Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the source of potentially asbestos-bearing commercial vermiculite insulation using in situ IR spectroscopy

Abstract Commercially produced vermiculite insulation from Libby, Montana, contains trace levels of asbestiform amphibole, which is known to cause asbestos-related diseases. When vermiculite insulation is found in a building, evaluation for its potential asbestos content traditionally involves collecting a sample from an attic or wall and submitting it for time-consuming analyses at an off-site laboratory. The goal of this study was to determine if in situ near-infrared reflectance measurements could be used to reliably identify the source of vermiculite ore and therefore its potential to contain asbestos. Spectra of 52 expanded ore samples, including attic insulation, commercial packing materials, and horticultural products from Libby, Montana; Louisa, Virginia; Enoree, South Carolina; Palabora, South Africa; and Jiangsu, China, were measured with a portable spectrometer. The mine sources for these vermiculite ores were identified based on collection location, when known, and on differences in elemental composition as measured by electron probe microanalysis. Reflectance spectra of the insulation samples show vibrational overtone and combination absorptions that vary in wavelength position and relative intensity depending on elemental composition and proportions of their constituent micas (i.e., vermiculite ore usually consists of a mixture of hydrobiotite and vermiculite mineral flakes). Band depth ratios of the 1.38/2.32, 1.40/1.42, and 2.24/2.38 μm absorptions allow determination of a vermiculite insulation’s source and detection of its potential to contain amphibole, talc, and/or serpentine impurities. Spectroscopy cannot distinguish asbestiform vs. non-asbestiform amphiboles. However, if the spectrally determined mica composition and mineralogy of an insulation sample is consistent with ore from Libby, then it is likely that some portion of the sodic-calcic amphibole it contains is asbestiform, given that all of the nearly two dozen Libby vermiculite insulation samples examined with scanning electron microscopy in this study contain amphiboles. One sample of expanded vermiculite ore from multiple sources was recognized as a limitation of the spectral method, therefore an additional test (i.e., 2.24 μm absorption position vs. 2.24/2.38 μm band depth ratio) was incorporated into the spectral method to eliminate misclassification caused by such mixtures. With portable field spectrometers, the methodology developed can be used to determine vermiculite insulation’s source and estimate its potential amphibole content, thereby providing low-cost analysis with onsite reporting to property owners.
Accounting for uncertainties in ammonia emission from manure applied to grassland

A recent study has raised doubts about the ammonia emission reduction achieved in the Netherlands when applying manure to grassland by means of low‐emission techniques such as narrow band and shallow injection. The critics claim that percentages of ammonia released to the atmosphere associated with low‐emission techniques might even overlap with that from surface broadcast spreading given the large alleged experimental uncertainties in measurements. Consequently, the rationale behind the regulations to which farmers are exposed is questioned. In this study, it is shown that the alleged large uncertainties were obtained by means of an erroneous statistical method and that the real uncertainties are much smaller. It is also shown that, even when there is a large uncertainty in individual measurements, previous conclusions about differences in emission between different manure application techniques are still valid. It is further argued in this study that uncertainty in the percentage of applied ammonia emitted is implicitly taken into account in any comparative statistical analysis conducted in the past.
Plant growth promoting potential of psychrotolerant Dyadobacter sp. for pulses and finger millet and impact of inoculation on soil chemical properties and diazotrophic abundance

