Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Oxygen Concentration on the Composting Process and Maturity

The goal of this research was to investigate the effects of oxygen concentration on the composting process in China. The compost system was composed of cattle manure, chicken manure, and wheat straw combined at a ratio 1:3:6 for a period of 60 days. Microaerobic treatment was attained by manual turning, while aerobic treatment was performed by forced air plus turning. The fermentation parameters such as C/N ratio, composting temperature, lginocellulose content and O2 concentration were determined. Results showed that oxygen concentration of compost in the microaerobic treatment was always lower than 1.5% during composting periods except for the first four hours and oxygen concentration was more than 4.0% in the aerobic treatment at all times. The duration of the thermophilic phase above 50°C under microaerobic treatment was 23 days, compared to 15 days under the aerobic treatment. However, the composting temperature at the later phases declined more slowly under aerobic conditions than under microaerobic conditions. The hemicellulose content decreased from 13.9% to 8.0% in the microaerobic treatment, compared to 8.5% in the aerobic treatment. The cellulose content decreased from 21.5% to 16.1% in the microaerobic treatment, compared to 18.0% in the aerobic treatment at the end of composting process. When C/N ratio, NO−3 content and composting temperature were used as indexes to evaluate compost maturity, the compost matured in 35 days in the microaerobic treatment, compared with 45-50 days in the aerobic treatment. Laboratory culture experiment with compost samples taken at the thermophilic phase corroborated that cellulose degradation was more rapid under microaerobic conditions.
VAM Fungi and Soil Lime Content Influence Rootstock Growth and Nutrient Content

A factorial experiment was conducted to determine the interaction between vesicular-arbuscular fungi (VAF) inoculation ( Glomus constrictus Trappe, G. deserticola Trappe, Blosse, and Menge, G. mosseae Nicol. and Gerd.) and soil lime content (0, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% active lime). A control without fungus inoculum was set up for each medium. The mycorrhizal plants showed overall greater root and shoot growth than the control, independently of the soil lime content, and G. mosseae and G. constrictus caused greater vegetative development than G. deserticola . However, plant growth was reduced by increasing soil lime content. The absence of significant interactions between the two factors of variability (fungi x lime concentration) on vegetative growth suggests that mycorrhization, while increasing vine growth, does not reduce grapevine susceptibility to calcium carbonate. Leaf chlorosis was found to be significantly higher in leaves of the inoculated cuttings, its incidence being greater at the higher lime rates. Leaf chlorophyll content (µg/mg) was reduced by VAM, while chlorophyll content per leaf area unit was also inversely correlated to lime concentration in the substrate. Leaf mineral content was not influenced by soil lime, except for magnesium which decreased with increased lime concentration. Inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi influenced the mineral content of P, Mn, and B and to a lesser extent Zn and Cu.
A HYBRID DENSITY FUNCTIONAL STUDY OF THE FIRST-ROW TRANSITION-METAL MONOCARBONYLS

The results of a systematic density functional study, carried out using a self‐consistent hybrid approach including exact exchange contribution, on the all monocarbonyls of first‐row transition metals, are reported. Geometries, harmonic wave numbers, and binding energies, obtained using both standard generalized gradient corrected and hybrid functionals, are compared with previous published theoretical data and the available experimental findings. It is shown that hybrid functionals give results close to highly correlated post Hartree–Fock approaches and which are sensibly different from those obtained by standard local, even gradient corrected, methods. A nice agreement has been also found between theoretical and experimental binding energies. A natural bond orbital analysis confirms the role of the π interaction in the metal‐carbonyl bond and gives an explanation to the preference for bent structures found in chromium and copper monocarbonyls.
Selenium volatilization and accumulation by twenty aquatic plant species

