Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of metal nanoparticles in the selective oxidation of olefins in the gas phase

Shape controlled metal nanoparticles were studied in the epoxidation of olefins. PVP mediated polyol processes were employed to generate silver nanowires/rods, nanocubes and nanopolyhedra. Spherical copper nanoparticles were also obtained by the polyol process. The mean diameter of the silver nanoparticles was around 150 nm. Furthermore, Cu nanoparticles were synthesized in an ethanol solution using CTAB as surfactant and as reducing agent. Additionally Au nanoparticles were synthesized by a phase-transfer system irradiated with 254 nm UV light. The mean diameter of these Au and Cu nanoparticles was around 10 nm. The catalytic activity of these nanoparticles on several supports such as α-Al2O3, CaCO3 and spherical particles of TiO2 obtained by the Stöber method was investigated in the epoxidation of a no-allylic olefin such as styrene, as well as for an allylic olefin, such as propene, using molecular oxygen and N2O as oxidants. The effect of Cs promotion in the styrene epoxidation was also investigated. The type of metal, the particle size, the support and the oxidant, as well as the addition of promoters such as Cs, showed a strong influence towards the formation of selective oxidation products. The metal nanoparticles were characterized employing various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ICP-AES.
Application of combined filtration and coagulation for semi-aerobic leachate treatment

The landfill leachate was taken from the Pulau Burung Landfill Site (PBLS), Malaysia. Filtration by limestone-zeolite (15 : 25) and limestone-GAC (15 : 25) with filtration rate = 0.01 m3/m2.minute showed that 70% and 85% of colour and 42% and 70% COD were removed, respectively. Maximum colour removal (93% and 92%) and COD removal (56% and 46%) were achieved by the addition of 2000 mg/L PAC and 9000 mg/L alum respectively. Filtration by limestone-zeolite (15 : 25) and limestone-GAC (15 : 25) followed by coagulation at optimum dosage of 800 mg/L PAC, was efficient to reduce colour (98% and 99%) and COD (70% and 86%) respectively.
Technological development for applying MR Elastography to shoulder muscles

Poster: "ECR 2016 / C-1003 / Technological development for applying MR Elastography to shoulder muscles " by: " D. Ito 1, T. Numano1, T. Onishi1, K. Mizuhara1, K. Takamoto2, H. Nishijyou2; 1Tokyo/JP, 2Toyama/JP"
Simple Method for Determination of Lead in Hair Dyes Using Slurry Sampling Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A fast, simple and sensitive method for determining of lead in hair dyes using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sampling was developed. Multivariate optimization was used to establish optimal analytical parameters through a fractional factorial and a central composite design. The samples were submitted for direct analysis without prior digestion and were diluted in 2.5% v/v HNO3 and 1.5% v/v H2O2. Palladium (chemical modifier) and rhodium (permanent modifier) were selected from several potential modifiers. The optimal conditions were a pyrolysis time of 10 s (liquid and dust dyes) 20 s (cream dyes), a pyrolysis temperature of 789°C (liquid dyes) or 750°C (cream and dust dyes) and an atomization temperature of 1800°C for all dyes. Under optimum conditions, the calibration graph is linear in the 1.50–50.0 µg L−1 concentration range, with a detection limit of 0.33, 0.44, and 0.39 µg L−1 for liquid, dust, and cream hair dyes, respectively. The relative standard deviation ranged from 1.63 to 4.56%. The recovery rate ranged from 85 to 108%, and no significant differences were found between the results obtained with the proposed method and the microwave decomposition analysis method of real samples. The concentration ranges obtained for lead in the hair dyes samples were 1.00–11.3 µg L−1 for liquid dyes, 14.0–100 µg kg−1 for dust dyes, and 19.9–187 µg kg−1 for cream dyes.
InAs Thin-Channel High-Electron-Mobility Transistors with Very High Current-Gain Cutoff Frequency for Emerging Submillimeter-Wave Applications

60 nm InAs high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) with a thin channel, a thin InAlAs barrier layer, and a very high gate stem structure have been fabricated and characterized. The thickness of the channel, as well as that of the InAlAs barrier layer, was reduced to 5 nm. A stem height of 250 nm with a Pt-buried gate was used in the device configuration to reduce the parasitics. A high DC transconductance of 2114 mS/mm and a current-gain cutoff frequency (fT) of 710 GHz were achieved at VDS=0.5 V.
Cubic crystals from cubic colloids

