Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of adsorbates on the electronic properties of graphene

Title of Document: EFFECTS OF ADSORBATES ON THE ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF GRAPHENE Shudong Xiao, Doctor of Philosophy, 2012 Directed By: Professor, Michael S. Fuhrer, Department of Physics. Graphene, an atom-thick sheet of carbon, is a novel two-dimensional material in which the low-energy electrons behave as massless Dirac fermions. This thesis explores the effects of adsorbates on the electronic properties graphene by adsorption in controlled environment in ultra-high vacuum (UHV), coupled with in situ measurement of transport properties. Two types of adsorbates on graphene are investigated. First, the effects of charged impurity scattering are studied by controlled adsorption of potassium on bilayer graphene at low temperature in UHV. The results indicate that the magnitude of chargedimpurity scattering in bilayer graphene is similar to that in single layer graphene, and in good agreement with theory. The widely observed lower mobility in bilayer graphene on SiO2 is likely due to another source of disorder. Second, the dielectric screening of bilayer graphene is modified by deposition of ice overlayers at low temperature in UHV. No screening effect is observed in pristine bilayer graphene. However, ice overlayers significantly increase the mobility of potassium-doped bilayer graphene through screening of potassium ions. Together, the ice deposition experiments demonstrate the existence of screening effect in bilayer graphene and support that charge impurities are not the dominant scatters in pristine bilayer graphene on SiO2. The screening of adsorbed potassium ions on single-layer graphene is also investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The increase in mobility upon ice deposition is much larger than expected assuming ice’s bulk relative dielectric constant of 3.2. A simple model assuming stronger local screening near potassium ions is proposed which can explain the experimental observations. Temperature-dependent studies of electronic transport in the system of coadsorbed potassium and ice show that graphene’s resistivity is sensitive to phase transitions in overlayers as well as desorption, opening new opportunities to study surface phases with electronic measurements. EFFECTS OF ADSORBATES ON THE ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF GRAPHENE
Academics’ perceptions of the impact of internal quality assurance on teaching and learning

Abstract Internal quality assurance systems are expected to improve the institutions’ core mission of teaching and learning. Using data gathered through an online survey, distributed in 2014/2015, to the teaching staff of all Portuguese private and public higher education institutions, this paper examines the impact of internal quality assurance systems on teaching and learning from the perspective of academics. Findings suggest that Portuguese academics feel that, despite the positive contribution of internal quality assurance towards an increased awareness of teaching quality issues at their institutions, the practical effects of these systems have been more related to increasing bureaucracy than to substantive improvements in teaching and learning. The use of information with a view to improvement and teaching staff involvement in the development of quality assurance were found to induce positive changes in teaching and learning, in academics’ perceptions. Based on the findings, the paper makes recommendations for institutional practice.
Agent Based Systems for Prediction and Prevention of Infectious diseases

With new emerging and re emerging diseases a proper public health care system has been mandatory in developing and developed countries.The outbreak of disease also occurs in the form of Bioterrorism, a word that has become significant in recent years.It implies the need of predictive tools for the risk assessment and formulation of health policies.The multiagent based system has become popular in health care since it could mimic reallife scenarios and simulate urban or primitive society.The agent based tools when coupled with the visualization tools opens up a new way to anlayse and monitor a disease outbreak.This paper includes survey of past and ongoing research on the multiagent based systems for prediction and prevention of infectious diseases.
Bayesian Network Learning with Discrete Case-Control Data

We address the problem of learning Bayesian networks from discrete, unmatched case-control data using specialized conditional independence tests. Those tests can also be used for learning other types of graphical models or for feature selection. We also propose a post-processing method that can be applied in conjunction with any Bayesian network learning algorithm. In simulations we show that our methods are able to deal with selection bias from case-control data.
Model-based pattern speed estimates for 38 barred galaxies

We have modelled 38 barred galaxies by using near-infrared and optical data from the Ohio State University Bright Spiral Galaxy Survey. We constructed the gravitational potentials of the galaxies from H-band photometry, assuming a constant mass-to-light ratio. The halo component we choose corresponds to the so-called universal rotation curve. In each case, we used the response of gaseous and stellar particle disc to rigidly rotating potential to determine the pattern speed. We find that the pattern speed of the bar depends roughly on the morphological type. The average value of corotation resonance radius to bar radius, R, increases from 1.15 ± 0.25 in types SB0/a–SBab to 1.44 ± 0.29 in SBb and 1.82 ± 0.63 in SBbc–SBc. Within the error estimates for the pattern speed and bar radius, all galaxies of type SBab or earlier have a fast bar (R ≤ 1.4), whereas the bars in later type galaxies include both fast and slow rotators. Of 16 later type galaxies with a nominal value of R > 1.4, there are five cases, where the fast-rotating bar is ruled out by the adopted error estimates. We also study the correlation between the parameter R and other galactic properties. The clearest correlation is with the bar size: the slowest bars are also the shortest bars when compared to the galaxy size. A weaker correlation is seen with bar strength in a sense that slow bars tend to be weaker. These correlations leave room for a possibility that the determined pattern speed in many galaxies corresponds to actually that of the spiral, which rotates more slowly than the bar. No clear correlation is seen with either the galaxy luminosity or the colour.
Serum Vaspin Levels Are Associated with the Development of Clinically Manifest Arthritis in Autoantibody-Positive Individuals

