Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microorganisms in soils with elevated heavy metal concentrations in southern Serbia

Paper description: Soil physical and chemical characteristics, including heavy metals, influence the microbiological characteristics of soil. Soils slightly contaminated with heavy metals (As, Ni and Pb) do not necessarily affect soil microorganisms. Soil chemical characteristics were shown to be factors which influence soil microbiological properties the most. The research contributes to a better understanding of the effects of heavy metals and other chemical properties on soil microorganisms. Abstract: Soil chemical properties and total heavy metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mn) and their relationships with some soil microbiological characteristics (such as soil respiration and numbers of specific groups of microorganisms) were evaluated in agricultural soils in southern Serbia. In 42% of samples, slightly elevated concentrations of As, Ni and/or Pb were detected, with the highest values of 43.4, 64.4 and 184.1 mg/kg, respectively. No significant differences were observed in soil microbiological characteristics between soil samples with elevated heavy metals and heavy metals below the maximum allowed concentrations (MAC). There was no negative correlation between any of the heavy metals and any microbiological characteristics, except the total number of fungi and the concentration of Ni ( r =-394). Positive correlations between most of the heavy metals and the number of Azotobacter were obtained. Correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that the chemical properties of the soil are the factors that affected the number of microorganisms the most. The content of CaCO 3 significantly contributed to variations in soil respiration (39%), the total number of microorganisms was affected the most by humus (53%), oligonitrophiles by the total N content (49%), while the numbers of actinomycetes and fungi were affected by the pH (48% and 58% of the variation). https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS180504034S Received: May 4, 2018; Revised: June 21, 2018; Accepted: July 6, 2018; Published online: August 2, 2018 How to cite this article: Stajkovic-Srbinovic O, Buntic A, Rasulic N, Kuzmanovic Đ, Dinic Z, Delic D, Mrvic V. Microorganisms in soils with elevated heavy metal concentrations in southern Serbia. Arch Biol Sci. 2018;70(4):707-16.
MOLECULAR SCREENING OF COMPLEX VERTEBRAL MALFORMATION AND CITRULLINEMIA CARRIERS IN PAKISTANI NILI-RAVI BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS) BREEDING BULLS

Inherited disorders have serious implications for cattle production and breeding programs. Structural or physiological abnormalities and neonate lethality have negative impacts on breeding populations. Complex vertebral malformation (CVM) and bovine citrullinemia (BC) are heritable congenital syndromes having autosomal recessive basis among cattle breeds worldwide. CVM affected malformed foetuses either get aborted or have evident skeletal deformities upon birth and die during early postnatal period. CVM is caused by a missense substitution (G→T) in uridine diphosphate Nacetylglucosamine transporter encoded by SLC35A3 gene (at position 559). Citrullinemia is a heritable metabolic disorder of urea cycle enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase deficiency which occurs due to a transition (C→T) within exon 5 (codon 86) of ASS1 gene with neurological complications during first week after birth. Both of these fatal disorders have been reported from all over the world in Bos taurus but there is a lack of literature on buffaloes. The present study was carried out to detect CVM and BC carriers among the Pakistani indigenous trans-husbandry water buffalo breed, Nili-Ravi (Bubalus bubalis). In this study, the genetic screening for the target point mutations was carried out using healthy elite buffalo bulls (n=152). Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood and SLC35A3 gene target sequence (281 bp) and ASS1gene target sequence (505 bp) were amplified using PCR. Amplified PCR products were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing was performed. No carriers were detected among the study sample, however, a novel transversion (c.250C>A) was detected in amplified ASS1 gene fragment. Although, findings of this study confirmed absence of CVM and citrullinemia carriers among the Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls but the presence of carrier animals cannot be ruled out in studies involving larger sample sizes. This genetic screening was carried out for the first time in Pakistani buffaloes which can be used in genetic screening of CVM or BC carrier animals in the future. Further research is recommended in order to enhance the existing data regarding CVM and BC carriers among Bubalus bubalis.
Heterosis in Indian mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern & Cosson)

