Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Silicon intercalation at the interface of graphene and Ir(111)

We report on the structural and electronic properties in the heterostructure of graphene/silicon/Ir(111). A (√19 × √19)R23.41° superstructure is confirmed by low energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy and its formation is ascribed to silicon intercalation at the interface between the graphene and the Ir(111) substrate. The dI/dV measurements indicate that the interaction between graphene and Ir is effectively decoupled after silicon intercalation. Raman spectroscopy also reveals the vibrational states of graphene, G peak and 2D peak, which further demonstrates that the silicon-buffered graphene behaves more like intrinsic graphene.
SDSS IV MaNGA: the global and local stellar mass assemby histories of galaxies

By means of the fossil record method implemented through Pipe3D, we reconstruct the global and radial stellar mass growth histories (MGHs) of an unprecedentedly large sample of galaxies, ranging from dwarf to giant objects, from the "Mapping Nearby Galaxies at the Apache Point Observatory" survey. We confirm that the main driver of the global MGHs is mass, with more massive galaxies assembling their masses earlier (downsizing), though for a given mass, the global MGHs segregate by color, specific star formation rate (sSFR), and morphological type. From the inferred radial mean MGHs, we find that at the late evolutionary stages (or for fractions of assembled mass larger than ~ 80%), the innermost regions formed stars on average earlier than the outermost ones (inside-out). At earlier epochs, when the age resolution of the method becomes poor, the mass assembly seems to be spatially homogeneous or even in the outside-in mode, specially for the red/quiescent/early-type galaxies. The innermost MGHs are in general more regular (less scatter around the mean) than the outermost ones. For dwarf and low-mass galaxies, we do not find evidence of an outside-in formation mode; instead their radial MGHs are very diverse most of the time, with periods of outside- in and inside-out modes (or strong radial migration), suggesting this an episodic SF history. Blue/star-forming/late-type galaxies present on average a significantly more pronounced inside-out formation mode than red/quiescent/early-type galaxies, independently of mass. We discuss our results in the light of the processes of galaxy formation, quenching, and radial migration. We discuss also on the uncertainties and biases of the fossil record method and how they could affect our results.
Accounting Quality and Firm-Level Capital Investment

This study examines how accounting quality relates to firm-level capital investment efficiency. Our first hypothesis is that higher quality accounting enhances investment efficiency by reducing information asymmetry between managers and outside suppliers of capital. Our second hypothesis is that this effect should be stronger in economies where financing is largely provided through arm's-length transactions compared with countries where creditors supply more capital. Our results are consistent with these hypotheses both across and within countries. They are robust to alternative econometric specifications, different measures of accounting quality and investment-cash flow sensitivity, and numerous control variables.
Development and Assessment of an Evaluation Tool for Team ClinicalPerformance: The Team Average Performance Assessment Scale (TAPAS)

Introduction: Team effectiveness consists in team performance (procedures, algorithms) and team process (Crisis Resource Management - CRM). Although CRM scales and a few team performance checklists exist, to our knowledge, no team performance assessment scale covering all critical conditions in adults and children exists. Objective: The objective was to develop and assess a clinical team average performance assessment scale (TAPAS) evaluating clinical performance during immersive simulation of critical conditions. Methods: Three experts selected items from PALS, EPLS, NLS, ACLS, and ATLS courses. The final TAPAS included 129 items, rated 0/1/2, with a total over 100. Items were preselected according to each scenario, making the score a reflection of the percentage of the best performance for a given scenario. Psychometric analysis was tested on 159 simulations. Scenarios were acute life-threatening conditions in neonates, children and adults (medical, trauma) (SimNewB and ALS, Laerdal*). Two independent observers among a group of 8, assessed performance, and were surveyed on TAPAS ease of use. Analysis included: comparison between observers of means and SD, linear logistic regression, coefficient correlation, discordance; Cronbach alpha (CA), intra-class coefficient (ICC), and comparison at two training times. Results: TAPAS score was 46.6 ± 15.5 (18-83.5). Analysis showed: CA=0.745, ICC=0.862. Observers' scores were not different (means and SD), highly correlated (coefficient=0.838, p=0.0011, R2 =0.64), and with a discordance <7%. TAPAS scores increased after training (p<0.0001). TAPAS were found to be easy to use. Conclusions: TAPAS was a valuable team performance assessment instrument, easy to use in team simulation, in different age groups (neonatal, pediatric, adult) and critical conditions (medical, trauma).
A non-linear post-Keynesian Goodwin-type endogenous model of the cycle for the USA

