Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Scientific basis for the creation of new forms of microbial biochemicals

Herein we summarize the results of a comprehensive study aimed on the creation of liquid form of biological products for symbiotic and associative rhizobacteria. The objects of study were nodule bacteria from the rhizosphere of galegae (Rhizobium galegae), soybean (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) and associative rhizobacteria (Arthrobacter mysorens, Azospirillum brasilense, Agrobacterium radiobacter), as well as plants of soybean (Glycine max L.), barley (Hordeum L.), alfalfa (Medicago L.), etc. As carriers for bacteria, we used gamma-sterile peat, vermiculite and improved sterile liquid media on the basis of components of vegetable or synthetic origin, with the introduction of nutrients and stabilizers (humates, glycerine, potassium sorbate, carboxymethylcellulose, etc.). The efficacy of tested products and forms were compared in a biological survey carried out in different regions of the Russian Federation. Under the conditions of Leningrad Region the effectiveness was evaluated for the preparations based on recently used and perspective strains of alfalfa nodule bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti. An optimized combination of stabilizers, nutrients and protective substrates provided a long-term storage and high efficiency of biological products. Nevertheless, plant nutrient media (bean broth) did not provide the required quality. Using bean medium for cultivation it is possible to obtain the desired titer of bacteria in the product, but their numbers are rapidly decreasing. Furthermore, preparations obtained with use of bean broth lose quality after 2-3 months after the beginning of storage because of extraneous microflora therein. The new forms of biochemicals designed on the basis of a synthetic nutrient medium can be stored at room temperature for at least 6 months, when sterile-packed in plastic bottles. High bacteria titer (3.6-4.2 billion CFU/ml of liquid formulation) was obtained after cultivation. It is shown that an improved liquid form has a high efficiency. Its application on leguminous plants increased grain yield by 20-40 % in soy, and by 15-25 % in peas. Productivity of cereal crops (wheat, barley) increased by 15-25 %, and the productivity of alfalfa was 20-45 % higher. A significant increase in crop quality was found to be due to higher protein content. The effectiveness of biological products considerably depended on agroecological conditions and biological features of the crops. Using different strains of nodule bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti in the Leningrad Region allowed us to create the effective plantmicrobe systems. Thus on the sod-podzolic soil the strain A-4 was most effective providing yield increase by more than 25 %, while on sod-carbonate soil it was the strain A-5 which increased the productivity of alfalfa by 140 %.
Sensi vity of Latent Heat Fluxes to Ini al Values and Parameters of a Land-Surface Model

A tangent linear version of the complex soil–vegeta on–atmosphere transfer model Community Land Model has been developed and its ability to reproduce relevant sensi vies of the modeled soil moisture and latent heat fl ux (LE) evolu on to a number of diff erent parameters on a short me scale (3 d) was analyzed. To this end, a series of idealized experiments for diff erent soil moisture states and three diff erent soil types was conducted. We found that the tangent linear model performs well for a large range of condi ons. Situa ons in which the linear approxima on poten ally fails were connected with the occurrence of satura on and with the highly nonlinear parameteriza on of water availability to plants. The sensi vity of LE with respect to the model’s ini al soil moisture state was calculated and compared with the LE sensi vity to soil texture, leaf area index (LAI), and vegeta on roughness length. These sensi vi es were found to be highly variable with soil type and soil moisture. Our results confi rm that soil texture and LAI are key parameters that have a dominant infl uence on modeled LE under specifi c environmental condi ons. As a preparatory study to soil data assimila on developments, the results also serve to quan fy model uncertain es due to limited knowledge of forcing processes and model parameters.
Lipid Surface Films: Interaction of Bacteria with Free Fatty Acids and Phospholipids at the Air/Water Interface

