Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High resolution photoemission spectroscopy: Evidence for strong chemical interaction between Mg and 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride

The interface formation between Mg and 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) was investigated by high resolution soft x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The interface chemistry was obtained after fitting the core level spectra as a function of Mg thickness. At the initial stage of deposition, a strong chemical interaction between Mg and the single bonded oxygen atoms of PTCDA is observed leading to the formation of MgO and a modified organic molecule. Based on the experimental evidence, the molecular structure of the modified molecule is proposed. Moreover, the changes observed in the measured C1s core level spectra are supported by density functional theory calculations.
Effectiveness of some botanical insecticides against Spodoptera littoralis Boisduvala (Lepidoptera: Noctudiae), Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Pavela R. (2009): Effectiveness of some botanical insecticides against Spodoptera littoralis Boisduvala (Lepidoptera: Noctudiae), Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). Plant Protect. Sci., 45: 00–00. Abstract: Biological efficiency of botanical insecticides was determined that were obtained from Pongamia Biological efficiency of botanical insecticides was determined that were obtained from Pongamia glabra, azadirachta indica and Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium against Spodoptera littoralis, Myzus persicae and Tetranychus urticae on greenhouse plants. In all the tested extracts, the highest concentration caused 100% mortality. In the other tested concentrations, a conclusive difference in efficiency was found; on day 12 after application, the highest efficiency was determined for M. persicae pongam oil, for T. urticae and S. littoralis
Evaluating management-induced soil salinization in golf courses in semi-arid landscapes

Abstract. Site-specific information on land management practices are often desired to make better assessments of their environmental impacts. A study was conducted in Lubbock, Texas, in the Southern High Plains of the United States, an area characterized by semi-arid climatic conditions, to (1) examine the potential management-induced alterations in soil salinity indicators in golf course facilities and (2) develop predictive relationships for a more rapid soil salinity examination within these urban landscape soils using findings from a portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometer. Soil samples were collected from managed (well irrigated) and non-managed (non-irrigated) areas of seven golf course facilities at 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depths and analyzed for a suite of chemical properties. Among the extractable cations, sodium (Na) was significantly (p
Neutron total cross section calculation within the framework of quasi-harmonic approximation

The accuracy of neutron scattering cross sections is the gauge for the realistic outcome of a neutron transport simulation. To improve the traditional harmonic physics model used in such simulations, we revisit the slow neutron transport theory in crystalline materials and aim to develop a unified model that has good performance for neutron transport problems in crystals in a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA) correlates phonon evolution explicitly with unit cell volume. Therefore, it is capable of evaluating a variety of material properties at finite temperatures. In this work, we show numerically that it is a very effective tool for our application as well. Within the framework of QHA, we calculate the temperature dependent characteristics of phonons in three elemental crystals, namely Be, Mg and Al. Based on the obtained results, our calculated neutron total cross sections agree closely with experimental transmission cross sections in a large temperature range below the melting point. We show that as the harmonic cross section model ignores the effects of phonon softening in these crystals, it underestimates the total inelastic cross sections at high temperatures. In the case of Al, we observe that such underestimation is up to 7% at room temperature. In addition, we study the phonon–phonon scatterings in Al. We observe that the cross section is insensitive to the finite phonon lifetimes even at 800 K.
Additive interaction for three-drug combination of carbamazepine, lacosamide and lamotrigine against maximal electroshock-induced seizures – a type I isobolographic analysis

Introduction. Treatment of epilepsy patients with one antiepileptic drug often fails and then the insufficiently medicated patients need two or three antiepileptic drugs combined together to stop their seizures. However, polytherapy is always associated with drug-drug interactions whose nature may or may not be favorable for epilepsy patients. Preclinical studies on animals can help to select beneficial combinations of antiepileptic drugs that could be used in further clinical settings. Aim. To isobolographically characterize anticonvulsant effects of a combination of three antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, lacosamide and lamotrigine) at the fixed drug dose ratio of 1:1:1 in the mouse maximal electroshock-induced seizure test. Material and methods. Maximal electroconvulsions were evoked in male Swiss mice by a current (25 mA, 500 V, 0.2 s stimulus duration) delivered via auricular electrodes. Type I isobolographic analysis was applied to assess the interaction among carbamazepine, lacosamide and lamotrigine. Results. Isobolographic analysis revealed that the combination of carbamazepine, lacosamide and lamotrigine produced additive interaction in the mouse maximal electroshock-induced seizure test. Conclusions. Additivity among carbamazepine, lacosamide and lamotrigine in this preclinical study can be translated to clinical settings and this three-drug combination can be recommended as a treatment option for epilepsy patients who are resistant to standard treatment regimens.
Adaptive Wavelet BEM for Boundary Integral Equations: Theory and Numerical Experiments

