Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Space weathering on airless bodies

Space weathering refers to alteration that occurs in the space environment with time. Lunar samples, and to some extent meteorites, have provided a benchmark for understanding the processes and products of space weathering. Lunar soils are derived principally from local materials but have accumulated a range of optically active opaque particles (OAOpq) that include nanophase metallic iron on/in rims formed on individual grains (imparting a red slope to visible and near‐infrared reflectance) and larger iron particles (which darken across all wavelengths) such as are often found within the interior of recycled grains. Space weathering of other anhydrous silicate bodies, such as Mercury and some asteroids, produces different forms and relative abundance of OAOpq particles depending on the particular environment. If the development of OAOpq particles is minimized (such as at Vesta), contamination by exogenic material and regolith mixing become the dominant space weathering processes. Volatile‐rich bodies and those composed of abundant hydrous minerals (dwarf planet Ceres, many dark asteroids, and outer solar system satellites) are affected by space weathering processes differently than the silicate bodies of the inner solar system. However, the space weathering products of these bodies are currently poorly understood and the physics and chemistry of space weathering processes in different environments are areas of active research.
Positive perception of time and its association with successful ageing / Percepción positiva del tiempo y su relación con el envejecimiento exitoso

Abstract The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between perception of time and indicators of successful ageing. The study evaluated preference in temporal orientation, perception of speed of the passage of time and a wide range of psychosocial well-being and health indicators. The sample consisted of 1,178 people aged over 60 years from the ELES longitudinal study, which was representative of the Spanish population. Results showed that: (a) the majority of people of all ages are oriented to the present, although as they become older there is a shift towards the past; (b) orientation to the present implies higher levels of well-being and health, as opposed to orientation to the past; and (c) a perception of a faster passage of time is associated with well-being. In conclusion, the way in which older people perceive time is an indicator of adaptation, well-being and health.
The Relationship between Organizational Repository Usage (ORU) And Innovative Work Behaviour (IWB)

This study reports the relationship between Digital Document Management System (DDMS) usage and IWB of MAMPU employees involving a total of 180 employees in MAMPU using online survey. The MAMPU employees’ IWB and OMIS were verified and conceptualized. The results indicate the all dimensions of ORU are applicable in the context of Government to Employees (G2E) and e- records management system. The results of the correlation analyses suggest all formulated hypotheses were supported despite moderate relationship between them. The conceptualized determinants and impacts of IWB were validated and substantiated. There is relationship found between system quality, information quality, service quality and perceived ease of use with IWB indicating the constructs directly determine IWB. Theoretical contribution of the research includes development of a theoretical model of Usage, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, Service Quality, Information Quality and System Quality of organizational repository usage and an IWB framework of MAMPU. Practically, the research reveals the organizational repository usage factors which are imperative to contribute the IWB. Methodologically, the research illustrates the effective use of the quantitative approach within the positivism research paradigm. The study has also filled in the knowledge gap related to antecedents and impact of organizational repository usage on IWB, improves OMS design and implementation approach. The study also has contributed a significant empirical evidence of beneficial for DDMS implementation to Malaysian Government.
An information gain formulation for active volumetric 3D reconstruction

We consider the problem of next-best view selection for volumetric reconstruction of an object by a mobile robot equipped with a camera. Based on a probabilistic volumetric map that is built in real time, the robot can quantify the expected information gain from a set of discrete candidate views. We propose and evaluate several formulations to quantify this information gain for the volumetric reconstruction task, including visibility likelihood and the likelihood of seeing new parts of the object. These metrics are combined with the cost of robot movement in utility functions. The next best view is selected by optimizing these functions, aiming to maximize the likelihood of discovering new parts of the object. We evaluate the functions with simulated and real world experiments within a modular software system that is adaptable to other robotic platforms and reconstruction problems. We release our implementation open source.
Using differential variability to increase the power of the homogeneity test in a two-sample problem

We consider a particular two-sample homogeneity testing problem often encountered in case-control studies with contaminated controls, or in detecting a treatment effect when some subjects are not affected by the treatment in biological experiments. We propose an EM-test designed to simultaneously detect mean difference and differential variability in the two samples. We show that the EM-test statistic has a chi-squared null limiting distribution. The asymptotic properties of the EM-test under local alternatives are also investigated, and sample-size calculation is given. The main results are established for general location-scale family of distributions. Simulation results show that the EM-test outperforms the existing methods. Finally, two real data examples are used to illustrate the application of the proposed method.
Photodarkening of Infrared Irradiated Yb3+-Doped Alumino-Silicate Glasses: Effect on UV Absorption Bands and Fluorescence Spectra

