Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spirometric Assessment In Undergraduate Medical Students

Background & objectives: Examination of the respiratory system by pulmonary function tests has been evolved as clinical tool in diagnosis, management and following up of respiratory diseases because it provides objective information about the state of an individual’s respiratory system. The present study aimed at evaluating pulmonary function among the smokers students of medical college of Babylon University and to compare their data with that of non-smokers students. Methods: A total of 80 (45 smokers students and 35 healthy young subjects) were randomly sampled for the study from the medical college of the Babylon University. The study population (20-25 year age group) had similar socioeconomic background. Each subject filled up the questionnaire to record their personal demographic data, health status. Subjects with any history of pulmonary diseases were excluded from the study. Results: The study showed significant differences between smoker and non-smoker groups regarding forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and body mass index (BMI) (P ≤ 0.05), few of students had changes in respiratory function (mild obstruction), there was also significant relation between FEV1 and pack year, the students were not heavy smokers, no female student was found to be smoker. Conclusions: From the present study it can be concluded that the students in all groups have normal range of pulmonary function, most of the students smoke few number of cigarettes, and the smoking had considerable effect on lung function.
Mediation—Its Forms and Functions

This article examines the forms and functions of mediation. Mediation is commonly directed, not toward achieving conformity to norms, but toward the creation of the relevant norms themselves. It may be suggested that mediation is always, in any event, directed toward bringing about a more harmonious relationship between the parties. However, mediation can also be directed, not toward cementing a relationship, but toward terminating it. The article then looks at the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement. The central quality of mediation is its capacity to reorient the parties toward each other, not by imposing rules on them, but by helping them to achieve a new and shared perception of their relationship, a perception that will redirect their attitudes and dispositions toward one another.
TiO2-based photocatalysts impregnated with metallo-porphyrins employed for degradation of 4-nitrophenol in aqueous solutions: role of metal and macrocycle

Photodegradation of organic compounds in water solutions by means of economically advantageous and environment-friendly processes is a topic of growing interest. In recent years a great attention has been devoted to TiO2-based photocatalysts for the oxidative degradation of various organic pollutants. In this context, we have prepared new photo-catalytic polycrystalline TiO2 systems impregnated with sensitizers, i.e., copper, iron or manganese porphyrins, and investigated their photoactivity for 4-nitrophenol oxidation compared with that of bare TiO2. A significant improvement of the photoreactivity was observed in the case of TiO2 impregnated with copper porphyrin, while only a slight beneficial effect was observed in the case of iron porphyrin. In contrast, the presence of manganese porphyrin appeared to be detrimental.
Mass Transfer from Metallic Contaminants during a Three-Week Thermophilic Composting Experiment

ABSTRACT The trace metal content of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost represents a potential environmental concern. In this research, the effect of the composting environment on the corrosion of typical metal contaminant types found in the organic fraction of MSW was investigated. Selection of contaminants was based upon their trace metal content and their prevalence in MSW. For instance, galvanized nails and Zn-plated screws both contain the trace metal zinc on a steel base, stainless steel flat washers contain chromium, copper wires and brass screws have a high copper content, and light bulb tails contain tin and lead content in the foot contact. A synthetic feedstock created to have a low trace metal content was used. Selected contaminants were exposed to a three-week thermophilic composting process, under either low (4.5. to 5.5) or high (8 to 9) pH conditions. The weight loss of each contaminant was determined using a corrosion weight loss method. Characterization of corrosion conditions and products was accomplished using a scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer attachment (SEM-EDX), an x-ray diffractometer, a gas chromatograph, and an ion chromatograph. The metal composition of each contaminant was determined through SEM-EDX analysis. All contaminants showed higher weight losses in the low pH environment, which suggests that the corrosion rate was accelerated under acidic composting conditions. A high mass transfer rate of zinc from the galvanized nails and Zn-plated screws was observed, which suggests that these might be important contributors to the zinc content in MSW composts. Copper wires and brass screws exhibited moderate mass transfer rates of copper and zinc. Low amounts of trace metals were transferred from the stainless steel flat washers and light bulb tail contacts.
The optical constants of thin evaporated films of cadmium and zinc sulphides

The optical constants n and k have been determined over the wavelength range from 2000-250 nm by measurements of reflectance and transmittance at normal incidence and treating these data by the method of Denton et al. (1972). The effects of surface roughness have been taken into account. Analysis of the dependence of absorption on photon energy have shown that the experimental results may be explained by the occurrence of direct transitions from 2.42 eV to 2.82 eV, in the case of CdS, followed by combined direct and indirect transitions beyond 2.82 eV assuming the energy band to be parabolic, or equally well by assuming only direct transitions between nonparabolic bands. The results for ZnS films are similar and may be treated in the same way. It is concluded that these materials both show absorption by direct transitions just beyond the absorption edge, and that at higher energies the form of the absorption curve is probably due to the combined effects of indirect transitions together with direct transitions between nonparabolic bands.
Growth mechanisms study of microcrystalline silicon deposited by SiH4/H2 plasma using tailored voltage waveforms

