Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of different mechanistic proposals for water oxidation in photosynthesis on the basis of Mn4OxCa structures for the catalytic site and spectroscopic data

Recent progress in EPR and EXAFS spectroscopy, quantum mechanical calculations and X-ray crystallography led to a tremendous improvement in our picture of the catalytic site of water oxidation in photosystem II. It is now likely that the four Mn ions are grouped in a 3 + 1 fashion with three short Mn–Mn distances of about 2.7 A and one long Mn–Mn distance of 3.3 A. In addition, Ca has been firmly localized close to the Mn centers, with an average distance of 3.4 A and an average angle of the Mn–Ca vectors close to the membrane normal (≤23°). The recent crystal structure of Ferreira et al. (Science, 2004, 303, 1831–1838) suggests that the Mn3 unit and Ca form a distorted cubane like structure. The fourth Mn is ‘dangling’ from this unit either via a μ4-oxo bridge or a mono μ-oxo bridge. However, the precise Mn–Mn distances and the bridging situation still need to be worked out. On this structural basis and the available spectroscopic data two possible mechanisms for photosynthetic water oxidation are discussed in order to highlight questions that still need to be solved for a full understanding of this fascinating reaction.
Effect of foliar spray of urea and zinc on growth and flowering attributes of guava (Psidium guajava) cv. BHAVNAGAR RED.

Study was conducted in experimental farm of Junagadh Agricultural University, Gujarat India to find out the effect of foliar application of 1.0 per cent, 1.5 per cent or 2.0 per cent urea and zinc sulfate with concentration of 0.2, 04 and 0.6 per cent on guava crop, respectively, just before blooming significantly improved shoot growth, leaf number, area and weight. The best results were obtained with treatments of 1.0 and 1.5 per cent foliar spray of urea. In case of flowering, fruit set and fruit retention was better in treated plants with fertilizer. The size of fruits and yield per tree increased with increasing urea concentration and the significant variation in number of flowers per shoot was observed while non significant effect was observed under interaction effect of urea and zinc. The highest fruit weight and maximum fruit girth was registered with 0.6 per cent zinc. Thus, it is proved that 1.5 per cent urea solution and 0.6 per cent zinc sulphate were effective for the augmentation of growth and flowering attributes of guava.
Spent mushroom: a new low-cost adsorbent for removal of Congo Red from aqueous solutions

In this study, spent mushroom (SM) (Tricholoma lobayense) was used as a new low-cost adsorbent for removing Congo Red (CR) from aqueous solutions in a batch process at 25°C. By varying the adsorbent dose, initial concentration, contact time, initial pH and particle size, the respective effects of these factors on the adsorption performance were explored. The sorption equilibrium data fitted Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was 147.1 mg/g at 25°C. The kinetic data obtained at different initial concentrations were analyzed using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion equations. The pseudo-second-order described the adsorption of Congo Red on spent mushroom very well.
Heterosis for fruit yield and its contributing traits in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

The Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) cultivars were sown at Horticulture Nursery in university campus, SKRAU, Bikaner during Kharif 2014. All the recommended general package of practices was followed for raising the good crop. Nine parents (6 lines and 3 testers) and their 18 F1S were grown in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. One check variety, Komal 10 was also used as standard check. Crosses among the nine genotypes were made in line x tester mating design at Horticulture Nursery in university campus, SKRAU, Bikaner during Zaid 2014. Out of 18 crosse combinations, some crosses showed the significant heterosis over better parent and standard check. Early and extra early genotypes seem to be a priority, therefore negative heterosis is desirable for days to 50 % flowering and days to maturity. The cross Kashi Pragati x Arka Anamika showed heterobeltiosis for nine characters viz., days to 50% floweing, days to maturity, plant height, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit weight, biological yield and fruit yield per plant. The crosses which showed heterobeltiosis for more than six characters were Hisar Naveen x Arka Anamika, Varsha Uphar x Arka Anamika and Kashi Kranti x Arka Anamika.The cross Varsha Uphar x Arka Anamika showed standard heterosis for all the characters, while crosses like Hisar Naveen x Arka Anamika, Kashi Kranti x Hisar Unnat, Kashi Kranti x Arka Anamika and Kashi Pragati x Arka Anamika exhibited standard heterosis for more than six characters. Therefore, these crosses have good potential for heterosis breeding.
Thermal Decomposition of Nitrocompounds in Shock Waves. IV: Decomposition of Nitric Acid

