Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tissue accumulation and distribution of arsenic compounds in three marine fish species: relationship to trophic position

In this study the accumulation and distribution of arsenic compounds in marine fish species in relation to their trophic position was investigated. Arsenic compounds were measured in eight tissues of mullet Mugil cephalus (detritivore), luderick Girella tricuspidata (herbivore) and tailor Pomatomus saltatrix (carnivore) by high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The majority of arsenic in tailor tissues, the pelagic carnivore, was present as arsenobetaine (86–94%). Mullet and luderick also contained high amounts of arsenobetaine in all tissues (62–98% and 59–100% respectively) except the intestines (20% and 24% respectively). Appreciable amounts of dimethylarsinic acid (1–39%), arsenate (2–38%), arsenite (1–9%) and trimethylarsine oxide (2–8%) were identified in mullet and luderick tissues. Small amounts of arsenocholine (1–3%), methylarsonic acid (1–3%) and tetramethylarsonium ion (1–2%) were found in some tissues of all three species. A phosphate arsenoriboside was identified in mullet intestine (4%) and from all tissues of luderick (1–6%) except muscle. Pelagic carnivore fish species are exposed mainly to arsenobetaine through their diet and accumulate the majority of arsenic in tissues as this compound. Detritivore and herbivore fish species also accumulate arsenobetaine from their diet, with quantities of other inorganic and organic arsenic compounds. These compounds may result from ingestion of food and sediment, degradation products (e.g. arsenobetaine to trimethylarsine oxide; arsenoribosides to dimethylarsinic acid), conversion (e.g. arsenate to dimethylarsinic acid and trimethylarsine oxide by bacterial action in digestive tissues) and/or in situ enzymatic activity in liver tissue. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Copper Accumulations in Soils, Coffee, Banana, and Bean Plants Following Copper-Based Fungicides in Coffee Farms in Arusha and Kilimanjaro Regions, Tanzania

This study was carried out to investigate the levels of copper (Cu) contamination in coffee fields in Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions, Tanzania, to increase the database on the contamination of soils by Cu-based fungicides in coffee fields. Surface (0–20 cm deep) soil samples were collected from different farms in Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions. Coffee, banana, and bean plant samples were collected from the locations of soil sampling. Soil and plant samples were analyzed at the Department of Soil Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. It was found that the calcium chloride (CaCl2)–extractable Cu was less than the detection limit of flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable (24 to 366 mg Cu kg−1 soil) and aqua regia–extractable (80 to 806 mg Cu kg−1 soil) Cu levels were high enough to raise environmental alarm (based on European Union guidelines) in the Cu fungicide–treated soils as compared with natural Cu levels in untreated soils (1 to 12 mg Cu kg−1 soil for DTPA and 22 to 32 mg Cu kg−1 soil for aqua regia–extractable Cu). Coffee, banana, and bean plants grown on soils contaminated by Cu fungicides had varied concentrations of Cu that were greater than the concentrations of Cu in the plants collected from the uncontaminated soils. Stepwise regression analysis carried out to investigate the relationships between the soil properties and the concentrations of Cu in plants revealed a significant (P = 0.01) positive relationship (R2 = 0.4) between organic carbon and the concentration of Cu in banana leaves. Aqua regia–extractable Cu was positively correlated (P = 0.03, R2 = 0.4) with the concentrations of Cu in banana leaves. For bean leaves, electrical conductivity (EC) had a positive significant (P = 0.01) relationship (R2 = 0.56) with the concentrations of Cu in the plants. It is recommended that further research be carried out to investigate the dynamics and bioavailability of Cu for the different crops interplanted in the coffee fields.
Aplicação de calcário e fósforo e estabilidade da estrutura de um solo ácido

