Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intervalence transfer in pentammineruthenium complexes of .alpha.,.omega.-dipyridyl polyenes

Preparation de complexes dinucleaires, du ruthenium (II) pontes par des ω,ω-dipyridylpolyenes. Spectrometrie UV visible et proprietes electrochimiques: obtention d'un compose a valence mixte par oxydation progressive du ruthenium (II)
A Cross-Society Study of Trust and Reciprocity: Korea, Japan and the U.S:

Yamagish and others distinguish two bases for the formation of participant's expectation of a partner's cooperation in one shot Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) game: "general trust" and "an illusion of control. " Fol/wing their methodology, we hypothesize that illusion of control plays a relatively more important role and general trust plays a less important role in Korean society in the context of a cross-society comparison of Korea, Japan and the US. This hypothesis is based on a prevailing presumption claiming that, while the Korean society resembles the Japanese society in many ways, Korea is a low trust society unlike japan. Our experimental outcomes fail to validate such a perception. General trust in Korea is found not to be low, contrary to the findings of previous surveys outcome. Reasons behind the discrepancy between our findings and previous studies and perceptions are discussed. 31
Experimental research on surface wave Ar–He discharges at atmospheric pressure

The influence of He addition is studied in concentrations of up to 60% in an Ar surface wave discharge at atmospheric pressure and sustained with powers from 100 to 800 W. Although no He lines were detected, an increment in linear power density has been observed together with a decrease in both electron density and argon line intensities with the He proportion in the discharge. The influence of the He proportion on the radial contraction of the plasma is also presented. The results obtained reveal a change in the internal kinetics of the discharge with respect to a pure argon plasma, even at a low He concentration as low as 5%.
Functional and sensory properties of wheat (Aestium triticium) and taro flour (Colocasia esculenta) composite bread

Functional and sensory properties of wheat (Aestium triticium) and taro (colocasia esculenta) composite bread were investigated. Unblanched and blanched flour were produced from taro tubers. These were separately used to formulate composite flour blends with wheat flours in ratios of 70:30, 80:20 and 90:10. Functional properties, water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC), packed bulk density (PBD), loose bulk density (LBD), least gelation concentration (LGC) and swelling capacity (SC) of the blends and the reference samples were assayed using known standard methods. Bread samples produced from the various composite flour blends using standard recipes were subjected to sensory evaluation. Results showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in all the functional properties amongst the blends and the control. However, the values for the functional properties for 90:10 samples blends for both unblanched and blanched compared favourably with the control. Bread sample from 90:10 unblanched blend had the highest sensory score for mouth feel, flavor, colour, taste, crumb texture aroma and overall acceptability. The finding suggests that acceptable bread could be produced from addition of unblanched taro flour to wheat flour at 10% level. This would significantly reduce the cost of production of bread and other allied products. Key word: Taro, wheat, functional property, sensory property, bread, composite flour.
Influence of Precipitated Hydride on the Fracture Behavior of Zircaloy Fuel Cladding Tube

In order to clarify the influence of precipitated hydride on the fracture behavior of Zircaloy cladding tubes, the stress-strain distribution of the cladding was estimated by finite element method (FEM) analysis. The mechanical properties of α-phase of zirconium and zirconium hydride required for the analysis were examined by means of an ultrasonic pulse-echo method and a tensile test. It was found from the analysis that the non-hydrided cladding has the highest equivalent plastic strain at the inner surface of the cladding, suggesting that the fracture initiated at the inner surface of the cladding. Since the hydride accumulated layer located in the outer surface of the hydrided cladding fails at a lower internal pressure, the crack appears to initiate at the outer surface of the cladding. The fracture behavior estimated from the stress states of the hydrided cladding was in good agreement with the experimental results obtained by pulse irradiation tests of the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR) and high-pressurization-rate burst tests in the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI).
Self-Passivation by Fluorine Plasma Treatment and Low-Temperature Annealing in SiGe Nanowires for Biochemical Sensors

Nanowires are widely used as highly sensitive sensors for electrical detection of biological and chemical species. Modifying the band structure of strained-Si metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors by applying the in-plane tensile strain reportedly improves electron and hole mobility. The oxidation-induced Ge condensation increases the Ge fraction in a SiGe-on-insulator (SGOI) and substantially increases hole mobility. However, oxidation increases the number of surface states, resulting in hole mobility degradation. In this work, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) was used as a biochemical reagent. The hydroxyl molecule on the oxide surface was replaced by the methoxy groups of the APTMS molecule. We proposed a surface plasma treatment to improve the electrical properties of SiGe nanowires. Fluorine plasma treatment can result in enhanced rates of thermal oxidation and speed up the formation of a self-passivation oxide layer. Like a capping oxide layer, the self-passivation oxide layer reduces the rate of follow-up oxidation. Preoxidation treatment also improved the sensitivity of SiGe nanowires because the Si-F binding was held at a more stable interface state compared to bare nanowire on the SiGe surface. Additionally, the sensitivity can be further improved by either the N2 plasma posttreatment or the low-temperature postannealing due to the suppression of outdiffusion of Ge and F atoms from the SiGe nanowire surface.
Diffusion charging of ultrafine aerosol particles by positive helium, argon, and nitrogen ions

