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The Southeast Asian region of Sundaland is among the world’s major biodiversity hotspots. The region’s biodiversity coupled with its complex and dynamic geographic and climatic histories makes it an ideal region to study the various factors that determine the diversification and distribution patterns of tropical biota. Here we investigate the biogeographic patterns in the partly myrmecophytic Macaranga section Pruinosae to reveal some of the factors that play a role in determining the distribution of biota in Sundaland. We used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) data derived from GBS, a next generation sequencing technique, in maximum likelihood and cluster analyses to determine phylogenetic relationships and population structures within this taxonomic section. Bayesian inference based on secondary calibration points and ancestral area reconstruction analyses were performed to infer spatial–temporal origins of the major lineages in the section. The results from these analyses were further substantiated using nuclear microsatellite data obtained from a broader sample set of two widely distributed species within the section: Macaranga gigantea and Macaranga pruinosa. Phylogenetic and cluster analyses reveal four well-defined, discrete species groups within section Pruinosae, all of which but one originated in Borneo with the crown node dated at 3.58 mya. Biogeographic patterns within the species reveal a biogeographic barrier between east and west Sundaland besides bringing to light the role played by various geological factors, especially the Crocker Range, on Borneo. Patterns also reveal a biogeographic barrier between the Bangka/Belitung islands and Sumatra for ant-free, swamp-adapted species. This study provides evidence that geographic barriers, edaphic conditions, and ecological adaptations are tightly linked and that their mutual interaction determines the diversification and distribution of species.

Maryam Nadi,1 Effat Bambaeichi,2 Seyyed Mohammad Marandi21Exercise Physiology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran; 2Faculty of Sport Sciences Department, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranCorrespondence: Effat BambaeichiFaculty of Sport Sciences Department, University of Isfahan, Azadi Square, Isfahan 8174673441, IranTel +98 913 205 0472Email e.bambaeichi@yahoo.comIntroduction and aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of 12 weeks of low-intensity resistance training and exercises for peripheral neuropathy (EPN) on the inflammatory and physiological conditions, balance, and complications of diabetic neuropathy in female patients.Materials and methods: 45 women with mild to moderate diabetic neuropathy and an average age of 55.46±3.06 years voluntarily participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to either control (n=15), resistance (n=15), and EPN (n=15) groups. Both experimental groups were trained for 12 weeks (three sessions per week). EPN group did peripheral neuropathic exercises (12 lower extremity movements), and the resistance group performed their exercises with a 30% repetition maximum. During the intervention period, the control group only performed their daily activities. Blood samples were taken in both pre-test and post-test to investigate the levels of Tumor necrosis-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), C Reactive Protein (CRP), fast blood glucose (FBG) and Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Complications of diabetic neuropathy were measured using the Michigan questionnaire and the Monofilament 10 g. In order to measure the balance, De Morton mobility index (DEMMI) was used.Results: The statistical analyses showed a significant decrease of FBG and HbA1c in the two experimental groups, as compared to the control group. TNF-α and CRP levels were decreased in both EPN and resistance groups, as compared to the control group. The observed increase in the serum IL-10 levels of the two experimental groups was not, however, significant, as shown in intra-group and inter-group comparisons. On the other hand, the two complications of pain and tingling in the lower limb extremities were improved in both experimental groups (p

This paper is concerned with a physical model of an interdigitated sensor working in a frequency range from 100 Hz to 10 MHz. A theoretical approach is proposed to optimize the use of the sensor for bioimpedance spectroscopy. The correlation between design parameters and frequency behavior in coplanar impedance sensors are described. CoventorWare® software was used to model the biological medium loaded interdigital sensor in three dimensions to measure its electrical impedance. Complete system simulation by a finite element method (FEM) was used for sensor sensitivity optimization. The influence of geometrical parameters (number of fingers, width of the electrodes) on the impedance spectroscopy of the biological medium was studied. The simulation results are in agreement with the theoretical equations of optimization. Thus, it is possible to design a priori such sensor by taking into account the biological medium of interest that will load the sensor.

