Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Chloride/Iodide Ratio in MAPbI3-xClx Perovskite Solar Devices: Case of Low Temperature Processable AZO Sub-Layer

A significant current challenge for perovskite solar technology is succeeding in designing devices all by low temperature processes. This could help for both rigid devices industrialisation and flexible devices development. The depositions of nanoparticles from colloidal suspensions consequently emerge as attractive approaches, especially due to their potential for low temperature curing not only for the photoactive perovskite layer but also for charge transporting layers. Here, NIP solar cells based on aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO) electron transport layer were fabricated using a low temperature compatible process for AZO deposition. For the extensively studied perovskites based on methylammonium lead halides (MAPbI3-xClx), the chloride/iodide equation is widely proposed to follow an optimal value corresponding to an introduced MAI:PbCl2 ratio of 3:1. However, the perovskite formulation should be considered as a key parameter for the optimization of power conversion efficiency when exploring new perovskite sub-layers. We here propose a systematic method for the structural determination of the optimal ratio. It may depend on the sublayer and results from structural changes around the optimal value. The functional properties gradually increase with the addition of chlorine as long as it remains intercalated in a single phase. Above the optimal ratio, the appearance of two phases degrades the system.
Pan-American Chironomus calligraphus Goeldi, 1905 (Diptera, Chironomidae): Species or Complex? Evidence from External Morphology, Karyology and DNA Sequencing

Chironomus (Chironomus) calligraphus Goeldi, 1905, previously known from the Neotropics, is newly identified as a member of midge communities across the southern U.S.A. The karyotype is described for the first time, as is that of the related Chironomus spec. WOC, known only as larvae from the southeastern United States. Morphological descriptions for the adult male, pupa, and larva of C. calligraphus are emended, including characters distinguishing the species in the southern Nearctic. Intraspecific variation diminishes the diagnostic value of certain standard morphometrics. The first gene sequences for C. calligraphus are offered based on a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II. Patterns of variation are not congruent among data sets. Morphology and karyology show minor and clinal regional differences, whereas mtDNA sequences suggest the sympatric coexistence of two haplotype groups. However, taxonomic distinctions are considered unwarranted pending further evidence. C. calligraphus thrives in a range of conditions and habitats, including small and temporary waters. This ability is presumed to have facilitated the species' wide Pan-American distribution, but also its high potential as a nuisance to humans.
Using caddisfly (Trichoptera) case-building behaviour in higher level phylogeny reconstruction

Higher level phylogenetic analyses rarely include behavioural data, predominantly because such groups seldom have complex behaviours that are susceptible to analysis. Even when broad groups do share a complex behaviour, there is skepticism about the appropriateness of using behavioural traits in higher level phylogenetic analyses. The Integripalpia is a suborder of caddisflies and is an appropriate group to investigate the use of behaviour in higher level analyses because all larvae use a complex suite of behaviours to build portable cases. A thorough investigation of case-building in 10 families (19 exemplar genera) yielded 24 behavioural characters. A parsimony analysis produced 87 equally parsimonious trees (length = 56 steps, consistency index (CI) = 0.84, retention index (RI) = 0.88) that supported the monophyly of the integripalpian families, except for the Limnephilidae. Interfamilial relationships, although resolved, were not well supported with behaviour. Certain interfamilial relationships have .
Control of Lactate Dehydrogenase, Lactate Glycolysis, and α-Amylase by O2 Deficit in Barley Aleurone Layers

After 4 days in an atmosphere of N 2 , aleurone layers of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. cv Himalaya) remained viable as judged by their ability to produce near normal amounts of α-amylases when incubated with gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) in air. However, layers did not produce α-amylase when GA 3 was supplied under N 2 , apparently because α-amylase mRNA failed to accumulate. When an 8-hour pulse of [U- 14 C]glucose was supplied under N 2 to freshly prepared aleurone layers, both [ 14 C]lactate and [ 14 C]ethanol accumulated; the [ 14 C]lactate/[ 14 C]ethanol ratio was about 0.3. Prior incubation of layers for 1 day under N 2 changed this ratio to about 0.8, indicating an increase in the relative importance of the lactate branch of glycolysis. l(+)Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was low in freshly prepared aleurone layers and increased 10-fold during 2 days under N 2 , whereas alcohol dehydrogenase activity (ADH) was high initially and rose by 60%. The responses of LDH and ADH activities to O 2 tension were dissimilar; when layers were incubated in various O 2 /N 2 mixtures, LDH activity peaked at 2 to 5% O 2 whereas ADH activity was highest at 0% O 2 . The LDH activity was resolved into several enzymically active bands by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We conclude that barley aleurone layers are highly adapted to O 2 deficiency, that they possess an inducible LDH system as well as an ADH system, and we infer that the LDH and ADH systems are independently regulated.
An analysis of production factors in carp farming in Andhra Pradesh, India

