Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantum Relativity: Variable Energy Density of Quantum Vacuum as the Origin of Mass, Gravity and the Quantum Behaviour

In Quantum Relativity, time and space are separated. Time is the numerical order of material changes, and space is the medium, in which these changes take place. Space has the origin in a three-dimensional quantum vacuum defined by fluctuations of the energy density corresponding to elementary RS (reduction state) processes of creation/annihilation of elementary quanta. Quantum Relativity provides a unifying approach to special relativity, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. Each physical object from the micro- to the macroscale can be derived from an opportune diminishing of the quantum vacuum energy density. In particular, the variable energy density of space in Quantum Relativity corresponds to the curvature of space in general relativity. In quantum theory, the behavior of each subatomic particle follows from opportune elementary RS processes of creation/annihilation of quanta guided by a quantum potential of the vacuum. Finally, the perspectives of this model regarding the view of gravity and quantum as two aspects of the same coin and the electroweak scale are analyzed.
CdS NANOCRYSTALLINE STRUCTURED GROWN ON POROUS SILICON SUBSTRATES VIA CHEMICAL BATH DEPOSITION METHOD

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoflowers, nanoplates and nanofire structures were synthesized by chemical bath deposition (CBD) on porous silicon (PS). The PS substrates were prepared by electrochemical etching method using alternating current (ACPS) and direct current (DCPS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the CdS fabricated on ACPS had two nanostructures, nanoflowers and nanoplates while the CdS on DCPS showed a novel structure named nanofire. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the CdS nanocrystalline structured in watzite (hexagonal) phase. Photoluminescence (PL) of CdS nanoflowers and nanoplates structures showed a high intensity with blue-shift compared with nanofire structure. Furthermore, Raman spectra of CdS nanostructures showed red shift of peaks positions.
Toward a Quantum Theory of Tachyon Fields

We construct momentum space expansions for the wave functions that solve the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations for tachyons, recognizing that the mass shell for such fields is very different from what we are used to for ordinary (slower than light) particles. We find that we can postulate commutation or anticommutation rules for the operators that lead to physically sensible results: causality, for tachyon fields, means that there is no connection between spacetime points separated by a timelike interval. Calculating the conserved charge and 4-momentum for these fields allows us to interpret the number operators for particles and antiparticles in a consistent manner; and we see that helicity plays a critical role for the spinor field. Some questions about Lorentz invariance are addressed and some remain unresolved; and we show how to handle the group representation for tachyon spinors.
Experimental study of parametric subharmonic instability for internal plane waves

Abstract Internal waves are believed to be of primary importance as they affect ocean mixing and energy transport. Several processes can lead to the breaking of internal waves and they usually involve nonlinear interactions between waves. In this work, we study experimentally the parametric subharmonic instability (PSI), which provides an efficient mechanism to transfer energy from large to smaller scales. It corresponds to the destabilization of a primary plane wave and the spontaneous emission of two secondary waves, of lower frequencies and different wave vectors. Using a time-frequency analysis, we observe the time evolution of the secondary waves, thus measuring the growth rate of the instability. In addition, a Hilbert transform method allows the measurement of the different wave vectors. We compare these measurements with theoretical predictions, and study the dependence of the instability with primary wave frequency and amplitude, revealing a possible effect of the confinement due to the finite size of the beam, on the selection of the unstable mode.
Perspectives Revisited - The Buccal Cytome Assay in Mobile Phone Users

Abstract Buccal cell preparations previously scored for micronuclei were re-investigated for genomic instability and other biomarkers to assess DNA damage, cell-proliferation and cell-death in healthy mobile phone users (n=25; 30.96±2.09y) using mobile phones for 3-5y and the non-mobile phones users (n=25; 32.28±2.01y) according to the buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay which was then not available. The frequency of micronuclei (13.66x), nuclear buds (2.57x), basal (1.34x), karyorrhectic (1.26x), karyolytic (2.44x), pyknotic (1.77x) and condensed chromatin (2.08x) cells were highly significantly (p=0.000) increased in mobile phone users whereas the binucleated cells (4.03x) and repair index (8.36x) showed significant decrease (p=0.000). DNA damage and nuclear anomalies scored in BMCyt assay are indicative of genetic damage that has not been repaired and this may predispose the mobile phone users to malignancy and cytotoxicity ramifications. Therefore, despite the benefits of communication technology, measures need to be taken so that better connectivity is not at expense of health.
Income Smoothing and Welfare Gains Across Pacific Island Countries: The Role of Remittances and Financial Aid and Savings

