Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TRIBOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOYBEAN OIL ADDITIVATED WITH NANO GRAPHENE

This paper presents the influence of adding nano graphene particles in soybean oil in different massic concentration (0.25%, 0.50% and 1%) on the tribological parameters: friction coefficient, wear scar diameter. Tests are done on a four-ball machine from the lubricant laboratory LubriTest, at “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati. The test parameters were load: 100 N, 200 N and 300 N and the speed 1800 rpm. The additive was supplied by PlasmaChem and the dry graphene nanoplatelets have a thickness: 1-4 nm; particles size: up to 2 μm, purity: 91 at. %. The soybean oil was supplied by Prutul Galati. The test balls are lime polished, made of chrome alloyed steel balls, having 12.7±0.0005 mm in diameter, with 64-66 HRC hardness, as delivered by SKF. The sample oil volume required for each test was 8 ml ±1 ml. The test method for investigating the lubricating capacity was EN ISO 20623:2003 Petroleum and related products Determination of the extreme-pressure and anti-wear properties of fluids four ball method.
Distribution, abundance, and individual movements of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in the Pearl River Estuary, China

Abstract To obtain critical information on distribution and abundance of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) residing in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), systematic line-transect surveys and photo-identification studies were conducted in the eastern and western sections of the estuary in 2005–2006 and 2007–2008, respectively. Dolphins in the eastern section occurred throughout Lingding Bay, whereas their distribution in the western section extended from the mouth of Modaomen to the channel between Shangchuan and Xiachuan islands. Variations in dolphin distribution during the wet and dry seasons were evident and probably associated with movements of their prey species. Photo-identification of individuals confirmed exchange of at least some individuals between the western and eastern sections of PRE, and thus dolphins from both areas almost certainly comprise a single population. Using line-transect analysis, the total population size of the PRE humpback dolphins was estimated to be 2555 during the wet season and 2517 during the dry season. However, these should be considered preliminary as the coefficients of variation in some survey areas were high. Further studies should focus on refining these estimates and working towards understanding the western boundary of the PRE population.
The All-or-None Pattern in Introduced Hawaiian Passeriforms: The Role of Competition Sustained

Certain landbirds (Columbiformes and Passeriformes) introduced on more than one of the Hawaiian Islands exhibit an all-or-none pattern in introduction success. D. Simberloff and W. Boecklen have advanced an interesting hypothesis that does not require competition to explain this pattern. The all-or-none pattern among introduced passeriforms reported by Simberloff and Boecklen, however, is exaggerated by three types of bias (phylogeny, errors in their data matrix, and differences in the number of islands per introduction). Moreover, I argue that, once corrected, the observed all-or-none pattern is consistent with the competition hypothesis. Simberloff and Boecklen have also criticized four analyses that I interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that competition has influenced patterns in introduction success among these birds. I show that in all cases, however, the criticisms do not alter the conclusions.
European Neogene rodent communities: explaining family-level replacements through a spatiotemporal approach

We analyse the changes in rodent regional assemblages based on 657 fossil-bearing western European localities distributed ranging from ca. 27 Ma (Late Oligocene) to ca. 3 Ma (Late Pliocene). We compare temporal and spatial patterns in order to identify the factors that drive the evolutions of communities. Regional assemblages are analysed based on the distribution of species richness among families. First, communities are temporally analysed to identify significant changes in their composition. Second, regional communities are spatially compared to indentify diversity gradients. The temporal analysis reveals that communities' evolution is marked by several breaks in their composition, related to either migration or environmental/climatic events. This evolution can be summarised in terms of shifts in the relative abundances of glirids, cricetids and murids within assemblages. In contrast, spatial analysis shows that only environmental changes induce long-lasting changes in diversity gradients. Some observations made on cricetids and murids extant relatives indicate that they have undergone a large dietary diversification enabled by a specific digestive tract (along with the diversification of other life-history traits), whereas glirids are more specialised. The opposite diversity dynamics of these groups emphasises the importance of family-level adaptive potential in diversity conservation issues when facing environmental changes.
WATER‐SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATES OF SEEDS OF THE GRAMINEAE