ABSTRACT Western Indian Himalaya is very rich in biodiversity. Being a cold climatic region, it possesses various psychrotolerant and psychrophilic microorganisms. Psychrotolerant bacterium Dyadobacter sp. was isolated from this region and studied for its plant growth promoting potential against four legumes and finger millet. This bacterium was able to grow at nitrogen (N) deficient medium at both 10°C and 28°C and gave positive nifH amplification that confirms the psychrotolerant and diazotrophic nature of this bacterium. Pot trial-based study showed that this bacterium was able to promote plant growth by fixing atmospheric nitrogen (N2) and making it available to plants. Agronomical parameters, leaf nitrate reductase activity, and total chlorophyll content were recorded at 30, 45, 60, and 90 days after sowing and found to be increased over their respective controls. The 16S rDNA and nifH genes were quantified by q-PCR to study the dynamics of total bacterial and diazotrophic abundance due to inoculation of Dyadobacter sp. in soil. Soil chemical properties related to soil fertility were also studied at different time intervals after sowing. We found positive correlation among soil pH, soil nifH gene abundance, soil nitrate concentration, and plant leaf nitrate reductase activity. PCR-DGGE was performed to study persistence of Dyadobacter sp. in soil after inoculation, which showed good persistence of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Hence, it is concluded that Dyadobacter sp. has potential to promote plant growth by fixing atmospheric N2 and making it available to plant. Further, psychrotolerant nature of this bacterium can be exploited to enhance plant growth in cold climate agriculture due to its ability to fix atmospheric N2 at low temperature.
Biochemical changes of Iranian probiotic Lighvan cheese

Shahab Lavasani A. (2018): Biochemical changes of Iranian probiotic Lighvan cheese. Czech J. Food Sci., 36: 181–186. Lighvan cheese from ewe and goat milk was produced according to a traditional protocol, and with the addition of 9 log10 CFU/g fresh cells of Bifidobacterium lactis subsp. animalis. Probiotic Lighvan cheese was studied to determine the survival of B. lactis subsp. animalis and biochemical changes during 60 days of ripening of probiotic Lighvan cheese. Lipolysis level and organoleptic assessments were analysed. B. lactis subsp. animalis cells survived in cheese samples at concentrations up to 6.84 log10 CFU/g for at least 60 days of storage time. The lipolysis level increased continuously until the end of the ripening period.The ripening stage was the main factor affecting the cheese sensory properties.
An Arctic Strait of Two Halves: The Changing Dynamics of Nutrient Uptake and Limitation Across the Fram Strait

The hydrography of the Arctic Seas is being altered by ongoing climate change, with knock‐on effects to nutrient dynamics and primary production. As the major pathway of exchange between the Arctic and the Atlantic, the Fram Strait hosts two distinct water masses in the upper water column, northward flowing warm and saline Atlantic Waters in the east, and southward flowing cold and fresh Polar Surface Water in the west. Here, we assess how physical processes control nutrient dynamics in the Fram Strait using nitrogen isotope data collected during 2016 and 2018. In Atlantic Waters, a weakly stratified water column and a shallow nitracline reduce nitrogen limitation. To the west, in Polar Surface Water, nitrogen limitation is greater because stronger stratification inhibits nutrient resupply from deeper water and lateral nitrate supply from central Arctic waters is low. A historical hindcast simulation of ocean biogeochemistry from 1970 to 2019 corroborates these findings and highlights a strong link between nitrate supply to Atlantic Waters and the depth of winter mixing, which shoaled during the simulation in response to a local reduction in sea‐ice formation. Overall, we find that while the eastern Fram Strait currently experiences seasonal nutrient replenishment and high primary production, the loss of winter sea ice and continued atmospheric warming has the potential to inhibit deep winter mixing and limit primary production in the future.
Automated event sampling for microbiological and related analytes in remote sites: a comprehensive system

Pathogen concentrations are most often monitored during dry weather. Generally in Australia, however, loads mobilised during storms are of more concern. The filling of reservoirs commonly occurs from heavy rain events, and flood inputs may destabilise reservoir hydraulics leading to short-circuiting of contaminates to water supply off-takes. To capture storm events that can occur rapidly in remote locations at any time, automated sampling would seem appropriate. Unfortunately no commercial sampling system appears suitable for collecting multiple large volume samples along a hydrograph. We report here the development of an Event Sampling System (ESS) and associated resources, designed to address the special needs of microbiological sampling and varying event and site characteristics. The resultant ESSs consist of a standardised sampling module, enclosed in housings suited to different circumstances that is currently being field tested at six sites. Sampling module components include ISCO samplers modified to collect 24 ten litre ambient and 24 one litre refrigerated samples at remote sites along with in situ stream data. Essential to this hardware are sample collection and ESS management protocols covering issues such as storm warning, collection team mobilisation, laboratory coordination, ESS commissioning and maintenance. Some issues remain to be addressed, hence the resulting ESSs are seen as prototypes in the development of standardised storm-event based microbiological sampling well suited to remote locations.
Chemical Reactivity Theory Applied to the Calculation of the Local Reactivity Descriptors of a Colored Maillard Reaction Product

