Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of Pd/Pd-Alloy Films by Surfactant Induced Electroless Plating for Hydrogen Separation from Advanced Coal Gasification Processes

Dense Pd, Pd-Cu and Pd-Ag composite membranes on microporous stainless steel substrate (MPSS) were fabricated by a novel electroless plating (EP) process. In the conventional Pd-EP process, the oxidation-reduction reactions between Pd-complex and hydrazine result in an evolution of NH{sub 3} and N{sub 2} gas bubbles. When adhered to the substrate surface and in the pores, these gas bubbles hinder uniform Pd-film deposition which results in dendrite growth leading to poor film formation. This problem was addressed by introducing cationic surfactant in the electroless plating process known as surfactant induced electroless plating (SIEP). The unique features of this innovation provide control of Pd-deposition rate, and Pd-grain size distribution. The surfactant molecules play an important role in the EP process by tailoring grain size and the process of agglomeration by removing tiny gas bubbles through adsorption at the gas-liquid interface. As a result surfactant can tailor a nanocrystalline Pd, Cu and Ag deposition in the film resulting in reduced membrane film thickness. Also, it produces a uniform, agglomerated film structure. The Pd-Cu and Pd-Ag membranes on MPSS support were fabricated by sequential deposition using SIEP method. The pre- and post-annealing characterizations of these membranes (Pd, Pd-Cu and Pd-Ag on MPSS substrate)more » were carried out by SEM, EDX, XRD, and AFM studies. The SEM images show significant improvement of the membrane surface morphology, in terms of metal grain structures and grain agglomeration compared to the membranes fabricated by conventional EP process. The SEM images and helium gas-tightness studies indicate that dense and thinner films of Pd, Pd-Cu and Pd-Ag membranes can be produced with shorter deposition time using surfactant. H{sub 2} Flux through the membranes fabricated by SIEP shows large improvement compared to those by CEP with comparable permselectivity. Pd-MPSS composite membrane was subjected to test for long term performance and thermal cycling (573 - 723 - 573 K) at 15 psi pressure drop for 1200 hours. Pd membranes showed excellent hydrogen permeability and thermal stability during the operational period. Under thermal cycling (573 K - 873 K - 573 K), Pd-Cu-MPSS membrane was stable and retained hydrogen permeation characteristics for over three months of operation. From this limited study, we conclude that SIEP is viable method for fabrication of defect-free, robust Pd-alloy membranes for high-temperature H{sub 2}-separation applications. « less
Initial understory vegetation responses following different forest management intensities in Illyrian beech forests

Co-ordinating Editor: Monika Wulf Abstract Background and questions: How forest vegetation responds to disturbance continues to be a focal point, especially in the context of biodiversity conservation. To investigate the shortterm effects of forest management on understory vegetation, we asked: (a) Are there any plant indicator species associated with different felling intensities? (b) What are the differences in abundance of plant functional types along the disturbance gradient? (c) How do typical forest species respond to silvicultural treatments? Location: Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia. Methods: At each of three study sites in Illyrian beech forests, nine plots (4,000 m2) were established, comprising a total of 27 plots. Three different felling intensities were implemented at each site, with one third of the plots assigned to each treatment: control, 50% of the growing stock removed and 100% of the growing stock removed. In the centre of each plot, a vegetation survey of vascular plants was done before (in 2012) and two years after (in 2014) felling in a circular sampling area of 400 m2. We employed indicator species analysis, and species were grouped into functional types with respect to their traits. Results: Understory species composition differed significantly between treatments. Fortyseven species (out of 251) were significantly associated with the 100% felling intensity. This relatively high number of indicators was due to the postdisturbance colonization of earlysuccessional, nonforest species, coupled with the expansion of pretreatment resident species. Only one species was a strong indicator for the 50% felled plots, while three species showed a preference for the unfelled plots. Graminoids, tall perennial forbs, annual/biennial forbs and legumes exhibited the most prominent increase in cover at the 50% and 100% felling intensity. Ferns showed nonsignificant changes, whereas woody plants exhibited a decrease in the most intensive treatment. In general, most of the typical forest species responded with increased frequency and/or abundance after felling. Conclusions: The posttreatment taxonomic and functional composition of plant communities exhibited the largest changes in the most intensively felled stands. Overall, in the short term, ecological conditions in canopy gaps were not modified to an extent that would be detrimental to the persistence of typical forest species.
Super-resolution Molecular Map of Basal Foot Reveals Novel Cilium in Airway Multiciliated Cells

