Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uncovering the mechanisms of electrolyte permeation in porous electrodes for redox flow batteries through real time in situ 3D imaging

Increasing energy demands have expedited the need for grid-scale energy storage solutions. High power densities have been achieved using carbon-based electrodes in all-vanadium redox flow batteries. However, fundamental limitations must be overcome to improve viability. This study addresses the infiltration of vanadium solutions into dry electrodes using time-resolved 3D X-ray tomography, thus relating the rate of permeation and other wetting phenomena to microstructural characteristics and surface properties of carbon fibers. It is shown that electrolyte infiltration proceeds according to a non-uniform progression front, with small channel-like pores filled in first and remaining larger pores filled only after 6 h. The vanadium concentration affects the infiltration rate, being faster for 0.5 M VOSO4 while slower for both higher and lower concentrations. The infiltration mechanism is strongly correlated with the temporal decrease in the contact angle, revealing that fibers become more hydrophilic as they are treated by the electrolyte solution. Modification of carbon surface groups through plasma treatment boosts the infiltration process. The results reveal counter-intuitive behaviors of the electrolyte flow whereby the capillary driven flow is found to be secondary to the primary wetting mechanisms. Uncovering these physical phenomena is essential for operational procedures in flow batteries and avoiding cell degradation.
Nanoskalige Magnete und Magnetkomposite auf Ferritbasis

Die vorliegende Arbeit prasentiert eine detaillierte Erforschung der Pulversynthese mittels Festkorperreaktion, der Formgebung und Sinterung sowie der magnetischen Domanenevolution in nanoskaligen Magneten und Magnetkompositen auf Hexaferritbasis. Ein hochenergetischer Legierungsprozess mithilfe eines Attritors ermoglichte die Herstellung von Ausgangspulvern mit Partikelgrosen von ca. 200 nm. Die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit entwickelte Niedertemperaturkalzinierung bei 1100 °C resultierte in einphasigen Hexaferriten; Al-substituierte Pulver zeigten geringe Zweitphasen von ca. 5 % auf. Es konnte fur den reinen Strontium (Sr)-Hexaferrit eine Partikelgrosenverteilung von 100 bis 1100 nm erreicht werden. Um Ausgangspartikel unterhalb der kritischen Eindomanenteilchengrose zu synthetisieren, wurde eine hochenergetische Mahlung durchgefuhrt und anschliesend ein Ausheilschritt bei 1000 °C eingefuhrt. Es zeigten sich erhohte Koerzitivfeldstarken von 540 mT und Sattigungsmagnetisierungen von 480 mT mit einer Partikelgrosenverteilung von 130 bis 680 nm fur Sr-Hexaferrit. Basierend auf diesen Ergebnissen wird aktuell der Einsatz der Niedertemperaturkalzinierung in der industriellen Fertigung evaluiert. Fur Freisinterexperimente konnte der CaSiO3-Gehalt fur die untersuchten Pulver zur Erhohung der magnetischen Kennwerte optimiert werden. Ferrit-Ferrit-Kompositansatze, basierend auf einem kommerziellen Referenzpulver, resultierten in erhohten Koerzitivfeldstarken bis zu 460 mT und zeigten im industriellen Herstellungsprozess eine verbesserte Prozessierbarkeit auf. Die Heiskompaktierung ergab vor allem in Bezug auf eine feinkristalline Mikrostruktur ausgezeichnete Ergebnisse. Allerdings resultierte das Heispressen in verstarkten Gitterverspannungen, die die Koerzitivfeldstarke verringerten. Des Weiteren konnte ein erhohter Ausrichtungsgrad der Korner von bis zu 80 % durch Heiskompaktierung erreicht werden. Das beobachtete Korngrenzengleiten ist bereits fur keramische Materialien bekannt, wurde aber in Bezug auf den Hexaferriten und seiner magnetischen Vorzugsrichtung noch nicht detailliert studiert. Insgesamt konnte durch die Kornausrichtung wahrend der Heiskompaktierung ein Anstieg der Remanenz auf 350 mT nachgewiesen werden. Mithilfe von in situ magnetkraftmikroskopischen Untersuchungen (MFM) wurden Ein- und Multidomanenzustande in fein- und grobkristallinen Gefugebereichen untersucht. Dabei werden Wechselwirkungsdomanen im feinkristallinen Gefuge beobachtet. Es zeigte sich, dass die lokale Polarisation, bestimmt aus dem MFM-Kontrast, sehr gut mit der globalen Polarisation der Probe korreliert werden kann.
The Role of Short-Term and Longer Term Immigration Trends on Voting for Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe

