Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, Functionalization, and Bioconjugation of Monodisperse, Silica‐Coated Gold Nanoparticles: Robust Bioprobes

Herein, we report an efficient process for preparing monodisperse Au@SiO2 nanoparticles using homogeneous shaking and without the use of surface‐coupling silane agents or large stabilizers. The resulting pure‐silica surface of the Au@SiO2 nanoparticles is very important for straightforward surface functionalization with different functional groups via well‐established silica surface chemistry. Subsequent covalent bioconjugation of the aldehyde‐functionalized Au@SiO2 nanoparticles with various biomolecules is successfully employed to make robust nanoprobes for fast, colorimetric DNA and protein detection based on the sequence‐specific hybridization properties of DNA and the specific binding affinity between proteins, respectively.
Dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDI) technology combined with coagulation–flocculation for wastewater treatment of pulp and paper industry

Dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDi) and a mixture of coagulants (poly aluminum chloride (PAC) and chitosan) in this study were combined for liquid waste treatment of pulp and paper industry. A coagulant was added as a pre-treatment of liquid waste that contained total suspended solids (TSS). The effect of coagulant and time on the reduction of TSS, reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and color were investigated in this study. The coagulant was a combination of PAC and chitosan with amounts of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 g/L. DBDi process was conducted at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min. A combination of DBDi and coagulants was performed to investigate the reduction of TSS, COD, and color. The initial liquid waste characteristics in this study were 3,929.40 mg/L of COD, 4,185 mg/L of TSS, and 17,140 Pt-Co of color. The efficiency of COD removal was significant at 89.81% using 0.3 g/L coagulant mixture and 40 min of DBDi operation time with a power input of 75 W. The highest TSS removal reached 99.14% and 99.22% color removals. The highest TSS and color removals were observed at 0.4 g/L coagulant and 50 min DBDi operating time. It can be concluded that the combination of DBDi with a mixture of coagulant (PAC and chitosan) is significantly effective in treating liquid waste pulp and paper industry.
Increasing the Perceived Relevance of University Physics Problems by Focusing on School-Related Content Knowledge

The goal of this study is to increase the perceived relevance of university content knowledge courses by physics pre-service teachers. To achieve this goal problem sets discussed in tutorial groups, which are part of first-year physics courses for university physics majors and physics pre-service teachers, were modified in such a way that some of the problems were geared towards the content knowledge category “school-related content knowledge” (SRCK). This category describes conceptual knowledge that is teacher-specific. Conceptual problems based on this category were developed and introduced in weekly tutorials in two different courses (N = 75; N = 43 respectively) together with conceptual problems with no explicit school relevance and with regular, quantitative problems. Every week we asked students of a firstand a second-semester physics course to rate these problems with respect to perceived relevance and difficulty in a questionnaire. One finding is that when the content is more distant to physics taught at school, both conceptual problem types are perceived as more relevant by physics pre-service teachers than the regular, quantitative problems.
Catalytic Synthesis of 3-Alkoxyacrylic Acid Esters Under Neat Conditions

Triethylamine or Ph3P (0.05 eq.) was found to catalyze the addition of alcohols to alkyl propiolates. The reaction occurred much more rapidly without solvent than in solvent. The E/Z ratio was relative to the reaction temperature. Water was found to inhibit the reaction.
COFFEE YIELD AND PHOSPHATE NUTRITION PROVIDED TO PLANTS BY VARIOUS PHOSPHORUS SOURCES AND LEVELS

