Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, characterization and environmental application of silica grafted photoactive substances isolated from urban biowaste

A waste-derived photoactive substance sourced from the green fraction of urban refuses (CVT230) was immobilized on different types of silica support, one amorphous and the other two with controlled porosity (HMS and SBA). In this fashion, three hybrid systems were obtained, which contained CVT230 as an insoluble photoactive component. They were tested in the photodegradation of 4-methylphenol in aqueous solution irradiated by simulated solar light and results showed that they are able to promote the total photodegradation of the pollutant. The materials, both before and after irradiation, were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), N2 gas-volumetric adsorption, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The SBA silica hybrid system showed the best performance in terms of stability and reusability, after multiple irradiation cycles. This behaviour can be correlated to the silica morphology and texture, being capable to better allocate and stabilize the CVT230 molecules.
Predicting bare soil temperature. I. Theory and models for the multi‐day mean diurnal variation

Summary The energy balance equation for the soil-air interface is expressed, by suitable approximations, in a form linear in the surface temperature T0. This forms the basis of two predictive models for the diurnal variation of T0, averaged over a many-day interval, for potentially evaporating bare soil. Input data include total solar radiation, air temperature and vapour pressure, windspeed ua, cloud cover c, and soil radiative, aerodynamic and thermal properties (the latter assumed uniform). In the simpler model, based on harmonic analysis, ua and c are assumed constant. For Nt observations per day, an algebraic solution is found as a set of equations for the parameters of up to the first Nt/2 harmonics. In the second model, dynamic wind-speed is introduced, and a more complicated linear algebraic method of solution is required. The models have agroclimatic value, since by averaging they predict the thermal ‘climate’ of soil, in contrast to instantaneous models which describe the time-specific thermal ‘weather’.
Effects of Irrigation Water Salinity and Leaching Fraction on Yield and Evapotranspiration in Spring Wheat

To determine the effects of irrigation water salinity and leaching fraction on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), grain yield, straw yield, shoot sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) concentrations of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar ‘Onfarom 9,’ a pot experiment was conducted using saline soil with electrical conductivity of soil paste extract (ECe) of 13.2 dS m−1. A factorial experiment with a completely randomized design replicated seven times was used with three levels of saline irrigation water (4, 9, and 12 dS m−1) and four leaching levels (0, 17, 29, and 37%) included as the factors. The results showed that ETc significantly decreased as a result of an increase in irrigation water salinity (ECi) and decrease in leaching level. Crop evapotranspiration deficit and decreasing irrigation and drainage water effectively resulted in grain and straw yield reduction. Increase in ECi increased accumulation of Cl and Na in crop shoot, but application of leaching decreased this accumulation.
Optimizing thermoelectric performances of low-temperature SnSe compounds by electronic structure design

Recently SnSe compound was reported to have a peak thermoelectric figure-5 of-merit (ZT) of 2.62 at 923 K, but the ZT values at temperatures below 750 K are relatively low. In this work, the electronic structures of SnSe are calculated using the density functional theory, and the electro- and thermo-transport properties upon varying chemical potential (or carrier density) are evaluated by the semi-classic Boltzmann transport theory, showing that the calculated ZT values along the a10 and c-axes below 675 K are in agreement with reported values, but that along the b-axis can be as high as 2.57 by optimizing the carrier concentration to ~3.6*1019 cm-3. It is revealed that a mixed ionic-covalent bonding and heavy-light band overlapping near the valence band are the reasons for the higher thermoelectric performance
Ordering Phenomena in Thin Block Copolymer Films Studied Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Ordering phenomena in block copolymers have attracted much theoretical and experimental attention. Most work focuses on lamellar mesophases. We have used atomic force microscopy to study cylindrical mesophase formation in thin films of a commercial styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) block copolymer. Complex ordering phenomena occur during annealing. We have found that the orientation of polystyrene cylinders depends on the film thickness. For films that are thinner than two repeat distances the orientation is consistently found to be perpendicular to the surface. Parallel orientations can only exist at specific values of the thickness. If the average thickness of the film is not compatible with the repeat distance, the film develops microscopic variations in thickness such that the thicker regions are an integer of the repeat distance. In the thinner regions, the cylinders orient perpendicular to the surface.
Resíduos de plantas de cobertura e mobilidade dos produtos da dissolução do calcário aplicado na superfície do solo