We have studied the crystallization behavior of colloidal cubes by means of tunable depletion interactions. The colloidal system consists of novel micron-sized cubic particles prepared by silica deposition on hematite templates and various non-adsorbing watersoluble polymers as depletion agents. We have found that under certain conditions the cubes self-organize into crystals with a simple cubic symmetry, which is set by the size of the depletant. The dynamic of crystal nucleation and growth is investigated, monitoring the samples in time by optical microscopy. Furthermore, by using temperature sensitive microgel particles as depletant it is possible to fine tune depletion interactions to induce crystal melting. Assisting crystallization with an alternating electric field improves the uniformity of the cubic pattern allowing the preparation of macroscopic (almost defect-free) crystals that show visible Bragg colors.
Isotope fractionation and sulfur metabolism by pure and enrichment cultures of elemental sulfur‐disproportionating bacteria

We have explored the sulfur metabolism and accompanying fractionation of sulfur isotopes during the disproportionation of elemental sulfur by seven different enrichments and three pure bacterial cultures. Cultures were obtained from both marine and freshwater environments. In all cases appreciable fractionation accompanied elemental sulfur disproportionation, with two ranges of fractionation observed. All cultures except Desulfobulbus propionicus produced sulfide depleted in 34S by between 5.5 and 6.9 per mil (avg of 6.3 per ml) and sulfate enriched in 34S by between 17.1 and 20.2 per mil (avg of 18.8 per ml). The narrow range of fractionations suggests a conserved biochemistry for the disproportionation of elemental sulfur by many different marine and freshwater bacteria. Fractionations accompanying elemental sulfur disproportionation by Db. propionicus were nearly twice as great as the others, suggesting a different cellular level pathway of sulfur processing by this organism. In nearly every case pyrite formation accompanied the disproportionation of elemental sulfur. By using sulfur isotopes as a tracer of sulfur source, we could identify that pyrite formed both by the addition of elemental sulfur to FeS and from reaction between FeS and H.S. Both processes were equally fast and up to 104−105 times faster than expected from the reported kinetics of inorganic pyrite‐formation reactions. We speculate that bacteria may have enhanced rates of pyrite formation in our experimental systems. The organisms explored here have different strategies for growth and survival, and they may be active in environments ranging from dissolved sulfide‐poor suboxic sediments to interfaces supporting steep opposing gradients of oxygen and sulfide. A large environmental range, combined with high bacterial numbers, significant isotope fractionations, and a possible role in pyrite formation, make elemental sulfur‐disproportionating bacteria potentially significant actors in the sedimentary cycling of sulfur compounds.
Effect of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on Electrical Conductivity of Cu-Base Multicomponent Alloy

The electrical conductivity of Cu-base multicomponent alloy before and after deep cryogenic treatment at different situations were measured by conductance instrument, its microstructures were also characterized by optical microscope, and the effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the electrical conductivity of Cu-base multicomponent alloy was studied in this paper. The results show that deep cryogenic treatment can change the electrical conductivity of Cu-base multicomponent alloy, and the electrical conductivity increases with the extension of deep cryogenic treatment time, when deep cryogenic treatment time exceeded 100 min, electrical conductivity increases slightly. However, the higher electrical conductivity can be obtained by aging at 500 °C for 30min after deep cryogenic treatment.
Interaction between palladium-doped zerovalent iron nanoparticles and biofilm in granular porous media: characterization, transport and viability

