Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of water on the interfacial structures of room‐temperature ionic liquids

The interfacial structures of cyano‐based room‐temperature ionic liquids play a very important role in reducing friction. However, the presence of water impairs their tribological performance. The interfacial structures and friction forces of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium dicyanamide, [EMIM][DCN], and the effect of water on these structures and forces were investigated using atomic force microscopy. In addition, the interaction of water and [EMIM][DCN] was evaluated using Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. Multiple repulsive layers were observed in the [EMIM][DCN] solution. This solution showed low friction force because these repulsive layers worked as protective layers against friction. On the other hand, the specific repulsive layer characteristics of [EMIM][DCN] could not be observed in a [EMIM][DCN] + 2 wt% H2O solution. FT‐IR results indicated that the layer structure of [EMIM][DCN] was disturbed by the addition of H2O. Therefore, the solution containing water exhibited a high friction force.
Effects of Hydroiodic Acid Concentration on the Properties of CsPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells

Inorganic cesium lead triiodide (CsPbI3) perovskite materials are becoming increasingly attractive for use in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, due to their almost ideal band gap energy (Eg) of about 1.7 eV. To be useful as photovoltaic absorbers, the CsPbI3 must form the cubic or black phase (α-CsPbI3). To do so at relatively low temperatures, hydroiodic acid (HI) is required as a solution additive. This paper demonstrates CsPbI3 perovskite solar cells with an efficiency of 6.44%, formed using a HI concentration of 36 μL/mL. This value is higher than the previous most commonly used HI additive concentration. Herein, by undertaking a systematic study of the HI concentration, we demonstrate that the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of CsPbI3 solar cells, processed with this HI additive concentration, are superior.
A Statistical-Spatial Feature Learning Network for PolSAR Image Classification

Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) image classification plays an important role in the development of remote sensing image interpretation for the rich polarization information. Generative methods learn the statistical distribution characteristic of the scattered echoes data with heavy noise. However, it is tedious to design and solve different generative likelihood functions. Discriminative methods learn image features and classifier in an end-to-end framework whose classification performance is also limited without polarization statistical characteristics. In order to make full use of the statistical characteristic of PolSAR echoes and spatial feature of PolSAR image, a novel real-value hybrid generative/discriminative (HGD) deep network is proposed to learn statistical-spatial feature for PolSAR image classification with the data expressing ability of the generative term and the end-to-end learning ability of the discriminative term. First, a derived replacement form is obtained from the typical Wishart distribution of PolSAR data with an eigenvalue generative term. In this way, the complex-value form of PolSAR data converts into real-value expression, which makes the PolSAR image classification easy to understand and implement in the deep network. Finally, these two terms are integrated from the variational Bayesian theory with an alternative optimization equation derived for PolSAR image classification. It provides a normal framework for PolSAR multifeature learning. Experiments are tested on different PolSAR datasets compared with several state-of-the-art individual generative or discriminative methods. All visual experimental results and accuracy values demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method.
Ionic Conductivity and Dielectric Relaxation of NASICON Superionic Conductors at the Near-Cryogenic Regime

With a crystal lattice structure first characterized in the 1970s, NASICON sodium-based superionic conductors have recently found renewed interest as solid electrolytes in sodium-ion and seawater flow batteries due to their exceptional ionic conductivity being on the same scale as liquid electrolytes. Since sodium ions in the crystal lattice move among interstitial positions through site-specific bottlenecks, the overall conductivity is strongly dependent on the NASICON composition. In this work, we report on the synthesis protocols and processing parameters of Na3Zr2Si2PO12 prepared from Na2CO3, SiO2, ZrO2, and NH4H2PO4 precursors by the conventional solid-state reaction (SSR) route. We critically evaluated important observations made in the extended literature on the topic including: (i) the importance of precursor particle size concerning the SSR synthesis, focusing on effective ball-milling protocols; and (ii) the onset of excess zirconia contamination, expanding on the effects of both thermal and pressure processing—the latter often overlooked in the available literature. In approaching the cryogenic regime, the dataset availability concerning ionic conductivity and dielectric permittivity measurements for NASICON was extended, starting from elevated temperatures at 200 °C and reaching into the very low temperature zone at −100 °C.
Natural Cellulose: Biosynthesis and Structural Changes