The thermal decomposition of nitric acid highly diluted in Ar has been studied in shock waves at 890 < T < 1200 K and 8.0 · 10−6 < [Ar] < 3.2 · 10−4mol cm−3. Concentration profiles of HNO3, NO2, and NO3 have been monitored. The rate constants of the unimolecular decomposition of HNO3 and the subsequent reaction OH + HNO3 can be determined directly. The results for the unimolecular decay and low temperature data of the combination reaction of HO and NO2 have been combined to derive expressions for the rate constants in the range between room temperature and 1200K. A reaction mechanism which accounts for the observed concentration profiles is discussed.
Nanofiltration treatment of tomato paste processing wastewater: process modeling and optimization using response surface methodology

AbstractTomato wastewater is characterized by a large amount of suspended solids, red color, and bad smell. In this paper, the effect of transmembrane pressure (10, 15, 20 bar), pH (4, 5, 6), and temperature (30, 40, 50°C) on the permeate flux, total hydraulic resistance, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) rejection of tomato wastewater during nanofiltration treatment was investigated. The flux was found to be approximately constant during long-period operation. The flux was reduced as the pH declined, while it was increased as the temperature and transmembrane pressure increased. The hydraulic resistance (at pH 5 & TMP 1.5 MPa) increased from 5.79 × 1013 to 7.25 × 1013 1/m when the temperature increased from 30 to 50°C. The COD rejection was ranged from 75.65 to 85.35%, in which the highest value was obtained at pH 6, TMP 2.0 MPa, and 30°C. The response surface methodology results demonstrated that the quadratic, the two-factor interaction (2.Fi), and the linear polynomial models are highly significant for.
Isolation and Structure of Funicin, Antimicrobial Substance, Produced by Aspergillus funiculosus

Funicin, a new antimicrobial substance, C17H18O5, was isolated from mycelial mats of Aspergillus funiculosus. The structure was elucidated to be ethyl-2-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-5-methylphenoxy)-6-methylbenzoate from chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Funicin showed inhibitory activity against bacteria and fungi.
Hydrodynamic behaviour of a magneto airlift column in a transverse magnetic field

The hydrodynamics of a three-phase airlift reactor of magnetic particles has been investigated in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. Experiments were carried out in two modes: applying the magnetic field to a static bed then increasing the field flow, and applying the magnetic field to a fluidized bed then increasing the magnetic field intensity. In magnetizing the first mode and parallel to the increasing gas superficial velocity, several bed regimes were observed, including: initial packed, stabilized, and fluidized beds. On the other hand, in magnetizing last mode and while increasing the magnetic field intensity, the fluidized bed changes from a fluidized to a stabilized to frozen bed. Bed expansion before the onset of fluidization increases as the magnetic field intensity increases. Minimum fluidization velocity was found to be strongly dependent on the magnetic field intensity and the minimum stabilization intensity was also strongly dependent on the gas velocity. The magnetic field intensity also affects the bed expansion hysteresis and the liquid circulation velocity. A photocell was used to measure the water circulation rate in the downcomer of the reactor.
Climate change over southern Qinghai Plateau in the past 500 years recorded in Sabina tibetica tree rings