Palladium-doped nanoscale zerovalent iron (Pd-NZVI) can induce rapid transformations of a variety of pollutants during in situ remediation of contaminated aquifers. Pd-NZVI stabilized with polymeric surface modifiers has shown substantially improved stability and transport compared to bare Pd-NZVI in model subsurface granular media such as clean quartz sand. The natural subsurface environment is, however, much more complex. For example, biofilms may coat aquifer grain surfaces and thus alter the transport of these reactive nanoparticles. Herein, we compare the transport behavior of Pd-NZVI coated with carboxymethylcellulose or rhamnolipid as surface modifiers, in clean and biofilm-coated sand packed columns. Transport studies suggest that, for both types of nanoparticles tested, the particle attachment efficiency to the collector surface generally increases (up to 6 fold in NaCl and 26 fold in CaCl2) in the presence of biofilm. This result indicates the potential for reduced Pd-NZVI transport in a natural groundwater system. The retentive behavior of biofilm-coated media increases with particle–particle aggregation (e.g., C/C0 ~ 0.15 for a markedly aggregated CMC-coated Pd-NZVI in divalent salt), implicating physical straining as an important retention mechanism. Retained Pd-NZVI on biofilm-laden matrices was characterized using enhanced darkfield hyperspectral imaging. Assessments of biofilm viability imply that the retained surface-modified Pd-NZVI is non-toxic to the cells within the biofilm matrices (viability >95%). Moreover, the coating molecules do not negatively impact the viability of the biofilm bacteria.
Effects of soil lead (Sb) concentration on some qualitative and quantitative characteristics of Lycopersicum esculentum.

Nowadays heavy metal contamination of soils became a big problem with accumulate in plants and affects animals and humans health. This study investigated the effects of soil lead concentration on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics in greenhouse planted tomato. Experiment was carried out based on completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three repetitions and four different levels of lead (control, 250, 500 and 1000 mg in kg of soil). Results showed that different lead concentrations had significant effect on chlorophyll b, carotenoid, bush height and the number of bush branches, number of leaf, stems diagonal and root lead concentration, chlorophyll a, and lead concentration in shoot. Maximum and minimum content of chlorophyll a and b were 6.64 and 3.34 mg.g -1 leave fresh weight respectively. The highest and lowest brush height was observed in control and 1000 mg.kg -1 treatments of lead.
Characterisation of selected volatile organic compounds in Rwandan indigenous beer ‘ Urwagwa ’ by dynamic headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The volatile organic compound profile of alcoholic beverages consists of a wide range of compounds, comprising of acids, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and other trace level aroma compounds. These compounds play an important role as they provide relative information on the product quality and enhance product acceptability. In this study, two brands of commercially available traditional banana beer samples were collected from a local market in Kigali, Rwanda; and were analyzed for volatile organic compounds. Dynamic headspace, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (DHS/GCMS), was used to identify volatile compounds at three different temperatures. Fifty volatile compounds, inclusive of 14 acids, 14 alcohols, and 22 esters were identified and quantified in the two brands of indigenous banana beer samples. Only 12 volatile components (three alcohols, three acids and six esters) were common in all banana beer samples. Among all the identified compounds, ethanol and ethyl acetate were the dominant compounds in all beer samples. Ethanol levels were found to be 8.7 and 18.1% (v/v) for brand A and B, respectively using gas chromatography (GC). The two major toxic compounds, methyl alcohol and ethyl carbamate/urethane, were detected in lower concentration levels compared to other identified compounds, thus suggesting negligible risk.
ENROFLOXACIN RESIDUES IN CHICKEN MEAT AND GIBLETE

It is very important to achieve the safety and sanitary quality of the meat as the presence of antibiotic residues in food stuff can cause hazards to human so that the aim of this study is evaluation the level of enrofloxacin residues in chicken meat and giblets and the effect of different cooking methods on reduction of these levels. One hundred and twenty random samples of chicken breast, thigh, gizzard and liver (30 of each) were collected from different chicken slaughter shops located in Menoufia government for evaluation of their enrofloxacin residues. The collected samples were examined by using microbiological inhibition technique (MIT) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in addition to the effect of heat treatment (boiling, grilling and frying) on these residues was studied. The obtained results revealed that the incidence of enrofloxacin residues in chicken breast, thigh, gizzard and liver were 13.33%, 16.67%, 26.67% & 40% by MIT and 13.33%, 20%, 30% & 43.33% by HPLC, respectively. The results indicated that 85% of the examined samples not exceeded the MRL of enrofloxacin residues. The reduction% of enrofloxacin levels in thigh muscle samples was 28.3%, 17.8% &11.2by boiling57.4%, 43.6% &35.2%by frying and69.5%, 62.4% & 47.7% by grilling of such samples. The public health significance and some recommendations to control such antibiotic residue in chicken tissues for human safety were discussed.
Nonlinear absorption studies of melanin

