de­ termine if the selected demographic variables significantly related to the job satisfaction of the teachers, (2) to determine if the selected demographic variables significantly predict job satisfaction of the teachers, and (3) to determine job satisfaction of vocational agricul­ ture teachers in the Southeastern United States as compared to the norm groups of the JDI. Findings revealed that annual salary, number of months employed per year, number of professional organizations affiliated with, sex, geographical location, marital status, age, years of teaching experience, religious affiliation, and number of periods teaching per day x significantly correlated to job satisfaction of the teachers. It was found that number of months employed per year, number of professional organizations affiliated with, annual salary, sex, geographical location, number of periods taught per day, and age significantly predicted job satisfaction of the teachers. The study also revealed that the teachers scored higher on three measures of job satisfaction— work on present job, supervision, and people on the job— than those of the norm groups of the
Signal Processing for Gigabit-Rate Wireline Communications

Signal processing played an important role in improving the quality of communications over copper cables in earlier DSL technologies. Even more powerful signal processing techniques are required to enable a gigabit per second data rate in the upcoming G.fast standard. This new standard is different from its predecessors in many respects. In particular, G.fast will use a significantly higher bandwidth. At such a high bandwidth, crosstalk between different lines in a binder will reach unprecedented levels, which are beyond the capabilities of most efficient techniques for interference mitigation. In this article, we survey the state of the art and research challenges in the design of signal processing algorithms for the G.fast system, with a focus on novel research approaches and design considerations for efficient interference mitigation in G.fast systems. We also detail relevant VDSL techniques and points out their strengths and limitations for the G.fast system.
Repetition priming-induced changes in sensorimotor transmission.

When a behavior is repeated performance often improves, i.e., repetition priming occurs. Although repetition priming is ubiquitous, mediating mechanisms are poorly understood. We address this issue in the feeding network ofAplysia Similar to the priming observed elsewhere, priming inAplysiais stimulus specific, i.e., it can be either "ingestive" or "egestive. " Previous studies demonstrated that priming alters motor and premotor activity. Here we sought to determine whether sensorimotor transmission is also modified. We report that changes in sensorimotor transmission do occur. We ask how they are mediated and obtain data that strongly suggest a presynaptic mechanism that involves changes in the "background" intracellular Ca(2+)concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) in primary afferents themselves. This form of plasticity has previously been described and generated interest due to its potentially graded nature. Manipulations that alter the magnitude of the [Ca(2+)]iimpact the efficacy of synaptic transmission. It is, however, unclear how graded control is exerted under physiologically relevant conditions. In the feeding system changes in the background [Ca(2+)]iare mediated by the induction of a nifedipine-sensitive current. We demonstrate that the extent to which this current is induced is altered by peptides (i.e., increased by a peptide released during the repetition priming of ingestive activity and decreased by a peptide released during the repetition priming of egestive activity). We suggest that this constitutes a behaviorally relevant mechanism for the graded control of synaptic transmission via the regulation of the [Ca(2+)]iin a neuron.
Glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1) and male factor infertility risk: a pooled analysis of studies.

PURPOSE To determine the role of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1) gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to male factor infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS We report a pooled analysis of 11 studies on the association of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and male factor infertility, including 1323 cases and 1054 controls. RESULTS An overall significant association was determined between the GSTM1 null genotype [odds ratio (OR), 2.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.72 to 3.84; P = . 003], GSTT1 null genotype (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.43 to 3.47; P = .02), and male factor infertility. The GSTP1 Ile/Val genotype had overall protective effect against development of infertility (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.77), while there was significant heterogeneity between studies. In sensitivity analysis, two studies were excluded; the association and direction between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and GSTP1 Ile/Val genotype and male infertility remained unchanged. There was no significant interaction between smoking status and studied genotypes on male infertility risk (P = .26). CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that amongst populations studied to date, GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with strong and modest increase in the risk of male infertility, respectively. On the contrary, GSTP1 Ile/Val genotype has protective effect.
Presence of human herpes virus-8 in saliva and non-lesional oral mucosa in HIV-infected and oncologic immunocompromised patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) is a recently identified virus etiologically associated with Kaposi's sarcoma. Studies regarding its presence in the oral cavity have given variable results. This study attempted to determine the oral presence of HHV-8 in an area where classic Kaposi's sarcoma is primarily found such as Greece. METHODS Three groups of patients were studied: 10 immunocompromised with hematologic malignancies, 10 immunocompromised with HIV infection and 20 immunocompetent as controls. Whole unstimulated saliva and scrapes from the lingual and the buccal mucosa were collected and polymerase chain reaction was applied to amplify HHV-8 DNA. RESULTS None of the patients in any group had oral lesions. In the control group, all samples tested negative (0/60). HHV-8 DNA was detected in 5/30 (17%) of all samples from HIV-positive patients (the mean value of their CD4+ T-lymphocytes being 385/mm3) and in 13/30 (43%) of all samples from oncologic patients (mean CD4+ T-lymphocytes 51/mm3). HHV-8 DNA was found in 10% of saliva samples and 40% of lingual and buccal scrapes both of HIV-infected and of oncologic patients. CONCLUSION HHV-8 is present in the saliva and the non-lesional oral mucosa (not simultaneously) of patients with impaired immunity, with or without HIV co-infection. The oral epithelium seems to represent an independent location of viral residency and may be of viral replication; the clinical implications need further clarification.
DayCube: An Interactive Object for Delivering Daily Information through Five Unique Materials