Aquatic plants can remove selenium (Se) from agricultural or industrial wastewater through Se accumulation and volatilization, that is, the conversion of selenate or selenite to volatile forms of Se. To identify aquatic plant species that will be good at removing Se from contaminated water, 20 plant species were screened for their ability to accumulate and volatilize Se when supplied with 20 μM selenate or selenite under controlled conditions. There was at least a 50-fold variation in Se accumulation and volatilization capacity among the plant species tested, regardless of the form of Se supplied. The best plant species for Se volatilization from selenate were also the best species for selenite volatilization. Selenium volatilization rates were twofold higher from selenite than from selenate but more selenate-Se was translocated into harvestable plant tissues than selenite-Se. Several aquatic plant species showed Se volatilization and accumulation rates (per unit surface area) that were comparable with Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.)], the best-known terrestrial plant species for Se phytoremediation. Therefore, many wetland species identified in this study, for example, parrot's feather (Myriophyllum brasiliense Camb.), iris-leaved rush (Juncus xiphioides), cattail (Typha latifolia L.), saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus robustus), etc., have a great potential for Se phytoremediation in wetlands.
Heavy metals in 3300‐year‐old agricultural soils used to assess present soil contamination

For evaluating present concentrations of heavy metals in soils, it is important to be able to determine natural or background soil concentrations. Here, we compare the content of 7 m HNO3‐extractable and 0.2 m Na‐EDTA‐extractable fractions of cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) in present day cultivated A horizons (Ap) under different land uses and 19 buried A horizons (Apb) that have been covered by 3300‐year‐old burial mounds. The buried A horizons represent a unique opportunity to evaluate background concentrations of heavy metals in top soil. Variations in background concentrations were mainly related to clay content. Using the grain size distribution of present‐day topsoils (cultivated and forest/natural A horizons), the background concentrations were calculated and subtracted from observed concentrations prior to an evaluation of soil‐type‐ and land‐use‐specific metal accumulation. All cultivated soils were significantly enriched with respect to Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu over the last 3300 years and all forest soils were enriched with Pb. The study highlights the importance of using appropriate reference material for assessing present‐day metal concentrations and stocks.
Controlled synthesis of mesocrystal magnesium oxide parallelogram and its catalytic performance

Mesocrystal magnesium oxide (MgO) parallelogram with lengths of diagonal line in the range of 7–9 μm has been synthesized through a facile precipitation method by using phosphate species as the morphology regulator and Mg(NO3)2 and Na2C2O4 as the inorganic sources. Scanning electronic microscope examination revealed that there is a canyon in the middle of the diagonal line of the as-synthesized products. The canyon resulted from the self-assembly of layer-like structures with a thickness of around 100–150 nm on both sides. To investigate the effect of reaction conditions on the morphologies and components of the resulting products, the types and addition amount of phosphate species and the reaction temperature were studied in detail. The results demonstrated that the introduction of trace amounts of phosphate species in the reaction system played a crucial role in determining the morphologies of the obtained products with variation of reaction temperatures, whereas their components have little been influenced after analyses by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. When as-synthesized mesocrystal MgO was employed as a catalyst in the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reaction between benzaldehyde and ethanol, it demonstrated superior performance to MgO particles without the presence of phosphate species.
Mica-Type Layer Silicates with Alkylammonium Ions

More than 8000 different derivatives of mica-type layer silicates (muscovite, biotite, illite, vermiculite, beidellite, montmorillonite) with alkylammonium ions and different organic molecules as swelling liquids were prepared and characterized analytically by X-ray and chemical methods. The following results have been discussed in some detail. Layer-lattice compounds are formed in simple stoichiometric relations. In n-alkyl-ammonium compounds, for instance, the sum (n-Cx,H2x+1NH3++n-CxH2x+1Y) per (Si, Al)4O10 is equal to 2.0 (Y = OH−, Cl−, Br−, NH2−, COH−, CONH2−, CN−). The layer distance of the pure n-alkylammonium derivatives enables one to determine the charge density in the silicate layers. But in soils the ability of humic acids to undergo two-dimensional intracrystalline swelling and to react with alkylammonium ions must also be considered. The properties of n-alkylammonium layer silicates are similar to those of alkyl-ammonium-uranium micas and of swelling vanadates (e.g. hewettite and pascoite). The swelling properties of alkyl-(α, ω)-diammonium ions are markedly influenced by the opportunities for hydrogen bonding. Mica-type layer silicates may show catalytic properties like protease or oxidase with ammonium ions, which are of general interest.
Measurement of Biodegradable Organic Matter and Bacterial Growth Potential in Drinking Water