O fosforo tem sido apontado como um dos nutrientes mais limitantes ao rendimento das culturas, principalmente em solos com avancado grau de intemperismo. Com objetivo de avaliar a dinâmica e disponibilidade de P, teores foliares de P e a produtividade do cafeeiro em funcao da aplicacao de doses e fontes de P, foi instalado um experimento no municipio de Tres Pontas - MG, em uma area de um Argissolo Vermelho. As adubacoes foram realizadas levando em consideracao o resultado da analise de solo, exceto para o fosforo. As doses anuais testadas foram 0, 75, 150, 300, 450 e 600 kg ha-1 de P2O5 e as fontes utilizadas, o superfosfato simples e o termofosfato magnesiano. Procedeu-se analise fisico-quimica do solo e analise de materia seca das folhas. Os teores de P disponivel no solo aumentaram pela aplicacao das duas fontes, assim como os teores foliares de P, que se estabilizaram em torno de 1,8 e 1,9 g kg-1, com a aplicacao de aproximadamente 300 kg ha-1 de P2O5. O cafeeiro mostrou-se responsivo a adubacao fosfatada na fase de producao, obtendo-se na media de tres safras, ganhos de 45,3 e 40,3%, para o superfosfato simples e termofosfato magnesiano, respectivamente, com a aplicacao da maior dose estudada de 600 kg ha-1 de P2O5.
As(III) Adsorption from Drinking Water on Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron: Kinetics and Isotherm Studies

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) is increasingly gaining interest as an efficient sorbent for various types of aqueous pollutants. This paper examined the potential for using laboratory synthesized NZVI particles (∼40 nm, 49.2 m2/g) to remove arsenite [As(III)] from drinking water. Batch experiments were conducted to study the removal kinetics, sorption isotherms, and the effect of anions or heavy metal ions on arsenic removal with NZVI. NZVI demonstrated very rapid adsorption and large capacity for the removal of As(III). The maximum As(III) adsorption capacity in batch experiments calculated by Langmuir adsorption isotherm was 76.3 mg/L of As(III)/g of NZVI. The reduction of As(III) followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics that the rate constants (k SA) was 3.42 mL/m2 min. This study suggests that implementation of NZVI for remediation of As(III) from drinking water is sufficient.
Integration procedure for the quantitative analysis of dispersive anomalous diffraction

The development of the energy/angular dispersive diffraction setup, which can be used for anomalous diffraction, allows the collection of diffracted intensities around an absorption edge, either over a continuous energy range [for DAFS (diffraction anomalous fine structure) studies], or at discrete energies [for simultaneous MAD (multiwavelength anomalous diffraction) studies]. Used with a large two-dimensional detector and an oscillating single crystal, this setup allows simultaneous collection of many reflections for a given energy range. An integration procedure has been developed along with a program, DAD (dispersive anomalous diffraction), for the collection and analysis of the raw images, to yield finally data in the form I(h, k, l, λ) for all reflections. Wavelength calibration and intensity corrections are made during the integration process, and parameters that may be needed in later stages of the analysis are extracted and referenced within the integrated data. A general procedure to calculate the positions of diffracted reflections, for a monochromatic oscillation scan with a two-dimensional detector, when the incident beam is not perpendicular to the oscillation axis, is also described.
Structure of Biogenic Aragonite (CaCO3)

By using high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction at a dedicated synchrotron beam line, ID-31, of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, Grenoble, France), we studied structural and microstructural modifications in biogenic aragonite crystals, obtained from mollusk shells, and subjected to heat treatments at elevated temperatures. All investigated shells revealed anisotropic lattice distortions of the orthorhombic unit cell as compared to geological aragonite. Annealing at temperatures above 150−200 °C led to pronounced lattice relaxation which is accompanied by a substantial reduction of crystallite sizes and related growth of microstrain fluctuations. These findings indicate that biogenic aragonite crystals are strained, apparently, as a result of the amorphous/crystalline phase transformation, which proceeds within the supporting network of oriented biomacromolecules at early stages of biomineralization.
Effects of Heat-Transfer Coefficients on Thermal Dynamics in a Near-Adiabatic Fixed Bed

