Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-temperature synthesis of single-crystal germanium nanowires by chemical vapor deposition.

Chemically derived nanowire materials have attracted much attention because of their interesting geometries, properties, and potential applications. [1±3] Various methods have been developed for synthesizing semiconducting nanowires including laser ablation,[2,3] physical vapor deposition under high temperatures,[3±7] and solvothermal growth under high pressures and moderate temperatures. [3,8±10] Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been extensively used for carbon nanotube growth,[11±13] but is much less explored for the synthesis of semiconductor nanowires, with the exception for silicon. [14,15] Herein, we present the first synthesis of single-crystal germanium nanowires, prepared by the CVD of germane (GeH4) at 275 8C with Au nanocrystals as seed particles. Germanium is an important semiconducting electronic material with high carrier mobility and a band gap of approximately 0.6 eV. Nanowires of germanium were first reported by the group of Heath about ten years ago, synthesized by using a solvothermal approach. [8] Recently, laser ablation (820 8C),[2] vapor transport (900±1100 8C),[4,7,16] and solvothermal methods (300±400 8C, 100 atm)[9] were used for growth. We show here that high-quality Ge nanowires are synthesized by a simple CVD process at 275 8C under atmospheric pressure. This represents the mildest growth conditions for single-crystal nanowire synthesis. An efficient Ge feedstock from GeH4 and the low eutectic temperature of Ge±Au nanoclusters are the key factors that afford vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of Ge nanowires at low temperatures. Further, we show that the CVD approach allows for patterned growth of Ge nanowires, which yields nanowires from well-defined patterned sites on surfaces. We carried out CVD growth at 275 8C under a 10 sccm (standard cubic centimeter) flow of GeH4 (10% in He) in tandem with a 100 sccm flow of H2 in a 2.5 cm furnace reactor (total gas pressure 1 atm) for 15 min. The SiO2 substrate used in this work contained preformed Au nanocrystals (approximately 20 nm in diameter) deposited uniformly on the surface from a colloidal solution. The inset of Figure 1a shows an atomic force microscopy (AFM) image of the Au particles on a substrate, recorded before CVD. After the COMMUNICATIONS
Sensitivity to the effects of sedative-hypnotics on motor performance: influence of task difficulty and chronic phenobarbital administration.

The present investigation examined sensitivity to the effects of various sedative-hypnotics on motor performance in rats treated chronically with phenobarbital. Eight rats were trained to walk on a rotorod treadmill at low (8 r.p.m.) and high (24 r.p.m.) rotational speeds. Prior to the chronic regimen, phenobarbital, pentobarbital, amobarbital, diazepam and clonazepam produced dose-dependent impairments in motor performance at both speeds. During chronic treatment with phenobarbital (100 mg/kg/day), tolerance was conferred to the effects of all the drugs examined, as evidenced by rightward shifts in their dose-effect curves. For all drugs, the magnitude of this tolerance was generally consistent across the two speeds. Following a 6-week washout period, during which no drugs were administered, dose-effect curves for each drug shifted back toward their original (i.e. pre-chronic) positions. Under all conditions, the doses required for each drug to impair motor performance at the low speed were higher than those required to impair motor performance at the high speed. These data suggest that sensitivity to the motor-impairing effects of sedative-hypnotics is influenced by the difficulty of the behavioral task, but that task difficulty does not modulate the maximal extent to which tolerance and cross-tolerance are expressed.
Comparative study of nitric oxide production induced by selective estrogen receptors alpha and beta agonists in rats* Comparação da produção de óxido nítrico mediada por agonistas seletivos de receptores estrogênicos alfa e beta em ratos

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator and estrogen-mediated vasodilation that increases NO production. The association of the vascular endothelium, gender and vasodilation induced by estrogen is due to the activation of two estrogen receptors, alpha (ERa) and beta (ERb). The aim of this study was to compare NO production stimulating receptors ERa and ERb with the use of selective agonists in thoracic aortas of rats. METHODS: Aortic rings were either treated with 17 b-estradiol (17-BE2); acetylcholine (Ach); 4,4’,4-[4-propil-(1H)-pirazol-1,3,5-triyl]tris-phenol (PPT), and 2,3-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (DPN), or left untreated, and the concentration of NO was determined by spectrophotometry method. RESULTS: The females presented a higher basal concentration of nitrite than males. PPT determined increased production of nitrite in both females and males, compared to 17-beta-estradiol (17-BE2). In males, the production of nitrite induced by DPN and PPT was higher than that induced by 17BE2. The stimulation with 17-BE2 increased the production of nitrite in females compared to males. Regardless the gender, the stimulation of aortic rings by PPT caused a greater production of nitrite compared to that induced by 17-BE2. Interestingly, the stimulation of aortic rings from males with DPN provided an increase in the nitrite production compared to the levels induced
Recall of the Visual Body Image Using a Novel Boundary Detection Task

