Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of spatial scale on cross‐taxon congruence patterns and prediction accuracy of species richness

A comparison of species richness patterns of butterflies and birds was made using data from two grids of squares (small squares 137.5 km on a side and large squares 275 km on a side) covering western North America. Using geostatistical procedures, we found that the spatial patterns of species richness of these two taxa were related. The influence of grain size on the strength of this relationship was investigated by analysing the two data sets. For both data sets, the number of butterfly species in a square was a statistically significant predictor of the corresponding number of bird species. However, cross‐validation techniques showed that the marginal improvement in prediction accuracy due to including butterflies as a predictor was greater in the large‐square data. We explored the effect of areal extent on cross‐taxon congruencies by investigating species richness patterns in four subsets of the small‐square data. In regions with smaller areal extent, the cross‐taxon congruence patterns were not substantially different from the pattern found in the full data set. Finally, using data‐splitting techniques, we explored the relationships between prediction accuracy of species richness, sample size, areal extent of the sample, and grain size.
Effects of high intensity interval exercise on cerebrovascular function: A systematic review

High intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has emerged as an effective method to improve health and aerobic fitness with the benefit of decreased exercise time when compared to conventional moderate continuous exercise. However, a gap in knowledge exists regarding the effects of HIIE on contributors to overall cerebrovascular function such as cerebral blood velocity and autoregulation. The objective of this review was to ascertain the effect of HIIE on cerebrovascular function in healthy individuals. We searched PubMed and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases for articles pertaining to the apriori chosen key words. The review followed guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. Six articles were reviewed via the modified Sackett's quality evaluation. HIIE outcomes included middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) (n=4), dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) (n=2), cerebral de/oxygenated hemoglobin (n=2), cerebrovascular conductance index (n=1), cerebrovascular resistance index (n=1), and cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide (CO2) (n=1). Overall quality review was moderately poor ranging from 5/7 to 3/7 quality criteria met. Compared to moderate intensity exercise, HIIE resulted in a lower exercise MCAv and HIIE decreased dCA phase following exercise compared to rest. However, we report HIIE increased oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin compared to rest. This systematic review outlines the cerebrovascular response during and following HIIE in healthy individuals. Future research is critically needed to better understand the effects of HIIE on cerebrovascular function in healthy individuals and individuals with chronic conditions. In order to conduct rigorous systematic reviews in the future, we recommend studies assess MCAv, dCA, and CO2 reactivity during and post HIIE.
Essential Oils Encapsulation into Nanoliposome and Novel Application of Nanoliposome as a Storage Pesticide

This study attempted to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of essential oil nanoliposomes from three plants by two preparation methods including thin film sonication and heating. Also, the durability of fumigation toxicity of the essential oil nanoliposome and pure essential oil of Mentha pulegium against Tribolium castaneum Herbst adults were compared. The smallest mean size of the nanoliposome was prepared by the thin film sonication method (P<0.05). The encapsulation efficiency of the nanoliposome was higher than 96%. Nanoliposmes prepared by using two methods showed high stability during storage. The release profile of essential oils at the heating method showed that the essential oil diffusion from the nanoliposome was in the following order: Mentha pulegium > Ferula gummosa > Zattaria multiflora. These findings indicate that both preparation methods had the same effect on the formation of nanoliposomes, their characteristics, and their storage stability. The durability of fumigation toxicity of the nanoliposome M. pulegium essential oil had a significant effect on mortality of T. castaneum adults in comparison with pure essential oil of this plant. The result showed that nanoliposome encapsulation of M. pulegium essential oil significantly increased fumigation toxicity against T. castaneum. Therefore, essential oil encapsulation into a nanoliposome carrier can potentially be used in pest management.
Kinetics Study Using Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction of Essential Oil from Allium sativum L.

Extraction of Allium sativum L. using Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction (SFME) without the addition of solvents in the process has been carried out. SFME is an alternative technique and method to produce essential oil and it has several advantages in terms of product quality. In this study, the essential oil was extracted from Allium sativum used extraction time from 10 to 90 min and microwave power in the range of 300-600 W. The result showed that SFME could produce the highest yield of 0.2636 g oil/100 g fresh garlic at 450 W and 90 min. In addition, the kinetic study of SFME model appears to be the best fit to explain with second-order than first-order model. It was proved by a good correlation between the experimental data and model achieved (R2>0.99) and (RMSE=0.0021). Based on the results obtained, second-order kinetic models could actually describe the kinetics model of extraction process from Allium sativum L. using SFME.
Crude Fucoidan Activity Extracted from Sargassum sp. as Mycotoxin (T-2) Binder

