Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in the chemical composition of soil organic matter after application of compost

Is the composition of soil organic matter changed by adding compost? To find out we incubated biowaste composts with agricultural soils and a humus‐free mineral substrate at 5°C and 14°C for 18 months and examined the products. Organic matter composition was characterized by CuO oxidation of lignin, hydrolysis of cellulosic and non‐cellulosic polysaccharides (CPS and NCPS) and 13C cross‐polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS 13C‐NMR) spectroscopy. The lignin contents in the compost‐amended soils increased because the composts contained more lignin, which altered little even after prolonged decomposition of the composts in soil. A pronounced decrease in lignin occurred in the soils amended with mature compost only. Polysaccharide C accounted for 14–20% of the organic carbon at the beginning of the experiment for both the compost‐amended soils and the controls. During the incubation, the relative contents of total polysaccharides decreased for 9–20% (controls) and for 20–49% (compost‐amended soils). They contributed preferentially to the decomposition as compared with the bulk soil organic matter, that decreased between < 2% and 20%. In the compost‐amended agricultural soils, cellulosic polysaccharides were decomposed in preference to non‐cellulosic ones. The NMR spectra of the compost‐amended soils had more intense signals of O–alkyl and aromatic C than did those of the controls. Incubation for 18 months resulted mainly in a decline of O–alkyl C for all soils. The composition of the soil organic matter after compost amendment changed mainly by increases in the lignin and aromatic C of the composts, and compost‐derived polysaccharides were mineralized preferentially. The results suggest that decomposition of the added composts in soil is as an ongoing humification process of the composts themselves. The different soil materials affected the changes in soil organic matter composition to only a minor degree.
A study on farmers perception of mobile agro advisory service (MAAS)

The main aim of Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) is to ensure better income for the producers through an organization of their own. Mobile phones despite their recent entry into agrarian communities are already helping those communities improve their agricultural activities. This allows the farmers to make a query in a local language from a mobile phone and receive personalized advice or relevant information on the same in local language. Keeping this in mind, a study was taken up to determine the perception of the respondents on mobile agro advisory service. The study was taken up in Kanchipuram District with a sample of 120 registered members of Chennai Horticulture Produce Producer Company by using random sampling technique. The selected members of FPO obtained agro advisory service through mobile phone. The farmers perception on mobile service was assessed against twelve items. Simple percentage was calculated based on their response. The findings on overall perception revealed that medium to high level of perception on usefulness of mobile advisory service was observed among majority of the respondents. Nearly three-fourth (74.16 per cent) of the respondents reported that the information provided was both time and cost saving. Nearly three-fourth (73.33 per cent) of the respondents expressed that they were satisfied with the local language used by mobile advisory service in delivering the agricultural information.
Biostimulation and Monitoring of Diesel Fuel Polluted Soil Amended With Biowaste

A lab-scale experiment was set up to investigate the efficiency of addition 5% (w/w) individually of three different organic solid waste amendments to enhance the rate of degradation at 5% and 15% diesel oil in polluted soil during 18 weeks. A total of 81% and 42% oil loss was recorded in soil amended with soycake at 5% and 15% oil pollution, respectively. The measured δ13C signature of CO2 evolved from amending contaminated soil varied between –24 and –28‰. First-order kinetic model demonstrated that soycake had the highest rate of biodegradation of 0.114 days−1 at 5% oil pollution. The results clearly indicate that those treatments amended with organic wastes had the best efficiency on the biodegradation of soil contaminated with diesel fuel.
Lattice Instabilities, Anharmonicity & Phase Transitions in PbZrO3 from first principles

Abstract An effective Hamiltonian for the antiferroelectric transition in PbZrO3 is constructed from first-principles density-functional-theory total-energy and linear-response calculations through the use of a localized, symmetrized basis set of “lattice Wannier functions''. The effective Hamiltonian consists of three-component vector degrees of freedom at the Pb sites and two-component vector degrees of freedom at the oxygen sites. This effective Hamiltonian allows us to analyze the structural energetics and identify the role of various physical contributions. We find that there exists a strong competition between sets of coupled unstable modes in producing low energy states. Two such groups of instabilities found from the effective Hamiltonian are seen to be relevant to the experimental ground and intermediate states.
Spin Dynamics of n-doped Gallium Arsenide

