Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrical and Biomechanical Properties of Rat Ventricular Myocytes: Effect of Exercise-Training & Beta-Adrenergic Regulation

ELECTRICAL AND BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RAT VENTRICULAR MYOCYTES: EFFECT OF EXERCISE-TRAINING & ΒETA-ADRENERGIC REGULATION Xinrui (Sarea) Wang, B.A. Marquette University, 2018 Heart disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the western world, and programs of exercise-training have been shown to ameliorate cardiovascular risk factors and protect against heart diseases. The cellular/molecular mechanisms of regular exercise induced adaptations in the heart remains incomplete. To address this, female and male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to exercise trained (TRN) or sedentary (SED) groups. After 6-8 weeks training, ventricular myocytes were isolated and studied. Exercise-training prolonged the action potential duration (APD) in myocytes isolated from apex and base regions at low stimulation rate (1Hz), while shortening the APD at high stimulation (10Hz). The exercise-induced effect on the Ca2+ transient duration reflected the changes observed in APD. Wheel running shifted the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) agonist dose-response curve rightward compared to SED by reducing β1-AR responsiveness. Wheel-running significantly increased myocyte shortening velocity and rate of intracellular Ca2+ rise with 1, 2 and 5 Hz stimulation, while the extent of shortening increased only at 5 Hz. At 1 & 2 Hz, β-AR agonist accelerated sarcomere shortening & relaxation velocity and rate of intracellular Ca2+ decline in TRN and SED, but increased sarcomere shortening only in TRN. The β-AR agonist effect was dose dependent in TRN but not SED. Pharmacological studies of myocytes showed higher ATP sensitive potassium channel (KATP) function in ventricular repolarization and larger KATP currents in TRN compared to SED. Exercise-training elevated the KATP channel pore forming protein subunit Kir6.2 content in apex and regulatory protein subunit SUR2A content in base regions of male and female rats. Rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium channel (Ikr) contributes relatively little to ventricular repolarization compared to slowly activating delayed rectifier potassium channel IKs in both male and female rats, and higher IKs current was observed in apex compared to base region. Exercise-training decreased IKs current as well as the content of IKs channel protein subunits KCNQ1 and KCNE1. β-agonist significantly elevated IKs current density and exercise-training decreased IKs responsiveness to β-AR stimulation. The down-regulation of IKs provides a molecular basis for prolonged APD and Ca2+ transient observed in TRN rats with 1Hz stimulation, which contributes to enhanced cardiac contractility and efficiency at rest. The up-regulation of KATP channel in TRN rats largely explains the exercise-induced APD shortening at 10Hz, which helps reduce the energy consumption and maintain diastolic interval adequate for myocardial relaxation at high heart rates. A novel finding was that exercisetraining elevated kinetics of sarcomere shortening/relaxation and its response to βAR stimulation.
Influence of biofilms on the transport of colloids and contaminants through porous media

The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the influence of biofilms on colloid transport in model sediment columns, at changing fluid ionic conditions. Sandpacked columns and sandpacked microscopy flow cells were used to determine colloid transport. The artificial clay colloid laponite RD (LRD), and the biofilm forming bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa SG81 were used as model colloid and biofilm forming microorganism, respectively. Changing ionic conditions were simulated by using Ca2+ and Na+ based solutions as influents and then switching to very low ionic strength solutions. Colloid transport parameters as well as microbiological parameters were obtained using a combination of online optical detection methods and offline microbiological and biochemical analytical methods. In absence of biofilms, a sodium chloride concentration of 7 x 10−2 M caused complete retention of LRD within the sand columns. Although at 2000 mg L−1 LRD, massive aggregation was observed and clogging occurred, aggregation alone was not responsible for LRD retention at lower concentrations (i.e., 200 or 20 mg L−1). P. aeruginosa SG81 showed relatively low mobility at all ionic strengths tested and some (albeit reduced) mobility when introduced to the columns in 1 M NaCl, the highest concentration tested. In sterile columns, the presence of Na+ and Ca2+ ions in the influent followed by a low ionic strength solution did not cause LRD retention. The colloid was mobile with collision efficiencies from 0.05 to 0.08 (SE ≤ 20 %; n = 9). In the presence of biofilms and after Na+ exposure, no colloid retention occurred but in some cases altered or enhanced colloid transport was observed. Colloid collision efficiency after 3 weeks of biofilm growth was 0.03 (SE ≤ 10 %; n = 3). In contrast, after Ca2+ ions exposure, colloid retention increased with biofilm age. After 3 weeks, almost complete retention was observed with a collision efficiency of 0.9 (SE ≤ 20 %; n = 3). Similar observations were made in columns packed with material from slow sand filtration units. EPS analysis from Ca2+ treated columns, showed that colloid retention also increased with an increase in EPS content. Protein content was found to increase with time in relation to other EPS components and to be significantly correlated to colloid retention (0.999) at the established confidence level. These data reveal the complex interactions between biofilms, ions and colloid transport. Changes in the electrolyte composition of water percolating the subsurface can frequently occur as well as changes in the relative abundance of microbial biofilms. This has to be considered when modeling colloid transport through the subsurface.
Introduction to the high-temperature oxidation of metals