Since its original formulation, Goodwin’s (1967) approach became a standard endogenous business cycles model. However, despite its elegant mathematical formulation, the empirical estimation of Goodwin-type models has not always ended up in success. The present paper uses the so-called Bhaduri-Marglin accumulation function in Goodwin’s original growth cycle model. Based on its derived equations of motion and dynamic properties, we econometrically estimate the proposed model for the case of the US economy in the time period 1960-2012, using structural breaks. The empirical estimation is very satisfactory and, in general terms, consistent with economic theory and the findings by other researchers on the US economy. The results of this work suggest that the proposed approach is an appropriate vehicle for expanding and improving traditional Goodwin-type models.
Knowledge Management, Entrepreneurial Orientation and Firm Performance: The Role of Organizational Culture

The objective of the study is to examine the mediating effects of organizational culture on the relationship between knowledge management (KM), entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and business performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The role of SME toward the economic growth of Nigeria is enormous; it is a major source of employment, a means for poverty alleviation, an avenue for upliftment of living standard as well as making available different goods and services. Based on theoretical consideration, a model is proposed to examine these relationships, which is intended towards resolving the inconsistencies found in the contemporary literature regarding the relationship between KM, EO and business performance. A structured questionnaire adopted from the previous studies to ascertain the responses of the respondents. A survey research design was adopted and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data from 640 owner/managers of SMEs. The analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20, the major findings of the study indicated that knowledge management and entrepreneurial orientation has a significant and positive relationship with business performance, and organizational culture is found to partially mediates the relationship between knowledge management, entrepreneurial orientation and business performance. The owner/managers, regulatory agencies, government, and other stakeholders will benefit from the study findings, and future research suggestions provided.
The media campaign on the DSM-5 : recurring comments and lessons for the future of diagnosis in psychiatric practice

Recurring arguments in the media campaign preceding and following the publication of the DSM-5 have been that the manual, referred to as ‘the bible of psychiatry’, mislabels many people who are basically normal, and that the diagnostic categories it contains are invalid, not being based on laboratory tests. We present data on the use of the DSM worldwide, and discuss the need to assess systematically the pros and cons of operational and prototype approaches to psychiatric diagnosis. We consider different views about what qualifies as mental disorder and how the boundary between pathology and normality should be fixed. We review the role of laboratory tests as applied in medicine, emphasising that most of them are probabilistic, not pathognomonic, markers of disease. We finally summarise the promise and limitations of the Research Domain Criteria project, aiming to ‘transform psychiatric diagnosis’ by replacing descriptive psychopathology with behavioural and neurobiological measures.
A Small-Scale Study of the Effects of Supplemental Vocabulary Instruction on Preschoolers with Vocabulary Delays

Research on preschool vocabulary instruction has increased considerably as the need for stronger early literacy programs has garnered public attention. While research findings show moderately to large effects of direct, intensive vocabulary instruction on children’s word learning, results are less robust for those children with vocabulary delays. In general, design specifications of more effective interventions remain unclear. Using a matched sample design, this study examined whether greater frequency of a direct, intensive vocabulary intervention alone improved gains for children with vocabulary delays, or if a more complex treatment may be needed. Participants included 24 children with vocabulary delays were drawn from eight Head Start classrooms in Early Reading First programs. Results of the study indicated that increasing the frequency of an intensive intervention yielded notable gains for children resistant to vocabulary instruction. Implications for early literacy instructional practice are discussed.
Perceptions, Experiences and Expectations of Physicians Regarding the Role of the Pharmacist in an Iraqi Hospital Setting

Purpose: To investigate the perceptions, expectations, and experiences of physicians regarding hospital-based pharmacists in some Iraqi government hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at four government hospitals in Baghdad and Erbil, Iraq from March to July 2012. A validated, self-administered questionnaire was hand-delivered to a random sample of 200 physicians. The questionnaire comprised four sections that probed the physicians' demographic characteristics as well as their perceptions of, expectations of, and experiences with hospital pharmacists. Results: Most participants (69.4 %) reported rarely interacting with pharmacists and that enquiring about the availability of medications was the main purpose (74.9 %) of any interactions. Physicians reported being comfortable with pharmacists preventing prescription error, treating minor illness, and suggesting prescription medication to physicians of 74, 75 and 67 %, respectively, but only 47 % were comfortable with pharmacists providing patient education. The perspective of physicians in Erbil differed from that of physicians in Baghdad (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Interactions between Iraqi physicians and pharmacists are still not optimal. Physicians are much more comfortable with traditional pharmacist functions than with the extended, patient-oriented pharmacy services currently being promoted. Great efforts are needed to enhance the Iraqi physician's attitude regarding the clinical services provided by pharmacists which in turn would result in more collaboration among healthcare professionals.
Exploring logistics-related environmental sustainability in large retailers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore and illustrate ways in which the world’s largest retailers describe their logistics-related environmental considerations, their environmental indicators applied to measure the effects of these considerations and their environmental consciousness in their CSR reports. Design/methodology/approach – Classification models are developed via a literature review on logistics-related environmental considerations, indicators and consciousness. A content analysis approach is then applied to examine CSR reports from 12 of the world’s largest retailers. Findings – Few retailers show environmental considerations in all logistics activities, but purchasing is especially well described. Even if many retailers claim to use the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework, no one uses is completely. Judging consciousness from CSR reports raised a number of questions. Research limitations/implications – A contribution to theory is the development of two classification models.
The Investigation of Efficient Market Hypothesis: Evidence from an Emerging Market

