Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of thermal treatments on the reactivity of nanosized tricalcium phosphate powders

This study had two aims: (i) to determine the effects of calcination temperature on the hydraulic reactivity of three nanosized X-ray amorphous tricalcium phosphate (ATCP) powders, and (ii) to try to bring a better understanding of the poor reactivity of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) nanoparticles obtained by calcining ATCP powders. For those purposes, five calcination temperatures were selected in the range of 500 to 800 °C. Calcination led to the formation of powders consisting of ATCP (500 °C), α-TCP (600, 650 and 700 °C) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP; 700 and 800 °C). The powder reactivity was assessed by mixing 0.2 g of powder and 1 mL Na2HPO4 0.2 M solution in an isothermal calorimeter. The total reaction time was a function of the calcination temperature: from a few minutes for ATCP powders and ATCP powder calcined at 500 °C, it increased to several hours for ATCP powder calcined at 600, 650 and 700 °C. Interestingly, this change of reaction time was mostly due to an increase of the so-called induction time, i.e. time to start the reaction. It increased from a few seconds to a few hours. Strikingly, the induction time and the total reaction time were reduced by an increase of the calcination temperature from 650 to 700 °C. The results were attributed to the formation of a defect-free surface upon calcination and the concomitant difficulty in creating surface defects to allow dissolution and hence reaction.
Daño a la mucosa bucal inducido por fluoruro de sodio en la rata: Aumento en los parámetros apoptóticos

The purpose of the present work is to determine the effects of the ingestion of sodium fluoride (NaF) on the buccal mucosa of the rat manifested by changes in the expression of proteins p53, bcl-2 and caspase-3 as indicative of an apoptosis process as well as in the activity of the amylase as indicator of the function of the mucosa. Material and method: Male rats were exposed to NaF (1 and 50 ppm) for eight weeks and were sacrificed weekly. Buccal mucosa was isolated and the expression of the proteins p53, bcl-2 and caspasa-3 was determined by means of Western-blot technique. On the other hand, amylase activity was determined by spectrophotometry Results: the treatment with 50 ppm of NaF produces an increment in the expression of the p53 and caspasa-3 as well as an important decrease in the activity of the amylase. These results point out that the intoxication with NaF can be an apoptosis inductor in the buccal mucosa in rats intoxicated for eight weeks.
Recent advances in solution-processed interfacial materials for efficient and stable polymer solar cells

This article provides an overview on the recent development of solution processed organic, inorganic, and hybrid interfacial materials for bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells. The introduction of proper interfacial materials to optimize the electronic and electrical properties between the interfaces of the light-harvesting active layer and the charge-collecting electrode has become an important criterion to improve the performance of polymer solar cells. The electronic processes at these interfaces play a critical role in determining the efficiency for photon-to-electricity conversion. An ideal interface requires the formation of Ohmic contact with minimum resistance and high charge selectivity to prevent charge carriers from reaching the opposite electrodes. For long-term stability of polymer solar cells, interfaces with matched surface energy are required to prevent interfacial dewetting and delamination. Several classes of interfacial materials including inorganic metal oxides, crosslinkable charge-transporting materials, conjugated polymer electrolytes, self-assembled functional molecules, and graphene-based materials are highlighted and the integration of these interfacial materials with new low bandgap polymers and fullerene derivatives as active materials in different device architectures is also discussed.
Intercomparison of SEM, AFM, and electrical linewidths