The objective of this field experiment was to evaluate the effect of liming and phosphorus application on the structural stability of a clayey acid soil with high organic matter content, a typical feature of the southern Brazilian plateau. The study was carried out on a Brown Latosol (Haplohumox), in Lages, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in a split plot arrangement of a completely randomized block design. Treatments consisted of lime application at rates of 0, 4.5, and 9.0 Mg ha-1 at the beginning of the experiment, combined with mean annual P applications of 42, 84, 126, and 168 kg ha-1 of P2O5. The clay flocculation degree, aggregate stability, electrical conductivity, point of zero salt effect (PZSE), and the chemical soil composition were determined. Clay dispersion increased linearly with the liming rate, and was related to the increase in PZSE and negative surface electric potential. These alterations in the physicochemical attributes of the soil colloids, however, had no influence on the structural stability of the soil, as evidenced by the mean weight diameter of the aggregates. This might be a consequence of the indirect positive effects of liming on soil aggregation as a consequence of the increased biological soil activity, as well as the beneficial influence of Ca addition. Phosphorus fertilizers did not affect any soil physical attributes. Liming, in spite of increasing clay dispersion, had no detrimental affect on the physical quality of this highly buffered soil.
Possible effects of redistributed photon density of states on Raman scattering enhancement in mesoscopic structures

Modification of photon density of states (DOS) is considered as an essential factor of modified Raman scattering in mesoscopic media with complicate spatial dependence of dielectric function on a scale of incident/scattered photon wavelengths. Possible contribution of redistributed photon DOS over frequency spectrum in mesoscopic metal-dielectric structures to surface enhancement of Raman scattering (SERS) by adsorbed molecules is outlined. Considerable growth of DOS for a certain mode increase spontaneous scattering rate to this mode which in turn promotes stimulated Raman scattering to the same mode. Therefore total effect of DOS on scattering rate can be higher than DOS increase in a given mesoscopic medium versus vacuum.
AM1 calculations of rotation around essential single bonds and preferred conformations in conjugated molecules

Equilibrium twist angles, rotational barriers around essential single bonds, and preferred conformations for over 60 conjugated organic molecules were calculated using the semiempirical AM1 (Austin model 1) method. Comparison with ab initio and experimental data shows that AM1 can be applied quite successfully to conformational problems of this type. Relatively large errors are, however, found for compounds in which lone pair–hydrogen and especially lone pair–lone pair interactions are decisive for their conformational behavior. AM1‐calculated rotational barriers in conjugated molecules, however, are found to be much too low. Moreover, AM1 does not seem to even correctly reproduce the trend of rotational barriers within a series of structurally related compounds. E/Z energy differences obtained by AM1 are also frequently considerably too low. In contrast to rotational barriers, their trends and thus conformational preferences, however, are quite satisfactorily calculated by this method. Ionization potentials obtained by AM1 are too high by about 0.5 eV. However, trends are quite well predicted.
Chemical Composition, Antibacterial Activity and Chromosome Number of Helichrysum italicum from Algeria

The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum variety numidicum Pomel gave a viscous liquid with pale yellow oil. The average yield of essential oil of the samples is 0.03%. The chemical composition of essential oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. A total 43 compounds representing 92.9% of the oil were identified in H. italicum. The chemical composition is dominated by the presence of major products, Isopropyl tetradecanoate (12.10%), α-pinene (12.02%), Hexadecanoic acid (9.96%), Caryophyllene (E) (9.22%), Ledol (9.11%), Palustrol (5.55%), α-Humulene (4.28%), Caryophyllene (3.75%), α-copaene (3.72%), cis-Calamenene (2.18%). The Essential oil of H. italicum was tested for six microorganisms. The oil showed modest effect against all the bacteria tested and it has no significant antifungal activity against the Candida albicans. The population of Helichrysum italicum shows a tertraploide chromosome number of 2n = 28 with basic number x = 7.
A model of composite solid-propellant combustion based on multiple flames

