Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure of the Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid/SiO 2 Interface Studied by Sum-Frequency Vibrational Spectroscopy

In the study presented here, the structure of the RTIL/SiO2 interface has been examined by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS). A series of hydrophobic RTILs composed of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium (Cnmim, n = 6, 8 and 10) and bis(perfluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMSI) and bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide (BETI) anions have been examined. SFVS was used to determine the orientation of the cation as well as the structure of water at the RTIL/SiO2 interface. The alkyl chain of the imidazolium cation was determined to be nearly normal to the surface for all the RTILs examined. The conformational order of the alkyl chain on the cation was also determined and was found to be dependent on the length of the alkyl chain, with longer chains being more ordered with few gauche defects. The tilt of the imidazolium ring with respect to the surface normal was also determined and was found to be ∼28° for the BMSI salts with a reduction in the tilt angle to ∼18° for the BETI RTILs. The water at the surface associa.
Photodissociation of HCHO in air: CO and H2 quantum yields at 220 and 300 K

New data are presented for the quantum yields of CO and H2 produced in the photodecomposition of formaldehyde. The data were obtained at the two temperatures 220 and 300 K, as a function of wavelength in the spectral range 253–353 nm, and as a function of pressure at the wavelengths 339.3 and 353.1 nm. The influence of temperature occurs mainly on the quenching constants describing the pressure dependence. The results are compared with previous data and improved quantum yield curves are presented for applications in atmospheric chemistry.
Dissolved and Particulate Metals in the Mero River (NW Spain): Factors affecting Concentrations and Load during Runoff Events

This article examines the metal [aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)] runoff dynamics in the Mero River (northwestern Spain). At the catchment outlet, metal concentrations, suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon, pH, and discharge were determined during three runoff events. The river drains an agroforestry catchment of 65 km2 with relatively high livestock density. Dissolved and particulate metal concentrations increased during the events with respect to pre-event concentrations, but the increase of the dissolved fraction is relatively small compared to that of the particulate fraction. The dissolved metal concentration peaks appeared after the hydrograph peak, suggesting transport associated with subsurface flow. For particulate metals, peaks usually occurred during the falling limb of hydrograph, implying distant-river source of metals. Particulate forms represented more than 90% of total Al, Fe, and Mn load, whereas for Cu and Zn its contributions were 52–76% and 31–56%, respectively. The high positive correlations of all particulate metals, except Zn, with suspended solid concentrations indicate that these constituents play a major role in transport of metals. Soil erosion is the main process responsible for causing elevated Al, Fe, and Mn concentrations in the river during rainfall–runoff events while Zn and Cu come mainly from the addition of slurries and manures to farmland.
Walnut shell‐based activated carbon with excellent copper (II) adsorption and lower chromium (VI) removal prepared by acid–base modification

In this work, acid and acid–base modified carbons were developed from walnut shell, and batch experiments were carried out to study their adsorption behaviors toward Cu(II) and Cr(VI). Boehm titration data, elemental analysis, and FTIR studies suggested that the surface chemistry of the activated carbons was significantly changed by both acid and acid–base modification. N2/77 K adsorption isotherm methods revealed a significant decrease in SBET with acid treatment, a dramatic decrease was also observed in SBET in acid–base modified carbon. Batch equilibrium adsorption tests including the effect of pH of the solution, metal initial concentration, and temperature were conducted to evaluate the solids adsorption performance. The process kinetics was evaluated by pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order models, and the kinetics data agreed well with pseudo‐second‐order model. The applicability of the Langmuir, Freundlich, and D–R adsorption isotherms has been tested for the interpretation of equilibrium adsorption data. The results revealed that the acid–base carbon exhibited excellent copper (II) adsorption performance with a maximum adsorption capacity of 204.08 mg/g. The mean free energy value evaluated from D–R model indicated the adsorption of Cu(II) onto acid–base carbon involved chemical ion‐exchange process. Thermodynamic studies illustrated adsorption of Cu(II) onto ACHN was endothermic and spontaneous. According to the overall results, the solution pH and the surface chemistry of the carbons were found to play a critic role in the uptake of copper ions from aqueous solutions rather than the carbon texture characteristics, while the adsorption of Cr(VI) closely related to the solution pH and its texture properties. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 688–696, 2013
Immunohistochemical localization of copper-zinc and manganese superoxide dismutases in diisopropanolnitrosamine-induced rat thyroid lesions