Uncertainty in the locations of line edges dominates the uncertainty budget for high quality sub-micrometer linewidth measurements. For microscopic techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), the image of the sharp edge is broadened due to the instrument's non-ideal response. Localizing the true edge position within its broadened image requires a model for the instrument-sample interaction. Ideal left and right edges are mirror images of one another, so any modeling error in the position assignment will have opposite signs for the two types of edges. Linewidth measurements inherently involves such opposite edges and consequent doubling of model errors. Similar considerations apply to electrical critical dimension (ECD) measurement. Although ECD is a non-imaging technique, one must still model the offset between the position of the physical edge and the effective edge of the conducting part of the line. One approach to estimating the reliability of existing models is to compare result when fundamentally different instruments measure the same line. We have begun a project to perform such an intercomparison, and we report here initial results for SEM, AFM, and ECD measurements of sub-micrometer lines in single crystal Si. Edge positions are determined from SEM images using Monte Carlo tracing of electron trajectories to predict the edge shape.In the AFM, we estimate and correct for tip geometry using tools from mathematical morphology. ECD measurements are corrected for band bending in the neighborhood of the edges.
Functionalisation of bamboo and sisal fibres cellulose in ionic liquids

Abstract The aim of this work is to study the morphological changes after alkali treatment and functionalisation of cellulosic materials present in crude bamboo and sisal flours using ionic liquid as solvents. The flours of bamboo (BF) and sisal (SF) were subjected to acetylation and silylation using acetic anhydride (AA) and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as reagents. The changes in fibres structure and morphology were studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. The results indicate that crude BF and SF are functionalised successfully which is confirmed by FTIR spectra and the solubility of the derivatives in different solvents. The microscopic structures of the cellulose microfibre bundles become more distinct after delignification
Another rejection of the more-individuals-hypothesis: Carrion beetles (Silphidae, Coleoptera) in the Southern Rocky Mountains

Beetles are the most diverse animal clade on the planet, and understanding the mechanisms underlying their diversity patterns is critical to understanding animal biodiversity in general. Using carrion beetles (Silphidae; Coleoptera), I test the more-individuals hypothesis (MIH), consisting of positive climatic impacts on food resources leading to increased abundance and then diversity. I also test competing mechanistic hypotheses, including interacting effects of climate, local vegetation, habitat diversity, habitat heterogeneity, soil diversity, and elevational area. Carrion beetle species richness and abundances were estimated using 40 standardized pitfall traps set for 90 days at 30 survey sites on two elevational gradients in the Front Range and San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA. Standardized measurements assessed 13 vegetative characteristics, food resources (mammal abundances), soil diversity, habitat diversity, elevational area, temperature, precipitation and net primary productivity at each site. Structural equation models were used to test competing diversity hypotheses and mechanisms. Species richness peaked at intermediate elevations on both gradients, whereas abundance was unimodal on one gradient and decreasing on the other. The MIH mechanism was rejected; all four potential SEM model constructions were unsupported and the majority of all SEM models did not support relationships between abundance and diversity or climate and food resources. The best SEM model included direct influences of temperature, vegetation biomass, and food resources but with separate effects on diversity and abundance. Carrion beetles were more diverse and abundant in sites with dense understory vegetation and warm temperatures, while higher abundances were also linked to more food resources. This climate-biotic relationship is likely due to a need for microclimates and microhabitats to mediate physiological tradeoffs of desiccation and thermoregulation with predation. This suggests a general hypothesis for beetle diversity and abundance, particularly on arid-based mountains globally.
Mid-infrared laser magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The development of laser magnetic resonance (l.m.r.) spectroscopy with CO (λ= 5–7 µm) and CO2(λ= 9–11 µm) laser sources originally lagged behind the application of this technique in the farinfrared region. However, during the past five years, mid-infrared l.m. r. has been extensively used to study vibration–rotation and electronic spectra of a large number of atoms, diatomic molecules and triatomic molecules. It has allowed the study of many unstable free radicals that could not be detected by more conventional infrared techniques. This paper presents a brief review of these developments with an emphasis on recent work. Some new analyses of already published mid-infrared l.m. r. data are also presented. These are made possible by newly available measurements of isotopic CO2 laser frequencies and improved ground vibrational state data, and they result in improved molecular parameters for the following molecules: HCO(ν2), HO2(ν3), DO2(ν2), PH2(ν2) and ND2(ν2).
Rheological properties and adhesion characteristics of flour-based batters for chicken nuggets as affected by three hydrocolloids

