Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphometrics and phylogeography of the cave-obligate land snail Helicodiscus barri (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Helicodiscidae)

Molecular studies have recently led to the detection of many cryptic species complexes within morphologically ambiguous species formerly undescribed by the scientific community. Organisms such as land snails are at a particularly higher risk of species misidentification and misinterpretation, in that gastropod systematics are based almost entirely on external shell morphology. Subterranean ecosystems are associated with especially high degrees of cryptic speciation, largely owing to the abiotic similarities of these systems. In this study, we attempt to diagnose the potential cryptic diversity in the troglobitic land snail Helicodiscusbarri. Land snails are generally associated with having low vagility, and as such this species’ broad, mosaic distribution indicates the misdiagnosis of this organism as a single species. We analyze both mitochondrial (16S, CO1) and nuclear (28S, H3) genetic data for 23 populations. Phylogeny for H.barri was reconstructed using both maximum-likelihood and Bayesian approaches to assess relationships among populations, and two species delimitation methods (mPTP and ABGD) were used to detect the presence of unique molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). Species delimitation results revealed seven and sixteen MOTUs respectively, suggesting the presence of several cryptic lineages within H.barri. To assess how external shell morphology corresponds with patterns of genetic and environmental variation, two morphometric approaches were used incorporating 115 shells from 31 populations. Both morphometric approaches reveal a significant environmental influence on shell morphology, and one approach showed the significance of MOTU groups. We discuss the delimitation and morphometric results and additionally provide discussion on the taxonomic and conservation implications of this study.
Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the Seed Germination, Seedling Growth and Photosynthetic Pigments of Astragalus caragana under Drought Stress

Drought stress is one of the most important factors limiting plant growth all around the world. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) can significantly reduce drought stress effects on plants growth. This study was aimed to investigate the influence of PGPR (inoculation by Azospirillum lipoferum, Azotobacter chroococcum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus cereus) on seed germination, seedling growth and photosynthetic pigments of Astragalus caragana under four levels of drought stress (0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.8 MPa) in laboratory conditions in Shahrekord University, Iran, 2017. Among the four PGPR treatments, A. chroococcum was eliminated because seeds failed to germinate and were identified as agent pathogenies. The results showed that inoculation by PGPR had a significant effect on all germination traits except shoot length. The effect of drought stress was significant on all traits expect mean germination time. The PGPR by drought stress interaction effect was significant on shoot length, embryonic leaf and seedling fresh weight, embryonic leaf and seedling dry weight, and root length. The highest and lowest seed germination indices and seedling length were related to first (control and -0.2 MPa) and second (-0.4, -0.8 MPa) levels of drought stress, respectively. It was concluded that P. aeruginosa was more effective in embryonic leaf fresh weight (0 and -0.2 MPa), embryonic leaf and seedling dry weight (total levels of drought stress); B. cereus (0 MPa) and A. lipoferum (0, -0.2, and -0.4 MPa) showed relatively better performance on root length and B. cereus (0 MPa), A. lipoferum (total levels of drought stress) and P. aeruginosa(-0.2 and -0.4 MPa; total levels of drought stress, respectively) improved growth of shoot and seedling fresh weight of the Astragalus caragana.
EEG Characterization of the Alzheimer’s Disease Continuum by Means of Multiscale Entropies

