Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electronic Structure of Single-Wall Silicon Nanotubes and Silicon Nanoribbons: Helical Symmetry Treatment and Effect of Dimensionality

Helical method of tube formation and Hartree-Fock SCF method modified for periodic solids have been applied in study of electronic properties of single-wall silicon nanotubes (SWSiNT), silicone sheet, and nanoribbons (SiNR). The results obtained for nanotubes in wide diameter range of different helicity types have shown that metallics are only SWSiNTs with diameter up to <path id="x1D70E" d="M548 455q-32 -77 -74 -77q-37 0 -103 10l-3 -2q36 -30 48.5 -62t12.5 -80q0 -103 -75 -179.5t-175 -76.5q-70 0 -113 45t-43 128q0 115 83.5 200.5t209. 5 85.5q31 0 77.5 -4t67.5 -4q36 0 62 30zM350 274q0 54 -17 86q-19 35 -57 35q-50 0 -90 -37.5t-59 -91.5t-19 -109 q0 -61 24.5 -96.5t65. 5 -35.5q51 0 87.5 46.5t50. 5 100.5t14 102z" /> and <path id="x1D70B" d="M574 449q-23 -58 -38 -79q-16 -4 -79 -4q-27 -100 -46 -219q-14 -87 7 -87t74 36l13 -27q-74 -81 -139 -81q-48 0 -48 62q0 22 8 59l60 258l-154 4q-21 -103 -54.5 -209t-64.5 -151q-38 -23 -83 -23l-7 15q46 36 94 152.5t64 216.5q-81 0 -138 -54l-18 23q22 27 39.5 43 t61.5 33.5t100 17.5q43 0 131.5 -2.5t129. 5 -2.5q23 0 33.5 5t24.5 25z" /> orbitals. From the calculated band structure results that, irrespective of helicity, the SWSiNTs of larger diameter are small-gap semiconductors with direct gap between the Dirac-like cones of ( <path id="x2217" d="M471 153q-22 -15 -61 -13q-25 31 -45.5 49.5t-56.5 41.5q4 -71 28 -134q-17 -33 -42 -46q-24 12 -42 46q24 63 28 134q-36 -23 -56.5 -41.5t-45.5 -49.5q-36 -2 -61 13q0 28 19 59q65 10 130 43q-65 33 -130 43q-19 31 -19 59q22 15 61 13q25 -31 45.5 -49.5t56.5 -41.5 q-4 71 -28 134q17 33 42 46q24 -12 42 -46q-24 -63 -28 -134q36 23 56.5 41.5t45.5 49.5q36 2 61 -13q0 -28 -19 -59q-65 -10 -130 -43q65 -33 130 -43q19 -31 19 -59z" /> ) bands. Gap of SWSiNTs is modulated by fold number of particular tubular rotational axis symmetry and exhibits an oscillatory-decreasing character with increase of the tube diameter. Oscillations are damped and gap decreases toward 0.33 eV for tube diameter ≈116 A. Irrespective of the width, the SiNRs are small-gap semiconductors, characteristic by oscillatory decreasing gap with increasing ribbon widths. The gap of SWSiNTs and SiNRs is tuneable through modulation of tube diameter or ribbon width, respectively. The SiNRs and SWSiNTs could be fully compatible with contemporary silicon-based microelectronics and could serve as natural junction and active elements in field of nonomicrotechnologies.
Free-running InGaAs single photon detector with 1 dark count per second at 10% efficiency

We present a free-running single photon detector for telecom wavelengths based on a negative feedback avalanche photodiode (NFAD). A dark count rate as low as 1 cps was obtained at a detection efficiency of 10%, with an afterpulse probability of 2.2% for 20 μs of deadtime. This was achieved by using an active hold-off circuit and cooling the NFAD with a free-piston stirling cooler down to temperatures of −110 °C. We integrated two detectors into a practical, 625 MHz clocked quantum key distribution system. Stable, real-time key distribution in the presence of 30 dB channel loss was possible, yielding a secret key rate of 350 bps.
Mathematische Zeitschrift Isometries between JB *-triples