Objectives We have previously shown that overweight may increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in autoantibody positive individuals. Adipose tissue could contribute to the development of RA by production of various bioactive peptides. Therefore, we examined levels of adipokines in serum and synovial tissue of subjects at risk of RA. Methods Fifty-one individuals positive for immunoglobulin M rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), without arthritis, were included in this prospective study. Levels of adiponectin, vaspin, resistin, leptin, chemerin and omentin were determined in baseline fasting serum samples (n = 27). Synovial tissue was obtained by arthroscopy at baseline and we examined the expression of adiponectin, resistin and visfatin by immunohistochemistry. Results The development of clinically manifest arthritis after follow-up was associated with baseline serum vaspin levels (HR1.5 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.2); p = 0.020), also after adjustment for overweight (HR1.7 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.5); p = 0.016). This association was not seen for other adipokines. Various serum adipokine levels correlated with BMI (adiponectin r = -0.538, leptin r = 0.664; chemerin r = 0.529) and systemic markers of inflammation such as CRP levels at baseline (adiponectin r = -0.449, omentin r = -0.557, leptin r = 0.635, chemerin r = 0.619, resistin r = 0.520) and ESR (leptin r = 0.512, chemerin r = 0.708), p-value<0.05. Synovial expression of adiponectin, resistin and visfatin was not associated with development of clinically manifest arthritis. Conclusions In this exploratory study, serum adipokines were associated with an increased inflammatory state in autoantibody-positive individuals at risk of developing RA. Furthermore, serum vaspin levels may assist in predicting the development of arthritis in these individuals.
Modeling Evolutionary Dynamics of Epigenetic Mutations in Hierarchically Organized Tumors

The cancer stem cell (CSC) concept is a highly debated topic in cancer research. While experimental evidence in favor of the cancer stem cell theory is apparently abundant, the results are often criticized as being difficult to interpret. An important reason for this is that most experimental data that support this model rely on transplantation studies. In this study we use a novel cellular Potts model to elucidate the dynamics of established malignancies that are driven by a small subset of CSCs. Our results demonstrate that epigenetic mutations that occur during mitosis display highly altered dynamics in CSC-driven malignancies compared to a classical, non-hierarchical model of growth. In particular, the heterogeneity observed in CSC-driven tumors is considerably higher. We speculate that this feature could be used in combination with epigenetic (methylation) sequencing studies of human malignancies to prove or refute the CSC hypothesis in established tumors without the need for transplantation. Moreover our tumor growth simulations indicate that CSC-driven tumors display evolutionary features that can be considered beneficial during tumor progression. Besides an increased heterogeneity they also exhibit properties that allow the escape of clones from local fitness peaks. This leads to more aggressive phenotypes in the long run and makes the neoplasm more adaptable to stringent selective forces such as cancer treatment. Indeed when therapy is applied the clone landscape of the regrown tumor is more aggressive with respect to the primary tumor, whereas the classical model demonstrated similar patterns before and after therapy. Understanding these often counter-intuitive fundamental properties of (non-)hierarchically organized malignancies is a crucial step in validating the CSC concept as well as providing insight into the therapeutical consequences of this model.
EPiCS: Engineering Proprioception in Computing Systems

Modern compute systems continue to evolve towards increasingly complex, heterogeneous and distributed architectures. At the same time, functionality and performance are no longer the only aspects when developing applications for such systems, and additional concerns such as flexibility, power efficiency, resource usage, reliability and cost are becoming increasingly important. This does not only raise the question of how to efficiently develop applications for such systems, but also how to cope with dynamic changes in the application behaviour or the system environment. The EPiCS Project aims to address these aspects through exploring self-awareness and self-expression. Self-awareness allows systems and applications to gather and maintain information about their current state and environment, and reason about their behaviour. Self-expression enables systems to adapt their behaviour autonomously to changing conditions. Innovations in EPiCS are based on systematic integration of research in concepts and foundations, customisable hardware/software platforms and operating systems, and self-aware networking and middleware infrastructure. The developed technologies are validated in three application domains: computational finance, distributed smart cameras and interactive mobile media systems.
A robust interpretation of teaching evaluation ratings

