scholarly journals Geochemistry of iron in soils of Vojvodina, Sumadija and Northern Pomoravlje

Author(s):  
Nikola Kostic ◽  
Adam Dangic ◽  
Miodrag Jakovljevic

Iron is one of the most common elements in the Earth's crust and it is fourth on the list of abundance after oxygen, silicon and aluminum. It plays an important role in the biosphere. In plants it is necessary for the formation of chlorophyll, while in animals it acts in transferring oxygen from air or water to animal tissue. During a large-scale sample collection a regular orthogonal 10x10 km grid has been used to avoid bias in site location. From the set of about 3000 samples from Vojvodina, Sumadija and Northern Pomoravlje, a selection of samples (from the arable layer 0-25 cm) has been taken to represent the most important soil types. Total iron content has been determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method (AAS). The soil samples have also been assayed for metal on a phase-specific basis following procedures according to the EC protocol Spatial distribution of iron content over the investigated area has been presented in a pedogeochemical map. The presented results have shown a wide range of iron contents, from 0.73 to 10.86% Fe. Statistical analysis of the results obtained from 103 samples has shown an average value of 4.06% Fe with the standard deviation of 1.682 and the coefficient of variation of 41.49%. Iron contents lower than 2.10% have been found in 4.32% of the samples, medium and average values (2.10-4.97% Fe) have been found in 55% of the samples, values higher then the average have been found in 26.3% of the samples and the contents higher than 7.86% have been found in 13.96% of the samples. Arenosols and rigosols developed on aeolian sands have shown the lowest levels of total iron, from 0.73 to 1.82% Fe. On the other side ranker developed on serpentinite has shown maximum contents, between 8.53 and 10.86% Fe. Soils developed either on loess or tertiary clay parent rocks (halomorphic soils, some marshy humogleys and vertisols) have shown a wider range of results (1.33-4.65% Fe) with a shift of results towards average values. The majority of the investigated soils that have fallen within the group between 3.00 and 4.96% Fe were represented by pseudogley, eugley luvisol, fluvisol, eutric cambisol, ranker and rendzina. Semigley and chernozem have shown a wider range of distribution of results, from 2.18 to 7.72% Fe.Generally, the analyzed soils have shown lower average results compared with the available literature data. Chemical speciation has shown that an average iron content of 84.24%, with the range from 70 to 92%, was primarily associated with residual forms bound to the silicate lithogenic fraction. An average of 12.69%, with the range from 6 to 26%, has been found as Fe-Mn-oxide/hydroxide fraction. Organic-matter-bound iron (1-9%) and exchangeable and carbonate-bound iron (0.09-1.92%) have been present to a lesser extent.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7773
Author(s):  
Neann Mathai ◽  
Conrad Stork ◽  
Johannes Kirchmair

Experimental screening of large sets of compounds against macromolecular targets is a key strategy to identify novel bioactivities. However, large-scale screening requires substantial experimental resources and is time-consuming and challenging. Therefore, small to medium-sized compound libraries with a high chance of producing genuine hits on an arbitrary protein of interest would be of great value to fields related to early drug discovery, in particular biochemical and cell research. Here, we present a computational approach that incorporates drug-likeness, predicted bioactivities, biological space coverage, and target novelty, to generate optimized compound libraries with maximized chances of producing genuine hits for a wide range of proteins. The computational approach evaluates drug-likeness with a set of established rules, predicts bioactivities with a validated, similarity-based approach, and optimizes the composition of small sets of compounds towards maximum target coverage and novelty. We found that, in comparison to the random selection of compounds for a library, our approach generates substantially improved compound sets. Quantified as the “fitness” of compound libraries, the calculated improvements ranged from +60% (for a library of 15,000 compounds) to +184% (for a library of 1000 compounds). The best of the optimized compound libraries prepared in this work are available for download as a dataset bundle (“BonMOLière”).


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Hatch ◽  
James Horne ◽  
Ryan Toma ◽  
Brittany L. Twibell ◽  
Kalie M. Somerville ◽  
...  

