Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Mixing Pattern in an Anaerobic Expanded Granular Sludge Bed Reactor: Effect of Liquid Recirculation

An anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor is considered to be an improvement over upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors owing to the former’s ability to recycle the effluent and its modified reactor geometry. However, the mixing pattern in EGSB reactors, which greatly influences the design and the performance of this reactor, has not yet been studied in detail. In this research, the mixing pattern in a lab-scale EGSB reactor treating a synthetic dye wastewater was studied using lithium chloride as a tracer. The tracer exit curve indicated a complete-mix behavior. A simulation study was conducted on identical reactors using conductivity probes, inserted through the sample ports along the height of the reactors and connected to a data acquisition system. The reactors were operated at three different hydraulic retention times (3.3, 5.5, and 9 h) and at four different upflow liquid velocities (1.10, 2.66, 5.33, and 8.68 m/h). The data showed the existence of a plug-flow regime in the basin a.
An Investigation into the Migration of Segments in Crosslinked Fluorinated Polyimide Adhesive

Crosslinked fluorinated polyimides (CFPI) were successfully synthesized to study and explore the effect of cross-linkage on the migration of fluorinated segments and on the adhesion strength. Characterization by dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed good thermal properties of CFPI. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed that the ratio of fluorinated component (6FDA-ODA) concentration of the surface to the bulk decreased with the crosslink density. The water contact angle of CFPI was lower than that of non-crosslinked fluorinated polyimide, indicating that the migration of fluorinated groups to the surface was reduced by the presence of cross-linkage. Therefore, CFPI, with no fluorine segregation on the surface, exhibited excellent wetting of adherent surfaces and adhesion strength, which was proved by lap shear strength (LSS) measurements and scanning electron microscopy.
An improved force‐restore method for soil temperature prediction

The force‐restore method originally developed to enable soil temperature predictions assumes that soil is uniform with depth (i.e. the vertical gradient of thermal diffusivity is zero in soil) and that thermal conduction is the only heat transfer mechanism necessary for prediction of soil temperature. These assumptions hamper the applicability of the force‐restore method to many natural soil conditions. The main objective of this study is to revise the force‐restore method by extending it to include the possibility of soil heterogeneity with depth (i.e. non‐zero vertical gradient of thermal diffusivity in soil) and to include the possible occurrence of convective heat transfer as well as conductive heat transfer in soil. Soil temperatures calculated by the current and the revised force‐restore methods for a shallow soil layer were compared with measured soil temperatures at a bare soil site in the China Loess Plateau from 22 to 26 July 2005. Results showed that the revised method improved on the current force‐restore method, which overestimated either the diurnal amplitude or the phase shift for the shallow soil layer. These results indicate that the revised force‐restore method is more applicable than the current force‐restore method for predicting soil temperatures in naturally occurring non‐uniform soil. The revised force‐restore method has potential application within many land‐atmosphere numerical models.
Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of condensate water of home air-conditioning system in Iran

AbstractThe global atmosphere is a huge and renewable water resource which contains about 14,000 km3 of water vapor. The aim of this study was to investigate the water produced by the air conditioners installed Bandar-e-Abbas (BA) and its chemical and microbiological quality of this water. Moreover, it was also important to specify the best use of the water. In a nine-month period, 66 samples were taken in four clusters of BA, based on distance to shore and population and vehicle traffic. Quantity was measured by volumetric method; turbidity, alkalinity (ALK), total hardness, dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC) were tested in laboratory; and counting of bacteria and fungi was done. SPSS 19.0 for Windows was used for data analysis. Mean of produced water was 21.3–47.6 L/d;, and mean for pH, turbidity, EC, TDS, ALK, and total hardness was 6.75–6.89, 2.33–2.55 NTU, 37.8–45.6 μS/cm, 28.8–33.3 mg/L, 34.3–38.2 mg/L as CaCO3, and 18.2–21.6 mg/L as CaCO3, respectively. Legionella pneumophila .
A Oferta de Trabalho Não Agrícola no Meio Rural: Evidências para o Nordeste e Brasil

