Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sampling and Mass Detection of a Countable Number of Microparticles Using on-Cantilever Imprinting

Liquid-borne particles sampling and cantilever-based mass detection are widely applied in many industrial and scientific fields e.g., in the detection of physical, chemical, and biological particles, and disease diagnostics, etc. Microscopic analysis of particles-adsorbed cantilever-samples can provide a good basis for measurement comparison. However, when a particles-laden droplet on a solid surface is vaporized, a cluster-ring deposit is often yielded which makes particles counting difficult or impractical. Nevertheless, in this study, we present an approach, i.e., on-cantilever particles imprinting, which effectively defies such odds to sample and deposit countable single particles on a sensing surface. Initially, we designed and fabricated a triangular microcantilever sensor whose mass m0, total beam-length L, and clamped-end beam-width w are equivalent to that of a rectangular/normal cantilever but with a higher resonant frequency (271 kHz), enhanced sensitivity (0.13 Hz/pg), and quality factor (~3000). To imprint particles on these cantilever sensors, various calibrated stainless steel dispensing tips were utilized to pioneer this study by dipping and retracting each tip from a small particle-laden droplet (resting on a hydrophobic n-type silicon substrate), followed by tip-sensor-contact (at a target point on the sensing area) to detach the solution (from the tip) and adsorb the particles, and ultimately determine the particles mass concentration. Upon imprinting/adsorbing the particles on the sensor, resonant frequency response measurements were made to determine the mass (or number of particles). A minimum detectable mass of ~0.05 pg was demonstrated. To further validate and compare such results, cantilever samples (containing adsorbed particles) were imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the number of particles through counting (from which, the lowest count of about 11 magnetic polystyrene particles was obtained). The practicality of particle counting was essentially due to monolayer particle arrangement on the sensing surface. Moreover, in this work, the main measurement process influences are also explicitly examined.
eSRAM Reliability: Why is it still not optimally solved?

As technology scales down, the impact of variability due to process variation and aging increases. In order to guarantee an optimal design with a low failure rate, it is crucial to take into account the impact of these sources of variability. Prior work on SRAM reliability has mainly focused on estimating the impact of this variability on the memory cell array, while the peripheral circuitry and the complete memory circuit have received little attention. This study analyzes the impact of aging on a complete 14nm FinFET SRAM circuit. In this analysis, it is investigated how the memory’s individual components contribute to the memory’s overall degradation. In addition, it is investigated how the application-dependent aging impacts the memory. The results of this work show that, depending on the investigated metric, the peripheral circuitry has a significantly higher contribution to the overall degradation of the memory than the cell array. In addition, the degradation of the memory is shown to be strongly dependent on the application. Overall, the results of this study emphasize that the impact of the peripheral circuitry and the application-dependent aging must be taken into account during design in order to optimally solve SRAM reliability.
Assessment of sleep health in collegiate athletes using the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to characterize sleep health in a large, diverse population of college athletes utilizing the Athletic Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), a clinically validated questionnaire, designed to screen athletes for clinically significant degree of poor sleep health, and determine if they require further intervention. METHODS College athletes from 4 different NCAA institutions were surveyed using the Athletic Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ). Descriptive information including gender, sport, and college year was also collected. The ASSQ was scored according to prior clinically validated methods to determine sleep difficulty score (SDS), clinical sleep problem category (none, mild, moderate, or severe), and need for assessment by a physician due to poor sleep health. RESULTS 1055 surveys were collected with a 95% response rate. Respondents were 36% female, 64% male, and included athletes competing in 15 different sports. Approximately 25% of participants were found to have a clinically meaningful problem with their sleep. Athletes entering their second or higher year of college were more likely to report worse sleep compared to those entering their first year (one-way ANOVA, kruskall-wallis p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS A substantial portion of college athletes experience poor sleep health, and would benefit from interventions aimed at improving sleep. The ASSQ appears to be a cost and time efficient way to evaluate sleep health in a large athletic population.
A bimodal core–shell structured Cu–Ag nanoparticles based conductive ink capable of low temperature sintering for printed flexible electronics

