Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diallel analysis for combining ability studies in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

The present experiment was conducted with forty-five F1s developed through diallel mating design excluding reciprocals along with ten parents and a check in RBD with three replications. Mean sum of squares for general combining ability found significant for all the characters except days to maturity, 100 seed weight and shelling out turn. Whereas, for specific combining ability, it was significant for all the characters except 100 seed weight, shelling out turn and oil content, indicating the importance of both additive and non- additive gene actions in the inheritance of these traits. The magnitude of combining ability variance revealed prime role of additive genetic variance for inheritance of plant height up to primary raceme, number of nodes up to primary raceme and oil content. Whereas, non-additive gene action was preponderant for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, total length of primary raceme, effective length of primary raceme, number of capsules on primary raceme, number of effective racemes per plant, total seed weight of primary raceme and seed yield per plant. Among the parents, SKI-324 was found good general combiner for seed yield per plant and some of its component traits and hence this parents would be of immense value for development of high yielding inbred line. Parents, SH-1 and JI-358 were found good general combiners for earliness. The estimates of sca effect revealed that cross SKI-324 x VH-63-1-3, JI-358 x SKI-324 and SH-42 x PCS-124 were found promising cross combinations for development of high yielding variety.
Acceleration and Deceleration of Bone-Like Crystal Growth on Ceramic Hydroxyapatite by Electric Poling

Bone-like crystals were acceleratingly grown in a simulated body fluid on the negatively charged surface of electrically poled hydroxyapatite ceramics, while the crystal growth was completely inhibited on the opposite surface. The poling effect was generalized by the enhanced crystal growth on the poled ferroelectric ceramics of BaTiO3 and CaTiO3.
Extractives from Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) Wood which Affect Gluebond Quality of Phenolic Resins

Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) is known as a high density and "difficult to glue" wood species, from which hot water extractives were obtained. The effect of the extractives on gelation of a phenolic resin was determined and was found to vary depending on the amount of the extractives added to the phenolic resin. Using authentic hydrolysable tannins, particularly ellagitannins isolated from Eucalyptus woods, separation of hydrolysable tannins by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been achieved by using NWP (acetonitrile-water-phosphoric acid) solvent systems on reversed phase ODS columns. The HPLC analysis of the hot water extractives from blackball revealed that the extractives consisted of ellagitannins D—1, D—4, D—6, D—13 and three unknown ellagitannins. Ellagitannin D—13 (28.3%) was found as the major component of the hot water extractives.
Nitrogen fertilizer requirements of cereals following grass

Abstract. The effect of increasing rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the yield response of 3 or 4 consecutive winter cereal crops after ploughing out grass was investigated at six field sites on commercial farms in England and Wales. Amounts of N required for an economically optimum yield (>3 kg of grain for each kg of fertilizer N applied) ranged from 0 to 265 kg ha−1 and were dependent on soil N supply, but not on crop yield. Optimum N rates were large (mean 197 kg N ha−1) at three sites: two sites where cereals followed 2‐year grass leys receiving low N inputs (<200 kg N ha−1), and at one site where a cut and grazed 4‐year ley had received c. 315 kg N ha−1 of fertilizer N annually. At the other three sites where 4 and 5‐year grass leys had received large regular amounts of organic manures (20–30 t or m3 ha−1) plus fertilizer N (c. 300 kg ha−1 each year), optimum N rates were low (mean 93 kg N ha−1) and consistently over‐estimated by the farmer by an average of 107 kg N ha−1. Optimum N rates generally increased in successive years after ploughing as the N supply from the soil declined. Determination of soil C:N ratio and mineral N (NO3N+NH4N) to 90 cm depth in autumn were helpful in assessing fertilizer N need. The results suggest there is scope to improve current fertilizer recommendations for cereals after grass by removing crop yield as a determinant and including an assessment of soil mineralizable N during the growing season.
Hot-carrier effects on power characteristics of SiGe HBTs

