Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-lift concrete paving for sustainable pavements

Two-lift concrete pavement, sometimes referred to as composite pavement, is an innovative technique that involves placing a thinner portland concrete layer over a thicker portland concrete layer at a specified interval. A shortage of suitable aggregates for use in concrete pavements in some regions of the world has become a very serious concern for some organizations. Importing aggregates from faraway locations is neither economical nor practical/sustainable; therefore, the use of local materials is highly desirable. The strength of two-lift concrete pavement technology lies in being able to utilize any of the following for the bottom lift: locally available aggregates, manufactured sands, highcoefficient of thermal expansion (CoTE) aggregates, recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), fractionated reclaimed asphalt pavements (FRAP), lower cement content, or a higher amount of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Some of these materials, however, may not be allowed to be used in single-lift concrete pavements due to issues related to polishing, durability, or strength gain. This paper gives a thorough overview of the historical background, potential environmental and sustainable advantages, and practical challenges related to two-lift pavement.
Parental Incarceration as a Unique Risk Factor for Delinquency and Psychopathology: Examining Mentorship as a Buffer

Parental incarceration affects millions of children in the United States annually yet researching the impact of parental incarceration is difficult given frequent co-occurring experiences of risk. Race, socioeconomic status, childhood exposure to violence, and childhood abuse are independently linked to parental incarceration and negative adult outcomes. Despite this difficulty, prior research demonstrates relationships between parental incarceration and delinquency and psychopathology in adulthood, therefore an understanding of protective factors that may offset this risk is necessary. Natural mentoring has become an increasingly popular area of study, as natural mentors are often more accessible to at-risk youth. The current study utilized a nationally representative dataset (N = 14,701) to: 1) examine parental incarceration in the context of concurrent exposure to risk and 2) examine natural mentors as buffers of the relationship between parental incarceration and likelihood of arrests, suicidality, and bingedrinking in young adulthood. Results indicated that parental incarceration predicted criminality (OR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.72, 2.48), suicidal ideation (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.72), and binge-drinking (OR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.58) over and above cumulative exposure to risk. Results also demonstrated that an individuals’ closeness with a natural mentor during early adulthood marginally buffered the relationship between parental incarceration and suicidal ideation. These findings indicate that parental incarceration has a strong, independent impact on behavioral and psychological outcomes. The findings are also some of the first to examine natural mentors in the context of incarcerated parents and tentatively suggest that a greater degree of closeness with a non-parental adult could protect against suicidal ideation, but significantly future research is needed.
Temperature dependence of the inelastic electron tunneling

The property of the anomalous inverted region in the energy gap law which was found in the recent non-Condon theory of the electron transfer (ET) in protein media is investigated in more detail in relation to the inelastic electron tunneling. The physical aspect of the inelastic electron tunneling is theoretically discussed and schematically explained. Since it was previously shown that the inelastic electron tunneling mechanism worked significantly due to an exponential-like decay of the autocorrelation function of the electron tunneling matrix element with a small correlation time at 300 K, we investigated whether the similar exponential-like decay of the autocorrelation function is obtained or not and how the correlation time is changed at low temperatures. For this purpose, numerical calculations for the electron tunneling matrix element in the ET at 77 K from bacteriopheophytin (Bph) anion to the primary quinone in the reaction center of photosynthetic bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides are made. The results are that almost exponential-like decay of the autocorrelation function was obtained even at 77 K and the half decay time was of the similar magnitude to that at 300 K. Physical meaning of this temperature dependence is discussed.
Production and Characterization of Bio-Chars from Biomass via Pyrolysis

