Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low molecular mass proteins as markers for renal function and dialysis efficiency

Kidney disease is a growing problem in the whole world. It is important to find these patients in an early state of the disease because then they can be treated and dialysis treatment can be avoided. To measure the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) an invasive technigue is used. In this thesis an equation to estimate GFR (eGFR) by drawing a blood sample and measure the concentration of cystatin C is presented. This equation is the first one working both for adults and children. To establish an equation working at all laboratories, primary and secondary reference preparations for cystatin C were developed. The secondary reference preparation will be used to establish an international calibrator, which can be used by the diagnostic companies to establish an uniform value of cystatin C. Cystatin C has been proposed to be a marker of inflammation. In our study of patients, without any prior inflammation, who undergo elective surgery, the concentration of cystatin C was unaltered while an increase in the concentration of CRP was seen. This result shows that cystatin C is not a marker of inflammation. Three different types of dialysis treatments (haemodialysis, haemofiltration, haemodiafiltration) were tested for their capacity to remove low molecular mass proteins (LMMP) and thus their potential for treatment of patients with kidney failure. The LMMP have been proposed to be uraemic toxins and must therefore be removed from the circulation. The result from our study showed that cystatin C, β2-microglobulin and β-trace protein can be used as markers for the efficiency of haemofiltration (HF) and haemodiafiltration (HDF). The elimination pattern of β-trace protein differs between HDF and HF and the free proteins might therefore be useful markers in the evaluation of different convective therapies. (Less)
Porous media viscoelasticity with application to polymeric foams. Second revised edition

The goal of this contribution is to merge the advances in porous media theories and the state of the art in single-phase finite viscoelasticity within a well-founded thermodynamical framework. In particular, a thermodynamically consistent constitutive setting is presented where, based on the internal variable concept, an extended Ogden-type viscoelasticity formulation is embedded into the macroscopic Theory of Porous Media (TPM). By focusing on immiscible binary solid-fluid aggregates, essential nonlinearities of the strongly coupled problem are included in the formulation. Thus, the developed biphasic continuum mechanical model accounts for the relevant physical properties stemming from the porous microstructure, the moving and interacting viscous pore fluid (compressible or incompressible), and the directly coupled intrinsic viscoelasticity of the skeleton material itself. In order to demonstrate its suitability, the presented model is especially adapted to the behavior of open-celled polymer foams, as these materials combine all nonlinearities under absolute finite viscoelastic deformations. Finally, after the numerical treatment of the governing model equations through the mixed finite element method (FEM), large strain 3-d simulations reveal the capabilities of the proposed macroscopic formulation and the efficiency of its numerical implementation. Es ist das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit, die Fortschritte in den Theorien zu porosen Medien mit dem aktuellen Stand der Forschung zur Beschreibung finiter Viskoelastizitat von Einphasenmaterialien in einem gesamtheitlichen Modell zu kombinieren. Hierzu wird eine thermodynamisch konsistente Formulierung vorgestellt, wobei auf der Basis des Konzepts interner Variablen ein Viskoelatizitatsgesetz vom Ogden-Typ in die makroskopische Theorie Poroser Medien (TPM) integriert wird. Ausgehend von einem unmischbaren, zweiphasigen Festkorper-Fluid-Aggregat werden alle wesentlichen physikalischen Eigenschaften in der Formulierung berucksichtigt, die aus der porosen Mikrostruktur, dem sich bewegenden und interagierenden viskosen Porenfluid (kompressibel oder inkompressibel) und der uberlagerten intrinsischen Viskoelastizitat des Festkorperskeletts resultieren. Das entwickelte kontinuumsmechanische Zweiphasenmodell ist somit in der Lage, alle fur das makroskopische Materialverhalten relevanten Nichtlinearitaten des stark gekoppelten Problems abzubilden. Um die praktische Anwendbarkeit des Modells unter Beweis zu stellen, wird eine Anpassung an reale Versuchsdaten eines offenzelligen Polymerschaumstoffs vorgenommen, da diese Materialien unter finiten viskoelastischen Deformationen alle nichtlinearen Effekte aufweisen. Nach der numerischen Behandlung und Umsetzung der Modellgleichungen im Rahmen der gemischten Finite-Elemente-Methode (FEM) werden zwei illustrative, dreidimensionale (3-d) Simulationen vorgestellt, die die prinzipiellen Fahigkeiten der makroskopischen Formulierung und die Effizienz ihrer numerischen Implementierung verdeutlichen.
Macro- and Oligo-Mineral Elements from Honeybee-Collected Pollen and Beebread Harvested from Transylvania (Romania)

