Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strain Engineering of Wave‐like Nanofibers for Dynamically Switchable Adhesive/Repulsive Surfaces

Engineering surfaces that enable the dynamic tuning of their wetting state is critical to many applications including integrated microfluidics systems, flexible electronics, and smart fabrics. Despite extensive progress, most of the switchable surfaces reported are based on ordered structures that suffer from poor scalability and high fabrication costs. Here, a robust and facile bottom‐up approach is demonstrated that allows for the dynamical and reversible switching between lotus leaf (repulsive) and rose petal (adhesive) states by strain engineering of wave‐like nanofiber layers. Interestingly, it is found that the controlled switching between these two distinctive states is sensitive to the shape of the nanofibers. Moreover, it is observed that the structural integrity of the nanofibers is fully preserved during multicycle dynamic switching. The application of these optimal structures is showcased as mechanical hands demonstrating the capture of water microdroplets and their subsequent release in a well‐controlled manner. It is envisioned that this low‐cost and highly scalable surface texture is a powerful platform for the design of portable microfluidics systems, and the fabrication of large‐scale devices for ambient humidity harvesting and water purification.
Ionic Transport in Oxide Glasses and Frequency Dependence of Conductivity

Current models attribute the power law frequency dependence of ionic conductivity in oxide glasses alternatively to structural disorder or to interactions between moving ions. To distinguish between the influence of disorder and of interaction the frequency dependence of conductivity was investigated for three different series of glasses that have been selected according to special considerations on network structure and bonding of alkali ions. It was shown that the frequency response is independent of alkali concentration and structure. This result is discussed in terms of Coulomb interactions between mobile charged point defects and favours the jump relaxation model of Funke.
Factors Affecting the Adsorption of 60Co onto a Peat from China

The work described was aimed at an analysis of the principal factors affecting the adsorption of 60Co ions onto a peat from Lin Tao County (in the south of Gansu Province, P. R. China). The adsorption of 60Co ions onto the peat was studied as a function of contact time, ratio of solution volume (V) to solid mass (m), pH, ionic strength and the initial concentration of Co ions. It was found that the relative adsorption rate was quite rapid, that adsorption gradually decreased with increasing values of V/m and that ionic strength had a moderate effect on the process. In addition, the pH value strongly influenced the extent of adsorption. Over the high concentration range, the adsorption equilibrium could be described by the Freundlich equation, with this equation being reduced to the Henry equation, i.e. a linear adsorption isotherm, over the low concentration range. No attempt has been made at understanding the mechanism of 60Co ion adsorption onto peat in the present work.
Change in the total phenol content and antioxidant properties of pepperfruit (Dennettia tripetala) with ripening

Pepperfruit (Dennettia tripetala G. Baker (Annonaceae) is a well-known Nigerian spicy medicinal plant normally used in folk medicine to cure fever, cough, toothache, as well as a stimulant and in the preparation of some special dishes for pregnant and postpartum women. The present study sought to assess the antioxidant properties of the aqueous extract of ripe (RPF) and unripe pepperfruit (UPF) extract. The aqueous extract of the pepperfruits were prepared, and their antioxidant phytoconstituents (total phenol,total flavonoid and ascorbic acid) and activities (Fe 2+ chelation ability, OH* scavenging ability, reducing power, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging abilities) were subsequently determined. The total phenol (1.4 mg/g) content of RPF was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of UPF (1.0 mg/g), while there was no significant difference in the vitamin C and total flavonoid content. Conversely, UPF had higher antioxidant activities, as typified by higher reducing power, DPPH*, ABTS* and OH* scavenging abilities, and Fe chelating ability. Therefore, the physiological changes that accompanies ripening of pepperfruit that brings about changes in pigment would increase the total phenol content, but decreases the antioxidant properties of pepperfruit.
Impairment of testis in rats after exposure to orthochlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS): An experimental study

The acute toxic effects of orthochlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) on the rat testis were analyzed in terms of body weight, serum testosterone and histopathology of testis. The animal experiments were designed by intra-peritoneal injections of CS at 25 and 50% of lethal dose at 50% (LD50) for 10 days. In three groups of 10 each Charles Foster rats, olive oil (0.5 ml), 10 and 20 mg/kg (in 0.5 ml olive oil) intra-peritoneal (ip) was daily administered, respectively (Groups A, B, and C) for 10 days. The rats were sacrificed on the 11th day by cervical dislocation and blood and testes were collected for analysis. The results showed loss in body weight in Group C (20 mg/kg CS). A decline in testes weight of Groups B and C was noted. There is degeneration of testis and high cholesterol with low serum testosterone which suggested block of testosterone biosynthesis at Leydig cells in Group C. Group B showed partial testicular degeneration and no significant changes in serum testosterone levels. The low serum testosterone in Group C shows inhibition of spermatogenesis. This study is a first report on the acute toxicity of CS for rat testis by low testosterone level leading to inhibition of spermatogenesis. Key words: Orthochlorobenzilidene malononitrile (CS), rat, testis.
Room temperature synthesis of flower-like CaCO3 architectures

