Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toxicological evaluation on human colon carcinoma cell line (CaCo-2) of ionic liquids based on imidazolium, guanidinium, ammonium, phosphonium, pyridinium and pyrrolidinium cations

Toxicological evaluation of a new group of ionic liquids was performed on human colon cancerous cells—CaCo-2. They belong to different classes of cations: imidazolium (IM), dimethyl-guanidinium (dmg) and tetramethyl-guanidinium (tmg), methyl-pyrrolidinium (MPyr), 2-methyl-1-ethyl-pyridinium (2-MEPy), quaternary ammonium (benzyltriethyl-ammonium–BzTEA; phenyltrimethyl-ammonium–PhTMA; tri-n-octyl-methylammonium-Aliquat) and tri-n-hexyl-tetra-n-decylphosphonium (P6,6,6,14). The new results were compared with data obtained in previous reported studies performed in our lab, and we clearly saw that toxicity can vary significantly with the type of anion. Dicyanoamide-[DCA] and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide-[NTf2] were seen to visibly change the impact of some cations. Some were considerably less harmful for CaCo-2 monolayer when the anion was [DCA] or [NTf2], while others induced an abnormal increase of cellular metabolism when [NTf2] was present and therefore, they were considered toxic. However, some cations induced similar responses in the presence of a broad number of anions as (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium)-[C4MIM] (with the exception of [FeCl4]), (1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium)-[C2OHMIM] and [C4MPyr] and did not cause toxicity. Consequently, they are considered promising cations for building human friendlier solvents. But, a reasonable number of other combinations involving different classes of cations were also seen to not significantly affect viability of the CaCo-2 monolayer.
Carbon accumulation in peatlands, southwestern Northwest Territories, Canada

Northern peatlands have stored significant quantities of carbon (C) since the early Holocene at rates that vary among peatland types. Pollen concentration dating was used to provide estimates o f true C accumulation and sequestration efficiency in different peatland systems in the discontinuous permafrost zone near Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada. The catotelm portions of bog, permafrost-affected peat plateau, and Sphagnum-dominated cores were interpreted to conform to Clymo’s (1984) model of C accumulation, while peat deposited under conditions with high water tables (rich fen and collapse fen) did not. The model assumes a consistent surface production, yet production in fens is thought to be highly sensitive to water table changes and may have contributed to poor model fits. Decay rates measured over the past 1200 yr range from 0.0015 to 0.0004 yr-1. True C accumulation rates (range 7.0 in peat plateau to 18.6 g C m-2 yr-1 in bog) and sequestration efficiencies (range 0.24 in peat plateau to.
Variation of essential oil yield and relative amounts of enantiomers of α-pinene in leaves and unripe cones of Juniperus communis L. growing wild in Lithuania

The variations in essential oil yields and enantiomeric composition of α-pinene in leaves and unripe cones of Juniperus communis between populations as well as at individual plant level were studied. Leaf and cone samples of total 110 J. communis individuals were collected from eleven habitats (in ten individuals from each habitat) representing a variety of edaphoclimatic conditions across Lithuania. Essential oils were analyzed by chiral-phase capillary gas chromatography (GC). The amount of essential oil yield varied from 0.3% to 4.2% in unripe cones and from 0.1% to 0.9% in leaves. (1R)-(+)-α-pinene prevailed over the (1S)-(−)-α-pinene amounting to 74±13% in leaves and 69±17% in unripe cones, and 26±13% in leaves and 31±17% in unripe cones, respectively. Only the total yield of essential oils in leaves varied significantly between populations (F=3.1, p<0.05). The highest averages of yields of essential oils were established in habitats with lower precipitation, higher temperatures and lower solar radiation.
Colonization and Biodegradation of  Photo-Oxidized Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) by New Strains of Aspergillus sp. and Lysinibacillus sp.