Cover plants have received extra attention due to their release of low molecular weight organic acids that form organic complexes with aluminum, calcium and magnesium. Besides neutralizing toxic aluminum, such compounds can increase the mobility in the soil profile of the dissolution products of lime applied on the soil surface. Objectives of this research were (a) to identify the low molecular weight organic acids found in different cover plant species and in soil solution, (b) to evaluate the effects of the residues, alone or together with surface lime application, in relation to acidity neutralization of subsoil layers in no-tillage systems, and (c) to verify the relation between organic acids of low molecular weight, released during the decomposition of plant residues, with the effect on soil acidity properties in the soil profile due to surface lime application. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in undisturbed Inceptisol (Haplumbrept) soil samples in columns, collected in a field experiment under no-tillage for five years. Nine treatments were applied: residue (10 Mg ha-1) of black oat (1), common vetch (2), oil seed radish (3), lime (13 Mg ha-1) (4), lime plus residue of black oat (5), of common vetch (6), of oil seed radish (7), and lime plus citric acid (0.91 Mg ha-1), (8) and no treatment (9), arranged in randomized blocks. The liquid chromatography method (HPLC) allowed an identification of the main low molecular weight organic acids in the plant residues. Trans-aconitic acid was the most important in black oat, malic acid in common vetch, and citric and malic acids in oil seed radish. It was not possible to detect organic acids in the percolate or soil solution. Plant residues had no effect on acidity neutralization in the deeper soil since the effects, alone or with lime application on the soil surface, were restricted to the soil surface layer (0-2.5 cm).
Velocity modulation laser absorption spectroscopy of the A 2Πi←X 2Σ+ transition of the CS+ cation

The laser absorption spectrum of the (5,0) and (6,0) bands of the A (2)Pi(i)<--X (2)Sigma(+) transition of CS+ has been recorded using velocity modulation spectroscopy enhanced by optical heterodyne and magnetic rotation effects. First, improved molecular constants for the ground state of the ion were determined by a global linear least-squares fit of combination differences from the (1,0) (5,0), and (6,0) bands. Then a standard model was used to analyze the perturbations between the vibrational levels of the A (2)Pi(i) state and high vibrational levels of the X (2)Sigma(+) state, leading to molecular constants and perturbation parameters for the upsilon(A)=5similar toupsilon(X)=13 and upsilon(A)=6similar toupsilon(X)=14 complexes. A new set of equilibrium parameters has been derived for the A and X states by combining all the available spectroscopic data, weighted according to the accuracy of the input parameters. The equilibrium internuclear distances from the new analysis are X (2)Sigma(+)r(e)=1.492 156(78) A and A (2)Pi r(e)=1.639 55(10) A. The Rydberg-Klein-Rees potential energy curves for the A (2)Pi(i) and X (2)Sigma(+) states were constructed using the improved equilibrium constants, and the Franck-Condon factors calculated for all vibrational bands up to upsilon(')=11 and upsilon(')=10 of the A (2)Pi(i)-X (2)Sigma(+) system. The overlap integrals calculated from the RKR turning points were used to find the interaction parameters a and b from the experimental perturbation parameters xi and eta. The r dependence of the a and b values relevant to the perturbations in the (1,0), (5,0), and (6,0) bands is discussed. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.
Feasibility of retrieving upper tropospheric water vapor from observations of far-infrared radiation

Since the early 1970's, infrared remote sensing of water vapor has been based exclusively on observations of mid-infrared (mid-ir) emission from the strong 6.3 micrometers vibration-rotation band. However, the outgoing longwave radiation from Earth is dominated by emission in the far-infrared (far-ir) at wavelengths greater than 15 micrometers . The source of this far-ir radiation is upper tropospheric water vapor. Furthermore, there are a growing number of novel instrument concepts that propose measuring the thermal far-ir spectrum for the purpose of radiation budget sensing and climate fingerprinting. As a result, we investigate the feasibility of retrieving upper tropospheric water vapor from nadir-viewing observations of far-ir spectral emission. We find that it is possible to retrieve upper tropospheric water vapor from measurements of the far-ir spectral radiation, and that the vertical resolution can be significantly improved by combining measurements from the far-ir and mid-ir spectrum.
Food web complexity enhances community stability and climate regulation in a geophysiological model