The success of populist radical right parties (PRRPs) in Europe has, in part, been attributed to growing immigration, but previous findings have found an inconsistent relationship between immigration and voting for PRRPs. We address previous inconsistencies by suggesting a time-focused perspective on intergroup relations. We disentangle short-term from longer term immigration trends and argue that a recent increase in immigration should predict PRRP support. With time, however, citizens will adapt to these demographic changes and voting for PRRPs could decline. We drew on official immigration records and representative data from the European Social Survey, capturing the voting behavior of 75,874 individuals from 15 European countries between 2002 and 2014. We found that a recent increase in immigration predicted more PRRP voting, and this relationship was strengthened under conditions of higher economic strain and inequality. In contrast, sustained immigration in the longer term was not related with PRRP votes.
Critical evaluation of rate coefficients for hydroxyl radical reactions with antibiotics: A review

Abstract Rate coefficients (k•OH) of hydroxyl radical + antibiotic molecule reactions (c.a. 200 k•OH values for 70 molecules) were collected from published studies. Data measured in different laboratories, occasionally by different methods, were compared. Excluding the rate coefficients with values above the diffusion controlled limit and adjusting rate coefficients determined by competition kinetics, the data were averaged and the most probable values were selected. Rate coefficients for compounds with aromatic rings (e.g., amoxicillin) or conjugated double bonds (e.g., tylosin) are in the (6 – 8) × 109 mol−1 dm3 s−1 range. The basic reaction is radical addition. The value may be smaller when strong electron withdrawing substituent, like –NO2 is attached to the ring, and N-atoms in the aromatic ring also reduce the rate coefficient. The rate coefficients for molecules without aromatic rings are smaller with values in the (3 – 6) × 109 mol−1 dm3 s−1 range, where hydrogen abstraction reactions dominate. Carefully executed pulse radiolysis and steady-state experiments (with correct reference values) give similar rate coefficients.
The unexpected consequences of replacing corridor chats with an online community of practice

We are four academics teaching mathematics at three different higher education institutions over two continents. Through fortnightly meetings to research how our practices changed as a result of the Covid-19 lockdowns, we formed a community of practice. The process of articulating our experiences and ideas, and reflecting on the recorded meetings and the written homework we set ourselves, was reassuring and motivational. We identified five assessment propositions to guide our mathematics teaching, which we summarize in this paper. A major proposition of assessment we embraced was the use of open book (or open-internet) assessment as a way to test for mathematical understanding. Our community of practice interactions influenced our teaching and assessment practices. We learnt more deeply about assessment by interrogating each other’s work, observing and identifying misconceptions or errors (made by ourselves and others), and learning different ways of solving problems through discussion. We noted that sustaining the community of practice required comfort in being confronted and criticized. The unexpected consequence of our community of practice was the push it gave us to think about why we teach what we teach, assess how we assess, and how we can make both more relevant to a changing world.
NMDAR-Activated PP1 Dephosphorylates GluN2B to Modulate NMDAR-Plasticity

1 Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. Chicago, IL 2 Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco. San Francisco, CA 3 Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 4 Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology CAS. Prague, Czech Republic 5 Department of Neurology, Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis. Davis, CA
Rapid Detection of Antibody in Biological Fluids on a Bioarray Chip

