Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nanolamellar triblock of poly-D,L-lactide–δ-valerolactone–D,L-lactide with tuneable glass transition temperature and crystallinity for use as a drug-delivery vesicle

A biodegradable triblock copolymer, poly-D,L-lactide–δ-valerolactone–D,L-lactide, was synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of δ-valerolactone and the sequential addition of the D,L-lactide monomer to the hydroxyl end of a functionalized poly-δ-valerolactone macroinitiator. The copolymer was then evaluated for its suitability as a drug-delivery vesicle. The effect of the monomer ratio, catalyst and initiator concentration on the structure was investigated using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel-permeation chromatography. 1H-NMR confirmed the presence of the D,L-lactide segment as the terminal segment and δ-valerolactone as the mid-segment. 13C-NMR was used to study the block sequencing and extent of trans-esterification. The crystallization of the triblock was retarded compared with the pure poly-δ-valerolactone homopolymer due to the incorporation of the D,L-lactide moiety at the chain end of the poly-δ-valerolactone segment. The glass transition temperatures of the two blocks shifted depending on the ratio of the two monomers. The triblock, with molecular weights between 5000 and 10 000 Da, showed a separated morphology in the nanophase, with alternating stripes of amorphous and crystalline segments (3–6 nm) under transmission electron microscopy. The triblock was then fabricated into microspheres with an average diameter of 17.2 μm and was used to encapsulate salicylic acid. The formation of pores on the surface of the microsphere facilitated the release of the salicylic acid. The release profile displayed the characteristics of a potential carrier.
The effect of nitrogen and potassium on N-NH4 and N-NO3 accumulation and nutrient contents in rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) leaves.

Fertilization of horticultural plants significantly contributes to increased yield but also affects yield quality. Nitrogen, potassium, and sulphur, which belong to the main macronutrients, can have a large effect on the chemical composition of edible parts of plants. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the rate of nitrogen as well as of the rate and form of potassium on the accumulation of dry matter, N-NH4, N-NO3, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu in the leaves of garden rocket grown in a greenhouse during the spring period. These macronutrients were applied at the following rates (in g . dm -3 of medium): 0.3 and 0.6 N in the form of Ca(NO3)2; 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 K in the form of K2SO4 and KCl; 0.4 P; 0.2 Mg; as well as the following micronutrients (in mg · dm -3 of medium): 8.0 Fe (EDTA); 5.1 Mn (MnSO4 · H2O), 13.3 Cu (CuSO4 · 5H2O), 0.74 Zn (ZnSO4 · 7H2O), 1.6 B (H3BO3); 3.7 Mo (NH4)6Mo7O24 · 4H2O). The increased rates of nitrogen and potas- sium caused significant changes in dry weight (DW) of rocket plants; its higher propor- tion was found when the lower rate of N was applied, compared to the higher rate. The in- creased rate of N increased the content of N-NH4 and N-NO3, whereas the rising amount of K in the medium resulted in a decrease in the amount of N-NO3 in the plant material studied. Plants fertilized with the lower rate of nitrogen accumulated more iron and zinc as well as less manganese than plants that received more of this nutrient. Plants fed with the highest rate of K accumulated the largest amount of iron, while the largest amount of manganese was found in plants that received the lowest amount of this nutrient. The ap- plication of K2SO4, as a source of potassium, contributed to an increased accumulation of iron, whereas the application of KCl resulted in an increased concentration of manganese in rocket leaves.
Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin film solar cells produced by selenisation of magnetron sputtered precursors

Polycrystalline thin films of Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) were produced by selenisation of Cu(Zn,Sn) magnetron sputtered metallic precursors for solar cell applications. The p‐type CZTSe absorber films were found to crystallize in the stannite structure (a = 5·684 Å and c = 11·353 Å) with an electronic bandgap of 0·9 eV. Solar cells with the indium tin oxide structure (ITO)/ZnO/CdS/CZTSe/Mo were fabricated with device efficiencies up to 3·2% measured under standard AM1·5 illumination. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Concentration Dependence of `Redchief Delicious' Apple Fruit Softening and Chlorophyll Fluorescence to Repeated Doses of 1-Methylcyclopropene