The immunohistochemical localization of both copper-zinc (Cu, Zn) and manganese (Mn) superoxide dismutases (SODs) in diisopropanolnitrosamine (DIPN) induced rat thyroid lesions was examined.In normal thyroid tissue, Cu, Zn-SOD was homogeneously demonstrated in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of the follicular epithelium, whereas Mn-SOD was present in the cytoplasm in a granular pattern.The lesions of diffuse hyperplasia, which are regarded as early changes induced by DIPN administration, showed almost the same pattern, but in places a partial decrease in staining intensity was observed compared to thyroid tissue of the control animals and DIPN-treated animals with no remarkable lesions. In both benign (types 1 and 2) and malignant (type 3) lesions, the overall staining intensity of Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD was decreased. However, in some malignant lesions (type 3), a focal increase in staining of SODs was observed. In foci of degeneration and necrosis, relatively strong expression of Mn-SOD was seen in the thyroid follicular epithelium as well as in mesenchymal cells. In addition, an inverse correlation was noted between Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD localization in the lesions of diffuse hyperplasia and benign and malignant nodules.These findings suggest a possible correlation between alterations of SOD activities and thyroid tumorigenesis, and the existence of regulatory mechanisms for SOD expression.
Transition from glow silent discharge to micro-discharges in nitrogen gas

At atmospheric pressure, the electrical breakdown of a silent discharge can occur in many thin filaments (leading to micro-discharges) or in a single discharge canal covering the entire electrode surface (leading to a glow discharge). The aim of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the transition from a glow silent discharge to micro-discharges in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. For this purpose, the two types of regime have been studied by emission spectroscopy and electrical measurements. The transition is always observed due to an increase of the power dissipated in the gas gap, but the maximum power that can be used while maintaining a glow discharge depends on the nature of the dielectric surface in contact with the gas. These results have been explained by the predominance of the density of metastable nitrogen molecules on the discharge regime. Due to the creation of seed electrons via Penning ionization, these metastable molecules can control the gas breakdown and so the discharge regime. Their density essentially depends on their quenching rate. The products etched from the surfaces in contact with the discharge appear to be the main source of the metastable molecules quenching. Therefore, the nature of the surface controls the nature of the quenching of the metastable molecules and the power dissipated in the discharge the quencher density.
The Caregiver's Experience of Deliberative Mutual Patterning with Pain-Ridden Substance Users

The purpose of this research study was to expand nursing science through the investigation of the caregiver's experience of deliberative mutual patterning with pain-ridden substance users, thus providing knowledge enrichment through use of the science of unitary human beings (Rogers, 1970, 1980, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994) as the theory-base. A qualitative descriptive exploratory research design with 15 participants was used. Data analysis-synthesis yielded summary statements for each objective in the language of the participants which were then transformed into themes in the language of the science of unitary human beings. These themes were synthesized into the hypothesis: The caregivers' experiences of deliberative mutual patterning with pain-ridden substance users manifest as innovative, unpredictable, and increasingly diverse field patternings of deeper understanding, clearer evaluation of impediments, and multiple promises, with a uniquely integral continuously supportive mutual process with arduous contradictions in irreversible lifestyle and worldview changes. The hypothesis answered the research question: What is the caregiver's experience of deliberative mutual patterning with pain-ridden substance users in relation to: mutual field patterning process; innovative,
Dynamical aspects of mixing schemes in ethanol-water mixtures in terms of the excess partial molar activation free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of the dielectric relaxation process

