Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of the Growth Regimes of Nanodiamond and Nanographite in Microwave Plasmas

Moderate-pressure microwave plasmas are used to deposit functional nanomaterials consisting of nanodiamond (ND) and/or nanographite. The growth conditions of ND, carbon nanowalls (CNWs), and ND/CNW composite films are categorized in a process map as functions of substrate temperature and Ar concentration with or without scratching pretreatment using diamond powder. Addition of high fractions of Ar to CH4 plasmas facilitates the formation of C2 radicals, which is responsible for decreasing the diamond grain size in ND film and enhancing graphitization into the form of graphitic walls in CNWs. The deposition of ND film is limited by substrate surface condition (scratching and seeding) rather than gas-phase condition, whereas that of CNWs is governed by gas-phase condition. A combination of a C2-rich plasma with scratching pretreatment results in ND/CNW composite film, which increases the space between the walls favorably for better performance of field emission. Based on the insights into gas-phase and surface processes, the deposition mechanism of ND/CNW composite film is discussed to explore the possibility of controlling nano-arrangement of the walls.
Evidence That Theory of Planned Behaviour Variables Mediate the Effects of Socio-demographic Variables on Homeless People's Participation in Service Programmes

This article reports findings from two studies (N = 88, N = 100) using Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to predict homeless people's uptake of service programmes. Study 1 was conducted with an opportunity sample whereas Study 2 employed a representative sample. Both studies provide support for the application of the TPB, and demonstrate that the effects of demographic characteristics on behaviour were mediated by TPB variables. The discussion focuses on the role of attitudinal and normative components in actual behaviour, and on the potential role of social normative processes and stigmatization in homeless people's uptake of services.
CRECIMIENTO Y ABSORCION DE NUTRIENTES DEL MELON BAJO INVERNADERO

Se ha estudiado el crecimiento vegetativo y la absorcion de nutrientes en un cultivo de melon (Cucumis melo L.) cv Toledo bajo invernadero, con una densidad de plantacion de 0,5 plantas/m. Las plantas se muestrearon periodicamente durante 125 dias despues del trasplante para determinar la materia seca y analizar el contenido de macronutrientes. La produccion total de materia seca en el periodo de muestreo fue de 1,1 kg/m, contribuyendo los frutos con el 72,5 p. 100 del total. El indice de area foliar fue de 4,6 a los 125 dias despues del trasplante, consiguiendose la mayor eficiencia foliar expresada como asimilacion neta media entre 0 y 35 dias despues del trasplante. Las cantidades totales de macronutrientes absorbidos por el cultivo fueron en g/m: 20,2 de N, 3,4 de P, 41,3 de K, 16,9 de Ca y 8,3 de Mg. Las tasas de absorcion mas elevadas de N, P, K, y Mg se produjeron en el periodo de mayor desarrollo de los frutos y la de Ca en el periodo de mayor crecimiento foliar.
Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Greece: temporal trends in HCV genotype‐specific incidence and molecular characterization of genotype 4 isolates

Summary. This study aimed to estimate the overall HCV genotype distribution and to reconstruct the HCV genotype‐specific incidence in Greece during the recent decades. It also focused at the identification of genotype 4 subtype variability in Greek isolates. A total of 1686 chronically infected HCV patients with detectable serum HCV RNA by RT‐PCR, belonging to different risk groups were studied. Amplified products from the 5′‐noncoding region were typed using a commercially available assay based on the reverse hybridization principle. The HCV genotype‐specific incidence was estimated using a previously described back calculation method. HCV genotype 1 was the most prevalent (46.9%) followed by genotype 3 (28.1%), 4 (13.2%), 2 (6.9%) and 5 (0.4%). A high prevalence of genotype 1 (66.3%) in haemophilia patients was recorded whereas HCV genotype 3 was found mainly among patients infected by I.V. drug use (58.2%). Data on the temporal patterns of HCV genotype‐specific incidence in Greece revealed a moderate increase (1.3–1.6 times) for genotypes 1 and 4, and a decrease (1.5 times) for genotype 2 from 1970 to 1990, whereas there was a sharp (13‐fold) increase for genotype 3. The molecular characterization of 41 genotype 4 HCV isolates belonging to various risk groups revealed that, subtype 4a was the most frequently detected (78%). Phylogenetic comparison of the Greek 4a isolates with all HCV‐4a isolates reported worldwide so far revealed a topology which does not discriminate Greek isolates from the others. HCV‐4 does not represent a recent introduction in Greece.
The Ume6 regulon coordinates metabolic and meiotic gene expression in yeast