Let Z and W be JB*-triples and let T be a linear isometry from Z into W . For any z ∈ Z with ‖z‖ < 1, we show that T {z, z, z} = {T (z), T (z), T (z)} if the Möbius transform induced by T (z) preserves the unit ball of T (Z). We show further that T is, locally, a triple homomorphism via a tripotent: for any z ∈ Z, there is a tripotent u in W ∗∗ such that {u, T {a, b, c}, u} = {u, {T (a), T (b), T (c)}, u} for all a, b, c in the smallest subtriple Zz of Z containing z, and also, {u, T (·), u}: Zz −→ W ∗∗ is an isometry. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 46L70, 32M15, 46G20, 17C65, 46L05
Causality Relationship among Oil Price, Stock Index and Exchange Rate: Evidence from Russia

The international oil price fell below 20 US dollar per barrel in November 1997 and remained stagnant in 1998. However, after it hit bottom at 10.72 US dollar per barrel in December 1998, it rose to 140 US dollar by June 2008.1 High oil prices contributed to the rapid development of the Russian economy, which grew at 7.3 percent per annum from 2003 through 2007 on average.2 As Russia is one of the largest oil producers in the world, Russian financial and economic indicators could have strong correlations with international oil prices. Numerous articles argue that there is a relation between oil prices and financial indicators. As for the relations between oil prices and exchange rates, Bloomberg and Harris explain how exchange rates could affect oil prices, assuming commodities to be subject to the law of one price.3 If the dollar weakens relative to other currencies, all else being equal, commodity consumers outside the United States should be willing to pay more dollars for commodity inputs. On the other hand, Krugman argues how oil price movements could affect exchange rates, proposing a model with speculation the dollar may either appreciate or depreciate in the short-run when the price of oil increases.4 However, in the long-run the dollar depreciates because of the adverse terms of trade effects and expectations of a depreciating dollar. Among empirical
Trade and Environment: Do Spatial Effects Matter?

This study tests the suitability of spatial effects in trade context. The paper analyzes the effect of the strictness of environmental regulations on trade performance on the basis of augmented gravity model. It compares spatial estimates with those of OLS and concludes that spatial effects are important. The results indicate that Spatial Error Model fits best to the data at hand. It is shown that environmental standards are positively correlated with trade.
Stochastic Weight Trade-Off Particle Swarm Optimization for Optimal Power Flow

This paper proposes a stochastic weight trade-off particle swarm optimization (SWT-PSO) method solving optimal power flow (OPF) problem. The proposed SWT- PSO is a new improvement of PSO method using a stochastic weight trade-off for enhancing search its search ability. The proposed method has been tested on the IEEE 30 bus and 57 bus systems and the obtained results are compared to those from other methods such as conventional PSO, genetic algorithm (GA), ant colony optimization (ACO), evolutionary programming (EP), and differential evolution (DE) methods. The numerical results have indicated that the proposed SWT-PSO method is better than the others in terms of total fuel costs, total loss and computational times. Therefore, the proposed SWT-PSO method can be a favorable method for solving OPF problem. 
Characterization of the BOLD signal in functional MRI