SUMMARY: The interactions of bacteria, mainly Serratia marinorubra and Pseudomonas halocrenaea, with different lipid surface films were examined employing the surface balance technique and particle electrophoresis. Three free fatty acids as well as octadecylamine, and two diacyl-phosphatidylcholines were used as monolayer films with phosphate and ammonium acetate buffers as subsurface solutions. The following factors were involved in the interaction: the architecture of the surface film, the charge carried by both the bacteria and the film, hydrophobic interaction, and probably enzyme activity. The presence of Ca2+ seemed to be necessary for interfacial phospholipase activity.
Stimulation of Monascus Pigments by Intervention of Different Nitrogen Sources

11 21 2 Abstract: Traditionally Monascus sp. are cultivated on steamed non-glutinous rice and the fermented product is used as a food colourant. The study was conducted with the aim to determine the pigment yield of Monascus ruber by the solid-state fermentation of rice supplemented with different nitrogen sources. Rice was added with 0.5 % of organic and inorganic nitrogen sources, sterilized, inoculated with Monascus ruber and allowed for solid state fermentation. In this study, mono sodium glutamate was found to yield higher pigment of 0.464 (OD ) and 1.314 (OD ) U/g Monascus fermented rice for both red and yellow pigments respectively. The 510 410 pigments were identified as bands in HPTLC and were distinguished based on their Rf values. Monascin and monascorubin were found to be maximum than monoscorubramine. Monascus fermented rice was used as colorant in the preparation of food product kesari and its sensory qualities evaluated. Incorporation of Monascus fermented rice for coloring the kesari, showed appealing color, appearance and was overall acceptable.
Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterisation, In-Vitro Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activities of Some Metal(II) Complexes of 3-{4, 6-Dimethoxy Pyrimidinyl) Iminomethyl Naphthalen-2-ol

The Schiff base, 3-{((4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)imino)methyl}naphthalen-2-ol and its VO(IV), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pd(II) complexes were synthesised and characterized by IR, electronic and Hnmr spectroscopies, elemental analysis and conductance measurements. The ligand coordinated to the 1 metal ions through the azomethine N and phenol O atoms, resulting in a 5-coordinate, square-pyramidal geometry for the VO(IV) complex and a 4-coordinate square planar/ tetrahedral geometry for the Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes. The complexes were non-electrolytes in nitromethane and melted within the temperature range 240-352°C. The in-vitro anticancer studies reveal that the Pd(II) and Cu(II) complexes had the best anticancer activity against MCF-7(Human breast adenocarcinoma) cells with IC values of 3.89 µM and 50 4.90 µM, which were within the same order of activity as Cis-platin; and the Pd(II) complex activity against HT- 29 (Colon carcinoma) cells was the best being about the same order as Cis-platin (7.0 µM) with an IC of 6.69 50 µM. The antimicrobial studies showed that the ligand and the Zn(II) complex exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against P. mirabilis, B. subtilis, B. cereus and S. typhi with inhibitory zones range of 7.0-21.0 mm and 10.0-19.0 mm respectively.
Research on Faults Activity and Mining Dynamic Phenomenon

The accuracy and reliability of mining dynamic phenomenon prediction depend on the research level of regional tectonic stress field and active fault basically. Double shear friction experiments of sandstone have been made, and its slide criterion has been suggested considering the viewing of engineering. The geol- ogy structural model is built and tectonic stress field is made a back-analysis by applying finite element method. The calculating results fit with the analysis result of earthquakes mechanism and the distribution characteristic of the measurements. The high stress regional field locates discontinuous zone of Ⅰ level faults and is corresponding to underground earthquakes scene. From then it is certain that tectonic stress is the major origin and necessary condition of mine earthquakes. From the point of Coulomb Criterion and the result of Byerlee experiment, the relation between regional stress and fault's activity has been discussed. It is believed that Beipiao fault has a dominate effect on other sub faults and tectonic stress area and is dynamical source of dynamic phenomena in the Beipiao mines.
Financial disclosure and social environmental responsibility: An empirical study on the Brazilian market