Acknowledgments Preface Introduction 1. Methods of investigation 2. Thermodynamic fundamentals 3. Mechanisms of oxidation 4. Oxidation of pure metals 5. Oxidation of alloys 6. Oxidation by oxidants other than oxygen 7. Reactions of metals in mixed environments 8. Hot corrosion 9. Erosion-corrosion of metals in oxidizing atmospheres 10. Protective coatings 11. Atmosphere control for the protection of metals during production processes Appendix A. Solution to Fick's second law for a semi-infinite solid Appendix B. Rigorous derivation of the kinetics of internal oxidation Appendix C. Effects of impurities on oxide defect structure Index.
Morphometric analysis of calcium oxalate raphides and assessment of their taxonomic value for archaeological microfossil studies

Plant microfossil analysis is an important tool for understanding prehistoric plant exploitation in the Pacific region, where macrobotanical remains rarely survive. Calcium oxalate raphides (needle-shaped plant crystals) have been identified in several tool-residue and sediment microfossil studies and in some cases classified to genera or species, yet their diagnostic potential has not been thoroughly assessed through quantitative reference collection analyses. This study presents a morphometric analysis of raphides from key Pacific economic plants including aroids, yams, palms, pandanus, banana (Musa), Heliconia and Cordyline, using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Variation in raphide size and shape was compared intra- and inter-taxa to assess whether significant differences exist. Results indicate that raphide size varies considerably within species, while similar shapes are found in a number of taxa, leaving little scope for taxonomic differentiation. The main exceptions are raphides produced by members of the Araceae (aroids), which may be identified at the genus level owing to their unique morphologies. These results suggest that raphides have some potential to be a useful taxonomic tool in archaeological micro- and macrobotanical studies, particularly if Colocasia esculenta (taro) and other aroids are present.
Initial sticking coefficient of O2 on Ag(110)

We investigated the dynamics of the adsorption of O2 on Ag(110) with the molecular beam technique combined with EEL spectroscopy and with the method of King and Wells. The initial sticking coefficient S0 is reported for molecules impinging along both high symmetry azimuthal directions 〈001〉 and 〈110〉 as a function of total energy and angle of incidence of the molecules and crystal temperature. The initial sticking coefficient is anisotropic for low as well as for room temperature adsorption. The dependence of the sticking coefficient on the temperature of the sample, Ts, indicates that adsorption takes place directly into the molecular well. Dissociation is eventually induced thermally for Ts≳150 K. The physisorbed state plays no role in the chemisorption process in the investigated impact energy range.
The biology of Boopsoidea inornata (Castelnau, 1861) and life history comparisons within the Sparidae

