Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Optical–Mid-infrared Extinction Law of the l = 165° Sightline in the Galactic Plane: Diversity of the Extinction Law in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium

Understanding the effects of dust extinction is important to properly interpret observations. The optical total-to-selective extinction ratio, , is widely used to describe extinction variations in ultraviolet and optical bands. Since the extinction curve adequately represents the average extinction law of diffuse regions in the Milky Way, it is commonly used to correct observational measurements along sightlines toward diffuse regions in the interstellar medium. However, the value may vary even along different diffuse interstellar medium sightlines. In this paper, we investigate the optical–mid-infrared (mid-IR) extinction law toward a very diffuse region at in the Galactic plane, which was selected based on a CO emission map. Adopting red clump stars as extinction tracers, we determine the optical–mid-IR extinction law for our diffuse region in two APASS bands ( ), three XSTPS-GAC bands ( ), three 2MASS bands ( ), and two WISE bands ( ). Specifically, 18 red clump stars were selected from the APOGEE–RC catalog based on spectroscopic data in order to explore the diversity of the extinction law. We find that the optical extinction curves exhibit appreciable diversity. The corresponding ranges from 1.7 to 3.8, while the mean value of 2.8 is consistent with the widely adopted average value of 3.1 for Galactic diffuse clouds. There is no apparent correlation between value and color excess in the range of interest, from 0.2 to 0.6 mag, or with specific visual extinction per kiloparsec, .
Thermal stress related with mortality rates on broilers' preslaughter operations: a lairage time effect study

Concerning the reduction of preslaughter death losses, high temperature and relative humidity in the tropics are the major concerns regarding broiler survival prior slaughtering. However, the relationship between different lairage times under controlled environment and the thermal condition outside the holding area is still unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare different intervals of lairage time with different environmental temperature and relationship with poultry mortality rates. A study was conducted in a commercial poultry abattoir in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the year of 2006. The historical data set from 13,937 trucks, about broiler mortality during preslaughter operations, was given by the abattoir. Factors that influence the welfare of birds were studied, such as lairage time in abattoir and hourly dry-bulb temperature. The statistical analysis was performed using the Double Generalized Linear Models. The lower incidence of death losses before arrival at the processing plant (approximately 13 dead birds per truck) was observed when the lairage time was between 1 to 3 hours, under high temperatures (above 22°C). This effect was more pronounced under critical (25-28°C) and lethal intervals (above 29°C) (12 and 13 dead birds per truck, respectively). In relation to lairage time, the reduction in mortality rates was more pronounced in the intervals up to 1 hour of lairage under climatized conditions, with a reduction of 3 dead birds per truck. It was concluded that thermal stress have negative influence for broilers welfare kept under preslaughter conditions and variations on mortality rate are strongly related with different lairage times.
A modulation solution of the signalling problem for the equation of self-induced transparency in the Sine–Gordon limit

In the present work, modulation theory is used to study the signalling problem for the equations of self-induced transparency in the Sine-Gordon limit. In the case in which the signal switches on instantaneously to a finite value, the modulation solution is found to be a modulated kink train. To construct this train the modulation theory of Forest and McLaughlin for the Sine-Gordon equation is used, and the solution is found to be the analogue of the Gurevich-Pitaevskii solution for the Korteweg-de Vries equation. The modulation theory solution is compared with a full numerical solution of the Sine-Gordon equation, and good agreement is found.
Thiophene, Benzothiadiazole Copolymers: Synthesis, Optoelectronic Properties and Electrical Characterization for Photovoltaic Application

Several donor-acceptor π-conjugated copolymers were synthesized by combining 4,7-bis(3,3’/4,4’- hexylthiophene-2-yl)benzo[c][2,1,3]thiadiazoles (HT-BzT-HT) with different donor segments, including thiophene, 2,2`-bithiophene, thieno[3,2-b]thiophene and dithieno[3,2-b;2’,3’-d]thiophene via Stille cross-coupling methodology, under microwave irradiation. All copolymers exhibited good solubility in most common organic solvents and showed high thermal stabilities. The revealed relationships between the molecular structure and optoelectronic properties were discussed. Each of DFT/TDDFT theoretical calculations and experimental measurements showed that moving the hexyl side chains from 3,3’- to 4,4’- positions in the thiophene rings of HT-BzT-HT units leads to a decrease both optical and electroChemical band gaps. Electrochemical characterization showed that the estimated HOMO and LUMO energy levels are in the range of -5.18 eV to -5.60 eV and -3.25 to -3.53 eV, respectively. The PCE of 1.91% was obtained from P10/PC60BM based device with Voc of 0.64 V, Jsc of 5.68 mA/cm2 and fill factor of 64%.
Characterization of estrus profile in female swine and its accuracy in estimating

