Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biocenotical Classification of the Lithorheophilous Communities in the Karst Running Waters According to the Macro Benthic Fauna

This paper analyses the biocenotical structure of the macro benthic fauna in lithorheophilous communities of karst rivers. A lithorheophilous community on different types of stony substrate was biocenotically defined on the basis of population density and determination of the index of dominance for particular representatives. Accepting today's limnological and biocenotical classifications of running waters (SHADIN; ILLIES; STEFFAN; WACHS) a lithorheophilous community in this work is taken as a choriocenosis (“Teilbiozonose”) which is a composite bio-association of rhithron eco-biocenosis. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of macrozoobenthos samples indicates a mosaic structure of lithorheophilous choriocenosis. Six subordinated bio-associations were determined on the basis of dominant representatives of macro benthic fauna on four types of stony substrate in lithorheophilous choriocenosis, which is biocenotically defined as Gammaretum-community.
Estimating NEE in a wheat-planted plot with an automatically controlled chamber

Abstract We observed carbon dioxide (CO2) flux at two experimental plots (wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) -planted and bare) for a year using an automatically controlled chamber. At each plot, two chambers were installed at six observation points by rotation. Consequently, the total installment duration at each point was one-third of the entire experimental period. Although we manually moved the chambers periodically, they hampered wheat growth and reduced the dried weight of harvested wheat by 65%. However, they did not influence the carbon (C) content ratio of harvested wheat. The rate of decrease of soil water contents after rainfall in the wheat plot was higher than that in the bare plot, especially after the canopy height reached around 30 cm. The maximum gap of soil water content at 5 cm depth between the two plots was about 5%. Wheat mitigated the increase of soil temperature in the daytime. The gap of soil temperature at 2 cm depth between the two plots sometimes exceeded 10°C. Considering the difference between dried weights of harvested wheat per unit ground area inside and outside the chamber collar, the annual net ecosystem exchange (NEE), whole ecosystem respiration and gross primary production were estimated respectively as –103 g C m−2 y−1, 831 g C m−2 y−1 and–934 g C m−2 y−1. The absolute values of each were smaller than those reported from past studies. Adding the exported carbon of harvested wheat (364 g C m−2) and subtracting the imported carbon of the seeds (3.1 g C m−2) to the NEE, net biome production across the ground surface was 259 g C m−2. It was greater than that in the bare plot (187 g C m−2). Although further improvements of measurements and more accurate estimated equations are necessary to evaluate the carbon budget correctly with chamber measurements, our chamber measurement captured the NEE variation, responding to seasonal, meteorological and biological changes.
Electron Affinity, Electronegativity, and Electrophilicity of Atoms and Ions†

The electron affinity, electronegativity, and electrophilicity of several neutral atoms and their positive and negative ions are calculated at various levels of theory using different basis sets in the gas phase as well as in the presence of solvent and counterions. The electron affinity and electronegativity of all of the anions and dianions are negative in gas phase, and accordingly the electrophilicity is unexpectedly large vis-a-vis its quadratic definition. Many of these trends get altered in case the effects of solvent and counterions are taken into account.
PbSnTe double‐heterostructure lasers and PbEuTe double‐heterostructure lasers by hot‐wall epitaxy

Pb1−x Snx Te, double‐heterostructure (DH) lasers and Pb1−x Eux Te DH lasers produced by hot‐wall epitaxy have been studied. The growth temperature for both laser crystals is 300 °C. This is lower than the growth temperatures obtainable by molecular‐beam epitaxy and liquid phase epitaxy. By investigating the I‐V characteristics of Pb1−x Snx Te DH lasers with x values greater than 0.2, it was confirmed that the band structure of the p‐n heterojunction is type 1’. A Pb1−x Snx Te1−y Sey layer, rather than a PbTe1−y Sey layer, should be used for the cladding layer of Pb1−x Snx Te DH lasers with x values greater than 0.2. One of the primary factors preventing an increase in the maximum operating temperature to 200 K is that the carrier density injected into the active layer is not sufficient for laser emissions over 200 K due to the p‐n heterojunction of the type 1’ band structure. The band structure of the p‐n heterojunction of Pb1−x Eux Te DH lasers is type 1. Therefore, the maximum operating temperatures of .
Thermoresponsive Structural Change of a Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Graft Layer Measured with an Atomic Force Microscope