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide which is mainly found in brown seaweed like Sargassum sp. In this study, fucoidan was extracted with two distinct methods, one was using 0.1 N HCl (Fucoidan A) and the other 0.1 N H3PO4 (Fucoidan B). The yield of HCl extraction was respectively 7.50% and H3PO4 extraction 7.02%. Characterization of crude fucoidan was carried out through fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), followed by total carbohydrate and total sulfate level measurement. Crude fucoidan was then used to determine its binding activity against Trichothecenes T-2 toxin. Quantitative analysis of 50 ug/ml T-2 toxin binding capacity shows an efficiency of 59.52% at pH 3.0 and 58.37% at pH 6.8 for crude fucoidan A. As for crude fucoidan B, efficiency of T-2 toxin binding capacity has value of 58.12% at pH 3.0 and 57.33% at pH 6.8. Meanwhile, Commercial crude fucoidan extract from Fucus vesiculosus sp. was used as control for T-2 toxin binding capacity analysis with efficiency of 57.31% at pH 3.0 and 56.64% at pH 6.8. Therefore, fucoidan from Sargassum sp. can be utilized better as mycotoxin especially T-2 toxin binder than from Fucus vesiculosus sp. through efficiency result of fucoidan binding capacity.
Synthesis and Characterization of White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Using Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Extracted from Limestone

White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (WMTA) using precipitated CaCO3 (PCC) from limestone has been synthesized. PCC in calcite structure was extracted from limestone by calcination at 900 °C for 3 h, dissolved in 0.8 M nitric acid solution and followed with carbonation for 60 minutes. PCC was used for the synthesis of WMTA by mixing with tetraethoxyorthosilicate, bismuth oxide, aluminum oxide, catalyst of with HNO3 and NH3 solution and thermally treated at 1100 °C for 3 h. The products were characterized with Thermal Gravimetric Analysis-Differential Thermal Analysis (TGA-DTG), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Frontier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). The results showed that the PCC dominated calcite structure was obtained with 75.25% in yield and 99.42% in purity. The WMTA has been successfully synthesized by low thermal treatment at 1100 °C using catalysts of HNO3 and NH3 solution, proven by the presence of tricalcium silicate (C3S), dicalcium silicate (C2S), tricalcium aluminate (C3A), and Bi2O3 in WMTA.
Application of the CO2 Laser Photoacoustic Spectroscopy in Detecting Ammonia Gas (NH3) in Liver Disease Patient’s Breath

Using a CO2 laser photoacoustic spectroscopy with intracavity setup and multicomponent method we have done measurement on the ammonia, ehtylene and acetone gas concentrations in the breath of liver disease patients and in the healthy volunteers. The results of multicomponent analysis show that the average concentration of ammonia gas obtained from the breath of liver disease patients and healthy volunteers are (3.27 ± 0.75) and (1.34 ± 0.24) ppm, respectively. The highest and the lowest ammonia gas concentration of liver disease patients are 4.77 and 1.99 ppm. While, the highest and the lowest ammonia gas concentration of healthy volunteers are 1.89 and 1.08 ppm. For the ethylene and acetone concentrations, we found no significant difference between the average concentrations in the liver disease patients and in the healthy volunteers.
Factors Affecting Walleye Catch in Short-Term Gill-Net Sets in a Large Minnesota Lake

Abstract Gill nets are a versatile fish sampling gear used for many species and habitats; however, their usefulness may be limited by selectivity patterns and reliance on fish movement, which can be influenced by several factors. We evaluated the effect of net length, time of day, sampling date, surface water temperature, soak time, water depth, and location on the number, length, and initial mortality of walleyes Sander vitreus caught in short-term (mean, 38.8 min; range, 10–200 min) gill nets set in Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota. The number of walleyes caught was best described by a generalized additive model (GAM) that contained all seven covariates and explained 35% of the variation in catch. The length of walleyes caught was best described by a GAM that contained time of day, sampling date, soak time, and sampling location as covariates and explained 11% of the variation in fish length. The initial mortality of walleyes was best described by a GAM that included surface water temperature and soak time as.
Cingula globuloides sp.n. (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia) from Northern Atlantic

Warén, A. (Department of Zoology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.) Cingula globuloides sp.n. (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia) from northern Atlantic. Zool. Scripta 1(3–4): 191–192, 1972. –Cingula globuloides sp.n. is described from the northern Atlantic. This species has earlier been confused with Cingula globulus (Möller, 1842). The distinctive characteristics and distribution of C. globulus are given.
Quantitative Measurement of Total Starch in Cereal Flours and Products