A number of methods have recently been developed to measure the biodegradability of aquatic natural organic matter. These techniques measure assimilable organic carbon, biodegradable organic carbon, or bacterial growth potential. This article reviews the various methods and summarizes their application to the assessment of treatment processes and bacterial growth in distribution systems. Research and development needs are also indentified
New Material for Permanent Magnets on a Base of Mn and Al

During an investigation of the Mn-Al system from 40–100% Mn, a new metastable phase was found, which has a tetragonal structure with lattice constants a = 2.77 A and c = 3.57 A and lattice positions 000 and 121212 with a preference of the Mn atoms for one of these positions. This τ phase, which has the approximate composition Mn1.11 Al0.89, can only be obtained by special heat treatment. It possesses remarkable magnetic properites. From the approach to saturation an anisotropy constant of about 107 ergs/cm3 can be calculated, while the extrapolated value σ∞ amounts to 96 erg/oe g; the latter corresponds to a 4πIs of 6200 G.Particles obtained by grinding the bulk material possess an IHC value of up to 6000 oe. No fixed correlation exists between particle size and the value of IHC; the latter is strongly dependent on the method of pulverization, and the authors are inclined to think that IHC is largely determined by the extent of deformation.The increase of IHC caused by grinding is accompanied by a decreas.
Formation of an intact liposome layer adsorbed on oxidized gold confirmed by three complementary techniques: QCM‐D, AFM and confocal fluorescence microscopy

Supported layers of vesicles of dimyristoyl and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC and DPPC) containing cholesterol (CHOL) are adequate models for eukaryotic plasma membranes. Among the possible substrates to support these layers, gold offers the possibility of being used as an electrode for application in sensors. However, the formation of intact liposome layers on gold is not completely understood and several authors use more or less complex strategies to bind the liposomes. In this work we investigate the adsorption of unilamellar vesicles of DMPC, DMPC/CHOL and DMPC/DPPC/CHOL on the surface of oxidized gold using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, atomic force microscopy and laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy. The results of all techniques indicate that for lipid concentrations ≥ 0.7 mg⋅mL–1 a dense layer of intact liposomes irreversibly adsorbs on the gold surface. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Short‐Range and Medium‐Range Order in Lithium Silicate Glasses, Part II: Simulation of the Structure by the Reverse Monte Carlo Method

The results of X-ray and neutron diffraction experiments with (Li{sub 2}O){sub x} (SiO{sub 2}){sub 100{minus}x}, glasses (x = 0, 20, 33.3, and 40) are discussed using the Reverse Monte Carlo method to produce atomic clusters, which are analyzed with respect to the O{minus}O distribution, the angular correlations within the first and higher coordination spheres, and the bond-orientational multipole moments. Within Li{sub 2}O-containing silicate glasses, each lithium atom is surrounded by a ring of six SiO{sub 4} tetrahedra in such a way that four oxygen atoms lie at the joints of a tetragonal cell centered by lithium. Thus, the lithium atoms increase the order of the glass.
Assessing the effects of water exchange on quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced MRI

