Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TiO2, SiO2, and Al2O3 coated nanopores and nanotubes produced by ALD in etched ion-track membranes for transport measurements

Low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) of TiO2, SiO2, and Al2O3 was applied to modify the surface and to tailor the diameter of nanochannels in etched ion-track polycarbonate membranes. The homogeneity, conformity, and composition of the coating inside the nanochannels are investigated for different channel diameters (18–55 nm) and film thicknesses (5–22 nm). Small angle x-ray scattering before and after ALD demonstrates conformal coating along the full channel length. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy provide evidence of nearly stoichiometric composition of the different coatings. By wet-chemical methods, the ALD-deposited film is released from the supporting polymer templates providing 30 μm long self-supporting nanotubes with walls as thin as 5 nm. Electrolytic ion-conductivity measurements provide proof-of-concept that combining ALD coating with ion-track nanotechnology offers promising perspectives for single-pore applications by controlled shrinking of an oversized pore to a preferred smaller diameter and fine-tuning of the chemical and physical nature of the inner channel surface.
Carbohydrate supplementation, glycogen depletion, and amino acid metabolism during exercise.

Eight highly trained cyclists were studied during exercise after glycogen depletion (test A) and during carbohydrate (CHO) loading (test B). In test B subjects were able to complete 2 h of exercise at 70-75% maximal workload (Wmax), whereas the initial intensity of 70% Wmax had to be reduced to 50% in test A. Plasma ammonia increased more rapidly, and plasma alanine, glutamate, and glutamine were lower in test A. Exercise caused a 3.6-fold increase in the proportion of active branched-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase (BC) complex in muscle in test A. No activation occurred in test B. There was an inverse correlation between the activity of the BC complex and the glycogen content of the postexercise biopsies. Exercise did not cause changes in the muscle content of ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, hypoxanthine, and lactate. It is concluded that CHO loading abolishes increases in branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) oxidation during exercise and that part of the ammonia production during prolonged exercise originates from deamination of amino acids. The data appear to confirm the hypothesis (A.J. M. Wagenmakers, J.H. Coakley, and R.H.T. Edwards. Int. J. Sports Med. 11: S101-S113, 1990) that acceleration of the BCAA aminotransferase reaction may drain the tricarboxylic acid cycle and that glycogen is a carbon chain precursor of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and glutamine.
Gut Dysbiosis in Animals Due to Environmental Chemical Exposures

The gut microbiome consists of over 103–104 microorganism inhabitants that together possess 150 times more genes that the human genome and thus should be considered an “organ” in of itself. Such communities of bacteria are in dynamic flux and susceptible to changes in host environment and body condition. In turn, gut microbiome disturbances can affect health status of the host. Gut dysbiosis might result in obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal, immunological, and neurobehavioral disorders. Such host diseases can originate due to shifts in microbiota favoring more pathogenic species that produce various virulence factors, such as lipopolysaccharide. Bacterial virulence factors and metabolites may be transmitted to distal target sites, including the brain. Other potential mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis can affect the host include bacterial-produced metabolites, production of hormones and factors that mimic those produced by the host, and epimutations. All animals, including humans, are exposed daily to various environmental chemicals that can influence the gut microbiome. Exposure to such chemicals might lead to downstream systemic effects that occur secondary to gut microbiome disturbances. Increasing reports have shown that environmental chemical exposures can target both host and the resident gut microbiome. In this review, we will first consider the current knowledge of how endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), heavy metals, air pollution, and nanoparticles can influence the gut microbiome. The second part of the review will consider how potential environmental chemical-induced gut microbiome changes might subsequently induce pathophysiological responses in the host, although definitive evidence for such effects is still lacking. By understanding how these chemicals result in gut dysbiosis, it may open up new remediation strategies in animals, including humans, exposed to such chemicals.
Belief in the Malleability of Groups Strengthens the Tenuous Link Between a Collective Apology and Intergroup Forgiveness

Although it is widely assumed that collective apologies for intergroup harms facilitate forgiveness, evidence for a strong link between the two remains elusive. In four studies we tested the proposition that the apology–forgiveness link exists, but only among people who hold an implicit belief that groups can change. In Studies 1 and 2, perceived group malleability (measured and manipulated, respectively) moderated the responses to an apology by Palestinian leadership toward Israelis: Positive responses such as forgiveness increased with greater belief in group malleability. In Study 3, university students who believed in group malleability were more forgiving of a rival university’s derogatory comments in the presence (as opposed to the absence) of an apology. In Study 4, perceived perpetrator group remorse mediated the moderating effect of group malleability on the apology–forgiveness link (assessed in the context of a corporate transgression). Implications for collective apologies and movement toward reconciliation are discussed.
Development of a thermopile infrared sensor using stacked double polycrystalline silicon layers based on the CMOS process

