Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of berry quality in highbush blueberry cultivars grown according to conventional and organic methods

This research was conducted in the Laboratory Orchard at the Department of Horticulture, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin and at a certified production farm specializing in the cultivation of highbush blueberry located in Szczecin. The effect of cultivation conditions—organic plantation in organic peat substrate (pH 3.46) and conventional plantation in mineral substrate (pH 5.32)—on the berry quality of four highbush blueberry cultivars (firmness, size, chemical composition including content of organic compounds and polyphenols) was examined. Blueberry bushes were planted at a spacing of 2.3 × 1.2 m. Bushes were planted on organic and conventional plantations, and the substrates differed in terms of mineral content. Specific environmental conditions and soil conditions (optimum pH of the substrate) resulted in larger berries on the organic plantations, and the total yield contained big berries (diameter, >12 mm; mean, 83.4%) with lower polyphenol content (287 mg 100 g -1 ). The berries of the Elliott cultivar, regardless of how the crops were grown, were the largest, characterized by the lowest content of SS (15.3%) and the highest acidity (0.98 g 100 g -1 ). They were also the most likely to shed. The Duke cultivar was most susceptible to mechanical damage (101 G mm) and was characterized by the lowest berry firmness (162 and 363 G mm) and polyphenol content (organic, 185 mg; conventional, 228 mg 100 g -1 ).
A Fresh Look at the Crystal Violet Lab with Handheld Camera Colorimetry

Chemical kinetic experiments to determine rate laws are common in high school and college chemistry courses. For reactions involving a color change, rate laws can be determined experimentally using spectrophotometric or colorimetric equipment though this equipment can be cost prohibitive. Previous work demonstrated that inexpensive handheld camera devices can be used to quantify the concentration of a colored analyte in solution. This paper extends this approach to the kinetic study of the color fading of crystal violet upon reaction with sodium hydroxide. The results demonstrate accurate determination of the reaction order, with respect to crystal violet, using a method accessible in many high school and college laboratories.
Morphology evolution and anisotropic phase formation of the maleated polyethylene-layered silicate nanocomposites

Morphology evolution and anisotropic phase formation of the maleated polyethylene-layered silicate nanocomposites are investigated by using synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and polarized optical microscopy (POM). Despite favorable compatibility between polymer and organically modified layered silicates, the final morphology of the nanocomposite evolves via four stages: disordered exfoliation, ordered exfoliation, dual morphologies of intercalation and exfoliation, and intercalation in sequence with the content of silicate. The formation of the ordered exfoliation state is attributed to the steric interaction between anisotropic silicate plates. Particularly, the transition from exfoliation to intercalation provides us with the significant clue that the interaction between layer silicates gets dominant when the distance between them is smaller than a certain value. It is found that the silicate layers need larger layer spacing than 9 nm to avoid the attractive interaction between adjacent silicate layers and to keep the exfoliation state in this nanocomposite system. Additionally, the nanocomposite shows the optical anisotropy above 12 vol % clay due to the ordering of silicate layers. The optical anisotropy becomes stronger with the content of silicate.
Enhanced Thermal Stability of Al-Pillared Smectites Modified with Ce and La

A commercial bentonite (primarily smectite) from Fischer Scientific Company (F bentonite) and a natural bentonite from Peru (P bentonite) were used in the preparation of pillared clays with polyoxymetal cations of Al that were subsequently modified with Ce and La. Several Al/metal ratios (5 and 9) were used to investigate the effects on the thermal and hydrothermal stability of these synthetic clays. The structure of these materials was studied by X-ray diffraction. Isotherms were determined by N2 adsorption. Thermal stability was determined using thermogravimetric (TG) measurements and ara-monia-TPD (temperature programmed desorption) was used to obtain acidity data. These materials exhibited basal spacings from 16 to 20 Å, with surface areas from 239 to 347 m2g−1, with microporosity contributing from 50 to 80% of the total surface area. Pillared clays prepared from F bentonite generally showed larger basal spacings and surface areas than those prepared from P bentonite. Pillared clays modified with Ce or La did not show any apparent structural changes relative to the Al-pillared clays. Pillared clays modified with Ce and La had similar acid properties as Al-pillared clays. In contrast, the thermal and hydrothermal stabilities of these materials were greater than Al-pillared clays. However, Ce-pillared clay appears to be more effective than La-pillared clay in delaying the dehydroxylation of pillared clays with increasing temperature. The intercalation of Ce and La into Al-pillared clays improved the thermal stability, which may increase the utility of these materials as catalysts.
Towards High Power High Energy Aqueous Sodium‐Ion Batteries: The NaTi2(PO4)3/Na0.44MnO2 System