Time-dependency, apparent viscosity, shear-thinning behavior, recovery and adhesion characteristics were determined on 30% solids flour-based batters containing hydrocolloids (guar, xanthan and carboxymethylcellulose, CMC) at 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0%. Most batters were thixotropic. Batters containing xantham gum had the greatest apparent viscosity followed in decreasing order by guar gum, CMC and control batters. Apparent viscosity correlated highly positively with batter adhesion characteristics measured on chicken nuggets as coating pickup, overall yield, and cooked yield. Mixer viscometry techniques were useful to follow changes in rheological properties caused by mixing speed and time.
Photosynthesis and structure of benthic microbial mats: Microelectrode and SEM studies of four cyanobacterial communities1

The microzonation of photosynthetic organisms in four cyanobacterial mats of Solar Lake, Sinai, was studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The zonation was compared to the distribution of photosynthesis and of O/sub 2/, H/sub 2/S, and pH. Microelectrodes were used to measure the chemical gradients as well as the photosynthetic rates by a newly developed technique which allows a spatial resolution of 100 . mu.m. Two-dimensional maps of oxygen and photosynthesis distribution at the mat surface demonstrated a strong heterogeneity with rapid oxygen production within dense diatom tufts of 0.2-0.5-mm diameter overgrowing the cyanobacteria. Gas bubbles within the mat served as dynamic reservoirs for oxygen during light-dark cycles and buffered against extreme diurnal variations between oxygen and sulfide.
Human mesenchymal stem cells alleviate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in humanized mice

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease characterized by progressive pulmonary function disruption and activity limitation, of which the pathogenesis and the effective therapy have not been elucidated. Although aberrant immune cell infiltration was found in the lung of patients with pulmonary fibrosis, the contribution of immune dysregulation in pulmonary fibrosis has not been confirmed in human. In order to directly investigate the role human immune response in pulmonary fibrosis in vivo, human periphery blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)-reconstituted humanized mice were used to establish bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model in this study. In addition, the suppressive efficacy of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on pulmonary fibrosis were also evaluated based on this model. Here we found the abnormal activity of the human immune response in the lung prior to pulmonary fibrosis. Human MSC administration at the early stage could significantly modulate pulmonary human immune dysregulation, alleviate pulmonary damage, and improve lung function in humanized mice with pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, PD-L1 and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) were found to be involved in the immunomodulatory effect of human MSC on pulmonary fibrosis in humanized mice. This study demonstrates the relationship between human immune dysregulation and pulmonary fibrosis in humanized mice. It also suggests the therapeutic efficacy of human MSC for pulmonary fibrosis.
Progressive motor deficit caused by isolated unilateral pontine infarction extending to the pontine surface

Objective To analyze the causes，neuroimaging and clinical manifestations of isolated unilateral pontine infarction and to discuss its relationship to progressive motor deficit (PMD). Methods All 58 patients with isolated acute unilateral pontine infarction confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were recruited in this study for retrospective review.Thirty-one patients of them had brain and neck multi-slice spiral CT angiography (CTA) within 1 week after admission.PMD severity was accessed using the dynamic National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within 5 days after onset.All 58 patients were divided into two groups: patients with PMD (23 cases) in group 1 and patients without PMD (35 cases) in group 2.Two groups were compared for the risk factors，initial NIHSS scores，modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 1 month after onset，clinical manifestations，infarction distribution，size and morphology of infarctions and basilar artery lesions. Results The major cause was pathologic changes in basilar artery branch in both groups (6/12 in group 1 and 10/19 in group 2). The proportion of patients with infarction extending to the pontine surface in group 1 was higher than that in group 2 (21/23，91.3% vs 20/35，57.1%，χ2=7.817，P=0.005). Initial NIHSS score in group 1 was higher than that in group 2 (6.7±2.9 vs 4.5±2.4，t=3.121，P=0.003). mRS score at 1 month after onset in group 1 was higher than that in group 2 (2.2±1.1 vs 1.5±0.8，t=2.909，P=0.004). The Logistic regression analysis showed that isolated unilateral pontine infarction extending to the pontine surface was positively related to PMD (odds ratio 9.670，95% confidence interval 1.171-79.856，P=0.035). Conclusions Progressive isolated unilateral pontine infarction is mostly caused by pathologic changes in basilar artery branch.Patients with PMD have a more severe initial clinical manifest and they have a worse short-term prognosis than patients without PMD.Isolated unilateral pontine infarction extending to the pontine surface may be a risk predictor in stroke evolution. Key words: Brain infarction; Pons; Movement disorders; Vertebrobasilar insufficiency; Magnetic resonance imaging
DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY EVALUATION OF CHICKEN PATTIES INCORPORATED WITH PSYLLIUM HUSK

