Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of oxidative and energy metabolism in skin aging and UV-B induced carcinogenesis

Objective of the present research study was investigating the role of oxidative and energy metabolism in skin aging and UVB-induced skin cancer. In the first part, we aimed to find the link between genetic instability, ROS generation and metabolism alteration in the process of aging. The obtained results on XPC KO mice model demonstrated that excess of oxidative stress in addition to alterations in energy metabolism due to over activation of NOX1 play a causative role in premature skin aging. Topical application of novel NOX inhibitor prevented the premature aging in XPC KO mice through inhibition of ROS generation and alteration of energy metabolism. Our results suggest that the InhNOX can be considered as a promising target in prevention of premature aging and NOX-associated diseases. Little information is available on the contribution of energy metabolism reprogramming in cancer initiation and promotion. To assess the role of metabolic reprogramming in different phases of carcinogenesis, in the second part of my thesis we employed a multistage model of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation-induced skin cancer. We showed that chronic UVB irradiation results in decreased glycolysis, TCA cycle and fatty acid β-oxidation while at the same time mitochondrial ATP synthesis and a part of the electron transport chain (ETC) are upregulated. Increased ETC was further found to be related to the over-activation of dihyroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH). Decreased activity of DHODH or ETC (chemically or genetically) led to hypersensitivity to UVB irradiation. Our results indicated that DHODH pathway through induction of ETC and ATP synthesis represents the relation between DNA repair efficiency and metabolism reprogramming during UVB-induced carcinogenesis.
Differential evolution algorithm with co‐evolution of control parameters and penalty factors for constrained optimization problems

Considering that it is difficult to set suitable penalty factors for the penalty function method, which is one of the most important ways to solve constrained optimization problems, and that the quality of obtained optimal solution mainly depends on the optimization algorithm's performance and handling constraints capacity, a novel differential evolution algorithm with co-evolution of control parameters and penalty factors, named as CoE-DE, is proposed. In CoE-DE, differential evolution operator is applied for evolving the original individuals, which consist of optimal variables. To improve the performance of CoE-DE and the handling constraints capacity, Alopex algorithm is used to co-evolve the symbiotic individuals, which consist of two DE control parameters and the penalty factors. To illustrate the whole performance of CoE-DE, several algorithms are applied to solve 13 benchmark functions and five constrained engineering problems. The results show that the performance of CoE-DE is better than SR algorithm and similar to α SIMPILE in 13 benchmark functions, and the satisfactory result is obtained in five constrained engineering problems. Copyright © 2010 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quick Method of Determining Lipoproteins,IncludingThose of Intermediate Density, in Serum

density lipoproteins (IDL), low-density lipoproteins, and highdensity lipoproteins fractions are separated by aspiration from the top of the tube. This method can be used to separate, analyze, and quantify lipoproteins, including anomalous lipoproteins such as the IDL. The CVs for the present method never exceeded 15%.
Influence of hydrodynamics on the upper explosion limit of ethene-air-nitrogen mixtures

A large pilot plant was constructed to study the upper explosion limit of ethene-air-nitrogen mixtures under conditions of flow in a tube. Experiments were performed at pressures of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 MPa, gas temperatures between 298 and 573 K, and with ethene concentrations between 20 and 40 vol. %. A cylinder-symmetrical 2-D model developed simulated the experimentally obtained ignition and flame propagation phenomena. The commercial computational fluid dynamics code AEA-CFX 4.1 was used to solve this model, to which reaction kinetics for a scheme of two consecutive reactions were added. The model predicts the experimental explosion points within 0.5 vol. %. The explosion limit is influenced by the gas velocity: it becomes smaller and shifts to higher oxygen concentrations at increasing flow rates. In practice this means that partial oxidation reactions can safely be operated at high oxygen concentrations, provided the gas is kept flowing at high flow rates.
On the pseudo-symmetric current–voltage response of bulk heterojunction solar cells