The unipolar charging phenomena of ultrafine aerosol particles less than 0.1 μm in diameter by positive gas molecule ions produced by α‐ray irradiation are experimentally evaluated in helium, argon, nitrogen, and helium‐argon mixture gases. The dependencies of the diffusion charging process of particles on ion species of positive helium, argon, and nitrogen ions are quantitatively well explained by a numerical solution of the population balance equations with the use of Fuchs’ combination probability between particles and ions [N. A. Fuchs, Geofis. Pura Appl. 56, 185 (1963)]. The quantity of charge on particles decreases with an increase of ion mass in the order of the helium, nitrogen, and argon ions. The particle charging in a helium‐argon mixture is determined by the ion concentration of both species.
Effects of continuous rice straw compost application on rice yield and soil properties in the Mekong Delta

Abstract A field experiment was conducted to study the effects on yield and soil properties of the continuous application of rice straw compost to an alluvial soil in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Fourteen rice crops, two crops per year, were grown by direct seeding of the crop. There were seven treatments: F0C− (no fertilizer and compost), F0C+ (compost with no fertilizer), F20C+, F40C+, F60C+, F80C+ (20, 40, 60 and 80% of the fertilizer application rate with compost, respectively), F100C− (full strength fertilizer application as N:P2O5:K2O at 100:30:30 kg ha−1 in the dry season and 80:30:30 kg ha−1 in the wet season without compost). Compost prepared from the rice straw was applied at 6 Mg ha−1 (fresh weight) at the cultivation of each crop. The F0C+ treatment showed higher yield than the F0C− treatment by 0.68 Mg ha−1 on average in the wet season, but not in the dry season. The rice yield in F0C− declined at a rate of 0.163 Mg ha−1 year−1 in the wet season, but there was no decline in rice yield in F0C+. In treatments with compost, the yield reached its plateau at F40, suggesting that compost could replace part of the fertilizer. Although there were no significant differences in the total C concentrations in the soil among the treatments, even after 12 consecutive crops, soil penetration resistance appeared to be lower with compost than without compost. This long-term field trial showed that the continuous application of rice straw compost has some positive effects on rice yield as well as on soil physical properties.
Gas sorption and transport in substituted polystyrenes

The effects of pendant groups on gas transport were investigated using a series of substituted polystyrenes. Permeability coefficients were measured at 35°C and 1 atm for He, N2, O2, CH4, and CO2, and diffusion coefficients were calculated from time lag data. The absolute permeabilities for the polystyrenes are correlated reasonably well using a free volume model. All pendant group substitutions resulted in a reduction of the mobility selectivity for CO2/CH4 separation relative to polystyrene, although there was very little effect on the O2/N2 selectivity. The effects of the various substituents were individually analyzed in terms of their size, rigidity, and polarity. The addition of a methyl group to the backbone significantly decreases transport, while attachment to the para ring position increases permeation. Bulky rigid groups, such as t-butyl, enhance permeation even more. Methoxy and acetoxy substitutions provided an excellent means of examining plasticization of polymers by CO2, such as cellulose acetate, which contain these same moieties. The response of these polymers indicates that the degree of plasticization is related to the polarity and flexibility of the pendant group.
Structural study on the micelle formation of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer in aqueous solution

The phase behavior of the triblock copolymers dissolved in water has been studied using SANS. The structural properties have been studied as a function of polymer concentration and temperature. At low temperature (T ≤ 15°C) and low polymer concentrations the unimers are fully dissolved Gaussian chains with radius R g =17 A. Close to ambient temperature, the hydrophobic nature of PPO causes aggregation of the polymers into spherical micelles with core sizes of the order of 40-50 A, somewhat temperature dependent. The concentration of micelles increased roughly linearly with temperature, until either a saturation is reached,where all the polymers are part of a micelle, or the volume density of micelles is so high that they lock into a crystalline structure of hard spheres
Proton exchange membranes from sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) reinforced with silica nanoparticles

The feasibility of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membranes reinforced with unmodified silica (SiO2) and modified silica (SiO2–SO3H) nanoparticles as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) was investigated here. The sulfonated membranes were characterized for degree of sulfonation, thermal stability, as well as water/methanol uptake properties. The incorporation of SiO2 increased the hydrophilic behavior thus allowing more water retention, which facilitated an easy pathway for proton transfer. However, a reduction in proton conductivity was observed. The strong –SO3H/–SO3H interaction between SPEEK chains and SiO2–SO3H led to ionic cross-linking in the membrane structure, which compensated for this decrement in proton conductivity. The fuel cell performance study revealed the potential of SPEEK/SiO2–SO3H nanocomposite membrane to act as an efficient PEM for fuel cell application.
Global plasma simulation of charge state distribution inside a 2.45 GHz ECR plasma with experimental verification