This investigation was carried out to develop high fibre chicken meat patties using psyllium husk. Three different levels (4, 6 and 8 percent) of psyllium husk were tried. On the basis of results of physico-chemical properties, proximate composition and sensory evaluation, its incorporation at 4% level was found suitable. The patties with 4% psyllium husk had significantly higher total dietary fibre content than control. The cholesterol content was found to be significantly lower in psyllium husk incorporated patties than control. During storage at 4±1°C, the psyllium husk added patties were found to be microbiologically safe and organoleptically acceptable up to 15 days. It can be concluded that addition of psyllium husk at 4% level increases dietary fibre content of patties without deteriorating quality parameters.
Sugar-modified silanes: precursors for silica monoliths

Sugarsilanes, alkoxysilanes derived from sugars and sugar alcohols including glycerol, sorbitol, maltose and dextran, were hydrolyzed to prepare monolithic, mesoporous silicas. Unlike conventional alkoxysilanes such as tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), the sol–gel hydrolysis and cure rates of sugarsilanes were very sensitive to ionic strength, but not to pH: comparable rates of gelation were observed for any specific compound at constant ionic strength over a pH range of about 5.5–11. Reduced levels of shrinkage when compared to TEOS (65% for diglycerylsilane (DGS)-derived silica; 50% for monosorbitylsilane (MSS)-derived silica) were also observed provided that the residual sugars were not washed or pyrolyzed from the silica monolith. Pore sizes in the dried silica monoliths (∼2–3 nm diameter) were marginally increased by the addition of non-functional polyethylene oxide (PEO) (mesopore sizes: no PEO, 3.1 nm; 4 wt% PEO MW 2000, 10000, 3.3 and 3.5 nm, respectively): the protein Human Serum Albumin did not act as a porogen. PEO terminated with Si(OEt)3 groups (TES-PEO), however, was very efficient at increasing mesopore size (TES-PEO MW 200 and 10000, led to pores of average diameter 3.7 and 6.1 nm, respectively). The addition of a multivalent metal such as Mg2+ to the sol increased the pore sizes of glycerol silane-derived silica, but led to decreased sizes in silica prepared from TEOS. These changes in cure chemistry and final properties are attributed to a distortion of the silica cure equilibrium by the multidentate sugar ligands.
Moderate Bioclogging Leading to Preferential Flow Paths in Biobarriers

