Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Practical Preparation of Size-Controlled Gold Nanoparticles in Water

Facile, safe and efficient preparation of stable dispersions of gold nanoparticle from tetrachloroaureic(III) ion is achieved by simultaneous addition of citrate as reductant and sodium 3-mercaptopropionate as stabilizer. No rigorous cleanliness is needed and the reductant is decomposed to CO2. The particle size can be controlled in the range between 2.3 nm and 10 nm.
Participatory soil survey: experience in working with a Mesoamerican indigenous community

In traditional rural societies that still represent the majority of small farmers worldwide, the use of conventional soil survey information frequently fails because it does not take into account or underestimates soil knowledge and experience of local people. Innovative approaches have been proposed to utilize the soil knowledge of rural communities through the participation of local farmers. This paper reports experience of participatory soil survey in the Purhépecha community of San Francisco Pichátaro in the volcanic highlands of central Mexico. Ethnographic and ethnopedologic techniques were applied to acquire soil and land data. Local soil knowledge was incorporated through plenary workshops designed to produce a participatory soil map based on a Purhépecha soil classification. This soil map reflects farmers’ soil–landscape understanding and correlates fairly well with a scientific soil map of the same area because in both approaches terrain plays a key role in the delineation of soil units. Participatory soil mapping promoted cooperation between local and external participants and formed the basis for an agreed land‐use plan.
Search for half-metallic ferrimagnetism in V-based Heusler alloys Mn2VZ (Z = Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn)

Using a state-of-the-art full-potential electronic structure method within the local spin density approximation, we study the electronic and magnetic structure of Mn2V-based full Heusler alloys: Mn2VZ (Z = Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge and Sn). We show that small expansion of the calculated theoretical equilibrium lattice constants restores the half-metallic ferrimagnetism in these compounds. Moreover, a small degree of disorder between the V and Z atoms, although it induces some states within the gap, preserves the Slater–Pauling behaviour of the spin magnetic moments and the alloys keep a high degree of spin polarization at the Fermi level, opening the way for a half-metallic compensated ferrimagnet.
Hidden stage of intracranial hemorrhage in newborn rats studied with laser speckle contrast imaging and wavelets

Using the laser speckle contrast imaging and wavelet-based analyses, we investigate a latent (a "hidden") stage of the development of intracranial hemorrhages (ICHs) in newborn rats. We apply two measures based on the continuous wavelet-transform of blood flow velocity in the sagittal sinus, namely, the spectral energy in distinct frequency ranges and a multiscality degree characterizing complexity of experimental data. We show that the wavelet-based multifractal formalism reveals changes in the cerebrovascular blood flow at the development of ICH.
Developments of a rugged method for selenium speciation

The need for selenium speciation in an unknown bacterial sample brought by a customer initiated the setup of a hyphenated method of IEC-ICP-MS. First a published method from Gilon et al. (J. Chromatogr. A, 1996, 750, 327) was modified to analyze selenurea, seleno ethionine, seleno methionine (SeM), Se(IV), seleno cystine (SeC) and Se(VI) by a hyphenated ICP-MS technique. LODs of 4–15 µg L−1 were achieved and a 1/10 diluted protease digestion (Pronase E) of the Se-containing bacterial sample was measured. However, the ruggedness of the method was insufficient. Separation was compromised even at a 1/10 dilution of the sample and identification of the species was poor. Another method was set up and developed to analyze anionic Se species. This method used a Dionex AS 11 column with NaOH and tetramethylammonium hydroxide as eluents. Now, LODs of ca. 0.1 µg Se L−1 were achieved and the method proved to be very rugged. No alteration of the separation was observed. During 30 consecutive runs, retention times and peak areas varied only slightly in spite of the high material load on the column (e.g., for the major compound the retention time was 6.26 min ± 6 s, and the peak area variation was ±0.7%). The protease digestion of the bacterial sample could be analyzed without dilution. The separation was not compromised, although the bacterial material load of the sample was 30 mg mL−1. Therefore low concentration Se species were not below the detection limit. Several species were identified, such as Se(IV), SeC and in small amounts SeM. However, some species remained unidentified due to unavailable standards for comparison. Mass balances were also performed. The protease digestion provided 25% Se of the total Se determined after pressure digestion (148 mg kg−1), and 98.7% recovery was obtained when the protease digestion was speciated.
Influence of physical aging on the performance of corona‐charged amorphous polymer electrets