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. texture, fi rmness, ripening, storage, temperature ABSTRACT. We studied the dose-response of ʻRedchief Deliciousʼ apple (Malus sylvestris (L) Mill. var. domestica (Borkh.) Mansf. ) fruit to repeated (weekly) dosages of 0.0, 0.02, 0.1, and 1.0 µL·L -1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) by measuring fruit fi rmness and chlorophyll fl uorescence throughout an extended storage period at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C. The rate of fi rmness loss for nontreated fruit increased with increasing temperature. 1-MCP applied at concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 µL·L -1 slowed fi rmness loss. The 1-MCP dose-response curve for the rate of fi rmness loss was essentially the same for all fi ve temperatures. A concentration of 1.0 µL·L -1 1-MCP prevented fi rmness loss at all temperatures for the duration of the study; however, after holding fruit for an additional 7 days at room temperature, the fruit stored at 10 °C softened with increasing storage duration, whereas fruit at stored at higher and lower temperatures did not. The infl uence of 1-MCP on chlorophyll fl uorescence (Fo and Fm) was markedly affected by temperature; Fo increased during storage at higher storage temperatures and this increase was enhanced by 1-MCP. Conversely, Fm decreased during storage and the rate of decline was much greater at the higher storage temperatures; the rate of decline was reduced by 1-MCP, but only at the higher storage temperatures. Photochemical effi ciency (Fv/Fm) of nontreated fruit declined with time for all storage temperatures. Treatment with 0.1 and 1.0 µL·L -1 1-MCP only marginally reduced the rate of decline of photochemical effi ciency. Sample loss due to decay increased with temperature, but was reduced by 1-MCP at all temperatures.
Synthesis, Spectral and Pharmacological Study of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) Coordination Complexes

Complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) with 2,5–Dihydroxy butyrophenone thiosemicarbazone(L 1) / 2,5–Dihydroxy benzophenone thiosemicarbazone(L 1') as primary ligand and 2,2’-bipyridyl(L 2) as a secondary ligand have been synthesized. Complexes were characterized by analytical data, molar conductance, magnetic measurement, electronic spectra, IR spectra and thermogravimetric analysis. The stereo -chemistry of the coordination complexes has been confirmed on the basis of electronic, spectral and magnetic moment studies. Racah’s inter -electronic parameter(B), Cubic Ligand field splitting parameter (10 Dq) and Nephelauxetic ratio( β), g, λ, h have also been calculated and it has been found that the values are in accordance with the stereochemical structure of the coordination complexes. Elemental analysis and spectral studies suggest the octahedral stereochemistry for all the complexes. Ligands and their complexes with Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) were also screened for their inhibitory effects against four organisms viz; S.aureus, B.megaterium, B.cereus and E.coli by cup-plate method. The results of the evaluation of antibacterial activity show that all the synthesized complexes exhibit considerable activities towards all the four pathogenic bacteria. The activity of the mixed complexes has been found to be greater than those of the metal salts and ligands. Moreover, it has also been noticed that the thiosemicarbazones show low activity towards E. coli.
Denitrification and nitrous oxide cycling within the upper oxycline of the eastern tropical South Pacific oxygen minimum zone

