Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved Pseudo-Capacitive Performance of Nano-Porous Manganese Oxide on an Electrochemically Derived Nickel Framework

The pseudocapacitance and morphology of electrodeposited transition metal oxides depend significantly on the morphology of the substrate. The nanoporous nickel substrate, derived from selective electro-dissolution of antimony from an electro-deposited Ni–Sb alloy, effectively promotes the electrochemical utilization of manganese oxide deposited on this structure. The large electronic and ionic conduction within the nanostructured deposit improve the energy storage performance of Mn oxide as compared to that on flat Ni substrate. In this work, the MnO2 specific capacitances of around 612 F g−1 were obtained, which was five times higher than Mn oxide deposited on a flat Ni-ribbon. A highly porous electrode having improved electrochemical capacitance has been fabricated by simple and efficient electrochemical procedures.
Time-resolved optical Kerr effect experiments on supercooled benzene and test of mode-coupling theory

We have performed time-resolved optical Kerr effect experiments with heterodyne detection on benzene. We succeeded in supercooling benzene by 21 K below the melting point T m = 279 K, and we investigated the full range of existence from the supercooled phase up to the boiling point T b = 353 K. Our time-resolved data show clearly the complex relaxation pattern of benzene that is characterized by different time scales. These dynamic features, common to many other molecular liquids, to date have not been addressed and there is not a unique theoretical model able to explain them, even in a simple molecular liquid such as benzene. We compare our data with the predictions of a schematic mode-coupling model, fitting the experimental relaxations with a numerical solution of the time-dependent correlation functions. Although the temperature range investigated is clearly outside the asymptotic scaling regime, we found the mode-coupling model able to describe properly the measured dynamics in large time and temperature ranges.
Nitrogen and potassium supply and the morphogenic and productive characteristics of marandu palisadegrass

The objective of this work was to study morphogenic characteristics, and dry matter production of roots and shoots of marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) submitted to combinations of nitrogen and potassium, in a nutritive solution, employing silica as substrate. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse during the summer. It was used a 5 2 fractionated factorial scheme with 13 combinations of nitrogen and potassium, which were distributed in a randomized block design, with four replications. The nitrogen × potassium interaction was significant for the number of tillers and leaves, for leaf area, for shoots and root section dry mass, for total length and surface and specific length and surface in the roots. Production of aerial part dry mass positively correlated with the number of tillers and leaves and grass leaf area. Nitrogen rates modulated the root system development, and the root specific length and surface decreased when high rates of nitrogen and potassium were supllied. Nitrogen and potassium influence Marandu palisadegrass morphogenic characteristics, which are determinant for grass dry matter production.
Application of time-resolved vanadium-51 2D NMR for quantitation of kinetic exchange pathways between vanadate monomer, dimer, tetramer, and pentamer

A two-dimensional 51 V homonuclear NMR exchange experiment (2D-EXSY) has been used to study the oligomerization reactions vanadate undergoes in aqueous solutions. This manuscript describes the first quantitative measurement of complex intermolecular chemical exchange rates by using 51 V (I=7/2) in a 2D-EXSY experiment. Microscopic rate constants for intermolecular exchange were obtained by using a numerical procedure to solve the 2D exchange matrix. The 2D exchange matrix was converted to a rate matrix that could be used in a kinetic analysis of the four exchanging vanadium species
Treatment of oily wastewater by combining ozonation and microfiltration

AbstractIn process industries, a large amount of wastewater is generated in the form of oil-in-water emulsions, which cannot be treated effectively using traditional physical methods. The aim of our investigation was to examine the applicability of the membrane technique and the effect of pre-ozonation in oily wastewater treatment. Pre-ozonation followed by microfiltration (MF) was investigated to determine the main effects of ozonation on the oily water and the filtration parameters such as permeate flux, organic content retention and membrane fouling. Experiments were carried out with a laboratory-scale batch-stirred filtration device, using polyethersulphone MF membranes with a pore size 0.2 μm. The model oily wastewater that was used in these experiments contained petroleum. The results demonstrated that the chemical oxygen demand could be eliminated more effectively through the combination of ozone pre-treatment and membrane filtration, compared to membrane filtration alone.
The response of double‐low winter oilseed rape to fertiliser sulphur