The Ume6 transcription factor in yeast is known to both repress and activate expression of diverse genes during growth and meiotic development. To obtain a more complete profile of the functions regulated by this protein, microarray analysis was used to examine transcription in wild-type and ume6Δ diploids during vegetative growth in glucose and acetate. Two different genetic backgrounds (W303 and SK1) were examined to identify a core set of strain-independent Ume6-regulated genes. Among genes whose expression is controlled by Ume6 in both backgrounds, 82 contain homologies to the Ume6-binding site (URS1) and are expected to be directly regulated by Ume6. The vast majority of those whose functions are known participate in carbon/nitrogen metabolism and/or meiosis. Approximately half of the Ume6 direct targets are induced during meiosis, with most falling into the early meiotic expression class (cluster 4), and a smaller subset in the middle and later classes (clusters 5–7). Based on these data, we propose that Ume6 serves a unique role in diploid cells, coupling metabolic responses to nutritional cues with the initiation and progression of meiosis. Finally, expression patterns in the two genetic backgrounds suggest that SK1 is better adapted to respiration and W303 to fermentation, which may in part account for the more efficient and synchronous sporulation of SK1.
Antimicrobial resistance pattern of bacterial foodborne pathogens

The aim of the present study was to determine the a ntimicrobial resistance pattern of bacterial foodbo rne pathogens and to know the suitable antibiotic in controlling of foodborne pathogens. Escherichia coli, Salmonell a typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus , Pseudomonas Sps were tested with twelve antibioti cs by disc diffusion method. Among all antibiotic streptomycin , cefpodoxeme, Clindamycin and Kanamycin; clindamyc in and streptomycin; nalidixic acid and clindamycin; kanam ycin, gentamycin and tetracycline and norfloxacilin , streptomycin and kanamycin were shown greater inhib ition of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomo nas Sps. respectively. Ampicillin, nalidixic acid a nd gentamycin; ampicillin, tetracycline and gentamycin ; ampicillin, norfloxicin, cefpodoxeme and nitrofur ontaine; and ampicillin, cotrimaxzole and nitrofurontaine were n ot inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli, Salmo nella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cer eus respectively. Pseudomonas Sps. growth was not c ontrolled by any one antibiotic disc used in the study.
Natural history of node-positive breast cancer: the curability of small cancers with a limited number of positive nodes.

PURPOSE The long-term outcome of node-positive breast cancer was analyzed to determine the risk of metastatic disease as a function of tumor size and number of positive nodes. METHODS From 1927 to 1987, 501 women with node-positive breast cancer were treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Patients were treated with radical, extended radical, or modified radical mastectomy. Forty-eight patients received multiagent chemotherapy, and 118 were treated with hormonal therapy. The mean survival duration is 120 months, with a maximal follow-up time of 485 months (40 years). RESULTS The number of nodes that contained metastatic disease and the pathologic size of the primary tumor were significant determinants of disease-free-survival (DFS) by multivariate analysis (P < .001). In patients with fewer than four positive nodes, tumor size was of prognostic importance, with small tumors more likely to be cured by local-regional therapy. The 20-year DFS rate for patients with one positive node was 69%; however, if the primary tumor was < or = 2 cm, the 20-year DFS rate was 81%, compared with 59% if the tumor was larger than 2 cm. Patients with two or three positive nodes had a 73% 20-year DFS rate if the tumor size was < or = 2 cm, compared with 53% 20-year DFS in patients with tumors larger than 2 cm. CONCLUSION In patients with T1 lesions with less than four nodes positive, the long-term DFS rate is comparable to that for node-negative breast cancer of the same size. Four or more nodes positive is an indicator of likely systemic disease.
Identifying Symptom Co-Occurrence in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a myriad of symptoms. There is some evidence that symptoms may co-occur, or happen in particular combinations. Yet most existing studies focus on single symptoms and practitioners make a priori care decisions based on individual symptoms alone. We examined symptom co-occurrences in patients with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), collecting qualitative and quantitative data (mixed methods; N = 140). Content analysis revealed fatigue, heat intolerance, numbness, balance problems, and leg weakness as the most common symptoms. Factor analysis revealed the following factors: urinary, problems with balance, vision, heat, depression, and sleep. These preliminary findings indicate co-occurrence of several disabling symptoms from the overall self-report MS-Related Symptom Scale and 3-month recall. This information will guide health care professionals in developing targeted interventions and improve outcomes.
Nonclassical Channel Design in MOSFETs for Improving OTA Gain-Bandwidth Trade-Off

