Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TITRATION PROPERTIES OF Al‐ORGANIC MATTER

Because conductimetric titrations and potentiometric titrations have been used to characterize acidity in soil clays, we conducted conductimetric and potentiometric titrations of H- and Al-muck to characterize the nature of acidity in H-, Al-organic matter. Four samples of muck were used as models for soil organic matter. In addition, a carboxylic resin was used for comparison with the natural materials. Results from both potentiometric and conductimetric titrations showed that Al tended to lower the acid strength compared to H-organic matter. Also, Al is hydrolyzed in organic matter, as it is in clays, producing H+ ions and buffering the system against increases in pH. However, complexed Al does not seem to react with base, at least over short periods of time (1 day). Thus, the adsorbed Al is not titratable and tends to lower the effective CEC and total acidity in organic matter. Whether or not complexed Al reacts slowly with base and affects the lime requirement in mineral soil remains to be determined.
MgO- and Pt-Promoted TiO2 as an Efficient Photocatalyst for the Preferential Reduction of Carbon Dioxide in the Presence of Water

The photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide with water to fuels and chemicals is a longstanding challenge. This article focuses on the effects of cocatalysts and reaction modes on photocatalytic behaviors of TiO2 with an emphasis on the selectivity of photogenerated electrons for CO2 reduction in the presence of H2O, which has been overlooked in most of the published papers. Our results clarified that the reaction using H2O vapor exhibited significantly higher selectivity for CO2 reduction than that by immersing the photocatalyst into liquid H2O. We examined the effect of noble metal cocatalysts and found that the rate of CH4 formation increased in the sequence of Ag < Rh < Au < Pd < Pt, corresponding well to the increase in the efficiency of electron–hole separation. This indicates that Pt is the most effective cocatalyst to extract photogenerated electrons for CO2 reduction. The selectivity of CH4 in CO2 reduction was also enhanced by Pt. The size and loading amount of Pt affected the activity; a sma.
Analysis of the kinetics of isomerization of spiro oxindole alkaloids

The isomerization of the spiro oxindole alkaloids mitraphylline, isomitraphylline, pteropodine, isopteropodine, speciophylline and uncarine F in water has been studied at several temperatures and the rate coefficients have been determined. The effect of pH on the rate of reaction and the equilibrium composition has been investigated. The rate coefficients in water and in organic solvents correlate satisfactorily with the Dimroth–Reichardt solvent polarity parameter. The present results support the existence of a zwitterionic intermediate stabilized by polar solvents and show that protonation of the alkaloids inhibits the isomerization. The crystal structure of pteropodine has been determined.
Interfacial oxide formation from intrinsic oxygen in W–HfO2 gated silicon field-effect transistors

We report the effects of ultrahigh vacuum and nitrogen annealing on self-aligned W-gated HfO2 n-field-effect transistors. While rapid thermal annealing in a nitrogen ambient significantly improved the channel mobility, there is a corresponding increase in the gate dielectric thickness of up to 20A. Here we show that this increase is due to the formation of interfacial oxides between the HfO2 and the silicon, caused by the diffusion of oxygen from the W gates. The results point to the importance of oxygen solubility in metals, which may be significant in many candidate gate electrodes.
CH/π interactions