The effect of soil-applied ammonium sulphate (10, 20, 30, 50 and 80 kg S ha−1) and agricultural gypsum (20 and 50 kg S ha−1) and of foliar-applied elemental sulphur (20 kg S ha−1) on the seed yield and chemical composition of double-low cultivars of winter oilseed rape was determined at 11 sites in England during 1989-1991. Significant (P ⩽ 0.05) mean seed yield responses to applied sulphur (S) of 10 and 17% were obtained at two sites on sandy soils in northern England which showed symptoms of severe S deficiency. At a third site on a shallow calcareous soil in south-west England, which did not show S deficiency symptoms, seed yield was consistently but not significantly increased by an average of 8%. At one of the sites in 1989, application of ammonium sulphate caused leaf scorch and, at the maximum rate of S applied, seed and oil yield were decreased. No conclusions were reached regarding the amount of S required for maximum yield response. The S treatments decreased seed oil content by an average maximum of 9 mg g−1. Seed glucosinolate content was increased by a greater amount at the two sites in northern England compared to other sites, where increases averaged only 3 μmol g−1. Analysis of individual glucosinolates in the harvested seed from one of the sites in northern England showed that only the alkenyl glucosinolates were increased by S application. Yield responses were best predicted by total S concentrations and N : S ratio values in young fully-expanded leaves at flowering. Foliar-applied elemental S was consistently less effective in raising leaf S content than ammonium sulphate. Gypsum was occasionally found to be less effective than ammonium sulphate as an S fertiliser.
π-electronic and electrical transport properties of conjugated polymer nanocomposites: Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) with homogeneously dispersed silica nanoparticles

The π-electronic and hole-transport properties of homogeneous composites of poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) with 5 nm diam colloidal silica have been characterized. When the interparticle distance becomes comparable to or shorter than the coherence distance of the polymer chains, the intrachain and interchain order in these nanocomposites gets disrupted. This disruption is reflected in a reduction of the mean conjugation length 〈Lc〉 and a broadening of the Lc distribution. These parameters may be estimated through a combination of optical absorption, Raman scattering, and fluorescence spectroscopies. The optical 〈Lc〉 measured at absorption band maximum decreases from 6.5 repeat units in neat PPV to 4.9 units in the 50 vol % composite. The Raman 〈Lc〉 measured with 633 nm excitation correspondingly decreases from 7 units to 5.6 units while the fluorescence 〈Lc〉 deduced from the 0–0 molecular transition remains nearly constant at 10–11 units. Therefore the bulk of the Lc distribution shifts by a small fracti.
Chemical changes and diastatic activity in grains of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cultivars during germination

Grain samples from 9 sorghum cultivars were germinated for 16, 48, 96 and 144 h, and changes in their diastatic activity, protein, starch, soluble sugars, tannin and total phenols contents were studied. The diastatic activity increased up to 96 h of germination and decreased at 144 h. Diastatic activity showed significant variation among cultivars, which ranged from 10.0 to 88.3 units at 48 h and from 20.0 to 150.4 units at 96 h germination. In general, starch content decreased while soluble sugars increased during germination. Variation in protein content during germination was appreciable among the cultivars
Composite proton conducting membrane by radiation-induced grafting of 1-vinylimidazole onto poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) and phosphoric acid doping