In this study, the bimodal sized core–shell structured Cu–Ag nanoparticles (Cu@Ag NPs) of 20 and 110 nm were prepared using lactic acid as stabilizer. The Cu oxides were removed during the formation process of Ag shell. The obtained Cu and Cu@Ag NPs exhibit good oxidation resistance at temperatures below 150 and 200 °C, respectively. A conductive ink with a metal loading of about 50 wt. % was formulated for screen printing by mixing synthesized Cu@Ag NPs, ethyl cellulose and terpineol. The bimodal Cu@Ag NPs based ink shows low resistivity of 4×10-6 and 8.5×10-7 Ω•m after sintering at 120 and 200 °C, respectively, for 30 min in the atmosphere of nitrogen. In addition, a possible mechanism has been proposed to illustrate the sintering process of Cu@Ag NPs.
The Role of ST2 Receptor in the Regulation of Brucella abortus Oral Infection

The ST2 receptor plays an important role in the gut such as permeability regulation, epithelium regeneration, and promoting intestinal immune modulation. Here, we studied the role of ST2 receptor in a murine model of oral infection with Brucella abortus, its influence on gut homeostasis and control of bacterial replication. Balb/c (wild-type, WT) and ST2 deficient mice (ST2−/−) were infected by oral gavage and the results were obtained at 3 and 14 days post infection (dpi). Our results suggest that ST2−/− are more resistant to B. abortus infection, as a lower bacterial colony-forming unit (CFU) was detected in the livers and spleens of knockout mice, when compared to WT. Additionally, we observed an increase in intestinal permeability in WT-infected mice, compared to ST2−/− animals. Breakage of the intestinal epithelial barrier and bacterial dissemination might be associated with the presence of the ST2 receptor; since, in the knockout mice no change in intestinal permeability was observed after infection. Together with enhanced resistance to infection, ST2−/− produced greater levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the small intestine, compared to WT mice. Nevertheless, in the systemic model of infection ST2 plays no role in controlling Brucella replication in vivo. Our results suggest that the ST2 receptor is involved in the invasion process of B. abortus by the mucosa in the oral infection model.
Oily Wastewater Treatment Using Polyamide Thin Film Composite Membrane Technology

In this study, polyamide (PA) thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration was used in edible oil wastewater emulsion treatment. The PA-TFC membrane was characterized using mechanical, thermal, chemical, and physical tests. Surface morphology and cross-sections of TFCs were characterized using SEM. The effects of edible oil concentrations, average droplets size, and contact angle on separation efficiency and flux were studied in detail. Purification performance was enhanced using activated carbon as a pre-treatment unit. The performance of the RO unit was assessed by chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and permeate flux. Oil concentration in wastewater varied between 3000 mg/L and 6000 mg/L. Oily wastewater showed a higher contact angle (62.9°) than de-ionized water (33°). Experimental results showed that the presence of activated carbon increases the permeation COD removal from 94% to 99%. The RO membrane filtration coupled with an activated carbon unit of oily wastewater is a convenient hybrid technique for removal of high-concentration edible oil wastewater emulsion up to 99%. Using activated carbon as an adsorption pre-treatment unit improved the permeate flux from 34 L/m2hr to 75 L/m2hr.
Cardiomyocyte-Specific Deletion of Orai1 Reveals Its Protective Role in Angiotensin-II-Induced Pathological Cardiac Remodeling