We analyse the current–voltage (J–V) characteristics of bulk heterojunction solar cells containing poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate [PEDOT:PSS]-coated indium tin oxide [ITO] as the anode, a 1 : 1 blend by weight of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) [P3HT] and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester [PCBM] as the active layer, and aluminium as the cathode. The J–V characteristics were recorded in the dark and under white-light illumination using a pulsed measurement scheme that ensured the two sets of measurements were obtained at equal temperatures. The dark current was subtracted from the photocurrent to obtain a corrected photocurrent Jph that excludes the photovoltage-induced injection current and is thus due solely to the flux of incident photons. The resultant Jph–V curves—which have a near-symmetric profile centred about the built-in potential VBI—provide critical information about the physical processes governing device operation. For the specific devices tested here, the open-circuit voltage VOC was 0.63 ± 0.002 V at an illumination level of ∼100 mW cm−2—some 50 ± 12 mV above the built-in potential of 0.58 ± 0.01 V. Hence, we find that VOC can exceed VBI by a considerable margin. A simple model is proposed to explain the shape of the Jph–V curves, and application of this model to the measured data indicates that one or both of the electrodes is preferentially selective towards its own carrier type—the anode to holes and/or the cathode to electrons. This ‘self-selectivity’—which results in a significant efficiency gain compared with devices that have non-selective electrodes—is consistent with vertical phase segregation in the active layer, yielding a P3HT-enriched region close to the anode and/or a PCBM-enriched region close to the cathode.
Critical considerations for the determination of nanoparticle number concentrations, size and number size distributions by single particle ICP-MS

The metrological criteria for the implementation of the single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICPMS) methodology applied to nanoparticle size characterization and quantification have been investigated. The SP-ICPMS basis involves a process of counting events corresponding to individual nanoparticles, which requires (i) isolation of the contribution of the nanoparticles from that of the background/dissolved analyte, and (ii) avoiding the occurrence of multiple-nanoparticle events. A criterion based on three times the standard deviation of the continuous background (3σ) was selected as the threshold for discrimination of nanoparticle events from the background. Because the detectability of nanoparticles depends on both the size and number concentration, this 3σ criterion was also selected for detection of nanoparticles at the size detection limit and concentrations over the number concentration detection limit. However, at very low number concentrations, a less restrictive criterion must be used. The selection of a critical nanoparticle number concentration, based on the sample introduction and data acquisition parameters, allows the minimization of the occurrence of multiple-nanoparticle events, as well as controlling of the precision associated with the counting of nanoparticle events. Under such conditions, the standard uncertainty associated with the determination of number concentrations was 5%. The uncertainty for the determination of nanoparticle diameters was also studied, varying from 3 to 10% for diameters in the range of 100–40 nm, respectively. Reliable average number concentrations and sizes were obtained, although the number size distributions showed a significant broadening contribution due to the SP-ICPMS measurement process. The feasibility of SP-ICPMS for the implementation of the European Commission definition of 'nanomaterial' was studied by analyzing commercial silver nanoparticle suspensions.
Macromolecular Nanocapsule Derived from Hyperbranched Polyethylenimine (HPEI): Mechanism of Guest Encapsulation versus Molecular Parameters

Nanocapsule derived from hyperbranched polymer bears a number of active functional groups in the core; such a structure feature renders it possible to meticulously engineer the core of the nanocapsule and thus provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the structure−property relationship. Here the amino protons of HPEI (Mn = 10 000 Da) are 15%, 30%, 60%, and 86% alkylated with 2-dodecyloxymethyloxirane, leading to core−shell structured amphiphilic macromolecules (CAMs) with such different shell density as HP(EI-OH0.15C120.15) (3a), HP(EI-OH0.30C120.30) (3b), HP(EI-OH0.60C120.60) (3c), and HP(EI-OH0.86C120.86) (3d), respectively. The cores of 3a−3d are further chemically modified by complete alkylation of the residual amino protons with propylene oxide, leading to HP(EI-OH1C120.15) (4a), HP(EI-OH1C120.30) (4b), HP(EI-OH1C120.60) (4c), and HP(EI-OH1C120.86) (4d), respectively. Nanocapsule with thick shell is also obtained by alkylation of HPEI with epoxy polystyrene (Mn = 1800), leading to HPEI with 15% (HP(.
Sobre a conjectura de Gallai: problemas associados à decomposição e cobertura de grafos