0 Concerns over global energy supply have spurred intensive research on energy storage technologies to enable electric vehicles and an electric grid that can utilize renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. [ 1–11 ] Recently, several emerging aqueous energy storage technologies have been demonstrated that feature low cost, high rate capability, and durability. The potential for use in large-scale grid application has revived focus on these systems. [ 12–17 ] Here, we demonstrate ultrafast rate capability ( > 100C current rates) and superior high-rate cycling stability ( > 1500 cycles) in aqueous NaTi 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /Na 0.44 MnO 2 (NTP/NMO) cells, an electrochemical couple which has the highest specifi c and volumetric energy amongst reported aqueous Na-ion systems to date. Aqueous rechargeable Li-ion batteries previously garnered interest as a possible substitute for conventional aqueous rechargeable systems such as Pb-acid and NiMH. These were fi rst proposed and demonstrated by the Dahn group using VO 2 /LiMn 2 O 4 electrodes and LiNO 3 aqueous solution as the electrolyte. [ 18–20 ]
Pearl-necklace complexes of flexible polyanions with neutral–cationic diblock copolymers

We study the complexation of very asymmetric diblock copolymers (consisting of a cationic block of 12 lysines connected to a 400 amino acid long hydrophilic polypeptide block with a net charge that is nearly zero) with oppositely charged sodium poly(acrylic acid) (NaPAA) with a range of molar masses between 2 and 1300 kg mol−1. For shorter Na-PAA chains, spherical complex coacervate micelles are formed, but for long Na-PAA chains, with molar masses in excess of 250 kg mol−1, atomic force microscopy indicates the presence of pearl-necklace structures. Complexes most likely consist of only a single NaPAA chain, complexed to multiple diblocks. Hence, the size of the complexes can be fully controlled via the NaPAA molar mass. The occurrence of pearl-necklace complexes at higher NaPAA molar masses is attributed to the packing frustration that arises due to the small size of the cationic block of the diblock copolymers.
Formation of high crystalline ZIF-8 in an aqueous solution

We report here the synthesis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) in an aqueous solution. ZIF-8 crystals were prepared by mixing 2-methylimidazole (Hmim) with Zn nitrate hexahydrate (Zn) in deionized water. The products prepared at high Hmim/Zn molar ratios were assigned to a sodalite (SOD)-type structure whose morphology consisted of a rhombic dodecahedron with truncated corners. The crystals possessed ultrahigh surface areas and micropore volumes. At low Hmim/Zn molar ratio, some zinc hydroxide and basic zinc nitrate were observed in the products. We also focused on the formation process of ZIF-8 crystals in an aqueous system by observing the change in the pH value as a function of synthesis time. We tried to calculate the stability constant of ZIF-8 by fitting the calculated pH values to the measured pH values. When the molar fractions of the zinc compounds in the equilibrium state were calculated, high fractions of the Zn(mim)2 complex were observed at high concentrations of Hmim. On the other hand, some zinc cations were present at low concentrations of Hmim. This finding would support a causal relationship between these zinc cations and the formation of some by-products.
Comparison between artificial neural networks and mathematical models for moisture ratio estimation in two varieties of green malt

Introduction Artificial neural network (ANN) is a technique with flexible mathematical structure, which is capable of identifying complex non-linear relationship between input and output data. Objectives The aim of this study was a comparison between ANNs and mathematical models for moisture ratio estimation in two varieties of green malt. Methods In this study, drying characteristics of two varieties green malt Sahra and Dasht were studied at different temperatures (40, 55, 70 and 85 C) by measuring the decrease in the mass of green malt with respect to time. A feed forward back propagation (FFBP) neural network was used to estimate the moisture ratio of green malt during drying. ANN was used to model green malt drying at different temperatures and a comparison was also made with the results obtained from Page’s model. The variety, drying temperature and time were used as input parameters and the moisture ratio was used as output parameter.Results The results were compared with experimental data and it was found that the estimated moisture ratio by FFBP neural network is more accurate than Page’s model. It was also found that moisture ratio decreased with increasing of drying time and temperature. Conclusion The ANN model was more suitable than other models for moisture ratio estimation in green malt.
Silicon oxycarbide formation on SiC surfaces and at the SiC/SiO2 interface

Amorphous and single-crystal α-SiC were exposed to various oxygen sources at room temperature. The oxygen sources included the residual gas in an ultrahigh vacuum environment, ambient air, ozone, and oxygen plasma. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to follow changes in the surface composition and to determine the local bonding environment of the Si atoms. It was found that silicon oxycarbide species are formed when these SiC materials are initially exposed to oxygen. With extended exposure to ambient air, a SiO2 layer is subsequently formed over the silicon oxycarbide. However, the native oxide on the single-crystal SiC consists mainly of silicon oxycarbide species. The thicknesses of these native oxides were calculated using the XPS data.
Low‐Band Gap Polymeric Cyanine Dyes Absorbing in the NIR Region