ABSTRACT We are concerned with the numerical treatment of boundary integral equations by the adaptive wavelet boundary element method. In particular, we consider the second kind Fredholm integral equation for the double layer potential operator on patchwise smooth manifolds contained in ℝ3. The corresponding operator equations are treated by adaptive implementations that are in complete accordance with the underlying theory. The numerical experiments demonstrate that adaptive methods really pay off in this setting. The observed convergence rates fit together very well with the theoretical predictions based on the Besov regularity of the exact solution.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Entrepreneurial Choices of Initial Human Capital Endowments and New Venture Success

The founder (team)’s human capital is a vital determinant of future firm performance. This is a stylized fact. Less is known about the effect of the human capital of the initial workforce hired by the founder(s). We study the performance consequences of a founder’s choice of the initial workforce’s human capital (quantity and quality), besides the human capital of the founder(s). The analysis is based on matched employer-employee data and covers about 5,300 startups in manufacturing industries founded by individuals coming from employment between 1992 and 2007. We acknowledge that initial hiring decisions are endogenous and correlated with the human capital of the founders and the ownership structure of startups (single founder versus team of founders). Given the stickiness of initial choices, human capital decisions at entry turn out to be a close to irreversible matter with significant implications for post-entry survival and growth of the firm.
Soil irrigation effect of sugar mill effluent on changes of growth and biochemical contents of Raphanus sativus L.

The effect of sugar mill effluent on plant growth and biochemical constituents of Raphanus sativus L. var. Pusha Chetki was studied in a pot culture experiment. The experiment was conducted at Botanical Garden, Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, during the period of January to March 2008. In the pot culture experiment, radish plants were grown up to 60Â days, in the soil irrigated with different concentrations of sugar mill effluent (viz, 0, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% & 100%v/v). The inner surface of pots was lined with a polythene sheet. Each pot containing 5kg of air dried soil. Six seeds were sown in each pot. All pots were irrigated (500ml) with respective concentration of test solutions daily. Plants were thinned to a maximum of three per pots, after a week of germination. The higher sugar mill effluent concentrations (above 40%) were found to affect plant growth and decreased chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll, caroteinoids, total sugar, amino acids and protein contents, but diluted effluent (up to 40% ) favoured the plant growth and biochemical contents.
Geostatistical Analysis of the Small-Scale Distribution of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Larvae and Damage in Whorl Stage Corn

Abstract The small-scale spatial distribution of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), larvae and damage in whorl stage corn, Zea mays L. , was characterized using geostatistics. Spatial distribution of O. nubilalis larval feeding damage was studied at Clay Center, North Platte, and Concord, NE, during June–July 1992–1994, and spatial distribution of O. nubilalis larvae and damage was studied at Clay Center in June 1997. Semivariograms were calculated to model the change in spatial correlation with increasing distance between samples. Spatial distribution of larval damage during 1992–1994 was best described using a spherical model. Damage was spatially correlated among plants at distances up to 2.84 m apart. The spatial distribution of larvae in 1997 was best described using an exponential model for three of seven data sets, a spherical model for one of seven data sets and no model fit three of seven data sets. Larvae were spatially correlated among plants at distances up to 3.05 m apart. These data have implications for developing sampling plans for management of O. nubilialis, and for site-specific agriculture.
A method to estimate stellar ages from kinematical data

We present a method to build a probability density function (pdf) for the age of a star based on its peculiar velocities $U$, $V$ and $W$ and its orbital eccentricity. The sample used in this work comes from the Geneva-Copenhagen Survey (GCS) which contains both the spatial velocities, orbital eccentricities and isochronal ages for about $14\,000$ stars. Using the GCS stars, we fitted the parameters that describe the relations between the distributions of kinematical properties and age. This parametrization allows us to obtain an age probability from the kinematical data. From this age pdf, we estimate an individual average age for the star using the most likely age and the expected age. We have obtained the stellar age pdf for the age of $9\,102$ stars from the GCS and have shown that the distribution of individual ages derived from our method is in good agreement with the distribution of isochronal ages. We also observe a decline in the mean metallicity with our ages for stars younger than 7 Gyr, similar to the one observed for isochronal ages. This method can be useful for the estimation of rough stellar ages for those stars that fall in areas of the HR diagram where isochrones are tightly crowded. As an example of this method, we estimate the age of Trappist-1, which is a M8V star, obtaining the age of $t(UVW) = 12.50(+0.29-6.23)$ Gyr.
Features of meteorological events preserved in a high-resolution Law Dome (East Antarctica) snow pit