A new task for eliciting a pictorial mental image of the body or other objects is described. The task involved relating a pair of crosses to the boundary of a mental image ‘projected’ onto a computer screen. Responses were assessed for accuracy defined as identifying a relationship between a cross and an image that would hold when a photograph (of the same object) was substituted for the mental image. A group of 30 female students achieved between 70 to 80% accuracy when using this task to assess mental images of their own faces, torsos, or a familiar nonbody object. Accuracy was similar for body and nonbody objects. The presence of some kind of quasipictorial representation of the body is confirmed. Its characteristics await further elucidation.
HVAC component data modeling using industry foundation classes

The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) object data model of buildings is being developed by the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI). The aim is to support data sharing and exchange in the building and construction industry across the life-cycle of a building. This paper describes a number of aspects of a major extension of the HVAC part of the IFC data model. First is the introduction of a more generic approach for handling HVAC components. This includes type information, which corresponds to catalog data, occurrence information, which defines item-specific attributes such as location and connectivity, and performance history information, which documents the actual performance of the component instance over time. Other IFC model enhancements include an extension of the connectivity model used to specify how components forming a system can be traversed and the introduction of time-based data streams. This paper includes examples of models of particular types of HVAC components, such as boilers and actuators, with all attributes included in the definitions. The paper concludes by describing the on-going process of model testing, implementation and integration into the complete IFC model and how the model can be used by software developers to support interoperability between HVAC-oriented design and analysis tools.
Subunit Assembly and Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Activity of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2B Expressed in Sf9 Cells*

Eukaryotic initiation factor-2B (eIF-2B) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that plays a key role in the regulation of protein synthesis. In this study, we have used the baculovirus-infected Sf9 insect cell system to express and characterize the five dissimilar subunits of rat eIF-2B. GEF activity was detected in extracts of Sf9 cells expressing the ε-subunit alone and was greatly increased when all five subunits were coexpressed. In addition, high GEF activity was observed in extracts containing a four-subunit complex lacking the α-subunit. Assembly of an eIF-2B holoprotein was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation of all five subunits. Gel filtration chromatography revealed that recombinant eIF-2B had the same molecular mass as eIF-2B purified from rat liver and that it did indeed possess GEF activity. Phosphorylation of the substrate eIF-2 inhibited the GEF activity of the five-subunit eIF-2B; this inhibition required the eIF-2B α-subunit. The results demonstrate that eIF-2Bα functions as a regulatory subunit that is not required for GEF activity, but instead mediates the regulation of eIF-2B by substrate phosphorylation. Furthermore, eIF-2Bε is necessary and is perhaps sufficient for GEF activity in vitro.
Nucleotide sequence comparison between heat-labile toxin B-subunit cistrons from Escherichia coli of human and porcine origin

The nucleotide sequence of the LT-BH cistron (eltBH) from an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain infectious for humans was determined and compared with the LT-B cistron sequence from a porcine E. coli isolate. Both cistrons were shown to comprise 375 nucleotide base pairs, and discrepancies were detected at eight positions. Of the nonhomologous base pairs, six resulted in codon changes that would lead to amino acid variations. The nucleotide sequence distal to both LT-B cistrons was also determined, and only three differences were detected in 197 base pairs. An HhaI site unique to eltBH was shown to be present in all the heat-labile (LT) genes from 31 human isolates surveyed, whereas the restriction enzyme recognition site was absent in the gene from 46 porcine E. coli isolates. The results suggest that two genetically discernable LT groups are identifiable and that the groups are also distinguishable by the isolation source (human or porcine) of the infecting E. coli strains.
Recent advances in understanding migration systems of New World land birds

Our understanding of migratory birds' year-round ecology and evolution remains patchy despite recent fundamental advances. Periodic reviews focus future research and inform conservation and management; here, we take advantage of our combined experiences working on Western Hemisphere avian migration systems to highlight recent lessons and critical gaps in knowledge. Among topics discussed are: (1) The pipeline from pure to applied researchers leaves room for improvement. (2) Population limitation and regulation includes both seasonal and between-season interactions. (3) The study of movements of small-bodied species remains a major research frontier. (4) We must increase our understanding of population connectivity. (5) With few exceptions, population regulation has barely been investigated. (6) We have increasingly integrated landscape configuration of habitats, large-scale habitat disturbances, and habitat quality impacts into models of seasonal and overall demographic success. (7) The post-breeding seas.
A simple voltage controlled oscillator with grounded capacitors