ABSTRACT The primary objective of this study was the isolation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-degrading microorganisms. Soil samples were obtained from an aged municipal landfill in Tehran, Iran, and enrichment culture procedures were performed using LDPE films and powder. Screening steps were conducted using linear paraffin, liquid ethylene oligomer, and LDPE powder as the sole source of carbon. Two landfill-source isolates, identified as Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus XDB9 (T) strain S7-10F and Aspergillus niger strain F1-16S, were selected as super strains. Photo-oxidation (25 days under ultraviolet [UV] irradiation) was used as a pretreatment of the LDPE samples without pro-oxidant additives. The PE biodegradation process was performed for 56 days in a liquid mineral medium using UV-irradiated pure LDPE films without pro-oxidant additives in the presence of the bacterial isolate, the fungal isolate, and the mixture of the two isolates. The process was monitored by measuring the fungal biomass, the bacterial growth, and the pH of the medium. During the process, the fungal biomass and the bacterial growth increased, and the pH of the medium decreased, which suggests the utilization of the preoxidized PE by the selected isolates as the sole source of carbon. Carbonyl and double bond indices exhibited the highest amount of decrement and increment, respectively, in the presence of the fungal isolate, and the lowest indices were obtained from the treatment of a mixture of both fungal and bacterial isolates. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed that the selected isolates modified and colonized preoxidized pure LDPE films without pro-oxidant additives.
Transport of Asian dust (KOSA) particles; importance of weak KOSA events on the geochemical cycle of soil particles

Lidar measurements and airborne-particle collections were made during KOSARP 87 (‘KOSA’ Research Program of Nagoya University; April-May 1987) at Nagoya (35°N, 137°E) to investigate the vertical distribution of Asian dust (KOSA) particles and the transport of these particles. According to the lidar measurements, the highly concentrated particle layers with large depolarization ratio were frequently in the range from about 2 km to about 6 km. Electron microscope observations on the morphology of individual particles in the height range from near the ground to about 4400 m suggested that the particle layers contained many soil particles. It is reasonable to consider that KOSA particles were very frequently transported from Asian desert areas to the islands of Japan in the middle troposphere, even when the effect of the KOSA was not detected near the ground. This ‘background KOSA’ has concentrations of about 1.9 ~ 25 pg/m 3 at the layer peaks and one order of magnitude smaller than the values of severe KOSA. However, the contribution of the ‘weak KOSA’ to the global budget of soil particles is not negligible since the frequency of occurrence of ‘weak KOSA’ is high. The reaction of soil particles sampled on the vapour-deposited Ca thin-film suggested that some of the particles were coated by water or solution containing SO 2- 4 . Such particles can absorb various atmospheric gases, and therefore the KOSA particles can play an important role in the geochemical cycle of many chemical constituents, as chemical reaction sites in the atmosphere and as carriers of the chemical products. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1988. tb00119.x
Critical Limit of Extractable Phosphorous in a Gleysol for Rice Production in the Senegal River Valley of West Africa

Abstract Soil‐test correlation and calibration, a useful tool for fertilizer recommendations, has been little used in West Africa. Soils from a long‐term fertility experiment have been used to study the relationship between rice yields and soil extractable phosphorus (P) with Bray 1 and Olsen methods. The Cate and Nelson graphical method was used for critical limits of soil P determination. The critical limits of soil extractable P at 95% relative grain yield were 9 mg P for the Bray 1P and 17 mg P kg−1 for Olsen P. The Olsen P was more correlated (r=0.63) with rice grain yields than Bray P (r=0.50), but a strong correlation (r=0.92) was also observed between the values of the two methods. Results indicate that at levels less than these critical levels of extractable P, P fertilizers should be applied to increase rice yields.
Effect of Vegetable Freezing and Preparation of Frozen Products for Consumption on the Content of Lead and Cadmium

The aim of our study was to determine the levels of lead and cadmium in fresh vegetables, in veg etables after pre-freezing (blanching or boiling), and in frozen products after a 12-month period of storage at -30°C and prepared for consumption (by boiling samples blanched before freezing, and by defrosting and heating in a microwave oven samples boiled before freezing). Analyses were carried out in four groups of vegetables perfectly suitable for freezing, namely brassicas (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and green and white cauliflower), leafy vegetables (kale, New zealand spinach, and spinach), root vegetables (celeriac, carrot, parsnip, and red beet), and three species of leguminous vegetables (seeds of broad bean, and pea, and French bean pods). Vegetables of the studied species contained 1-86% and 3-26% of the european ad- missible levels of lead and cadmium, respectively. Technological processing before freezing, freezing and frozen storage, and culinary preparation of frozen products for consumption did not significantly affect the level of lead. however, boiling reduced the content of cadmium in brassicas, in leafy vegetables, apart from New zealand spinach, and in root vegetables, apart from carrot and red beet.
Comparison of Mass Spectrometric Ionization Techniques for the Analysis of Phenethylamines