Abstract Snow-pit and shallow firn-core records of oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) and trace ion species were generated at a high-accumulation site on Law Dome, East Antarctica. Concordance between accumulation events identified in records up to 7.7 km a part confirms that the observed glaciochemical variations are the result of regional rather than local surface effects. This allows calibration of the snow-pit records with measured meteorological parameters. Net accumulation periods that comprise the snow-pit record are identified using hourly snow-accumulation measurements from a co-located automatic weather station (AWS). Particular focus is given to three net accumulation periods preserved during austral summer 1999/2000 that correspond to the top 0.5 m of the snow pit. Local meteorological conditions recorded during the summer accumulation periods by the AWS are combined with regional and synoptic-scale meteorology derived from Casey station (110 km away) and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer satellite imagery to identify potential source regions for chemical signals preserved in summer snow at Law Dome.
Temporal and Spatial Trends in Nutrient and Sediment Loading to Lake Tahoe, California‐Nevada, USA

Since 1980, the Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program (LTIMP) has provided stream‐discharge and water quality data—nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and suspended sediment—at more than 20 stations in Lake Tahoe Basin streams. To characterize the temporal and spatial patterns in nutrient and sediment loading to the lake, and improve the usefulness of the program and the existing database, we have (1) identified and corrected for sources of bias in the water quality database; (2) generated synthetic datasets for sediments and nutrients, and resampled to compare the accuracy and precision of different load calculation models; (3) using the best models, recalculated total annual loads over the period of record; (4) regressed total loads against total annual and annual maximum daily discharge, and tested for time trends in the residuals; (5) compared loads for different forms of N and P; and (6) tested constituent loads against land use‐land cover (LULC) variables using multiple regression. The results show (1) N and P loads are dominated by organic N and particulate P; (2) there are significant long‐term downward trends in some constituent loads of some streams; and (3) anthropogenic impervious surface is the most important LULC variable influencing water quality in basin streams. Many of our recommendations for changes in water quality monitoring and load calculation methods have been adopted by the LTIMP.
Expression of contractile protein-encoding genes TPM2 and TNNT3 during ontogenesis in pigs raised in Poland*

Troponin is a regulatory proteins complex composed of subunits TnC, TnI, and TnT encoded by separate genes – TNNT1, TNNT2 and TNNT3. It is a component of thin filaments (along with actin and tropomyosin), to which calcium binds to accomplish this regulation. The TPM2 gene encodes beta-tropomyosin. An imprinted QTL for muscle mass deposition has been detected near the TNNT3 gene and several significant linkages between TPM2 and QTLs on chromosome 1 have been identified. However, no significant correlation was found between polymorphism in both genes and economically important pig traits. The study aimed at analysing the level of expression of TNNT3 and TPM2 in the developing muscle (day 60-210 of life) and determining the expression differences among Polish Large White, Polish Landrace, Pulawska, Duroc and Pietrain pigs. Within the mentioned period the expression level of both genes in question did not change significantly. No developmental pattern characteristic for all breeds was revealed. In PL gilts a highly significant correlation was found among the level of expression in both white muscles (longissimus dorsi and semimembranosus) and the animals’ maternal origin. The above results suggest that an unknown polymorphism, probably located in regulatory part of the gene has an effect on the level of TNNT3 expression. Expression of the TPM2 did not change during ontogenesis and was not correlated with maternal origin. However, significant differences among gilts of different breeds were identified.
Feeding Habits and Trophic Niche Overlap of Aquatic Orthoptera Associated with Macrophytes

Associated with Macrophytes Soledad Capello1,*, Mercedes Marchese1,2, and Maria L. de Wysiecki3 1Instituto Nacional de Limnologia (INALI-CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Univ., Santa Fe 3000, Argentina 2Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias-UNL. Ciudad Univ., Paraje El Pozo, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina 3Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE) (CCT-La PlataCONICETUNLP), Calle 2 no 584, La Plata 1900, Argentina
Pass-Through of Oil Prices to Japanese Domestic Prices

In this paper, we investigate changes in the impacts of world crude oil prices on domestic prices in Japan. First, we employ a time-varying parameter VAR (TVP-VAR) approach to confirm that the rate of pass-through of oil prices declined, both at the aggregate and sectoral levels, for the period 1980-2000. Second, by utilizing Input-Output Tables, we find that changing cost structure of Japanese firms goes a long way toward explaining this decline. That is, by the year 2000, oil had become a much smaller component of the Japanese production cost structure. We further find that much of this is attributable to changes in relative prices: as oil became cheaper, it became less important in the overall cost structure, and thus pricing behaviors of firms became less responsive to its prices. Substitution effects, namely firms' shifts toward less oil intensive production, on the other hand, appear to be less important. We also study the period 2000-2007. We find that, although pass-through rates of oil prices increase in many instances, those increases are small in comparison to the drastic resurgence of oil in the cost structure of firms. We present some possible explanations for this finding.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids : Metabolism , Physiological Function , and Application Amino Acids and Muscle Loss with Aging 1 – 3