A functional readout of the gut microbiome is necessary to enable precise control of the gut microbiome’s functions, which support human health and prevent or minimize a wide range of chronic diseases. Stool metatranscriptomic analysis offers a comprehensive functional view of the gut microbiome, but despite its usefulness, it has rarely been used in clinical studies due to its complexity, cost, and bioinformatic challenges. This method has also received criticism due to potential intrasample variability, rapid changes, and RNA degradation. Here, we describe a robust and automated stool metatranscriptomic method, called Viomega, which was specifically developed for population-scale studies. Viomega includes sample collection, ambient temperature sample preservation, total RNA extraction, physical removal of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), preparation of directional Illumina libraries, Illumina sequencing, taxonomic classification based on a database of >110,000 microbial genomes, and quantitative microbial gene expression analysis using a database of ~100 million microbial genes. We applied this method to 10,000 human stool samples and performed several small-scale studies to demonstrate sample stability and consistency. In summary, Viomega is an inexpensive, high-throughput, automated, and accurate sample-to-result stool metatranscriptomic technology platform for large-scale studies and a wide range of applications.


GigaScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Gaio ◽  
Matthew Z DeMaere ◽  
Kay Anantanawat ◽  
Graeme J Eamens ◽  
Michael Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Early weaning and intensive farming practices predispose piglets to the development of infectious and often lethal diseases, against which antibiotics are used. Besides contributing to the build-up of antimicrobial resistance, antibiotics are known to modulate the gut microbial composition. As an alternative to antibiotic treatment, studies have previously investigated the potential of probiotics for the prevention of postweaning diarrhea. In order to describe the post-weaning gut microbiota, and to study the effects of two probiotics formulations and of intramuscular antibiotic treatment on the gut microbiota, we sampled and processed over 800 faecal time-series samples from 126 piglets and 42 sows. Results Here we report on the largest shotgun metagenomic dataset of the pig gut lumen microbiome to date, consisting of >8 Tbp of shotgun metagenomic sequencing data. The animal trial, the workflow from sample collection to sample processing, and the preparation of libraries for sequencing, are described in detail. We provide a preliminary analysis of the dataset, centered on a taxonomic profiling of the samples, and a 16S-based beta diversity analysis of the mothers and the piglets in the first 5 weeks after weaning. Conclusions This study was conducted to generate a publicly available databank of the faecal metagenome of weaner piglets aged between 3 and 9 weeks old, treated with different probiotic formulations and intramuscular antibiotic treatment. Besides investigating the effects of the probiotic and intramuscular antibiotic treatment, the dataset can be explored to assess a wide range of ecological questions with regards to antimicrobial resistance, host-associated microbial and phage communities, and their dynamics during the aging of the host.


1972 ◽  
Vol 186 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-287
Author(s):  
A. G. Quarrell

Never has the engineer had so many materials from which to choose when designing new machines or new structures. Improved metallurgical knowledge has enabled greatly improved alloys to be developed, the demands of aero-space have stimulated developments in ceramics and in composite materials; whilst advances in organic chemistry have led to a wide range of plastics suitable for applications which range from throw-away containers to constructions for which metals or natural materials were previously used. In addition, improved methods are continuously leading to better materials and more reliable components and the selection of the most suitable process for a given application becomes increasingly difficult. Materials technologists and engineers depend very much on each other. Engineers rely upon materials technologists for materials with properties appropriate for particular applications; materials technologists depend upon engineers to design the machines that enable laboratory experiments to be translated into large-scale production. A review of the present situation will be followed by a discussion of future trends and of future co-operation between engineers and materials technologists.


1968 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Hodges ◽  
P. G. Moore

This paper is concerned with attempts that have been made to incorporate measures of risk in the selection of financial investments. The methodology that is developed here has been primarily aimed at the evaluation of capital investment projects, but the concepts and ideas are also relevant in the financial investment field. Implicit in all this discussion is the fact that when information is obtained in order to calculate an internal rate of return or a net present value, the figures put into the calculation are estimates rather than precise and exact quantities. In some instances the estimates may be felt to be very good, whilst in other cases it may be felt that there is a wide range of possible deviations. Hence the evaluation of any project or projects should, correctly, be described not by a single criterion but by a range of possible values, some of which are judged to be more likely than others. Having said this, there now comes the need to decide upon the method by which choice is to be exercised. Should it be by the choice of the highest average value of the criterion, or by choosing some more conservative rule?