Honeybee-collected pollen and beebread are consumed for api-therapeutical purposes for their nutritional and medicinal proper ties. In its composition it presents valuable nutrients, among which we can find minerals and oli go-elements, which is the objective of this study. The macro- and micro-nutrient content of honeybee-collected pollen and beebread samples from Transylvania was determined. We have analyzed potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc by atomic absorption spectroscopy after dry ashing wit h air-acetylene flame. Potassium occurred at the highest concentrations in all tested bee pollen and beebread samples, with average concentrations ranging between 3605.37-6033.69 mg/kg, followed by calcium (824.38- 1328.04) and magnesium (583.49-2260.19 mg/kg). In addition, the oligo-elem ents determined presented average values ranged between 37.80-65.38 mg/kg for iron and 27.34-35.01 mg/kg for zinc. These results confirm that Romanian honeybee-collected pollen and beebread can be used by man as a natural source of minerals.
Raman spectroscopy of CaM2+Ge2O6 (M2+ = Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn) clinopyroxenes

The Raman spectra of Ge-clinopyroxenes CaM2+Ge2O6 (M2+ = Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn), general formula M2M1T2O6, are reported for the first time. Their spectral features are discussed in comparison with corresponding Si-pyroxenes. The vibrational wavenumbers of germanates may be roughly obtained by a scale factor of about ~0.8 by those of the corresponding silicates, due to the Ge-Si mass difference. The main peaks in the germanate Raman spectra at ~850 and ~540 cm−1 may be related to Ge-O tetrahedral stretching and chain bending, respectively; minor peaks between 200 and 400 cm−1 are ascribed to bending and stretching of the non-tetrahedral cations. Within Ge-pyroxenes, possible correlations between crystallographic parameters and the vibrational wavenumbers are investigated. The main stretching mode at ~850 cm−1 shows wavenumber changes with M2+ substitutions, but no simple correlation can be found with M2+ cation mass or size. On the other hand, the chain bending wavenumber linearly decreases with increasing ionic radius of the M2+ cation: the expansion of the M1 polyhedron reduces the chain kinking angle and the Ge-Ge distances correspondingly increase. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wall effects in two-dimensional axisymmetric flow over a circular disk oriented normal to flow in a cylindrical tube

The effect of cylindrical walls on the drag of a neutrally buoyant disk (with zero inertia) oriented normal to the direction of flow has been investigated numerically. Using FLUENT, the field equations have been solved to obtain the values of the total, pressure and friction components of drag as a function of the Reynolds number and of the blockage ratio. The results presented herein encompass the following ranges of the conditions: Reynolds number: 1 to 100; and the blockage ratio (disk diameter/cylinder diameter): 0.02 to 0.5. As expected, the drag is found to be higher under the confined flow conditions than that in the unconfined flow conditions. However, the confining boundaries appear to exert only a weak influence on the formation and size of the wake region. The drag values are also weakly influenced by the thickness of the disk. However, this effect progressively disappears as the Reynolds number is gradually increased. The present numerical values corresponding to the unconfined flow conditions are in excellent agreement with the previous numerical and experimental results available in the literature.
Development of a novel solvent for the simultaneous separation of strontium and cesium from dissolved Spent Nuclear Fuel solutions

The recovery of Cs and Sr from acidic solutions by solvent extraction has been investigated. The goal of this project was to develop an extraction process to remove Cs and Sr from high-level waste in an effort to reduce the heat loading in storage. Solvents for the extraction of Cs and Sr separately have been used on both caustic and acidic spent nuclear fuel waste in the past. The objective of this research was to find a suitable solvent for the extraction of both Cs and Sr simultaneously from acidic nitrate media.
Interfacial effect of acetophenone on high field dielectric characteristics and electrical conduction of polyethylene