Recent gas phase measurements and high level ab initio calculations of the CH/π interactions show that the nature of the CH/π interactions is significantly different from conventional hydrogen bonds, although the CH/π interactions were often regarded as the weakest class of hydrogen bonds. A clear correlation between the binding energies of the benzene clusters with alkanes in the gas phase and the polarizabilities of alkanes was reported. The correlation suggests that the dispersion interaction is the major source of the attraction of the CH/π interactions. Ab initio calculations also show that the major source of attraction in the CH/π interactions is the dispersion interaction and the electrostatic contribution is small. The nature of the “typical CH/π interactions is close to that of van der Waals interactions, if some exceptional “activated” CH/π interactions of highly acidic C–H bonds (C–H bonds of acetylene and chloroform) are excluded. Conventional hydrogen bonds are sufficiently strong and directional due to the large contribution of the highly orientation dependent electrostatic interactions to the attraction. The hydrogen bond is important in controlling structures of molecular assemblies, since the hydrogen bond is sufficiently strong and directional. On the other hand the “typical” CH/π interactions are weak and their directionality is very weak. Although the “typical” CH/π interactions are often regarded as important interactions in controlling the structures of molecular assemblies as in the cases of conventional hydrogen bonds, the importance of the “typical” CH/π interactions is questionable.
Infrared Observations of the Response of NaCl, MgCl2, NH4HSO4, and NH4NO3 Aerosols to Changes in Relative Humidity from 298 to 238 K

Infrared extinction spectroscopy has been used to monitor liquid-to-solid and solid-to-liquid phase transitions of a variety of model tropospheric aerosols over a temperature range from 298 to 238 K. Uptake and loss of water were induced by controlling the relative humidity (RH) as submicron-sized aerosols passed through a low-temperature, atmospheric pressure flow tube on a time scale of tens of seconds. Observation of the absorption features of condensed-phase liquid water showed that NaCl aerosols deliquesced at a RH within ±2% of the thermodynamic value from 298 to 253 K, whereas efflorescence did not occur until 40 ± 5% RH. No hydrate formation was observed. By contrast, aerosols composed of species with considerably lower deliquescence points, including MgCl2, NH4HSO4, and NH4NO3, exhibited a strong inhibition to efflorescence down to 2% RH. As aerosols, the only one of these three which began to effloresce was MgCl2, and only at relative humidities below 2%. MgCl2·6H2O is the likely product. NH4HSO.
Reburning using Several Hydrocarbon Fuels: A Kinetic Modeling Study

Abstract The most important reactions in the reduction of NO in reburn zones have been identified for several reburning fuels at low temperatures. This has been accomplished through the analysis of reaction rates and sensitivity in kinetic plug flow calculations simulating the gas reburning process. The kinetic model developed is evaluated through comparisons with experimental data. Acetylene, ethylene, ethane, methane, and natural gas have been studied at various temperatures between 973 and 1373 K. , The major NO removal pathway is found to be the HCCO + NO reaction in all cases. Critical to the modeling are the branching fraction of this reaction and the competition for vinyl between dissociation and reaction with molecular oxygen. These points are discussed in detail.
Effects of Application of Boron on Growth, Yields, and Quality of Red Bayberry

ABSTRACT Three field experiments at three sites in east Zhejiang Province were conducted to determine the influence of applications of boron (B) on growth, yield, and quality of the red bayberry trees (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zuca) with a manure species of “Buqizhong” in Linhai city. Ground B application or foliar B spraying significantly improved length and incidence rates of spring and summer shoots and increased fruit set rates, which resulted in the increases in fruit yield (13.7–17.5% for ground B application or 13.2–27.3% for foliar B spraying) and in improvement of fruit quality. The optimum yields were recorded with the treatments of ground B application of 40 g tree−1 of borax or foliar B spraying of 2.0 g L−1 of borax. Spring shoot incidents for the treatment of ground application of 50 g borax tree−1 every year during the experiment (4B50) were significantly higher than that for the treatment of ground application of 50 g borax tree−1 only in the first year of the experiment (B50), but the yield difference between them was not significant at P = 0.05. The increased yield effect of ground B application could last for 3 years. Boron application of red bayberry trees can be carried out by foliar-spraying 2.0 g borax L−1 every year or ground application of 50 g borax tree−1 every 3 years. The results of this study showed that application B could significantly improve the growth and increased fruit yield and quality of the red bayberry trees not exhibiting any vegetative symptoms of B deficiency.
Detection and characterization by high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of two truncated goat αs2‐caseins

