Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stabilization of organic matter in temperate soils: mechanisms and their relevance under different soil conditions – a review

Mechanisms for C stabilization in soils have received much interest recently due to their relevance in the global C cycle. Here we review the mechanisms that are currently, but often contradictorily or inconsistently, considered to contribute to organic matter (OM) protection against decomposition in temperate soils: (i) selective preservation due to recalcitrance of OM, including plant litter, rhizodeposits, microbial products, humic polymers, and charred OM; (ii) spatial inaccessibility of OM against decomposer organisms due to occlusion, intercalation, hydrophobicity and encapsulation; and (iii) stabilization by interaction with mineral surfaces (Fe‐, Al‐, Mn‐oxides, phyllosilicates) and metal ions. Our goal is to assess the relevance of these mechanisms to the formation of soil OM during different stages of decomposition and under different soil conditions. The view that OM stabilization is dominated by the selective preservation of recalcitrant organic components that accumulate in proportion to their chemical properties can no longer be accepted. In contrast, our analysis of mechanisms shows that: (i) the soil biotic community is able to disintegrate any OM of natural origin; (ii) molecular recalcitrance of OM is relative, rather than absolute; (iii) recalcitrance is only important during early decomposition and in active surface soils; while (iv) during late decomposition and in the subsoil, the relevance of spatial inaccessibility and organo‐mineral interactions for SOM stabilization increases. We conclude that major difficulties in the understanding and prediction of SOM dynamics originate from the simultaneous operation of several mechanisms. We discuss knowledge gaps and promising directions of future research.
Gas-particle flow and combustion in the near-burner zone of the swirl-stabilized pulverized coal burner

In an air-particle test facility, a three-dimensional particle-dynamics anemometer was used to measure air particle flows in the near-burner region of the radial bias combustion burner. With the increase of nonswirling secondary air (SA) ratio, the air and the particle divergent angles greatly decrease. Both the diameter and the length of the central recirculation zone decrease and the peak value of particle volume flux near the burner axis increases. The reacting flow experiment shows that oxygen concentration decreases while CO and NO x concentrations increase in the burner central zone when the nonswirling SA ratio increases. The application of the nonswirling jet of the secondary combustion air results in a substantial reduction in carbon-in-ash content.
Comparable Investigation of the Molecular Size Distribution and the Amount of Humic Substances Isolated from ONKALO, Olkiluoto, 2011

The humic substances (HS) at groundwater from ONKALO, Olkiluoto were studied in order to determine the apparent molecular size distribution and the amount of humic substances. Humic substances were isolated from the water sample using DAX-8 resin and eluted with 0.1 M NaOH. The molecular size distribution was defined using high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and ultraviolet (UV) and refractive index (RI) detector. In the SEC calibration (polystyrene sulfonate) sodium salts (PSS) were employed. Different eluents (NaNO3, Na-acetate and asetonitrile) with phosphate buffer and distinct ionic strengths were studied in order to optimize the determination method. The amount of humic substances was determined using total organic carbon (TOC) measurements. The results were compared with the previous ones in order to find out the variation of different methods (HPSEC) and to follow up the HS quantity (TOC). The method developed during the study is considered to be suitable for the HS molecular size distribution follow up, although the method development is suggested to be continued.
Regulating Photocatalytic Selectivity of Anatase TiO2 with {101}, {001}, and {111} Facets

In this work, we demonstrate a novel approach to control the photocatalytic selectivity of TiO2 though different dominant crystal facets. {101}, {111}, and {001} facets exposed nanoscale anatase TiO2 were obtained by a simple hydrothermal route with different ratio of NH4+ and F−, then a calcined progress to clear surface adsorbent atoms. Results reveal that {101} exposed TiO2 has some remain binding N with a mode of unsaturated N3c exhibits selectively photocatalytic degradation of methylene orange (MO) in a methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) mixed solution, whereas TiO2 with exposed {111} and {001} facets exhibits photocatalytic selectivity for MB. The {111} facets of anatase TiO2 exhibit a better photocatalytic selective ability than {001} facets. It confirms that the photocatalytic selectivity can be affected by different dominant crystal facets. In a deeper analysis, there are many unsaturated O2c on the surface of {001} and {111} facets, which enhances adsorbent selectivity and relevant photocatalytic activity of MB, at the same time, the unsaturated O2c on the surface of {111} facets is much more than that on the surface of {001} facets results in a better photocatalytic selectivity of {111} facets. This research hopes that developing a new strategy for photocatalytic selectivity and providing a deeper understanding of different crystal facets of TiO2.
Anticancer activity of crude extract of eucalyptus globulus, Tinospora cordifolia on mcf-7 cell line