The objective of this study was to characterize the estrous profile in female swine in order to estimate the moment of ovulation, by determining the weaningto-estrus interval (WEI) and estrus duration based on conventional estrus detection procedures. In addition, the accuracy of the estimation was evaluated by comparison to ovulation diagnosis using ultrasound. Starting at weaning, 147 females were submitted to back pressure in the presence of a boar three times daily (6:30, 14:30, and 22:30 h) and to an ultrasound examination twice daily (6:30 and 14:30 h). The onset of the estrus was characterized by the first positive response to back pressure, and the end of the estrus was characterized by the first negative response to back pressure. Ovulation was diagnosed using real-time ultrasound. A linear regression model was used to predict the interval from estrus to ovulation considering the variation in the WEI, and a prediction of ovulation time was generated based on the estrus profile (PREDOV). Estrus duration was divided by 3 to allow estimation of the frequency of females ovulating during or outside the final third of estrus. The accuracy of the PREDOV was compared to a standard (ovulation diagnosed through ultrasound). The mean WEI, estrus duration, and interval from onset of estrus to ovulation were 82.6 ± 30.7, 58.3 ± 17.3, and 45.4 ± 14.4 h, respectively. The intervals from the onset of estrus to ovulation and the end of estrus to ovulation did not differ (P > 0.05) considering the WEI, but the weaningto-ovulation interval was increased with a longer WEI (P < 0.0001). In comparison to ovulation diagnosed using ultrasound, the sensitivity and specificity of the PREDOV were 74.2% and 40%, respectively, whereas the positive and negative predictive values were 72.1% and 39.5%, respectively. Thus, reproductive performance may be negatively affected if breeding systems are based only on estrus profile because this method lacks accuracy to estimate ovulation time.
A Review on Metabolic Syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is described by the clustering of several risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Lipid disorder, obesity, diabetes in general and high blood pressure are collectively defined as risk factors for cardiovascular disease triggered by metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndromes have a correlation with the variations in genetic susceptibility, nutritional regiment, physical exercise, chronological age and gender which play direct role in the incidence of metabolic syndrome and its side effects. There are several definitions of Metabolic Syndrome in the World: World Health Organization's (WHO), The NCEP Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). It appears that the female type 2 diabetic patients need to change their life style to halt the burden of cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients . Clinicians should significantly consider screening all people regardless of age for abnormalities in glucose level. Early treatment in people with abnormal glucose level constitutes a strategy of preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Studies about metabolic syndrome have shown that females were more affected than males. This may be due to the specific characteristics in the lifestyle changes between females and males diabetic patients. Postmenopausal status might be a predictor of metabolic syndrome. Some related factors of metabolic syndrome among postmenopausal women may increase cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.4021/jem118e
Development of the family needs assessment tool for caregivers of individuals with neurological conditions in Latin America

Abstract This study developed and examined the psychometric proprieties of the Spanish Family Needs Assessment Tool ( FNAT ) for caregivers of individuals with neurological conditions in Latin America. Twenty-seven items from previously published caregiver family needs scales were combined to represent nine types of needs. These items were administered to 308 caregivers of individuals with neurological con-ditions in Latin America. An exploratory factor analysis suggested the retention 14 items and five factors: Household Needs, Informational Needs, Financial Needs, Health Needs, and Social Support Needs. A confirmatory factor analysis then examined the fit of the five-factor solution and suggested adequate model fit. Cronbach’s alphas for the overall scale and subscales suggested acceptable internal consistency. The FNAT holds promise to help researchers and clinicians assess the family needs of caregivers in Latin America. Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicometricas del instrumento de evaluacion de necesidades familiares (
Quantifying the Self-Selection Effects in Residential Location Choice with a Structural Equation Model

Land use policy is viewed as a way to mitigate congestion and alleviate greenhouse gas emissions. Many studies have confirmed the reduction effect for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) of compact and mixed land use development. However, debates on self-selection effects have arisen in recent years. Researchers argue that the correlation between land use pattern and VMT may be caused by self-selection of residential location based on a person's attitude toward traveling. This paper develops an urban form indicator for describing local land use patterns and then establishes a structural equation model (SEM) with VMT, vehicle ownership, and the urban form of residential location estimated simultaneously. Residential self-selection was controlled in two ways in the model: implicitly through the correlated error terms in multiple equations and explicitly through the incorporation of expected VMT in the equation of residential location choice. The model was estimated with household travel survey data collected in 2007 in the Washington, D.C., area. The results showed that land use itself could influence travel behavior after self-selection effects were removed. A comparison of the results of the full SEM results with that of a reference SEM confirmed the existence of self-selection effects. The comparison verified that the VMT reduction effect of land use would be exaggerated without consideration of self-selection, and self-selection effect accounted for a larger part of the total effect in more compact and better mixed development areas. However, the self-selection effect was small compared with the effect of land use itself in the analyzed case.
Value of commuting time saving in Beijing: a stated preference study

