Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Green silver nanoparticles: enhanced antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity with effects on DNA replication and cell cytotoxicity

Biofabricated metal nanoparticles are biocompatible, inexpensive and eco-friendly. They find immense utility in the domain of biomedical and materials science. The present work focuses on the ‘green’ synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the methanolic extract of Syzygium cumini leaf. AgNPs showed the characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 442 nm. The XRD pattern confirmed the formation of face centered cubic AgNPs. The nanoparticles were uniformly distributed within a narrow size range of 10–20 nm. The particles exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against a panel of pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus sp and Candida albicans. Alterations in membrane permeability of AgNP treated microbial cells were evident from scanning electron microscope images. The replication fidelity of small (1500 bp) DNA fragments in the presence of AgNPs was compromised in a dose-dependent fashion and addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to PCR reactions reversed the effect of AgNPs. Besides, the prepared nanoparticles inhibited biofilm formation in a wide range of AgNP concentrations. Significantly, cytotoxicity assays showed good compatibility of AgNPs with human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293). In summary, the study suggests an eco-friendly, cost effective and biocompatible approach for synthesizing AgNPs, which may act as a potential template for designing novel antibacterial, antifungal and antibiofilm agents.
Nutrient management on crop productivity and changes in soil organic carbon and fertility in a four–year-old maize-wheat cropping system in Indo-Gangetic plains of India

ABSTRACT The aim of this investigation was to prepare and evaluate organic manures (vermicompost, compost and FYM) and mineral fertilizers on crop productivity and changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and fertility under a four-year-old maize-wheat cropping system. The results demonstrated that yields and nutrient uptake by crops increased significantly in plots receiving manures and mineral fertilizers either alone or in combination than unfertilized control. Application of manures and fertilizers also enhanced SOC, mineral N, Olsen-P and ammonium acetate-extractable K (NH4OAc-K) after both the crops. Surface soil maintained greater build-up in SOC, mineral N, Olsen-P and NH4OAc-K than sub-surface soil. Plots amended with manures at 5 t ha−1 and 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) had pronounced impact on improving SOC and fertility after both the crops indicating that integrated use of manures and mineral fertilizers could be followed to improve and maintain soil fertility, increase crop productivity under intensive cropping system.
Surface x-ray diffraction analysis of the MgO/Fe(001) interface: Evidence for an FeO layer

Using surface x-ray diffraction we have investigated the geometric structure of the interface between thermally grown MgO layers and Fe~001! The MgO/Fe~001! interface is part of the Fe/MgO/Fe junction, which has become a prototype system in the study of the tunneling-magnetoresistance ~TMR! effect. For all samples studied in the MgO coverage range between about 0.35 and 4.6 ML we find clear evidence for the presence of a substoichiometric FeO layer between the bulk Fe crystal and the MgO adlayers. The partial oxidation of the Fe~001! surface takes place during deposition of the first MgO monolayer and approaches a concentration limit, where about 60% of the Fe~001! hollow sites are occupied by O ions. The formation of a bulklike sixfold-coordinated Mg coordination at the MgO/O/Fe~001! interface might be accounted for stabilizing the interface structure, in which several Fe-O distances are strained by up to ~10% with respect to their bulk analog. The presence of the strained interfacial FeO layer is likely to have considerable consequences on the magnitude of the TMR effect.
Surface functionalization of polypropylene devices with hemocompatible DMAAm and NIPAAm grafts for norfloxacin sustained release

To improve the hemocompatibility and elution of antimicrobial agents for medical devices, N,N′-dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) were sequentially grafted onto polypropylene (PP) films. Various (PP-g-DMAAm)-g-NIPAAm grafts were prepared using different time periods of irradiation while keeping the radiation dose constant. The hydrogel layer that formed on the surface of the PP was temperature-responsive (shifted from 32°C for NIPAAm to 37°C for the copolymer). The (PP-g-DMAAm)-g-NIPAAm films adsorbed serum albumin but not fibrinogen and had significantly lower hemolytic and thrombogenic activity. The DMAAm promoted the loading of norfloxacin (13.3 μg cm—2) when the hydrogel layer was swollen; as the NIPAAm shrank, a sustained delivery (∼6 h) occurred at body temperature. These functionalized PP films have potential as hemo- and cyto-compatible materials for medical devices and drug delivery products.
Effects of pasture‐applied biosolids on forage and soil concentrations over a grazing season in north Florida. II. microminerals

