Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving the Gate Stability of ZnO Thin-Film Transistors with Aluminum Oxide Dielectric Layers

We report on the fabrication of gate-stable ZnO thin-film transistors (TFTs) with aluminum oxide dielectric. When an off-stoichiometric AlO x was deposited at room temperature, the ZnO-TFT revealed unreliable transfer characteristics: a large drain current-gate bias (I D -V G ) hysteresis and a large amount of threshold voltage (V T ) shift under gate-bias stress. As rapid thermal annealing (RTA) in O 2 ambient was applied onto AIO X at 300°C prior to ZnO channel deposition, the gate-bias reliability of the ZnO device was improved. The RTA might cause our AlO x surface to be more stoichiometric and thus to be resistant against ZnO sputter-induced damage. When the bottom-gate ZnO-TFT was fabricated with a stoichiometric Al 2 O 3 dielectric grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD), our device showed much more stable electrical characteristics than with the sputter-deposited off-stoichiometric AlO x . Last, as an ultimate effort to improve the gate reliability, we fabricated a top-gate ZnO-TFT device adopting the same thick ALD-grown stoichiometric Al 2 O 3 as in the bottom-gate device. Our top-gate device with the Al 2 O 3 dielectric then showed no hysteresis and no V T shift after several times of gate bias sweep. We conclude that both the high quality dielectric and optimized device structure are necessary to realize electrically stable ZnO-TFTs.
Determination of total iodine in soils by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract A method for the determination of the total amount of iodine in soil by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed. Iodine in soil was completely extracted by heating a mixture of 5 mL of 5% tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution and 100 mg of soil for 3 h in an oven at 70°C. Indium as an internal standard was added and the extract was diluted at least more than 10-fold. Iodine amount in the solution was determined by measuring the signal intensity of 127I against that of 113In. When the method was tested by analyzing four reference soil samples (GSS-1, 4, 5, and 7), the iodine contents obtained were in good agreement with the certified values for the samples.
Variation in iron(III) solubility and iron concentration in the northwestern North Pacific Ocean

Vertical distributions of Fe(III) hydroxide solubilities (≪0.025 µm) and dissolved Fe (≪0.2 µm) concentrations at 0–250 m depth were studied inside (HP) and outside (LP) a high‐production (phytoplankton spring bloom) patch area in the northwestern North Pacific Ocean during May 1999. In the surface mixed layer, the Fe(III) solubility values at HP were much higher (2–4 nM) than those (0.3–0.9 nM) at LP and strongly correlated with chlorophyll a and nutrient concentrations. The high Fe(III) solubility observed in the surface mixed layer was probably due to a higher concentration or stronger affinity of natural organic Fe(III) chelators. In the surface waters, the dissolved Fe concentrations were generally lower than the Fe(III) solubility values, resulting from the active biological removal of dissolved Fe and excess concentration of Fe‐binding organic ligands. The Fe(III) solubility minima (0.2–0.4 nM) were present in a narrow depth range (40–125 m) below the surface mixed layer at all stations. The subsequent Fe(III) solubility levels appeared to increase up to 0.6–0.8 nM with depth at 100–250 m, in association with the increase in nutrient concentrations. The strong linear correlations between Fe(III) solubility values and nutrient concentrations in middepth waters suggest that the formation of organic Fe(III) chelators may be related to microbial decomposition of sinking biogenic organic matter. In middepth waters, the dissolved Fe concentrations were generally higher than the Fe(III) solubility values, which suggests that the small colloidal iron phases may be present in the dissolved Fe (≪0.2 µm) fraction.
Forecasting electricity price and demand using a hybrid approach based on wavelet transform, ARIMA and neural networks

Demand and price forecasting are extremely important for participants in energy markets. Most research work in the area predicts demand and price signals separately. In this paper, a model is presented which predicts electricity demand and price simultaneously. The model combines wavelet transforms, ARIMA models and neural networks. Both time domain and wavelet domain variables are considered in the feature set for price and demand forecasting. The best input set is selected by two‐step correlation analysis. The proposed model is better adapted to real conditions of an energy market since the forecast features for price and demand are not assumed as known values but are predicted by the model, thus accounting for the interactions of the demand and price forecast processes. The forecast accuracy of the proposed method is evaluated using data from the Finnish energy market, which is part of the Nordic Power Pool. The results show that the proposed model provides significant improvement in both demand and price prediction accuracy compared with models using a separate frameworks approach. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface properties of yeast cells during heavy metal biosorption