A model describing the combustion of AP composite propellants has been developed. The model is based on a flame structure surrounding individual oxidizer crystals; the relationship between crystals and the binder matrix being evaluated statistically. Three separate flame zones are considered: 1) a primary flame between the decomposition products of the binder and the oxidizer, 2) a premixed oxidizer flame, and 3) a final diffusion flame between the products of the other two flames. Simple global kinetics are assumed for gas-phase reactions, and the surface decomposition of the propellant ingredients is assumed to be adequately described by simple Arrhenius expressions. The oxidizer decomposition is taken as being the over-all controlling factor in the combustion process. The results obtained show that the calculated surface temperature and the effect of oxidizer concentration predicted by the model are in agreement with observed experimental trends. The predicted effect of particle size is somewhat greater than observed experimentally while the temperature sensitivity is in excellent agreement with experimental data. The results of the calculations indicate a relatively strong exothermic reaction taking place at the propellant surface. Apparently the ammonium perchlorate (AP) partially decomposes exothermically in the thin surface melt previously reported in AP deflagration studies.
Mechanism enhancing gas sensing and first-principle calculations of Al-doped ZnO nanostructures

Al-doped flower-like ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method at 95 °C for 7 h. The structure and morphology of the product were characterized by XRD, FTIR and SEM analysis. The sensing tests reveal that the response is significantly enhanced by Al doping, and the 0.3 wt% Al-doped sample exhibits the highest response of 464 to 10 ppm CO at an operating temperature of 155 °C. A change of the structural defects in Al-doped ZnO is responsible for the enhancement of the sensing properties, which has been confirmed by the room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The response time is reduced disproportionately with the increase in CO concentration by modeling the transient responses of the sensor using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood reaction mechanism. The band structures and density of states for pure ZnO and Al-doped supercells have been calculated using first principles based on density functional theory (DFT). The calculated results show that the band gap is narrowed and the conductance is increased by Al doping, which coincides with the experimental results of gas sensing.
Effects of macro elements on biomass and ginsenoside production in cell suspension culture of Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv.)

We investigated the effects on ginseng cell and ginsenoside production when macro element concentrations were manipulated in the culture media. Biomass growth was greatest in the medium supplemented with 0.5 strength NH 4NO 3, whereas ginsenoside accumulation was highest (6.5 mg/g DW). At levels of 1.0 strength KNO 3, cell growth was maximum, but 2.0 strength of KNO 3 led to the greatest ginsenoside content (6.1 mg/g DW). High concentrations of MgSO 4 were most favorable for both cell growth and ginsenoside accumulation (up to 5.5 mg/g DW). Cell growth and ginsenoside content also increased in proportion to the concentration of CaCl 2 in the medium, with the greatest accumulation of ginsenoside (5.7 mg/g DW) occurring at a 1.5 strength.
Seismic Isolation Design for JSFR

This paper describes the seismic design of Japan Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (JSFR), which includes the seismic condition, the seismic isolation system, and the seismic evaluation of the primary components. Since the design seismic loading is set out severely than ever since The Niigata-ken Chuetsu-oki Earthquake in 2007, an advanced seismic isolation system is aimed to reduce the seismic force loaded on the primary components of JSFR to be less than that of the previous seismic isolation system. The advanced seismic isolation system is developed by optimizing the performance based on the previous seismic isolation system considering the natural frequency of the primary components. The laminated rubber bearings thicker than the previous ones and oil dampers are adopted for the advanced seismic isolation system of SFR. The seismic evaluation of nuclear reactor components applying the advanced seismic isolation system is performed and its feasibility is confirmed.
Chromic oxide and acid-insoluble ash as faecal markers in digestibility studies with young growing pigs

Abstract In two separate conventional metabolism trials, each involving eight 13 kg liveweight pigs given a barley-based diet, mean faecal recoveries (±SD) of chromic oxide added to the diet and naturally occurring acid-insoluble ash of 85.3 (±6.19) and 98.2 (±4.03) % respectively, were obtained. Total faeces collection gave significantly (P 0.05) in nutrient digestibility for total collection compared with acid-insoluble ash. There were only very small differences in nutrient digestibilities calculated by reference to the concentration of each respective marker in aliquots of the total faeces excreted and composite 6-day grab samples of faeces. Based on the correlation between organic matter digestibility determined by reference to the chromium content of cumulatively bulked daily grab samples of faeces, it was dee.
Viscosity of Helium and Nitrogen and their Mixtures at Low Temperatures and Elevated Pressures