The identification and characterization of truncated forms of goat alphas2-Cn variants A and E are reported. The two proteins, which have experimental Mr values of 24 183 and 24 227 Da, were detected as minor components in a goat milk sample from an autochthonous breed of southern Italy, 'Rossa Mediterranea', by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ESI-MS). Characterization of the amino acid sequences, performed by coupling trypsin digestion with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), RP-HPLC/ESI-MS and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), demonstrated that the polypeptide chains correspond to the 1-204 sequence of mature alphas2-Cn variant A (component with Mr of 24 183 Da) and E (component with Mr of 24 227 Da), respectively. These components seem to be the product of a differential splicing of pre-messenger RNA during the translation process of the alphas2-Cn variants A and E.
Soil characteristics under selected broadleaved tree species in East Norway

Comprehensive analyses of soil properties of sites of native Scandinavian broadleaved tree species were performed in 36 habitats in East Norway. The material consisted of stands of silver birch ( Betula pendula Roth.), white birch (pubescens Ehrh.), black alder ( Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.), speckled alder ( Alnus incana Moench.), Euro - pean ash ( Fraxinus excelsior L.), pedunculate oak ( Quercus robur L.) and sessile oak ( Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. ). The main objective was to describe the vertical characteristics and variations in some selected soil variables of the soil profiles. Particular soil horizons of 15 Brunisolic soils, 11 Regosolic soils, 6 Gleysolic and 4 Podzolic were sampled and analyzed for soil texture, bulk density, specific density, porosity, oxidizable carbon, total nitrogen content, pH in water, exchangeable acidity, exchangeable cations and anions (Mg, Ca, Mn, Al, S, Fe, B, P and K), cation exchange capacity and base saturation. No regular patterns were found in selected soil properties when tested between various soil units in silver birch stands. Furthermore, silver birch stands were found on sites, which topsoil ( i) significantly differed in
Electrochemical synthesis and a redetermination of Ni(acac)2(H2O)2·H2O

The title complex, bis­(acetyl­acetonato)­di­aqua­nickel(II) monohydrate, [Ni(C5H7O2)2(H2O)2)]·H2O, was easily synthesized in high yield by electrochemical dissolution of nickel metal in an acetyl­acetone and ethanol solution via direct hydro­lysis of the electrolyte solution at a temperature of 333 K. The crystal structure shows octahedral coordination of nickel with two trans aqua ligands. An uncoordinated water mol­ecule engages in hydrogen bonding.
Factors influencing monitoring of Agriotes spp. Wireworms

Wireworms tunneling into potato tubers cause quality decline to the product. Due to the short time between initial wireworm presence in the topsoil in spring and the moment of potato planting, decisions whether or not to control wireworms based on monitoring in spring are insecure. Increased knowledge on temperature and soil moisture may help enhance a succesful monitoring strategy. Two trials performed in climate chambers showed wireworms to be increasingly active between 5°C and 25°C. The preferent soil moisture level was 20%, ranging from 10 to 25%.
Demystifying the Chemistry Literature: Building Information Literacy in First-Year Chemistry Students through Student-Centered Learning and Experiment Design

This paper describes curriculum modules developed for first-year general chemistry laboratory courses that use scientific literature and creative experiment design to build information literacy in a student-centered learning environment. Two curriculum units are discussed: Exploring Scientific Literature and Design Your Own General Chemistry Laboratory Experiment. The modules sequentially develop and expand upon students’ chemical literacy, including the use of scientific literature to support experiment design. Student success is dependent on developing and using information literacy in service to critical thinking and practical analytical problem solving. A longitudinal study of students participating in this project surveyed self-assessed attitudes and beliefs. Initial findings suggest that introducing the scientific literature and building information literacy skills in first-year chemistry courses provide immediate and long-term benefits to student performance and engagement in the sciences. Course m.
THE IMPACT OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE ON FIRM PERFORMANCE