We introduce DayCube: a personal, interactive object for daily use with five unique materials: brass, concrete, dyed cork, marble, and lumber. DayCube provides three functions through the composed materials. First, when its concrete body is touched, it provides weather information through the specific oscillation sound of three materials. Second, it enables users to hear real-time news. Lastly, it notifies user's schedules through shape changes of lumber and display. DayCube expected to support the minimization of functions through its different material features, intriguing new visual-tactile interactions with materials, and simplification of checking daily information process. In this way, DayCube can encourage the new, tangible interfaces by promoting an understanding and application of material features.
Epigastric Antinociception by Cervical Dorsal Column Lesions in Rats

Background Previous clinical evidence and electrophysiologic studies in the authors' laboratory have implicated the dorsal column (DC) as an important pathway for the transmission of visceral colorectal pain. This study examined, behaviorally and electrophysiologically, the role of the DC in mediating epigastric nociception using a visceral pain model involving duodenal distension in rats. Methods For behavioral testing, the writhing‐like responses produced in awake rats by graded intraduodenal balloon distension (0.1 to 0.7 ml) were tested. A DC mechanical lesion at the C2 level or a sham operation (SH, same spinal cord segment exposed but no DC lesion) was performed. The writhing‐like responses to duodenal distension were tested again and the rats were compared with other rats with no lesions and with SH rats. For electrophysiologic testing, the extracellular activity of single neurons was recorded in the ventrobasal nucleus of the thalamus in anesthetized rats. The ventrobasal cells that responded to duodenal distension were tested further with this visceral stimulus before and after a lesion of the DC. Results The mechanical DC lesion significantly reduced the intensity of the writhing‐like responses and increased the threshold volume that would elicit writhing‐like responses compared with rats with no lesions and SH rats without any observable neurologic deficit. A lesion of the DC also significantly reduced the responses of ventrobasal cells to duodenal distension. Conclusions The DC plays an important role in signaling epigastric nociception in this experimental model. A mechanical DC lesion can produce significant visceral antinociception in rats.
Accumulation of Chlorophyll and Essential Oils in Photomixotrophic Cell Cultures of Citrus sp

Heterotrophically or photomixotrophically initiated callus cultures of Citrus paradisi, C. limon and C.aurantifolia were grown on different nutrient media and under different light regimes. Calli of C.paradisi that contained > 140 mg chlorophyll per kg wet weight accumulated about 40 volatile mono- and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxigenated terpenes and aliphatic aldehydes. Upon five subcultivations the best yielding callus contained about 5% (186 mg × kg-1 wet wt) of the volatiles found in peel tissue (exo/mesocarp section), and about the twentyfold amount of that found in the fleshy endocarp. The composition of the essential oils from most of the cell cultures equalled grapefruit peel oil, but was shifted to a more fruit flesh-like composition, after the concentration of gellan gum in the medium was increased from 3 to 9 g per L. C.limon produced 11 monoterpenes and n-nonanal (40 mg × kg-1 wet wt max.), and C.aurantifolia yielded limonene only (4.4 mg × kg-1 wet wt max.). For all of the indicated species chlorophyll content and accumulation of volatiles were positively correlated. Addition of exogenous valencene to suspended cells of C.paradisi led to a stable concentration of the conversion product nootkatone. This stably maintained level suggested that a decreased catabolism of available carbon sources might have accounted for the significant accumulation of essential oil constituents
Strain and defects engineering of phosphorene

By using first-principles calculations, the electronic properties and chemical activity of phosphorene under the strain and defect engineering are studied. Furthermore, the effects of engineering on the interactions of NO gas molecule and humidity (H2O) and air (O2) molecules with the phosphorene surface are investigated. It is found that phosphorene enables to withstand a large compressive strain, up to −35%, and exhibit anisotropic electronic properties. Moreover, compressive strain and the presence of mono- and di-vacancy defects significantly alter the chemical activity of phosphorene as indicated by the enhanced adsorption and charge transfer between considered molecules and phosphorene surface. Thus, our findings suggest phosphorene as a perspective material for optical and photovoltaic applications.
Genetic Mosaicism in Adult Mice of Quadriparental Lineage