The influence of physical aging on the electret properties before corona charging of three amorphous polymers, polyetherimide (PEI), poly(phenylene ether) (PPE), and polystyrene (PS), as well as with blends of PPE and PS, was investigated. The degree of aging was monitored by determining the enthalpy relaxation Δh using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The electret performance was evaluated by isothermal potential decay (ITPD) at elevated temperatures and by thermal stimulated discharge (TSD) measurements. It was demonstrated that physical aging below the glass transition temperature substantially improves the electret performance of amorphous polymers by reducing the free volume and thus hindering charge motion. As an example, the performance of nonaged PEI was improved by physical aging at 200 °C for 4 days from 18 to 95% retained charge after 24 h at 120 °C. A similar beneficial influence of physical aging on the charge storage capability was achieved using blends of PPE with PS. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 990–997, 2010
Picosecond circular dichroism spectroscopy: experiment, theory, and applications to protein dynamics

An experimental technique for measuring time dependent circular dichroism signals with picosecond resolution is described. The details of the experimental apparatus are presented. Theoretical modeling of the detected signal demonstrates that the circular dichroism signal can be isolated from contributions due to pump-induced linear dichroism and linear birefringence effects. The experimental apparatus is used to examine the comformation relaxation in myoglobin following the photoelimination of CO from carbonmonoxymyoglobin. Probing the circular dichroism of the N-band of the herne at 355 nm reveals a relaxation of several hundreds of picosecond, over two orders of magnitude slower than the photo-induced bond cleavage. These results are discussed in terms of the restructuring of the protein following photodissociation.
Crystal growth in alumina/poly(ethylene terephthalate) nanocomposite films

The crystal growth and morphology in 150-nm-thick PET nanocomposite thin films with alumina (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanoparticle fillers (38 nm size) were investigated for nanoparticle loadings from 0 to 5 wt%. Transmission electron microscopy of the films showed that at 1 wt% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, the nanoparticles were well dispersed in the film and the average size was close to the reported 38 nm. Above 2 wt% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, the nanoparticles started to agglomerate. The crystal growth and morphological evolution in the PET nanocomposite films kept at an isothermal temperature of 217 C were monitored as a function of the holding time using in situ atomic force microscopy. It was found that the crystal nucleation and growth of PET was strongly dependent on the dispersed particles in the films. At 1 wt% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, the overall crystal growth rate of PET lamellae was slower than that of the PET homopolymer films. Above 2 wt% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, the crystal growth rate increased with nanoparticle loading because of heterogeneous nucleation. In addition, in these PET nanocomposite thin films, the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles induced preferentially oriented edge-on lamellae with respect to the surface, which was not the case inmore » unfilled PET as determined by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction. « less
PM 2.5 Semivolatile Organic Material at Riverside, California: Implications for the PM 2.5 Federal Reference Method Sampler

Particulate semivolatile organic compounds can be lost from particles on a filter during sample collection and storage, resulting in a negative artifact. Gas-phase organic compounds can adsorb on a quartz filter to cause a positive artifact. A sampler (Particle Concentrator-Brigham Young University Organic Sampling System: PC-BOSS) has been developed that uses a cyclone and virtual impactor (particle concentrator) inlet to provide a concentrated stream of 0.1-2.5 w m particles. The concentrator is followed by a BOSS diffusion denuder to remove interfering gas-phase compounds and filter packs to collect particles, including any semivolatile species lost from the particles during sampling. The sampler can be used for the determination of both fine particulate nitrate and semivolatile organic material without significant "positive" or "negative" sampling artifacts. The sampler has been evaluated at Riverside, CA. The collection efficiency of the particle concentrator was stable, being 65% - 2% and 61% - 1% for particulate sulfate and soot, respectively. Results obtained with the PC-BOSS for the determination of PM 2.5 organic material including semivolatile components agreed with results from a BOSS, but not with filter pack results. The precision of the PC-BOSS results for particulate organic material was - 8%. An average of 50% of the particulate organic material was lost from the particles during sampling for all samplers used. As a result of the loss of semivolatile organic material and nitrate, the PM 2.5 Federal Reference Method sampler underdetermined PM 2.5 by an average of 34% with the under measurement varying from negligible to 27 w g/m 3 , averaging 8.9 w g/m 3 .
Adsorption Characteristics of Anthraquinone-2-carboxylic Acid on Gold

