Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermal Stability of Polymer Additives: Comparison of Decomposition Models Including Oxidative Pyrolysis

The thermo‐oxidative stability of widely used polymer additives has been investigated. A comparative analytical approach with classic and innovative decomposition models for polymer additives was conducted and the results supported using quantum‐chemical calculations. Unique pyrolysis products of the analytes were compiled utilizing pyrolysis online coupled to gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometric detection (Pyr‐GC–MS). The pyrolysis was either performed under inert conditions or in an oxygen‐containing atmosphere. Squalane was applied as polymer‐mimicking liquid next to low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyamide 6 (PA 6) as matrices for 10 selected additives. The additives included in this study range from antioxidants and plasticizers to processing aids. These were selected to address a range of application in consumer products and to cover different chemical classes. The toxicological relevance of additives and potential breakdown products was considered. Consequently, degradation of sterically hindered antioxidants, diarylamines, and a trimellitic acid derivative was investigated. The findings were used to predict the behavior of consumer products made of polymeric materials entailing additives. The level of Antioxidant 2246 [2‐tert‐butyl‐6‐[(3‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxy‐5‐methylphenyl)methyl]‐4‐methylphenol] and one of its predicted decomposition products was determined in baby bottle nipples made of natural rubber [2‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenol] utilizing the complementary technique of gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). This study provides a comprehensive characterization of important polymer additives and enables the prioritization of degradation products for further risk assessment. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL. , 25:E12–E27, 2019. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Plastics Engineers
Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Mamupu Cu‐Au Polymetallic Deposit, Eastern Tibet: Implications for Eocene Cu Metallogenesis in the Yulong Porphyry Copper Belt

The Mamupu skarn‐type Cu‐Au polymetallic deposit represents the first discovery of a medium deposit in the southern Yulong porphyry copper belt (YPCB), eastern Tibet. The Cu‐Au mineralization mainly occurs as chalcopyrite in breccia, within the plate‐like carbonate interlayer, being closely related to chloritization (e.g., chlorite, magnetite and epidote) and skarnization (e.g., diopside, tremolite and garnet). The ore‐related quartz syenite porphyry (QSP) and granodiorite porphyry (GP) were emplaced at 40.1 ± 0.2 Ma and 39.9 ± 0.3 Ma, respectively. The QSP of Mamupu is an alkaline‐rich intrusion, relatively enriched in LREE, LILE, depleted in HFSE, with no significant negative Eu and Ce anomalies, slightly high (87Sr/86Sr)i, low ∊Nd(t), uniform (206Pb/204Pb)i and ∊Hf(t) values, which indicates that the porphyry magma may be caused by both the mixing of metasomatized EM II enriched mantle and thickened juvenile lower crust. The QSP in the Mamupu deposit shares a similar genesis of petrology to other ore‐related porphyries within the YPCB. High oxygen fugacity and water content of the magmas are essential for the formation of porphyry and skarn Cu deposits. The QSP has similar high magmatic oxidation states and water content to the Yulong deposit, which indicates that the Mamupu has a high prospecting potential. Differences in the geological characteristics and scale of mineralization between the Mamupu and other YPCB deposits may be due to the different emplacement depths of ore‐related intrusions, as well as differences in the surrounding rocks.
OPTIMAL SELECTION OF BAYESIAN VIRTUAL SENSORS FOR DAMAGE DETECTION UNDER VARIABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Measuring structural vibrations with a large sensor network results in lots of data in structural health monitoring applications. A large number of sensors is advantageous for damage detection and localization. By storing only a few selected Bayesian virtual sensors it is possible to decrease the amount of data and reconstruct the discarded sensor data even with higher accuracy than the original measurements. A method is proposed, in which the stored and reconstructed data are used for damage detection and localization in the time domain. A numerical experiment was performed with a structure having a large number of sensors. The excitation and environmental conditions were variable and unknown. An optimal sensor placement algorithm was applied individually to each measurement to select the appropriate virtual sensors for storage. Less than ten percent of the data were stored, and the signals of all the reconstructed sensors were still more accurate than the actual measurements. The stored and reconstructed data outperformed the actual measurement data in damage detection and localization. Surprisingly, damage detection was also more successful with the stored and reconstructed data than with the full set of virtual sensors.
New Solubility and Viscosity Measurements for Methane–, Ethane–, Propane–, and Butane–Athabasca Bitumen Systems at High Temperatures up to 260 °C