One of the shallowest, most intense oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) is found in the eastern tropical South Pacific, off northern Chile and southern Peru. It has a strong oxygen gradient (upper oxycline) and high N2O accumulation. N2O cycling by heterotrophic denitrification along the upper oxycline was studied by measuring N2O production and consumption rates using an improved acetylene blockage method. Dissolved N2O and its isotope (15N:14N ratio in N2O or δ15N) and isotopomer composition (intramolecular distribution of 15N in the N2O or δ15Nα and δ15Nβ), dissolved O2, nutrients, and other oceanographic variables were also measured. Strong N2O accumulation (up to 86 nmol L−1) was observed in the upper oxycline followed by a decline (around 8‐12 nmol L−1) toward the OMZ core. N2O production rates by denitrification (NO2− reduction to N2O) were 2.25 to 50.0 nmol L−1 d−1, whereas N2O consumption rates (N2O reduction to N2) were 2.73 and 70.8 nmol L−1 d−1. δ15N in N2O increased from 8.57% in the middle oxycline (50‐m depth) to 14.87% toward the OMZ core (100‐m depth), indicating the progressive use of N2O as an electron acceptor by denitrifying organisms. Isotopomer signals of N2O (δ15Nα and δ15Nβ) showed an abrupt change at the middle oxycline, indicating different mechanisms of N2O production and consumption in this layer. Thus, partial denitrification along with aerobic ammonium oxidation appears to be responsible for N2O accumulation in the upper oxycline, where O2 levels fluctuate widely; N2O reduction, on the other hand, is an important pathway for N2 production. As a result, the proportion of N2O consumption relative to its production increased as O2 decreased toward the OMZ core. A N2O mass balance in the subsurface layer indicates that only a small amount of the gas could be effluxed into the atmosphere (12.7‐30.7 µmol m−2 d−1) and that most N2O is used as an electron acceptor during denitrification (107‐468 µmol m−2 d−1).
University Supports for Open Access: A Canadian National Survey

The advent of policies at research-funding organizations requiring grantees to make their funded research openly accessible alters the life cycle of scholarly research. This survey-based study explores the approaches that libraries and research administration ofﬁ ces at the major Canadian universities are employing to support the research-production cycle in an open access era and, in particular, to support researcher adherence to funder open-access requirements. Responses from 21 universities indicated that librarians feel a strong sense of mandate to carry out open access-related activities and provide research supports, while research administrators have a lower sense of mandate and awareness and instead focus largely on assisting researchers with securing grant funding. Canadian research universities already contain infrastructure that could be leveraged to support open access, but maximizing these opportunities requires that research administration ofﬁces and university libraries work together more synergistically than they have done traditionally. Normal.dotm 0 0 1 189 1082 The University of British Columbia 9 2 1328 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false L’apparition de politiques provenant d’organismes de ﬁ nancement en recherches qui obligent les recipiendaires de rendre les resultats de leur recherche libre a l’acces, a un impacte sur le cycle de vie de la recherche academique. Ce sondage national en ligne explore les mesures prises par les bibliotheques et les administrateurs universitaires de la recherche oeuvrant dans des grandes universites du Canada pour appuyer le cycle de production de recherche dans une ere d’acces libre, et en particulier les mesures appuyant l’adhesion des chercheurs aux exigences d’acces libre de leur agence subventionnaire. Les reponses de la part de 21 universites canadiennes indiquent que les bibliothecaires sont fortement motivees a offrir des activites reliees a l’acces libre ainsi qu’a offrir de l’appui a la recherche, tandis que les administrateurs demontrent un engagement moins eleve a cet egard et se concentrent principalement a aider les chercheurs a obtenir des subventions. Les universites canadiennes de recherche possedent deja des infrastructures pouvant etre exploitees pour soutenir l’acces libre. Cependant, aﬁ n de maximiser ces opportunites, cela necessitera un travail partage entre les bibliothecaires et les administrateurs de la recherche qui est beaucoup plus conjoint qu’anterieurement.
Removal of Congo Red Dye from Aqueous Solution by Polyaniline- Montmorrillonite Composite

