Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are community college students’ transfer choices impacted by their perceptions?

This investigation examined the influence perceptions play in the transfer decisions of community college students. Studying this problem provided insight which facilitated the transition from two-to four-year university and helped retention efforts. A quantitative method was used, employing an anonymous Likert survey. Two hundred and eight Early Childhood Education students received an invitation to participate in the research project via a link to the anonymous survey. Thirty-two percent of the urban community college students invited to participate did so. A descriptive picture of the participant sample was painted using frequency tests. Analysis of the relationships between the dependent variable (the decision to transfer) and the independent variables (perceptions) was completed using Kruskal-Wallis tests, and the correctness of these outcomes was established using Pearson correlations. Finally, multiple regressions were used to ascertain the predictability of a researcher-created transition/barrier perception model. The Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed there was a statistically significant relationship between students’ perceptions and their decision to transfer. Furthermore, the Pearson correlations confirmed the Kruskal-Wallis findings. The results of the regressions indicated the model created by the researcher was a predictor for community college students’ transfer decisions. In the end, the data reinforced the idea perceptions of urban community college students impact their decision to transition into a four-year private university.
Effect of Organic Acids on Heavy-Metal Uptake and Growth of Canola Grown in Contaminated Soil

Heavy-metal pollution of soils causes many environmental, animal, and human health problems. Phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils is an effective and economic technique. Humic acids are naturally occurring phenol body polymerisates, which form chelate compounds with heavy metals. In the present study the influence of soil- applied humic, citric, and malic acids on the lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) uptake from a contaminated soil by canola plant was examined in a greenhouse experiment. The experiment was arranged in factorial design based on randomized complete blocks with three replications. The factors of experiment included three organic acids (humic, citric, and malic acid) as first factor and five concentrations [0, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, and 0.004 (v/v)] as second factor. The results showed that increase in organic acid concentration significantly increased heavy-metal uptake by canola plant, which accumulated heavy metals in different parts of the plant. In addition, crop growth representing by plant height and plant dry weight as well as seed production significantly decreased. Based on these results, canola can be considered as effective crop for phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils.
A review of the changes in carotenes during ensiling of forages

The dietary availability of carotenes to the animal depends in part on the relative proportions of different isomers and these may alter during ensiling. The proportions of the more available β-carotenes are higher in well preserved silages than in clostridial silages. Under anaerobic conditions only small losses of carotenes occur with acidtreated silages but the provitamins are degraded rapidly in some fodder plants in the presence of both acids and oxygen. The presence of nitrites in silages is considered to increase destruction of carotenes.
Mesoscopic scale modeling of microloading during low pressure chemical vapor deposition

A model designed to deal with pattern dependences of deposition processes is discussed. It is a mesoscopic scale model in the sense that it deals with spatial scales on the order of 10 -3 to 10 -2 m, which is intermediate between reactor scale and feature scale. This model accounts for the effects of the microscopic surface structure via suitable averages obtained by a homogenization technique from asymptotic analysis. Two studies on the low pressure chemical vapor deposition of silicon dioxide from tetraethoxysilane are presented to demonstrate the mesoscopic scale model. The first study shows the effects of microloading in regions of higher feature density. The second study shows the effects of varying operating conditions on loading and introduces a generalized Damkoehler number, which includes information about the surface patterns, for quantifying the degree of transport limitations. Some thoughts on how this model can be used to bridge reactor scale and feature scale models are presented.
VARIATION OF ISOFLAVONES PRODUCTION IN RED CLOVER AS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENT, GROWTH STAGE AND YEAR

Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan is a dominant red clover variety for animal feeding and pharmaceutical industry in Alpine Pasture Region of Gansu province, northwest China. In order to achieve the best isoflavone production, a 3-year trial was conducted at three locations to study variations of hay yield, total isoflavone concentration and isoflavone yield at different growth stages under different environmental conditions. Predominant isoflavone compounds and distribution of isoflavones in leaves, stems and inflorescences were also investigated. The results indicated that there were large variations on hay yield and isoflavone concentration among different sites, growth stages, age and parts of the plant. Minshan red clover harvested at the flower bud stage had the highest isoflavone yield (86.30 kg ha−1. The temperate climate region, Guanghe, provided the best growth conditions among three sites for isoflavone production (58.93 kg ha−1). The highest isoflavone production (53.42 kg ha−1) appeared at the second year of crop. In Minshan red clover, isoflavones are mainly distributed in leaves (1.12%). The predominant isoflavone compounds were formononetin (0.27%) and biochanin A (0.25%).
Simultaneous N-doping of reduced graphene oxide and TiO2 in the composite for visible light photodegradation of methylene blue with enhanced performance

The nitrogen-doped P90 TiO2 (N-P90), nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-RGO) and their composite were synthesized via a one-step annealing treatment process under NH3 atmosphere using commercial P90 TiO2 and GO as starting materials. The as-prepared N-P90, N-RGO and N-P90/N-RGO composite were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results indicated that both the reduction of graphene oxide and the incorporation of nitrogen into both RGO and TiO2 matrices were accomplished simultaneously in the facile process. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples was evaluated using the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. N-P90/N-RGO composites showed a significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance compared with P90 TiO2, N-P90 and N-P90/RGO composites. The higher photocatalytic activity of N-P90/N-RGO composites can be ascribed to the more efficient separation of the photogenerated charges resulting from the improved electrical conductivity of the N-RGO sheets, as well as the enhanced absorption in the visible light region. Overall, this work demonstrated a facile approach of incorporating nitrogen into commercial TiO2 and RGO simultaneously and a novel strategy of fabricating a visible light-active photocatalyst with improved efficiency for mass application.
Design and Performance of a Laboratory Spray Dryer to Realize Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles

This work discusses the design, development, and performance of an indigenous laboratory spray dryer with a relatively slow drying rate. The drying time of droplets of colloidal silica (5 wt%) and sodium chloride solution (20 wt%) in this spray dryer was nearly 10 s. The present system was composed of a four-jet compressed air nebulizer that generates a droplet size of 2–5 µm with a nebulization rate of nearly 60 mL/h. The generated powder can be collected using a cyclone or a wire mesh collector. Design and characterization of this system as well as characterization of the micrometric self-assembled powder grains obtained by this spray dryer are discussed.
EVALUATION OF FINE AIRBORNE PARTICULATE MATTER AT TOLUCA, ESTADO DE MEXICO, USING PIXE

Fine airborne particulate matter (FAPM) samples were collected at an urban site (19° 17' 33.47" N, 99° 38' 50.55" W and 2670 m asl) in Toluca, the capital city of the State of Mexico. The samples, a total of 143, were collected every third day from March 2006 to April 2007 on Teflon® filters, with 24 h time resolution, using an U.S. EPA designation BGI PQ200 air sampler. The PIXE elemental analysis revealed the presence and the mass concentrations of 18 elements (S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb), thirteen of which (S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As) were consistently detected in most of the samples, and five of them (Se, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb) appeared occasionally. So, only those consistently detected were considered significant for the analysis. In order to verify whether the fine particulate concentrations complied with the FAPM Mexican Official Standard of 65 µg/m3, the filters were weighed before and after the sampling using a Cahn™ 33 microbalance with a 0.1 µg resolution, following the EPA procedures. The one year study was divided into three parts in accordance with the three climatic seasons identified in the city: dry-cold, dry-hot and rainy seasons. Results on the elemental and mass concentrations, as well as seasonal and time variations are presented. Correlations between concentrations of pairs of elements were also calculated, and the results obtained were found in good agreement with the enrichment factors determined for each season. Some pollution sources are suggested based on the analysis performed on the database and also from information obtained in a wide survey of the area. This paper presents the results of the first assessment of atmospheric pollution in this size of particle in this important city.
Crystal Structure and Calculated Electronic Band Structure of ZrTe3