This letter investigates hot-carrier (HC) effects on the power characteristics of Si-SiGe HBTs using load-pull measurements. We found that the output power, power gain, and linearity of Si-SiGe HBTs are degraded after HC stress. Under constant base-current measurement, the HC-induced power performance degradation is found to be much worse than that under constant collector-current measurement. The HC effects on the cutoff frequency, nonlinearity terms of base-current and collector-current, and third-order intermodulation (IM3) cancellation effect have been analyzed to explain the experimental observations.
Minerals as advanced materials

A resume is given on relationships between minerals and materials. It is shown that Nature has many advantages over technology which can be profitably exploited for finding new materials with useful properties. However, Nature has also inherent limitations. Therefore, it seems advisable to use the knowledge of minerals as a treasure which can be tapped for getting inspired on the way to finding new materials. Several examples are given, including those of zorite/ETS‐4/ETS‐10, boracites, zircon, kesterite, a natural quasicrystal, opals, ultramarine and mayenite. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
In vitro evaluation of chemical fungicides and bio agents against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing anthracnose disease in black pepper

An experiment was conducted at Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar and High Altitude Research Station, Pottangi during 2017-18 to evaluate effectiveness of various chemical fungicides and bio agents in inhibiting the mycelia growth of C. gloeosporioides under in vitro conditions causing anthracnose disease in Black pepper crop by poisoned food technique and dual culture method, respectively. Among the fungicides maximum inhibition was obtained with the combination fungicides carbendazim + mancozeb (0.1%) which gave 97.26% growth inhibition over control. Among different bio-control agents Trichoderma viridae gave maximum growth inhibition 88.97%.
Study of the resist deformation in nanoimprint lithography

Numerical simulations and experimental studies are carried out to understand the deformation process of thin polymer film in nanoimprint lithography. Deformation of a thin polymer above its glass transition temperature is studied for various imprinting conditions such as the aspect ratios of a mold pattern, initial thickness of the polymer, and imprinting pressure. Cross-sectional profiles of the deformed polymers are simulated by the finite element method based on a rubber elastic model. The results are compared with experimental data. The areal penetration ratio of the polymer into the recessed groove of the mold and residual thickness underneath the mold are quantitatively evaluated. The simulations and the experimental results agree well with each other.
Evaluation of the AB-DTPA multiextractant in Chilean soils of different origin with special regard to available phosphorus

The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the ammonium bicarbonate diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA) multiextractant to estimate the available P, exchangeable cations (K, Ca, Mg, Na) and extractable micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) in comparison with conventional soil tests (Olsen-P, NH4OAc-exchangeable cations and DTPA-extractable micronutrients) in alkaline, acidic and volcanic acidic soils (n = 50). Exchangeable cations and extractable micronutrients were determined in soil extracts by ICP-OES. Phosphorus was determined colorimetrically in Olsen extracts, while in AB-DTPA extracts, P was determined both colorimetrically (AB-DTPAC-P) and by ICP-OES (AB-DTPAICP-P). In 14 soils, the available soil and plant P were determined in a pot experiment with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L). Both the AB-DTPAC-P and AB-DTPAICP-P were highly correlated with Olsen-P in alkaline and acidic soils. All P extractants were highly correlated with plant P concentration and uptake, but in soils with Olsen-P <20 mg kg−1 the AB-DTPA-P showed weaker relationships with P availability. The AB-DTPA method can be recommended to estimate the available P in alkaline and acidic soils, excluding Andisols, which typically contain very low amounts of available P. For K, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, the multiextractant was highly correlated with respective conventional tests in all soils.
A thermodynamic analysis of methanation reactions of carbon oxides for the production of synthetic natural gas

