Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of temperature for health and productivity in offices

LBNL-55448 CONTROL OF TEMPERATURE FOR HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY IN OFFICES Olli Seppanen 1 , William J. Fisk 2 , David Faulkner 2 Helsinki University of Technology Institute of Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning Espoo, Finland Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Environmental Energy Technologies Division Indoor Environment Department Berkeley, CA 94720 June 2004 This work was supported by the Finnish Technology Agency and the Finnish Work Environment Fund, project Productive Office 2005. This work was also supported by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technology Program of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC03-76SF00098.
Bacterial Profiling Reveals Novel “Ca. Neoehrlichia”, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma Species in Australian Human-Biting Ticks

In Australia, a conclusive aetiology of Lyme disease-like illness in human patients remains elusive, despite growing numbers of people presenting with symptoms attributed to tick bites. In the present study, we surveyed the microbial communities harboured by human-biting ticks from across Australia to identify bacteria that may contribute to this syndrome. Universal PCR primers were used to amplify the V1-2 hyper-variable region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes in DNA samples from individual Ixodes holocyclus (n = 279), Amblyomma triguttatum (n = 167), Haemaphysalis bancrofti (n = 7), and H. longicornis (n = 7) ticks. The 16S amplicons were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform and analysed in USEARCH, QIIME, and BLAST to assign genus and species-level taxonomies. Nested PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to confirm the NGS data and further analyse novel findings. All 460 ticks were negative for Borrelia spp. by both NGS and nested PCR analysis. Two novel “Candidatus Neoehrlichia” spp. were identified in 12.9% of I. holocyclus ticks. A novel Anaplasma sp. was identified in 1.8% of A. triguttatum ticks, and a novel Ehrlichia sp. was identified in both A. triguttatum (1.2%) ticks and a single I. holocyclus (0.6%) tick. Further phylogenetic analysis of novel “Ca. Neoehrlichia”, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia based on 1,265 bp 16S rRNA gene sequences suggests that these are new species. Determining whether these newly discovered organisms cause disease in humans and animals, like closely related bacteria do abroad, is of public health importance and requires further investigation.
Speleomycological research in underground Osówka complex in Sowie Mountains (Lower Silesia, Poland)

3. As described geologically, Osowka is situated within the Sowie Mts. Massif which consists mostly of various gneisses with different structural characteristics, but with a constant mineral composition. The rock-forming minerals are feldspar (oligoclase), quartz, biotite and light micas, accesory minerals are garnet, sillimanite and dysten. Finegrained shallow-sea deposits were probably a protolith of these rocks. The study aimed at first mycological evaluation of the air and the rocks in Osowka adit. The air samples were taken from one location outside the adit and from four locations inside of it. Mycological evaluation of the rocks inside the adit was performed using three different methods. Fifteen taxa of filamentous fungi were isolated from the internal air sampled, and several taxa - from the outside of the adit, whereas only eleven species were isolated from the rocks. Cladosporium spp. were the fungi most frequently isolated from internal atmosphere of the underground Osowka complex, and from the external air. On the other hand, the fungi most frequently isolated from the rocks were Aspergillus niger group (when using swab sampling procedure) and Mucor spp. (from debris and rinse sampling procedure). adit; Osowka; fungi; air; rocks
Radionuclide Imaging of Neurohormonal System of the Heart

Heart failure is one of the growing causes of death especially in developed countries due to longer life expectancy. Although many pharmacological and instrumental therapeutic approaches have been introduced for prevention and treatment of heart failure, there are still limitations and challenges. Nuclear cardiology has experienced rapid growth in the last few decades, in particular the application of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), which allow non-invasive functional assessment of cardiac condition including neurohormonal systems involved in heart failure; its application has dramatically improved the capacity for fundamental research and clinical diagnosis. In this article, we review the current status of applying radionuclide technology in non-invasive imaging of neurohormonal system in the heart, especially focusing on the tracers that are currently available. A short discussion about disadvantages and perspectives is also included.
Role of GLUT4 on angiotensin 2-induced systemic and renal hemodynamics