Abstract The experiment rationale was to determine forage micromineral concentrations as effected by biosolids fertilization. We determined the effects of two exceptional quality biosolids on bahiagrass trace mineral concentrations as related to beef cattle requirements. Twenty‐five 0.8‐ha pastures were divided into five blocks. Two biosolids were applied as normal and double agronomic rates. The control received NH4NO3. Forages were analyzed for total copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), and selenium (Se), and soils were analyzed for Mehlich I extractable Cu, Mn, and Zn. Some significant increases (P<0.05) in forage Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Se were observed at various sampling times, but the increases were generally small and biologically insignificant. Although forage Mo samples from pastures with the Tampa biosolids applied were consistently higher than the control (P<0.05), at no time did they approach levels considered toxic. Similar results were seen in forage Mn concentrations, with treatment Baltimore‐2X elevating (P<0.05) Mn concentrations as well. Deficiencies of Co, Cu, Zn, and Se are common in this Florida region and slight elevations due to biosolids treatment could be beneficial. Biosolids applied at the highest rates improved soil Cu and Zn concentrations above control soils and soil Mn was increased over the control at both sampling times for Baltimore‐2X. In relation to beef cattle requirements, the majority of forages were deficient in Co, Cu, Se, and Zn. In summary, biosolids fertilization slightly improved the micromineral status of forage and soil, without creating toxicity.
Soluble Antigen Arrays utilize molecular and physical features to suppress Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Blockade of immune cell adhesion during antigen recognition may suppress the inflammatory immune response in autoimmune diseases. Employing a novel N-oxime chemistry, Soluble Antigen Arrays (SAgAs) were synthesized to simultaneously display intracellular cell-adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) inhibitor and antigen. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was used as a backbone and two peptides were grafted, an ICAM-1 inhibitor (LABL) derived from αLintegrin and an encephalitogenic epitope of proteolipid protein (PLP). Mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that received subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of SAgAs displaying both peptides showed significantly lower clinical disease scores and incidence, as well as better body weight maintenance than those treated with HA polymer alone. Multivalent presentation of cell-adhesion inhibitor (LABL) alone or antigen (PLP) alone was also evaluated. Treatment with hyaluronic acid grafted with only PLP antigen or only LABL peptide did not provide significant disease suppression and, in the case of LABL, actually exacerbated the disease. When hyaluronic acid was replaced with a PLGA nanoparticle displaying grafted LABL and PLP (NP-ArrayLABL-PLP), an analogous treatment strategy with the NP-ArrayLABL-PLP did not provide significant EAE suppression. Next, the effect of SAgA molecular weight and cell-adhesion molecule target were evaluated. SAgAs with inhibitors targeting intracellular cell-adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) or its ligand leukocyte-associated function antigen-1 (LFA-1) were equally effective. Also, the disease onset was delayed and severity was significantly reduced when the molecular weight of the SAgA was decreased. Animal imaging suggested that the smaller SAgA drained from the injection site more quickly than the larger SAgA, which may suggest enhanced transit to the regional lymphatics. Analysis of the cytokine production profiles of all treatments demonstrated that reducing SAgA size also provided the largest change in inflammatory cytokine response. SAgA performance, therefore, depended on lymphatic drainage as dictated by size, as well as molecular signaling resulting from co-grafting cell-adhesion inhibitor and antigen. Future
Reversible Cycling of Crystalline Silicon Powder