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with high prevalence, known for its highly disabling symptoms. The aim of this study was to characterize the alterations in the irregularity and the complexity of the brain activity along the AD continuum. Both irregularity and complexity can be studied applying entropy-based measures throughout multiple temporal scales. In this regard, multiscale sample entropy (MSE) and refined multiscale spectral entropy (rMSSE) were calculated from electroencephalographic (EEG) data. Five minutes of resting-state EEG activity were recorded from 51 healthy controls, 51 mild cognitive impaired (MCI) subjects, 51 mild AD patients (ADMIL), 50 moderate AD patients (ADMOD), and 50 severe AD patients (ADSEV). Our results show statistically significant differences (p-values < 0.05, FDR-corrected Kruskal–Wallis test) between the five groups at each temporal scale. Additionally, average slope values and areas under MSE and rMSSE curves revealed significant changes in complexity mainly for controls vs. MCI, MCI vs. ADMIL and ADMOD vs. ADSEV comparisons (p-values < 0.05, FDR-corrected Mann–Whitney U-test). These findings indicate that MSE and rMSSE reflect the neuronal disturbances associated with the development of dementia, and may contribute to the development of new tools to track the AD progression.
Associations between preoperative P-wave characteristics, C-reactive protein levels, and atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common complication of cardiac surgery which may cause remarkable morbidity and complications. Identifying predicting factors of this arrhythmia can help prophylactic therapy. The present study is designed to investigate the hypothesis that HsCRP level and P-wave characteristics are associated with the incidence of post-operative AF. Methods: In this prospective study, 50 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation during a 1-year period at Vali-e-asr Hospital, Birjand, Iran were enrolled. All the patients underwent electrocardiography (ECG) before surgery and P-wave duration and height were measured. In addition, blood samples were collected the day before surgery as well as 12, 24 and 72 hours after surgery to measure CRP serum levels. Patients were monitored after surgery to detect probable AF rhythm. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16. Results: Of the 50 patients, 10 (20%) developed AF in the postoperative phase during days 1 to 5, while the other 40 patients (80%) had stable sinus rhythm. P-wave duration and height were significantly different in patients who subsequently developed postoperative AF with the mean values of 109.5±15.7 and 0.14±0.03, respectively. Mean HsCRP levels before and 12, 24, and 72 h after operation showed no significant difference. Conclusions: Patients prone to AF arrhythmia can be identified by measuring P-wave duration and height in preoperative ECG. Hs.CRP levels before and after CABG surgery may not contribute to AF prediction.
Student Teachers, Mentors and Information Technology

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the findings of the pilot phase of a research project investigating the ways in which an initial teacher education programme affects the development of student teachers’ understanding of the role of information technology (IT) in the history classroom. It outlines the context of the research, the internship model of initial teacher education developed at Oxford and then goes on to examine, briefly, the relevant ideas and principles of the internship scheme. This section is followed by a description of the rationale for the research, the research questions and the methodology employed. The final part of the paper discusses the results of the pilot study which examines the ways in which beginning teachers’ understanding of the role of IT in the history classroom is affected by their experiences in internship. It also discusses the more general issues raised in relation to the development of student teachers’ IT competencies, by the development of school‐focused initial teach.
Effect of Diluent Volume and Calcium on Glyphosate Phytotoxicity

The effects of diluent volume and calcium concentration on glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl] glycine] phytotoxicity were evaluated by adding 0.0, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04 M CaCl2 to 1.68 kg/ha glyphosate and applying at 130, 190, 375, and 750 L/ha to tall morningglory [Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth] plants that were 10 to 12 cm tall. Thirty days after treatment, glyphosate phytotoxicity was reduced by calcium at diluent volumes of 375 and 750 L/ha. Addition of a sulfonine red dye to the spray solution showed that at 130 L/ha, runoff from tall morningglory leaves was negligible. At 375 and 750 L/ha different volumes, ½ to ¾ of the spray solution, as measured by dye retention, ran off the leaf surface. At 750 L/ha, the water and dye collected at the leaf margins and the spray pattern on the leaf surface was not uniform.
Enhancing Absorption Bandwidth through Vertically Oriented Metamaterials

