Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self‐consistent theory of polydisperse entangled polymers: Linear viscoelasticity of binary blends

The effects of polydispersity on the linear viscoelastic properties of concentrated polymer solutions and melts are analyzed. Existing theories for the dynamics of linear polymers, based on the idea of each polymer confined in a fixed tube, are shown to be incapable of describing observed rheological response of polydisperse polymers. A model is proposed which, in a self‐consistent manner, solves the many chain problem given the solution to the single chain problem. Two types of polymer relaxation are incorporated in the model. The first type is escape of a polymer from its tube by motion of the polymer itself. It includes all dynamic modes available to the single chain in a tube—those due to its reptation—as well as other modes, such as fluctuations in tube length. The second type is relaxation of a polymer chain by the motions of the surrounding polymers forming its tube (constraint release). The relaxation modulus is then the product of two functions μ(t) and R(t). μ(t) is the fraction of tube occupied at time t=0 that has not been evacuated at time t, thereby representing escape of the polymer from its tube (solution to the single chain problem). R(t) represents relaxation by the constraint release process, which is modeled by a Rouse chain with random bead mobilities. The probability distribution of these mobilities is determined, in a self‐consistent way, from the disentanglement rates due to the tube evacuation processes of the surrounding chains. Thus R(t) is calculated from the spectrum of relaxation rates of the μ(t) processes for the surrounding chains. The predictions of the model with some single chain solutions μ(t) from the literature are compared with oscillatory shear data for binary blends of nearly monodisperse polybutadiene, in which both components are well entangled.
Measuring the labour efficiency in Andalusia (Spain): A DEA approach

This paper analyses the labour efficiency in Andalusia, and takes into account labour and demographic characteristics of the Andalusian municipalities. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is the methodology employed. The results obtained indicate differences at the municipal level that depend on the geographical arrangement, with the provincial capitals being the least efficient. An inverse relationship is established between the size of the municipality (in terms of number of inhabitants) and its labour efficiency: the smaller the size of the municipality, the greater the efficiency. The distance to the capital is also important in establishing the efficiency: the greater the distance to the capital, the greater the efficiency.
Modeling Fluid Catalytic Cracking in a Novel CREC Riser Simulator: Adsorption Parameters under Reaction Conditions

The complexity of a heavy gas oil feedstock and the multitude of reaction pathways have limited previous attempts to model fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). The demand for more detailed kinetic information motivates the use of pure components to first elucidate the dominant pathways and mechanisms and then determine the associated rate parameters, including adsorption constants and heats of adsorption. The aim of the present work is to evaluate adsorption constants and heats of adsorption, under FCC relevant reaction conditions. The experiments are carried out in a novel CREC Riser Simulator (batch reactor unit) using USY zeolite catalysts with different crystallite sizes (0.4 and 0.9 microns). This study confirms a special feature of the CREC Riser Simulator, as a valuable tool for the study of adsorption phenomena. Adsorption constants and heats of adsorption are evaluated for benzene, toluene, xylene and trimethylbenzene, at initial reaction conditions. Catalytic conversion experiments for 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene help to demonstrate the consistency of the determined adsorption parameters at various temperatures and reaction times. In addition, adsorption constants and heats of adsorption are found to be constant throughout the reaction time and the formation of coke does not hinder the adsorption of 1,2,4-TMB, although it significantly affects the reactivity of this model compound.
Headspace Constituents of Flowers of Neofinetia Falcata

Abstract The headspace of flowers of Neofinetia falcata was analyzed by means of GC and GC-MS and found to contain 24 volatile components. the main constituents were linalool (40.5 %), methyl benzoate (13.4 %), cis-3-hexenyl tiglate (12.5 %), α-farnessene (9.0 %), methyl-2-pentanoate (7.7 %) and cis-3-hexen-1-ol (4.2 %), of which cis-3-hexenyl tiglate was found as one of the main component for the characteristic fragrance.
Meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye disease symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

