Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DETECTING THE PREDATORY INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COTTON APHID, Aphis gossypii GLOV. WITH SPECIAL REFERENCES TO THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PREDATOR Coccinella undecimpunctata L. AT KAFR EL-SHEIKH REGION

This experiment was carried out at the Farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate during the two successive seasons 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the role of insect predators of Aphis gossypii Glov. in cotton fields. The following predators were considerd during thecurrent resarch: Coccinella undecimpunctata (L.), Cydonia vicina isis, Cydonia vicina nilotica, Scymnus interruptus, Paederus alfierii, Chrysoperla carnea, Syrphus spp. and Orius spp. Results indicated that P. alfierii was recorded with the highest numbers followed by C. undecimpunctata. , Syrphus spp. , Sc. interruptus, Orius sp. and Ch. carnea (1452,1256, 1181, 1141, 1135, 1059 indiv/60 leaves). The associated predators were more in 2006 season than 2007 season. Population fluctuation of the cotton aphid, A. gossypii and the predator C. undecimpunctata were monitored on cotton plants during the two successive cotton seasons 2006 and 2007. The average number of the collected aphids in the second season were higher than those obtained during the first season; 29760 and 28755 indv. /20 plants, respectively. Some biological aspects of C. undecimpunctata were also studied as reared on A. gossypii. The larval stage of C. undecimpunctata was completed in four instars that collectively lasted 9.40 days. Adult female longevity averaged 59.00 days. However, the male longevity took a shorter period (49.60 days). One female deposited 441.59 eggs during the oviposition period with a daily average of 11.56 egg/female. The preoviposition period took 8.8 days, oviposition 38.20 days, and the post oviposition 5.60 days
Luminescent polythiophenes-containing porphyrin units: synthesis, characterization, and optical properties

A novel thiophene monomer containing a meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (MTPP) unit linked via an alkyl spacer was synthesized and characterized. This monomer was copolymerized in the presence of 3-dodecylthiophene (MDT) in different ratios MTPP: MDT (1:2, 1:4, and 1:6), using FeCl3 as oxidizing agent, to give the corresponding copolymers (CP12, CP14, and CP16). In addition, MTPP and MDT were also homopolymerized under the same reaction conditions to give homopolymers PTPP and PDT, respectively. The obtained compounds were characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The optical properties of the polymers were studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in THF solution. All polymers exhibited the typical absorption bands of the porphyrin: a Soret band at λ = 422 nm and four Q-bands between λ = 500–700 nm. Moreover, an additional band was observed at λ = 328 nm, due to the polythiophene backbone. CP14 and CP16 showed intense emission in the region between λ = 550–800 nm.
Microwave- or Microreactor-AssistedConversion of Furfuryl Alcohols into 4-Hydroxy-2-cyclopentenones

The conversion of a variety of furfuryl alcohols, derived from renewable non edible resources such as bran, into 4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenones was accomplished using microwave irradiation. In subcritical water (220 °C, 15.5 bar) without the need for any catalyst the reaction proceeds approximately two orders of magnitude faster with up to twice the yield compared to methods previously reported that apply conventional heating techniques. For the parent furfuryl alcohol the process could be transferred to a microreactor, allowing the synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone in a continuous flow system on multigram scale.
Recent Developments in Ion-Exchange Membranes and Their Applications in Electrochemical Processes for in situ Ion Substitutions, Separation and Water Splitting

Abstract Membrane-based separation processes are achieving a remarkable attention both in academics and industrial research due to the versatility and economic considerations. Ongoing challenges in water and wastewater treatment, food and biotechnology industries accelerating applications of electro-membrane processes. Intensified research on ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) based electro-membrane processes has been accomplished during recent years to produce potable water and downstream processes for biomolecules separation and recovery. The choice of proper membrane, design and operational optimization of the process are highly essential for successful commercialization of any process. Thus, the development of cost effective membranes by eco-friendly route is highly required for researchers working in the field of membrane development by electro-membrane-based processes. This review provides a brief summary of different preparative procedures for IEMs, transport phenomenon and their applications in electro-membrane separation processes. The most relevant studies have been discussed.
Impact of a trout farm on the water quality of an Apennine creek from daily budgets of nutrients