An investigation involving 45 genotypes (nine parents and their diallels, excluding reciprocals) to identify the high heterotic crosses in Brassica juncea L. was undertaken during the winter seasons of 1995-96 and 1996-97 at Ranchi. The cross combinations RH 843 x RH 851 and PR 18 x BR 40 showed high relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis, respectively, for most characters. Overall, crosses PR 18 x BR 40, PR 830 x RH 851 and RH 843 x RH 851 were superior to others in heterotic effects.
Physiological Dormancy in Mature Cassava ( Manihot esculenta var Brakpo) Seeds

Brakpo is a popular cassava variety in Ogoni land, Nigeria whose mature seeds express low and irregular percentage seed germination. This attribute, which is common in many cassava types, limits its use in seedling production and breeding activities. Although seed dormancy is the well-known cause, the exact form of dormancy involved and its control is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of seed treatments that regulate embryo growth (two alternating cycles of cold (4°C) and warm (26-30°C) temperatures (CWCW), warm temperature at 40°C and 10 µM Fluridone) and seed coat hardness (scarification and no-scarification) on germination of mature cassava ‘Brakpo’ seeds. The seeds were collected at brown dry fruit stage and subjected to the treatments in a 2x4 factorial experiment arranged as completely randomized design. Treatment included two alternating cycles of cold (4°C) and warm (26-30°C) temperatures (CWCW), warm temperature at 40°C and 10 µM Fluridone) and seed coat hardness (scarification and no-scarification). Scarification alone (control) increased percent germination by 20% compared to zero in the untreated control. Embryo growth treatment were more effective when combined with scarification than without. Among the scarified seeds, embryo treatments increased percent germination in the order CWCW (64%)> FLU (4%)> 40°C (2%). Only CWCW induced germination (7%) in non-scarified seeds. Emergence speed index (ESI) and plumule/radicle lengths followed the same trend. This study suggests that scarification plus two cycles of cold and warm temperature can increase germination to acceptable values. Also, dormancy in Brako may be due more to physiological dormancy (inability of viable embryo to grow) (44%) than hardness of seed coat (20%) or structure of seed coat (7%).
Evolutionary Proteomics Reveals Distinct Patterns of Complexity and Divergence between Lepidopteran Sperm Morphs

Spermatozoa are one of the most strikingly diverse animal cell types. One poorly understood example of this diversity is sperm heteromorphism, where males produce multiple distinct morphs of sperm in a single ejaculate. Typically, only one morph is capable of fertilization and the function of the non-fertilizing morph, called parasperm, remains to be elucidated. Sperm heteromorphism has multiple independent origins, including Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), where males produce a fertilizing eupyrene sperm and an apyrene parasperm, which lacks a nucleus and nuclear DNA. Here we report a comparative proteomic analysis of eupyrene and apyrene sperm between two distantly related lepidopteran species, the monarch butterfly (Danausplexippus) and Carolina sphinx month (Manduca sexta). In both species, we identified approximatey 700 sperm proteins, with half present in both morphs and the majority of the remainder specific to eupyrene sperm. Apyrene sperm thus have a distinctly less complex proteome. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed proteins shared between morphs tend to be associated with canonical sperm cell structures (e.g. flagellum) and metabolism (e.g. ATP production). GO terms for morph-specific proteins broadly reflect known structural differences, but also suggest a role for apyrene sperm in modulating female neurobiology. Comparative analysis indicates that proteins shared between morphs are most conserved between species as components of sperm, while morph-specific proteins turn over more quickly, especially in apyrene sperm. The rapid divergence of apyrene sperm content is consistent with a relaxation of selective constraints associated with fertilization and karyogamy. On the other hand, parasperm exhibit greater evolutionary lability, which may reflect adaptive response to shifting regimes of sexual selection. Additionally, we provide the first (to our knowledge) scanning electron micrographs of lepidopteran sperm.
On the strauss index of semilinear tricomi equation

