Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polar smectic phases in quasi-bent-core liquid crystals with hockey-stick-shaped mesogen: synthesis and crossover mesomorphism

ABSTRACT New hockey-stick-shaped liquid crystals (HSLCs) have been designed and synthesised. By extreme shortening of one ‘arm’ in the HSLCs, we have constructed the pronounced overall hockey-stick-shaped molecular conformation of these materials, and called the pseudo-rod-like (PRL) molecules with hockey-stick-shaped mesogen. The chemical structures were identified using spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The mesomorphic behaviour was investigated by polarising optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and via electro-optical experiments. As a result, in spite of the PRL molecules, the various mesomorphic polymorphism, the interdigitated bi-layered structure and macroscopic polarity were found. Similar to up-to-date HSLCs, the quasi-bent-core LCs showed a transition from the synclinic SmC phase (SmCs) to anticlinic SmC (SmCa) phase, and exhibited SmA-type (NCybA) and SmC-type (NCybC) cybotactic nematic phases. At the same time, similar to practical rod-like LCs, the PRL molecules showed good surface alignment behaviour under planar boundary conditions. Graphical Abstract
Environmental Physical-Virtual Interaction to Improve Social Presence with a Virtual Human in Mixed Reality

Interactive Virtual Humans (VHs) are increasingly used to replace or assist real humans in various applications, e.g., military and medical training, education, or entertainment. In most VH research, the perceived social presence with a VH, which denotes the user’s sense of being socially connected or co-located with the VH, is the decisive factor in evaluating the social influence of the VH—a phenomenon where human users’ emotions, opinions, or behaviors are affected by the VH. The purpose of this dissertation is to develop new knowledge about how characteristics and behaviors of a VH in a Mixed Reality (MR) environment can affect the perception of and resulting behavior with the VH, and to find effective and efficient ways to improve the quality and performance of social interactions with VHs. Important issues and challenges in real–virtual human interactions in MR, e.g., lack of physical–virtual interaction, are identified and discussed through several user studies incorporating interactions with VH systems. In the studies, different features of VHs are prototyped and evaluated, such as a VH’s ability to be aware of and influence the surrounding physical environment, while measuring objective behavioral data as well as collecting subjective responses from the participants. The results from the studies support the idea that the VH’s awareness and influence of the physical environment can improve not only the perceived social presence with the VH, but also the trustworthiness of the VH within a social context. The findings will contribute towards designing more influential VHs that can benefit a wide range of simulation and training applications for which a high level of social realism is important, and that can be more easily incorporated into our daily lives as social companions, providing reliable relationships and convenience in assisting with daily tasks.
Nominal Techniques and Black Box Testing for Automata Learning

Using an adaptation of state-of-the-art algorithms for black-box automata learning, as implemented in the LearnLib tool, we succeeded to learn a model of the Engine Status Manager (ESM), a software component that is used in printers and copiers of Océ. The main challenge that we encountered was that LearnLib, although effective in constructing hypothesis models, was unable to find counterexamples for some hypotheses. In fact, none of the existing FSM-based conformance testing methods that we tried worked for this case study. We therefore implemented an extension of the algorithm of Lee & Yannakakis for computing an adaptive distinguishing sequence. Even when an adaptive distinguishing sequence does not exist, Lee & Yannakakis’ algorithm produces an adaptive sequence that “almost” identifies states. In combination with a standard algorithm for computing separating sequences for pairs of states, we managed to verify states with on average 3 test queries. Altogether, we needed around 60 million queries to learn a model of the ESM with 77 inputs and 3.410 states. We also constructed a model directly from the ESM software and established equivalence with the learned model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper in which active automata learning has been applied to industrial control software. This chapter is based on the following publication: Smeenk, W. , Moerman, J., Vaandrager, F. W. , & Jansen, D. N. (2015). Applying Automata Learning to Embedded Control Software. In Formal Methods and Software Engineering 17th International Conference on Formal Engineering Methods, ICFEM, Proceedings. Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-25423-4_5
On THe Theory of Pricing of Discrete Time Options of European Type

The contemporary financial market appears to be a part of human activity where ideas of Stochastic Analysis, in particular Martingale Theory and Stochastic Ito’s integral, have been implemented in a most complete matter. Creating a link between the theory and practice of finance generates new problems in the Theory of Probability and the Financial Mathematics investigating them. Financial markets consists of two main (primary) assets (securities), bonds (rickless) and shares (risky). Bonds are debentures issued by a state government or a bank with a goal to accumulate capital. As an example we can consider a bank account or government bonds. Bond owners accept a strictly defined profit, conditional on the current interest rate. Shares are equity securities which are issued by companies in order to accumulate capital for further activities. Its price is defined by the situation at the stock market and by the production activity of the company. Shareholders obtain a profit according the price of the share. Options belong to derivative (secondary) securities. An option is a security that gives to its owner a right to sell (or to buy) some worth (shares, currency, etc.) by conditions specified in advance. In this thesis, we investigate the random behaviour of a share price, creating an i “optimal” portfolio of securities and related various problems in Financial Mathematics. In particular, we discuss the problem of option pricing. The literature on Financial Mathematics is too large to mention in my theses, consult, for example, the lengthy list of references in the textbook [2]. In our theses, we cite only the articles and books which are important and are directly used in our research. The real breakthrough in the methods of financial calculations connected with options has been done by Black, Scholes and Merton in 1973 [1], [? ]. The theory developed in these manuscripts allows for finding a “fair” price of an option and also provides a guidance to optimal stock transactions that allow for the option writer to guarantee the possible pay offs, which depend on a random behaviour of prices in a financial market. In this thesis we discuss the theory of pricing options of European type in discrete time setting. Everything is explained from scratch, the reader needs to have only a basic knowledge of Probability Theory at an elementary level. For example, we introduce an advanced and comprehensive notion of a martingale, but we consider measurability by a finite partition, not by a general σ-algebra. This simplifies the understanding of the theory significantly.
Use of concept map as a reinforcement tool in undergraduate curriculum: An analytical study