O estudo analisa os determinantes da alocacao de trabalho nao agricola de familias rurais do Brasil a partir dos dados da PNAD de 2008, confrontando as evidencias para a regiao Nordeste, segundo dados do Projeto Dom Helder Câmara de 2004. Para tanto, foi estimado um modelo de determinacao conjunta das decisoes de participacao no mercado de trabalho nao agricola e da quantidade de horas alocadas no mesmo (double-hurdle ); e, alternativamente, para estas mesmas duas decisoes, estimativas separadas pelos modelos probit e tobit, respectivamente. Os resultados apontaram que algumas variaveis, destacando o genero, apresentam efeitos contrarios para a decisao de participacao e de quantidade de horas trabalhadas, conforme estimativas do modelo double-hurdle, o que nao e possivel captar quando se recorre aos outros dois modelos citados e mais comumente usados na literatura. Os achados destacaram ainda a importância da idade, dos anos de estudo e da estrutura familiar (numero de criancas) nas decisoes de trabalho nao agricola.
A perspective on solar-driven water splitting with all-oxide hetero-nanostructures

A perspective on the design of all-oxide heterostructures for application in photoelectrochemical cells for solar water splitting is provided. Particular attention is paid to those structures which possess nanoscale feature dimensionality, as structures of this type are most likely to utilize the benefits afforded by the formation of oxide heterojunctions and likely to show functional behavior relating to the interfacial region. In the context of this discussion, a novel hetero-nanostructure array, based on quantum-confined and visible light-active iron(III) oxide nanostructures and their surface modification with tungsten(VI) oxide, is introduced. The heterostructure architecture is designed to combine the functionality of the consituent phases to address the primary requirements for electrodes enabling the efficient generation of hydrogen using solar energy: visible light activity, chemical stability, appropriate bandedge characteristics, and potential for low-cost fabrication. Photoelectrochemical characterization for solar hydrogen/oxygen generation indicates the presence of unexpected minority carrier transfer dynamics within the oxide hetero-nanostructures, as observed additionally by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy.
Assessment of physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of drinking water at sources and household in Adama Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Water quality is a critical factor affecting human health and welfare. This study aimed at examining the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of drinking water in Adama town. A total of 107 triplicate water samples were examined; 1 from inlet point (raw water), 1 from outlet (the water after treatment, 1 from reservoir (treated water stored), 52 from pipe water and 52 from systematically selected household’s containers. Six physico-chemical parameters namely temperature, turbidity, pH, free chlorine residual (FCR), nitrate, fluoride and three bacteriological parameters: total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC) and fecal streptococci (FS) were analyzed. Temperature was average of 23.30, 21.23 and 22.57°C at the inlet, outlet and reservoir sampling points, respectively, which were above WHO and national standard limits of <15°C. Concerning FCR, at the outlet, FCR was 0.78 mg/l which was in the WHO recommended limit of 0.6-1 mg/L and at reservoir sampling point, the FCR was 0.35 mg/l which was in the WHO and national standard limit of 0.2-0.5 mg/L. The average concentration of TC, FC and FS at the inlet point was 196, 142 and 117 cfu/100 ml, respectively. On the other hand, at the outlet and reservoir sampling points, no indicator bacteria were found. In all pipe water samples, pH values were within the recommended limit (6.5-8). In the pipeline, 82.7 and 92.3% of sampling sites were found acceptable based on WHO and National standard for FC and FS counts, respectively. In household water container, 55.8 and 71.1% were in the acceptable limit of WHO and National standard for FC and FS, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis indicates that a significant positive correlation between TC/temperature (r = 0.809063) and a significant negative correlation exist between TC and FCR (r = -0.689336) in tap water samples. Using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, TC was found to be positively and significantly related to FC (r = 0.836887) and FS (r = 0.674766), FC was found to be positively and significantly correlated to FS (r = 0.84345) in household water. Key words: Physico-chemical parameter, bacteriological quality, pipe water, household water, total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), fecal streptococci (FS).
Estimates of nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural fields over 28 months