Abstract A bioarray chip was developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of the antibody (Ab) in nanoliter volumes of biological fluids. The chip was used to detect the anti-hemagglutinin (anti-HA) Ab from mouse ascites fluids. On the bioarray chip, lanes of antigens (i.e., a 13-amino acid peptide, HA, that is bound by anti-HA Ab) were printed in one dimension on the chip surface. The antigens probed the protein samples (i.e., mouse anti-HA) obtained from biological fluids flowing in channels arranged in the perpendicular dimension. To determine if the detection sensitivity was increased by using different fluorescent labeling methods, two types of labeling reagents were compared, namely AlexaFluor 647-labeled goat anti-mouse Ab (AxIgG), and biotin-labeled anti-mouse Ab (BioIgG) followed by cyanine 5-tagged streptavidin (SA-Cy5). In addition, the assay procedure was shortened by omitting the reduction and blocking steps, while maintaining the sensitivity. In conclusion, a bioarray chip was adopted to detect as low as 10 pM mouse monoclonal antibody (anti-HA) in 500 nL of biological fluids (i.e., corresponding to 5 attomoles of antibody). Our results demonstrate that on-chip detection using this bioarray format is more sensitive and less time-consuming than traditional analyses.
The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Energy Poverty and Unemployment in Selected European Union Countries

The accelerated development of information and communication technologies (ICT) over the last three decades has encouraged researchers to analyse the impact of this phenomenon on the labour market. The potential decline in employment resulting from the proliferation of ICT may reduce access to basic energy services and even lead to energy poverty in the form of inability to heat the apartment as needed, allocating a significant part of revenues to expenses related to heating or problems with the timely payment of energy bills. Because access to energy is of fundamental importance for improving the quality of life and is crucial from the point of view of economic development, it is justified to verify the hypothesis that the accelerated development of ICT in EU countries may contribute to an increase in unemployment and, consequently, translate into a higher level of energy poverty. The described research results were obtained thanks to a comparative factor analysis based on secondary data. The analysis showed that in the period 2009–2019, the use of ICT had a limited impact on the unemployment rate in the EU and had a significant impact on reducing the level of energy poverty in EU Member States. As regards the impact of ICT factors on the level of energy poverty, only IP traffic showed a significant impact in this area. When it comes to the labour market, it was found that employment is chiefly influenced by economic factors such as labour costs.
Synthesis and Characterization of Polyurethanes from Oleic, Erucic and 10-Undecenoic Acids

The biobased aromatic triols were designed and synthesized from oleic acid, 10-undecenoic and erucic acid using optimized chemical reactions and purifications. Three aromatic triols were synthesized followed by cyclotrimerization of stearoyl alcohol, 10-undecyn-1-ol, and behenolic ester to obtain the aromatic triols and aromatic derivatives, and subsequent reduction of carboxylate groups to give primary hydroxyl groups. The analyses of these biobased aromatic triols were performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A series of biobased segmented polyurethanes based on these aromatic triols, 1,4-butanediol as a chain extender and 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) as a coupling agent, were synthesized. The sample materials were prepared with a hard-segment content up to 50%. The morphologies and thermal stability of these polyurethanes were studied by the FTIR spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The results showed that it could be feasible to use the renewable resources to manufacture the applicable and green materials.
Embedding Non-planar Graphs: Storage and Representation

In this paper, we propose a convention for repre-senting non-planar graphs and their least-crossing embeddings in a canonical way. We achieve this by using state-of-the-art tools such as canonical labelling of graphs, Nauty’s Graph6 string and combinatorial representations for planar graphs. To the best of our knowledge, this has not been done before. Besides, we implement the men-tioned procedure in a SageMath language and compute embeddings for certain classes of cubic, vertex-transitive and general graphs. Our main contribution is an extension of one of the graph data sets hosted on MathDataHub, and towards extending the SageMath codebase.
Reduced graphene oxide–gold nanoparticle membrane for water purification

ABSTRACT The reduced graphene oxide–gold nanoparticle (rGO–Au NP) membranes are prepared by vacuum filtration method. The sizes of the Au NPs on the surface of the rGO are about 8–10 nm, and the lattice spacing of Au NPs is 0.0241 nm, which is relative to the cubic lattice of the gold crystal. The layer-by-layer stacking structure of rGO–Au NP membrane can be observed clearly by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The water flux of the rGO–Au NP membrane is as high as 204.1 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, and its retention for Rhodamine B (RhB) is as high as 99.79%.
Customer awareness on Green banking practices