In this paper, gain-bandwidth (GB) trade-off associated with analog device/circuit design due to conflicting requirements for enhancing gain and cutoff frequency is examined. It is demonstrated that the use of a nonclassical source/drain (S/D) profile (also known as underlap channel) can alleviate the GB trade-off associated with analog design. Operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with 60 nm underlap S/D MOSFETs achieve 15 dB higher open loop voltage gain (AVO_OTA) along with three times higher cutoff frequency (fT_OTA) as compared to OTA with classical nonunderlap S/D regions. Underlap design provides a methodology for scaling analog devices into the sub-100 nm regime and is advantageous for high temperature applications with OTA, preserving functionality up to 540 K. Advantages of underlap architecture over graded channel (GC) or laterally asymmetric channel (LAC) design in terms of GB behavior are demonstrated. Impact of transistor structural parameters on the performance of OTA is also analyzed. Results show that underlap OTAs designed with spacer-to-straggle (s/ σ) ratio of 3.2 and operated below a bias current (IBIAS) of 80 μA demonstrate optimum performance. The present work provides new opportunities for realizing future ultra wide band OTA design with underlap DG MOSFETs in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology.
N-terminal-proB-type natriuretic peptide predicts cardiovascular disease events in HIV-infected patients

Background:Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing in HIV-infected patients. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a significant predictor of CVD in the general population. We aimed to quantify the risk of CVD events associated with NT-proBNP at baseline in the Strategies for Management of Anti-Retroviral Therapy study. Methods:In a nested case–control study, NT-proBNP was measured at baseline in 186 patients who experienced a CVD event over an average of 2.8 years of follow-up and in 329 matched controls. Odds ratios (ORs) associated with baseline levels of NT-proBNP for CVD were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results:At baseline median NT-proBNP [interquartile range (IQR)] was 48.1 (18.5, 112.9) pg/ml in patients who developed a CVD event and 25.7 (12.4, 50.2) pg/ml in controls. The unadjusted OR for the highest versus the lowest quartile was 3.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1–6.5, P < 0.0001]. After adjustment for baseline covariates and CVD risk factors, OR was 2.8 (95% CI 1.4–5.6, P = 0.003); with additional adjustment for IL-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and D-dimer, OR was 2.3 (95% CI 1.1–4.9, P = 0.02). Conclusions:Higher levels of NT-proBNP are associated with increased risk of CVD in HIV patients after considering established CVD risk factors and markers for inflammation and thrombosis.
Physical activity and social support in adolescents: analysis of different types and sources of social support