Two tree ring-width chronologies of Sabina tibetica were developed based on cores sampled in Qumalai and Zhiduo, southern Qinghai Plateau. The response function analysis showed that the chronologies were sensitive to temperature and precipitation from April to June in the plateau. Moisture index (MI) was defined, reconstructed and extended back to AD 1550. The cross-validation method was used to check the stability of the calibration equation, and the result indicated that the equation was stable. Six severe dry periods were found in this region in the past 453-year reconstruction, which were 1592 to 1610, 1649 to 1665, 1687 to 1697, 1740 to 1750, 1818 to 1829 and 1918 to 1933. Five severe wetting periods were 1669 to 1682, 1700 to 1709, 1800 to 1814, 1898 to 1909 and 1935 to 1950. Spectrum analysis indicated that there existed long-term cycles of 60.4 and 53.4 a, solar cycle of 11 a and short-term cycles of 8, 6 and 4 a in the reconstructed series.
Atomic force microscopy study of adsorbed moisture on lactose particles

Abstract The thickness of the adsorbed moisture layer on particulate surfaces is of interest because it directly influences the interaction between individual particles and, as a corollary, the mechanical behavior of the bulk powder assembly. A technique has been developed to measure the thickness of these layers on individual particles using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The approach takes account of the presence of an adsorbed layer on the AFM probe tip and the deformation or bulging of the liquid layers due to attractive van der Waals forces as they approach one another. Results are presented for three samples of α-lactose monohydrate originating from different sources. The measurements of film thickness differ between the three samples. The differences can, in part, be explained in terms of different levels of surface roughness, although some variation due to impurities is also suspected. The absolute magnitude of the measured layer thickness is greater than that measured using a gravimetric technique. Work is ongoing to identify and resolve the discrepancy.
Top-down and bottom-up legitimization of emerging industries: evidence from two Italian mechatronics clusters

ABSTRACT The paper investigates the legitimization of emerging industries in traditional manufacturing areas by focusing on two inner structures: the cognitive and institutional structure. These structures and their interplay inform about the heterogeneity of routes and capabilities to enter legitimization trajectories. We compare two mechatronics clusters, both located in the North-East Italian area, namely in the provinces of Vicenza and Trento. The cases reveal how the evolution and legitimation of emerging industries might surface from bottom-up dynamics related to the technological upgrading of local historical industrial specializations, and from top-down institutional strategies, when the business community remains fragmented.
Monopsony, Skills, and Labor Market Concentration1

This paper extends the literature on monopsony and labor market concentration by taking a skillbased approach and estimates the causal effect of monopsony power on labor market outcomes. The prior literature has focused on industry and occupation concentration and likely overstates the degree of monopsony power, since worker skills are substitutable across different firms, occupations and industries. Exploiting linked employer-employee data that cover the universe of Norwegian workers over time, we find that our skill-based monopsony measure shows lower degrees of monopsony power than the conventional industry-and occupation-based measures. However, we also find that the gender gap in concentration is substantially larger using the skillbased measure relative to the occupationor industry-based measures. Using mass layoffs and establishment closures as an exogenous shock to labor demand, we find that workers who experience a mass separation have substantially worse subsequent labor market outcomes when they are in more concentrated skill clusters. Our results point to the existence of employer market power in the economy that is driven by the concentration of skill demand across firms.
Incidental vocabulary learning via verbal dramatization of words in readers’ theatre / Ch’ng Looi Chin

Explicit teaching of vocabulary is a favourable practice in English as Second Language (ESL) classrooms. However, such practice would be a hinder for the students to learn words effectively since they are not taught in context. Thus, it leads to the idea of incidental vocabulary learning approach in repetitive reading. Such approach used in this study aims to examine the capability of students to learn vocabulary incidentally via the dramatization of written text. In this case, readers’ theatre (RT) is used as the platform of measurement. A total of 160 diploma students participated in this case study were equally divided into two different group – classroom reading (CR) and RT group. Both groups took a proficiency test to determine their vocabulary levels. The results were used to choose suitable level of reading materials for both groups. CR group read the story through normal reading lesson in classroom while RT group dramatized the story verbally via readers’ theatre activity. A post-test was carried out to compare the results. The findings revealed that with RT, students performed better in learning the vocabulary incidentally. Besides, based on the accuracy scores, it is also promising that students learn higher level words with the use of RT. Although the results were not conclusive, the study has proven the potential of RT in incidental vocabulary learning in ESL settings.
Arsenic Removal from Groundwater by Solar Driven Inline-Electrolytic Induced Co-Precipitation and Filtration—A Long Term Field Test Conducted in West Bengal

