Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Graphite-like C3N4 hybridized ZnWO4 nanorods: Synthesis and its enhanced photocatalysis in visible light

Graphite-like C3N4 hybridized ZnWO4 photocatalyst is synthesized via a facile chemisorption. The C3N4/ZnWO4 photocatalysts show high efficiency for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light and visible light irradiation. A loading amount of 5% C3N4 over ZnWO4 leads to an 80% increase in the photocatalytic activity under UV light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic performance under UV light irradiation could be attributed to the high separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The visible light activity of C3N4/ZnWO4 originates from the injection of excited electrons from the lower unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of C3N4 to the conduction band (CB) of ZnWO4.
A comprehensive spectroscopic study of synthetic Fe2+, Fe3+, Mg2+ and Al3+ copiapite by Raman, XRD, LIBS, MIR and vis-NIR

The identification of iron sulfates on Mars by the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter emphasized the importance of studying iron sulfates in laboratory simulation experiments. The copiapite group of minerals was suggested as one of the potential iron sulfates occurring on the surface and subsurface on Mars, so it is meaningful to study their spectroscopic features, especially the spectral changes caused by cation substitutions. Four copiapite samples with cation substitutions (Fe3+, Al3+, Fe2+, Mg2+) were synthesized in our laboratory. Their identities were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Spectroscopic characterizations by Raman, mid-IR, vis-NIR and laser-induced-breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were conducted on those synthetic copiapite samples, as these technologies are being (and will be) used in current (and future) missions to Mars. We have found a systematic ν1peak shift in the Raman spectra of the copiapite samples with cation substitutions, a consistent atomic ratio detection by LIBS, a set of systematic XRD line shifts representing structural change caused by the cation substitutions and a weakening of selection rules in mid-IR spectra caused by the low site symmetry of (SO4)2− in the copiapite structures. The near-infrared (NIR) spectra of the trivalent copiapite species show two strong diagnostic water features near 1.4 and 1.9 µm, with two additional bands near 2.0 µm. In the vis-NIR spectra, the position of an electronic band shifts from 0.85 µm for ferricopiapite to 0.866 µm for copiapite, and this shift suggests the appearance of a Fe2+ electronic transition band near 0.9 µm. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ion Chromatographic Determination of Fluorine and Chlorine in Silicate Rocks Following Alkaline Fusion

A simple and accurate method to determine fluorine and chlorine contents in small amounts (∼ 30 mg) in rock has been developed using ion chromatography after extraction by alkaline fusion. Powdered sample was mixed with sodium carbonate and zinc oxide at a mass ratio of 1:3:1, and was fused in an electric furnace at 900 °C for 30‐40 minutes. An aqueous solution obtained by dissolving the fused silicate rock was diluted to the appropriate concentration of sodium carbonate (< ∼ 24 mmol l‐1) to minimise the tailing effect on F‐ during ion chromatography caused by the large amount of carbonate species originating from the flux. Fluorine and chlorine contents were then determined by a standard additions method. Based on the relative standard deviation of the backgrounds, detection limits of both fluorine and chlorine were ∼ 4 μg g‐1, when 30 mg test portions were fused and diluted by a factor of 1200. We also report new fluorine and chlorine contents in nine GSJ (Geological Survey of Japan) reference materials, including peridotite (JP‐1), granite (JG‐1a), basalts (JB‐1b, 2 and 3), andesites (JA‐1 and 2) and rhyolites (JR‐1 and 2). Fluorine and chlorine contents in the reference materials in this study were consistent with previously reported values. Reproducibilities were < 10 % for samples with F and Cl concentrations of > 20 μg g‐1 and < 20 % with F and Cl < 20 μg g‐1.
Feasibility and Performances of a New, Multiplexed, Fast and Low-Cost Fiber-Optic NIR Spectrometer for the On-Line Measurement of Sugar in Fruits

