Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Petro‐based and bio‐based plasticizers: Chemical structures to plasticizing properties

Polymeric materials, in particular PVC, can find various industrial utilizations thanks to the use of plasticizers added during their processing. The most famous applications include wires and cables, coatings, flooring, paintings, packaging… After some generalities concerning plasticization theories and the description of plasticized petro- and bio-based polymers, this review details the well-known different petro-based plasticizers and more particularly phthalates which represent the most important category of PVC plasticizers. Owing to migration problems, impact on the human health and the environment, alternative candidates have been developed by researchers. Renewable resources and their wastes offer a large platform for the design of bio-based plasticizers using polysaccharidic or lipidic structures. In an in-depth analysis, the bio-based plasticizer structures, their groups and substituents (ester groups, alkyl chains, aromatic rings…) are gathered and examined in order to be able to predict their plasticizing efficiency and design new molecular and macromolecular plasticizers from natural resources. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 11–33
Immobilization of the heavy metals Cd, Cu and Pb in an acid soil amended with gypsum‐ and lime‐rich industrial by‐products

In situ stabilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils by the addition of various types of soil amendment is an attractive technique for remediation. We investigated the potential of three industrial by‐products (phosphogypsum, red gypsum and dolomitic residue) for boosting the heavy metal sorption capacity of an acid soil (patents pending, Spanish applications no 200201704 and 200201375) by using sorption isotherm experiments. The three by‐products were found substantially to increase the retention of lead, cadmium and copper on the solid components of the soil. The increase in lead retention of the soil horizons upon the addition of both phosphogypsum and red gypsum was dominated by the formation of anglesite minerals. The dolomitic residue increased the metal retention capacity of the soil horizons through the precipitation of laurionite‐type minerals as well as cadmium and copper hydroxy‐chlorides. In addition to the batch sorption study, we used scanning electron microscopy to investigate the metal sorption processes in the soil by the effect of the treatments. Lead was frequently found to be linked to the edge charges of kaolinite minerals. The three metals were found to be associated with organic matter in the Ap horizon treated with the three by‐products. Finally, the three metals were found to be associated with undissolved dolomitic residue particles.
Ab initio determination of the induced ring current in aromatic molecules

The aromatic ring current shieldings (ARCS) approach is a new method to determine the strength of the induced ring current which is related to the molecular aromaticity. In the ARCS method, the strength of the induced aromatic ring current and the size of the current ring are obtained from nuclear magnetic shieldings calculated in discrete points along a line perpendicular to the molecular plane starting at the center of the molecule. The induced ring currents are used to determine the relative degree of aromaticity for benzene, furan, pyrrole, cyclohexane, cyclohexadiene, thiophen, p-benzoquinone, cyclopentadienide anion, cycloheptatrienyl cation, 1,4-dihydronaphthalene, and prophin.
Biomaterials by Design: Layer‐By‐Layer Assembled Ion‐Selective and Biocompatible Films of TiO2 Nanoshells for Neurochemical Monitoring

Titania nanoshells with an external diameter of 10–30 nm and a wall thickness of 3–5 nm were prepared by dissolving the silver cores of Ag@TiO2 nanoparticles in a concentrated solution of ammonium hydroxide. The nanoshells were assembled layer-by-layer (LBL), with negatively charged poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) to produce coatings with a network of voids and channels in the interior of the film. The diameter of the channels in the titania shells was comparable to the thickness of the electrical double layer in porous matter (0.3–30 nm). The prepared nanoparticulate films demonstrated strong ion-sieving properties due to the exclusion of some ions from the diffuse region of the electrical double layer. The permeation of ions could be tuned effectively by the pH and ionic strength of a solution between “open” and “closed” states. The ion-separation effect was utilized for the selective determination of one of the most important neurotransmitters, dopamine, on a background of ascorbic acid. Under physiological conditions, the negative charge on the surface of TiO2 facilitated the permeation of positively charged dopamine through the LBL film to the electrode, preventing the access of the negatively charged ascorbic acid. The deposition of the nanoshell/polyelectrolyte film resulted in a significant improvement to the selectivity of dopamine determination. The prepared nanoshell films were also found to be compatible with nervous tissue secreting dopamine. Although the obtained data demonstrated the potential of TiO2 LBL films for implantable biomedical devices for nerve tissue monitoring, the problem of electrode poisoning by the by-products of dopamine reduction has yet to be resolved.
Development and challenges of LiFePO4 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