This study examines the weak-form efficiency of Iranian capital market, after the changes in the market regulations. Some events after 2005 have fundamentally changed the environment of the Iranian capital market, and we expect those reforms to increase the market efficiency. Therefore, this research examines the daily returns behavior in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) utilizing autocorrelation, augmented Dickey-Fuller, and runs tests over the period of 2005-2010. The results of all tests do not support that TSE daily returns follow a random walk. Therefore, we conclude that it is possible to use the technical skills to attain the abnormal gains.
Sustained large stimulation of soil heterotrophic respiration rate and its temperature sensitivity by soil warming in a cool-temperate forested peatland

We conducted a soil warming experiment in a cool-temperate forested peatland in northern Japan during the snow-free seasons of 2007–2011, to determine whether the soil warming would change the heterotrophic respiration rate and its temperature sensitivity. We elevated the soil temperature by 3°C at 5-cm depth by using overhead infrared heaters and continuously measured hourly soil CO2 fluxes with a 15-channel automated chamber system. The 15 chambers were divided into three groups each with five replications for the control, unwarmed-trenched and warmed-trenched treatments. Soil warming enhanced heterotrophic respiration by 82% (mean of four seasons (2008–2011) observation±SD, 6.84±2.22 µmol C m−2 s−1) as compared to the unwarmed-trenched treatment (3.76±0.98 µmol C m−2 s−1). The sustained enhancement of heterotrophic respiration with soil warming suggests that global warming will accelerate the loss of carbon substantially more from forested peatlands than from other upland forest soils. Soil warming likewise enhanced temperature sensitivity slightly (Q 10, 3.1±0.08 and 3.3±0.06 in the four-season average in unwarmed- and warmed-trenched treatments, respectively), and significant effect was observed in 2009 (p<0.001) and 2010 (p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the basal respiration rate at 10°C (R 10, 2.2±0.52 and 2.8±1.2 µmol C m−2 s−1) between treatments, although the values tended to be high by warming throughout the study period. These results suggest that global warming will enhance not only the heterotrophic respiration rate itself but also its Q 10 in forests with high substrate availability and without severe water stress, and predictions for such ecosystems obtained by using models assuming no change in Q 10 are likely to underestimate the carbon release from the soil to the atmosphere in a future warmer environment.
Exploiting Autoimmunity Unleashed by an Off-Label Low-Dose Immune Checkpoint Blockade to Treat Advanced Cancer

As a result of the cancer immunotherapy revolution hundreds of clinical trials of the newly approved immunotherapies are now under way to improve responses. Not unexpectedly, the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo for their development of cancer therapy by blockade of co-inhibitory signals. While success stories of terminal cancer patients achieving complete remissions are accumulating, not enough research has been done into the risks of the new therapies. Since the use of immunotherapy is becoming more common, and is expected to develop into first- and second-line treatments, immunotoxicity and autoimmunity are emerging as the nemesis of immunotherapy. Immune-related adverse events (IrAEs) could affect any tissue, their incidence may reach up to 90% of patients and toxicity is dose-dependent. While the combination of two immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) increased efficacy, the incidence of severe adverse events was also increased. Apparently, ICIs cannot be restricted to the targeted anti-tumor T cell population. The long lasting objective of cancer regression can only be achieved by paying a price: tolerance to healthy self tissues is compromised. In the face of an ipilimumab induced pan-lymphocytic activation, a therapeutic paradigm shift is required. The task is not desperately trying to put the genie back in the bottle by immune suppressive treatments, but instead harnessing the autoimmune forces by an off label low-dose combined anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD1 antibody blockade, which is supplemented with conventional interleukin-2 stimulation and hyperthermia. The proof-of-principle of the low-dose-combination therapy was demonstrated in a heavily pre-treated triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient with far advanced pulmonary metastases and severe shortness of breath, who had exhausted all conventional treatment. Her pulmonary metastases went into complete remission with transient WHO I-II diarrhea and skin rash. She lived for 27 months after starting the low-dose-combination therapy. She had recurrence as a sternal mass and pleural metastases up to 3 cm. Since the low-dose-combination protocol consists only of approved drugs and treatments, this exceptional response should instigate further research efforts.
Collisional and dynamical evolution of the L4 Trojan asteroids