An important problem to date is the dysfunction of meibomian glands in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of our work was to analyze the prevalence of meibomian gland dysfunction and signs of dry eye disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. We examined 40 patients (80 eyes) with compensated type 2 diabetes mellitus and symptoms of dry eye disease, who made up the main group at the age of 54.00±8.00 years, and 30 patients (60 eyes) of practically healthy people, aged 51.00±8.00 years. All patients underwent visiometry, biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, compression test to evaluate the secretion of meibomian glands, Schirmer's test for compression before and after 30 min. Afterwards, Norn test, meibography, Demodex mite test, laboratory tests (lipidogram, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin). In addition, standard OSDI, McMonnies Dry Eye Questionnaire questionnaires were used and an average clipping rate of1 min was determined. Statistical processing of the obtained results was carried out using the license package "Statistica 8.0" using parametric estimation methods. Our study has shown that in patients with diabetes for more than 5 years, dry eye disease occurs more often and is dominated by moderate and severe severity. Each patient in the study group, together with the symptoms of dry eye, had signs of dysfunction of the meibomian glands of varying degrees of severity according to the compression test and objective symptoms of the disease. A significant difference was found between the clipping frequency in the control group and the main one (p<0.01). Compared with the control group, patients with diabetes have a longer interval between the clipping movements. Meibography data show that patients in the primary group have changes in the meibomian glands in 90% of cases, while in the control group 44%. Thus, it was found that patients with type 2 diabetes had dysfunction of meibomian glands of moderate severity in 90% of cases, severe in 10%, which is associated with the duration of diabetes.
Effects of deficit irrigation and transplanting methods of irrigated rice on soil physical properties and rice yield

This study evaluated how deficit irrigation and method of transplanting irrigated rice affected soil physical properties in the short term and rice yields under cultivation that did not involve wet levelling (puddling). Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 at Sakha Agric. Res. Sta. , Egypt. Planting methods were as follows: traditional transplanting into flat flooded soil (M1), transplanting into furrows (M2) and into beds (M3). The deficit irrigation treatments were as follows: irrigation every 6 days between transplanting and 2 weeks before harvesting, reference method (I1), irrigation as in I1 but with a continuous period of 12 days without irrigation (i.e. one irrigation event missed) at heading (I2), irrigation as in I1 but with an event missed at the beginning of tillering and at the start of head development (I3) and irrigation as in I1 but with 3 missed events, one each at the beginning of tillering, the start of the head development and panicle initiation (I4). Results showed that relative to soil conditions before planting, both rice transplanting methods and deficit irrigation decreased soil bulk density, water holding pores percentage, fine capillary pores percentage and soil shear strength, whereas drainable porosity percentage increased. Soil cracked more under the reference treatment than under the other treatments. Rice transplanting into beds and maintaining irrigation every 6 days without any irrigation skip, treatment (I1 × M3), appeared appropriate for growing rice. This combination resulted in soil physical properties favourable for plant growth, producing the largest grain and straw yields of all the treatments.
Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Sour Starches from Different Cassava Varieties

This article reports our investigation on the effect of cassava varieties on the physicochemical and functional properties of sour starches. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the ash, pH, amylose, amylopectin, starch damage, total titratable acidity (TTA), sugar, and starch content but not moisture contents of various cassava sour starches. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in Water Absorption Capacity (WAC), swelling power, and solubility index, while significant differences were recorded in Least Gelation Concentration (LGC) and color at 5% level and granule size at P < 0.0001 for cassava sour starches. Peak viscosity values ranged from 333.17RVU (clone 4(2) 1425) to 380.75RVU (clone TME 1). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in pasting properties except for pasting temperature and breakdown.
What is A “Method”?

