Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determining the Energy Pathways in Light Harvesting Complex II using Femtosecond Laser Techniques at Two Excitation Wavelengths

The transfer of energy in the photosynthetic process is extremely fast with transfer times extending between tens of femtoseconds to a couple of nanoseconds. The main light harvesting complex in plants is LHCII and it is the energy transfers between the molecules in this complex that will be explored in this project. Due to the fast dynamics of these transfers, femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy was employed to determine the energy decay pathways taken in the LHCII (extracted and isolated from the leaves of spinach and acidphila) upon the excitation of the carotenoid region at wavelengths 494nm and 520nm. Glotaran was used to perform a global anaylsis on the two datasets, with sequential decay, to model the difference absorption spectrum at various times and four lifetimes were resolved from the data. It was found that, in the first resolvable lifetime, the ground state bleach that occurred at the Qy state of Chla and Chlb on a sub-picosecond scale (670fs and 710fs for the first and second data set respectively) was due to internal conversion from their corresponding Soret band. The energy transferred from both Chlb and the Cars to Chla occurred within a few picoseconds (5.135ps and 7.66ps respectively) and after a couple of nanoseconds the depletion of excited states in the Cars and Chlb was evident having transferred their excitation energy to Chla. At this final lifetime fluorescence of Chla was observed in both datasets between 2.7656ns and 6.897ns. 0.1 Abbreviations PSII Photosystem II LHCII Light Harvesting Complex of photosystem II Chla Chlorophyll a Chlb Chlorophyll b Cars Carotenoids Lut Lutein pigment Neo Neoxanthin Vio Violaxanthin IC Internal Conversion ISC Intersystem Crossing GSB Ground State Bleach SE Stimulated Emission ESA Excited State Absorption EET Excitation Energy Transfer OD Optical Density NOPA Noncollinear Optical Parametric Amplifier
Design and Implementation of a Fuzzy Controller for a TRIGA Mark III Reactor

The design and testing of a fuzzy rule based controller to regulate the power of a TRIGA Mark III research nuclear reactor are presented. The design does not require the current exact parameters of the point kinetic equations of the reactor. Instead, from a qualitative analysis of the actions taken by the operators during the reactor’s operation, a set of control rules is derived. The rules cover the operation of the reactor from low levels of about dozens of watts up to its full power level of one megawatt. The controller is able to increase power from different initial values to a wide range of desired levels, maintaining constant levels for long periods of time. The controller’s output is the external reactivity, which is further converted to a control rod incremental movement. The fuzzy controller is implemented on the reactor’s digital operating console, and the results of a series of experiments are discussed.
Impact of Mislabeling on Genomic Selection in Cassava Breeding

In plant breeding, humans occasionally make mistakes. Genomic selection is particularly prone to human error because it involves more steps than conventional phenotypic selection. The impact of human mistakes should be determined to evaluate the cost effectiveness of controlling human error in plant breeding. We used simulation to evaluate the impact of mislabeling, where marker scores from one plant are associated with the performance records of another plant in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) breeding. Results showed that, although selection with mislabeling reduced genetic gains, scenarios including six levels of mislabeling (from 5 to 50%) persisted in achieving gain because mislabeling decreased the genetic variance lost from the population. Breeding populations with higher rates of mislabeling experienced lower selection intensity, resulting in higher genetic variance, which partially compensated for the mislabeling. For low mislabeling rates (10% or less), the increased genetic variance observed under mislabeling led to improved accuracy of the prediction model in later selection cycles. Large-scale mislabeling should therefore be prevented, but the value of preventing small-scale mislabeling depends on the effort already being invested in preventing the loss of genetic variance during the course of selection. In a program, such as the one we simulated, that makes no effort to avoid loss of genetic variance, small-scale mislabeling has a less negative effect than expected. We assume that negative effects would be greater if best practices to avoid genetic variance loss were already implemented.
Physiological and sanitary quality of soybean seeds harvested at different periods and submitted to storage1

ABSTRACT RESUMO and harvesting is naturally a crucial one. Soybean seeds reach their maximum dry mass accumulation and maximum physiological quality at the R 7 stage (beginning maturity) (Fehr et al. 1971), time when harvesting should be performed. However, because of the high moisture content of the seeds at that stage, harvesting is performed at the R 8 stage, when 95 % of the pods are mature in color (Diniz et al. 2013a). In many cases, the ideal harvesting time is exceeded due to the vast extension of planted areas and insufficient harvesters, or due to high rainfall rates during the harvesting process. Therefore, seeds may remain exposed in the field for longer periods.Soybean seeds, when stored in the field, are subject to adverse conditions such as climatic 1. Manuscript received in Jun./2017 and accepted for publication in Sep./2017 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1983-40632016v4747576). 2. Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul, Cassilândia, MS, Brasil. E-mails : alan_zuffo@hotmail.com, steiner@uems.br. 3. Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brasil.
The Effects of Brand Image and Brand Identification on Brand Love and Purchase Decision Making: The Role of WOM

