Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arsenic in Ironite fertilizer: The absorption by hamsters and the chemical form

We determined the gastrointestinal absorption of the arsenic in Ironite, a readily available fertilizer, for male hamsters (Golden Syrian), considered to be an excellent model for how the human processes inorganic arsenic. Urine and feces were collected after administering an aqueous suspension of Ironite by stomach tube. In addition, we studied the forms and oxidation states of arsenic in Ironite by synchrotron spectroscopic techniques. The absorption of the arsenic in Ironite (1-0-0) was 21.2% and the absorption relative to sodium arsenite was 31.0%. Our results using XANES spectra determinations indicate that Ironite contains scorodite (AsV) as well as previously reported arsenopyrite (As(−1)). Since the 1-0-0 Ironite is readily available for purchase, its risk assessment for children by professionals is recommended. This is especially important because it is used to fertilize large areas of grass in playgrounds and parks where children play. The absorption of the arsenic in it, the hand to mouth activity of children, and the potential of ground water contamination makes the use of 1-0-0 Ironite as a fertilizer a potential environmental hazard.
Organosolv Delignification of Eucalyptus globulus: Kinetic Study of Autocatalyzed Ethanol Pulping

The autocatalyzed delignification of Eucalyptus globulus in 50% ethanol (w/w) was modeled as the irreversible and consecutive dissolution of initial, bulk, and residual lignin. Their respective contributions to total lignin was estimated as 9, 75, and 16%. Isothermal pulping experiments were carried out to evaluate an empirical kinetic model among eight proposals corresponding to different reaction schemes. The calculated activation energy was found to be 96.5, 98.5, and 40.8 kJ mol-1 for initial, bulk, and residual delignification, respectively. The influence of hydrogen ion concentration was expressed by a power-law function model. The kinetic model developed here was validated using data from nonisothermal pulping runs.
Phase formation and morphology of calcium phosphate–gelatine-composites grown by double diffusion technique: the influence of fluoride

Calcium phosphate–gelatine-composites are grown by double diffusion of calcium- and phosphate/fluoride-solutions into a tube filled with gelatine gel. The composite aggregates appear within periodic growth areas (Liesegang bands). Growth time and temperature were kept constant (three weeks, 25 °C), the fluoride concentration in the solutions was varied (molar ratios Ca∶P∶F = 5∶3∶y; 0 ≤ y ≤ 1). Crystalline solids (octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and apatite (AP)) were identified by X-ray powder diffraction (incl. x for (OH1−xFx)). The distribution of crystalline phases over the Liesegang bands was determined. Changes in surface morphologies of OCP- and AP-spheres were investigated by SEM. In case of the AP composite an increasing fluoride content of the (OH1−xFx) position increases the rigidity of the needle-like surface individuals. The inner architecture of OCP-spheres is dominated by core/shell-assemblies and radial structures. In case of fluoride-rich AP composites the central part of the spheres is characterised by a torus-shaped cavity generated by the fractal growth mechanism. The hexagonal shape of the cross-section of the cavity strongly supports the fractal growth.
Accumulation of organo‐metallic complexes in laterites and the formation of Aluandic Andosols in the Nilgiri Hills (southern India): similarities and differences with Umbric Podzols

We have investigated the speciation and distribution of iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) between minerals and organic species in A and B horizons of two Aluandic Andosols with X‐ray diffraction, thermal analyses, visible diffuse reflectance and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies, together with selective and total chemical extractions. The two Aluandic Andosols of the Nilgiri Highlands (south India) have formed at the expense of intensively weathered lateritic formations of the Eocene. Data revealed that Al and Fe were predominantly stored in end‐weathering products of laterites, mainly as gibbsite and Fe (hydr)oxides in B horizons of the Aluandic Andosols. These secondary minerals are gradually replaced by organo‐metallic complexes in the topsoil A horizons exhibiting andic properties.
Ultrathin SiO2 on Si IV. Intensity measurement in XPS and deduced thickness linearity