Cross-talk between insulin and the renin angiotensin system signaling system shows that angiotensin 2 (A2) negatively modulates insulin signaling by stimulating multiple serine phosphorylation events in the early stages of the insulin-signaling cascade; however, the biological actions of A2 on insulin sensitivity remain controversial. Preservation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression during hypertension has been shown to prevent the increased vascular reactivity associated with hypertension. This study tested the hypothesis that GLUT4 contributes to the renal actions of A2. In the euvolemic anesthetized rat, acute infusion of the GLUT4 antagonist, indinavir (1 mg/kg/minute), enhanced an A2-induced increase in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) (P < 0.01), but attenuated an A2-induced increase in medullary blood flow (MBF) and glomerular filtration rate (P < 0.01). Insulin, a GLUT4 activator (20 mU/kg/minute and 40 mU/kg/minute), decreased basal MABP and urine volume (P < 0.05), but it increased MBF, and these effects were reversed and blunted by indinavir. Subchronic indinavir treatment (80 mg/kg/day orally for 15 days) did not affect A2-induced changes in MABP, cortical blood flow, and MBF, but significantly decreased basal MBF (P < 0.01) and global kidney perfusion (P < 0.05). We concluded that acute but not subchronic inhibition of GLUT4 alters A2-induced changes in systemic and renal hemodynamics by attenuating A2-induced increase in MBF and glomerular filtration rate.
Ancient DNA from pollen: a genetic record of population history in Scots pine

Assessments of plant population dynamics in space and time have depended on dated records of fossil pollen synthesized on a subcontinental scale. Genetic analyses of extant populations have revealed spatial relationships that are indicative of past spatial dynamics, but lack an explicit timescale. Synthesis of these data requires genetic analyses from abundant dated fossil material, and this has hitherto been lacking. Fossil pollen is the most abundant material with which to fill this data gap. Here we report genetic analyses of fossil pollen retrieved from Holtjärnen postglacial lake sediment in Sweden and show that plastid DNA is recoverable from Scots Pine and Norway spruce pollen grains that are 100 and 10 000 years old. By sequencing clones from two short plastid PCR products and by using multiple controls we show that the ancient sequences were endogenous to the fossil grains. Comparison of ancient sequences and those obtained from an extant population of Scots pine establishes the first genetic link between extant and fossil samples in this species, providing genetic continuity through time. The finding of one common haplotype present in modern, 100‐year old and 10 000‐year old samples suggests that it may have persisted near Holtjärnen throughout the postglacial period. This retrieval of ancient DNA from pollen has major implications for plant palaeoecology in conifer species by allowing direct estimates of population dynamics in space and time.
Who is The Fairest One of All? How Evolution Guides Peer and Media Influences on Female Body Dissatisfaction

Much attention has focused on the influence of media images of thin women on body dissatisfaction among female viewers. Disagreement exists regarding the nature of media influences, with meta-analytic results suggesting only small effect sizes. Fewer researchers have focused on the role of peer influences and peer competition on female body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, the relation between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders may be more complex than is often implied in the media effects literature. Links between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders may be overstated, and some eating disorders, primarily anorexia nervosa, may not always be motivated primarily by body dissatisfaction. The current paper discusses these issues from an evolutionary perspective, examining how sociocultural forces influence the intensity of female competition and how such competition effects body dissatisfaction.
Prediction of remaining life of power transformers based on left truncated and right censored lifetime data