In this paper, we examine the potential welfare gains and channels of income smoothing for 14 Pacific Island countries (PIC). We find that the overall welfare gains across all PIC (in particular Kiribati, Palau and Papua New Guinea) are higher than the potential gains from risk sharing for OECD countries, under full risk-sharing. However, for Australia, the potential welfare gains from risk sharing is almost similar to the gains they obtain when Australia has full risk sharing with the rest of the OECD countries or with New Zealand alone. We also break down output using the framework of Sorensen and Yosha (1998) to quantify the extent and channels of risk sharing across the PIC. We find that, for PIC, income-smoothing channels (in particular, current transfers and net factor income) play a significant role in buffering the domestic-output shock compared to the effect of those channels on income smoothing for OECD members. Domestic savings also smooth a fair portion of shocks to output, but the extent is much lower compared to the magnitude of savings channels on smoothing for OECD countries. In a novel approach, we analyze the effect of remittances and financial aid on income smoothing for the less developed portion of PIC. We find that income smoothing via remittances has been highly volatile, and significant in recent years, financial aid seems stronger and stabler channel for smoothing domestic-output shocks for domestic-output shocks for PIC.
The rural non-farm economy in Uganda: a review of policy (NRI report no. 2702)

This report is focused on current and recent policy that relates (directly or indirectly) to the rural economy and its diversification in Uganda. The primary purpose of the paper is to draw out policy conclusions from a series of studies on the rural non-farm economy in Uganda that took place during 2000-2001. A brief review of Uganda’s rural non-farm economy provides a useful introduction to the policy discussion that follows.
Crop Improvement strategies for Mitigation of Methane Emissions from Rice

Climate change and its effects on agriculture will impact global food security. Rice (Oryza sativa L.), the major staple crop of the world, is subjected to substantial environmental constraints and criticism because of its role in climate change; methane emission under irrigated ecosystem. Mitigation of methane is the way forward for sustainable and eco-friendly rice production. Limiting area and production of rice may not be a feasible option as majority of the Asian population depends on rice. An urgent and integrated research approach to understand the mechanisms and interactions involved in methane release through rice plant is required to design viable mitigation technologies. Genetics of methane emission must be studied in detail, along with agronomic and management practices to obtain the precise information to elucidate the inheritance of related traits. Crop improvement interventions are required to identify contributing traits to methane emission, with subsequent deployment in plant breeding. Identification of rice cultivars with high-yield levels and traits contributing to low methane production represents an economic approach. Focus of breeding needs a shift towards adaptation to new production systems that can sustain effects of climate change. Low methane emitting varieties suitable to water management practices are more promising. This can be manifested in simultaneous achievement of global food security and mitigation of emissions without radical changes in the agronomic practices for the rice ecosystem. In this Review, an account of methane emission studies from rice and impact of crop growth stages as well as traits are outlined. The genotypic variation reported in Oryza spp for methane emission and breeding approaches for development of low methane emitting varieties are discussed.
Stress-Strain Model for Reactive Powder Concrete Confined by Steel Tube