Synthetic natural gas (SNG) can be obtained via methanation of synthesis gas (syngas). Many thermodynamic reaction details involved in this process are not yet fully understood. In this paper, a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of reactions occurring in the methanation of carbon oxides (CO and CO2) is conducted using the Gibbs free energy minimization method. The equilibrium constants of eight reactions involved in the methanation reactions were calculated at different temperatures. The effects of temperature, pressure, ratio of H-2/CO (and H-2/CO2), and the addition of other compounds (H2O, O-2, CH4, and C2H4) in the feed gas (syngas) on the conversion of CO and CO2, CH4 selectivity and yield, as well as carbon deposition, were carefully investigated. In addition, experimental data obtained on commercial Ni-based catalysts for CO methanation and three cases adopted from the literature were compared with the thermodynamic calculations. It is found that low temperature, high pressure, and a large H-2/CO (and H-2/CO2) ratio are favourable for the methanation reactions. Adding steam into the feed gas could alleviate the carbon deposition to a large extent. Trace amounts of O-2 in syngas is unfavourable for SNG generation although it can lower carbon deposition. Additional CH4 in the feed gas almost has no influence on the CO conversion and CH4 yield, but it leads to the increase of carbon formed. Introduction of a small amount of C2H4, a representative of hydrocarbons in syngas, results in low CH4 yield and serious carbon deposition although it does not affect CO conversion. CO is relatively easy to hydrogenated compared to CO2 at the same reaction conditions. The comparison of thermodynamic calculations with experimental results demonstrated that the Gibbs free energy minimization method is significantly effective for understanding the reactions occurring in methanation and helpful for the development of catalysts and processes for the production of SNG.
Discussion: Time characteristics of fast pulsed flashover in vacuum (with reply by H. Karner)

For original paper see H.H. Zhong et al., ibid., vol.27, p.496-503 (1992). The discussor raises five points and adds comments concerning insulator shapes and the delivery of excessive discharge energy. H. Karner replies by first noting that he can answer only partly to some of the questions due to the fact that he wanted to investigate the influence of insulators on the speed of the voltage collapse which he had examined for a free vacuum gap. The discussor however, is mainly interested in strength problems of gaps with insulators, which he investigated only to a small extent. >
Densification of Oxide Nanoparticle Thin Films by Irradiation with Visible Light

A technique is presented that allows for altering of the physical characteristics of films of TiO2 nanoparticles by exposure to visible light. In this technique, dye‐sensitized oxide nanoparticles are deposited on a substrate by dip‐coating. Photodissociation of the organic ligand layer leads to cross‐linking of the nanoparticles. Consequently, irradiated films have a decreased porosity, an increased index of refraction and an increased hydrophobicity. Films irradiated with green light are compared to films irradiated with UV light. Within experimental error, visible‐ and UV‐illumination induces the same changes in the films. The mechanism of surfactant elimination in dye‐sensitized oxide particles is discussed, patterning is demonstrated, and prospective applications of the technique are considered.
Behavior of Fused‐Ring Aromatic Hydrocarbons at Very High Pressure

The effect of very high pressure has been studied on the electronic structure of some fused‐ring aromatic hydrocarbons. The material most thoroughly studied is pentacene. Observations include optical absorption of the low‐energy peaks and electrical resistance. The optical absorption peaks of tetracene and pentacene shift red at a rate which increases with density. Azulene peaks shift first blue, then red. The dipole moment of the excited state increases with increasing pressure. The electrical resistance decreases rapidly with increasing pressure, as a result of the decrease in activation energy for carrier production. Single‐crystal pentacene becomes metallic at 270 kbar. The fused powder exhibits metallic behavior at somewhat higher pressures.At pressures above about 180–200 kbar and temperatures above 180°—190°K an irreversible transition takes place in pentacene involving resistance increase and, at higher pressure, a transformation from metal to semiconductor. The low‐energy optical absorption peaks.
Oxidation of alkaline-earth-metal sulfide powders and thin films