Aging is associated with a progressive loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), which increases the risks of injury and disability. Although the mechanisms of sarcopenia are not clearly elucidated, age-associated alterations in the muscle anabolic response to nutritional stimuli and a decline in protein intake may be significant contributing factors. The most recent findings regarding the role of nutritional intake on protein metabolism in the elderly will be reviewed. Specifically, aging is associated with changes in the muscle protein metabolism response to a meal, likely due to alterations in the response to endogenous hormones. Nonetheless, the older muscle is still able to respond to amino acids, mainly the essential and BCAAs, which have been shown to acutely stimulate muscle protein synthesis in older individuals. It is likely that this stimulatory effect of essential and BCAA is due to the direct effect of leucine on the initiation of mRNA translation, which is still present in older age, although it appears to be attenuated in aged animals. Recent data suggest that excess leucine may be able to overcome this age-related resistance of muscle proteins to leucine. For this reason, long-term essential amino acid supplementation may be a useful tool for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia, particularly if excess leucine is provided in the supplement. J. Nutr. 136: 277S–280S, 2006.
Gibel Carp ( Carassius auratus gibelio ) Meal as an Alternative Major Protein in Feeds for Rainbow Trout Juveniles ( Oncorhynchus mykiss )

In this study, the effects of gibel carp meal (GFM) application as a protein source on growth performance, fillet composition, feed digestion and haematological and serum biochemical indices of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were evaluated. Replacement of anchovy fish meal (AFM) with GFM was performed at 0%, 50% and 100% levels (GFM0, GFM50 and GFM100). After 60 days of feeding the best nutritional performance was obtained in the GFM100 group. There was no significant difference in crude moisture, crude protein, crude lipid or crude ash contents in fish fillet between the GFM0, GFM50 and GFM100 groups. No side effects were observed in hematological and serum biochemical indices of rainbow trout. Dry matter, crude protein and crude lipid digestibility coefficients did not differ significantly in experimental groups. As a conclusion, the results of the study suggested that the GFM could be used totally as a replacer of AFM in diets for rainbow trout without the adverse effects on growth performance, feed use, feed digestion, hematological and serum biochemical parameters of fish.
Fundamentals, progress, and future directions of nitride-based semiconductors and their composites in two-dimensional limit: A first-principles perspective to recent synthesis

Potential applications of bulk GaN and AlN crystals have made possible single and multilayer allotropes of these III-V compounds to be a focus of interest recently. As of 2005, the theoretical studies have predicted that GaN and AlN can form two-dimensional (2D) stable, single-layer (SL) structures being wide band gap semiconductors and showing electronic and optical properties different from those of their bulk parents. Research on these 2D structures have gained importance with recent experimental studies achieving the growth of ultrathin 2D GaN and AlN on substrates. It is expected that these two materials will open an active field of research like graphene, silicene, and transition metal dichalcogenides. This topical review aims at the evaluation of previous experimental and theoretical works until 2018 in order to provide input for further research attempts in this field. To this end, starting from three-dimensional (3D) GaN and AlN crystals, we review 2D SL and multilayer (ML) structures, which were.
On the Kronecker products of irreducible representations of the 2×2 real unimodular group. I

Introduction. The purpose of the present paper is to determine the decomposition of the Kronecker product of two irreducible representations of the real 2X2 unimodular group into a continuous direct sum of irreducible representations. The irreducible unitary representations of this group have been determined first by V. A. Bargmann [l](1), and those of the 2X2 complex unimodular group by I. M. Gel'fand and M. A. Nalmark [3]. In both cases the list of these representations contains two continuous series; first, the principal continuous series, the members of which can be described by a pair (m, p) of two variables, m with a discrete, p with a continuous range; and secondly, the representations of the exceptional interval, characterized by a single parameter, varying over a finite interval. In the real case in addition to these there exists a discrete series of representations characterized by integers. Concerning the representations of the exceptional interval it has been proved that they do not occur in the decomposition of the left regular representations of these groups into a continuous direct sum of irreducible representations. The problem of finding the irreducible parts for the Kronecker product of two of these representations by the Reduction Theory of von Neumann [9] was taken up first by G. W. Mackey, in the complex case, for two factors taken from the principal series [4; 5]. W. F. Stinespring applied the same method to the discussion of the analogous case for the real group(2). Recently, M. A. Nalmark attacked the same problem in the complex case, and gives a complete discussion of all possibilities [10](3). In Parts I, II, and III of the present work we give the decomposition of the product of any two irreducible unitary representations of the real 2X2 unimodular group. To sketch our method, we restrict ourselves, for the sake