Composite membrane containing phosphoric acid (PA) for possible use in a fuel cell was prepared by radiation-induced grafting of 1-vinylimidazole (1-VIm) onto poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films followed by protonation with PA doping. The preparation procedure involved three steps: (i) irradiation of ETFE films by an electron beam, (ii) grafting of 1-VIm onto the irradiated films under selected conditions and (iii) doping the grafted film with PA. The membrane composition, thermal properties and thermal stability were evaluated using Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The obtained membrane was found to have a degree of grafting of 54% and 6.6 mmol PA per poly-VIm repeating unit with ionic conductivity of 140 mS cm−1 at 120°C and ∼20% relative humidity. The overall results suggest that the membrane has a promising combination of physicochemical properties appealing for possible application in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell above 100°C.
Avaliação e espacialização da erosividade da chuva no Vale do Rio Doce, região centro-leste do Estado de Minas Gerais

A very active and influential parameter in the erosive process is the R factor, called rainfall erosivity. This factor is one of the components of the universal soil loss equation. Studies in spatial variability have been conducted in an attempt to define the spatial distribution of the R factor for a given region. This study aimed to calculate the rainfall erosivity (R factor - EI30) to generate spatial maps. The study was conducted in experimental areas of eucalyptus stands in nine counties of the Rio Doce Valley, Central-Eastern region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Rainfall data from January 2005 to December 2008 were used. Erosivity was spatialized according to geostatistical principles and data interpolation using kriging. The annual rainfall erosivity indexes ranged from 7,970 to 18,646 MJ mm ha-1 h-1 year -1 . The reaching distance of the monthly erosivity index varied from 10 to 177 km, and was 52 km for the annual index.
A first principles investigation of stacking fault energies and bonding in wurtzite materials

Basal plane stacking fault energies for GaN, AlN, InN and BeO are calculated using density functional theory. A relation which links the stacking fault energy to a parameter of the material is sought in order to explain the different stacking fault concentrations observed in each material. An investigation into fully relaxed structures shows that the formation energy is lower in materials with higher c/a ratios. A Mulliken population analysis shows that for the case of the group-III nitrides the stacking fault energy increases monotonically with increasing Mulliken charge.
Robust, electro-conductive, self-healing superamphiphobic fabric prepared by one-step vapour-phase polymerisation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in the presence of fluorinated decyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and fluorinated alkyl silane

A robust, electrically conductive, superamphiphobic fabric was prepared by vapour-phase polymerisation of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) on fabric in the presence of fluorinated decyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (FD-POSS) and a fluorinated alkyl silane (FAS). The coated fabric had contact angles of 169° and 156° respectively to water and hexadecane, and a surface resistance in the range of 0.8–1.2 kΩ □−1. The incorporation of FD-POSS and FAS into the PEDOT layer showed a very small influence on the conductivity but improved the washing and abrasion stability considerably. The coated fabric can withstand at least 500 cycles of standard laundry and 10 000 cycles of abrasion without apparently changing the superamphiphobicity, while the conductivity only had a small reduction after the washing and abrasion. More interestingly, the coating had a self-healing ability to auto-repair from chemical damages to restore the liquid repellency.
Evaluation of indirect competitive and double antibody sandwich ELISA tests to determine β-lactoglobulin and ovomucoid in model processed foods

Abstract Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (indirect competitive and sandwich formats) to determine either β-lactoglobulin or ovomucoid were evaluated in model foods. A cut-off value was established for each kit to consider food samples as positive for milk or egg addition. Sausage and bread were positive at lower percentages of added milk using the sandwich format (0.005 and 0.05%) than the indirect competitive format (0.05 and 0.25%) and pâté was positive at 0.25% milk addition for both formats. Sausage was positive at 0.005%, and bread at 0.05% added egg for indirect competitive and sandwich formats, whereas pâté was positive at 0.25% egg only by the indirect competitive assay. The concentration of added milk and egg to give a positive result depends on heat treatment, being higher for pâté (sterilised), followed by bread (baked) and sausage (pasteurised). The particularities of each format and the heat processing applied influenced the determination by ELISA of allergenic proteins in foods.
Humus composition of Amazonian Dark Earths in the Middle Amazon, Brazil