Abstract There are no absolute standards regarding what teaching evaluation ratings are satisfactory. It is also problematic to compare teaching evaluation ratings with the average or with a cutoff number to determine whether they are adequate. In this paper, we use average and standard deviation charts ( charts), which are based on the theory of statistical process control, to assess five-year teaching evaluation ratings at a management school. We demonstrate that the upper and lower three-sigma limits of charts are sufficiently robust to unbiasedly identify comparatively exceptional teaching evaluation ratings. This research work makes two recommendations concerning teaching and teaching evaluations: teachers should look for special causes, which contribute to exceptional teaching evaluation ratings outside the three-sigma limits, for the purpose of making improvements or maintaining good teaching performance; if teaching evaluation ratings are used for decision-making, the teaching evaluation ratings within the three-sigma limits represent normal teaching performance and thus should not be treated differently.
Linear trends in salinity for the World Ocean, 1955–1998

Quality controlled oceanographic profile salinity measurements from the World Ocean Database 2001 (WOD01) were used to calculate linear trends of zonally averaged salinity anomalies for running five year periods from 1955–1959 through 1994–1998 for the World Ocean and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean basins from the surface to 3000 meters depth. Each basin exhibits large‐scale, coherent trends. Most of the Pacific is freshening with the exception of the subtropical South Pacific. The Atlantic exhibits a deep freshening in the subpolar gyre and a shallower, more intense increase in salinity in the tropics and subtropics. The Indian Ocean is becoming more saline at all latitudes in the upper 150 meter layer, with a subsurface freshening between 40°S and the equator in the 250–1000 meter layer. There is freshening in both the Weddell and Ross Seas.
High-Resolution Modeling of the Cape Canaveral Area Land-Water Circulations and Associated Features

Abstract The Advanced Regional Prediction System is used to perform a three-dimensional numerical simulation of land–water circulations near Cape Canaveral, Florida. Three two-way nested grids having spacings of 1.6, 0.4, and 0.1 km are employed. Results show that the structures of both the sea and river breezes compare well with observation and theory. Horizontal convective rolls (HCRs), Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI), and their interactions with the sea and river breezes also are investigated. HCRs form over the heated land surface at periodic intervals. The HCRs have two preferred spatial scales: large and small. Inclusion of both the large and small HCRs yields aspect ratios that are smaller than most previous observations. However, when considering only the larger HCRs, agreement is better. The smaller HCRs eventually dissipate or merge with their larger HCR counterparts. These mergers intensify the vertical motion within the larger circulations. The HCRs are observed to tilt upward in advance of.
A neural mechanism for processing colour information in molluscan extra-ocular photoreceptors

This study was conducted to clarify the electrical and spectral properties of the combined photoresponses of two extra-ocular photoreceptor neurones, A-P-l and Es-1, in the abdominal ganglion of the marine mollusc Onchidium verruculatum . The depolarizing receptor potential or inward receptor current of Es-1 appeared to result from a decrease in K + conductance, in the same way as in A-P-l. The direct photoresponse of Es-1 had a peak at 580 nm, while A-P-l had its peak at 490nm. Under normal conditions, Es-1 was hyperpolarized by blue-green light (490nm) and was depolarized by yellow light (580nm), indicating that its responses were wavelength-dependent. Slow inhibitory synaptic potentials in Es-1 occurred during a sustained depolarization of A-P-l, suggesting that Es-1 received some inhibitory synaptic input from A-P-l. The amplitude of these slow synaptic hyperpolarizations was dependent on graded changes in the depolarization of A-P-l. However, presynaptic spikes in A-P-l were not followed by discrete synaptic potentials in Es-1. These results suggest that graded photoresponses of A-P-l could produce the slow hyperpolarization of Es-1 and that the photoresponse of A-P-l is thereby transmitted to Es-1 with reversed polarity. The differing responses of Es-1 to light of different wavelengths may have a role in colour discrimination. Note: To whom reprint requests should be addressed.
Hemispheric asymmetries : behavioural, kinematic, and electrophysiological predictors of cerebral organisation

Our best estimates suggest that ~95% of dextrals and ~70% of adextrals have left hemisphere language dominance. Currently the only way to determine language lateralisation is to use invasive hemispheric anaesthetising procedures, or expensive functional neuroimaging methods. This lack of identification has led to adextrals being studied as an ‘atypical’ group in terms of functional lateralisation, despite the vast majority of them sharing the same brain organisation as dextral subjects. Therefore research into brain asymmetries or atypical dominance could progress much more quickly if a more successful predictor (or combination of predictors) of cerebral lateralisation than handedness were available. This body of work investigates the potential usefulness of behavioural, kinematic, and electrophysiological measures to predict cerebral asymmetries. These data are discussed in the first three experimental chapters, and the fourth chapter contains a neuroimaging project. In this final study language, face, and body processing asymmetries are identified in dextral and adextral participants who had taken part in the initial lab-based tests. The results from this thesis suggest that a consonant-vowel dichotic listening task, as well as strength of left-sidedness, may increase successful identification of ‘atypical’ language dominance beyond the 15% success of left-handed writing. Additionally, ear advantage on a further listening paradigm, the Octave illusion, differentiates between dextral and adextral subjects in a way that appears related to language lateralisation. Kinematic measures may be related to brain organisation, but the relationship is less clear than in the more successful behavioural lab tests. Finally, asymmetries in electrophysiological components are a poor predictor of functional lateralisation. This thesis advocates against the exclusive use of measures of central tendency, promoting alternative proportional and individual level analyses. This assessment has implications for laterality researchers using any methodology from behavioural neuropsychology to functional neuroimaging.
Corporate Governance and returns on information technology investment: evidence from an emerging market