A stacked double-layer (SDL) thermopile-based infrared sensor, which comprised of 96 thermocouples on a suspended membrane, has been designed and fabricated with a CMOS-compatible process. The thermoelectric properties were characterized, and responsivity (Rs) of 202.8 V W−1 and detectivity (D*) of 2.85*108 cm Hz1/2 W−1 for a SDL thermopile were derived.
Suicidal ideation and parasuicide in the Finnish general population

In a sample of the Finnish general population (n= 4868), 2.4% of women and 2.3% of men reported having thought about suicide during the preceding 12 months. The prevalence of parasuicide was correspondingly 0.9% in women and 1.1% in men, higher figures than have previously been found or estimated. Most suicidal individuals (85%) had contacted general practitioners or other primary care services during the previous 12 months, and a minority (20%) had made contact with psychiatric services. General practitioners and other primary care services are thus in a key position to identify suicidal behaviour in the Finnish general population.
A FORMAÇÃO INTEGRADA A ESCOLA E O TRABALHO COMO LUGARES DE MEMÓRIA E DE IDENTIDADE

Criam-se, continuamente, novos termos, novas palavras, seja para expressar novas realidades engendradas pela vida social, seja para projetar, ideologicamente, novas ideias que queremos que se tornem realidade pela aceitacao social que possam vir a ter. O termo formacao integrada participa de um e de outro movimento da sociedade atraves daqueles que tem o poder de gerar novos fatos ou de gerar novos discursos. As palavras podem ser ditas, as imagens podem ser mostradas, as coisas acontecem se ha vontade politica e meios ou recursos, e se elas tem legitimidade perante a opiniao publica.
Consensus of Multi-agent Systems with Higher Order Dynamics

This paper considers the consensus problem of multi-agent systems, where each agent has n-th order dynamic mode. Three cases are considered. First of all, the agents are assumed to be lined up as a chain. Each agent can obtain the information from the agent ahead of it. Secondly, assume each agent can obtain the information from its neighbors and the adjacent graph with fixed or varying topology is connected. Thirdly, we consider a nonlinear case. Under certain assumption, it can be transformed into a linear case. In different cases we prove that the consensus can be achieved by local-information-based decentralized controls. Some existing results become particular cases of our general result.
Mn 3d partial density of states in Ga12xMnxAs studied by resonant photoemission spectroscopy

We have obtained the Mn 3d partial density of states in Ga 12xMnxAs using the resonance photoemission technique as well as by means of the difference between Ga12xMnxAs and GaAs. We have observed a strong satellite structure on the higher binding energy side of the main peak, as in Mn-doped II-VI compounds such as Cd12xMnxTe. Based on analysis using configuration-interaction calculation for a MnAs4 cluster, we could ascribe the spectral features to strong Mn 3 d-As 4p hybridization and Mn 3d-3d Coulomb interaction. @S0163-1829~99! 50904-1#
DIRECT OBSERVATION OF A COROTATING INTERACTION REGION BY THREE SPACECRAFT

White-light observations of interplanetary disturbances have been dominated by interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). This is because the other type of disturbance, the corotating interaction region (CIR), has proved difficult to detect using white-light imagers. Recently, a number of papers have appeared presenting CIR observations using the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) Heliospheric Imagers (HIs), but have mostly only focused on a single spacecraft and imager. In this paper, we present observations of a single CIR that was observed by all three current white-light heliospheric imagers (SMEI and both STEREO HIs), as well as the in situ instruments on both STEREO satellites and ACE. We begin with a discussion of the geometry of the CIR structure, and show how the apparent leading edge structure is expected to change as it corotates relative to the observer. We use these calculations to predict elongation–time profiles for CIRs of different speeds for each of the imagers, and also to predict the arrival times at the in situ instruments. We show that although all three measured different parts, they combine to produce a self-consistent picture of the CIR. Finally, we offer some thoughts on why CIRs have proved so difficult to detect in white-light heliospheric images.
A comparison of cell and tissue extraction techniques using high‐resolution 1H‐NMR spectroscopy