summary Qualitative and quantitative determinations have been made of the sugars, oligosaccha-rides and water-soluble polysaccharides of the seeds of twenty-two species of the Gramineae. Although in most species sucrose was the most plentiful free sugar, in Lolium perenne and in Festuca pratensis a trisaccharide which contained residues of galactose, glucose and fructose and which was chromatographically distinct from raffinose constituted the most abundant oligosaccharide; in Elymus arenarius and in Bromus sterilis an homologous series of low-molecular fructosans represented the major simple carbohydrate. Similar fructosans were also present in Agropyron repens. Raffinose was present in fifteen of the seeds examined and stachyose in ten of these fifteen raffinose-containing seeds. The contents of raffinose and stachyose were positively correlated. Water-soluble polysaccharides were obtained in yields approaching 1 per cent of the dry weight of the seeds from certain members of the Bromeae, the Hordeeae, the Festuceae and the Aveneae; yields from members of other tribes were low and predominantly dextrinous in nature. A pure β-glucosan, resembling that of cultivated barley, has been obtained from Bromus, from Avena and Arrhenatherum, and from Dactylis and other members of the Festuceae. The polysaccharide prepared from Nardus contained a high proportion of mannan and that from Molinia a high proportion of galactan. When the water-soluble carbohydrates of these seeds are considered in relation to the classification of the Gramineae, it is seen that Bromus is quite distinct from Brachy-podium; that the members of the Festuceae here examined show underlying similarity in the composition of their water-soluble polysaccharides, though Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne are distinctive in containing an unusual trisaccharide; that Avena and Arrhenatherum differ from the other two members of the Aveneae examined (Holcus and Anthoxanthum) and that the members of the Hordeae constitute a natural group on the basis of their sugars content.
Scuba diving in the Oosterschelde: Combining travel cost estimates with stated choice experiments

Revealed and stated valuation methods provide insig ht into individuals’ preferences from different viewpoints. In this study we use both the ravel cost method and a stated choice experiment to gain insight into divers’ preferences r garding the Oosterschelde, an estuary in the Netherlands. As such this study is one of the f irst to estimate the benefits from recreational diving in a typically West-European setting. The tr avel cost estimates based on day trips reveal a surplus of 108 and 197 euro per diving trip for D utch and Belgian divers respectively. This leads to an estimated total access value of 21.7 mi llion euro per year for recreational diving in the Oosterschelde. The choice experiment reveals th at divers are willing to pay for improvements in biodiversity as well as for having an agreeable diving experience. Finally, we compare distance decay functions with travel cost d ecay functions. While travel costs perform slightly better in explaining WTP values than dista nces, both valuation methods do not seem to be related and seem to measure different element s of recreational value.
Wnt‐1 dependent activation of the survival factor NF‐κB in PC12 cells

Expression of the Wnt‐1 oncogene in PC12 cells induces morphological and biochemical changes, including up‐regulation of cell adhesion and lack of differentiation in response to growth factors. The survival of PC12 cells is known to be mediated in part by phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI‐3 kinase)‐dependent activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB). We investigated the effect of Wnt‐1 expression on cell survival and NF‐κB activation using PC12 cells expressing Wnt‐1 (PC12/Wnt1) and a reporter vector in which firefly luciferase expression is under the control of NF‐κB consensus sequences. Serum deprivation caused apoptosis and decreased NF‐κB activity in wild type PC12 cells. PC12/Wnt‐1 cells showed less apoptosis in the absence of serum, and the levels of NF‐κB activity were higher than in wild type PC12 cells. NF‐κB activity was also increased by the transient expression of Wnt‐1 in PC12 cells and it was completely inhibited in both PC12 and PC12/Wnt‐1 cells by a dominant negative mutant IκB‐α that has been shown to prevent NF‐κB activation. Agents known to inhibit NF‐κB‐induced apoptosis in PC12 as well as in PC12/Wnt‐1 cells, indicating a role of NF‐κB activation in the anti‐apoptotic effect of Wnt‐1. Inhibition of PI‐3 kinase with wortmannin, or with a dominant negative p85 regulatory subunit of the PI‐3 kinase, blocked NF‐κB activity in PC12 cells but caused only partial inhibition in PC12/Wnt‐1 cells. The effect of Wnt‐1 in activating NF‐κB can be mimicked by inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) with lithium or with a dominant negative GSK‐3β. Our results show that expression of Wnt‐1 increases survival of PC12 cells in the absence of serum by activating the anti‐apoptotic factor NF‐κB. Wnt‐1‐induced activation of NF‐κB is partially independent of PI‐3 kinase and can be mimicked by inhibition of GSK‐3β. J. Neurosci. Res. 61:21–32, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Progress of and Obstacles to IFRS Implementation in an Emerging Economy: Auditors’ Perspective

Successful implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is particularly challenging in emerging economies where IFRS-compatible institutions are underdeveloped. In this study, we conduct a survey and in-depth interviews with experienced auditors in China, the largest emerging economy in the world, to advance our understanding of the extent of the success of IFRS implementation and the obstacles that arise during the IFRS implementation process. Our study reveals that although the majority of the respondents agreed that the implementation of the IFRS has achieved its goals, including improving reporting quality, lowering the cost of capital, attracting more foreign investors, and promoting corporate governance performance, a substantial proportion of them remained pessimistic. Our study also identifies several factors that adversely affect the successful implementation of IFRS in China. Qualitative feedback from the interviews provides further insights into how these factors affect IFRS implementation. Our findings provide implications for other emerging economies with similar institutional backgrounds to China.
The role of performance incentives in need-based grants for higher education: Evidence from the Spanish Becas∗