Motile cilia are beating machines that play a critical role in airway defense. During airway cell differentiation, hundreds of motile cilia are templated from basal bodies that extend a basal foot, an appendage that links motile cilia together to ensure beating coordination. This assembly has thus far escaped structural analysis because its size is below the resolution limit. Here, we determine the molecular architecture and identify basal foot proteins using a super-resolution-driven approach. Quantitative super-resolution image analysis shows that the basal foot is organized in three main regions linked by elongated coiled-coil proteins. FIB-SEM tomography and comparative super-resolution mapping of basal feet reveal that, among hundreds of motile cilia of an airway cell, a hybrid cilium with features of primary and motile cilia is harbored. The hybrid cilium is conserved in mammalian multiciliated cells and originates from parental centrioles. We further demonstrate that this novel cilium is a signalling centre whose cellular position is dependent on flow.
A Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Lateral Flow Dipstick for Field Diagnosis of Bovine Leukemia Virus Infection and its Effectiveness Compared to iiPCR. and ELISA

For better control and eradicate enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) in Taiwan, a more sensitive but also convenient method for detecting proviral bovine leukemia virus (BLV) DNA is required. The retrovirus BLV establishes a persistent infection that can result in reduced milk production and reduced survival rates, causing substantial economic losses in the dairy industry. BLV replicates by integrating its proviral DNA into the host genome; therefore, the detection of proviral DNA is recommended for identifying BLV carriers to help establish BLV-free herds. The integration of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and lateral flow dipstick (LFD) in this study for on-site BLV detection. The optimal amplification condition for the RPA was 30 min at 37 ̊C and followed by 5 min of LFD at room temperature. The sensitivity of this assay of 400 pg of total DNA and 10 copies of plasmid DNA. The method showed no cross-reaction with other tested viruses, including bovine foamy virus, bovine immunodeficiency virus, and caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus. For the detection of BLV field samples, the RPA-LFD was parallel tested with serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and hydrolysis probe insulated isothermal PCR (iiPCR). The RPA-LFD assay exhibited a better sensitivity, with 83.5% of the 200 samples collected in Taiwan testing positive. A significant difference in the positive rates was found between the iiPCR and RPA-LFD methods, indicating that the RPA-LFD method for detecting BLV nucleic acid is sensitive at a lower limit. This RPA-LFD protocol can serve as an alternative tool to ELISA for the preliminary screening of BLV for its simplicity and portability, and is suitable for both laboratory and field application.
Image analysis of papaya seeds submitted to sarcotesta removal methods

ABSTRACT The germination of papaya seeds is slow and uneven, usually due to inhibitors present in the sarcotesta; however, some removal procedures may cause physical damage, negatively interfering in the physiological quality and field performance. This study aimed to evaluate the physical and physiological quality of papaya seeds submitted to methods of sarcotesta removal by image analysis. Papaya Formosa ‘Tainung 01' seeds were submitted to the following methods of sarcotesta removal: fermentation + sieve, sand + sieve, sieve and blender + sieve. After the sarcotesta removal, the seeds were submitted to tests of germination, first germination count, germination speed and seedling length. For the image analysis, the seeds without sarcotesta were submitted to the X-ray test and to a computerized analysis of seedling images by the SVIS® software. The methods used were only promising for the sarcotesta removal, while the blender + sieve method obtained the highest physical and physiological seed quality, in addition to performing the best sarcotesta removal. However, the image analysis using the SVIS® software allowed to identify the high physical and physiological seed quality using the blender + sieve method, which promoted the highest efficiency in removing the sarcotesta.
Base-Pairing Requirements for Small RNA-Mediated Gene Silencing of Recessive Self-Incompatibility Alleles in Arabidopsis halleri

Small noncoding RNAs are central regulators of genome activity and stability. Their regulatory function typically involves sequence similarity with their target sites, but understanding the criteria by which they specifically recognize and regulate their targets across the genome remains a major challenge in the field, especially in the face of the diversity of silencing pathways involved. The dominance hierarchy among self-incompatibility alleles in Brassicaceae is controlled by interactions between a highly diversified set of small noncoding RNAs produced by dominant S-alleles and their corresponding target sites on recessive S-alleles. By controlled crosses, we created numerous heterozygous combinations of S-alleles in Arabidopsis halleri and developed an real-time quantitative PCR assay to compare allele-specific transcript levels for the pollen determinant of self-incompatibility (SCR). This provides the unique opportunity to evaluate the precise base-pairing requirements for effective transcriptional regulation of this target gene. We found strong transcriptional silencing of recessive SCR alleles in all heterozygote combinations examined. A simple threshold model of base pairing for the small RNA–target interaction captures most of the variation in SCR transcript levels. For a subset of S-alleles, we also measured allele-specific transcript levels of the determinant of pistil specificity (SRK), and found sharply distinct expression dynamics throughout flower development between SCR and SRK. In contrast to SCR, both SRK alleles were expressed at similar levels in the heterozygote genotypes examined, suggesting no transcriptional control of dominance for this gene. We discuss the implications for the evolutionary processes associated with the origin and maintenance of the dominance hierarchy among self-incompatibility alleles.
Molecular characterization of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes using sequence tagged microsatellite site (STMS) markers