When the customers focus on the positive aspects of a company, and they love its brand, they usually express about that by using the positive words of mouth communication, and this lead them to make purchase decision toward the products and services of the company. Brand love is a recent marketing construct, which has been shown to influence important marketing variables such as word-of-mouth and purchase decision making. This study aims to explore the variables effects, for example, (brand image and brand identification) on brand love and to illustrate the impact of brand love on purchase decision making when word of mouth is mediating. This is a theoretical study tries to develop a conceptual framework. Furthermore, this framework shows that brand image and brand identification are the antecedents of the study, brand love is the independent variable, WOM is the mediating variable and purchase decision making is the dependent variable of this study.
A Novel Paradigm of Sensing: Multi-signals Acquisition with one sensor

Sensors with the capability of multi-signal acquisition at the “same” site and “same” time draw abundant attention throughout the academic society. However, designing of multi-signal sensors is a challenging process. The goal of the study is to explore the design theories and methodologies for multi-signal sensors with current device manufacturing technologies. To achieve this goal, this study strives to meet the following two objectives: (1) define general design principles for such sensors, and (2) develop demonstration prototypes to prove the effectiveness of the design principle. The study takes two signals acquisition as a vehicle without loss of generality. For Objective 1, this study proposes three general design principles for multi-signal sensors. The first design principle is to acquire multiple signals through a stem signal. The second principle is to design the structure so that one signal can be accurately inferred while another signal can be directly measured. The third principle is to design an integral structure that inherently acquires two signals. For objective 2, prototypes for the second and third principles were built to demonstrate the effectiveness of the design principles. Contributions of this study to the field of composite materials and sensor design include: (1) findings of the three design principles for multi-signal acquisition, (2) proof-of-concept construction/application of two prototype multi-signal devices (one for temperature and pressure, and the other for temperature and pH), and (3) discovery of the highly linear relationship between the temperature and electrical resistivity with a carbon nanotube and polymer composite within the temperature range from room temperature to approximately 70 Celsius degrees.
Poems of Exile

One of the wittiest Roman poets, Ovid (43BC - 17 or 18 AD) was banished in 8AD to Constanza, a remote barbarous outpost on the Black Sea, for an unknown crime against the Emperor Augustus. Pouring out polished verse, appealing for a pardon that never came, and describing the horrors of the land to which he had been exiled, he continued to write there until his death in 17AD. His poems in exile consist of "Tristia" (poems of lamentation) and the "Episulae Ex Ponto" (Black Sea letters) mostly short elegies or poems in defence of his career ("Tristia II"); and the "Ibis", a venemous sustained elegaic curse of an unknown enemy.
The Influence of Instrumentality Beliefs on Intrinsic Motivation: A Study of High-Achieving Adolescents

For many students, school is a forward-looking endeavor, with implications for future educational opportunity, job prospects, and financial success. How does believing that school is linked to a desired future outcome—known as an instrumentality belief—influence motivation? A number of studies have indicated that rewards, or other concerns that are external to the task at hand, can diminish the intrinsic motivation to engage in that task, a fact that would call into question the adaptive nature of these instrumentality beliefs. In a recent study, Miller, DeBacker, and Greene (1999) indicated that instrumentality beliefs about school not only increase extrinsic motivation, but also increase intrinsic motivation. Miller et al. examined college students; the current study replicated their study in a population of high-achieving high school students. In the current study, the positive influence of instrumentality beliefs on intrinsic motivation was not found. Given these findings, we discuss the ways in which the future goals of high-achieving high school students may differ from those of students in a college population and offer directions for further research in this area that might elucidate these differences. Research of this sort may ultimately have important implications for how educators frame for students the relationship between schooling and their future goals.
MARKET SIZE AS A DETERMINANT OF THE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INFLOWS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS COUNTRIES

Numerous empirical studies confirm that market size is one of the key determinants of foreign direct investment inflows, particularly market-oriented projects of foreign direct investment. Basically, the dominant view is that a larger market of the host country attracts a greater quantum of foreign direct investment. This paper examines the influence of market size, as well as the impact of market growth, trade openness, and population size on the foreign direct investment inflows into the six countries of the Western Balkans region in the period 2007-2015. Multiple regression analysis was applied in examining the impact of these variables on foreign direct investment inflows. The obtained results show that market size, market growth and population size had a significant positive impact, while trade openness had a negative impact on foreign direct investment inflows in the observed countries. Thus, the main findings of this research confirm that market size is an important determinant of the foreign direct investment inflows in the Western Balkans countries.
Toxicological effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles: a review of in vivo studies

