Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and characterization of an amphiphilic hyperbranched poly(amine‐ester)‐co‐D,L‐lactide (HPAE‐co‐PLA) copolymers and their nanoparticles for protein drug delivery

A series of hyperbranched poly(amine-ester)-co-D,L-lactide (HPAE-co-PLA) copolymer were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide with Sn(Oct)2 as catalyst to a fourth generation branched poly(amine-ester) (HPAE-OHs4). The chemical structures of copolymers were determined by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and TGA. Double emulsion (DE) and nanoprecipitation (NP) method were used to fabricate the nanoparticles of these copolymers encapsulating bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model. DSC thermo-grams indicated that the nanoparticles with BSA kept stable below 40°C. Different factors which influence on particular size and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were investigated. Their EE to BSA could reach 97.8% at an available condition. In vitro release behavior of NPs showed a continuous release after a burst release. The stability maintenance of BSA in the nanoparticle release in vitro was also measured via circular dichroism and fluorescence spectrometry. The results showed that the copolymer nanoparticles have a promising potential in protein delivery system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Substrate-assisted nucleation of ultra-thin dielectric layers on graphene by atomic layer deposition

We report on a large improvement in the wetting of Al2O3 thin films grown by un-seeded atomic layer deposition on monolayer graphene, without creating point defects. This enhanced wetting is achieved by greatly increasing the nucleation density through the use of polar traps induced on the graphene surface by an underlying metallic substrate. The resulting Al2O3/graphene stack is then transferred to SiO2 by standard methods.
In Situ Preparation of a Compatibilized Poly(cis‐1,4‐butadiene)/Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Blend

The ternary Ziegler-Natta-type catalyst system based on neodymium versatate (NdV), diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAH) and ethylaluminium sesquichloride (EASC) was used for in the situ preparation of a comptabilized blend consisting of poly(cis-1,4-butadiene) (BR=butadiene rubber) and poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL). Poly(cis-1,4-butadiene)-block-poly(e-caprolactone) which acts as comptabilizer for the two immiscible polymers BR and PCL was obtained by a two step sequential polymerization with the preparation of a living cis-1,4-BR building block in the first stage and the subsequent polymerization of CL during the second stage. This preparation method resulted in a polymer blend comprising the homopolymers BR and PCL as well as the block copolymer BR-block-PCL. For detailed characterization the block copolymer was separated from the respective homopolymers BR and PCL by means of fractionation with the binary solvent mixture dimethylformamide/methylcyclohexane (DMF/MCH) which mixes well at elevated temperature and exhibits phase separation at ambient temperature. 1 H NMR, IR, SEC and TEM were used for characterization of the block copolymer.
Integrating the Passenger-Driver hypothesis and plant community functional traits to the restoration of lands degraded by invasive trees

Our study examined the response of ten plant communities across Victoria, Australia to the infestation and subsequent removal of Pittosporum undulatum, a tree native to south Eastern Australia that is increasingly viewed as an invader within and particularly beyond its native range. At sites where P. undulatum removal has occurred over a 1–14 year period, species richness, canopy cover and functionality were compared against nearby invaded and remnant temperate Eucalyptus bushland, so as to gauge the direction and magnitude of community change over time. There are four main findings: (1) Low levels of native and non-native species richness and canopy cover were recorded at communities impacted by dense P. undulatum populations; (2) very low densities of P. undulatum at all cleared areas after removal; (3) removing P. undulatum caused an increase in species richness, particularly for native species; and (4) over time, management intervention lead to increasing similarity in community composition and function between cleared areas and remnant controls. Our case study demonstrates how the Passenger-Driver hypothesis (PDH) can be used effectively to understand the mechanisms at play between native and exotic drivers of community composition and function. Results are discussed in relation to how ecological theory can be applied to inform and improve invasive species management and restorative actions.
A Polymeric Nickel(II) Thiocyanate Complex of N-(2-Aminoethyl)-N-methyl-1,2-ethanediamine