The olivine LiFePO4 now stands as a competitive candidate of cathode material for the next generation of a green and sustainable lithium-ion battery system due to its long life span, abundant resources, low toxicity, and high thermal stability. In this review, we focus on LiFePO4 and discuss its structure, synthesis, electrochemical behavior, mechanism, and the problems encountered in its application. The major goal is to highlight some recent development of LiFePO4 with high rate capability, high energy density, and excellent cyclability resulting from conductive coating, nanocrystallization, or preparation.
Anion exchange membranes: Current status and moving forward

This short review is meant to provide the reader with highlights in anion exchange membrane research, describe current needs in the field, and point out promising directions for future work. Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) provide one possible route to low platinum or platinum-free fuel cells with the potential for facile oxidation of complex fuels beyond hydrogen and methanol. AEMs and related stable cationic polymers also have applications in energy storage and other electrochemical technologies such as water electrolyzers and redox flow batteries. While anion exchange membranes have been known for a long time in water treatment applications, materials for electrochemical technology with robust mechanical properties in thin film format have only recently become more widely available. High hydroxide and bicarbonate anion conductivity have been demonstrated in a range of AEM formats, but intrinsic stability of the polymers and demonstration of long device lifetime remain major roadblocks. Novel approaches to stable materials have focused on new types of cations that employ delocalization and steric shielding of the positive center to mitigate nucleophilic attack by hydroxide. A number of promising polymer backbones and membrane architectures have been identified, but limited device testing and a lack of understanding of the degradation mechanisms in operating devices is slowing progress on engineered systems with alkaline fuel cell technology. Our objective is to spur more research in this area to develop fuel cell systems that approach the costs of inexpensive batteries for large-scale applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1727–1735, 2013
Fabrication of composite coating spheres with silica sphere/titania shell structure by heterogeneous nucleation-and-growth processing

Monodispersed titania spheres have an important application in photocatalysts, but it is difficult to fabricate monodispersed titania spheres. In order to solve this problem, a novel and general processing (heterogeneous nucleation-and-growth processing) was used to prepare monodispersed composite coating spheres. Composite coating spheres with silica spheres/titania shell structures were fabricated by heterogeneous nucleation-and-growth processing. Effects of titania content in composite coating particles versus concentration of tetrabutyl titanate, pH value, reaction time and reaction temperature were studied. A homogeneous titania layer on silica spheres was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectra (EDX).
Comparison of Impedance Spectroscopy Expressions and Responses of Alternate Anomalous Poisson−Nernst−Planck Diffusion Equations for Finite-Length Situations

Two empirical, but plausible, previously published independent generalizations of the standard Poisson−Nernst−Planck (PNP) continuum diffusion model for mobile-charge conduction in liquids and solids are discussed, their responses are compared, and their physical appropriateness and usefulness for data fitting are investigated. They both involve anomalous diffusion of PNPA type with power-law frequency-response elements involving fractional exponents. Both models apply to finite-length regions of material between completely blocking electrodes and, for simplicity, deal primarily with positive and negative charge carriers of equal valence numbers and mobilities. The charge carriers may be either ionic or electronic. The first PNPA model, model A, involves the common separation of the expression for ordinary PNP impedance into an interface diffusion part and a high-frequency limiting conductance and capacitance, followed by the replacement of all normal diffusion elements in the former by anomalous ones. It.
SECOND LAW ANALYSIS OF A PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

In the present paper, second law analysis of plate heat exchangers has been carried out. For this, heatingcooling system with plate heat exchanger was experimentally designed. First law and second-law analysis of experimental plate heat exchanger in the different temperature and flow rate values were carried out. The heat transfer rate and irreversibility values depending on the inlet hot water and inlet cold water temperatures are calculated. Obtained results were graphically presented.
Determining Aerosol Radiative Properties Using the TSI 3563 Integrating Nephelometer

ABSTRACT Methods for reducing and quantifying the uncertainties in aerosol optical properties measured with the TSI 3563 integrating nephelometer are presented. For nearly all applications, the recommended calibration gases are air and CO2. By routinely characterizing the instrumental response to these gases, a diagnostic record of instrument performance can be created. This record can be used to improve measurement accuracy and quantify uncertainties due to instrumental noise and calibration drift. When measuring scattering by particles, size segregation upstream of the nephelometer at about 1 μm aerodynamic diameter greatly increases the information content of the data for two reasons: one stemming from the independence of coarse and fine particles in the atmosphere, and the second stemming from the size dependence of the nephelometer response. For many applications (e.g., extinction budget studies) it is important to correct nephelometer data for the effects of angular nonidealities. Correction factors.
Synthesis and aqueous solution properties of novelhydrophilic–hydrophilic block copolymers based on tertiary aminemethacrylates

