Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lachnospiraceae and Bacteroidales Alternative Fecal Indicators Reveal Chronic Human Sewage Contamination in an Urban Harbor

ABSTRACT The complexity of fecal microbial communities and overlap among human and other animal sources have made it difficult to identify source-specific fecal indicator bacteria. However, the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies now provides increased sequencing power to resolve microbial community composition within and among environments. These data can be mined for information on source-specific phylotypes and/or assemblages of phylotypes (i.e., microbial signatures). We report the development of a new genetic marker for human fecal contamination identified through microbial pyrotag sequence analysis of the V6 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequence analysis of 37 sewage samples and comparison with database sequences revealed a human-associated phylotype within the Lachnospiraceae family, which was closely related to the genus Blautia. This phylotype, termed Lachno2, was on average the second most abundant fecal bacterial phylotype in sewage influent samples from Milwaukee, WI. We developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for Lachno2 and used it along with the qPCR-based assays for human Bacteroidales (based on the HF183 genetic marker), total Bacteroidales spp. , and enterococci and the conventional Escherichia coli and enterococci plate count assays to examine the prevalence of fecal and human fecal pollution in Milwaukee's harbor. Both the conventional fecal indicators and the human-associated indicators revealed chronic fecal pollution in the harbor, with significant increases following heavy rain events and combined sewer overflows. The two human-associated genetic marker abundances were tightly correlated in the harbor, a strong indication they target the same source (i.e., human sewage). Human adenoviruses were routinely detected under all conditions in the harbor, and the probability of their occurrence increased by 154% for every 10-fold increase in the human indicator concentration. Both Lachno2 and human Bacteroidales increased specificity to detect sewage compared to general indicators, and the relationship to a human pathogen group suggests that the use of these alternative indicators will improve assessments for human health risks in urban waters.
Comparative Effects of NaCl , PEG and Mannitol Iso-osmotic Stress on Solute Accumulation and Antioxidant Enzyme System in Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L . )

Osmotic and oxidative stress responses to iso-osmotic (-0.4 Mpa) NaCl, PEG-6000 and mannitol stress were studied in 15-day old plants of three potato cultivars viz. ‘Kufri Kufri Bahar’ ‘Jyoti’ and ‘Chandramukhi’. After 2-weeks of treatment, plants were analyzed for biochemical and physiological determinants of stress. Relative water content (RWC) and membrane damage rate (MDR) were significantly affected in all the cultivars in all the treatments. Decrease in RWC was significant in plants subjected to PEG while significant increase in MDR was observed in NaCl-treated plants. Among the treatments, NaCl treatment showed significant MDR (78.57%) over PEG (69.29%) and mannitol (62.90%) treatments. Proline, glycine betaine and total soluble sugar accumulation increased in the stressed plants than controls. Increased SOD activity was observed under NaCl stress compared to PEG/mannitol stress in all the cultivars. Comparison of different iso-osmotic stresses indicates a positive relationship between proline accumulation and tissue hydration. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Effect of grazing fresh legumes or feeding silage on fatty acids and enzymes involved in the synthesis of milk fat in dairy cows

The impact of fresh legume types or silage on the composition of milk fatty acids and transcription of enzymes involved in the synthesis of milk fat in cows was studied. Three groups of cows grazed high proportions of white clover, red clover and lucerne, respectively. A fourth group of cows was fed maize/grass silage. The cows grazing high proportions of legumes produced significantly more 18:1 trans-11, 18:2 cis9-trans11, 18:2 trans10-cis12 and 18:3 fatty acids than cows fed silage. White clover and lucerne grazing resulted in significantly lower output of 18:1 trans9 in milk than red clover grazing and maize/grass silages. Transcription of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) in mammary tissue was significantly increased by grazing high proportions of legume whereas fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase were not affected by type of feeding. Furthermore, average milk fat globule diameter was correlated to daily milk fat yield but was not affected by feeding. Although the fresh forage affected the transcription of SCD in mammary tissue, the largest effects were on the trans11-based fatty acids. It is concluded that type of forage, i.e. fresh or silage, had a greater impact on rumen fermentation pattern than on transcription of enzymes involved in the synthesis of milk fat.
Affordable terahertz components using 3D printing

