Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antiulcerogenic Effects of Aqueous Stem-Bark Extracts of Pterocarpus erinaceus on Indomethacin-Induced Ulcer in Albino Rats

The anti-ulcerogenic effects of aqueous stem bark extracts of Pterocarpus erinaceus on indomethacin-induced ulcer in albino rats was determined. Forty two (42) adult male albino rats were randomly divided into seven groups (Groups A-G) of six rats each. The phytochemicals in the extract were qualitatively and quantitatively determined. Indomethacin was orally administered as a single dose of 30 mg/kg/b.w to induce ulcer in the rats. The rats were fasted for 24 hours, on the last day of the treatment before the animals were sacrificed. Macroscopic examinations of the stomach, quantification of gastric juice, histological examination of stomach tissue were also carried out and stomach was then homogenised. The stomach homogenate was analyzed for total protein (TP), lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes: glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Indomethacin treatment caused significant increases (p<0.05) in ulcer index. There was significant reduction in ulcer index, volume of gastric juice, free and total acidity, pepsin activity and lipid peroxidation in the extract treated rats when compared with the indomethacin treated group. Treatments of ulcer induced animals with P. erinaceus extracts showed significant elevation (p<0.05) of pH, total protein, GR, CAT and SOD in the treated animals in a dose dependent manner with the highest effect observed in rats administered 900 mg/kg/b.w. extract. Histological examination revealed evidence of reparative changes in the indomethacin treated animals given the extract. These results suggest that the stem bark extract could reverse changes seen in ulcer and in addition engender recovering or healing of affected tissues Suggesting that P. erinaceus stem bark extract at doses used have the potential to treat indomethacin induced ulcer.
Physicochemical characterization and antioxidant properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles

Studies of the biological activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) show that this compound exhibits antioxidant, antitumor, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The CONPs were obtained by pulsed electron evaporation in a low-pressure gas with a specific surface area of ∼ 190 m2/g. Strongly-noequilibrium conditions of synthesis led to the formation of high defect structures, which makes it possible to change the Ce3+/Ce4+ions ratio and, consequently, to enhance the level of their biological activity. To analyze the content of cerium with different valences, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was performed. To determine the enzyme-like activity of CONPs, a chemical analysis of the interaction with hydrogen peroxide was carried out on a spectrophotometer. The results show a significant presence of Ce3+in CONPs and the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The valence of the cerium atoms determines the chemical activity of CONPs; thus, in a more alkaline medium, the CONPs decrease the ROS concentration, while in the acidic medium its activity diminishes. By varying the parameters of the nanopowders obtained and achieving the optimum Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio, one can produce CONPs having properties which enable the creation of pharmaceuticals for protection against ROS or for combating tumors, viruses and bacteria.
Water preconditioning on germination and emergence of Capsicum chinense Jacq.

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of water pre-conditioning on the percentage of germination and emergence of Capsicum chinense. The seeds were cultivated during the productive cycle from December 2015 to February 2016. For the pre-conditioning, the seeds were imbibed with 2.5, 3.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 ml of water. The volume of 7.5 ml was used as a reference. Germination results indicate that the three best imbibition volumes were 2.5, 3.5 and 5 mL, with a Pearson correlation of -0.905 (p= 0.000) between the volume of water and the percentage of accumulated germination, as well as the decrease of the germination time 50. Subsequently, the same seeds were transplanted to evaluate the emergence. The best imbibition volumes for the emergency were, in that order, 3.5, 5 and 2.5 ml. In the emergency, the volume with the best percentage of germination (2.5 ml) occupied the third place, which modified the Pearson coefficient to -0.641 (p= 0.01). The results suggest that a certain degree of stress, generated by the decrease in water supply, favors germination and establishment, which could be related to the synthesis and accumulation of ethylene within the germination system. On the other hand, the increase in the diameter of the water film generates a decrease in the availability of oxygen. The contribution of the present work was to demonstrate that the correct hydration of the seeds influences later stages of germination, without adding growth regulators.
Drying methods for municipal solid waste quality improvement in the developed and developing countries: A review

Nowadays, drying methods for municipal solid waste quality improvement have been adopted in the developed and developing countries to valorize wastes for a renewable energy source, reduce dependency on fossil fuel and keep safer disposal at landfills. Among them, biodrying, biostabilization, thermal drying and solar drying are the most common. Drying of municipal solid waste could offer several environmental and economic benefits. Therefore, this review highlighted the drying methods for municipal solid waste quality improvement around the world and compared them based on the reduction of moisture, weight and volume of municipal solid wastes against drying temperature and time by using statistical analysis. It was observed that the drying temperature of different drying methods accounted for 115 ± 40°C for thermal drying, 59 ± 37°C for solar drying, 55 ± 15°C for biodrying and 58 ± 11°C for biostabilization. Among the drying methods, thermal drying provided the shortest drying time. The moisture reduction, weight reduction, volume reduction and heating value increase of municipal solid waste could vary with drying temperature and time. Finally, the benefits and drawbacks of different drying methods were specified, and recommendations were made for the future efficient drying.
Development of a Receptor Internalization Assay for Measuring and Analysing RGS9-2 and Palmitoyl-CoA Transferase Activity in HEK Cells