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Hatch ◽  
James Horne ◽  
Ryan Toma ◽  
Brittany L. Twibell ◽  
Kalie M. Somerville ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTA functional readout of the gut microbiome is necessary to enable precise control of the gut microbiome’s functions, which support human health and prevent or minimize a wide range of chronic diseases. Stool metatranscriptomic analysis offers a comprehensive functional view of the gut microbiome, but despite its usefulness, it has rarely been used in clinical studies due to its complexity, cost, and bioinformatic challenges. This method has also received criticism due to potential intra-sample variability, rapid changes, and RNA degradation. Here, we describe a robust and automated stool metatranscriptomic method, called Viomega, which was specifically developed for population-scale studies. Viomega includes sample collection, ambient temperature sample preservation, total RNA extraction, physical removal of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), preparation of directional Illumina libraries, Illumina sequencing, taxonomic classification based on a database of >110,000 microbial genomes, and quantitative microbial gene expression analysis using a database of ~100 million microbial genes. We applied this method to 10,000 human stool samples, and performed several small-scale studies to demonstrate sample stability and consistency. In summary, Viomega is an inexpensive, high throughput, automated, and accurate sample-to-result stool metatranscriptomic technology platform for large-scale studies and a wide range of applications.


Author(s):  
V. C. Kannan ◽  
A. K. Singh ◽  
R. B. Irwin ◽  
S. Chittipeddi ◽  
F. D. Nkansah ◽  
...  

Titanium nitride (TiN) films have historically been used as diffusion barrier between silicon and aluminum, as an adhesion layer for tungsten deposition and as an interconnect material etc. Recently, the role of TiN films as contact barriers in very large scale silicon integrated circuits (VLSI) has been extensively studied. TiN films have resistivities on the order of 20μ Ω-cm which is much lower than that of titanium (nearly 66μ Ω-cm). Deposited TiN films show resistivities which vary from 20 to 100μ Ω-cm depending upon the type of deposition and process conditions. TiNx is known to have a NaCl type crystal structure for a wide range of compositions. Change in color from metallic luster to gold reflects the stabilization of the TiNx (FCC) phase over the close packed Ti(N) hexagonal phase. It was found that TiN (1:1) ideal composition with the FCC (NaCl-type) structure gives the best electrical property.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (06) ◽  
pp. 0939-0943 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Boneu ◽  
G Destelle ◽  

SummaryThe anti-aggregating activity of five rising doses of clopidogrel has been compared to that of ticlopidine in atherosclerotic patients. The aim of this study was to determine the dose of clopidogrel which should be tested in a large scale clinical trial of secondary prevention of ischemic events in patients suffering from vascular manifestations of atherosclerosis [CAPRIE (Clopidogrel vs Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischemic Events) trial]. A multicenter study involving 9 haematological laboratories and 29 clinical centers was set up. One hundred and fifty ambulatory patients were randomized into one of the seven following groups: clopidogrel at doses of 10, 25, 50,75 or 100 mg OD, ticlopidine 250 mg BID or placebo. ADP and collagen-induced platelet aggregation tests were performed before starting treatment and after 7 and 28 days. Bleeding time was performed on days 0 and 28. Patients were seen on days 0, 7 and 28 to check the clinical and biological tolerability of the treatment. Clopidogrel exerted a dose-related inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation and bleeding time prolongation. In the presence of ADP (5 \lM) this inhibition ranged between 29% and 44% in comparison to pretreatment values. The bleeding times were prolonged by 1.5 to 1.7 times. These effects were non significantly different from those produced by ticlopidine. The clinical tolerability was good or fair in 97.5% of the patients. No haematological adverse events were recorded. These results allowed the selection of 75 mg once a day to evaluate and compare the antithrombotic activity of clopidogrel to that of aspirin in the CAPRIE trial.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
VLADIMIR NIKONOV ◽  
◽  
ANTON ZOBOV ◽  