This article deals with slow pyrolysis of oak wood and agricultural residues such as hazelnut shell and wheat straw at high temperature (950–1250 K) in a cylindrical reactor. The aim of this work is to study the effect of the treatment conditions such as temperature, particle size, and lignin and inorganic matter contents on bio-char yield and reactivity. When the pyrolysis temperature increased, the bio-char yield decreased. A high temperature and smaller particles increase the heating rate resulting in a decreased bio-char yield. The higher lignin content in hazelnut shell results in a higher bio-char yield in comparison with oak wood and wheat straw. Bio-chars from hazelnut shell and wheat straw are more reactive in gasification than bio-chars from oak wood because of the higher ash content. The bio-char obtained are carbon rich, with high heating value and relatively pollution-free potential solid biofuel.
Optimization of a biochemical fed-batch reactor using sequential quadratic programming

In this paper, we discuss the use of sequential quadratic programming to obtain the optimum feed rate strategy for the fed-batch operation of two biochemical systems: (I) lysine and (II) alcohol fermentation. We consider the constrained optimization problem where the reactor operation is such that the final volume is fixed. Both fixed and free time of operations are considered. In this approach, the entire duration of the reactor operation is divided into equal subintervals. The feed rate is approximated as discretized charges which are added to the reactor at the beginning of each subinterval. The effect of the number of stages on the optimum performance for both systems is investigated. The results are compared with those obtained using Pontryagin's maximum principle in the literature. The advantages and the applications of using this approach are discussed.
Tunable band gap and coercivity of bismuth ferrite–polyaniline core–shell nanoparticles: the role of shell thickness

We report a tunable band gap of bismuth ferrite–polyaniline core–shell nanoparticles from 2.24 to 1.98 eV and the variation of coercivity from 118 to 100 Oe, by varying the thickness of the polyaniline shell. Bismuth ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized via a chemical route and coating of polyaniline was achieved by a double surfactant layer technique. Coating of polyaniline introduced oxygen vacancies, local distortions and microstrains in the bismuth ferrite lattice which resulted in a change in the Fe–O–Fe bond angle of the bismuth ferrite lattice. This is confirmed with structural analysis tools i.e. X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the absorption of light around 600 nm is increased and photoluminescence emission around 430 nm is decreased, as the thickness of shell is increased, which also indicates the changes in optical properties due to variation in shell thickness. Thus tunability of the band gap and coercivity is achieved as a function of shell thickness in bismuth ferrite–polyaniline core–shell nanoparticles.
Turbulent Velocity in Flocculation by Means of Grids

Eleven types of single circular biplane grids with different diameter (\id) and mesh (\iM) were vertically and constantly oscillated inside a 2 L square jar. The velocity components were measured using a 2D laser doppler anemometer. The average root-mean-square turbulent velocity \iq′ values were found to be relatively constant at both vertical and horizontal points of measurement—a condition that could not be achieved in the case of impeller mixing. Since the mixing intensity was uniform within the jar, the average volume velocity gradient \iG¯ could be applied as the surrogate mixing intensity parameter. It was also found that \iq′ was linearly related to the vertical grid speed and grid physical characteristics, indicating that the mixing was easily controlled. The macro length scale (\iL) was calculated and was found to be constant and proportional to \id or \iM, as it should be in the case of turbulent mixing. This study shows the potential of grids as the mixing devices that can be expected to produce an optimum mixing environment for the flocculation process.
Mathematical Modeling of Thin‐Layer Pineapple Drying

The drying kinetics of pineapple was studied, and the model that best describes it was selected. Pineapple slices were dried in a hot-air oven at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70C; microwave power levels of 385, 540 and 700 W, respectively; and under direct sunlight. Drying time decreased with increase in drying temperature and power level. Drying took place entirely in the falling rate-drying period. Seven mathematical models were fitted into the experimental data. The goodness of fit was determined using the coefficient of determination (R2), reduced chi-square (χ2), root mean square error and sum square error. The two-term, parabolic and Page model best explained the hot-air, microwave and sun-drying behavior of the pineapple. The effective moisture diffusivity increased from 6.89 × 10−10 to 5.1 × 10−08 m2/s while the activation energy was 12.46 KJ/mol for oven drying and 1.54 W/g for microwave drying. Practical Applications Pineapple as a fruit is a very rich source of minerals and vitamins including potassium, manganese, copper, magnesium, vitamin C and B6, thiamine, foliate, and also dietary fiber. These mineral and vitamins are essential for proper human growth and development especially for people who live on low income in tropical developing countries. The high moisture content of pineapple, which makes it highly perishable, and its abundance during periods of harvest, gives rise to postharvest losses with attendant reduction in the availability of its minerals and vitamins. Drying, a common preservative method, can be used to reduce these postharvest losses and thus make shelf-stable products last longer. The knowledge of the drying kinetics and subsequently the selection of an appropriate thin-layer drying model can be used to predict drying times and subsequently optimize the drying process for greater efficiency.
Purification and Characterization of an Abnormal Factor IX (Christmas Factor) Molecule