ABSTRACT Green banking is an emerging concept in Pakistan’s economy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the progress of green banking practices in the banking sector. It tries to examine the individual’s perception and response to the green practices as adopted by the banks. This research is exploratory in nature and attempts to find the association between green banking awareness and customers. Structural Equation Model (SEM) is used as a measurement model and 400 responses were obtained using convenience sampling technique. The result of the study shows that customers are receptive of the change brought on by the banks’ green initiative and are willing to adopt them. Education appears to have a significant positive impact on green banking awareness in the selected sample. The model determines that the green banking awareness is dependent on age, gender, occupation of the individual and is influenced by traits of sustainable banking practices.
Physical Properties of Porous Pure and Zr/Sn-Doped Nanocrystalline BaTiO3 Ceramics

Polycrystalline BaTiO 3 and Ba(Ti 0.96 SnxZr 0.04-x )O 3 ceramics (x = 0.02-0.04) were prepared by a combination of solid-state and mechanochemical process and characterized at room temperature by X-ray diffraction for phase composition. Their crystal structures were found to be of the cubic and tetragonal symmetries, respectively. The grain size and porosity which were determined using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and densi- tometer, respectively showed decrease and increase of relative density respectively, with increase in doping concentration. The variations of dielectric constant and loss with fre- quency and temperature show a maximum dielectric constant of 1660 at room temperature for Ba(Ti 0.96 Sn 0.03 Zr 0.01 )O 3 . The remnant polarization (P r ) and coercive field (E c ) of BT were found to be 581.73 V/cm and 0.27 μ C/cm 2 . Increase in Sn content led to an increase in Pr of 0.58, 3.07, 3.73 C/cm 2 , and Ec of 1766.8, 2855.7, 2661.1 V/cm, respectively and are expected to lead to a significant reduction in the thickness of the multilayer ceramic capacitors. Imped- ance spectroscopy of polycrystalline Ba (Ti 0.96 Sn 0.02 Zr 0.02 ) O 3 in a wide frequency and temperature range showed Nyquist plots with presence of grain and grain boundary at 400 (cid:1) C and a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) for Ba(Ti 0.96 Sn 0.02 Zr 0.02 )O 3 . The dielectric relaxation showed a non-Debye character.
Formulation and in vivo evaluation of aliskiren-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles

Aliskiren (ALS) is a direct renin inhibitor with low bioavailability and high drug cost. The goal of this study was to increase the bioavailability of ALS through nanoformulation. The optimized formulation was then evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). We developed an ALS poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticle (ALS-NP) through the emulsion–diffusion–evaporation method with various solvents, stabilizer concentrations, and centrifugation speeds. SHRs were orally dosed with 30 mg/kg ALS or dose equivalent ALS-NP. Several parameters were assayed in plasma and/or urine at baseline and 24 h post-dose, while pharmacokinetic analysis included serial sampling. The optimum formulation was found with ethyl acetate, a 1.00% w/v didodecyldimethylammonium bromide concentration, and a 10,000 r/min (15,554 g) centrifugation speed. A 168% relative bioavailability was observed as a result of ALS-NP administration along with significant, as determined by Student’s t-test, increases in the maximum ALS plasma concentration (p = 0.0189) and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from 0 to infinity (p = 0.0095). Conversely, a reduction was found in oral volume of distribution (p = 0.0009) and oral clearance (p = 0.0298). Blood urea nitrogen increased significantly after dosing in both groups (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001); however, no statistical difference was found between endpoint levels (p > 0.05) following one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Kidney injury molecule-1 increased following ALS dosing (p = 0.0486), while ALS-NP showed a decrease (p = 0.027) which was also significantly decreased compared to ALS-Final (p = 0.0008) when examined using two-way ANOVA. Urinary potassium excretion decreased significantly, as shown by two-way ANOVA, only in the ALS group (p = 0.0274) which was also significantly reduced compared to ALS-NP-Final (p = 0.016). Using the current formulation and at the dosage tested, ALS-NP showed a more favorable pharmacokinetic profile and positive kidney changes compared to ALS in regard to select outcomes. Thus, NP formulation may further improve ALS renoprotection in addition to increasing bioavailabilty.
A Multicentennial Proxy Record of Northeast Pacific Sea Surface Temperatures From the Annual Growth Increments of Panopea generosa