A detailed 24-h investigation in August 2005 evaluated net dissolved and particulate nutrient budgets in a small trout farm located in the Parma Apennines. During the monitoring period, due to water shortage, the Cedra Creek was almost entirely diverted into the farm; the water flow was 190 l s−1, and the fish standing stock about 20 t. Inflow and outflow waters were characterized for dissolved gases (O2 and CO2) and dissolved and particulate inorganic nutrients ( , , , , PN, and PP). Solute concentrations in outflowing waters were found to fluctuate considerably during the day, due to fish metabolic activity and farm-management practices. Despite the small amount of feed supplied to the fish (75 kg d−1) due to high water temperatures (∼20 °C) and the high feed conversion factor (∼1.2), the farm released net amounts of 2.20 and 0.76 kg d−1 of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively, to the Cedra Creek. Of the nutrients produced, 68% of the nitrogen was as , while 67% of the phosphorus was particulate. Significantly different , , and PP concentrations were measured 500 m downstream of the fish farm compared with inflowing water. This study supports the hypothesis that the ecological quality of creeks or streams receiving fish farm effluents can be seriously affected due to fine particle sedimentation, interstice clogging, simplification of benthic macrofauna communities, and stimulation of microfitobenthos growth.
Desalination brine disposal by means of negatively buoyant jets

AbstractDesalination plants commonly discharge large quantities of brine wastes into the adjacent coastal waters causing potentially harmful environmental impacts. To increase the effluent dilution prior to impingement on the sea floor, disposal by means of upwards inclined dense (negatively buoyant) jets can be applied. This paper presents an overview of experimental results on inclined negatively buoyant jets, focusing on the impact dilution achieved and illustrating its dependence on the jet inclination and the source characteristics, expressed by the densimetric Froude number Fo. It is shown that, in a stagnant ambient, the impact dilution for a certain discharge angle is well linearly correlated to Fo (for Fo, larger than about 20) and increases with the angle but is not very sensitive to it in the practical range between 30° and 75°. Typical dilutions attained are of the order of 50. The effect of ambient flow is also briefly discussed.
Compressive Sensing with Low Precision Data Representation: Radio Astronomy and Beyond

Modern scientific instruments produce vast amounts of data, which can overwhelm the processing ability of computer systems. Lossy compression of data is an intriguing solution but comes with its own dangers, such as potential signal loss, and the need for careful parameter optimization. In this work, we focus on a setting where this problem is especially acute compressive sensing frameworks for radio astronomy and ask: Can the precision of the data representation be lowered for all input data, with recovery guarantees and good practical performance? Our first contribution is a theoretical analysis of the Iterative Hard Thresholding (IHT) algorithm when all input data, that is, the measurement matrix and the observation, are quantized aggressively, to as little as 2 bits per value. Under reasonable constraints, we show that there exists a variant of low precision IHT which can still provide recovery guarantees. The second contribution is a tailored analysis of our general quantized framework to radio astronomy, showing that its conditions are satisfied in this case. We evaluate our approach using an FPGA implementation, and show that it can achieve up to 9.19x speed up with negligible loss of recovery quality, on real telescope data
Enhancing the properties of low density Hardwood Dyera costulata through impregnation with Phenolic Resin Admixed with Formaldehyde Scavenger.