The structure of [Ni(medien)(NCS)(μ-SCN)]n [medien is N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-methylethane-1,2-diamine, C5H15N3] is a polymeric chain with each pair of neighbouring nickel(II) ions linked by one SCN− bridging ligand. The coordination polyhedron about the NiII atom is a distorted octahedron consisting of three N atoms of the medien ligand coordinating facially, one N atom of the non-bridging thio­cyanate ligand, and one N and one S atom of two bridging thiocyanate ligands. The five-membered chelate rings display envelope geometry.
Experimental and theoretical investigation of a nonlinear lensing effect observed in a Cr:LiSAF laser

An experiment has been performed to analyse a nonlinear lensing effect in a flashlamp pumped Cr3+:LiSAF laser which has been found to be adiverging lensing effect. The latter is due to the refrctive index change which is assumed to be proportional to the excited ion population. The corresponding constant of proportionality has been measured from the time variation of the laser pulses far-field divergence.
Growth Stages of the Grapevine: Adoption of a system for identifying grapevine growth stages

The foregoing paper by Lorenz et al. (1995), translated into English by P. May, describes a new system for the identification of grapevine growth stages called the BBCH system. This is an adaptation, for the grapevine, of a basic scale developed to cover all monocot and dicot crops. Appraisal of this and two other systems has led to a preference for that by Eichhorn and Lorenz (1977) but with some amendments. These amendments are discussed and a new system of measurement and description of stages of the grapevine is proposed which copes with the dual needs for a simple listing of major stages and, at the same time, provides intermediate detailed stages. It is called the Modified E-L system.
Investigation into heavy metals in storm wastewater from Vilnius Žirmūnai district and pollutantits spread model in Neris river

Abstract The paper discusses investigation into uncleaned storm wastewater pollution with heavy metals in Vilnius Žirmūnai district. The goal is to determine the dependency of storm wastewater pollution with heavy metals on transport intensity. After determining this dependency, sweeps from street points is experimentally studied with the most intensive transport flows. As the street sweeps together with storm wastewater are both outflow from streets and through outflow pipes directly to the Neris, heavy metals in the outflow pipe sludge are also studied for each pool. The following heavy metals have been experimentally studied: Pb, Mn, Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni. The flame atomic absorption spectrometry method was used. The process of analysis is explained in short and its results are provided. A mathematical model by Phoenics 3.5 version program showing the distribution of heavy metals in the Neris river stream is made on the basis of the results received.
Partition behavior of hydrophilic diols in an ethanol/ammonium sulfate salting‐out extraction system

It is important to investigate the partition behavior of hydrophilic alcohols at different process parameters in order to have a deep understanding of the salting‐out extraction technique and to design suitable downstream processes. First, phase diagram data of ethanol/ammonium sulfate at 293.15 K were obtained, and the reliability of binodal curve and tie line data were proved by Merchuk, Othmer–Tobias, and Bancroft equations, respectively. Then, the partition behavior of five short‐chain diols was studied. For different tie lines, the partition coefficient changed linearly with an increase in tie line length. The concentration of diols also had a significant effect on the partition behavior due to the similarity between diols and ethanol. Further, the effect of temperature was increased as the hydrophobicity of the diols increased, and the partition behavior of diols was correlated with their hydrophobicity, implying that the solutes with higher hydrophobicity could be extracted more effectively. These findings are useful for designing an economic and efficient salting‐out extraction process for diverse products.
Pre-Treatment of Pistachio Processing Industry Wastewaters (PPIW) by Electrocoagulation using Al Plate Electrode

The objective of the present study is to assess the efficiency of electro-coagulation treatment of pistachio processing industry wastewaters (PPIW) using an aluminum plate electrode. The effect of some of the parameters was examined on the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), and total phenols (TP) removal efficiency. The treatment was carried out in a batch system. The influences of current density (from 1 to 6 mA cm−2), initial pH of wastewater (from 2 to 8), constant pH of wastewater (from 3 to 7), stirring speed (from 100 to 500 rpm), and supporting electrolyte concentration (from 10 to 50 mg L−1 NaCl) on removal efficiency were investigated to determine the best experimental conditions. The evaluation of the physico-chemical parameters during the treatment by electrocoagulation showed that the best removal efficiency was obtained under the conditions of 180 min electrolysis time, wastewater with constant pH of 6, and 6 – mA cm−2 current density. Under such experimental conditions, COD, TOC, and TP removal efficiency were found to be 60.1%, 50.2%, and 77.3%, respectively, while energy consumption was 39.6 kW-h m−3. The results of the study show that the electrocoagulation can be applied to PPIW pre-treatment.
Nano‐Ruby: A Promising Fluorescent Probe for Background‐Free Cellular Imaging