This paper describes an attempt to develop a new NIR spectrometer to sort fruits according to the sugar content in the conditioning stations. This spectrometer, ranging from 800 to 1050 nm, is based on diode array technology. It is coupled with fiber optics, which allow multiplexing; 20 fibers have been detected by the camera, showing the potential multiplexing of 20 different points. The acquisition time is 40 ms per image (i.e., 2 ms per spectrum). A good signal-to-noise ratio has been recorded in the 820–1010 nm range. This spectrometer has been tested with a set of 79 peaches. Partial least-squares processing is applied to different wavelength ranges. The best coefficient of correlation, achieved with a reduced wavelength range (from 847 to 977 nm), is 0.81, and the standard error of prediction is 1.04°Brix. With this calibration, the fruits can be sorted into three maturity classes with a reliability of 76%. This performance, as well as the other characteristics of the instrument, is in accordance with the requirements of the conditioning station managers.
Reverse Methodology to Identify Moisture Diffusivity During Air-Drying of Foodstuffs

The effective moisture diffusion is a key parameter for the simulation of the drying process of food products. A conventional procedure includes an identification step performed on thin-layer drying kinetics followed by a validation step on deep-bed drying kinetics. Unfortunately, this approach requires several experiments at different air temperatures while only using moisture data is accounted for identification purposes. For this reason, a reverse approach was developed. Results showed that identification on a single deep-bed kinetic allows for valid simulations of thin-layer kinetics on a wide range of temperatures. In addition, two correlations for moisture diffusivity are tested.
Analysis of particle numbers, size and composition in drinking water transportation pipelines: results of online measurements

The particulate water quality in a distribution network is not always constant but can deteriorate over time. Discolouration problems can occur, especially in distribution systems with a low flow rate. Until now, particulate water quality in the distribution network has been mainly monitored by measuring the turbidity. However, as turbidity is an indirect measurement method, it does not give quantitative and qualitative information about the water quality, and therefore a more advanced approach was used in this research. Several particle counters have been used simultaneously to measure the particulate water quality at different locations in a transportation system. It was found that larger particles were present further away from the treatment location, although these sized particles were not present directly after treatment. The particulate water quality in the transportation system was also assessed by filtering time integrated large volume water samples. Both organic and inorganic measurements were used to characterise the particle composition. The results of the analysis show that the particulate water quality changed in the transportation system.
Response to Starter Applied Sulfur in Combination with Nitrogen and Phosphorus across a Landscape

Corn (Zea Mays L.) response to starter fertilizer combinations containing sulfur were studied using a replicated strip trial methodology. Combinations of nitrogen (20 lbs N), phosphorus (20 lbs P2O5), and sulfur (25 lbs S) were applied two inches beside and below the seed with the planter and compared with a no-starter control and 25 lbs broadcast sulfur. Early plant growth was consistently increased by starter P and sometimes by starter N, while sulfur uptake was increased by S and P application. Yield was increased at two locations by starter S and increased yields were not a result of increased plant growth (starter effect). Yields were increased when soil organic matter in the top six inches was less than 2.0%, sometimes increased when soil organic matter was greater than 2.0% but less than 4.0%, and seldom increased when organic matter was greater than 4.0%. Large yield increases from sulfur application make economic responses within the studied fields possible. Variable rate applications of sulfur may increase the profitability for corn grown in variable landscapes in southern Minnesota.
Facile synthesis of organo-soluble surface-grafted all-single-layer graphene oxide as hole-injecting buffer material in organic light-emitting diodes

Graphene oxide (GO) was modified by surface grafting and the product P-GO exhibited a surprisingly good solubility in common solvents (as high as 1.8 mg mL−1 in DMF) without sonication and can be spin coated to form large single-layer sheets on a substrate. In contrast to GO, all-single-layer P-GO sheets are readily formed in solution, which are highly useful for separation from other multi-layer sheets and as precursors to all-single-layer graphene. The unique property of single-layer P-GO made it a promising functional material, such as hole-injecting buffer (HIB) material in organic light-emitting devices. The devices using P-GO as a hole-injecting buffer layer on the ITO electrode perform better than those with PEDOT:PSS.
Characteristics of dielectric barrier homogenous discharge at atmospheric pressure in nitrogen