This computational study assessed ten density functionals that include CAM-B3LYP, LC-ωPBE, M11, M11L, MN12L, MN12SX, N12, N12SX, ωB97X, and ωB97XD related to the Def2TZVP basis set together with the SMD solvation model. These are assessed in calculating the molecular properties and structure of the pyrrolopyrrole-2-carbaldehyde molecule (PPA) in water. The chemical reactivity descriptors for the systems are calculated via the Conceptual Density Functional Theory. The choice of active sites applicable to nucleophilic, electrophilic as well as radical attacks is made by linking them with Fukui functions indices, electrophilic Parr functions, and condensed dual descriptor ∆f(r). *Corresponding author: E-mail: daniel.glossman@cimav.edu. mx; Frau and Glossman-Mitnik; CSIJ, 22(4): 1-14, 2018; Article no.CSIJ. 41452 The predicted Maximum absorption wavelength tends to be considerably accurate relative to the experimental value. The study found the MN12SX and N12SX density functionals to be the most appropriate in predicting the chemical reactivity of this molecule.
Can neutrophil lymphocyte ratio be a marker in stage 1 testicular tumor occult metastasis parameters

Amac: Notrofil-Lenfosit ve Trombosit-Lenfosit orani (NLR / PLR) karsilastirmasi, bazi kanserlerin ve hastaliklarin tanisinda kullanimi kolay ve dusuk maliyetli bir yontemdir. Bu calismada, ozellikle okkult metastazli erken donem testis malignitelerinin tanisinda NLR / PLR orani degerlendirmesinin kullanilip kullanilamayacagini arastirmayi amacladik. Yontem: 2015-2019 yillari arasinda testis tumoru icin radikal inguinal orsiektomi mudahalesi yapilan hastalar retrospektif olarak incelendi. Calismaya testis tumor evre-I olan 40 hasta ve herhangi bir testis sikayeti olmayan 43 hasta kontrol grubu olarak calismaya dahil edildi. Evre-I testis kanserinde okkult metastatik hastalik icin patolojik risk faktorleri ile NLR-PLR degerleri arasindaki iliski arastirildi. Bulgular: Hastalarin yas ortalamasi 30.05 yil idi ve gruplar arasinda yas bakimindan anlamli fark yoktu (p = 0.150). Tumor grubunun NLR ve PLR orani degerleri testis tumorlu hastalarda kontrol grubuna gore belirgin olarak yuksekti (sirasiyla p = 0.001 ve 0.016). Evre-I testis kanseri ve NLR / PLR'de okkult metastatik hastalik icin risk faktorleri arasindaki korelasyon analizinde sadece tumor boyutu acisindan anlamli bir korelasyon oldugunu bulduk. Sonuc: Sonuc olarak, tum testis tumorlerinde NLR' nin arttigi sonucuna vardik. Klinik uygulamada prognostik belirtec olarak daha yuksek NLR orani degerlerinin kullanilabilecegini onermekteyiz.
The effect of temperature and humidity on the ripening of durian fruits

SummaryFruits of ‘Chanee’ durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) were exposed to temperature of 30°C and 33°C under low (70%) and high (90%) humidity. Typical climacteric patterns were recorded under each of the tested conditions, but at 33°C and 70% relative humidity (r.h.), low amounts of carbon dioxide and ethylene were produced. Fruits held at 30°C and 70% r.h. , and at 33°C at both 70% and 90% r.h. ripened to full eating quality with a good pulp colour during the four-day exposure, while fruits held at 30°C at 90% r.h. did not. Fruits held at 33°C at 70% r.h. had the greatest total sugars, weight loss and dehiscence.
Two cycloartanes-type triterpenoid from Homonoia riparia Lour

