Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Observation of the multimeric forms of concanavalin A by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

In this communication, we report the successful ionization and dethection of the dimeric and tetrameric forms of concanavalin A (Con A) by ESI/MS. Concanavalin A, the jack bean lectin, has been the subject of many biochemical studies. Results show that self-association of Con A subunits to form dimers and tetramers can be observed upon transfer to the gas phase with ESI/MS and that careful choice of interface conditions is crucial for preserving these noncovalent associations, consistent with earlier reports for the analysis of noncovalent complexes. It is noteworthy that the average charge per monomer unit has the order monomer > dimer > tetramer, with a decrease of approximately two charges (per monomer unit) for the tetramer-to-dimer transition. An extended m/z range is useful for such studies since the tetrameric form of Con A is observed only beyond m/z 4000. Higher charge-statee ions for a given species are collisionally activated to a greater extent in the interface than lower charge-state ions of the same species, are less stable due to repulsive Coulombic forces, and thus are more likely to dissociate due to the same processes required to desolvate te lower charge-stat ions. 15 refs., 1 fig.
Pertraction of cadmium and zinc ions using a supported liquid membrane impregnated with different carriers

An experimental study on the removal of Cd2+ and Zn2+ through a supported liquid membrane using a mixture of mono-(2-etylhexyl) ester of phosphoric acid (M2EHPA) and bis-(2-etylhexyl) ester of phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as carriers is presented. Parameters affecting the Cd2+ and Zn2+ pertraction such as feed concentration, carrier concentration, pH of the stripping phase, and TBP (tributyl phosphate) concentration were analyzed using the Taguchi method. Optimal experimental conditions for Cd2+ and Zn2+ pertraction were obtained using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) after a 6 h separation with the initial feed concentration of 8.9 × 10−4 mol L−1, carrier concentration of 20 vol. %, TBP concentration of 4 vol. %, and pH of 0.5. Then, under optimum conditions, a comparison of M2EHPA, D2EHPA, and bis-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)monothiophosphinic acid (Cyanex 302) was performed. Effective pertraction of Cd2+ and Zn2+ using these carriers was observed in the following order: mixture of M2EHPA and D2EHPA, D2EHPA, Cyanex 302. It was also found that the presence of one metal ion in the feed solution reduces the pertraction rate of the other one.
Characterization of Active Sites on Carbon Catalysts

A method based on the deconvolution of TPD spectra is proposed for the characterization of surface oxygen groups, which can act as the active sites on carbon catalysts. The method, which was previously used to characterize activated carbons oxidized in the gas phase, has been extended and applied to other materials, carbons oxidized in the liquid phase. It is shown that this method fits quite well the TPD experimental data of the original activated carbon as well as the gas-phase and liquid-phase oxidized materials and is suitable to estimate the amounts of each type of oxygen surface groups.
ABA-C15: A new dye for probing solvent relaxation in phospholipid bilayers

We synthesized and studied N-palmitoyl-3-aminobenzanthrone (ABA-C 1 5 ), which we proved to be an advantageous new fluorescent phospholipid membrane label. While the absorption of ABA-C 1 5 in protic solvents shows negative solvatochromism, its fluorescence emission is substantially red-shifted when the polarity of the solvent is increased. ABA-C 1 5 is excitable by lasers emitting in the range between 390 and 490 nm; it exhibits reasonable quantum yields in protic solvents and binds with high affinity to small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles. Absorption, steady state fluorescence, and solvent relaxation data indicate that the aminobenzanthrone chromophore is located in the headgroup region of phospholipid bilayers in the liquid crystalline state of small unilamellar vesicles. The solvent relaxation kinetics probed by ABA-C 1 5 in the liquid crystalline state is characterized by three solvent relaxation times in the order of 0.05, 0.2, and 1.5 ns, respectively. We observed that the relative contribution of the 0.05 ns component and the overall Stokes shift became larger with increasing difference between the experimental temperature and the main phase transition temperature; this suggests that the chromophore becomes more accessible by water molecules. In the gel phase, a component faster than 30 ps significantly contributes to the solvent relaxation kinetics. However, the solvent relaxation on the nanosecond time scale appears to be slower than in the liquid crystalline phase. The shape and time evolution of the time-resolved emission spectra suggest that two distinct microenvironments of the dye might be responsible for the atypical solvent relaxation characteristics in the gel phase.
Comparative study of three lignin fractions isolated from mild ball‐milled Tamarix austromogoliac and Caragana sepium