Growth‐increment widths of Pacific geoduck (Panopea generosa), a long‐lived bivalve, are used to develop the first marine‐based, multicentennial, annually resolved, and exactly dated archive of Northeast Pacific sea surface temperatures (SST). The chronology is sampled from the Tree Nob Islands, British Columbia, Canada, continuously covers 1725–2008, and also contains nine older radiocarbon‐dated segments, which together span 58% of the last 1,500 years. Age‐related growth declines were removed by aligning all increments relative to age of increment formation and fitting with a single detrending curve to preserve low‐frequency signals. The geoduck chronology was used to reconstruct local SST variability across the seasonal window of April through November. The chronology at both the concurrent (lag‐0) and following (lag+1) year are both highly significant predictors of SST in a stepwise multiple linear regression, explaining 54% of the variance in the period of instrumental overlap (1940–2001), passing strict tests of calibration‐verification. Reconstructed SSTs contained significant spectral power at periods from 3 to 64 years, suggesting that 20th century variability in these periodicities is not unusual in the longer‐term context. The period of lowest growth coincided with the Dalton minimum, an episode of reduced solar irradiance from 1790–1830, as well as the 1809 Unknown eruption, suggesting that solar and volcanic signals are present in the SST history. The most conspicuous aspect of the reconstruction is the steady and unprecedented warming trend that began in the mid‐1800s and continues through present. The post‐1976 interval includes the two warmest decades of the reconstruction.
Modified Failure Mode and Effect Analysis Approaching to Improve Organization Performance based on Baldrige Criteria- A Case Study of AN Electro-medic Industry

Full attention is paid to quality in manufacturing; however, less effort is made to develop the organizational performance, which drives overall manufacturing quality. This research measures performance of one manufacturing company that in 2020 experienced surging in demand and experiencing barriers to social activities due to the pandemic. The evaluation was carried out using seven variables from the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence (MBCfPE) which were elaborated into 43 indicators of organizational performance. Weaknesses and strengths of organizational performance were sharpened through focus group discussions with experts and ended with a performance improvement solution with a priority rank based on risk priority numbers (RPN) of the FMEA method. The highest RPN is 567 and 432, respectively, for national standard implementation in a particular product and operational scheme during emergency conditions like the Cov-19 pandemic. This study contributes to Indonesian research that combines questionnaires and FMEA improvement analysis based on the US Baldrige criterion.
Variasi Gen Pengkode Subunit E1β Branched-Chain α- Keto Acid Dehydrogenase Complex Pada Kambing Kacang Dan Kosta

The branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDH) is a multienzyme complex that plays a central role in the regulation of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) catabolism. With the exception of cattle, the information of BCKDH in livestock is poorly studied, for example there is no BCKDH mutation report had been found in sheep and goat. The aim of this study is to characterize the exon 1 gene encoding E1b subunit of branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex in Kacang and Kosta goats. Total 690 bp DNA amplicons were obtained from amplification of Kacang (n = 2) and Kosta (n = 2) male goats using primers AF515-AF516. These sequences include the region of promoter (6 bp), 5’UTR (15 bp), exon 1 (64 bp), and the partial region of intron 1 (605 bp) of the gene. The exon regions are conserved in all sequences. In comparison with Yunnan black goat sequence (NC_022301), all four sequences were different at two sites, namely C10G and A11C. The variable sites were found only in Kacang goat Ka05, namely C461T, C538T, and C583T, while the rest of three sequences were conserved. The amino acids alignment showed the sequences were identical with the amino acid sequence from GenBank. This indicates that the nucleotide variations in exon 1 are kind of neutral mutations.