The procedures for measuring the intensities and for subsequent calculation of the thickness of thermal SiO2 layers on Si in the range 0.3–8 nm have been evaluated to determine the best measurement protocols. This work is based on earlier work where the measurements for (100) and (111) Si surfaces indicate the need to work at a reference geometry. In the spectra, the Si 2p peaks may be separated clearly into the substrate Si and the overlayer SiO2 but it is recommended here that, for accuracies better than 1%, the interface oxides are also analysed. The analysis here is for thermal oxides. Oxides grown by other routes may require a modification of this analysis. It is shown that, in evaluating the data to determine the layer thickness, the failure to remove x‐ray satellites or the use of a straight‐line background will both lead to unacceptable errors that may exceed 5%. On the other hand, if a Shirley background is used consistently for both the peak area analysis and for evaluation of the ratio of intensities for bulk SiO2 and Si, Ro, the results should be linear over the above range to within ±0.025 nm. This excellent result includes the non‐linearities arising from elastic scattering effects and the data reduction method. Equations are provided, together with a value of Ro for Mg and Al x‐rays, to calculate the oxide thicknesses with the above linearity. In order to determine the oxide thickness accurately, the relevant inelastic mean free paths also must be known. Theoretical evaluations are only accurate to 17.4% and so better values need to be obtained by calibration. This paper provides the infrastructure to do this. Crown Copyright © 2003 Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retention, Thermodynamics and Adsorption Profile of Th(IV) Ions onto 1‐(2‐Pyridylazo)‐2‐Naphthol (PAN) Loaded Polyurethane Foam from Acetate Media and its Separation from Rare Earths

Abstract The sorption behavior of 2.7×10−5 M solution of Th(IV) ions on 1‐(2‐pyridylazo)‐2‐naphthol (PAN) loaded polyurethane foam (PUF) has been investigated. The quantitative sorption was occurred from pH 6 to 9 from acetate buffer solutions. The sorption conditions were optimized with respect to pH, shaking time, and weight of sorbent. The sorption data followed the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin‐Radushkevich (D‐R) isotherms very successfully at low metal ions concentration. The Freundlich isotherm constant (1/n) is estimated to be 0.22±0.01, and reflects the surface heterogeneity of the sorbent. The Langmuir isotherm gives the maximum monolayer coverage is to be 8.61×10−6 mol g−1. The sorption free energy of the D‐R isotherm was 17.85±0.33 kJ mol−1, suggesting chemisorption involving chemical bonding was responsible for the adsorption process. The numerical values of thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) indicate that sorption is endothermic, entropy driven, and spontaneous in nature. The adsorption free energy (ΔGads) and effective free energy (ΔGeff) are also evaluated and discussed. The effect of different anions on the sorption of Th(IV) ions onto PAN loaded PUF was studied. The possible sorption mechanism on the basis of experimental finding was discussed. A new separation procedure of Th(IV) from synthetic rare earth mixture using batch, column chromatography, and squeezing techniques were reported.
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in fruit, vegetables, and food of vegetable origin purchased in the United States

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants have been increasing exponentially in the US general population in recent decades. PBDEs are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and thus are toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative. Levels in human blood and milk are markedly higher in North America than Europe. Food is a major route of intake. Typically higher levels of PBDEs are found in food of animal origin including fish, meat, and dairy products. Currently, there are no published data on the levels of PBDE in US fruits, vegetables, or food of vegetable origin. This study was conducted to study PBDE contamination in US fruits, vegetables, and food of vegetable origin; compare with levels in US fish, meat, and dairy products and with levels in vegetables in other countries. This is a follow-up study of our previously reported studies on PBDE levels in US food of animal origin. Of 14 food samples collected in Dallas, Texas, the total sum of five PBDE congeners, Σ5 PBDE, ranged from 2.6 to 90 pg g−1 or parts per trillion (ppt) wet weight (ww). The median and mean concentrations of 14 individual samples were 11.2 pg g−1 and 19.5 pg g−1, respectively. The highest PBDE level was observed in wheat bread (90 pg g−1) and lowest in soy milk (2.6 pg g−1). Median PBDE levels of vegetables (11.2 pg g−1) are low compared to our previously measured median PBDE levels of fish (616 pg g−1), meat (190 pg g−1) and dairy products (32 pg g−1). PBDE levels in this study were found to have intermediate values compared to fruit and vegetable levels reported from other countries.
Pores in III–V Semiconductors