Six lignin fractions from mild ball-milled Tamarix austromogoliac (TA) and Caragana septum (CS) were sequentially isolated with 80% dioxane containing 0.05M HCl at 75°C for 4 h, 50% aqueous ethanol containing 1M triethylamine at 70°C for 4 h, and 8% aqueous NaOH at 45°C for 3 h. The results showed that the successive treatments made it possible to isolate lignin from wood with a high yield and purity, in which 89.4 and 90.6% of the original lignin from TA and CS were released, respectively. The lignin fractions isolated with the three-step method were analyzed with Fourier transform infrared, H- and 13 C-NMR, alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation, and gel permeation chromatography. It was found that the three lignin fractions isolated from TA were rich in syringyl units, and the molar ratio of the relatively total moles of vanillin, vanillic acid, and acetovanillin to the relatively total moles of syringaldehyde, syringic acid, and acetosyringone decreased from 1 : 2.6 to 1 : 3.2 to 1 : 3.6 in the lignin preparations, whereas this ratio in the corresponding lignin fractions isolated from CS was found to be 1.4 : 1, 1.1 : 1, and 1 : 1.4, respectively. More importantly, the results revealed that the sequential extractions of the mild ball-milled TA and CS with 80% acidic dioxane, 50% alkaline ethanol, and 8% aqueous NaOH under the conditions used did not significantly cleave the β-O-4 and α-0-4 linkages in lignin macromolecules.
A Hybrid Gas Cleaning Process for Production of Ultraclean Syngas

The overall objective of this project is to develop technologies for cleaning/conditioning IGCC generated syngas to meet contaminant tolerance limits for fuel cell and chemical production applications. The specific goals are to develop processes for (1) removal of reduced sulfur species to sub-ppm levels using a hybrid process consisting of a polymer membrane and a regenerable ZnO-coated monolith or a mixed metal oxide sorbent; (2) removal of hydrogen chloride vapors to sub-ppm levels using an inexpensive, high-surface-area material; and (3) removal of NH3 with acidic adsorbents followed by conversion of this NH3 into nitrogen and water. Existing gasification technologies can effectively and efficiently convert a wide variety of carbonaceous feedstocks (coal, petcoke, resids, biomass, etc.) into syngas, which predominantly contains carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Unfortunately, the impurities present in these carbonaceous feedstocks are converted to gaseous contaminants such as H2S, COS, HCl, NH3, alkali macromolecules and heavy metal compounds (such as Hg) during the gasification process. Removal of these contaminants using conventional processes is thermally inefficient and capital intensive. This research and development effort is focused on investigation of modular processes for removal of sulfur, chlorine, nitrogen and mercury compounds from syngas at elevated temperature and pressures at significantly lowermore » costs than conventional technologies. « less
Variation in soil nutrients in grasslands along the Kunes River in Xinjiang, China

Nutrients in the soil are important determinants of soil fertility, and influence crop yields. In recent years, soil fertility along the Kunes River in Xinjiang, China has decreased due to changes in land use and overgrazing. This study evaluated the distribution and spatial variation of soil nutrients in grasslands by taking and analysing 273 samples from 30 locations along the Kunes River; each sample was taken within a 1 m depth of the surface. Quality indicators referring to soil properties, including alkali nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), organic matter (OM) and pH were analysed. In addition, the trace elements, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were estimated. The results showed that N, K, OM and Fe in the soil decreased as the depth from ground surface increased. Moreover, the pH of surface soil at higher elevations (>990 m) was lower than that at lower elevations (<990 m). In the surface soil, correlation coefficients of elevation, OM and pH with other indices were significant, but those of Mn, Cu and Zn were not. Significant changes in the amount of N, P, K and OM in the surface soil increased from west to east along the river. The amount of soil OM was low in this area, from 1.40 to 5.63 mg kg−1; this suggests a need to improve the soil's OM by such means as changing land use and agricultural practice. Understanding the variation in and characteristics of soil nutrients may be beneficial for grassland conservation, responsible use and sustainable agriculture.
Power Harvesting Using Piezoelectric Materials

The field of power harvesting has experienced significant growth over the past few years due to the ever increasing desire to produce portable and wireless electronics with extended lifespan. Current portable and wireless devices must be designed to include electrochemical batteries as the power source. The use of batteries can be troublesome due to their limited lifespan, thus necessitating their periodic replacement. In the case of wireless sensors that are to be placed in remote locations, the sensor must be easily accessible or of disposable nature to allow the device to function over extended periods of time. Energy scavenging devices are designed to capture the ambient energy surrounding the electronics and convert it into usable electrical energy. The concept of power harvesting works towards developing selfpowered devices that do not require replaceable power supplies. A number of sources of harvestable ambient energy exist, including waste heat, vibration, electromagnetic waves, wind, flowing water, and solar energy. While each of these sources of energy can be effectively used to power remote sensors, the structural and biological communities have placed an emphasis on scavenging vibration energy with piezoelectric materials. This article will review recent literature in the field of power harvesting and present the current state of power harvesting in its drive to create completely self-powered devices.
On the Solubility of Gas Molecules in Glassy Polymers and the Nonequilibrium Approach