A central debate in community ecology concerns the relationship between the complexity of communities and their stability. How does the richness of food web structures affect their resistance and resilience to perturbation? Most mathematical models of communities have shown that stability declines as complexity increases but so far, modellers have not included the material environment in their calculations. Here an otherwise conventional community ecology model is described, which includes feedback between the biota and their climate. This “geophysiological” model is stable in the sense that it resists perturbation. The more complex the community included in the model, the greater its stability in terms of both resistance to perturbation and rate of response to perturbation. This is a realistic way to model the naturalworld because organisms cannot avoid feedback to and from their material environment. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1999. t01-3-00006.x
The influence of metal oxide nanoparticles on properties of water glass

Determination of the influence of the colloidal nanoparticles of zinc oxide additions on the properties of water glass, a binder of moulding and core sands is the subject of the paper. The nanoparticles of zinc oxide in various suspensions were introduced into water glass and the adhesive properties were examined by measuring the quartz wettability by the binder. The binder-matrix interactions were verified by strength tests of loose self-setting sands with modified binders. The most efficient quality improvement of moulding sands with water glass can be achieved by the binder modification. Multimolecular components such as polyphosphate, polyacrylamide, carboxymethylcellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol have been used up to now as modifiers. They differed in: their polymerisation degree, molecular mass, kind and number of functional groups. The performed investigations of water glass modification by the suspension of ZnO nanoparticles in ethanol and in propanol indicated that strength Rm u of loose self-setting sands with water glass modified by the suspension of ZnO nanoparticles in ethanol and in propanol (without a chemical hardener) increases when the modifier is added. In the case of adding the modifier in the form of a suspension of ZnO nanoparticles in propanol sand strength Rm u increases by approx. 8% (when modifier addition equals 3 mass %) and by approx. 26% (when this addition equals 5 mass %), whereas when the modification is carried out by the suspension of ZnO in ethanol sand strength Rm u increases by approx. 18% (when modifier addition equals 3 mass %) and by approx. 12% (when this addition equals 5 mass %).
Reduction of excessive bioavailable phosphorus in soils by using municipal and industrial wastes

Poultry and swine production has created both economic growth in Oklahoma and concern over the effect of excessive land application of animal manure on water quality. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ability of two drinking water treatment alum hydrosolids (HS1, HS2), cement kiln dust (CKD), and treated bauxite red mud (RM) to reduce excessive amounts of bioavailable P in soil and to determine potential environmental impacts from these treatments. Two soils that contained 553 and 296 mg kg -1 Mehlich III-extractable P, as a result of prior treatment with poultry litter or dairy manure, were mixed with amendments at the rate of 30 and 100 g kg -1 soil and incubated at 25°C for 9 wk. Reductions in Mehlich III-extractable P from 553 mg kg -1 to 250 mg kg -1 followed the trend HS2, CKD ≥ HS1 ≥ RM in the slightly acidic Dickson soil (fine-silty, siliceous, Thermic Glossic Fragiudult). Reductions in Mehlich III-extractable P from 296 mg kg -1 to 110 mg kg -1 followed the trend HS2 > HS1 > RM > CKD in the calcareous Keokuk soil (coarse-silty, mixed, Thermic Fluventic Haplustoll). Reduction of soluble P followed similar trends. Most treatments did not result in excessive soil pH or increases in soil salinity, in extractable Al, or in heavy metals in soils. Application of alum hydrosolids to soils with excessive amounts of bioavailable P in sensitive watersheds may improve drinking water quality and provide financial savings for municipalities.
Feeding value of raw and boiled pigeon pea seed meal on the growth performance of local pullet chicks