This paper presents the design and characterization of 3D printed photonic crystal filter (quasi optic component) and dielectric ridge waveguide (integrated component). Commercially available 3D printer was used to print polymer based components. Design and characterization of these devices is carried out over a frequency range of 0.15 - 0.5 THz. The photonic crystal filter shows a stop band from 0.25 - 0.35 THz. Also a very narrow defect mode (notch filter) was introduced by altering the structure of photonic crystal. The dielectric ridge waveguide shows broadband THz propagation characteristics. The transmission loss was determined to be largely dominated by the loss characteristics of the polymer material used.
ECN n-type silicon solar cell technology: An industrial process that yields 18.5%

There is currently much interest in n-type solar cells because of the advantages of this material. N-type material is expected to be more favourable for obtaining high efficiencies than p-type doped substrates. We have developed a process for n-type solar cells for large area multicrystalline and monocrystalline silicon wafers. The production process is based on industrial processing steps such as screen-printed metallization and firing through. The surfaces of these cells are passivated with a layer stack consisting of SiO2 and SiNx where the former is created by a wet chemical process and the latter by inline PECVD. We demonstrate that the surface passivation can be improved with an alternative wet chemical process for creating the SiO2 layer. This new process results in an enhancement of the implied Voc of unmetallized cells as measured by quasi-steady-state photoconductance (QSSPC) and the Voc of completed cells. The process Improvements have yielded a new record efficiency of 18.5 % (for a particular rear reflection surface) that was independently confirmed by Fraunhofer ISE CalLab.
Vestígios suíços na História do Brasil

O estimulo para as audaciosas expedicoes de descobrimento no fim do seculo XV e no comeco do seculo XVI foi a avidez das espe-ciarias, do ouro e das pedras preciosas . Se abstrairmos o lenho que lhe deu o nome — o Brasil, descoberto em 1500 — nada disto podia oferecer aos seus descobridores; e pouco interessava os portugueses a nova terra a nao ser como base para as suas viagens as indias .
Ambulatory assessment of cardiac autonomic function in Chagas' heart disease patients based on indexes of R-R interval variation in the Valsalva maneuver.

1. The reflex cardiac autonomic function of Chagas' heart disease patients was evaluated by a simple, noninvasive and inexpensive ambulatory method as an alternative to the complex or invasive methods or drug tests hitherto used. Variations in the R-R interval during the Valsalva maneuver was quantified in 33 outpatients with Chagas' cardiopathy without heart failure aged 38 +/- 9 years, and compared to 30 healthy control subjects aged 31 +/- 8 years (P greater than 0.05). 2. Each subject carried out 3 to 4 Valsalva maneuvers in the supine position for 20 s at an intraoral pressure of 40 mmHg. Variations of R-R interval were calculated from the electrocardiogram which was recorded continuously from 10 s before to 90 s after the maneuver when the recovery phase had already started. 3. The chagasic group presented lower relative tachycardia (shortest R-R minus control R-R/control R-R) (-27.9 +/- 8.4%, mean +/- SD) and Valsalva ratio (longest R-R/shortest R-R) (1.67 +/- 0.3) than the control group (-34.2 +/- 6.5% and 1.93 +/- 0.3, respectively) (P less than 0.01). The time for maximum R-R interval variation (shortest R-R to longest R-R) was longer (18.0 +/- 7.2 s), and the velocity of this variation (longest R-R minus shortest R-R divided by shortest R-R/time for the maximum R-R variation) was lower (4.8 +/- 3.5%/s) in the chagasic patients (P less than 0.01) than in the controls (11.1 +/- 5.4 s and 10.8 +/- 6.0%/s, respectively). The mean relative bradycardia (longest R-R minus control R-R/control R-R) of the chagasic group (18.5 +/- 13.5%) was statistically similar (P greater than 0.05) to that of the control group (25.6 +/- 16.5%). 4. In 51% (17/33) of the chagasic patients, at least one significantly altered index was observed to exceed +/- 2 SD of the respective control mean, and for 3 of them (10% of the total) all the indexes were abnormal. In 49% (16/33) of the patients no abnormal index was observed. 5. These data show that varying degrees of cardiac autonomic dysfunction may be detected in a simple manner in ambulatory outpatients with Chagas' heart disease, with results similar to those obtained with application of complex or invasive tests. In all likelihood, the altered Valsalva R-R interval variation indexes in the present chagasic patients resulted from depressed parasympathetic activity on the heart consequent to the Chagas' cardiac denervation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Toward understanding of the mechanisms of Mediator function in vivo: Focus on the preinitiation complex assembly