Metamaterials research has developed perfect absorbers from microwave to optical frequencies, mainly featuring planar metamaterials, also referred to as metasurfaces. In this study, we investigated vertically oriented metamaterials, which make use of the entire three-dimensional space, as a new avenue to widen the spectral absorption band in the infrared regime between 20 and 40 THz. Vertically oriented metamaterials, such as those simulated in this work, can be experimentally realized through membrane projection lithography, which allows a single unit cell to be decorated with multiple resonators by exploiting the vertical dimension. In particular, we analyzed the cases of a unit cell containing a single vertical split-ring resonator (VSRR), a single planar split-ring resonator (PSRR), and both a VSRR and PSRR to explore intra-cell coupling between resonators. We show that the additional degrees of freedom enabled by placing multiple resonators in a unit cell lead to novel ways of achieving omnidirectional super absorption. Our results provide an innovative approach for controlling and designing engineered nanostructures.
Investigating the effect of lipid nanoparticles containing silibinin anti-cancer drug on the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cell line

Background & Aim : Silibinin is a blend of flavonoids, which is extracted from Marianum Silybum , and its anti-cancer effects on breast cells have been studied. The aim of this study was to provide physiochemical evaluation of various formulations of the niosomal system containing silibinin, in order to achieve targeted formulation to better fight breast cancer cells. Methods : Nano-carriers were synthesized using different molar ratios of structural elements such as Cholesterol, Polysorbates 20 and 60 and of the 9 synthetic formulations; the best formulation was selected based on the encapsulation efficiency. Then, the pattern of drug release in conditions similar to cancerous cells, the size of nano-carrier and surface charge were investigated. Furthermore, the interaction of drugs and nano-carries was studied by investigating IR spectra and particle morphology using scanning electron microscopy. At the end, using the MTT method, niosomal silibinin toxicity was measured on the MCF-7 cell line . Results : The final formulation containing silibinin, had 118nm size, 92.87±5% encapsulation efficiency, -31.33 mV zeta potential. The maximum release rate of the drug for this nano - carrier in cancerous cells within 48 hours was 89.03%. The results of MTT show that the amount of toxicity of encapsulated silibinins is higher than the non-capsulated silibinbin on MCF-7 cell line. Conclusion : The results of this study showed that the niosomal system, having the proper physiochemical properties, increases the toxic effect of silibinin on MCF-7 cell line. Therefore, it can be a suitable carrier for drug delivery to cancer cells.
Editorial: A Hard Day’s Night - What’s to be gained from fumbling around in the dark?

In many cases daily patterns in insect activity are so well defined between night and day there is little doubt about when, or how, an investigator should go about studying them. However, even for some relatively well-studied groups (e.g. Diptera; spiders; beneficial insects; herbivores; pollinators), collecting during the daytime can produce very different results compared with collecting at night.
Effects of Slenderness and Fundamental Frequency on the Dynamic Response of Adjacent Structures

In conventional seismic design, the structure is often assumed to be fixed at the base. However, this assumption does not reflect reality. Furthermore, if the structure has close neighbors, the adjacent structures will alter the response of the structure considered. Investigations on soil–structure interaction and structure–soil–structure interaction have been performed mainly using numerical models. The present work addresses the dynamic response of adjacent single-degree-of-freedom models on a laminar box filled with sand. Impulse loads and simulated ground motions were applied. The standalone condition was also studied as a reference case. Models with different fundamental frequencies and slenderness were considered. Results from the impulse tests showed that the top displacement of the models with an adjacent structure was reduced compared with that of the standalone case. Changes in the fundamental frequency of the models due to the presence of an adjacent model were also observed. Results from ground motions showed amplification of the maximum acceleration and the top displacement of the models when both structures have a similar fundamental frequency.
Enzymatic Degradation of Biofilm by Metalloprotease From Microbacterium sp. SKS10