Field studies conducted throughout the calendar year are needed to improve flux estimates for the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). In this study, we report monthly N2O emissions measured using micrometeorological techniques and a Tunable Diode Laser Trace Gas Analyzer (TDLTGA). Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured at the Elora Research Station (20 km north of Guelph, Ontario) from July to November 1992, and from March 1993 to February 1995, giving a total of 2445 daily averages obtained during the full length of the experiment. The soil at the experimental site was a Conestogo silt loam (Gleyed melanic brunisol). Several fields were monitored including fallow, manured fallow, Kentucky bluegrass, alfalfa, barley, canola, soybeans and corn plots. Spring thaw emissions from fallow or ploughed plots measured from March to April ranged from 1.5 to 4.3 kg N ha−1, corresponding to approximately 65% of the total annual emission. Similar effects were not observed on the vegetated (alfalfa and grass) plots. The lo.
Importance of the Electric Properties of Supports in the Carrier Effect

Abstract It has long been recognized in heterogeneous catalysis that the efficiency of the catalyst can be markedly increased when supported by certain solids of large surface. Although this observation has been applied very fruitfully in the preparation of catalysts with technical importance, the reason for the carrier effect is still not fully understood. In earlier investigations the effect of support was explained mainly by saying that it stabilizes the state of the active component or that it increases the degree of dispersion and the surface area of the catalyst. There were, however, some observations stating that, besides the above-mentioned factors, there is a chemical interaction between the catalyst and the support which may also play an important role in producing the carrier effect. Therefore Adadurov and co-workers [1] have pointed out that, depending on its atomic radius and valence, the carrier polarizes the molecules of the catalyst, thus considerably altering the properties of the latter.
Effects of variations in carbonate chemistry on the calcification rates of Madracis auretenra (= Madracis mirabilis sensu Wells, 1973): bicarbonate concentrations best predict calcification rates

Physiological data and models of coral calcification indicate that corals utilize a combination of seawater bicarbonate and (mainly) respiratory CO2 for calcification, not seawater carbonate. However, a number of investigators are attributing observed negative effects of experimental seawater acidification by CO2 or hydrochloric acid additions to a reduction in seawater carbonate ion concentration and thus aragonite saturation state. Thus, there is a discrepancy between the physiological and geochemical views of coral biomineralization. Furthermore, not all calcifying organisms respond negatively to decreased pH or saturation state. Together, these discrepancies suggest that other physiological mechanisms, such as a direct effect of reduced pH on calcium or bicarbonate ion transport and/or variable ability to regulate internal pH, are responsible for the variability in reported experimental effects of acidification on calcification. To distinguish the effects of pH, carbonate concentration and bicarbonate concentration on coral calcification, incubations were performed with the coral Madracis auretenra (= Madracis mirabilis sensu Wells, 1973) in modified seawater chemistries. Carbonate parameters were manipulated to isolate the effects of each parameter more effectively than in previous studies, with a total of six different chemistries. Among treatment differences were highly significant. The corals responded strongly to variation in bicarbonate concentration, but not consistently to carbonate concentration, aragonite saturation state or pH. Corals calcified at normal or elevated rates under low pH (7.6–7.8) when the seawater bicarbonate concentrations were above 1800 μm. Conversely, corals incubated at normal pH had low calcification rates if the bicarbonate concentration was lowered. These results demonstrate that coral responses to ocean acidification are more diverse than currently thought, and question the reliability of using carbonate concentration or aragonite saturation state as the sole predictor of the effects of ocean acidification on coral calcification.
Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Graphene