The formaldehyde emission, properties and decay durability of Dyera constulata wood, impregnated with low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde (LmwPF) resin mixed with urea were investigated. The air-dry wood was impregnated with 20-40% LmwPF (Mw 600) mixed separately with urea (30% based on solid PF), partially cured at 60°C for 30 min and subsequently heated at 150°C for 60-120 min. The treatments had successfully reduced the formaldehyde emission (FE) of the impreg and the degrees of reduction depend on curing time. Statistical analyses showed that the concentration of resin affected the density, stiffness, water absorption and thickness swelling, while the curing time affected the density, polymer loading, water absorption and thickness swelling. Impreg product had higher MOR, MOE and dimensional stability compared to the untreated wood. The treatments rendered the impreg product with approximately 20% in anti-swelling efficiency and had also changed the wood into highly resistant to fungal decay.
Hydrochloric Acid Leaching of Sea Nodules with Methanol and Ethanol Addition

: A study has been made to investigate the effects of methanol and ethanol additions in dilute hydrochloric acid leaching of polymetallic sea nodules. In the absence of additives, the hydrochloric acid solution in an aqueous medium (2.75 kmol/m3) leaches out only copper and iron in considerable amounts and more than 90% recovery of all the metals are achieved only when a very strong concentration of acid (11 kmol/m3) is used. It has been found that metal recoveries can be considerably improved even in 2.75 kmol/m3 hydrochloric acid solution if an appropriate amount of methanol or ethanol is incorporated with it. The addition of 75 vol% of methanol in the 2.75 kmol/m3 hydrochloric acid system has been found to recover more than 90% of each metal. The requirement of ethanol has been found to be 18.5 vol% to achieve the same degree of recovery of metals in dilute hydrochloric acid solution. The effects of other parameters such as period of leaching and acid concentration on the recovery of metals in the alcoholic hydrochloric acid leaching system have also been studied
Assessment of Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in Italian Asphalt Workers

The purpose of the work was the assessment of exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), a family of ubiquitous pollutants of which some are carcinogens, in 100 Italian asphalt workers (exposed to bitumen fumes and diesel exhausts) and in a reference group of 47 ground construction operators (exposed only to diesel exhausts, reference group). The protocol included interview via questionnaires, environmental air-monitoring (active personal sampling during the work shift), dermal contamination measures (six pads placed on worker's wrist, neck, arm, chest, thigh, and ankle), and biological monitoring (determination of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine spot samples collected three at different moments: baseline after two days of vacation, before shift, and at end shift on a day in the second half of the week). Analysis of the most relevant PAH, according to the American Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) by fluorimetric detector. Median airborne levels of PAH ranged from 426 to below 0.03 ng/m3. Vapor-phase PAH, apart from naphthalene, were significantly higher in asphalt workers than in the reference group. Particle-phase PAH were similar and very low (< 1 ng/m3) in both exposure groups. Exposure levels did not vary in different work-tasks. Excretion of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (expressed by ng/g creatinine) showed a significant increase at different sampling moments in asphalt workers, smokers, and non-smokers: baseline was lower than at the beginning of the workshift, and values were even higher in the end workshift sample. Comparing the two groups, a significant difference in the levels of metabolite does not appear, whereas this trend can be viewed observing the non-smokers. All body regions monitored by pads showed equivalent values levels of Dermal Deposition Density in both exposure groups. The measured amount of dermal contamination was significantly higher in asphalt workers than in ground construction operators. In asphalt workers, skin contamination was significantly higher during asphalt paving than during asphalt mixing. Dermal Exposure Rate was calculated about threefold higher than Airborne Exposure Rate; whereas considering toxicokinetical information (Kp, lag time, experimental dermal absorption data) and hygienistic data (particle size of bitumen fume), the relevance of dermal absorption is lower than respiratory. The results of this study demonstrate that asphalt workers experience slight occupational exposure to PAH, both by inhalatory and dermal routes, resulting in a significant increase of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene during the workweek.
CdS Nanoclusters: Synthesis, Characterization, Size Dependent Oscillator Strength, Temperature Shift of the Excitonic Transition Energy, and Reversible Absorbance Shift

Improved synthetic routes and size-selective precipitation have enabled the preparation of almost monodisperse CdS clusters. Six samples of 1-thioglycerol stabilized clusters with diameters of approximately 13,14,16,19, 23, and 39 A have been prepared as fully redispersible powders and were characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Smallangle X-ray scattering was used to determine the mean cluster size. The well-structured UV-vis spectra reveal that the size-dependent shift of the Is-Is excitonic transition is in agreement with the tight-binding theory and the pseudopotential theory. Moreover, as expected by quantum mechanical calculations the oscillator strength of the transition increases proportional to 1 /r3. UV-vis spectra taken at various temperatures between 4 and 295 K have shown that the temperature shift of the excitonic transition energy becomes stronger with decreasing particle size. Strong, reversible absorbance shifts were observed, upon transferring the clusters from their solutions onto quartz plates and vice versa.
Media Representations of Euthanasia