In this research the kinetics of cellulose accumulation in growing cotton fibers due to biosynthesis has been studied. The kinetic curve had initial slow stage (up to 15 days after flowering, AF), fast stage (15 to 35 days AF) and final very slow stage (above 35 days AF). To describe such complex kinetics, equation of Avrami-Kolmogorov-Erofeev (AKE) was used: C t /C m = 1 – exp [-K (t – t o ) n ], where C t is amount of cellulose accumulated in fibers for time t AF; C m is maximum amount of cellulose in mature cotton fibers; K is effective rate constant; n is effective order of the process; t is time AF and t o is induction period. The calculated parameters of AKE-equation are: t o = 7 days AF, K = 5.94 x 10 -3 and n= 1.72. Since n >1, the process of cellulose biosynthesis is not limited by diffusion of monomers. The kinetic curve calculated by AKE-equation coincide with the experimental points, which confirms the adequacy this equation for describing the biosynthesis process of natural cellulose. Structural studies have shown, that crystalline structure of cellulose in immature fibers is low-ordered. However, with increase in duration of cotton maturation, additional crystallization of cellulose occurs.
The Renaissance of Luminescent Solar Concentrators: The Role of Inorganic Nanomaterials

While luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have a simple architecture—a transparent matrix embedding a luminescent fluorophore coupled with solar cells at the lateral side of the LSC slab—multiple paths for possible light losses exist. These are inherently interconnected, and in the past, limited the interest in this device, due to the gap between the theoretical possibilities and experimental achievements. This gap was a result, primarily, of the optical features of the luminescent dyes, since conventional organic luminophores are affected by limited performance in LSC devices. The rise of a wide portfolio of optically active inorganic nanomaterials in the last decade provides an alternative to organic dyes and has lead to a renaissance in the role of LSCs among the unconventional solar energy conversion devices. This paper reviews the latest results in the development of LSCs based on different classes of nanomaterials, focusing on the specific features and critically analyzing the pros and cons of the proposed structures. Particular attention is devoted to the role of the luminescence properties, e.g., the Stokes shift and the photoluminescence quantum yield, with respect to the performance of the LSC device. Future challenges to the successful employment of these devices for building integrated photovoltaics are also discussed.
Radial GRIN Lenses Based on the Solution of a Regularized Ray Congruence Equation

We introduce a novel formulation for flat radial GRadient INdex (GRIN) lenses allowing for the optimal lens design through closed-form expressions. The validity of the proposed formulation covers a very large range of GRIN lens design parameters (focal distance, lens thickness, and maximum refractive index). The formulation is based on the derivation of a new form of nonlinear integral equation representing the equalization of all the optical ray-path lengths, denoted as regularized ray congruence (RRC) equation, and on its closed-form solution. An analytical form of aperture efficiency is given for standard feed patterns. The application of the formulas presented here allows for an instantaneous design for medium/high gain antennas with controllable total aperture efficiency till 80%. The accuracy of the formulation is tested by a full-wave analysis and compared with other formulations available in the literature. We found that the new formulation proposed here significantly reduces the phase error in a wide range of the lens parameters, thus allowing for a more efficient, accurate, and flexible design for GRIN lenses. As a proof of concept, a thin GRIN lens antenna for operation in E-band (60–90 GHz) is designed, demonstrating high aperture efficiency (63%) across a wide frequency range.
Detection of mycoflora and mycotoxin in raw peanut Arachis hypogea L. kernels in Bangladesh