The reliable prediction using nonlinear methods for reactive powder concrete (RPC)-filled steel tube columns relies on the use of an accurate model for core RPC. However, the existing stress-strain model for core concrete has some disadvantages, such as a complicated form, excessive unknown parameters, and inapplicability to RPC. To establish a stress-strain model for RPC confined by a steel tube in finite element analysis (FEA), compressive experiments were carried out on RPC-filled steel tube columns. Calculation formulas of the theory-character parameters (peak stress and peak strain) for RPC-filled circular steel tube were also presented, and a multiparameter stress-strain model for RPC confined by steel tube was proposed based on the existing constitutive model for concrete-filled steel tube. Several nonlinear finite element models were established with ABAQUS, applying the proposed stress-strain model for RPC confined by a steel tube, and the calculating results were compared with the test results of six groups of RPC-filled steel tube stub columns. Experimental results demonstrate that the confining pressure varies from 14.43 MPa to 32.85 MPa; hence, the core RPC is in a low confining pressure state. The peak strength of core RPC increases with the increasing material strength and hoop coefficient. Thus, hoop coefficient and material strength are key parameters that affect the peak strength of the core RPC. The load-strain curves of the specimens obtained by experiments and finite element simulation are in good agreement, thereby verifying the reliability of the proposed model in this study. This study provides a theoretical reference for FEA and calculation of an RPC-filled steel tube structure.
The effect of dietary protein degradability on the performance of Saanen dairy goats

Title: The effect of dietary protein degradability on the performance of Saanen dairy goats Candidate: John Thornton Study Leader: Dr. A.V. Ferreira Institution: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch Degree: M.Sc. Agric The goat is a significant domestic animal throughout the world today. With an estimated world goat population of 590 million goats in 1991 (FAO, 1991 as citied by Haenlein, 1996) it is impossible to consider the goat as insignificant. The need for milk, and it seems particularly goat’s milk, is obvious if one considers the increase in dairy goat populations over the past 20 years. Across the globe the dairy goat population has increased by 52% while in developing and developed countries, there has been an increase of 56% and 17%, respectively (Haenlein, 2000). The goat dairy industry in South Africa is still very underdeveloped, yet it holds tremendous potential for the entrepreneur willing to take the risk and do the job correctly. W ith the present South African financial situation the opportunities that exist for exporting value added products to countries with stronger currencies is a market with extraordinary potential. In New Zealand, the national herd consists of approximately 16000 dairy goats and 90% of the milk produced is turned to powdered milk and then exported to the East, a valuable source of foreign currency. In South Africa, the same potential exists and with some vision and hard work the dairy goat industry can make a valuable contribution to generating foreign currency. Research into the protein requirements and particularly protein degradability requirements of dairy goats is scarce, yet in recent years there has been an increased interest in the effect of protein supplementation to lactating animals (Mishra & Rai, 1996). In the work of Mishra & Rai (1996) there were benefits obtained from the use of different rumen degradable proteins for lactating dairy goat does. The does on the highly degradable protein diet had a better feed intake while the does on the low degradable protein diet gave a higher milk production. Other research on this field of study has also delivered positive results with more than one species of lactating animal that had increased levels of UDP in the diet (Robinson et al., 1991 and Christensen et al., 1993). Loerch et al. (1995) suggested that improved production by making use of rumen undegradable proteins would have no effect if crude protein were not a limiting factor in production. Pailan & Kaur (1995) and Mishra & Rai (1996) did research on lowered CP levels with increased UDP levels in lactating dairy does. They used of three diets, with the one having a 20% lower CP value but an Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za/
Concentration of Geodesics in Directed Bernoulli Percolation

For directed Bernoulli last passage percolation with i.i. d. ~weights on vertices over a $n\times n$ grid and for $n$ large enough, the geodesics are shown to be concentrated in a cylinder, centered on the main diagonal and of width of order $n^{(2\kappa+2)/(2\kappa+3)}\sqrt{\ln n}$, where $1\le\kappa<\infty$ is the curvature power of the shape function at $(1,1)$. The methodology of proof is robust enough to also apply to directed Bernoulli first passage site percolation, and further to longest common subsequences in random words.
Using Knowledge of Children’s Mathematics Thinking in Classroom Teaching: An Experimental Study