The emerging technology of spintronics promises to revolutionise computing by allowing considerably more energy efficient computing than is currently possible. Gallium Arsenide is one candidate material for use in semiconductor spintronic devices and as such detailed study of the spintronic properties of Gallium Arsenide is required. In this thesis we develop a semiclassical approach to the simulation of the electron population in Gallium Arsenide. We then use this model to look at the properties of the electron system, in particular the time taken for the electron population to undergo spin depolarisation. Comparison of the results to experimental values for the spin depolarisation suggest that the currently well accepted approach is accurate for low to moderate n type doping densities, but for higher densities there is a significant departure from the experimentally obtained results. We explore a number of improvements to the usual model showing substantial improvement in the range of densities that can be accurately predicted. As Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors have been the topic of substantial research, we also apply the model to investigate the properties of an magnetic impurity in n doped Gallium Arsenide. We compare the results to the Langevin enhanced Landau Lifshitz Gilbert equation, which shows good agreement allowing us to predict an appropriate damping constant as a result of the magnetic interaction with the electron population. We also investigate the nature of the noise felt by the magnetic atom showing that the usual white noise approximation is of limited validity.
Hydrogenated TiO2 Nanotube Arrays as High‐Rate Anodes for Lithium‐Ion Microbatteries

A simple method has been developed to substantially improve the high-rate capability of electrochemically anodized TiO2 nanotube arrays targeted for use as anode material in lithium-ion microbatteries by annealing in a reducing atmosphere (5 % H2 and 95 % Ar). A series of complementary techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectrometry (Raman), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), galvanostatic measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) have been employed to investigate the structural and morphological changes as well as the electrochemical performance enhancement resulting from hydrogenation treatment of the TiO2 nanotube arrays. The results reveal that improvement of the rate capability is mainly attributed to the electronic conductivity increase of the bulk TiO2 nanotubes rather than conductive characteristics of the surface coating because hydrogenation treatment produces a high number of oxygen vacancies inside the crystal lattices that makes the TiO2 nanotube arrays favor a bulk n-type conductor. Furthermore, the high-rate capability of other kinds of TiO2 nanomaterials, including rutile TiO2 nanowire arrays and anatase TiO2 nanoparticles, can also be considerably improved by similar H2 treatment. Therefore, the current H2 treatment method is proved to be a general and facile technique to improve the power density of TiO2 anode materials for next-generation, high-power lithium-ion batteries.
Qualities and antioxidant properties of bread as affected by the incorporation of yam flour in the formulation

Summary Yams (the tubers of Dioscorea spp.) are widely consumed but are also regarded as a medicinal food in China. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines using yams are only available on a seasonal basis, as yams quickly deteriorate during winter storage. Yam (Dioscorea purpurea, a major variety of yams in Taiwan) was freeze-dried and ground to obtain yam flour. Bread was made by replacing up to 25% of wheat flour with yam flour. Although the loaf volume decreased with the addition of yam flour, the results showed that up to 20% of yam flour could be included in bread formulation without altering the sensory acceptance of the blended bread. The incorporation of yam flour in bread markedly increased the antioxidant capacity of the bread as tested by both DPPH free radical scavenging and total antioxidation tests. Breads containing yam flour can broaden the utilization of yams and may be regarded as possible health-promoting foods.
Kristall‐ und Molekularstrukturen von zwei Carbodiimiden: Bis(diphenylmethyl)carbodiimid und Bis(p‐methoxyphenyl)‐carbodiimid

Bis(diphenylmethyl)carbodiimide (I), C27Hz2N z, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2ffe with a = 9. 106 (2), b = 11.225 (2), c = 20.059 (4) A,/ff = 95-85 (2) ° and Z = 4. Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)carbodiimide (IIL C ~sHt4N202, is orthorhombic, space group Pbea, with a = 14.232 (1), b = 10-642 (2), c = 17.859 (2) A and Z = 8. The intensities have been collected with a computer-controlled diffractometer using Mo K~ radiation. The crystal structures have been solved by direct methods and have been refined to R = 0.054 and R 0-040 respectively. The azacumulene systems deviate by 9.8 ° for (I) and 11-0 ° for (II) from a linear arrangement. The cumulenic n-bond systems have a nearly perpendicular orientation [89.7 ° for ( I )and 87.9 ° for (1I)1.
SOIL MOISTURE CHARACTERISTICS BY OSMOSIS WITH POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL: A SIMPLE SYSTEM WITH OSMOTIC PRESSURE DATA AND SOME RESULTS