The adsorption of anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQ-2-COOH) on a gold surface has been investigated by reflection−absorption infrared (RAIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and ab initio quantum mechanical calculation. The RAIR spectral data clearly showed that the molecule was chemisorbed on gold as carboxylate, after deprotonation, with its two oxygen atoms bound symmetrically to the gold substrate; the molecular plane was determined to be tilted by 30° from the surface normal. The XPS and SERS spectral features were also consonant with the RAIR data. On the other hand, in CV, symmetrical redox peaks arising from a surface-confined species were reversibly identified at −647.5 mV, and the surface coverage determined from CV, that is, 1.8 × 10-10 mol/cm2, was consistent with that estimated from QCM. The adsorption rate of AQ-2-COOH on gold was, however, much slower than that on sil.
Methylcellulose/SiO2 hybrids: sol-gel preparation and characterization by XRD, FTIR and AFM

AbstractMethylcellulose (MC) / SiO2 organic / inorganic hybrid materials have been prepared from MC and methyltriethoxysilane or ethyltrimethoxysilane, and characterized by XRD, FTIR and AFM. XRD showed peak shifts. FTIR shows intermolecular hydrogen bonding between MC and SiO2. AFM depicts surface roughness which depends on the silica precursor and MC content.
Efficient Simulation of Batch Distillation Processes by Using Orthogonal Collocation

Orthogonal collocation on finite elements is applied to discretize the DAE system for the simulation of multiple-fraction batch distillation processes. A detailed dynamic tray-by-tray model is used to describe batch columns more accurately which, however, leads to a set of model equations composed of nonlinear DAEs with a fairly high dimension. In addition, batch distillation operation usually takes a long period of time and therefore it costs large computational expense to simulate such processes. The use of orthogonal collocation is demonstrated to obtain a stable and highly accurate algebraic representation of the differential equations so as to improve the computational efficiency significantly. Because of the orthogonality of the polynomials introduced to approximate the state variables within a time interval, large integration steps can be taken with the collocation approximation without reducing the computational accuracy. Through simulation of two real batch distillation processes it is found that with this discretization approach 50% CPU time can be saved in comparison to the implicit Euler method normally used.
Pest categorisation of Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for the EU. This subspecies occurs in North and Central America. Adults oviposit on annual plants in the families Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Polygonaceae and Solanaceae. Adults feed on tender plant parts in hosts in 40 additional botanical families. Preimaginal development takes place on the roots of the host plant, where larvae feed and pupate. D. undecimpunctata howardi is a multivoltine species. Overwintering adults, which may enter a facultative diapause, abandon crops in autumn and reinvade them in spring. D. undecimpunctata howardi is not known to occur in the EU and is regulated in Annex IIA of Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. This species is a competent vector of Erwinia tracheiphila (Smith) Bergey et al., which can cause bacterial wilt, a serious disease of cucurbits. The bacterium, which is restricted to temperate midwestern and eastern North America, is not regulated in the EU. Within Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072, potential entry pathways for D. undecimpunctata howardi, such as Asteraceae, Poaceae and Solanaceae plants for planting with foliage and soil/growing medium, and soil/growing media by themselves can be considered as closed. However, plants for planting of the families Chenopodiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae are not specifically regulated. Should D. undecimpunctata howardi arrive in the EU, climatic conditions and availability of susceptible hosts provide conditions suitable for establishment and further spread. Economic impact is anticipated in maize and outdoor cucurbit production. D. undecimpunctata howardi satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. This species does not meet the criteria of being present in the EU, nor plants for planting being the main pathway for spread, for it to be regarded as a potential regulated non‐quarantine pest.
New anion conducting membranes based on functionalized styrene–butadiene–styrene triblock copolymer for fuel cells applications