Recent theoretical and experimental findings have produced wide ranges of absorption coefficients for melanin in the visible and near-infrared wavelength ranges. These values have been reported for a variety of laser pulse durations, from less than one nanosecond to CW exposures of several seconds. Here we present the findings of non-linear absorption studies in melanin-doped samples in an effort to reconcile bioeffects experiments and theory across a wide variety of irradiance levels. These studies are of particular interest to laser bioeffects in the retina, for which melanin plays a key role in the absorption of laser energy.
Conformation–activity relationships and the mechanism of action of penicillin

Using the MMPEN parameters of Allinger's MMP2(85) force field, a conformational analysis has been performed on four biologically active penicillins; D-ampicillin, L-α-phenoxyethylpenicillin, penicillin G, and penicillin V, and on five biologically inactive or much less active penicillins: L-ampicillin, D-α-phenoxyethylpenicillin, N-methylpenicillin G, 6α-methylpenicillin G, and bisnorpenicillin G. Antibacterial activity is found to be associated with the existence of a global minimum having a compact structure, whose convex face is accessible to a penicillin binding protein (PBP), with the C3-carboxyl group and the side-chain N-H exposed on this face. Using the MMPEP parameters of MMP2(85), a conformational analysis has been performed on phenylacetyl-D-Ala-D-Ala-O−, a peptide model of the normal substrate of a PBP. Labischinski's global minimum has been reproduced, along with structures that correspond to Tipper and Strominger's proposal that the N4—C7 bond of a penicillin corresponds to the Ala–Ala pepti.
Enhancement of charge and energy storage in sol-gel derived pure and La-modified PbZrO3 thin films

Antiferroelectric lanthanum-modified PbZrO3 thin films with La contents between 0 and 6 at. % have been deposited on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate by sol-gel route. On the extent of La-modification, maximum polarization (Pmax) and recoverable energy density (W) have been enhanced followed by their subsequent reduction. A maximum Pmax ( ∼ 0.54 C/m2 at ∼ 60 MV/m) as well as a maximum W ( ∼ 14.9 J/cc at ∼ 60 MV/m) have been achieved on 5% La modification. Both Pmax and W have been found to be strongly dependent on La-induced crystallographic orientations.
Effects of soil temperature and moisture on soil respiration in barley and fallow plots

Agricultural systems are sources and sinks for carbon and to quantify the net effect of these systems on atmospheric CO2 concentration, the amounts of carbon fixed in primary production and that respired by the soil must be known. The objectives of our study were (1) to quantify the amount of soil respiration from fallow and barley plots during the growing season; and (2) to determine the relationship between these fluxes and soil temperature and moisture. This study was conducted on field plots measuring 200 by 200 m with one plot planted to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) while the other plot was in fallow. Two automated chambers were permanently installed in the fallow plot and three in the barley plot at the start of the growing season. When CO2 fluxes were integrated over a 24-h period, the daily soil respiration under fallow ranged from a low of 1.6 g CO2 m−2 d−1 on a dry day to a high of 8.3 g CO2 m−2 d−1 on a wet day. The corresponding values for barley were 3.3 and 18.5 g CO2 m−2 d−1 in 1994. Similar.
Microstructural study of copper‐intercalated niobium disulphide and tantalum disulphide CuxNbS2 and CuxTaS2 III. Study of the diffuse scattering: the transition state