Applying mathematical models to dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE MRI) datato perform quantitative tracer kinetic analysis enables the estimation of tissue characteristics such as vascular permeability and the fractional volume of plasma in atissue. However, it is unclear to what extent modeling assumptions, particularly regarding water exchange between tissue compartments, impacts parameter estimatesderived from clinical DCE MRI data. In this work, a new model is developed whichincludes water exchange effects, termed the water exchange modified two compartment exchange model (WX-2CXM). Two boundaries of this model (the fast and noexchange limits) were used to analyse a clinical DCE MRI bladder cancer dataset.Comparisons with DCE CT, which is not affected by water exchange, suggested thatwater exchange may have affected estimates of vp , the fractional volume of plasma.Further investigation and simulations led to the development of a DCE MRI protocol which was sensitised to water exchange, in order to further evaluate the waterexchange effects found in the bladder cancer dataset. This protocol was tested byimaging the parotid glands in eight healthy volunteers, and confirmed evidence ofwater exchange effects on vp , as well as flow Fp and the fractional volume of extravascular extracellular space ve . This protocol also enabled preliminary estimatesof the water residence times in parotid tissue, however, these estimates had a largevariability and require further validation.The work presented in this thesis suggests that, although water exchange effects donot have a large effect on clinical data, the effect is measurable, and may lead tothe ability to estimate of tissue water residence times. Results do not support achange in the current practise of neglecting water exchange effects in clinical DCEMRI acquisitions.
In‐vitro Crystallization of Calcium Carbonate in the Presence of Biological Additives — Comparison of the Ammonium Carbonate Method with Double‐Diffusion Techniques

The biomineralization process was simulated in vitro by the precipitation of calcium carbonate in the presence of two biological additives: bovine serum albumin (BSA) and soluble matrix from the shell of the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata. The crystallization was carried out with the classical ammonium carbonate diffusion method and with a double diffusion setup under pH-controlled conditions. The inhibiting effects of BSA and soluble shell matrix could only be observed in the double diffusion setup, but not with the ammonium carbonate method. Kristallisation von Calciumcarbonat in vitro in Gegenwart biologischer Fremdstoffe — Vergleich der Ammoniumcarbonat-Methode mit Doppeldiffusionstechniken Der Biomineralisationsprozess wurde durch die in vitro-Fallung von Calciumcarbonat in Gegenwart von zwei biologischen Fremdstoffen simuliert. Untersucht wurden bovines Serum-Albumin (BSA) und die losliche Matrix der Schale der Suswasserschnecke Biomphalaria glabrata. Zum Einsatz kamen die klassische Ammoniumcarbonat-Methode und eine Doppeldiffusionstechnik bei konstantem pH-Wert. Die inhibierenden Effekte von BSA und loslicher Schalenmatrix konnten nur im Doppeldiffusionsexperiment nachgewiesen werden, jedoch nicht mit der Ammoniumcarbonat-Methode.
Enhanced Bone Cells Growth and Proliferation on TiO2 Nanotubular Substrates Treated by RF Plasma Discharge

Titanium implants are well known for their biocompatibility, especially if bioinertness is desired, due to the TiO2 native oxide which is thermodynamically and chemically very stable. One of the major problems with this material involve its inability to induce enhanced cellular adhesion and proliferation on its surface without complicated structural approaches, leading to the possible lack of bone‐implant interfacial interaction and rejection. In order to potentially improve osseointegration of such implants self‐assembled vertical and ordered nanotubular TiO2 arrays were fabricated by electrochemical anodization and were plasma treated under O2, N2, O2 + N2, and He gaseous environments and their properties analyzed by various analytical procedures. Osteoblast bone cells (MC3T3‐E1) were grown on TiO2 nanotube‐arrayed substrates and their proliferation was analyzed and quantified. Oxygen and nitrogen plasma treatments were found to significantly improve the proliferation of the bone cells over the TiO2 nanoarray substrates, with the O2 + N2 combination yielding the most significant improvements. These findings may be explained by the interactions between the cells and the changes in the surface chemistry induced by the O2 and N2 groups introduced by the plasma discharge treatment onto the TiO2 surfaces
The Phase Stability of Cerium Species in Aqueous Systems I. E-pH Diagram for the Ce ­ HClO 4 ­ H 2 O System