The recent nonequilibrium approach of Doghieri and Sarti for the solubility of gases in glassy polymers is reexamined. Analytical expressions for the equilibrium and nonequilibrium contributions to the chemical potential of the penetrant are presented. Volume dilation of the glassy matrix is explicitly taken into consideration. The role of the apparent partial molar or specific volume of the sorbed gas is also examined. The model is tested against the experimental data of Fleming and Koros for the solubility of CO2 in Bisphenol A polycarbonate.
Xylella fastidiosa; a summary of the threat to the U.K. and the current preparations

• Xylella fastidiosa has been described by the European Commission as “one of the most dangerous plant bacteria worldwide, causing a variety of diseases, with huge economic impact for agriculture, public gardens and the environment” (1, CR High). • The bacterium X. fastidiosa only affects plant health but can be carried by insects who spread the disease (3, CR High). • Insect-plant-pathogen-environment interactions can be complex. Symptoms of the disease can be extremely varied and are often similar to those of water stress including scorched and wilted leaves (2, CR High). The infection can be difficult to diagnose by eye (3, CR High). • Trade of plants for planting is considered to be the greatest risk of X. fastidiosa entering the UK (CR Medium, 4). • Multiple strains of the bacterium, originating from different locations, have been introduced into Europe and have caused infections in a variety of plant species (CR High, 5). • If an outbreak occurs in the UK it could become established due to several native insects that are known to carry the disease and a large range of potential hosts (CR Medium). • Xylella fastidiosa, and the measures that would be taken to eradicate it, are highly likely to have significant impact on agriculture, nurseries and urban trees (CR High, 6).
Influence of overexpression of a gibberellin 20-oxidase gene on the kinetics of xylem cell development in hybrid poplar (Populus tremula L. and P. tremuloides Michx.)

Abstract Gibberellins (GAs) are important regulators of shoot growth in trees. We studied the kinetics of xylem formation in hybrid poplar (Populus tremula L.×P. tremuloides Michx.) in which the key regulatory gene gibberellin acid 20 oxidase (GA20-oxidase) isolated from Arabidopsis is overexpressed. Increments in the height and radius of shoots were registered by high-resolution laser measurements. The anatomical and chemical structure of mature xylem cells was studied by light electron microscopy and UV spectrophotometry. Transgenic plants showed an increase in height growth, but a lower speed of cell elongation during primary growth compared to wild-type plants. During the first year of growth, transgenic plants showed a higher radius increment, an increase in the period of cell expansion of vessels and fibres and their final size, and a higher lignin content of the compound middle lamella between fibres compared to wild-type plants. In contrast, during the third year of growth, only a slight increase in the period of cell expansion of fibre cells was observed in transgenic compared to wild-type plants. Analyses of GA20-oxidase expression in leaves and shoots of 6-month- and 3-year-old plants of three different independent transgenic lines revealed a decrease in its expression only in shoots but not in leaves of the 3-year-old plants. The results indicate that overexpression of the GA20-oxidase gene in young shoots of transgenic poplar predominately affects cell expansion, while no GA20-oxidase expression was observed in shoots of 3-year-old transgenic plants, resulting in wild-type xylem cell development.
Experimentelle Untersuchung und Modellierung der Löslichkeit von Kalkstein und Gips in wässerigen Systemen bei höheren Ionenstärken

The detailed investigations of solubility of limestone und gypsum are essential for optimization of process conditions and operating material consumption in the flue gas scrubbers. This study compares thermodynamic predictions based on the Pitzer model for electrolyte activities with experimental data obtained from salt (gypsum, limestone, calcium adipat) solubility tests in aqueous model systems at high ionic strengths under different partial pressures of carbon dioxide. The high ionic strengths in these aqueous suspensions were achieved by addition of calcium chloride, calcium formate und calcium acetate. By means of measured data the Pitzer interaction parameters for ionic pairs Ca2+/HCO3-, Ca2+/SO42-, Ca2+/HCOO-, Ca2+/CH3COO- and Ca2+/(CH4)2(COO)22- at ionic strength up to 8 mol∙kg-1 were fitted and verified. The Pitzer parameters for interaction between calcium ions and carboxylic acid ions were published in this work for the first time. Also for the first time, the values of standard free energies of formation of calcium formate, calcium acetate and calcium adipate are published. The new model parameters allow a better calculation of thermodynamic equilibriums at industrial processes of flue gas cleaning.
A REVIEW OF MICROBIAL PROTEIN PRODUCTION: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

