The facial integument, or external skin tissues, were assessed on set of dinosaurs from the Allosauroidea clade to test whether dermal patterns served specific functions.
Read More...Preliminary investigation of Allosauroidea facial integument and the evolution of theropod facial armor
The facial integument, or external skin tissues, were assessed on set of dinosaurs from the Allosauroidea clade to test whether dermal patterns served specific functions.
Read More...Allelopathic Effects of Kudzu (Pueraria montana) on Seed Germination and Their Potential Use As a Natural Herbicide
Plants in the wild compete with each other for nutrients and sunlight. Kudzu is a weed that is thought to secrete compounds that inhibit the growth of other plants. Here the authors find that certain parts of kudzu plants can block the germination of clover and dandelion seeds. These experiments may lead to a weed killer that is safe and naturally derived.
Read More...Correlating inlet gas composition to conversion efficiency in plasma-assisted landfill gas reforming
The escalating crisis of climate change, driven by the accumulation of greenhouse gases from human activities, demands urgent and innovative solutions to curb rising global temperatures. Plasma-based methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) reforming offers a promising pathway for carbon capture and the sustainable production of hydrogen fuel and syngas components. To advance this technology, particularly in terms of energy efficiency and selectivity, it is essential to enhance the conversion efficiencies of CO2 and CH4.
Read More...Mathematical modeling of plant community composition for urban greenery plans
Here recognizing the importance of urban green space for the health of humans and other organisms, the authors investigated if mathematical modeling can be used to develop an urban greenery management plan with high eco-sustainability by calculating the composition of a plant community. They optimized and tested their model against green fields in a Beijing city park. Although the compositions predicted by their models differed somewhat from the composition of testing fields, they conclude that by using a mathematical model such as this urban green space can be finely designed to be ecologically and economically sustainable.
Read More...Lack of correlation between odor composition and neuron response in the olfactory cortex of mice
To address whether odor sensory circuits are organized topographically, the authors investigate whether the neuronal responses to similar odors amongst different mice mapped similarly in brain.
Read More...Novel biaryl imines and amines as potential competitive inhibitors of dihydropteroate synthase
In this study, the authors design a series of new biaryl small molecules to target and block the binding pocket of the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase, which is important for prokaryotic biosynthesis of folic acid and could serve as better antimicrobial compounds.
Read More...The effects of plasticizers on the mechanical properties and chemical composition of a gelatin biopolymer
Here, in an effort to identify alternatives to oil-based plastic, the authors sought to investigate the effects of plasticizers on the mechanical properties and chemical composition of gelatin bioplastic matrices. Through measurements of their tensile strength and elongation at break, along with FTIR spectroscopy, they identified 3% w/v polyethylene glycol film as having the best performance in their study..
Read More...Banana-based Biofuels for Combating Climate Change: How the Composition of Enzyme Catalyzed Solutions Affects Biofuel Yield
The authors investigate whether amylase or yeast had a more prominent role in determining the bioethanol concentration and bioethanol yield of banana samples. They hypothesized that amylase would have the most significant impact on the bioethanol yield and concentration of the samples. They found that while yeast is an essential component for producing bioethanol, the proportion of amylase supplied through a joint amylase-yeast mixture has a more significant impact on the bioethanol yield. This study provides a greater understanding of the mechanisms and implications involved in enzyme-based biofuel production, specifically of those pertaining to amylase and yeast.
Read More...Developing a neural network to model the mechanical properties of 13-8 PH stainless steel alloy
We systematically evaluated the effects of raw material composition, heat treatment, and mechanical properties on 13-8PH stainless steel alloy. The results of the neural network models were in agreement with experimental results and aided in the evaluation of the effects of aging temperature on double shear strength. The data suggests that this model can be used to determine the appropriate 13-8PH alloy aging temperature needed to achieve the desired mechanical properties, eliminating the need for many costly trials and errors through re-heat treatments.
Read More...Alterations of the [Fe/H] Values Modulate Light Curves by Absolute Magnitude in non-Blazhko RRab Lyraes
In this study, the authors investigate the relationship between iron/hydrogen ratio [Fe/H] of a type of variable stars commonly used as reference points RR Lyrae stars and their light curves to see if one can determine the composition of these stars solely by measuring their light curve characteristics.
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