Abstract The recent progress using Raman spectroscopy and imaging of graphene is reviewed. The intensity of the G band increases with increased graphene layers, and the shape of 2D band evolves into four peaks of bilayer graphene from a single peak of monolayer graphene. The G band will blue shift and become narrow with both electron and hole doping, whereas the 2D band will blue shift with hole doping and red shift with electron doping. Frequencies of the G and 2D band will downshift with increasing temperature. Under compressed strain, the upshift of the G and 2D bands can be found. Moreover, the strong Raman signal of monolayer graphene is explained by interference enhancement effect. As for epitaxial graphene, Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify the superior and inferior carrier mobility. The edge chirality of graphene can be determined by using polarized Raman spectroscopy. All results mentioned here are closely relevant to the basic theory of graphene and application in nanodevices.
Fabrication of Gd2O(CO3)2·H2O/silica/gold hybrid particles as a bifunctional agent for MR imaging and photothermal destruction of cancer cells

Bifunctional Gd2O(CO3)2·H2O/silica/Au hybrid particles were synthesized. The Gd2O(CO3)2·H2O cores were decorated with a silica layer on the surface through the condensation of TEOS and reaction with APTES to produce Gd2O(CO3)2·H2O/silica hybrid particles. The silica-coated particles were then conjugated with gold nanoparticles serving as seeds to react with HAuCl4 solution for the formation of Au shells leading to Gd2O(CO3)2·H2O/silica/Au hybrid particles. The thickness of the Au shells were set to 12, 26, 63 nm by adjusting the HAuCl4 amount. For in vitro MRI measurements, the T1-weighted performance was significantly affected by the Au shell thickness. The relaxivity r1 increased as the Au shell thickness decreased; 12 nm Au shell particles had the highest r1 value. The hybrid particles also showed the capability of absorbing near-infrared (NIR) radiation for photothermal destruction of cancer cells. It was found that the Au shell thickness also strongly influenced the NIR optical absorption and photothermal effect. At a fixed particle number, particles with a 63 nm Au shell exhibited the best photothermal performance. When the particle weight was fixed, 12 nm Au shell particles led to the optimum photothermal cancer destruction. Gd2O(CO3)2·H2O/silica/Au hybrid particles demonstrated potential as a MR imaging and therapeutic agent.
Loss in tocopherols and oxidative stability during the frying of frozen cassava chips.

The present study was aimed at verifying tocopherols losses and oxidative stability changes in vegetable oils used in discontinuous frying. The frying of frozen cassava chips was carried out in a household electric frying pan, where the oil was heated to a temperature of 180°C for 25 hours, with fresh oil replacement. The results obtained from the analytical determinations were submitted to variance analysis, in a factorial scheme, using a completely randomized design, making it possible to determine the influence of the type of oil and frying times on changes in the oil. The data show that the smallest changes occur in palm oil, which is more saturated. For sunflower and cottonseed oils, which are more unsaturated, there was a clear decrease in both tocopherol concentration and oxidative stability.
Using Molecular Design to Increase Hole Transport: Backbone Fluorination in the Benchmark Material Poly(2,5‐bis(3‐alkylthiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]‐thiophene (pBTTT)

The synthesis of a novel 3,3′‐difluoro‐4,4′‐dihexadecyl‐2,2′‐bithiophene monomer and its copolymerization with thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene to afford the fluorinated analogue of the well‐known poly(2,5‐bis(3‐alkylthiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]‐thiophene) (PBTTT) polymer is reported. Fluorination is found to have a significant influence on the physical properties of the polymer, enhancing aggregation in solution and increasing melting point by over 100 °C compared to nonfluorinated polymer. On the basis of DFT calculations these observations are attributed to inter and intramolecular S…F interactions. As a consequence, the fluorinated polymer PFBTTT exhibits a fourfold increase in charge carrier mobility compared to the nonfluorinated polymer and excellent ambient stability for a nonencapsulated transistor device.
Evaluation of commercially available ELISA test kits for the detection of clenbuterol and other β2-agonists