Derived from the scholarly disagreements, this paper is mainly to investigate the influence of capital structure on corporate performance. This study employs library documents to evaluate some variables regarding firm performance; earnings per share, return on asset and return on equity; as dependent variables, and four ratios regarding capital structure; short-term debt, long-term debt, debt assets and debt to equity; as independent variables. My intention is to examine the findings from several studies, concerning the negative relation and positive relation between capital structure and firm performance.
Structural investigation of temperature-induced phase transitions in HfV2O7

HfV2O7 powders were prepared by means of thermal decomposition of a mixture of vanadyl and hafnyl oxalates in air at 973 K. The room temperature structure and its evolution with temperature was investigated using both electron microscopy (TEM and HREM) and powder diraction (X-ray and neutron) techniques combined with DSC measurements. HfV2O7 exhibits two temperature-induced phase transitions between room temperature and 480 K. Over the highest transition (370 K), HfV2O7 crystallizes in a cubic system with a cell parameter of 8.75 Aa ndPa 3 space group. A negative thermal expansion is observed in this high temperature phase and can be correlated to anisotropic oxygen atom displacements. On the other hand, the room temperature structure of HfV2O7 is also described in a cubic symmetry, but the existence of superstructure reflections leads to a cell parameter three times larger than for the high temperature structure ( 26:25 A). Moreover, HREM calculations have shown that the atomic positions, usually used to describe the superstructures of the ZrV2O7 compounds, cannot be used in the case of HfV2O7 at room temperature.
X-Ray Peak Intensities for the Binary Compound Al3Ti

Abstract Powders of Al and Ti were blended and compacted, the compact then melted in an attempt to produce single phase Al3Ti. Optical microscopy of the cast and homogenized specimen revealed an almost single phase microstructure with minor amounts of a second phase. The composition of the matrix was measured using fully quantitative energy dispersive X-ray analysis. By use of X-ray diffractometry, the interplanar spacings and the associated integrated peak intensities were experimentally measured for the binary DO22 compound, Al3Ti. Using standard structure factor equations, the intensities were calculated for the various reflections. Good agreement was obtained between calculated and observed intensities.
Bouquet-like calcium sulfate dihydrate: a highly efficient adsorbent for Congo red dye

A unique bouquet-like calcium sulfate dihydrate (BCSD) was successfully synthesized from calcium chloride and aluminum potassium sulfate in aqueous sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution by means of a metathesis reaction. The morphology and structure of BCSD were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The adsorption of different organic dyes from aqueous solutions onto the as-synthesized BCSD was then investigated, taking into account the influences of adsorbent dose (1.0–3.5 g L−1), solution pH (5.0–12.0) and adsorption time. The results indicated that the temperature and agitation rate had no effect on the morphology of the samples. With the increase of CMC concentration from 0.10% to 0.50%, lamellar calcium sulfate dihydrate (LCSD) gradually transformed into rod-like calcium sulfate dihydrate (RCSD), and eventually generated BCSD. The as-prepared BCSD was monoclinic with preferential [021] and [041] orientations. Moreover, BCSD selectively adsorbed Congo red (CR) instead of rhodamine B and methyl orange. The adsorption equilibrium process of CR was an exothermic process and could adequately be described by the Langmuir isotherm model. The calculated maximum adsorption quantity (qmax) was 1224.09 mg g−1 at 303.5 K, which was almost 12 times larger than that onto LCSD (100.80 mg g−1). Additionally, the adsorption process of CR was a multi-step process, and the adsorption kinetics could be described in terms of a pseudo-second-order model. From attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies it was concluded that CR was chemisorbed on BCSD. These results indicate that BCSD is a promising candidate in wastewater treatment.
Use of specific dyes in the detection of antimicrobial compounds from crude plant extracts using a thin layer chromatography agar overlay technique