In this work, the functionalization of polystyrene-b-poly(butadiene)-b-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SBS) with vinylbenzyl chloride and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) or α,α′-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN) as free radical initiators was reported. The functionalization degree (FD), calculated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by elemental analysis, was highly tunable (from 4 to 10 mol %) and positively correlated to the starting percentage of radical initiator. More specifically, at the same initiator molar percentage grafting efficiency is higher using BPO rather than AIBN. Quaternization reaction of the grafted benzyl chloride groups with the bifunctional tertiary amine 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2. 2]octane (Dabco) led to a chemically and thermally stable homogeneous anion-exchange membrane. Electrochemical parameters were evaluated for Dabco-quaternized grafted copolymers having different FDs, and compared with a commercial Tokuyama benchmark membrane. Experimental data showed a positive correlation between FD and both water swelling and ionic conductivity. Best trade-off between ionic conductivity and water swelling was found for membrane having FD 9.1 mol %, which conductivity is comparable with the Tokuyama benchmark one and water uptake is only slightly higher. The results are discussed based on the molecular parameters with particular reference to ionic content and distribution. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Removal of organic acids by highly swollen chitosan beads

Abstract Benzoic acid and its derivatives were removed by highly swollen chitosan beads and partially N‐acetylated chitosan beads. Under competitive uptake, benzoic acid is almost removed by chitosan at lower initial concentration, while highest removal ratio was observed for p‐hydroxy benzoic acid at higher concentration. There are differences in the dependence of removal ratios on the initial concentartion.
A modular approach to functional self-assembled monolayers

"Self-Assembled Monolayers" (SAMs) represent a type of structure that is using molecular self-assembly to build structure and function on the nanometer scale. Self-assembled monolayers, which have desired control on the molecular level, should be considered as a potential technique for the construction of more highly ordered materials. Monolayers on substrates formed by self-assembly technique can be used as surface modification, to adjust the physicochemical property of the outermost surface of a material. The aim of this project is to demonstrate a modular approach to the synthesis of new functionalized molecules for self-assembly. In this way we can create a library of molecules which can be used to pass the desired chemical or physical properties to surfaces. In the same strategy, we include a reactive group that can be used to polymerize the molecules once they have self-assembled on the surface or in solution. This is intended to increase the final stability of the films by multi-site attachment and is expected to eliminate the two main disadvantages of the simple alkane phosph(on)ate SAMs, their inferior stability in aqueous solutions and the difficulty of introducing reactive functionalities for the attachment of biomolecules. Starting from 3-bromophenol (1) and 12-iodododecylphosphonic acid (12a), compounds 12-(4-amino-3-vinylphenoxy)dodecylphosphonic acid (14) and 12-(4-acetamido-3-vinylphenoxy) dodecylphosphonic acid (21) were designed and new procedures have been developed. Polymerization and solvolysis of compound tert-butyl-4-(12-(diethoxyphosphoryl)dodecyloxy)-2-vinylphenylcarbamate (16) gave poly-2-ethyl-4-(12-phosphonododecyloxy)benzenaminium bromide (26). Copolymerization of 16 with styrene gave poly-(2-isopropyl-4-(12phosphonododecyloxy)benzenaminium bromide)-co-styrene (28). All compounds were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and when pos-
A review on the assessment of forest fuions, and problems for forest planning

1972年,林野庁による初の森林の公益的機能評価が 行われ,計量化調査(みどりの効用調査 ) に基づき木 材生産機能のほか公益的機能の効用が国民に貨幣価値 で示された。 これは公害問題などを背景とした国民の 公益的機能への関心の高まりに加え,農林業の低迷が 続く中,農林業の多面的機能とそれに対する費用負担 の主張を見込んで行われたものであった(栗山, 2000a)。 以降,国は森林施策や計画制度において森林 の公益的機能に着目した各種施策を展開し,機能の判 定方法や区分の変更を伴いながら現在に至っている。 当初は,我が国の森林を総体としてとらえ,最も理想 的な姿を整備すべき面積で示すにとどまっていたが, 現在では個々の機能に着目して森林整備の方向を示 し,森林が第一に発揮すべき機能に応じてゾーニング を行っている(木平,2005)。 さらに,民有林におい ても2001年森林・林業基本法を受け,国有林同様の森 林の機能に応じた3区分が導入され,現在,都道府県 の約8割が国のゾーニングやそれに準じた,あるい は,独自の何らかの森林区分を示すまでになっている (石崎,2009)。 現状維持の費用負担のための森林の価値の具現化か ら発した機能評価は,林業採算性の悪化が進行し,新 たな財源確保の必要性が高まり,かつ,森林のもつ環 境的側面に需要がいっそうシフトしている現在,少な い財源を投資効果の高い土地へと効率的に配分する ためのゾーニング手段として利用されている。 このような情勢の中で展開されてきた機能評価の研 究は,代替法による初の貨幣価値評価以降,どのよう に展開され,どういった特徴を持つのか。 本稿では,森林機能評価の既往研究を体系的に把 握・整理し,研究成果と問題点を指摘することで,今 後の森林機能評価に関する研究を発展させるととも に,多様化・高度化する森林計画に資することを目的 とする。 そのため,ここでは森林の機能評価について これまでの既往研究の系譜を整理し,その特徴を明ら かにする。 さらに,森林計画の側面から見て今後必要 となる視点等について考察する。
Predicting the Sun's Oxygen Isotope Composition