Three major carp species, viz. catla Catla catla (Hamilton-Buchanan), Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton), are farmed in polyculture systems in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh (15–18°N, 77–80°E), India. A survey of 189 carp farms was undertaken, and principal component analysis was used to assess the relationship(s) between farm inputs and fish yield. Model results exhibited a strong relationship of yield with the stocking density of all three major carp species (rohu, catla and mrigal). Similarly, buffalo manure, poultry droppings and groundnut oil cake, representing use of major organic fertilizers, also contributed to high yields. Also, supply of supplementary feed ingredients, such as groundnut cake, cottonseed meal, deoiled bran and sunflower meal, and additives in the feed, such as salt and mineral mix, had a positive influence on the yield. The management inputs that influenced the yield were rate of water exchange, frequency of medication and age and mean weight of fingerlings at stocking. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that older ponds were more productive. It was observed that inorganic fertilizers and a few feed ingredients have a secondary and/or a tertiary role in the system, indirectly influencing production. Intrinsic variables, such as age of the farmer and literacy rate, were linked with the less important components, suggesting that the socio-economic variables had a less prominent role in influencing the yields once a production decision was made.
Undergraduate research as a student engagement springboard: Exploring the longer-term reported benefits of participation in a research conference

ABSTRACT Background: Undergraduate research is evident in many forms across higher education: in journals, at conferences and on research placements. It is widely reported that undergraduate research can encourage the development of discipline-specific and transferable communication skills and, in some cases, a more complex development of higher-order critical appraisal. Recent studies of extracurricular undergraduate research conferences have also found that participants report a development of self-authorship and an appreciation of the conference as liminal and transformative space. With many published studies measuring immediate feedback surrounding conference events, there is also a need to explore participants’ reflections over a longer term period of time. Purpose: This small-scale project investigated participants’ self-report of whether and in what ways participation in a non-assessed, extracurricular undergraduate research conference had impacted their academic and professional practices, one year after their involvement in the conference. Method: The qualitative study took place over two academic years with participants from an undergraduate conference which was held annually. The investigation adopted an action research methodology and completed two cycles of research. Data were collected firstly through an online survey with open questions, yielding feedback from 44 respondents. Focus groups were then conducted with nine of these students to explore this data further. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data. Findings: The two cycles of data collection and analyses resulted in the identification of four central themes: (1) general positive impact on studies or career; (2) the development of presentation skills and personal confidence; (3) the development of research skills and perspectives; (4) an increased engagement with extracurricular opportunities. Conclusions: Overall, our analysis identified that participants reported a development in communication skills and an enhanced relationship with the concept of ‘research’ and self-authorship. Students’ report that participation directly led to increased engagement with additional extracurricular activities is particularly noteworthy, as it contributes something new to the growing body of literature surrounding undergraduate research. More widely, the study suggests the potential for undergraduate conferences to act as springboards for increased extracurricular engagement.
Comparison of laparoscopic cystectomy and purse-string suture technique in the surgical treatment of ovarian dermoid cysts

Introduction: This study is a comparison of the outcomes of 2 cystectomy modalities in the surgical treat-ment of ovarian dermoid cysts. Materials and Methods: The intraoperative and postoperative results of 44 ovarian dermoid cyst patients who underwent surgical treatment between 2012 and 2019 using 2 different methods were compared. The study population was divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (n=21) underwent cystectomy using the purse-string suture method via mini-laparotomy and Group 2 (n=23) underwent laparoscopic cystectomy. Results: The mean ovarian cyst diameter was 11 cm in Group 1 and 6 cm in Group 2. The diameter of the cyst was significantly larger in Group 1 than in Group 2. The duration of the operation was significantly shorter in Group 1 than Group 2 (45 min. vs. 70 min.). The intraoperative rupture rate was significantly lower in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (4.7% vs. 30%). Chemical peritonitis did not develop in either group. The duration of hospitalization was similar between the groups. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2 (0% vs. 21%). Conclusion: For clinicians who do not have the optimal conditions or surgical experience for a laparoscopic operation, and particularly for large ovarian dermoid cysts, the cystectomy technique performed using a purse-string suture via a mini-Pfannenstiel incision can be an effective treatment method.
Distribution of Isoprenoid Quinones in Halophilic Bacteria