The shape-controlled crystallization of highly ordered three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical flower-like vaterite calcium carbonate (CaCO3) architecture was successfully prepared from a mild water–urea mixed system by a simple precipitation method. The mechanism of the crystal growth of CaCO3 was expounded according to the results, which is a step-by-step build process. It was found that the reaction time and the concentrations of carbonate and urea turned out to be important parameters for the control of morphology and polymorph of CaCO3. The detailed morphology and polymorph of the synthesized hierarchical CaCO3 nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED). This research may provide a promising route for the selective synthesis of other inorganic materials with different morphologies and polymorphs.
Assessing Efforts to Mitigate Particulate Matter Air Pollution in the Moravian-Silesian Region

The Moravian-Silesian Region suffers from bad air quality, and air pollution levels even exceeding health limits. The national and local authorities are striving to solve this adverse situation in cooperation with the responsible bodies. Significant amounts of resources have been allocated to various interventions in the region. This article provides the results of a multi-criteria analysis that evaluates sets of various measures to mitigate air pollution in the region. Multiple criteria, including cost-effectiveness evaluation, uncertainty about both the information on the contribution of the respective sub-sectors to local pollution, and the actual long- term effects of the measures were applied in the analysis. The results suggest that implementation of best avail- able technologies, energy-efficiency improvements, and road transportation management are to be the best measures in terms of efficient air quality improvement. Smog mitigation and fuel change represents medium- efficiency solutions. Closing of plants, end-of-pipe solutions, and imports of intermediate products are among the least-efficient measures.
Stress-optical properties of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate fibres

At temperatures above the glass transition, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate fibres have been shown to possess optical and mechanical properties identical with those for a rubber. Thus, both the stress and the optical anisotropy may be directly related to strain (conveniently determined by the degree of retraction or shrinkage of pre-oriented fibres). The theoretical treatment of Kuhn and Grun has been employed to calculate the polarizability of the random link and the number of effective cross-links per molecular chain. Additionally, measurements have been made of the decay of stress and optical anisotropy (birefringence) in water at various temperatures and as expected for a rubber-like network both decay at identical rates. Moreover, the decay curves for different temperatures can be superimposed by a simple frequency shift. The shift factors as a function of temperature fit the Williams-Landel-Ferry equation.
PYRIMIDINE: IT'S DIVERSE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND METHODS OF SYNTHESIS

Summary Six membered aromatic systems having two heteroatoms at symmetrical positions such as 1, 3 i.e. Pyrimidine have been studied extensively owing to their interesting pharmacological activities. This review article covers the most active pyrimidine derivatives that have shown considerable biological actions such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antilipidemic, antiviral, antihypertensive, and antitubercular. This review also discusses the structure-activity relationship of the most potent compounds. It can act as an important tool for medicinal chemists to develop newer compounds possessing pyrimidine moiety that could be better agents in terms of efficacy and safety.
Central banks and external statistics: evolution or revolution?

Globalisation is posing important challenges to external statistics. The removal of national barriers induced by economic and financial liberalisation has made it harder for statisticians to promptly and correctly capture trade and cross-border financial and capital flows. These measurement challenges have been reinforced in recent decades by rapid digital innovation, the complexity and limited transparency of multinational corporate structures, and the increased importance of global financial centres.
Determination of Barbiturates by Solid-Phase Microextraction and Capillary Electrophoresis

The solid phase microextraction device is based on plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as an extraction solvent, which is coated on a primed steel rod. The plasticizer is a phosphate triester. A simple device for back-extraction of analytes into a few microliters of back-extraction solution is described. A Teflon tube, with an inside diameter just larger than the PVC-coated extraction rod, is terminated at one end by a syringe. A few microliters of back-extraction solution is placed into the open end of the tube. Because the Teflon does not wet, the drop remains together. After exposure to sample, the PVC-coated extraction rod containing the analytes is inserted into the back-extraction solution-containing tube. The aqueous back-extraction solvent spreads out in the narrow annular space thus formed. After a suitable period, the rod is removed, and the droplet re-forms. It can be ejected into a sample vial with the syringe. The device has been used in a CE-based determination of barbiturates. Extraction.
Synthesis of self-assembling glycerotriazolophanes