Genetic mosaic mice can be produced by aggregating, during cleavage stages, the blastomeres of two embryos of different genotype into a single cluster, and by transferring the developing aggregates to the uterus of a surrogate mother. Substantial numbers of such composite embryos survive past birth. Among the living adult mosaic mice are individuals within which cells of markedly different immunogenetic constitution coexist. Through the incorporation of appropriate genetic markers into mosaics, many new possibilities now present themselves for analysis of biological problems during embryonic as well as adult life.
A multiple-antigen detection assay for tuberculosis diagnosis based on broadly reactive polyclonal antibodies

Objective(s): Detection of circulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) antigens is promising in Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. However, not a single antigen marker has been found to be widely expressed in all TB patients. This study is aimed to prepare broadly reactive polyclonal antibodies targeting multiple antigen markers (multi-target antibodies) and evaluate their efficacies in TB diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A fusion gene consisting of 38kD, ESAT6, and CFP10 was constructed and overexpressed. The fusion polyprotein was used as an immunogen to elicit production of multi-target antibodies. Their reactivities were tested. Then, the multi-target antibodies and three corresponding antibodies elicited by each single antigen (mono-target antibodies) were evaluated with sandwich ELISA for detecting M. tuberculosis antigens. Their diagnostic efficacies for TB were also compared. Results: The polyprotein successfully elicited production of multi-target antibodies targeting 38kD, ESAT6, and CFP10 as analyzed by Western blotting. When used as coating antibodies, the multi-target antibodies were more efficient in capturing the three antigens than the corresponding mono-target antibodies. By testing clinical serum, the multi-target antibodies demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity for clinical TB diagnosis than all three mono-target antibodies. Conclusion: The multi-target antibodies allowed detecting multiple antigens simultaneously and significantly enhanced TB detection compared to routine mono-target antibodies. Our study may provide a promising strategy for TB diagnosis.
Citizen Satisfaction with Local Public Policies: A Spanish Case Study Based on Image Strategy

The control is one of the factors that can contribute to the success of any organization. In this paper, research for one of the most important control types is presented: the management and evaluation of the local public policies. The research determines citizen satisfaction with local services of a public organization; and, also the criteria, analysis and prescriptions of a different group of experts. Application of this research to a significantly sized municipal results in a descriptive, explicative and prescriptive model system being offered that will greatly assist those responsible at the moment in which they formulate or reformulate performance level tests of services, social events, programs and policies.
Identification of optimality and robustness in dictyostelium external signal receptors

Robust optimal performance of ligand and receptor interaction networks in cellular systems is essential in order for organisms to react appropriately to external stimulation. Recent studies have proposed that certain generic structural properties are highly conserved among the many different types of ligand/receptor interaction networks found in nature. In this paper, we show that the ligand/receptor interaction network employed to relay external cAMP signals in aggregating Dictyostelium discoideum cells exhibits such generic structural characteristics. We also show that the network parameters for the ligand bound cell receptors which are distributed on the outer shell of Dictyostelium discoideum cells are highly optimised, in the sense that the response speed is the fastest possible while ensuring that no overshoot occurs for step changes in external signals. Finally, we show that the response of the network to external signals is extremely robust to variations in the relevant kinetic parameters of the network, the cell volume and the number of receptors present on the surface of the cell.
Regulation of MyD88-Dependent Signaling Events by S Nitrosylation Retards Toll-Like Receptor Signal Transduction and Initiation of Acute-Phase Immune Responses

ABSTRACT Nitric oxide (NO) has been thought to regulate the immune system through S nitrosylation of the transcriptional factor NF-κB. However, regulatory effects of NO on innate immune responses are unclear. Here, we report that NO has a capability to control Toll-like receptor-mediated signaling through S nitrosylation. We found that the adaptor protein MyD88 was primarily S nitrosylated, depending on the presence of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). S nitrosylation at a particular cysteine residue within the TIR domain of MyD88 resulted in slight reduction of the NF-κB-activating property. This modification could be restored by the antioxidant glutathione. Through S nitrosylation, NO could negatively regulate the multiple steps of MyD88 functioning, including translocation to the cell membrane after LPS stimulation, interaction with TIRAP, binding to TRAF6, and induction of IκBα phosphorylation. Interestingly, glutathione could reversely neutralize such NO-derived effects. We also found that an acute febrile response to LPS was precipitated in eNOS-deficient mice, indicating that eNOS-derived NO exerts an initial suppressive effect on inflammatory processes. Thus, NO has a potential to retard induction of MyD88-dependent signaling events through the reversible and oxidative modification by NO, by which precipitous signaling reactions are relieved. Such an effect may reflect appropriate regulation of the acute-phase inflammatory responses in living organisms.
Role Identification of Passiflora Incarnata Linnaeus: A Mini Review