A total of 324 local pullet chicks (1- 8 weeks) were used for the research project to evaluate the feeding value of raw and boiled pigeon pea seed meal (PSM) on their growth performance. Nine iso-caloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated, with raw and boiled pigeon pea seed meal at inclusion levels of 0%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30%, respectively. There were 36 chicks per treatment replicated into 3 at 12 chicks per replicate. There were significant interactions between form and PSM levels on the final live weight, daily feed intake and daily protein intake. Final live weight of pullets fed both raw and boiled PSM followed the same trend, pullets fed control (0%) and 15% raw PSM 128.10 and 132.33g respectively performed better than the rest of the treatment levels but statistically similar at all levels. Daily feed intake and daily protein intake showed significant interaction among the treatments. Pullets fed control (8.95g) and raw diets (8.79g) consumed more feed than pullets fed boiled PSM II (105.05g), III (117.77g) IV (91.27g) and V (112.80g) diets. Daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio had no significant (P>0.05) interaction between form and treatment groups for the pullets. 30% PSM raw or boiled can be fed to local pullet chicks without any deleterious effect on the growth performance. Keywords: Raw PSM, Boiled PSM, Feeding value, Growing local pullet.
Divides and dialogue in the diaspora during Sri Lanka’s civil war

ABSTRACT In the armed conflict in Sri Lanka (1983–2009), the diaspora was actively involved, most importantly through its financial and political support to the Tamil separatists. This article explores the dynamics within the diaspora itself, looking at how conflict divides were maintained and reshaped outside Sri Lanka, but also at the possibilities for dialogue. It studies both Sinhalese and Tamils in the diaspora and enquires into their experiences of interaction with the ethnic other. Based on multi-sited fieldwork carried out during the latter phase of the war, it maps meeting spaces in the host countries and discusses how divides were entrenched or bridged in these spaces. The reversed majority–minority relations between the two groups are discussed, as are the perceptions that dialogue attempts can be a way of co-optation and an activity in which divides are confirmed rather than overcome.
CHANGES IN THE CHEMICAL AND SENSORIAL PROFILE OF EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OILS FLAVORED WITH HERBS AND SPICES DURING STORAGE

A study is reported on the chemical and sensorial characteristics of extra virgin olive oil flavored with hot pepper, garlic, oregano and rosemary during 7 months of storage. The oils were prepared by addition of the spice oily extracts at three different levels of concentration to an extra virgin olive oil. The following parameters were monitored: acidity, peroxide value (PV), K232, K270, (E)-2-hexenal/hexanal ratio and sensorial characteristics. At the end of the storage, all samples showed PV and K232 values lower than the control, whereas similar values of acidity, K270 and (E)-2-hexenal/hexanal ratio were observed. These results demonstrated that the herb and spice extracts improved the stability of the extra virgin olive oil. Tasters were able to distinguish among the levels of addition, and at the end of the storage, they preferred the oils flavored with 20 g/L of rosemary, 40 g/L of hot pepper, 40 g/L of oregano and 30 g/L of garlic. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This research is strongly oriented to the industrial application. The obtained results could be immediately applied to flavored olive oil production since the experimental plan includes the set-up of the process and the preference of consumers. Producers will acquire a novel product having a greater added value (due to the nutritional and antioxidant power of the spices) but without changes in the plants already present in the factories and, thus, without increases in costs.
Efficiency of Sulfur Application on Soybean in Two Types of Oxisols in Southern Brazil

