Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Insight into the Mechanisms Underlying the Discoloration, Sorption, and Photodegradation of Methylene Blue Solutions with and without BNOx Nanocatalysts

Methylene blue (MB) is widely used as a test material in photodynamic therapy and photocatalysis. These applications require an accurate determination of the MB concentration as well as the factors affecting the temporal evolution of the MB concentration. Optical absorbance is the most common method used to estimate MB concentration. This paper presents a detailed study of the dependence of the optical absorbance of aqueous methylene blue (MB) solutions in a concentration range of 0.5 to 10 mg·L−1. The nonlinear behavior of optical absorbance as a function of MB concentration is described for the first time. A sharp change in optical absorption is observed in the range of MB concentrations from 3.33 to 4.00 mg·L−1. Based on the analysis of the absorption spectra, it is concluded that this is due to the formation of MB dimers and trimers in the specific concentration range. For the first time, a strong, thermally induced discoloration effect of the MB solution under the influence of visible and sunlight was revealed: the simultaneous illumination and heating of MB solutions from 20 to 80 °C leads to a twofold decrease in the MB concentration in the solution. Exposure to sunlight for 120 min at a temperature of 80 °C led to the discoloration of the MB solution by more than 80%. The thermally induced discoloration of MB solutions should be considered in photocatalytic experiments when tested solutions are not thermally stabilized and heated due to irradiation. We discuss whether MB is a suitable test material for photocatalytic experiments and consider this using the example of a new photocatalytic material—boron oxynitride (BNOx) nanoparticles—with 4.2 and 6.5 at. % of oxygen. It is shown that discoloration is a complex process and includes the following mechanisms: thermally induced MB photodegradation, MB absorption on BNOx NPs, self-sensitizing MB photooxidation, and photocatalytic MB degradation. Careful consideration of all these processes makes it possible to determine the photocatalytic contribution to the discoloration process when using MB as a test material. The photocatalytic activity of BNOx NPs containing 4.2 and 6.5 at. % of oxygen, estimated at ~440 μmol·g−1·h−1. The obtained results are discussed based on the results of DFT calculations considering the effect of MB sorption on its self-sensitizing photooxidation activity. A DFT analysis of the MB sorption capacity with BNOx NPs shows that surface oxygen defects prevent the sorption of MB molecules due to their planar orientation over the BNOx surface. To enhance the sorption capacity, surface oxygen defects should be eliminated.
Estimating Regional Ground‐Level PM2.5 Directly From Satellite Top‐Of‐Atmosphere Reflectance Using Deep Belief Networks

Almost all remote sensing atmospheric PM2.5 estimation methods need satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) products, which are often retrieved from top‐of‐atmosphere (TOA) reflectance via an atmospheric radiative transfer model. Then, is it possible to estimate ground‐level PM2.5 directly from satellite TOA reflectance without a physical model? In this study, this challenging work was achieved based on a machine learning model. Specifically, we established the relationship between PM2.5, satellite TOA reflectance, observation angles, and meteorological factors in a deep learning architecture (denoted as Ref‐PM modeling). This relationship was trained with station PM2.5 measurements, and then the PM2.5 values of those locations without stations could be retrieved. Taking the Wuhan Urban Agglomeration as a case study, the results demonstrate that, compared with AOD‐PM modeling, the Ref‐PM modeling obtains a competitive performance, with sample‐based cross‐validated R2 and root‐mean‐square error values of 0.87 and 9.89 μg/m3, respectively. Also, the TOA‐reflectance‐derived PM2.5 has a finer resolution and a larger spatial coverage than the AOD‐derived PM2.5. This work provides an alternative technique to estimate ground‐level PM2.5, and may have the potential to promote the application in atmospheric environmental monitoring.
Correlation of excursion sets for non-Gaussian cosmic microwave background temperature distributions

