Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anomalous rheological behavior of ordered phases of block copolymers. 1

Computer simulation is carried out for microphase-separated diblock copolymers under applied shear deformation. A mesophase of hexagonally ordered cylindrical domains is considered, and shear strains are applied perpendicular to the cylinder axes. Rheological responses and structural changes of the system under oscillatory and step-shear strains are studied by using a cell dynamic approach. For small strains, the usual behavior of ordered viscoelastic solids is seen, while for large strains, anomalous behavior is observed, including (i) in the case of oscillatory shears, a nonlinear stress response which is out of phase with the applied strain in the low frequency limit and (ii) in the case of step-shear, a double stress relaxation process in which the stress first approaches a pseudoequilibrium value and then much later relaxes further toward the final equilibrium value
Diffusion Processes in Water Saturated Spherical Soil Aggregates

Abstract The release curves of D2O, K+, and Cl¯ from saturated spherical aggregates of four soils, presaturated with a 10 mol m−3 KCL and 10 kg m−3 D2O mixed solution, to a 10 mol m−3 NH4NO3 solution were analyzed to examine the diffusion processes in soil aggregates. Aggregates were taken from the weathering crust of a mudstone (MDR), the AB horizon of a Brown Lowland soil (BLS), the B horizon of a Brown Andosol (ADO), and the C horizon of a Vol-canogenous Regosol (PUM). The apparent diffusion coefficients of the solutes for each sample were obtained by fitting the spherical diffusion model to the release curves. Although the release rates of solutes from the 2-4 mm aggregates were higher than those from the 6-8 mm aggregates, almost the same diffusion coefficients (D) were obtained for both aggregate sizes. The values of the tortuosity factor (f) which was estimated as D/D 0 for D 2O(D 0 is the diffusion coefficient in free water) ranged from 0.25 to 0.51. Higher values were found in samples with a larg.
Adsorption of boron from aqueous solutions by activated carbon impregnated with salicylic acid: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Abstract The adsorption of boron from aqueous solution containing boron by activated carbon impregnated with salicylic acid (ACISA) was studied in a batch system. In order to investigate the effect of initial boron concentration and temperature on boron adsorption capacity of ACISA; the equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were calculated. The adsorption capacity data were obtained by using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and both models fitted well. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and the intraparticle diffusion models were used to describe the kinetic parameters and the rate constants were evaluated. The experimental data fitted very well the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The activation energy (Ea ) calculated using the Arhenius equation was found to be 58.25 kJ mol−1. Various thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy (ΔG o), enthalpy (ΔH o) and entropy (ΔS o) changes were computed and the results showed that the adsorption of boron onto ACISA was spontaneo.
SOLUBILITY ENHANCEMENT OF LURASIDONE HYDROCHLORIDE BY PREPARING SMEDDS

Objective: The objective of the study was to enhance solubility of Lurasidone HCl, an atypical antipsychotic drug, by formulating self-micro emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) and its characterization. Methods: Solubility study of Lurasidone hydrochloride (LH) was carried out in various surfactants, co surfactants and oils. Pseudo ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify the self-micro emulsification region. Screening was done so as to determine the proper combination of components. Based on this, LH SMEDDS were prepared using Cremophor RH40 (surfactant), Soluphor P (co-surfactant) and Capmul MCM (oil). The preconcentrate SMEDDS were evaluated for clarity(visual), precipitation, % transmittance, robustness to dilution, freeze thawing, particle size distribution and zeta potential and adsorbed SMEDDS were evaluated for drug content, flow properties, in-vitro dissolution and ex-vivo diffusion studies. Results: The optimized LH SMEDDS composed of 14% Cremophor RH40, 68% Soluphor P, 18% Capmul MCM with a particle size of 3.95 µm and zeta potential of more than 50 mV showing 80% dissolution in 60 min. Conclusion: The results of this study prove that SMEDDS help in improving the solubility, dissolution and bioavailability of lurasidone hydrochloride.
Recommended values of clean metal surface work functions

A critical review of the experimental literature for measurements of the work functions of clean metal surfaces of single-crystals is presented. The tables presented include all results found for low-index crystal faces except cases that were known to be contaminated surfaces. These results are used to construct a recommended value of the work function for each surface examined, along with an uncertainty estimate for that value. The uncertainties are based in part on the error distribution for all measured work functions in the literature, which is included here. The metals included in this review are silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), gold (Au), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), iridium (Ir), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), tantalum (Ta), and tungsten (W).
Contact to single atoms and molecules with the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope

Experiments using the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope to contact atoms and molecules adsorbed on surfaces are reviewed. Conductance quantization upon forming or breaking a contact between the tip and surfaces as well as between the tip and specifically chosen atoms and molecular orbitals is addressed. Imaging the contact area prior to and after contact measurements allows one to monitor the status of the contacted object as well as that of the contacting electrodes. Spectroscopy with the tip in contact with individual atoms or molecules reveals the reproducibility of and control over such experiments today.
Research on the attenuation characteristics of some inorganic salts in seawater

Seawater is a complex multicomponent system, which involves varieties of organic, inorganic, dissolved and suspended substances. However, the main components dissolved in seawater are the inorganic salts such as NaCl, MgCl2, KCl, NaHCO3, and MgSO4. These elements make different contributions to the spectra of absorption and scattering in water. In this paper, the spectra of different aqueous solutions were measured in the region from 200 to 1200 nm; the attenuation characteristics of aqueous solutions were studied at wavelengths of 450, 532, and 633 nm, respectively; the relationships between attenuation coefficient and the conductivity in different concentrations were also studied.
Immobilization of Micro-Organism on Macroporous Polyurethane Carriers

The micro-organism B500 was immobilized on macroporous carriers by linking and adsorption methods, placed into a bioreactor that consists of an electric controlling system and employed in the treatment of wastewater from a campus. Under the conditions of dissolved oxygen (DO) = 2.5 mg/L, temperatures ranging from 25°C to 27°C, pH values from 8.2 to 8.3, and an hydraulic retention time (HRT) = 4.0 h, the results showed the removal rates for chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) and NH4+-N were 90 and 92%, respectively. The macroporous structure of the carrier offers a better microenvironment for micro-organisms' activation and substrate diffusion during nitrification and denitrification, such that the removal efficiency for contaminants in wastewater was enhanced. To meet the criteria for the effluent CODCr <100 mg/L and NH4+-N <10 mg/L, the maximum applied CODCr load and the applied ammonium load in the immobilized bioreactor should be 11.72 kg/m3 · day and 0.29 kg/m3 · day, respectively. Results of the continuo.
Effect of non‐linear adsorption on the transport behaviour of Brilliant Blue in a field soil

The food dye Brilliant Blue FCF (Color Index 42090) is often used as dye tracer in field studies for visualizing the flow pathways of water in soils. Batch studies confirmed findings of other researchers that non‐linear sorption is important for Brilliant Blue, especially at small concentrations (< 10 g l−1 for our soil), and that retardation increases with decreasing concentrations as well as with increasing ionic strength of solutions. Therefore, it is not obvious if it can be used as an indicator for water flow paths as is often done. In this study, we compared the mobility of Brilliant Blue in a field soil (gleyic Luvisol) with that of bromide. Brilliant Blue and potassium bromide were simultaneously applied as a 6‐mm pulse on a small plot in the field, and the tracers were displaced with 89 mm of tracer‐free water using a constant intensity of 3.9 ± 0.2 mm hour−1. Both tracer concentrations were determined on 144 soil cores taken from a 1 m × 1 m vertical soil profile. The transport behaviour differed in both (i) mean displacement and (ii) spatial concentration pattern. We found the retardation of Brilliant Blue could not be neglected and, in contrast to the bromide pattern, a pulse splitting was observed at the plough pan. Numerical simulations with a particle tracking code revealed that the one‐dimensional concentration profile of bromide was represented fairly well by the model, but the prediction of the double peak in the Brilliant Blue concentration profile failed. With additional assumptions, there were indications that Brilliant Blue does not follow the same flow paths as bromide. However, the question of Brilliant Blue taking the same flow pathways as bromide cannot be adequately answered by comparing both concentration distributions, because we look at two different transport distances due to the retardation of Brilliant Blue. It became obvious, however, that Brilliant Blue is not a suitable compound for tracing the travel time of water itself.
Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on seed germination, microbial quality, anatomy–morphology and physiological characteristics of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seedlings

High hydrostatic pressure is a non-thermal food processing technology that is found to increase the percentage of germination, decrease the germination time and improve the microbial quality of seeds. In this study, pressures of 100–400 MPa for 10 min at 30°C are used to compare the percentage of germination, the microbial quality of seeds, chlorophyll a and b, and total phenolic compounds concentrations in seedlings, and the anatomy–morphology characteristics of garden cress. Enhanced reductions of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total and fecal coliforms, and yeast and mould populations in seeds were observed, especially at 300 MPa. In addition, the percentage of germination, chlorophyll content and phenolic compounds concentrations, fresh and dry weights, and hypocotyl lengths of the seedlings are higher than those of all samples, where the percentage of germination is equal to controls but higher than other samples, and radicula length is lower than controls but higher than others.
Sifting the Soil of Greece:The Early Years of the British School at Athens (1886–1919)

