Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cooling rate and dilution affect the nanostructure and microstructure differently in model fats

The effects of cooling rate and solid mass fraction on the polymorphism, nano and microstructure, thermal and rheological properties of binary mixtures of fully hydrogenated canola oil and canola oil at 208C have been studied. The b-polymorph was observed in fully hydrogenated canola oil (FHCO) when crystallized at slow cooling rates (0.1C8/min), however crystallization at higher cooling rates (0.7 and 108C/min) resulted in the formation of the a form. The b-polymorph was detected in all the binary mixtures of FHCO/canola oil and was not affected by crystallization at different cooling rates. Melting thermograms obtained from 100% FHCO displayed three melting peaks, associated with the development of the b-polymorph via a! b 0 ! b-polymorphic transition in the DSC pan. Some solubilization of solid FHCO into canola oil was observed and the solubility was proportionally higher with increasing liquid oil fraction. The strong influence of the matrix concentration on micro/ nanoscale structure was demonstrated by characterization of crystal size using cryogenic transmission electron (Cryo-TEM) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). Crystallization under higher cooling rates lead to formation of smaller nano and meso-structural elements. Furthermore, oscillatory rheology showed the influence of structural elements’ size and polymorphism on material strength. The shear storage modulus (G 0 ) of the mixtures was higher when crystallized at fast cooling rates (108C/min). In contrast, for pure FHCO, G 0 increased by lowering the cooling rate and the highest storage modulus was observed after crystallization at 0.18C/min.
Role of carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde in broiler cecal fermentations.

Aim of the study was to investigate the role of carvacrol and cinnamladehyde in modulating cecal microflora in broilers in an in vitro fermentation system. Cecal liquor was collected at the slaughter house, transported to the laboratory and immediately anaerobically diluted with a buffered solution; the so-obtained inoculum was dispensed in 10 ml syringes and 50 ml vessels (5 for each treatment) containing a pre-digested diet, carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde at the final concentration of 0, 75, 150, 300, 600, 900 e 1200 ppm. Syringes and vessels were sealed and incubated at 39°C for 24 h. Gas production was monitored from syringes throughout the study and after 24 hours ammonia concentration was measured from each vessel. A modified Gompertz bacterial growth model was used to fit gas production data as indicator of microbial growth. Curve fitting, total gas production, maximum rate of gas production, duration of the exponential phase and ammonia data were analyzed by ANOVA. Each syringe and vessel formed the experimental unit; the differences among means of groups were analyzed using the Student-Dunnet test. Differences with the control were considered statistically significant at P< 0.05. Data showed that, compared to control, carvacrol significantly depressed total gas production and exponential phase duration at 600, 900 and 1200 ppm (-53%, -64%, -76% and 62%, -73%, -72% respectively, P<0.01), while it increased the maximum rate of gas production at 600 and 900 ppm (+29%, +52%, P<0.05). Proteolysis, as indicated by ammonia concentration, was significantly reduced only by 1200 ppm of carvacrol (-26%, P<0.05). Cinnamaldehyde did not modify any intestinal microbial parameter. These results suggest that carvacrol can modulate the microbial fermentation when used at or above 600 g/ton of bioavaiable carvarcrol at cecal level. Cinnamaldehyde was not effective in modulating the broiler cecal flora.
Associations of reading skills and properties of cerebral white matter pathways in 8-year-old children born preterm

AIM: Children born preterm (PT) experience perinatal white matter injury and later reading deficits at school age. We used two complementary neuroimaging modalities to determine if reading skills would be associated with contemporaneous white matter properties in school-aged PT children. METHOD: In 8-year-old PT children (N=29), we measured diffusivity (fractional anisotropy, FA), from diffusion MRI, and myelin content (relaxation rate, R1) from quantitative relaxometry. We assessed reading (Gray's Oral Reading Test, Fifth Edition) in each child. Whole-brain deterministic tractography coupled with automatic segmentation and quantification were applied to extract FA and R1 along four tracts and assess their statistical association with reading scores. RESULTS: Reading-FA correlations were not significant along the four analyzed tracts. Reading-R1 correlations were significantly positive in portions of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus, right uncinate fasciculus, and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus. FA positively correlated with R1 in limited areas of reading-R1 associations, but did not contribute to the variance in reading scores. INTERPRETATION: Combining complementary neuroimaging approaches identified relations between reading and white matter properties not found using a single MRI measure. Associations of reading skills and white matter properties may vary across white matter tracts and metrics in PT children.
Methods of seawater analysis