Because of inconsistencies in literature data, the crystal structure of ZrTe{sub 3} was redetermined from single-crystal data and the electronic band structure was calculated using density functional theory in the local density approximation (LDA) and the linear muffin tin orbital method (LMTO). ZrTe{sub 3} crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2{sub 1}/m with a = 589.8(1) pm, b = 392.69(3) pm, c = 1010.3(1) pm, and {beta} = 97.81(1){degree} (Z = 2) in the ZrSe{sub 3} structure type ({omega} data collection, R{sub w} = 1.88%). In the layer structure of ZrTe{sub 3} almost linear homonuclear Te chains in [100] direction with alternating distances of 279.4(1) and 310.5(1) pm are observed. In addition to these, there are several other Te-Te distances below the sum of the radii of Te{sup 2{minus}} ions (370--380 pm). From the band structure calculations they found these homonuclear contacts to be responsible for the unexpected metallic conductivity of ZrTe{sub 3}. The calculation of the Fermi surface revealed three branches. The one caused by the intersection of E{sub F} with bands of predominantly Te chain character shows an extended region of approximately parallel Fermi surface. The nesting vector, which lies in the range {rvec q} {approx} (0.95 {+-}more » 0.05){rvec a}{sup *} + (0.35 {+-} 0.15){rvec c}{sup *}, is in fair agreement with data from an electron diffraction study of ZrTe{sub 3}, which has shown the presence of a charge density wave at a temperature of 63 K with the vector {rvec q} {approx} 0.93{rvec a}{sup *} + 0.33{rvec c}{sup *}. « less
Electrode Properties of P2–Na2/3MnyCo1–yO2 as Cathode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries

The development of high-performance Na-ion intercalation electrodes has been required recently because Na-ion batteries hold much promise for inexpensive and efficient energy storage, which can be deployed in a power grid. For both optimization and better understanding of the electrode materials, it is indispensable to clarify the relationship between the electronic state and electrochemical properties systematically. In this work, we studied the electrochemical properties of P2–Na2/3MnyCo1–yO2 in detail. A series of the P2 phases was successfully synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction. The solid solution P2 compounds showed that the redox potential of Co4+/Co3+ and Mn4+/Mn3+ shifts systematically by the transition-metal substitution. The charge–discharge cycle tests revealed that with increasing y the initial specific capacity increases while the cycle stability degrades. The origin for the cycle degradation was analyzed by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which evidenced that th.
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Groundwater—Evaluation of Nondissolved and Nonhydrocarbon Fractions

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in groundwater samples are commonly extracted and analyzed for comparison to regulatory standards and for forensic evaluation of the source of spilled petroleum. While this procedure is normally intended to provide information on hydrocarbons dissolved in water, several complicating factors exist. In this study, the significance of reported TPH values is evaluated for a suite of surface water, interstitial, and groundwater samples by comparing analytical data obtained on unfiltered water, filtered water, and water from which nonhydrocarbons were removed by treatment with silica gel. Results indicate that standard measurements of TPH in groundwater not only include dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons, but commonly also include contributions from: (1) hydrocarbons sorbed on particulate matter; (2) droplets or micellular forms of liquid hydrocarbon contamination; (3) biogenic hydrocarbons; (4) contamination by field or laboratory equipment; and (5) dissolved polar organics (nonhydrocarbons), which may be naturally occurring or derived from spilled petroleum products. These factors complicate the regulatory and forensic interpretation of standard TPH data for groundwater samples.
Structural studies of liquid D-glycerol by neutron diffraction