Using a recently published compilation of analytical data on reference samples SY-2, SY-3 and MRG-1 as an example, a case is presented in favor of more precise terminology in describing analytical methods used in reporting data in collaborative programs. The technique of final measurement in a particular method is often less important than earlier operations, such as sample attack or technique of separation.
BTX Air Pollution in Zabrze, Poland

This paper presents results of monitoring of benzene and its alkyl derivatives (BTX) in ambient air. The measurements were performed in zabrze, using an automatic analyzer. Concentrations of BTX from August-September 2001 and August-September 2005 were compared. The experiment of comparison was done to assess effects on air quality of the coking installation shutting down. The mean concentration of BTX significantly dropped. in general, neither the character of diurnal distribution of BTX concentrations nor the concentration maxima changed. instead, in 2005, the share of low concentrations was greater and high BTX episodes were less frequent.
The Length Spectrum as Moduli for Compact Riemann Surfaces

Consider a compact Riemann surface S of genus g, g > 2 endowed with the Poincare metric. I.M. Gel'f and posed the following question. Do the eigenvalues of the Laplace Beltrami operator determine the geometry of S? The Selberg trace formula shows us that the genus of S and the sequence of lengths of all closed geodesics, the length spectrum, are indeed determined. Consider the map from the deformation space of S, the Riemann space Rg, to RX defined by associating to a surface its length spectrum. H.P. McKean showed that this map is finitely many to one. We first reduce the problem by showing the map is generically given by the action of cosets of a group. The generic case is then suitable for being treated in the style of Fricke-Klein. We are able to give in the generic case a construction for obtaining the uniformizing group of S, a Fuchsian group, from its length spectrum. In particular the map is generically one-to-one. A sufficient condition is given for a surface to be generic. The author would like to thank Leon Greenberg for his encouragement and assistance.
One-Dimensional Group III-Nitrides: Growth, Properties, and Applications in Nanosensing and Nano-Optoelectronics

This review will give a brief introduction to the growth and characterization methods of both binary and ternary compounds, in particular those exhibiting one-dimensionality, of the family to orient the readers about the material system to be discussed. A section will deal with the size and shape selection in group III nitride nanomaterials with a stress on intriguing morphologies such as nanowires, nanotips, and nanobelts. Complex structures, such as hierarchical and core-shell structures, will be introduced. Optical, electrical, and mechanical property, such as hardness, will be discussed in a greater detail, distinguishing the bulk from the nano wherever possible. Available models of electrical conduction and photoconduction in nanomaterials and their dependence on the actual size of the objects will be presented and compared. Optical properties of ensemble and single nanostructures, wherever possible, will be addressed in detail. The section on application will focus mainly on the sensor applications, including chemical sensors, gas sensors, and biosensors, with a thrust on DNA sensing. Because popular applications such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and field effect transistors (FETs) have already been reviewed extensively, only major contributions to this field—for example, nano-LEDs—will be discussed. Some recent advances in the group III-nitride materials family will be presented that will indicate future directions of research in this area.
Productivity, Nutrient Balance, Soil Quality, and Sustainability of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Organic and Conventional Production Systems

A field experiment was conducted for 5 years (2004–2005 to 2009–2010) covering 10 crop seasons [five wet (WS; Kharif) and five dry (DS; Rabi)] at the Directorate of Rice Research farm, Hyderabad, India, to compare the influence of organic and conventional farming systems on productivity of fine grain rice varieties, cumulative partial nutrient balance, and soil health/quality in terms of nutrient availability, physical and biological properties, and sustainability index. Two main plot treatments were with and without plant protection measures, and four subplot treatments were (1) control (CON), (2) inorganic fertilizers (CF), (3) organics (OF), and (4) inorganics + organics (integrated nutrient management, INM). During wet season, grain yields with CF and INM were near stable (5.0 to 5.5 t ha−1) and superior to organics by 15–20% during the first 2 years, which improved with OF (4.8 to 5.4 t ha−1) in the later years to comparable levels with CF and INM. However, during DS, CF and INM were superior to OF for 4 consecutive years and OF recorded yields on par with CF and INM in the fifth year. The partial nutrient balance over 10 crop seasons for N and P was positive and greater with OF and INM over CF and for K it was positive with OF alone and negative with CF and INM. There were increases in SOC and available N, P, and K by 50–58%, 3–10%, 10–30%, and 8–25% respectively, with OF, over CF at the end of 5 years. The sustainability index (SI) of the soil system was maximum with organics (1.63) and CF recorded 1.33, which was just above the minimum sustainability index of 1.30 after 5 years. Thus, organic farming needs more than 2 years to stabilize rice productivity and bring about perceptible improvement in soil quality and sustainability in irrigated rice.
Comparison of Microwave-Assisted Hydrodistillation and Hydrodistillation Methods for the Fruit Essential Oils of Foeniculum vulgare