Properties of metal solution, environmental conditions and the type of biomaterials (microorganism genus, species or even strain) influence the mechanism of metal biosorption and consequently metal adsorption capacity, affinity and specificity. Cell surface properties determine the metal-microorganism interactions to a large extent. In this work the relationship between yeast surface properties and yeast’s ability to bind cadmium, lead and copper was studied. Surface charge and hydrophobicity before and after biosorption were determined using dye retention and solvent partition assays, respectively. There were differences in the surface charge and relative hydrophobicity among different yeast strains. A higher metal adsorption capacity for more negatively charged yeast cells was observed. Biosorption of heavy metals resulted in modifications to the surface charge and hydrophobicity of yeast cells. However, there were not statistically significant changes in the yeast surface charge and hydrophobicity after binding of heavy metals depending on the nature of the metal, initial metal concentration and solution pH.
Modeling the resupply, diffusion, and evaporation of cesium on the surface of controlled porosity dispenser photocathodes

A controlled porosity dispenser (CPD) photocathode is currently being explored and developed to replace the Cs during operation and increase photocathode lifetime. Experimental results from cesium (Cs) emission of a sintered-wire tungsten CPD are presented and are used to inform a theoretical model of Cs resupply, diffusion, and evaporation on the surface of the photocathode. The evaporation of Cs from a tungsten surface is modeled using an effective one-dimensional potential well representation of the binding energy. The model accounts for both local and global interactions of Cs with the surface metal as well as with other Cs atoms. It is found that for typical activation temperatures within the range of 500 K–750 K, differences of less than 5% between the quantum efficiency (QE) maximum and minimum over ideal homogenous surfaces occur, even when variations to mimic surface non-uniformity due to pore blockage are included. The theoretical evaporation rates of sub-monolayer surface coverage of Cs compare.
Bandage-Based Wearable Potentiometric Sensor for Monitoring Wound pH

A new wearable electrochemical sensor for monitoring the pH of wounds is introduced. The device is based on the judicious incorporation of a screen-printed pH potentiometric sensor into bandages. The fabrication of this sensor, which uses an electropolymerized polyani- line (PANi) conducting polymer for pH sensing, combines the screen-printing fabrication methodology with all- solid-state potentiometry for implementation of both the reference and the working electrodes. The pH bandage sensor displays a Nernstian response over a physiological- ly relevant pH range (5.5-8), with a noteworthy selectivi- ty in the presence of physiological levels of most common ions. The bandage-embedded sensor can track pH fluctu- ations with no apparent carry-over effect. The sensor dis- plays good resiliency against mechanical stress, along with superior repeatability and reproducibility. The in vitro performance of the device was successfully evaluated using buffer solutions emulating the composition of a wound. The novel pH-sensitive bandages facilitate new avenues towards the realization of telemedicine.
Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of Malaysian wild ginger Zingiber puberulum inflorescence

Study on bioactive compounds in essential oil of Malaysian wild ginger species, Zingiber puberulum was carried out. The essential oil was extracted from the inflorescence of Z. puberulum using SFE at 48 Mpa and 40°C of extracting pressure and temperature respectively. The oil was then analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument. Twenty-one compounds were found in the SFE extract of Z. puberulum with fatty acids; i.e. palmitic acid (65.7%) and oleic acid (15.9%) were the major constituents and small percentages of various terpenic compounds. The sesquiterpene compounds identified in the SFE extract of Z. puberulum were α-bisabolol, β-elemene and caryophyllene. It was found that SFE could be used successfully to extract a wide variety of important bioactive compounds in Z. puberulum but that the conditions may need to be optimized to ensure the optimum yield of the volatile compounds.
A Simple Chamber Technique for Field Measurement of Emissions of Nitrous Oxide from Soils