It is predicted that lower limits of detection can be obtained for some amphetamines—3,4(methylenedioxy)amphetamine (MDA), 3,4-(methylenedioxy)methylamphetamine (MDMA), and 3,4(methylenedioxy)-N-ethyl amphetamine (MDEA)—with the use of liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry by thermospray, electrospray, and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interfaces. The lowest detection limits are obtained with the thermospray interface; when a tandem mass spectrometric selected reaction monitoring technique is used in the product ion mode, the limits of detection are in the low picogram range for the amphetamines.
Mechanisms of surface anodization produced by scanning probe microscopes

The direct modification of silicon and other semiconductor and metal surfaces by the process of anodization using the electric field from a scanning probe microscope in conjunction with the absorbed water from the atmosphere as the electrolyte is one promising method of accomplishing direct write lithography for the electron device fabrication using scanning probe microscopes. Both scanning tunneling microscopes and conductive‐tip atomic force microscopes have been used for anodization with the work reported here primarily accomplished with a conductive‐tip atomic force microscope. We have found that the terminating thickness of the scanning probe microscope induced oxide is governed by the diffusion limited electric field at the surface (which in this case is a function of the scanning probe microscope tip potential), with many similarities to liquid electrolyte anodization process. In particular, when using atmospheric water as the electrolyte on a silicon substrate and a conductive‐tip atomic force mic.
Crescimento e nutrição mineral de milho forrageiro em cultivo hidropônico com soro de leite bovino

Realizou-se este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiencia nutricional da forragem de milho e a utilizacao do soro de leite bovino em substituicao a solucao nutritiva no cultivo de forragem hidroponica de milho. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetacao em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos e cinco repeticoes, sendo o tratamento controle representado por solucao nutritiva convencionalmente empregada nesse tipo de cultivo; os demais tratamentos foram distribuidos em diferentes niveis de diluicao (20, 40, 60, 80 e 100%) do soro de leite em agua potavel. A colheita foi feita 15 dias apos a germinacao, separando-se a biomassa da parte aerea da biomassa do substrato com as raizes. Determinaram-se a massa fresca e seca, os teores de macronutrientes (N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S) e micronutrientes (Fe, Cu, Zn e Mn), alem dos elementos em niveis toxicos (Na e Cl), tanto da parte aerea como do sistema radicular. O aumento nas concentracoes de soro de leite promoveu reducao na produtividade da forragem hidroponica, acrescimo nos teores de N, S e Zn, estabilidade no teor de K e reducao do Ca e Mg, nao apresentando efeito nos teores de P, Fe e Cu, na parte aerea, enquanto nas raizes ocorreu acrescimo nos teores de P, K, Ca, Mg, S e Cu.
Soil compaction and soil management – a review

