Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1H multiple-quantum nuclear magnetic resonance investigations of molecular order distributions in poly(dimethylsiloxane) networks: Evidence for a linear mixing law in bimodal systems

We present proton–proton multiple-quantum investigations on a series of monomodal and strongly bimodal end-linked poly(dimethylsiloxane) model networks. A robust pulse sequence characterized by a well-defined double-quantum Hamiltonian along with a specific normalization approach is used to obtain double-quantum build-up curves. These curves are analyzed in terms of the spin dynamics of a local subsystem of monomer-fixed spins, where analytical fitting functions yielding residual dipole–dipole coupling constants are derived on the basis of exact solutions provided by simulations. Further employing the novel experimental strategy of double-quantum preselection of elastically active network chains, it is shown that the network response is purely heterogeneous, and that the data can be analyzed in terms of distributions of local dynamic order parameters using different models. The results yield consistent proof that local chain order in bimodal networks obeys a linear mixing law of short- and long-chain comp.
Evaluation of Some Tree Species to Absorb Air Pollutants in Three Industrial Locations of South Bengaluru, India

With the fast growing and excessive increase in industrial projects in Bengaluru, the level of pollution is also increasing. Metal-accumulating woody species have been considered for phytoextraction of metal-contaminated sites. The study examined the air pollution tolerance indices (APTI) of plant species around three industrial areas of south Bengaluru. The physiological and biochemical parameters, which are relative to leaf's water content (RWC), ascorbic acid content (AA), total leaf chlorophyll (TCh) and leaf extract pH were used to compute the APTI values and three heavy metals were selected (cadmium, lead and zinc) for analysis. The result shows that the most tolerant tree species with respect to ATPI and heavy metal concentration were Ficus religiosa, Azadirachta indica and Pongamia pinnata (L.). These plants can be considered as tolerant species in the industrial areas. The APTI values for remaining species are reported lower and are considered as sensitive species. Further studies on air pollution tolerance index with respect to three industrial areas of south Bengaluru indicated that the air pollution was maximum in Jigani industrial area and minimum in Electronic city.
Surgical Management and Hearing Outcome of Traumatic Ossicular Injuries.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate etiological, clinical, and pathological characteristics of traumatic injuries of the middle ear ossicular chain and to evaluate hearing outcome after surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty consecutive patients (31 ears) with traumatic ossicular injuries operated on between 2004 and 2015 in two tertiary referral otologic centers were retrospectively analyzed. Traumatic events, clinical features, ossicular lesions, treatment procedures, and audiometric results were evaluated. Air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC), and air-bone gap (ABG) were analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively. Amsterdam Hearing Evaluation Plots (AHEPs) were used to visualize the individual hearing results. RESULTS The mean age at the moment of trauma was 27.9±17.1 years (range, 2-75 years) and the mean age at surgery was 33.2±16.3 years (range, 5-75 years). In 10 cases (32.3%), the injury occurred by a fall on the head and in 9 (29.0%) by a traffic accident. Isolated luxation of the incus was observed in 8 cases (25.8%). Dislocation of the stapes footplate was seen in 4 cases (12.9%). The postoperative ABG closure to within 10 and 20 dB was 30% and 76.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION Ossicular chain injury by direct or indirect trauma can provoke hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. As injuries are heterogeneous, they require a tailored surgical approach. In this study, the overall hearing outcome after surgical repair was favorable.
The effects of lead bioaccumulation on filtration rate of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) from Anzali wetland–Caspian Sea