A wide range of methods have been implemented for the removal of synthetic dyes from wastewater to decrease their impact on the environment. The methods such as decolorization by photocatalysis or oxidation process, enzymatic or microbiological decomposition, adsorption on inorganic or organic matters are used for removing various dyes from industrial wastewater. Adsorption method is proved to be the most popular and effective technique for the removal of dyes from aqueous solution. Therefore, we synthesised polyaniline-montmorrillonite composite (PANi-MMT) and it was used to remove congo red dye from industrial wastewater by adsorption method. The equilibrium parameters for the adsorption of congo red dye on PANi-MMT composites are collected which reveal that the amount of congo red dye adsorbed per unit mass of the adsorbent (PANi-MMT) is increased with increase in concentration and rise in temperature. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption equilibrium. The spectral studies of the adsorbents before and after the adsorption are recorded to get better insight into the mechanism of the adsorption process. The results of the equilibrium parameters, FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TGA studies have revealed that the removal of congo red dye from wastewater occurs via a physico-chemical mechanism.
Total dissolved solid modeling; Karkheh Reservoir case example.

The Karkheh Dam Reservoir with a capacity of more than 5 billion cubic meter is the largest dam in Iran with both agricultural and drinking usages. Its hydrodynamics and water quality were modeled and simulated to analyze the total maximum daily load (TMDL) of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). The simulation was supported with measurements of temperature and TDS measurements during two years. A laterally averaged 2D model called CE-QUAL-W2 was used for the simulation and hypothetical low height spillways were implemented in the model to avoid drying of the cells in the river branch. The model was then calibrated successfully with an absolute mean error of 0.71 ° C. More importantly, vertical stratification of temperature and TDS in the Karkheh Reservoir was reproduced by the model throughout years 2000 to 2003. The calibrated model was then used to simulate water quality response to various TDS reduction scenarios. Model results reveal that a 50% reduction of the TDS load is required for a 40% reduction of TDS in the reservoir outlet. The modeling of a complex combination of a steep and long river -reservoir system was another important achievement of this study.
Atividade antioxidante do α-tocoferol e do extrato de alecrim em óleo de soja purificado

Lipid oxidation is one of the most serious alterations that affect either oil or fat , and some food containing these products, and it is responsible for causing unpleasant taste and smell. On technical terms, the use of antioxidants is one of the easiest ways to reduce the fat oxidation. There are evidences indicating that synthetic antioxidants may have undesirable effects for human health, thence searches for natural antioxidants as an alternative source have been encouraged. The present study aimed to evaluate the rosemary extract antioxidant activity, which contains 4% of fenolic diterpenes, and comparing with 97% pure α -tocopherol, using purified soybean oil as lipid substrate. The antioxidant activity was analyzed in concentrations of 0, 100, 300, 500, 800 , and 1 , 000 mg/kg for rosemary extract (ALE) , and of 0, 100, 200, 400, 600 , and 700 mg/kg for α -tocopherol (TOC), by means of oxidative stability determination using Rancimat. The observed antioxidant activity ranking was 600 mg/kg TOC > 400 mg/kg TOC > 1.000 mg/ kg ALE > 200 mg/kg TOC > 800 mg/kg ALE > 500 mg/kg ALE > 100 mg/kg TOC > 300 mg/kg ALE > 100 mg/kg ALE.
Preparation of gold, platinum, palladium and silver nanoparticles by the reduction of their salts with a weak reductant–potassium bitartrate

Gold and platinum nanoparticles were synthesized by the reduction of their salts with potassium bitartrate as the reductant and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG) (for Pt nanoparticles) or 3,3′-thiodipropionic acid (TDPC) as the protective agent. In the presence of PVP or TDPC, the preparation of palladium and silver nanoparticles were also realized by the reduction of their salts with potassium bitartrate under alkaline conditions. The effect of the concentration of the protective agents on the particle size and morphology were investigated in detail. At a constant concentration of Au and Pt ions, the average diameter of Au or Pt nanoparticles tends to decrease with an increase in the concentration ratios of the protective agents to AuCl4− or PtCl62−. Except for PVP passivated Au nanoparticles, smaller Au and Pt particles with a sharp size distribution could be obtained at higher concentration ratios of the protective agents to the metal ions, as determined by TEM measurements. All the noble metal colloidal particles have very high stability.
MinK-Related Peptide 1