The interfacial effect of acetophenone on high-field dielectric characteristics and electrical conduction in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has been investigated experimentally. The results show that the DC conduction current is significantly enhanced by the acetophenone coating. The permeation of acetophenone through the island structure of a gold-evaporated electrode onto the surface layer of LDPE modifies surface electronic states, apparently augmenting the injection of electronic carriers, especially holes. Tan delta of acetophenone-coated specimens increases in the high-temperature and high-field regions. Since tan delta in these regions normally decreases linearly with frequency, the dominance of DC conduction loss due to carrier motions is implied. The capacitance is also increased by the acetophenone coating. This can be attributed to the space charge polarization of injected carriers due to the coating, dipolar polarization of permeated acetophenone in polymer matrix, or both. <<ETX>>
Static dipole polarizability of small mixed sodium–lithium clusters

We have measured the static dipole polarizability of Nay−xLix clusters (with y=2, 3, 4, and 8) by molecular beam deflection technique. For a given size, the polarizability of pure lithium clusters is smaller than the polarizability of pure sodium clusters. For mixed clusters, a smooth decrease in the polarizability is observed as the proportion of lithium atoms increases. For the NaLi molecule, both experimental permanent dipole and average polarizability have been obtained. Experimental results are compared to results of density functional theory and configuration interaction single and double (CISD) ab initio calculations.
Yield trends and changes in soil fertility in a long term pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system managed with organic, inorganic and integrated sources of nutrients

The present study was carried out to evaluate the yield trends and soil fertility under long term field experiment at soil research farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India. Results showed that average grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br) across the experimentation period was higher under integrated application of organic manures along with 150 kg N+30 kg P2O5/ha through chemical fertilizers as compared to application of recommended dose of nutrients through chemical fertilizers alone (150 kg N+60 kg P2O5/ha). Lowest grain yield of both crops was observed when organic manures applied alone. Positive yield trend of both the crops was observed under all the nutrient management practices. The highest soil organic carbon (SOC) (1.14%) was recorded with the application of farmyard manure (FYM) followed by pressmud and poultry manure. Build-up of organic carbon ranged from 0.016 to 0.037%/year with application of FYM, poultry manure, pressmud as a component of integrated nutrient management. Highest amount of humic acid-C (HA-C) and fulvicacid-C (FA-C) (0.40 and 0.21%, respectively) was observed with application of 7.5 Mg pressmud along with 150 kg N+30 kg P2O5 /ha. Integrated nutrient management (INM) showed superiority on better grain yield of pearl millet and wheat in these alluvial soils of Haryana.
Analysis of Circulating Microvesicles Levels and Effects of Associated Factors in Elderly Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background: The incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the elderly is high, and the disorder is associated with a variety of chronic diseases. Microvesicles (MVs) are extracellular vesicles secreted by various cells during stimulation or apoptosis that play an important role in the pathogenesis of OSA. However, concentrations of circulating MVs in elderly patients with OSA remain unclear. Methods: Patients aged >60 years old were recruited and underwent polysomnography. Circulating plasma MV concentrations, including annexin V+MVs, endothelial MVs (EMVs), platelet MVs (PMVs), and leukocyte MVs (LMVs) levels, were measured using a flow cytometer with different labeling methods. Potential factors affecting the concentration of circulating MVs in elderly patients with OSA were determined via Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Levels of circulating MVs, including both single- (annexin V+MVs, CD144+EMVs, CD41a+PMVs, and CD45+LMVs) and dual-labeled MVs (annexin V+CD144+EMVs), were elevated in elderly patients with OSA. Circulating MVs were positively correlated with OSA severity (AHI, ODI, and SPO2min). To some extent, obesity affected the MV concentrations in elderly patients with OSA. In addition, age and comorbidities may be associated with MV levels, but the correlations between the MV levels and age or comorbidities were not significant. Conclusion: Concentrations of circulating MVs in elderly patients with OSA are associated with the labeling method used, OSA severity, and obesity. The effects of age and comorbidities on circulating MV levels require further verification using a larger sample size.
Morfologiczna, fizykochemiczna i przeciwutleniająca charakterystyka owoców polskich odmian derenia właściwego (Cornus mas L.)