There is limited empirical evidence that allows to disentangle the specific contribution of minimum academic standards (from the income effects) to the impact of need-based financial aid on student outcomes. In addition, there is scarce research that is able to isolate the effects of those programs on the intensive margin responses of student performance. This paper investigates the causal effect of financial aid on the academic performance (average GPA and fraction of credits passed) and degree completion of low-income students in higher education. The specific design of the Spanish national need-based grant program allows to disentangle the effect of grant eligibility under different intensities of performance-based incentives and on the intensive margin response on student performance. I use the sharp discontinuities induced by family income thresholds to estimate the effect of being eligible for different categories of allowances, and exploit the fact that academic performance requirements became more stringent for students who applied for a grant after 2012. I find no effects of the grant on student performance under a framework comparable to the weak performance incentives that characterize the typical need-based grant programs around the world. By contrast, I find strong positive effects under a setting with more demanding performance standards. Student’s also enhance their final exams attendance rate, their average GPA in final exams taken, and their probability of degree completion. There is neither evidence of an impact of grants on student course selection nor on the probability of dropout from higher education.
EXUDATION OF CITRATE IN COMMON BEAN IN RESPONSE TO ALUMINUM STRESS

ABSTRACT Difference in aluminum (Al) tolerance in plant genotypes might be used to identify or develop plants for remediation of high Al soils. In this study, two common bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulgaris L. “G19842” and “ZPV”), which differ in Al toxicity were grown hydroponically to study the exudation of Al-chelating substances in response to Al stress. When exposed to Al, Al uptake per unit of dry weight in G19842 was much lower than that in ZPV, and secreted citrate in G19842 was double of that in ZPV. A dose-response experiment indicated that amount of secreted citrate in both G19842 and ZPV increased with increasing external Al concentrations which ranged from 0 to 50 Âμmol L−1, while ranged from 50 to 80 Âμmol L−1, secreted citrate decreased with increasing external Al concentrations. The maximum of secreted citrate was at 12 h after initiation of Al treatment. The secreted citrate induced by P deficiency was less than that by Al stress of 50 Âμmol L−1. Addition of exogenous citrate to Al-containing solution ameliorated the toxic effect of Al more significantly in ZPV than in G19842. Exposure to 50 Âμmol L−1 of lanthanum (La3+) solution did not induce the exudation of citrate. Anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (A-9-C), an anion channel inhibitor inhibited the secretion of citrate by 25–36%. All these findings suggest that the exudation of citrate in common bean is an important physiological response, which constitutes a mechanism of resistance to Al stress.
Realism and Non-State Actors Revisited

First, there is no coherent single theory called ‘Realism’. As a meta-theoretical unit, what International Relations (IR) scholars consider as ‘Realism’ actually consists of different strands with different focuses, propositions, and policy prescriptions. Following Elman (2008), this paper considers six different primary variants of Realism: Classical Realism, Neo-Realism, Defensive Structural Realism, Offensive Structural Realism, Rise and Fall Realism, and Neo-Classical Realism. While all these different strands share common starting assumptions[1], disaggregating Realism is a necessary task to better place non-state actors’ analytical value within the major research program.
POSSIBLE ROLE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN COVID19-A BRIEF REVIEW

Currently entire world is under the threat and suffering from the infectious disease known as COVID19. Recently world health organization also accepted that viral diseases are serious health issue for the world. Within this time line various literatures published on epidemiology and pathophysiology which suggest its major and largest single strand RNA virus damaging the respiratory system in humans. No therapeutic options available to cure the infection in till date which increases the mortality rate across the countries. Currently there is no antiviral treatments have been approved, several approaches have been proposed such as lopinavir / ritonavir, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. India is a hub for traditional alternative system of medicine and therefore possibility to find solution to fight against Covid19 is obviously possible amongst the sources. The current review emphasize on various medicinal plants having potential to be considered as part of formulation or used safely in prevention and management of infectious disease. The information collected from data source available on internet, correlation with bronchial activity and ACE enzyme, antioxidant, immunomodulator activity, cardio tonic and most importantly it executes antiviral and antimicrobial activity that are scrutinized and discussed. Major emphasize given on onion, garlic, ginger, neem, pineapple, kiwi, papaya, pomegranate, piper longum, myrobalan, guduchi, shatavari, jaiphal, jivanti, peppermint. The current situation demand proper herbal drug utilization to prepare the population immunity to fight against the infection. The review will help the entire population to refresh their faith and knowledge regarding traditional medicines.
Fabrication of iron-coated activated carbon and its application for phosphorus removal from aqueous solution