Abstract Little is known about the influence of different types and sources of social support on physical activity in adolescents. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between physical activity and different types and sources of social support in adolescents. The sample consisted of 2,859 adolescents between 14–19 years of age in the city of João Pessoa, in Northeastern Brazil. Physical activity was measured with a questionnaire and social support from parents and friends using a 10-item scale five for each group (type of support: encouragement, joint participation, watching, inviting, positive comments and transportation). Multivariable analysis showed that the types of support provided by parents associated with physical activity in adolescents were encouragement for females (P < 0.001) and adolescents between 14–16 years of age (P = 0.003), and transportation (P = 0.014) and comments (P = 0.037) for males. The types of social support provided by friends were: joint participation in male adolescents (P < 0.001) and in these 17–19-year-olds (P < 0.001), and comments in both genders (males: P = 0.009; females: P < 0.001) and 14–16-year-olds (P < 0.001). We conclude that the type of social support associated with physical activity varies according to its source, as well as the gender and age of the adolescents.
External quality assessment of prothrombin time: The split‐sample model compared with external quality assessment with commercial control material

Objective. CoaguChek S is a point‐of‐care, whole‐blood, prothrombin time monitor. The purpose of this study was to compare two different methods for external quality assessments of CoaguChek S. Material and methods. In the traditional external quality assessment scheme, commercial control material was sent to office laboratories and the results were compared with a method‐specific target value. In the alternative external quality assessment (the split‐sample survey) patient samples were analyzed on CoaguChek S at office laboratories, and venous blood samples from the same patients were analyzed at a hospital laboratory using an assigned comparison method. To obtain comparable performance criteria for the two methods, the limits for “good”, “acceptable” and “poor” performance evaluation in the split‐sample survey had to be expanded because of uncertainties in preanalytical factors and the comparison method. Results. In the traditional external quality assessment the total imprecision (between‐office and within‐office) was 8.0 % at the low level (1.6 INR (International Normalized Ratio)) and 10.5 % at the therapeutic level (3.4 INR). In the split‐sample survey the total imprecision was 12.3 % at the low level (2.1 INR) and 10.7 % at the high level (3.0 INR). Seventy‐five percent of the participating office laboratories were characterized as “good” with the traditional external quality assessments, whereas the corresponding number was 73 % using the split‐sample model. Conclusions. Available commercial control material for CoaguChek S is different from patient samples. This study demonstrates that split‐sample survey is achievable, and is an acceptable alternative to traditional external quality assessment for point‐of‐care prothrombin time monitors where appropriate control material is difficult to obtain.
SOME FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SENSITIVITY OF BODY TEMPERATURE TO ACTIVITY IN NEONATES

In adult humans, core temperature is influenced by activity; the sensitivity of core temperature to such effects shows a phase dependence and is also influenced by the environment and whether the individual is asleep or awake. We have investigated if similar effects are evident in neonates, in whom thermoregulation and the circadian rhythm of core temperature are not fully developed. Eleven full-term, healthy babies were studied singly (light 07:00–19:00) at 2 days of age and again 4 weeks after birth; between these times, they were tended routinely on a communal ward. On study days, 10-minute recordings were made of rectal and skin (abdominal) temperature, heart rate (HR), and behavioral state. Sensitivities of the temperatures to activity (“arousal”) were assessed throughout the 24h by measuring the gradient of (temperature/HR). Sensitivities measured at 01:00, 05:00, 09:00, 13:00,17:00, and 21:00 were used as dependent variables in stepwise regression and linear regression analyses, with “subjects” “light versus dark”, “behavioral state”, and “difference between time of measurement and the acrophase of the endogenous component of the temperature rhythm” (ignoring sign) as possible predictors. (Acrophases of the temperature rhythms had been estimated from 24h data purified using the behavioral state record.) Light versus dark acted as a significant predictor of the sensitivity of rectal temperature to arousal on day 2 and week 4, the sensitivity increasing in the light, and there was limited evidence for behavioral state acting as a predictor on day 2. Neither factor was a significant predictor when the sensitivity of the babies' skin temperatures to arousal was investigated. There was also some evidence that the difference between the time of measurement and the temperature acrophase acted as a predictor of sensitivity to arousal in both rectal (day 2) and skin (week 4) temperature, with larger differences decreasing the sensitivity. These results indicate that there are masking effects on body temperature due to arousal in neonates, the size of which depends on both internal and external factors. However, this sensitivity of temperature to arousal shows differences from the sensitivity of temperature to physical activity in both adult humans and adult mice. One possible explanation of this result is that temperature regulation and the circadian system are not fully developed in humans at this age. (Chronobiology International, 17(5), 679–692, 2000)
Neonatal aortic arch obstruction due to pedunculated left ventricular foetal myxoma