Soil compaction is an important component of the land degradation syndrome which is an issue for soil management throughout the world. It is a long standing phenomenon not only associated with agriculture but also with forest harvesting, amenity land use, pipeline installation, land restoration and wildlife trampling. This review concentrates on the impact of soil compaction on practical soil management issues, an area not previously reviewed. It discusses in the context of the current situation, the causes, identification, effects and alleviation of compaction. The principal causes are when compressive forces derived from wheels, tillage machinery and from the trampling of animals, act on compressible soil. Compact soils can also be found under natural conditions without human or animal involvement. Compaction alters many soil properties and adverse effects are mostly linked to a reduction in permeability to air, water and roots. Many methods can be used to measure the changes. In practical situations, the use of visual and tactile methods directly in the field is recommended. The worst problems tend to occur when root crops and vegetables are harvested from soils at or wetter than field capacity. As discussed by a farmer, the effects on crop uniformity and quality (as well as a reduction in yield) can be marked. By contrast, rendzinas and other calcareous soils growing mainly cereals are comparatively free of compaction problems. The effect of a given level of compaction is related to both weather and climate; where soil moisture deficits are large, a restriction in root depth may have severe effects but the same level of compaction may have a negligible effect where moisture deficits are small. Topsoil compaction in sloping landscapes enhances runoff and may induce erosion particularly along wheeltracks, with consequent off‐farm environmental impacts. Indirect effects of compaction include denitrification which is likely to lead to nitrogen deficiency in crops. The effects of heavy tractors and harvesters can to some extent be compensated for by a reduction in tyre pressures although there is concern that deep‐seated compaction may occur. Techniques for loosening compaction up to depths of 45 cm are well established but to correct deeper problems presents difficulties. Several authors recommend that monitoring of soil physical conditions, including compaction, should be part of routine soil management.
Oxygen surface exchange kinetics and stability of (La,Sr)2CoO4±δ/La1−xSrxMO3−δ (M = Co and Fe) hetero-interfaces at intermediate temperatures

Heterostructured oxide interfaces created by decorating Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) phases on ABO3 perovskites have shown not only pronounced cation segregation at the interface and in the RP phase but also enhanced kinetics for oxygen electrocatalysis at elevated temperatures. In this study, combining experimental and theoretical approaches, we report and compare the time-dependent surface exchange kinetics and stability of (La0.5Sr0.5)2CoO4±δ (LSC214)-decorated La0.6Sr0. 4Co0.2Fe0. 8O3−δ (LSCF113) and La0.8Sr0. 2CoO3−δ (LSC113) thin films. While LSC214 decoration on LSC113 greatly reduced the degradation in the surface exchange kinetics as a function of time relative to undecorated LSC113, LSCF113 with LSC214 coverage showed comparable surface exchange kinetics and stability relative to undecorated LSCF113. This difference is attributed to stabilization of the LSC113 surface by LSC214 decoration and greater stability of LSCF113 against decomposition into secondary phases than LSC113. This hypothesis is supported by density functional theory (DFT) computation, revealing greater surface Sr segregation for LSCF113, which is predicted to have an SrO termination, than LSC113, which is predicted to have a less Sr enriched (La0.25Sr0.75)O termination. Furthermore, DFT also showed a lower energy gain to move Sr from LSCF113 into LSC214 relative to the LSC214-LSC113 surface, and predicted the stability of LSCF113, LSC113, and LSC214 with 100% Sr substitution in their top (001) surface. The stability differences of Sr substitution (with La) in LSCF113, LSC113, and LSC214, along with the assessed DFT decomposition free energies of fully Sr substituted LSCF113, LSC113, and LSC214, correlate with the experimental observation of surface stability trends in surface particle formation of LSCF113 and LSC113 without and with LSC214 decoration.
Pyrolysis of a Victorian Brown Coal in Helium and CO2 Atmosphere

Pyrolysis of a Victorian brown coal was performed in helium and CO2 atmosphere under atmospheric flow in a wire-mesh reactor. Experiments were carried out over the ranges of pyrolysis conditions: heating rate of 0.5–1000 o C s -1 , holding temperature of 500–900 °C, and holding time at peak temperature of 0 to 60 s. The experimental results revealed that the tar yield increased with the increase of heating rate in both helium and CO2, however negligible effect of gas atmosphere on the tar yield was observed. The char yield was not very sensitive to changes in heating rate at temperature lower than 800 o C in both helium and CO2. At higher temperatures, the gasification of nascent char by CO2 led to significant decreases in the char yields. Decreasing heating rate from 1000 to 0.5 o C s -1 led to more reduction in reactivity for the char from the Ca-form coal than for the char from the Na-form coal.
VALIDITY OF MARATHI TRANSLATED KIDNEY DISEASE QUALITY OF LIFE SHORT FORM (KDQOL - SF) TM

: Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) instrument was designed to measure Quality of Life of kidney disease patients. KDQOL has been tested, translated and validated in many countries. KDQOL has not been translated into Marathi language. The primary purpose of this study was to validate Marathi version of KDQOL-SF TM and to evaluate its psychometric properties. This cross sectional study was conducted in two hospitals in Pune from April 2012 to March 2013. Translated Marathi KDQOL-SF TM was evaluated in 93 dialysis patients. Patients’ average age was 57 ±12 years and 71% were males. Internal consistency reliability was found to be medium to high ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 except for social interaction. To investigate construct validity, overall health rating scale was correlated with kidney disease targeted scale and with quality of life (SF-36 scales). Significant (p <.05) correlations were observed except for cognitive function and social support. Patients with known hypertension, diabetes, low haemoglobin and dialyzing less than thrice a week showed lower score on physical function as compared to higher scores on physical function of patients with no known hypertension and diabetes, HB</= 8 and dialyzing thrice a week. As time on dialysis increased, role emotional (r = 0.239, p =0.019) and role physical (r =.237, p = 0.20) improved showing significant association. These results suggest that Marathi version of KDQOl-SF TM satisfies reliability and validity. The questionnaire provides understanding of health and quality of life of hemodialysis patients and can be used with patients who speak Marathi language. ≥57 for function (mean ± standard error: 54.85 ± 4.54 vs 40.47 ± 3.92). (* age cut off) indicating lower physical function increasing age. =. 289, p =. 003), Role physical (r = 0.205, p =.038), Energy fatigue (r =.194, p = 0.049), Social function (r =.282, p =.003), Pain (r =.307, p =.002), Patient satisfaction (r -=.359, p <.0001) and Physical function (r =.280, p =.004).
A new viscosity-temperature relationship for vegetable oil

This study proposes four relationships of dynamic viscosity temperature dependence forvegetable oils. The purpose of this study was to find a polynomial or exponentialdependence between temperature and dynamic viscosity of vegetable oil, using theAndrade equation changes. Equation constants A, B, C and D were determined by fittingpolynomial or exponential. Key words: Viscosity-temperature, vegetable oil, relationship.
Influence of non-woven fleece on the yield formation of early potatoes

In the years 1999–2003 the effect of covering rows of early potatoes with non-woven fleece on the yield formation, dry matter content in tubers, temperature of soil and of air in ground layer was investigated. Covering of rows enhanced the market yield of tubers at early harvest 60 days after planting in average by 35.8% in comparison with the uncovered control. At harvest 67 days after planting the difference in advantage of the covered variant were 17.2% and 85 days after planting the difference in yield between variants was already non significant. The yield effect of the fleece was affected by year (higher effect in the years with cold spring) and by variety (Impala responded at 60 days after planting by yield increase under fleece 43.7%, Adora 27.9%). Higher dry matter content of tubers by 0.87% was found in covered plants 60 days after planting in comparison with control. Cover enhanced average air temperature in ground layer by 2.0°C, in soil in depth 100 mm by 1.8°C.
Electrochemical Characterization of High-Performance Sulfur Composites as Cathodes for Li-S Batteries with Application in Automotive Industry

Lithium-sulfur batteries are based on principle of conversion and their properties are very promising for their high theoretical energy density and low cost. However, current electrodes and materials used in Li-S batteries suffer from irreversible electrochemical reaction of polysulfides, low conductivity and stability. Here we summarize preparation and characterization of sulfur samples with polymer additive polypyrrole/polyethylene glycol to improve conductivity and stability of Li-S batteries. We also discuss very simple preparation technique of polypyrrole suitable also for industrial production. The electrochemical properties of sulfur-carbon-polypyrrole (S-C-PPy) composites were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements. Properties of resulting composite samples (especially conductivity) are strongly affected by the preparation technique and conditions. Insulating polymer PEG was used to improve the polymeric structure and mechanical robustness of PPy chain. Porosity of composite sample increase with increasing amount of PPy. On the other hand conductivity is reduced with increased porosity. Electrochemical measurements confirmed that addition of PEG can improve conductivity also in the presence of higher amounts of PPy in the sample. PPy-PEG composite polymer decrease particle to particle contact resistance. Co-polymer coating consisting of PPy-PEG significantly decreases the charge transfer resistance of prepared samples what was confirmed by impedance measurements.