Regulator of G-protein signalling 9-2 (RGS9-2) complex inhibits agonist-dependent dopamine receptor D2R activity and internalization, and plays a protective role against the development of neuro-reward circuit dysfunction. R7 binding protein (R7BP) is necessary for RGS9-2 protein stability and trafficking. Preliminary work from our group has shown the palmitoyl-CoA transferase, DHHC5, can facilitate R7BP trafficking, however this function can also enhance RGS9-2 trafficking and function. The aim of this work is to establish an in vitro assay to verify the effects of DHHC5 and R7BP on the internalization of D2R in HEK cells. We established a modified ELISA protocol that consistently showed ~20% internalization of surface D2R, which is not ideal, possibly due to the poor internalization properties of D2R in HEK cells. Future efforts, therefore, will require the development of other functional assays to examine the role of DHHC5, R7BP and RGS92 as a regulator of D2R signalling and function.
A Case for Comparing Apples with Oranges

In order to compare nations one needs a theoretical justification and framework. Three basic questions arise: What are we comparing? Are nations suitable units for this comparison? Are the phenomena we look at functionally equivalent? Values, defined as broad tendencies to prefer certain states of affairs over others, are more likely functionally equivalent than institutions. Value differences between nations can be measured by surveys, but the results strongly depend on the way the questions are formulated. An important distinction is between the desired and the desirable. Comparing values across nations does not need to be based on representative samples of the countries' populations, as long as one compares matched samples of individuals from one nation to the next. The equivalence of value measurements at the nation level can only be tested by validation against the results of other measurements for the same set of nations, both national indices and outcomes of surveys by other researchers using other questions at other moments in time. Applying this procedure to different cross-national databases led to the identification of four and later five, basic problems that are resolved differently in different societies: inequality, togetherness, gender roles, dealing with the unknown, and time orientation. The different solutions to these problems represent five dimensions of national cultures. Fifty-three nations and regions could be scored on the first four dimensions, and twenty-three on the fifth.
Methods for reproducible shipboard SFA nutrient measurement using RMNS and automated data processing

Ocean observations are critical in developing our understanding of the interaction between the ocean and climate. Detailed information about the nutrient composition of the ocean is achieved using in situ sensing and the collection and analysis of physical samples from research vessels. The analysis of nutrients underpins work in understanding both the carbon cycle and biological productivity in oceans. Although in situ sensors are becoming more common for some nutrients, the best and most reliable method for making these measurements is to conduct analysis of physical samples at sea. This article discusses the analysis and data processing methods developed by the hydrochemistry team at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to provide repeatable and accurate analysis of nutrient samples at sea. Nutrients are measured by segmented flow analysis and data are processed using in‐house software (Hydrology Processor [HyPro]). These methods were used during the Global Ocean Ship‐based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO‐SHIP) P15S voyage in 2016. Accuracy and precision of the analyses during the voyage was determined from measurement of the certified reference material for nutrients in seawater (RMNS) for silicate, phosphate, nitrate, and nitrite and is presented and discussed here. The accuracy of the silicate and phosphate RMNS measurements was within 1–3% of the certified values, and nitrate + nitrite within 1–2%. The precision for silicate, nitrate + nitrite, and phosphate was greater than 0.2%. The hydrochemistry team has established a standard operating procedure which assures the quality of nutrient data obtained is accurate and precise.
Cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care versus self-management in patients with musculoskeletal chest pain

Aims To assess whether primary sector healthcare in the form of chiropractic care is cost-effective compared with self-management in patients with musculoskeletal chest pain, that is, a subgroup of patients with non-specific chest pain. Methods and results 115 adults aged 18–75 years with acute, non-specific chest pain of musculoskeletal origin were recruited from a cardiology department in Denmark. After ruling out acute coronary syndrome and receiving usual care, patients with musculoskeletal chest pain were randomised to 4 weeks of community-based chiropractic care (n=59) or to a single information session aimed at encouraging self-management as complementary to usual care (n=56). Data on resource use were obtained from Danish national registries and valued from a societal perspective. Patient cost and health-related quality-adjusted life years (QALYs; based on EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D) and Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36)) were compared in cost-effectiveness analyses over 12 months from baseline. Mean costs were €2183 lower for the group with chiropractic care, but not statistically significant (95% CI −4410.5 to 43.0). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio suggested that chiropractic care was cost-effective with a probability of 97%, given a threshold value of €30 000 per QALY gained. In both groups, there was an increase in the health-related quality of life, and the mean increases were similar over the 12-month evaluation period. The mean differences in QALYs between the groups were negligible. Conclusions Chiropractic care was more cost-effective than self-management. Therefore, chiropractic care can be seen as a good example of a targeted primary care approach for a subgroup of patients with non-specific chest pain. Trial registration number NCT00462241.
Comparison of physical and chemical composition of three chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) cultivars cultivated in four districts of Xinjiang region in China

Jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.) belongs to the Rhamnaceae family (Chen et al., 2015a). Ot has gained much attention in the field of food and nutritional sciences due to its nutritional and medicinal properties (Wang et al., 2016a). Jujube fruits are mainly consumed freshly, and can also be processed into the jujube products, such as compotes, alcoholic beverage, jam, candied snack, sweetened tea syrup, cake, and bread (Zozio et al., 2014; Wojdyło et al., 2016a).
The Synthesis of Highly Substituted Aromatics and the Reaction of Alkene Pi Systems with Vinyl Cations

This dissertation presents work on three distinct projects that are all related to unique pi systems: Aldol cyclotrimerizations have been used to achieve the rational chemical synthesis of fullerenes, fullerene fragments, and carbon nanotubes in the past. Under certain conditions this reaction produces the corresponding cyclotetramer which has sometimes been regarded as an undesired byproduct. This work details efforts to synthesize and use these cyclotetramers toward a synthesis of a C240 fullerene fragment. One principal focus in this work is tridecacyclene, a cyclic tetramer of acenaphthylene given its name by our group for its thirteen rings. Relatively low yields for the synthesis of tridecacyclene and its derivatives drove us to investigate the mechanism of its formation and attempt to optimize its production. During this process, novel dione products were isolated from the attempted cyclotetramerization of two dimeric species. Characterization of these products by X-ray crystallography gave valuable insight into the reaction pathway, leading us to a new proposed mechanism of formation for the cyclotetramerization products observed in these aldol reactions. β-Hydroxy-α-diazoketones are suitable progenitors to vinyl cation intermediates whose use in chemical synthesis is relatively unexplored. As part of an extensive project to develop the chemistry of vinyl cations for use in carbon-carbon bond forming reactions to build important molecular scaffolds, a range of β-hydroxy-α-diazoketones containing a pendent nucleophilic alkene were synthesized. Treatment of these compounds with a Lewis acid gave either lactone or cyclopentenone products depending on the substrate used. Proposed herein is a mechanism involving a key acylium intermediate which, depending on the position of the pendent alkene, results in different product outcomes. In a collaborative effort to further investigate the known anti-cancer properties of fusarochromanone, a fungal metabolite that is isolated from Fusarium-infected feed from cold climates, a large-scale synthesis of this natural product was explored. An efficient, scalable synthesis of the previously prohibitively expensive amidochromanone starting material has been achieved and its elaboration to fusarochromanone has been demonstrated.
Concentration of Arsenic and Heavy Metals in Snail Tissues

The aim of this study was to determine arsenic and heavy metal concentrations (lead, mercury, copper, cadmium, zinc, iron and manganese) in snail tissues (foot and digestive gland) obtained from snail farms in Serbia (near urban areas). Snail samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A total of 730 individual snail samples were included in this study. Snails were packed into plastic bags and transported to the laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade. The levels of arsenic and mercury in the examined snail tissues were below the detection limit of the analytical method. Concentrations of heavy metals were higher in digestive gland tissues than in foot tissues.
Optimisation of Lithium Chromatography for Isotopic Analysis in Geological Reference Materials by MC‐ICP‐MS

The lithium isotope system can be an important tracer for various geological processes, especially tracing continental weathering. The key to this application is the accurate and precise determination of lithium isotopic composition. However, some of the previously established column separation methods are not well behaved when applied to chemically diverse materials, due to the significant variations in matrix/lithium ratios in some materials. Here, we report a new dual‐column system for lithium purification to achieve accurate and precise analysis of lithium isotopic compositions using a multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer (MC‐ICP‐MS). Compared with single‐column systems, our dual‐column system yielded a consistent elution range of the lithium‐bearing fraction (7–16 ml) for samples with a large range of lithium loads and matrix compositions, so that column re‐calibration is not required. In addition, this method achieved complete lithium recovery and low matrix interference (e.g., Na/Li ≤ 1) with a short elution time (~ 6 h, excluding evaporation), with the entire procedure completed in 1.5 days. We report high precision Li isotopic compositions in twelve chemically diverse materials including seawater, silicates, carbonates, manganese nodules and clays. New recommended Li isotopic values and associated uncertainties are presented as reference values for quality control and inter‐laboratory calibration for future research and were consistent with previously published data. However, significant lithium isotopic variances (~ 1‰) in BHVO‐2 from different batches suggest Li isotopic heterogeneity in this reference material and that Li isotopic studies using this reference material should be treated with caution.
Effects of endothermic chain-branching reaction on spherical flame initiation and propagation