Abstract —The HCN family of ion channel subunits underlies the currents I f in heart and I h and I q in the nervous system. In the present study, we demonstrate that minK-related peptide 1 (MiRP1) is a β subunit for the HCN family. As such, it enhances protein and current expression as well as accelerating the kinetics of activation. Because MiRP1 also functions as a β subunit for the cardiac delayed rectifier I Kr, these results suggest that this peptide may have the unique role of regulating both the inward and outward channels that underlie cardiac pacemaker activity. The full text of this article is available at http://www.circresaha. org.
Tuning electronic and magnetic properties of early transition-metal dichalcogenides via tensile strain

We have performed a systematic first-principles study of the effect of tensile strains on the electronic properties of early transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) monolayers MX2 (M = Sc, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Cr; X = S, Se, Te). Our density functional theory calculations suggest that the tensile strain can significantly affect the electronic properties of many early TMDCs in general and the electronic bandgap in particular. For group IVB TMDCs (TiX2, ZrX2, HfX2), the bandgap increases with the tensile strain, but for ZrX2 and HfX2 (X = S, Se), the bandgap starts to decrease at strain 6–8%. For the group VB TMDCs (TaX2), the tensile strain can either induce the ferromagnetism or enhance the existing ferromagnetism. For the group VIB TMDCs (CrX2), the direct-to-indirect bandgap transition is seen upon application of the tensile strain, except CrTe2 whose bandgap decreases with the tensile strain even though the direct character of its bandgap is retained. Lastly, for the group IIIB TMDCs (ScX2) in the T metallic.
Constructing ZnO nanorod array photoelectrodes for highly efficient quantum dot sensitized solar cells

This work reports on a ZnO nanorod (NR) array photoelectrode for CdS/CdSe quantum dot cosensitized solar cells (QDSCs), which generated a high power conversion efficiency of 3.14%. ZnO NR arrays were fabricated by growing on a seeded indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) substrate without using a template or high temperature conditions. The ZnO NR served as the backbone for direct electron transport in view of its single crystallinity and high electron mobility. To improve the performance of the QDSC, we introduced a facile chemical surface modification of the ZnO NR array photoelectrodes. The chemical processing not only formed a barrier layer of TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of the ZnO NR, which suppresses charge recombination by preventing the electrons in the ZnO conduction band from transferring to the oxidized ions in the electrolyte, but also modified the surface characteristics of the ZnO NR so as to harvest a greater amount of QDs and increase the short current density of the QDSC. As a result, the QDSC assembled with the modified ZnO NR array photoelectrode exhibited a high performance with Jsc, Voc, FF and η performance values equal to 9.93 mA cm−2, 0.61 V, 0.52 and 3.14%, respectively.
An Advanced Centrifugal Technique to Characterize the Sticking Properties of Tomato Pulp during Drying

An advanced centrifugal technique was developed to characterize the stickiness of tomato pulp at various moisture contents and temperatures. To provide tomato pulp samples with different moisture contents, tomato powder produced by a laboratory spray dryer was wetted to six different moisture levels. By noting the rotational speed for a tomato pulp droplet detachment and weighing the mass of the droplet remaining on the surface it is possible to gauge the approximate attachment forces holding the droplet to the substrate. The effects of droplet mass and centrifugation time after reaching the desired rotor speed on the detachment rate were also studied. The detachment force was found to increase at the beginning and then started decreasing as the moisture content decreased presenting a maximum at moisture content of about 34%. In addition, the higher the droplet temperature, the higher the attachment force.
Thermodynamics of ordered intermetallic compounds containing point defects

Abstract A pair interaction model applying the Bragg–Williams approach is presented. The formalism is given in a general form; ternary ordered compounds with different crystal structures and all possible point defect types are considered. Some applications are discussed. The Bragg –Williams approach is an easily applicable formalism that leads – proper use supposed – to accurate predictions concerning thermodynamic data as well as defect concentrations.