Abstract A rapid and quantitative method has been developed for the determination of total starch in a wide range of materials, including high-amylose maize starches and food materials containing resistant starch. The method allows the analysis of 20 samples in 3 h. A single assay can be performed in 2 h. For a range of samples, the total starch values obtained with this method were significantly higher than those obtained with current standard methods. Two assay formats have been developed. In assay format 1, the sample is incubated solubilised with the chaotropic agent dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) to gelatinise the starch, which is then solubilised and partially depolymerised by controlled incubation at ∼ 100°C with a defined level of thermostable alpha -amylase. This allowed near-complete solubilisation of most starches. The remaining starch is then solubilised and the starch fragments are converted to maltose and maltotriose by the combined action of highly purified pullulanase and beta-amylase. After volume adjustment and filtration (if necessary), the maltooligo-saccharides are hydrolysed by high-purity amyloglucosidase to glucose, which is measured with a glucose oxidase/peroxidase reagent. This assay format gave quantitative starch determination in all native starch samples, including high-amylose maize starches. In assay format 2, which is applicable to most starches and cereal flours, the DMSO pre-treatment step is omitted. Samples containing glucose and/or maltosaccharide are pre-washed with aqueous ethanol before analysis.
Quantum Simulations of Preferable H2O Dissociation Pathway on the Ru-Alloyed Pt(111) Surface Based on Density Functional Theory

Reaction pathways for a water molecule dissociation (H2Oads) to form hydroxyl (OHads) and hydrogen (Hads) on the Ru-alloyed Pt(111) surface were computationally modelled on the basis of density functional theory (DFT). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not such a reaction can take place and to determine the most probable route for this reaction. To get the answer, we calculated the potential energy surfaces (PES) of the proposed reaction pathways. From the results of the PES scan, we then obtained the most preferential pathway for H2O dissociation, i.e., the reaction route with an activation energy of 0.72 eV. This activation energy value is lower than the value of pure Pt (111), the surface at which H2O dissociation can occur in the real system. Thus, it can be said that water splitting may be easier when catalyzing Ru-alloyed surfaces compared to pure Pt catalysts.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the Alloy Mg61Cu28Gd11 in Submicrovolumes

We studied the microstructure and nanomechanical properties of cast samples of the alloy Mg61Cu28Gd11, obtained by the original method. The alloy Mg61Cu28Cd11 is distinguished by a particularly high glass transition property. In this study samples with a diameter of 16 mm were obtained an inert atmosphere with a cooling rate of 1K/s. Liquid alloy Mg61Cu28Gd11 before crystallization was heated to 780 °C. It was previously installed that, with such heating, irreversible structural changes occur in the melt, which increase the tendency of the metal to glass transition. A metallographic study of the microstructure was performed using a scanning electron microscope and EDS-analysis. Nanohardness HV and Young's modulus E Mg2CuCd and Mg2Cu were measured using the nanoindentation method.The microstructure of the Mg61Cu28Cd11 alloy in the cast state consists mainly of Mg2Cu dendrites; the interdendritic space is represented by the Mg2CuCd phase. The presence of exogenous nonmetallic inclusions of a complex composition CdO + CuO + MgO was also established by the method of micro X-ray spectral analysis.Analysis of the measurement data of HV(GPa), E (GPa) gave a conclusion about the same degree of homogeneity of the mechanical properties of dendrites and interdendritic space.
Stakeholder Perspectives on Access and Benefit-Sharing for Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