Sampling and Sampling Techniques. Filtration and Storage. Determination of Salinity. Determination of Oxygen. Determination of Hydrogen Sulphide. Determination of Thiosulphate and Sulfur. Determination of pH. Determination of Alkalinity and Total Carbonate. Determination of pCO2. Determination of Nutrients. Determination of Major Constituents. Determination of Trace Elements. Determination of Natural Radioactive Tracers. In Situ Registration of pH and Oxygen. Determination of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) by High Temperature Combustion. The Automatic Determination of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) by Wet Chemical Oxidation. Determination of Particulate Organic Carbon and Nitrogen. Preparation of Lipophilic Organic Seawater Concentrates. Adsorption Chromatography of Organic Seawater Concentrates. Clean-up of Organic Seawater Concentrates by HPLC. Fluorimetric Determination of Dissolved Petroleum Residues. Determination of Selected Organochlorines in Seawater. Determination of Volatile Halocarbons in Seawater. Determination of Dimethlysulfide. Determination of Marine Humics. Determination of Amino Acids and Carbohydrates. HPLC Analysis of Photosynthetic Pigments.
Mesoporous materials prepared using coal fly ash as the silicon and aluminium source

Coal fly ash was converted into two types of porous materials, MCM-41 and SBA-15 (both of hexagonal structure), using the supernatant of the fly ash. It was found that most of the Si and Al components in the fly ash could be effectively transformed into mesoporous materials, depending on the hydrothermal conditions, and that fusion is essential. Investigation by 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR demonstrated that fusion plays an important role in enhancing the hydrothermal conditions for synthesis of these materials. A high concentration of Na ions in the supernatant of the fused fly ash was not found to be critical in the formation of Al-MCM-41 when prepared under controlled pH conditions. Pyridine adsorption experiments on Al-MCM-41 prepared from coal fly ash revealed the presence of Bronsted and Lewis acid sites. It was also found that the catalytic activity in the cumene cracking reaction is linked only to the accessible aluminium, and not to the total incorporated aluminium present in the Al-MCM-41.
Effect of silica addition on thermal stability of heat treated flame synthesised TiO2 nanoparticles

The effect of silica addition on the thermal stability of flame synthesised TiO2 nanoparticles was investigated. TiO2 nanoparticles with varying silica content were prepared using hydrogen diffusion flames. Characterisation and measurement of photocatalytic ability of formed nanoparticles before and after the heat treatment were carried out. On the basis of transmission electron microscope images and particle diameters that were calculated from specific surface area data and X-ray diffraction patterns, it is believed that the addition of silica might interrupt the growth of smaller particles to larger ones in the flame, but could enhance the thermal stability of the formed nanoparticles. Meanwhile, based on the decomposition of methylene blue, the anatase fractions and the calculated particle diameters, the TiO2 nanoparticles that were synthesised with the addition of silica corresponding to 0·03 L min−1 of the silica precursor carrier gas were the most thermally stable among those tested with heat treatment at 1000°C.
Inductively coupled plasma spectrometry and its applications

1. Introduction - a forward looking perspective. 2. Fundamental principles of inductively coupled plasmas. 3. Basic concepts and Instrumentation for Plasma Spectrometry. 4. Aerosol generation and sample transport. 5. Fundamental aspects of ICP-MS. 6. Use of ICP-MS for isotope ratio measurements. 7. Alternative and Mixed Gas Plasmas. 8. Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry: A complementary source for trace element speciation analysis. 9. Geological applications of plasma spectrometry. 10. Environmental and clinical applications of inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. 11. Applications of plasma spectrometry in food science
Timing the X-ray pulsating companion of the hot-subdwarf HD 49798 with NICER