Twenty 16-membered triazole-based macrocycles possessing different pseudo-symmetry elements have been synthesized using the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. The formation of the macrocycles was accompanied by their spontaneous self-assembly leading to solids with distinct layered structures as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The self-assembling properties of the product and the “on water” reaction media seemed to form the driving force for the reaction in a t-butanol–water system. The self-assembling properties of these macrocycles was supported by quantum chemical studies using Density Functional Theory.
Ion beam milling effect on electrical properties of Hg1−xCdxTe

Changes induced near the surface of Hg1−xCdxTe crystals due to irradiation caused by low‐energy ion beam milling have been investigated. The milling induces a thick n‐type layer near the surface, more than 10 μm thick, within 2–3 min. Most of this layer is well‐behaved n type with carrier concentration on the order of 1016 cm−3, electron mobility higher than 105 cm2/V s at 77 K, and relatively large lifetime. The temperature dependence is characteristic of uncompensated material, and compensation in highly compensated materials is reduced considerably. The sidewall effect is small; the direction of propagation obeys probably a cosine law. A three‐step mechanism is proposed to account for these phenomena, which consists of creation of extended defects, fast propagation of metal ions along them, accompanied by annihilation of metal vacancies, and recombination of defects.
Intracellular recordings during VF: role of ion channels from experiments and computer models

The authors have developed a method incorporating an isolated rabbit heart and a floating microelectrode which allows not only intracellular recordings during normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), but also permits control over extracellular ion concentrations and the concentrations of drugs delivered to the heart. Using this method, they analyzed the maximum depolarization velocity during NSR, VF, and VF while perfusing with tetrodotoxin (VF/TTX). These results are compared with those obtained from a one-dimensional (1-D) propagation model of ventricular cells undergoing premature re-excitation and reduced sodium conductance. To better simulate reentrant activation analogous to VF, a 2-D model of coupled network of cells was constructed. The activity of sodium channels was inferred by analyzing the action potentials and sodium channel conductances generated by the 2-D model. <<ETX>>
Direct Biofiltration for Manganese Removal from Surface Water

AbstractResearch has shown biological filtration to be a successful treatment for the removal of manganese (Mn) from groundwater and surface water. In this study, bench-scale direct biofiltration was used to remove Mn and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from a pH 6 surface water source in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Three factors were examined for their effects on Mn and DOC removal: media type (granular activated carbon and anthracite), pH (6 and 9–11), and nutrient enhancement with phosphorus (P; 20 and 200 μg/L). pH was a significant factor in Mn removal (α=0.05). The P-enhanced pH 6 biofilters for both media obtained an average 91% Mn removal; the P-enhanced pH 9–11 filters for both media achieved an average 70% Mn removal. An average of 23% DOC removal was achieved with P enhancement, compared to 12% DOC removal without P enhancement. Mn was likely removed by biological oxidation and biogenic oxide adsorption. These results show that direct biofiltration of raw surface water at pH 6 can remove Mn t.
Nutrient Enrichment of Cassava Starch Industry By-Product Using Rumen Microorganism as Inoculums Source

The objective of this study was to nutrient enriched of cassava starch industry by-product using fermentation method. The experimental design was 2 x 3 factorial in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The factor A was kind of cassava starch industry by-product (cassava pulp and cassava peel) and combine with factor B (unfermented, naturally fermented and rumen microorganism fermented). The results revealed that the interaction between cassava starch industry by-product and fermentation method were shown in dry matter and crude fiber content. Crude fiber content was decreased (p<0.01) with naturally fermented and rumen microorganism fermented. Crude protein content was increased (p<0.01) with naturally fermented and rumen microorganism fermented. However, rumen microorganism fermented was highest true protein content and lowest NPN content (p<0.01). Nitrogen free extract was reverse affect by crude protein content. Base on this study nutrient enrichment of cassava starch industry by product can do by fermentation method, especially rumen microorganism fermented. The rumen microorganism fermented cassava starch industry by product is potentially useful feed material for mono gastric feeding.
Microwave Cathode for Air Breathing Electric Propulsion

The feasibility of compensating drag on a small satellite at low orbital altitude using electric propulsion with propellant ingested from the atmosphere is demonstrated using a simple analysis. A microwave powered plasma cathode is described which efficiently produces large electron currents using xenon (10.3 A at 90 mA/W) and argon (5.7 A at 50 mA/W) at 50 V bias and flow rates comparable to thermionic hollow cathodes. This cathode is proposed as a neutralizer on long duration missions in the lower thermosphere.
Imaging gas and plasma interactions in the surface-chemical modification of polymers using micro-plasma jets