A simple technique for field measurement of the rate of emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soil is described. It involves placement of an insulated cylindrical metal chamber over the soil surface for 20 min and removal of air samples from the chamber at 5-min intervals for N₂O analysis by a sensitive gas chromatographic technique that permits use of the xenon in air as an internal standard. The rate of N₂O emission is calculated from the rate of increase in the concentration of N ₂O in the air within the chamber. This technique is sensitive and precise, and it has the important advantages that it does not significantly disturb the structure or environment of the soil under study and is not limited in use to sites where electricity or special equipment is available. The chamber described is inexpensive and easy to fabricate, transport, and use, and it is well suited for an extensive program of research on N₂O emissions from soils.
Gas-phase electrochemistry: Measuring absolute potentials and investigating ion and electron hydration

In solution, half-cell potentials and ion solvation energies (or enthalpies) are measured relative to other values, thus establishing ladders of thermochemical values that are referenced to the potential of the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) and the proton hydration energy (or enthalpy), respectively, which are both arbitrarily assigned a value of 0. In this focused review article, we describe three routes for obtaining absolute solution-phase half-cell potentials using ion nanocalorimetry, in which the energy resulting from electron capture (EC) by large hydrated ions in the gas phase are obtained from the number of water molecules lost from the reduced precursor cluster, which was developed by the Williams group at the University of California, Berkeley. Recent ion nanocalorimetry methods for investigating ion and electron hydration and for obtaining the absolute hydration enthalpy of the electron are discussed. From these methods, an absolute electrochemical scale and ion solvation scale can be established from experimental measurements without any models.
Triethanolamine as an inexpensive and efficient catalyst for the green synthesis of novel 1H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyridazine-5,8-diones under ultrasound irradiation in water and their antibacterial activity

Triethanolamine was found to be an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of new 1H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyridazine-5,8-diones by a one-pot reaction of maleic hydrazide, with aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile in H2O under ultrasonic irradiation. The advantages of this method are the use of an inexpensive and readily available catalyst, easy workup, improved yields, and the use of H2O as a green solvent. To assess their antibacterial activity, all the synthesized compounds were dissolved in DMSO and subjected to biological evaluation using the disc diffusion method against 3 Gram positive and 3 Gram negative bacteria.
Turbulent heat and mass transfer from stationary particles

Convective heat and mass transfer rates for 20 shapes suspended in various orientations in a hot turbulent air stream were correlated by the equation: for turbulent intensities between 9 and 10%, using a new characteristic dimension, L”, in the Reynolds Number. This dimension, defined as the total surface area divided by the maximum perimeter perpendicular to flow, was qualitatively explained from boundary layer considerations and was found to correlate the data for different shapes available in the literature. Qualitative pictures for the relative rates of heat and mass transfer around the various shapes were also obtained.
Crystalline Regions of Bombyx mori Silk Fibroin May Exhibit -Turn and -Helix Conformations

Modeling of the (GSGAGA)n consensus sequence of the crystalline region of Bombyx mori silk fibroin revealed two novel conformations. One was a series of four-residue β-turns, consistent with published circular dichroic spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance data for the water-soluble silk I that is found in the abdominal glands of the silkworm larvae before spinning. The other conformation was a single-chain β-helix having 4.3 residues per turn, consistent with the circular dichroic spectra and water insolubility of silk II, the fibrous form of silk fibroin. Computer modeling of these structures provided a conformational energy of −9.9 kcal mol-1 residue-1 for an isolated strand of continuous β-turns, −11.7 kcal mol-1 residue-1 for a strand of β-turns on the edge of a sheet of parallel strands, −14.9 kcal mol-1 residue-1 for a strand of β-turns embedded in a parallel array of β-turns, and −13.0 kcal mol-1 residue-1 for an isolated, right-handed β-helix. These values are consistent with the transformation .
Rate, kinetic energy and momentum of preferential flow estimated from in situ water content measurements