Enzymes have replaced or decreased usage of toxic chemicals for industrial and medical applications leading towards sustainable chemistry. In this study, we report purification and characterization of a biofilm degrading protease secreted by Microbacterium sp. SKS10. The protease was identified as a metalloprotease, Peptidase M16 using mass spectrometry. It showed optimum activity at 60 °C, pH 12 and retained its activity in the presence of various salts and organic solvents. The enzyme was able to degrade biofilms efficiently at enzyme concentration lower than other known enzymes such as papain, trypsin and □-amylase. The presence of this protease increased the accessibility of antibiotics inside the biofilm, and was found to be non-cytotoxic towards human epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) at the effective concentration for biofilm degradation. Thus, this protease may serve as an effective tool for management of biofilms.
Evolution Characteristics of the Cracks in the Completely Disintegrated Carbonaceous Mudstone Subjected to Cyclic Wetting and Drying

Completely disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone, a common embankment material, has significant swelling-shrinkage behavior under cyclic wetting and drying, which often causes the instability of embankments. In this paper, the evolution of the cracks in the completely disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone subjected to cyclic wetting and drying was studied by laboratory tests. The vacuum saturation method and the drying method based on heat lamps and a fan were employed to simulate the wetting and drying processes, respectively. The image processing technique was used to treat the images of the sample surface. Afterward, various geometric parameters of the cracks appeared on the sample surface were measured, and the evolution characteristics of the cracks were analyzed. The results show that with the increase in the number of wetting and drying cycles, the number of cracks on the sample surface gradually increases. After four wetting and drying cycles, the existing cracks produce a large number of small branches, which are connected to form irregular polygonal grids. The development of the cracks in the completely disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone sample can be divided into three stages, i.e., slow development, rapid development, and stable development. Both the surface density of crack and the crack rate first increase and then tend to be stable with the increasing number of wetting and drying cycles. New cracks are mainly generated on the basis of the existing cracks, and some cracks appear to heal under cyclic wetting and drying. The early cracks are mainly developed in the directions of 0°–90° and 300°–360°, and the development rate of the cracks in the directions of 30°, 90°, 140°–150°, and 180°–270° is significantly higher than that of the cracks in other directions.
Photon momentum induced precision small forces: a static and dynamic check

Practical means of generation and calibration of the small precision forces in static and dynamic regimes around 1 Hz by the usage of radiation pressure effect from 1 W continuous wave visible (diode) laser light is presented. The additive effect of the transfer of photon momentum, caused by non-overlapping multiply reflecting laser beam locked within a quasi-passive and/or active macroscopic cavity system, is employed. The effective laser power (partially trapped experimentally) is amplified, such that the optically generated forces are increased from hundreds of pN to sub-N level. The results presented in this paper should be seen as a means for extending the edge of practically verifiable lower limits of SI-traceable force metrology.
Low-Complexity Tracking Control of Strict-Feedback Systems With Unknown Control Directions

This paper focuses on the problem of output tracking with prescribed transient and steady-state performance for strict-feedback systems with unknown nonlinear functions and unmatched disturbances. In lieu of Nussbaum gain techniques, parameter estimation algorithms and switching control strategies, a continuous static low-complexity control solution is provided by means of a novel combination of smooth orientation functions and error transformation functions. The proposed method possesses inherent robustness against model uncertainties, disturbances, and virtual control signal derivatives, thus eliminating the needs to introduce extra robust control schemes and compute analytic derivatives. Comparative simulation results further illustrate the above theoretical findings.
The Influence of Dynamics and Emissions Changes on China’s Wintertime Haze

Haze days induced by aerosol pollution in North and East China have posed a persistent and growing problem over the past few decades. These events are particularly threatening to densely populated cities such as Beijing. While the sources of this pollution are predominantly anthropogenic, natural climate variations may also play a role in allowing for atmospheric conditions conducive to formation of severe haze episodes over populated areas. Here, an investigation is conducted into the effects of changes in global dynamics and emissions on air quality in China’s polluted regions using 35 simulations developed from the Community Earth Systems Model Large Ensemble (CESM LENS) run over the period 1920–2100. It is shown that internal variability significantly modulates aerosol optical depth (AOD) over China; it takes roughly a decade for the forced response to balance the effects from internal variability even in China’s most polluted regions. Random forest regressions are used to accurately model (R2 > 0.9) wintertime AOD using just climate oscillations, the month of the year, and emissions. How different phases of each oscillation affect aerosol loading is projected using these regressions. AOD responses are identified for each oscillation, with particularly strong responses from El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO). As ENSO can be projected a few months in advance and improvements in linear inverse modeling (LIM) may yield a similar predictability for the PDO, results of this study offer opportunities to improve the predictability of China’s severe wintertime haze events and to inform policy options that could mitigate subsequent health impacts.
Zero mass jets for turbulent flow drag reduction