A simple voltage controlled oscillator circuit using capacitors, all of which are grounded, is presented. The circuit is thus attractive from the point of view of monolithic or hybrid IC fabrication. The frequency of oscillation can be varied over a wide range, with the amplitude of oscillation remaining relatively stable over the range. Experimental results are given that agree closely with the theoretical predictions.
Human Metapneumovirus Induces a Profile of Lung Cytokines Distinct from That of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

ABSTRACT Lung cytokine and chemokine production by BALB/c mice infected with human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was compared to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-infected mice. hMPV infection induced lower levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha but was a more potent inducer of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and triggered a more sustained production of the CXC chemokine KC compared to RSV. hMPV was a stronger inducer of both alpha interferon (IFN-α) and IFN-γ responses than RSV. In regard to immunomodulatory cytokines, hMPV failed to induce detectable IL-10 or IL-12p70 but was a potent inducer of IL-12 p40 subunit. The implications for hMPV pathogenesis are discussed.
A potentially functional variant in the serotonin transporter gene is associated with premenopausal and perimenopausal hot flashes

ObjectiveAn increase in the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and/or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to relieve menopausal hot flashes (HFs) has been observed recently. However, response to them has been heterogeneous. We hypothesized that this heterogeneity might be partially attributed to genetic variations in genes encoding the serotonin and/or norepinephrine transporters (SLC6A4 and SLC6A2). As a first step in testing the role of genetics in response to SSRIs/SNRIs, we examined the association between HFs and genetic variants within these two genes. MethodsWe tested 29 haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms within SLC6A4 and SLC6A2 for their association with HFs separately for European-American (396 cases and 392 controls) and African-American (125 cases and 81 controls) premenopausal and perimenopausal women. ResultsWe found that the minor allele of SLC6A4_rs11080121 was associated with protection against HFs (odds ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60-0.94) only in European-American women. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that rs11080121 is fully correlated with rs1042173 in the 3′ untranslated region of SLC6A4. The minor allele of rs1042173 seems to disrupt a conserved binding site for hsa-miR-590-3p microRNA. ConclusionsDisruption of a microRNA binding site leads to higher expression of SLC6A4, higher expression of SLC6A4 leads to depletion of serotonin in synaptic clefts, and depletion of serotonin triggers the presynaptic autoreceptor feedback mechanism to produce more serotonin, which is protective against HFs. This is the first study to test the association between HFs in both European-American and African-American premenopausal and perimenopausal women and genetic variants in two neurotransmitter transporter genes, SLC6A2 and SLC6A4. This information can be used in tailoring the pharmaceutical use of SSRIs/SNRIs for HF relief.
Biofilms of Salmonella enterica

Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) can form multicellular structures, commonly called biofilms, on various occasions. Biofilms can be formed on diverse surfaces/interfaces such as at the epithelial cell layer of a vertebrate host, on plant surfaces, or on abiotic surfaces, at the air–liquid interface and on gallstones. In this way, S. enterica is thought to achieve environmental persistence, transmission, and colonization of host organisms. Characterization of biofilm formation at the molecular level revealed different types of biofilms that have common and distinct regulatory and structural components. The so-called “rdar morphotype,” a multicellular behavior of S. enterica on agar plates is characterized by the expression of the master regulator CsgD, which controls expression of the extracellular matrix components curli fimbriae, the large surface-associated protein BapA, the exopolysaccharide cellulose and a capsular polysaccharide. Colonization of abiotic surfaces, plant surfaces and epithelial cell layers partly require the same factors as rdar morphotype formation, while the biofilm formed by Salmonella on gall stones seems to be substantially distinct from rdar morphotype formation. Introduction Salmonella enterica, in particular serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) have mainly been studied as pathogens in the process of causing disease (Hensel, 2004; Hurley and McCormick, 2003). However, often S. enterica is a regular colonizer of warmand coldblooded animals without causing disease. Although animals and humans act as host organisms for salmonellae, the life cycle of S. enterica is complex and includes stages outside of the host (Winfield and Groisman, 2003). For example, S. enterica has to be effectively transmitted between hosts either by close contact, or through animate or inanimate vehicles such as water, food and produce. Effective survival outside a host is consequently an essential component of the life cycle of S. enterica. Since life outside and inside a host is fundamentally different, S. enterica has to tightly regulate gene expression in order to survive in both environments (Mouslim et al., 2002). A multicellular behavior, commonly called biofilm-formation, is expressed by almost all bacteria and can play roles in virulence and host colonization as well as for the survival outside a host. In this review, current knowledge about biofilm formation in S. enterica is summarized. S. enterica caister.com/biofilmsbooks Römling et al. 128 | forms biofilms on different surfaces in the host such as at the epithelial cell layer or on gall stones; is able to colonize plant surfaces for transmission of the pathogen and colonizes abiotic surfaces such as stainless steel and glass. Elucidation of the molecular basis of biofilm formation has revealed that similar and distinct components are required for biofilm formation on different surfaces. Definition of biofilm
Occurrence, Genetic Diversity, and Persistence of Enterococci in a Lake Superior Watershed

