Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of recurrent implantation failure: British Fertility Society policy and practice guideline

Abstract Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is defined as the absence of a positive pregnancy test after three consecutive transfers of good quality embryos. There remains significant variation in clinical practice in the management of RIF. This British Fertility Society (BFS) Policy and Practice guideline analyses the evidence for investigations and therapies that are employed in RIF and provides recommendations for clinical practice and for further research. Evidence for investigations of sperm and egg quality, uterine and adnexal factors, immunological factors and thrombophilia, endocrine conditions and genetic factors and for associated therapies have been evaluated. This guideline has been devised to assist reproductive medicine specialists and patients in making shared decisions concerning management of RIF. Finally, suggestions for research towards improving understanding and management of RIF have also been provided.
Differential reproductive responses to contrasting host species and localities in Psittacanthus calyculatus (Loranthaceae) mistletoes.

Host trees are the immediate environments for multi-host mistletoes, so parasitizing different hosts through vector-mediated dispersal of their propagules implies exposure to varying environmental conditions between mistletoe generations. Therefore, to maximize their reproductive fitness on heterogeneous environments (host species) mistletoes should (1) respond by locally adapting to the most suitable host species, if dispersal is not limited or host-directed, (2) plastically change their phenotype on different host species, (3) evolve a very general exploitation strategy extending its host range that would counterbalance host resistance, or (4) perform differently across host species with the emergence of locally adapted or maladapted mistletoe populations. Here, we ask how reproductive traits of Psittacanthus calyculatus mistletoes vary on two host tree species (Crataegus mexicana, Prunus serotina) at three different localities. We followed individual mistletoes on each host species and locality through the flowering season to quantify traits related to reproductive effort and success such as the total numbers of buds, flowers and fruits produced. From buds ready to open, we measured two anthers and quantify the number of pollen grains and its viability. Individual flowers were marked to obtain flower longevity, and were followed until fruit formation. Then, we measured and weighed the fruits and its seeds. Mistletoes from one locality produced more buds, flowers and fruits, and flowers lasted longer, had larger anthers and produced more pollen as compared to the other two localities. However, mistletoes on P. serotina produced fewer floral buds, and their fruits were the heaviest, long and widest and with the fastest ripening across localities. The probability of fruit formation, percentage of fruits formed and pollen viability were similar among mistletoes, regardless host species or locality. We propose that the observed differences in reproductive effort and success associated with host species or locality are plastic or adaptive responses of mistletoes in the face of varying conditions.
Induction chemotherapy followed by intensity‐modulated radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A retrospective analysis

The optimal treatment strategy of combining systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is controversial. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and toxicities of induction chemotherapy followed by intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IC‐RT) versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in NPC.
Utilization of waste glycerol for the production of biocontrol agents nigericin and niphimycin by Streptomyces hygroscopicus: bioprocess development

ABSTRACT Search for more environment-friendly methods for controlling plant diseases that would contribute to the goal of sustainability in agriculture is in focus. In the present study, the potential of Streptomyces hygroscopicus isolated from soil sample in the production of biocontrol agents, nigericin and niphimycin, effective against Alternaria alternata storage apple pathogen was examined. Also, modelling and optimization of medium composition for biocontrol agent biosynthesis was performed. The results showed that the optimum amount of C3H8O3, (NH4)2SO4 and K2HPO4 in the medium for Streptomyces hygroscopicus biosynthesis is 20, 0.25 and 1.46 g/L, respectively. Scale-up and validation of the obtained results performed in the 3 L laboratory-scale bioreactor showed that on the optimized medium at an aeration rate of 0.7 vvm and an agitation speed of 200 rpm, produced nigericin and niphimycin, showed high activity. Under the same conditions, cultivation of S. hygroscopicus was performed in a 7 L laboratory bioreactor in a medium with waste glycerol instead of pure glycerol. Results showed that the methanol extract of S. hygroscopicus cultivation liquid, containing nigericin and niphimycin, was high effective against two Alternaria isolates. This was confirmed in vitro by obtaining large inhibition zone diameters on A. alternata KA10 (47 mm) and T1Jg3 (44.33 mm) isolates. After successful in vitro analysis, in planta testing was performed. It was found that necrosis diameters that were measured on artificially inoculated apple fruits with A. alternata compared to necrosis diameter measured on untreated, control fruits, were 4.47 and 3.56 times smaller. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Could prokinetic agents protect long-term nasogastric tube-dependent patients from being hospitalized for pneumonia? A nationwide population-based case-crossover study