In the last two decades, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become an important and widely used imaging technique for functional brain mapping. However, blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) technique is quite insensitive and task invoked BOLD signal change at 3T is typically in the order of a few percent. Furthermore, the coupling between BOLD signal changes and neuronal activities is quite complicated, involving a cascade of events remaining poorly understood even today. In this thesis, some of the basic characteristics of the BOLD signal are investigated. Better understanding of the BOLD signal characteristics can be beneficial for the design of BOLD fMRI experiment aimed to improve the time efficiency. It can also provide guidelines for developing fMRI data processing strategies. In study I and II, a single-shot dual-echo spiral acquisition technique was used for characterizing the T2* changes associated with motor activation task. In study I, the optimal strategy for head motion correction was investigated. Based on the improvement in the detection of brain activation, the best strategy is to perform the head motion correction using the imaging data from the second echo and then apply the derived motion correction parameters to the first echo, instead of conducting motion correction of the individual echoes independently. In study II, several aspects of brain mapping methods based on T2*-weighted imaging and T2* (R2*=1/T2*) mapping were quantitatively compared, including the detected activation volume, functional contrast, signal-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio. fMRI studies based T2* mapping have the following potential advantages: maximum functional contrast, independence of echo time; and reduced inflow effects. The sensitivity for brain activation detection is significantly correlated with the contrast-to-noise ratio, which is determined by both the signal-to-noise ratio and functional contrast. In study III, the hemodynamic responses to functional activation were characterized using T2*-weighted BOLD imaging, arterial spin labeling, and bolus tracking of MRI contrast agent. In addition to the BOLD signal change, the relative cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood volume associated with brain activation were independently determined. In study IV, the characteristics of the global signal in resting-state fMRI were investigated. It was found that the global signal time courses and regional contributions differ individually. However, after removing the contribution from the cerebral spinal fluid, a consistent brain network responsible for the remaining global signal changes was identified. The involved brain regions include: posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, superior temporal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus and the cerebellar vermis, which is likely to be related to the perception and cognitive processes of the brain occurred in the specific environments during resting-state fMRI. © Tomas Jonsson 2012 ISBN 978-91-7457-627-6
Detection of Giardia duodenalis antigen in companion rabbits of Ahvaz district, South-West of Iran

Giardia duodenalis is an important zoonotic protozoon, found in the small intestine of humans and mammals. There is very little information available regarding rabbits infected with Giardia in Iran. The objective of the present study is to detect Giardia duodenalis antigen in companion rabbits of the Ahvaz district, South-West of Iran. A total of 58 fecal samples of companion rabbits that had been collected during January 2011 to December 2014 were submitted to the parasitology laboratory of the Veterinary Faculty for Giardia duodenalis testing by two techniques: centrifugation-flotation and a commercial Giardia Antigen Test Kit (BVT Co., Ltd, Lion, France) by immunochromatography assay (ICA). The studied rabbits were categorized into two age groups (less than 1 year old and above or equal to 1 year old), four season. In addition, they were categorized into two other groups based on the stool sample status (diarrheic and non-diarrheic). Five out of fifty eight fecal samples (8.62%) were positive for antigen of Giardia duodenalis by ICA. Prevalence was significantly higher in diarrheic rabbits (45.45%; 5 out of 11) than non-diarrheic rabbits (0%; 0 out of 47) (P=0.002). The infection had more prevalence in rabbits older than 1 year (9.09%; 3 out of 33) compared with young rabbits that were less than 1 year old (8%; 2 out of 25). Nevertheless, the difference was not significant. Prevalence was higher in male rabbits (9.52%; 2 out of 21) compared with female rabbits (8.11%; 3 out of 37) and in the season of autumn (15.38%; 2 out of 13), but without a significant difference between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender and season. Microscopy examination on fecal samples showed that 5.17% (3 out of 58) were positive. For greater certainty, three stool samples were collected from each animal at 48 hour intervals. The results indicated that the Giardia antigen was present as a zoonotic disease in rabbits of the Ahvaz district. The obtained data showed that more sensitive techniques such as ICA may be necessary and yield more reliable results in the detection of low levels of Giardia in fecal samples.
Precession from Hipparcos and FK5 proper motions compared with current values: Reasons for discrepancies