We estimate the value of travel time savings with a discrete choice model using data from choice experiments on both car drivers and public transport users in Beijing. We find that, compared with public transport users, car drivers would be willing to pay more to save one hour during their commute; crowding inside the bus and subway carriage is very important for public transport users; the value of time saving is higher in the morning than in the evening; and the marginal willingness to pay for commuting time savings varies according to gender, income, education, and time flexibility. Moreover, we compare results from a model addressing attribute non-attendance and a standard model. The results from the model addressing non-attendance are more plausible, with higher consistency in estimated parameters and lower standard deviations.
Tobit or OLS? An empirical evaluation under different diary window lengths

Researchers analysing time-use data often estimate limited dependent variable models because time spent must be nonnegative and cannot be more than the total amount of time in a given observation period. While the traditional empirical technique applied to such cases is maximum likelihood estimation of a Tobit (censored regression) model, recent debate has questioned whether linear models estimated via Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) are preferable. On the one hand, Tobit models are deemed necessary to address the significant censoring (i.e. large numbers of zeroes) typically found in time-use data, in the face of which OLS estimators would be biased and inconsistent. Yet, optimization occurs over a longer period than that covered by the typical time diary (often a day), and thus some argue that reported zeroes represent a measurement problem rather than true nonparticipation in the activity, in which case OLS would be preferred. We provide direct empirical evidence on this question using the Australian Time Use Surveys, which record time-use information for two consecutive diary days, by estimating censored and linear versions of a parental child care model for both 24-hour and 48-hour windows of observation in order to determine the empirical consequences of estimation technique and diary length.
Low Cost and Ecofriendly Phytosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Cassia roxburghii Stem Extract and its Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Efficacy

A new and novel approach for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles is the need of the hour. Use of plant parts for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles is ecofriendly, economic and cost effective. In the present paper, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous stem extract of Cassia roxburghii DC as a reducing agent. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by various spectral analysis like UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM and Zeta potential measurement. UV–vis spectra showed maxima absorption peak at 432 nm. XRD and TEM analysis revealed AgNPs to be face-centered, cubic structures spherical in shape with an average particle size of 32-35 nm. The synergistic antibacterial activity was evaluated against two Gram positive, two Gram negative bacteria and four fungi with fifteen commercial antibiotics alone and antibiotics plus synthesized AgNPs. Antioxidant activity of AgNPs was evaluated by ABTS and FRAP assay. The AgNPs showed synergistic antibacterial activity even better than some antibiotics and also good antioxidant activity. The results suggest that Cassia roxburghii stem could be exploited for the fabrication of AgNPs with potential therapeutic application in nanomedicine especially against multi drug resistant microorganisms which are cost effective and ecofriendly and simple. They can be definitely used in cosmetics, medical and pharmaceutical applications
The effects of heart rate variability and cardiac cycle time on learning in trace eye

Heart rate variability (HRV) has been linked to attention, while cardiac timing has been shown to be connected to sensory detection and higher cognitive processes. This study examined the connection between HRV and cardiac timing to learning. Participants took part in single cue trace eye-blink conditioning. The stimuli were timed to the systolic or the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. HRV and EEG were recorded for the period of the task and for five minutes before and after. Six HRV variables were analysed: mean RR interval (MRR), root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD), high frequency absolute power (HFA), low frequency absolute power (LFA), high frequency peak (HF peak), low frequency peak (HF peak) and high frequency/low frequency ratio (HF/LF ratio). Event related potentials (ERPs) were compared between the cardiac time groups and between good and poor learners. Results showed that the change of the MRR differed between good and poor learners. The MRR grew in good learners and declined in poor learners. The LFA increased and the LF peak was bigger in poor learners. There were no differences in learning between the systolic and diastolic groups, but N1 amplitudes were significantly bigger within the systolic group compared to the diastolic group. The results imply that poor learners were more likely to lose interest in the task. Bigger N1 amplitudes in the systolic group could suggest that while on the sensory processing level there were differences, there are too many contributing factors to learning for the cardiac timing to affect it on a behavioural level. Further studies should be done to explore if learning is affected by HRV and/or cardiac timing in more complicated learning tasks.
Geographical distribution of global greening trends and their climatic correlates: 1982–1998

