Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Freshwater as a global commons: International governance and the role of Germany

Water is essential for all life on earth and is a key prerequisite for attaining many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Many countries, however, suffer from physical water scarcity, a lack of access to a safe water supply and sanitation, water pollution or hydrological extremes (droughts and floods) due to climate change. The generality and severity of water problems lead many to speak of a global water crisis. While this crisis mostly manifests at the local or in some cases transboundary level, two global issues are often overlooked. First, global trends such as climate change and the spread of water-intensive consumption and trade patterns are key triggers that cannot be addressed at the local level alone. Second, the aggregation of local or regional water problems may add up to a universal threat to sustainable development. In the face of current challenges, (fresh) water should be conceptualised as a global common good, and global water governance should contribute to improving its protection. [. ]
Carbon dioxide in pollucite, a feldspathoid with the ideal composition (Cs,Na)16Al16Si32O96·nH2O

Abstract We report a single-crystal Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) study of a sample of pollucite from Maine, USA. Prior to our work, the sample had been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and electron-probe microanalysis. It is cubic Ia3̅ d, with a crystal-chemical formula Na1.93(Cs10.48Rb0.31K0.04)∑=10.83(Al14.45Si33.97)∑=48.42O96·3.92H2O, and an H2O content, determined by thermogravimetric analysis, of 1.6 wt. %. The single-crystal FTIR spectrum has a doublet of intense bands at 3670 and 3589 cm−1, which are assigned to the ν3 and ν1 stretching modes of the H2O molecule, respectively. A very intense and sharp peak at 1620 cm−1 is assigned to the ν2 bending vibration. In the near-infrared region there is a relatively intense peak at 5270 cm−1, which is assigned to a combination (ν2 + ν3) mode of H2O, and a weak but well defined doublet at 7118 and 6831 cm−1, which is assigned to the first overtones of the fundamental stretching modes. A relatively weak but extremely sharp peak at 2348 cm−1 shows that the pollucite contains CO2 molecules in structural cavities. Mapping the sample using FTIR indicates that both H2O and CO2 are homogeneously distributed. Secondary ion mass spectrometry yielded an average CO2 content of 0.09−0.02 wt. %. On the basis of this value, we determined the integrated molar absorption coefficient for the spectroscopic analysis of CO2 in pollucite to be ƐiCO₂= 11,000±3000 l mol−1 cm−2; the linear molar absorption coefficient for the same integration range is ƐlCO₂ = 1600±500 l mol−1 cm−1.
Morphological characteristics of modified freeze-dried poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microspheres studied by optical microscopy, SEM, and DLS

Influence of the initiator and additional hydrophobic copolymer on the morphology of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) microspheres, and their presumed application for the stabilization of biologically active molecules were evaluated in this study. Three different types of pNIPAM were synthesized, applying various components: PN1 is a polymer with terminal anionic groups resulting from potassium persulfate initiator; PN2 was synthesized with a 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride initiator introducing cationic amidine terminal groups; in the PN3 polymer, anionic terminals were implemented, however, increased hydrophobicity was maintained using N-tert-butyl functional groups. Turbidity measurements of the obtained dispersions confirmed specific thermosensitivity of synthesized microspheres in the range of 32–33°C. The polymerization course was proved by infrared spectroscopy and 1H NMR assessments, whereas the size of the synthesized microspheres, expressed as planar area, was evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM). The respective surface patterns of the freeze-dried microspheres were evaluated by SEM. Planar area of the synthesized macromolecules was in the range between 0.41–3.22 μm, depending on the substrates composition and the method applied for the measurements. The assessments performed in the dry stage gave higher values of the diameter and planar area of the observed microspheres. The measured diameter and planar area increased in the following order for the PN3 microspheres: DLS, OM, SEM. In the case of PN1 and PN2, the observed diameters were positioned as: DLS, SEM, OM. These differences were assigned both to varied intramolecular hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions of the polymer chains and to the environment, i.e. low pressure in the SEM conditions and aqueous solvent in the DLS measurements. The observed gaps in the freeze-dried PN2 polymer resulted in an attempt to evaluate the application of this polymer for mechanical stabilization of certain macromolecules or nanocrystals in the size range between 10 nm and 20 nm.
Wet oxidation of nitrotoluenesulfonic acid: some intermediates, reaction pathways, and byproduct toxicity