The comparison of Hipparcos and FK5 proper motions points to an inconsistency with the correction, ∆p ,o f the luni-solar precession derived from VLBI and LLR observations with unprecedented accuracy. An attempt is made to explain this inconsistency of approximately −1. 3m as/yr by rotational offsets of the Hipparcos and FK5 proper motion systems. In terms of right ascension and declination, these offsets give rise to proper motion offsets in the range of ± 1m as/yr on average which is not exceptional given the FK5 error budget. In the case of Hipparcos it is proven that the proper motions are not affected by rotational offsets larger than those indicated by the errors of the proper motion link to the ICRF. This result is obtained by analysing the Hipparcos proper motions in view of the existence of additional systematic motions other than those caused by galactic rotation and the parallactic motion of stars due to the solar motion with respect to the LSR. It is concluded that the Hipparcos proper motions are nearly free of unmodelled rotations, confirming that the Hipparcos frame is inertial at the accuracy level of the proper motion link to the ICRF. The gap between the estimated precessional corrections is bridged primarily by minor changes in the FK5 proper motions of the order of their errors, and only to a small extent by the elimination of a bias in the Hipparcos proper motions.
Rating Inflation versus Deflation: On Procyclical Credit Ratings

Credit rating agencies play a crucial role in financial markets. There are two competing views regarding their behavior: some argue that they engage in rating inflation, while others suggest that they deflate ratings. This article offers a rationale that reconciles the two opposite arguments. We find that both rating inflation and rating deflation can occur in equilibrium. Furthermore, we show that credit rating is procyclical: rating inflation is more likely to happen in a boom while rating deflation is more likely to happen in a recession.
The effect of satellite-derived surface soil moisture and leaf area index land data assimilation on streamflow simulations over France

Abstract. This study evaluates the impact of assimilating surface soil moisture (SSM) and leaf area index (LAI) observations into a land surface model using the SAFRAN–ISBA–MODCOU (SIM) hydrological suite. SIM consists of three stages: (1) an atmospheric reanalysis (SAFRAN) over France, which forces (2) the three-layer ISBA land surface model, which then provides drainage and runoff inputs to (3) the MODCOU hydro-geological model. The drainage and runoff outputs from ISBA are validated by comparing the simulated river discharge from MODCOU with over 500 river-gauge observations over France and with a subset of stations with low-anthropogenic influence, over several years. This study makes use of the A-gs version of ISBA that allows for physiological processes. The atmospheric forcing for the ISBA-A-gs model underestimates direct shortwave and long-wave radiation by approximately 5 % averaged over France. The ISBA-A-gs model also substantially underestimates the grassland LAI compared with satellite retrievals during winter dormancy. These differences result in an underestimation (overestimation) of evapotranspiration (drainage and runoff). The excess runoff flowing into the rivers and aquifers contributes to an overestimation of the SIM river discharge. Two experiments attempted to resolve these problems: (i) a correction of the minimum LAI model parameter for grasslands and (ii) a bias-correction of the model radiative forcing. Two data assimilation experiments were also performed, which are designed to correct random errors in the initial conditions: (iii) the assimilation of LAI observations and (iv) the assimilation of SSM and LAI observations. The data assimilation for (iii) and (iv) was done with a simplified extended Kalman filter (SEKF), which uses finite differences in the observation operator Jacobians to relate the observations to the model variables. Experiments (i) and (ii) improved the median SIM Nash scores by about 9 % and 18 % respectively. Experiment (iii) reduced the LAI phase errors in ISBA-A-gs but had little impact on the discharge Nash efficiency of SIM. In contrast, experiment (iv) resulted in spurious increases in drainage and runoff, which degraded the median discharge Nash efficiency by about 7 %. The poor performance of the SEKF originates from the observation operator Jacobians. These Jacobians are dampened when the soil is saturated and when the vegetation is dormant, which leads to positive biases in drainage and/or runoff and to insufficient corrections during winter, respectively. Possible ways to improve the model are discussed, including a new multi-layer diffusion model and a more realistic response of photosynthesis to temperature in mountainous regions. The data assimilation should be advanced by accounting for model and forcing uncertainties.
The Development of Inquiry by Using Android-System-Based Chemistry Board Game to Improve Learning Outcome and Critical Thinking Ability