THE USE OF POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) SOLUTIONS TO EXTRACT WATER FROM SOIL BY OSMOSIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN MOISTURE RELEASE CURVES OVER A WIDE SUCTION RANGE WITH A SINGLE SYSTEM. MATRIC SUCTIONS---MATRIC POTENTIAL EXPRESSED ON A UNIT VOLUME BASIS WITH THE SIGN REVERSED, I.E., NEGATIVE POTENTIAL IS POSITIVE SUCTION---UP TO 25 BARS ARE EASILY OBTAINED WITH PEG-6000 DIALYZING TUBING SYSTEMS. UNITS ARE DESCRIBED, MADE WITH SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, OFF-THE- SHELF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT WHICH WHEN USED WITH A TABLE OF OSMOTIC PRESSURES GIVEN IN THE ARTICLE, PROVIDE A SINGLE SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING MOISTURE CHARACTERISTICS FROM 0.16 TO 24.8 BARS WITHOUT RESORT TO EXPENSIVE PRESSURE AND SUCTION DEVICES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PRESSURE SOURCES, VALVES, REGULATORS, AND GAGES. THE DESIGN OF AN OSMOTIC EXTRACTION UNIT AND OF AN OSMOMETER FOR DETERMINING PEG-6000 OSMOTIC PRESSURE IS SHOWN IN DETAIL IN FIGURES, AND PROCEDURES FOR THEIR USE ARE DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FIVE MINERAL SOIL AND ONE ORGANIC SOIL ARE PLOTTED AS WATER CONTENT AGINST MATRIC SUCTION.
Stabilization of tetragonal phase in LaN under high pressure via Peierls distortion

First-principles calculations have been carried out using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method to analyze the structural stability of LaN under hydrostatic compression. Our calculations suggest that the rocksalt-type (B1) phase will transform to a primitive tetragonal structure (HP-LaN) having space group symmetry P4/nmm at a pressure of ∼25.8 GPa as compared to the experimental value of 22.8 GPa [Schneider SB, Baumann D, Salamat A, Schnick W, J Appl Phys. 2012;111:093503-1–6]. Additionally, we predict that the HP-LaN structure will further transform to CsCl type (B2) structure at ∼169 GPa. Analysis of band structures of HP-LaN and B2 phases suggests that the low symmetry HP-LaN phase, which can be viewed as a distortion of the B2 structure also, could be stabilized at lower pressure due to total energy lowering caused by Peierls distortion. The elastic moduli of B1 phase as a function of hydrostatic compression have also been calculated. The examination of behavior of elastic moduli as a function of pressure indicates that though the C44 modulus decreases monotonically with increasing pressure, it softens completely at a pressure much beyond the B1 to HP-LaN transition pressure.
Optimization of Biological Nutrient Removal in a Membrane Bioreactor System

The main objective of the present study is to develop a modified membrane bioreactor (MBR) system for the treatment of municipal wastewater for the enhanced biological removal of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) simultaneously with the ultimate goal of optimizing the two processes. The paper will address the implementation and optimization of the MBR process with respect to biological characteristics, operational performance, and effluent quality. The system utilizes anoxic P uptake and nitrification–denitrification in a MBR. Following optimization, the system achieved 99% chemical oxygen demand (COD), 98.4% NH3 –N , 77.5% TN, and 96.3% P removal producing effluent biological oxygen demand, COD, NH3 –N, NO3 –N, NO2 –N , and P of <3 , 3, 0.4, 5.8, 0.050, and 0.18 mg∕L , respectively.
Tautomerism of 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-triazole in the gas phase and in aqueous solution : a combined ab initio quantum mechanics and free energy perturbation study