Abstract The process of humus accumulation has been one of the most important aspects in the pedogenesis of Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE) and Terra Mulata (TM). ADE has been characterized by higher contents of P, Ca and humus than adjacent Yellow Latosol (YL) under anthropogenic effects, and TM has been characterized by slightly less dark topsoil than ADE. The objective of this study was to analyze the composition of humus in ADE using the Kumada's method. A total of 20 soil samples of the A horizons and the transitional AB and BA horizons from three soil profiles of ADE (12 samples), adjacent two YL (4 samples) and a TM (4 samples) were subjected to a humus composition analysis, in which successive extraction with NaOH and Na4P2O7 was conducted. The amounts of the humic acid fractions in NaOH and Na4P2O7 extracts from ADE were distinctly higher than those from the adjacent YL. The RF values, the absorbance at 600 nm per unit concentration of humic acids in 0.1 mol L−1 NaOH of ADE, were not necessarily the highest in the surface horizons, but the darkest humic acids often existed in the transitional AB or BA horizons. The humic acids extracted with NaOH from seven of 16 samples of ADE and TM were classified into Type A, the most humified group, while the humic acids extracted with Na4P2O7 were Type A in 11 samples. Moreover, the amounts of humic acid fractions and RF values of humic acids were positively correlated with the Al + Fe contents in humic acid fractions, especially those extracted with Na4P2O7. Thus, it is possible that humic substances in ADE are stabilized by forming complexes with Al and Fe.
Avaliação tecnológica de variedades de cana-de-açúcar influenciadas por diferentes adubações e supressões de irrigação

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar as caracteristicas tecnologicas de duas variedades de cana-de-acucar submetidas a diferentes niveis de adubacao e supressoes de irrigacao. O experimento foi instalado na Fazenda Experimental da Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, em Janauba-MG. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, tres repeticoes, em parcelas subdivididas (2 x 3 x 6), sendo na parcela duas variedades de cana-de-acucar, RB85-5453 e SP80-1816, com tres epocas de supressao de irrigacao e precipitacao apos emergencia dos perfilhos (DIAC), caracterizadas aos 165, 195 e 225 dias, e na subparcela adubou-se com seis niveis de adubacao mineral, 1 (0 kg ha-1 de N e K2O), 2 (14 kg ha-1 de N e 33 kg ha-1 de K2O), 3 (29 kg ha-1 de N e 66 kg ha-1 de K2O), 4 (43 kg ha-1 de N e 100 kg ha-1 de K2O), 5 (57 kg ha-1 de N e 133 kg ha-1 de K2O) e 6 (71 kg ha-1 de N e 166 kg ha-1 de K2O. As variaveis avaliadas foram: Brix, Pol do caldo, Acucar Total Recuperavel (ATR), Pureza e Litros de alcool estimados. Os niveis de adubacao influenciaram a qualidade do caldo, obtendo media geral de 24,30 °brix, 20,976% pol do caldo, com a variedade RB85-5453 obtendo maiores valores para todas as variaveis analisadas, a variedade RB85-5453 apresentou maiores teores de ATR, atingindo valores superiores a 189,25 kg t-1. Observaram-se valores em alcool estimados maximo de 115,09 L t-1 da variedade RB85-5453 e minimo de 90,21 L t-1 na SP80-1816. Com aplicacao de 71 kg ha-1 de N e 166 kg ha-1 de K2O de adubacao obteve-se melhor desempenho nas condicoes de realizacao deste trabalho. Entre as duas variedades estudadas a RB85-5453 e a mais indicada para a regiao, pois atingiu altos niveis em producao industrial.
Isolation of Escherichia Coli from Raw Milk and Milk Products in Relation to Public Health Sold under Market Conditions at Tandojam, Pakistan

Hundred raw milk and sixty milk product samples namely Gulabjamun, Mawa and Dahi were randomly collected from different localities/sources of Tandojam for the isolation of E.coli, a notorious contaminant. All the samples were inoculated on different bacteriological media and a number of biochemical tests were performed for the confirmation of the isolate. The results revealed that out of 1OO milk samples 57% showed growth of E. coli. The highest number of milk samples contaminated with E. coli were recorded in milk samples obtained from milk vending shops and houses. Among the 60 milk product samples 31(51.66%) showed growth of E.coli, the highest rate of contamination was found in Mawa/Khoa samples.
Stress hormones and sports performance: A critical analysis