We present a method, based on the correlation function of excursion sets above a given threshold, to test the Gaussianity of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature fluctuations in the sky. In particular, this method can be applied to discriminate between standard inflationary scenarios and those producing non-Gaussianity such as topological defects. We have obtained the normalized correlation of excursion sets, including different levels of noise, for two-point probability density functions constructed from the Gaussian, χ2n and Laplace one-point probability density functions in two different ways. Considering subdegree angular scales, we find that this method can distinguish between different distributions even if the corresponding marginal probability density functions and/or the radiation power spectra are the same.
Energy Spectra of Magnetostatic Oscillations in Ferrite Disk Resonators

Ferromagnetic resonators with short-wavelength, so-called magnetostatic (MS), oscillations can be considered in microwaves as point (with respect to the external electromagnetic fields) particles. It was shown recently [E. O. Kamenetskii, Phys. Rev. E, 63, 066612 (2001)] that MS oscillations in a small ferrite disk resonator can be characterized by a discrete spectrum of energy levels. This fact allows analyzing the MS oscillations similarly to quantum mechanical problems. In this paper we give the results of energy spectrum calculations for MS oscillations in a ferrite disk resonator.
Extraction of essential oil from lemon and orange peel by Clevenger apparatus: Comparative GC_ MS analysis of chemical composition, from Debre Berehan Market town Amahara Region Ethiopia

The peel of orange and lemon fruits is considered as a waste. It is used as a source of essential oils that can be applicable for food flavoring agent, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and soap and detergent factories. In this work, essential oils were extracted from lemon (1.56%) and orange (3.55%) peels by hydro distillation. The physiochemical properties of oils were recorded. The chemical composition of the oils was also analyzed by GC-MS. Orange peel oil contained four compounds with limonene (95.19%) as major component and lemon peel oil composed of 12 compounds of which limonene (49.74%) was the main compound.
Continuous unitary transformations and finite-size scaling exponents in the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model

We analyze the finite-size scaling exponents in the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model by means of the Holstein-Primakoff representation of the spin operators and the continuous unitary transformations method. This combination allows us to exactly compute the leading corrections to the ground-state energy, the gap, the magnetization, and the two-spin correlation functions. We also present numerical calculations for large system size which confirm the validity of this approach. Finally, we use these results to discuss the entanglement properties of the ground state focusing on the (rescaled) concurrence that we compute in the thermodynamical limit.
Observable features of GW170817 kilonova afterglow

The neutron star merger, GW170817, was followed by an optical-infrared transient (a kilonova) which indicated that a substantial ejection of mass at trans-relativistic velocities occurred during the merger. Modelling of the kilonova is able to constrain the kinetic energy of the ejecta and its characteristic velocity but, not the high-velocity distribution of the ejecta. Yet, this distribution contains crucial information on the merger dynamics. In this work, we assume a power-law distribution of the form E(> βΓ) ∝ (βΓ)−α for the energy of the kilonova ejecta and calculate the non-thermal signatures produced by the interaction of the ejecta with the ambient gas. We find that ejecta with minimum velocity β0 ≃ 0.3 and energy E ∼ 1051 erg, as inferred from kilonova modelling, has a detectable radio, and possibly X-ray, afterglow for a broad range of parameter space. This afterglow component is expected to dominate the observed emission on a time-scale of a few years post-merger and peak around a decade later. Its light curve can be used to determine properties of the kilonova ejecta and, in particular, the ejecta velocity distribution α, the minimum velocity β0, and its total kinetic energy E. We also predict that an afterglow rebrightening, that is associated with the kilonova component, will be accompanied by a shift of the centroid of the radio source towards the initial position of the explosion.
Triborheological Analysis of Reconstituted Gastrointestinal Mucus/Chitosan:TPP Nanoparticles System to Study Mucoadhesion Phenomenon under Different pH Conditions