Dielectric relaxation measurements on the ethanol–water mixture for the entire concentration range in very small increments were carried out using TDR in the frequency range from 300 MHz to 25 GHz at 20 °C, 22.5 °C, and 25 °C. The activation enthalpy ΔH and entropy ΔS for the mixtures were separated from the activation free energy ΔG, and hence the excess partial molar activation free energy, enthalpy, and entropy for ethanol, ΔGEAE, ΔHEAE, and ΔSEAE, and those for water, ΔGWE, ΔHWE, and ΔSWE were calculated. The concentration dependence of these partial molar quantities shows the existence of two regions bound at X (molar fraction of ethanol) ∼0.18. In the water-rich region of X<0.1, ΔHEAE and ΔSEAE take large positive values, exhibiting two sharp maxima at X=0.04 and X=0.08, which is clearly attributed to structural enhancement of the hydrogen bond network of water by ethanol, the so-called hydrophobic hydration. From a standpoint of dynamics, mixing schemes of ethanol and water around the two points X=.
Determination of Trace Rare Earth Elements in Plant and Soil Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed to determine the concentration of rare earth elements (REEs) in plants and soils. Sample preparation and analytical conditions were investigated to set up a simple routine procedure for measuring rare earth elements. For prompt sample decomposition, a microwave digestion technique was successfully used with an acid mixture of HCl+HNO3+HF. Detection limits, reproducibility, accuracy and possible interference were also studied. ICP-MS provided extremely low detection limits for REEs (0.6–6ng/l). Precision was typically better than 6% RSD (relative standard deviation) for soil and 10% for plant. The potential of the method was evaluated by analysis of standard reference materials of soils and plants. A good agreement between the experimental results and certified values was observed. The spectroscopic interference of Ba with Eu and light REEs(LREEs, La-Eu) with heavy REEs(HREEs, Gd-Lu) were eliminated by the algebra correction. The results suggested that REEs in soil samples existed mainly as light REEs, and the same concentration distribution patterns of Oddo-Hakins law were observed, showing negative gradient from La to Lu concentrations. The REE contents in plants were very low, less than 20μg/g and varied with plant species. Apart from rape leaf(Brassica juncea), the REE distribution patterns in other plant leaves were consistent with soils, indicating that these plants generally absorbed REEs from soil without selectivity. Rape leaf showed selective absorption for LREEs, especially for La. The REE concentration distribution in parts of hot pepper(Capsicum annuum) was characteriaed by root>leaf>stem>fruit. The REEs absorbed by hot pepper concentrated mainly in roots and leaves, very little migrated into fruit. Transfer factors(TFs) of REEs in plants were very low. Although the contents of LREEs were relatively more than those of HREEs, no distinct difference of TFs between LREEs and HREEs was observed, meaning that LREEs and HREEs have the same abilities of transportation. However, for rape leaf, the TFs of LREEs were one or two orders of magnitude higher than those of HREEs.
Environmental and Health Impacts of Successive Mineral Fertilization in Egypt

Excessive amounts of mineral fertilizers are unnecessarily applied to agricultural soils in Egypt to increase crop yield. The current study aims at assessing the impacts of fertilization with different mineral fertilizers for different cultivation periods on the accumulation of heavy metals in soils and plants grown thereon. In addition, human risks resulted due to the exposure to these metal ions through ingestion, and dermal routes were evaluated. Soil and plant samples were collected from several locations in El-Behira Governorate, Egypt and their heavy metal contents were measured. The result indicated that there is a continuous accumulation of heavy metals in the soils and the plants grown thereon. Calculation of the hazard index (HI) revealed that humans, especially children, have a potential health risk for both Pb and Cd, which have levels greater than the safe level (1). Finally, the obtained results showed that the continuous application of mineral fertilizers containing high levels of heavy metals pose a potential health threat.
Spatial Distribution of Solutes and Water in Sucrose Solution Dehydrated Apples