One of the important mechanisms in solvent-aided thermal recovery processes is viscosity reduction due to dissolution of solvent in the bitumen. This dissolution occurs either with the condensed solvent at the edge of the steam chamber or with direct contact of gaseous solvent and bitumen. Therefore, it is essential to determine the solubility and viscosity of solvent in bitumen for reservoir simulation of solvent-aided thermal recovery processes. We report new experimental viscosity and solubility data of methane–, ethane–, propane–, and butane–Athabasca bitumen systems at high temperatures (up to 260 °C). The experimental measurements have been conducted under liquid–vapor equilibrium conditions. Peng–Robinson Equation of State (PR-EoS) was employed to model the solubility data. The tuned PR-EoS represented the experimental solubility data of methane, ethane, propane, and n-butane in bitumen with absolute average relative deviations of 5.7, 4.1, 7.8, and 4.9%, respectively. The reported data find applic.
Global Impacts From High‐Latitude Storms on Titan

One of the first large cloud systems ever observed on Titan was a stationary event at the southern pole that lasted almost two full Titan days. Its stationary nature and large extent are puzzling given that low‐level winds should transport clouds eastward, pointing to a mechanism such as atmospheric waves propagating against the mean flow. We use a composite of 47 large convective events across 15 Titan years of simulations from the Titan Atmospheric Model to show that Rossby waves trigger polar convection—which halts the waves and produces stationary precipitation—and then communicate its impact globally. In the aftermath of the convection, forced waves undergo a complicated evolution, including cross‐equatorial propagation and tropical‐extratropical interaction. The resulting global impact from convection implies its detectability anywhere on Titan, both via surface measurements of pressure and temperature and through remote observation of the outgoing longwave radiation, which increases by ∼0.5% globally.
Antibody Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles for Detection of Small Amounts of Antigen Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Spectra

In this paper, a fast and sensitive localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) based biosensor was developed and the optimization of gold – antibody conjugates through investigation of different parameters were performed. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with a size of ~20 nm were synthesized via chemical reduction of HAuCl4 with trisodium citrate as reducing and stabilizing agent. The impacts of pH of gold colloids and antibody concentrations on conjugation of electrostatically absorbed antibodies on the AuNPs surface were evaluated. The diverse amounts of antigens were added to the selected gold – antibody conjugate and the calibration curve and limit of detection of the system were successfully obtained. The UV- Vis and DLS outputs were utilized to prove the efficiency and repeatability of the system. As a result, the designed biosensor shows a convincing LOD of 400 ng/ml of antigen. It is suggested that electrostatic absorption strategy of AuNPs with negative charge to the positively charged antibodies can be an efficient methodology. Results showed an effective LSPR system for detection of small amounts of antigen in short time as well as with high accuracy.
Dislocation-related photoluminescence of GeSn films grown on Ge (001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

This paper reports the dislocation-related photoluminescence (PL) in GeSn films. The GeSn film samples with Sn content of 1%–7.4% were grown on Ge (001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperatures. Dislocations at the interface between the GeSn and the Ge buffer layer as well as the threading dislocations throughout the GeSn layer were observed for the annealed samples, but not for the as-grown samples. PL peaks of the annealed GeSn film samples show a significant red shift with increasing Sn content. However, a large energy difference (122 meV) between the PL peak energy and theoretically calculated indirect bandgap energy was found for all the GeSn films with different Sn contents. Furthermore, the PL peak position as a function of temperature could be well fitted by the calculated Eg–T line, indicating that the PL observed in the GeSn films is dislocation-related PL.
Trumpet-shaped controllable adhesive structure for manipulation of millimeter-sized objects

Reversible adhesion has great potential in a broad range of applications such as robotic grasping, transfer printing, and precision assembling. Herein, we show a trumpet-shaped controllable adhesive structure capable of grasping and releasing millimeter-sized three-dimensional objects with an instability modulation strategy. Experimental results revealed that the strong grasping capacity via compressing derives from the dual contribution of vacuum pressure and van der Waals interactions at the contact interface, whereas the easy releasing performance via shearing/twisting is facilitated by local unsymmetric cracking and subsequent peeling at the adhesive interface. Finite element analysis validated that external load such as shearing and twisting can dynamically modulate the interfacial stress from a relatively uniform distribution to a severely uneven state through buckling, which changes the crack path and thereby destructs the adhesive interface. Furthermore, the controllable adhesive structure was successfully demonstrated to transfer various three-dimensional objects with durable performances in both air and underwater environments. This work presents a generally applicable and dexterous modulation strategy to achieve tunable adhesion for millimeter-scale and even smaller objects, which promotes the understanding and application of controllable adhesion.
Fractal Reactor in Micro-Scale for Process Intensification