Analysis of brain metabolites by a wide range of analytical techniques is typically achieved using biochemical extraction methodologies that require either two separate samples or two separate extraction steps to prepare both aqueous and organic metabolite fractions. However there are a number of brain pathologies in which both aqueous metabolite and lipid changes occur so that a simultaneous extraction of both fractions would be valuable. The methanol–chloroform (M/C) technique enables extraction of both aqueous metabolites and lipids simultaneously. It is already well established for lipid extraction of cells and tissue but its efficiency and reproducibility for extraction of aqueous metabolites is unknown. Therefore, we compared the aqueous metabolite yield and the reproducibility of the M/C method to the commonly used perchloric acid (PCA) method, using 1H‐NMR spectroscopy of adult rat brain and purified rat astrocyte culture extracts. The results indicate that M/C is a superior technique for aqueous metabolite extraction from both brain tissue and cells when compared to the PCA method. The M/C extraction technique enables the simultaneous extraction of both lipids and aqueous metabolites from a single sample using small solvent‐volumes, making it well suited for NMR investigations of both tissues and cells. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association of health literacy with self-management behavior in patients with diabetes.

Limited health literacy, common in patients with diabetes, has been associated with worse diabetes outcomes (1–4). While patients with limited health literacy have worse diabetes knowledge (2–5), knowledge does not necessarily predict outcomes (6–8). Because diabetes requires extensive self-care, differences in self-management behaviors may be a key contributor to the disparity in outcomes. In fact, low health literacy has been associated with poor self-care in other chronic illnesses (9,10). However, no study has examined the relationship between health literacy and self-management behaviors in patients with diabetes. In addition, studies have not assessed whether diabetes education, which is widely recommended, is effective in improving self-management behaviors in patients with limited health literacy. The objectives of our study were to examine the association of health literacy with self-management behaviors in patients with diabetes and to determine whether diabetes education improves self-management behaviors in patients with limited compared with adequate health literacy. Understanding the relationship between health literacy and self-management behaviors should enhance efforts to improve diabetes outcomes. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients enrolled in diabetes education classes at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The classes consist of an individual meeting with a diabetes educator and three weekly 3-h group classes and are recognized by the American Diabetes Association (11). All patients ≥18 years of age present for a regularly scheduled diabetes class were recruited. …
Genome-Wide Analyses of Avian Sarcoma Virus Integration Sites

ABSTRACT The chromosomal features that influence retroviral integration site selection are not well understood. Here, we report the mapping of 226 avian sarcoma virus (ASV) integration sites in the human genome. The results show that the sites are distributed over all chromosomes, and no global bias for integration site selection was detected. However, RNA polymerase II transcription units (protein-encoding genes) appear to be favored targets of ASV integration. The integration frequency within genes is similar to that previously described for murine leukemia virus but distinct from the higher frequency observed with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. We found no evidence for preferred ASV integration sites over the length of genes and immediate flanking regions. Microarray analysis of uninfected HeLa cells revealed that the expression levels of ASV target genes were similar to the median level for all genes represented in the array. Although expressed genes were targets for integration, we found no preference for integration into highly expressed genes. Our results provide a more detailed description of the chromosomal features that may influence ASV integration and support the idea that distinct, virus-specific mechanisms mediate integration site selection. Such differences may be relevant to viral pathogenesis and provide utility in retroviral vector design.
The adjunctive use of a controlled-release chlorhexidine chip following treatment with a new ultrasonic device in supportive periodontal therapy: a prospective, controlled clinical study.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this randomised, split-mouth, controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a controlled-release chlorhexidine chip (CHX chip) as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP) with a newly developed ultrasonic device in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty patients with moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis, displaying at least four sites with probing depth (PD) > or = 5 mm and persistent bleeding on probing (BOP), were recruited for the study. The target sites were randomly treated with either a newly developed piezo-driven ultrasonic device Vector--or ultrasonic system (VUS) + CHX chip or VUS alone without adjunctive antimicrobial treatment. The clinical parameters, plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), BOP, PD and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline and after 1, 3 and 6 months. RESULTS At baseline, there were no significant differences between test and control sites for any of the investigated parameters. The average reduction of PD and improvement in CAL was greater in the VUS + CHX chip sites than in sites treated with the VUS alone at 1, 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). The mean reductions on PD and CAL were 0.7 and 0.6 mm for the control sites and 2.2 and 1.9 mm for the test sites, respectively. Also, the mean reduction in BOP scores were higher in the VUS + CHX chip sites compared to VUS alone at 1, 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). PI scores were not significantly different between VUS + CHX chip sites and VUS alone sites at any visit. CONCLUSION These data suggest that CHX chip application following SRP with the tested ultrasonic device is beneficial in improving periodontal parameters in patients on SPT.
ALTERNATIVE MICROBIAL INDICATORS OF FAECAL POLLUTION: CURRENT PERSPECTIVE