The oxidation of CaS and SrS powders and thin films was studied in situ up to 1300 °C by thermoanalytical techniques (TG, DTA and high-temperature XRD) while FTIR and powder XRD were used to analyse ex situ the solid reaction intermediates and products. CaS powder starts to oxidize to CaSO4 around 500 °C but the oxidation is not complete because of a competing reaction, i.e. the decomposition of CaSO4 to CaO, which is significant above 1000 °C. SrSO4 is more stable and therefore SrS completely oxidizes to SrSO4 before the decomposition starts. FTIR and XRD failed to detect CaSO3 or SrSO3 at any stage of the heating process. Particle size appears to have a marked effect on the decomposition of powders, while moisture plays only a minor role. Thin films appear to be more stable towards oxidation but they react around 1000 °C with the silicon substrate.
Combustion Study of Stabilized Water-in-Diesel Fuel Emulsion

Abstract An experimental investigation has been carried out to produce a stable diesel/water emulsion fuel and use it in a diesel engine under different operating and design conditions. The emulsion stayed stable for up to 30% water in diesel for up to one week and 20% water in diesel for four weeks. The physical properties of the stable W/D emulsions in terms of density, surface tension, and viscosity were measured and investigated. The effect of surfactant concentration, mixing time, and mixer speed has been studied. A computer image analyzer system was used to investigate the water droplets-fuel interaction and the water droplets distribution within the diesel phase. The stable emulsion has been used in an indirect injection Ricardo E6 research diesel engine, and performance and engine roughness parameters have been measured. The effect of water/diesel ratio, engine speeds, loads, fuel injection angle, and engine compression ratio on combustion maximum pressure, maximum pressure rise rate, brake power output, and brake-specific fuel consumption has been studied. The addition of water in diesel generally affected the engine combustion noise, brake power output, and specific fuel consumption.
Active Corrosion Inhibition of AA2024-T3 by Trivalent Chrome Process Treatment

The trivalent chrome process (TCP) is one of the leading non-chromate conversion coatings and has been shown to provide excellent corrosion protection for Al alloy substrates. The goal of this work was to assess and quantify the self-healing or active corrosion inhibition properties of TCP on AA2024-T3 (UNS A92024). Samples exposed in the artificial scratch cell were characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for assessment of various aspects of active corrosion inhibition. Analysis of the electrolyte exposed to the TCP surface was conducted by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). TCP treatment was found to greatly improve the corrosion resistance of AA2024-T3 in corrosive environments. After exposure in dilute Harrison's solution, chromium species were detected in the exposed electrolyte, indicating that chromium is released from the TCP coating. Chromium was found on the surface of the uncoated sheets in the .
The supramolecular structure is decisive for the immunostimulatory properties of synthetic analogues of a mycobacterial lipid in vitro

Identification of new vaccine adjuvants with immunopotentiating properties commonly involves in vitro evaluations of candidate compounds for their ability to stimulate cells of the immune system. Subsequent elaborate experiments are then performed on only the positive candidates. Here we show how this strategy may miss good candidates due to context-dependent supramolecular characteristics of the candidate compounds, since both a specific molecular structure and the correct presentation of specific parts of the compounds are required for successful stimulation of the cells. Nevertheless, the supramolecular structure is rarely evaluated although changes in this structure may have a drastic impact on the presentation of the compounds to the cells. Synthetic analogues of the mycobacterial cell wall lipid monomycoloyl glycerol (MMG) possess immunopotentiating properties, but their biophysical characteristics are largely unresolved and the structural features determining their immunoactivating properties have been poorly explored. In the present study, we demonstrate that the immunostimulatory activity in vitro correlates with the supramolecular characteristics of the self-assembled MMG nanostructures. Thus, a series of MMG analogues displaying different stereochemistry in the hydrophobic moiety and the polar headgroup were designed and synthesized with different alkyl chain lengths. Stimulation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro was clearly dependent on the stereochemistry of the hydrophobic part and on the alkyl chain length but not on the stereochemistry of the hydrophilic glycerol moiety. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis showed that the immunoactivating analogues self-assembled into lamellar phases whereas the biologically inert analogues adopted inverse hexagonal phases. Langmuir monolayers confirmed that analogues with opposite lipid acid configurations displayed different packing modes. These data demonstrate that the biophysical properties and the lipid molecular structure are major determinants for the ability of the MMG analogues to activate antigen-presenting cells. Our findings emphasize the importance of investigating the biophysical and structural properties when assessing the effect of adjuvants in vitro.
Highly active reduction of oxygen on a FeCo alloy catalyst encapsulated in pod-like carbon nanotubes with fewer walls