Raw peanut kernel samples were collected from 13 areas of Bangladesh for determination of mycoflora and mycotoxin. Fungi associated with the tested samples throughout the investigation were Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Aspergillus sp. (1), Aspergillus sp. (2), Penicillium sp. , Fusarium sp. , Rhizopus sp. and Curvularia sp. A. flavus was the most common fungus followed by A. niger. Colonies of fungi were found to form 79.81 to 98.10% of raw peanut kernels. Out of the 13 samples, eight were found to be contaminated with 11.91 to 182.6 ppb of total aflatoxins and five samples were free from aflatoxins.
Catalytic performance of sulfate-grafted graphene oxide for esterification of acetic acid with methanol

Abstract Graphene oxide possesses tremendous mechanical and electronic properties in combination with large surface area and accessible active sites leading to the development of novel innovative heterogeneous catalysts. The present study elaborates the catalytic activity of graphene oxide, enhanced by grafting active sulfate groups on its surface to result as a superior catalyst. The catalyst was evaluated in the model acetic acid esterification reaction with methanol in terms of acid conversion. Catalysts consisting of varied sulfate concentrations and calcination time were synthesized and optimized for its best catalytic activity. The prepared catalysts (GO-SO4) were characterized using XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, XPS, and BET. A 44% enhancement in catalyst activity was observed using sulfate-grafted graphene oxide (GO-SO4) catalyst over bare GO due to the synergistic effect of sulfate ions. The catalyst can be separated out by simple filtration. Further, the influence of operating process parameters including catalyst loading, and the reaction temperature was evaluated toward the maximum acid conversion. In addition, the detailed kinetic study was also done in this system using Pseudo-homogeneous model.
FORMULATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND CHARACTERISATION OF CILNIDIPINE LOADED SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES

Objective: The aim of the present investigation is to develop solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) of cilnidipine using hot homogenization followed by ultrasonication technique and to improve the dissolution characteristics of the drug.Methods: The cilnidipine-loaded SLNs were formulated using stearic acid (SA), glyceryl monostearate (GMS), and palmitic acid (PA) as lipid matrix and tween-20, tween-80, and tween-40 as an emulsifier by hot homogenization and ultrasonication method. The physicochemical characteristics of SLN were analyzed for Fourier transform infrared studies, entrapment efficiency (EE), zeta potential, in vitro drug release, particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and stability.Results: The SLNs with PA showed a sustained release of drug 82%–88%, respectively, after 10 h. The SLNs of PA using tween-80 as emulsifier resulted with high EE% than SLNs of SA and GMS. The compatibility studies are done by Fourier transformed infrared for formulations which contain PA as lipid matrix and tween-80 as an emulsifier, and it showed no drug excipient incompatibility. The formulation containing PA and tween-80 shown particles of average size 152 nm having polydispersity index of. 217 with 68.7 % EE were produced. The zeta potential of the formulation was found to be – 27 mV and the order of percentage drug release was from PA>GMS>SA, and steric stabilizers retard the drug release more than ionic stabilizers.Conclusion: SLN formulations showed the best results in EE as well as in in vitro drug release and therefore confirmed that the novel drug delivery system provides an improved strategy for the treatment of hypertension.
Application of Evolutionary Algorithms for Modelling and Optimisation of Ultrasound-Related Parameters on Synthesised SAPO-34 Catalysts: Crystallinity and Particle Size

First, the effects of ultrasound-related variables on the crystallinity and particle size of synthesised SAPO-34 catalysts were modelled using a genetic programming (GP) method. The results confirm that GP has good predictive power. Secondly, optimisation of the ultrasound parameters was considered using a genetic algorithm (GA) to obtain SAPO-34 catalysts with high crystallinity and minimum particle size for the best performance in the methanol to light olefins process. The GP models were used as the fitness functions inside the GA. Finally, the optimum solution was validated experimentally and the results indicate that there is a good agreement between experimental and predicted values.
The sociality of minimizing involvement in self-service shops in Denmark: Customers’ multi-modal practices of being, getting, and staying out of the way

