Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two decades of ocean CO2 sink and variability

Atmospheric CO2 has increased at a nearly identical average rate of 3.3 and 3.2 Pg C yr−1 for the decades of the 1980s and the 1990s, in spite of a large increase in fossil fuel emissions from 5.4 to 6.3 Pg C yr−1. Thus, the sum of the ocean and land CO2 sinks was 1 Pg C yr−1 larger in the 1990s than in to the 1980s. Here we quantify the ocean and land sinks for these two decades using recent atmospheric inversions and ocean models. The ocean and land sinks are estimated to be, respectively, 0.3 (0.1 to 0.6) and 0.7 (0.4 to 0.9) Pg C yr−1 larger in the 1990s than in the 1980s. When variability less than 5 yr is removed, all estimates show a global oceanic sink more or less steadily increasing with time, and a large anomaly in the land sink during 1990–1994. For year-to-year variability, all estimates show 1/3 to 1/2 less variability in the ocean than on land, but the amplitude and phase of the oceanic variability remain poorly determined. A mean oceanic sink of 1.9 Pg C yr−1 for the 1990s based on O2 observations corrected for ocean outgassing is supported by these estimates, but an uncertainty on the mean value of the order of ±0.7 Pg C yr−1 remains. The difference between the two decades appears to be more robust than the absolute value of either of the two decades.
Structures of Alkenyl Succinic Anhydride (ASA) Components in ASA-Sized Papersheet

Alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) is one of the reactive sizes used as cationic emulsions at wet-end of papermaking process. In order to make clear the mechanism of ASA sizing, structures of ASA components retained in handsheets were studied using model compounds and analytical techniques. The results of model experiments using low-molecular-weight cellulose and cationic starch showed that ASA was predominantly hydrolyzed to alkenyl succinic acid (ASAcid) in the presence of water without forming ester linkages with hydroxyl groups of carbohydrates. Sheet-form and fibrous-form extractions with organic solvents under various conditions indicated that most of ASA components were present as the structure of ASAcid in ASA-sized handsheets. The results of curing treatments of ASA-sized handsheets and impregnation treatments of ASA-related compounds into filter papers also were negative to the formation of ester linkages between ASA and cellulose-OH. Cellulase-treatments of ASA-sized handsheets followed by IR analysis of the obtained residues showed that ASA components were mostly present as the structure of ASAcid in papersheet. ASAcid aluminum salts may be present to some extent in papersheet prepared by ASA-alum systems. All these results imply that appearance of sizing features for ASA-sized papersheet is brought about by ASAcid molecules in papersheet. However, since non-reactive ASAcid has no sizing effect when added to pulp suspension, the reactive structure of ASA must be necessary for paper sizing because of some mechanisms other than the formation of ester linkages with hydroxyl groups of pulp fibers.
Color is not to be taken lightly: The difficulties of showing affective influences of colored light

Nowadays, computing is becoming affective as well as ubiquitous, and might therefore be used to create smart environments. So far, it seems that combining affective and ubiquitous computing has not yet been done. One medium which might be of interest to be integrated in affective ubiquitous computing is colored light. However, the influence of colored light on affect needs to be clarified first. This thesis presents an experiment designed to address this issue. The effects of saturation, lightness, and hue on both subjective evaluations and psychophysiological measurements were investigated. Pictorial primes were used to associate color with an affective load. Results showed that priming had no effect on either the subjective evaluations or the psychophysiological measurements. Furthermore, the psychophysiological measurements were not severely affected by the colored lights: only skin conductance showed slight effects. On the other hand, subjective valence and arousal showed numerous effects of the colored lights. The question remains whether these latter effects are reflections of experienced feelings, or just assessments of based on personal experience without instantaneously experiencing these feelings.
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of CdSe Nanocrystals with Applications to Studies of the Nanocrystal Surface