Oxygen-isotope ratios in different solar system materials indicate thatO-rich andO-poor reservoirs must have existed in the early solar system. When, and where, such signatures evolved and how the solar system acquired such signatures has remained elusive. In his Perspective, [Yin][1] highlights a new class of models, including that of [Yurimoto and Kuramoto][2], which provide a potential solution of this longstanding problem. The new model ([4][3]) focuses on selective ultraviolet photodissociation of CO in the parent molecular cloud that collapsed to form the solar system. Subsequent interactions among HO, CO, and dust grains then result in the observed isotopic signatures in planetary materials. The predicted oxygen isotope composition of the Sun, cometary HO, and cometary CO can soon be tested by NASA's Genesis and Stardust missions. [1]: http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/305/5691/1729 [2]: http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/short/305/5691/1763 [3]: http://www.sciencemag. org#ref4
Forms of cadmium, lead, and zinc in polluted mining soils and uptake by plants (Soria province, Spain)

Abstract Soils and plants (grass and barley) were sampled in and around a lead (Pb)‐zinc (Zn) mine in the province of Soria (Spain), from sites including the mine dumps and nearby cultivated areas along two transects: N‐S and E‐W. Total metal contents in soils ranged widely from background levels to gross pollution, which decreased with distance from the mine source in different dispersion patterns along the two transects, mainly due to topography and geological structure. The distribution of metals in a soil profile revealed a relative accumulation of the total contents in the surface layer, which apparently did not depend on the other major chemical properties of the soil. The distribution of cadmium (Cd) among the different forms or speciation revealed that the greatest amounts were in exchangeable form. By contrast the highest amounts of Pb and Zn were found in the residual and oxide fractions. This different pattern may be a consequence of a lower input of Cd in soils than Zn and Pb. The Cd contents .
Effect of Drying on the Chemical Composition of the Egyptian Cupressus macrocarpa (Hartw.ex Gordon) Essential Oils and their Biological Characteristics

Abstract The essential oils of Cupressus macrocarpa (gold crest) grown on the north coast of Egypt were subjected to Analysis using gas Chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC - MS). The Chemical compositions of essential oils of fresh and dry leaves were found to contain 43 components. The main compounds in the volatile oils of fresh and dried leaves were neral (31 – 35%), hydroxy citronellal (12 – 16%), geraniol (3 – 4%), piperitol (trans) (7 – 8 %), isobornyl isobutrate (0.7 – 6.61 %), linalool (0.6 – 5.21 %), terpinyl acetate (0.10 – 3.27 %), myrcene (0.22 – 2.60 %), trans- ferrugiol (0.3 -2.25%), abitol (0.4 – 2.18%) and eugenol dihydro (0.1 – 1.3%). The volatile oils (fresh and dried leaves) and non- volatile extracts (EthOH and DCM) of c. macrocarpa were further investigated for radical scavenging activities using 1.1-diphenylpicryl-2-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Obviously, the volatile oils remarkably reduce DPPH radicals as well as Eth.OH and DCM extracts, compared with BHA. The antimicrobial efficacy of the c. macrocarpa volatile oils and non-volatile extracts when examined by disc diffusion test showed that the DCM significantly inhibited the growth of all the tested microorganisms. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities could be due to the presence of active compounds as neral, graniol, eugenol dihydro, carvacrol acetate and phenol (2,6-di methoxy). The present study support the view that the characteristic volatile oil and non-volatile extracts of the c. macrocarpa were highly bio available and could be suitable for using as antioxidant, antimicrobial and flavoring agent in the food industry.