Pathological cardiac remodeling correlates with chronic neurohumoral stimulation and abnormal Ca2+ signaling in cardiomyocytes. Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) has been described in adult and neonatal murine cardiomyocytes, and Orai1 proteins act as crucial ion-conducting constituents of this calcium entry pathway that can be engaged not only by passive Ca2+ store depletion but also by neurohumoral stimuli such as angiotensin-II. In this study, we, therefore, analyzed the consequences of Orai1 deletion for cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in neonatal and adult cardiomyocytes as well as for other features of pathological cardiac remodeling including cardiac contractile function in vivo. Cellular hypertrophy induced by angiotensin-II in embryonic cardiomyocytes from Orai1-deficient mice was blunted in comparison to cells from litter-matched control mice. Due to lethality of mice with ubiquitous Orai1 deficiency and to selectively analyze the role of Orai1 in adult cardiomyocytes, we generated a cardiomyocyte-specific and temporally inducible Orai1 knockout mouse line (Orai1CM–KO). Analysis of cardiac contractility by pressure-volume loops under basal conditions and of cardiac histology did not reveal differences between Orai1CM–KO mice and controls. Moreover, deletion of Orai1 in cardiomyocytes in adult mice did not protect them from angiotensin-II-induced cardiac remodeling, but cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and cardiac fibrosis were enhanced. These alterations in the absence of Orai1 go along with blunted angiotensin-II-induced upregulation of the expression of Myoz2 and a lack of rise in angiotensin-II-induced STIM1 and Orai3 expression. In contrast to embryonic cardiomyocytes, where Orai1 contributes to the development of cellular hypertrophy, the results obtained from deletion of Orai1 in the adult myocardium reveal a protective function of Orai1 against the development of angiotensin-II-induced cardiac remodeling, possibly involving signaling via Orai3/STIM1-calcineurin-NFAT related pathways.
Responses of three PIT-tagged native fish species to floods in a small, upland stream in New Zealand

Abstract Floods are an integral part of flowing river systems, yet our understanding of freshwater fish behaviour during floods is limited. In 2008, 67 redfin bullies (Gobiomorphus huttoni), 22 shortjaw kōkopu (Galaxias postvectis) and 29 kōaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) were tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and monitored in a 100-m study reach before, during or after three floods. Detection patterns of tagged fish indicated that they may be displaced or may move to areas with large substrates during floods. Two individuals returned to the same locations during multiple floods, suggesting that previous experience may influence refuge selection for some individuals. While small changes in community composition occurred that could be attributed to concurrent habitat changes, overall a remarkable level of persistence of individual fish was observed in the tagged community.
ATP2A2 SINE Insertion in an Irish Terrier with Darier Disease and Associated Infundibular Cyst Formation

A 4-month-old female Irish Terrier presented with a well demarcated ulcerative and crusting lesion in the right ear canal. Histological analysis revealed epidermal hyperplasia with severe acantholysis affecting all suprabasal layers of the epidermis, which prompted a presumptive diagnosis of canine Darier disease. The lesion was successfully treated by repeated laser ablation of the affected epidermis. Over the course of three years, the dog additionally developed three dermal nodules of up to 4 cm in diameter that were excised and healed without complications. Histology of the excised tissue revealed multiple infundibular cysts extending from the upper dermis to the subcutis. The cysts were lined by squamous epithelium, which presented with abundant acantholysis of suprabasal keratinocytes. Infundibular cysts represent a novel finding not previously reported in Darier patients. Whole genome sequencing of the affected dog was performed, and the functional candidate genes for Darier disease (ATP2A2) and Hailey-Hailey disease (ATP2C1) were investigated. The analysis revealed a heterozygous SINE insertion into the ATP2A2 gene, at the end of intron 14, close to the boundary of exon 15. Analysis of the ATP2A2 mRNA from skin of the affected dog demonstrated a splicing defect and marked allelic imbalance, suggesting nonsense-mediated decay of the resulting aberrant transcripts. As Darier disease in humans is caused by haploinsufficiency of ATP2A2, our genetic findings are in agreement with the clinical and histopathological data and support the diagnosis of canine Darier disease.
Kinetic Comparison of the Specificity of the Vancomycin Resistance Kinase VanS for Two Response Regulators, VanR and PhoB†