The British School at Athens opened in 1886 ‘to promote all researches and studies’ which could ‘advance the knowledge of Hellenic history, literature, and art from the earliest age to the present day’. Over the next 30 years the School initiated a major programme of excavations, initially on Cyprus, then at Megalopolis, on Melos, and at Sparta. School students took part in the work of the Cretan Exploration Fund and in the major regional surveys of the Asia Minor Exploration Fund. Most of the students who were admitted to the School in this period had been educated at either Cambridge or Oxford. Women, mostly from Cambridge, took part in the School’s activities including the excavations at Phylakopi. The students’ research interests included Greek pottery, Aegean prehistory, and epigraphy. Their experience of Greece prepared the students for later work in British universities and other professions.
High-Temperature Electrospinning of Polyethylene Microfibers from Solution

The process of electrospinning uses a high-voltage source to produce an electrostatically driven jet of polymer solution that thins and elongates as it is driven toward an electrically grounded target. The fiber diameters which result from this process are on the order of nanometers to micrometers and can have large surface area to weight ratios. These high surface area fibers offer significant advantages for applications including nanocomposites, filtration media, barrier, and biomedical applications. Consequently, there are many areas of active scientific research currently focused on electrospun polymeric fibers. Because of the major commercial role played by polyolefins, there is significant interest in electrospinning these particular polymers. Polyolefins are not particularly amenable to electrospinning due to solubility and conductivity issues. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) microfibers were electrospun from solutions of p-xylene. Polyethylene readily crystallizes from solution, which requ.
Determination of low concentrations of the quaternary ammonium compound thiazinamium methylsulphate in plasma and urine

A sensitive and selective method for the quantitative determination of the quaternary ammonium antiacetylcholine‐compound thiazinamium methylsulphate (Multergan) in plasma and urine is described. The procedure is based on ion pair extraction of the compound with iodide as the counter ion. This is followed by gas chromatography using an alkali flame ionization detector. The detection limit is 2 ng ml−1 with a recovery of 88·0 ± 6·2% from plasma, 91·4 ± 4·6% from urine. The described method can also be applied to other quaternary ammonium compounds.
Platinum–Cobalt alloy networks for methanol oxidation electrocatalysis

Three-dimensional (3D) platinum–cobalt alloy networks nanostructures with a high alloying degree were synthesized through a room temperature wet-chemical synthetic method using the K2PtCl4/K3Co(CN)6 cyanogel as reaction precursor in the absence of surfactants and templates. The size, morphology and surface composition of platinum–cobalt alloy networks nanostructures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The 3D backbone structure and double-metallic property of the K2PtCl4/K3Co(CN)6 cyanogel are responsible for the 3D structure and the high alloying degree of the as-prepared products, respectively. Compared to the pure Pt nanoparticles, 3D platinum–cobalt alloy networks nanostructures exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and stability for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), which is ascribed to their unique 3D structure and alloy properties.
Interaction of Mercuric Ions with the Bacterial Growth Medium and Its Effects on Enzymatic Reduction of Mercury

The interaction of Hg2+ with components of Luria‐Bertani broth (LB), used to grow the mercury‐resistant strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PU21 (Rip64), was studied using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting. The time course analysis of free Hg2+ and total Hg in LB solutions showed that 30–40% of Hg2+ formed complexes with tryptone and yeast extract within 140 h. Media containing free or complexed Hg2+ were treated with cell‐free mercuric reductase as well as with growing cells to investigate the effect of the Hg2+‐LB interaction on mercury reduction. In both assays, it was found that the complexed Hg2+ could not be reduced by mercuric reductase or P. aeruginosa PU21 (Rip64).
Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of ultratrace amounts of tellurium using a palladium-coated L'vov platform after separation and concentration by hydride generation and liquid anion exchange

An ultrasensitive method is described for the measurement of nanogram amounts of tellurium in the presence of interferents. Tellurium is separated from the matrix by hydride generation, concentrated on a liquid anion exchanger (liquid Amberlite LA-2) and atomized from a platform, previously treated with palladium. Analytical performances are reported and the possibility of application of the method to the analysis of complex samples (sea water, sediments) is proved.
Macro- and Microphase Separation in Block Copolymer Supramolecular Assemblies Induced by Solvent Annealing