ABSTRACT Mediator is a multisubunit complex conserved in eukaryotes that plays an essential coregulator role in RNA polymerase (Pol) II transcription. Despite intensive studies of the Mediator complex, the molecular mechanisms of its function in vivo remain to be fully defined. In this review, we will discuss the different aspects of Mediator function starting with its interactions with specific transcription factors, its recruitment to chromatin and how, as a coregulator, it contributes to the assembly of transcription machinery components within the preinitiation complex (PIC) in vivo and beyond the PIC formation.
Review on Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine (DAWT)

Wind energy technology is one of the fastest growing alternative energy technologies. However, conventional turbines commercially available in some countries are designed to operate at relatively high speeds to be appropriately efficient, limiting the use of wind turbines in areas with low wind speeds, such as urban areas. Therefore, a technique to enhance the possibility of wind energy use within the range of low speeds is needed. The techniques of augmenting wind by the concept of Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine (DAWT) have been used to improve the efficiency of the wind turbines by increasing the wind speed upstream of the turbine. In this paper, a comprehensive review of previous studies on improving or augmentation power of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) have been reviewed in two categories, first related with relative improvement of energy by improving the aerodynamic forces that affecting on HAWT in some different modifications for blades. Second, reviews different techniques to the augment the largest possible amount of power from HAWT focusing on DAWTs to gather information,helping researchers understand the research efforts undertaken so far and identify knowledge gaps in this area. DAWTs are studied in terms of diffuser shape design, sizing of investigation and geometry features which involved diffuser length, diffuser angle, and flange height. The conclusions in this work show that the use of DAWT achieves a quantum leap in increasing the production of wind power, especially in small turbines in urban areas if it properly designed. On the other hand, shrouding the wind turbine by the diffuser reduces the noise and protects the rotor blades from possible damage.
Reproductive biology of mango (Mangifera Indica) in a Mediterranean climate

The importance of mango growing contrasts with the paucity of information on its reproductive biology. In this work, the reproductive biology of mango was studied in the subtropical conditions of the Southern Spanish Mediterranean coast, using the cultivars âOsteenâ, âKensingtonâ, âKentâ and âKeittâ. In order to establish the appropriate developmental coordinates during the reproductive phase, phenology was studied from the start of the blooming season to fruit harvest. Also to detect the reasons behind the low fruit set in mango, pollen tube pathway and fertilization were analysed, using microscopy techniques. A good proportion of the flowers were male and dropped soon after anthesis. Pollen grains readily germinated, pollen tubes reached the base of the style within one day, penetrated the ovule through the nucellus and reached the embryo sac three days after pollination. Endosperm nuclei soon developed, but the embryo remained in a quiescent stage. A good proportion of the ovules degenerated at different stages of development. Temperature had an effect on pollen performance, and low temperatures hampered pollen germination. Finally, a compatibility assay was performed, showing no differences between self and cross pollen tube growth in the style. However a paternity analysis, with microsatellite markers, showed significant differences in outcrossing rate depending on the availability of pollinizer trees.
Hepatic arterial injection chemotherapy with cisplatin suspended in an oily lymphographic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma

A method to prepare cisplatin suspended in an oily lymphographic agent, Lipiodol (LPS), has been established to deliver cisplatin to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by the hepatic artery. Seventy‐one patients, one Stage I, 16 Stage II, 16 Stage III, and 38 Stage IV, were treated with LPS therapy. A partial response was obtained in 33 cases (46.5%), a minor response in 20 cases (28.2%), and no change in 18 cases (25.3%). In 34 patients whose serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) levels were greater than 400 ng/ml, the serum AFP levels decreased in 31 patients (91.2%). The AFP decreased by more than 50% in 25 cases (73.5%) and more than 75% in 19 cases (55.9%). The plasma des‐γ‐carboxy prothrombin (DCP) levels decreased in all of the 26 DCP‐positive patients. The survival rate was 77% at 6 months and the 1‐year survival rate was estimated to be 55%. The patients treated with LPS therapy survived longer compared with patients given Lipiodol containing neocarzinostatin by the hepatic artery. Complications such as acute gastroduodenal mucosal lesions (24%), cholecystitis (2.8%), pancreatitis (7%), delayed jaundice (7%), and hepatic encephalopathy (4.2%) were observed after therapy. The peak plasma platinum (Pt) concentrations determined as ultrafilterable Pt occurred 5 to 20 minutes, and 5 to 60 minutes as total Pt after the end of LPS injection. The Pt concentrations in the tumor tissues were 42 times higher in four operated cases and 7.1 times higher in six autopsy cases than those in the nontumorous tissue. These results suggest that LPS selectively accumulates in the HCC, is long‐lasting and gradually releases the drug. In addition it is effective as a new anti‐cancer therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Evaluating the impact of breast model complexity on microwave imaging signals

This paper presents an evaluation of the impact that breast model complexity has on microwave imaging signals. Such evaluation is important in assessing the sensitivity of the microwave breast imaging signals to the heterogeneity of internal breast structure. The measure of this sensitivity may benefit the feasibility analysis, performance verification, and design improvements of new technologies related to microwave breast imaging. A series of numerical breast models with progressively increasing fibroglandular structure complexity are constructed from T1-weighted 3D breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. These models are scanned numerically in a full wave 3D electromagnetics solver using patient specific scan pattern. The information content of simulated backscattered microwave signals is analyzed using singular value decomposition. The analysis suggests that the microwave imaging signals are sensitive to the complexity of the fibroglandular structure of the breast.
Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Placement in the Lumbar Spine: A Comparison Study Between the Novel Guidance System and the Conventional Fluoroscopy Method

Study Design: The clinical study was conducted on 145 patients who received either a novel guidance method or a conventional fluoroscopic method for the percutaneous pedicle screw placement in the lumbar spine. Objective: The aim of this study was to introduce a novel guidance method for percutaneous pedicle screw placement and to compare it with the conventional fluoroscopic method. Summary of Background Data: Conventional fluoroscopic method was associated with a long screw placement and a more fluoroscopy time. The novel guidance system effectively minimized the insertion and the radiation exposure times. Methods: A total of 145 patients were divided into 2 groups. A total of 65 patients (group A) underwent 152 percutaneous pedicle screw fixation by conventional fluoroscopic method. A total of 80 patients (group B) underwent 185 percutaneous pedicle screw fixation by a novel guidance method. Age, body mass index, and sex ratio were comparable between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The time of insertion, radiation exposure, and accuracy of the screw placement between the 2 groups were compared. Results: The mean time for a single pedicle screw placement was found to be 15.11±3.32 minutes in group A and 10.35±2.82 minutes in group B, respectively. The average radiation exposure was 9.06±2.15 s in group B and 13.07±3.06 s in group A, respectively. The differences were statistically significant for both screw placement and radiation exposure times (P<0.05). A total of 131 screws (86.2%) in group A and 163 screws (88.1%) in group B were perfectly located within the pedicle. The statistical difference was not significant (&khgr;2=0.277, P=0.598). Conclusions: The novel guidance system significantly reduced the insertion time and radiation exposure, provided the screw placement was accurately performed when compared with the conventional method.
Efficient uptake of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis via integrin receptors involves a Rac1–Arp 2/3 pathway that bypasses N‐WASP function