We report the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to determine the surface composition of semiconductor nanocrystals. Crystalline, nearly monodisperse CdSe nanocrystals ranging in radius from 9 to 30 A were chemically synthesized and covalently bound to Au and Si surfaces for study. XPS core level peak positions for Cd and Se were in agreement with those of bulk CdSe. We have determined that the majority of Se atoms on the surface are unbonded as prepared and that Cd atoms are bonded to the surface ligand, tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, to the extent that such bonding is sterically allowed. We have determined that the total ligand saturation of the nanocrystal surface varies from 60% in the smaller nanocrystals to 30% in the larger nanocrystals. In addition, we have determined that upon exposure of the nanocrystals to air Se surface sites are oxidized, forming a SeO[sub 2] surface film which causes the nanocrystals to degrade over time. The nanocrystal surface can be modified by dispersing the crystals in pyridine. Nearly all of the P ligands are removed in this case, leaving behind primarily unsaturated Cd and Se surface atoms. In this case, both Cd and Se oxidize upon exposure to air. 35 refs.,more » 17 figs., 1 tab. « less
Extraction, Recovery, and Biostability of EDTA for Remediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil

Chelation removal of heavy metals from contaminated soil is seen as a viable remediation technique. A useful chelating agent should be strong, reusable, and biostable during metal extraction and recovery operations. This work tested the extraction, recovery, and biostability of EDTA as a potential remediating agent. Parameters, including EDTA concentration, soil type, soil content, washing cycle, precipitant concentration and type, and pH, were varied and tested during metal extraction and recovery operations. Factors, including EDTA concentration, aqueous and 5% soil slurry, presence of Pb, acclimated and unacclimated activated sludges, along with abiotic control, were varied and studied in the biodegradation of EDTA. The results showed that EDTA was able to extract lead completely from the tested soils, amenable to recovery by addition of cationic and anionic precipitants in the alkaline pH range, relatively biostable even under conditions very favorable toward biodegradation. Thus, EDTA is a strong, re.
Preparation of hydrogel from green polymer

A new method was used for the production of hydrogels from green polymer with a higher swelling ratio. These hydrogels were synthesized first by graft copolymerization between acrylamide (AM) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with alkaline or kraft lignin (AM-PVA-g-lignin) and then by mixing with acrylamide monomer. The kraft and alkaline lignins were isolated from pulping liquor and characterized using UV and FT-IR spectroscopy, and the formed hydrogels were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compared with kraft lignin hydrogel, the alkaline lignin hydrogel had very high swelling ratios and slower water uptake and deswelling rates attributed to its compatible network structure. The hydrogels formed were used also to study the influence of sodium chloride on the absorption capacity at room temperature and swelling ratios at different temperatures. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Oxidative stress, a pervasive condition of increased number of reactive oxygen species, is now recognized to be prominent feature of various diseases and their progression. The relationship between antioxidants and levels of well-known markers of oxidative stress, measured as lipid peroxides and oxidized proteins reflect health indices. The aim of this study is to evaluate the extent of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in acute and chronic myeloid leukemia patients. The present study included 60 patients selected using standard questionnaire based on age, family history, Body Mass Index (BMI), dietary intake, with no other complications and 30 age and sex-matched healthy subjects. The median age of myeloid leukemia patients was 43 years and that of controls was 42 years. Out of 60 myeloid leukemia patients, 30 were in acute and 30 were in chronic state. Oxidative stress and antioxidant status were evaluated in the patients and in the controls by assessing standard oxidative stress markers viz. plasma and erythrocyte lipid peroxide levels in terms of malondialdehyde and oxidized proteins as protein carbonyls whereas antioxidant status was assessed in terms of serum non enzymatic antioxidant levels. There was a significant increase (p 0.01) in plasma and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in acute and chronic myeloid leukemia patients as compared to healthy subjects. Antioxidant status as indicated by the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants viz. erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH), serum β carotene, vitamin A & C and ceruloplasmin was found to be significantly decreased (p 0.01) in both the leukemia patients as compared to healthy participants. However, chronic myeloid leukemia patients had significantly (p 0.05) higher oxidative stress and lower antioxidant status as compared to acute myeloid leukemia patients.
Overbased lubricant detergents – a comparative study