S t r e s z c z e n i e Celem pracy byla ocena parametrow morfologicznych, chemicznych oraz aktywności przeciwutleniającej (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS), a takze pogrupowanie wedlug terminu zbioru i ksztaltu owocow dziesieciu polskich odmian derenia wlaściwego: Bolestraszycki, Dublany, Florianka, Juliusz, Kresowiak, Paczoski, Podolski, Raciborski, Slowianin, Szafer, pochodzących z Arboretum i Zakladu Fizjografii w Bolestraszycach. Wykazano istotne roznice miedzy badanymi odmianami. Wyrozniono cztery terminy dojrzalości zbiorczej owocow: druga polowa sierpnia (Dublany, Juliusz – odmiany wczesne), przelom sierpnia i września (Raciborski, Szafer – odmiany średnio-wczesne), wrzesien (Bolestraszycki, Kresowiak, Paczoski, Slowianin) oraz przelom września i października (Florianka, Podolski – odmiany poźne). Wśrod badanych odmian przewazaly owoce gruszkowe (Bolestraszycki, Dublany, Kresowiak, Paczoski, Szafer). Owoce odmiany Juliusz byly kuliste, odmiany Florianka i Podolski – owalne, a odmiany Slowianin – butelkowogruszkowe. Najwiekszymi owocami (średnio 3,47 g), a zarazem najmniejszym udzialem pestki w owocu (średnio 10,14 %) charakteryzowala sie odmiana Podolski. Poziom ekstraktu wahal sie, w zalezności od odmiany, od 13,8 % (Juliusz) do 19,9 % (Szafer). Stezenie cukrow ogolem w owocach wynosilo od 10,1 do 16,4 %, pektyn od 1,1 do 1,9 %, a kwasowośc od 1,7 do 3,2 %. Najwiekszą zawartośc witaminy C i polifenoli ogolem oznaczono w owocach odmiany Szafer, odpowiednio 75,1 mg/100 g i 464 mg/100 g. Najjaśniejsze byly owoce odmiany Juliusz i zawieraly niecale 30 mg antocyjanow w 100 g, natomiast najciemniejsze byly owoce odmiany Bolestraszycki (112 mg/100 g) i Szafer (160 mg/100 g). Odmiana Szafer wykazywala najwyzszą aktywnośc przeciwutleniającą, ktora w zalezności od zastosowanej metody wynosila 19,0 µM Troloxu/g (DPPH), 39,0 µM Troloxu/g (ABTS) 41,1 µM Troloxu/g (FRAP). Slowa kluczowe: deren wlaściwy (Cornus mas L.), odmiany, morfologia owocow, sklad chemiczny, aktywnośc przeciwutleniająca
Biochar addition rate influences soil microbial abundance and activity in temperate soils

Biochar (BC) amendment to soils is a proposed strategy to improve soil fertility and mitigate climate change. However, before this can become a recommended management practice, a better understanding of the impacts of BC on the soil biota is needed. We determined the effect of addition rates (0, 1, 5, 10 and 20% by mass) of a fast‐pyrolysis wood‐derived BC on the extraction efficiency (EE), abundance and temporal dynamics of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs, microbial community biomarkers) in four temperate soils during a 1‐year incubation. Additionally, the effects on microbial mineralization/incorporation of BC‐C were determined by measuring CO2 efflux and the BC contribution to CO2 and PLFA‐C using the natural 13C abundance difference between BC and soils. Biochar addition proportionally increased microbial abundance in all soils and altered the community composition, particularly at the greatest addition rate, towards a more gram‐negative bacteria‐dominated (relative to fungi and gram‐positive) community. Though chemically recalcitrant, the BC served as a substrate for microbial activity, more so at large addition rates and in soil with little organic matter. Microbial utilization of BC‐C for growth could only partially explain the observed increase in microbial biomass, suggesting that other, potentially abiotic, mechanisms were involved. The strong decrease in PLFA EE (−77%) in all soils with biochar addition emphasizes the need to measure and correct for EE when using PLFA biomarkers to estimate soil microbial responses to BC additions. Overall, our study provides support for BC use as a soil amendment that potentially stimulates microbial activity and growth.
Raman fingerprint of chromate, aluminate and ferrite spinels