Experimental viscosity data have been determined for the helium—nitrogen system for five approximately equally spaced compositions at 50°C over the pressure range from 10 to 500 atm, nine compositions at 0°C from 10 to 500 atm, seven compositions at −50°C from 10 to 400 atm, and five compositions at −90°C from 10 to 200 atm. The maximum probable error of the calculated viscosity data is 0.137%. Most of the data taken cover hitherto uncharted regions of pressure, temperature, and compositions. Both maximum and minimum viscosity of gas mixtures at some isothermal—isobaric conditions have been observed. To the authors' knowledge the phenomenon of minimum isobaric—isothermal viscosity is reported for the first time in nonpolar mixtures. Within the experimental accuracy of this study, it has been found that the temperature‐independent residual‐viscosity concept holds for a fixed composition only on an approximate basis. The residual viscosities of helium, nitrogen, and their mixtures show about 0.5% spread wit.
STUDY OF LONGAN FLESH DRYING

The objectives of this research were to study the characteristics and quality of longan flesh drying and to develop the models for drying simulations. Finite difference method was applied to solve the drying kinetic equations. Three alternative diffusion models were developed by modifying the Arrhenius factor and/or the energy of activation as a function of moisture content. The results using effective diffusion coefficients obtained from each model were compared. Desorption isotherms were also developed by fitting experimental results to various well-known models. The development and simulation of mathematical drying model of a cabinet dryer were also studied. The effects of drying air temperature and specific air flow rate on specific energy consumption were described. Additionally, the effect of drying air temperature on product quality was investigated by experiment.
Gap junctional coupling in lenses lacking α3 connexin

Fiber cells of the lens are interconnected by an extensive network of gap junctions containing α3 (Cx46) and α8 (Cx50) connexins. A specific role for these connexins in lens homeostasis is not known. To determine the contribution of these connexins to lens function, we used impedance techniques to study cell-to-cell coupling in lenses from homozygous α3 knockout (−/−), heterozygous (+/−), and wild-type (+/+) mice. Western blots and immunofluorescence data indicated that α8 remained at similar levels in the three classes of lenses, whereas α3 was approximately 50% of the normal level in the +/− lenses, and it was absent from the −/− lenses. Moreover, the data from +/+ lenses suggest that a cleavage of connexins occurs abruptly between the peripheral shell of differentiating fibers (DF) and the inner core of mature fibers (MF). The appearance of the cleaved connexins was correlated to a change in the coupling conductance. In −/− lenses the coupling conductance of MF was zero, and these fibers were depolarized by about 30 mV from normal (≈−65 mV). The DF remained coupled, but the conductance was reduced to 30–35% of normal. However, the gap junctions in the DF of α3 −/− lenses remained sensitive to pH. We conclude that α3 connexin is necessary for the coupling of central fibers to peripheral cells, and that this coupling is essential for fiber cell homeostasis because uncoupled MF depolarize and subsequently become opaque.
Surface Energy and Electronic Structures of Ag Quasicrystal Clusters

Size-dependent surface energy associated with atomic number N, γ(N), of Ag quasicrystal clusters was investigated using density functional theory and broken-bond theory. It is found that the value of γ(N) is 0.55−0.66 eV/atom, similar to the value of their counterparts in bulk. This is due to the increase of cohesive energy Ec(N) and the decrease of surface coordinate number associated with the decreasing of N. As N decreases, the partial density of states shifts to higher binding energy, and there is electronic charge transfer from the sp band into the d band, which leads to the increase of cohesive energy.
Spatial retarding field energy analyzer measurements downstream of a helicon double layer plasma

Spatial ion energy measurements using a retarding field energy analyzer are performed in the exhaust of a 0.30mTorr, 250W helicon double layer plasma to investigate the divergence of the argon ion beam formed by acceleration in the double layer. Various divergence angles are computed by considering the radial distribution of beam density; the average beam ion diverging by 9°. The efficiency at which momentum is imparted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the thruster is calculated to be 98%. The results show that a few centimeters downstream of the source, the beam ions do not follow the magnetic field lines.
New Lithium Chalcogenidotetrelates, LiChT: Synthesis and Characterization of the Li+-Conducting Tetralithium ortho-Sulfidostannate Li4SnS4