Abstract Half-fresh apples were immersed in sucrose solution (50% w/w, 27°C) during different times of exposition (2, 4, and 8 h). Then each fruit was sliced from the transversal exposed surface. Density, water, and sugar content were determined for each slice. A mathematical model was fitted to experimental data of water and sucrose content considering the global flux and the tissue shrinkage. By numerical analysis, the binary effective diffusion coefficients as a function of concentration were calculated, using material coordinates and integrating simultaneously two differential equations (for water and sucrose). The coefficients obtained are one or even two orders of magnitude lower than the ones for pure solutions and present an unusual concentration dependence. This comparison shows the influence of the tissue resistance to the diffusion.
Effect of Fractionation of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (DDGS) on Pelleting Characteristics of Broiler Diets

ABSTRACT Recently, the Elusieve process, a combination of elutriation (air classification) and sieving (screening) was developed to separate fiber from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to increase DDGS utilization in nonruminant (poultry and swine) diets. Elusieve process produces three products: 1) Pan DDGS, with 5% higher protein content than conventional DDGS, which would be used at higher inclusion levels in broiler diets because of low fiber content; 2) Big DDGS, with nearly the same protein content as conventional DDGS, which would be used at same inclusion levels as conventional DDGS; and 3) Fiber product. The objective of this study was to determine and compare pellet-mill throughput, power consumption, and pellet quality for broiler diets incorporating different levels (0, 10, and 20%) of conventional DDGS and DDGS products from Elusieve process. Poultry oil contents were lower (1.5–1.6%) in diets comprising Pan DDGS and diets without DDGS than in the other diets (2.2–3.1%). The feed .
A simple method suitable to test the ultimate biodegradability of environmentally degradable polymers

A straightforward experimental set-up derived from the Biometer Flask previously utilized for experiments of pesticides biodegradation, has been adopted for testing the ultimate biodegradability of natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymeric materials on solid substrates such as soil and mature compost. The use of these whole substrates as incubation media in respirometric experiments, may negatively affect the accuracy of the test due to the large amount of carbon dioxide developed from the blanks, especially in the presence of specimen degrading at low or moderate rates. In the present test procedure soil and compost samples are diluted with perlite, a naturally occurring inert aluminum silicate widely utilized in horticultural applications, in order to ensure optimal conditions for the microbial growth while reducing the carbon dioxide emissions from the blanks. The results so far reported clearly indicate that the adopted procedure is extremely valuable and versatile for the appreciation of even subtle differences in the biodegradation rate of different polymeric materials, as well as for long-term degradation experiments.
Ion-Exchange Equilibria of Amino Acids on a Strong Acid Resin

The exchange equilibria of several amino acids, with particular emphasis on those displaying two basic groups, on a strong-acid cation exchange resin (Amberlite IR120) are investigated. The behavior of the experimental data is described through a mathematical model which takes into account the dissociation equilibria of amino acids in aqueous solution, the electroneutrality condition, and an ion-exchange isotherm recently proposed in the literature. In the latter, by assuming ideal behavior for both the solution and the solid phase, the exchange process is treated on the basis of the mass action law, while the existence of a distribution of two types of functional groups with different energies is assumed in order to describe the resin heterogeneity. The developed model is then used in order to satisfactorily correlate binary uptake data and to predict with good accuracy the uptake of amino acids in multicomponent systems.
Radiation‐induced conductivity in polymers under continuous irradiation

As a result of extensive experimental investigations of radiation-induced conductivity in low density polyethylene (Ldpe) due to a step-function irradiation, it is established that the induced current goes through a maximum before reaching its steady-state value in full agreement with recent theoretical analysis. For the polymer studied the steady-state conductivity is at least six times less than its maximum value while the times of equilibration are extraordinary high (accumulated doses in the range of 105 to 106 Gy). It is implied that experimental data reported so far for low to intermediate dose rates (≦ 1 Gy/s) refer primarily to a maximum rather than a steady-state conductivity as originally thought. Als Ergebnis von ausfuhrlichen experimentellen Untersuchungen der strahlungsinduzierten Leitfahigkeit in Polyathylen niedriger Dichte (Ldpe) nach stufenformiger Bestrahlung wird, in voller Ubereinstimmung mit neueren theoretischen Analysen gefunden, das der induzierte Strom uber ein Maximum geht, bevor er seinen stationaren Wert erreicht. Fur das untersuchte Polymer ist die stationare Leitfahigkeit wenigstens sechsmal niedriger als ihr Maximalwert und die Zeiten fur die Einstellung des Gleichgewichts sind extrem hoch (akkumulierte Dosis im Bereich von 105 bis 106 Gy). Es wird darauf hingewiesen, das die bisher angegebenen experimentellen Werte fur niedrige bis mittlere Dosisraten (≦ 1 Gy/s) sich hauptsachlich auf die maximale statt auf die stationare Leitfahigkeit, wie ursprunglich angenommen, beziehen.
Development of a mushroom‐whey soup powder