The use of Tailored Voltage Waveforms is a technique wherein one uses non-sinusoidal waveforms with a period equivalent to RF frequencies to excite a plasma. It has been shown to be an effective technique to decouple maximum Ion Bombardment Energy (IBE) from the ion flux at the surface of the electrodes. In this paper, we use it for the first time as a way to scan through the IBE in order to study the growth mechanism of hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon using a SiH4/H2 chemistry. We find that at critical energies, a stepwise increase in the amorphous to microcrystalline transition thickness is observed, as detected by Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry. The same energy thresholds (30 eV and 70 eV) are found to be very influential on the final surface morphology of the samples, as observed by Atomic Force Microscopy. These thresholds correspond to SiHx+ bulk displacement (30 eV) and Hx+ (70 eV) surface displacement energies. A model is therefore proposed to account for the impact of these ions on th.
EFFECT OF CHEMICAL REACTION AND VISCOUS DISSIPATION ON MHD NATURAL CONVECTION FLOWS SATURATED IN POROUS MDIA WITH SUCTION OR INJECTION

This paper investigates the influence of chemical reaction and viscous dissipation on magnetohydrodynamic natural convection flow. An approximate numerical solution for the flow problem has been obtained by solving the governing equations using shooting technique with a fourth-order Runge-Kutta integration scheme. Four different cases of flows have been studied namely an isothermal surface, a uniform heat flux surface, a plane plume and flow generated from a horizontal line energy source a vertical adiabatic surface. Numerical results are presented for the perturbation analysis for the four conditions with various parameters with considering suction or injection flow. The results obtained show that the flow field is influenced appreciably by the presence of chemical reaction, viscous dissipation and suction or injection flow.
A Shape‐Adaptive, Antibacterial‐Coating of Immobilized Quaternary‐Ammonium Compounds Tethered on Hyperbranched Polyurea and its Mechanism of Action

Quaternary‐ammonium‐compounds are potent cationic antimicrobials used in everyday consumer products. Surface‐immobilized, quaternary‐ammonium‐compounds create an antimicrobial contact‐killing coating. We describe the preparation of a shape‐adaptive, contact‐killing coating by tethering quaternary‐ammonium‐compounds onto hyperbranched polyurea coatings, able to kill adhering bacteria by partially enveloping them. Even after extensive washing, coatings caused high contact‐killing of Staphylococcus epidermidis, both in culture‐based assays and through confocal‐laser‐scanning‐microscopic examination of the membrane‐damage of adhering bacteria. In culture‐based assays, at a challenge of 1600 CFU/cm2, contact‐killing was >99.99%. The working‐mechanism of dissolved quaternary‐ammonium‐compounds is based on their interdigitation in bacterial membranes, but it is difficult to envisage how immobilized quaternary‐ammonium‐molecules can exert such a mechanism of action. Staphylococcal adhesion forces to hyperbranched quaternary‐ammonium coatings were extremely high, indicating that quaternary‐ammonium‐molecules on hyperbranched polyurea partially envelope adhering bacteria upon contact. These lethally strong adhesion forces upon adhering bacteria then cause removal of membrane lipids and eventually lead to bacterial death.
Colour degradation and rheology of green chilli puree during thermal processing

The kinetics of degradation of both green- and total-colour of green chilli puree was studied at selected temperatures (50±90 °C). A fractional conversion concept was applied to determine the kinetic parameters. The degradation of green- and total-colour followed ®rst order reaction kinetics. In the case of green colour the data was based on changes in Hunter ±a value while L x a x b was found to adequately represent total colour change. Dependence of the rate constant during heat treatment obeyed the Arrhenius relationship. The activation energy values for green- and total-colour degradation were 23.04 and 25.02 kJ mol±1, respectively. These results indicated that total colour should be used as the quality indicator during thermal processing of green chilli puree. The pungency of green chilli puree decreased during thermal processing as the capsaicin content was reduced from 559 to 441 lg g±1 while the Scoville heat unit decreased from 8500 to 7480. The puree behaved as a shear-thinning fluid and the flow activation energy at 100 r.p.m. equalled 19.22 kJ mol±1.
Effect of length: diameter ratio in polyethylene biodigesters on gas production and effluent composition.