In our previous papers, we have given a systematic study on the global existence versus blowup problem for the small-data solution \begin{document}$ u $\end{document} of the multi-dimensional semilinear Tricomi equation \begin{document}$ \begin{equation*} \partial_t^2 u-t\, \Delta u = |u|^p, \quad \big(u(0, \cdot), \partial_t u(0, \cdot)\big) = (u_0, u_1), \end{equation*} $\end{document} where \begin{document}$ t>0 $\end{document} , \begin{document}$ x\in \mathbb R^n $\end{document} , \begin{document}$n\geq2$\end{document} , \begin{document}$ p>1 $\end{document} , and \begin{document}$ u_i\in C_0^{\infty}( \mathbb R^n) $\end{document} ( \begin{document}$ i = 0, 1 $\end{document} ). In this article, we deal with the remaining 1-D problem, for which the stationary phase method for multi-dimensional case fails to work and the large time decay rate of \begin{document}$\|u(t, \cdot)\|_{L^\infty_x(\mathbb R)}$\end{document} is not enough. The main ingredient of the proof in this paper is to use the structure of the linear equation to get the suitable decay rate of \begin{document}$u$\end{document} in \begin{document}$t$\end{document} , then the crucial weighted Strichartz estimates are established and the global existence of solution \begin{document}$ u $\end{document} is proved when \begin{document}$ p>5 $\end{document} .
Oral Care for Neuroscience patients in New Zealand – A national survey

Abstract Aims: To understand the experience and knowledge of neuroscience nurses working in acute ward settings in New Zealand regarding oral care. To determine what educational requirements were needed to standardise oral care. Data sources: A systematic review of articles was conducted using Cinahl, PubMed, Cochrane and Google scholar between 2007-2019. Methods: An online survey using Survey Monkey with three out of five units participating from the north and South Island of New Zealand using qualitative and quantitative data. Results: 34% of nurses completed the survey from three different neuroscience wards. Oral hygiene education was provided to the majority of respondents during their initial nursing training, however this was considered inadequate and most nurses did not receive oral hygiene education since their training. It was considered that there was a lack of oral care assessment tools and guidelines available in New Zealand. A lack of evidence-based practice existed. Therefore, inconsistencies over products and frequency of care was problematic. Barriers to effective oral care included the uncooperative patient, lack of access to the mouth and a perceived lack of time to provide oral care. Conclusion: The experience and knowledge of neuroscience nurses in this study was varied. An opportunity existed to implement an oral assessment tool and guideline which could improve the oral care of the neuroscience patient and standardize care throughout New Zealand. Oral hygiene education should be provided and available for nursing students, registered nurses, health care assistants, patients and family to ensure consistent effective oral care. Impact: As a result of this study, a guideline and assessment flowchart were created with an online e-learning experience. This was distributed to a number of hospitals nationwide to ensure standardization of care across all neuroscience wards.
Deep Electrification of Residential Heating and Possible Implications: An Irish Perspective

Electrifying energy sectors using renewable rich electricity is one of the many decarbonization pathways being adopted to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among these, the heating and cooling sector, both energy and carbon intensive, is attracting a lot of attention. Power-to-heat technology (PtH) along with thermal energy storage systems is widely adopted to decarbonise this sector. However, increased penetration of PtH may cause congestion in existing electrical grid infrastructures, and hence needs for network upgrades. In this context, our paper presents a quantitative analysis on the impact of electrifying domestic dwellings (existing and new) in Ireland. The analysis encompasses costs, benefits, renewable power curtailment and regional distribution of optimal electrification of the housing stock. Analysis reveal significant grid expansion needs with increasing levels of PtH. This impact is pronounced without appropriate thermal storage. On the flip side, it leads to a more efficient utilisation of renewable energy by reducing curtailment.
Effect of different Organic and Inorganic Coatings on Physico-chemical, Microbiological and Sensorial attributes of Fresh-Cut Muskmelon

