Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glycolamide-functionalized ionic liquid: Synthesis and actinide ion extraction studies

ABSTRACT A glycolamide-functionalized ionic liquid (G-FIL) was synthesized for the first time and was evaluated for the extraction of actinide ions such as Am3+, Pu4+ and UO22+ and fission product element ions such as Eu3+, Sr2+ and Cs+. The extraction of the trivalent metal ions was found to be exceptionally high at low acid concentrations, which rapidly decreased with increasing acidity. In view of the high viscosity of the G-FIL, the studies were carried out using its diluted solution in a commercial ionic liquid, viz. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C4mim][Tf2N]).
Microalgae as a new source of chitosans

Chitosans are a family of linear polysaccharides generally obtained from the chemical deacetylation of chitin derived from crustacean shells that have been reported to have a wide range of bioactivities. However, the development of products taking advantage of these bioactivities has lagged behind expectations. The main reason is the poor reproducibility of the biological effects of chitosans due to a harsh chemical deacetylation process that impairs the structure of the polysaccharides inducing variability. Another reason is the immunologic responses that these polymers may produce in the presence of traces of crustacean proteins. It is therefore necessary to gather chitosans from other non-animal sources using a more environmentally friendly and reproducible process. Publications have commented that some microalgae species might contain chitin and even chitosan in their cell walls. Hence, in order to confirm these hypotheses, a screening method has been developed to detect each of these polymers specifically amongst the wide diversity of microalgae species of Greenaltech’s library. Thanks to this screening method, natural chitins and chitosans have been found in several genera. The methodology has been validated with the extraction and physicochemical characterization of chitins and chitosans from Chlorella, something that, to our knowledge, had never been done before. At the same time, the enzymatic deacetylation process behind the natural production of chitosan in Chlorella has been studied emphasizing the identification of active chitin deacetylases. Finally, as part of an exploratory biofunctional study of microalgal chitosans, the antimicrobial, wound healing and nanocapsule-forming properties have been analyzed.
Effect of Geometer’s Sketch Pad on Senior Secondary School Students’ Interest and Achievement in Geometry in Gboko Metropolis

The study determined the effect of geometer’s sketchpad on senior secondary school students’ interest and achievement in geometry. The study was carried out in Gboko Metropolis, Benue State Nigeria. A sample of 458 from 4,467 SS1 students was used. A multi-stage sampling technique and quasiexperimental design of non-equivalent group was used for the study. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using a 2way ANCOVA. Results from the study revealed that students taught geometry using GSP approach achieved higher scores as well as showed greater interest in learning geometry than those taught with conventional approach. The study recommended among others that mathematics teachers should use GSP software’s in teaching geometry and other mathematical concepts.
Recent Progress of Proton Acceleration at Peking University

We study the enhanced laser ion acceleration using near critical density plasma lens attached to the front of a solid target. The laser quality is spontaneously improved by the plasma lens and energy density of hot electrons is greatly increased by the direct laser acceleration mechanism. Both factors will induce stronger sheath electric field at the rear surface of the target, which accelerates ions to a higher energy. Particle-in-cell simulations show that proton energy can be increased 2-3 times compared with single solid target. This result provides the opportunities for applications of laser plasma accelerator, such as cancer therapy. Further experiments will soon be carried out on 200 TW laser acceleration system at Peking University.
Amylose and amylopectin molecular fractions and chain length distribution of amylopectin in 12 varieties of Ghanaian sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) flours

ABSTRACT Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a commonly cultivated root crop in tropical and subtropical regions, including Ghana. Different varieties of sweet potato have been bred, in order to expand its utilisation within the food and industrial sector. This study analysed flours made from 12 recently developed Ghanaian sweet potato varieties in terms of their amylose and amylopectin molecular fractions and amylopectin chain length distribution. Starch content of the sweet potato flours ranged from 49 to 77 g/100 g dry matter, with 11 of the varieties containing above 60 g/100 g dry matter. An orange-fleshed variety, Apomuden, had the lowest amount of starch (48.9 g/100 g dry matter), while the cream-fleshed variety Histarch had the highest (77.3 g/100 g dry matter). The flours from the 12 sweet potato varieties had intermediate amounts of amylose, within the range 10–30 g/100 g dry matter, and showed typical molecular distribution according to size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The fine structures of amylopectin, as revealed by anion-exchange chromatography, contained features common for starches of C-type X-ray pattern, but some structural differences were also observed.
Study of the Binding of Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonateand β-Cyclodextrin Using Surface Tension Measurements

A surface tension method developed previously has been used to investigate the for- mation of inclusion compounds between sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), at three temperature. Binding constants are determined directly from the effect of adding β-CD on the surface tension vs concentration curves for SDBS in water. Binding effects are discussed in relation to the sdding of alcohols.The models of the inclusion compounds have been investigated by means of NMR spectroscopy.
INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS OF POWER QUALITY OF SINGLE PHASE, LOW VOLTAGE CONSUMERS IN ADO –EKITI METROPOLIS