This article presents the results of a comparative study of nine commercially available ELISA test kits for clenbuterol and other β2‐agonists currently being used in veterinary drug residue control of live and slaughtered animals in the European Union (EU). By determining measuring ranges, B/B o ‐50% values, inter‐ and intra‐assay variations and cross‐reactions as well as limits of detection (LOD) and recoveries for clenbuterol in bovine urine it could be demonstrated that a number of test kits showed considerable quality defects, reducing their applicability to residue control. LODs for urine assayed without a previous clean‐up (as recommended by all kit manufacturers) varied between 1.2 and 11.1 ng clenbuterol per ml urine and did thus not meet the requirement of 1 ng/ml of the official residue control plans of the EU Member States.
The meiotic arrest of bovine oocytes

Les ovocytes bovins incubes in vitro reprennent la meiose alors que ceux incubes en presence de mono-couches de cellules de la theque demeurent au stade de vesicule germinale (GV). Les presentes experiences ont ete menees sur des ovocytes bovins afin de mieux comprendre les facteurs impliques dans le controle de la maturation des ovocytes. Les objectives etaient 1) de determiner si la morphologie du complexe ovocyte-cumulus (COCs) est correlee avec les cinetiques de la reprise meiotique suivant une periode d’arret meiotique induite. 2) Etudier la fonction des inhibiteurs de phosphodiesterase (PDE) specifiques seuls ou en presence de une monocouche des cellules de la theque sur l’arret meiotique des ovocytes bovins. 3) Etudier le role de la voie de signalisation de la proteine kinase A et de la proteine kinase C dans la modulation de la reprise meiotique des ovocytes bovins. 4) Faire une caracterisation plus poussee du facteur d’inhibition secrete par les cellules de la theque. Ces etudes demontrent que les COCs bovins reprennent la meiose plus rapidement apres une courte periode d’arret meiotique que les COCs non traites. Les ovocytes atresiques ou denudes sont donc moins nombreux au stage de GV au debut de la maturation que les COCs sains ou legerement atresiques. Les inhibiteurs de phosphodiesterase (PDE) de type 3 ont maintenu les ovocytes bovins en arret meiotique alors que les inhibiteurs de type 4 n’ont eu aucun effet. De plus, la combinaison des inhibiteurs PDE et des cellules de la theque montre un effet additif. Les COCs incubes avec des cellules de la theque sont restes en arret meiotique alors que ceux incubes en presence de cellules de granulosa ont repris la meiose. Les cellules de la granulosa non traitees ont annule l’effet inhibiteur des cellules de la theque sur la maturation des COCs bovins. Par ailleurs, les COCs sont restes en arret meiotique lorsque des analogues d’AMPc ont ete utilises en conjonction avec des cellules de granulosa et de la theque. Finalement, le facteur inhibiteur secrete par les cellules de la theque dans le milieu conditionne est (a) insensible a la chaleur, aux enzymes proteolytiques et a un traitement au charbon, (b) sensible a un traitement au chloroforme, (c) concentre dans la fraction plus petite que 1000 daltons du milieu conditionne et (d) les patrons de pics chromatographiques sont differents entre le milieu conditionne et le milieu frais. D’autres etudes seront necessaires pour l’isolation complete du facteur(s) inhibiteur(s) secrete(s) par les cellules de la theque responsable du maintien de l’arret meiotique des ovocytes bovins.
Scale-invariant density perturbations, anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background, and large-scale peculiar velocity field

The large-scale peculiar velocity field and the large- and intermediate-angular scale anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background are studied in inflationary cosmological models of critical density and containing primordial scale-invariant adiabatic density perturbations. Comparison with recent observations by de Vaucouleurs and Peters Provides tentative support for a cold dark matter scenario in which the dark matter is not appreciably less clustered than the luminous galaxy distribution. 30 references.