A new lithium chalcogenidotetrelate, denoted as LiChT phase, with the elemental combination Li/Sn/S was synthesized as solvent-free and solvent-containing salts. We present and discuss syntheses, crystal structures, spectroscopic and thermal properties of the phases, as well as the Li+ ion conductivity of Li4SnS4, which is formally related to the thio-LISICON parent system Li4GeS4, and thus represents the first member of a new thiostannate-LISICON family. The solvent-free title compound shows a very promising Li+ ion conductivity of 7 × 10–5 S·cm–1 at 20 °C and 3 × 10–3 S·cm–1 at 100 °C, which is exceptionally high for a ternary compound. Activation energies for the lithium ion transport measured via impedance spectroscopy (0.41 eV) correlate reasonably well with the values (0.29 to 0.33 eV) deduced from ionic mobility studies by 7Li solid-state NMR spectroscopy. NMR two-time correlation functions suggest the occurrence of an additional, geometrically more restricted, ultra-slow-motional process down to 1.
Simulation of ash deposit growth in a pulverized coal-fired pilot scale reactor

A model has been developed to relate the deposition behavior of ash under slagging conditions to boiler operating conditions and coal composition data. This model has been incorporated into a comprehensive combustion code and used to investigate the effects of ash deposition rate, thermal conditions, and ash chemistry on slag growth in a pilot-scale combustor. Results for simulated deposits from a coal blend fired at 3.7 MBtu/h showed a relatively high liquid fraction corresponding to denser and presumably stronger deposits. The same coal blend fired at a lower rate produced deposits which were less dense because of the lower temperatures and heat flux levels in the combustor, as well as the lower ash deposition rates
Amperometric Detection of Phenol with Cytochrome C‐Modified Gold Electrode Using Dual Working Electrode System

Abstract The electrochemistry and amperometric sensor response for phenol of cytochrome c‐modified gold electrode have been investigated. The increase in cathodic current with the concentration of H2O2 observed in cyclic voltammograms at the potential more negative than 0.0 V could be considered to arise from the direct electron transfer from the Au electrode to the active site of the immobilized cyt c. The additional increase in the cathodic current with addition of phenol demonstrated the peroxidase‐like activity of cyt c. The amperometric sensor response for phenol depended strongly on the applied potential. The cathodic response current, which is usually used for phenol biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase, could not be observed due to the low peroxidatic activity of cyt c and/or the competition of the reduction of enzyme intermediates by the direct electron transfer with that by the phenol‐mediated mode. This competition could be avoided by using the dual working electrode system in which the direct electron transfer was controlled by the applied potential of the first electrode, and the reaction product was detected electrochemically with the second electrode. Consequently, a cathodic response current attributable to oxidized phenol could be observed with addition of phenol at the second electrode, indicating cytochrome c to have a weak peroxidase activity.
Recent and Historic Drivers of Landscape Change in the Everglades Ridge, Slough, and Tree Island Mosaic

More than half of the original Everglades extent formed a patterned peat mosaic of elevated ridges, lower and more open sloughs, and tree islands aligned parallel to the dominant flow direction. This ecologically important landscape structure remained in a dynamic equilibrium for millennia prior to rapid degradation over the past century in response to human manipulation of the hydrologic system. Restoration of the patterned landscape structure is one of the primary objectives of the Everglades restoration effort. Recent research has revealed that three main drivers regulated feedbacks that initiated and maintained landscape structure: the spatial and temporal distribution of surface water depths, surface and subsurface flow, and phosphorus supply. Causes of recent degradation include but are not limited to perturbations to these historically important controls; shifts in mineral and sulfate supply may have also contributed to degradation. Restoring predrainage hydrologic conditions will likely preserve remaining landscape pattern structure, provided a sufficient supply of surface water with low nutrient and low total dissolved solids content exists to maintain a rainfall-driven water chemistry. However, because of hysteresis in landscape evolution trajectories, restoration of areas with a fully degraded landscape could require additional human intervention.