Abstract Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MWHD) and hydrodistillation (HD) were carried out for the analysis of volatile components in whole and ground fruits of Foeniculum vulgare Miller (fennel). Fruits were distilled using a microwave oven modified to fit a Clevenger-type apparatus. The effect of microwave energy on the yield and composition of the essential oil was investigated against the classical hydrodistillation. All the essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. (E)-anethole was found as the main compound in the oils of both whole and ground materials (82.2–86.8%) using the two methods. Methyl chavicol (4.0–4.9%) and limonene (2.2–4.9%) were also found in fennel oils obtained by HD and MWHD. The amounts of identified components in the oils obtained from whole and ground fennel fruits were not affected significantly by microwave energy except for limonene.
The role of mothers' beliefs in students' self-concept of ability development

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the child-related competence beliefs of mothers are associated with the development of Finnish adolescents’ self-concept of mathematics and literacy ability during their transition from primary to lower secondary school and whether these associations depend on adolescents’ level of performance. The results showed that, first, adolescents’ self-concept of mathematics and literacy ability decreased over time. The impact of maternal beliefs on the linear trend of the self-concept of mathematics and literacy ability was dependent on the level of students’ performance. Mothers’ high beliefs buffered against the decrease in adolescents’ self-concept of ability in mathematics, but only among high-performing adolescents. In turn, mothers’ high beliefs in adolescents’ literacy ability were detrimental to the development of low-performing adolescents’ self-concept of ability in literacy, whereas mothers’ beliefs had no effect on the change in the self-concept of students with average or high literacy performance.
ARISTOLOCHIC ACIDS IN THE ROOTS OF ARISTOLOCHIA CHILENSIS, A DANGEROUS CHILEAN MEDICINAL PLANT

ABSTRACT The chemical composition of aristolochic acids (AAs) from the roots of A. chilensis was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD), a technique widely used for the detection and quantification of AAs in herbal medicines. The roots contained a mixture of AA-I (1), AA-II (2), AA-III (3), AA-IV (4), AA-Ia (5), AA-IIIa (6), AA-IVa (7), and aristoloside (8), indicating that A. chilensis is not suitable for use as a medicinal plant due to the harmful effects of the aristolochic acids. INTRODUCTION Species of the genus Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae) have been used in folk medicine throughout the world to treat various diseases 1 . Aristolochia can be characterized by their levels of aristolochic acids (AAs), a group of 10-nitrophenanthrene-1-carboxylic acids that normally include a 3,4-methylenedioxy moiety and substitutions at C-6 and/or C-8 with –OCH 3 filtrate was washed with CHCland –OH groups; AAs with the former substitution are known as phenolic AAs. Structures with other types of substituents have also been identified, including N-glycosides and O-glycosides of phenolic AAs.
MicroRNA as a New Blood-Borne Novel Biomarker for the Earlier Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