For some customers, the corona pandemic has turned e-shopping into a fine alternative to shopping in brick-and-mortar shops. For other customers in quarantine e-shopping is the only alternative. The long-lasting pandemic, however, has reminded us of the importance of social contacts and interactions – even if it’s just to go the supermarket to ‘mingle’. This paper investigates what ‘mingle’ means when shopping in physical self-service shops amongst unacquainted others in Denmark. It describes customers’ practice of doing self-service by organizing interaction to minimize social involvement. It shows how they, as a matter of fact, co-ordinate their conduct in ways that hampers possibilities for engaging in even small ‘ritual’ exchanges of talk. The paper draws upon a corpus of video recordings of customers’ self-service practices in shops in Denmark. In addition, the customers’ gaze was recorded with the mobile Tobii Pro X3 eye tracker. The study falls within the realm of ethnomethodological and conversation analytic studies of multimodal interaction. It concludes that self-service is achieved through co-present customers’ tacit coordination of multimodal actions in social interaction and that their practices work to achieve ‘effortlessly’ and ‘spontaneously’ being, getting, and staying out of the way, which seems to be an ideal for self-service shopping. Talk and moreover having a conversation seems to be an impediment to it.
Organic acid excretion from roots: a plant mechanism for enhancing phosphorus acquisition, enhancing aluminum tolerance, and recruiting beneficial rhizobacteria

ABSTRACT The beneficial effects of organic acids (OAs) excretion from plant roots were first proposed as being associated with the mechanism of superior phosphorus utilization by the cluster roots of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.), and these effects are now widely accepted as pleiotropic effects associated with stress tolerance of plants. Excreted OAs detoxify rhizotoxic aluminum, recruit beneficial bacterium for induced systemic resistance, and modify root architecture to enhance phosphorus starvation. OA excretion is probably optimized in the carbon economy and is coordinately regulated with other traits that additively confer each stress factor. Here we present an overview of the molecular physiology of OA excretion from roots, how plants activate OA excretion, and how this excretion can be managed as a specific response.
Metal‐Dependent Support Effects of Oxyhydride‐Supported Ru, Fe, Co Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis

Ammonia is an attractive energy carrier for the hydrogen economy, given its high hydrogen density and ease of liquefaction. A titanate oxyhydride has recently been demonstrated that can catalyze ammonia synthesis without Ru or Fe metal, despite titanium being regarded as an inert element. Here, the synthesis activity of ammonia is examined when Ru, Fe, and Co particles are supported onto the oxyhydride BaTiO2.5H0. 5. The activity of BaTiO2.5H0. 5 as support is significantly higher than BaTiO3. For example, the activity for Fe and Co increases by a factor of 70–400, making them more active than Ru/MgO, one conventional Ru catalyst. In terms of mechanism, for Ru, H/D isotope studies show participation of lattice hydride in the catalytic cycle, while kinetic analysis shows reduced H2 poisoning probably due to spillover. For Fe (and Co), the presence of hydride results in significantly lower activation energy and N2 reaction order, likely due to strong electron donation from the oxyhydride. This metal‐dependent support effect is further verified by N2 isotopic exchange experiments. These perovskite‐type oxyhydrides can be easily modified in terms of A‐ and B‐site (A = Ba, B = Ti); the high potential for compositional variation and morphologies will expand the search for efficient catalysts for ammonia synthesis.
Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of biofilm forming uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from UTI infected patients of Koshi Zonal Hospital in Biratnagar, Nepal

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of biofilm-forming Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) from urine samples isolated from UTI infected patients of Koshi zonal hospital, Biratnagar.Methods: A total of 51 urine samples from urinary tract infected patients were collected from Koshi zonal hospital, Biratnagar in the period of July to August 2017. Following the isolation and identification of biofilm-forming uropathogenic Escherichia coli, antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by a modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. The biofilm detection was done by Congo red agar method.Results: In the present study, 45% of the urine samples showed a predominant growth of E. coli, among which 70% of isolates exhibited positive biofilm formation. Biofilm forming isolates revealed 100%, 87.5%, 75%, 63% and 12.5% resistant to erythromycin, amoxicillin, cefotaxime, levofloxacin, and nitrofurantoin respectively. Approximately 87.5% of biofilm-forming isolates were found multi-drug resistant.Conclusion: The study revealed the major issue of UTI by E. coli which may be due to poor sanitation, not the proper cleanliness of genitals and unsafe sexual intercourse. Nitrofurantoin and levofloxacin were examined the most effective antibiotics for UPEC. BIBECHANA 16 (2019) 47-54
Ag+-Induced Shape and Composition Evolution of Covellite CuS Nanoplatelets To Produce Plate–Satellite and Biconcave−Particle Heterostructures