Employing an alternative of the Pt-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has become a major interest in the fundamental research of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The carbon-encapsulated metal catalyst, on which O2 is readily activated by the electrons transferred from the metal to the carbon surface, has recently been demonstrated as a promising strategy to produce robust non-precious metal electrocatalysts. However, the thickness of carbon walls might affect the process of the electron transfer, and subsequently the ORR activity. It is thus vital to explore the influence of the carbon wall thickness on the ORR reactivity for further improvement in designing carbon-encapsulated non-precious metal catalysts for ORR. Herein, we report a novel FeCo alloy catalyst encapsulated in pod-like carbon nanotubes via introducing graphene nanosheets into the raw materials to tailor the carbon wall thickness. The ORR activity of these catalysts increases drastically with the decreased thickness of the carbon walls, which could be attributed to the enhanced adsorption of O2 on the carbon surface upon decreasing the carbon wall thickness. These findings provide a route for the rational design of high-performance non-precious metal cathode catalysts in PEMFCs.
On the use of fractional charges for computing Fukui functions

Condensed Fukui indices have been computed for a series of organic molecules using fractional charges, as opposed to the conventional approach of performing calculations with the molecular cation and anion. Besides the Fukui function, the eigenvalues, μ, of the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital are also obtained from finite differences. Using a full electron produces errors of up to several hundred percent in the value of μ, and errors of about 5% in atomic Fukui indices. Using a fractional charge of 0.1 can reduce these computational errors significantly.
Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield and Quality of Endive

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield and Quality of Endive The aim of the experiments carried out in 2007-2008 was to assess the effect of various nitrogen doses on the growth, yield and nutritional value of two endive cultivars Cigal and Excel. The effects of two types of fertilizers were compared: that of ammonium nitrate with that of the product Entec-26. On the basis of the results obtained, it was shown that endive cv. Excel produced a marketable yield that was on average by 35.5% higher than that of the cultivar Cigal. A significantly higher marketable yield of endive was obtained by fertilizing with a single dose of the fertilizer Entec-26, particularly at the rates of 90 and 135 kg N·ha-1, and also 180 kg N·ha-1. The experiments also revealed a significant effect of the fertilization method and nitrogen application rate on the biological value of the endive cultivars under evaluation. The cultivar Excel was characterized by a higher degree of nitrate accumulation, whereas the cultivar Cigal had a higher vitamin C content, dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Wpływ na Wożenia Azotem na Wielkość i Jakość Plonu Endywii Celem przeprowadzonych w latach 2007-2008 badań była ocena wpływu różnych dawek azotu na wzrost, plonowanie i wartość odżywczą dwóch odmian endywii Cigal i Excel. Porównywano działanie dwóch rodzajów nawozów: saletry amonowej oraz Entec 26. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników wykazano, że endywia Excel dała średnio o 35,5% większy plon handlowy w porównaniu z odmianą Cigal. Istotnie wyższy plon handlowy endywii uzyskano stosując nawożenie jednorazową dawkę nawozu Entec 26, zwłaszcza w ilości 90 i 135 kg N·ha-1 oraz 180 kg N·ha-1. Przeprowadzone badania wykazały także istotny wpływ sposobu nawożenia oraz dawki N na wartość biologiczną badanych odmian endywii. Odmiana Excel charakteryzowała się wyższym stopniem akumulacji azotanów, zaś odmiana Cigal wyższą zawartością witaminy C, suchej masy oraz chlorofilu.