In this study, the effects of lead on filtration rate of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) together with the accumulation of lead in the soft tissue of the mussels, were investigated. Studies showed different effects of lead in all concentrations. In three concentrations of lead (2, 48, and 93 µg L−1), no significant differences were investigated between filtration rates of mussels in treatments and also between treatments and control (respectively 102, 93, and 84% of control). Whilst, at concentration 455 µg L−1 the filtration rate of mussels decreased to 40% compared to control. In this study mussels in different lead treatments had the same exposure time, length range, and temperature. Therefore, in this experiment accumulation of lead in the soft tissue of the mussels is affected by the differences at lead concentration in treatments. Initial concentration of lead has a direct effect on its accumulation in the tissue of the mussels. In the highest concentration of lead, the most accumulation of lead in the soft tissue of mussels was observed and in the lowest concentration of lead, the least accumulation of lead in the soft tissue of mussels was found.
Comprehensive perspective on the mechanism of preferred orientation in reactive-sputter-deposited nitrides

Texture control of sputter-deposited nitride films has provoked a great deal of interest due to its technological importance. Despite extensive research, however, the reported results are scattered and discussions about the origin of preferred orientation (PO) are sometimes conflicting, and therefore controversial. The aim of this study is to acquire a clear perspective in order to discuss the origin of PO of sputter-deposited nitrides. Among nitrides, we focus on titanium nitride (TiN), aluminum nitride (AlN), and tantalum nitride (TaN), which are three commonly used nitrides. First, we collected reported experimental results about the relation between operating conditions and PO, because PO is considered to be determined by film formation processes, such as surface diffusion or grain growth, which is affected by operating conditions. We also collected reported results about such PO-determining processes. Then, we categorized the PO-determining processes into an initial stage and a growth stage of film d.
Skills for employability: Identification of the Soft Skills required in engineering education

In a context of increased competition on the job market, soft skills have become as important as the technical skills for employability of Moroccan engineers. Reactive and innovative engineering schools orient their learning process towards the job market requirements. This study aims at examining the soft skills required by accreditation bodies in some developing countries, namely ABET (The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), ENAEE (European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education), ABEEK (Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea), JABEE (The Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education) et EA (Engineers Australia). These skills are subsequently correlated with the Syllabus of the CDIO initiative founded by MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) In the United States. This syllabus represents a model of engineering program. It has been developed in collaboration with the industry, the government and the university community. In this study we highlight a set of soft skills which we compared with those developed in Moroccan engineering education programs in order to detect their shortcomings and key success factors.
Physical ageing studies in polyetherimide ULTEM 1000

Thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to study the effect of physical ageing in polyetherimide (PEI: ULTEM 1000®). Ageing temperatures (T a ) between 48 and 8°C below the glass transition temperature (T g ) measured by DSC at 10°C min -1 heating rate (T g =218°C), and ageing times (t a ) between 0 and 8640min, were analysed. Calorimetric results show the presence of an endothermic peak, associated with the enthalpy recovery at the glass transition. This peak shifts towards higher temperatures and its height and area increase as the annealing time increases for a given T,. The maximum enthalpy relaxation is achieved at T a = T g - 18°C (T a = 200°C) for every annealing time, indicating that this is the optimum temperature to age this material. TSDC results show for each T a a shift of the α peak towards higher temperatures, and a considerable decrease in maximum current and area as t a increases. The activation energies (E a ), calculated from the TSDC curves for the α relaxation, are mainly independent of the annealing temperature and time. The pre-exponential factor for the relaxation time (τ 0 ), evaluated from the same curves, shows a slight decrease when the annealing time is increased at a given temperature.
In Situ Cr(VI) Reduction within Coarse-Textured, Oxide-Coated Soil and Aquifer Systems Using Fe(II) Solutions

Batch and column techniques were used to evaluate the in situ Cr(VI) reduction and immobilization using Fe(II) solutions within the sediments of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Remediation treatments included Cr-free groundwater and buffered and unbuffered Fe(II) solutions as either FeCl2 and FeSO4. The slow release of Cr(VI) from the Fe-oxide rich subsurface sediment following exposure to Cr-free solutions indicated that simple pump-and-treat procedures would require extended operation time to meet regulatory standards. In situ reduction was confirmed by the loss of Cr(VI) and Fe(II) from solution and a drop in pH compared to control systems. Batch and column-effluent Cr(VI) decreased with increasing Fe(II), generally falling below detection limits as the persistence of Fe(II) occurred. However, CrDissolved, presumably Cr(III), exceeded regulatory limits due to the low pH (≈3.0) induced by oxidation and hydrolysis of Fe(II). Acetate-buffered Fe(II) solutions maintained an elevated pH in the presence of Cr(VI.
Experimental and Theoretical Electron Density Studies in Large Molecules: NAD+, β-Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide

NAD+ is the oxidized form of the coenzyme redox pair NAD+/NADH and plays a main role in catalysis of biological processes. Accurate X-ray diffraction data have been collected at 100 K from a crystal of the free acid form of the coenzyme NAD+ with a CCD area detector up to 0.55 A resolution. A multipole refinement was carried out, and the electron density of the molecule has been analyzed in order to further model its interaction with enzymes. The electron density of NAD+ has also been computed by a DFT (density functional theory) approach. The charge density and electrostatic potential obtained from experiment and theory compare well. There is a very good agreement between the theoretical and experimental charge densities for all the C−C and C−N type connections of the NAD+ molecule; this is less the case for the pyrophosphate region. The experimental electron density lone pairs of the pyrophosphate lateral oxygen atoms are distorted by hydrogen bonds effects. The electrostatic potential has large spatial.
THE INVESTIGATION OF COAGULATION ACTIVITY OF NATURAL COAGULANTS EXTRACTED FROM DIFFERENT STRAINS OF COMMON BEAN

Coagulation and flocculation by adding chemicals are the methods that are usually used for removal of water turbidity. This study is concerned with the coagulation activity of extracts of various strains of bean. The aim was to ascertain if bean varieties influence coagulation activity. Active components were extracted from 1 g of ground sample with 100 ml distilled water. Contents of dry matter and nitrogen were specified in the solid samples, and the content of soluble nitrogen was determined in the extracts. These data were used to calculate the efficiency of extraction of nitrogen-containing compounds. The coagulation activity was assessed by jar test using synthetic turbid water, of the initial pH 9 and turbidity 35 NTU. The jar test was carried out by adding different amounts of extracts to model water, and stirring the content. After sedimentation for 1 h, residual turbidity was determined by turbidimeter and coagulation activity was calculated. The increment of organic matter concentration after the coagulation was also determined. These experiments confirmed that extracts of all investigated strains of bean could be used successfully as natural coagulants.
Computational studies of possible transition structures in the insertion and windowing mechanisms for the formation of endohedral fullerenes

The possible structures involved in the ring penetration and windowing mechanisms for the formation of endohedral fullerenes are reported. Results for X@C 6 0 relaxed transition structures and energy barriers are reported, where X = H, He, N, NO, P, and As. The applicability of a mechanism to formation of a particular endohedral species is readily judged on the basis of these barriers, with only hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen as likely participants in direct insertion. Windowing was shown to be feasible only for hydrogen or nitrogen atoms under the adiabatic conditions of the calculations.
The Effect of Temperature on Relative and Absolute Permeability of Sandstones

Equipment was constructed to perform dynamic displacement experiments on small core samples under conditions of elevated temperature. Oil-water flowing fraction and pressure drop were recorded continuously for calculation of both the relative permeability ratio and the individual relative permeabilities. Imbibition relative permeabilities were measured for five samples of Boise sandstone at room temperature and at 175/sup 0/F. The fluids used were distilled water and a white mineral oil. The effect of temperature on absolute permeability was investigated for six Boise sandstone samples and two Berea sandstone samples. Results for all samples were similar. The irreducible water saturation increased significantly, while the residual oil saturation decreased significantly with temperature increase. The individual relaive permeability to oil increased for all water saturations. The individual relative permeability to water decreased with temperature increase for water saturations below the room-temperature residual oil saturation, but the relative permeability to water at flood-out increased with temperature increase. Absolute permeability decreased with temperature increase.
Food Safety and Fish Production the Case of Staphylococcus aureus: A Review