For some time now there has been a divergence between public support for euthanasia and its illegal status within British law as well as its rejection by the medical profession. There have been a number of studies of public opinion, and there already exists a wealth of expert literature on the topic, by lawyers, health professionals and philosophers. This thesis argues that the newspaper coverage of euthanasia can be seen as a site where these expert discourses and lay discourses meet. The supporting data consists of a complete enumeration of articles containing the word 'euthanasia' which appeared in British newspapers over a 12-month period from November 1998 to October 1999. These documents were analysed using various forms of narrative analysis and discourse analysis. It was found that whilst both expert discussions and newspaper articles use similar concepts and categories to represent the meaning and practice of euthanasia, there are subtle but significant differences between these discussions. Newspapers also apply these categories in more grounded but less qualified ways. In particular, the 'voluntary euthanasia discourse', which is fundamental for experts, is less important in newspaper articles, where it is secondary to what I call a 'terminal illness discourse'. In that discourse, terminal illness becomes the marker that justifies euthanasia, over and above the concerns of experts. Both the 'voluntary euthanasia discourse' and the 'terminal illness discourse' address issues of agency and responsibility, but they approach these concerns from different assumptions. A striking feature of newspaper articles is that their discussion of euthanasia in terms of moral universals is grounded in the rhetoric of a world divided into nations.
Particle Charge Distribution Measurement for Commonly Generated Laboratory Aerosols

ABSTRACT An improved particle charge analyzer system has been developed to measure the absolute charge distribution of common generated laboratory aerosols. The charge analyzer system consists of an integral cylindrical mobility analyzer used in conjunction with an optical aerosol spectrometer, with computer assisted operation and data reduction. The charge analyzer collects aerosol particles over an absolute electrical mobility range from 4.2*10−4 to 400 cm2/(stat · Volt second) and flow rates that can vary from 0.3 to 30 liters per minute. The charge analyzer has been used to investigate the nature of spray and contact electrification during aerosol generation by measuring the residual charge distribution on the liquid and solid generated particles. In addition, the neutralization of charged particles by bipolar ions also was studied using conventional neutralizers that use ionizing radiation from alpha and beta sources. Charge distribution measurements were performed on alumina dust (Al), Arizona road .
Assembly, crystal structures, and luminescent properties of three new thiocyanate-bridging mercury(II) coordination polymers

Two ligands, 2-{5,5-dimethyl-3-[2-(pyridin-3-yl)-ethenyl]cyclohex-2-enylidene}propanedinitrile (L1) and 2-{5,5-dimethyl-3-[2-(pyridin-2-yl)-ethenyl]cyclohex-2-enylidene}propanedinitrile (L2), were synthesized. By reaction of mercury thiocyanate with L1 and L2, respectively, coordination polymers [Hg(L1)(μ1,3-SCN)2]n (1), [Hg(L1)2(μ1,3-SCN)2]n (2), and [Hg(L2)(μ1,3-SCN)(SCN)]n (3) with different structures and topologies were obtained. In 1, the thiocyanate shows μ1,3-SCN bridging coordination, and adjacent Hg(II) ions are bridged by two μ1,3-SCN ions to form an infinite chain with the remaining position of five-coordinate Hg(II) occupied by L1. In 2, the thiocyanate has the same coordination as 1. However, Hg(II) has octahedral coordination with two L1 involved in coordination. An unusual feature of 3 is the presence of two types of thiocyanates, one has a S-terminal ligand and the other has a μ1,3-SCN bridge. The mercury(II) in 3 is four-coordinated by L2 and three thiocyanates. Luminescent properties and thermal stabilities of 1–3 were studied.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES ON THE SELECTIVITY OF GGG TRIPLETS TOWARD ONE-ELECTRON OXIDATION IN B-FORM DNA