Abstract Fractal theory, with its novel architectures inspired by nature, provides some novel concepts for smart reactor design. Here, researches on the applications of fractal theory to micro-reactor design are reviewed, in term of its high surface area-to-volume ratio, rapid and direct numbering-up, safety, and precise control. In addition, two designs of fractal micro-reactor are introduced as typical examples. First, the H-type fractal structure is considered in the context of the design of a double-plate micro-reactor, which is used for photocatalytic reactions of CO2. Second, applications of fractal Hilbert curves are considered in the design of channel structures for gas-liquid reactions. These two fractal micro-reactors can be fabricated via 3D printing technology and used for CO2 conversion under mild conditions.
Long-term effects of plant spacing on the growth and morphometry of Bertholletia excelsa

ABSTRACT Plant spacing is a potential driver of tree form and yield in forest plantations. However, its effects on the productivity of tree plantations in the Amazon are still little known. This study examined the effects of six spacing regimes (3 x 4, 4 x 4, 4 x 5, 5 x 5, 5 x 6, and 6 x 6 m) on the growth and morphometry of a 20-year-old plantation of Bertholletia excelsa. We observed high, spacing-independent survival (> 70%). For timber production purposes, intermediate and two large spacing regimes tended to higher values of yield components, mainly diameter, biomass, and volume, although some did not differ significantly from the smallest spacing. One of the intermediate spacings (5 x 5 m) tended to higher commercial height. Tree crowns tended to be wider and longer in the larger spacings, which indicates the potential of these regimes for fruit production. Tree crowns exceeded the vital growth space in all spacing regimes, which suggests the need for thinning before the age of 20 years in all spacings to reduce intraspecific competition and increase yield. We estimated that a density of 84 remaining trees per hectare would be necessary to reach an average diameter of 40 cm at the age of 20 years. Thus, B. excelsa had high survival in the tested range of spacing regimes, while the intermediate and the largest spacing regimes led to better tree growth and morphometry.
A FRET based assay for the quantification of synthetic and native lipid vesicles

Lipid nanoparticles, both of artificial and biological origin, have attracted significant attention in recent years. Biological lipid nanoparticles in the form of extracellular vesicles are involved in intercellular communication and biological material transport. Synthetic liposomes have also been proposed as promising drug delivery systems. In view of this broad interest, methods capable of accurately quantifying the content of lipid nanoparticles in a sample are urgently needed. To date, quantification is most commonly achieved by counting the particles after visualization, or by quantifying the total protein content in the case of particles of biological origin. In this thesis we present an alternative method allowing for the quantification of the total lipid surface area of an unknown sample. Our approach is based on Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), where the unknown lipid nanoparticle sample is sonicated with vesicles containing a FRET-fluorophore pair, leading to membrane fusion. The change in FRET fluorescence can then be correlated to the total surface area of the unknown sample. We first calibrated the method using synthetic vesicles of known surface area. We then tested the method on synthetic vesicles containing cholesterol, herpes simplex virus type 2, and two species of outer membrane vesicles secreted from E. coli bacteria. Finally, we benchmarked our results against alternative established methods and discussed potential and limitation of each. Our results indicate that the FRET assay is suitable to quantify all the lipid nanoparticle samples tested here and serves as a viable measurement technique to quantify lipid surface areas.
Information Systems Strategy and Innovation: Analyzing Perceptions Using Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis

The current challenging environment may cause difficulties in the financial dimension of firms and particularly for small–medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which may lead to the lack of administrative, technical, and human capabilities which, in effect, may constrain the capacity to deal with the crisis. In light of technological advances, scholars and practitioners have concluded that the greatest obstacle to the adoption of innovative technologies is the lack of information systems (IS) strategy. IS strategy is a critical dimension of innovation and competitive advantage for SMEs. IS strategy includes multiple conflicting objectives and the use of multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is to support better decision making. SMEs need a guide for effective decision making in the information technology (IT) field and decision-making processes that are based on MCDA methods increase innovation and entrepreneurship. Thus, this article aims to investigate the effect of the use of IS strategic planning on IT executives’ satisfaction using MCDA. All data are obtained in 294 Greek SMEs from IS executives. The results of this article could enable managers to understand how IS strategy supports the development of innovative technologies that incorporate opportunities to enhance business development and innovation.
Nickel accumulation, localisation and the biochemical responses in Eclipta prostrata (L.) L