Aims. In this paper, we analyze the collisional and dynamical evolution of the population of L 4 Jovian Trojans. Methods. To do this, we test different collisional parameters and include a dynamical treatment, taking into account the stability and instability zones of the L 4 Trojan swarm. This procedure allows us to estimate the size distribution of the L 4 Trojans, to study their mean collisional lifetimes, to analyze the formation of families, to obtain ejection rates of Trojan fragments and to discuss their possible contribution to the current populations of Centaurs and Jupiter-family comets. Results. Our estimates of the L 4 Trojan cumulative size distribution show waves that propagate from diameters of ~0.1 to ~80 km around the values derived from optical surveys. On the other hand, the mean collisional lifetimes obtained from our simulations indicate that the large Trojan asteroids have likely survived without being catastrophically fragmented over the age of the Solar System. With regards to the Trojan removal, we calculate a maximum ejection rate of Trojan fragments from L 4 of ~50 objects larger than 1 km of diameter per Myr, which results to be significantly smaller than values previously published. Such estimates allow us to infer that the contribution of the Trojan asteroids to the current populations of Centaurs and Jupiter-family comets is negligible. In addition, our results are in agreement with the formation of few Trojan families in the L 4 swarm. On the other hand, we infer that the current orbital distribution of the Trojan asteroids does not offer a strong constraint on the dynamical origin of this population.
The thermal structure and the location of the snow line in the protosolar nebula: axisymmetric models with full 3-D radiative transfer

The precise location of the water ice condensation front (snow line) in the protosolar nebula has been a debate for a long time. Its importance stems from the expected substantial jump in the abundance of solids beyond the snow line, which is conducive to planet formation, and from the higher stickiness in collisions of ice-coated dust grains, which may help the process of coagulation of dust and the formation of planetesimals. In an optically thin nebula, the location of the snow line is easily calculated to be around 3 AU, subject to brightness variations of the young Sun. However, in its first 5 to 10 million years, the solar nebula was optically thick, implying a smaller snowline radius due to shielding from direct sunlight, but also a larger radius because of viscous heating. Several models have attempted to treat these opposing effects. However, until recently treatments beyond an approximate 1+1D radiative transfer were unfeasible. We revisit the problem with a fully self-consistent 3D treatment in an axisymmetric disk model, including a density-dependent treatment of the dust and ice sublimation. We find that the location of the snow line is very sensitive to the opacities of the dust grains and the mass accretion rate of the disk. We show that previous approximate treatments are quite efficient at determining the location of the snow line if the energy budget is locally dominated by viscous accretion. Using this result we derive an analytic estimate of the location of the snow line that compares very well with results from this and previous studies. Using solar abundances of the elements we compute the abundance of dust and ice and find that the expected jump in solid surface density at the snow line is smaller than previously assumed. We further show that in the inner few AU the refractory species are also partly evaporated, leading to a significantly smaller solid state surface density in the regions where the rocky planets were formed.
Efficacy of Dental Bleaching with Whitening Dentifrices: A Systematic Review

A systematic review was performed to evaluate whether whitening toothpastes promote tooth whitening when compared to the use of conventional (nonbleaching) dentifrices. This review was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42017065132) and is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Electronic systematic searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were conducted for published articles. Only randomized clinical trials in adults that compared the use of so-called whitening dentifrices to the use of nonwhitening dentifrices were selected. The outcome was tooth color change. Twenty-two articles from 703 data sources met the eligibility criteria. After title and abstract screening, 16 studies remained, after which a further five studies were excluded. In total, nine studies were qualitatively analyzed. Significant differences in tooth color change were found between the groups using whitening dentifrices and those using nonwhitening dentifrices. Within the limitations of this study, the evidence from this systematic review suggests that bleaching dentifrices have potential in tooth whitening. However, although many whitening dentifrices have been introduced into the dental market for bleaching treatments, it is important to analyze tooth surface and color changes when performing home bleaching.
Technologies and new approaches used by the INGV EMERGEO Working Group for real-time data sourcing and processing during the Emilia Romagna (northern Italy) 2012 earthquake sequence

On May 20, 2012, a Ml 5.9 seismic event hit the Emilia Po Plain, triggering intense earthquake activity along a broad area of the Po Plain across the provinces of Modena, Ferrara, Rovigo and Mantova (Figure 1). Nine days later, on May 29, 2012, a Ml 5.8 event occurred roughly 10 km to the SW of the first main shock. These events caused widespread damage and resulted in 26 victims. The aftershock area extended over more than 50 km and was elongated in the WNW-ESE direction, and it included five major aftershocks with 5.1 ≤Ml ≤5.3, and more than 2000 minor events (Figure 1). In general, the seismic sequence was confined to the upper 10 km of the crust. Minor seismicity with depths ranging from 10 km to 30 km extended towards the southern sector of the epicentral area (ISIDe, http://iside.rm.ingv.it/). […]