Polymeric nanoparticles have attracted much attention as pharmaceutical delivery vehicles to prolong residence time and enhance the bioavailability of therapeutic molecules through the mucoadhesive phenomenon. In this study, chitosan:TPP nanoparticles were synthetized using the ionic gelation technique to analyze their mucoadhesive interaction with reconstituted porcine gastrointestinal mucus from a triborheological point of view under different pH conditions (pH = 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 7.0). The triborheological profile of the reconstituted mucus was evaluated at different pH environments through the oscillation frequency and the flow sweep tests, demonstrating that the reconstituted mucus exhibits shear thinning behavior regardless of pH, while its viscoelastic properties showed a change in behavior from a polymeric solution performance under neutral pH conditions to a viscoelastic gel under acidic conditions. Additionally, a rheological synergism analysis was performed to visualize the changes that occur in the viscoelastic properties, the viscosity and the coefficient of friction of the reconstituted mucus samples as a consequence of the interaction with the chitosan:TPP nanoparticles to determine or to discard the presence of the mucoadhesion phenomenon under the different pH values. Mucoadhesiveness evaluation revealed that chitosan:TPP exhibited strong mucoadhesion under highly acidic pH conditions, below its pKa value of 6.5. In contrast, at neutral conditions or close to its pKa value, the chitosan:TPP nanoparticles’ mucoadhesiveness was negligible.
Thermal processing and enthalpy storage of a binary amorphous solid: A molecular dynamics study

Using very long molecular dynamics simulations of duration up to a microsecond of physical time, temperature protocols spanning up to five orders of magnitude in time are performed to investigate thermally activated structural relaxation in a model binary amorphous solid. The simulations demonstrate significant local structural excitations (LSE) as a function of increasing temperature and show that enthalpy rather than internal potential energy is primarily responsible for relaxation. At low temperatures these LSE involve atoms whose displacements are smaller than a typical bond length, whereas at higher temperatures approaching that of the glass transition regime, bond-length displacements occur in the form of string-like motion where one atom replaces the position of another. Such thermally activated excitations are observed to mainly involve the smaller atom type. The observed enthalpy changes can be correlated with the level of internal hydrostatic stress homogenization and icosahedral content within the glassy solid.
Development of Hot Springs Tourism Site in Lehi Village North West Siau District Sitaro Regency

The research was carried out with the aim of analyzing and explaining the development of Hot Springs Tourism Site in Lehi Village, North West Siau District, Sitaro Islands Regency. This study uses a qualitative approach with the research subjects being the Head of Division and Head of the Tourism Promotion and Marketing Section of the Tourism Office, Sitaro Islands Regency as the main data source (key informant), while other informants are determined by snowball sampling. The research instrument is the researcher himself with interview and documentation techniques. The data analysis technique used qualitative analysis according to the interactive model, namely data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing/verification. The results show that the development of hot spring tourism site in Lehi village is integrated with the Sitaro Islands Regency tourism development program in Master Plan for Regency tourism development (RIPPDA) the Sitaro Islands Regency in 2020-2025 which includes tourism industry development, tourism destination development, tourism marketing development, and tourism institutional development. For this reason, coordination and synchronization with all stakeholders are carried out intensively so that synergies occur in the whole process and activity of developing tourism objects.
First Results from the Hertzsprung SONG Telescope: Asteroseismology of the G5 Subgiant Star μ Herculis

We report the first asteroseismic results obtained with the Hertzsprung Stellar Observations Network Group Telescope from an extensive high-precision radial-velocity observing campaign of the subgiant μ Herculis. The data set was collected during 215 nights in 2014 and 2015. We detected a total of 49 oscillation modes with l values from zero to three, including some l = 1 mixed modes. Based on the rotational splitting observed in l = 1 modes, we determine a rotational period of 52 days and a stellar inclination angle of 63°. The parameters obtained through modeling of the observed oscillation frequencies agree very well with independent observations and imply a stellar mass between 1.11 and 1.15 M⊙ and an age of Gyr. Furthermore, the high-quality data allowed us to determine the acoustic depths of the He ii ionization layer and the base of the convection zone.
Gas breakdown driven by L band short-pulse high-power microwave