The photodarkening phenomenon in alumino-silicate glass preforms, doped with different ytterbium concentrations, was studied. The UV band, comprised between 180 and 350 nm, was examined before and after irradiation at 976 nm. The non-linear dependence of 240 nm band with concentration after infra-red irradiation was demonstrated and ascribed predominantly to Yb3+ pair’s interaction. The emission spectrum after the excitation in UV spectral region showed increased intensity after photodarkening, probably due to Yb2+ ions creation. Phenomenological photodarkening model and the possible existence of several defect types are presented.
Molecular Hydrogen and Global Star Formation Relations in Galaxies

We use hydrodynamical simulations of disk galaxies to study relations between star formation and properties of the molecular ISM. We implement a model for the ISM that includes low-temperature (T < 104 K ) cooling, directly ties the SFR to the molecular gas density, and accounts for the destruction of H2 by an interstellar radiation field from young stars. We demonstrate that the ISM and star formation model simultaneously produces a spatially resolved molecular gas surface density Schmidt-Kennicutt relation of the form ΣSFR ∝ ΣnmolH2, with nmol ≈ 1.4 independent of galaxy mass, and a total gas surface density-SFR relation ΣSFR ∝ Σntotgas with a power-law index that steepens from ntot ∼ 2 for large galaxies to ntot≳ 4 for small dwarf galaxies. We show that deviations from the disk-averaged ΣSFR ∝ Σ1.4gas correlation determined by Kennicutt owe primarily to spatial trends in the molecular fraction fH2 and may explain observed deviations from the global Schmidt-Kennicutt relation. In our model, such deviations occur in regions of the ISM where the fraction of gas mass in molecular form is declining or significantly less than unity. Long gas consumption timescales in low-mass and low surface brightness galaxies may owe to their small fractions of molecular gas rather than mediation by strong supernova-driven winds. Our simulations also reproduce the observed relations between ISM pressure and molecular fraction and between SFR, gas surface density, and disk angular frequency. We show that the Toomre criterion that accounts for both gas and stellar densities correctly predicts the onset of star formation in our simulated disks. We examine the density and temperature distributions of the ISM in simulated galaxies and show that the density pdf generally exhibits a complicated structure with multiple peaks corresponding to different temperature phases of the gas. The overall density pdf can be well modeled as a sum of lognormal pdf's corresponding to individual, approximately isothermal phases. We also present a simple method to mitigate numerical Jeans fragmentation of dense, cold gas in SPH codes through the adoption of a density-dependent pressure floor.
Infinite-mean models and the LDA for operational risk

Due to published statistical analyses of operational risk data, methodological approaches to the AMA modeling of operational risk can be discussed more in detail. In this paper we raise some issues concerning correlation (or diversification) effects, the use of extreme value theory and the overall quantitative risk management consequences of extremely heavy-tailed data. We especially highlight issues around infinite mean models. Besides methodological examples and simulation studies, the paper contains indications for further research.
A cross-sectional study of fertile period awareness, knowledge, attitudes and practice in infertile couples seeking fertility assistance

Background: Infertility is one of the most distressful condition for a couple. Medical interventions may exacerbate anxiety, depression, stress, loss of self-esteem, guilt and grief in these couples. But many studies indicate that most cases of infertility can be attributed to a physiological cause in the man or woman. Previous research has suggested that poor fertility period awareness may be a contributing cause of infertility among couples seeking assistance at infertility clinics. The actual practices and attitudes towards fertility-awareness in this particular group of patients are unknown and need to be explored. The aim of the present study was to report the study of fertile period awareness and their knowledge, attitude and practice in the infertile couples seeking fertility assistanceMethods: This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. The study was conducted over a period of 6 months from June to December 2017 in the couples attending the infertility clinic at Smt Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Pune.Results: Total 246 of 280 distributed questionnaires were completed (response rate =87.8%). Out of these 60% (n=147) believed they had timed intercourse within the fertile window of the menstrual cycle in their attempts at conception, but surprisingly only 36%(n=52) could accurately identify this window. In this study 23% (n=56) participants had already taken prior treatment but still 50% were ignorant about fertile window. It was shocking that among 246 only 15% (n=38) couples were actually practising fertile period due to some reasons and most of them did not know or rely upon the concept of fertile period. Almost 94% of them believed that they should receive fertility-awareness education when they ﬁrst report trouble in conceiving to their doctor.Conclusions: Most couples seeking assistance at infertility clinics were unaware of the fertile window of the menstrual cycle and only few could accurately identify this window, suggesting that poor fertility awareness may be a contributing cause of infertility.
Dietary feeding of silibinin inhibits advance human prostate carcinoma growth in athymic nude mice and increases plasma insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 levels.