Background Some studies have indicated that the use of prokinetic agents may reduce pneumonia risk in some populations. Nasogastric tube insertion is known to increase the risk of pneumonia because it disrupts lower esophageal sphincter function. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether prokinetic agents could protect long-term nasogastric tube-dependent patients in Taiwan from being hospitalized for pneumonia. Methods A case-crossover study design was applied in this study. Long-term nasogastric tube-dependent patients who had a first-time admission to a hospital due to pneumonia from 1996 to 2013 that was recorded in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were included. The case period was set to be 30 days before admission, and two control periods were selected for analysis. Prokinetic agent use during those three periods was then assessed for the included patients. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for pneumonia admission with the use of prokinetic agents. Results A total of 639 first-time hospitalizations for pneumonia among patients with long-term nasogastric tube dependence were included. After adjusting the confounding factors for pneumonia, no negative association between prokinetic agent use and pneumonia hospitalization was found, and the adjusted OR was 1.342 (95% CI 0.967–1.86). In subgroup analysis, the adjusted ORs were 1.401 (0.982–1.997), 1.256 (0.87–1.814), 0.937 (0.607–1.447) and 2.222 (1.196–4.129) for elderly, stroke, diabetic and parkinsonism patients, respectively. Conclusion Prokinetic agent use had no negative association with pneumonia admission among long-term nasogastric tube-dependent patients in Taiwan.
Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of nickel in water, alloys and edible oil samples

An extraction-spectrophotometric method has been developed for determination of nickel using N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-3-(4-o-tolylpiperazin-1-yl) propanehydrazide ( HTP ) as the new extractant. The reagent reacts with nickel (II) at pH = 9.0 and form a 1:1 yellow color complex, which is extracted into chloroform solvent. The complex showed maximum absorption wavelength at 382 nm. Beer’s law is obeyed in the concentration range of 1.17-12.91 μg. mL -1 with apparent molar absorptivity (0.72 x 10 4 L mol -1 cm -1 ) and Sandell’s sensitivity (0.008 μg/cm 2 /0.001 absorbance units). The tolerance limit of various foreign ions was investigated. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of Nickel (II) in real water samples, alloy samples and Edible oil samples.
Laser-induced breakdown in organic liquids

The threshold fields of laser-induced breakdown in dielectric liquids (dimethyl silicon oil and linear hydrocarbon liquids) were experimentally studied as the functions of increasing molecular weight and decreasing temperature and found to decrease. By comparison, slightly increase. From these results, laser-induced breakdown in dielectric liquids is explained in terms of microwave breakdown theory as in the solids and gases.
Chemically Active Silica Aerogel−Wollastonite Composites for CO2 Fixation by Carbonation Reactions

Carbonation reaction from the dissolution of minerals, mainly silicates, is an option for long-term storage of CO2, offering capacity exceeding that of other strategies, and certain advantages such as the formation of insoluble and inert products. This study presents the results of carbonation reactions utilizing silica aerogel−wollastonite composites. The procedure for synthesis of the precursor powders with wollastonite stoicheiometry, as well as the compositional and textural features of the resulting composites, was examined first. The kinetic and efficiency of carbonation reactions in aerogel−wollastonite composites were also determined. X-ray diffraction quantitative analysis and thermogravimetric analysis were used to determine the proportions in percent of the resulting carbonate phases. The conversion reaction reaches values above 81% in composites with CaO content of up to 40% by weight, after 40 min of reaction time. The conclusion is that these aerogels, offering a very high specific surface a.
Morphology Control of Electrodeposited Zinc from Alkaline Zincate Solutions for Rechargeable Zinc Air Batteries

Zinc air batteries offer a number of advantages over other battery systems including high volumetric and gravimetric energy density, low cost and being environmentally friendly. These prominent features made zinc air batteries attractive for application in electric vehicles (EV). In a zinc air battery, electricity is produced by oxidation of Zn anode and its dissolution in a potassium hydroxide electrolyte and reduction of air at the air cathode [1,2]. Zincate ions (Zn(OH)4) or zinc oxide (ZnO) are the byproducts. To recharge the battery, Zn must be electrodeposited back onto the anode. However, electrodeposition of zinc without use of proper additives from alkaline electrolytes is associated with anomalous growth and formation of zinc dendrites which protrude the separator and short the battery, particularly on highcurrent density sites [1]. The only viable method for recharging Zn air battery is to mechanically replace the Zn anodes.
Photosynthetic rates and partitioning of absorbed light energy in photoinhibited leaves

Parameters for the evaluation of the effects of photoinhibition on photosynthetic carbon gain were studied in Chenopodium album leaves. The light-response curve of photosynthetic rate was determined at 36 Pa CO2 partial pressure and fitted by a non-rectangular hyperbola. Both the initial slope of the curve and the light-saturated rate decreased in photoinhibited leaves, although the decrease in the latter was small. The convexity of the curve was also smaller in photoinhibited leaves. The capacities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) were estimated from the CO2-response curves. Vcmax and Jmax decreased similarly with increasing photoinhibition. Energy partitioning in photosystem II (PSII) was estimated using chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The fraction of energy that was consumed by photochemistry decreased with increasing photoinhibition. However, an increase in inactive PSII, decreasing energy partitioning to active PSII, relaxed the excitation pressure in PSII, and led to a reduction in the fraction of excess energy that was neither consumed by photochemistry nor dissipated as heat.
The agricultural pests of West Siberia in a changing climate