Methanolic crude extracts of Eucalyptus globulus and Tinosopra Cordifolia grown in natural and industrial polluted conditions were investigated for their anticancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines to study the pollution effect on Cytotoxicity. It was carried out by the XTT assay using serial dilutions. The Cytotoxicity of individual plants and also the combined extracts of plants grown in polluted and natural area were carried out separately to check out the differences. The MCF – 7 cell lines were procured from National Centre for Cell Science, Pune. At final concentration of 200ug/ml the results indicated the cytotoxicity of individual plant extracts grown in polluted area was more than that of plants grown in natural conditions. The combined action of both plants at 200ug/ml concentration showed better results than the individual extracts. The cell inhibition of combined extracts of polluted area 81.2% and natural area 84% having IC50 values82.400 µg/mL, 91.980 µg/mL respectively. As such the plants that grown in industrial polluted area showed the better activity against MCF – 7 cell lines, further it could be recommended to study the pure components and their anti-cancer affectivity for the substitution of synthetic drugs.
Effects of fermentation length and varieties on the pasting properties of sour cassava starch

The effects of length of fermentation (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days) on pasting properties of sour starches produced from six cassava varieties were investigated. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in pasting properties except pasting temperature and breakdown viscosity, irrespective of the length of fermentation. Peak viscosity ranged from 308.50 to 466.63 rapid visco unit (RVU), trough ranged from 67.25 to 198.75 RVU, break down ranged from 147.71 to 320.25 RVU, final viscosity ranged from 100.29 to 233.00 RVU, set back ranged from 31.59 to 54.58 RVU, peak time ranged from 3.60 to 4.06 min and pasting temperature ranged from 62.85 to 65.45°C. Sour starches made from TMS 30572, TMS 4(2) 1425 and 96/0603 cassava varieties recorded the highest values. Key words: Cassava, fermentation, pasting, starch, varieties.
Haematological Response of Pre-pubertal Rabbit Bucks Fed Cottonseed Cake-based Diets Supplemented with Vitamin E

An investigation was conducted in a 2 x 4 factorial experiment to evaluate the effect of Cottonseed Cake (CSC) with or without vitamin-E supplementation on the haematological parameters of pre-pubertal rabbit bucks. The experiment involved 8 treatment combinations comprising four CSC levels (0, 5, 10 and 15%) and two vitamin-E supplementation levels (0 and 30 mg/kg diet) denoted as minus (-) vitamin-E and plus (+) vitamin-E. A feeding trial lasted for eight weeks after which blood was collected from the animals and analyzed for Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) and White Blood Cell Count (WBC). Analysis of variance showed that CSC had significant (p 0.05) effect on the haematological parameters of the rabbit bucks. Interaction effect of CSC and vitamin-E did not affect (p>0.05) HB, PCV and RBC while only WBC was significantly (p<0.05) affected by the interaction effect. It wa s concluded that CSC had adverse effect on some haematological parameters and that vitamin-E showed a tendency to correct the adverse effect. Probably a higher dose of vitamin-E is required to elicit a greater ameliorative affect.
INTERACTION OF SELENIUM AND SULFUR ON THE GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF RAYA