For the first time, the charge state distribution inside the MEsskammer für FlugzeitInStrumente und Time-Of-Flight (MEFISTO) electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma and in the extracted ion beam was successfully simulated. A self-consistent ECR plasma ionization model (Hohl M 2002 MEFISTO II: Design, setup, characterization and operation of an improved calibration facility for solar plasma instrumentation PhD Thesis University of Bern) was further developed, recomputing the ion confinement time for every ion species and in every time step based on the actual plasma potential rather than using a prescribed constant ion confinement time. The simulation starts with a user defined set of initial conditions and develops the problem in time space by an adaptive step length fourth order Runge–Kutta (RK4) solver, considering particle densities based on ionization rates, recombination rates, ion confinement times and plasma potential. At the simulation end, a steady-state ion charge state distribution is reached, which is in excellent agreement with the measured ion beam charge state distribution of the MEFISTO ion source for Ar1+ to Ar5+ and in good agreement for Ar6+.
Investigation and characterisation of diamide insecticide resistance conferred by target-site mutations in the Ryanodine Receptor of lepidopteran pests

Lepidopteran crop pests such as Tuta absoluta, Chilo suppressalis, Spodoptera frugiperda and Plutella xylostella are becoming increasingly problematic, as populations colonise new regions of the globe. The diamide insecticides are a relatively new class that is especially effective, and important, for controlling lepidopteran pests. However, over the past 10 years, resistance to diamides has emerged amongst various lepidopteran species, and is a major threat to crop protection in some cases. Resistance is thought to be caused by alterations to the Ryanodine Receptor, which is the target-site of Diamide insecticides, and previous studies have identified a variety of alterations, in field-populations of multiple lepidopteran species, which may be implicated in diamide resistance. This thesis aims to characterise RyR alterations in terms of their impact on the control-efficacy of diamide insecticides. A previously cloned RyR sequence from the moth, Plutella xylostella, was altered to reflect resistance-alterations present in the field. Alteration of positions 4946 and 4790 was found to reduce activation by diamides when expressed in cell lines. These same altered moth RyR sequences were inserted into Drosophila, by way of in-vivo confirmation. Flies expressing the resistant RyR genotypes survived diamide challenge more readily than those expressing the wild-type genotype of moth RyR. However, the resistant genotypes also climbed and crawled more slowly, suggesting a potential drawback of resistance. The alterations to residues 4946 and 4790 suggested a location of diamide interaction within the voltage-sensor-like domain of the RyR. In order to further define the interaction site, further alterations were made within the same region. Preliminary investigations indicated that these alterations strongly reduce diamide efficacy, when in combination, but exhibit somewhat minor reductions of efficacy as individual changes. It was concluded that the diamide interaction lies proximal to the Voltage-Sensor-like-Domain of the RyR.
Lateral Pressures in Cell Membranes: A Mechanism for Modulation of Protein Function

Variations in the composition of cell membranes can strongly influence the function of proteins embedded therein. However, in most cases it is not known whether lipids and other membrane components act by binding directly to proteins or indirectly through changes in a structural or thermodynamic property of the fluid bilayer. In the present work, we develop a simple thermodynamic analysis based on the hypothesis that variations in membrane composition induce changes in the transverse pressure profile in lipid bilayers. If protein function involves a conformational transition accompanied by a depth-dependent change in its cross-sectional area, we predict that small changes in the lateral pressure can induce a large shift in the conformational distribution. The sensitivity of the conformational equilibrium to the lateral pressure profile arises in part from the localization of the large interfacial free energy within a domain of molecular thickness and also from the difference between the logarithmic depend.
Evolution and Pathoadaptation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Technical University of Denmark Page II Abstract Molecular and mechanistic understanding of evolution is essential for our ability to comprehend the development of life on Earth. Life appeared around 4 billion years ago, and has ever since adapted and diversified through the process of evolution. The focus of this thesis has been to increase our understanding of how bacteria evolve and genetically adapt in a natural environment. In particular we sought to identify the genes that are targeted by mutation to optimize fitness in a given environment, and to understand the evolutionary mechanisms that govern the genetic change. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the dominating pathogen of chronic airway infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and the bacterial long-term persistence in CF hosts involves mutation and selection of genetic variants with increased fitness in the CF airways. We performed a retrospective study of the P. aeruginosa DK2 clone type, which is a transmissible clone isolated from chronically infected Danish CF patients over a period of 38 years. Whole-genome analysis of DK2 isolates enabled a finegrained reconstruction of the recent evolutionary history of the DK2 lineage and an identification of bacterial genes targeted by mutations to optimize pathogen fitness. The identification of such pathoadaptive genes gives new insight into how the pathogen evolves under the selective pressures of the host immune system and drug therapies. Furthermore, isolates with increased rates of mutation (hypermutator phenotype) emerged in the DK lineage. While this phenotype may accelerate evolution, we also showed that hypermutators display differential mutagenesis of certain genes which enable them to follow alternative evolutionary pathways. Overall, our study identifies genes important for bacterial adaptation to a human host environment and provides insight into the different mutational mechanisms that govern the adaptive genetic changes.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of Organometallic Anticancer Drugs

