Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface Properties of Elastomeric Polypropylenes Studied with Atomic Force Microscopy

The energy dissipated between tip and sample during dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a sensitive measure of local surface properties. We mapped the surface properties of crystalline and amorphous regions in thin films of different kinds of elastomeric polypropylene (ePP) with 10 nm lateral resolution. The dissipated energy as a function of the amplitude setpoint displays discriminative shapes for both polymer regions. Differences in the shape as well as in the maximum amount of dissipated energy are interpreted as different amounts of amorphous material on top of crystalline regions. Indentation experiments at different amplitude setpoints resulted in indentation depths of the AFM tip up to 11 nm, on both crystalline and amorphous regions. This and the change of dissipated energy upon wet chemical etching indicate that crystalline regions are covered by an up to 10 nm thick amorphous layer.
ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF ORTHOSIPHON STAMINEUS BENTH ROOTS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED TYPE 2 DIABETIC RATS

Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate ethanolic extract of Roots of Orhtosiphon stamineus for antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: In short-term study, STZ induced type 2 diabetic rats were administered with single administration of various doses of methanolic extract (200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg) and changes in blood glucose levels is evaluated. In long-term study, STZ induced type-2 diabetic rats were treated for four weeks with various doses of methanolic extract (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg). Blood glucose levels reduction was monitored at weekly intervals. At the end of the experiment, changes in insulin levels, Glucose-6-phosphatase, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycogen were evaluated. For both the studies glibenclamide (600 μg/kg) is used as standard drug for comparison. Results: Significant reduction in blood glucose levels (p<0.01) was observed with all the doses after 2 h of single dose administration and the effect was dose dependent. Significant reduction in blood glucose levels and dose dependent effect was observed in long-term study. Significant changes in insulin levels were not observed after four weeks of treatment with extract. O . stamineus has shown significant reduction in glucose-6-phosphatase and significant increase in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycogen levels. Conclusion: Results showed that O . stamineus extract possessed significant antidiabetic activity in type 2 diabetic rats which is due to attenuation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glycogen storage and reduced glucose-6-phosphatase which rationalizes its promising use for treatment of diabetes in future. Keywords: O. stamineus roots, type-2 diabetes, glucose levels, glucose-6-phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glycogen.
Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of the essential oils of Cordia leucomalloides and Cordia curassavica from the Northeast of Brazil

Os oleos essenciais das folhas de Cordia leucomalloides e Cordia curassavica foram obtidos por hidrodestilacao e suas composicoes quimicas determinadas por uma combinacao de CG-EM e CG-DIC. Como resultado, vinte e tres componentes foram identificados em ambos os oleos, representando 98,6 e 91,2% da composicao volatil. O oleo essencial de C. leucomalloides foi caracterizado por uma alta percentagem de sesquiterpenos (90,6%), sendo d-cadineno (17,4%), (E)-cariofileno (15,7%), biciclogermacreno (12,5%) e germacreno D (11,2%) os majoritarios. Por outro lado, o oleo de C. curassavica mostrou proporcoes similares de monoterpenos (47,3%) e sesquitepenos (43,9%), entre os quais a-pineno (20,5%), b-pineno (13,1%), (E)-cariofileno (12,4%) e biciclogermacreno (13,8%) foram os compostos predominantes. O potencial larvicida dos dois oleos foi avaliado contra larvas no terceiro estagio do mosquito Aedes aegypti. Os resultados mostraram que ambos os oleos apresentaram atividade biologica significativa, particularmente o oleo essencial de C. leucomalloides, o qual foi capaz de matar 98,7% das larvas numa concentracao de 100 ppm.
Soil particles inhibit colony formation of Escherichia coli on the surface of agar media

Abstract When enumerating Escherichia coli in serial dilution of soil using selective media, soils was found to exert an inhibitory effect on colony formation on the surface of the agar plates. The inhibitory effect did not appear to be due to either soil bacteria or soluble chemicals but to the soil particles themselves. No inhibition was observed when the cells were enumerated by the most probable number (MPN) method. Some alternative plating methods, such as pour-plating or overlaying, were effective in removing the inhibitory effect. Removal of soil particles by simple sedimentation was also effective in enhancing the enumeration efficiency. These observations would be practically important for enumerating bacteria in the soil environment.
Modelagem matemática para a descrição do processo de secagem do feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) em camadas delgadas