Menaquinones were the sole isoprenoid quinones found in 28 of the 34 halophilic organisms examined. Unsaturated and dihydrogenated menaquinones with eight isoprene units were found in some alkalophilic halophiles and representatives of the genera Halobacterium and Halococcus. Brevibacterium halotolerans and Micrococcus halobius possessed major amounts of unsaturated menaquinones with seven and eight isoprene units, respectively. Actinopolyspora halophila possessed complex mixtures of partially hydrogenated menaquinones with tetrahydrogenated menaquinones with nine isoprene units predominating. Vibrio costicola possessed both menaquinones and ubiquinones with eight isoprene units. Ectothiorhodospira halophila, Flavobacterium halmephilum, Paracoccus halodenitrificans and Pseudomonas beijerinkii contained ubiquinones as their sole respiratory quinones. Ectothiorhodospira halophila possessed major amounts of ubiquinones with eight isoprene units whereas ubiquinones with nine isoprene units predominated in Flavobacterium halmephilum, Paracoccus halodenitrificans and Pseudomonas beijerinkii.
Molecular analysis shows that soil fungi from ancient semi-natural woodland exist in sites converted to non-native conifer plantations

The restoration of microbial communities may be central to the re-establishment of plant–soil interactions and renovation of function in degraded woodland systems. However, there is currently little knowledge of the extent to which the soil microbial communities associated with past vegetation persist in such systems. This study used fungal-specific internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA environmental clone libraries to compare fungal communities in four ancient semi-natural woodland sites in the UK with adjacent non-native conifer plantations, and with adjacent grassland. In total, we recovered 190 distinct ITS sequence types (ITS types), of which the greatest diversity occurred in ancient semi-natural woodland. Although ancient semi-natural woodland and adjacent conifer plantations shared 27 ITS types, none were shared between woodland and grassland sites. A total of 16 ectomycorrhizal genera were subsequently identified using BLASTn searches, of which nine were recovered from both woodland types and none were shared between woodland and grassland sites. Only eight of these genera had previously been identified from sporophores during 50 years of surveying carried out at the same woodland sites. We conclude that fungal communities associated with ancient semi-natural woodland also exist on sites converted to non-native conifer plantations. In consequence, attempts to restore native, semi-natural woodland may have an increased chance of success when focussed on restoration of plantations, rather than the creation of new woodland on ex-agricultural land.
Das optimale N-Angebot im Frühjahr bei unterschiedlicher Keimdichte von Winterweizen

The optimal N-supply in spring for different plant densities of winter wheat The influence of plant density (plt./m2) on the optimal N-supply in spring (Nmin-content + N-fertilization) has been tested at three sites. The different plant density was produced by different seed rates in autumn of about 150, 250, 350, 450 and 550 grains/m2. The N-supply in spring was - apart from a non-fertilized field (Nmin-content) 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 kg N/ha. Additionally, 80 kg N/ha were applicated as N-topdressing. Moreover the optimal N-supply in spring has been tested on a winter wheat field thinned out due to winterkilling. In detail we got the following results: 1. The reduction of the Nmin-content due to the N-uptake by the plants slowed down in accordance with minor plant density. 2. The same N-supply in the soil produced a higher N-supply per individual plant in accordance with decreasing plant density and lead to a considerable increase of N-nutrition. 3. Thin crops showed a higher tillering. The differences in plant density between 150 and 550 plt. /m2 in spring diminished to about 90 ears/m2 at harvest. 4. Independently of plant density the maximum yield was obtained by a N-supply (Nmin+ N-fertilization) in spring of about 120 kg/ha N. Due to the abundant N-nutrition of the individual plants and the minor increase of yield a higher N-supply is not necessary with a minor plant density. 5. Essentially the yield level was only diminished with the lowest plant density (100-140 plt./m2).
Responses of mediterranean grassland plants to grazing and protection.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate species and community responses to cattle grazing at different intensities and to protection from grazing, in mediterranean grasslands in Israel. The following questions are addressed in this paper: How consistent are species' responses to grazing intensity and protection? Can most species be characterized as either grazing-increasers or protection-increasers? Are responses to grazing associated with attributes such as plant form, life cycle, taxonomic affiliation, palatability?
PHLOROTANNIN ALLOCATION AMONG TISSUES OF NORTHEASTERN PACIFIC KELPS AND ROCKWEEDS

Optimal defense theory (ODT) predicts antiherbivore defensive compounds will be allocated so that the most valuable or most susceptible tissues will be best defended. The growth–differentiation balance hypothesis (GDBH) predicts that defense allocation will be a result of trade‐offs between growth and defense. Thus, these two theories predict opposite allocation patterns with respect to “valuable,” actively growing meristematic and reproductive tissues. ODT predicts that meristems and reproductive tissues should have higher defense levels than nonmeristematic vegetative tissues; the GDBH predicts the defense levels of meristems and reproductive tissues will be lower than vegetative tissues. We examined allocation patterns of phlorotannins in 21 species of kelps (Order Laminariales) and rockweeds (Order Fucales) from nine sites on the west coast of the United States to determine if allocation patterns better matched the predictions of ODT or the GDBH and to look for differences in allocation patterns among sites. Within‐species differences in phlorotannin levels occurred in 10 of the 21 species examined. Meristems of both kelps and rockweeds had higher phlorotannin levels than nonmeristematic vegetative tissues, consistent with ODT. Phlorotannin levels in reproductive tissues of kelps were higher than vegetative tissues, but levels in reproductive tissues of rockweeds were lower than vegetative tissues, indicating that allocation strategies may follow taxonomic lines. Allocation patterns differed among sites in four of the 16 species collected from more than one site. Differences in allocation patterns among sites were usually changes in the ratios of phlorotannins in well‐defended compared to poorly defended tissues, rather than changes in which tissues were well defended or poorly defended. We concluded that environmental variability can have large effects on the concentration of phlorotannins in algae but has limited effects on allocation patterns among tissues.
Crowding as a Possible Stress Factor in Insect Disease