Este trabalho esta baseado no estudo da conjectura de Gallai (1966), que nos diz que qualquer grafo conexo com n vertices pode ser decomposto em no maximo bn+1 2 c caminhos aresta-disjuntos. Apresenta-se um dos primeiros resultados obtidos por Lovasz (1968),que aﬁrma que se um grafo tem no maximo um vertice de grau par, entao a conjectura e verdadeira. Brevemente, estuda-se as decomposicoes por arvores e grafos completos. Estudamos os trabalhos de Donald(1980) e Pyber(1996) que estenderam a tecnica de Lovasz. Finalmente,estudamos o resultado de Fan(2005)que aﬁrma que se um sub grafo induzido por vertices de grau par de um grafo G e um grafo com certa propriedade, entao a conjectura e verdadeira para G.
Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Acidic Media by 5′-Phenyl-2′,4′-dihydrospiro[indole-3,3′-pyrazol]-2(1H)-one

The inhibition effect of 5-phenyl-2,4-dihydrospiro[indole-3,3-pyrazol]-2(1H)-one (SPAH) on mild steel corrosion in 1 M HCl and 0.5 M H2SO4 has been studied by weight loss, effect of temperature, electrochemical techniques, and quantum chemical studies. The inhibition efficiency increases with increasing concentration of inhibitor but decreases with increase in temperature. The adsorption of inhibitor on mild steel surface has been found to obey Langmuir and Temkin’s adsorption isotherm. Potentiostatic polarization results revealed that SPAH acts as mixed type inhibitor. The values of activation energy (𝐸𝑎), free energy of adsorption (Δ𝐺∘), enthalpy of adsorption (Δ𝐻), and entropy of adsorption (Δ𝑆) were calculated. Surface analysis (SEM) was also carried out to establish the mechanism of inhibitor on mild steel corrosion in acid medium. Quantum chemical studies using DFT were employed to explain the experimental results obtained in this study and to further give insight into the inhibition action of SPAH on the mild steel surface.
Melamine-modified Boron-doped Diamond towards Enhanced Detection of Adenine, Guanine and Caffeine

This work describes the electrochemical method of boron-doped diamond (BDD) modification by poly-melamine to obtain organic films. The detection of adenine, guanine and caffeine was carried out by differential pulse wave voltammetry (DPV). The poly-melamine modified B-NCD electrodes exhibit excellent activity towards the electrochemical oxidation of all examined analytes. The poly-melamine modified BDD electrodes in all measurements exhibit a larger peak current and are more sensitive compared to the unmodified BDD electrodes. The detection limit for adenine, guanine and caffeine using poly-melamine modified BDD electrodes was found with 0.2 µM, 0.02 nM and 0.4 µM, respectively. Moreover, the double-stranded (ctDNA), and single stranded DNA from calf thymus (ssDNA) was detected by DPV.
Changes of Silica Species in Sodium Chloride Solution by Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry: Silicate Complex Substituted by Sodium Ion