Arsenic contamination in drinking water resources is of major concern in the Ganga delta plains of West Bengal in India and Bangladesh. Here, several laboratory and field studies on arsenic removal from drinking water resources were conducted in the past and the application of strong-oxidant-induced co-precipitation of arsenic on iron hydroxides is still considered as the most promising mechanism. This paper suggests an autonomous, solar driven arsenic removal setting and presents the findings of a long term field test conducted in West Bengal. The system applies an inline-electrolytic cell for in situ chlorine production using the natural chloride content of the water and by that substituting the external dosing of strong oxidants. Co-precipitation of As(V) occurs on freshly formed iron hydroxide, which is removed by Manganese Greensand Plus® filtration. The test was conducted for ten months under changing source water conditions considering arsenic (187 ± 45 µg/L), iron (5.5 ± 0.8 mg/L), manganese (1.5 ± 0.4 mg/L), phosphate (2.4 ± 1.3 mg/L) and ammonium (1.4 ± 0.5 mg/L) concentrations. Depending on the system setting removal rates of 94% for arsenic (10 ± 4 µg/L), >99% for iron (0.03 ± 0.03 mg/L), 96% for manganese (0.06 ± 0.05 mg/L), 72% for phosphate (0.7 ± 0.3 mg/L) and 84% for ammonium (0.18 ± 0.12 mg/L) were achieved—without the addition of any chemicals/adsorbents. Loading densities of arsenic on iron hydroxides averaged to 31 µgAs/mgFe. As the test was performed under field conditions and the here proposed removal mechanisms work fully autonomously, it poses a technically feasible treatment alternative, especially for rural areas.
Graphene‐Like Carbon Nitride Nanosheets for Improved Photocatalytic Activities

“Graphitic” (g)‐C3N4 with a layered structure has the potential of forming graphene‐like nanosheets with unusual physicochemical properties due to weak van der Waals forces between layers. Herein is shown that g‐C3N4 nanosheets with a thickness of around 2 nm can be easily obtained by a simple top‐down strategy, namely, thermal oxidation etching of bulk g‐C3N4 in air. Compared to the bulk g‐C3N4, the highly anisotropic 2D‐nanosheets possess a high specific surface area of 306 m2 g−1, a larger bandgap (by 0.2 eV), improved electron transport ability along the in‐plane direction, and increased lifetime of photoexcited charge carriers because of the quantum confinement effect. As a consequence, the photocatalytic activities of g‐C3N4 nanosheets have been remarkably improved in terms of •OH radical generation and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
SPATIAL PRICE TRANSMISSION IN SELECTED TIMBER MARKETS IN EKITI STATE NIGERIA: AN ERROR CORRECTION MECHANISM APPROACH

Spatial price transmission and market integration study is important in explaining market performance and the degree of integration. This study therefore examined spatial price transmission in selected timber markets in Ekiti State of Nigeria for the period from January 2003 to December 2012 using error correction approach. Monthly price series of selected timber species from selected timber markets in the state were used. The selected timber species were Milicia excelsa (Iroko), Triplochiton scleroxylon(Obeche), Mansonia altissima(Mansonia) and Terminalia superba. The study examined the trend in timber prices in Ekiti State. The respective maximum and minimum prices of timber species in rural market in the state were found to be N1,240/unit andN490/unit for Milicia excelsa;N850/unit and N220/unit for Triplochiton scleroxylon; N950/unit and N270 for Terminalia superba as well as N1,930/unit andN780/unit for Mansonia altissima. For the urban timber market, the respective maximum and minimum prices were N1,350/unit andN520/unit for Milicia excelsa;N950/unit and N270/unit for Triplochiton scleroxylon; N1,030/unit and N330 for Terminalia superba as well as N2,130/unit andN820/unit for Mansonia altissima. Timber species prices were subjected to stationarity test and were found to be stationary after first differencing, which implies that timber prices were integrated of order one, I(1). Co-integration analysis showed that timber markets in Ekiti State were co-integrated. The error correction model results revealed that 21-32 % disequilibrium is removed or corrected in each period. That is, one month in the timber markets in the state. Six of the market links rejected their respective null hypothesis of no granger causality(p>0.05), four of which exhibited bidirectional granger causality or simultaneous feedback relationship while the remaining two market links exhibited unidirectional granger causality at 5% level of significance. Rural timber market was discovered to be the leading market in the state. Copyright © IJEBF, all rights reserved.
Modeling Expansions of Nitrogen‐Xe Gas Mixtures