To directly characterize the thermoresponsive structural changes of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) graft layer at the microscopic level, the force−distance curve (f−d curve) was measured on a well-tailored end-grafted PNIPAAm surface in aqueous solution at 25 and 40 °C, using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The PNIPAAm surface was prepared by an iniferter-based photograft polymerization technique. The approach trace of the f−d curve exhibited a steric repulsion profile at 25 °C, while the range of repulsion decreased 1/10 to 1/20 at 40 °C, confirming the ascending-heat-induced collapse of the PNIPAAm graft layer. The change in thickness of the graft layer was complementarily measured from the scanning images of the boundary between the grafted and nongrafted regions under well-defined scanning forces. The thermoresponsive characteristics of the PNIPAAm graft layer including its interaction with proteins and the applied-load dependence of the measured graft thickness are discussed.
Variability and Association Studies on Yield and Yield Characters in Aromatic Nsukka Yellow Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Two field evaluations were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, during the 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons to determine the pattern of genetic variability and character association in Nsukka yellow pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). A population of Nsukka yellow pepper was assembled from the farmers and sorted into 18 families which were evaluated in 2009 season in progeny rows. Forty nine promising genotypes selected from 2009 study formed the experimental materials evaluated in 2010 season for seven metric characters namely, fruit length, fruit girth, number of fruits per plant, single fruit weight, plant height, number of leaves per plant, and fruit yield per plant. The descriptive analysis revealed a considerable variability in the population that could warrant initiating a selection programme for its improvement. The simple correlation analysis showed that number of fruits per plant correlated significantly (P = 0.01) with fruit yield, while the association of fruit yield and other traits were positive but non-significant in 2009. In 2010, correlation analysis showed that number of leaves per plant (0.405**), fruit girth (0.477**), single fruit weight (0.683**) and number of fruits per plant (0.745**) were highly correlated with fruit yield, while plant height (0.129) and fruit girth (0.08) had positive but non-significant correlation with fruit yield. This result implied that selection of breeding lines based on number of fruits per plant, single fruit weight, fruit length, number of leaves per plant would significantly increase yield. The results of the path coefficient analyses implicated the number of fruits per plant for exerting the highest direct effects on fruit yield, followed by single fruit weight in both years. Thus, number of fruits per plant and single fruit weight could serve as criteria for selection of yield improvement in Capsicum species. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence for a Linear NMR−Elasticity Interrelationship in Polymeric Gels

A linear relationship between the elastic modulus of polymer networks and the transverse relaxation rate of protons attached to the unconstrained polymer is established by considering poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chains, cross-linked at random according to two different ways. Networks of type A were composed of long poly(vinylmethyl−dimethylsiloxane) copolymers. With randomly distributed vinyl functions (molar fraction of vinyl functions: 2 × 10-3 per monomeric unit), links were formed between vinyl and methyl groups, at 150 °C; then, networks were quenched at 0 °C, during the gelation process. Networks of type B were composed of vinyl-terminated PDMS chains and poly(methylhydrosiloxane−dimethylsiloxane) copolymers, with additional hydride-terminated PDMS chains (molar fraction of hydride functions: 10-2 per monomeric unit). For these systems, measurements of the storage modulus or of NMR were performed, in situ, during the gelation. This study extends the NMR−swelling interrelationship to the property.
Decatransin, a novel natural product inhibiting protein translocation at the Sec61/SecY translocon