Eight different organic and inorganic dipping treatments viz., organic coatings10% honey, 20% honey, Aloe vera gel, 10% WPC and inorganic coatingscalcium chloride (2.5% at 20C), calcium chloride (2.5% at 60C), calcium lactate (1%), 0.1% nanosilver stipulated food grade level H2O2 along with control were used for pretreatment of fresh-cut muskmelon. The changes in physico-chemical parameters were slow in the fresh-cut muskmelon treated with organic (10% WPC) and inorganic (0.1% nanosilver stipulated food grade level H2O2) dipping under refrigerated storage (5±1C) up to 18 days. Minimum changes in TSS were recorded in fresh-cut muskmelon pretreated with Aloe vera gel (A4). The maximum physiological loss in weight and per cent decay was observed in control treatment. The minimum microbial count was observed in fresh-cut muskmelon fruit treated with 0.1% nanosilver stipulated food grade H2O2 (A9) followed by 10% WPC treatment (A5). Among the different organic and inorganic dipping studied, organic pretreatment of fresh-cut muskmelon with 10% WPC was found best, as regards, inorganic dipping (coatings), 0.1% nanosilver stipulated food grade H2O2 was next best. Both the dipping treatments extended shelf life of fresh-cut muskmelon up to 18 days. Keywords— fresh-cut muskmelon, calcium lactate, WPC, microbial count, shelf life, H2O2.
Investigation of Fe 2 O 3 /SiO 2 nanocomposite by FESEM and TEM

Superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles were synthesized using Massart's procedure. Nanocomposites that consist of the synthesized maghemite nanoparticles and silica were produced by dispersing the as-synthesized maghemite nanoparticles into the silica xerogel prepared by sol-gel technique. The systemwas then heated for 3 days at 140°C. The structure, morphology, and texture of the systemwere analysed by FESEMand TEM. The result fromFESEMshowed that the silica gel forms a network structure,which contained numerous pores, with an average pore size of 15 nm. EDX line profile analysis was carried out, and the result indicated that the embedded particles were iron oxide. EELS showed the presence of Fe-L2 signal, which confirmed the presence of iron oxide particles within the silica matrix. The average diameters were 5.0 nm for as-synthesized maghemite nanoparticles and 4.4nm for the embedded maghemite nanoparticles in silica xerogel matrix. The embedded maghemite nanoparticles in nanocomposite also showed a narrower distribution compared to as-synthesized particles. The magnetization values at 10 kOe applied field, Ms10kOe, were 9.53 emu/g and 1.79 emu/g for as-synthesized and embedded nanoparticles, respectively. A reduction in average crystallite size was observed for the dispersed maghemite particles after formation of the nanocomposite indicating a slight dissolution of maghemite nanoparticles in silica gel.
Chinese Aid to Africa: Distinguishing Features and Local Effects

Drawing on our recent work on local effects of Chinese development projects in Africa, this review article highlights a number of distinguishing features of Chinese aid, and discusses how these may translate into local aid impacts that differ from those of other donors. Unlike aid from other major donors, Chinese aid projects were found to fuel local corruption, discourage trade union involvement, to not increase political incumbency support, and to make ethnic identities more salient in the local areas. As such, our findings highlight important donor heterogeneities as well as the need to consider not only to what extent aid achieves its explicit objectives, but also its potential unintended effects, or externalities.
Role of temperature in myocardial ischemic injury and protection by conditioning

Organ temperature and ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) are strictly linked. It is well known that deep/profound hypothermia can improve cardioplegia induced cardiac preservation. Also mild/moderate hypothermia induces myocardial protection against IRI in beating hearts. Here we will focus on some mechanisms of cardioprotection induced by hypothermia. In particular, we will analyze the effects of hypothermia on heart metabolism, cytosolic calcium, and oxidation/nitrosation processes. The role of inflammation, extracellular matrix processing, genetic, and epigenetic effects in mild hypothermia will be also analyzed. Recent advances on miRNA, exosomes, and extracellular vesicles controlled by temperature variation will be discussed. Particular emphasis will be given to the procedures of conditioning (pre, per and postconditioning and remote conditioning) obtained with thermic and/or ischemic stimuli. In this context hyperthermic processes also play an important protective role. From the analyzed studies, it emerges that temperature is an important variable affecting IRI that deserves to be strictly controlled and eventually modified to amplify the efficacy of cardioprotective strategies. Nevertheless, more in depth studies are necessary to understand the mechanisms of protection induced by thermic therapy alone and in association with other cardioprotective interventions. More in depth investigation into the mechanistic signaling that lead to temperature triggered protection could individuate crucial targeting molecules, representing strategic knowledge to promote a better therapeutic efficacy and a lower cardiovascular risk in the setting of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion.
Dynamic Decentralized Periodic Event-Triggered Control for Wireless Cyber–Physical Systems