The objective of this work was to obtain and to evaluate the drying curves of edible bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and to fit different mathematical models to different experimental data of moisture content and drying air conditions. Edible beans harvested at moisture content of 0.92 (d.b.) were dried until achieving the moisture content of 0.14 (d.b.) under controlled drying air temperatures (35; 45 and 55 °C) and relative humidity of 40 ±2%. Twelve mathematical models cited in the literature were fitted to the experimental data in order to represent the drying process. According to the results and based on the statistical parameters it can be concluded that half of the tested models represent well the edible bean drying phenomena. Within them the classic Page model was selected due to its simplicity and widely use within researchers to describe the agricultural product drying kinetic. The relationship between the drying constant k and the drying air temperature can be described through Arrheniuss equation presenting activation energy of 10.08 kJ mol-1.
Polymer melt micronisation using supercritical carbon dioxide as processing

Plastic is een materiaal dat in de industrie vooral populair is omdat je het met het grootste gemak in alle mogelijke vormen kunt gieten. Om er kleine, gelijkvormige bolletjes van te maken is echter een kunst apart. De kunststof polyester wordt in deze vorm gebruikt als poeder voor toner. De farmaceutische industrie gebruikt bolletjes van polyethyleenglycol om geneesmiddelen in te kapselen die gecontroleerd moeten worden gedoceerd. In een nieuwe methode voor het maken van dergelijke deeltjes in de grootte van nanometers tot micrometers wordt CO2-gas gebruikt ter vervanging van milieu-onvriendelijke chemische oplosmiddelen. Sameer Nalawade deed onderzoek naar het optimaliseren van deze productiemethode. Hij maakte daarbij gebruik van een extruder (schroefvormige vermaler) en een mengapparaat met spuitmond. Behalve voor het milieu biedt de methode ook veel voordelen in economisch en technisch opzicht.
Substituent Effect on Claisen Rearrangement of 1-Substituted 2-Cinnamyloxybenzenes

Claisen rearrangement of 1-substituted 2-cinnamyloxybenzenes was carried out in decalin. For methyl-, acetyl- and methoxycarbonyl derivatives, the para-rearranged product was predominant. Reactions of nitro- and carboxyl derivatives were relatively fast and produced ortho-rearranged products. For other derivatives, intramolecular hydrogen bonds formed so that keto-enol tautomerism between the ortho-dienone intermediate and ortho-rearranged product proceeded smoothly.
On the interpretation of molecular valence Auger spectra

The interpretation of molecular valence Auger spectra by means of ab initio computational methods is discussed. As alternatives to self‐consistent‐field optimizations of the full Auger spectrum, the feasibility of a procedure based on single ionization potentials and of CI calculations using frozen orbitals is tested. Numerical calculations are performed for the CO, N2, NO, and CO2 molecules, which show especially structure‐rich Auger spectra. These spectra are analyzed in detail and they are found to contain three nonoverlapping regions of transitions corresponding to final state vacancies in outer–outer, outer–inner, and inner–inner valence orbitals. It is investigated whether this division of the transitions also is relevant with respect to the magnitude of dynamical relaxation errors in the single ionization potential procedure or with respect to the choice of molecular orbital basis in the CI calculations. CI effects are found to be important for intensities and energies of the Auger transitions in t.
Single and Multiple‐Step Dip‐Coating of Colloidal Maghemite (γ‐Fe2O3) Nanoparticles onto Si, Si3N4, and SiO2 Substrates

The adsorption behavior of colloidal maghemite (γ‐Fe2O3) nanoparticles, passivated by oleic acid and dispersed in octane solution, onto three different substrates (Si, Si3N4, and SiO2) is investigated. The average nanoparticle size is 10 nm, with a size variation (σ) less than 5 %. The adsorption of particles is strongly dependent on both the type of substrate and the particle concentration in solution. By a single‐dipping process, we have obtained a maximum coverage of 0.45 on a Si substrate, but much less on other substrates (0.19 on Si3N4 and 0.14 on SiO2). The particle coverage was drastically increased by the multiple‐adsorption process, where the process of dipping and drying was repeated multiple times. With this process, we can obtain a maximum particle coverage of about 0.76 on a Si substrate and 0.61 on a thermally grown SiO2 substrate.
SYNTHESIS OF CRUDE OIL POUR POINT DEPRESSANTS VIA POLYCONDENSATION OF CASHEW NUT SHELL LIQUIDS