Worldwide coliform bacteria are used as indicators of fecal contamination and hence, the possible presence of disease causing organisms. Therefore, it is important to understand the potential and limitations of these indicator organisms before realistically implementing guidelines and regulations to safeguard our water resources and public health. This review addresses the limitations of current faecal indicator microorganisms and proposed significant alternative microbial indicators of water and wastewater quality. The relevant literature brings out four such significant microbial water pollution indicators and the study of these indicators will reveal the total spectrum of water borne pathogens. As E.coli and enterococci indicates the presence of bacterial pathogens, Coliphages indicate the presence of enteric viruses, and Clostridium perfringens, an obligate anaerobe, indicates presence of parasitic protozoan and enteric viruses. Therefore, monitoring a suite of indicator organisms in reclaimed effluent is more likely to be predictive of the presence of certain pathogens in order to protect public health, as no single indicator is most highly predictive of membership in the presence or absence category for pathogens.
Vertical Base Plate Guide Rod Chamber Microscope Sample Applying Baffle Leaf Spring Strain Gauge Horizontal Transparent Base Plate Stepper MotorLead Screw

A system which consists of a loading chamber unit, displacement sensor, data collector and processor, and a feedback control, was established for applying mechanical forces to single plant cells. The method works by compressing an agar cell-suspension block between parallel surfaces through using a force-feedback control circuit coupled to a microchip, delivering the pre-defined. The actual controlled stimulus is achieved whilst measuring the force being imposed on the cell, and its deformation. The Arabidopsis protoplasts were utilized to test the system. It provides an experimental approach to investigate the mechanoresponses of plant cells in vitro conditions.
Replication-Competent Controlled Herpes Simplex Virus

ABSTRACT We present the development and characterization of a replication-competent controlled herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Replication-essential ICP4 and ICP8 genes of HSV-1 wild-type strain 17syn+ were brought under the control of a dually responsive gene switch. The gene switch comprises (i) a transactivator that is activated by a narrow class of antiprogestins, including mifepristone and ulipristal, and whose expression is mediated by a promoter cassette that comprises an HSP70B promoter and a transactivator-responsive promoter and (ii) transactivator-responsive promoters that drive the ICP4 and ICP8 genes. Single-step growth experiments in different cell lines demonstrated that replication of the recombinant virus, HSV-GS3, is strictly dependent on an activating treatment consisting of administration of a supraphysiological heat dose in the presence of an antiprogestin. The replication-competent controlled virus replicates with an efficiency approaching that of the wild-type virus from which it was derived. Essentially no replication occurs in the absence of activating treatment or if HSV-GS3-infected cells are exposed only to heat or antiprogestin. These findings were corroborated by measurements of amounts of viral DNA and transcripts of the regulated ICP4 gene and the glycoprotein C (gC) late gene, which was not regulated. Similar findings were made in experiments with a mouse footpad infection model. IMPORTANCE The alphaherpesviruses have long been considered vectors for recombinant vaccines and oncolytic therapies. The traditional approach uses vector backbones containing attenuating mutations that restrict replication to ensure safety. The shortcoming of this approach is that the attenuating mutations tend to limit both the immune presentation and oncolytic properties of these vectors. HSV-GS3 represents a novel type of vector that, when activated, replicates with the efficiency of a nonattenuated virus and whose safety is derived from deliberate, stringent regulation of multiple replication-essential genes. By directing activating heat to the region of virus administration, replication is strictly confined to infected cells within this region. The requirement for antiprogestin provides an additional level of safety, ensuring that virus replication cannot be triggered inadvertently. Replication-competent controlled vectors such as HSV-GS3 may have the potential to be superior to conventional attenuated HSV vaccine and oncolytic vectors without sacrificing safety.
Development and experience with an algorithm to evaluate suspected smallpox cases in the United States, 2002-2004.

Concerns that smallpox, an eradicated disease, might reappear because of a bioterror attack and limited experience with smallpox diagnosis in the United States prompted us to design a clinical algorithm. We used clinical features of classic smallpox to classify persons presenting with suspected smallpox rashes into 3 categories: those with high, those with moderate, and those with low risk of having smallpox. The classification guides subsequent diagnostic strategies, limiting smallpox laboratory testing to high-risk persons to minimize the number of false-positive test results. From January 2002 through June 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received 43 consultations regarding suspected smallpox cases. No patient was at high risk for having smallpox. One patient was tested for the presence of variola virus. Varicella was the diagnosis for 23 cases (53%). The algorithm worked well to guide clinical and public health responses to suspected smallpox cases. The poster is available from CDC, and an interactive version and laboratory protocol are available at http://www.bt. cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/diagnosis/riskalgorithm/index.asp. We recommend use of the algorithm in the United States and elsewhere.