Using various chromatography methods, two known cycloartanes, 24-methylenecycloartane-3 β ,6 β ,7 β ,16 β -tetraol ( 1 ) and riparsaponin ( 2 ), together with two known flavonol glycosides, quercetin 3- O - β -D-glucopyranoside ( 3 ) and quercetin 3- O -α- L -rhamnopyranosyl (1→6) β -D-glucopyranoside ( 4 ) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Homonoia riparia Lour. Their structures were determined by MS and 1D-, 2D-NMR spectra, as well as by comparison with those reported in the literature. Keywords. Homonoia riparia, cycloartane, flavonol glycoside .
Light-induced electron motion in nanojunctions

Photochemical reactions in biology as well as optoelectronic applications are driven by optical excitation of charge carriers. In this work the light-induced electron motion through nanoscale objects in the limits of different electron transport models is studied experimentally. A gold coated scanning near-field optical microscope tip is employed in two experimental configurations. First, photosynthetic protein complexes (PS I) which can be considered as model systems for optically driven charge separation were investigated. Individually contacted single PS I revealed a photocurrent of 10 pA under laser illumination. In a second approach electrons in metal-dielectric-metal nanojunctions were optically excited and steered by ultrashort laser pulses. The results show that the collective electron motion within a dielectric can be controlled by the optical field and generates a macroscopically detectable current.
Preparation and Application of Some Nitrogenous Derivatives of Gum Arabic as Plant Growth Promoters

The study was conducted to determine the effect of adding gum and some of their nitrogenous derivatives to the Winka seeds. Derivatives of arabic acid, arabamide, ammonium arabate, derivative of high protein and derivative of low protein were prepared. The physiochemical parameters for these derivatives were examined and comparisons were carried out. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the derivatives in specific rotation and in emulsifying stability. However, there were significant differences between these derivatives in pH, except between arabamide and aminoarabate with arabic acid. There were significant differences between all derivatives in nitrogen (protein content). These derivatives were added in concentration of either 5% or 10% to pots containing Winka seeds while to other pots only water was added. The experiment duration was 10 weeks. The results showed that there was significant difference in the number of plant leaves which were treated with these derivatives. The highest number of leaves was reported for plants treated with arabic acid (C = 5% and C = 10%). There was significant difference in plant height, the highest plant height was reported for plants to which arabic acid (C= 5% and C = 10%) were added. The shortest height was reported for plant to which only water was added. Concerning the dry matter production, significant differences between these treatments were noticed. The highest value was reported for plants which were treated with arabic acid (C = 5% and C = 10%). The lowest value was reported for plant to which only water was added.
Influence of Algal Species and Cultivation Conditions on Algal Removal in Direct Filtration

The influence of growth media on the behaviour of cultured algae in direct filtration was examined. Cultured Chlorella vulgaris and Selenastrum capricornutum on Jaworski and Z-8 media are used for model water preparation. It was found that the same algal species in the same growth phase had different responses under identical treatment conditions. Also, difference in growth phase influenced their behaviour. Therefore, assuming similarity between cultured algae and algae from natural waters is highly questionable. The efficiency of the direct filtration treatment process for the removal of dominant algal species present in Biesbosch Water Storage Reservoirs was investigated. Different removal patterns were found for various algal species. The most difficult to be removed were Rhodomonas minuta and µ-algae . High removal efficiency was found for Stephanodiscus hantzschii and other cylindrical diatoms. An overall algal biomass removal of 90 % was achieved. Algal penetration through filters is a consequence of algal size and inefficient agglomeration during coagulation. It was found that the application of oxidants (ozone and potassium permanganate) prior to coagulant addition improves the efficiency of direct filtration. The use of H 2 O 2 did not enhance algal removal under the conditions investigated.
Health shocks and couples' labor supply decisions