ABSTRACT Experimental and theoretical studies were performed to investigate thermal dynamics in a fixed bed. The near-adiabatic beds packed with virgin zeolite 13X and water-saturated zeolite 13X were heated with hot nitrogen. The effect of the heat-transfer coefficient between the gas and adsorbed phases, hs, on thermal dynamics was elucidated by a comparison of the thermally heterogeneous and homogeneous models. If hs is obtained from a proper correlation, the prediction of thermal dynamics by the homogeneous model is the same as that by the heterogeneous model. The heat-transfer coefficient at the inner wall, hi, in the packed bed showed a dependency on the flow rate and temperature of hot nitrogen. A dimensionless correlation of NuPM, RePM, and Pr was obtained from the experimental results, and the relation between NuPM and RePM in the correlation was similar to that derived from an internal flow in the vacant bed. Using the values of heat-transfer coefficients estimated from the thermal swing experiments, the dynamics of thermal regeneration in the zeolite 13X bed saturated with water was well predicted.
Rate Constants at Low Concentrations. III. Atomic Oxygen Reactions in the Photolysis of Nitrogen Dioxide at 3660 A

Quantum yields have been obtained for the disappearance of nitrogen dioxide in photolysis at 3660 A and at concentrations below 4×10—7 mole per liter in nitrogen at one atmosphere pressure. The effects of small amounts of added nitric oxide and oxygen on the quantum yields were also observed. From these data and an assumed mechanism it was possible to calculate the rates of reaction of atomic oxygen with nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide relative to the rate of reaction of atomic oxygen with molecular oxygen. These relative rates were converted to absolute rates using Benson and Axworthy's rate constant for the O+O2 reaction.
Characterization of konjac glucomannan–quaternized poly(4‐vinyl‐N‐butyl) pyridine blend films and their preservation effect

Novel polymer blends were prepared from a mixture of 2 wt % konjac glucomannan and 4 wt % quaternized poly(4-vinyl-N-butyl) pyridine (QPVP) in aqueous solution and dried at room temperature for 72 h. Their structure and properties were studied by infrared, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal stability in the dry state was reduced with increasing content of QPVP. Compared with QPVP film, the tensile strength of the films was improved in the dry state. The maximum value of 12.74% tensile break elongation was reached when the content of QPVP was 30%. Structural analysis indicated that clear phase separation was observed when the content of QPVP was only 50%. Results from the filmcoating preservation experiments with lychee showed that this blend film had water-holding ability. The fruit weight loss rate and rot rate both decreased in various degrees. The potential uses of these novel polymer films could be as preservative films. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1868–1875, 2004
Structural, Optical, and Electrical Characterization of ZnO and Al-doped ZnO Thin Films Deposited by MOCVD†

A novel approach is used to deposit transparent Al-doped zinc oxide (AZO) films by metal-organic (MO) CVD using a Zn/Al safe, friendly to use, easily to handle, multimetal, liquid precursor source. Films are highly crystalline, (002) textured, and exhibit good transparency in the visible region (90%). The effects of Al doping on morphological, optical, and electrical performances are scrutinized. Al doping causes an energy gap (Eg) blue shift and a slight decrease in refractive index. Moreover, it favors sizeable changes in grain size and a surface integrity that are responsible for a reduced carrier mobility. Nevertheless, a minimum resistivity value of 5 × 10−2 Ω cm is obtained for thin (∼150 nm) AZO films. Time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) confirms the high crystal quality of deposited films. All features render present AZO films well suited for transparent conductive oxide (TCO) applications and suggest a great potential for the proposed fabrication method.
Microfluidic chip electrophoresis investigation of major milk proteins: study of buffer effects and quantitative approaching