Existing experiments using orifice expansions of gas mixtures provide evidence of collisional alignment of the rotor spin vectors. Expansion flow of N2 ‐ Xe gas mixtures is modeled on the basis of kinetic equations, extending the previously developed interlaced system and the model for N2. Numerical results of rotational relaxation are in qualitative agreement with what is known from experiments in pure N2, and velocity slip is in good agreement with existing experiments. Some first results on alignment, defined as the ratio nn/np (with n as number density, and index n=spin vector normal to flow direction, p= parallel), indicate that this ratio first grows with p0D, then decays again, and that a large number of collisions is required to build the alignment.
Employing Imino-Bis-Propane Diol Functional Polymers for Boron Removal from Geothermal Waters via Polymer Enhanced Ultrafiltration

In this study, polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) was used to remove boron from a geothermal water sample. The effect of co-ions such as chloride and sulfate on boron removal was investigated using previously synthesized poly (vinyl amino-N, N’-bis-propane diol) (GPVA) and its copolymers with DADMAC. The presence of co-anions and use of real waste water did not significantly reduce boron retentions and permeate fluxes. At optimum operating conditions 98% boron removal was achieved. It was demonstrated that 97% of complexation capacity of polymer can be recovered and reused by two-cycle decomplexation at pH 4.
One-pot preparation of amine-rich magnetite/bacterial cellulose nanocomposite and its application for arsenate removal

Surface functionalization of bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibrils with aminated magnetite nanoparticles (MH) was carried out by one-pot solvothermal reaction of 1,6-hexanediamine, FeCl3·6H2O and BC pellicle in ethylene glycol at 200 °C for 6 h. The presence of amine surface-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles on the surface of cellulose nanofibrils not only significantly enhanced the thermal and mechanical properties but also the amine content of the nanostructured bacterial cellulose pellicle. Approximately 10.5 mmol g−1 of amine was measured in the aminated magnetite-BC nanocomposite (BC@MH) which is about 14.3 fold higher than its counterpart (MH) prepared in the absence of BC pellicle. The never-dried BC@MH nanocomposite demonstrated a high adsorption capacity towards As(V) ions because of its high iron-oxide and amine content. Approximately 90 mg of As(V) can be adsorbed per gram of BC@MH.
The structures of the tetracyanoplatinates, a class of quasi-onedimensional systems

A summary is given on the structures of the tetracyanoplatinates (with formal Pt oxidation number 2 .0-2.49) with alkali, earth alkali and lanthanoid cations. The features common to the structures of the partially oxidized tetracyanoplatinates and the tetracyanoplatinates(II) are outlined. The role of the cations, anions and water molecules in determining the crystal structure is discussed. Special interest is laid on the great Variation of the inchain Pt—Pt distance R from about 3.75 Ä to 3.09 Ä (for Compounds with the formal Pt oxidation number of two) and further from 2.92 Ä to 2.80 Ä (for the partially oxidized Compounds). Conditions for structures with small values of R are given. Small P t P t distances R should hence be looked for in tetracyanoplatinates with cations of high polarizability, low water content and strongly polarizing anions.