The essence of nanotechnology is the production of nanoparticles (NPs) with unique physicochemical properties allowing worldwide application in new structures, materials, and devices. The consequently increasing human exposure to NPs has raised concerns regarding their health and safety profiles. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been reported to induce adverse pulmonary responses in exposed animals. However, the potential more dangerous biological activities of TiO2 NPs compared to their finesized counterparts are not fully understood. Therefore, this work is aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the toxic effects induced by TiO2 NPs in in vivo experiments. It is intended to deeply understand the toxicological behaviour of TiO2 NPs and to predict potential human health effects. Moreover, it may be an instrument to extrapolate relevant data for human risk evaluation andmanagement and to identify those critical aspects that deserve great attention in future population and epidemiologic research.
Multidecadal trends in tropical convective available potential energy

[1] Time series of convective available potential energy (CAPE) calculated from 15 tropical radiosonde stations indicate mostly positive trends in CAPE during 1958–1997. Increases in CAPE are associated with increases in near-surface temperature and water vapor, consistent with previous studies. The predominantly positive trends appear mostly as a shift in the middle 1970s, consistent with the time of an apparent shift of the background state of the climate system, as documented by others. A general circulation model of the atmosphere forced by observed sea surface temperatures does not reproduce these overall increases in CAPE, although it does reproduce the temperature trends. The observed changes imply significant changes to the tropical atmosphere over the last 40 years, and potential limitations of climate model simulations.
Spring peepers Pseudacris crucifer modify their call structure in response to noise

Acoustic interference can impede effective communication that is important for survival and reproduction of animals. In response to acoustic interference, some animals can improve signalling efficacy by altering the structure of their signals. In this study, we played artificial noise to 46 male spring peepers Pseudacris crucifer, on their breeding grounds, and tested whether the noise affected the duration, call rate, and peak frequency of their advertisement calls. We used two experimental noise treatments that masked either the high- or low-frequency components of an average advertisement call; this allowed us to evaluate whether frogs adaptively shift the peak frequency of their calls away from both types of interference. Our playback treatments caused spring peepers to produce shorter calls, and the high-frequency noise treatment caused them to lower the frequency of their calls immediately after the noise ceased. Call rate did not change in response to playback. Consistent with previous studies, ambient temperature was inversely related to call duration and positively related to call rate. We conclude that noise affects the structure of spring peeper advertisement calls, and that spring peepers therefore have a mechanism for altering signal structure in response to noise. Future studies should test if other types of noise, such as biotic or anthropogenic noise, have similar effects on call structure, and if the observed changes to call structure enhance or impair communication in noisy environments (Current Zoology 60 (4): 438-448, 2014).
Decreasing returns to schooling in Mexico

The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between a growing better educated labour force in Mexico and labour market reward. The paper provides robust estimates of the returns to education, dealing with the ability and selectivity biases using parametric, semi-parametric, and semi-nonparametric methods. The empirical strategy allows comparing the returns to education across quantiles to analyse the inequality variations within the conditional wage distribution over time. Data reveal a declining trend in the returns to education over time. Results also indicate that the inequality between the top and lower quantiles has been reduced.
Religious and Political Conservatism and Beliefs About Same-Sex Parenting in Portugal

Aim: During the last decade, there have been political changes regarding the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals in Portugal, such as the right to marry. However, parenting by same-sex couples is not legally allowed. The purpose of this study was to assess Portuguese heterosexuals’ beliefs about same-sex parenting, and the role of religious and political conservatism in shaping these beliefs. Method: A total of 993 participants, aged between 18 and 69 years (M = 34; SD = 11), responded to one of three questionnaires that included a case vignette depicting a different-sex, a female same-sex, or a male same-sex couple wishing to adopt a child. Participants were then asked to evaluate whether the couple would be suitable to adopt a child, and whether they anticipated any social and emotional problems with the child. Results: Participants consistently anticipated more children’s social and emotional problems if they were adopted by a same-sex couple. Men evaluated same-sex couples less favourably than women, and even less so the male same-sex couple. Conclusion: It was found that both religious conservatism and right-wing political leaning were associated with more sexual prejudicial beliefs regarding same-sex couples.
Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Patients by Local Application of the Toll like Receptor-9 Agonist DIMS0150