Modern agricultural techniques have been increasing the yield of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) while also causing increasing removal of sulfur (S) from the soil. Besides this, the use of concentrated fertilizers with this element and inadequate soil management, with consequent formation of organic matter with low S concentrations, has been causing frequent symptoms of deficiency in the plants. To assess the effect of S on soybean yield and to establish critical levels of sulfur sulfate (S-SO42-) available in the soil, two experiments were conducted over a 2-year period in the Paraná State, Brazil, in fields containing Typic Haplorthox and Typic Eutrorthox soils, located in the Ponta Grossa and Londrina Counties, respectively. The experimental design was randomized blocks with five S rates (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha−1) and four replicates. The source used was elementary S with 98 percent purity. The maximum estimated yields on average for the 2 years were obtained with application of 49.9 and 63.0 kg ha−1 in the Typic Haplorthox and Typic Eutrorthox soils, for an overall average of 56.4 kg ha−1, with concentrations of available S-SO42- in the 0- to 20-cm depth of 16.9, 19.3m and 17.1 mg kg−1, respectively, values greater than the 10 mg kg−1 indicated as the adequate concentration for soybean plant. In turn, at the 21- to 40-cm depth, the S concentrations were 49.5, 74.2, and 56.4 kg ha−1. The efficiency of the fertilization diminished with increasing S rates, in both soil types, while the greatest yield efficiency was obtained in the plants grown in the Typic Haplorthox soil.
Recent Advances and Future Aspects in the Selective Isomerization of High n‐Alkanes

This article provides an overview of the advances that have been marked during the last decades in the field of hydroconversion of high n‐alkanes (C7 +) with particular stress on the promising ways to meet the requirements for improved quality of motor fuels and oils. Particular attention is given to a catalyst formulation for selective conversion of high n‐alkanes to branched hydrocarbons. The challenge for successfully solving this problem is to find an effective catalyst favoring the isomerization of n‐alkanes without too much cracking. The regulation of active sites and adsorption properties, as well as the topology of support surfaces, allows a more predictive design of novel catalysts for selective conversion of high n‐alkanes into their branched isomers.
Thermophysical Properties of Helium-4 from 0. 8 to 1500 K with Pressures to 2000 Mpa

Tabular summary data of the thermophysical properties of fluid helium are given for temperatures from 0.8 to 1500 K, with pressures to 2000 MPa between 75 and 300 K, or to 100 MPa outside of this temperature band. Properties include density, specific heats, enthalpy, entropy, internal energy, sound velocity, expansivity, compressibility, thermal conductivity, and viscosity. The data are calculated from a computer program which is available from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The computer program is based on carefully fitted state equations for both normal and superfluid helium.
Rates of Uncatalyzed Peptide Bond Hydrolysis in Neutral Solution and the Transition State Affinities of Proteases

To assess the relative proficiencies of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of internal and C-terminal peptide bonds, the rates of the corresponding nonenzymatic reactions were examined at elevated temperatures in sealed quartz tubes, yielding linear Arrhenius plots. The results indicate that in neutral solution at 25 °C, peptide bonds are hydrolyzed with half-times of approximately 500 years for the C-terminal bond of acetylglycylglycine, 600 years for the internal peptide bond of acetylglycylglycine N-methylamide, and 350 years for the dipeptide glycylglycine. These reactions, insensitive to changing pH or ionic strength, appear to represent uncatalyzed attack by water on the peptide bond. Comparison of rate constants indicates very strong binding of the altered substrate in the transition states for the corresponding enzyme reactions, Ktx attaining a value of less than 10-17 M in carboxypeptidase B. The half-life of the N-terminal peptide bond in glycylglycine N-methylamide, whose hydrolysis might hav.
Azo functionalised achiral bent-core liquid crystals: observation of photo-induced effects in B7 and B2 mesophases

Three structural variants of azo substituted achiral bent-core compounds are reported. Here, the effect of symmetrical and non-symmetrical arms at 1,3-positions of the central phenyl ring on the mesogenic properties of the resulting bent-core azo compounds is studied. The structures of all the compounds synthesised are confirmed by the organic spectroscopic methods. The liquid crystalline properties are investigated using polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies. It was found that the non-symmetrical molecules are more conducive to mesomorphism than the symmetrical ones. We observed B1 (Colr), B2 (SmCAPA) and B7 mesophases in these compounds. The B7 mesophase was found to have a modulated layer structure. Interestingly, a reversible field-induced transition from the B7-like structure to the racemic SmCAPF was also observed. We also report the photo-induced studies in the B7 mesophase and make a comparison of these results with those obtained in a B2 mesophase. From our studies, we observed that these effects are more profound in the case of B7 mesophase when compared to the B2 mesophase in such systems.