Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Field emitter activation on cleaned crystalline niobium surfaces relevant for superconducting rf technology

The influence of heat treatments at 122, 400, and $800\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$ on the field emission of large-grain and single-crystal high-purity niobium samples has been investigated. Buffered chemical polishing of $40\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ and high pressure ultrapure water rinsing under clean-room conditions resulted in smooth surfaces with a linear surface roughness of 46 to 337 nm. By means of field emission scanning microscopy, an increasing number of emitters up to $40/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ with temperature were found at surface fields up to $160\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$. Two different mechanisms of emitter activation were found, i.e. activation by the applied electric field and activation by temperature. Some emitters with an onset surface field of 50 to $100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$ appeared already after the low-temperature bakeout. Correlated scanning-electron-microscopy/energy-dispersive-x-ray measurements revealed particles and surface defects as emitters. Their activation will be discussed with respect to the thickness of the insulating oxide layer.
Immediate increase in isotopic enrichment in small mammals following the expansion of a great cormorant colony

Abstract. Colonies of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) impact terrestrial ecosystems through the transport of nutrients from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. Deposited guano overload the ecosystem with N and P, change soil pH and damage vegetation. The ways in which small mammals are impacted, however, are little known. We aimed to evaluate the effects of an expanding great cormorant colony, testing if the expansion immediately increased the input of biogens into the forest ecosystem and, further, if the growing influence of the colony was reflected in basal resources (plants and invertebrates) and the hair of small mammals. δ15N and δ13C signatures were analyzed in granivorous yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis), omnivorous bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and basal resources of animal and plant origin from the territory of a colony of great cormorants situated near the Baltic Sea in west Lithuania. We found that biogens transferred by great cormorants to the terrestrial ecosystem affected the potential foods of the small mammals and led to highly elevated and variable δ15N values. An increase of the size of the colony in 2015 resulted in isotopic enrichment of the small mammals in the zone of expansion in comparison to levels in 2014. The increase of δ15N in A. flavicollis was 7.5 % (p < 0.05) in the ecotone and 5.7 % in the expansion zone. The decrease in δ13C signatures in A. flavicollis was 4.5 % (p < 0.1) in the expansion zone and 3.1 % (p < 0.001) in the colony. In M. glareolus, the decrease in δ13C signatures was 8.5 % in the expansion zone, 3.3 % (p < 0.1) in the control zone and 2.6 % in the ecotone. Isotopic niches (central ellipses) of A. flavicollis in the colony and between the control and expansion zones were separated in 2014 and 2015, while they partially overlapped in the ecotone. The isotopic niches of M. glareolus in 2014 and 2015 were separated in the ecotone and had a small overlap in the colony. For most of the resources tested, the isotopic signatures in the established colony area were significantly higher than in the rest of cormorant-inhabited area. In the colony, the δ15N values in plants (16.9 ± 1.1 ‰) were higher than in invertebrates (13.6 ± 0.4 ‰). In the ecotone, the δ15N values were 12.0 ± 1.4 in plants and 14.7 ± 0.04 ‰ in invertebrates, while in the expansion zone they were 7.2 ± 3.0 and 9.9 ± 3.8 ‰, respectively. δ15N-rich resources led to increased δ15N values in the hair of A. flavicollis and M. glareolus. Thus, biogens from the great cormorant colony immediately affected small mammals through their food sources.
A Case Study of Teachers’ Open Educational Practices

This article presents an exploratory study of the digital practices used by teacher educators regarding Open Educational Resources and Open Educational Practices. Despite the growing diffusion of OER repositories, the results of this research reveal that teachers’ practices are still tied to traditional models, and that they are only slightly open to the sharing and reusing of digital materials and to the employment of open license resources in the manner made available by web 2.0.
A General Family of Estimators for Estimating Population Mean Using Known Value of Some Population Parameter(s)

A general family of estimators for estimating the population mean of the variable under study, which make use of known value of certain population parameter(s), is proposed. Under Simple Random Sampling Without Replacement (SRSWOR) scheme, the expressions of bias and mean-squared error (MSE) up to first order of approximation are derived. Some well known estimators have been shown as particular member of this family. An empirical study is carried out to illustrate the performance of the constructed estimator over others.
Fish assemblage structure in relation to environmental conditions in a tropical estuary