This brief adds dynamic variables to decentralized periodic event-triggered control (DPETC), denoting dynamic DPETC (DDPETC) for wireless cyber–physical systems whose sensors are distributed and bandwidths are limited, and studies the stability and $\mathcal {L}_{2}$ -gain. In DDPETC, dynamic variables that require only local information are designed and added to the event-triggered mechanisms (ETMs). This dynamic variable can guarantee that the ETMs still be localized which does not require information from other nodes. For implementations with DDPETC, at each periodic sampling time the ETMs decide events based on new measurements from local sensors. Those measurements that trigger the events are transmitted to controllers, and after network transmission delays, they are received and the controller computes the control actions. The transmissions of these control actions from controllers to actuators are also decided by ETMs. The feasibility of the approach is shown via two examples. Numerical results show that, with the same stability and performance, DDPETC can save more than 40% events, making it more suitable for wireless cyber–physical systems.
A Dual-Boost H-Bridge Inverter With Common Ground for Photovoltaic Interfacing

Microinverters for photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion typically encounter challenges, including the requirement of a voltage boost and suppression of the high-frequency leakage current. These challenges are usually not met simultaneously if only a standard full (H)-bridge is used. Such limitation is, however, not applicable to the proposed dual-boost H-bridge inverter, which uses only four switches and a unique dual-boost circuit for voltage boosting and forming a common ground. The latter stops PV terminal voltages from changing rapidly, and hence, no high-frequency capacitive current leaking to the ground even without using extra switches. Additionally, the proposed inverter can operate with either one or two PV sources whose terminal voltages need not be balanced. One of the source voltages can, in fact, fall to zero (due to shading) without affecting the continuous operation of the inverter, whose modulation has been formulated to keep its conduction losses low at a steady dc-link voltage. The dc-link capacitor across the H-bridge meanwhile decouples the pulsating output power, which in practice, has always challenged the design of single-phase microinverters. These intended performances have eventually been proven by the simulation and experimental results of a 500-W prototype.
A Review of genetic improvement mechanisms of maize (Zea mays L.) in breeding for nitrogen use efficiency

Maize is the third most prominent crop grown next to wheat and rice globally while extensively affected by stresses; critically abiotic factors like drought and soil acidity are the robust effect. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is an imperative trait in maize to enhance yield with marginal contribution of nitrogen fertilizer. In this review, it has been tried to extant the current progress and the coming projections enlightening the NUE in maize by various mechanisms, especially through conventional breeding and molecular genetics. Of any kind, N fertilizer is amplified the understanding of the appliances prevailing maize N economy is indispensible for refining NUE and plummeting extreme use of fertilizer, whereas retaining an adequate yield and satisfactory income for agrarians. Consuming crops cultivated under managed environments, with various cultivation practices, independently or supplementary principles at minimum and great N inorganic mineral fertilizer expenditure or other organic fertilizer, it is currently conceivable to grow advance the entire maize agronomic and biological revisions. These can be shared with inheritable factor, protein and metabolic sketching to construct a widespread image showing the diverse paces of N acceptance, absorption and recovering to produce either in vegetative biomass or seed protein storage structures. Therefore providing a serious impression in what manner our empathetic of the agro-eco physiological, biological and molecular mechanisms of N adjustment in maize, at different ecological circumstances, has been enhanced. At the movement enduring sustainability is required at maize growing world to limit the application of synthetic N input and avoiding excessive environmental pollution. The knowledge and prospects of the future development and submission for breeding in maize improved at the deprived mineral fertilizer input