The objective of this paper was to analyse the level of disclosure of social and environmental information of the sectors and companies listed on the Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) of the BMF (ii) there are different levels of social and environmental disclosure among companies and industries; (iii) companies say that they are more socially and environmentally responsible than, in fact, they are – which could be considered, to a certain extent, as a form of ‘green washing’; (iv) companies have mostly positive and declarative information; (v) improving the level and amount of corporate information may be influenced by the provisions of the regulatory bodies; and (vi) the voluntary disclosure of environmental information is probably not motivated by the search for transparency and good corporate governance practices, but as an attempt to increase credibility and improve corporate image.
Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Assessment of Brain Chagas Disease: A Case Report

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic infection caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, an organism that is endemic to Latin America. While Chagas disease is primarily a vector-borne illness, new cases are emerging in non-endemic areas due to globalization of immigration and non-vectorial transmission routes. Once the infection has started, the main target organs are the heart, the alimentary tract, and the nervous system. However in immunosupressed patients, focal encephalitis due to T. cruzi infection may occur which tends to acquire a necrotizing feature with mass effect, perilesional edema, and pseudotumoral form (CTLAT, “cerebral tumor-like American trypanosomiasis”). In recent years, a few reports have described HIV-positive patients with central nervous system lesions due to Chagas disease. Here we report the clinical, neuroimaging, and histopathological findings of a patient with CTLAT and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first report in literature of the metabolite pattern assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in these lesions. doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.4021/jnr237w
Corn and Soybean Yield Response to Crop Residue Management Under No‐Tillage Production Systems1

Crop residues (stover) have many potential uses by society: food, feed, shelter, fuel, and soil amendment. Use of residues for purposes other than as a soil amendment may have serious negative consequences on crop productivity. This study was conducted to investigate the yield response of continuous corn (Zea mays L.) and continuous soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) to removal or addition of crop residues under no-tillage management. The study was conducted near Lincoln, NE, on a Crete-Butler silty clay loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Pachic Arguistoll-Abruptic Argiaquoll) with 1 to 2% slope. Crop residue was collected and weighed immediately after harvest in autumn. Quantity of residue to be returned to each treatment (0, 50, 100, or 150% of that produced) was calculated and uniformly spread over the plot area (12.2 by 12.2 m) by hand. Corn and soybean were planted into the established residue levels with no tillage the following spring. Data were collected on soil water, soil temperature, and grain and residue yield. A positive linear response was found between grain and stover yield and amount of residue applied to the soil surface. Each Mg ha" 1 of residue removed resulted in about a 0.10 Mg ha"1 reduction in grain yield and a 0.30 Mg ha"1 reduction in residue yield. Quantity of applied residue accounted for 81 and 84% of the variation in grain yield of corn and soybean, respectively, and 88 and 92% of the variation in residue yield. Amounts of stored soil water at planting were closely associated with quantity of residue applied the previous year. Differences in total available water (soil storage at planting plus rainfall) accounted for approximately 70% of the yield variation associated with the residue treatments. Soil temperature (50-mm depth) and total available water accounted for nearly the same amount of variation in yield (80 to 90%) as quantity of residue, emphasizing the importance of these factors in evaluating response of crops to residue-management practices. Residue removal reduced grain and residue yields by amounts equal to 10 and 30%, respectively, of the quantity of residue removed. Residue effects on crop yield were induced mainly through changes in soil water and soil temperature. ______________
The backscattering characteristics of thermokarst lake ice in the qinghai-tibet plateau from SAR

Abstract. A thermokarst lake is an important indicator of changes in climate, which cause considerable thermal distribution to the surrounding permafrost. The imaging radar has demonstrated the capability to determine when and which lakes freeze or do not freeze. In this paper, the temporal variability of C-band backscattering of thermokarst lakes at Beiluhe test area, is located on the central Qinghai- Tibet Plateau (QTP), were examined by 45 ENVISAT-ASAR imageries acquired in freeze up, ice duration and break-up stages. The SAR behaviour response for lake ice change are analysed with ASAR observation in experiments area. The results showed that the ice layer volume scattering and ice-water surface scattering were the two major scattering components in C-band VV polarization, which is also affected by the increase of bubble size, ice density and roughness of ice-water interface. According to this study, the timing of lake ice-on in fall and ice-off in spring for this geographic region can be identified in radar images by comparing radar backscatter from lake ice to its surrounding alpine meadow. When ice duration, the radar signature proved to be able to monitor the ice thickness over lake and deformation around the lake.
Performance and Emission Analysis of Bio Diesel Fuelled Engine with Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR)