Negotiations for a new international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) are currently ongoing. A “package” of four elements are under discussion, one of which is “marine genetic resources (MGR), including questions on the sharing of benefits. ” Governance of MGR in ABNJ requires consideration of access and benefit-sharing options. The MGR element is considered the most contentious since there is a lack of convergence on this topic amongst delegates. This is currently hindering progress in negotiations. Therefore, resolving issues linked to MGR holds the key to reaching agreement of the instrument as a whole. The aim of this article is to gather stakeholder perspectives on goals and options for a new genetic resource mechanism for ABNJ. A scoping literature review was conducted to identify goals and options in terms of access and of benefit-sharing in ABNJ. Next, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 people from five different stakeholder groups; scientific research community, private sector, developing States, developed States, and civil society. Results indicated that stakeholders all agree with conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of ABNJ as the most important goals of a potential new genetic resource mechanism for ABNJ. Stakeholders preferred a light-touch governance approach to access, with notification pre- (and possibly also post-) collection of MGR in situ. Mandatory non-monetary benefit-sharing at point of sampling was considered most appropriate, possibly with scope for voluntary monetary benefit-sharing at the point of commercialization. It may be useful to keep these perspectives in mind during negotiations and also during future implementation processes in order to attain the goals of perceived greatest importance. By understanding the different viewpoints and priorities, delegates will be better equipped to negotiate the remainder of the issues related to MGR, to reach mutually acceptable compromises and, ultimately, a new biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction agreement.
Hit Identification of New Potent PqsR Antagonists as Inhibitors of Quorum Sensing in Planktonic and Biofilm Grown Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Current treatments for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are becoming less effective because of the increasing rates of multi-antibiotic resistance. Pharmacological targeting of virulence through inhibition of quorum sensing (QS) dependent virulence gene regulation has considerable therapeutic potential. In P. aeruginosa, the pqs QS system regulates the production of multiple virulence factors as well as biofilm maturation and is a promising approach for developing antimicrobial adjuvants for combatting drug resistance. In this work, we report the hit optimisation for a series of potent novel inhibitors of PqsR, a key regulator of the pqs system, bearing a 2-((5-methyl-5H-[1,2,4]triazino[5,6-b]indol-3-yl)thio) acetamide scaffold. The initial hit compound 7 (PAO1-L IC50 0.98 ± 0.02 μM, PA14 inactive at 10 μM) was obtained through a virtual screening campaign performed on the PqsR ligand binding domain using the University of Nottingham Managed Chemical Compound Collection. Hit optimisation gave compounds with enhanced potency against strains PAO1-L and PA14, evaluated using P. aeruginosa pqs-based QS bioreporter assays. Compound 40 (PAO1-L IC50 0.25 ± 0.12 μM, PA14 IC50 0.34 ± 0.03 μM) is one of the most potent PqsR antagonists reported showing significant inhibition of P. aeruginosa pyocyanin production and pqs system signaling in both planktonic cultures and biofilms. The co-crystal structure of 40 with the PqsR ligand binding domain revealed the specific binding interactions occurring between inhibitor and this key regulatory protein.
Reproductive cycle of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in the Cantabrian Sea (northern Spain): environmental effects

The main objective of this study was to describe the reproductive cycle of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus on the Cantabrian coast (north of Spain), and assess its relationship with environmental factors. To achieve this, samples were taken monthly from three localities during 17 months in two different habitats. At least 15 individuals from each location and habitat were collected during each sampling occasion and used for assessments of gonad index and histological sections. The water temperature and the chlorophyll concentration were also measured. The breeding season of P. lividus in Cantabria started in March and continued until September with one or two main spawning periods per year (depending on year and population), the first one in the beginning of spring and the second one in the summer. The most important differences in the gonad cycle were observed among localities, and the smallest among habitats. Temperature, photoperiod and nutritive stage are important factors controlling the gonad cycle. The beginning of spawning in the Cantabrian populations coincides with the spring phytoplankton bloom and the rise in temperature, which may act as environmental triggers.
Adaptation to Bleaching: Are Thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae Strains More Successful Than Other Strains Under Elevated Temperatures in a Model Symbiotic Cnidarian?

The ability of some symbiotic cnidarians to resist and better withstand stress factors that cause bleaching is a trait that is receiving increased attention. The adaptive bleaching hypothesis postulates that cnidarians that can form a stable symbiosis with thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae strains may cope better with increasing seawater temperatures. We used polyps of the scyphozoan, Cassiopea xamachana, as a model system to test symbiosis success under heat stress. We sought to determine: (1) if aposymbiotic C. xamachana polyps could establish and maintain a symbiosis with both native and non-native strains of Symbiodiniaceae that all exhibit different tolerances to heat, (2) whether polyps with these newly acquired Symbiodiniaceae strains would strobilate (produce ephyra), and (3) if thermally tolerant Symbiodiniaceae strains that established and maintained a symbiosis exhibited greater success in response to heat stress (even if they are not naturally occurring in Cassiopea). Following recolonization of aposymbiotic C. xamachana polyps with different strains, we found that: (1) strains Smic, Stri, Slin, and Spil all established a stable symbiosis that promoted strobilation and (2) strains Bmin1 and Bmin2 did not establish a stable symbiosis and strobilation did not occur. Strains Smic, Stri, Slin, and Spil were used in a subsequent bleaching experiment; each of the strains was introduced to a subset of aposymbiotic polyps and once polyp tissues were saturated with symbionts they were subjected to elevated temperatures - 32°C and 34°C - for 2 weeks. Our findings indicate that, in general, pairings of polyps with Symbiodiniaceae strains that are native to Cassiopea (Stri and Smic) performed better than a non-native strain (Slin) even though this strain has a high thermotolerance. This suggests a degree of partner specificity that may limit the adaptive potential of certain cnidarians to increased ocean warming. We also observed that the free-living, non-native thermotolerant strain Spil was relatively successful in resisting bleaching during experimental trials. This suggests that free-living Symbiodiniaceae may provide a supply of potentially “new” thermotolerant strains to cnidarians following a bleaching event.