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) commonly also known as gram, Chana, Bengal gram and Garbanzo beans is the second most important pulse crop of the world mainly grown in arid and semi-arid regions. Assessment of genetic variability in the base population is the first step in any breeding programme for selection of genetically divergent parents and their use in the crop improvement programme. In the present investigation 20 genotypes of chickpea were characterized using a specific set of 15 numbers of Sequence tagged microsatellite site (STMS) markers. The number of alleles, allelic distribution and their frequency was estimated and found that the 36 alleles amplified with 15 STMS loci having an average of 2.4 alleles per locus. The number of alleles amplified varied from 1 to 4. The Polymorphic information content value ranged from 0 to 0.965 with an average of 0.373 indicated the considerable efficiency of markers for studying the polymorphism level. All primer showed higher polymorphism among the genotypes except two primers namely, TAA59 and GA105 which were monomorphic in nature. Genetic similarity based on UPGMA clustering the dendrogram grouped the 20 genotypes in three clusters, cluster I, II, III comprised of 2, 4, 14 genotypes, respectively. The maximum similarity was found between genotypes ICRISAT-4183 and ICRISAT- 7722 (0.972). The present study provided an insight of the inter-relationship among the genotypes and highlights the genetic distance by STMS markers. The genetic diversity revealed in this study could be exploited for selective breeding programme of chickpea improvement.
Analysis of the risk and protective roles of work-related and individual variables in burnout syndrome in nurses

Burnout syndrome is a phenomenon that is becoming ever more widespread, especially in workers who have heavy workloads and time pressures, such as nurses. Its progression has been shown to be related to both individual and work-related variables. The objective of this study was to examine the risk and protective roles played by work-related and personal variables, both sociodemographic and psychological, in the development of burnout in nurses. The sample was made up of 1236 nurses. Exploratory tests were performed to understand the relationships between burnout and the other variables, as well as a binary logistic regression to understand their roles in the incidence of this syndrome. Lastly, a regression tree was constructed. The results showed that the sociodemographic variables examined in the study were not related with levels of burnout in nurses. However, certain work-related variables were, such as spending more time with colleagues and patients, and reporting good quality relationships with colleagues, superiors, patients and their families, exhibiting a significant, negative relationship to the presence of burnout. Of the psychological variables, the stress factors conflict-social acceptance, and irritability-tension-fatigue, along with informative communication were found to be risk factors for the appearance of burnout in nurses, in contrast to the communication skills factor, empathy, and energy-joy, which exercised a protective function. The irritability-tension-fatigue factor was the best predictor for the appearance of burnout in nurses.
PDA (Posterior Descending Artery) & Coronary Dominance-A MDCT Coronary Angiographic Analysis of Anatomic Variations and Clinical Importance

Introduction: There is considerable variation in the arterial supply of diaphragmatic surface of the heart. Diaphragmatic myocardial infarction is one of the more common consequences of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of anatomic variants of origin and termination of Posterior Descending Artery (PDA) and to determine the type of coronary dominance in North Indian population. Subjects and Methods: This prospective study was carried out on 50 routine subjects of different age groups who came to the Department of Radiodiagnosis, King George’s Medical University UP, Lucknow in the year 2010- 2011 with known or suspected coronary artery disease. All the cases were investigated on a 64 slice Multidetector Computed Tomographic (MDCT) scanner, using retrospective Electrocardiographic gating. Endeavour was made to determine the incidence of sites of origin and termination of PDA as well as to determine the type of coronary dominance. Results: PDA arose from Right Coronary Artery (RCA) in 39 (78%) cases and from Left Circumflex (LCx) artery in 11(22%) cases. The PDA was found to terminate in the upper 1/4 of Posterior Inter-Ventricular Groove (PIVG) in 18 (36%) cases, in upper 1/2 of PIVG in 19 (38%) cases, in upper 3/4 of PIVG in 10 (20%) cases and at the apex of the heart in 1 (2%) case. None of the female had termination of PDA at the apex. Termination of PDA could not be determined in 2 (4%) cases. Right dominance was seen in 36 (72%) cases, Left dominance in 11 (22%) cases. and Co-dominance in 3 (6%) cases. Conclusion: Posterior descending artery most commonly terminated after traversing the upper half of posterior inter-ventricular groove. The incidence of left coronary dominance was more in females, it was approximately twice the incidence found in males. Co-dominance was observed only in male subjects.
Cell suspension concentration monitoring by using a miniaturized serial high frequency SAWR sensor