The energy differences between the tautomers of 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-triazole have ben estimated at the 6-31G ** (MP2)//3-21G level including zero-point effects. The results confirm that only a single tautomer of each isomer is expected to be observed in the gas phase. In aqueous solution the free energy separation of each pair of tautomers is considerably reduced and has been estimated by use of the free energy perturbation method. These calculations agree with the experimental findings that for 1,2,3-triazole both tautomers are observed in a polar solvent, whereas for 1,2,4-triazole the concentration of the rare tautomer is still extremely low
Nitrogênio e potássio via fertirrigação e adubação convencional-estado nutricional das bananeiras e produção de frutos

A field experiment was carried out in Pindorama (Sao Paulo State, Brazil) with the objective of investigating the effects of N and K application through fertirrigation and conventional fertilization on banana plants during two crop cycles. Plant growth, nutrition status and fruit production were evaluated. The fertilization caused a reduction in the productive cycle. Fertilizers applied by fertirrigation or conventional fertilization changed the N and K leaf content. The fruit production varied in function of the treatment in the two cultivated cycles. Fruit production (t ha 1 year 1) obtained with application of 80% of N and K doses by fertirrigation was comparable to fruit production with 100% of fertilizer rate applied by conventional fertlization.
Systematic Application of Time Temperature Integrators as Tools for Control of Frozen Vegetable Quality

: The application of Time Temperature Integrators (TTI) for quality monitoring and control of frozen vegetable products was studied. Kinetic modeling of characteristic shelf life indices of frozen green peas and white mushrooms was conducted from - 3 to - 20 °C. Effect of temperature on color and vitamin C changes was modeled by the Arrhenius and WLF equations and validated at dynamic temperature conditions. Temperature dependence expressed by the value of activation energy ranged from 79 to 155 kJ/mol. Response kinetics of 2 enzymatic TTI were also obtained and validated. Activation energies of response were 61 and 100 kJ/mol. Based on kinetics, suitable TTI predicted the product remaining shelf life at different temperature exposures from production to consumption.
Structural variation of liquid crystalline trioxadecalins

Synthesis and mesogenic properties of new liquid crystals bearing a chiral trioxadecalin system are described. Boron-containing three-ring systems with a lateral methoxy group show cholesteric, TGBA and smectic A phases. Molecules containing four or five rings show mostly smectic C* phases. The insertion of a triple bond leads to ferroelectric smectic C* phases, but compounds with a flexible spacer between the rings show only monotropic smectic A phases. Lateral fluorination of the aromatic rings leads, depending on the position of the fluorine, either to stabilised smectic phases with lower transition temperatures or to cholesteric phases with complete suppression of all smectic phases.
Anthraquinone Photonucleases: Mechanisms for GG-Selective and Nonselective Cleavage of Double-Stranded DNA

Anthraquinone derivatives 2AQA2(HEt2) and 2AQC2(HEt2) were examined as light-activated agents that initiate DNA cleavage. The substituents control the electronic configuration of the lowest excited state of the anthraquinone. 2AQC2(HEt2) has a lowest nπ* excited state and can react by electron transfer or hydrogen atom abstraction. 2AQC2(HEt2) has a lowest excited state of ππ* or intramolecular charge-transfer character and reacts only by electron transfer. Spectroscopic evidence indicates that both quinones bind to double-stranded DNA by intercalation with essentially the same affinity. Picosecond time-resolved laser spectroscopy shows that single electron transfer from the DNA bases to either bound quinone occurs rapidly and to the same extent. Irradiation of either intercalated 2AQA2(HEt2) or 2AQC2(HEt2) followed by treatment with hot piperdine leads to equally effective cleavage of DNA at the 5‘-G of GG steps. These findings indicate that electron transfer from a DNA base to the excited quinone is the.
EVOLUTION LIGNITE MESOPORE STRUCTURE DURING DRYING. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND HEATING TIME