The paper reviews electrochemically etched pores in III–V compound semiconductors (GaP, InP, GaAs) with emphasis on nucleation and formation mechanisms, pore geometries and morphologies, and to several instances of self‐organization. Self‐ organization issues include the formation of single‐crystalline two‐dimensional hexagonal arrays of pores with lattice constants as small as 100 nm found in InP, synchronized and unsynchronized diameter oscillations coupled to current and voltage oscillations, and pore domain formation. The findings are discussed in relation to pores observed in silicon. Some novel properties of the porous layers obtained in III–V compounds are briefly described.
Removal of Nickel and Phenanthrene from Kaolin Soil Using Different Extractants

Numerous sites exist where low permeability clayey soils have been contaminated with both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. To remediate these sites, innovative treatment methods are urgently required. Electrokinetically enhanced in situ flushing offers great potential to remediate low permeability soils, but this method is highly dependent on the type of extracting solution used. This study investigated the feasibility of using different extracting solutions at various concentrations to remove PAHs as well as heavy metals from low permeability clayey soils. The most efficient extracting solutions could be used as purging/extracting solutions in electrokinetic remediation and other technologies such as soil washing. For the present study, kaolin was selected as a model clayey soil, and it was spiked with phenanthrene as well as nickel at concentrations of 500 mg/kg each to simulate typical field contamination. Several batch tests were conducted using a known amount of the spiked ka.
Redetermination of the crystal structure of endo-2-carboxy-bicyclo[2.2.1]- heptane, C8H12O2

Abstract C8H12O2, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 5.8945(4) Å, b = 6.0522(3) Å, c = 10.7643(7) Å, α = 101.219(2)°, β = 90.581(2)°, γ = 95.445(2)°, V = 374.8 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0417, wRref(F2) = 0.1105, T = 200 K.
The Influence of Impurities on Crystallization Kinetics of Sodium Chloride

The influence of impurities on the crystallization kinetics of NaCl was investigated in a fluidized bed crystallizer. The growth and dissolution rates were related to the supersaturation and impurity concentrations. The effect of different impurities on the growth rate of NaCl crystals can be divided into thermodynamic effects where the impurities influence the solubility and kinetic effects where the impurities will suppress the growth rate compared to the pure NaCl. A mathematical model describing crystal growth rates from aqueous solution as a function of impurity concentration is presented. The model explains impurity concentration effects on the crystal growth rate in terms of an impurity effectiveness factor and a Langmuir adsorption isotherm for the impurity.
An Evaluation of the Wind Energy in the North-West of the Black Sea

The objective of the present work is to evaluate the opportunity of the wind farms implementation in the north-western side of the Black Sea. An assessment of the wind energy potential was first carried out by analyzing eleven years of data. Both in situ measurements and model data coming from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts were considered at this level. Using a classical logarithmic transformation law, the wind speeds were translated to the height of 80 m where usually the wind turbines operate. The analysis of the in situ measurements indicates the Romanian coastal environment as being more energetic during the winter season, with an average wind speed at 80 m of about 9.7 m/s and a power density of 870W/m2. On the other hand, the analysis of the model dataset indicates that the Ukrainian nearshore is slightly more energetic during the winter season with an average wind speed of 7.5 m/s and a power density of 310W/m2. As a further step, the seasonal and spatial distributions of the wind energy were evaluated in terms of the power estimated to be delivered by the Siemens 2.3 wind turbine. Finally, the regional wind energy resources are compared with similar ones from locations in which offshore wind farms are known to operate or are expected to be developed in the near future. The main conclusion coming from the present work would be that the north-western side of the Black Sea represents a promising area for the wind energy extraction.
Theoretical assessment of fabric and permeability changes in clays affected by organic contaminants