A B S T R A C T Human Factor IX (Christmas factor) was isolated from the plasma of a patient with mild hemophilia B. The patient's plasma contained 5% Factor IX clotting activity but 100% Factor IX antigenic activity as determined by immunological assays, which included inhibitor neutralization and a radioimmunoassay for Factor IX. This abnormal Factor IX is called Factor IX Chapel Hill (Factor IXcH). Both normal Factor IX and Factor IXCH have tyrosine as the NH2-terminal amino acid. The two proteins have a similar molecular weight, a similar amino acid analysis, the same number of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues (10 y-carboxyglutamic acid residues), and a similar carbohydrate content. Both exist as a single-chain glycoprotein in plasma. The major difference between normal Factor IX and Factor IXCH is that the latter exhibits delayed activation to Factor IXa in the presence of Factor XIa and Ca2+. Thus, Factor IXCH differs from other previously described abnormal Factor IX molecules. of CaCl2. At selected time intervals an aliquot of the incubation mixture was added to platelet-poor, unactivated Factor IX-deficient substrate plasma obtained from a severely affected CRM- hemophilia B patient. A nonactivated, partial thromboplastin time and a Factor IX assay were performed on the final mixture. At the same time intervals, aliquots from the first incubation mixture were evaluated on SDS gel electro- phoresis to determine the time of appearance of lower molecular weight components. Factor IXCH was also activated in the same manner, and monitored in a similar fashion. Appropriate controls were run by substituting imidazole Factor XIa, Fac- tor IX, and Ca2+ in the incubation mixture.
Simultaneous speciation of chromium by spectrophotometry and multicomponent analysis

Abstract A simple, fast and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the simultaneous determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in effluents and contaminated waters using a UV-visible spectrophotometer, which operates with an advanced software for multicomponent analysis, is proposed. The method consists in the complexation of Cr (III) with EDTA and reaction of Cr(VI) with diphenylcarbazide (DPC). Variables, such as pH and colour stability time, were studied. The effect of concomitant ions on the simultaneous Cr(III) and Cr(VI) determination was also investigated. The sums of the chromium species concentrations obtained by the proposed method were compared with the total chromium concentrations found by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Recoveries of the chromium species between 75 and 136% were obtained for spiked samples. The linear working range for Cr(III) was 0.5-30 mg L−1, while for Cr(VI) was 0.005-0.30 mg L−1. The detection limits were 0.3 mg L−1 for Cr(III) and 0.003 mg L−1 for Cr(VI) while the quantification limits were 1.0 mg L−1 for Cr(III) and 0.01 mg L−1 for Cr(VI).
Modelling of heat and moisture transport during drying black grapes

Summary In this work, heat and moisture transport occurred during drying of black grapes in a laboratory dryer were investigated. In the experiments, the air was passed through the chamber at a variety of flow rates (0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.25 m s−1) and temperatures (40, 50, 60 and 70 °C). Thermal and moisture diffusivities were determined. The possibility of expressing the moisture removal from the grapes was searched with the fourteen one-layer drying models selected from the literature. Among all the models, the Page model was found the best for explaining the experimental results. The effects of the drying temperature and air velocity on the constants and coefficients of Page model and diffusivities were also investigated by multiple combinations of the different equations as the linear, power, logarithmic, exponential, polynomial, inverse polynomial and Arrhenius type by non- linear regression analyses. Models obtained were also analysed statistically using t-test, RMSE, MBE and χ2.
Extractives from Cedrela odorata L. The structure of methyl angolensate