Neutron diffraction measurements have been made for D-glycerol at temperatures of 193 and 296 K. The data show that the molecular conformation is similar to that of the solid phase and in good agreement with X-ray studies of the liquid in a higher temperature regime. The information on intermolecular correlations indicates a well-defined hydrogen-bond at 1·8 A and there are significant oscillations in the pair distribution function extending to 20 A. The results are consistent with the formation of a strongly hydrogenbonded network structure. The effect of temperature variation does not produce a large change in the structural relationships other than expected from the density variation. The general behaviour is similar to that shown by other hydrogen-bonded liquids.
Measurement of the Zeta Potential of Gas Bubbles in Aqueous Solutions by Microelectrophoresis Method

Abstract An electrophoresis technique is used to measure the zeta potential of fine bubbles dispersed in aqueous solutions. An improved apparatus of a microelectrophoretic type is developed for the bubble zeta potential measurements. Electrodes for generating either oxygen or hydrogen gas bubbles are designed in such a manner that micrometer-sized bubbles can be produced over the entire cross section of the electrophoresis cell. Consequently, a bubble can be easily selected at the so-called stationary plane, where bubble electrophoresis measurements are conducted. Furthermore, a motorized vertical translation stage controlled by computer is implemented. When bubbles rise due to buoyancy, the electrophoresis cell mounted on the translation stage is made to move downward so that the bubbles can be kept in the field of view of the microscope. As a result, the movement of bubbles with diameters up to 80 μm can be readily followed and bubble trajectory can be traced for 4–8 s. Effects of water chemistry—pH concentration and type of metal ions—on the bubble zeta potential were studied. The experimental results generated for bubble zeta potential are consistent with data available in the literature.
A model for enzymatic binding of pollutants in the soil.

Abstract Pollutants released into the environment may be bound to humic acid through abiotic or biologic processes whereby the formation of bound residues usually results in detoxification of the pollutant. Therefore, enhancing the binding of xenobiotic chemicals to humic material can serve as a means to reduce toxicity as well as migration of toxic compounds in the environment. Complex formation can occur by an oxidative coupling reaction leading to oligomeric and polymeric products. We intensively investigated the effect of phenoloxidases (peroxidases, tyrosinases, and laccases) on the binding of substituted phenols and aromatic amines to humus monomers as well as to humic substances. Based on a large number of isolated and identified cross-coupling products, we are able to elucidate the sites and mechanisms of binding and also to determine the efficiency of some coupling reactions. Copolymerization largely depends on the chemical reactivity of the substrates involved. Certain phenolic humus constituent.
A STUDY ON THE PHOTOCHEMICAL DIMERIZATION OF COUMARINS IN THE SOLID STATE

Solid-state photochemical behavior of 28 substituted coumarins has been investigated. Of these twelve underwent photodimerization and this is remarkable in light of the inertness of coumarin itself in the solid state. X-ray crystallographic investigation of eight coumarins was undertaken with the view of understanding the role of packing in the crystal on their solid-state reactivity. Important findings include the identification of acetoxy and chloro substituents as useful “crystal engineering” groups and the results pertaining to subtler aspects of topochemical postulates. X-ray crystal structure analyses of 7-chlorocoumarin and 7-methoxycoumarin reveal packing modes which are not commonly met. The former is arranged in a \beta type packing, the center-center distance between the reactive double bonds being 4.454 \AA, which lies beyond the so far accepted limit of 3.5-4.2 \AA. The reactive double bonds of 7-methoxycoumarin, on the other hand, are rotated by $65^O$ with respect to each other with the center-center distance between the double bonds being 3.83 \AA. Inspite of these unfavorable arrangements photodimerization of the above two coumarins in the solid state occurs through a topochemical process with large dimer yields. A careful analysis of the X-ray crystallographic resulta obtained from our investigations reveals that the two double bonds in the reactive crystals may be displaced with respect to each other both along the molecular plane as well as along the double bond axis. Thus the normally accepted dictums that in the photoreactive crystals the doube bonds should be within a distance of 4.2 \AA, and that they be parallel are no longer operational.
First-principles study on migration mechanism in SrTiO3