In parts I and II it was shown that copper-intercalated niobium disulfide and tantalum disulfide undergo order–disorder transformations at temperatures which depend on the copper content. Above the transition temperature diffuse scattering located along surfaces is observed in electron diffraction. The geometry of this diffuse scattering is described for different copper concentrations and interpreted in terms of the most prominent clusters of a “transition” state type of ordering of the copper ions. This theory allows to derive the relations between the occupation parameters of the cluster sites. Point models satisfying this relation are constructed and by means of optical diffraction it is shown that they lead to diffraction effects which are in agreement with those observed in electron diffraction. In vorangegangenen Arbeiten wurde gezeigt, das Niobiumdisulfid- und Tantaldisulfid–Kupfer-interkalate Ordnungs-Fehlordnungs-Phasenubergange bei Temperaturen durchmachen, die vom Kupfergehalt abhangen. Oberhalb der Ubergangstemperatur wird diffuse Streuung der Elektronenbeugung in Richtung der Oberflachen beobachtet. Die Geometrie dieser diffusen Streuung wird fur verschiedene Kupferkonzentrationen beschrieben und mit den am besten bekannten Clustern vom Typ eines „Ordnungs”-Ubergangszustands der Kupferionen interpretiert. Diese Theorie gestattet es, die Beziehungen zwischen den Besetzungsparametern der Clusterplatze abzuleiten. Es werden Punktmodelle, die diese Beziehung erfullen, konstruiert und mit Hilfe optischer Beugung gezeigt, das sie zu Beugungseffekten fuhren, die mit den bei der Elektronenbeugung beobachteten ubereinstimmen.
Removal of manganese from water by electrocoagulation: Adsorption, kinetics and thermodynamic studies

The present study provides an electrocoagulation process for the removal of manganese (Mn) from water using magnesium as anode and galvanised iron as cathode. The various operating parameters like effect of initial pH, current density, electrode configuration, inter-electrode distance, coexisting ions and temperature on the removal efficiency of Mn were studied. The results showed that the maximum removal efficiency of 97.2% at a pH of 7.0 was achieved at a current density 0.05 A/dm2 with an energy consumption of 1.151 kWhr/m3. Thermodynamic parameters, including the Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy, indicated that the Mn adsorption of water on magnesium hydroxides was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic. The experimental data were fitted with several adsorption isotherm models to describe the electrocoagulation process. The adsorption of Mn preferably fitting the Langmuir adsorption isotherm suggests monolayer coverage of adsorbed molecules. In addition, the adsorption kinetic studies showed that the electrocoagulation process was best described using the second-order kinetic model at the various current densities. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Study of the Most Relevant Aspects Related to Hard Carbons as Anode Materials for Na-ion Batteries, Compared with Li-ion Systems

We present here a comprehensive description and discussion of the possible use of hard carbons as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The study compared the behavior of hard carbon electrodes in selected polar-aprotic Na- and Li-salt solutions. We also examined the choice of the binders on the electrodes’ performance. We explored storage mechanisms, cycling, stability, surface chemistry, and impedance behavior. Propylene carbonate (PC) was found to be a suitable solvent. The presence of two percent of monofluorinated ethylene carbonate (FEC) in PC-based Na-salt solutions exhibits a very positive effect on the behavior of hard carbon electrodes as Na-ion insertion anodes. Based on spectral studies, we attribute the effect to surface chemical aspects, which are determined by the presence of FEC. The intercalation mechanisms of ions into hard carbon includes insertion of ions between graphene layers at high potentials and adsorption into micropores at low potentials. For the bigger Na ions, the availability of intercalation sites is limited; thereby, the capacity of hard carbon electrodes in Na-salt solutions is less than half of their capacity in Li-salt solutions. Hard carbon electrodes in both types of solutions exhibit impressive stability during prolonged cycling. Impedance measurements revealed that the resistivity of the surface films formed on hard carbon electrodes in Na-ion solutions is roughly one order of magnitude higher than in Li-salt solutions. Hence, surface films comprising ionic Li compounds provide a better solid electrolyte interphase behavior than surface films comprising Na-ion compounds.
Electrochemical Reduction of Simulated Munitions Wastewater in a Bench-Scale Batch Reactor

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) are major constituents of munitions production wastewater discharged from explosive manufacturing units and munitions load, assembly, and pack operations. Experiments were carried out to study the electrochemical reduction of DNT and a mixture of TNT and RDX. The effect of various parameters including current, stir rate, and presence and absence of dissolved oxygen was investigated. Experiments were conducted using glassy carbon rods as the cathode and platinum wire as the anode. End products were also analyzed for the experiments to obtain molar balance closure for the conversion of the nitroaromatic to intermediates. The experimental results showed that the electrochemical reduction of nitroaromatics follow pseudo first-order rate kinetics. The first-order rate constants for the reduction of nitroaromatics were observed to increase with an increase in current or stir rate. The rate of reduction of th.