Wet air oxidation (WAO) is effective in the oxidation of 5-nitro-o-toluenesulfonic acid (NTSA); the WAO reaction is first-orde rwith respect to NTSA. Sulfur intially present is almost stoichiometrically converted to sulfate. A significant amount of nitrogen gas and ammonium are present in the reactor off gas and WAO effluent, respectively. No NO x or SO x is detected. Proposed reaction pathways are presented for the WAO of NTSA, based on the intermediates and end products identified. NTSA concentration up to 150 mg/L does not show inhibitory effects on enriched Nitrosomonas. However, WAO-treated NTSA does show some adverse effect on the nitrite production capability of the Nitrosomonas, thus indicating that same byproducts formed during WAO of NTSA may be more toxic than NTSA itself
Specific Energy Consumption in Convective-microwave Drying of Ashwagandha ( Withania Somnifera ) Roots

Evaluation of specific energy consumption was carried out during convective-microwave and convective drying of Ashwagandha root in a developed laboratory scale microwave dryer. The specific energy consumption in convective drying at 60oC of air temperature and 1.0 m/s air velocity was estimated as 2.27 ± 0.12) MJ/kg of water evaporated. The increase in air velocity increased the energy consumption. The specific energy consumption at 6 W/g of microwave power level, 60oC air temperature and 1.0 m/s air velocity was 0.396 ± 0.047) MJ/kg of water evaporated, resulting in about 82% energy saving as compared to convective drying processes. The drying time increased with increase in air velocity in convective - microwave drying process as a reverse trend that was observed in convective drying process of Ashwagandha roots.
Dealing with Outliers: Robust, Resistant Regression.

Least-squares linear regression is the best of statistics and it is the worst of statistics. The reasons for this paradoxical claim, arising from possible inapplicability of the method and the excessive influence of "outliers", are discussed and substitute regression methods based on median selection, which is both robust and resistant, are introduced. A simple Excel macro to perform median-based linear regression, as suggested by Theil and by Siegel, is described and made available.
Fluctuation effects in a symmetric diblock copolymer near the order–disorder transition

The thermodynamic and dynamic properties of a partially deuterated poly(ethylene‐propylene)–poly(ethylethylene)(PEP–PEE) diblock copolymer containing 55% by volume PEP were characterized above and below the order–disorder transition (ODT) by small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) and rheological measurements, respectively. Both experimental techniques produced unambiguous evidence of composition fluctuations well above TODT(T−TODT≲50 °C) in the disordered state, which increase in magnitude as the weak first‐order transition is approached. Based on the SANS results, which are nearly predicted by a recent fluctuation theory, we conclude that the (equilibrium) instantaneous morphology in the disordered state closely resembles a spinodally decomposed binary mixture. Below TODT, long‐range order can be obtained by the application of a shear field as evidenced by the resulting highly anisotropic (one‐dimensional) SANS pattern. As the ODT is approached in the shear‐oriented ordered state, an isotropic scattering .
Kinetics of hydrolysis of PET powder in nitric acid by a modified shrinking-core model

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) powder from waste bottles was degraded at atmospheric pressure in 7−13 M nitric acid at 70−100 °C for 72 h, to clarify the mechanism of a feed stock recycling process. Terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) were produced by the acid-catalyzed heterogeneous hydrolysis of PET in nitric acid, and the resulting EG was simultaneously oxidized to oxalic acid. The kinetics of the hydrolysis of PET in nitric acid could be explained by a modified shrinking core model of chemical reaction control, in which the effective surface area is proportional to the degree of unreacted PET, (1 − X), affected by the deposition of the product TPA. The apparent rate constant was inversely proportional to particle size and to the concentration of the nitric acid. The activation energy of the reaction was 101.3 kJ/mol.
Numerical Study of Opposed-Jet H2/Air Diffusion Flame - Vortex Interactions