HD 49798 is a hot subdwarf of O spectral type in a 1.55 day orbit with the X-ray source RX J0648.0-4418, a compact object with spin period of 13.2 s. We use recent data from the NICER instrument, joined with archival data from XMM-Newton and ROSAT, to obtain a phase-connected timing solution spanning ~30 years. Contrary to previous works, that relied on parameters determined through optical observations, the new timing solution could be derived using only X-ray data. We confirm that the compact object is steadily spinning up with Pdot = -2.28(2)x10^-15 s/s and obtain a refined measure of the projected semi-major axis of the compact object aX sini = 9.60(5) lightsec. This allows us to determine the inclination and masses of the system as i = 84.5(7) deg, MX = 1.220(8) Msun and Mopt = 1.41(2) Msun. We also study possible long term (~year) and orbital variations of the soft X-ray pulsed flux, without finding evidence for variability. In the light of the new findings, we discuss the nature of the compact object, concluding that the possibility of a neutron star in the subsonic propeller regime is unlikely, while accretion of the subdwarf wind onto a massive white dwarf can explain the observed luminosity and spin-up rate for a wind velocity of ~800 km/s.
Aerobic fitness is associated with cerebral mu-opioid receptor availability and activation in healthy humans

Central mu-opioid receptors (MORs) modulate affective responses to physical exercise. Individuals with higher aerobic fitness report greater exercise-induced mood improvements than those with lower fitness, but the link between cardiorespiratory fitness and the MOR system remains unresolved. Here we tested whether maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and physical activity level are associated with cerebral MOR availability, and whether these phenotypes predict endogenous opioid release following aerobic exercise. We studied 64 healthy lean men who performed a maximal incremental cycling test for VO2peak determination, completed a questionnaire assessing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA, min/week), and underwent positron emission tomography with [11C]carfentanil, a specific radioligand for MOR. A subset of 24 subjects underwent additional PET scan also after a one-hour session of moderate-intensity exercise. Higher VO2peak and self-reported MVPA level were associated with larger decrease in cerebral MOR binding after aerobic exercise in ventral striatum, orbitofrontal cortex and insula. That is, higher fit and more trained individuals showed greater opioid release acutely following exercise in brain regions especially relevant for reward and cognitive processing. Higher VO2peak also associated with lower baseline BPND in the reward and pain circuits, i.e., in frontal and cingulate cortices as well as in temporal lobes and subcortically in thalamus and putamen. We conclude that higher aerobic fitness and regular exercise training may induce neuroadaptation within the MOR system which might contribute to improved emotional and behavioural responses associated with long-term exercise.
Voltage‐dependent Nav1.7 sodium channels: multiple roles in adrenal chromaffin cells and peripheral nervous system

Voltage‐dependent Na+ channels consist of the principal α‐subunit (∼260 kDa), without or with auxiliary β‐subunit (∼38 kDa). Nine α‐subunit isoforms (Nav1.1–Nav1.9) are encoded in nine different genes (SCN1A–SCN5A and SCN8A–SCN11A). Besides initiating and propagating action potentials in established neuronal circuit, Na+ channels engrave, maintain and repair neuronal network in the brain throughout the life. Adrenal chromaffin cells express Nav1.7 encoded in SCN9A, which is widely distributed among peripheral autonomic and sensory ganglia, neuroendocrine cells, as well as prostate cancer cell lines. In chromaffin cells, Nav1.7‐specific biophysical properties have been characterized; physiological stimulation by acetylcholine produces muscarinic receptor‐mediated hyperpolarization followed by nicotinic receptor‐mediated depolarization. In human patients with Nav1.7 channelopathies, gain‐of‐pathological function mutants (i.e. erythermalgia and paroxysmal extreme pain disorder) or loss‐of‐physiological function mutant (channelopathy‐associated insensivity to pain) proved the causal involvement of mutant Nav1.7 in generating intolerable pain syndrome, Nav1.7 being the first molecular target convincingly identified for pain treatment. Importantly, aberrant upregulation/hyperactivity of even the native Nav1.7 produces pain associated with inflammation, nerve injury and diabetic neuropathy in rodents. Various extra‐ and intracellular signals, as well as therapeutic drugs modulate the activity of Nav1.7, and also cause up‐ and downregulation of Nav1.7. Nav1.7 seems to play an increasing number of crucial roles in health, disease and therapeutics.
One-pot synthesis of BiPO4 functionalized reduced graphene oxide with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance for selective and sensitive detection of chlorpyrifos