This paper reports on the correlation between gas flow and plasma behaviour in the outflow of a micro-atmospheric pressure plasma jet operating in helium using both 2D optical imaging and Schlieren photography. Schlieren photography shows that the helium outflow changes from laminar to turbulent conditions after distances between 20 and 50 mm from the nozzle. Above a flow rate of 1.4 slm, the length of the laminar region decreases with increasing flow rate. However, by contrast the visible plasma plume increases in length with increasing flow rate until its extension just exceeds that of the laminar region. At this point, the plasma becomes turbulent and its length decreases. Exposing polystyrene (PS) samples to the plasma jet significantly alters the water contact angle in a defined area, with the hydrophobic PS surface becoming more hydrophilic. This modification occurs both with and without direct contact of the visible glow on the surface. The radius of the treated area is much larger than the width of the visible jet but much smaller than the area of the turbulence on the surface. The treated area reduces with increasing nozzle–substrate distance.
Towards more efficient multiclass AUC computations

The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) can be used to assess the discriminatory power of a dichotomous classiﬁer model. Extending this measure to more than two classes is not obvious, and a number of variants have been proposed in the literature. We investigate a heuristic approximation to a method that generalizes the notion of probabilities being correctly ordered, which is equivalent to AUC, to an arbitrary number of classes. While the exact method is computationally complex, we propose a much simpler heuristic that is linear in the number of classes for every combination of data points. Using one artiﬁcial and one real-world data set, we demonstrate empirically that this simple heuristic can provide good approximations to the exact method, with Pearson correlation coefﬁcients between 0.85 and 0.998 across all data sets.
Ethnic Identity and Family Processes in Adolescents with Latin American, Asian, and European Backgrounds

The role of ethnic identity in adolescents’ family processes was examined among ninth graders from Latin American, Asian, and European backgrounds. Stronger ethnic affirmation and exploration were associated with family processes across a variety of indicators, but links with culturally-relevant processes such as family respect and obligation were stronger than links with dyadic cohesion with parents. Similarly, links between ethnic identity and time spent assisting the family on a daily basis were stronger than links between identity and time spent engaging in family leisure activities. Mediational analyses indicated that the greater sense of respect, obligation, and time spent assisting the family among adolescents with Latino and Asian backgrounds were due in part to their stronger ethnic identification. Longitudinal analyses suggest that identity and family processes continue to be linked throughout development.
Evaluating the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy in ACS patients post-PCI: A literature review

Background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stents require downstream dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to reduce the rates of stent thrombosis and ischemic events. (1) According to multiple guidelines, this is recommended for 1 year. (1–3) The use of dual antiplatelet therapy longer than 1 year is still debatable on whether the benefits of ischemic protection outweigh the risks of bleeding.
Water-Soluble Polyacrylic Acid as a Binder for Sulfur Cathode in Lithium-Sulfur Battery

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a binder in the aqueous solvent is applied in the preparation of sulfur cathode for lithium-sulfur battery. Electrochemical performances are investigated by a charge-discharge cycle test, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). CV and EIS tests indicate that the PAA sulfur cathode has smaller resistance and better kinetics characteristics than that of the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) sulfur cathode using PVDF as a binder in N-methy-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent. The charge-discharge tests show that the discharge capacity and the coulombic efficiency of the PAA sulfur cathode are 325 mAh g −1 and 89.5% at the 50th cycle at the current density of 335 mA g −1 . Compared with the PVDF sulfur cathode, the PAA sulfur cathode shows considerably a better cyclability. These results show that the PAA binder has great potential for lithium-sulfur battery applications.
Physicochemical and antibacterial properties of chitosan‐polyvinylpyrrolidone films containing self‐organized graphene oxide nanolayers

Chitosan films have a great potential to be used for wound dressing and food-packaging applications if their physicochemical properties including water vapor permeability, optical transparency, and hydrophilicity are tailored to practical demands. To address these points, in this study, chitosan (CS) was combined with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets (with a thickness of ∼1 nm and lateral dimensions of few micrometers). Flexible and transparent films with a high antibacterial capacity were prepared by solvent casting methods. By controlling the evaporation rate of the utilized solvent (1vol % acidic acid in deionized water), self-organization of GO in the polymer matrix was observed. The addition of PVP to the CS/GO films significantly increased their water vapor permeability and optical transmittance. A blue shift in the optical absorption edge was also noticed. Thermal analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested that the superior thermal stability of the nanocomposite films was due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the functional groups of chitosan with those of the graphene oxide. An improved bactericidal capacity of the nanocomposite films against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria was also observed. Highly flexible, transparent (opacity of 6.95), and antimicrobial CS/25 vol % PVP/1 wt %GO films were prepared. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43194.