A preliminary survey of parasites infecting Boopsoidea inornata from four localities in South Africa was conducted. One hundred and fifty B. inornata were collected from False Bay, Struisbaai, Goukamma and Port Elizabeth during 2014 to 2015. Nineteen parasite taxa were found infecting B. inornata across all localities. Six of these were identified to class level: five belonging to trematode digenean metacercariae: Hemiuridae, Diplostomidae, Digenean “tetracotyle” metacercaria, two belonging to unidentified metacercaria and one to Cestoda. Thirteen parasites were identified to genus level: the trematode Stephanostomum sp. , monogenean Pricea sp. and Diplozoon sp. , nematodes Anisakis sp. and Cucullanus sp. , copepods Hatschekia sp. , Nothomobolochus sp. , Clavellissa sp. and Nerocila sp. , myxozoans Kudoa sp. and Davisia sp. and the protozoan Goussia sp. Stephanostomum sp. infected the gill arches at an overall prevalence of 61%, the unidentified digenean metacercaria-2 infected the kidney and musculature of 59% of fish, the unidentified digenean metacercaria-1 infected the heart of 47% of the sample and the nematode Anisakis sp. infected the gonads, liver, body cavity and stomach of 25% of B. inornata sampled. Results indicate that no significant difference in parasite assemblage among size classes, age classes and sex, overall and within localities. There was a significant difference in species diversity between individual hosts from False Bay and Struisbaai. The ShannonWiener index showed a low species diversity, peaking at just 1.12 species in Struisbaai. Goukamma and Port Elizabeth showed no significant difference in diversity with a Shannon-Wiener value peaking at 2.0 in Goukamma. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) showed an overall correct classification rate of 66% with the highest probability of correctly predicting the origin of B. inornata based on parasite assemblage being in False Bay where 73% accuracy was observed. Results showed significant spatial differences in parasite assemblages.
Partial Dynamic Structure Factors Sξη(k,ω) and Phonon Propagation in Molten RbAg4I5: Molecular Simulation Study

The partial dynamic structure factors Sξη(k,ω) in molten RbAg4I5 have been obtained by molecular dynamics simulation (MD) using the pair potentials including the effect of polarizability of ions. From the obtained Sξη(k,ω), the longitudinal acoustic (LA), the longitudinal optical (LO), and the transverse acoustic (TA) modes have been observed. It is noteworthy that they are propagated mainly by the ions of different kind; LA and LO modes by I ions, TA modes by Ag ions. The relaxation of phonon is also discussed by Sξη(k,ω) using the model based on the hydrodynamics and the plasma frequency. As a conclusion, the origin of the TA phonon modes is attributed to the cation-cation interaction.
Studies on Vegetation for Ecological Restoration of Salt Marshes in Saemangeum Reclaimed Land - Population Formation Strategies of Halophytes -

A study on vegetation in the Mangyeong River and Dongjin River basins and the surrounding regions of the Saemangeum Reclaimed Land was conducted in a series of efforts to determine the expected ecological changes in the salt marshes, to restore their vegetation, to explore the restoring force of halophyte, to examine the community mechanism and, ultimately, to rehabilitate marshy land vegetation along the lakeside, coastal dune and salt marshes of the Saemangeum Project Area. The findings of the study may be summed up as follows: Five species such as Suaeda japonica, Salicornia herbacea, Atriplex gmelini, Aster tripolium and Suaeda asparagoides that are mostly distributed in the estuary of the Saemangeum Reclaimed Land were analyzed to examine the mechanism of halophyte to maintain their community. To find out the strategies of plants for survival and the cause of forming community structure, a research was made as for appearance ratio of biomass, root lengths and germination. With regard to biomasses of halophyte, the biomass of Suaeda japonica increases rapidly, while Salicornia herbacea adopts a strategy of unstable growth pattern by which the biomass increases slowly in parallel with its slow speed of growth since initial appearance of young sapling. In contrast, Suaeda asparagoides, Atriplex gmelini and Aster tripolium choose to adapt themselves to environment promptly by being transformed into life form of annual or biennial plant, a pattern that is presumed to be favorable and stable for survival in the later stage of growth. In short, there is a sharp distinction among the 5 species: i.e. Suaeda japonica that begins to grow fast in the length of surface and underground section but slows down from the mid-stage on; Salicornia herbacea that grows slowly in the beginning step but starts to step up from the middle onward; Atriplex gmelini and Aster tripolium growing slowly in the initial stage but fast later on; and Suaeda asparagoides that turns from the constant growth in the beginning to rapid growth in the later period. The outcomes of the analysis into status of growth and influencing factors of Suaeda japonica in the sowing field that is most widely prevalent in the Saemangeum Reclaimed Land as a sort of ecological pioneer in the salt marshes showed that the average size of grass lands, density and number of individuals increase in the natural sowing field as well as in the plowing field regardless of their physical as well as physico-chemical features of the soil as the season progresses from June to October of a year.
Crystal structure of di[K(18-crown-6)]dirubidium nonagermanide(4–) diethylenediamine, [K(C12H26N2O4)]2Rb2[Ge9] · 2C2N2H8