Prediction of the remaining life of high-voltage power transformers is an important issue for energy companies because of the need for planning maintenance and capital expenditures. Lifetime data for such transformers are complicated because transformer lifetimes can extend over many decades and transformer designs and manufacturing practices have evolved. We were asked to develop statisticallybased predictions for the lifetimes of an energy company’s fleet of high-voltage transmission and distribution transformers. The company’s data records begin in 1980, providing information on installation and failure dates of transformers. Although the dataset contains many units that were installed before 1980, there is no information about units that were installed and failed before 1980. Thus, the data are left truncated and right censored. We use a parametric lifetime model to describe the lifetime distribution of individual transformers. We develop a statistical procedure, based on age-adjusted life distributions, for computing a prediction interval for remaining life for individual transformers now in service. We then extend these ideas to provide predictions and prediction intervals for the cumulative number of failures, over a range of time, for the overall fleet of transformers.
Separate and Combined Response to UV-B Radiation and Jasmonic Acid on Photosynthesis and Growth Characteristics of Scutellaria baicalensis

The negative effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B) on plant growth and development have been reported with many species. Considering the ability of jasmonic acid (JA) to improve plant stress tolerance, the hypothesis that JA pretreatment could alleviate the adverse effects of UV-B on S. baicalensis was tested in this study with photosynthesis and growth characteristics. The results showed that UV-B or JA alone both induced photosynthesis inhibition and decreased biomass in stems and leaves. However, the photosynthetic reduction caused by increased UV-B was mainly related to the effect of nonstomatal-limitation, while that of JA was a stomatal-limitation effect. JA pretreatment prior to UV-B could remit the photosynthetic inhibition via the recovery of chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance; and intercellular CO2 concentration (especially the maximum electron transport rate increase). Furthermore, the coaction of JA and enhanced UV-B alleviated some disadvantageous effects on the leaf and did not aggravate the growth damage induced by their separate actions.
Human Periodontal Ligament Cells Response to Commercially Available Calcium Hydroxide Pastes

Several studies have shown that calcium hydroxidebased medicaments have a cytotoxic effect on human cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytoxicity of several calcium hydroxideproducts on periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. Calcium hydroxide powder (Avantor Performance Materials Inc.), Calasept® (Nordiska Dental AB), Metapaste® (Meta Biomed Co., Ltd.), Vitapex® (Neo Dental International Inc.), Ultracal® (Ultradent Products, Inc.), and Pulpdent® (Pulpdent Corporation) products were tested. PDL cells were exposed to various concentrations of calcium hydroxidefrom each product (1.0, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 mg/mL). Cell viability was measured after 24 h and 48 h by Cell Proliferation Assay. All materials tested had a more toxic effect on PDL cells after 48 h.At 24 and 48 h, Metapaste® was the most toxic regardless of concentrations used. Products with a1.0 and 0.5 mg/mL concentra- tion hadstatistically significant more cytotoxic effectswhen compared to the negative control. Pure calcium hydroxide and Calacept® induced 35% cell death at a 1 mg/mL concentration and 15-20% cell death at 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 mg/mL after 24 h. Pulpdent® and Ultracal® induced 30-35% cell death at a 1 mg/mL concentration and its effect diminished at 0.25 and 0.125 mg/mL at 24 h. The Vitapex® preparation induced 20% PDL cell death at 24 h regardless of the concentration and was the least toxic significantly at 1 mg/ mL compared to other brands, except Pulpdent®, at the same concentration at 24 h.All calcium hydroxideproducts showed evidence of cytoxicity on PDL cells, with Metapaste being the most cytotoxic. The cytotoxicity was related to concentration and exposure time. Pulpdent® and Ultracal® had excellent biocompatibility at lower concentrations.
Structural and chemical orders in Ni 64 . 5 Zr 35 . 5 metallic glass by molecular dynamics simulation

L. Tang,1,2 T. Q. Wen,2,3 N. Wang,3,* Y. Sun,2 F. Zhang,2 Z. J. Yang,1,2 K. M. Ho,2,4 and C. Z. Wang2,4,* 1Department of Applied Physics, College of Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China 2Ames Laboratory-USDOE, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA 3MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China 4Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
Internet Versus Mailed Questionnaires: A Controlled Comparison (2)