We examined trends in vegetation activity at the global scale from 1982 to 1998 using a recently developed satellite‐based vegetation index in conjunction with a gridded global climate dataset. Vegetation greening trends were observed in the northern high latitudes, the northern middle latitudes, and parts of the tropics and subtropics. Temperature, and in particular spring warming, was the primary climatic factor associated with greening in the northern high latitudes and western Europe. Temperature trends also explained greening in the US Pacific Northwest, tropical and subtropical Africa, and eastern China. Precipitation was a strong correlate of greening in fragmented regions only. Decreases in greenness in southern South America, southern Africa, and central Australia were strongly correlated to both increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation. Over vast areas globally, strong positive trends in greenness exhibited no correlation with trends in either temperature or precipitation. These areas include the eastern United States, the African tropics and subtropics, most of the Indian subcontinent, and south‐east Asia. Thus, for large areas of land that are undergoing greening, there appears to be no climatic correlate. Globally, greening trends are a function of both climatic and non‐climatic factors, such as forest regrowth, CO2 enrichment, woody plant proliferation, and trends in agricultural practices.
Super-AGB Stars and their Role as Electron Capture Supernova Progenitors

Abstract We review the lives, deaths and nucleosynthetic signatures of intermediate-mass stars in the range ≈6–12 M⊙, which form super-AGB stars near the end of their lives. The critical mass boundaries both between different types of massive white dwarfs (CO, CO–Ne, ONe), and between white dwarfs and supernovae, are examined along with the relative fraction of super-AGB stars that end life either as an ONe white dwarf or as a neutron star (or an ONeFe white dwarf), after undergoing an electron capture supernova event. The contribution of the other potential single-star channel to electron-capture supernovae, that of the failed massive stars, is also discussed. The factors that influence these different final fates and mass limits, such as composition, rotation, the efficiency of convection, the nuclear reaction rates, mass-loss rates, and third dredge-up efficiency, are described. We stress the importance of the binary evolution channels for producing electron-capture supernovae. Recent nucleosynthesis calculations and elemental yield results are discussed and a new set of s-process heavy element yields is presented. The contribution of super-AGB star nucleosynthesis is assessed within a Galactic perspective, and the (super-)AGB scenario is considered in the context of the multiple stellar populations seen in globular clusters. A brief summary of recent works on dust production is included. Last, we conclude with a discussion of the observational constraints and potential future advances for study into these stars on the low mass/high mass star boundary.
Rates of Convergence for a Bayesian Level Set Estimation

Abstract. We are interested in estimating level sets using a Bayesian non‐parametric approach, from an independent and identically distributed sample drawn from an unknown distribution. Under fairly general conditions on the prior, we provide an upper bound on the rate of convergence of the Bayesian level set estimate, via the rate at which the posterior distribution concentrates around the true level set. We then consider, as an application, the log‐spline prior in the two‐dimensional unit cube. Assuming that the true distribution belongs to a class of Hölder, we provide an upper bound on the rate of convergence of the Bayesian level set estimates. We compare our results with existing rates of convergence in the frequentist non‐parametric literature: the Bayesian level set estimator proves to be competitive and is also easy to compute, which is of no small importance. A simulation study is given as an illustration.
Growth performance and biochemical analysis of the genus Spirulina under different physical and chemical environmental factors

Spirulina is useful to man in many aspects of life including health, food and cosmetics. In the present study, we aimed at investigating the optimum physical and chemical conditions that promote Spirulina mass production by varying a set of physical and chemical parameters, namely pH levels; Mg2+ ion concentration; nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon sources; salinity and different growing media. Temperature, light intensity, and light/dark cycle were maintained at 30°C±2, 4400 lx and 14:10 respectively throughout the study. At pH 9, the dry weight, protein, and chlorophyll a contents were 7.83±0.29 g/L, 1.34±0.12 mg/mL and 18.64±0.06 µg/mL respectively. At 0.8 mmol/L MgO, maximum dry weight, protein, and chlorophyll a contents were obtained. By using NaNO3 as the source of nitrogen, the dry weight was 2.24±0.13 g/L while the protein and chlorophyll a contents were 3.24±0.30 mg/mL and 2.53±0.24 µg/mL respectively. The highest biomass, chlorophyll a and protein contents were obtained by using K2HPO4 as the source of phosphorous. When NaHCO3 was used as the carbon source, the highest dry weight, protein and chlorophyll a yields were observed. Of the growing media used, Zarrouk’s medium yielded the highest biomass protein and chlorophyll a contents. Furthermore, under different salinities, the optimal dry weight, protein and chlorophyll a yields were obtained at 2.5%. This study provides the basis for high biomass production of Spirulina which is a promising microalga endowed with many health benefits due to its high protein content. Key words: Biomass, chlorophyll a, protein, Spirulina.
Numerical modelling of heat transfer in gypsum plasterboards exposed to fire

A numerical code for the simulation of the one-dimensional heat transfer through a commercially available gypsum board exposed to fire is presented. A parametric study regarding the physical properties of the gypsum is carried out. The predictions obtained with the in-house developed code are in good agreement with experimental data, when temperature dependent physical properties are taken into account. The good performance of gypsum boards under fire conditions, from the fire safety point of view, due to the dehydration/calcination process and the occurring energy absorption is pointed out by the numerical results.