The paper discusses the problem of dissemination of the most dangerous agricultural pests in Western Siberia in recent decades, especially the rapid expansion of Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) to the north and east. The dissemination of Bean weevil (Acanthoscelides obtectus Sav.) follows a new regional crop – haricot bean. The paper analyses the reasons for pests’ dissemination.
Conducting Polymers Directly Coated on Reduced Graphene Oxide Sheets as High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes

In this work, conducting polymers poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), polyaniline (PANi), and polypyrrole (PPy) were directly coated on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets via an in situ polymerization process to prepare conducting-polymer-RGO nanocomposites with different loadings of the conducting polymers. Experiment results showed that ethanol played an important role in achieving a uniform coating of the polymers on RGO sheets. The electrochemical capacitive properties of the composite materials were investigated by using cycle voltammetry and charge/discharge techniques. The composite consisting of RGO and PANi (RGO-PANi) exhibited a specific capacitance of 361 F/g at a current density of 0.3 A/g. The composites consisting of RGO and PPy (RGO-PPy) and PEDOT (RGO-PEDOT) displayed specific capacitances of 248 and 108 F/g, respectively, at the same current density. More than 80% of initial capacitance retained after 1000 charge/discharge cycles, suggesting a good cycling stability .
Raman scattering in InAs1-xSbx alloys grown on GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy

Phonon energies in InAs1-xSbx ternary alloys, grown on GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy, have been studied by Raman scattering. The microstructure for this alloy system depends strongly on the growth temperature. For growth temperatures above 400 degrees C, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows the alloy epilayer to be homogeneous. Raman spectra of these homogeneous InAsSb alloys show a strong InAs-like longitudinal optical (LO) phonon line, as well as an InSb-like LO line, throughout the composition range. The frequency of the InAs-like LO phonon varies linearly with composition. For growth temperatures below 400 degrees C and compositions near the middle of the range, an interleaved platelet structure, arising from phase separation, is observed in TEM. Effects of phase separation in these alloys have been observed in the Raman spectra.
Pectic substance degradation and texture of carrots as affected by pressurization

Heated pectin was degraded by transelimination (β-elimination) above pH 5 and by hydrolysis below pH 2, but pressurized pectin did not degrade. Thus cooked carrots decreased in firmness, but pressurized carrots did not. Pressurizing above 200 MPa slightly increased rupture strain. Galacturonic acid levels decreased in carrots cooked for 30 min. Total pectin in pressurized carrots was the same as in cooked for 3 min. However, with increased pressure, the amount of high methoxyl pectin in carrots decreased while low methoxyl pectin increased. Thus, the effects of pressurization on pectin degradation (transelimination) and texture of carrots were different from those of heating.
Applications of linear Dichroism Spectroscopy

Linear dichroism is the phenomenon of anisotropic absorption of light. It is shown by materials containing oriented molecules for which the absorption varies with the direction. The absorption intensity is proportional to the square of the scalar product between the electric field vector of the light and a molecule-characteristic transition moment vector, the absorption being maximum when the light vector is polarized parallel to the transition moment and zero when perpendicular to it. Linear dichroism can therefore provide (1) directions of transition moments when the molecule orientation is known (spectroscopic applications), or (2) information on molecular orientation when the transition moments are known (structural applications). Both applications are useful in several chemical systems, but so far the use of linear dichroism has been confined to a relatively small number of specialized laboratories, not least because of a lack of appropriate commercial instruments. Plane-polarized spectra have long been measured on crystals and other well-oriented materials, but systems with less complete orientation have usually been studied by birefringence which has allowed greater sensitivity. Birefringence and linear dichroism are related by the dispersion equations and therefore in principle contain the same basic information. However, linear dichroism is better suited for practical use since it is related in a very simple way to more-or-less well-separated quantal transitions, while birefringence is a complicated average over all transitions in the molecule.
Sonochemical Synthesis of a Novel Nanoscale Lead(II) Coordination Polymer: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Thermal Properties, and DFT Calculations of [Pb(dmp)(μ‐N3)(μ‐NO3)]n with the Novel Pb2(μ‐N3)2(μ‐NO3)2 Unit