Emission control is one of the biggest challenges in today’s automobiles. The 3-way converter is expensive and can’t work under oxygen rich environment. An attempt has been made to prepare low cost catalyst made from non noble metal for usage in diesel engine after treatment. The present investigation deals with the reduction of NOx with selective catalyst reduction (SCR) in a 0.5 litres Kirloskar TV-1 engine with newly developed catalysts. In order to study the emissions reduction potential of different catalysts experiments with Methyl Ester of Neem oil (MEON) have been conducted at various loads. For maximum engine load, the NOx emission without SCR is a maximum at 610 p.p.m, and it is reduced by 52% when Catalyst (zinc sulphate-sodium chloride) is used. With the catalyst potassium-sodium the emission reduction is 50%. The emission reduction for the catalyst magnesium Sulphate-sodium Chloride is 20%. Similarly at maximum engine load, the smoke emission without SCR is 37 HSU and it is being reduced by 42% when SCR (magnesium sulphate-sodium chloride) is used. Likewise for SCR (zinc sulphate-sodium chloride) the emission reduces to 37% and for SCR (potassium Silicate – sodium Chloride) the emission is 23%. For maximum engine load the CO emission is 0.1 (% by vol.) without SCR and it is being reduced by 0.025 (% by vol) when SCR (potassium Silicate- sodium chloride) and (zinc Sulphate- sodium Chloride) is used. There is a reduction of 0.01 (% by vol) when SCR (magnesium-sodium) is used.
Which sample survey strategy? A review of three different approaches

Sample survey theory is concerned with methods of sampling from a finite population of N units and then making inferences about finite population quantities on the basis of the sample data. A method of sampling coupled with a method of estimation given the sample data is often referred to as a sampling strategy, and typically corresponds to a set of rules which tell one how to obtain a sample of units from the finite population and then how to manipulate the resulting sample data to estimate the value of a quantity defined for the entire population.
Effects of wind trend and gustiness on the sea drag: Lake George study

[1] The air-sea coupling is usually parameterized in terms of the drag coefficient Cd, but the scatter of experimental data around such dependences is very significant and has not improved noticeably over some 30 years. In the paper, which is meant to be the first in a series, a complex approach to the problem is suggested. Multiple mechanisms, contributing into the sea drag, are to be singled out, studied separately, evaluated and then reunited in a joint parameterization for Cd. Dependences of the drag coefficient on the wind speed and sea state, and effects of wind trends and gustiness are investigated in detail. Gustiness is found to be responsible for the most distant outliers. Our approach also combines an experimental Lake George study with theoretical investigations conducted by means of the WOWC (Wind-Over-Waves Coupling) model. Overall agreement of the model with measured wind stresses is quite good, within 20% for the bulk of the data. Lower envelopes of the drag dependences are an important result of the paper. They provide some Lake George “ideal” relationships for the sea drag. Almost any deviation from such conditions causes the drag to increase. It is suggested that decrease of the drag with respect to the ideal conditions, which exhibits itself in a number of known open ocean data sets, would be caused by a momentum flux back from the waves to the wind due to long waves outrunning the wind. Behavior of the Charnock parameter in terms of wave age is also considered.
Transformational and Transactional Leadership Predictors of the ‘Stimulant’ Determinants to Creativity in Organisational Work Environments