With a high content of paraffi n, c.a. 17 30wt%, of which 50% or more are high (solid) paraffi n, Vietnamese crude oil is classifi ed as paraffi nic crude oil and has a high pour point, typically in the range of 27 38oC. This high pour point may cause some serious problems in production, transportation, and storage; and pose the need for use of an eff ective pour point depressant (PPD) additive. In general, a PPD is a high molecular weight substance that may eff ectively disperse and hinder the growth of oil’s paraffi n crystals when adsorbing on them. Ideally, the structure of PPD consists of (i) a paraffi n-like part, which can co-crystallise with paraffi n components of crude oil; and (ii) a polar part, which limits the level of co-crystallisation [1, 2]. Copolymers of alkyl acrylates and maleic anhydride are common PPDs used in practice [3 5].
Superabsorbent hydrogel composites

A new cost-effective approach to enhance gel strength of superabsorbent hydrogels was invented. Superabsorbent hydrogel composites (SHCs) were prepared through an optimized rapid solution polymerization of concentrated partially neutralized acrylic acid in the presence of a crosslinking agent under normal atmospheric conditions. Kaolin was used as an inorganic component in the polymerization process to strengthen the hydrogel products. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to confirm grafting of acrylic chains on to the surface of kaolin particles. Morphology of the products was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compared with the kaolin-free hydrogel (control), kaolin caused a reduced equilibrium swelling and swelling rate as low as 17–31% and 19–29%, respectively. Kaolin, however, resulted in enhanced gel strength as high as 21–35% compared to the control. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to study thermal properties of the composites. The SHCs exhibited higher thermal stability than the control. Meanwhile, changes in certain thermal transitions reconfirmed the chemical interaction of the acrylic chain with kaolin. These thermostabilized strengthened superabsorbent hydrogels may be considered as good candidates for agricultural application to retain more water under soil pressure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organic PM 2.5 : Fractionation by Polarity, FTIR Spectroscopy, and OM/OC Ratio for the Pittsburgh Aerosol

A polarity-based extraction/fractionation method validated with standard compounds was used to characterize organic aerosol samples collected during the Pittsburgh Air Quality Study (PAQS). Organic extracts were separated into 5 polarity classes by sequential elution with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol. Organic mass (OM) and carbon mass (OC) were measured in samples, their extracts, and their corresponding fractions yielding OM/OC ratios and the contribution of each polarity fraction to total OM. The study average OM/OC ratio for each fraction [(OM/OC)fraction] varied from 1.37 for the hexane fraction to 2.25 for the methanol fraction. OM/OC ratios for “non-extractable” organics ((OM/OC)N-E) were also predicted; the study average (OM/OC)N - E was 2.54, consistent with ratios of 2.1–3.2 for water-soluble organic aerosol species. Annual average ratios with and without the contributions of the “non-extractable” material [(OM/OC)total and (OM/OC)extract, respectively] were 2.05 ± 0.18(1σ) and 1.91 ± 0.24(1σ), similar to OM/OC of atmospherically relevant oligomers and aged aerosols measured elsewhere. Ratios were somewhat higher during summer/winter than spring/fall, probably because of a greater contribution of oxidized species such as dicarboxylic acids (summer), levoglucosan (winter and/or summer), and humic-like-substances (HULIS; winter and/or summer). We hypothesize that the OM/OC of atmospheric aerosols approaches a value of 1.9–2.1 as it ages and oligomerizes in the atmosphere. The annual-average contributions of each fraction to the total collected OM mass were, 16.8, 14.0, 11.7, 11.5, 19.3, and 26.7% for the hexane-, dichloromethane-, ethyl acetate-, acetone-, methanol-, and “non-extractable” fractions, respectively. Thus non-polar and very polar species dominated the OM mass throughout the year. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to further characterize the composition of extracts and fractions. This method can be used to fractionate organic PM for toxicological studies as well as organic aerosol characterization.
Evaluation of surfactants for use in the spray treatment of iron chlorosis in citrus trees