Preferential flow needs self‐dependent fluid mechanical characterization and quantification. A theoretical and experimental approach is presented to describe preferential flow with the three variables volume of flowing water and its kinetic energy and momentum. Two soils were irrigated at rates of 50, 75 and 100 mm hour−1 at one site and three times at 100 mm hour−1 at a second site. The variations of soil water content caused by irrigation were measured at five depths with horizontally installed TDR wave guides at 300‐s intervals. The volume flux densities were calculated from the water balances. The computation of momentum and kinetic energy of preferential flow was based on the velocities of the wetting fronts and the amplitudes of the variations of soil water. Kinetic energy per unit volume of flow in the soil exceeds the one of irrigation by factors between 100 and 1000, which indicates concentration of flow. However, kinetic energy per unit volume of flow in the soil is less by factors of 106 to 108 than the capillary potential of soil water. Kinetic energy per unit volume of flow seems a reasonable variable for discriminating between preferential and ordinary flow at a threshold of 2 × 10−6 Pa.
Experimental evaluation of the Rhodes-Hunter model for the particle size effect in X-ray fluorescence analysis of `thin' samples

The experimental evaluation of the Rhodes–Hunuer model of the particle size effect in X-ray fluorescence analysis of ‘thin’ and monolayer samples is reported. The calculations and experiments were carried out for samples of iron oxide(Fe3O4) and copper sulphide (Cu2S) having particles of one size and a histog am distribution of particle sizes. For iron oxide particles, it was found that sticking causes a significant systematic discrepancy between the experimental results and the Rhodes–Hunter model prediction. For copper sulphide particles the model was applicable.
Synchronously synthesizing and immobilizing porphyrins on crosslinked polystyrene microspheres and preliminary study on catalytic activity of supported metalloporphyrins

A novel method for immobilizing porphyrins as well as metalloporphyrins (MPs) on polymeric supports was found, and it is the way to synchronously synthesize and immobilize porphyrins on polymeric microspheres. By using 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HBA)-bound crosslinked polystyrene (CPS) microspheres, pyrrole, and benzaldehyde in a solution as co-reactants and through the Adler's reaction between solid–liquid phases, it was successfully realized to simultaneously synthesize and immobilize phenyl porphyrin (PP) on CPS microspheres, resulting in PP-supported microspheres PP–CPS. With the same method, substituted PPs, 4-chlorophenyl porphyrin (CPP) and 4-nitrophenyl porphyrin (NPP), were also successfully immobilized on CPS microspheres by using substituted benzaldehydes, 4-chlorobenzaldehyde and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, as one reactant in the solution, respectively, and other two porphyrin-supported microspheres, CPP–CPS and NPP–CPS, were obtained. The effects of various factors on the process of synchronously synthesizing and immobilizing porphyrins on CPS microspheres were mainly studied. Further, the coordination reaction of cobalt salt with PP–CPS as well as CPP–CPS and NPP–CPS was conducted, forming three solid catalysts, CoPP–CPS, CoCPP–CPS, and CoNPP–CPS. The catalytic properties of these catalysts in the catalytic oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone by dioxygen were preliminarily examined. The experimental results indicate that the Adler's reaction between solid–liquid phases, namely the reaction between HBA-bound CPS microspheres and pyrrole as well as free benzaldehyde or analogs in the solution can favorably be carried out. For this process, the fitting protonic acid catalyst is p-nitrobenzoic acid and appropriate solvent is dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). By comparison, the process of preparing CPP–CPS microspheres is easier to be carried out. The obtained three solid catalysts can effectively catalyze the oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone by dioxygen. In comparison, the catalytic activity of CoNPP–CPS is the highest. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fe(II)‐Induced Fragmentation Reaction of γ‐Hydroperoxy‐α,β‐enones. Part 1. Synthesis of 13(14→8)‐abeo‐Steroids

Some steroidal analogues embodying the hitherto unknown 13(148)-abeo skeleton have been synthesized by Fe(II)-induced rearrangement (tandem β-fission/reductive alkylation) of 14α-hydroperoxy-7-en-6-ones. The configurational assignment was made by thorough analysis of NMR spectra; the structure of one of the products was unambiguously assessed by X-ray single-crystal analysis.
Synthesis of Thia-calix[4]arene Hydroxamic Acids by Microwave Irradiation