Two new, fully conjugated polymeric cyanine dyes based on trimethine and heptamethine moieties have been synthesized. Both polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, UV-vis and IR spectroscopy, elementary analysis and cyclic voltammetry. The structure of one material could be confirmed with NMR spectroscopy. Upon head-to-tail coupling of the dye moieties distinct bathochromic shifts up to 159 nm were observed for the polymers which absorb solely in the near infrared (NIR) region with maxima up to 1002 nm and very high molar absorption coefficients. This highly efficient absorption in the NIR spectral domain combined with the strong electron accepting properties makes these dyes interesting candidates for many optical applications; investigations on photovoltaic devices based on polymeric cyanine dye/C 60 heterojunctions identify one of these possibilities.
Effect of surface area during stabilization of electric arc furnace dusts from steel foundries

This study examined the effect of waste particle size on stabilization performance of hazardous electric arc furnace dusts (EAFD) from steel foundries through the measurement of the temperature rise during hydration and heavy metals leaching. EAFD was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), granulometry, and acid neutralization capacity (ANC) analysis. Portland cement was used to stabilize EAFD. Two types of paste samples, with EAFD content varying between 0% and 50% by weight, were prepared. The first type contained original EAFD, and the second contained ground EAFD with increased surface area. The increase in the temperatures of the mixes was monitored during the hydration reactions of the pastes. Ground EAFD yielded higher temperature rise rates than the original EAFD. Heavy metals leaching were determined by toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP). Pastes containing ground EAFD up to 50% yielded lower zinc and lead leaching than that of samples containing original EAFD. The results revealed that surface area of the EAFD may affect the stabilization performance and therefore care should be given to storage conditions at the foundries.
New insight into pressure-induced phase transitions of amorphous silicon: the role of impurities

The pressure-induced phase transformations of a form of amorphous silicon (a-Si) with well characterized impurity levels and structure are examined at pressures up to 40 GPa using in situ synchrotron X-ray radiation. At ∼12 GPa crystallization commences, but it is not completed until ∼16 GPa. At higher pressures, not all the crystalline phases observed for crystalline silicon (c-Si) appear. On pressure release, none of the metastable crystalline phases observed for c-Si nucleate. Instead an amorphous phase is re-formed. This is in contrast to all previous diamond-anvil studies on a-Si. If full pressure-induced crystallization occurred, the material remained crystalline on unloading. The formation of a-Si upon unloading was only observed when a high-density amorphous phase was reported on loading. The fully characterized nature of the a-Si used in this current study allows for the interpretation of this significant diversity in terms of impurity content of the a-Si used. Namely, this suggests that `ideal' (pure, voidless, structurally relaxed) a-Si will follow the same transition pathway as observed for c-Si, while crystallization of a-Si forms with a high impurity content is retarded or even inhibited. The a-Si used here straddles both regimes and thus, although full crystallization occurs, the more complex crystalline structures fail to nucleate.
Thermohydraulic Performance of a Series of In-Line Noncircular Ducts in a Parallel Plate Channel

Heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics for two-dimensional laminar flow at low Reynolds number for five in-line ducts of various nonconventional cross-sections in a parallel plate channel are studied in this paper. The governing equations were solved using finite-volume method. Commercial CFD software, ANSYS Fluent 14.5, was used to solve this problem. A total of three different nonconventional, noncircular cross-section ducts and their characteristics are compared with those of circular cross-section ducts. Shape-2 ducts offered minimum flow resistance and maximum heat transfer rate most of the time. Shape-3 ducts at Re 100 can be considered to give out the optimum results.
Metal–organic framework MIL-100(Fe) for the adsorption of malachite green from aqueous solution

The adsorption of malachite green from aqueous solution on a highly porous metal–organic framework MIL-100(Fe) was studied in view of the adsorption isotherm, thermodynamics, kinetics, and regeneration of the sorbent. The adsorption isotherms of malachite green on MIL-100(Fe) followed the Freundlich model, and MIL-100(Fe) possessed heterogeneous surface caused by the presence of different functional groups on the surface. The adsorption of malachite green on MIL-100(Fe) is controlled by an entropy effect rather than an enthalpy change, and obeyed a pseudo-second-order kinetics. Analysis of the intraparticle diffusion plots revealed that more than one process affected the adsorption, and film (boundary layer) diffusion controlled the adsorption rate at the beginning. Evidence from zeta potential and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data showed that the adsorption of malachite green was also driven by electrostatic attraction and the interaction between the Lewis base –N(CH3)2 in malachite green and the water molecule coordinated metal sites of MIL-100(Fe). MIL-100(Fe) gave much higher adsorption capacity for malachite green than other conventional adsorbents such as activated carbon and natural zeolite. The high adsorption capacity, good solvent stability, and excellent reusability make MIL-100(Fe) attractive for the removal of MG from aqueous solution.
Column Studies of Soil Clogging in a Slowly Permeable Soil as a Function of Effluent Quality