Abstract We consider the interaction of vortices of different size and strength (vorticity) and a diffusion flame of N2-diluted H2 and air stabilized on an opposed-jet burner. In our direct numerical simulations, which take into account the effects of detailed chemistry and transport, we demonstrate the effects of flame curvature of opposite orientations by placing a vortex on either the air or the fuel side of the diffusion flame. When the flame curvature is convex towards the fuel stream, the flame burns more intensely even at a scalar dissipation rate, X, close to the critical (extinction) value, X c of the flat one-dimensional diffusion flame (for the same composition of the reactant streams). On the other hand, if the flame curvature is convex towards the air stream, the flame weakens and in some cases extinguishes even when the local X is significantly lower than X c. Depending on the curvature orientation, the extinction scalar dissipation rate can vary considerably. This observation raises questions on the common use of a single extinction scalar dissipation rate in many turbulent diffusion flame simulations. Our results indicate that the role of curvature in the transient flame-vortex interaction is similar to what was observed in previous studies of steady curved flames. We also observe that the reignition process following local extinction is two-dimensional. The reignition process observed in our simulations may not be described well by flamelet models (steady or transient) that are based on one-dimensional formulations.
Development of Pulse Shape Discrimination Methods as Tools for Background Suppression in High Purity Germanium Detectors used in theGERDA Experiment

Neutrinoless double beta decay experiments are well recognized as the most powerful probes of the nature of the neutrinos (whether they are Dirac or Majorana particles), their absolute mass scale and the neutrino mass hierarchy. Observation of the decay would require physics beyond the Standard Model and it is the only process, which allows to experimentally the limit effective neutrino masses down to the meV level. The GERDA – GERmanium Detector Array – experiment searches for the neutrinoless double beta decay decay of the 76Ge isotope. It uses a matrix of High Purity Germanium detectors enriched in 76Ge from the natural abundance of 7.8% to about 86%. In the searches for rare nuclear processes, like the above mentioned decay, one of the critical parameters of the detectors is their background, which needs to be reduced to an unprecedentedly low level, making the experiment practically "background-free". Pulse Shape Discrimination methods, developed in the frame of this study, are essential to achieve that goal. The presented work covers development and application of the technique to the GERDA Phase II data, as well as to g-ray spectrometers, for which the decrease of the Compton continuum background increases their sensitivity. The method was tested on the germanium detectors with different geometries, namely semi-coaxial and Broad Energy Germanium, yielding very good results in both cases.
Classical numerical integrators for wave‐packet dynamics

Gray and Verosky have recently studied the reformulation of the N‐state matrix representation of the time‐dependent Schrodinger equation as an N‐degrees of freedom classical Hamiltonian system. This opens the possibility of using in quantum dynamics numerical integrators originally devised for classical mechanics. When the Hamiltonian matrix is time‐dependent, Gray and Verosky suggest the use of a Magnus approximation before reducing the quantum system to its classical format. We show that Magnus approximations are not necessary and suggest an alternative technique. With the new technique it is possible to obtain simple integrators of arbitrarily high orders of accuracy that can be applied to all matrix Schrodinger problems with a, possibly time‐dependent, real Hamiltonian matrix. The connection between the new approach and high‐order split‐operator methods is studied.
Layer‐by‐layer fabrication of hierarchical structures in sol–gel templated thin titania films

The fabrication of titania nanostructures with hierarchical order of different structural levels is investigated. The nanostructures are prepared with a diblock‐copolymer assisted sol–gel process. By iterative spin‐coating of the solution onto silicon substrates a thin polymer‐nanocomposite film is deposited and transformed to purely anatase titania nanostructures via calcination. In total, this procedure is repeated three times on top of the substrate. The approach is monitored with grazing incidence small angle X‐ray scattering after each fabrication step. With scanning electron microscopy the final hierarchical structure is imaged. From the characterization different structural levels are clearly identified.
MRI ASSESSMENT OF CONUS MEDULLARIS TERMINATION (CMT) IN NORTH KARNATAKA POPULATION