ABSTRACT In 2012, the U.S. EPA suggested that coastal and Great Lakes states adopt enterococci as an alternative indicator for the monitoring of recreational water quality. Limited information, however, is available about the presence and persistence of enterococci in Lake Superior. In this study, the density, species composition, and persistence of enterococci in sand, sediment, water, and soil samples were examined at two sites in a Lake Superior watershed from May to September over a 2-year period. The genetic diversity of Enterococcus faecalis isolates collected from environmental samples was also studied by using the horizontal, fluorophore-enhanced repetitive PCR DNA fingerprinting technique. Results obtained by most-probable-number analyses indicated that enterococci were present in 149 (94%) of 159 samples and their densities were generally higher in the summer than in the other months examined. The Enterococcus species composition displayed spatial and temporal changes, with the dominant species being E. hirae, E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. mundtii, and E. casseliflavus. DNA fingerprint analyses indicated that the E. faecalis population in the watershed was genetically diverse and changed spatially and temporally. Moreover, some DNA fingerprints reoccurred over multiple sampling events. Taken together, these results suggest that some enterococci are able to persist and grow in the Lake Superior watershed, especially in soil, for a prolonged time after being introduced.
Use of diet pills and other dieting aids in a college population with high weight and shape concerns.

OBJECTIVE The current study examines diet aid use among college women at risk for eating disorders and explores characteristics associated with diet aid use. METHOD Participants were 484 college women<30 years from 6 universities in the San Francisco Bay Area (SF) and San Diego who were at risk for developing eating disorders. A checklist assessed diet pill, fat blocker, diuretic, laxative, and other diet aid use over the past 12 months. RESULTS Thirty-two percent of the college women reported using a diet aid. Diet aid use was double the rate in San Diego (44%) compared with SF (22%) (p=.000). Weight and shape concerns were higher among diet aid users than among nonusers across sites. CONCLUSION A significant number of college women at risk for eating disorders are using diet aids. We recommend that clinicians inquire about diet aid use among college-aged patients.
Molecular evidence shows that the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica is the predominant Fasciola species in ruminants from Pakistan

Abstract Fascioliasis is an important disease affecting livestock, with great costs to producers worldwide. It has also become a serious issue for human populations in some endemic areas as an emerging zoonotic infection. There are two Fasciola species of liver fluke responsible for this disease, which occur worldwide, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Identifying these two species on the basis of adult or egg morphology requires specialist knowledge due to the similarity of characters, and may misidentify putative intermediate or hybrid forms. In this study we sequenced the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) rDNA of liver flukes collected from multiple species of hosts from seven localities in the Punjab and Baluchistan provinces of Pakistan, to determine the distribution of these two species. All 46 flukes processed in this study, collected from seven sites, showed the rDNA ITS-2 genotype corresponding to F. gigantica, contradicting previous reports, based on adult and egg morphology, that both species are present in Pakistan, with F. hepatica being the more common.
Nested PCR for specific detection and rapid identification of human picornaviruses

A nested PCR for the detection and rapid identification of human picornaviruses is described. Enteroviruses and rhinoviruses were amplified with the same set of four primers from the 5'-noncoding region. The nested primers allowed the detection of far less than 1 PFU in diluted virus stocks without Southern blot hybridization. In patients with neurological disorders (mainly aseptic meningitis), 43% of 37 specimens (11 of 21 cerebrospinal fluid specimens, 2 of 10 serum specimens, and 3 of 6 stool specimens) were positive by PCR. A total of 21% (10 of 47 specimens) of heart biopsy specimens from patients with dilative cardiomyopathy were PCR positive, whereas 3% (2 of 70 specimens) of control biopsy specimens from patients with coronary artery disease were PCR positive. PCR-amplified fragments from 27 of 29 clinical isolates and 14 of 28 patient samples were successfully serotyped by restriction enzyme digestion. Two specimens were further investigated by direct sequencing of PCR products, leading to the identification of a poliovirus type 3 isolate with a sequence that was highly divergent from previously published sequences.