Prior studies have reported mixed findings on the impact of corporate IT investment on firm performance. This study investigates the role of corporate governance, an important management control system, in the IT investment-firm performance relationship in the Taiwanese high-tech industries. Two specific corporate governance factors, i.e., board independence and foreign ownership, are explored across firms of different sizes and in industries whose degrees of competitiveness run a wide gamut. Our results show a positive moderating effect of board independence on the IT investment-firm performance relationship, especially when competition intensifies. Furthermore, we find that the association between foreign ownership and firm performance is negative but not significant. Yet, foreign ownership is a significant positive moderator for small firms, suggesting that foreign investors may bring IT expertise to help small firms reap the benefits of using IT.
The Lyα Forest Flux Distribution at z ~ 5.2 and the Evolution of the Ionizing Background

We use the redshift evolution of the Lyα forest mean transmitted flux at z ≳ 2.5 to infer the evolution of the intensity of the ionizing background, based on theoretical predictions for the density distribution of the intergalactic gas giving rise to the Lyα forest. The proper background intensity declines gradually with redshift, decreasing by a factor of ~3 between z = 3 and z = 5. Detailed predictions of the flux distribution at high redshift are presented. If the Lyα forest is due to the gravitational evolution of structure originating from Gaussian primordial fluctuations, the highest values of the transmitted flux should reflect the lowest gas densities of voids, except near the epoch of reionization, when large fluctuations in the ionizing background can alter the distribution of transmitted flux. For the highest redshift quasar known (with a mean Lyα forest redshift z = 5.2), and given the observed mean transmitted flux of = 0.09, we predict that only about 3% of the Lyα spectrum should have a flux higher than 50% of the continuum and less than 0.5% of pixels should have flux above 75% of the continuum, assuming a uniform background intensity. We show that this is consistent with the spectrum shown in Fan et al. The result found here for the evolution of the ionizing background implies that the comoving ionizing emissivity decreases from z = 3 to z = 5 by a factor of ~2, which is much less than the reduction in the number of quasars, suggesting that a different population of sources dominates the background at z = 5.
Art workshop with Haitian street children in a post-earthquake context: Resilience, relationship and socialisation

ABSTRACT This article forms part of a research project on the subject of resilience and the creative process in Haitian street children and adolescents who have been victims of natural disasters. A creative art group initiative was set up with street children in order to assess their ability to engage in creative activity and the extent to which such an activity could facilitate their reintegration into society, as well as offering an outlet for expressing their reactions to the various traumatic experiences they had undergone. Our working hypothesis was that the development of a relationship between the children, the artists, the workshop facilitators, and also with the context and creative process, could help to initiate a process of personal and cultural expression. It was also thought that the artists and workshop facilitators would provide substitute parental figures, who might act as catalysts in the children’s symbolisation process.
Self-compassion as a predictor of social physique anxiety in athletes

The purpose of this study is to examine the explanatory effect of self-compassion on social physique anxiety in athletes. The study was conducted with the participation of a total of 462 athletes, 145 female and 317 male, who were studying at Yasar Dogu Faculty of Sport Sciences. Self-compassion Scale and Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS) were used in the study. Independent sample t-test analysis showed that average scores of athletes for physical appearance comfort (PAC) t (250)=. 158 , p >0,5) and expectations of negative evaluation (ENE), t (262)=. 649, p >0,5 did not show a significant difference in terms of gender. According to the results of Pearson Product-Moment Correlation analysis, negative significant association was found between PAC subscale of social physique anxiety and self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness dimensions of self-compassion while a positive significant association was found between self-judgment, isolation and over identification. Negative significant association was found between ENE subscale of social physique anxiety and self-kindness and mindfulness dimensions of self-compassion while a positive significant association was found between self-judgment, common humanity, isolation and over identification. Multiple regression analysis results presented the high level explanatory effect of self-compassion levels and the PAC of social physique anxiety , R =0.60, R² =0.36, p ˂. 01. Similarly, explanatory effect of ENE area of social physique anxiety, R =0.38, R²= 0.15, p ˂. 01 was also presented.