In this paper, we report a facile co-precipitation method to synthesize a low-cost iron impregnated activated carbon (FeCAC) for phosphate removal from aqueous solution. The result shows that Fe-CAC has high phosphate adsorption capacity than pristine activated carbon (CAC). Both Fe-CAC and CAC adsorbents reached equilibrium at 9 h with the maximum phosphate adsorption capacity of 216.6 and 173.2 mg/g P, respectively. The adsorption capacity of phosphate onto Fe-CAC was high in acidic solution (216.6 mg/g at pH = 4), while decreased in alkaline solution (168.9 mg/g at pH = 12). This is owing to the mechanism that was governed by electrostatic attraction and the exchange of ligands at low pH. The phosphate adsorption capacity increased as temperature increases onto FeCAC. The Fe-CAC adsorbent has a rapid adsorption process (92%) in the first one hour. Phosphate adsorption kinetics on FeCAC adsorbent go thoroughly along with a pseudo-second-order kinetics model, attributing that chemical sorption regulated the method. The Langmuir isotherm model had a better description of the phosphate adsorption process than the Freundlich isotherm model. The presence of magnetite (Fe3O4) on the activated carbon surfaces contributes to the high capacity and selectivity of phosphate species adsorption. The Fe-CAC has significantly sustainable regeneration capability while repeatedly being used in aqueous solution for phosphate removal. Fe-CAC adsorbent shows excellent performance in the adsorption as well as in desorption processes in the aqueous solution, which is promising for the practical application.
A Large-Scale 3D Study on Transport of Humic Acid-Coated Goethite Nanoparticles for Aquifer Remediation

Humic acid-coated goethite nanoparticles (HA-GoeNPs) have been recently proposed as an effective reagent for the in situ nanoremediation of contaminated aquifers. However, the effective dosage of these particles has been studied only at laboratory scale to date. This study investigates the possibility of using HA-GoeNPs in remediation of real field sites by mimicking the injection and transport of HA-GoeNPs under realistic conditions. To this purpose, a three-dimensional (3D) transport experiment was conducted in a large-scale container representing a heterogeneous unconfined aquifer. Monitoring data, including particle size distribution, total iron (Fetot) content and turbidity measurements, revealed a good subsurface mobility of the HA-GoeNP suspension, especially within the higher permeability zones. A radius of influence of 2 m was achieved, proving that HA-GoeNPs delivery is feasible for aquifer restoration. A flow and transport model of the container was built using the numerical code Micro and Nanoparticle transport Model in 3D geometries (MNM3D) to predict the particle behavior during the experiment. The agreement between modeling and experimental results validated the capability of the model to reproduce the HA-GoeNP transport in a 3D heterogeneous aquifer. Such result confirms MNM3D as a valuable tool to support the design of field-scale applications of goethite-based nanoremediation.
Nutrient digestibility studies in Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus) and C. gariepinus (Burchell)

The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC %) for protein in catfishes, Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus) (16–18 cm; 45–50 g), C. gariepinus (Burchell) (21–22 cm; 60–65 g) and Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) (10–12 cm; 10–15 g) was estimated for nine feedstuffs of plant and animal origin. Fat digestibility was tested for C. batrachus and C. gariepinus, wherein the influence of feeding frequency on protein digestibility was also examined. The digestibility trials were conducted with triplicate groups of 25 fish each in 70-L polyvinyl indoor flow-through (1–1.5 L min−1) circular tanks (water volume=55 L). Fish were fed to satiation daily, at 08:00 and 18:00 hours, and faecal matter was collected through slow siphoning. For studying the effect of feeding frequency, fish were fed the experimental diets at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 hours. The protein digestibility of the feedstuffs varied significantly within each test species. However, the protein digestibility values for most of the ingredients tested were comparable between the three catfish species. The most efficient utilization of protein in these fishes was noted for soybean meal followed by lab-prepared fishmeal. The lowest protein digestibility was recorded for rice bran. Similarly, the utilization of fat from the feedstuffs was also significantly different within each of the two species, C. batrachus and C. gariepinus. Fat digestibility of feed ingredients was similar between the two species. With respect to the fat, soybean meal, lab-prepared fishmeal, full-fat soybean meal and dried fish were more efficiently utilized, while the lowest fat digestibility was obtained for rice bran. A marked decline in protein utilization was observed in the two species where the feeding frequency was increased from two to four times a day.