La estructura de la comunidad de peces del estero de Sabancuy, Mexico, fue analizada durante 2 temporadas climaticas usando datos de abundancia, biomasa y de 14 parametros ambientales. No se encontraron diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre los datos obtenidos en las 2 estaciones climaticas. En el estuario se definieron 2 zonas ambientales, una que se extiende desde el sureste hasta el puente de Sabancuy y la otra desde ese sitio hasta la cabeza del estuario. Se registraron un total de 32 especies de peces representando a 21 familias. Las familias mas abundantes fueron: Gerridae, Sciaenidae, Sparidae, Lutjanidae y Ciprinodontidae. La diversidad fue alta en el centro de la laguna. La clasificacion comunitaria dio como resultado 3 ensamblajes con diferencias notables en la distribucion espacial. Una muestra la influencia de la comunicacion del estuario con la laguna de Terminos, la segunda muestra la cabeza del estuario y la tercera una zona transicional cerca del puente que divide al estuario. La organizacion ecologica del estuario estuvo dividida en 2 areas por el puente, con relativa escasez de habitats y alimento y una consecuente pobreza de especies en los 2 extremos. La concentracion de fosfato tiene la mayor influencia en el ensamblaje de la comunidad de peces.
The Impact of Audit Quality on the Share Prices of Quoted Companies in Nigeria

This study is used to determine whether Audit Quality has any significant impact on and relationship with Market Value per Share of companies in Nigeria. Archival data were extracted from annual reports of 57 companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) between 2006 and 2011. Audit Quality was estimated using Audit Firm Size, Audit Fees, Auditor Tenure and Audit Client Importance. Market Price per Share (MPS) was derived directly from CSCS Cash – Craft. Multiple regression analyses were conducted on the data. The results of the tests show that Audit Quality exerts significant influence on the MPS of quoted companies in Nigeria. In order to improve the quality of audit and minimize earnings manipulations by firms in Nigeria, we recommend that regulatory agencies - professional accountancy bodies, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, the National Assembly, and Securities and Exchange Commission should issue authoritative standard and framework for audit quality; companies should improve their earnings quality only through sales growth, cost control and cost reduction strategies; companies in Nigeria should present distinct statements of earnings quality while auditors should conduct earnings quality assessment and issue Integrated Audit Quality Assurance Report by adapting or adopting current best practices statutorily backed by earnings monitoring of companies in Nigeria. Keywords: Audit Quality, Earnings Reports, Financial Statements, Market price Per Share
How much can 56Ni be synthesized by the magnetar model for long gamma-ray bursts and hypernovae?

A rapidly rotating neutron star with strong magnetic fields, called magnetar, is a possible candidate for the central engine of long gamma-ray bursts and hypernovae (HNe). We solve the evolution of a shock wave driven by the wind from magnetar and evaluate the temperature evolution, by which we estimate the amount of 56 Ni that would produce a bright emission of HNe. We obtain a constraint on the magnetar parameters, namely the poloidal magnetic field strength (Bp) and initial angular velocity (i), for synthesizing enough 56 Ni mass to explain HNe (M56Ni & 0.2M⊙), i.e. (Bp/10 16 G) 1/2 (i/10 4 rad s −1 ) & 1. Subject headings: gamma-ray burst: general — stars: neutron — stars: winds, outflows — supernovae: general
The Link between IVF Children and Cancer: What Do We Know So Far?

Most studies on the risk for childhood cancer after in vitro fertilization (IVF) found no increased risk. These studies were, however, underpowered to identify a mild or moderate increase in risk. A large study from Sweden found an about 40% increased cancer risk among IVF children which reached statistical significance. This review summarizes characteristics of women undergoing IVF and their children which could possibly influence childhood cancer risk. No major confounding factor was found but some neonatal characteristics may be intermediaries for the increased risk. Further studies are needed to verify or reject the moderate risk increase. Large materials are needed in order to investigate the contribution of the neonatal morbidity which follows IVF. Some rare tumour forms which have been suggested to occur at an increased rate after IVF also need to be studied further.
Alpha Response Reveals Attention Abnormalities in Psychopathy

Psychopathy is a personality disorder associated with callous, impulsive, and antisocial behaviors. Decades of research indicate that individuals higher on psychopathy exhibit abnormal allocation of attention during goal pursuit. However, the manner in which attention is allocated to goal-relevant information and the downstream neurocognitive consequences of this attention abnormality remain unclear. The present study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between psychopathy and the allocation of attention during an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based continuous performance task in a sample of 61 adolescents and young adults. Results indicate that individuals higher on psychopathy overallocate attention to visual cues during the task (i.e., enhanced parieto-occipital alpha suppression), and this overallocation of attention reduces the neural resources required for motor control (i.e., blunted central alpha activity during NoGo trials). Psychopathy appears related to a unique pattern of attention allocation that prioritizes neural resources for goal-relevant information, resulting in alterations in the neural response for downstream cognitive functions.
The radial electric field and its associated shear in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak

The radial electric field (Er) and its shear (∂Er/∂r) are believed to be fundamental for turbulence suppression in magnetically confined plasmas. Doppler reflectometry offers a direct method of obtaining Er and ∂Er/∂r measurements. It is a type of microwave radar technique which uses the back-scatter of microwaves from a radial position in the plasma where the refractive index equals zero. In this paper, the use of Doppler reflectometry for Er measurements is investigated. The technique is extended for ∂Er/∂r measurements by simultaneously probing the plasma with two microwave beams at different frequencies. Er and ∂Er/∂r measurements are presented for a wide variety of plasma conditions. The measurements show that Er and its associated shear are linked to plasma confinement. Their absolute values increase with confinement at the plasma edge. Furthermore, the measurements show dependence on the applied plasma auxiliary heating and the plasma shape. The Er shear results suggest that negative shear is more influential than positive shear, in contradiction to several theoretical models.
NITROGEN AVAILABILITY, LEAF LIFE SPAN AND NITROGEN CONSERVATION MECHANISMS IN LEAVES OF TROPICAL TREES

Evergreen species of temperate regions are dominant in low-nutrient soils. This feature is attributed to more efficient mechanisms of nutrient economy. Nevertheless, the cashew (Anacardium occidentaleAnacardiaceae), a deciduous species, is native to regions in Brazil with sandy soil, whilst the annatto (Bixa orellanaBixaceae), classified as an evergreen species native to tropical America, grows spontaneously in regions with more humid soils. Evergreens contain robust leaves that can resist adverse conditions for longer. The physical aspects of the leaves and mechanisms of nutrient economy between the two species were compared, in order to verify whether the deciduous species had more efficient mechanisms that might explain its occurrence in regions of low soil fertility. The mechanisms of nitrogen economy were also compared for the two species at available concentrations of this nutrient. The following were analysed: (i) leaf life span, (ii) physical leaf characteristics (leaf mass per area, and rupture strain), (iii) nitrogenous compounds (nitrogen, chlorophyll, and protein), (iv) nitrogen conservation mechanisms (nitrogen resorption efficiency, resorption proficiency, and use efficiency), and (v) nitrogen conservation mechanisms under different availability of this mineral. The higher values of leaf mass per area and leaf rupture strain found in A. occidentale were related to its longer leaf life span. A. occidentale showed lower concentrations of nitrogen and protein in the leaves than B. orellana. Under lower nitrogen availability, A. occidentale had higher nitrogen resorption proficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and leaf life span than B. orellana. These characteristics may contribute to the adaptation of this species to sandy soils with low nitrogen content.
Effects of cannabinoids in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) murine models: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from motor neuron damage. Cannabinoids have been proposed as treatments for ALS because of their anti‐excitotoxicity, anti‐oxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects. Preclinical studies in mice models of ALS have been published using a range of cannabinoid formulations and doses. To date, there has been no rigorous evaluation of these trials to assess a potential cannabinoid treatment effect. This review and meta‐analysis was undertaken to provide evidence for or against a treatment effect of cannabinoids in murine ALS models. Evidence of a treatment effect in mice may provide motivation for trials in human ALS. We identified a total of 10 studies; nine studies using cannabinoid treatment in transgenic SOD1‐G93A ALS‐model mice and one study in TDP‐43 transgenic mice. Eight of the nine studies that used SOD1‐G93A mice expressed similarly high copy numbers of the transgene while one study used a low‐copy number line. Outcomes evaluated were survival time and disease progression. The latter was measured by motor function and bodyweight decline. Meta‐analysis of the mean difference in survival time across the seven studies showed an increase in survival of 3.84 days (95% CI: 0.35–7.32 days; p = 0.031) for cannabinoid treated compared to control SOD1‐G93A mice. It was not possible to conduct meta‐analyses for motor function decline or weight loss. However, eight of nine studies reported significant improvements in measures of motor function decline and one reported non‐significant improvements. Weight loss was significantly attenuated in four of five studies reporting this measure while the other study reported a non‐significant attenuation. This review provides some evidence for the efficacy of cannabinoids in prolonging survival time in an ALS mouse model. A delay in disease progression is also suggested following cannabinoid treatment though it was not possible to consolidate the results from reviewed studies. However, studies have moderate to high risk of bias and are highly heterogeneous. Although this review provides some evidence to support the conduct of a cannabinoid trial in human ALS, more standardized studies on specific cannabinoids are necessary before supporting therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in treating patients with ALS.
Online Sport Consumption Motives: Why Does an Ethnic Minority Group Consume Sports in a Native and Host Country through the Internet?