Background and aim: The Toll like receptor 9 (TLR9) has over the years received growing interest as a potential point of therapeutic intervention in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate a TLR9 agonist DIMS0150 as a new treatment option for patients with ulcerative colitis. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter trial was conducted in ulcerative colitis patients with moderate to severe disease activity despite concomitant steroid medication. 34 patients were randomized to receive a single rectal administration of 30 mg of DIMS0150 or placebo. Results: Clinical response at week 4 was 33% and 41% in the placebo and DIMS0150 treated group, respectively. The proportion of patients in clinical remission at week 4 was 13%, observed only in the DIMS0150 group. Likewise, histological response or remission at week 4 was 27% (p-value 0.06) in the DIMS0150 group only. Rates of sustained clinical response were 27% (p-value 0.06) and 31%, in the DIMS0150 treated group across week 4 and 3 months respectively. Sub score analysis of the disease activity indices indicated a highly statistical difference at week 4 from baseline only in the DIMS0150 treated group for all 4 DAI sub scores. Conclusion: Although statistical significant results for the primary endpoints could not be obtained in this small study, DIMS0150 treatment showed positive signals suggesting that TLR-9 activation could be an interesting upcoming therapeutic option.
Comparing Teacher-, Peer-, and Self-Assessment for Vocabulary Learning

The present study was an attempt to investigate the comparative effect of teacher-, peer-, and self-assessment on EFL learners’ vocabulary achievement. Accordingly, 90 female English language learners selected out of an initial 140 intermediate EFL learners based on their performance on a sample piloted PET took part in the study. All three groups were taught by the same teacher using the same course book. Moreover, they received the same hours of instruction and teaching aids in the same physical environment; therefore, the most significant point of departure in the three experimental groups in the present study was the form of feedback and assessment presented in the classroom. Each group enjoyed its own specific feedback throughout the treatment period. The findings of this study revealed that the participants’ vocabulary improved significantly in the self-assessment and peer assessment groups compared to the teacher assessment group. Meanwhile, the learners in the peerand self-assessment groups bore no significant difference with one another. The findings of this study could be used by EFL teachers and syllabus designers to develop efficient vocabulary teaching procedures.
Environmental quality of a stream can be better predicted by phylogenetic than by taxonomic diversity

Different indices of taxonomic diversity (TD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) of the macrobenthos were compared to determine the efficient predictors of environmental quality (EQ) in different types of watercourses in Poland. Archived data of 864 samples of benthic invertebrates identified to the family level were analysed on the basis of linear and non-linear multiply regression. The strengths of the correlations between two measures of EQ:BMWPpl (British Monitoring Working Party score system, Polish modification) and MMI (Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index) and the values of taxonomic richness and three well-known TD indices: Shannon, Margalef and J' Evenness were compared to those for values of three PD indices, based on taxonomic distinctness. Taxonomic richness and all PD indices correlated more strongly with both measures of EQ than all TD indices. Correlations with both types of diversity indices were visibly stronger for BMWPpl when compared with MMI. We suggest that analysed indices of PD, especially MDis (mean phylogenetic distance between families in a sample), are related with EQ strongly enough to be taken into account as potential metrics in selection procedures of biological assessment.
Resistin and Cancer Risk: A Mini-Review

Obesity and cancer are two major epidemics of this century. Obesity is associated with greater risk of many types of cancer. However, the biological mechanism of the increased cancer risk among obese population is not fully understood. Studies on the role of adipose-derived factors in cancer development may provide insights into the mechanistic link between obesity and cancer risks. Resistin is an important hormone protein that is mainly produced by adipose tissue, and has been found to be actively involved in the regulation of inflammation and insulin resistance. This mini-review aimed to summarize findings from both experimental and epidemiological studies investigating the association between resistin levels and cancer risk and identify areas requiring further research.
The “Megapozitiv” Role of Enterprise Social Media in Enabling Cross-Boundary Communication in a Distributed Russian Organization

Collaborating across boundaries is important for organizational innovation, but it poses a key challenge for large, distributed organizations. New technologies such as enterprise social media (ESM) are often heralded for their open infrastructure, democratic nature, and ability to break down traditional hierarchies and barriers to communication; thus, such tools may be expected to play a role in facilitating cross-boundary interaction. Usage patterns are likely to be shaped by existing cultural factors within the organizational and national contexts, however. Drawing on a case study of a large Russian telecommunications company, we empirically assess the introduction of an ESM application and the degree to which it promotes cross-boundary communication (across geographical and hierarchical lines), through analysis of server log data and in-depth interviews. Our findings demonstrate that ESM promotes cross-boundary communication, although there are distinct patterns for hierarchical and regional boundaries. Implications for ESM implementation and distributed collaboration are discussed.