Variable selenium (Se) concentration effects in sand culture and sandy soils were studied on raya (Brassica juncea Coss.), an oil crop, in the greenhouse. The sand cultures were supplied with Se at rates of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 parts per million (ppm), whereas the sandy soil was treated with 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 ppm Se as sodium selenite (Na2SO3·5H2O). Sulfur (S) was supplied at rates of 0, 50, and 100 ppm in both cases. When S was not applied in the sand cultures, 1 ppm and higher Se decreased root and shoot weight significantly. Four parts per million and higher concentrations of Se induced white chlorosis in younger leaves of raya. In sandy soil, yield reduction started with 2 ppm and higher Se doses, but there was no chlorosis in the leaves. When S was applied at the rate of 50 and 100 ppm in both cases, the dry weights of roots and shoots increased significantly. In the presence of 100 ppm S, shoot dry matter was higher than the control for 1, 2, 4, and 8 ppm Se application, and significant reduction in dry matter yield was observed with 16 and 32 ppm Se. In the absence of added S, Se tended to accumulate in the plant roots, but with the addition of S, more Se was translocated to the shoots. The plant nitrogen, sulfur, methionine, cystine, and cysteine concentration decreased with increased Se concentration in the growth medium. Supplying S at 50 and 100 ppm decreased Se and increased all other measured chemical concentrations in raya plants. Selenium and S were antagonistically related.
Effect of long-term use of chemical fertilizers with and without organics on forms of soil acidity, phosphorus adsorption and crop yields in an acid soil

The effect of continuous application of chemical fertilizers with and without farmyard manure (FYM) and lime on different forms of soil acidity, phosphorus adsorption and crop yields was studied in a long-term field experiment initiated during rabi 1972–73. The imbalanced use of inorganic fertilizers continuously for 29 cropping years led to the deterioration of soil health that rendered the present soil unproductive for further cultivation. Continuous addition of 100% N alone (urea) caused maximum damage and not even a single grain of maize or wheat could be harvested in this treatment. It was due to the increased exchangeable acidity and exchangeable aluminium in the soil. Continuous omission of K in fertilizer schedule for 29 years resulted in about 50 and 32% reduction in maize and wheat grain yield, respectively, over 100% NPK treatment. Addition of lime or FYM, along with recommended doses of chemical fertilizers, significantly improved the soil productivity. Application of lime increased soil pH and significantly reduced all type of soil acidity with most conspicuous effect observed on exchangeable acidity. The use of FYM, on the other hand, had a moderate effect on exchangeable acidity as compared to that in the treatment of NPK application alone. Both these treatments maintained better nutrient availability and sustained higher grain yields over the soils where only chemical fertilizers were applied. Addition of 100% N alone resulted in maximum phosphorus adsorption (98%) and soils with 100% NPK + lime resulted in lowest P adsorption.
Suprimento de potássio em função da adubação potássica residual em um Latossolo Vermelho do Cerrado

In some soils with low levels of exchangeable potassium, non-exchangeable forms can participate in plant supply. There is evidence that K supply in non-exchangeable forms depends more on plant nutrient demand than on soil properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the supply and depletion of K forms in a Cerrado Oxisol, as affected by residual K fertilization and successive cultivation of Brachiaria ruziziensis (Syn. Urochloa ruziziensis). Soil samples were collected in the 0-20 cm layer in plots of a field experiment installed in 2001, where soil had been fertilized for 10 years with 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1 of K2O. In a greenhouse, 0, 150 and 300 mg dm-3 K was applied to the soil samples and B. ruziziensis was grown and cut five times. The K supply of the plants depended more on the newly added fertilizer than on the residual effect of previous fertilization. The non-exchangeable K is responsible, over time, for the maintenance of exchangeable K levels and becomes the main source of K for B. ruziziensis plants in the absence of K fertilization. Brachiaria ruziziensis plants have the capacity to absorb large amounts of K from the soil, confirming the importance of this cover crop for soil nutrient cycling.
Further Studies of the Interaction of Hydrogen with Graphite Nanofibers

Catalytically grown graphite nanofibers (GNF) are molecularly engineered structures that are produced by the interaction of carbon-containing gases with small metal particles at temperatures around 600 °C. The fibrous solids consist of minuscule graphene sheets stacked at various angles with respect to the fiber axis. This arrangement generates a material possessing unique chemical properties because unlike conventional graphite crystals, only edges are exposed. Such a conformation produces a material composed entirely of nanopores that can accommodate small-sized adsorbate molecules, such as hydrogen, in the most efficient manner. In addition, the nonrigid pore walls can expand to accommodate the gas in a multilayer conformation. GNF exhibit extraordinary behavior toward the sorption and retention of hydrogen at high pressures and abnormally high temperatures. In this paper we discuss some of the critical factors involved in the adsorption of molecular hydrogen and the influence that this process exerts .
Cytochrome c Structure and Redox Function in Mixed Solvents Are Determined by the Dielectric Constant

Cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV−visible (UV−vis), circular dichroism (CD), and resonance Raman (λex = 406.7, 413.1 nm) spectroscopy have been used to probe the structure and redox function of horse cytochrome c (cyt c) in aqueous mixtures of three water-miscible organic solvents, specifically, acetonitrile (ACN), dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) containing 100−60% water. As the concentration of the organic solvent is increased, significant changes are observed in the spectroscopy of ferricytochrome c (ferricyt c) with the greatest structural changes observed for ferricyt c in mixed solvent media with the lowest dielectric constant (30% ACN in this work). In the UV−visible spectrum, the Soret band blue shifts (1 nm) and the intensity of the 695 nm band decreases. UV CD (185−240 nm) suggest that changes in the protein secondary structure on going from aqueous to nonaqueous media are relatively small and that the protein structure remains largely intact in nonaqueous media. In the visible C.
Trace element composition of PM2.5 and PM10 from Kolkata – a heavily polluted Indian metropolis

Abstract Elemental composition of PM 2.5 and PM 10 was measured from 16 locations in Greater Kolkata in Eastern India. Sampling was carried out in the winter months of 2013–2014. PM 2.5 and PM 10 mass concentrations ranged from 83–783 μg/m 3 and 167–928 μg/m 3 respectively. 20 elements were measured with an Agilent 7700 series ICP–MS equipped with a 3 rd generation He reaction/collision cell following closed vessel microwave digestion. In both size fractions Fe, Na, Al, K, Ca were present in high concentrations (>1 000 ng/m 3 ), Mn, Zn and Pb demonstrated medium concentrations (>100 ng/m 3 ), and Sc, V, Co, Ni, Mo, Cd, Sn and Sb had low concentrations ( 3 ). Ca, Al, Mg, Sc, Ti, Mn and Fe were concentrated in the PM 10 fraction, while the toxic metals (Cr, Ni, Zn, Mo, Sn, Sb, V, Co, Cu, Cd and Pb) were concentrated in the PM 2.5 fraction. Al normalized Enrichment Factors (EF) showed EF EF>10 for Ni, Cr, Cu is possibly industrial influence and 1 000>EF>100 for Sn, Zn, Mo, Sb, Pb, Cd is related to industrial, high temperature combustion and vehicle sources. Factor analysis identified three possible sources for PM 10 ; (1) abraded vehicular part related road dust, exhaust gases of car and municipal waste incineration (2) industrial emissions, and (3) coal combustion and non–ferrous metal smelting and three possible sources for PM 2.5 ; (1) abraded vehicular part related road dust and industrial emissions (2) exhaust gases of cars and municipal waste incineration, and (3) coal combustion and non–ferrous metal smelting. In a risk evaluation using a U.S. EPA IRIS, chromium was found to have the highest excess cancer risk.
Stereological ratio estimation based on counts from integral test systems

The stereological practice of using integral test systems in the estimation of the fundamental stereological ratios is studied in the light of recent theoretical developments in sampling. The estimation of a ratio is based on counts only, obtained from two, in general different, test sets constituting the integral test system. The ordinary ratio‐of‐sums estimator based on counts from uniformly positioned integral test systems is compared with two estimators based on non‐uniform, weighted sampling. It is shown that the estimators based on weighted sampling are not, in general, unbiased. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the mean‐of‐ratios estimator based on replicated weighted sampling needs not have smaller MSE than the ordinary ratio‐of‐sums estimator based on replicated uniform sampling.
Photoresponse and Field-Emission Properties of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoflowers

Elegant Bi2S3 nanoflowers were prepared via a simple vapor deposition process. Compared to the Bi2S3 nanorods bundles, the conductivity of the nanoflowers is much more sensitive to simulated sunlight exposure. The light-induced conductivity increase allows us to reversibly switch the nanoflowers between “OFF” and “ON” states, an optical gating phenomenon analogous to the commonly used electrical gating, which show the possibility of creating highly sensitive photodetectors and optical switches using these Bi2S3 nanoflowers. Moreover, the field emission measurements confirm that the present nanoflowers are excellent field emitters with the turn-on field of 7.45 eV. Therefore, these Bi2S3 nanoflowers with large proportion of free open edges may be attractive in novel nanoscale electric and optoelectronic devices.
The librational ground state of monodeuterated methane adsorbed on graphite