Permeability of clay is known, from laboratory tests, to increase over four orders of magnitude during low effective stress permeation with some concentrated organic liquids. On an engineering scale, in a one-dimensional purely advective flow through a finite layer, such evolution is shown numerically to cause a substantial acceleration of the progress of the contamination front, compared with a constant permeability case. For a 100-fold increase in intrinsic permeability for a 100% replacement of pore water with an organic, a two times shorter advective transit time is predicted. A series of quantitative fabric models based on interpretations and concepts proposed in the past are reformulated in quantitative terms. These models are associated with adsorbed water withdrawal, particle migration, and deposition leading to pore clogging, changes in connectivity or flocculation. Permeability is derived from the flow through a simplified structure formed by dominant pores in the actual pore size distribution. The formulation is applied to interpret previously published experimental data. It is found that a series connection of the dominant pores must be postulated rather than a parallel one, with the smaller pore acting as a bottle neck. A simple pore enlargement model is found not to be realistic. The numerically most consistent results are obtained for the flocculation model involving a particle rotation generating wedge-shaped channels. Resume : On sait, sur la base d'essais de laboratoire, que la permeabilite d'une argile peut etre augmentee de quatre ordres de grandeur pendant la permeation, de certains liquides organiques concentres sous contraintes effectives basses. A l'echelle de l'ingenieur, si on considere un ecoulement unidimensionnel purement advectif a travers une couche d'epaisseur finie, on peut montrer numeriquement qu'une telle evolution cause une acceleration substantielle de l'avancee du front de contamination, compare au cas d'une permeabilite constante. Pour une augmentation de permeabilite intrinseque de 100 fois avec
Poly(ester anhydride)s prepared by the insertion of ricinoleic acid into poly(sebacic acid)

New degradable poly(ester anhydride)s were prepared by the melt polycondensation of diacid oligomers of poly(sebacic acid) (PSA) transesterified with ricinoleic acid. The transesterification of PSA with ricinoleic acid to form oligomers was conducted via a melt bulk reaction between a high molecular weight PSA and ricinoleic acid. A systematic study on the synthesis, characterization, degradation in vitro, drug release, and stability of these polymers was performed. Polymers with weight-average molecular weights of 2000-60,000 and melting temperatures of 24-77 °C were obtained for PSA containing 20-90% (w/w) ricinoleic acid. NMR and IR analyses indicated the formation of ester bonds along the polyanhydride backbone. These new degradable copolymers have potential use as drug carriers.
Effects of the Ionic Currents in Electrolyte‐gated Organic Field‐Effect Transistors

Polyelectrolytes are promising materials as gate dielectrics in organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). Upon gate bias, their polarization induces an ionic charging current, which generates a large double layer capacitor (10–500 µF cm−2) at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. The resulting transistor operates at low voltages (<1 V) and its conducting channel is formed in ∼50 µs. The effect of ionic currents on the performance of the OFETs is investigated by varying the relative humidity of the device ambience. Within defined humidity levels and potential values, the water electrolysis is negligible and the OFETs performances are optimum.
Synthesis and Thermal Conductivity of Copper Nanoparticle Decorated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Based Nanofluids

Copper nanoparticle-loaded multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Cu/MWCNTs) have been synthesized by chemical reduction method using functionalized MWCNTs processed by the chemical vapor deposition technique and copper chloride. Cu/MWCNTs based nanofluids have been synthesized by dispersing nanocomposites of Cu/MWCNTs in deionized water (DI water) and ethylene glycol (EG) polar base fluids without any surfactant. The results showed that well-dispersed Cu/MWCNTs nanofluids with varying concentration of Cu/MWCNTs can be synthesized using the present method. A maximum thermal conductivity at a very low volume fraction of Cu/MWCNTs has resulted due to the homogeneous dispersion of Cu decorated MWCNTs in base fluids and formation of more hydrophilic MWCNTs due to the attachment of oxygen containing functional groups leading to a good interactions of MWCNTs with each other.
IMPACT OF WATER AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF WHEAT