Overbased detergents are commonly used in automotive and marine lubricants. Their main functions are to neutralise potentially corrosive acids and to contribute to engine cleanliness. The major types of overbased detergents that are produced commercially are phenates, sulphonates and salicylates. This paper describes the chemistry of these additive classes and reviews their properties and performance in bench and engine tests. The paper also describes a new class of overbased detergents, where novel chemistry has been used to produce new types of highly overbased phenate, sulphonate, and salicylate. These new products exhibit significant improvements in properties and performance over conventional detergents. Evidence from bench and engine tests is presented to demonstrate the benefits of the new detergent types. An appendix gives more detail on the results of tribological tests on these new detergents.
On‐farm evaluation of ridging and residue management options in a Sahelian millet‐cowpea intercrop. 1. Soil quality changes

Abstract. In the Sahel, promising technologies for agricultural intensification include millet stover mulching and ridging. A four year on‐farm experiment was set‐up in order to assess the effect of various combinations of these two technologies on soil chemical and physical quality in a millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. ) –‐ cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ) relay intercropping system. Treatments included bare surface, ridging, a surface applied banded millet stover mulch (2 t ha–1) and a banded millet stover mulch (2 t ha–1) buried in ridges. The latter three treatments were implemented exclusively in the cowpea rows, with an annual rotation between the millet and cowpea rows. Both the bare and ridge plots experienced a rapid loss of organic carbon, acidification and the development of extensive surface crusts but no increase in bulk density or penetration resistance. In the year of application, mulching improved soil quality in the cowpea row with respect to pH, organic carbon and exchangeable K+ and Mg++ content, penetration resistance and bulk density, and it reduced the decline in exchangeable Ca++ and total N content. In the year following mulch application, a general decline in soil chemical quality was observed in the millet row, except for organic carbon content, and a positive residual effect was observed on penetration resistance and bulk density. As a rule, the effects of mulching in the year of application tended to be stronger in the ridged treatment with buried residue than in the banded surface mulch. In the year following application, this tendency was reversed. For the purpose of reducing soil degradation by nutrient mining and wind erosion, a banded surface mulch therefore appeared more effective than buried mulch.
Psychophysical evaluation of interactive effects between sweeteners and aroma compounds

The presence of intense sweeteners in a light soft drink influences the preferences for, and the flavour profiles of these drinks to various extents, depending on the aroma and sweeteners present. In this study equisweet mixtures of sweeteners were composed at 10% Sucrose Equivalent Value. The sucrose/maltitol and sucrose/aspartame mixtures were additive, whereas equisweet binary sucrose/Na-cyclamate mixtures and ternary sucrose/aspartame/Na-cyclamate mixtures revealed synergistic effects. The synergy observed for the ternary mixture was a linear combination of the synergy of the binary mixtures. Sensory analysis (quantitative descriptive analysis) of different solutions containing sweetener mixtures and a water soluble orange aroma revealed that aspartame and Na-cyclamate both differed from sucrose on the attributes chemical and aftertaste. The addition of orange aroma levelled out the differences observed between the sweetener solutions. Instrumental analysis revealed that high sucrose concentrations changed the release of the volatile compounds, while Na-cyclamate did not show this effect. Modelling of volatile release showed that the gas/solution partition coefficient and the mass transfer coefficient are the main factors influencing the release.
Organic Residues Affect Soil P Availability, Cowpea Yield And Nutrient Uptake on a Near Neutral P-Deficient Alfisol in Southwestern Nigeria