This review provides an introduction into the fascinating area of organometallic anticancer compounds. Although the subject dates back many years, it has witnessed considerable growth only in the past decade. A brief overview of the subject together with recent pertinent examples is provided. The properties of organometallic compounds that lend themselves to medical applications, the main current approaches used, and possible avenues for future research are identified.
Determining some physical properties of bergamot (Citrus medica)

Physical properties are often required for designing post harvest handling/processing equipment for agricultural products. Bergamot is a species of citrus fruit. Physical properties of bergamot are necessary for equipment used in activities such as transportation, storage, grading, packing, and in food production processes like drying, jam production and so on. In this study some physical properties of bergamot were determined. Properties which were measured included fruit dimensions, mass, volume, projected area, fruit density, shell ratio, geometric mean diameter, sphericity and surface area. Bulk density, porosity and also packing coefficient were measured for three groups of small, medium and large category of bergamots. Experiments were carried out at moisture content of 84.9% w.b. for bergamot shell and 87.34% w.b. for its meat. Result showed that average mass and volume were 291.9 g and 456.83 cm 3 , respectively. Dimensions increased from 78.7 to 160 mm in length, 64.2 to 128.5 mm in width, and 64 to 125 mm in thickness. The mean projected area perpendicular to length, width, and thickness obtained 7063.61, 7933.39 and 8137.77 mm 2 , respectively. The geometric mean diameter and surface area were calculated as 97.02 mm, 30412.31 mm 2 , respectively, while sphericity and shell ratio (w.b.) were measured at 0.89 and 0.62%, respectively.
Effect of random crystal field on a doubly decorated ferrimagnetic Ising model

Within the framework of the mean-field approximation, we discuss the effects of random crystal field on magnetic properties of the doubly decorated ferrimagnetic Ising model, in which the two magnetic atoms A and B have spins б = ±1/2 and S = ±1, 0, respectively. Also, the effect of the exchange interaction, between nearest neighbor decorating points, on the compensation temperatures is discussed. Furthermore, the appearance of the partly ferrimagnetic phase (m б = −1/2, m s = 1/2) exhibits different types of phase diagrams.
Multiple quantum solid-state NMR indicates a parallel, not antiparallel, organization of β-sheets in Alzheimer's β-amyloid fibrils

Senile plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease contain deposits of fibrils formed by 39- to 43-residue β-amyloid peptides with possible neurotoxic effects. X-ray diffraction measurements on oriented fibril bundles have indicated an extended β-sheet structure for Alzheimer's β-amyloid fibrils and other amyloid fibrils, but the supramolecular organization of the β-sheets and other structural details are not well established because of the intrinsically noncrystalline, insoluble nature of amyloid fibrils. Here we report solid-state NMR measurements, using a multiple quantum (MQ) 13C NMR technique, that probe the β-sheet organization in fibrils formed by the full-length, 40-residue β-amyloid peptide (Aβ1–40). Although an antiparallel β-sheet organization often is assumed and is invoked in recent structural models for full-length β-amyloid fibrils, the MQNMR data indicate an in-register, parallel organization. This work provides site-specific, atomic-level structural constraints on full-length β-amyloid fibrils and applies MQNMR to a significant problem in structural biology.
Simultaneous analysis of cimetidine and ranitidine in human plasma by HPLC

Abstract A rapid method for the simultaneous quantitation of the H2-receptor antagonist drugs cimetidine and ranitidine in human plasma by isocratic ion-pair reverse-phase HPLC is described. The method involves a simple organic extraction step of the alkalinized plasma containing added internal standard followed by back extraction of the extract with dilute acetic acid and subsequent analysis of the aqueous acidic phase on a reverse-phase (C18) column. The eluting solvent was acetonitrile-water (20:80 v/v) containing 0.005 mole/litre octanesulphonic acid and was monitored at 229 nm. The run time for the assay was 12.5 minutes, with a detection limit for cimetidine of 50 ng/m1/(0.2 μmole/1) and that for ranitidine was 20 ng/ml (0.06 umole/1).