High resolution inelastic neutron scattering spectra of CH4, CH4/CD4 mixtures, and CH3D adsorbed on exfoliated graphite at 4.5 K have been obtained. The resolution used was approximately five times higher than previously used and has revealed extra detail in the spectra. For CH4 it is shown that the parameter, H, related to rotation about the twofold axes is not exactly zero. It has an unexpected small positive value. For a 1:2 CH4/CD4 mixture the tunneling spectra of the CH4 show that the mixture must be ordered at 4.5 K and that the barriers to rotation of the CH4 are increased slightly when the surrounding CH4 molecules are replaced by the heavier CD4. For CH3D the higher resolution spectra make it possible to make an unambiguous assignment of the tunneling spectra, which is different from that previously proposed. The assignment indicates that there are terms in the orientational potential higher than the threefold Fourier components previously assumed, but that these probably do not affect the derive.
STUDIES ON COMBUSTION OF DOUBLE STREAMS OF METHANOL/DODECANOL FUEL DROPLETS NEXT TO A COOLING WALL

Combustion characteristics of double droplet streams were experimentally investigated. The streams were injected parallel to a cooling wall in a hot gas environment. The streams were a mixture of methanol and dodecanol. Dodecanol was initially present in mass fractions of 0.0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.30, 0.40, and 0.50 and distances between the nearest droplet stream and the wall were either 0.32 mm or 0.16 mm. Droplets initially about 200 μm in diameter were injected through the center of a flat flame burner at 2.6 m/s. The center-to-center droplet spacing within droplet streams was about 260 μm and the distance between droplet streams was about 360 μm. Results show that droplet size histories for the two streams were very similar and that burning rates increased as the dodecanol mass fraction increased; however burning rates remained constant after the initial dodecanol mass fraction reached 0.30. It was also observed that droplet stream stability depended on the fuel pumping rate and distance between the droplet jet streams and the cooling wall. When the distance between the wall and the droplet streams was small, both burning rates and droplet stream stability decreased. The flame exhibited two different colors and the regions of color also changed with the dodecanol mass fraction. Flame contraction was also observed, resulting from sudden droplet heating when the liquid methanol surface mass fraction became small.
Far-Infrared Drying Characteristics of Mushroom Slices

Abstract In this study, infrared drying characteristic of mushroom slices was investigated in the temperature range of 50–90°C. The drying data were fitted to five thin-layer drying models. The performance of these models was compared using the determination of coefficient (R2), reduced chi-square (χ2), and root mean square error between the observed and predicted moisture ratios. The values of the diffusivity coefficients at each temperature were obtained using Fick’s second law of diffusion. The drying processes were completed within 60–168 min at different temperatures. Experimental drying curves showed only a falling drying rate period. The results show that the logarithmic model is the most appropriate model for infrared drying behavior of thin-layer mushroom slices. A third-order polynomial relationship was found to correlate the effective moisture diffusivity with moisture content. The average effective moisture diffusivity increased with increasing temperature and decrease in moisture content of mushroom slices and varied from 8.039 × 10−10 to 20.618 × 10−10 m2/s. Arrhenius relation with an activation energy value of 21.85 kJ/mol expressed the effect of temperature on the average diffusivity. The minimum and the maximum energy requirements for drying of mushroom slices were also determined as 2.87 kW h/kg water and 5.36 kW h/kg water for 90 and 50°C, respectively.
Quantitative Comparison of Fermi Level Pinning at GaAs / Metal and GaAs / Liquid Junctions

Determination du potentiel de bande plate de monocristaux de GaAs de type n dans differentes solutions aqueuses par mesures d'impedance en courant alternatif. Calcul de la hauteur de barriere de la jonction n−GaAs/liquide pour differents couples d'oxydoreduction. Mise en evidence d'un ancrage du niveau de Fermi a la jonction GaAs/liquide beaucoup plus faible qu'a une jonction GaAs/metal. Confirmation des resultats de cette etude a l'aide de donnees publiees sur des electrodes p−GaAs et n−GaAs a revetement de polymere