The increase in protein malnutrition due to low qua lity proteins in food supply, especially in develop ing countries, has stimulated the search for new and al tern tive sources of protein, both in human foods a nd animal feeds. The production of microbial protein o r single cell protein (SCP) is revolutionizing prot ein farming and is, indeed, a key step in reducing the shortage of protein supply. These nonconventional p rotein sources are products of biotechnological processing of agricultural, industrial and forestry wastes. S ingle cell proteins or microbial proteins are dehydrated micro bial cell culture or purified protein derived from a microbial cell culture, such as bacteria, yeast, algae or filamentous fungi , with potential to be a source of animal or human protein supplement. This type of pr otein has been cultivated by culturing appropriate microbes on different substrates like starch, corn cob, whey, wheat, starch hydrolysates, hydrocarbon, alcohols, molasses and sugarcane bagasse. The manuf acturing of SCP as an alternative source of protein has considerable benefits over conventional sources bec ause of its decreased production time, lower land requirement and ability to be produced in all kind of climates. In spite of the obvious advantages of SCP viz., its nutritive value in terms of protein, vitamins a nd lipid content, it is accepted with some measure of uneasiness and its chances of substituting conventi onal protein are still slim; its major disadvantage being its high nucleic acid content and low digestibility. Th is paper reviews the production of single cell prot ein, its benefits, safety, acceptability, cost and the limit ations associated with their uses, as it portends g reat promise as an alternative source of proteins.
Synthesis and Evaluation of In Vivo Anticonvulsant Activity of 2, 5-Disubstituted-1, 3, 4-Oxadiazole Derivatives

A series of new 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives 8(a-o) was synthesized by the reaction of 1-(5- phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)piperazine with various sulfonyl chlorides. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analyses,1H NMR 13C NMR and mass spectral studies. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their anticonvulsant activity against maximal electroshock (MES) seizure method and compared with the standard drug phenytoin. The neurotoxic effects were determined by rotorod test. Compounds 8d, 8e and 8f were found to be most potent of this series. The same compounds showed no neurotoxicity at the maximum dose administered (100 mg/kg). The efforts were also made to establish the structure activity relationships among synthesized compounds.
Formulation and Optimization of Carbamazepine Floating Tablets

Floating tablets of carbamazepine were developed using melt granulation technique. Bees wax was used as a hydrophobic meltable material. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium bicarbonate and ethyl cellulose were used as matrixing agent, gas-generating agent and floating enhancer, respectively. The tablets were evaluated for in vitro buoyancy and dissolution studies. A simplex lattice design was applied to investigate the combined effect of 3 formulation variables i.e. amount of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose ( X 1 ), ethyl cellulose ( X 2 ) and sodium bicarbonate ( X 3 ). The floating lag time (F lag ), time required for 50% (t 50 ) and 80% drug dissolution (t 80 ) were taken as responses. Results of multiple regression analysis indicated that, low level of X 1 and X 2 , and high level of X 3 should be used to manufacture the tablet formulation with desired in vitro floating time and dissolution. Formulations developed using simplex lattice design were fitted to various kinetic models for drug release. Formulation S3 was selected as a promising formulation and was found stable at 40 o and 75% relative humidity for 3 months. Present study demonstrates the use of simplex lattice design in the development of floating tablets with minimum experimentation.
Hard sphere mixtures near a hard wall

Hard spheres with ratios of diameters of 3:5 and 1:3 and at various densities are studied by means of grand canonical ensemble (GCE) simulations, first- and second-order Percus—Yevick theory, scaled particle theory (SPT) and density functional theory (DFT). Generally, but not always, the density profiles of the first-order Percus—Yevick (PY1) theory results are smaller at contact than the GCE simulation results. The second-order Percus—Yevick (PY2) and DFT results are in much better agreement with the simulations. PY2 theory seems to be more accurate than DFT but is much more demanding computationally.
Electrode Properties of Sr‐Doped LaMnO3 on Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia I. Three‐Phase Boundary Area

The interface microstructure of the state-of-the-art cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells, SrxLa1–xMnO3 (SLM), was investigated with respect to its electrochemical performance. The interface microstructure was characterized by grain size and coverage of SLM on the electrolyte surface. Variation of the grain size was obtained by using three different sintering temperatures, whereas variation of the coverage was obtained by using two powders with a different morphology. This resulted in a set of six cathode/electrolyte samples with different combinations of grain size and SLM coverage at the interface. The cathode overpotential, as a measure for the electrochemical performance, could not be related to the length of the three-phase boundary. Based on the constriction resistance occurring in the electrolyte a model was developed which provides an estimate for the width of the active three-phase boundary zone.This zone is most likely to extend outside the cathode particle across the zirconia surface. The width calculated in this way was found to vary in the range of 0.03 to 0.07 µm for the different electrode microstructures. It is argued that the actual values may be smaller by one or two orders of magnitude.