Efficient uptake of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis into cultured mammalian cells is the result of high‐affinity binding of invasin to β1 chain integrins. We demonstrate here that uptake requires Rac1 and Arp 2/3 function. Bacterial uptake was stimulated by GTPγS, but was inhibited in mammalian cells transfected with the interfering Rac1‐N17 derivative. Rac1 was found to be activated in response to integrin engagement by invasin, whereas Rac1 and Arp 2/3 were found to be intensely localized around phagosomes bearing bacteria, indicating a specific role for Rac1 signalling from the nascent phagosome to downstream effectors. To determine whether the Arp 2/3 complex was a component of this proposed pathway, cells overproducing various derivatives of Scar1/WAVE1, an Arp 2/3‐binding protein, were analysed. Sequestration of Arp 2/3 away from the phagocytic cup as a result of Scar1/WAVE1 overproduction dramatically inhibited uptake. To determine whether signalling from Rac1 to Arp 2/3 occurred via N‐WASP, uptake was analysed in a cell line lacking expression of WASP and N‐WASP. Uptake was unaffected by the absence of these proteins, indicating that β1 integrin signalling from Rac1 to Arp 2/3 can occur in the absence of N‐WASP function.
Oxidative Stress Mechanisms during Flower Senescence

Free radicals and other active derivatives of oxygen are inevitable by-products of biological redox reactions and universal under stress situations. Reactive oxygen species inactivate enzymes and damage important cellular processes and subsequently cell components also. Plants and other organisms have evolved a wide range of mechanisms to contend with this problem by promoting the synthesis of antioxidant molecules and enzymes. The effects of the action of free radicals on membranes include the induction of lipid peroxidation and fatty acid de-esterification. Both ethylene biosynthesis and membrane breakdown, which appear to be closely linked, seem to involve free radicals, although the sequence of events generating these free radicals is still poorly understood. The death of petal cells is preceded by a loss in membrane permeability, partly due to increases in reactive oxygen species that are in turn related to the up-regulation of oxidative enzymes and to a decrease in activity of protective enzymes. It also consists of losses in soluble proteins, nucleic acids caused by the activation of proteinases and nucleases and enzyme-mediated alterations of carbohydrate polymers. Many of the genes for these senescence-associated enzymes have been cloned. In some flowers, the degradative changes of petal cells are initiated by ethylene; in others, abscisic acid may play a role.
The roles of sharing, transfer, and public funding in nanotechnology knowledge‐diffusion networks

Understanding the knowledge‐diffusion networks of patent inventors can help governments and businesses effectively use their investment to stimulate commercial science and technology development. Such inventor networks are usually large and complex. This study proposes a multidimensional network analysis framework that utilizes Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs) to simultaneously model knowledge‐sharing and knowledge‐transfer processes, examine their interactions, and evaluate the impacts of network structures and public funding on knowledge‐diffusion networks. Experiments are conducted on a longitudinal data set that covers 2 decades (1991–2010) of nanotechnology‐related US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patents. The results show that knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer are closely interrelated. High degree centrality or boundary inventors play significant roles in the network, and National Science Foundation (NSF) public funding positively affects knowledge sharing despite its small fraction in overall funding and upstream research topics.
Molecular Signatures Underlying Synaptic Vesicle Cargo Retrieval

Efficient retrieval of the synaptic vesicle (SV) membrane from the presynaptic plasma membrane, a process called endocytosis, is crucial for the fidelity of neurotransmission, particularly during sustained neural activity. Although multiple modes of endocytosis have been identified, it is clear that the efficient retrieval of the major SV cargos into newly formed SVs during any of these modes is fundamental for synaptic transmission. It is currently believed that SVs are eventually reformed via a clathrin-dependent pathway. Various adaptor proteins recognize SV cargos and link them to clathrin, ensuring the efficient retrieval of the cargos into newly formed SVs. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of the molecular signatures within individual SV cargos that underlie efficient retrieval into SV membranes, as well as discuss possible contributions of the mechanisms under physiological conditions.