We fabricated block copolymer (BCP) supramolecules by hydrogen bonding various carboxyl- and phenol-containing azo compounds to the poly(4-vinylpyridine) blocks of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP). Thin films of the BCP supramolecules were prepared by spin-coating. Optical microscopy showed that all films of BCP supramolecules are macroscopically homogeneous immediately after spin-casting. To induce phase separation, all films were exposed to 1,4-dioxane vapor at room temperature. This solvent annealing caused always microphase separation between PS and P4VP-azo phases and sometimes also macrophase separation, i.e., azo compounds crystallized out of BCP matrices. The problem of macrophase separation in the BCP supramolecules is observed already at low concentrations of carboxyl-containing azo compounds. But phenol-containing azo compounds do not macrophase separate up to a molar ratio of azo compounds to repeat units of P4VP as large as 0.5. We conclude that self-associated hydrogen bon.
The axial hydrodynamic behavior in a liquid‐solid circulating fluidized bed

Based on experimental results from a 7.6 cm I. D. and 3 m high liquid–solid circulating fluidized bed, the liquid–solid circulating fluidization regime has been separated into two zones: the initial circulating fluidization zone and the fully developed circulating fluidization zone. The distinct hydrodynamic behavior and the influence of particle properties in the two circulating fluidization zones have been studied. The overall flow structure in LSCFB, although still somewhat non–uniform, is much more uniform than that in a gas-solid CFB. Our experimental results also show that the axial flow characteristics and the regime transition can be strongly affected by the particle density. The stable operation range of the circulating fluidization system and the influences of some associated factors, such as the solids inventory and the particle density, were also investigated for the first time. A partir de resultats experimentaux d'un lit fluidise circulant liquide–solides de 7,6 cm de diarnetre interieur et 3 m de haut, on a separe le regime de fluidisation circulant liquide–solides en deux zones: la zone de fluidisation circulante initiale et la zone de fluidisation circulante pleinement developpee. On a etudie le comportement hydrodynarnique distinct et l'influence des proprietes des particules dans deux zones de fluidisation circulantes. La structure globale de I'ecoulement dans deux zones de fluidisation circulantes. La structure globale de I'ecoulement dans le LSCFB, quoique toujours legerement non uniforme, est beaucoup plus uniforme que dans un CFB gaz-solides. Nos resultats experimentaux montrent egalement que les caracteristiques d'ecoulement axial et la transition de regime peuvent etre fortement influencees par la masse volumique des particules. La gamme de fonctionnement stable du systeme de fluidisation circulant et I'influence de certains facteurs associes, comme I'inventaire des solides et la masse volumique des particules, ont egalement ete etudiees pourla premiere fois.
Impactor Apparatus for the Study of Particle Rebound: Relative Humidity and Capillary Forces

The effect of relative humidity (RH) on the adhesion of particles colliding with a hard surface was studied for submicron particles of liquid oleic acid, solid ammonium sulfate, and solid polystyrene latex (PSL). For this purpose, a three-arm impactor was designed and constructed. The three arms consisted of one impactor having an uncoated impaction plate (i.e., a rebound arm), one impactor having a viscous-liquid-coated impaction plate (i.e., a capture arm), and one impactor having no impaction plate (i.e., a null arm). The particle number concentrations downstream of each arm were measured by condensation particle counters (CPCs). Data were analyzed to obtain the particle rebound fraction. Use of ambient upstage pressure allowed measurements from 5 to 95% RH at the impaction plate. Particle rebound depended strongly on RH, even for non-hygroscopic PSL particles. The rebound fraction for PSL particles dropped monotonically from nearly unity at 50% RH to 0.4 at 95% RH. For ammonium sulfate, the rebound fraction dropped from nearly unity at 25% RH to 0.5 at 70% RH. The decreased rebound at higher RH was explained by the formation of a water meniscus. The resulting capillary forces inhibited particle detachment. A model, taking into account the impact kinetic energy compared to the contact adhesion energy arising from van der Waals and capillary forces, captured the observations well. The reduced rebound arising from increased adhesion at high RH, independent of particle water content, potentially confounds a recent assumption that non-rebounding atmospheric particles are liquid. Copyright 2014 American Association for Aerosol Research
Surface integrity evaluation of D2 steel heat treatment and grinding

Surface integrity factor is defined by the manufacturing history of the material. The effects of various combinations of heat treatment and finish grinding used to produce D2 steel dies were evaluated by means of x-ray diffraction, microstructural, hardness and roughness examinations. Materials characteristics were evaluated in terms of heat treatment procedures and different finishing parameters. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that final residual stresses, generated in the materials by finish grinding depend heavily on the initial residual stresses induced upon heat treatment. Overall, the two-part study established which parameters produce the most advantageous combination of properties resulting in longer service life.