The treatments arranged as a 4*2 factorial were: Le ngth and diameter ratio and retention time of plas tic plug-flow biodigesters. The design was a single changeover w ith experimental periods of 40 days on each retenti on time. The length: diameter ratios wee 8:0.6, 5:0.6, 3:0.6 and 2:0.6m with hydraulic retention times of 10 or 20 days. For each retention time, the amount of manure (DM) was kept constant by adding water according to retention times. The manure solid concentration in the influent for 10 days ret ention time was 4 % and for 20 days was 8 %. The proportion of ammonia-N in total N increased markedly with different forms from the raw manure of 13.2±1.83, influent slurry in the range of 27.55± 3.05 and the effluent of 48.17±1.27 as pfor ent. Biogas production as litres per 100 litres liquid v olume biodigester, and ammonia concentrations in effluent, did not differ between different length:diameter ratios nor between retention times.
SHRIMP dating of zircons in eclogite from the Variscan basement in north-eastern Sardinia (Italy)

SHRIMP (Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe) U-Pb ages of zircons from a single sample of mafic eclogite (Punta de li Tulchi, Sardinia, Italy) are reported. The study under cathodoluminescence (CL) reveals two groupsof metamorphic zircons and the SHRIMP analyses allow recognition of three ages: 1) 453 ′ 14 Ma; 2) 400 ′ 10 Ma, and 3) 327 ′ 7 Ma. The age of 453 ′ 14 Ma could be that of the magmatic protolith and an age of 327 ′ 7 Ma can reasonably be attributed to the main Variscan collisional event in Sardinia, which produced Barrovian-type metamorphism, and retrogression of eclogite under amphibolite-facies metamorphism. The intermediate age 400 ′ 10 Ma is difficult to interpret and it could represent either the age of the eclogite facies metamorphism or it is a result of Pb-loss during the main Variscan event at 327 ′ 7 Ma.
Correlations between two soil extractants and corn leaf potassium contents from Hungarian field trials

Abstract Corn (Zea mays L.) leaf weight, leaf potassium (K) content at the flowering stage, and ammonium lactate (AL)‐ and neutral normal ammonium acetate (NH4Ac)‐extractable K were determined in a network of 27‐year‐old long‐term Hungarian field trials ("OMTK trials") with different K fertilization rates on nine locations representing various agro‐ecological and soil conditions of the country. Corn leaf weights at the flowering stage were affected less by soil‐extractable K than by the different agro‐ecological conditions. Corn K contents, however, were much more affected by K rates than leaf weights. The additional effect of the higher K rate, however, was not significant. Leaf K contents were affected by site also. There was no significant correlation between corn leaf K content and leaf weight. Above 1.5% K leaf content, however, leaf weights did not increase. Corn leaf weight increased together with soil test values up to 150–160 mg kg‐1 soil‐extractable K. There was a poor linear correlation between.
Unruptured Scissural Pleural Primitive Hydatid Cyst an Unusual Presentation of Intrathoracic Hydatic Cyst: A Case Report

Hydatidosis is due to the development in humans of Echinococcus granulosus larva [1]. Hepatic localization is the most common (50%-70%), followed by pulmonary localization (25%-40%). Pleural localization is usually secondary to rupture of a pulmonary or hepatic hydatid cyst. Primitive pleural site is rare, accounting for only 1.3% of the thoracic site [2-4], and unruptured, scissural pleural primitive hydatid cyst are even fewer. This unusual location can be mistaken for a lung mass.
Advanced Electrostatic Technologies for Dehydration of Heavy Oils

Effective oil/water separation continues to be a major challenge in heavy oil (HO) production operations and often involves high capital costs (large, heated vessels) and high operation costs (heat, fouling, upsets, chemicals). Application of new electrostatic dehydration technologies has the potential to have a major impact in reducing these costs. A systematic evaluation of four electrostatic dehydration technologies was performed using lab, bench scale, and pilot scale (40 gallons) testing. Four heavy oils ranging from 8 to 21 API were used. Performance criteria measured were effective emulsion separation rate (vessel throughput), separated oil and brine quality, water droplet size distribution for inlet and outlet emulsions, and comparison with field data (as available) for older electrostatic technologies. Traditional bottle tests were performed for reference. A 2 to 4 fold increase in emulsion treating rate was observed for some of the heavy oils using the newer electrostatic technologies relative to the traditional Alternating Current (AC) method with the same output quality of crude and brine. Relative cost data per barrel of emulsion processed were developed from system cost estimates and throughput data developed in the pilot tests. Treatment with acid to bring the separated brine into a 6 to 6.5 pH range had a very beneficial effect on the oil/water separation for some of the heavy oils with high TAN.
Self-Diffusion along Dislocations in Ultra High Purity Iron