In the moist savanna zone of West Africa, it has been suggested that application of organic residues may play central roles in increasing the availability of inherent soil phosphorus and the dissolution and utilization of phosphate rock (PR) by food crops. Laboratory incubation study was carried out with plant residues of different chemical compositions (leaves of Flemingia macrophylla, Leucaena leucocephala, and maize stover (Zea mays L.) in pots containing a P-deficient Alfisol from SW Nigeria with ground Togo PR for 3 months to determine the dynamics of Olsen extractable P in the absence of growing plants. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) was planted in the incubated soils thereafter to evaluate treatment effects on cowpea yield and P uptake. A control treatment (no PR, no plant residues) was included for comparison. The pot trial was laid out as completely randomised design replicated four times. Generally, soil P availability increased with increasing length of incubation. Compared with the initial soil P value of 3.14 mg kg -1 , after 12 weeks of incubation Leucaena +PR had the highest soil P (9. 9 mg kg soil -1 ), followed by Flemingia (7.9 mg kg soil -1 ) and Flemingia + PR (7.3 mg kg soil -1 ). Phosphorus availability following incubation of PR was 5.11 mg kg soil -1 , 4.2 mg kg soil -1 for the control treatment, and 3.37 mg kg soil -1 for maize stover, which rather immobilized P throughout the incubation period. Cowpea plants grown on Flemingia and Leucaena incubated soils with and without PR produced higher number of pods, grain yield, and shoot dry matter than those grown on PR and maize+PR incubated soils. Total N uptake was not significantly different among the treatments but P and K uptake was significantly higher in plants grown on Leucaena+PR, Leucaena, Flemingia, and Flemingia+PR incubated soils than those grown on the control, PR, and maize+PR incubated soils. These results suggest that plant residues can be selected and incubated in near neutral P-deficient soils to enhance P availability and increase crop yield and P uptake. Key words: Alfisol, cowpea dry matter, length of incubation, Olsen extractable P, plant residues, Togo rock phosphate, West Africa
A Theoretical and Experimental Study of Counteracting Chromatographic Electrophoresis

Abstract Counteracting chromatographic electrophoresis (CACE) is a separation process that combines gel chromatography with electrophoresis. This process, originally developed by O'Farrell1, may be used for protein separation by causing a specific protein to accumulate at the interface between two bed packings of different internal porosity. In this paper a theoretical model for CACE has been developed. This model gives an accumulation criterion that specifies the operating conditions (i.e. applied field and flow rates), and the bed and protein parameters (i.e. external bed porosity, internal particle porosity, protein free mobility, and the ratio of the protein mobility in the get to that in free solution) that lead to accumulation in the column. This accumulation criterion was tested with experimental data for the accumulation of the colored proteins ferritin, myoglobin, and cytochrome-c. This data fit the criterion fairly well for all three proteins. The theoretical model was extended to consider the t.
Pre-treatment of Llobregat River raw water through pressurised inside/out hollow fibre ultrafiltration membranes

ABSTRACT The feasibility of raw river direct ultrafiltration, as an alternative to conventional drinking water treatment plant pre-treatment, was investigated at prototype scale (May–October 2011). A highly variable and challenging water resource was selected, in order to assess different scenarios, covering a broad range of conditions. The prototype was able to deal with conditions ranging from 20 to >800 NTU successfully, without any chemical pre-treatment and consuming low amount of chemical reagents for cleaning purposes. The membranes’ performance proved to work better in terms of water production yield and resistance build up stability at medium and high turbidity episodes than at lower ones, probably due to a cake layer formation which prevented small binding organic species and particles reaching the membrane. Permeate quality, both in physico-chemical and microbiological terms, was independent of the feed water characteristics.
Amending Soils with Hydrogels Increases the Biomass of Nine Tree Species under Non-water Stress Conditions

The classical aim of the application of super absorbent polyacrylate (SAPs) hydrogels is the prolonging of plant survival under water stress. Their effect on plant growth during non-water stress conditions is not known. This study examined the root and shoot biomass of seedlings of nine tree species; Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus citriodora, Pinus caribaea, Araucaria cunninghamii, Melia volkensii, Grevillea robusta, Azadirachta indica, Maesopsis eminii and Terminalia superba. The seedlings were potted in five soil types; sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam and clay. These were amended at two hydrogel levels: 0.2 and 0.4% w/w and grown under controlled conditions in a green house. Root and shoot growth responses of the seedlings were determined by measuring the dry weight of the roots, stems, leaves and twigs. The addition of either 0.2 or 0.4% hydrogel to the five soil types resulted in a significant increase of the root dry weight (p < 0.001) in eight tree species compared to the controls after 8 wk of routine watering. Also, the dry weight of stems and leaves and twigs were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the nine tree species potted in hydrogel amended soil types than in the hydrogel free controls. These results suggested that hydrogel amendment enhances the efficiency of water uptake and utilization of photosynthates of plants grown in soils which have water contents close to field capacity.
THE SYSTEM Fe–Rh–S AT 900° AND 500°C