This paper explores the effect of negative health shocks, such as heart attacks or new diagnoses of chronic illnesses, on the labor supply of both the affected spouse and his or her partner. In so doing, the paper links two important strands of the retirement literature, the large literature on health and retirement and the small but growing literature modeling retirement in a family context. This paper may also be viewed as an extension of the literature on spousal labor supply as insurance against negative events, which measures whether there is an added worker effect when one spouse becomes sick and whether it is crowded out by public insurance programs. This work uses the first five waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a recent, nationally representative survey of the young elderly with extensive information on health, labor force status, and demographics.
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DA PARAÍBA CENTRO DE TECNOLOGIA PROGRAMA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA DE ALIMENTOS

The use of goat milk in dairy products formulation is being performed instead of cow milk, some features, including the present lower incidence of allergies. The production of fermented milk, yoghurt type, goats with the addition of probiotic cultures and fruit for saborizar the product can potentiate the beneficial health effects, and thus, the demand for this product by the consumer. This study was developed in order to prepare and characterize the technological, physical, physico-chemical, microbiological, rheological and sensory of a fermented goat added jelly Guava and probiotic cultures. The effect of the addition of probiotic lactic acid bacteria cultures on the quality characteristics of fermented milks were evaluated at the times 1, 7, 14 and 21 days, given the following treatments: CI (conventional yoghurt control), containing the starter culture comprising Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus; ILA containing the probiotic microorganism Lactobacillus acidophilus, co-culture with the starter; ILP, comprising the probiotic Lactobacillus casei subsp. paracasei, in addition to the starter culture; and IBB containing probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis in combination with a starter culture. All fermented milks tested showed good results as to the technological characteristics without undergoing syneresis, with good stability and high capacity of water retention. Samples slightly acidified during shelf life, perceived characteristic and well accepted in the sensory test, with notes whose hedonic terms ranged from "like slightly" and "liked". In general, it was observed that the addition of probiotic strains in the preparation of fermented milks did not influence the physical and physicochemical characteristics of the same (p> 0.05), noting only a reduction (p <0.05) the ash content in the sample IBB during refrigerated storage. The apparent viscosity of the samples remained high during the storage time, with greater influence (p <0.05) of the probiotic Lactobacillus casei subsp. paracasei. Thus, it was found that the preparation of a fermented milk with added guava jelly and probiotics is presented as a product with potential for investment in the dairy industry with functional properties, whose microbiological, technological, rheological, nutritional and sensory qualities were satisfactory.
Textural and chemical characterization of activated carbons prepared from rice husk (Oryza Sativa) using a two-stage activation process

Activated carbons from agro-industrial wastes; rice husk; were prepared by physical and chemical activation using phosphoric acid as the dehydrating agent. A two-stage activation process method was used; with semi-carbonisation stage at 200oC for 15 minutes as the first stage followed by an activation stage at 500oC for 45 minutes as the second stage. The precursor material with the impregnation agent was exposed straightaway to semi-carbonization and activation temperature unlike the specific temperature progression as reported in the literature. All experiments were conducted in a laboratory scale muffle furnace under static conditions in a self generated atmosphere covering process parameters such as impregnation ratios. We found that by using this method, the AC5 had the highest iodine number and methylene blue adsorption capacity which was 506.6 mg/g and 319.0 mg/g respectively.
Resource Allocation in Variable Bandwidth MF-TDMA Satellite Communications

In modern satellite communication systems, because of the high efficiency and flexibility, multi-frequency time-division multiple access (MF-TDMA) becomes one of hot issues. In this paper we present a resource allocation algorithm for the variable bandwidth MF-TDMA model. The proposed algorithm uses new concept - unit block, as the basic unit of resource allocation, and gives an outstanding assignment plan within a comparatively short period of time