Induction of vancomycin resistance in the Gram-positive Enterococci requires a two-component regulatory system, VanS and VanR, for transcriptional activation of three genes (vanH, A, X) that encode enzymes for a cell wall biosynthetic pathway that produces an altered peptidoglycan intermediate with lower affinity for the antibiotic. The catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) has been determined for phosphotransfer from the phosphohistidyl form of VanS to both its homologous partner VanR and the heterologous (Escherichia coli) response regulator PhoB. The rate of formation of the phosphoaspartyl forms of VanR and PhoB were determined as well as the rate of appearance of inorganic phosphate. Using PhoB in excess of P-VanS, a pseudo-first-order rate constant (kxfer) of 0.2 min-1 for phosphotransfer and a KM for PhoB of 100 μM were readily determined. The corresponding kxfer of 96 min-1 for phosphotransfer from P-VanS to VanR required rapid quench kinetics. A KM of 3 μM was estimated for VanR, leading to a 104-fold p.
Albumin Evolution and its Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Implications in several Lacertid Lizards

Albumins from several species assigned to Lacerta s. 1. and Gallotia were investigated by means of the Micro-Complement fixation technique. The phylogenetic trees evaluated according to Fitch & Margoliash (1967) and Beverley & Wilson (1982) led us to infer a division, which is in accordance with protein electrophoretic results (Mayer & Tiedemann, 1982) as well as with the subgeneric division used before the studies of Bohme (1971) and Arnold (1973).
Calcium-Free and Cytochalasin B Treatment Inhibits Blastomere Fusion in 2-Cell Stage Embryos for the Generation of Floxed Mice via Sequential Electroporation

The generation of conditional knockout mice using the Cre-loxP system is advantageous for the functional analysis of genes. Flanked by two loxP sites (floxed) mice can be directly obtained from fertilized eggs by the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. We previously reported that sequential knock-in (KI) of each loxP site by electroporation (EP) at the 1- and 2-cell embryonic stages increases the number of mice with floxed alleles compared with simultaneous KI. However, EP at the 2-cell stage frequently induced blastomere fusion. These fused embryos cannot develop to term because they are tetraploidized. In this study, we examined the following three conditions to inhibit blastomere fusion by EP at the 2-cell stage: (1) hypertonic treatment, (2) Calcium (Ca2+)-free treatment, and (3) actin polymerization inhibition. Hypertonic treatment of 2-cell stage embryos prevented blastomere fusion and facilitated blastocyst development; however, KI efficiency was decreased. Ca2+-free treatment and actin polymerization inhibition by cytochalasin B (CB) reduced fusion rate, and did not have negative effects on development and KI efficiency. These results suggest that Ca2+-free and CB treatment at the 2-cell stage is effective to generate floxed mice in combination with a sequential EP method.
Prebiotic Effects of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum on the Composition and Function of the Human Microbiota—Results from the PAGODA Trial

(1) Background: Alterations in the structural composition of the human gut microbiota have been identified in various disease entities along with exciting mechanistic clues by reductionist gnotobiotic modeling. Improving health by beneficially modulating an altered microbiota is a promising treatment approach. Prebiotics, substrates selectively used by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit, are broadly used for dietary and clinical interventions. Herein, we sought to investigate the microbiota-modelling effects of the soluble fiber, partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG). (2) Methods: We performed a 9 week clinical trial in 20 healthy volunteers that included three weeks of a lead-in period, followed by three weeks of an intervention phase, wherein study subjects received 5 g PHGG up to three times per day, and concluding with a three-week washout period. A stool diary was kept on a daily basis, and clinical data along with serum/plasma and stool samples were collected on a weekly basis. PHGG-induced alterations of the gut microbiota were studied by 16S metagenomics of the V1–V3 and V3–V4 regions. To gain functional insight, we further studied stool metabolites using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. (3) Results: In healthy subjects, PHGG had significant effects on stool frequency and consistency. These effects were paralleled by changes in α- (species evenness) and β-diversity (Bray–Curtis distances), along with increasing abundances of metabolites including butyrate, acetate and various amino acids. On a taxonomic level, PHGG intake was associated with a bloom in Ruminococcus, Fusicatenibacter, Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides and a reduction in Roseburia, Lachnospiracea and Blautia. The majority of effects disappeared after stopping the prebiotic and most effects tended to be more pronounced in male participants. (4) Conclusions: Herein, we describe novel aspects of the prebiotic PHGG on compositional and functional properties of the healthy human microbiota.
Improvements in Quantifying the Phosphorus Concentration in Lake Water