BACKGROUND: Conus Medullaris terminates commonly in the lower third of L1 vertebra; but a wide range of values has been reported in cadaver studies as well as in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies. There have been only a few reports on the influence of gender and age on Conus Medullaris Termination (CMT). AIM: To study the correlation between the level of Conus Medullaris Termination with age and gender in North Karnataka population. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: A descriptive case control study was done in H.S. K. Hospital, Karnataka. Total 180 patients who underwent MRI scanning for various indications and who had normal MRI were studied for level of Conus Medullaris Termination. RESULTS: Most common level of Conus Medullaris Termination (CMT) overall was 4mm to 6mm above lower border of L1 vertebra; in males 4mm above lower border of L1 vertebra and in females 5mm to 6mm above lower border of L1 vertebra. There is a high positive correlation between the level Conus Medullaris Termination and age in males (r=0.878), in females (r=0.879) and also in male and female patients combined (r=0.859). CONCLUSION: With aging, level of Conus Medullaris Termination goes upwards. There is a high positive correlation between the level Conus Medullaris Termination and age in males (r=0.878), in females (r=0.879) and also in male and female patients combined (r=0.859).
Specific Anion Effect in Swelling of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers

The well-known strong polyelectrolytes poly(diallyldimethylammonium) cation (PDADMA) and poly(4-styrenesulfonate) anion (PSS) form multilayers (PEMs) where formally the small counterions do not participate in any way. Previously, we have shown that by replacing the conventional chloride as the counteranion of PDADMA by other small anions occupying different positions in the Hofmeister series the resulting PEMs had widely different thicknesses in the dry state [Langmuir 2004, 20, 3679] and widely different stiffnesses in the wet state [Macromolecules 2004, 37, 9585]. In this work we show that even more striking differences are observed in the swelling behavior when comparing PSS/PDADMA multilayers made in the presence of fluoride or bromide. PSS/PDADMA-F shows nearly no swelling at different concentrations of NaF whereas PSS/PDADMA-Br shows strong swelling, especially at low concentrations of NaBr. The similar difference appears also when using the solutions of NaF, HCOONa, NaBrO3, NaCl, NaClO3, NaNO3, and.
Effectiveness of nitric oxide ozonation

Attempts to develop new technologies of NOx (NO + NO2) emission reduction are still carried out all around the world. One of the relatively new approaches is the application of ozone injection into the exhaust gas stream followed by the absorption process. Ozone is used to transform NOx to higher nitrogen oxides which yield nitric acid with better effectiveness. The main objective of this paper was to study the influence of mole ratio (MR) O3/NO used in the ozonation process of NOx on the effectiveness of NOx oxidation to higher oxides. The ozonation process was carried out in a flow reactor for concentrations of nitric oxide in the range of 1.5 × 10−5−7.7 × 10−5 mol dm−3 and varying O3/NO mole ratios. Measurements were conducted with the use of a FTIR spectrometer. The results obtained prove that for MR higher than 1, the oxidation effectiveness of nitric oxides generally reaches 95 %, whereas for MR higher than 2, oxidation of NOx to higher nitrogen oxides is completed.
Study on the chemical markers of Caulis Lonicerae japonicae for quality control by HPLC-QTOF/MS/MS and chromatographic fingerprints combined with chemometrics methods

Caulis Lonicerae japonicae (CLJ), one of the commonly used herb drugs in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, has been used in China for centuries. A simple and reliable high-performance liquid chromotography (HPLC) fingerprint combined with a chemometrics method was developed to measure CLJ quality. Thirty-six batches of CLJ samples that varied by crop location, time in storage, and harvest season. Differences in chemical composition between CLJ and Flos Lonicerae japonicae (FLJ) were analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). A total of 42 major constituents were screened and identified, and the fragmentation patterns of some iridoid glycosides, such as L-phenylalaninosecologanin and grandifloroside, were explained for the first time. Next, based on such fingerprint data for CLJ, various chemometrics analysis methods were applied to evaluate intrinsic quality and to identify chemical markers most responsible for quality. Finally, through comprehensive analysis, seven chemical compounds – 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, epi-loganic acid, sweroside, loganin, vogeloside and grandifloroside – were identified as the most useful chemical markers to evaluate CLJ quality.
Comparative effects of green manure and lime on the growth of sweet corn and chemical properties of an acid Oxisol in western Samoa