The design and exploitation of photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors with advanced nanomaterials is of great importance to achieving the goal of sensitive and inexpensive detection. In this paper, a series of bismuth phosphate (BiPO4) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (BiPO4–rGO) nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared using a one-step solvothermal method. Compared with the pure BiPO4 nanoparticles (NPs), all of the as-prepared BiPO4–rGO NCs with different starting mass ratios of graphene oxide (GO) to BiPO4 showed an enhanced PEC response. On this basis, the BiPO4–rGO0.03 NCs (the starting mass ratio of GO to BiPO4 = 0.03) with the best PEC response were used for the PEC determination of chlorpyrifos. With the addition of chlorpyrifos, the formation of a Bi–chlorpyrifos complex on the BiPO4 NPs gave rise to an increase in steric hindrance which caused the electron transfer of BiPO4 NPs to trail off towards the electrode surface, and consequently resulted in an obvious decrease in photocurrent. The designed PEC sensor displayed a linear response for chlorpyrifos in the range from 0.05 to 80 ng mL−1 with a low detection limit of 0.02 ng mL−1 (S/N = 3). The common interferents such as methyl parathion, pentachlorophenol, and carbaryl had no obvious influence on the detection of chlorpyrifos, although these substances were reported to influence the PEC sensing of chlorpyrifos to some extent. The applicability of this method was also investigated by the determination of chlorpyrifos in wastewater samples with satisfactory results. Thus, it is expected that the resulting BiPO4–rGO NCs can serve as a potential photoactive material for PEC sensing related applications.
Examination of the structure and evolution of ion energy properties of a 5 kW class laboratory Hall effect thruster at various operational conditions.

Analytical methods were combined with actual thruster data to create a model used to predict the performance of systems based on two types of electric propulsion thrusters, Hall-effect thrusters and ion engines, for several orbit transfer missions. Two missions were trip time constrained: a LEO-GEO transfer and a LEO constellation transfer. Hall thrusters were able to deliver greater payload due to their higher overall specific power. For the power limited orbit-topping mission, the choice of thruster is dependent on the user’s need. Ion engines can deliver the greatest payload due to their higher specific impulse, but they do so at the cost of higher trip time. Study of reusable electric propulsion orbit transfer vehicle systems indicates that they can offer payload mass gains over chemical systems, but that these gains are less than those offered by other electric propulsion transfer scenarios due to the necessity of carrying propellant for return trips. Additionally, solar array degradation leads to increased trip time for subsequent reusable transfers. ** Originally presented as American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics paper number 96-2973 at the 32 Joint Propulsion Conference, July 1996. Co-author, Ronald A. Spores: United States Air Force Research Laboratory, Electric Propulsion Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA 93524.
The Resistivity Measurements of HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+x and HgBa2Ca3Cu4O10+x Superconductors under High Pressure

The superconductivity of the HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+x (1223) and HgBa2Ca3Cu4O10+x (1234) phases was studied by resistivity measurements under high pressure. The highest onset Tc (Tco) was 156 K at 25 GPa for a 1223 and 1234 mixed-phase sample and 140 K at 13 GPa for a 1223-phase sample. The Tco decreased after the maximum point with the increase of pressure.
Detritiation System of Air with Honeycomb Catalyst and Adsorbent