Due to the ever-increasing popularity of the Internet, ethnic minority individuals living in a host country can freely follow sports in their native countries through the Internet without any geographic restrictions. In this regard, this study examined differences in online sport consumption motives of South Koreans living in the U.S. between when they consume sports in a native country (South Korea in this study) and when they consume those in a host country (the U.S. in this study). Furthermore, the study attempted to examine the relationship between the online motives and actual usage of sport-related websites in each of the two situations (i.e., consuming sports in South Korea and consuming sports in the U.S. through the Internet). Based on a review of literature on online sport consumption motives, the following eight motives were included in the survey: socialization, information, entertainment, escape, fan expression, pass time, fanship, and technical knowledge. A total of 212 participants were recruited through online and offline surveys. Results of a repeated MANOVA indicated that mean scores for six motives (i.e., socialization, information, entertainment, escape, fan expression, and pass time) were significantly higher in the context of South Korean than American sports. While fanship, entertainment, and pass time motives were significantly related to actual usage of sport-related websites in South Korean sport context, escape, pass time, information, and entertainment motives were significantly related to actual usage of sport-related websites in the American sport context. Implications and future research are also discussed.
Rapid and scale-independent microfluidic manufacture of liposomes entrapping protein 1 incorporating in-line purification and at-line size monitoring.

26 Within this paper we present work that has the ability to de-risk the translation of liposomes from 27 bench to the clinic. We have used microfluidics for the rapid and scale-independent manufacture of 28 liposomes and have incorporated in-line purification and at-line monitoring of particle size. Using this 29 process, we have manufactured a range of neutral and anionic liposomes incorporating protein. 30 Factors investigated include the microfluidics operating parameters (flow rate ratio (FRR) and total 31 flow rate (TFR)) and the liposome formulation. From these studies, we demonstrate that FRR is a key 32 factor influencing liposome size, protein loading and release profiles. The liposome formulations 33 produced by microfluidics offer high protein loading (20-35 %) compared to production by sonication 34 or extrusion (< 5%). This high loading achieved by microfluidics results from the manufacturing process 35 and is independent of lipid selection and concentration across the range tested. Using in-line 36 purification and at-line size monitoring, we outline the normal operating range for effective 37 production of size controlled (60 to 100 nm), homogenous (PDI <0.2) high load liposomes. This easy 38 microfluidic process provides a translational manufacturing pathway for liposomes in a wide-range of 39 applications. 40
Physiological quality and protein patterns of corn seeds produced under water and salt stresses

This study evaluated the effect of water and salt stresses on the physiological quality and on the electrophoresis patterns of heat resistant proteins in corn seeds. The experiments were carried out in the laboratories of seed analysis and biotechnology at the Universidade Federal de Lavras. Corn seeds of the hybrid GNZ 2004 and the inbred line LE 57 were used. The seeds were produced in soils with an electric conductivity of 3 dS m-1 (under stress) and 0.4 dS m-1 (without stress) and in pots containing substrate with a water holding capacity of 40% (with stress) and 70% (without stress). The randomized complete block design with treatments arranged in a split-plot scheme was used with four replications . Seeds were harvested at different stages of development. Seed physiological quality was evaluated using the tests of germination, artificial aging and cold test. The patterns of heat resistant proteins were evaluated by electrophoresis. The results showed that depending on seed developmental stage there was an effect of water and salt stresses on the seed vigor. The electrophoretical patterns of heat resistant proteins were stable in seeds produced under different stress conditions. Key words: Zea mays, developmental stages, late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA proteins).
The Heterogeneous Effects of Gasoline Taxes: Why Where We Live Matters

Using disaggregated confidential household data, we estimate spatial variation in householdlevel gasoline price elasticities and the welfare effects of gasoline taxes. A novel approach allows us to model a discrete-continuous household choice of vehicle bundles, while disaggregating the choice set and including vehicle-specific fixed effects and unobserved consumer heterogeneity. The mean elasticity of demand for gasoline is -0.67, but with tremendous variation across location and income. We find that rural households have 30% more negative welfare impacts than urban households from gasoline taxes. Finally, we explore different policies that can help to mitigate welfare inequalities due to these taxes. 1 Elisheba Spiller, Postdoctoral Fellow, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC, spiller@rff.org Heather M. Stephens, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, California State University, Long Beach, Heather.Stephens@csulb.edu
Determination of the Combined Ventilation Factor and Capacitance for Ice Crystal Aggregates from Airborne Observations in a Tropical Anvil Cloud

Abstract The ventilation factor and capacitance used in numerical models to represent ice crystal aggregates directly affects the growth rate of the ice crystal aggregates, and consequently the sink of atmospheric water vapor. Currently, numerical models that prognose ice water content (IWC) and water vapor mixing ratio represent the capacitance and ventilation factor of precipitation-sized particles with simplified geometries, such as hexagonal plates. The geometries of actual precipitation-sized particles are often more complex, and a test of the values being employed is needed. Aircraft observations obtained during a Lagrangian spiral descent through the sublimation zone of a tropical anvil cloud have been used to determine an estimate of combined dimensionless capacitance and ventilation factor for the nonpristine geometries exhibited by ice crystal aggregates. By combining measurements of bulk ice water content, the particle size distribution, and environmental subsaturation, the change in ice water .