This paper examines the relationship between the leadership dimensions associated with Bass’s (1985) model, and the ‘stimulant’ and ‘obstacle’ determinants of the work environment for creativity. There are three major findings in this research. First, the relationship between transformational and transactional leadership and the ‘stimulant’ determinants of the work environment for creativity is significant and positive. Second, the ‘obstacle’ determinants of the work environment for creativity are negatively related with both transactional and transformational leadership. Finally, transformational leadership is more strongly correlated than transactional leadership with the ‘stimulant’ determinants of the work environment for creativity. Thus, transformational leadership is an increasingly important aspect in today’s organisations in creating a corporate culture and the work environment that stimulates employees’ creativity and innovation.
Bioconversion of Pandanus tectorius using black soldier fly larvae for the production of edible oil and protein-rich biomass

The valorisation of Pandanus tectorius fruits for the production of edible oil and protein-rich biomass using a bio-refinery approach was investigated. The characteristics of Pandanus fruits and the total content of β–carotene, oil, and lignocellulose composition were determined. Pandanus fruits contain approximately 97-99 wt%, d.b. mesocarp, 0.8-2 wt%, d.b. endosperm and 0.7-1 wt%, d.b. endocarp. The mesocarp of Pandanus fruit contains approximately 1.86. 2 μg/g ß-carotene. The endosperm contains about 46-52 wt%, d.b. edible oil whereas the total lignocellulose content in the endosperm was approximately 63-67 wt%, d.b. Bioconversion of the exocarp of Pandanus fruits using the larva of Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) for producing protein-rich biomass was also carried out. The effect of feeding rate on the efficiency of conversion of digested feed and productivity of prepupae was determined. At a feeding rate of 100 mg/larvae.d, the efficiency of conversion of digested feed was 27.4% with an estimated productivity of 4.7 gprepupae/m2container.d. The produced prepupae has a protein content of 37.7 wt%, d.b. which may find suitable application as animal feed.
INVESTIGATION OF SUBMERGED FRICTION STIR WELDING OF MARINE-GRADE ALUMINUM ALLOY

A Master of Science thesis in Mechanical Engineering by Emad Eldin Mohammed Kishta entitled, "Investigation of Submerged Friction Stir Welding of Marine-Grade Aluminum Alloy," submitted in January 2014. Thesis advisor is Dr. Basil Darras and thesis co-advisor Dr. Farid Abed. Available are both soft and hard copies of the thesis.
PPPL-3746_Cover copy

Non-emissive electrodes and ceramic spacers placed along the Hall thruster channel are shown to affect the plasma potential distribution and the thruster operation. These effects are associated with physical properties of the electrode material and depend on the electrode configuration, geometry and the magnetic field distribution. An emissive segmented electrode was able to maintain thruster operation by supplying an additional electron flux to sustain the plasma discharge between the anode and cathode neutralizer. These results indicate the possibility of new configurations for segmented electrode Hall thruster.
Hope and Anger as Mediators Between Collective Action Frames and Participation in Collective Mobilization: The Case of 15-M

The study set out to integrate collective action models and emphasize the role of emotions. Whereas the importance of anger is indisputable, relatively little attention has been paid to the role of positive emotions, such as hope, in collective action research. Hence, the aim of the study was to explore the role of hope and anger as drivers of participation and involvement in collective mobilizations. A cross-sectional field study (N = 638) conducted right after the emergence of the 15-M socio-political protest movement in Spain assessed the emotions and beliefs of both demonstrators and those who took no part in the active mobilization. We hypothesized that anger and hope would sequentially mediate the relationship between collective action frames and participation in collective action. Furthermore, to test this premise, we ran two alternative sequential mediation models based on the social identity model of collective action (SIMCA) and the encapsulated model of social identity in collective action (EMSICA), but with emotions as mediators between collective action frames and intensity of participation. Both models fit the data well, suggesting the importance of considering multiple causal pathways, and showing that anger and hope sequentially mediate the relation between these frames and involvement in collective action. The results support the crucial role of hope in mobilizing individuals to take part in collective action.