A new nanostructured coordination polymer of divalent lead with the ligand 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp), [Pb(dmp)(μ-N3)(μ-NO3)]n (1), was synthesized by sonochemical methods. The polymer was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. Compound 1 was structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The single-crystal analysis shows that the coordination number of PbII ions is seven, (PbN4O3) has a “stereo-chemically active” electron lone pair, and the coordination sphere is hemidirected. The chains interact with each other through π–π stacking interactions to create a 3D framework. The structure of the title complex was optimized by density functional calculations. The calculated structural parameters and the IR spectrum of the title complex are in agreement with the crystal structure.
Kinetics of pyrolysis and properties of carbon black from a scrap tire

The pyrolysis of rubber from the sidewall and tread of a passenger car tire was carried out in a nitrogen flow at a wide range of final temperatures. Derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) was applied to examine the kinetics at the different process conditions of completed pyrolysis. Two characteristic stages were observed in the DTG curves. The first stage corresponded to the decomposition of processing oil, plastifier, and additives, whereas the rubber polymer was decomposed in the second stage. Several properties of the carbon black formed by the pyrolysis such as ash content, specific surface area, and pore size distribution were determined. A change of the internal structure of the rubber particle in the meso-and macroregions of the pore size was observed.
Keloid Daun Telinga (Ear Lobe Keloid)

Telinga merupakan salah satu organ tubuh yang paling sering ditindik. Efek samping tindik telinga antara lain keloid. Umumnya keloid timbul sekitar 3 minggu hingga tahunan setelah luka dan tidak hilang spontan. Selain keluhan kosmetik, keloid juga dapat menimbulkan rasa kebas, gatal, nyeri. Keloid stadium dini sulit dibedakan dari skar hipertrofi; skar hipertrofi regresi dalam 1-2 tahun, sedangkan keloid terus bertumbuh. Penanganan keloid di daun telinga lebih sulit dengan tingkat kegagalan dan rekurensi cukup tinggi. Auricle the most popular site of body piercing. Keloid is one of the side effect from ear piercing, usually appears after 3 weeks or even years and difficult to heal spontaneously. Besides cosmetic problem, several symptoms such as numb, itch, pain can arise. Early keloid and hypertrophic scar are difficult to be differentiated; hypertrophic scar will regress after 1-2 years, while keloid will grow continuously. Ear lobe keloid is more difficult to treat with high failure and recurrence rate.
What is the choice for supercapacitors: graphene or graphene oxide?

Graphene oxide, an intermediate during graphene synthesis by a modified Hummers's method, exhibits higher capacitance, up to 189 F g−1, than graphene due to an additional pseudo-capacitance effect of attached oxygen-containing functional groups on its basal planes. Taking its higher capacitance, lower cost and shorter processing time into consideration, graphene oxide may be a better choice than graphene as an electrode material for supercapacitors.
A classification scheme for earthworm populations (Lumbricidae) in cultivated agricultural soils in Brandenburg, Germany

Earthworm activity is observed at long-term monitoring sites as an indicator of soil function to assess changes resulting from environmental and management conditions. In order to assess changes, characteristic values of earthworm populations under different site conditions have to be known. Therefore, a classification scheme for site-specific earthworm populations was developed for soil in agricultural use, taking interactions between earthworm populations and soil properties into account. Characteristics of sites grouped by means of a cluster analysis after principal-component analysis served as a basis for the derivation of the classification scheme. Soil variables found to characterize site differences with respect to earthworm populations were the texture of the topsoil, the texture of the subsoil, and the soil organic-matter (SOM) content. The textural classes of the topsoil were divided into five groups comprising sandy soils (Ss), silty sand soils (Su), slightly loamy sand soils (Sl2), medium to strongly loamy sand soils (Sl3/Sl4), and loam and clay soils. Soil organic matter was divided into grades of equal size in a range from 6%. The variables “earthworm abundance” and “earthworm species” were selected to represent earthworm populations and were divided into six groups ranging from very low to extremely high. Defined groups of earthworm populations showed a clear structure in relation to soil textural groups and the content of SOM. From this distribution, a classification scheme was derived as basis for prognostic values of site-specific earthworm populations, thus enabling the interpretation of changes over time. For some soil textural groups, selected variables appeared to enable the derivations of expected earthworm densities and species composition outside the range of the given database, but for some soil textural groups, broader databases will be needed to specify these derivations.
Trace Analysis of Vanillin in Tobacco

Abstract Vanillin is naturally occurring in a variety of products: vanilla, the primary source of natural vanillin, beer, grape brandy, roasted coffee, rum, strawberry, whiskey and tobacco. Vanillin, natural or synthetic, is frequently added to foods and beverages as an aroma chemical, and to tobacco products as well. The analytical method described allows quantitation of vanillin at ppm level in tobacco and tobacco products. The method is based on extraction, solid phase extraction clean-up, and high performance liquid chromatography with selective UV detection. The method was validated with respect to linearity, precision and recovery.