This paper examines the power quality of Ado-Ekiti metropolis in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The metrics of power quality includes: disturbances such as interruptions, voltage sags, spikes and momentary losses, power harmonics, and voltage unbalances with intrinsic effects on the efficiency and performances on the electric equipment. The necessity for this paper is the fluctuations of voltage supplied to the consumers by the distribution company in Ekiti State. These have significant effects on the power delivered to consumers ‘appliances, quality of their lives and the development of the society at large. The quality of voltage of each consumer in the selected areas were measured with the aid of digital multimeter which was compared with the standard nominal voltage of 240V, voltage deviations were evaluated through the use of standard mathematical equation and linear regression model was employed on the calculated voltage deviation with day and time used as inputs and the voltage deviation as the output. The implementation of the modelling was achieved through the use of Microsoft Excel data tool. The power quality for areas1, 2, 3 for the hours under consideration were poor with respect to R2 range of above 0.5 but better than that area 4 with R2 value of less than 0.5. The results were compared and recommendations were made with the view of improving the power quality in the metropolis.
SECRET COMMUNICATION ON FACEBOOK USING IMAGE STEGANOGRAPHY

Facebook is a popular online social network that provides means for connecting people all over the world to communicate together on one set through chatting, sharing photos, documents, and videos. The widespread of Facebook globally makes it such an attractive medium for image steganography, especially with millions of images uploaded daily which further obscure steganography in the uploaded images. Transmitting photos through Facebook enforces image processing to be applied to the uploaded photos prior their publication which is in consequences alters the original features of the uploaded images; thus, leads to the secret message loss if any. Few researches have been conducted to perform steganography on Facebook such as Secretbook algorithm. However, this algorithm restricts the payload capacity up to 140 characters and the type of uploaded photo. This thesis aims to propose an image steganography method that involves an additional JPEG compression step based on an extracted Facebook quantization table done prior hiding with JPHide and JPSeek algorithm. The proposed method allows JPEG steganography over Facebook with a higher size of secret information hiding while maintaining the image quality; at least to the human visual system.
Investigation on strawberry freshness by rapid determination using an artificial olfactory system

ABSTRACT In this paper, strawberry freshness forecasting performed using artificial olfactory system (AOS) was investigated. Human sensory evaluation (HSE), firmness, total soluble sugar (TSS), and reducing sugar content (RSC) of the samples were examined to provide physical/chemical references for the AOS system. AOS responses to strawberry samples were measured and measurement data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and stochastic resonance (SR). Experimental results indicated that the PCA method qualitatively discriminated strawberry samples in different freshness levels. The strawberry freshness forecasting model was established based on AOS. The forecasting model successfully discriminated strawberry samples with regression coefficients of R2 = 0.98159. Validating experiment results indicated that the developed model using AOS presented a predictive accuracy of 92%.
Promoting Growth, Yield, and Phosphorus-Use Efficiency of Crops in Maize–Wheat Cropping System by Using Polymer-Coated Diammonium Phosphate

ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted at Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, to check the effect of polymer-coated diammonium phosphate (DAP) on maize–wheat cropping system. Different rates of polymer-coated and uncoated phosphorus (P) were applied first to maize then followed by wheat after harvesting of maize on same field. Results showed that application of 100% of recommended P from polymer-coated DAP increased plant height (10%), chlorophyll content (4%), biological yield (17%), grain yield (36%), agronomic efficiency (43%), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents of maize produces, while in case of wheat 75% recommended P from polymer-coated DAP increased plant height (6%), chlorophyll content (18%), biological yield (20%), grain yield (14%), agronomic efficiency (72%), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents of grains and straw as compared with uncoated DAP. So, it can be summarized that polymer-coated DAP can effectively improve growth, yield, and phosphorus-use efficiency of maize and wheat crop.
The novel [Ni{(Ph2P)2N(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3-P,P´}I2] complex: Structural features and catalytic reactivity in the oligomerization of ethylene

Abstract The novel [Ni{(Ph2P)2N(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3-P,P´}I2] complex (1) was synthesized and investigated by a variety of spectroscopic methods (IR, 1H and 31P NMR). The molecular structure of 1, determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, was compared with those of the analogue [Ni{(Ph2P)2N(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3-P,P´}Cl2] complex (2) and the recently reported [Ni{iCPrP)2NH-P,P´}I2] complex. Complexes 1 and 2 were tested as homogeneous catalysts for the oligomerization of ethylene, leading to the formation of C4 and, to a smaller extent, C6 products, in moderate yields.
9-Fluorenone and 9,10-anthraquinone potential fused aromatic building blocks to synthesize electron acceptors for organic solar cells