This study investigated teachers’ use of knowledge from research on children’s mathematical thinking and how their students’ achievement is influenced as a result. Twenty first grade teachers, assigned randomly to an experimental treatment, participated in a month-long workshop in which they studied a research-based analysis of children’s development of problem-solving skills in addition and subtraction. Other first grade teachers (n = 20) were assigned randomly to a control group. Although instructional practices were not prescribed, experimental teachers taught problem solving significantly more and number facts significantly less than did control teachers. Experimental teachers encouraged students to use a variety of problem-solving strategies, and they listened to processes their students used significantly more than did control teachers. Experimental teachers knew more about individual students’ problem-solving processes, and they believed that instruction should build on students’ existing knowledge more than did control teachers. Students in experimental classes exceeded students in control classes in number fact knowledge, problem solving, reported understanding, and reported confidence in their problem-solving abilities.
THE COMPASS SPECTROMETER : STATUS AND PERFORMANCE

The status and performances of the COMPASS spectrometer at the end of the first year of data taking, namely September 2002, is reviewed in detail. Particular attention is paid to the innovative aspects of the apparatus, which are essential to fulfil the whole COMPASS physics programme in the COMPASS critical environment (high beam fluxes, high trigger rates and quite crowded events); these aspects have also the merit of opening the way to future experimental studies in similar extreme conditions.
ACCUMULATED FATIGUE AFFECTS RUNNING BIOMECHANICS DEPENDING ON THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL DURING A TRIATHLON COMPETITION

The purposes of the present study were 1) to examine the different responses to the accumulated fatigue between international and national level triathletes in competition, and 2) to compare the profile of the running part presented by the two different performance levels. 32 participants at Madrid 2008 Triathlon World Cup and 32 participants at Spanish National Championships 2008, made up the sample. We found higher values (p<0.05) of stride frequency, stride length and flight time in international level triathletes. Also, lower values (p<0.05) in contact time and knee angles at toe-off were obtained. International level triathletes showed a consistent tendency in some of the analyzed variables (p = 1.00 among the laps) whereas the national level participants presented significant differences (p<0.05).
Determining Pesticide Dislodgeable Foliar Residues and Their Persistence Following Application to Tall Fescue Lawn Turf

JOHN, CHRISTOPHER. Determining Pesticide Dislodgeable Foliar Residues and Their Persistence Following Application to Tall Fescue Lawn Turf. (Under the direction of Dr. Richard J. Cooper). Dislodgeable foliar residues (DFR) can be a primary route for human exposure following pesticide application to turfgrass areas. Consequently, a significant portion of applied pesticide may be available for human exposure via dislodgeable residues. In this study, DFR were determined over a 15-day-period following application of the broadleaf weed herbicide carfentrazone (Ethyl alpha, 2-Dichloro-3-{2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-{4(difluoromethyl)-4, 5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-1-yl}-4fluorobenzenepropanoate ), the pre-emergent herbicide prodiamine (5-dipropylaminoα,α,α-trifluoro-4,6-dinitro-o-toluidine or 2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-trifluoromethyl-mphenylenediamine ) and the insecticide bifenthrin (2-methylbiphenyl-3-ylmethyl (1RS,3RS)-3-[(Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate) to a mature stand of ‘Confederate’ Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb). Dislodgeable foliar residues were determined by wiping treated turfgrass with a distilled-water-dampened cheesecloth and analyzing samples using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Less than 20% of the total applied carfentrazone was dislodged with 14% of DFR occurring immediately after application and a total of 6% for the remainder of the 15-day study. Prodiamine DFR averaged 80% over the 11-day study with dislodgeable residue levels ranging from a maximum of 17% of the total applied chemical 8 hours after treatment to a low of 4% 11 days after treatment. Approximately 35% of the total applied bifenthrin was available to be dislodged over 15-day study with 34% DFR loss occurring immediately after application and a total of 1% for the remainder of the sampling periods. If pesticides are allowed to dry on the leaf surface, shortly after application carfentrazone, prodiamine and bifenthrin pose minimal risk to human health via dermal exposure when applied at the labeled rate. Determining Pesticide Dislodgeable Foliar Residues and Their Persistence Following Application to Tall Fescue Lawn Turf
Micro-Raman study of nanodiamonds from Allende meteorite