Some species of traditional herbal medicine has a history of use, most traditional natural herbs have been used for various diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Among them, Passiflora incarnata L. is a traditional natural medicine, flowers as well as berries, roots, and leaves have been used as a medicine. It has been used as a natural medicine for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety for a longtime in Europe, and it has been used primarily for sedation tea in North America. Moreover, Passiflora incarnata L. is widely used anti-asthmatic, analgesic and sedation in Brazil. In other words, Passiflora incarnata L. has been used to treat a sedative, dysmenorrhea, insomnia, cancer, etc. in many countries. Present review of the plants showed a wide range of pharmacological activity in anxiolytic relax the clinical disease, such as anti-inflammatory, anxiety and antioxidant. In addition, Passiflora incarnata L. affects menopause symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms, insomnia, and depression. This review aims to provide the latest information on specific functional components of Passiflora incarnata L. especially the results of clinical trials will provide new insights into opportunities for the future development of natural medicines and doors will be used for purposes of analysis.
Effect of beta-glucanase supplementation to hulless barley- or wheat-soybean meal diets on the digestibilities of energy, protein, beta-glucans, and amino acids in young pigs.

Studies were carried out to determine the effect of beta-glucanase supplementation to hulless barley-soybean meal (HB+SBM) or wheat-soybean meal (W+SBM) diets on the digestibilities of GE, CP, beta-glucans, and amino acids. Twelve barrows, average BW 7.3 kg, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, approximately 5 cm from the ileo-cecal sphincter. After a 7-d recuperation period, six pigs were allotted to each dietary treatment according to a two-period crossover design. Both diets were formulated to contain 20% CP without and with supplementation of . 2% beta-glucanase. beta-glucanase refers to a mixture of enzymes with endo- and exo-beta-glucanase and beta-glucosidase activities. Chromic oxide was included as a digestibility marker. The pigs were fed three times daily at 0800, 1600, and 2400 and the daily allowance was offered at a rate of 5% of BW. Each experimental period lasted 9 d. Feces were collected for 48 h on d 6 and 7 and ileal digesta for a total of 24 h on d 8 and 9. beta-glucanase supplementation to the HB+SBM diet increased (P < .05 or P < .01) the ileal digestibilities of GE, CP, beta-glucans, and the majority of the amino acids and the fecal digestibilities of GE, CP, and all amino acids measured; the fecal digestibility of beta-glucans in the HB+SBM diet was not affected by beta-glucanase supplementation. There was no effect (P > .05) of beta-glucanase supplementation to the W+SBM diet on the ileal digestibilities of any criteria measured except for beta-glucans (P < .05). The supplementation of beta-glucanase to the W+SBM diet increased (P < .05) the fecal digestibility of energy but not (P > .05) the other criteria measured.
First-Time Isolation and Characterization of a Bacteriophage Encoding the Shiga Toxin 2c Variant, Which Is Globally Spread in Strains of Escherichia coli O157

ABSTRACT A bacteriophage encoding the Shiga toxin 2c variant (Stx2c) was isolated from the human Escherichia coli O157 strain CB2851 and shown to form lysogens on the E. coli K-12 laboratory strains C600 and MG1655. Production of Stx2c was found in the wild-type E. coli O157 strain and the K-12 lysogens and was inducible by growing bacteria in the presence of ciprofloxacin. Phage 2851 is the first reported viable bacteriophage which carries an stx2c gene. Electron micrographs of phage 2851 showed particles with elongated hexagonal heads and long flexible tails resembling phage lambda. Sequence analysis of an 8.4-kb region flanking the stx2c gene and other genetic elements revealed a mosaic gene structure, as found in other Stx phages. Phage 2851 showed lysis of E. coli K-12 strains lysogenic for Stx phages encoding Stx1 (H19), Stx2 (933W), Stx (7888), and Stx1c (6220) but showed superinfection immunity with phage lambda, presumably originating from the similarity of the cI repressor proteins of both phages. Apparently, phage 2851 integrates at a different chromosomal locus than Stx2 phage 933W and Stx1 phage H19 in E. coli, explaining why Stx2c is often found in combination with Stx1 or Stx2 in E. coli O157 strains. Diagnostic PCR was performed to determine gene sequences specific for phage 2851 in wild-type E. coli O157 strains producing Stx2c. The phage 2851 q and o genes were frequently detected in Stx2c-producing E. coli O157 strains, indicating that phages related to 2851 are associated with Stx2c production in strains of E. coli O157 that were isolated in different locations and time periods.