Abstract Thia-calix[4]arene hydroxamic acids have been synthesized by partial reduction of nitro-thia-calix[4]arenes with hydrazine hydrate, Rn/Ni, and their coupling with benzoyl chloride under the influence of microwave irradiation with 90–95% yield and 3–6 min reaction time.
Preparation and Recognition Behavior Characterization of a Moncrotophos Molecularly Imprinted Polymer

In this study, a novel functionalized material was synthesized using moncrotophos as template molecule, methacrylic acid as functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker. The adsorption ability of the imprinted polymer toward moncrotophos was characterized by static adsorption experiments; the results showed that it had higher adsorption capacity than the non-imprinted polymer. Scatchard analysis indicated that the specific binding sites in the prepared material were heterogeneous and could be classified into two distinct groups. For the saturated adsorption capacity, (Qmax1) was 18.76 mg/g due to the high affinity binding sites, and the other saturated adsorption capacity (Qmax2) was 4.66 mg/g due to the low affinity binding sites. The prepared material also offered fast kinetics for adsorption and desorption of moncrotophos. After shaking for 90 min, an adsorption capacity of 4.48 mg/g was obtained. The material exhibited higher selective recognition properties toward moncrotophos than toward structurally related compounds. Thus, it had the potential to be used as a selective sorbent in solid-phase extraction.
Mixed Oxides of Iron and Manganese as Potential Low-Cost Oxygen Carriers for Chemical Looping Combustion

Low-cost oxygen carriers with multicycle chemical looping combustion (CLC) performance and CO2 selectivity have been explored to realize a practical oxygen carrier to obtain sequestration-ready CO2 from the combustion processes. The cubic structures of the pure mixed oxides of Fe and Mn (Fe3Mn3O8 and FeMnO3; Fe–Mn–O) were prepared successfully as oxygen carriers through a coprecipitation method. The Fe–Mn–O systems showed 100 % CH4 combustion performance in the absence of air or oxygen. MnO and Fe3O4 are the reduced products of the Fe–Mn–O systems after the CH4 combustion reaction. The regeneration of the Fe–Mn–O phase was achieved readily by reoxidation of their reduced products in air. The Fe–Mn–O systems showed a stable and multicycle CLC performance, however, the individual oxides of Fe and Mn showed an inferior CLC performance. Pure CO2 was formed during the CH4 combustion reaction of the Fe–Mn–O systems with practically no toxic CO byproduct. Therefore, the mixed oxide phase of Fe and Mn shows potential as a practical oxygen carrier in terms of its multicycle CLC performance and CO2 selectivity.
Studies on Nigerian Crudes. II. Physical Characteristics and Rheological Properties of Residual Asphalts

Abstract The characteristics of some residual asphalts samples obtained from Nigerian medium and heavy crudes were studied using ASTM/IP standard tests. The residual asphalts were compared with industrial solid grade asphalts and cut back samples. Penetration and softening point tests performed on the treated samples showed that some of these samples fall within the range of road paving asphalts while sample having a low temperature susceptibility was found to be of better than the solid grade asphalt. The rheological behavior of an asphalt sample was investigated using a rotational viscometer. The sample showed a complex non-Newtonian character with structural breakdown as temperature is raised above its softening point. The study further confirmed the suitability of Nigerian medium crudes for the production of road paving asphalts.
ELECTROCHEMICAL AND PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF SINGLE-CRYSTAL ANATASE

Single crystals of TiO2 anatase containing 0.22% of Al and traces of V, Zr, Nb, and La were grown by chemical transport reactions employing TeCl4 as the transporting agent. Electrodes having the (101) face exposed doped by reduction with hydrogen were employed. The electrochemical and photoelectrochemical behavior of a single crystal of anatase were scrutinized for the first time. Properties were compared to those of single-crystal rutile having the (001) face exposed. Impedance analysis established that the flatband potential of anatase (101) is shifted negatively by 0.2 V with regards to that of rutile (001). Interfacial capacitance measurements under forward bias indicate smaller density of surface states on anatase. Photoelectrochemical oxidation of water occurs on both rutile and anatase with incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies close to unity at λ = 300 nm. From the comparison of Ufb and Eg, it follows that anatase (101) and rutile (001) electrodes differ mainly in the position of the .