Background Low response rates among surgeons can threaten the validity of surveys. Internet technologies may reduce the time, effort, and financial resources needed to conduct surveys. Objective We investigated whether using Web-based technology could increase the response rates to an international survey. Methods We solicited opinions from the 442 surgeon–members of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association regarding the treatment of femoral neck fractures. We developed a self-administered questionnaire after conducting a literature review, focus groups, and key informant interviews, for which we used sampling to redundancy techniques. We administered an Internet version of the questionnaire on a Web site, as well as a paper version, which looked similar to the Internet version and which had identical content. Only those in our sample could access the Web site. We alternately assigned the participants to receive the survey by mail (n=221) or an email invitation to participate on the Internet (n=221). Non-respondents in the mail arm received up to three additional copies of the survey, while non-respondents in the Internet arm received up to three additional requests, including a final mailed copy. All participants in the Internet arm had an opportunity to request an emailed Portable Document Format (PDF) version. Results The Internet arm demonstrated a lower response rate (99/221, 45%) than the mail questionnaire arm (128/221, 58%) (absolute difference 13%, 95% confidence interval 4%-22%, P<0.01). Conclusions Our Internet-based survey to surgeons resulted in a significantly lower response rate than a traditional mailed survey. Researchers should not assume that the widespread availability and potential ease of Internet-based surveys will translate into higher response rates.
The Role of TLR4 896 A>G and 1196 C>T in Susceptibility to Infections: A Review and Meta-Analysis of Genetic Association Studies

Background Toll-like receptor 4 plays a role in pathogen recognition, and common polymorphisms may alter host susceptibility to infectious diseases. Purpose To review the association of two common polymorphisms (TLR4 896A>G and TLR4 1196C>T) with infectious diseases. Data Sources We searched PubMed and EMBASE up to March 2013 for pertinent literature in English, and complemented search with references lists of eligible studies. Study Selection We included all studies that: reported an infectious outcome; had a case-control design and reported the TLR4 896A>G and/or TLR4 1196C>T genotype frequencies; 59 studies fulfilled these criteria and were analyzed. Data Extraction Two authors independently extracted study data. Data Synthesis The generalized odds ratio metric (ORG) was used to quantify the impact of TLR4 variants on disease susceptibility. A meta-analysis was undertaken for outcomes reported in >1 study. Eleven of 37 distinct outcomes were significant. TLR4 896 A>G increased risk for all parasitic infections (ORG 1.59; 95%CI 1.05-2.42), malaria (1.31; 95%CI 1.04-1.66), brucellosis (2.66; 95%CI 1.66-4.27), cutaneous leishmaniasis (7.22; 95%CI 1.91-27.29), neurocysticercosis (4.39; 95%CI 2.53-7.61), Streptococcus pyogenes tonsillar disease (2.93; 95%CI 1.24-6.93) , typhoid fever (2.51; 95%CI 1.18-5.34) and adult urinary tract infections (1.98; 95%CI 1.04-3.98), but was protective for leprosy (0.36; 95%CI 0.22-0.60). TLR4 1196 C>T effects were similar to TLR4 896 A>G for brucellosis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, leprosy, typhoid fever and S. pyogenes tonsillar disease, and was protective for bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy (0.55; 95%CI 0.31-0.98) and Haemophilus influenzae tonsillar disease (0.42; 95%CI 0.17-1.00). The majority of significant associations were among predominantly Asian populations and significant associations were rare among European populations. Conclusions Depending on the type of infection and population, TLR4 polymorphisms are associated with increased, decreased or no difference in infectious disease. This may be due to differential functional expression of TLR4, the co-segregation of TLR4 variants or a favorable inflammatory response.
Discretized model of proteins. I. Monte Carlo study of cooperativity in homopolypeptides