High power microwave (HPM) driven gas breakdown is a major factor in limiting the radiation and transmission of HPM. A method that HPM driven gas breakdown could be obtained by changing the aperture of horn antenna is studied in this paper. Changing the effective aperture of horn antenna can adjust the electric field in near field zone, leading to gas breakdown. With this method, measurements of air and SF{sub 6} breakdowns are carried out on a magnetically insulated transmission-line oscillators, which is capable of generating HPM with pulse duration of 30 ns, and frequency of 1.74 GHz. The typical breakdown waveforms of air and SF{sub 6} are presented. Besides, the breakdown field strengths of the two gases are derived at different pressures. It is found that the effects of air and SF{sub 6} breakdown on the transmission of HPM are different: air breakdown mainly shortens the pulse width of HPM while SF{sub 6} breakdown mainly reduces the peak output power of HPM. The electric field threshold of SF{sub 6} is about 2.4 times larger than that of air. These differences suggest that gas properties have a great effect on the transmission characteristic of HPM in gases.
Generalized coherent states are unique Bell states of quantum systems with Lie-group symmetries

Entanglement is the main quantum mechanical feature that distinguishes between quantum and classical physics. A state of a quantum system, consisting of two subsystems, is called entangled if it cannot be represented as a direct product of states of the subsystems. The nonclassicality of such a situation is expressed mathematically by the violation of Bell’s inequality @1,2#. More specifically, let us consider a quantum system A ~e.g., a mode of the quantized radiation field or a spin-j particle! , which is split or decays into two subsystems B and C @3#. A pure quantum state that upon splitting will not violate Bell’s inequality ~i.e., a quantum state that possesses the basic attribute of classical physics ! has been called the Bell state @4#. It has been proven @4‐6# that a state that factorizes upon splitting into a direct product cannot violate Bell’s inequality, while a state that gives rise to an entangled ~i.e., nonproduct! state can always, by a suitable choice of local apparatus, be made to violate the inequality. Therefore the Bell state of the system A must factorize upon splitting into the direct product of states of the subsystems.
Characterization of gray-scale morphological granulometries

Use of granulometric size distributions to generate features for binary images was first studied by Matheron. Of late the method has been employed for numerous purposes including analysis of particle dispersion analysis of texture and image segmentation. Fundamental to the Matheron theory is his characterization of the most important class of granulometries the Euclidean granulometries. This characterization takes place in the context of his fundamental representation theorem for general binary tau-openings. The present paper provides a full extension of the Matheron theory of Euclidean granulometries to the gray scale.
NEW HIGH-z FERMI BL LACS WITH THE PHOTOMETRIC DROPOUT TECHNIQUE

Determining redshifts for BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects using the traditional spectroscopic method is challenging due to the absence of strong emission lines in their optical spectra. We employ the photometric dropout technique to determine redshifts for this class of blazars using the combined 13 broadband filters from Swift-UVOT and the multi-channel imager GROND at the MPG 2.2 m telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory. The wavelength range covered by these 13 filters extends from far-ultraviolet to the near-infrared. We report results on 40 new Fermi-detected BL Lacs with the photometric redshift determinations for five sources, with 3FGL J1918.2–4110 being the most distant in our sample at z = 2.16. Reliable upper limits are provided for 20 sources in this sample. Using the highest energy photons for these Fermi-LAT sources, we evaluate the consistency with the gamma-ray horizon due to the extragalactic background light.
On-line determination of stellar atmospheric parameters $T_{\mathrm{eff}}$, $\log g$, [Fe/H] from ELODIE echelle spectra - II. The library of F5 to K7 stars