Self-diffusion along dislocations in ultra high purity iron containing 0.5–1.2 mass ppm carbon, 0.1–1.0 mass ppm nitrogen and 1.8–4.0 mass ppm oxygen has been studied by the radioactive tracer method with the sputter-microsectioning technique. Below 700 K, the self-diffusion coefficient along dislocations has been determined directly from the type C kinetics classified by Harrison, whereas above 800 K it has been obtained by the type B kinetics assuming that the effective radius of dislocation pipe is equal to 5 × 10 −10 m. The temperature dependence of the self-diffusion coefficient along dislocations does not show a linear Arrhenius relation. Below 900 K the Arrhenius plot shows slightly downward curvature. However, above 900 K the self-diffusion coefficient along dislocations increases remarkably with increasing temperature. The value at 900 K is 10 −14 m 2 s −1 , while it takes 10 −10 m 2 s −1 at the Curie temperature (1043 K). It seems that the steep increase of the self-diffusion coefficient along dislocations near the Curie temperature is related to the magnetic transformation in ultra high purity iron.
Phosphorus status on Canadian organic farms

In eastern North America, many conventional livestock farms, especially dairy farms with high inputs of feed and fertiliser have excess soil phosphorus levels and an annual phosphorus surplus. However, a Canadian dairy farm in transition to organic, without fertiliser inputs reduced its farm P surplus to a marginal level. On long-term organic dairy farms in Ontario, most soils tested low to very low in available P as measured by a standard soil test. Canadian Prairie organic grain farms also consistently demonstrate deficiencies in available soil P. Organic producers have few viable alternatives for P management. Phosphate rock can be acceptable to organic standards (provided they are low in heavy metals, and not processed synthetically), but the P in these becomes available slowly, especially in high pH soils common on most organic farms in Canada. An alternative is to increase soil P availability. Enhanced microbial activity in organically managed soils may make P more available. Livestock manures are rich sources of available phosphorus, but a majority of organic farmers in Canada do not keep livestock. Off-farm manure sources are subject to organic regulations and hauling costs, both of which may be prohibitive. Furthermore, manure from conventional farms in Canada may be contaminated by genetically modified material from corn and soybean feed. Additional research is required to improve short-term availability of soil P and long-term replacement. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Rehydration Studies on Pretreated and Osmotically Dehydrated Apple Slices

The influence of different pretreatments (freezing, blanching, high electric field pulse, and high pressure) and osmotic dehydration (OD) times (0 to 6 h) on some characteristics of rehydrated apple was investigated. Pretreated apple slices were osmotically dehydrated, oven dried, and rehydrated in distilled water at room temperature. Rehydration capacity (RG) increased with OD time. Blanched and prefrozen samples had higher RC, firmer rehydrated samples, and greater dry-matter loss than the other pretreated samples. There was no change (P > 0.05) in the color of the samples before and after rehydration. The electrical conductivity of the immersion medium increased with rehydration time but decreased with OD time. Cette etude evalue l'effet de differents pretraitements (blanchiment, congelation, champs electriques pulses de haute intensite et hautes pressions) et des durees de deshydratation osmotique (0 a 6h) sur quelques caracteristiques de pommes rehydratees dont la capacite de rehydratation, la couleur, la texture, la perte en matiere seche et la conductivite electrique du milieu de rehydratation.
A Clean, Highly Efficient and One‐Pot Green Synthesis of Aryl/Alkyl/Heteroaryl‐Substituted Bis(6‐amino‐1,3‐dimethyluracil‐5‐yl)methanes in Water

A highly efficient green synthesis of aryl/alkyl/heteroaryl-substituted bis(6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil-5-yl)methanes by the condensation of 6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil with aldehydes (aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic) in water at room temperature is described. No dehydrating agent, heat, catalyst, surfactant or additive was used. The structures of the compounds were established by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray crystallography.
Surface Modification of Polyester Fabric by Non-Thermal Plasma Treatment

In the present study it was carried out a surface modification of polyester fabric by plasma treatment with aim of providing hidrophilicity to fabric. In the process it were used three different gaseous atmosphere with mixtures of argon, nitrogen and/or oxygen [(1) Ar + N2 (4:2), (2) Ar + N2 + O2 (4:2:2) and N2 + O2 (2:0.6)] and maintained others parameters such as pressure, current and time of treatment fixed at 1.35 mBar, 0.08 A and 30 minutes, respectively. The plasma treatment was monitored by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) to identify the species presents in the plasma reactor. Chemical changes in the fabric surface after plasma treatments were determined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Wicking properties were used to evaluate hydrophilicity of the fabric. Wicking measurement showed that the hydrophilicity of polyester fabric was remarkably improved after treatment and was explained by XPS analysis indicating higher presence of functional groups containing nitrogen and oxygen.
Interaction of Petroleum Heavy Ends with Montmorillonite

Adsorption of asphaltenes and resins onto montmorillonite occurs rapidly and to a large extent irreversibly under near-anhydrous laboratory conditions. Factors which influence the adsorption are the exchangeable cation on the clay, the basic nitrogen components of the molecules, and the solvent. As a result of this adsorption, the physical and chemical properties of the clay are drastically altered. The fundamental principles revealed in this study lead to a better understanding of the physical and chemical behavior of clays in petroleum reservoirs.