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to examine the growth, accumulation and biochemical responses in Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. , at increasing levels of nickel in soil after 30 days of treatment. Accumulation of nickel in different parts of the plant was found in a concentration-dependent manner, and the uptake was significantly higher in roots than in shoots. Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the metal-exposed plant, compared with the control. The plant exhibited a significant decrease in its pigment content at Ni treatment levels from 100 mg/kg onwards. Compared with the control, a significant increase was observed in the metal exposed plant in its non-enzymatic antioxidants such as proline, flavonoid and phenolic compounds, as well as in the activity of enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase. The present study revealed the mechanism adopted by E. prostrata in alleviating nickel-induced oxidative damage. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) provided supporting evidence for the uptake of heavy metals, localisation and binding or interaction of nickel in the leaf. Thus, the plant appears to have the potential as a tolerant nickel phytoremediator species for application in decontamination of moderately polluted soils.
49.2: Invited Paper: Research and Applications of Amorphous Metal‐Oxide Semiconductor Devices ‐ In‐Ga‐Zn‐O and Ga‐Sn‐O Thin‐Film Devices ‐

IGZO TFTs are analyzed, and GTO devices are introduced as rare metal free devices. GTO TFTs are made by simple sputtering, and the performance is excellent, such as, mobility=34.6 cm2/Vs, good stability, etc. We propose applications of IGZO and GTO devices to not only FPDs but also thermoelectric and neuromorphic devices.
Imputing missings in official statistics for general tasks – our vote for distributional accuracy

In statistical survey analysis, (partial) non-responders are integral elements during data acquisition. Treating missing values during data preparation and data analysis is therefore a non-trivial underpinning. Focusing on the German Structure of Earnings data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (DESTATIS), we investigate various imputation methods regarding their imputation accuracy and its impact on parameter estimates in the analysis phase after imputation. Since imputation accuracy measures are not uniquely determined in theory and practice, we study different measures for assessing imputation accuracy: Beyond the most common measures, the normalized-root mean squared error (NRMSE) and the proportion of false classification (PFC), we put a special focus on (distribution) distance measures for assessing imputation accuracy. The aim is to deliver guidelines for correctly assessing distributional accuracy after imputation and the potential effect on parameter estimates such as the mean gross income. Our empirical findings indicate a discrepancy between the NRMSE resp. PFC and distance measures. While the latter measure distributional similarities, NRMSE and PFC focus on data reproducibility. We realize that a low NRMSE or PFC is in general not accompanied by lower distributional discrepancies. However, distributional based measures correspond with more accurate parameter estimates such as mean gross income under the (multiple) imputation scheme.
Energy Transition, Poverty and Inequality: Panel Evidence from Vietnam

This paper investigates energy transition, energy poverty and energy inequality in Vietnam employing a longitudinal dataset of a nationally representative household survey. We use the data on residential energy expenditure of more than 9,000 households over the period 2004 - 2016. We find a transition from traditional energy to modern energy but this transition varies across regions, between ethnic and welfare groups and between rural and urban population. The poor and ethnic minority households still rely heavily on traditional energy sources such as coal and biomass to meet their energy demands. Electricity poverty has decreased but energy-cost poverty has increased. In addition, energy inequality tends to decrease at a more significant rate than income and consumption inequalities. We propose a national program for energy poverty alleviation be established to devise policies to lower households’ energy cost s. Further assistance to the poor and ethnic minority households is also recommended so that they can afford a higher level of electricity consumption.
Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the structure, physicochemical and functional properties of protein isolates from cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seeds

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment on the structure, physicochemical and functional properties of cumin protein isolate (CPI) was investigated. More aggregates, pores, irregular conformations and bigger particle size were observed for HHP‐treated CPI. HHP resulted in an increase in α‐helix, a decrease in β‐strand and fluorescence intensity of CPI. Surface hydrophobicity (Hₒ) of CPI significantly increased after HHP treatment, from 343.35 for native CPI to 906.22 at 600 MPa (P < 0.05). HHP treatment at 200 MPa reduced zeta‐potential and solubility of CPI, while had little effect at 400 and 600 MPa. Emulsifying activity and stability of CPI decreased after HHP treatment, of which droplet size of emulsions significantly increased (P < 0.05). HHP‐treated CPI could form heat‐induced gelation at lower temperature (68.5 °C) and improved storage modulus (G′) comparing to native one (80.6 °C), suggesting that CPI might be potential protein resources as gelation substitute in food system.
Multiphoton Ionisation of Lithium from an optical Dipole Trap

For this Master thesis, multiphoton ionisation processes of Lithium-6 atoms from an optical dipole trap have been investigated and the momentum distributions of the resulting ions over the whole solid angle in a Reaction Microscope have been obtained for the first time. The atoms have first been trapped in a magneto-optical trap, before being transferred into the purely optical dipole trap. Measurements for five different peak intensities in the range of 6.5× 10 W/cm to 6.5× 10 W/cm have been carried out, where a femtosecond laser has been used as the projectile beam. The experimentally obtained momentum distributions are consistent with formerly executed comparable experiments and offer a basis for future experiments.