The atomistic behavior of migration in SrTiO3 was investigated by first-principles nudged elastic band calculations. Calculated migration energies for Sr and oxygen are consistent with experimental values. In contrast, the calculated energy for Ti with a simple Ti-vacancy mechanism is far larger than the experimental value. In examining different Ti-migration mechanisms, the Ti-migration energy is found to decrease and become comparable to the Sr-migration energy by introducing a Sr vacancy. This Sr-vacancy-mediated Ti migration, which is consistent with the experimentally proposed mechanism by Gomann et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 6, 3639 (2004)], is confirmed theoretically by the present calculations.
Preparation of epoxy/silica and epoxy/titania hybrid resists via a sol-gel process for nanoimprint lithography

In this study, the solvent-free thermocurable epoxy/inorganic hybrid resists were prepared for low-pressure and moderate-temperature imprint lithography. Epoxy/silica and epoxy/titania hybrid resists were synthesized via a sol−gel process from a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A prepolymer with a metal alkoxide precursor and a coupling agent, 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. The introduction of the coupling agent results in the reinforced interfacial interaction between the epoxy resin and inorganic nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that the silica or titania particles were well-dispersed in the epoxy resin matrix on a nanometer scale without the formation of aggregates. The thermooxidative stability and the glass-transition temperature (Tg) of the epoxy/silica nanocomposite showed improvement compared with the pure epoxy resin. When 10 wt % inorganic nanoparticles were added, the etching resistance of the epoxy/silica and epoxy/titania nanocomposites increased 4 and 3.2 ti.
Hydrogen-decorated lattice defects in proton implanted GaN

Several vibrational bands were observed near 3100 cm−1 in GaN that had been implanted with hydrogen at room temperature and subsequently annealed. Our results indicate that these bands are due to nitrogen-dangling-bond defects created by the implantation that are decorated by hydrogen. The frequencies are close to those predicted recently for VGa–Hn complexes, leading us to tentatively assign the new lines to VGa defects decorated with different numbers of H atoms.
Applications of index-gradient artificial dielectrics

In most optical materials the atomic or molecular structure is so fine that the propagation of light within them may be characterized by their refractive indices. When an object has structure which is larger than the wavelength of light, its influence on the propagation of light may be described by the laws of diffraction, refraction and reflection. Between these two extremes is a region in which there is structure that is too fine to give rise to diffraction in the usual sense but is too coarse for the medium to be considered as homogeneous. Recent developments in micro-lithography have extended the possibility of generating sub-wavelength structures and it is now possible to produce materials with remarkable new optical properties.
Effect of waste cellulose fibres on the charge storage capacity of polypyrrole and graphene/polypyrrole electrodes for supercapacitor application

This paper explores the possibility of dealing with two major challenges of the contemporary world, i.e., waste management and storage of energy. This study presents the extraction and application of cellulose (from waste paper) based composites for supercapacitor electrodes with a view to mitigate the energy crisis. In situ polymerization is used for the synthesis of benign composites comprising cellulose, polypyrrole (PPy) and graphene. It has been observed that inclusion of cellulose in PPy increases the specific capacitance by 318% with moderate energy density and appreciably high power density compared to PPy alone. Similar results are obtained for graphene/PPy/cellulose composites where a 273% increase of specific capacitance is observed with the incorporation of cellulose in graphene/PPy composites without deteriorating the cyclic stabilities of the electrode materials.
Experimental evidences of a large extrinsic spin Hall effect in AuW alloy

We report an experimental study of a gold-tungsten alloy (7 at. % W concentration in Au host) displaying remarkable properties for spintronics applications using both magneto-transport in lateral spin valve devices and spin-pumping with inverse spin Hall effect experiments. A very large spin Hall angle of about 10% is consistently found using both techniques with the reliable spin diffusion length of 2 nm estimated by the spin sink experiments in the lateral spin valves. With its chemical stability, high resistivity, and small induced damping, this AuW alloy may find applications in the nearest future.