A new cyclic decadepsipeptide was isolated from Chaetosphaeria tulasneorum with potent bioactivity on mammalian and yeast cells. Chemogenomic profiling in S. cerevisiae indicated that the Sec61 translocon, the machinery for protein translocation and membrane insertion at the endoplasmic reticulum, is the target. The profiles were similar to those of cyclic heptadepsipeptides of a distinct chemotype (HUN7293/cotransin) that had previously been shown to inhibit cotranslational translocation at the mammalian Sec61 translocon. Unbiased, genome-wide mutagenesis followed by full-genome sequencing in both fungal and mammalian cells identified dominant mutations in Sec61p/Sec61α1 to confer resistance. Most, but not all, of these mutations affected inhibition by both chemotypes, despite an absence of structural similarity. Biochemical analysis confirmed inhibition of protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum of both coand posttranslationally translocated substrates by both chemotypes, demonstrating a mechanism independent of a translating ribosome. Most interestingly, both chemotypes were found to also inhibit SecYEG, the bacterial Sec61 homolog. We suggest “decatransin” as the name for this novel decadepsipeptide translocation inhibitor. Jo ur na l o f C el l S ci en ce A cc ep te d m an us cr ip t
Astaxanthin Improves Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Malondialdehyde (MDA), 8- Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-Dg) Levels, And Semen Quality In Human Sperm

Astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-4,4'-diketo-ẞ,ẞ'-carotene), which is originated from Haematococcus pluvialis has the highest antioxidant activity compared to vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzym Q10, lipoic acid and other carotenoid groups. Antioxidant supplementation is the treatment of choice for treating idiopathic infertility in males. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of astaxanthin on Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Malondialdehyde (MDA) level, 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) level, and semen quality in 25 infertile males in one hospital in Surabaya. Astaxanthin soft capsules in a single dose of 8 mg per day were given to 19 infertile males for 30 days, while 6 males were given with placebo for 30 days. ESR, MDA, 8-OhdG and semen quality tests were performed before and after astaxanthin and/or placebo administration. Results revealed significant differences (p<0.05) before and after the administration of astaxanthin on ESR, MDA, 8-OH-dG levels and semen quality (concentration, morphology and motility). Astaxanthin can significantly improve ESR, MDA, 8-OH-dG and semen quality in infertile males.
C–H/O interactions of nucleic bases with a water molecule: a crystallographic and quantum chemical study

The C–H/O interactions of nucleic bases with a water molecule were studied by analyzing data in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and by ab initio calculations. The analysis of the C–H/O interactions in the crystal structures from the CSD indicates that nucleic base–water C–H/O interactions do not show preference for linear contacts. The results of the ab initio calculations are in accord with the CSD data and show that the bifurcated C–H/N–H interactions are stronger than linear interactions for all nucleic bases. The bifurcated C–H/N–H interactions are also stronger than the bifurcated C–H/C–H interactions. The strongest interaction is the bifurcated C6–H/N1–H interaction of uracil with an energy of −5.46 kcal mol−1 calculated at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level. All linear C–H/O interactions, except one with adenine, are stronger than −2.0 kcal mol−1. The strongest linear interaction is with uracil, −3.59 kcal mol−1. The calculated electrostatic potential maps for nucleic base molecules can explain the results we obtained for interaction energies. The results show that C–H/O interactions of nucleic bases with a water molecule are substantially stronger than C–H/O interactions of benzene (−1.28 kcal mol−1) and pyridine (−1.97 kcal mol−1). The investigation of C–H/O interactions of nucleic bases with water could shed light on the intermolecular interactions of DNA or RNA bases with other molecules.
Household Carbon Dioxide Production in Relation to the Greenhouse Effect

A survey of 655 households from eastern suburbs of Melbourne was undertaken to determine householders' attitudes to, and understanding of, the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from car, electricity and gas use were computed and household actions which could reduce CO2 emissions were addressed. Preliminary analysis of the results indicates that householders in this area are aware of, and concerned about, the greenhouse effect, although their understanding of its causes is often poor. Many appreciate the contribution of cars, but are unclear about the relative importance of other household activities. Carbon dioxide emissions from the three sources examined averaged 21·2 tonnes/year per household and 7·4 tonnes/year per person. Electricity was the largest contributor (8·6 tonnes/year), cars the next largest (7·7 tonnes/year) and gas third (5·0 tonnes/year) per household. Emissions varied considerably from household to household. There was a strong positive correlation between availability of economic resources and household CO2 output from all sources. Carbon dioxide production, particularly from car use, was greater from households which were more distant from a railway station, and from larger households, and numbers of children in the household had little effect on emissions. There were also some economics of scale for households containing more adults. Understanding the causes of the greenhouse bore little relation to change in CO2 emissions; being concerned about it was associated with a small reduction; but actual actions to reduce car use and household heating, however motivated, produced significant reductions.
The Synthesis of Mg-Zn-Al LDH and the Sustained-Release Properties of Theophylline Intercalated LDH