The constituents of the heartwood of Cedrela odorata are variable. The structure of methyl angolensate, one of the components, is elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence and chemical transformations. It is a secoring-B tetranortriterpenoid closely related biogenetically to gedunin and deacetyl-7-keto-gedunin, which are also found in the heartwood.
Characteristics of the Berner Impactor for Sampling Inorganic Ions

The Berner cascade impactor was studied extensively to validate a method for measuring the size distributions of inorganic ionic chemicals in ambient air. Stage efficiencies were calibrated from 0.06- to 10-μm particle diameters; the monodisperse submicron test aerosol was solid ammonium fluorescein coated with oleic acid. Sampled alone, laboratory-generated liquid aerosol suffers blowoff from the last two stages, but this effect is absent with ambient aerosol. Stage cutoffs are sharp and wall losses small. A fluorocarbon grease compatible with acid and ion analysis was shown to prevent particle bounce effectively. Ammonium sulfate particles are sized properly at high relative humidity, ruling out possible growth by condensation during jet expansion. The volatilization loss of submicron ammonium nitrate particles is less than 10% under conditions that produce up to 95% loss from Teflon filters. On the basis of loading experiments, this result is ascribed mainly to the small surface-to-mass ratio of the de.
Degradation of azo dye Mordant Yellow 10 in a sequential anaerobic and bioaugmented aerobic bioreactor

Complete biodegradation of azo dyes requires an anaerobic and aerobic step, in the anaerobic step sulfonated azo dyes (SADs) are reduced, yielding (sulfonated) aromatic amines ((S)AAs) which can be degraded aerobically. The complete biodegradation of the SAD Mordant Yellow 10 (MY10) was studied in a sequential anaerobic and aerobic bioreactor. Anaerobically, MY10 was reductively cleaved and the resulting aromatic amines, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and sulfanilic acid (SA), were both recovered in high stoichiometric yields. One of the AAs, 5-ASA, was readily degraded under aerobic conditions. However, SA was not degraded aerobically in the continuous experiment because no SA-degrading bacterial activity was present in the system. Therefore, a SA-degrading enrichment culture derived from Rhine sediment was used as an inoculum source. This enrichment culture was bioaugmented into the aerobic reactor by increasing the hydraulic retention time (HRT), thus enabling SA-degrading activity to develop and maintain in the aerobic reactor. After decreasing the HRT, the SA-degrading activity remained in the bioreactor and the stoichiometric recovery of sulfate (a SA biodegradation product) indicated the mineralization of SA after bioaugmentation. Batch experiments with aerobic reactor sludge confirmed the biodegradation of SA and 5-ASA. The sequential anaerobic and aerobic bioreactor was able to completely remove the sulfonated azo dye MY10 at a maximum loading rate of 210 mg MY10 (l reactor d) -1 after the appropriate microorganisms for aerobic degradation of SA were bioaugmented into the aerobic bioreactor.
A bioseparation process for removing lead(II) ions from waste water by using C. vulgaris

Biosorption of heavy metals by microbial cells has been recognized as a potential alternative to existing technologies for removing heavy metals from industrial waste waters. Many aquatic microorganisms, such as algae, can take up dissolved metals from their surroundings to their cells. In this study, the adsorption of lead(II) ions was investigated in a single-staged batch reactor. Chlorella vulgaris, a green alga, was used as the sorbent. The sorption phenomenon was expressed by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and this expression was used for the calculation of residual or adsorbed metal ion concentration at equilibrium (Ceq or Cx,eq) at a given ‘volume of waste water containing heavy metal ion/quantity of alga (V0/X0)’ ratio in a single-staged batch reactor. Experimental Ceq and Cx,eq values were compared to calculated ones. Applications in waste water treatment for lead(II) removal have been suggested.
Procedimentos para o armazenamento de sementes de Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.