A theoretical model is developed to describe the spherical flame initiation and propagation. It considers endothermic chain-branching reaction and exothermic recombination reaction. Based on this model, the effects of endothermic chain-branching reaction on spherical flame initiation and propagation are assessed. First, the analytical solutions for the distributions of fuel and radical mass fraction as well as temperature are obtained within the framework of large activation energy and quasi-steady assumption. Then, a correlation describing spherical flame initiation and propagation is derived. Based on this correlation, different factors affecting spherical flame propagation and initiation are examined. It is found that endothermicity of the chain-branching reaction suppresses radical accumulation at the flame front and thus reduces flame intensity. With the increase of endothermicity, the unstretched flame speed decreases while both flame ball radius and Markstein length increases. Endothermicity has a stronger effect on the stretched flame speed with larger fuel Lewis number. The Markstein length is found to increase monotonically with endothermicity. Furthermore, the endothermicity of the chain-branching reaction is shown to affect the transition among different flame regimes including ignition kernel, flame ball, propagating spherical flame, and planar flame. The critical ignition power radius increases with endothermicity, indicating that endothermicity inhibits the ignition process. The influence of endothermicity on ignition becomes relatively stronger at higher crossover temperature or higher fuel Lewis number. Moreover, one-dimensional transient simulations are conducted to validate the theoretical results. It is shown that the quasi-steady-state assumption used in theoretical analysis is reasonable and that the same conclusion on the effects of endothermic chain-branching reaction can be drawn from simulation and theoretical analysis.
Evaluation of Alum/Lime Coagulant for the Removal of Turbidity from Al- Ahdab Iraqi Oilfields Produced Water

The removal of turbidity from produced water by chemical coagulation/flocculation method using locally available coagulants was investigated. Aluminum sulfate (alum) is selected as a primary coagulant, while calcium hydroxide (lime) is used as a coagulant aid. The performance of these coagulants was studied through jar test by comparing turbidity removal at different coagulant/ coagulants aid ratio, coagulant dose, water pH, and sedimentation time. In addition, an attempt has been made to examine the relationship between turbidity (NTU) and total suspended solids (mg/L) on the same samples of produced water. The best conditions for turbidity removal can be obtained at 75% alum+25% lime coagulant at coagulant dose of 80 mg/l at pH 6 and 120 min for sedimentation time. At these conditions, the turbidity reading was reduced from 92 to 2.1 NTU.
Analysing the anisotropy in morphological evolution and readjustment effects in cluster-cluster aggregation of AuNPs using Shannon entropy

We have used information theory analogue of entropy, Shannon entropy, for estimating the variations during the isotropic and anisotropic AuNP fractal growth process. We have firstly applied the Shannon entropy on the simulated fractal aggregates obtained from DLA model with noise reduction scheme. In conventional noise reduction scheme used in past, the growth process of identical particles was performed and no effect of the evolving cluster on the incoming particle was considered, hence the noise is reduced in discrete amount and do not account for the noise fluctuations present during the morphological evolution of the fractals. The Shannon entropy is shown to capture the emergence of the anisotropic morphological evolution. The imaging tool was further found to be promising for capturing the readjustment effects during cluster-cluster aggregation.
Fluorinated pickering emulsions for droplet-based microfluidics technology

Fluorinated Pickering emulsions are studied and engineered within droplet-based microfluidicstechnology for adherent-cell studies applications. The main findings of this projectinclude: linking the nanoparticles surface coverage to the bulk flowability of the Pickeringemulsion; deriving guidelines for droplet stabilization with high production throughput andminimal particle waste; and implementing the full technological platform for the study ofRPE cells, while unraveling their phenotypic heterogeneity at the single cell level.
Delignification and hydrolyzation of mycorrhizal black locust biomass pretreated with aqueous ammonia

Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi can increase the biomass of host plants that are used as biofuel feedstock. However, little is known about the effects of AM fungi during aqueous ammonia pretreatment of biomass to remove lignin or on the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. The analysis of mycorrhizal colonization (Rhizophagus irregularis or Glomus versiforme) on stems of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) plants in their first and second year of growth revealed that the presence of AM fungi and the growth time significantly influenced the lignin and cellulose content of untreated black locust but had no effect on the content of stems pretreated with aqueous ammonia. The presence of AM fungi and/or the growth time also affected the black locust stem structure and the chemical structure of lignin. Hydrolysis of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal biomass produced similar glucose yields (except for the second-year R. irregularis biomass, which produced significantly less glucose than the other treatments). The results suggest that mycorrhizal black locust biomass is a suitable substrate for biofuel production.