On the basis of one-dimensional fluid model, the characteristics of a homogeneous discharge at atmospheric pressure in nitrogen are numerically investigated. The primary processes of excitation and ionization in N 2 are considered. The species included in the model are the electron e，N 2 in the ground state，two ions N + 2 ，N + 4 and two metastable states N 2 (a 1 ∑ - u )，N 2 (A 3 ∑ + u ). The simulation results show that the discharge in N 2 appears mostly as a low-pressure Townsend discharge. The amplitude of discharge current is small and the gas voltage changes slowly in the breakdown phase. The electron density is much lower than that of ions and its maximum value occurs at the anode. Electrons are not trapped in the gas gap. There is no quasineutral plasma domain. The densities of metastable states N 2 (a 1 ∑ - u ) and N 2 (A 3 ∑ + u ) are at least three order higher than that of electron. The maximum metastable densities are located close to the anode, which determines the space structure of N 2 discharge. Seed electrons needed in discharge are mainly provided by Penning ionizations between metastable molecules. This regime results in a low ionization level, which makes the discharge in N 2 being close to a Townsend discharge. When changing discharge conditions properly, multiple-peak discharge can be obtained in N 2 .
The Effect of Hafnium Content and Cycling under an Applied Axial Stress on the Creep and Martensite Strain of NiTi Based Shape Memory Alloy Wires

The effect of cycling under an applied axial stress of 206.8 MPa on the creep and martensite strain of a Ti rich NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) and two ternary SMAs, having the compositions Ni49Ti51-xHfx with 1 at. % and 3 at. % Hf, is investigated. The wires used in this investigation have approximately 40% cold work (reduction in area) and a heat treatment (HT) temperature ranging from 300°C to 600°C. The results show, that for a given HT and an applied axial stress of 206.8 MPa, creep decreases with increasing Hf content. For the three alloys evaluated, creep increases with increasing HT temperature. Stress induced martensite strain during the transformation of austenite to martensite is least when the HT temperature is lowest (300°C), and for the three alloys heat treated at 300°C, the martensite strain decreases with increasing Hf content. For the SMAs heat treated at the highest HT temperature (600°C), the martensite strain decreases with an increasing number of transformation cycles, and the martensite strain decreases least for the SMA with 3 at. % Hf. Although the martensite strain is stable from 1 to 100 transformation cycles for the three SMAs heat treated at 300°C, the SMA with 3 at. % Hf retains stress induced martensite strain stability the best as the HT temperature increases.
Charge acquired by a spherical ball bouncing on an electrode: comparison between theory and experiment

A conducting ball immersed in a poorly conducting liquid between two horizontal plates acquires a charge when subjected to a dc voltage. When the applied voltage is high enough for the electric force to overcome gravity, the ball rises, moves up through the liquid and falls down as its charge leaks away. The threshold of voltage, as well as the time of flight between contacts, depends on the charge acquired by the ball during the contact with the electrode. Experiments have been done using liquids of different conductivities and it was shown that the conductivity does not affect the lift-off voltage. When the ball gets close to the electrode a discharge occurs and a current pulse is registered by the external circuit. The charge carried by the pulse is an order of magnitude smaller than the charge transferred to the ball from the electrode. We have made a detailed study, with different balls and liquids, of the charge transferred to the external circuit. The dependence on the different parameters of the ratio charge transferred to the circuit-charge acquired by the ball is explained using the coefficients of capacity of the electrostatic system.
Perception of Peri-Urban Farmers on Fecal Sludge Compost and Its Utilization: A Case Study of Three Peri-Urban Communities in Ashanti Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT This study examined the perception of farmers in peri-urban areas on the use of fecal sludge compost as an organic fertilizer to address the issues of sanitation. The specific objectives were to: (1) investigate the farming practices and type of fertilizer used by farmers; (2) assess farmers' knowledge on fecal sludge compost and its utilization; and (3) investigate the socio-cultural and health issues relating to fecal sludge compost. A total of 150 farmers from three communities in two districts of Ashanti region were selected using a random sampling method. Data were collected from each farmer through semi-structured questionnaires. All of the farmers surveyed applied some form of organic or inorganic fertilizer on their farms. The results showed that 28 and 51% of farmers used organic and inorganic fertilizers, respectively, whereas 21% of the farmers used both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Only 34% of the farmers were aware that fecal sludge is a useful source of fertilizer, and only 4% use it to fertilize their farms. Health risk is not the main reason why most of the respondents have a negative attitude towards the use of fecal sludge compost, rather the perception that fecal sludge is total waste and therefore must not be used. The use of fecal sludge compost as organic fertilizer could increase crop yield while reducing the sanitation problem caused by the indiscriminate disposal of fecal sludge into the environment.
Determination of selenocystine, selenomethionine, selenite and selenate by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An analytical method has been developed for the determination of selenocystine, selenomethionine, selenite and selenate. Separation of the four Se species was achieved by HPLC on a Spherisorb 5 ODS–AMINO column using a concentration gradient from 3.5 to 7.0 mmol l–1 phosphate buffer of pH 6.0 as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml min–1. Detection was carried out using an on-line inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The chromatographic parameters and the chemical factors affecting the separation of the Se species were optimized. The detection limits, using a 100 µl sample loop volume and expressed as Se, were found to be 2.0, 1.0, 1.6 and 1.2 µg l–1 for selenocystine, selenomethionine, selenite and selenate, respectively. The precision was better than 5% in all instances. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the four Se species in water samples certified for selenite and selenate, to which selenocystine and selenomethionine had been added.
Fast Energy Transfer and Exciton Dynamics in Chlorosomes of the Green Sulfur Bacterium Chlorobium tepidum