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are an alternative technique for the biological in situ remediation of ground water contaminants. Nutrient supply via injection well galleries is supposed to support a high microbial activity in these barriers but can ultimately lead to changes in the hydraulic conductivity of the biobarrier due to the accumulation of biomass in the aquifer. This effect, called bioclogging, would limit the remediation efficiency of the biobarrier. To evaluate the effects bioclogging can have on the flow field of a PRB, flow cell experiments were carried out in the laboratory using glass beads as a porous medium. Two types of flow cells were used: a 20‐ × 1‐ × 1‐cm cell simulating a single injection well in a one‐dimensional flow field and a 20‐ × 10‐ × 1‐cm cell simulating an injection well gallery in a two‐dimensional flow field. A mineral medium was injected to promote microbial growth. Results of 9 d of continuous operation showed that conditions, which led to a moderate (50%) reduction of the hydraulic conductivity of the one‐dimensional cell, led to a preferential flow pattern within the simulated barrier in the two‐dimensional flow field (visualized by a tracer dye). The bioclogging leading to this preferential flow pattern did not change the hydraulic conductivity of the biobarrier as a whole but resulted in a reduced residence time of water within barrier. The biomass distribution measured after 9 d was consistent with the observed clogging effects showing step spatial gradients between clogged and unclogged regions.
Introducing Dual Functional CNT Networks into CuO Nanomicrospheres toward Superior Electrode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

An optimized nanostructure design of electrode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries was realized by introducing three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotube (CNT) networks into transition metal oxide nanomicrospheres. A CuO−CNT composite was selected as a typical example of the optimized design. Self-assembled CuO and CuO−CNT nanomicrospheres have been successfully synthesized by a simple solution method and investigated with SEM, TEM, XRD, and electrochemical experiments. The CuO−CNT composite spheres exhibit remarkably enhanced cycling performance and rate performance compared with CuO spheres when being used as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. It benefits from an as-formed 3D network of CNTs, which has dual functions, viz. a 3D current collector network and an elastic buffer.
Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Evolution of Hydrochemical Facies around Tummalapalle Area, Cuddapah District, Andhra Pradesh, South India

Hydrogeochemical investigations were carried out in and around Tummalapalle uranium mining area in order to assess hydrogeochemistry and its evolution of hydrochemical facies. Forty groundwater samples were analyzed for various physicochemical parameters like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, HCO3, CO3, SO4, and F. The saturation indexes (SI) of minerals were calculated by employing Visual MINTEQ software. From this it is confirmed that most of the water samples were saturated with respect to carbonate minerals and under saturated with respect to sulfate minerals. The result saturation index calculated by Visual MINTEQ together with Gibbs diagram and Indices of Base Exchange (IBE) findings indicate that dissolution of dolomite and calcite, evaporation and cation exchangeable can be main mechanisms responsible for the chemical composition of the ground waters in the studied area
Preparation and Characterization of Transparent Conductive ZnO Thin Films by Ultrasonic Spray Technique

In present paper, ZnO thin films were prepared using the simple, flexible and cost-effective spray ultrasonic technique at different precursor molarity values. The films deposited on glass substrate at 350 °C. The influence of precursor molarity on structural, electrical and optical properties was investigated. Both ZnO films are polycrystalline structure wurtzite and (0 0 2) oriented and exhibit higher visible transmittance (40 – 85 %), higher electrical n-type semiconductor, which band gap energy increased from 3.08 to 3.37 eV with increasing of precursor molarity of 0.05 to 0.1 M, and smaller Urbach energy (85.8 meV). The maximum value of electrical conductivity of the films is 7.96 (Ω.cm) -1 obtained in ZnO thin film for precursor molarity 0.125 M. These results indicate that such sprayed ZnO films are chemically purer and have many fewer defects and less disorder owing to an almost complete chemical decomposition of the precursor droplets. ZnO films having desired optical and structural properties for cheaper large-area solar cells may thus be tailored through the substrate temperature and the precursor molarity.
Step Motion on Crystal Surfaces. II

It is postulated that steps on crystal surfaces capture atoms diffusing on the surface with certain probabilities and, in addition, that the capture probability depends on the direction from which adsorbed atoms approach the step. A general solution for the time‐dependent step distribution is obtained in terms of these probabilities and an arbitrary initial distribution of an infinite sequence of parallel steps. It is shown that coalescence of steps or stabilization of step spacings can occur as a consequence of assuming that capture probabilities are directionally dependent. Some of the implications of the theoretical model are related to the growth of real crystal surfaces.