Summary Mushroom-whey soup powder was prepared by cooking mushroom with concentrated cheese whey and blending. The seasonings (onion, garlic and ginger) were fried separately in hydrogenated fat, and cornflour was added if thickening was desirable. After the addition of salt and a further quantity of concentrated whey, the soup mix was again blended. It was then spray-dried to produce a mushroom-whey soup powder. The physico-chemical properties of the soup powder, such as moisture content, loose and packed bulk density, wettability, insolubility index, thiobarbituric acid and hydroxy methyl furfural content, increased during storage. However, dispersibility and reflectance value decreased during storage. The soup powder reconstituted well when boiled in water for 2 min. The reconstituted soup was considered acceptable, with an overall acceptability score of 7.1 on a nine-point hedonic scale, after 8 months of storage of the soup powder at 30 °C when packed in metalized polyester.
Orally Subchronic Exposure to Benzo[a]pyrene Alters Reproductive Hormone Profile

The objective of this article was to assess whether benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) alters reproductive hormones, which in turn leads to decreased spermatozoa quality and spermatogenic cell levels. Hsd: ICR (CD1) 10-week old males were orally exposed to B[a]P at 1, 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day of body weight for 30 and 60 days. At the end of the experiment, mice were anesthetized and reproductive tissues, i.e., testes, seminal vesicles, and epididymis, were collected. Spermatogenic cells and mature spermatozoa were recovered from the testes and cauda epididymis, respectively. Spermatozoa quality, including concentration, morphology, motility, and viability, was examined. Testosterone, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in serum were determined using the Enzyme Immunoassay/Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (EIA/ELISA). Mice exposed to B[a]P at 50 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day for 30 days and 60 days exhibited a significantly decrease in serum testosterone and estradiol levels as compared with the control, while FSH and LH remained stable. The levels of testosterone and estradiol were positively correlated with decreased spermatozoa motility (p = 0.025 and 0.014, respectively), viability (p = 0.002 and 0.018, respectively), and morphology (p = 0.007 and 0.018, respectively), but the hormone levels did not correlate with spermatozoa levels. The testosterone and estradiol levels did not correlate with the levels of spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids, and elongated spermatids. Subchronic exposure to B[a]P could modulate the production of testosterone and estradiol, which subsequently influence spermatozoa quality.
Aqueous Chlorination Kinetics and Mechanism of Substituted Dihydroxybenzenes

The initial chlorination kinetics of several substituted dihydroxybenzenes, including chlorinated resorcinol compounds, was studied over the pH range of 2−12 at 22 °C. For each of the resorcinol substrates, the apparent chlorination rates are a minimum in the pH range of 3−6 and a maximum at pH values between 8−11. A mechanism that involves the reaction of HOCl with ArX(OH)2, ArX(OH)O-, and ArX(O-)2, and an acid-catalyzed pathway at pH < 4 was proposed to explain this pH dependence. Over natural water pH conditions, the reactions of HOCl with the anion and dianion forms of resorcinol groups are the most important. Although the intrinsic reactivity of HOCl with resorcinol substrates decreases with the extent of chlorine substitution on aromatic ring, the apparent reactivity of HOCl increases for more chlorinated resorcinols. In the presence of excess HOCl, monochloro- and dichloro resorcinol intermediates, therefore, should not accumulate when resorcinol groups undergo chlorine substitution. Linear free en.