Clogging as a function of effluent quality was investigated in cores of the very slowly permeable Almena silt loam soil which offers problems for conventional on-site liquid waste disposal. Undisturbed 60 cm long cores were subjected for approximately 120 days to constant ponding with simulated septic tank effluent, extended aeration effluent and distilled water. Column influents and effluents were monitored with respect to chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and solid residue fractions. Column influents differed markedly in COD and BOD content but column effluents had consistently low contents indicating the high renovative capacity of the soil. In situ tensiometric, redox, and flow rate measurements indicated development of the most severe barriers to flow in columns ponded with low BOD aerated effluent, followed closely by those ponded with high BOD septic tank effluent. No barriers developed in columns ponded with water. Total concentrations of solid residue fractions in the two effluents and the cumulative load of solids applied to the columns did not differ significantly, but particle sizes in the aerated effluent were smaller. Increased pore clogging in aerated influent treatments points to the significant role of effluent solids in the clogging process in slowly permeable clayey soils. Additional studies are in progress to better define critical waste characteristics as related to soil clogging.
Uncertainties in modelling heterogeneous chemistry and Arctic ozone depletion in the winter 2009/2010

Abstract. Stratospheric chemistry and denitrification are simulated for the Arctic winter 2009/2010 with the Lagrangian Chemistry and Transport Model ATLAS. A number of sensitivity runs is used to explore the impact of uncertainties in chlorine activation and denitrification on the model results. In particular, the efficiency of chlorine activation on different types of liquid aerosol versus activation on nitric acid trihydrate clouds is examined. Additionally, the impact of changes in reaction rate coefficients, in the particle number density of polar stratospheric clouds, in supersaturation, temperature or the extent of denitrification is investigated. Results are compared to satellite measurements of MLS and ACE-FTS and to in-situ measurements onboard the Geophysica aircraft during the RECONCILE measurement campaign. It is shown that even large changes in the underlying assumptions have only a small impact on the modelled ozone loss, even though they can cause considerable differences in chemical evolution of other species and in denitrification. Differences in column ozone between the sensitivity runs stay below 10% at the end of the winter. Chlorine activation on liquid aerosols alone is able to explain the observed magnitude and morphology of the mixing ratios of active chlorine, reservoir gases and ozone. This is even true for binary aerosols (no uptake of HNO3 from the gas-phase allowed in the model). Differences in chlorine activation between sensitivity runs are within 30%. Current estimates of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) number density and supersaturation imply that, at least for this winter, NAT clouds play a relatively small role compared to liquid clouds in chlorine activation. The change between different reaction rate coefficients for liquid or solid clouds has only a minor impact on ozone loss and chlorine activation in our sensitivity runs.
Ammonium Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Sulfonated Polystyrene Grafted Silica Gel Sorbent

Abstract A novel non‐swelling sulfonated polystyrene grafted silica gel sorbent was synthesized for use in ammonium removal from aqueous solutions. The ammonium sorption equilibrium isotherm was determined at 298 K by batch experiments, and the effects of flow rate and initial solution pH on the sorption were measured by breakthrough experiments in a laboratory scale fixed bed column. The equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Langmuir‐Freundlich, and Toth isotherm models. The breakthrough data were fitted to a dynamic isothermal mathematical model with an axial dispersion term to obtain the effective diffusion coefficient. The sorption rate of the sulfonated polystyrene grafted silica gel is higher than that of ion‐exchange resins, which enables shorter cycle times in column processes for the grafted silica gel.
Hydrolytic Degradation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), Polylactide and their Derivatives: Kinetics, Crystallinity, and Surface Morphology

Hydrolytic degradations of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), polylactide (PLA) and their derivatives were explored by kinetic and structure methods at 37 and 70°C in phosphate buffer. It was revealed the kinetic profiles for copolymer PHBV (20% of 3-hydroxyvalerate) and the blend PHB-PLA (1:1 wt. ratio). The intensity of biopolymer hydrolysis depending on temperature is characterized by total weight loss and the viscosity-averaged molecular weight decrement (ΔMW) as well as by WAXS and AMF techniques. Characterization of PHB and PHBV includes both ΔMW and crystallinity evolution (x-ray diffraction) as well as the AFM analysis of PHB film surfaces before and after aggressive medium exposition. The degradation is enhanced in the series PHBV < PHB < PHB-PLA blend < PLA. The impact of MW on the biopolymer hydrolysis is shown.