In this work, for the first time we used two novel fused aromatic conjugated electron withdrawing moieties 9-fluorenone and 9,10-anthraquinone, respectively, to design two non-fullerene acceptors and evaluated their viability in solution-processable organic solar cells (OSCs). 9-Fluorenone and 9,10-anthraquinone were used as core electron withdrawing blocks in combination with another common strong electron accepting diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) end-capping group. The compounds 6,6′-(5,5′-(9-oxo-9H-fluorene-2,7-diyl)bis(thiophene-5,2-diyl))bis(2,5-bis(2-butyloctyl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4(2H,5H)-dione) (DPP-FN-DPP) and 6,6′-(5,5′-(9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracene-2,6-diyl)bis(thiophene-5,2-diyl))bis(2,5-bis(2-butyloctyl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4(2H,5H)-dione) (DPP-ANQ-DPP) were synthesized via a Suzuki coupling reaction and characterized completely. The new acceptors exhibit good solubility in common organic solvents and good thermal stability with 5% weight loss above 360 °C. DPP-FN-DPP and DPP-ANQ-DPP possess a broad absorption band at 300–700 nm with optical band-gaps of 1.75 and 1.71 eV, respectively. The use of different core acceptor building blocks resulted in a difference in LUMO and HOMO energy levels. Inverted OSC devices employing P3HT as the donor polymer and DPP-FN-DPP and DPP-ANQ-DPP as acceptors yielded quite high open-circuit voltages (VOC) of 0.85–0.98 V, benefiting from the relatively low-lying LUMO energy levels of the two acceptors. Among both, OSC devices based on DPP-FN-DPP as acceptor exhibits the highest performance with a VOC of 0.97 V, a short-circuit current density (JSC) of 3.2 mA cm−2, a fill factor (FF) of 37%, and an overall power conversion efficiency of 1.2%.
Elucidating the role of chlorine in perovskite solar cells

It has been proposed that introducing the chlorine anion into a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite material can substantially improve the materials properties as well as the solar cell performance. To elucidate the role of chlorine in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), here we introduced PbCl2 into the precursor, and studied the chlorine configuration evolution during perovskite film formation and the associated influence on PSC performance in detail. We found that chlorine could be successfully incorporated into the precursor film in the form of PbICl or PbCl2 through a properly designed preparation, and it was conserved in the final perovskite film with a configuration of MAPbCl3, PbICl or PbCl2 depending on the fabrication process. However, no evidence of a MAPbI3−xClx phase was observed, and it is considered that MAPbI3−xClx might be metastable or possesses a higher formation energy. In addition, we demonstrate that the formation of a porous PbICl scaffold in the precursor film plays a key role in high quality perovskite film realization, benefiting from an effective stress release during structure expansion after methylammonium iodide dripping. Moreover, we propose that residual amorphous PbCl2 can effectively passivate defects in perovskite film, and dramatically improve the film’s electrical properties. Finally, n–i–p type planar PSCs with efficiencies up to 19.45% were achieved. It should be mentioned that the whole process for the formation of the PSCs is performed at less than 100 °C, which is beneficial for a wide range of applications, such as flexible and tandem solar cells.
Kinetic Modeling of Styrene Biodegradation by Rhodococcus erythropolis PTCC 1767: Effect of Adaptation to Styrene and Initial Biomass Concentration

Styrene is found at high concentrations in many petrochemical wastewaters and, due to its toxicity, has to be removed from these wastewaters before their discharge. Biological treatment of these wastewaters using pure or mixed microbial cultures that remove styrene through biodegradation has many advantages compared to physic-chemical processes. However, the growth of most of pure or mixed microbial cultures used previously for biodegradation of styrene is retarded at relatively low styrene concentration. In this study, the biodegradation of styrene by Rhodococcus erythropolis PTCC 1767 was considered. The effect of initial biomass concentrations (X), in the range 0.31 gL−1 and 2.2 gL−1, and exposure of R. erythropolis to styrene-containing media–on the kinetics of styrene biodegradation was studied. The results of kinetic showed that, for runs at X = 2.2 gL−1, the kinetic data were satisfactorily fitted to the Monod model although the Haldane model gave a better fit of the kinetic data at all initial values of X. The results of kinetic modeling also showed that, with increase in X, the maximum specific removal rate (qm) decreased whereas the threshold styrene concentration Sthreshold increased. On the other hand, the exposure of the bacterial population to successive media in which styrene concentration was increased in a stepwise manner resulted in increase in the values of both qm and Sthreshold. The results of the present study showed the good potential of R. erythropolis for biodegradation of styrene in petrochemical wastewaters, although studies with real petrochemical wastewaters are needed to confirm this potential.
Synergistic Benefits Between Ultraviolt Light and Chlorine-Based Disinfectants for the Inactivation of Escherichia coli