Currently food safety must be a mandatory condition in food available for human and animal consumption. Food safety is considered the characteristic that these will not cause harm to the health of consumers. Foodborne diseases are considered a serious public health problem throughout the world due to their incidence, mortality and negative repercussions on the economic and productive sectors. Among the most frequent cases and outbreaks of foodborne illness is food poisoning resulting from the consumption of foods such as fish and products contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus and toxins. Staphylococcus aureus contamination of food can occur at any stage of the food chain, from primary production, processing, distribution, marketing, even manipulation by the final consumer; this mainly due to the absence or inadequate hygiene conditions and practices, establishing that this pathogen has the human being as its main reservoir and source of contamination. Therefore, the purpose of this manuscript is to provide general information through the search and analysis of information in different academic and scientific databases on foodborne diseases, causal agents of these diseases, especially Staphylococcus aureus, related foods in its transmission such as fish and tilapia, sources and conditions of contamination, as well as prevention and control actions in the different phases of the food chain in favor of food safety and public health.
Mechanistic simulation of vertical distribution of carbon concentrations and residence times in soils

We developed a numerical simulation model of the decay and vertical transport of soil organic matter. Soil organic matter is divided into a number of compartments each with different decay rates but with similar migration parameters. Decay has been represented with first-order processes. Two elementary forms of migration were explored: diffusive equations represent transport through soil mixing whereas translational convection simulates movement within the liquid phase. Coefficients of decay, diffusion, and convection were taken to be uniform with depth. Carbon input is both through the surface in the form of litter fall and directly underground from roots. Profiles of total C content and 14 C content were measured for a temperate forest silt loam soil. Similar data for other forest soils, available in the literature, were also assembled. Statistical adjustment, through nonlinear regression, of decay, migration, compartment configuration, and plant production parameters, accurately simulated profiles of C and 14 C. The rapidly decaying compartment was successfully likened to the 50- to 200-μm particle-size fraction. Convection rates of 0.3 mm yr -1 and diffusion rates ranging from 1 to 15 cm 2 yr -1 were obtained. Diffusive processes appear to be preponderant relative to convection. The model has proven sensitive to differences between temperate and tropical soils as well as textural variations.
Geostatistical analysis of soil chemical properties and rice yield in a paddy field and application to the analysis of yield-determining factors

Abstract To obtain basic information for rational site-specific soil management for rice production, spatial variability of soil chemical properties and grain yield of rice was evaluated in a 50 m × 100 m paddy field. One hundred surface soil samples were collected from each of the 5 m × 10 m plots before puddling to investigate the spatial variability of their chemical properties: pH, EC, total C content, total N content, C/N ratio, contents of mineralizable N, inorganic N, available P, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and Na. Grain yield was also measured at harvest for the corresponding 100 plots. Geostatistical analysis was carried out to examine their within-field spatial variability using semivariograms, and multivariate analysis was also carried out to evaluate yield-determining factors. Geostatistical analysis of the soil properties indicated a high to moderate spatial dependence for all the properties except for the inorganic N content. The ranges of spatial dependence were about 20–30 m for the pH, EC, total C content, total N content, content of exchangeable Na, about 40 m for the contents of available P, mineralizable N, exchangeable Ca and Mg, and about 50–60 m for the C/N ratio and content of exchangeable K. Grain yield showed a moderate spatial dependence with a range of about 50 m. The results of spatial dependence enabled to prepare kriged maps of the soil properties and yield to compare their spatial distribution in the field. Multivariate analysis further showed, in combination with geostatistics, that the soil chemical properties contributed significantly to the yield as yield-determining factors and explained as much as 65% of the spatially structured or non-random variation of the yield. In conclusion, the possible benefit of site-specific soil management or precision agriculture was demonstrated even in an almost flat paddy field.
Laser induced effects in HgCdTe photovoltaic devices