Cerium compounds have been identified as leading candidates to replace hexavalent chrome as conversion coatings on aluminum alloys to improve corrosion resistance. Cerium also shows promise for use as an inhibiting pigment in paint systems. The cerium conversion coatings can be deposited using either spontaneous or nonspontaneous electrolytic processes. In both cases the protective cerium oxide film forms by a precipitation mechanism that is very dependent on electrochemical potential and pH. The oxidation state and phase of the condensed cerium has been shown to be an important aspect of the corrosion protection properties provided by the film. Because of the strong influence of the solution chemistry and operating parameters on film performance, a basic knowledge of the system stability is essential. Toward this end, a revised E-pH diagram was developed for the Ce-H 2 O system. The Ce-H 2 O-HClO 4 system was chosen as an example system in which hydroxy ions are the only significant complexing species for the Ce ions. A stability diagram was constructed using more recent thermodynamic data on cerium species not available for the original diagram published in Pourbaix's atlas. Significant differences were noted between the previously published Ce-H 2 O diagram and the one presented here. Precipitation tests were carried out to verify the trends indicated in the new diagram. The importance of the updated E-pH diagram in understanding the formation processes of cerium conversion coatings are discussed.
Measurement of potential at semiconductor interfaces by electron spectroscopy

Electron spectroscopy performed in ultrahigh vacuum can be used to measure potential and heterojunction band discontinuities at abrupt semiconductor interfaces. The technique provides a direct contactless and nondestructive means to determine and correlate interface chemistry and potential. This article discusses some of the factors which affect applications of Auger electron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, soft x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy for semiconductor interface potential measurements.
A RETARDATION-BASED MODEL FOR PHOSPHORUS TRANSPORT IN SANDY SOIL

Animal-based agricultural is practiced in many areas of the world on sandy soils in which leaching is the major transport process for phosphorus (P). Disposing of large quantities of animal wastes on these soils can overload their P retention capacity and lead to elevated concentrations of P in ground and surface water. Subsurface zones may represent sizeable reserves for storing P, but to effectively utilize these zones, a way of predicting how much P will be adsorbed before solution P concentrations exceed acceptable limits must be known. This article describes a simple transport model that simulates P leaching through soil that uses soil bulk density, volumetric water content, solution P concentration, and column length as inputs. Phosphorus is partitioned between soil and solution phases using Freundlich equations whose parameters are calculated from a single-point adsorption measurement. The model was used to simulate P leaching from 40 columns containing samples of A, E, or Bt horizons of soil from the Suwannee River basin of Florida and Georgia, in the United States; some of which had been loaded with P from dairy and poultry manure applications. The degree of P saturation, DPS, based on acid ammonium oxalate-extractable P, Fe, and Al, ranged from 4% to 140% for these soils. No soil with a DPS of <50% had an initial column leachate P concentration that exceeded 0.10 mg L−1. The relationship between measured and simulated retardation of P for soils with a DPS of <50% was good (R2 = 0.873), but the measured retardation exceeded simulated retardation by about 30%. This was attributed to the fact that the Freundlich parameters were based on a 24-h equilibration between soil and solution, whereas the column studies covered a period of about 2.5 years. The relationship for soils with a DPS of >50% was not as good (R2 = 0.333) but could be improved considerably (R2 = 0.661) by setting the initially adsorbed P in the model equal to the oxalate-extractable P and adjusting the desorption exponent in the Freundlich equation to allow for greater desorption of P. The model was able to capture several important aspects of P retention in sandy soil despite its simplicity and small number of inputs.
Topological analysis of magnetically induced molecular current distributions

The topology of the first‐order current density J(1)(r) induced in a molecule by an applied magnetic field is analyzed and classified in terms of the properties of its critical points, as determined by the 3×3 coefficient matrix of the asymmetric tensor ∇J(1). The eigenvalues of this tensor yield the topological indices for classifying the possible critical points in the J(1)(r) field. The phase portraits describing the current flow associated with these critical points and their role in determining the structure of a molecular current distribution are illustrated. A molecular current distribution is a fully three‐dimensional vector field. In addition to closed loops of current, it exhibits one‐ and two‐dimensional sources and sinks which generate surfaces, spirals, and single lines of current. The nonisolated critical points lie on stagnation paths which, along with the isolated critical points, fully characterize the current distribution. The antisymmetric component of ∇J(1) is the curl of J(1) which de.