The construction and selection of a suitable bijective function, that is, substitution, is now becoming an important applied task, particularly for building block encryption systems. Many articles have suggested using different approaches to determining the quality of substitution, but most of them are highly computationally complex. The solution of this problem will significantly expand the range of methods for constructing and analyzing scheme in information protection systems. The purpose of research is to find easily measurable characteristics of substitutions, allowing to evaluate their quality, and also measures of the proximity of a particular substitutions to a random one, or its distance from it. For this purpose, several characteristics were proposed in this work: difference and polynomial, and their mathematical expectation was found, as well as variance for the difference characteristic. This allows us to make a conclusion about its quality by comparing the result of calculating the characteristic for a particular substitution with the calculated mathematical expectation. From a computational point of view, the thesises of the article are of exceptional interest due to the simplicity of the algorithm for quantifying the quality of bijective function substitutions. By its nature, the operation of calculating the difference characteristic carries out a simple summation of integer terms in a fixed and small range. Such an operation, both in the modern and in the prospective element base, is embedded in the logic of a wide range of functional elements, especially when implementing computational actions in the optical range, or on other carriers related to the field of nanotechnology.


2016 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 194-202
Author(s):  
S. L. Voitenko ◽  
L. V. Vishnevsky

The article shows the state of Ukrainian Whiteheaded cattle, which includes distribution of cattle, the number of animals belonging to respective bloodlines, evaluation of young animals with live weight in the process of growing and milk production of cows during the first lactation. It reflects the historic development of the breed when it was colonism whiteheaded cattle, which turned into the original breed, undergone a significant expansion in livestock and increase of productivity, decreased in the number, was as basis for creation of Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed and now bred only in one breeding farm. Visual estimation of animal exterior showed good development of cows and calves and their belonging to the dairy type. In the vast majority the cows of the herd have a black suit, a white head with " glasses" around the eyes, white belly, udder, lower legs and brush of the tail. The youngsters aren’t consolidated by the exterior, and among them there are animals which are not typical for Ukrainian Whiteheaded breed. The young animals have some lag in live weight behind the breed standard [12] to 7 months’ age with exceeding of this trait in certain periods quite significantly in the future. It was established that selection of heifers on live weight will be effective at the early age (1-5 months), given the coefficient of variation of live weight – 22,63-30,21% and will not have a significant influence in the future. Milk yields of first-calf heifers vary considerably depending on the origin. The milk yield of first-calf heifers in the herd was 4238,5 kg on average, the heifers belonging to Mart 171 and Ozon 417 bloodlines had the best milk performance – 4483,1 and 4254,9 kg accordingly. The most aligned milk yield during the first lactation was in the cows belonging to Ozon 417 bloodline, the limits of the trait are 4128,5-4327,4 kg with the average value by the line 4254,9 kg. In contrast, the first-calf heifers of Ryezvyi 33 bloodline with average milk yield 4048,9 kg had limits of the trait 2199,3-4736,1 kg. Even greater range in cows’ milk yield during the first lactation R= 4939 kg (limits 1687 – 6626 kg) is characterized for the herd in general, it shows, on the one hand, the possibility of qualitative improvement of cows’ productivity due to selection on the investigated trait and lack of selection in the herd on the other hand. It was established that daughters of bull Chardash belonging to Ryezvyi 33 bloodline produced 4736,1 kg of milk for 305 days of the first lactation with fat content 3,6%, whereas Zlak’s descendants of the same line were characterized by the lowest milk yield for the first completed lactation – 2199,3 kg with fat content 3,7% and the average value by the line – 4048,9 kg of milk, fat content 3,6%. Similar variability of first-calf heifers’ milk yields, depending on the origin, is typical for other bloodlines of Ukrainian Whiteheaded breed. To increase milk productivity of Ukrainian Whiteheaded cows is recommended to repeat successful combinations of parental forms, and to preserve the breed – to carry out an objective assessment of animals by a range of traits, given the efficiency of selection of heifers on live weight at early age.


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