The knowledge of the intrinsic pore structure of coals is significant in elucidating the kinetics of mass transport and chemical reaction that leads to design of more efficient coal combustion and conversion equipment. The results of pore structure studies of Greek lignite are reported in this work. Isothermal drying of Greek lignite samples, under vacuum, caused mesopore structure evolution despite the severe (∼50%) particle size contraction due to heating. Mesopore volume and surface area were increased as the drying temperature was raised to 200°C while further drying up to 250°C caused a mesopore volume and surface area decrease. Lignite drying at 100°C for up to 3 h resulted in a monotonic increase of the mesopore structure properties while heating for a longer period i.e., 6 h, despite a slight increase of weight loss, caused pore volume and surface area reduction. Nitrogen sorption (77 K) hysteresis data obtained for partially dried samples have been processed to deduce BET surface area and pore size distributions (PSD) by using both the Roberts and a new method based on a Corrugated Pore Structure Model (CPSM-nitrogen) methods. The latter method was applied successfully in hysteresis loop simulations and predicted pore surface areas consistent with the respective BET values. Bimodal PSD have been detected with one peak at 3 nm and the second at 20 nm while surface area varied over the range 2.98–5.30 m2/g. Dry Greek lignite has shown a higher mesopore volume than that of several American and Canadian coals of varying rank. Mesopore volume distribution of dry Greek lignite, obtained from nitrogen sorption data, agree well with those deduced from mercury penetration data corrected for coal compressibility.
Formation of secondary light‐absorbing “fulvic‐like” oligomers: A common process in aqueous and ionic atmospheric particles?

Light‐absorbing “humic‐like” compounds of secondary origin have been consistently reported in partly inorganic aerosols and in fog waters but their formation could not be explained until now. In this work, we demonstrate that amino acid‐ and ammonium sulfate‐catalyzed reactions in water and ionic solutions produce compounds of identical molecular and optical properties and account well for the quantities found in atmospheric particles. For typical aerosol concentrations of amino acids or ammonium sulfate the rate constants of reaction are found to be identical to the one in concentrated sulfuric acid (10–15 M), clearly demonstrating the efficiency of these catalysts. Our results also show that these reactions should be common in aqueous and ionic aerosols, as confirmed by the observations, and significantly impact their absorption index. In particular, previous radiative calculations indicate that they should substantially reduce current estimates of the cooling contribution of sulfate aerosols on climate.
Electrochemical and In Situ X‐Ray Diffraction Studies of Lithium Intercalation in Li x CoO2

Electrochemical properties of Li x CoO 2 are studied as Li is deintercalated from LiCoO 2 . High precision voltage measurements and in situ x-ray diffraction indicate a sequence of three distinct phase transitions as x varies from 1 to 0.4. Two of the transitions are situated slightly above and below x=1/2 and are caused by an order/disorder transition of the lithium ions. The order/disorder transition is studied as a function of temperature allowing the determination of an order/disorder phase diagram
Phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium fertilization effects on upland rice in an ultisol

Abstract Acid‐related soil infertility is the major constraint to crop production on low‐activity clay soils in the tropics. We investigated the role of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in alleviating the acid‐related fertility problem in upland rice on an Ultisol in the humid forest zone of West Africa. A field experiment was conducted in 1994 under rainfed condition to determine the response of an acid‐tolerant, upland rice cultivar (WAB 56–50) to the application of P, Ca, and Mg nutrient combinations. Phosphorus alone or in combination with Ca and Mg significantly increased yield and agronomic and physiological P efficiencies and improved harvest index of the crop. Application of Ca and Mg alone or together had a non‐significant effect on yield, elemental composition of plant tissue at tillering, and the uptake of macro‐ and micronutrients at harvest. The results indicate that P deficiency was the most important nutrient disorder in the Ultisol and that the application of Ca and Mg as p.
Fundamentals of Anaerobic Digestion of Wastewater Sludges

This paper presents a literature review of anaerobic digestion of munidpal wastewater sludges. The paper focuses on the fundamentals of anaerobic digestion, setting forth a checklist for review of key process factors including: retention time, mixing, pH, temperature, nutrients, toxic materials, and feed characteristics. Major areas discussed are the microbiology and biochemistry of digestion, kinetics of digestion, environmental factors of concern, process performance indices, product stability, and laboratory and pilot studies on digestion. Although the text is aimed at digestion of municipal sludges, the fundamentals are sufficiently general to permit extrapolation to decomposition of other organics.