Wetting and stomatal penetration of plant leaves by spray solutions can be obtained when the surface tension of the spray solution is sufficiently low. Low surface tension fluorocarbon and silicone-based surfactants were active at lower concentrations and were found to be less harmful to plant cell membranes than a comparable carbohydrate-based surfactant. A silicone-based surfactant greatly increased the efficiency of iron solutions sprayed onto chlorotic citrus trees.
A review of modeling bioprocesses in membrane bioreactors (MBR) with emphasis on membrane fouling predictions

Membrane bioreactor technology is an attractive approach for combined wastewater treatment and water reclamation. Although considerable practical experience and experimental data are available, regarding the operation of MBR, mathematical models that would be valuable for improved design and optimization of MBR systems are still at an unsatisfactory state. This paper presents a critical review of existing activated sludge mathematical models and variations thereof, with emphasis on the special requirements which arise from the strong interaction of the concurrently occurring biological process and membrane filtration in MBR systems. The desirable attributes of an activated sludge model, focused on MBR technology, emerge by assessing the influence of this interrelation on both processes. Special attention is paid to identifying key variables that can help establish a direct link between bioprocess modeling and membrane fouling models. Various activated sludge models, originally developed for, and commonly used in the conventional activated sludge systems, as well as some modified versions employed in MBR systems, are reviewed. It is pointed out that these models, by design, have inherent deficiencies for MBR simulation mainly because they do not provide sufficient data to comprehensively simulate the fate of different microbial products (like EPS and SMP) that play an important role in membrane fouling. The necessity of an alternative bioprocess modeling framework, de novo focused on the specific needs of the MBR technology, as well as guidelines concerning the development of such a model are suggested in the paper.
The Influence of Steric Effect, Alkyl Chain Length, and Donor Number of Solvents on the Extraction of Copper(II) Complexes with 1-Alkyl-4-Methylimidazoles

Abstract The formation of Cu(II) complexes with 1-alkyl-4-methylimidazoles (where alkyl = butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, and decyl) has been studied by using the liquid-liquid partition method at 25°C and a fixed ionic strength of the aqueous phase (I = 0.5; (HL)NO3, KNO3). 2-Ethylhexanol, dichloromethane, chloroform, p-xylene, and toluene were used as a solvent. Stability constants, βn, of the complexes in aqueous solution were determined as well as their partition ratios between the organic and aqueous phase. Under the influence of the steric effect, the methyl group in position 4 as well as the length of the alkyl group in position 1 of the ligands and electron-donating properties of solvents, both the polyhedral structure and the co-ordination numbers of the Cu(II) complexes are changed, thus resulting in an increase in the solvent/water partition ratios, Pn, of the complexes and lowering of the pH1/2 of the extraction.
Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of zerovalent group 6 metal pentacarbonyl aryl oxide complexes. Reactions with carbon dioxide

The synthesis of [Et 4 N] [M(CO) 5 OR)] (M=Cr, Mo, W: R=Ph, C 6 H 4 CH 3 −m) from the reaction of M(CO) 5 THF and [Et 4 N] [OR] in tetrahydrofuran is reported. In the absence of a carbon monoxide atmosphere these mononuclear species readily aggregate via a CO dissociation pathway to the tetranuclear species [Et 4 N] 4 [M(CO) 3 OR] 4 . The [Et 4 N] [W(CO) 5 OPh] complex was characterized in the solid-state by X-ray crystallography
Comparism Of The Quality Parameters Of The Seed And Condiment Oil Of Adansonia Digitata

s: The oil quality parameters of the seed and condiment oil of Adansonia digitata were evaluated. The Iodine value, Peroxide value, Saponification value and percentage Free Fatty Acid (FFA) were 98.07g/100g, 1.4mEq/Kg, 122.60mg/g and 0.21% respectively for seed oil and 71.06g/100g, 10.20mEq/Kg, 142.80mg/g and 6.37% respectively for the condiment oil. The variation in the parameters from seed oil to condiment oil observed include increased in peroxide value, FFA and Saponification value and decreased in Iodine value. The changes have been interpreted to be due to some structural changes in the Triglyceride leading to the formation of new chemical properties and products. The Infra Red (IR) spectra have also given an identification of Rancidity of the condiment oil due to bands observed at 3400- 2700 and 1705 cm -1 indicating the possible formation or absence of acid and aldehyde respectively; which are products of oxidative Rancidity.
Assessment of various parameters of metal biology in marine microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Dunaliella tertiolecta.