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), consist of cationic brucite-like layers and exchangeable interlayer anions. In this thesis LDHs consist of brucite-like layers of zinc hydroxide, with the exchanging propertity of interlayer anions in hydrotalcites, used Mg/Zn/Al-LDH as precursor to prepare the theophylline intercalation assembly hydrotalcites to obtain supramolecular complex for the first time by co-precipitation under a nitrogen atmosphere, determined the reaction conditions and influential factors of the synthesis of theophylline-pillared hydrotalcites, and tested its sustained-release performance in different media. The product has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR spectroscopy, uv-vis spectrophotometer and thermogravimetry-Differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) . Results demonstrated that : Through co-precipitation intercalation methods, with molar ratio of Mg/Zn/Al/ theophylline being 3:1:1:2, co-precipitation medium pH9, crystallization temperature 80 °C and crystallization time 12h can obtain the clear chemical composition and good crystallization of inorganic - organic hybrid-type drugs hydrotalcites. In addition, according to Pharmacopoeia measured the release rate of theophylline-LDH in the different media including distilled water,0.9%saline,simulated intestinal fluid (pH7.4 phosphate buffer) by UV spectrophotometry, Theophylline pillared hydrotalcite has a certain release in the media above all. And calculated the release of intercalation theophylline, lay the foundation for the further clinical application.
Polyelectrolyte Trilayer Combinations Using Spin-Assembly and Ionic Self-Assembly

Water-soluble, cationic, anionic, and neutral polymers are used to form various repeat trilayer films via ionic self-assembly (ISA) and spin-assembly. These multilayer thin films assemble through physical entanglement, electrostatic, and/or H-bonding interactions. Spin assembly has the advantage over ISA in constructing stable multilayers when polyelectrolytes with like charge are assembled in adjacent layers. These multilayers do not desorb in water over a long period of time. In contrast to spin assembly, the ISA method deposits only a minimal amount of polyelectrolyte on top of a like-charged layer. The mechanical entanglement that is responsible for the deposition of like-charged species in spin assembly is probably lacking in ISA. The ability to construct repeated trilayers or multilayers composed of polycations, polyanions, and neutral polymers allows the fabrication of multilayer thin films with the desired interfacial structure and interactions. In this work, polyelectrolytes with NLO chromophores.
Comparative Essential Oil Composition of Lavendula species from India

The chemical composition of essential oils of two species of Lavendula—Lavendula stoechas and L. angustifolia—from India was investigated by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The essential oil yield from the flowering spikes were 0.86% in L. stoechas and 1.56% in L. angustifolia. Twenty-five components amounting to 96.7% of the oil were identified in L. stoechas, and 31 compounds were identified in L. angustifolia, representing 91.7% of the oil. The major compounds present in the oil of L. stoechas were camphor (52.1%), fenchone (12.0%), 1,8-cineole (9.7%), bornyl acetate (6.2%), camphene (3.3%), α-pinene (1.1%), and terpinen-4-ol (0.6%), and the oil of L. angustifolia exhibited linalool (23.6%), linalyl acetate (35.8%), α-terpinole (6.3%), lavendulyl acetate (4.8%), 1,8-cineole (1.5%), terpinen-4-ol (2.0%), β-caryophyllene (1.8%), camphor (1.4%), and borneol (1.4%). Results showed that the essential oils of these Lavendula sp. were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes ranging from 86.3 % in L. stoechas to 82.6% in L. angustifolia and can be exploited for various applications.
Recent Advances in Analytical Applications of Nanomaterials in Liquid-Phase Chemiluminescence