An improved bioautographic agar overlay method was developed for the detection of antimicrobial compounds from crude plant extracts using phenol red and a tetrazolium compound as dyes to improve resolution. This method worked successfully with a wide variety of microorganisms including a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Phenol red and the test organisms were incorporated directly into nutrient agar that was overlayed onto a thin layer chromatogram of plant extracts. In the case of bacteria, after spraying with thiazolyl blue (methylthiazolyltetrazolium chloride), dark red coloured inhibition zones appeared against blue background. Satisfactory results were obtained even with those compounds which were present in very small quantities. This method proved to be useful for activity-guided fractionation or for target-directed isolation of the active constituents of plants.
Synthesis and characterisation of new sulphur-containing epoxy networks

The position of sulphur within a cured epoxy amine network and its impact upon the thermal, mechanical, chemical and physical properties has been investigated in this study. Sulphur-containing epoxy resins, diglycidyl thioether of bisphenol A (DGTEBA) and diglycidyl ether of dithio diphenyl (DGTED) have been synthesised, cured and characterised and then compared with the benchmark epoxy resin, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). DGTEBA has two sulphur atoms located terminally to the epoxide groups, whilst DGTED has a sulphur atom located centrally between two phenyl groups. Evaluation of the properties and cure mechanism using 4,4′-diamino diphenyl sulphone (4,4′-DDS) as the hardener showed that when the sulphur was terminally located, the glass transition temperature, cure conversion, thermal stability, yield strain and stress decrease substantially, whilst the rate of cure and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) ingress was comparatively higher. Near-infrared spectroscopy revealed that a competing hydrogen abstraction reaction mechanism deactivated the epoxide ring to nucleophilic attack to produce a heterogeneous network and poorer properties. In contrast, the properties and network structure of the DGTED-cured network, which had sulphur placed centrally between the diphenyl groups were similar to DGEBA except that MEK fluid ingress was reduced. The DGTEBA epoxy was also cured with other amines of varying reactivity to reveal that the hydrogen abstraction mechanism was dependent upon the reactivity of the hardener. Less reactive hardeners were dominated by the hydrogen abstraction mechanism, whilst the more reactive amines displayed a step-growth mechanism more typically associated with epoxy amine cure.
Microparticulation by Jet Mill Grinding of Protein Powders and Effects on Hydrophobicity

A method was studied for microparticulation of protein for use as fat substitutes by superfine grinding. A jet mill produced particles <3 μm from egg white, casein and soybean hull. Microparticulation by grinding of egg white was easier than with casein or soybean hull. Hydrophobicity of casein increased by grinding to super fine particles but little or no effect was observed on soybean hull and egg white.
Investigation of thermal performance of a ground coupled heat pump system with a cylindrical energy storage tank

An analytical and computational model for a solar assisted heat pump heating system with an underground seasonal cylindrical storage tank is developed. The heating system consists of flat plate solar collectors, an underground cylindrical storage tank, a heat pump and a house to be heated during winter season. Analytical solution of transient field problem outside the storage tank is obtained by the application of complex finite Fourier transform and finite integral transform techniques. Three expressions for the heat pump, space heat requirement during the winter season and available solar energy are coupled with the solution of the transient temperature field problem. The analytical solution presented can be utilized to determine the annual variation of water temperature in the cylindrical store, transient earth temperature field surrounding the store and annual periodic performance of the heating system. A computer simulation program is developed to evaluate the annual periodic water and earth temperatures and system performance parameters based on the analytical solution. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient decommissioning and recycling of polymer solar cells: justification for use of silver

Large 100 m long polymer solar cell modules were installed in a solar park using fast installation (>100 m min−1) and operated for 5 months ensuring a meaningful energy return factor (ERF > 1) followed by fast de-installation (>200 m min−1) and end-of-life management. Focus was on recovery of silver that is an essential component of the two electrodes. We employed life cycle analysis as a tool to evaluate the most efficient silver extraction method as well as the impact on the overall life cycle of the solar cells. Silver from the electrodes could be recovered as silver chloride in 95% yield, which diminishes the overall energy payback time by 13%. The efficient recovery of silver justifies the use of silver electrodes in OPV even in a scenario where it is scaled to production volumes of 1 GWp per day.