We have reported recently the anticancer effect of flavonoid antioxidant silymarin, the major part of milk thistle extract, against advanced human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells (X. Zi et al., Cancer Res., 58: 1920-1929, 1998) and later identified that silibinin is the main active component in silymarin responsible for its effect in cell culture studies. On the basis of these observations, here we assessed in vivo growth inhibitory potential of silibinin against advanced human prostate cancer (PCA). Dietary feeding of silibinin at 0.05 and 0.1% doses (w/w) for 60 days, 24 h after s.c. DU145 tumor xenograft implantation in athymic male nude mice, significantly inhibited tumor volume by 35 and 58% (P < 0.05), and wet weight of tumor by 29 and 40% (P < 0.05), respectively. In a second experiment where mice were fed with these test diets for 3 weeks before tumor xenograft implantation and continued on these diets for a total of 63 days, tumor volume and wet weight of tumor were reduced by 53-64% (P < 0.001-0.05) and 31-52% (P < 0.05), respectively. In both studies, animals did not show weight loss or reduced food consumption. These in vivo anticancer effects of silibinin were associated with an increased accumulation (up to 5.8 fold; P < 0.05) of human insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in mouse plasma. In additional studies assessing biological availability of silibinin in nude mice and its antiproliferative activity at such doses in DU145 cells in culture, silibinin levels in plasma and prostate were found to be in the range of 7-13 microg/ml and 3.7-4.6 microg/g, respectively. At these biologically achievable silibinin concentrations, increased IGFBP-3 level in DU145 cell culture medium and a strong DU145 cell growth inhibition were observed that were irreversible in the absence of silibinin in culture medium. These findings extend and translate our observations on in vitro anticancer effect of silibinin/silymarin to an in vivo preclinical PCA model, which may form the basis for a Phase I clinical trial in PCA patients.
Low-Loss Hollow Waveguide Fibers for Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Laser Sensing Applications

We report on single mode optical transmission of hollow core glass waveguides (HWG) coupled with an external cavity mid-IR quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). The QCL mode results perfectly matched to the hybrid HE11 waveguide mode and the higher losses TE-like modes have efficiently suppressed by the deposited inner dielectric coating. Optical losses down to 0.44 dB/m and output beam divergence of ∼5 mrad were measured. Using a HGW fiber with internal core size of 300 μm we obtained single mode laser transmission at 10.54 μm and successful employed it in a quartz enhanced photoacoustic gas sensor setup.
Exposure to Online Game Violence and Cyberbullying among Chinese Adolescents: Normative Beliefs about Aggression as a Mediator and Trait Aggressiveness as a Moderator

ABSTRACT Cyberbullying has become a common social phenomenon all over the world. Online game violence has been recognized as a risk factor for adolescents to perpetrate cyberbullying. The present study investigated normative beliefs about aggression (NOBAG) as a mediator and trait aggressiveness (TA) as a moderator in the relation between exposure to online game violence and cyberbullying. A sample of 703 Chinese adolescents aged from 12 to 15 years (M = 13.38, SD = 0.76) completed measures of research variables. Results indicated that after controlling for gender, age, and online time, NOBAG partially mediated the relationship between exposure to online game violence and cyberbullying. In addition, TA moderated the direct effect of exposure to online game violence on cyberbullying and the mediation effect of NOBAG, with these effects being stronger for adolescents with higher TA. This study can extend our knowledge about how and for whom online game violence is related to cyberbullying. Study limitations and implications for related interventions on cyberbullying are discussed.
The Message Matters: The Influence of Fact-Checking on Evaluations of Political Messages

Fact-checks have become prolific in U.S. campaigns over the last ten years. As a result, fact-checks have become one of the easiest ways for individuals to analyze the truthfulness of politicians’ statements. The increase in both fact-checking and its accessibility to voters led us to ask whether fact-checks influence individuals’ attitudes and evaluations of political candidates and campaign messages. To examine the impact of fact-checking, we conduct two original experiments using the 2012 Ohio Senate race between Republican challenger Josh Mandel and Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. The first experiment utilized a sample of over 300 students during the fall of 2013. The second experiment is a crowdsourced Amazon Mechanical Turk Sample in the fall of 2014. We find the content of fact-check messages are influential in altering assessments of candidates’ advertisements. We also find the source of the fact-check only modestly impacts assessments. The findings illustrate the potential power of fact-checks to influence the effectiveness of candidates’ messages and reaffirm the important role the news media plays in validating candidate claims and arguments during political campaigns.
Dynamic Supply Chain Alignment : a new business model for peak performance in enterprise supply chains across all geographies