Cancer has many types, in which one of the most common types of cancer is lung cancer, it is the most common type which is diagnosed worldwide. Within five years of diagnosis, 90% of lung cancer patients die. The mortality rate can be reduced by the early detection of this disease [1]. Different types of strategies are used for the analysis of biomarkers in the blood such as changes in the expression of the gene, protein, and micro RNA [2]. The discovery of micro-RNA found in serum has introduced new methods for the diagnosis of the tumor. The micro-RNA can be analyzed through different techniques such as quantitative RT-PCR based on Taqman probe to check the expression level of micro-RNA in the serum [3]. MicroRNAs are noncoding small sequences of RNA that control the expression of mRNA at post transcription level which has a role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and differentiation as well as has a role in oncogenic and anti-oncogenic signals. The abnormal level of microRNA found in malignant cells related to tumorigenesis, diagnosis, prediction, treatment, prognosis, and progress so microRNA has become a promising therapeutic target for several diseases such as cancer [4].
Aspects of the large‐scale tropical atmospheric circulation

An account is given of a number of recent studies with idealised models whose aim is to further understanding of the large-scale tropical atmospheric circulation. Initial-value integrations with a model with imposed heating are used to discuss aspects of the Asian summer monsoon, including constraints on cross-equatorial flow into the monsoon. The summer descent in the Mediterranean region and on the eastern sides of the summer subtropical anticyclones are seen to be associated with the monsoons to their east. An aqua-planet GCM is used to investigate the relationship between simple SST distributions and tropical convection and circulation. The existence of strong equatorial convection and Hadley cells is found to depend sensitively on the curvature of the meridional profile in SST. Zonally confined SST maxima produce convective maxima centred to the west and suppression of convection elsewhere. Strong equatorial zonal flow changes are found in some experiments and three mechanisms for producing these are investigated in a model with imposed heating. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1999. 00004.x
International Journal of Food Engineering Recovery of Polyphenolics from Apple Juice Utilizing Adsorbent Polymer Technology

A food grade divinylbenzene adsorbent resin was used to separate/recover plyphenolics from diluted apple juice concentrate. The work was carried out to investigate the effect of processing parameters on the adsorption process, to compare the efficiency of divinylbenzene adsorbent resin to that of ethylene glycol cross-linked polymethylmethacrylate adsorbent resin used in our previous study and to determine the effect of oxygen on the adsorption of polyphenolics process. A laboratory scale adsorption was determined by mixing weighed amounts of the polymer with a diluted apple juice concentrate at 10–60 oC and at pH values ranging from 2.0 to 3.9. At regular intervals, samples were withdrawn from the aqueous phase. Total phenolics, absorbance values at 280 and 420 nm, and the amounts of individual phenolics remaining in the liquid phase were determined. The analytical data were fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Findings from this study are in agreement with Kammerer et al. (2006) but, in contrast to previous studies, the pH value significantly affected the adsorption onto the resin. HPLC analyses revealed different affinities of individual compounds, which enabled selective enrichment of certain phenolics in the liquid phase or on the sorbent surface. HPLC profiling showed that the polyphenolics recovered did not differ significantly from those in the original apple extracts. This has confirmed that there is minimal damage during processing. The major losses in the process were due to polyphenols not binding to, or not being recovered from, the adsorbent. Optimization of the process would enable the losses to be minimized and up to 80% of the polyphenolics could be recovered in the extracts. Desorption studies were performed using a resin with known amounts of adsorbed phenolic compounds. Elution was carried out by an automated pressurized liquid extraction system, studying the effects of temperature (40–180 oC) and solvents (water, ethanol, methanol). Again, individual compounds behaved differently, depending on their hydrophobicity. Therefore, a systematic change of parameters for the adsorption and desorption process can be helpful for the recovery of purified plant extracts enriched in certain target compounds.
Biological drinking water treatment for nitrate and pesticide (endosulfan) elimination

This study shows how a combination of denitrification and pesticide removal is possible. A reactor with granulated poly-e-caprolactone (PCL) was operated in an upflow-mode with nitrate and α-endosulfan containing water. The polymer was used as a substrate for denitrification and simultaneously as sorbent for the pesticide α-endosulfan. The experiments showed that nitrate was removed at high denitrification rates and without accumulation of nitrite. α-endosulfan, which was added to the influent, was not found in the effluent. Doubts that the pesticide could interfere with the biological process were not justified here.