A discretized model of globular proteins is employed in a Monte Carlo study of the helix–coil transition of polyalanine and the collapse transition of polyvaline. The present lattice realization permits real protein crystal structures to be represented at the level of 1 A resolution. Furthermore, the Monte Carlo dynamic scheme is capable of moving elements of assembled secondary and supersecondary structure. The potentials of mean force for the interactions are constructed from the statistics of a set of high resolution x‐ray structures of nonhomologous proteins. The cooperativity of formation of ordered structures is found to be larger when the major contributions to the conformational energy of the low temperature states come from hydrogen bonds and short range conformational propensities. The secondary structure seen in the folded state is the result of an interplay between the short and long range interactions. Compactness itself, driven by long range, nonspecific interactions, seems to be insufficien.
Social network cohesion in school classes promotes prosocial behavior

Adolescence is a key period of social development at the end of which individuals are expected to take on adult social roles. The school class, as the most salient peer group, becomes the prime environment that impacts social development during adolescence. Using social network analyses, we investigated how individual and group level features are related to prosocial behavior and social capital (generalized trust). We mapped the social networks within 22 classrooms of adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years (N = 611), and collected data on social behaviors towards peers. Our results indicate that individuals with high centrality show both higher levels of prosocial behavior and relational aggression. Importantly, greater social cohesion in the classroom was associated with (1) reduced levels of antisocial behavior towards peers and (2) increased generalized trust. These results provide novel insights in the relationship between social structure and social behavior, and stress the importance of the school environment in the development of not only intellectual but also social capital.
Advanced Ceramic Target Materials Produced by Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis for Deposition of Functional Nanostructured Coatings - Part 1: Four Elements and Less Systems

The introduction of doping elements Al and Si into the coatings allows one to attain a combination of the high characteristics of the hardness and wear resistance with a relatively low friction coefficient. One important factor in increasing of the durability of different products is the provision of thermal stability and oxidation resistance at high temperatures [1, 2]. Therefore, the problem of the development of hard wear-resistant coatings with high thermal stability, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance is very urgent. In this work, the possibility of synthesizing of promising composite materials based on TiCyNz, Ti5Si3, and TiAl3 from the reactionary mixtures in the Ti–Al–Si3N4–C system is shown. As the initial components of the reactionary mixtures we used powders of titanium, aluminum, technical carbon (ash) of above-mentioned grades, and silicon nitride (TU 88-1143-88). The mixtures composition was determined from the accounting of the complete transformation of the initial reagents and the formation of the product with phase composition described by the general formula
The Effect of Ad Libitum Carbohydrate-Electrolyte or Placebo Solution Intake on Fluid Balance and Soccer Skill Performance of Preadolescent Boys in Warm Environment

Motion analysis studies in soccer have shown that players run at high intensity about every 70 seconds and sprint every 90 seconds while performing a number of technical skills such as passes, headings and tackles trying simultaneously to maintain control of the ball against the pressure of the opponent [36]. Under these circumstances body temperature increases even if competition takes place in a cold environment [21]. When a match is played in the heat (31°C) it has been observed that sprint, jump and high-intensity running performance are compromised especially towards the end of the game [22]. Sweat losses reported from soccer squads present a wide range of values (1.5 4.4 L) that is not attributable only to the variability of the weather conditions but also to the large variability in sweating responses even if measurements take place in the same training session where players perform the same training under the same environmental conditions [18, 31, 32]. So, dehydration will eventually occur despite fluid intake as a result of heat loss by evaporation in an attempt the body to limit the rise in core temperature. It has been reported that in an official soccer match over about a 3 hour period representing the arrival of the players to the soccer pitch up to the end of the game an average dehydration of about 3.4% body mass was observed as a result of a mean sweat loss of 4.4 L with individual values to be greater than 5% body mass reduction and swat losses more than 6 L [6]. Dehydration is also reported to impair performance of tasks that require cognition and skill [18]. Therefore, soccer players are advised to replace water and electrolyte losses caused as a result of their participation in the game otherwise fatigue and impaired performance of skilled tasks will occur [11]. Considering the type of fluid consumed it should be taken into account that the ingestion of plain water in Abstract