A method is described in which crystalline silicon can be used as a practical anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Commercial lithium-ion cells are typically charged at a constant current to a fixed voltage and then are held by the charger at constant voltage until the current decreases to a certain value (also known as constant current/constant voltage or CCCV charging). It is first shown that CCCV charging can be used to reversibly cycle crystalline silicon and limit its capacity. A cycling method is then demonstrated in which crystalline silicon is first partially converted to amorphous silicon, in situ, during conditioning cycles. After the conditioning cycles the silicon can be cycled normally, using CCCV cycling limits, with good coulombic efficiency and little overlithiation during the first cycle.
Surface activation of cyclo olefin polymer by oxygen plasma discharge: a molecular dynamics study

Thermoplastic substrates made of cyclo olefin polymer (COP) are treated with oxygen plasma discharges to introduce polar groups at the surface. This is the first step in the process of surface functionalization of COP substrates used in biosensor devices. A molecular dynamics model of basic COP structure is implemented using the second-generation reactive empirical bond order (REBO) potentials for hydrocarbon–oxygen interactions. The model includes covalent bond and Van der Waals interactions. The bombardment of a COP surface with mono-energetic atomic oxygen ions, energy in the range 1-35 eV, is simulated and reported here. The dynamics of the substrate modification reveals that the substrate top layer is de-hydrogenated and subsequently builds up an oxygen–carbon matrix layer, ∼10 Å thick. Analysis of the modified substrates indicates that surface yield is predominantly peroxide groups.
How different long‐term fertilization strategies influence crop yield and soil properties in a maize field in the North China Plain

The impact of fertilization on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and soil properties was investigated in a long-term (> 18 y) experimental field in N China. A completely randomized block design with seven fertilizer treatments and four replications was used. The seven fertilizer treatments were (1) compost (COMP), (2) half compost plus half chemical fertilizer (COMP1/2), (3) balanced NPK fertilizer (NPK), (4–6) unbalanced chemical fertilizers without one of the major elements (NP, PK, and NK), and (7) an unamended control (CK). In addition to maize yield, soil chemical and biological properties were investigated. Compared to the balanced NPK treatment, maize yield from the COMP treatment was 7.9% higher, from the COMP1/2 was similar, but from the NP, PK, NK, and CK treatment were 12.4%, 59.9%, 78.6%, and 75.7% lower. Across the growing season, microbial biomass C and N contents, basal soil respiration, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, dehydrogenase, urease, and invertase activities in the COMP and COMP1/2 treatments were 7%–203% higher than the NPK treatment. Values from all other treatments were up to 60% lower than the NPK treatment. Maize yield is closely related to the soil organic C (OC) and biological properties, and the OC is closely related to various biological properties, indicating that OC is a suitable indicator for soil quality. Our results suggest the most limiting nutrient for improving the yield or soil quality was P, followed by N and K, and balanced fertilization is important in maintaining high crop yield and soil quality. Additionally, increases in OC, N, and biological activities in COMP and COMP1/2 treatments imply that organic compost is superior to the chemical fertilizers tested.
Oferta edáfica en un suelo de la asociación Zarzal (Za), bosque seco tropical-Valle del Cauca, bajo pastoreo de bovinos.

En un sistema de produccion de ganaderia bovina ubicado en el Municipio de La Victoria, Norte del Valle, se realizo la determinacion de la oferta edafica de un suelo de La Asociacion Zarzal (ZA). La metodologia, comprendio siete fases: 1. Acercamiento con productores de leche de la cooperativa COOHOLGUIN, para la caracterizacion de productores y predios. 2. Aplicacion del proceso metodologico, conceptualizacion – contextualizacion - dialogo de saberes entre los actores y consulta de informacion secundaria. 3. Toma de informacion primaria, como el levantamiento planimetrico - altimetrico y georeferenciacion. Mediante el muestreo libre, tomando como referente la fisiografia del terreno en el area de la finca, se tomaron 32 muestras en los primeros 30 cm del suelo, descritas segun FAO (1976) y se determinaron las propiedades fisicas y quimicas del suelo. 4. La informacion se tabulo en base de datos analoga y luego en base digital para analisis e interpretacion. 5. Se aplico estadistica descriptiva, analisis de correlaciones y procesamiento en SIG, (software Arc-Gis 9.3®), para elaborar mapas tematicos. 6. Se conformaron grupos de suelos con caracteristicas fisicas y quimicas homogeneas, con base en los Clusters obtenidos en el analisis multivariado de componentes principales. 7. A cada zona homogenea se le determino su oferta edafica, y se dieron las bases para el reordenamiento de uso del suelo (planificacion predial), que junto a la aplicacion de adecuadas tecnicas en el manejo del pastoreo permitira el desarrollo sostenible de los sistemas de produccion ganadera.
Investigation of the Presence of Some Heavy Metals in Four Edible Vegetables, Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), Scent Leaf (Ocimum gratissimum), Water Leaf (Talinum triangulare) and Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) from a Cottage Farm in Port Harcourt