Student’s critical thinking and their learning result depend on learning design and student’s activity. Most students use their spare time with playing game. Students are more challenged by the difficulty in playing game rather than facing the difficulty in understanding the lesson. This phenomenon is the basic reason of the researchers to develop a game that has the essence of the subject matter, namely Chemistry Board Game (CBG) or we can call it with Al Chemist Knight. This research aims to develop a suitable digital game based on android system. In this research media was used to improve the cognitive learning and critical thinking. It also has purpose to evaluate the response of learners in learning chemistry through alkane derived compound topic. The development of this game was adapted from the procedure of game development process in mobile 3D presentation. The collection of evaluation data model applied was pre test and post test in trial class. The result showed that in the pretest the learning result average was 34.35 with classical target of 5%. While the posttest learning result average was 80.51 with classical target of 85%. The n-gain factor was 0.703. Based on the result of the students questionnaire data analysis, 3.025 of students responded positively to the implementation of CBG. A CBG media makes an assessment of critical thinking, in which the indicator of critical thinking which are focusing on questions get 3,1 point, giving arguments get 2.95, asking and answering questions get 3.0, making decision get 3.05, and the average score of critical thinking indicator is 3.025 which belongs to good category. Based on the students’ response questionnaire, we get the average score of 3.3 or 82.5% which is classified in good category.
Integrating field, textural, and geochemical monitoring to track eruption triggers and dynamics: a case study from Piton de la Fournaise

Abstract. The 2014 eruption at Piton de la Fournaise (PdF), La Reunion, which occurred after 41 months of quiescence, began with surprisingly little precursory activity and was one of the smallest so far observed at PdF in terms of duration (less than 2 days) and volume (less than 0.4 × 106 m3). The pyroclastic material was composed of golden basaltic pumice along with fluidal, spiny iridescent and spiny opaque basaltic scoria. Density analyses performed on 200 lapilli reveal that while the spiny opaque clasts are the densest (1600 kg m−3) and most crystalline (55 vol. %), the golden pumices are the least dense (400 kg m−3) and crystalline (8 vol. %). The connectivity data indicate that the fluidal and golden (Hawaiian-like) clasts have more isolated vesicles (up to 40 vol. %) than the spiny (Strombolian-like) clasts (0–5 vol. %). These textural variations are linked to primary pre-eruptive magma storage conditions. The golden and fluidal fragments track the hotter portion of the melt, in contrast to the spiny fragments and lava that mirror the cooler portion of the shallow reservoir. Exponential decay of the magma ascent and output rates through time revealed depressurization of the source during which a stratified storage system was progressively tapped. Increasing syn-eruptive degassing and melt–gas decoupling led to a decrease in the explosive intensity from early fountaining to Strombolian activity. The geochemical results confirm the absence of new input of hot magma into the 2014 reservoir and confirm the emission of a single shallow, differentiated magma source, possibly related to residual magma from the November 2009 eruption. Fast volatile exsolution and crystal–melt separation (second boiling) were triggered by deep pre-eruptive magma transfer and stress field change. Our study highlights the possibility that shallow magma pockets can be quickly reactivated by deep processes without mass or energy (heat) transfer and produce hazardous eruptions with only short-term elusive precursors.
Phosphorus Movement and Vertical Distribution in Four Soil Orders of India: Column Leaching Experiment

In Indian agriculture, P is considered as a major constrain in crop yield and significant response is obtained with its application. Phosphorus is the vital component of DNA, RNA, ATP and photosynthetic system and catalyses a number of biochemical reactions from the beginning of seedling growth through to the formation of grain and maturity. With increasing population pressure, global food production will need to increase by 70% by 2050 (Fraiture, 2007). The major challenge is high prices of P fertilisers in India but continuous supply of P through manures and fertilizers is indispensable for crop production sustenance. Thus good agronomic management requires the efficient use of fertilizer P for optimum crop production whereas excess soil P can be detrimental for water quality. Phosphorus thus plays a key role in sustainable crop production as well as environmental quality. As reported by Muralidharudu et al., (2011) based on GIS based soil fertility map of India revealed high fertilizer consumption in Punjab International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 4 (2017) pp. 1919-1930 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com