Bioprobes based on fluorescent ruby nanoparticles, which are suitable for ultrasensitive imaging, are reported. A stable aqueous/buffer colloid, permitting facile conjugation to proteins, is produced by femtosecond laser ablation of ruby and the nanoparticles (mean size 17 nm) are photostable, with long lifetime (1–4 ms) 694 nm emission. With time‐gating complete (>20 dB) suppression of cell autofluorescence and suppression of exogenous fluorophores is observed. Nanoparticles are imaged in as‐grown cells and those immunolabeled with quantum dots. Immunoassay binding to target biomolecules is also demonstrated.
Finite difference simulation of die swell for a newtonian fluid

The phenomenon of die swell for Newtonian fluids has been successfully simulated using a finite difference numerical method. The calculations predict the surface shape of Newtonian jets over a range of Reynolds numbers from 4.2 to 92.3 for both rectangular slits and cylindrical tubes. The calculated die swells for tubes compare favourably to experimental data. Velocity profiles and pressure distributions in jets exiting from slits or tubes are also predicted. The numerical data were incorporated into a momentum balance expression to demonstrate factors influencing this phenomenon. Other solutions were calculated to predict the effect of gravity and a sudden perturbation in flow on the resulting jet shape. On a simule le phenomene de gonflement matriciel dans le cas des fluides newtoniens en utilisant la methode numerique des differences finies. Les calculs prevoient la forme de la surface des jets newtoniens sur une gamme de nombres de Reynolds de 4.2 a 92.3 et ce, pour des fentes rectangulaires et des tubes cylindriques. Les gonflements matriciels calcules pour les tubes se comparent de facon satisfaisante avec les donnees experimentales. On predit egalement les profils de vitesse et les distributions de pression dans les jets sortant de fentes on de tubes. On a introduit les donnees numeriques dans une expression du bilan de quantite de mouvement pour les facteurs qui influencent le phenomene, On a calcule d'autres solutions pour predire l'effet de la gravite et d'une perturbation soudaine de l'ecoulement, sur la forme du jet.
selt Team’s Entity Linking System at the NTCIR-15 QA Lab-PoliInfo2

The selt team participated in the entity linking task of NTCIR-15 QA Lab-PoliInfo 2. This paper describes our entity linking system for assembly member speeches using BERT and wikipedia2vec. Using this system, we can effectively preprocess and postprocess data for mention detection, and (after fixing the format of our run file) achieved the second-best performance in the leaderboard of NTCIR-15. For mention detection specifically, we achieved the best score.
Three validated stripping voltammetric procedures for determination of the anti-prostate cancer drug flutamide in tablets and human serum at a mercury electrode

Flutamide is a nonsteriodal anti-androgen drug, which is commonly used in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Based on the reduction of the nitro organic moiety of the drug molecule in acetate buffer of pH 5 at the hanging mercury drop electrode, three adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric procedures were optimized for determination of flutamide in bulk, tablets, and human serum applying linear-sweep, differential-pulse, and square-wave waveforms. The achieved limits of detection of the bulk drug were 1.9 × 107, 8.7 × 108, and 9.7 × 109 mol L1 by using the optimized differential-pulse, linear-sweep, and square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedures, respectively. Repeatability of the results was studied for 1 × 106 mol L1 of the drug and the recoveries obtained were 98.51 ± 1.56% (LSV), 98.89 ± 0.87% (DPV), and 99.21 ± 1.03% (SWV). The proposed procedures were successfully applied to the determination of the drug in pharmaceutical formulation (Eulexin® tablets) and human serum.
SIMULATION OF BICONTINUOUS MICROEMULSIONS - COMPARISON OF SIMULATED REAL-SPACE MICROSTRUCTURES WITH SCATTERING EXPERIMENTS