The aim of this work was to establish a methodology for seed storage of Poncirus trifoliata, that is the main citrus rootstock in Rio Grande do Sul. The pre-treatments evaluated were: a) chemical - Benomyl (1,5 g a.i. kg-1 of seeds); b) thermal/chemical - water immersion at 52oC for 10 minutes, following application of Benomyl (1,5 g a.i. kg-1 of seeds). The storage conditions were: a) environment - storage in dark room under not controlled temperature and air moisture; b) Refrigerator - 8oC and 60% of air moisture; c) dissector not controlled temperature and 16% of air moisture; d) dissector in refrigerator - 8oC and 16% of air moisture; e) Cold chamber - 4oC and 70% of air moisture. The 'Trifoliata' seeds are recalcitrants, because they are highly sensible to storage. It was not observed effect of pre-treatments for seed conservation. The storage in cold chamber was the best treatment, maintaining 57,1% of seed viability during 150 days.
Soil iron fractionation and availability at selected landscape positions in a loessial gully region of northwestern China

Abstract Soil Fe fractions and availability vary with landscape positions, because landscape position affects soil chemical properties and water conditions. In the present study, we investigated Fe fractions and availability at selected landscape positions in the loessial gully region of northwestern China. Four landscape positions, plateau, slope, terrace, and gully bottom were investigated. For each landscape position, soil samples were collected at 20-cm increments to a depth of 80 cm. Iron in the soil samples was fractionated by a modified sequential extraction method. Available Fe was assessed by diethylene thiamine pentacetic acid (DTPA) extraction procedure. The results showed that soil profile distributions of DTPA-Fe varied greatly with landscape position in the study area. The largest content of DTPA-Fe content was observed in the plateau soils, while the smallest content was observed in the gully bottom soils. Iron in soils existed mainly in the mineral bound fraction, which accounted for about 73 to 96% of the total Fe. The content of Fe in soil fractions varied greatly with landscape position. Exchangeable Fe and organic matter bound Fe were direct sources of available Fe, but exchangeable Fe contributed little to the total available Fe due to its low content in the soils. Oxides bound Fe was an indirect source of available Fe. The results of the present study indicate that landscape position strongly influences soil profile distribution and capacity of available Fe by influencing soil Fe fractions and organic matter distributions.
The Impact of Immigrant Business Ownership on International Trade

Canada has a relatively large foreign-born population, and the country’s economic prosperity depends on international trade. This paper examines how these two characteristics are linked. Specifically, it investigates the effect of immigrant business ownership on international trade in Canada. Understanding the impact of immigrants on international trade is particularly important for Canada, as it is a small open economy with a relatively large immigrant population. This paper empirically investigates the effect of immigrant business ownership on international trade in Canada using a newly developed firm-level database with detailed business ownership and trade information. The new data make it possible to better distinguish between the effect immigrants have on reducing information costs and on product demand, and to assess the impact of immigrant business ownership on the extensive and intensive margins of international trade.
Effect of heating and acid pre-treatment on pore size distribution of sepiolite

Abstract Due to its channels of molecular dimensions and a high specific surface area, sepiolite has many industrial applications which require high resistance to thermal effects in addition to a large surface area. On heating, sorbed water molecules are removed causing changes in the pore size distribution. In this study, the effects of thermal treatment on the pore structure of sepiolite and the acid-treated sepiolite samples were investigated. The solid density of sepiolite, measured by a He displacement technique, was 2.08 g cm-3 and total porosity was ~0.58. Both of these values showed an increase at 100°C, then decreased with further temperature increase due to crystal deformation and channel plugging which occurred at elevated temperatures. The BET surface area of the original sepiolite was 148 m2 g-1, and increased to 263 m2 g-1 at 100 C and then started to decrease. Approximately 16% of the total volume was in the micropores at 100°C. The acid pre-activation caused restrictions in possible crystal deformation during thermal treatment. The micropore volume increased to 20% and BET surface area reached values >500 m2 g-1 for the acid-treated samples.