In this paper, a miniaturized cell suspension concentration monitoring method was investigated. The sensing unit was a carbon screen-printed electrode (CSPE) in serial with a 433MHz vacuum-packaged surface acoustic wave resonator (SAWR). SAWR provided a stable and high operating frequency, which helps to keep the stability and sensitivity of the monitoring system. Living cells suspensions in different concentrations were prepared and dropcast on CSPE. Frequency responses of the sensor were recorded. Cell quantity variation within the same culture media volume changed the dielectric properties of CSPE and finally affected the SAWR frequency. SAWR frequency declined with the decrease of cell concentration. The proposed sensor provided high sensitivity and remarkable stability for the cell suspensions.
Students’ Perception on Pre-reading Activities in Basic Reading II Class of the English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University

The students’ perception on the teacher instruction shows whether the teaching techniques meet the students’ need or not. Because of this reason, the researcher wants to find out the varieties of pre-reading activities used by the teacher and the students’ perception on the implementation of the pre-reading activities. There were two problem formulations in this study: 1) What kinds of pre-reading activities that are used by Basic Reading II teacher in the English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University? 2) How is the students’ perception on pre-reading activities used by the teacher? This research was a survey research. In gathering the data, there were two instruments used in this research. They were interview and questionnaire. The interview was done by interviewing the teacher of Basic Reading II Class. The interview was used to answer the first research question about the varieties of pre-reading activities in Basic Reading II class. Then, the researcher distributed the questionnaire to 56 students of Basic Reading II class. The questionnaire was used to answer the second research question about the students’ perception on pre-reading activities used by the teacher. The result of this research showed that brainstorming, pre-teaching vocabulary, pre-questioning, visual aids, and KWL strategy were the varieties of pre-reading activities used by the teacher. There were two different implementation of pre-teaching vocabulary. There were also two activities combined together, they were the use of visual aids and KWL strategy. The students had positive perception on the implementation of pre-reading activities in Basic Reading II Class. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.2015. 180206
[Enhancing our single molecule experience using Crispr].

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Barriers and enablers to influenza vaccination uptake in adults with chronic respiratory conditions: applying the behaviour change wheel to specify multi-levelled tailored intervention content

Abstract Objective To specify intervention content to enhance influenza vaccination uptake among adults with chronic respiratory conditions using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). Design Cross-sectional, multi-modal data collection and theory-informed analysis and expert stakeholder engagement. Methods Content analysis was used to identify barriers and enablers to influenza vaccination from nine focus groups (n = 38), individual interviews (n = 21) and open-ended survey responses (n = 101). The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the BCW were used to specify evidence-based and theoretically-informed recommendations. Expert stakeholders refined recommendations using the Acceptability, Practicability, Effectiveness, Affordability, Side-effects, and Equity (APEASE) criteria to yield a range of potentially actionable ideas. Results TDF analysis identified perceptions of vaccine side effects (beliefs about consequences [BACons]) was the most common barrier to vaccination, followed by time constraints (environmental context and resources [ECR]) and fear of needles (Emotion). Enablers included protection from influenza (BACons), receiving reminders (ECR) and support from others (Social Influences). These factors mapped to seven BCW intervention functions and 22 behaviour change techniques. Conclusions Factors affecting vaccine uptake are multifaceted and multileveled. The study suggested a suite of complementary multi-level intervention components to enhance vaccination uptake involving a range of diverse actors, intervention recipients and settings.
Advertising individual identity by mother and adolescent contact calls in Siberian wapiti Cervus elaphus sibiricus

Mother‐offspring vocal recognition is critically important for sur‐ vival of the offspring in ungulates (Lingle, Rendall, & Pellis, 2007; Lingle, Rendall, Wilson, Deyoung, & Pellis, 2007; Lingle, Wyman, Kotrba, Teichroeb, & Romanow, 2012; Nowak, Porter, Levy, Orgeur, & Schaal, 2000; Teichroeb, Riede, Kotrba, & Lingle, 2013; Torriani, Vannoni, & McElligott, 2006). Mother‐offspring vocal recognition is based on individualistic contact calls (Sibiryakova et al., 2017, 2015 ; Torriani et al., 2006; Volodin, Lapshina, Volodina, Frey, & Soldatova, 2011). Age‐class (young vs. adult) strongly affects vocal individuality (Lapshina et al., 2012; Sibiryakova et al., 2015; Torriani et al., 2006). In many species of ruminants, individuality of contact calls increases with age: from neonates to adolescents in goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa (Lapshina et al., 2012) and from neonates to adults in fallow deer Dama dama (Torriani et al., 2006), Iberian red deer Cervus elaphus hispanicus (Sibiryakova et al., 2015), and saiga Saiga tatarica (Sibiryakova et al., 2017). The age‐related increase in acoustic indi‐ viduality might be related to remarkable differences in the acoustic structure of vocalizations at different ages: in many species of rumi‐ nants, calls are substantially higher frequency in the young than in Received: 5 June 2018 | Revised: 9 July 2018 | Accepted: 17 July 2018 DOI: 10.1111/eth.12804