The separation and quantification of major milk proteins are fundamental in dairy research. Therefore, accurate and rapid methods are profoundly important. The microfluidic chip technique is faster, and uses considerably fewer chemicals and materials than traditional techniques. The objective of this study was to improve experimental methods for separating and quantifying major milk proteins using the microfluidic chip technique. Deionized water, a total protein solubilization buffer (TPS buffer) and a separating milk protein buffer (SEP buffer) were used for the treatment of milk samples and their effects were evaluated. The results showed an excellent separation for whey proteins with α-lactalbumin migrating first, followed by β-lactoglobulin in the presence of both buffers. However, better results for major casein separation were obtained when SEP buffer was added. The order of the migration time was: β-casein first, followed by αs-casein and κ-casein. The quantitative analysis showed significant differences among the percentages of protein fractions from both buffers. The results of microfluidic chip technology using the SEP buffer solution were comparable to those obtained by SDS-PAGE for these proteins and to the data reported in the literature.
Chemical and microbiological characterization of Portuguese varieties of pears.

The sun-dried pears of the local variety known as S. Bartolomeu , found in the centre of Portugal, are relatively small fruits, characterized by an intense reddish brown colour, that loose their pronounced astringency with drying. However, and since their production has been declining over the past decades, there has been an increasing interest in drying also for other varieties of pears, also with small dimensions, as an alternative to produce the dried pears. The aim of this work is the evaluation of the nutritional properties of fresh and dried pears of the local varieties known as Amendoa, Amorim, Carapinheira Branca and S. Bartolomeu , all original from of the centre of Portugal. The results enable us to conclude that the fresh pear pulp of all varieties has a low content of protein and a high level of total sugars, as is generally true for fruit. However, their values of dietary fiber ranged between 12 and 15% (dry mass) constituting these pears a potential source of dietary fibre. In addition, it is also possible to conclude that, apparently, the solar stove-drying process has no effect on the nutritional characteristics of the pears, except on total sugars and acidity. The range of water activity values and microbial charge of the different pears also allow inferring that the dried fruits obtained from the four varieties studied are potentially safe from a microbiological point of view. The resemblance in the characteristics of the fruits, together with the similarity of behaviour towards drying, suggests that the fruits of the varieties Carapinheira Branca, Amendoa and Amorim can be viewed as a good alternative to those of the variety S. Bartolomeu for the production of dried pears.
Impact of different land uses on the migration of two herbicides in a silt loam soil: unsaturated soil column displacement studies

Displacement experiments of bromide and two herbicides, isoproturon and metribuzin, were performed in unsaturated undisturbed soil cores sampled on a unique site under (i) conventional wheat/maize rotation, (ii) 10‐year‐old grassed strip and (iii) 80‐year‐old oak/chestnut forest. Steady state conditions at constant rainfall intensity were used to compare the effect of the different land uses on soil herbicide transport and dissipation parameters. For each herbicide, mobility was similar between grassed strip and cultivated soils while it was reduced in the forest soils. The descriptive and moment analyses of the experimental breakthrough curves of bromide and herbicides demonstrated a similar degree of physical non‐equilibrium transport for the cropped and grassland soil columns, with transport ranging from a less intense physical non‐equilibrium status to the complete physical equilibrium state for the forest soil columns. Chemical non‐equilibrium transport was shown for the three situations. Degradation occurred in some columns as demonstrated by the elution of a metabolite of isoproturon. Previous data on sorption and degradation of isoproturon on the same soils were used to explain the differences observed in the analysis of the elution curves between grassed strip, forest and cultivated soil. Averaging Kd values from individual soil layers of each profile gave a satisfying understanding of isoproturon retardation factors. Sorption on soil organic matter was the main factor in herbicide mobility. However, other phenomena such as degradation and formation of non‐extractable residues were involved in the differences observed in leached masses of isoproturon between the three situations.
thermodynamic properties for natural waters covering only the limnological range1

Dissolved salts affect the thermodynamic properties of lake waters. Equations are given to calculate the following properties over the range of 0-0.6 salinity, 0/sup 0/-30/sup 0/C, and 0-180 bars: density, thermal expansibility, temperature of maximum density, maximum density and minimum specific volume, isothermal compressibility, specific heat at constant pressure, specific heat at constant volume, sound speed, adiabatic compressibility, freezing point, adiabatic temperature gradient, and static stability.
Study of reception techniques for aeronautical telemetry modulations