A series of near-monodisperse novel diblock copolymers based on tertiary amine methacrylates has been synthesised using group transfer polymerisation chemistry; subtle differences in basicity between the two blocks lead to interesting aqueous solution behaviour, including pH-induced micellisation and very high surface activity.
Genotypic differences in concentrations of iron, manganese, copper, and zinc in polished rice grains

Abstract Identification of genotypic differences in micronutrient concentrations of staple food crops is essential if plant breeding strategies are to improve human mineral nutrition. The concentrations of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) in polished grains of 285 rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes and the relationship between concentrations of the four micronutrient elements and concentrations of protein and lysine were examined. Significant differences (P<.01) were found in the concentrations of Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn in polished rice with a fairly normal distribution among rice genotypes. On average, Cu and Zn concentrations of Indica rice were about 2‐fold higher than Japonica rice, while Fe concentrations of Japonica rice were slightly higher than Indica rice. Among Indica rice genotypes, red rice contained higher Zn than white rice. Protein and lysine concentrations differed considerably among the genotypes, but no close relationship between the micronutrients and protein or lysine co.
Moving from Passwords to Authenticators

Moving From Passwords to Authenticators Alex Takakuwa Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Tadayoshi Kohno Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering Humans have used passwords for access control since ancient times. Upon the advent of the internet, passwords naturally transitioned to the web and have since become the standard mode of web authentication. However, over the last 25 years, password authentication has shown persistent and unavoidable security and usability problems. Many within the computer security industry believe that we can improve the state of the art in both security and usability by utilizing asymmetric challenge-response protocols for authentication. For example, the FIDO Alliance, a group of industry and academic partners working together to bring secure and usable authentication protocols to the web, utilize such asymmetric cryptographic protocols to help strengthen the authentication flow. Nevertheless, despite industry and academic desire to improve web authentication, passwords remain the status quo for users. In this dissertation, I present the landscape of authentication protocols and propose solutions allowing users to upgrade devices and recover from device loss — two of the remaining technical challenges that prevent modern authentication schemes from supplanting passwords as the dominant method of web authentication.
Time-resolved optical second harmonic generation measurements of picosecond band flattening processes at single crystal TiO2 electrodes

Time-resolved optical second harmonic generation (SHG) is used to probe the variations in the surface electrostatic fields that occur under pulsed UV (supra-bandgap) illumination at a n-TiOZ(001) electrode. The interfacial SHG is dominated by the electric field-induced second harmonic response from the first 20 nm of the semiconductor surface; this large SHG signal decreases sharply under UV illumination due to the creation of a steady-state photogenerated hole population at the interface. An additional transient drop in SHG intensity is observed when the pump and probe beams are overlapped temporally on the Ti02 surface. The time scale for this additional band flattening is determined by the finite time required for photogenerated holes to migrate to the interface under the influence of the surface electrostatic fields. An average transit time of 25 ps that is independent of applied potential or solution composition is observed; this corresponds to a hole drift velocity of 4.0 x 104 cm s-' at the Ti02 surface. The SHG intensity is found to return to its steady-state level in 3-4 ns due to the removal of the excess holes at the surface by electrochemical charge transfer and surface recombination processes.
Investigations on fungicide removal from broccoli by various processing methods

AbstractThe removal of five fungicide residues from the broccoli matrices were achieved by various processing methods. The influence of washing with chlorinated and ozonated water, blanching and cooking on the concentration of azoxystrobin, boscalid, iprodione, metalaxyl, and pyraclostrobin has been studied on the broccoli samples collected from experimental plots over two weeks after the application. The analysis of five pesticides was carried out by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorous and electron capture detection (GC-NPD/ECD) and matrix solid-phase dispersion as the sample preparation method. Fungicides levels in the unprocessed broccoli samples were 0.16–4.34 mg/kg. The washing of the matrices with chlorinated and ozonated water was not as effective as cooking in the removal of residual pesticides. Washing with chlorinated and ozonated water reduced concentration up to 45.9 and 49.0%, respectively. Blanching and cooking decreased residues up to 50 and 87%, respectively. Our results show that.
EFFETS DE LA BACTÉRISATION PAR PSEUDOMONAS FLUORESCENS ET RHIZOBIUM FABAE SUR LA STIMULATION DE LA NODULATION ET DE LA CROISSANCE DE LA FÈVE (VICIA FABA L. VAR. HISTAL)