The condensed phase system Fe–Rh–S was studied by means of dry syntheses at 900° and 500°C. At 900°C, there are fields of γ(Fe,Rh) with up to 29.7 at. % Rh, α1(Fe,Rh) with 40–50.4 at. % Rh and γ(Rh,Fe) between 0 and 34.3 at. % Fe, Fe1− x S that dissolves up to 25.7 at. % Rh at 55 at. % S, sulfide melt centered on ~37.5 at. % S and 40 at. % Rh, Rh17S15 (up to 7.5 at.% Fe), Rh3S4, Rh2S3 and Rh2.75S7. 25 (“RhS3”) dissolving up to 4 at. % Fe. At 500°C, α(Fe,Rh) contains up to 9.5 at. % Rh, α1(Fe,Rh) has 33.5–52.2 at. % Rh, followed by γ(Rh,Fe). Fe1− x S dissolves up to 2.8 at. % Rh at 52.5 at. % S. Thiospinel Fe(Fe0.08Rh1.92)S4 is associated with FeS2, Rh17S15 (up to 4 at.% Fe) and Rh2S3. “RhS3” contains less than 1 at. % Fe. The principal assemblages are defined for both temperatures. We discuss data from the partly studied Fe–Ni–Rh–S system and compare the partition patterns of Rh inferred from the current study with those from sulfide–PGE deposits.
Low-terahertz spectroscopy of liquid water

In this work we present the results on combined experimental and computational study of sub-THz spectra of liquid water. The important new result is the detection of hydrogen bonds in liquid water. The experimental study was performed by employing Fourier Transform terahertz (THz) spectroscopy with spectral resolution of 0.25 cm-1. Resonance features in transmission spectra of water layers between thin film substrates are demonstrated in the sub-THz range. The theoretical approach for computer simulation of THz absorption spectra from liquid water is also discussed. The molecular dynamical (MD) simulations of water were performed using Amber 8 and the TIP3P, SPCE (Extended Single Point Charge) and TIP4P water models. Several examples of modeling results are presented. The experimental spectra are compared with the theoretical predictions. The SPCE model better correlates with experimental spectra compare to two other models.
Estrogenic activity of surfactants and some of their degradation products assessed using a recombinant yeast screen

An estrogen-inducible screen was developed in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in order to assess whether surfactants and their major degradation products are estrogenic. The DNA sequence of the human estrogen receptor (hER) was integrated into the yeast genome, which also contained expression plasmids carrying estrogen-responsive sequences (ERE) controlling the expression of the reporter gene lac-Z (encoding the enzyme β-galactosidase). Thus, in the presence of estrogens, β-galactosidase is synthesized and secreted into the medium, where it causes a color change from yellow to red. This recombinant strain was used to determine whether representatives of major surfactant classes and some of their principal degradation products possess estrogenic activity. The results were compared to the effects of the main natural estrogen 17β-estradiol. None of the parent surfactants tested possessed estrogenic activity. However, one class of surfactants, the alkylphenol polyethoxylates, degrade to persistent metabolites that were weakly estrogenic. Another group of degradation products, the sulfophenyl carboxylates, which are derived from the biodegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, do not appear to possess estrogenic activity.
Cationic cobaltammines as anion receptors. Part V. Synthesis, characterization and X-ray structure of [CO(NH3)6]ClMoO4·3H2O

Orange, single crystals of the bimetallic salt hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride molybdate trihydrate, [Co (NH3)6]ClMoO4·3H2O, have been prepared by reacting hot aqueous solutions of hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride and sodium molybdate dihydrate in a 1:1 molar ratio. The salt was characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic studies (IR and electronic). The title complex salt crystallizes in orthorhombic, space group Pnma, with a = 18.408(2), b = 8.672(1), c = 8.661(1) Å, V = 1382.6(3) Å3, Z = 4 and R = 0.0255. A single-crystal X-ray structure determination revealed the presence of discrete ions [Co(NH3)6]3+, Cl− and and three lattice water molecule in the solid state. The formation of this salt suggests that [Co(NH3)6]3+ may be used as an anion receptor for the molybdate ion.