The ubiquitous scattering peak found in all disordered bicontinuous microemulsions, when scattering measurements are made with an oil-water contrast, is attributed to the existence of two length scales in the system. The two lengths, d and ξ, appear explicitly in the Debye correlation function for the microemulsion in a phenomenological model proposed by Teubner & Strey [J. Chem. Phys. (1987), 87, 3195–3200] (T–S model). The precise physical meaning of these two lengths, however, was not clear in the original paper. Cahn's scheme for simulating the morphology of the late-stage spinodal decomposition of a phase-separating two-component alloy is extended to the case of bicontinuous microemulsions with an equal volume fraction of oil and water. In the simulation, a length scale {\bar d}=2π/{\bar k}, representing the average interdomain distance (proportional to the average domain size), and another parameter z, relating to the dispersion of the domain size by Δk/{\bar k} = (z + 1)−1/2, are imposed. It is shown that the ratio ξ/d in the T–S model is a unique function of the parameter 1/z. The extended Cahn model gives both the real-space structure of a disordered bicontinuous microemulsion and the exact Debye correlation function for the calculation of the corresponding scattering intensity. A criterion is given for the realisation of the disordered bicontinuous structure in terms of a universal range for the dispersion (i.e. ξ/d). The existence of the two lengths, having a universal ratio, also implies that the scattering function I(Q) satisfies a certain scaling relation. Our SANS data are used to support the validity of such a scaling relation.
Rotational analysis of a 1Σ+-1Σ+ system of gaseous SrS

Red-degraded bands observed in absorption in the region 3600–3900 A when strontium sulphide is heated in a carbon tube furnace to about 2000°C are assigned to a 1Σ+–1Σ+ system of SrS. The lower state is probably the ground state : the upper state is strongly perturbed. Constants derived from the analysis of five bands are : [graphic ommitted] With µ(88Sr32S)= 23.452 a.m.u. , re(X1Σ+)= 2.4405 A. Ground-state properties of the diatomic oxides and sulphides of the group 2 metals are briefly compared.
Association of Serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP) with Some Nutritional Parameters of Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Malnutrition and inflammation are common in hemodialysis patients, and are usually closely associated. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations have been found to be significantly elevated in hemodialysis patients and reflects chronic inflammation, and as an acute-phase reactant, is a sensitive and independent marker of malnutrition. To investigate the association of serum CRP level with some nutritional variables in diabetic and non diabetic end-stage renal failure patients undergoing regular hemodialysis, we designed a study of 36 maintenance hemodialysis patients (f = 15 m = 21), consisting of 25 non-diabetic HD patients and 11 diabetic HD patients. In this study we found a near significant difference of CRP between diabetic and non-diabetics of total patients with more values of CRP in diabetics, a significant difference of CRP between diabetic and non-diabetic of female HD patients with more values in diabetics and a significant difference of CRP between males and female of non-diabetic population with more values of CRP in males. An inverse correlation of serum CRP with serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and a near significant positive correlations of CRP with serum ALP and with serum iPTH were found. An inverse correlation of serum CRP with dialysis efficacy was seen too. No significant association between serum CRP and serum albumin was seen. Compatible with some studies and in contrast to some other studies, the association of serum albumin with serum CRP levels in this study was insignificant. The positive correlation of high serum PTH with inflammation implies further need to control of hyperphosphatemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism in HD patients, also inverse correlation of serum CRP with cholesterol and triglyceride further support the malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome (MICS) which frequently seen in HD patients.
Preparation of polyaniline/vermiculite clay nanocomposites by in situ chemical oxidative grafting polymerization