The excited-state structure and energy-transfer dynamics, including their dependence on temperature and redox conditions, were studied in chlorosomes of the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum at low temperatures by two independent methods: spectral hole burning in absorption and fluorescence spectra and isotropic one-color pump−probe spectroscopy with ∼100 fs resolution. Hole-burning experiments show that the lowest excited state (LES) of BChl c aggregates is distributed within approximately 760−800 nm, while higher excitonic states of BChl c (with absorption maximum at 750 nm) possess the main oscillator strength. The excited-state lifetime determined from hole-burning experiments at anaerobic conditions was 5.75 ps and most likely reflects energy transfer between BChl c clusters. Isotropic one-color absorption difference signals were measured from 720 to 790 nm at temperatures ranging from 5 to 65 K, revealing BChl c photobleaching and stimulated emission kinetics with four major components, wit.
Optimal selection of measurements and manipulated variables for production control

The main objective in operating a chemical plant is to improve profit while assuring products meet required specifications and plant operation satisfies environmental and operational constraints. A subobjective that directly affects profit is to improve the control performance of key economic variables in the plant, particularly the production rate and quality. An optimal control-based approach is proposed to determine a set of dominant measurements and manipulated variables and to structure them to improve control of the production rate and product quality. After the dominant variables are identified, a decentralized control structure is designed to control these variables. Then, a model predictive controller (MPC) is built on top of the decentralized control structure. The approach is applied to the Tennessee Eastman Process to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Impact of NPK, humic acid and algae extract on growth of "Aggizi" olive seedlings cultured in sandy soil under greenhouse condition.

This study was carried out on Aggizi cv. olive seedlings grown at greenhouseof National Research Center, Dokki, Giza governorate, Egypt. The investigation aimed to study the effect of bio stimulant based on algae extract, humic acid and mineral fertilizer NPK on vegetative growth and Leaf mineral content of Aggizi olive seedlings planted in plasticbags at nursery stage. After planting Aggizi olive seedlings, the following three treatments wereapplied as follows, T1: algae extractwith 1%which added at a rate of 0.5 liter per bag every 15,T2:humic acid as Actosal ( Humic acid 20% + NPK 1:5:6 ) which added at a rate of 4 cm3 per bag every 15 T3:combination ofNPK (20% N: 20% P: 20% K) at 45 g\plant\year divided into 16 equal doses about one dose every 15 day as applied as soil applicationand algae extractwith 1% which added at a rate of 0.5 liter per bag every 15from March to October. At the end of the season,percentage of plant height increment, leaf number per plant, shoot number per plant, stem diameter,leaf dry weight %, root number, root length, NPK Leaf mineral content were determined and recorded. The obtained resultsrevealed that using mineral fertilizer with 45 gm NPK /plant / year combined with bio stimulant based on algae extract (1%)gave the best results concerning lateral shoot numbers, Stem diameter,Leaves number,root numbers nitrogen, phosphor and potassium percentage. Whereas, algae extractalone achieved the highest plant height increment % lateral shoot numbers, Stem diameter, Leaves number, root lengthvalues. Regarding the effect of Humic acid data revealed that, with using humic acid alone, a Leaves dry weight %of Aggizi olive seedlings improved respectively.
Frozen Mushrooms Quality as Affected by Strain, Flush, Treatment Before Freezing, and Time of Storage