Ultraviolet light is increasing in popularity as a primary disinfectant in drinking water treatment because of its effectiveness against chlorine-resistant pathogens and lack of disinfection by-product (DBP) formation. Previous bench-scale studies have shown that there are possibly synergistic benefits in reducing heterotrophic bacteria when ultraviolet (UV) light is coupled with chlorine (Cl 2 ) or monochloramine (NH 2 Cl). Additional experiments have demonstrated that synergy exists between various disinfectants in controlling numerous bacteria, viruses, and protozoan. Few studies, to date, have specifically investigated synergy with UV in combination with chlorine-based drinking water disinfectants including chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ), Cl 2 , and NH 2 Cl. This preliminary study looked at the effectiveness of seven disinfection strategies (UV, Cl 2 , ClO 2 , NH 2 Cl, UV/Cl 2 , UV/ClO 2 , and UV/NH 2 Cl) against Escherichia coli in a single-species system at various combinations of disinfectant dose and contact time. Spiked solutions containing E. coli were treated by UV alone, chemical disinfectant alone, or UV coupled with chemical disinfectant. It was found that the combined disinfection strategies achieved the highest removal. Data were additionally analyzed for synergistic benefits, and each combination had a positive result. Results suggest that drinking water utilities may see enhanced removal of bacteria and potentially other pathogens due to synergistic benefits when UV was used in combination with any chlorine-based disinfectant. However, more data are required to conclusively determine synergistic relationship(s) between UV light and chlorine-based disinfectants.
Electrode Stack Geometry Changes during Gas Evolution in Pouch-Cell-Type Lithium Ion Batteries

Safety remains a significant concern for the lithium-ion battery industry, despite over twenty five years of development since their commercial introduction [R. Spotnitz and J. Franklin, J. Power Sources, 113, 81, (2003)]. Many abusive conditions (such as overheating, overcharge, overdischarge, and electrical short) can give rise to gas evolution in lithium ion batteries, which causes increased pressure and/or expansion of the cell leading to changes in the electrode geometry that can lead to significantly different electrochemical performance and safety characteristics [Y. Qi, S. S. J. Harris, J. Electrochem. Soc. , 157, A741 (2010)]. In order to characterize the cell-level changes that occur during gas evolution, a non-destructive technique is required that can image the internal components of the cell at high spatial resolution without perturbing the electrode assembly itself. This paper demonstrates the use of synchrotron-based computed tomography to characterize the changes in electrode geometry that occur during gas evolution in a commercial aluminum pouch cell.
Modelling of an equivalent circuit for Cu2ZnSnS4- and Cu2ZnSnSe4-based thin film solar cells

The internal resistance and quality of the interface in Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 (CZT(S, Se)) solar cells were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We developed an equivalent circuit of the CZT(S, Se) solar cell involving the contact and material resistances Rbulk, two parallel resistances, and a ‘capacitance-like element’ called a constant phase element (CPE) around the CZT(S, Se)/CdS heterojunction and Mo–Mo(S, Se)2/CZT(S, Se) back-contact interfaces. Using the EIS method, the states of Mo(S, Se) and the CZT(S, Se) layer could be digitised non-destructively. This result can provide guidelines for improving the performance of CZT(S, Se) solar cells or any semiconductor device.
Nanoengineering the antibacterial activity of biosynthesized nanoparticles of TiO2, Ag, and Au and their nanohybrids with Portobello mushroom spore (PMS) (TiOx/PMS, Ag/PMS and Au/PMS) and making them optically self-indicating

Results show that nanoparticles (NPs) can be biosynthesized at room temperature on the reductive and chelating surfaces of Portobello mushroom spores (PMS). Using this green approach TiOx, Ag, Au, Ag-TiOx and Au-TiOx NPs have been prepared. These were characterized by TEM, SIMS and μFTIR-FTIR. TiOx/PMS, Ag-TiOx/PMS, Au-TiOx/PMS and Ag/PMS were active in bacterial inhibition towards Eschericia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, but Au/PMS was not active (suggesting a strong Au-PMS interaction). TiOx/PMS, Ag/PMS and Ag-TiOx/PMS were equally active in an antibacterial and an antifungal sense when tested against Asperillus and Candide. All samples (except Ag-TiOx/PMS and Au-TiOx/PMS) showed an interesting interaction with DNA. We report on the process of fine-tuning these antibacterial properties, progress on making these nanomaterials optically self-indicating and movement towards optical control of their antibacterial activity. Au-TiOx/PMS shows a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with a maximum at 518 nm that might be useful in following its anti-bacterial properties (i.e. making the bionanomaterial self-indicating). The future of such green bio-nanomaterials is strong.