Abstract The types of chemical species of silicate complex ion exchanged with sodium ions (silicate–Na+ complex) with increasing concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl) and their numbers of chemical species of silicate–Na+ complexes formed were examined. Silicate–Na+ complexes in several concentrations of NaCl were identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). The basic structures of silicate species are not complexes with Na+, such as the dimer, trimer, cyclic tetramer, linear tetramer, cyclic pentamer, linear pentamer, cyclic hexamer and linear hexamer, were identified. When the peak intensity ratios of silicate–Na+ complexes were plotted against the concentration of NaCl, the changes with increasing concentration of NaCl were mainly classified into two patterns. One is the linear silicate–Na+ complex pattern (dimer–Na+ complex, trimer–Na+ complex and linear tetramer–Na+ complex), and the other is the cyclic silicate–Na+ complex pattern (cyclic tetramer–Na+ complex and cyclic pentamer–Na+ complex). In the linear silicate–Na+ complex pattern, the peak intensity ratios of the linear silicate–Na+ for the basic structures vary largely between 0.001 and 0.1 mol dm−3 (M) NaCl, and they become constant at above 1 M NaCl. In the cyclic silicate–Na+ complex pattern, the peak intensity ratios of the basic structures of cyclic silicate–Na+ change slightly between 0.001 and 0.1 M NaCl and change considerably above 1 M NaCl. The basic structure of cyclic silicate has a stable structure and hydrophobic part. By substituting Na+, the hydrophobicity of the cyclic silicate complex increases. The linear silicate complex is not as stable as the cyclic silicate complex and it possesses a higher degree of hydration than the cyclic silicate. The hydrophobicity of the linear silicate also increases by the substitution of silanol groups by Na+. These changes of the hydrophobicity of the linear silicate due to the substitution of Na+ are larger than those for the cyclic silicate. The dissolution system of the silicate species in NaCl solution should be elucidated by considering the relationship between the stabilities of the basic structure and Na+-containing silicate complexes, and their hydration effect.
Monitoring emulsion homopolymerization reactions using FT-Raman spectroscopy

The present work describes a methodology for estimation of monomer concentration during homopolymerization reactions by Raman spectroscopy. The estimation is done using linear models based on two different approaches: a univariate approach and a multivariate approach (with principal component regression, PCR, or partial least squares regression, PLS). The linear models are fitted with data from spectra collected from synthetic samples, i.e., samples prepared by dispersing a known concentration of monomer in polymer emulsions. Homopolymerizations of butyl acrylate and of vinyl acetate were monitored by collecting samples from the reactor, and results show that the methodology is efficient for the model fitting and that Raman spectroscopy is a promising technique for on-line monitoring of the emulsion polymerization process.
XPS analysis of glassy carbon electrodes chemically modified with 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulphonic acid

Glassy carbon (GC) modified electrodes were obtained by cycling the potential in an 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulphonic acid (HQSA) solution. These electrodes were successfully tested as sensors of some species of alimentary and pharmaceutical interest, showing improved performances with respect to those of unmodified GC electrodes and of GC electrodes cycled under the same experimental conditions but in the absence of HQSA. As a matter of fact, in the wide potential range explored for modifying the electrodes, even in the absence of HQSA, complex redox processes leading to the production of several functional groups take place at the surface of glassy carbon itself. An XPS investigation was consequently performed to better understand the effective nature of active species present on the surface of HQSA modified electrodes. The spectroscopic experiments involved acquiring survey and detailed scans of an HQSA powder standard sample and of GC electrodes cycled both in the presence and in the absence of HQSA. The experimental value of the binding energy of the S2p3/2 level of HQSA‐modified electrodes was found equal to that of the HQSA standard powder, thus confirming that HQSA molecules are adsorbed on the surface of the GC/HQSA electrodes and that they maintain their chemical structure and properties. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New Generation of Chromatographic Packings and Columns for Determination of Biologically Active Compounds