Abstract We have studied the Raman spectroscopic signatures of nanodiamonds from the Allende meteorite in which some portions must be of presolar origin as indicated by the isotopic compositions of various trace elements. The spectra of the meteoritic nanodiamond show a narrow peak at 1326 cm−1 and a broad band at 1590 cm−1. Compared to the intensities of these peaks, the background fluorescence is relatively high. A significant frequency shift from 1332 to 1326 cm−1, peak broadening, and appearance of a new peak at 1590 cm−1 might be due to shock effects during formation of the diamond grains. Such changes may have several origins: an increase in bond length, a change in the electron density function or charge transfer, or a combination of these factors. However, Raman spectroscopy alone does not allow distinguishing between a shock origin of the nanodiamonds and formation by a CVD process as is favored by most workers.
Two Kinds of Metaphor: Rebutting Camp (2006)

In the first half of the paper, I aim to establish the ‘weak’ contextualist thesis that some, not all, metaphors contribute to ‘what is said. ’ This directly depends on a criterion so-called ‘embedding tests’ by which one could judge whether some content belongs to ‘what is said. ’ I will show how we cannot but arrive at a serious dilemma if we both accept a ‘strong’ thesis that metaphors in general belong to ‘what is said’ and maintains the reliability of the criterion; I argue, giving up on the ‘strong’ thesis, that there are two kinds of metaphors: ‘derivative’ and ‘non- derivative’ metaphor. In the second half of the paper, from the perspective of the two-kindsof-metaphor proposal, I argue against the arguments in Camp (2006), where she argues that the four criteria by which ‘strong’ contextualists argue that metaphors contribute to ‘what is said’ really support for the original Gricean classification. In the course, you can see that the four criteria can be used to distinguish ‘derivative’ from ‘non-derivative’ metaphor, and support the existence of the two kinds of metaphor.
Ambiguity Shifts and the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis

Faced with doubts about the quality of information and the quality of modeling techniques, ambiguity-averse agents assign higher probabilities to lower utility states, leading to higher CDS premia and lower equity prices. Using data on financial institutions, I find that the sudden increases in credit spreads during the recent crisis can be explained by changes in the amount of ambiguity faced by market participants and changes in how the total amount of ambiguity was distributed between ambiguity about information quality and ambiguity about model quality.
PROTEIN AND ENERGY UTILISATION IN TWO MEKONG CATFISHES , PANGASIUS BOCOURTI AND P ANGASIUS HYPOPHTHALMUS

Fish unlike terrestrial animal, use a large amount of protein as an energy source for their energy metabolism. When fed on a high protein ration, the fish itself may choose which amount of protein in food will be converted into body growth and which will be burned through the catabolism. Therefore, in the study one diet was designed with a high protein content and fed to fish with different levels: 0, 5, 15,25, 35 and 45g crude protein kg'l.d". P. bocourti has a higher growth rate than P. hypophthalmus at the same food intake. However, the higher growth observed in P. bocourti is obviously associated to higher fat accumulation in the body. The protein efficiency, NPU and PER, tends to be reduced at higher protein intake in both species. Energy and protein requirements for maintenance were calculated to be 128 and 92 kl.kg'l.day", and 5.16 and 3.24 g.kg'l.day", in P. bocourti and P. hypophthalmus, respectively. P. bocourti has nearly a double protein and energy requirement for maintenance. The event may be linked to the fact that P. bocourti has higher growth rate and higher ability to synthesise a large amount of body lipid than P. hypophthalmus. An estimate of protein requirement was in range of 12-13 and 11-12 g.kg'l.day" in P. bocourti and P. hypophthalmus, respectively. The DPIDE ratio was estimated to be 18 and 17 mg.kl" in P. bocourti and P. hypophthalmus, respectively. These low DPIDE ratios may be related to the fact that the protein requirement was relatively low in the two species.