Synthetic and natural spinel single crystals having compositions closely approaching spinel end-members ZnCr2O4, MgCr2O4, FeCr2O4, ZnAl2O4, MgAl2O4, CoAl2O4, FeAl2O4, MnAl2O4, MgFe2O4, and FeFe2O4 were investigated by Raman spectroscopy in the 100–900 cm−1 range using both the red 632.8 nm line of a He-Ne laser and the blue 473.1 nm line of a solid-state Nd : YAG laser. Each end-member exhibits a Raman fingerprint with at least one peculiar peak in terms of Raman shift and relative intensity. Chromates and ferrites exhibit the most intense A1g mode at around 680 cm−1, at lower wavenumbers than in the aluminates, in agreement with the heavier atomic mass of Cr and Fe with respect to Al. For aluminate spinels, the most intense and diagnostic peaks in the spectrum are as follows: F2g(1) at 202 cm−1 for MnAl2O4, Eg at 408 cm−1 for MgAl2O4, F2g(2) at 516 cm−1 for CoAl2O4, F2g(3) at 661 cm−1 for ZnAl2O4, and A1g at 748 cm−1 for FeAl2O4. Noteworthy, analyzing the A1g, F2g(3), and, in particular, the Eg peak positions, it is possible to establish which subgroup a spinel belongs to; moreover, a careful inspection of both position and relative intensity of the same peaks allows the determination of the end-member type. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Water quality and proximate analysis of Eichhornia crassipes from River Nun, Amassoma Axis, Nigeria

Surface water harbors several useful aquatic plants. Eichhornia crassipes is an invasive plant found in several aquatic ecosystems in the Niger Delta including rivers, creeks and creeklets. This study investigated the physicochemical and proximate composition of Eichhornia crassipes from River Nun, Amassoma axis, Nigeria. Standard analytical methods were employed for both water quality and proximate analysis. Results showed that the physicochemical properties ranged from 6.910 – 7.350 (pH), 25oC (temperature), 0.000 – 0.017 mg/l (salinity), 10.333 – 34.333mg/l (total dissolved solid), 25.700 – 40.533 NTU (turbidity), 0.903 - 3.333 mg/l (total hardness), 3.4333 – 5.466 mg/l (total suspended solid), 33.167 – 68.000 µS/cm (conductivity), 0.500 – 3.466 mg/l (chloride), 0.566 – 0.866 mg/l (sulphate), 0.117 – 0.394 mg/l (nitrate), 0.800 – 2.333mg/l (calcium), 0.333 – 0.816mg/l (potassium), 0.533 – 1.310mg/l (sodium), 0.390 – 1.466 mg/l (magnesium), 0.023 – 0.463 mg/l (iron) and 0.003 – 0.023 mg/l (manganese). Proximate composition including moisture content, ash, protein, lipid, fiber and dry matter ranged from 82.733 – 87.760%, 6.216 – 7.700%, 3.656 -5.036%, 1.836 -3.023%, 5.700 – 7.166% and 12.283 -17.300% respectively. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant variations (P<0.05) in all the parameters across the sample batches. The proximate composition of Eichhornia crassipes from River Nun provide vital information that indicates that the plant could be used for the production of value added products such animal feeds and purification of water.
Structure of a new antioxidative phenolic diterpene isolated from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

A new antioxidant, phenolic diterpene, named rosmanol, was isolated from the leaves of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). Its structure has been determined as 7β,11,12-trihydroxy-6,10-(epoxymethano)abieta-8,11,13-trien-20-one on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. In addition, all the protons of rosmanol (II) as well as carnosol (I), including the methylene protons of the A ring, were analyzed by 400 MHz 1-NMR.
Analysis of Local Wind in Busan Metropolitan Area According to Wind Sector Division - Part II : Detailed Wind Information Using A Local-Scale Atmospheric Circulation Model -

We have analysed the observed surface and vertical meteorological data to get atmospheric information over the Busan metropolitan area. For this, we have selected 10 days in all season such as spring, summer I(Jangma season), summer II(hot season), autumn and winter. The result which have performed cluster analysis using atmospheric data represented that these days are included to most frequently appeared synoptic cluster. We have simulated wind field around Busan metropolitan area which is assigned as using RAMS. The calculated air temperature and the wind speed was similar to the observed the that, and the trends of daily variation showed good agreement. RMSE and IOA also showed reliable value. These results indicated the RAMS is able to simulate and predict detailed atmospheric phenomenon.