A library of 211 echelle spectra taken with ELODIE at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence is presented. It provides a set of spectroscopic standards covering the full range of gravities and metallicities in the effective temperature interval [4000 K, 6300 K]. The spectra are straightened, wavelength calibrated, cleaned of cosmic ray hits, bad pixels and telluric lines. They cover the spectral range [440 nm, 680 nm] with an instrumental resolution of 42000. For each star, basic data were compiled from the Hipparcos catalogue and the Hipparcos Input Catalogue. Radial velocities with a precision better than 100 are given. Atmospheric parameters (, , [Fe/H]) from the literature are discussed. Because of scattered determinations in the bibliography, even for the most well-known stars, these parameters were adjusted by an iterative process which takes account of common or different spectral features between the standards, using our homogeneous set of spectra. Revised values of effective temperature, gravity and metallicity are proposed. They are still consistent with the literature, and also lead to the self-consistency of the library, in the sense that similar spectra have similar atmospheric parameters. This adjustment was performed by using step by step a method based on the least square comparison of carefully prepared spectra, which was originally developed for the on-line estimation of the atmospheric parameters of faint field stars (companion paper in the main journal).
Do Generative Leadership and Digital Literacy of Executive Management Help Flourishing Micro and Small Business Digital Maturity?

Today, every firm and organization must digitally transform in order to survive and deal with increasing competition and dynamic market conditions. Digital transformation is not easy to achieve, and many factors play an important role in the successful digital transformation of firms. Leaders' leadership styles and characteristics play a crucial role in digital transformation. This study examines the effects of generative leadership and digital literacy of executive management on the digital maturity of micro and small firms based on the Upper Echelons Theory. Sub-dimensions of digital maturity are also considered and searched to provide a more detailed analysis. The research utilized a survey method and was conducted with 121 upper, middle, and first-line managers of 93 micro and small-size firms operating in the Marmara Region of Turkey. Frequency, factor, regression, and validity and reliability analyses through the SPSS package program were used. The results are two folds. First, generative leadership and digital literacy of executive management help flourish digital maturity when searched independently. Second, the study results indicate that the digital literacy of executive managers has a mediating effect on the relationship between generative leadership and digital maturity. Furthermore, the study proves the mediating effect on digital maturity's technological, strategic, and cultural maturity sub-dimensions. With these findings in micro and small businesses, the study comprehensively contributes to the current knowledge in this domain.
Rotary Jet Spinning (RJS): A Key Process to Produce Biopolymeric Wound Dressings

Wounds result from different causes (e.g., trauma, surgeries, and diabetic ulcers), requiring even extended periods of intensive care for healing, according to the patient’s organism and treatment. Currently, wound dressings generated by polymeric fibers at micro and nanometric scales are promising for healing the injured area. They offer great surface area and porosity, mimicking the fibrous extracellular matrix structure, facilitating cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation, and accelerating the wound healing process. Such properties resulted in countless applications of these materials in biomedical and tissue engineering, also as drug delivery systems for bioactive molecules to help tissue regeneration. The techniques used to engineer these fibers include spinning methods (electro-, rotary jet-), airbrushing, and 3D printing. These techniques have important advantages, such as easy-handle procedure and process parameters variability (type of polymer), but encounter some scalability problems. RJS is described as a simple and low-cost technique resulting in high efficiency and yield for fiber production, also capable of bioactive agents’ incorporation to improve the healing potential of RJS wound dressings. This review addresses the use of RJS to produce polymeric fibers, describing the concept, type of configuration, comparison to other spinning techniques, most commonly used polymers, and the relevant parameters that influence the manufacture of the fibers, for the ultimate use in the development of wound dressings.
Preparation of ‘‘amorphous’’ Ni60Nb40 by mechanical alloying

‘‘Amorphous’’ Ni60Nb40 has been prepared by mechanical alloying of elemental nickel and niobium powders in a laboratory ball mill in controlled environments. X‐ray diffraction was used to follow the progress of the mechanical alloying which eventually produced ‘‘amorphous’’ diffraction patterns similar to those for liquid quenched amorphous Ni60Nb40. Crystallization behavior was measured by differential scanning calorimetry for the mechanically alloyed and liquid quenched material. The differences that were observed in this behavior, and in the products of crystallization, may be attributed to impurities (especially oxygen) introduced during mechanical alloying.