Four strains of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)-U3, hybrids of U3 (3/1, M-300), and in-between strain No. 200-were treated before freezing: washed in water, washed in water containing sodium metabisulfite (3 g.L -1 ), and washed in water containing sodium metabisulfite (5 g.L -1 ) then immersed in boiling water for 20 s. Appearance and whiteness of frozen mushrooms were most affected by the washing in water containing sodium metabisulfite. The residue of sulfur dioxide changed from 52 mg.kg -1 after 1 d to 27 mg.kg -1 after 90 d of storage. The whitest mushrooms (fresh and frozen) were for No. 200 strain. Short-time immersion in boiling water markedly increased toughness of stored frozen mushrooms.
Ambient pressure dried graphene aerogels with superelasticity and multifunctionality

We report an ambient pressure dried graphene aerogel (ADGA) with superelasticity (rapidly recoverable from >90% compression) and multifunctionality that could be obtained with ordinary instruments by recasting a partially reduced graphene oxide hydrogel (PRGH) with an ice-template method. This study would be a key progress for realizing cost-effective and large-scale commercial production of high-performance graphene aerogels.
Interfacial area and boundary of hydrodynamic flow region in packed column with cocurrent downward flow.

Liquid holdup and interfacial areas were measured in packed columns with cocurrent downward flow. An empirical equation of liquid holdup Φt is presented in terms of Reynolds numbers of gas Reg(=dsGg/μg) and liquid Rel, surface shape factor of packing φ, void fraction e and ratio of packing to column diameter dp/T, where the ratio is smaller than 0.13. This equation is different for the dispersed bubble flow and other flow regions. The empirical equation of interfacial area ap in the respective flow regions varies as follows: apdp/(1-Φl/e)=ωΦ-mRenlReqg(dp/T)-twhere ω=7.5×10-5, m=Q.2, n=Q.15, q=2/3, t=2.5 for spray flow; ω=2.2×10-4, m=0.3, n=2/3, q=0.2, t=2.5 for pulse flow; ω=3.9×10-3, m=0.1, n=0.4, q=p. t=2 for trickle flow; ω=2.8×10-7, m=0.9, n=1.8, q=0, t=3.3 for dispersed bubble flow. The equation of the boundary in the respective flow regions was found by equating the two of them. The predicted boundaries are in excellent agreement with the literature data given from the analysis of liquid pulse frequencies. The predictions for interfacial areas also agree well with the literature data.
Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus concentration on plant growth and phenols in micropropagated Aloe vera L. plantlets

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and different phosphorus (P) concentrations on growth and phenolic concentration inAloe vera L. plantlets obtained from micropropagation. Plantlets were multiplied in vitro, acclimatized and inoculated with Glomus claroideum or Glomus fasciculatum at three P concentrations, that is, 0.3, 0.6 or 0.9 mM P. After 90 days in ex vitro, plant height, number of leaves, mycorrhization percent, fresh and dry weight, and total phenol, flavonol and flavanone concentrations in leaves was determined. Inoculating A. vera plantlets with G. fasciculatum reduced plant fresh and dry weight compared to the plants inoculated with G. claroideum or left uninoculated. The concentration of flavonols and flavanones increased whenA. vera plantlets were inoculated with both AMF with the largest increase found in G. fasciculatum. Mycorrhization percent decreased with increased P and the concentration of flavanones was lower in plants fertilized with 0.9 mM P than in those with 0.3 or 0.6 mM P. Key words: Flavonols, flavanones, Glomus claroideum, Glomus fasciculatum, total phenol concentration.