Abstract Myxoma in neonatal life are extremely rare. We report a case of a neonate with a pedunculated cardiac tumour arising from the anterolateral left ventricular wall protruding across the left ventricular outflow tract and continuously extending into the distal aortic arch. Surgical removal at 14 days of age via combined transaortic approach and apical ventriculotomy was indicated because of the risk of further compromise of aortic valve function and aortic arch obstruction. Histopathologic examination was consistent with a myxoma.
Egress of Alphaherpesviruses: Comparative Ultrastructural Study

ABSTRACT Egress of four important alphaherpesviruses, equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), and pseudorabies virus (PrV), was investigated by electron microscopy of infected cell lines of different origins. In all virus-cell systems analyzed, similar observations were made concerning the different stages of virion morphogenesis. After intranuclear assembly, nucleocapsids bud at the inner leaflet of the nuclear membrane, resulting in enveloped particles in the perinuclear space that contain a sharply bordered rim of tegument and a smooth envelope surface. Egress from the perinuclear cisterna primarily occurs by fusion of the primary envelope with the outer leaflet of the nuclear membrane, which has been visualized for HSV-1 and EHV-1 for the first time. The resulting intracytoplasmic naked nucleocapsids are enveloped at membranes of the trans-Golgi network (TGN), as shown by immunogold labeling with a TGN-specific antiserum. Virions containing their final envelope differ in morphology from particles within the perinuclear cisterna by visible surface projections and a diffuse tegument. Particularly striking was the addition of a large amount of tegument material to ILTV capsids in the cytoplasm. Extracellular virions were morphologically identical to virions within Golgi-derived vesicles, but distinct from virions in the perinuclear space. Studies with gB- and gH-deleted PrV mutants indicated that these two glycoproteins, which are essential for virus entry and direct cell-to-cell spread, are dispensable for egress. Taken together, our studies indicate that the deenvelopment-reenvelopment process of herpesvirus maturation also occurs in EHV-1, HSV-1, and ILTV and that membrane fusion processes occurring during egress are substantially different from those during entry and direct viral cell-to-cell spread.
Elastic and anelastic relaxations in the relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3: II. Strain–order parameter coupling and dynamic softening mechanisms

Elastic and anelastic behaviour of single crystal and ceramic samples of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 has been investigated at frequencies of ∼0.1–1.2 MHz through the temperature interval 10–800 K by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). Comparison with data from the literature shows that softening of the shear modulus between the Burns temperature and the freezing interval is independent of frequency. The softening is attributed to coupling between acoustic modes and the relaxation mode(s) responsible for central peaks in Raman and neutron scattering spectra below the Burns temperature, and can be described with Vogel–Fulcher parameters. Shear elastic compliance and dielectric permittivity show similar patterns of temperature dependence through the freezing interval, demonstrating strong coupling between ferroelectric polarization and strain such that the response to applied stress is more or less the same as the response to an applied electric field, with a frequency dependence consistent with Vogel–Fulcher-like freezing in both cases. Differences in detail show, however, that shearing induces flipping between different twin orientations, in comparison with the influence of an electric field, which induces 180° flipping: the activation energy barrier for the former appears to be higher than for the latter. Below the freezing interval, the anelastic loss also has a similar pattern of evolution to the dielectric loss, signifying again that essentially the same mechanism is involved in the freezing process. Overall softening at low temperatures is attributed to the contributions of strain relaxations due to coupling with the local ferroelectric order parameter and of coupling between acoustic modes and continuing relaxational modes of the polar nanostructure. Dissipation is attributed to movement of boundaries between PNRs or between correlated clusters of PNRs. Overall, strain coupling is fundamental to the development of the characteristic strain, dielectric and elastic properties of relaxors.