The significance of aggregation (huddling) in laboratory mice, as an ecological factor, has been studied at three different ambient temperatures. Food consumption per gram of body weight and absolute food consumption were checked in three groups of MAf/Sp male mice with 1, 2 and 5 animals per cage in groups I, II and III respectively. 1 l has been demonstrated that the food consumption per gram of body weight by laboratory mice kept in bare cages varies inversely with the number of animals in the group. As the ambient temperature is lowered there is an increasing divergence in amount of food consumed by the different groups. The data support the hypothesis that crowding is an important ecological factor at lowered, as well as at room temperatures. REFERENCES
A Markov Estimation Strategy for Longitudinal Learning Diagnosis: Providing Timely Diagnostic Feedback

Timely diagnostic feedback is helpful for students and teachers, enabling them to adjust their learning and teaching plans according to a current diagnosis. Motivated by the practical concern that the simultaneity estimation strategy currently adopted by longitudinal learning diagnosis models does not provide timely diagnostic feedback, this study proposes a new Markov estimation strategy, which follows the Markov property. A simulation study was conducted to explore and compare the performance of four estimation strategies: the simultaneity, the Markov, the anchor-item, and the separated estimation strategies. The results show that their performance was highly consistent, and they presented in the following relative order: simultaneity > Markov > anchor-item ≥ separated. Overall, although accuracy in parameter estimation is sacrificed slightly with the proposed strategy, it can provide timely diagnostic feedback to practitioners, which is in line with the concept of “assessment for learning” and the needs of formative assessment.
The effects on grain quality traits of a grain serpin protein and the VPM1 segment in southern Australian wheat breeding

Production of wheat of sufficient quality to meet market demands is an ongoing agricultural challenge. Identification and evaluation of alleles of genes affecting quality parameters enables breeders to improve their germplasm by active selection towards specific allele combinations. Using a large dataset obtained from southern Australian wheat breeding programs, and including a relationship matrix in the analysis to minimise bias, we re-evaluated the effects of high- and low-molecular-weight glutenin alleles and puroindoline alleles on the grain quality parameters Rmax, dough extensibility, dough development time, flour water absorption, and milling yield and found that estimated effects were in close agreement with those from earlier analyses without a relationship matrix. We also evaluated, for the first time, the effects on the same quality parameters of 2 alleles (wild-type and null) of a defence grain protein, a serpin located on chromosome 5B. In addition, we assessed the effect of the VPM1 alien segment. The serpin null allele significantly reduced milling yield by ~0.4 g of flour per 100 g of grain milled across different germplasm sources and flour protein levels. In Australian germplasm, the origin of this allele was traced to a 19th Century introduction from India by William Farrer; however other sources, of significance in international breeding programs, were also identified. Our analysis of the effect of the VPM1 segment on quality traits revealed no detrimental effects of its presence on the traits we measured.
Discrimination between RelA and RelB Transcriptional Regulation by a Dominant Negative Mutant of IκBα*

RelA and RelB belong to the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB-Rel) transcription factor family. Both proteins are structurally and functionally related, but their intracellular and tissue distributions are different. In resting cells, RelB is found mostly in the nucleus, whereas RelA is sequestered in the cytosol by protein inhibitors, among which IκBα is the dominant form in lymphocytes. Upon cellular activation IκBα is proteolyzed, allowing RelA dimers to enter the nucleus and activate target genes. To study the selectivity of gene regulation by RelA and RelB, we generated T cell lines stably expressing a dominant negative mutant of IκBα. We show that selective inhibition of RelA-NF-κB decreased induction ofNFKB1, interleukin-2, and interleukin-2Rα genes but not c-myc. Transcription driven by the IκBα promoter was blocked by the transgenic IκBα; however, wild type IκBα was expressed in the transgenic cell clones but with much slower kinetics than that in control cells. Wild type IκBα expression was concomitant with RelB up-regulation, suggesting that RelB could be involved in transcription of IκBα through binding to an alternative site. These results indicate that RelB and RelA have both distinct and overlapping effects on gene expression.