Background: In sports event stress is performing in a form of acute or episodic in response of pre competition or post competition match. The hormonal imbalance is the influencing factor for acquiring stress in sports performance. Aim: To review scientific literatures related to stress hormones and sports performance. Method: Researchers collected scientific evidences through electronic databases; Pubmed, Embase, Medline, Google Scholar, Google Advance Search, PsycINFO, ROAJ, DOAJR, Web of Science and critically analyzed all the entire relevant article according to the nature of this study. Findings: It was observed that there are some results in stress hormone on volleyball players. Most of the research are related with cortisol hormone and identified most popular stress hormone. But there are contraindications among the researchers. Another widely studied stress hormone is catecholamine and volleyball performance. Conclusions: A certain level of stress is needed for optimal performance. Too little stress expresses itself in feelings of boredom and not being challenged. Competitive stress does not necessarily impair performance and can in certain circumstances enhance it. Optimum level of stress one gets the benefits of alertness and activation that improves performance.
Lignin turnover in an agricultural field: from plant residues to soil‐protected fractions

Lignin has long been suspected to be a major source of stable carbon in soils, notably because of the recalcitrant nature of its polyphenolic structure relative to other families of plant molecules. However, lignin turnover studies have produced conflicting results, most of them suggesting that large proportions of plant‐residue lignin decompose within a year of incorporation into soils. Here, we propose a two‐reservoir model where lignin in undecomposed plant residue (Lp) can either reach soil fractions where it is somewhat protected from further decomposition (Ls) or is transformed to non‐lignin products. Model calibration data were obtained through compound‐specific 13C isotopic analyses conducted in a zero‐ to 9‐year chronosequence of maize monoculture after wheat in a temperate loam soil of the Paris basin. Lignin was quantified by CuO oxidation as VSC‐lignin, i.e. the sum of vanillil‐ (V), syringyl‐ (S) and coumaryl‐type (C) phenols. Model calibrations indicate that Lp has a turnover rate faster than 1 year and that 92% is mineralized as CO2 or transformed into other non‐lignin products, while only 8% reaches the Ls fraction. Estimated turnover rate of the Ls fraction was 0.05 years−1. The model also suggested that about half of Lp was not measured because it had been excluded from the samples in the process of sieving at 5 mm. In conclusion, the model indicates that chemical recalcitrance alone is not sufficient to explain VSC‐lignin turnover in soils, and that, functionally, the most relevant mechanism appears to be the transfer of VSC‐lignin molecules and fragments from decomposing plant tissues to soil‐protected fractions.
Spatial and temporal patterns of CO2 and CH4 fluxes in China’s croplands in response to multifactor environmental changes

The spatial and temporal patterns of CO2 and CH4 fluxes in China’s croplands were investigated and attributed to multifactor environmental changes using the agricultural module of the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model (DLEM), a highly integrated process-based ecosystem model. During 1980-2005 modelled results indicated that China’s croplands acted as a carbon sink with an average carbon sequestration rate of 33.4 TgC yr-1 (1 Tg = 1012 g). Both the highest net CO2 uptake rate and the largest CH4 emission rate were found in southeast region of China’s croplands. Of primary influences were land-cover and land-use change, atmospheric CO2 and nitrogen deposition, which accounted for 76%, 42% and 17% of the total carbon sequestration in China’s croplands during the study period, respectively. The total carbon losses due to elevated ozone and climate variability/change were equivalent to 27% and 9% of the total carbon sequestration, respectively. Our further analysis indicated that nitrogen fertilizer application accounted for 60% of total national carbon uptake in cropland, whereas changes in paddy field areas mainly determined the variability of CH4 emissions. Our results suggest that improving air quality by means such as reducing ozone concentration and optimizing agronomic practices can enhance carbon sequestration capacity of China’s croplands.