One of the sources of heavy metals contamination is atmospheric pollution from the use of fossil fuel, traffic density and dust. This research was carried out to investigate the presence of Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb were investigated in four of the most commonly consumed vegetables in the Southern part of Nigeria. These vegetables are fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) and Water leaf (Talinum triangulaire). The metal analysis results showed the concentrations (mg/kg) as follows; Cr (1.50-10.25), Mn (9.75-62.75), Ni (15.75-19.25), Co (1.75-3.00), Cu (7.75-11.00), Cd (1.25-1.50), Zn (79.75-186.95) and Pb (6.25-8.00). The concentrations of the metals are in the order of Zn>Mn>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr>Co>Cd. Water leaf has the highest concentration of the metals Zn, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr and Cd. Fluted pumpkin has the second highest concentration of Mn and the highest for Cu. The leaves under study reveal high concentrations of these heavy metals which were found to be above the FAO and WHO acceptable limits. These high values can be attributed firstly to atmospheric pollution as the cottage farm is a few meters away from a major highway and most of these metals are constituents of fossil fuel and machinery. Ni, Cd and Pb are classified as carcinogens. This therefore implies that the consumption of these vegetables will eventually lead to serious health problems in the organs and circulatory systems.
High Band Degeneracy Contributes to High Thermoelectric Performance in p‐Type Half‐Heusler Compounds

Half‐Heusler (HH) compounds are important high temperature thermoelectric (TE) materials and have attracted considerable attention in the recent years. High figure of merit zT values of 0.8 to 1.0 have been obtained in n‐type ZrNiSn‐based HH compounds. However, developing high performance p‐type HH compounds are still a big challenge. Here, it is shown that a new p‐type HH alloy with a high band degeneracy of 8, Ti‐doped FeV0.6Nb0. 4Sb, can achieve a high zT of 0.8, which is one of the highest reported values in the p‐type HH compounds. Although the band effective mass of this system is found to be high, which may lead to a low mobility, its low deformation potential and low alloy scattering potential both contribute to a reasonably high mobility. The enhanced phonon scattering by alloying leads to a reduced lattice thermal conductivity. The achieved high zT demonstrates that the p‐type Ti doped FeV0.6Nb0. 4Sb HH alloys are promising as TE materials and offer an excellent TE performance match with n‐type ones for high temperature power generation.
Effect of Dolomite on Boron Transformation in Acid Soil in Relation to Nutrition of Green Gram

Application of dolomite decreased B whereas application of borax increased the hot water soluble boron considerably. Application of dolomite caused an increase in the content of exchangeable Ca2+ up to 30 days of incubation period, but applied B recorded no significant change in the content of exchangeable Ca2+. Application of dolomite and B together increased the concentration and uptake of B by green gram (Vigna radiata L.). The dry matter yield of shoot and root of green gram increased by applying both dolomite and B.
Improving the precision of lake ecosystem metabolism estimates by identifying predictors of model uncertainty