Aeronautical telemetry is a system used during the flight testing phase to monitor the behaviour of the plane by transmitting in real-time the aircraft dynamics from the aircraft to the ground station over a radio-frequency link. It is a critical process that requires highly reliable systems to ensure the pilot's safety. The design and the performance of the transmitting/ receiving equipment have been progressively upgraded over the years, and they mainly rely on continuous phase modulations (CPM) to convey the data. CPM is transmitter friendly because it has a constant complex envelope and therefore power amplifiers can be used at their saturation mode without distorting the signal. However, due to the nonlinear nature of this modulation, it can make the demodulation a hard task especially when considering complex scenarios such as the presence of multipath or the use of multiple antenna transmitters. In this PhD thesis, we focus on shaped offset quadrature phase-shift keying telemetry group (SOQPSK-TG) whose use is getting more and more popular in aeronautical. This modulation belongs to a particular CPM family since it transmits ternary symbols instead of binary ones. In this work, several reception algorithms have been developed for this modulation under different scenarios to ensure the availability of aeronautical telemetry link. These solutions offer excellent power efficiency without prohibitive complexity.
The refraction and dispersion of argon, and redeterminations of the dispersion of helium, neon, krypton, and xenon

So far as we are aware only four determinations of the refractivity of argon have been published. These are as follows:— The first two determinations only deal with the refraction of white light, while the value of Ahrberg’s results is limited by the fact that he was only able to count 12 bands in the red and 50 bands at the other points selected; so that his whole dispersion effect must have been about one band in the violet, a number which is insufficient to ensure great accuracy. Another determination may not, therefore, be considered superfluous. The specimen of argon used by us was kindly lent by Sir William Ramsay, by whom it was purified. The spectrum showed a trace of hydrogen, but none of other gases. The mean of seven experiments gave a refractive index of 1.00028230 for the wave-length 5461. These determinations varied between 1.00028258 and 1.00028183. The dispersion was measured for the seven wave-lengths 6438.5 (Cd), 5790.5 (Hg), 5769.5 (Hg), 5460.7 (Hg), 5209.1 (Ag), 5085.8 (Cd), 4799.9 (Cd).
Sorbitol dehydration in high temperature liquid water

Sorbitol dehydration in high temperature liquid water proceeded at 523–573 K without adding any acid catalysts. Anhydrosorbitols (1,4-anhydrosorbitol (1,4-AHSO), 2,5-anhydrosorbitol (2,5-AHSO) and 1,5-anhydrosorbitol (1,5-AHSO)) were produced by the monomolecular dehydration of sorbitol, and isosorbide was produced by the stepwise dehydration of 1,4-AHSO. The formation rates of 1,4-AHSO and 2,5-AHSO (five-membered cyclic ethers) from sorbitol dehydration were much larger than that of 1,5-AHSO (six-membered cyclic ether), and 1,4-AHSO was the main product of the monomolecular dehydration of sorbitol. The dehydration rate of sorbitol to 1,4-AHSO was faster than that of 1,4-AHSO to isosorbide; therefore, 1,4-AHSO could be obtained as an intermediate product. A kinetic analysis of sorbitol dehydration in high temperature liquid water showed that the maximum yield of 1,4-AHSO from the dehydration of sorbitol increased with decreasing reaction temperature (for example, 80% at 500 K) and that the maximum yield of isosorbide was 57% at 590 K for 1 h. 1,4-AHSO and isosorbide could be produced selectively from sorbitol dehydration in high temperature liquid water by controlling both the reaction temperature and reaction time.
A Note on the Melting Point of Titanium Dioxide

A new determination of the melting point of pure titanium dioxide has been made. The apparatus used and the conditions of experiment are described. It is concluded that some of the figures quoted in the literature are low because of reduction of the dioxide. The present results indicate a melting point of 1840°± 10°C.