This work reports on the variations in copper and zinc uptake, accumulation, toxicity, and chlorophyll-a contents in two marine algae, Dunaliella tertiolecta and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, that are important in the food chain and widely used as indicators. Each of the heavy metals tested was applied to a batch system over a period of 96 h applying high metal concentration (5-50 mg L -1 ). Experimental results showed that there was an increase in bioaccumulation in both Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Du
Review of Ion-Molecule Reactions with Atomic and Molecular Hydrogen Suitable for Future Studying Using 22-Pole Ion Trap

Ion-molecule reactions with atomic and molecular hydrogen are reviewed in the article, such as O - + H2, OH - + H, H + + H2, H + + D2, D + + H2, D + + D2 and CHx + + H and H2 (x = 0…5). Their rate coefficient dependencies on temperature are shown. The history of the experiments with these reactions, some previous results and theoretical predictions are discussed. In the end, conclusions and projects for future experiments are given. During the experiment the number of reactant and product particles is counted and hence after taking the logarithm of the both parts of equation (3) the rate coefficient of the reaction is calculated. In this article the review of three groups of ion (atomic hydrogen and deuterium cations, hydrocarbon cations, some anions) reactions with atomic and molecular hydrogen will be presented. The previous experimental results and theoretical calculations and predictions will be given. The laboratory technique and experimental conditions will be also regarded. H + + H2 and D2, D + + H2 and D2 reactions
Trace metal leaching in a spodosol irrigated with tomato packinghouse wastewater

Tomato packinghouse wastewater is often applied to land in Florida, but the sandy soils, low levels of organic matter, shallow groundwater and abundant rainfall present favourable conditions for leaching of wastewater‐borne trace metals. We investigated the leaching of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) from a sandy siliceous, hyperthermic Oxyaquic Alorthods packed in two distinct soil horizons (Ap and A/E) in 12 polyvinyl chloride soil columns (30 cm internal diameter × 50 cm length). Thirty leaching events were conducted by daily applying tomato packinghouse wastewater at low (0.84 cm/day), medium (1.68 cm/day) and high (2.51 cm/day) rates for 30‐days period. Control treatment received de‐ionized water at the same application rate as the medium treatment (1.68 cm/day). Application of wastewater at three rates did not affect the mean concentrations of Cu in leachate (0.19–0.2 mg/L) because of retention of Cu in the soil profile. However, leachate Zn concentrations were twice as much (0.3–0.32 mg/L) following wastewater application than for the control (0.13 mg/L) treatment. Leaching losses of Cu and Zn were smaller with the medium wastewater treatment (similar to control treatment) than for the high wastewater treatment. Concentrations of Cu and Zn at the 50 cm soil depth were much less than the drinking water standards, suggesting a minimum risk of groundwater contamination under fields to which wastewater was applied. Our results imply that tomato packinghouse wastewater can be safely land‐applied at 1.68 cm/day to Florida’s Spodosols under vegetable production without concerns of significant trace metal leaching.
Influence of Foliar Applied Nitrogen on Reproductive Growth of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Water Stress

Nitrogen is a major nutrient involved in plant growth and yield. Plants cannot get the nutrients from the soil medium under water stress condition to testify foliar application in stress condition to fulfil plant need for better performance. In this regard, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of foliar-applied nitrogen (0, water and 1% urea) on sunflower (cv. Hysun-33) under normal and water stress at reproductive stage. Two soil applied nitrogen levels control (0 kg·ha-1) and recommended dose (115 kg·ha-1). Supplemental foliar application of nitrogen in the form of urea significantly increased the growth, yield and yield components of sunflower under water stress. The increase in yield with 1% urea spray was recorded up to 1.37 t·ha-1 in comparison to water spray (1.07 t·ha-1) and no spray (1.00 t·ha-1). While maximum values of all factors were obtained where 1% urea spray with soil applied nitrogen was used in both stresses as well as in non-stress condition. Therefore, reasonable yield can be achieved by applying foliar application of urea (1%) as a supplemental source to soil applied nitrogen under water stress.