Field experiments were conducted in 2002–03 and 2003–04 growing seasons to determine wheat response to four irrigation regimes applied at different growth stages and four nitrogen levels of 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg nitrogen (N) ha−1. The experiment was conducted at the research area of the Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Recommended wheat variety “Inqlab-91” was used as the experimental crop. Both irrigation and nitrogen application have positive effects on grain yield increase. The grain crude protein decreased with increasing number of irrigations whereas in contrast, nitrogen application significantly improved grain crude protein at all irrigation levels. Grain phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) percentage increased with the application of irrigation and nitrogen. Grain yield, number of spikes m−2, grains spike−1 and grain weight responses were greater at the higher N rates. Mean grain yield in four, three and two irrigation treatments compared with that in one irrigation treatment increased 47, 23, and 9% during 2002–03 and 91, 84, and 23% in 2003–04, respectively. Water deficit reduced spikes m−2. In both years, the average reduction in spikes m−2 at maximum irrigation deficit (one irrigation) at all N levels was 24%. Similar reduction occurred in grains spike−1 where water deficit decreased this component on an average of 36%.
Chemical cocktail party in East Greenland: A first time evaluation of human organohalogen exposure from consumption of ringed seal and polar bear tissues and possible health implications

East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are among the mammals with the highest bioaccumulated concentrations of organohalogen contaminants (OHCs). Since Greenlanders in this region ingest significant quantities of adipose tissue from polar bears and also ringed seals (Pusa hispida), initial conservative estimates of the daily oral exposure to this chemical cocktail are thus presented. The tolerable daily intake was exceeded approximately five-fold for polychlorinated biphenyls and chlordane pesticides and metabolites, while the estimated daily toxic equivalent (TEQ) (based on the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-rho-dioxin toxicity equivalence factors) for East Greenland subsistence hunters was three- to ten-fold higher than the WHO ∑TEQ guidelines even though the estimations were conservative. The daily oral OHC exposure from polar bear and ringed seal blubber consumption is markedly high and needs to be reduced in order to remove this co-factor with respect to the influence on the development of chronic diseases. Furthermore, it is warranted that a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for Greenlander's exposure to OHCs is constructed and that risk quotients calculated to estimate the threats to health for East Greenland subsistence hunters.
Differences between wines fermented with and without sulphur dioxide using various selected yeasts

Comparisons were made between wines resulting from the fermentation of a single grape must of the Verdejo cultivar with various yeasts, namely the indigenous must microflora, pure cultures of Kloeckera apiculata, Torulaspora delbrueckii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and mixtures of these cultures, all with or without the addition of SO2. There were major differences in both volatile and non-volatile compounds. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed that these differences were due mainly to the effects of the sulphur dioxide upon the yeasts. Analytical data on the wines demonstrate that the nature of a wine depends upon the particular yeasts present during the fermentation in the absence of SO2. On the other hand, if the fermentation is carried out in presence of SO2, similar wines are produced despite differences in the microflora.
Measurement of singlet oxygen luminescence from AML5 cells sensitized with ALA-induced PpIX in suspension during photodynamic therapy and correlation with cell viability after treatment

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatments were performed on suspensions of AML5 cells incubated with ALA-induced PpIX with either 15 mW/cm2, 45 mW/cm2 or 90 mW/cm2 pulsed 523 nm light. Singlet oxygen (1O2) luminescence measurements were carried out using a detection system including a near-infrared (NIR) sensitive photomultiplier tube (PMT). Cell viability was determined at several time points during treatments using the propidium iodide (PI) flow cytometry assay. Cumulative 1O2 measurements were compared to cell viability for all experiments. Preliminary results show that average cell viability increased with increasing treatment irradiance. Cell viability was found to correlate well with absolute cumulative 1O2 luminescence measurements during treatment.
Evaporating Droplets of Completely Wetting Liquids

The dynamics of shrinking of thin alkane droplets evaporating on isothermal surfaces has been studied in the case of complete wetting, where no pinning of the contact line is expected. As the resolution of the complete hydrodynamic equation is still an open problem, we propose a semiempirical approach, where only evaporation is taken into account. A careful analysis of the mathematical consequences of the form chosen for the evaporation term is given. The agreement with experiments is extremely good, suggesting that hydrodynamic contributions and Marangoni flows are probably negligible for the simple liquids considered.