Introduction It is well acknowledged that aligning supply chains requires technical competence focusing on the “technical” aspects of the supply chain for example, inventory management, scheduling, warehouse management, etc. However, a critical, often un-remarked requirement is the relational competence of the members of the supply chain. Continuous replenishment supply chains are all about “relationships” as Martin Christopher explains: “Supply Chain Management is the management of upstream and downstream relationships, with customers, suppliers, and key stakeholders in order to increase value and reduce cost for all members of the supply chain”. As a result, technical supply chain competency is now perceived only as a “Qualifier” and relational competence is seen as the “Winner”. But, it is noticeable that organisations spend too little time considering the relational aspect of the supply chain. In this chapter we explore the nature of supply chain relationships and the importance of managing them proactively to gain competitive advantage. We will describe the Supply Chain Collaboration Index (SCCI) which is used to build customer/supplier cohesion, to identify problems that undermine teamwork and, to provide metrics for performance measurement, monitoring and continuous improvement.
Radiation pressure and absorption in AGN: results from a complete unbiased sample from Swift

Outward radiation pressure can exceed the inward gravitational pull on gas clouds in the neighbourhood of a luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN). This creates a forbidden region for long-lived dusty clouds in the observed columnn density–Eddington fraction plane. (The Eddington fraction λEdd is the ratio of the bolometric luminosity of an AGN to the Eddington limit for its black hole mass.) The Swift/Burst Alert Telescope catalogue is the most complete hard X-ray selected sample of AGN and has 97 low-redshift AGN with measured column densities NH and inferred black hole masses. Eddington fractions for the sources have been obtained using recent bolometric corrections and the sources have been plotted on the NH–λEdd plane. Only one source lies in the forbidden region and it has a large value of NH due to an ionized warm absorber, for which radiation pressure is reduced. The effective Eddington limit for the source population indicates that the high column density clouds in the more luminous objects lie within the inner few pc, where the central black hole provides at least half the mass. Our result shows that radiation pressure does affect the presence of gas clouds in the inner galaxy bulge. We discuss briefly how the NH–λEdd plane may evolve to higher redshift, when feedback due to radiation pressure may have been strong.
How Do Lignin Composition, Structure, and Cross‐Linking Affect Degradability? A Review of Cell Wall Model Studies

anisms by which lignin restrict fiber degradation are poorly understood. Many aspects of grass cell wall lignification and degradation Hatfield, 1997). These reductions in degradability are are successfully modeled by dehydrogenation polymer-cell wall partly related to the increased lignin content of cell (DHP-CW) complexes formed with primary walls of corn Zea mays walls; however, variations in three-dimensional strucL. This system was used to assess how variations in lignin composition, ture and composition of lignin and its hydrophobicity, structure, and cross-linking influence the hydrolysis of cell walls by encrustation, and cross-linking to other matrix compofungalenzymes.Alteringthenormalguaiacyl,syringyl,andp-hydroxy- nents also have been implicated (Chesson, 1993; Jung phenyl makeup of lignin did not influence cell wall degradability; each and Deetz, 1993). unit of lignin depressed cell wall degradability by two units. Plants Because of the anatomical, morphological, and develwith perturbed lignin biosynthesis often incorporate unusual precuropmental complexity of cell wall and lignin formation sors into lignin and one of these, coniferaldehyde, increased lignin in various plant tissues, studies with normal, mutant, hydrophobicity and further depressed degradability by up to 30%. In other studies, lignin formed by gradual “bulk” or rapid “end-wise” or transgenic germplasm often do not show consistent polymerization of monolignols had markedly different structures but relationships between lignin-matrix characteristics and similar effects on degradability. Reductions in cell wall cross-linking, cell wall degradability at the whole plant, plant part, or via oxidative coupling of feruloylated xylans to lignin or nucleophilic even tissue level (Grabber et al., 1992; Jung and Vogel, addition of cell wall sugars to lignin quinone-methide intermediates, 1992; Jung et al., 2000). Even when plant selection or increased the initial hydrolysis of cell walls by up to 46% and the enzyme downregulation is targeted at specific lignin extent of hydrolysis by up to 28%. Overall, these studies suggest that properties or lignin-matrix interactions, compensatory reductions in lignin concentration, hydrophobicity, and cross-linking or associative changes in other cell wall characteristics will improve the enzymatic hydrolysis and utilization of structural often occur, making it difficult to identify underlying polysaccharides for nutritional and industrial purposes. In ongoing mechanisms controlling cell wall degradability. Plants work, we are developing a DHP-CW system for dicots and are investigating how cross-linking and various acylated and unusual monolig- may, for example, respond to lower lignification by innols influence the formation of lignin and the degradation of cell walls creasing the amount of cross-linking (Chabannes et al., by rumen microflora. 2001), perhaps yielding no net change in digestibility. A common but faulty assumption is that correlations between a particular lignin trait and degradability dem