The selectivity of 5‘-TGGGT-3‘ and 5‘-CGGGC-3‘ sequences toward photoinduced one-electron oxidation was examined experimentally and by ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations. It was confirmed experimentally that G2 of 5‘-TG1G2G3T-3‘ is more reactive than G1, while for 5‘-CG1G2G3C-3‘ the selectivity is reversed, that is, G1 > G2. The ab initio MO analyses were performed to elucidate the difference of the selectivities between 5‘-TGGGT-3‘ and 5‘-CGGGC-3‘ sequences. For the 5‘-TGGG-3‘ sequence, the spin densities of G1• and G2• in neutral radical (5‘-TG1G2G3-3‘)• have a similar pattern, and the shapes of the corresponding radical orbitals are also very similar. It was concluded that the selectivity is due to the stability of the (5‘-TG1G2G3-3‘)• neutral radicals; that is, 5‘-TG1G2•G3-3‘ is more stable in energy than 5‘-TG1•G2G3-3‘. For the 5‘-CGGG-3‘ sequence, it was found that the spin density on N1 of G1• in neutral radical (5‘-CG1G2G3-3‘)• is distinguishably different from the corresponding spin de.
A survey of bimolecular ion-molecule reactions for use in modeling the chemistry of planetary atmospheres, cometary comae, and interstellar clouds

All bimolecular positive ion-molecule reactions reported from 1965 to 1985 for temperatures below 1000 K are included in the present survey of those ion-molecule reactions pertinent to the chemistries of planetary atmospheres, cometary comae, and interstellar clouds. This survey is intended as an update of the first, by Huntress (1977). The tabular presentation is organized according to reactant ion, with cross-references for both the ionic and the neutral reactants as well as the ionic and neutral products. 33 references.
Influência de doses de fósforo no fluxo difusivo em solos de Alagoas

The effect of distinct doses of phosphorus was evaluated on the diffusion of this element in soil samples from the State of Alagoas. The experiment was performed in the laboratory of the Centro de Ciencias Agrarias of the Federal University of Alagoas, Rio Largo, AL. The soils were classified as a compacted Yellow Latossol, Grey Argissoil, Fluvic Neosoil, Quartzanic Neossoil and ortic Chromic Luvissoil. Chemical, physical and mineralogical analyses had been made. The determination of the remaining P was made in the equilibrium solution. The maximum capacity of adsorption was determined through the remaining phosphorus, using PVC rings which were used as diffusion chambers. The doses of phosphorus had been equivalent to 0, 10, 20 and 30% of the maximum capacity of adsorption. The evaluation of the diffusive flow of phosphorus in the soils was carried out through papers of anionic exchange, using filter-papers saturated with the iron oxide. The experiment was constituted of a factorial arrangement (6 x 4), corresponding to six soils and four doses of phosphorus. The most sandy soils and the largest dose always showed the largest diffusive fluxes of phosphorus.
Diffusion Coefficients in aqueous solutions of magnesium nitrate at 298 K

Differential diffusion coefficients of magnesium nitrate in water, at 298 K and at different concentrations, have been measured using a conductimetric cell. The results are discussed on the basis of the Onsager-Fuoss and Pikal theories. The cell uses an open-ended capillary method and a conductimetric technique is used to follow the diffusion process by measuring the resistance of a solution inside the capillaries at recorded times.
Frequency effects in plasma etching

The effects of excitation frequency on electrical discharges used for low pressure plasma processing are discussed and illustrated with examples. Frequency alters the spatial distribution of species and electrical fields across the discharge, the energies and concentrations of species as a function of time, the characteristic potentials and energy of ions impinging on surfaces, and the electron energy distribution function. Important transitions in the behavior of these quantities occur when the excitation frequency crosses the ion‐sheath transit frequency (ITF), the electron energy modulation frequency (νu), the electron momentum collision frequency (ν), and the plasma frequency (ωp).