Abstract Liming values of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and cowpea green manure were evaluated on an acid Oxisol (Typic Acrorthox, Togitogiga series), based on seed yield and tissue composition of sweet corn (Zea mays), and soil chemical properties. Application rates were 0, 5, and 10 Mg/ha for CaCO3 and 0, 7.5, and 15 Mg/ha for the green manure, factorially arranged. Treatments with commercial NPK fertilizers were included for comparison. Growth and yield of sweet corn showed that soil acidity can be corrected by either lime or green manure additions. Both lime and manure raised soil pH and (modified Truog) extractable phosphorus (P), which were partially responsible for yield increases. Green manuring significantly increased plant P and potassium (K) concentrations, which explain why the manure was more effective than lime in increasing corn yield. Ear leaves sampled at tasseling required at least 0.25% P and 2.4% K to attain >90% of the maximum seed yield.
Essential Oil Composition from Aerial Parts of Mentha spicata L.

Abstract Uttarakhand has been declared ‘Herbal State’, but herbal wealth of this state could not be utilized properly due to lack of chemical characterization of most of the vegetational wealth. Mentha spicata L. (spearmint) was collected from naturally growing population of Uttarakhand (3800 ft). GC-MS analysis reveals details of 94.0 % of essential oil. Carvone was major part (57.1 %) whereas other components were limonene (10.1 %), cis-dihydrocarvone (3.2 %), dihydrocarveol (3.2 %).
Carrier Generation and Recombination in Anthracene

The hole—electron recombination coefficient, 2–3×10−6 cm3/sec, in anthracene has been determined directly by observing the decay of photogenerated carriers as a function of time. From considerations of the magnitude of the recombination, it is concluded that carrier generation can be observed only after excitation to an almost free electron band above the lowest narrow tight‐binding band.The experimental data of Castro and Hornig, and Kearns, are analyzed in terms of band‐to‐band transitions to this upper band. From considerations of the wavelength dependence, autoionization of the Frenkel exciton levels at these energies is shown not to be important.Theoretical considerations predict a very small quantum yield for the band‐to‐band transition. A small cross section is consistent with experiment.
Efficiency of different spectroscopies and the Electronic Nose techniques for the characterization of milk

Abstract Four rapid methods, which are complementary to the usual MIR-based analyses, were compared in order to characterize local milk products. A set of 278 fresh samples from four separately reared Jersey, Piemontese and Valdostana cattle and Saanen goat herds was analyzed by: Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Electronic Nose, UV-Vis-NIRS and FT-NIRS (total 5851 digits by record). The Gross Composition and Fatty Acid composition were determined at the same time. Chemometric analysis of the digital measurements and of the milk composition was performed by discriminant PLS regression over the four herds. The average R2 cross-validated values of the six discriminant contrasts were lower for the Gross Composition (0.47), very high for the FT-NIRS scans (0.97), for the Fatty Acids (0.96), and also high for the Fluorescence (0.90) and the UV-Vis-NIRS evaluation (0.89), while the Electronic Nose gave lower distinction between the groups (0.64). The patterns based on the distance matrix showed a remarkable complementarity between the Gross Composition evaluation and the rapid methods, which were close to the Fatty Acids evaluation. The FT-NIRS and Fluorescence analyses converged together, clustering the Jersey & Piemontese, the Valdostana and then the Goat milk. The Jersey-Piemontese cluster was also confirmed by EN. The UV-Vis-NIRS appraisal, distinguished the Piemontese milk more clearly, while it paired the Jersey and Valdostana milk. These rapid methods could be of great interest in the milk research.