Abstract C28H68Ge9K2N8O8Rb2, monoclinic, P121/c1 (No. 14), a = 16.864(3) Å, b = 12.091(2) Å, c = 26.466(5) Å, β = 97.28(3)°, V = 5353. 0Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.058, wRref(F2) = 0.176, T = 153 K.
Absorption and Scattering Coefficients: A Biophysical-Chemistry Experiment Using Reflectance Spectroscopy

The scattering, S, and the absorption, K, coefficients of leaves from different plant species were determined separately as a function of wavelength from reflectance and transmittance data measured for the individual leaves. The equations that link the measurable data with the optical parameters K and S, were deduced using both the Kubelka�Munk approach and the model of the "pile of plates". In parallel, the reflectance of an optically thick sample of stacked leaves were measured and the remission function was calculated. The values of the remission function obtained at different wavelengths from stacked leaves were compared with the quotients of the optical parameters, K/S, obtained from individual leaves. Both values are predicted to be equal according the Kubelka�Munk theory. The experimental agreement shows that the pile of plates model is a good description for the optical properties of leaves.
Investigation on Particulate Oxidation from a DI Diesel Engine Fueled with Three Fuels

In this study, particles generated from a direct-injection (DI) diesel engine fueled with biodiesel, ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD, <10 ppm-wt), and low-sulfur diesel (LSD, <500 ppm-wt) were investigated experimentally for their oxidation properties, using the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), at five engine loads. Kinetic analysis of particulate oxidation was conducted based on the mass loss curves obtained from the TGA. The activation energy was found to be in the range of 142–175, 76–127, and 133–162 kJ/mol for the particulate samples for ULSD, biodiesel, and LSD, respectively. The particulate oxidation rate decreases with the increase of engine load for each fuel, and at each engine load, the oxidation rate decreases in the order of biodiesel, LSD, and ULSD. The primary particle size, nanostructure, and volatile fraction were also investigated for different particulate samples. The results indicate that the higher oxidation rate of biodiesel particles could be related to the smaller primary particle size, the more disordered nanostructure, and the larger volatile fraction, compared with the ULSD and LSD particles. The increase of sulfur content in a diesel fuel has a limited influence on primary particle size and nanostructure, while inducing a larger volatile fraction, which might be one of the reasons for the stronger oxidative reactivity of the LSD particles, compared with the ULSD particles. Copyright 2012 American Association for Aerosol Research
Chemometrics in Biospectroscopy

Vibrational spectroscopic techniques have been used for decades for predicting chemical composition of biological samples. For the establishment of prediction models, multivariate calibration techniques are often applied, since the use of single variables or combinations of few variables are not sufficient or robust enough. Multivariate techniques need to handle covariation among variables. We observe an especially high degree of covariation between variables in vibrational spectroscopy: Covariation is present (i) among neighbouring channels providing signals from the same spectral band, (ii) among spectral bands that are due to the same chemical bond, and (iii) finally among chemical bonds that arise from the same biomolecule. Consequently, the underlying dimensions in a given data set are rather few compared to the number of variables (channels) measured, also in cases where the number of samples is quite large. Multivariate methods based on latent variables that relate directly to underlying phenomena and mechanisms, are especially popular in vibrational spectroscopy. By using latent variables, the variations of objects can be studied with respect to these underlying phenomena and variation patterns can be studied in the light of chemical bonds and biomolecules. Another data modeling issue relates to the preprocessing of spectra: Vibrational spectra of biological materials are plagued by unwanted variability effects such as scatter effects in infrared spectroscopy or fluorescence effects in Raman spectroscopy. Calibration models often become simpler and even better when these effects are removed from the spectra before the calibration model is established. In addition, the interpretation of the results in terms of chemical bands is simpler and more reliable when the spectra are preprocessed. In this chapter, several issues related to data analysis of vibrational spectra of biological samples are discussed: (i) model-based preprocessing techniques based on extended multiplicative signal correction (EMSC) are presented. Different variants of EMSC are discussed and a new extension of EMSC especially suited for the correction of fluorescence effects in Raman spectroscopy is introduced. (ii) Different aspects related to multivariate calibration and classification are discussed with a special focus on partial least squares regression (PLSR) and validation. Keywords: multivariate calibration; preprocessing; extended multiplicative signal correction; validation; prediction; partial least squares regression; classification; Raman spectroscopy; Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
Performance of wastewater sludge modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles in the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions

AbstractThe presence of chromogenic substances in water can potentially be carcinogenic and mutagenic, and thus, it may be hazardous to public health. This study was carried out with the objective of investigating the feasibility of using wastewater sludge, modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles, in the removal of the methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution. The stabilization of nanoparticles onto the sludge was performed using the thermal method in order to increase the active adsorption surface. The effects of the operational parameters (including pH, contact time, MB dye concentration, and adsorbent dosage) on the adsorption of MB by the modified sludge were studied in batch mode. The sludge coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles had higher MB dye removal efficiency (%) than that of raw sludge. The MB adsorption amount (Qe) increases with a reduction in the adsorbent dosage, an increase in pH, and an increase in the initial concentration of the MB dye. At equilibrium, the amount of MB dye adsorbed .
Starch properties, endogenous amylase activity, and ethanol production of corn kernels with different planting dates and drying conditions

v CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH JUSTIFICATION 1 CHAPTER 2. DISSERTATION ORGANIZATION 4 CHAPTER 3. LITERATURE REVIEW 5 Ethanol overview 5 Positive impacts of ethanol 6 Challenges in the ethanol fuel use 7 Properties of ethanol fuel 9 Dry-grind ethanol process 10 Conventional dry-grind process 10 Cold-fermentation (BPX) process 13 Corn kernel properties 15 Amylolytic activity of corn kernels 15 Molecular structure of starch 17 Amylose 17 Amylopectin 18 Properties of starch 23 Thermal properties 23 Pasting properties 25 Enzyme hydrolysis 27 Reference cited 28 CHAPTER 4. EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE ON PROPERTIES OF CORN. PART I. GRAIN YIELD, KERNEL COMPOSITION, AND STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF STARCH 44 Abstract 44 Introduction 45 Materials and Methods 46 Results and Discussion 49 Literature cited 56 Tables 61 Figures 67 CHAPTER 5. EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE ON PROPERTIES OF CORN. PART I. ENZYME HYDROLYSIS OF STARCH AMD ETHANOL YIELD OF GROUND KERNELS 7244 Introduction 45 Materials and Methods 46 Results and Discussion 49 Literature cited 56 Tables 61 Figures 67 CHAPTER 5. EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE ON PROPERTIES OF CORN. PART I. ENZYME HYDROLYSIS OF STARCH AMD ETHANOL YIELD OF GROUND KERNELS 72 Abstract 72 Introduction 73 Materials and Methods 7472 Introduction 73 Materials and Methods 74
Determination of heavy metals and genotoxicity of water from an artesian well in the city of Vazante- MG, Brazil

The city of Vazante-MG is of great socioeconomic and environmental interest because it is the most important zinc producer district of Brazil. The mineral processing and geochemical processes may determine high concentrations of heavy metals in water intended for human consumption. Thus, the present study aimed to quantify and evaluate the heavy metal genotoxicity of artesian water in the city by Atomic absorption spectrophotometer analysis and testing with the Allium cepa test, respectively. This study reveals a chemical contamination in well water in the city, caused by the presence of heavy metals. Therefore, it can be considered that the high levels of heavy metals found in water samples are correlated with the genotoxic events observed in root cells of A. cepa . Keywords: Allium cepa , micronucleus, atomic absorption, chromosome aberration, mitotic index. Afr. J. Biotechnol Vol. 12 No. 50