Description of subject: The study of the stimulation induced by the combination of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Rhizobium fabae on bean plants under greenhouse and in the field. Objectives: Evaluation of the nodulation by R. fabae coinoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens, and its consequences on the phytostimulation of bean. Methods: Rhizobacteria inocula, separated and in a mixture were applied with bean plants, to compare their activities in the field and under greenhouse. Rhizospheric competence of Pseudomonas fluorescens strains, growth, nodulation and nitrogen content of bean plants were evaluated. Results: rhizobacteria induced a phytostimulation and the improvement of the nodulation. The best performances were recorded in the field with the coinoculations (P64-R1 and P64-R2), inducing higher gains in number of nodules (120 %), total nitrogen (80 %), and dry and fresh matter ranging from 55.17 % to 92.29 %. P. fluorescens effectively colonise (10 11 UFC / g of soil) the rhizosphere of the three plants tested (durum wheat, tomato and bean). Conclusion: R. fabae R1et R2 and P. fluorescens P64 coinoculations seem to be the most successful in the field. The combined bacterisation seems favourable to the exercise of the various mechanisms of action specific, by inducing better performances in situation of coinoculation.
Electronic structure and the minimum conductance of a graphene layer on SiO2 from density functional methods

The effect of the SiO2 substrate on a graphene film is investigated using realistic but computationally convenient energy-optimized models of the substrate supporting a layer of graphene. The electronic bands are calculated using density functional methods for several model substrates. This provides an estimate of the substrate charge effects on the behaviour of the bands near EF, as well as the local variation of the Fermi energy of the graphene sheet. A model of a wavy graphene layer positioned on the substrate is used to help understand the nature of the minimum conductance of graphene.
Eucalyptus bark lignin substituted phenol formaldehyde adhesives: A study on optimization of reaction parameters and characterization

The major adhesive resin worldwide used in the manufacture of plywood is phenol formaldehyde resole (PF) resin. The raw material for this kind of adhesive is derived from petroleum oil. Because of rising prices of crude oil and the scarcity of petroleum products, their replacement by natural resource–based raw material has become a necessity. In the present work, the possibility of replacing phenol in PF resin with lignin was explored. The parameters for preparation of bark lignin substituted PF (LPF) adhesive, such as lignin concentration, formaldehyde to phenol molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature, were optimized. It was found that up to 50 wt % of phenol can be substituted by lignin to give an LPF adhesive with better bonding strength compared to that of control PF resin. Prepared resins were characterized using IR, DSC, and TGA. IR spectra of LPF adhesive showed structural similarity with that of PF adhesives. Thermal stability of LPF adhesive was found to be lower compared to that of control PF (CPF) adhesive. DSC studies revealed a lower curing temperature for LPF resin than that for CPF resin. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 3514–3523, 2004
On-site gas chromatographic determination of explosives in soils

On-site determination of nitroaromatic and nitramine residues in soils was performed using a field-portable gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a thermionic ionization detector selective for compounds with nitro functional groups. Soil samples were extracted with acetone. A 1-μl volume of the filtered extract was manually injected into the GC, allowing for the rapid determination of the suite of explosives that often coexist in explosives-contaminated soils at military training facilities and other defense-related sites. Good agreement was established for the concentrations of several explosives when results obtained using this method of analysis were compared with those from either high-performance liquid chromatography (Method 8330) or GC electron capture (Method 8095) analysis. Comparisons were performed for sample extracts and for soil subsample replicates distributed for on-site analysis during a field verification test performed under the auspices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Technology Verification Program. This on-site GC method for the determination of explosives residues in soils is well suited for dynamic site characterization activities. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 5: 228–238, 2001
Thermo-responsive polymer brushes with tunable collapse temperatures in the physiological range

configuration. In this configuration, an air bubble is trapped below the tested surface which is immersed face down in water, and the strongly hydrophilic brush can attain equilibrium, which is rarely the case for usual contact angle measurements. Here, the samples can be equilibrated until the chemical potential of water vapor in the vapor-saturated air bubble equals the one of liquid water, and until the chemical potentials of the brush below the vapor-saturated bubble and below liquid water are equal. The curves of equilibrium water contact angle vs temperature,
Ferrofluids: flexibility of magnetic particle chains

Conformational properties of dipolar chains ,a nd spatial and orientational intrachain correlations in zero and infinitely strong external fields are investigated theoretically. A striking similarity and essential distinctions between the chains and polymer molecules are revealed an dd iscussed. The main attention is given to the chain flexibility. The coil–globule phase transition in dipolar chains is predicted.