Drag reduction has always been a very important research topic in aircraft design area. Over many decades, a lot of passive and active control methods have been developed to reduce drag. Since the friction drag takes a big percentage in the total drag of a commercial aeroplane which flies under a turbulent condition, the industry has inclined to reduce the friction drag in turbulent flow. Practical approaches are being found to be applied to the next generation of aeroplanes. This research focuses on a novel method of active flow control that can be used to reduce friction drag in a fully developed turbulent flow. The method is named as 'zero mass jets' which can be achieved by using a pair of synthetic jets. Since it is new, the method needs to be checked whether it can obtain drag reduction or not. The fully developed turbulent channel flow at a low Reynolds number is a good case to investigate the above method. The geometry is simple to generate a structured mesh. The Reynolds number is low to do direct numerical simulations to obtain detailed flow structures and study the turbulence phenomena. Direct numerical simulations are often carried out by high order solvers. In our group, an in-house solver has already been developed for many years. Various fluid researches were investigated using our solver, including open boundary layer flow, synthetic jets, flow separations, and aerofoil designs. The solver can do RANS and DES by solving the compressible Navier-Stokes equations with TVD schemes and unstructured meshes. In order to do DNS, a high order method is added in the solver called 'SHEFFlow' to reduce the numerical dissipation in this research. The turbulent flow is directly simulated by SHEFFlow. Since the flow is turbulent and periodically oscillated by zero mass jets, the obtained data is also complicated to be analysed. Useful information should be figured out by statistic tools. A triple decomposition is employed to decompose the velocity fluctuations into periodic characters and purely turbulent quantities. The Reynolds shear stresses and kinetic energy are studied by quadrant analysis and power spectral density, respectively. Using various analysis methods, the turbulence flow controlled by zero mass jets is studied in detail. This novel method of active flow control is approved to be able to significantly reduce the friction drag through the study of zero mass jets. It's proved that this method has the potential to be applied on an aeroplane to improve the performance in the future.
Identification and characterization of cryoprotective peptides extracted from silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) hydrolysates

ABSTRACT The cryoprotective effects on surimi matrix of hydrolysates with different hydrolyzing times prepared from silver carp using Protamex were compared with commercial sorbitol-sucrose cryoprotectants. Cryoprotective assays showed that FPH-30 (hydrolysate with 30 min hydrolyzing) was a more effective cryoprotectant than other hydrolysates, because the FPH-30 group displayed lower salt-soluble protein extractability loss (29.90 ± 0.84%), less actomyosin Ca2+-ATPase activity decrease (48.85 ± 2.56%) and unfrozen water content decrease (10.39 ± 0.63%) after six freeze-thaw cycles. To exploit industrial utilizations, FPH-30 was further purified with ultrafiltration membranes. The cryoprotective activity of the fraction (<3 kDa) was superior to the others by reducing the salt-soluble protein extractability loss (27.21 ± 0.98%) and impeding the actomyosin Ca2+-ATPase activity decrease (30.54 ± 1.21%). Mass spectrometry analysis showed that the fraction (<3 kDa) was mainly composed of three peptides of the sequences GVDNPGHPFIM(T) and IITNWDDMEK. The results clearly support that silver carp could be a potential source of cryoprotectant peptides for industrial applications.