In this paper we report on induced persistent dark currents in HgCdTe photodiodes induced with lasers, and relationships of these effects with those observed with γ rays and high‐energy electron irradiations. Front side laser illumination with relatively small photon flux induces changes in the dark currents with thermal recovery characteristics similar to those observed from irradiation experiments with Co60 gammas and high‐energy electrons. The induced currents produced by these alternative sources are mostly of tunneling origin. The degree of susceptibility to irradiation and illumination observed on devices of different structures is found to be similar, i.e., devices with relatively hard characteristics when exposed to irradiation with γ rays or high‐energy electrons also are observed to be hard to laser illumination. Our results indicate that these metastable effects produced by lasers, γ rays, and high‐energy electrons are of a common origin. The laser experiments suggest that these effects are ass.
Effects of Additives upon Percolation Temperature in AOT-Based Microemulsions

In the present review the percolative phenomena has been analyzed. Percolation is related to transport phenomena in microemulsions, in particular the electric charge transport. The influence of different additives upon electric percolation has been commented. The effects of the additives considered upon the microemulsion properties appear to come about through their association with the surfactant interface. The effects of these agents on the ease with which interdroplet channels allowing transfer of droplet contents are formed are not only responsible for their effects on percolation temperature, but also have serious implications for the rates of fast chemical reactions performed in microemulsions.
Impact of Ligand Modification on Structures and Catalytic Activities of Chelating Bis-Carbene Rhodium(I) Complexes†

A series of novel chelating N-heterocyclic bis-carbene rhodium(I) complexes based on 1,2,4-triazoles, benzimidazoles, and imidazoles with varying bridge length and N substituents has been synthesized. In addition to their structural characterization, their catalytic activity in the hydrosilylation of 4-fluoroacetophenone with diphenylsilane has been examined. The results reveal that selectivities and turnover frequencies (TOFs) are influenced by bridge length, steric demand of the N substituents, and electronic properties of the heterocycle.
Assessing aluminum phytotoxicity in long‐term phosphate fertilized pasture soils

Abstract A short‐term bioassay was carried out to study the effect of continuous inputs of calcium (Ca), fluoride (F), and sulphate (SO4) from phosphate (P) fertilizers and changes in pH on aluminum (Al) phytotoxicity. Soil samples (40–100 mm) were collected from two adjacent pasture sites, one of which had no phosphate fertilizer applied for over 20 years (low phosphorus, LP) and the other which had high phosphorus input (375 kg ha‐1 yr‐1 single superphosphate) for 20 years (high phosphorus, HP). Soil samples were incubated at 80% field capacity for 6 weeks with either Ca(OH)2 or HC1 to obtain varying pH levels. Short‐term root growth bioassay was conducted using barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings. Decreasing soil pH markedly increased the soil solution Ca, total monomeric Al (Al(t)) and total soluble F in the HP soil compared with the LP soil. Aluminum3+ and A1(OH)2+ were the dominant monomeric inorganic Al species below pH 4.0, but Al‐F complexes dominated at pH 4.0 to 5.5 in the HP soil. The inabil.
Temperature dependence of interface anisotropy in Ni/Mo multilayers

Equal layer thickness Ni/Mo multilayer samples ranging in Ni layer thickness d from 14 to 340 A have been investigated by x‐band ferromagnetic resonance at temperatures between 4 and 293 K. The dependence of anisotropy (less demagnetization) Ha upon d clearly indicates the interface anisotropy plays a significant role in these samples. Interface (Ks) and volume (Kv) contributions to the anisotropy are extracted at each temperature using an approximate form of Ha=2(Kv+2Ks/d)/M. The Ks temperature dependence is shown to be inconsistent with a simple mean field model and indicates that interface strain due to the Ni‐Mo lattice mismatch is largely responsible for the origin of Ks.