Abstract In recent years, many nanomaterials-assisted chemiluminescence (CL) systems have been developed to improve the sensitivity and to expand the scope of their analytical applications. In these new systems, nanomaterials participate in CL reactions as catalysts, labels, reductants, luminophors, or energy acceptors. This review mainly focuses on the recent analytical applications of metal nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), and carbon-based nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes and graphene) in liquid-phase CL systems. Recent advances in electrochemiluminescence based on nanotechnology and its analytical applications, especially in immunoassay, DNA analysis, and other biological analyses, are also summarized. Finally, we discuss some critical challenges in this field and speculate about their solutions. A total of 177 references mainly in the last 5 years are included in this review.
Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

Monthly variations of size-fractionated chlorophyll a and phycocyanin were studied in Lake Pamvotis between August 2016 and January 2017. Sampling was conducted at two sampling sites: in the main lake (Site 1: Lake) and in an adjacent man-made water ski lake with karstic springs (Site 2: Springs). Samples were fractionated into three size classes: 0.2–2 μm (pico), 2–20 μm (nano) and 20–180 μm (micro). According to chlorophyll a values, eutrophic to hypereutrophic conditions prevail at Site 1 and oligotrophic to mesotrophic conditions – at Site 2. Similarly, Site 1 was distinguished by higher concentration of phycocyanin compared to Site 2. Fractionated chlorophyll a showed monthly variations at Site 1 with alternations in the dominance between the two larger fractions. The maximum of the 0.2–2 μm fraction was observed in October but it contributed less to the total chlorophyll a content than nanoor microphytoplankton. Its contribution was higher at Site 2, reaching occasionally ~ 40% of the bulk chlorophyll a. However, nanophytoplankton was the fraction found to respond faster when disturbances occurred. At Site 1, phycocyanin correlated well with total chlorophyll a as well as with the microand nanophytoplankton fractions, indicating that cyanobacteria represent an important component of the large-sized phytoplankton
Structural study of an unusual cubic pyrochlore Bi1.5Zn0.92Nb1.5O6.92

Single-phase pyrochlore-type specimens of Bi1.5Zn0. 92Nb1.5O6. 92 were studied using combined electron, X-ray and neutron powder diffraction techniques. Rietveld refinements using neutron powder diffraction data confirmed an average pyrochlore structure A2B2O6O′ (Fd&3macr;m, a=10.5616(1) A) with both Bi and Zn mixed on the A-sites. However, refinements revealed significant local deviations from the ideal pyrochlore arrangement which were caused by apparent displacive disorder on both the A and O′ sites. The best fit was obtained with a disordered model in which the A-cations were randomly displaced by ∼0.39 A from the ideal eight-fold coordinated positions. The displacements occur along the six 〈112〉 directions perpendicular to the O′–A–O′ links. In addition, the O′ ions were randomly displaced by ∼0.46 A along all 12 〈110〉 directions. Crystal–chemical considerations suggest the existence of short-range correlations between the O′ displacements and both the occupancy of the A-sites (i.e., Bi or Zn) and the directions of the A-cation displacements. The combined A-cation and O′ displacements change the coordination sphere of the A-cations from 8 to (5+3); the resulting coordination environment of the A-cations bears similarities to that of the (5+1)coordinated Zn in zirconolite-like Bi2Zn2/3Nb4/3O7. The observed displacive disorder in the A2O′ network of the Bi1.5Zn0. 92Nb1.5O6. 92 structure involves atoms associated with the lowest-frequency vibrational bending mode, and is likely responsible for both the high dielectric constant and the dielectric relaxation reported for this compound.
Prediction of hydraulic conductivity and correlating it with soil properties for Coimbatore district

In this study, the saturated hydraulic conductivity was indirectly predicted from soil textural data and the effect of other soil factors on hydraulic conductivity was examined. The study was conducted in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. The soil samples were collected from two different depths (0-15cm and 15-30cm). The samples were examined for both physical and chemical properties. The hydraulic conductivity was indirectly derived from textural data based on Saxton et al. (1986) model. The result revealed that the sand and particle density showed higher correlation values of r = 0.6 and r = 0.26 compared to other soil properties. The prediction performance of the model had coefficient of determination of 51%, hence it is concluded that the Saxton model is suitable for indirect determination of saturated hydraulic conductivity.