Vertical and horizontal patterns in limnetic phosphorus concentrations ([P]) were detected in an oligotrophic lake by dividing the total phosphorus pool into two fractions: dissolved and particulate matter smaller than 250 μm (smaller fraction) and particulate matter larger than 250 μm (larger fraction). The smaller fraction was estimated from samples collected with a water bottle, and the larger fraction was estimated with tow net samples taken at several stations and to various depths. Our samples were digested with potassium persulfate which gave less variable results than other acid digestion techniques. The average variance associated with the mean [P] (n = 3) for samples collected and analyzed according to our procedure was less than 0.05 mg P/m3. During summer stratification there was a consistent metalimnetic maximum in the smaller fraction, and there were small but significant differences in the concentrations found at two stations less than 1 km apart. During the same period the larger fraction .
Copper-oxygen Dynamics in Tyrosinase Mechanism.

The dinuclear copper enzyme tyrosinase activates O2 to form a (μ-η2:η2-peroxido)dicopper(II) species, which hydroxylates phenols to catechols. However, the exact mechanism of phenolase reaction in the catalytic site of tyrosinase is still under debate. We herein report the near atomic resolution X-ray crystal structures of the active tyrosinases with substrate L-tyrosine. At their catalytic sites, CuA moved largely toward L-tyrosine (CuA1 to CuA2), whose phenol oxygen directly coordinates to CuA2, involving the movement of CuB (CuB1 to CuB2). The crystal structures and spectroscopic analyses of the dioxygen-bound tyrosinases demonstrated that the peroxide ligand rotated, spontaneously weakening its O-O bond. Thus, the copper migration induced by the substrate-binding accompanied rearrangement of the bound peroxide species so as to facilitate one of the peroxide oxygen atoms to access to the phenol substrate's ε carbon atom.
Rarefaction and extrapolation of phylogenetic diversity

Traditional species diversity measures do not make distinctions among species. Faith's phylogenetic diversity (PD), which is defined as the sum of the branch lengths of a phylogenetic tree connecting all species, takes into account phylogenetic differences among species and has found many applications in various research fields. In this paper, we extend Faith's PD to represent the total length of a phylogenetic tree from any fixed point on its main trunk. Like species richness, Faith's PD tends to be an increasing function of sampling effort and thus tends to increase with sample completeness. We develop in this paper the ‘PD accumulation curve’ (an extension of the species accumulation curve) to depict how PD increases with sampling size and sample completeness. To make fair comparisons of Faith's PD among several assemblages based on sampling data from each assemblage, we derive both theoretical formulae and analytic estimators for seamless rarefaction (interpolation) and extrapolation (prediction). We develop a lower bound of the undetected PD for an incomplete sample to guide the extrapolation; the PD estimator for an extrapolated sample is generally reliable up to twice the size of the empirical sample. We propose an integrated curve that smoothly links rarefaction and extrapolation to standardize samples on the basis of sample size or sample completeness. A bootstrap method is used to obtain the unconditional variances of PD estimators and to construct the confidence interval of the expected PD for a fixed sample size or fixed degree of sample completeness. This facilitates comparison of multiple assemblages of both rarefied and extrapolated samples. We illustrate our formulae and estimators using empirical data sets from Australian birds in two sites. We discuss the extension of our approach to the case of multiple incidence data and to incorporate species abundances.