BACKGROUND: Recently, conducting polymers have attracted much attention, since they have interesting physical properties and many potential applications, such as in conductive coating charge storage. Hence the synthesis of conducting polymer nanocomposites is also an area of increasing research activity. RESULTS: Vermiculites (VMTs) were successfully delaminated using an acid treatment. Polyaniline (PANI)/VMT nanocomposites were prepared by in situ chemical oxidative grafting polymerization. CONCLUSION: The chemical grafting of PANI/VMTs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and UV-visible spectroscopy. The percentage of grafted PANI was 142.7 wt% as a mass ratio of the grafting PANI and charged nano-VMTs, investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, characteristic agglomerate morphology of PANI was observed in the composites using scanning electron microscopy. Thermal analyses indicated that the introduction of VMT nanosheets had a beneficial effect on the thermal stability of PANI. The electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites was 3.9 x 10(-3) S cm(-1), a value typical for semiconductors. (C) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Self-association behaviour of atactic polymethacrylic acid in aqueous solution investigated by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations

The self-association behaviour of atactic poly(methacrylic acid) (a-PMA) in water was investigated by atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Simulations show that interchain association of a-PMA occurs only in its un-neutralised form, by hydrogen bonding between –COOH groups, which is in agreement with the experimental observation. Chain conformations, dihedral angle distributions, hydration behaviour, scattering structure factor and enthalpy-of-hydration (i.e. aqueous solvation) were analysed as a function of concentration for un-neutralised PMA, across dilute to concentrated regimes. The average 〈Rg〉 of the chain remains unaffected in solution and also for amorphous undissolved a-PMA phase, confirming the occurrence of the approximate theta-solution condition for the first time, as revealed by simulations, in a polar hydrogen-bonding polymer aqueous solution. Chain hydration behaviour and scattering structure factor show significant changes in concentrated regime. Scattering intensity collapse occurs in concentrated PMA solution, due to the existence of the swollen regime captured for the first time by explicit-MD-simulations. The hydration of PMA is driven by H-bonding, specifically between H atoms of the COOH groups and O atoms of water molecules in the closest coordination shell. The enthalpy of hydration of PMA is dominated by PMA–water interactions (charges and H-bonding). The thermodynamic contributions of PMA–PMA and PMA–water interactions towards the electrostatics as well as the dispersion components of the total solvation-enthalpy become more favourable than water–water interactions.
Dynamics and structure of solid hexafluoroethane

Neutron Compton profiles were measured of atomic momentum distributions in solid hexafluoroethane (C2F6) at saturated vapor pressure from 20 to 170 K, and of the liquid phase at 180 K. There are conflicting reports in the literature, from different kinds of measurements, about the nature and extent of solid phases of C2F6. Present neutron diffraction and thermal analysis shows that there is a clear crystallographic transformation near 103 K from a higher-temperature body-centered-cubic (bcc) phase which has considerable orientational disorder to a lower-temperature phase of different symmetry, which has relatively little disorder. The C and F atomic momentum profiles are found to have only small dependencies upon temperature and upon condensed phase. They are analyzed in terms of a dominant contribution from intramolecular vibrations plus contributions from translational and rotational motions of molecules. The nature of rotational contributions is of special interest, because of questions about the exten.
Unusual Rheological Behavior of Liquid Polybutadiene Rubber/Clay Nanocomposite Gels: The Role of Polymer−Clay Interaction, Clay Exfoliation, and Clay Orientation and Disorientation

The rheological properties of liquid polybutadiene rubber/organo-clay nanocomposite gels were investigated by rheological experiments, focusing on the effects of clay exfoliation and orientation−disorientation as well as polymer−clay interaction and temperature. Both irreversible and reversible viscosity transitions were observed in the temperature range from 26 to 136 °C in steady shear experiments on as-prepared and exfoliated samples. These transitions depend strongly on the end groups, molecular weight of the liquid rubber, and the shear field. The irreversible transition is attributed to the exfoliation of the clay, and the reversible transition can be understood as a shear-induced orientation−disorientation transition of the clay sheets. Polymer−clay interaction is confirmed to be a key controlling factor of the orientation−disorientation transition, whereas the shear field plays a critical role to induce such a transition. To our knowledge, this is the first rheological observation of the in-situ e.