It is commonly accepted that the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique enables the detection of the fundamental resonance frequency (fHVSR) of a given site. The utility of this fHVSR is analyzed using the nonlinear regression relationships between fHVSR and bedrock depth (h). The derived relationships are mostly site-specific, so that the present paper consists of two main parts. The first is a literature review for the available empirical relationships between fHVSR and h. The aim of this part is to highlight the practical limitations of these established relationships and to make fair comparisons. The second is to generate new relationships, taking advantage of the very wide range of available lithological, geophysical, and geotechnical borehole drilling data of the 697 KiK-NET seismic stations in Japan. For this purpose, HVSR are calculated using 10,000 weak earthquakes or linear events recorded at KiK-NET stations to determine the fHVSR and correlate it with the corresponding h. The overlying layers/bedrock interface falling within sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic layers significantly affect the derived frequency–depth relationships. In addition, these relationships are strongly reproduced by the Vp=Vs ratio of the bedrock in the range of 1.6–2.2. Interestingly, it is found that fHVSR less than 1 Hz corresponding to h more than 100 m leads the trend of the overall frequency–depth relationship.

A copper sulfide precursor of the general formula Cu(C13H9O2NCl)2(H2O)2 {C13H9O2NCl = 2-(2-chlorophenylamino)benzoate} was synthesized and routinely characterized regarding its CHN content, solution molar conductivity, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern, magnetic moment and IR spectroscopic data. Copper sulfide Cu1.90S nanoparticles (CSNPs) were hydrothermally grown from this precursor and thiourea. The NPs were characterized by means of elemental analyses, PXRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurements assigned mesoporous structure and an average pore diameter of 14.342 nm for the as-prepared NPs. The microbial resistance against common antimicrobial agents and the development of new microbial strains are urging factors for finding alternate potent antimicrobial agents. The as-prepared CSNPs may conquer plant diseases, as they exhibited antifungal efficiency against eleven phytopathogenic fungal isolates with Fusarium oxysporum growth reduction reaching 52.63%. Additionally, these NPs strongly inhibited the cellulase enzyme activity produced by Fusarium camptoceras by 51.54% at 30 °C and also inhibited the enzyme activity produced by Trichoderma harzianum by 55.4% at 40 °C leading to promising usefulness of the as prepared CSNPs in improving the quality and quantity of agricultural crops and protecting them from several plant diseases.

A copper sulfide precursor of the general formula Cu(C13H9O2NCl)2(H2O)2 {C13H9O2NCl = 2-(2-chlorophenylamino)benzoate} was synthesized and routinely characterized regarding its CHN content, solution molar conductivity, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern, magnetic moment and IR spectroscopic data. Copper sulfide Cu1.90S nanoparticles (CSNPs) were hydrothermally grown from this precursor and thiourea. The NPs were characterized by means of elemental analyses, PXRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurements assigned mesoporous structure and an average pore diameter of 14.342 nm for the as-prepared NPs. The microbial resistance against common antimicrobial agents and the development of new microbial strains are urging factors for finding alternate potent antimicrobial agents. The as-prepared CSNPs may conquer plant diseases, as they exhibited antifungal efficiency against eleven phytopathogenic fungal isolates with Fusarium oxysporum growth reduction reaching 52.63%. Additionally, these NPs strongly inhibited the cellulase enzyme activity produced by Fusarium camptoceras by 51.54% at 30 °C and also inhibited the enzyme activity produced by Trichoderma harzianum by 55.4% at 40 °C leading to promising usefulness of the as prepared CSNPs in improving the quality and quantity of agricultural crops and protecting them from several plant diseases.

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The seaweed Cystoseira trinodis was fermented by different fungi prior to extraction of fucoidan and alginate to enhance their antioxidative potential. All the investigated fungi were able to produce fucoidanase (1.05–3.41 U/ml) and alginate lyase (7.27–18.59 U/mL). Different fungal species induced a reduction in the molecular weight (MW) of fucoidan and alginate in comparison to the unfermented control. The MW of fucoidan reduced by 41–81.5%, while the MW of alginate was reduced by 28–75%, depending on the fungal species. Significant increases in the fucose and sulphate contents of fucoidan and mannuronic/guluronic acid ratio of alginate were induced by fungal fermentation. Fungal pretreatment enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of both fucoidan and alginate. Additionally, enzymatic pretreatment of the macroalgal biomass assisted in the recovery of fucoidan and alginate with low molecular weight and enhanced antioxidative potential.

The seaweed Cystoseira trinodis was fermented by different fungi prior to extraction of fucoidan and alginate to enhance their antioxidative potential. All the investigated fungi were able to produce fucoidanase (1.05–3.41 U/ml) and alginate lyase (7.27–18.59 U/mL). Different fungal species induced a reduction in the molecular weight (MW) of fucoidan and alginate in comparison to the unfermented control. The MW of fucoidan reduced by 41–81.5%, while the MW of alginate was reduced by 28–75%, depending on the fungal species. Significant increases in the fucose and sulphate contents of fucoidan and mannuronic/guluronic acid ratio of alginate were induced by fungal fermentation. Fungal pretreatment enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of both fucoidan and alginate. Additionally, enzymatic pretreatment of the macroalgal biomass assisted in the recovery of fucoidan and alginate with low molecular weight and enhanced antioxidative potential.

The seaweed Cystoseira trinodis was fermented by different fungi prior to extraction of fucoidan and alginate to enhance their antioxidative potential. All the investigated fungi were able to produce fucoidanase (1.05–3.41 U/ml) and alginate lyase (7.27–18.59 U/mL). Different fungal species induced a reduction in the molecular weight (MW) of fucoidan and alginate in comparison to the unfermented control. The MW of fucoidan reduced by 41–81.5%, while the MW of alginate was reduced by 28–75%, depending on the fungal species. Significant increases in the fucose and sulphate contents of fucoidan and mannuronic/guluronic acid ratio of alginate were induced by fungal fermentation. Fungal pretreatment enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of both fucoidan and alginate. Additionally, enzymatic pretreatment of the macroalgal biomass assisted in the recovery of fucoidan and alginate with low molecular weight and enhanced antioxidative potential.