Abstract Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have great potential as a renewable energy technology assisting combat climate change due to its low cost, adaptability, and sustainability. Oxygen plasma ion doping is a promising strategy to improve the capacity of a low-cost, platinum-free counter-electrodes (CEs) to absorb photons and drive high-performance DSSCs via generating an abundance of active absorption sites. In this instance, novel PAni–ZnO (PZ) composite layers were designed as a CE material and received various in-situ oxygen plasma dosages, including 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 min, to improve their physiochemical and microstructural feature for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Physical evaluations of the microstructure, porosity, morphology, contact angle, roughness, electrical, and optical, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) features of CEs were conducted in along with an evaluation of J–V variables. Compared to pristine CE substance, the surface nature of the modified hybrids was gradually enhanced as the plasma level rose, reaching an optimum after 8 min (i.e. 0.2 µm for average pore size and average roughness Ra = 7.21 µm). Expanded plasma treatment doses also improved PV cell performance even further: after 4 min at a plasma level, η = 5.41% was obtained, and after 6 min in a oxygen plasma environment, η = 5.81% was obtained. Mixing high energetic plasma ions increased the mobility of charge carriers in PAni composites along with lowered charge carrier recombination through generating an environment that was conducive to charge dissociation. Therefore, longer lifespans and more effective charge transfer inside the photovoltaic cell as a consequence of the increased mobility less resistive losses. In this respect, following 8 min of plasma surface modification of the PZ CE, the optimized efficiency of 6.31% and Jsc of 15.6 mA/cm2 were obtained. The improvement in efficiency equated to a proportion growth of 77% versus a pristine one. This gain was explained by the reality that suffusing a quantity of oxygen plasma free radicals into the PAni system developed continuous channels that enabled the mixture to move electrons more rapidly, hence raising the photovoltaic efficiency. Overall, this study highlights the advantages of regulating heteroatom species and their co-doping, offering a new perspective for the application of heteroatom-doped CE in DSSCs.

One of the most important challenges of climate studies in Iran is the lack of access to long-term climate data. Tree climatology, by examining the effects of climate on the annual rings of trees, provides the possibility of reconstructing the temperature and precipitation of past periods. The main goal of this study is to reconstruct precipitation from the width of annual circles of juniper trees (Juniperus polycarpus K.Koch) in the Garkhod region, located in the northwest of Khorasan province in Iran. The samples were prepared from the juniper trees with a chronometer drill and after initial preparation, they were read by LINTAB device and their time agreement was checked with TSAPWIN software. The final chronology was prepared using ARSTAN software and based on reconstructing the precipitation in the period 1850-2020. The results showed that the widths of juniper annual circles were not affected by temperature fluctuations. Still, the total precipitation of January-May showed the maximum positive and significant correlation coefficient with the growth of these trees. Between the months of the year, February, March, April, and May had the most positive and significant correlation with the width of the annual circles. In general, during the period of 1850-2020, 8 years except for positive symbolic years and 9 years were reconstructed as negative years. The highest precipitation occurred in 1864 and the lowest in 1917. It can be said that the precipitation influences the growth of juniper trees in the region. In this way, suitable conditions for the activity of cambiums are provided with the increase in precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to introduce the methodology used to produce a mathematical physical model simulate the results of the field experimental work done by the operation of pilot plant using the polyethylene strips as bio media reactor in stream for enhancing the agriculture wastewater. The pilot was built inside Faqous Wastewater Treatment plant held nearby Bahr El Bakar agricultural drain in El Sharqiyah Governorate, Egypt. The study applied several numbers of polyethylene curtain strips lines with several interval spacing that optimized the results produced from the use of 1meter interval and six lines of polyethylene strips that achieved COD removal ratio 40.80 %. The produced equation was depending on the optimum successful experimental sequence. The study also includes the discussions for different trials till producing the targeted equation and the verification for the produced equation by using results of experimental work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to apply a new technique of treatment inside stream using polyethylene sheets strips as a very cheap method for improving the efficiency of agriculture wastewater to meet the irrigation reuse needs. The pilot was built inside Faqous Wastewater Treatment plant held nearby Bahr El Bakar agricultural drain in El Sharqiyah Governorate, Egypt. polyethylene strips were used as instream media treatment where the operation program was made to determine the suitability for applying the polyethylene strips for treatment inside the stream and achieved success in BOD,COD,DO,TSS,HM removal with ratio 46.4, 28,28,29, and 23.6%respectively. This showed the success of the polyethylene strips in removal and if the number of polyethylene strips lines will increase and the interval distance between lines increase that gives channel the chance to return to its steady state flow and decrease its velocity and gives better results in removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve desalination techniques that low energy consuming and more environment friendly technologies, local materials tested combined in order to have their advantages in achieving the optimum removal ratio and the best system application. System consisted of three units, each tested different sandwich textile material in three runs to determine different purpose, sandwich panel consisted of (textile-bentonite-textile) of (cotton "natural", geo-textile "artificial" and, mixed-textile) cases each filled with 4cm layer of powder bentonite, which are local available materials in the Egyptian market. Sandwich textiles worked as filter media with (1, 4, and 8) layers application in order to estimate stability, suitability, workability, and durability of each material, under the same synthetic water prepared in the lab with concentration of ? (5 gm/L) as a simulation to brackish water. Working hours of the system determined to be 1.5 hours; to produce 3L with rate of filtration (1.74 L/min/m2), moreover the best application was for the (geo-textile sandwich) material specially when (8 layers) of material used in removal ratio, workability, and durability. Experimental work revealed success of tested materials in desalination process with promising removal efficiency, but need more work to improve system workability in order to reduce the amount of washing water between cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]