Diel changes in dissolved oxygen are often used to estimate gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) in aquatic ecosystems. Despite the widespread use of this approach to understand ecosystem metabolism, we are only beginning to understand the degree and underlying causes of uncertainty for metabolism model parameter estimates. Here, we present a novel approach to improve the precision and accuracy of ecosystem metabolism estimates by identifying physical metrics that indicate when metabolism estimates are highly uncertain. Using datasets from seventeen instrumented GLEON (Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network) lakes, we discovered that many physical characteristics correlated with uncertainty, including PAR (photosynthetically active radiation, 400–700 nm), daily variance in Schmidt stability, and wind speed. Low PAR was a consistent predictor of high variance in GPP model parameters, but also corresponded with low ER model parameter variance. We identified a threshold (30% of clear sky PAR) below which GPP parameter variance increased rapidly and was significantly greater in nearly all lakes compared with variance on days with PAR levels above this threshold. The relationship between daily variance in Schmidt stability and GPP model parameter variance depended on trophic status, whereas daily variance in Schmidt stability was consistently positively related to ER model parameter variance. Wind speeds in the range of ~0.8‐3 m s−1 were consistent predictors of high variance for both GPP and ER model parameters, with greater uncertainty in eutrophic lakes. Our findings can be used to reduce ecosystem metabolism model parameter uncertainty and identify potential sources of that uncertainty.
Thickness optimization of various layers of CZTS solar cell

Thin film solar cells based on Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) absorbers are proposed with the structure glass/Mo/CZTS/buffer/ZnO. In this work we have simulated CZTS thin film solar cell using solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS). The influences of thickness of (CZTS) absorber, thickness of (CdS) buffer layer and Zinc oxide window Layer (ZnO) on the photovoltaic cell parameters are studied. It can be seen after reviewing the results, that for high conversion efficiency, the cell should have a thin (.)
Structure of nitrogenated carbon overcoats on thin-film hard disks

The compositional and structural characteristics of thin (/spl sim/200 /spl Aring/) carbon nitride overcoats on thin-film hard disks were studied using nuclear reaction analysis, hydrogen forward scattering (HFS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The mechanical and electrical properties of the overcoats were also measured. It was found that the structure of the overcoat depended on the nitrogen and hydrogen concentration in the films, whereas the overcoat hardness was independent of the nitrogen or hydrogen concentration, This may be due to the possibility that increased nitrogen incorporation into the overcoat does not necessarily result in an increased concentration of stoichiometric carbon nitride, which would be responsible for the overcoat hardness. The results also showed that the thickness of the bonded lubricant (Fomblin Z-DOL 2000) to the overcoat was determined by the nitrogen-to-hydrogen composition ratio in the overcoat.
Fast determination of methyl chloride and methyl bromide emissions from dried plant matter and soil samples using HS-SPME and GC-MS: method and first results

Environmental context. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system has been employed for quantifying the emissions of methyl chloride (CH3Cl) and methyl bromide (CH3Br) from plants and soils. Compared with more commonly used techniques, HS-SPME coupled to GC/MS is simple, fast, sensitive, economical and non-destructive, with potential for laboratory-based and field studies. Abstract. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system have been employed for quantifying the emissions of methyl chloride (CH3Cl) and methyl bromide (CH3Br) from plants and soils. Seven SPME fibre coatings including 75 μm Carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane (CAR-PDMS), 85 μm Carboxen-PDMS (CAR-PDMS), 50/30 μm divinylbenzene-CAR-PDMS (DVB-CAR-PDMS), 65 μm DVB-PDMS, 65 μm carbowax-DVB (CW-DVB), 30 μm PDMS (PDMS) and 100 μm PDMS, were tested by comparing their sampling efficiencies towards CH3Cl and CH3Br. Key parameters such as extraction time, desorption temperature and time were all optimised in this work. The optimum conditions were found with CAR-PDMS 75 μm as an SPME fibre coating, a 1-min sampling time, a 50°C incubation temperature and a 2-min desorption time and a 250°C desorption temperature. These conditions were used for the determination of CH3Cl and CH3Br emission rates from different plant species as well as soil samples. Compared with more commonly used techniques, HS-SPME coupled to GC/MS is simple, fast, sensitive, economical and non-destructive, with potential for laboratory-based and field studies.