Analysis of biologically active substances is particularly important in the pharmaceutical and biomedical area. For separation of polar compounds or complex mixtures by normal (NP) or reversed phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and/or electromigration techniques, it is necessary to apply a new generation of packings and columns with strictly defined properties. It is connected to the definition of chromatographic behavior and determination of compounds that are described by its structure, as well as chemical and physical properties. One of the factors playing a predominant role in the separation process is the interaction between analyte and stationary phases. During recent years a large variety of stationary phases have become available and have been also applied in routine and research chromatographic separations. Bonded phases are in widespread use and popular because of the great number of available packing materials, allowing the solution of a scale of different separation problems. At the present time analytical methods cannot be restricted only to the so-called “black box. ” To meet the requirements of modern analytical techniques, strong demands are put on further, deeper understanding of the essence of the separation process, among other things, on the basis of conclusions about interactions between solute and stationary phase surfaces. For surface characterization different physicochemical methods such as CP/MAS, NMR, FT IR, DCS, chromatography, etc., have been described. The resolution, as reflected by efficiency, selectivity, and retention patterns on these materials, has been demonstrated. The effect of structure of stationary phases on retention of a model series of test analytes has been proved and numerically expressed by means of the Quantitative Structure-Retention Relationship (QSSR). The main aim of this paper is to present possibilities of determining different biologically active compounds (e.g., vitamins, steroids, nucleosides, peptides) in complex chromatographic methods (sample preparation, final analysis, validation) using new generation of stationary phases, columns, and chips divides. Special attention is dedicated to the advantage of packing materials imitating natural membranes because of the possible examination of the interaction between drug membrane. They can permit to the design of new pharmaceuticals and observation of processes taking place on the border of phases without interfering in natural systems.
Synthesis of Graphene-CNT Hybrid Nanostructures

Using chemical vapor deposition technique, a novel 3D carbon nano-architecture called a pillared graphene nanostructure (PGN) is in situ synthesized. The fabricated novel carbon nanostructure consists of CNT pillars of variable length grown vertically from large-area graphene planes. The formation of CNTs and graphene occurs simultaneously in one CVD growth treatment. The detailed characterization of synthesized pillared graphene shows the cohesive structure and seamless contact between graphene and CNTs in the hybrid structure. The synthesized graphene-CNT hybrid has a tunable architecture and attractive material properties, as it is solely built from sp 2 hybridized carbon atoms in form of graphene and CNT. Our methodology provides a pathway for fabricating novel 3D nanostructures which are envisioned for applications in hydrogen storage, nanoelectronics, and supercapacitors.
Macroscopic and local filming behavior of AA2024 T3 aluminum alloy during anodizing in sulfuric acid electrolyte

The anodic film generated in acid electrolytes on high-purity aluminum shows a porous morphology, formed by the packing of approximately hexagonal cells of alumina, containing a centrally located cylindrical pore. Conversely, during anodizing of an AA2024 T3 alloy, the presence of alloying elements, both in solid solution and as second-phase material, influences the filming behavior, with a less regular film morphology developed above the aluminum alloy matrix, and characteristic morphologies generated above and in the zone of influence of second-phase particles. Further, the anodizing behavior of the alloying elements is determined by the applied potential. In this work, the anodizing behavior of AA2024 T3 commercial alloy in sulfuric acid electrolyte has been characterized. Specifically, phenomena related to the oxidation of the second-phase particles have been separated from those associated with the oxidation of the copper-containing aluminum matrix. This has used electrochemical data obtained under potentiostatic and potentiodynamic conditions for the AA2024 T3 alloy, high-purity aluminum, and model Al-Cu alloys, which have been correlated with detailed examination of plan and sectional views of the anodized substrates. © 2008 The Electrochemical Society.
Polymeric Corrosion Inhibitors for Iron and Its Alloys: A Review

Several works have been reported on the corrosion inhibition of different metals in various corrosive environments. Initially attention was centered on organic compounds but later focused on green inhibitors. Green inhibitors include nontoxic, eco-friendly polymers and natural inhibitors. In recent years, there has been increased emphasis on applications of polymers, copolymers, grafted polymers, and polymer composites as green corrosion inhibitors. The prime controlling factors influencing the corrosion inhibitive performance of polymeric compounds on the corrosion of metals in various corrosive environments are discussed in this review. The superior performance of a polymeric corrosion inhibitor is due to its larger size and greater number of functional anchoring groups. Through the anchoring groups the polymers easily get adsorbed on the metal surface and cover considerably more surface than the corresponding monomers. The main factors influencing the corrosion mitigating properties of the polymers are molecular size, weight, composition, and nature of the anchoring groups. The solution pH, concentration, exposure time, and temperature also find their role in inhibition performance. In this review, we have tried to cover various types of polymeric corrosion inhibitors for iron and its alloys.