The creation of novel metal sulfide nanostructures and heterostructures by incorporating heterocations into template copper sulfide nanocrystals (NCs) is an important and intriguing area of colloidal synthesis. In contrast with typical incorporation using divalent, trivalent, and tetravalent cations, the mechanism for incorporation of monovalent Ag+ into copper sulfide NCs is less clear. In this work, we prepared new types of heterostructures by incorporating Ag+ into covellite CuS nanoplatelets (NPls). The incorporation process depended strongly on the initial Ag+ concentration. When a relatively small amount of Ag+ was provided (0.1 mmol, roughly 20% of the Cu present in the template NPls), CuS–Ag2S plate–satellite heterostructures were produced by cation exchange (CE) reactions occurring at the corners of the template hexagonal NPls. In contrast, biconcave–particle Ag2S–Ag heterostructures were obtained via the nanoscale Kirkendall effect when starting with 0.5 mmol of Ag+. Our observations indicate th.
Impact of yeast hydrolysate (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, noxious gas emission, blood profile, and meat quality of finishing pigs

Abstract: A total of 90 finishing pigs (52 ± 1.46 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments as: TRT1 [CON (basal diet)], TRT2 [CON + 0.05% yeast hydrolysate (YH)], and TRT3 (CON + 0.1% YH) for an 8 wk trial. Each treatment had six replications and five (three gilts and two barrow) pigs per pen. In weeks 4 and 8, YH supplement linearly increased (P < 0.05) body weight. Moreover, average daily gain was also linearly increased (P < 0.05) with YH supplementation in week 4 and the overall trial period. At the end of the trial, apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy was linearly increased in pigs fed YH supplementation. In addition, fecal Lactobacillus counts, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentration, and the lean meat percentage were linearly increased by YH supplementation. Also, YH supplementation elicited a linear reduction on drip loss during days 3, 5, and 7. In summary, dietary yeast hydrolysate supplement positively enhanced the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, Lactobacillus count and reduced the drip loss traits of finishing pig. Thus, we infer that the application of 0.1% S. cerevisiae YH can enhance the growth efficiency of finishing pigs.
Emissões de óxido nitroso em solo com cultivo de cana-de-açúcar sobre palhada

A queima a cana-de-acucar na colheita tem contribuido com as emissoes de gases do efeito estufa (GEEs), o que instigou a busca por novas formas de manejo menos impactantes ao ambiente, como colheita de cana-de-acucar sem queima. A pesquisa objetivou avaliar as emissoes de oxido nitroso (N2 O) do solo cultivado com cana-de-acucar sob diferentes niveis de palhada e comparar as emissoes medidas no campo com as emissoes estimadas pelo modelo ? DeNitrification ? DeComposition? (DNDC). O experimento foi realizado em um Plintossolo Fluvico, utilizando delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repeticoes, sendo os tratamentos correspondentes aos niveis de palhada (0; 4,19; 9,54; 13,04 e 18,38 Mg ha-1). As simulacoes de emissoes (modelo DNDC) foram comparadas com as emissoes medidas. Os fluxos de N2O nao sofreram efeitos dos niveis de palhada, indicando que as emissoes independem da quantidade de palhada acumulada sobre o solo na colheita. Nas simulacoes, observou-se que as maiores emissoes foram relacionadas aos tratamentos com maiores niveis de palhada. De modo geral, os indices estatisticos indicaram uma boa precisao nas estimativas de fluxos diarios e acumulados, permitindo, dessa forma, a possibilidade de utilizacao desse modelo para estimar emissoes de N2 O do solo sob essas condicoes.