Abstract Large amounts of tritium would be handled in D-T fusion power plants. Tritium is the radioisotope of protium, and is easily taken into the human body. With regard to nuclear fusion reactor facilities, the concept of multi-confinement system is applied to prevent tritium leaking to the environment. The last barrier to confine tritium is a building itself containing all equipment and facilities. If a severe accident takes place, tritium gas could leak into the facilities. In order to prevent tritium leaking to the environment, a secure air cleanup system (ACS) needs to be installed in the building. In ACS, the tritium gas, which leaks to rooms by an accident, is oxidized by catalysts, and then tritiated water vapor is collected by adsorbents. This method can remove tritium effectively, whereas which has a problem related to large ventilation force required to overcome high pressure drop in catalyst and adsorbent beds. Ventilation force could be substantially reduced by applying honeycomb catalysts and adsorbents to ACS. We investigated applicability of honeycomb catalysts and adsorbents to ACS, performing a screening test for the performance of honeycomb catalysts and adsorbents.
Analytical Chemistry of Polythionates and Thiosulfate A Review

The reaction of hydrogen sulfide with sulfur dioxide in aqueous solution yields Wackenroder’s solution, which contains polythionates (S_xO_6^2−: x =3, 4 and 5) and thiosulfate. Various reactions of polythionates with such reagents as sulfite, cyanide, sulfide, permanganate and others are reviewed, in which the thiosulfate and/or thiocyanate formed by these reactions of polythionates are measured titrimetrically, spectrophotometrically and coulometrically. As a result, simultaneous equations can be obtained through corresponding different procedures and can be used for the determination of polythionates in their mixtures with other sulfur anions. Furthermore, modern liquid chromatography is described for the separation of polythionates and thiosulfate, in which quite different chromatographic techniques and conditions were employed.
Predicting ambient aerosol thermal–optical reflectance measurements from infrared spectra: elemental carbon

Elemental carbon (EC) is an important constituent of atmospheric particulate matter because it absorbs solar radiation influencing climate and visibility and it adversely affects human health. The EC measured by thermal methods such as thermal-optical reflectance (TOR) is operationally defined as the carbon that volatilizes from quartz filter samples at elevated temperatures in the presence of oxygen. Here, methods are presented to accurately predict TOR EC using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorbance spectra from atmospheric particulate matter collected on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon) filters. This method is similar to the procedure developed for OC in prior work (Dillner and Takahama, 2015). Transmittance FT-IR analysis is rapid, inexpensive and nondestructive to the PTFE filter samples which are routinely collected for mass and elemental analysis in monitoring networks. FT-IR absorbance spectra are obtained from 794 filter samples from seven Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environment (IMPROVE) sites collected during 2011. Partial least squares regression is used to calibrate sample FT-IR absorbance spectra to collocated TOR EC measurements. The FT-IR spectra are divided into calibration and test sets. Two calibrations are developed: one developed from uniform distribution of samples across the EC mass range (Uniform EC) and one developed from a uniform distribution of Low EC mass samples (EC < 2.4 mu g, Low Uniform EC). A hybrid approach which applies the Low EC calibration to Low EC samples and the Uniform EC calibration to all other samples is used to produce predictions for Low EC samples that have mean error on par with parallel TOR EC samples in the same mass range and an estimate of the minimum detection limit (MDL) that is on par with TOR EC MDL. For all samples, this hybrid approach leads to precise and accurate TOR EC predictions by FT-IR as indicated by high coefficient of determination (R-2; 0.96), no bias (0.00 mu gm(-3), a concentration value based on the nominal IMPROVE sample volume of 32.8m(3)), low error (0.03 mu g m(-3)) and reasonable normalized error (21 %). These performance metrics can be achieved with various degrees of spectral pretreatment (e.g., including or excluding substrate contributions to the absorbances) and are comparable in precision and accuracy to collocated TOR measurements. Only the normalized error is higher for the FT-IR EC measurements than for collocated TOR. FT-IR spectra are also divided into calibration and test sets by the ratios OC/EC and ammonium/EC to determine the impact of OC and ammonium on EC prediction. We conclude that FT-IR analysis with partial least squares regression is a robust method for accurately predicting TOR EC in IMPROVE network samples, providing complementary information to TOR OC predictions (Dillner and Takahama, 2015) and the organic functional group composition and organic matter estimated previously from the same set of sample spectra (Ruthenburg et al., 2014).