Introduction: Ever-expanding medical literature demands successful amalgamation of huge information and clinical practice for budding doctors. This study aimed to find the effectiveness of the concept map, a novel method of teaching to improve performance among undergraduate pharmacology students. Methods: The undergraduate medical students pursuing pharmacology in 2017-18 in our institute was divided into two groups after stratified randomization based on the last semester grades. After a session of didactic lecture on ‘Drugs affecting Calcium Metabolism’ and a pre-test, one group was taught using traditional tutorial methods and another group using the concept map method. Finally, a post-test was taken and feedback received from the intervention group. Results: A significant improvement of student performance was found in both groups using validated questionnaire from pre-test to post-test. There was no significant difference in the percentage of improvement between the groups. This finding was consistent in both Low scorers and High scorers of the previous semester examination. Students found the new method better in terms of understanding the concept and interactivity. Conclusions: Concept mapping encourages the students to actively participate and get a comprehensive and accurate overview of the topic, but the improvement in performance in the test was not evident.
Capture Reagent and Strategy for Retrieving Albumin-Bound Ligands from Plasma

A capture strategy is described and demonstrated for retrieving ligand entities in plasma that bind Human Serum Albumin. The method has applications for both exogenous and endogenous ligands. Exogenous ligands include drug candidates, performance enhancing drugs and toxic nerve agents that also interact quite strongly with HSA. Endogenous ligands are natural circulating compounds whose abundance corresponds to normal hemostasis or elevated levels that could be disease-specific molecular biomarkers. Melting curves of plasma solutions measured by differential scanning calorimetry produce “so-called” plasma thermograms that are physical signatures of the plasma solution. Patterns displayed by thermograms can be sensitive indicators of the presence of abnormal levels of exogenous and endogenous ligand components. Effects of ligand interactions on thermodynamic stability of proteins in plasma that they bind, primarily HSA, manifest on the plasma thermogram. The capture strategy is demonstrated for HSA binding in plasma of four “ideal” ligands of different types. The particular ligands were naproxen, bromocresol green, short double stranded and single strand DNA. Thermogram shapes and features were sensitive to the presence of ligands as thermograms of mixtures of plasma and HSA with these ligands were significantly different than thermograms of plasma or HSA alone. These results demonstrated directly that significant perturbations of plasma thermograms corresponded to ligand interactions with HSA in plasma.
Histological and immunohistochemical study on the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on cerebellar cortex of adult male albino rats

Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are one of metal nanoparticles that have widespread use in many fields.Objective: To investigate the effect of ZnONPs on cerebellar cortex of rats through histological and immunohistochemical study.Materials and methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups; group I (control), Group II (ZnONP-1 treated group) which received orally 50 mg/kg of ZnONP for two months and Group III (ZnONP-1I treated group) which received orally 200 mg/kg of ZnONP for two months. Specimens of the cerebellar cortex were processed for histological and immunohistochemical study. Morphometric and statistical analysis were carried out.Results: Group II showed Purkinje cells were crowded in many layers surrounded by perineuronal vacuoles and had pyknotic nuclei. They had cytoplasmic vacuoles and perinuclear Golgi apparatus revealed fragmented dilated cisternae. Nearby Bergmann astrocyte cells had highly vacuolated cytoplasm and the nerve fibers were also affected and showed dysmyleination (disrupted myelin sheath). Immunohistochemical study of the same group showed Purkinje cell cytoplasm had positive immunoreactions for calretinin proteins. In group III, there was a wide spread of neuronal affection to the degree of loss of many of Purkinje cells leaving empty spaces. Ultrastructurly, their cytoplasm appeared with multiple variable sized and had dilated mitochondria with disrupted cristae. The Bergmann astrocytes revealed nuclei with disrupted nuclear envelope and nearly absence their cytoplasmic organelle and there was more affection to the nerve fibers in the form of vacuolated axoplasm and demyelination (areas of myelin loss) beside dysmyleination. Immunohistochemical study of group III showed Purkinje cells cytoplasm with negative immunoreactions for calretinin proteins.Conclusion: Intake of ZnONPs induced various adverse alterations in the histological and immunohistochemical structures of cerebellar cortex indicating the occurrence of neurotoxicity. These changes were exaggerated with increasing the dose of their intake.
Modeling projection neuron and neuromodulatory effects on a rhythmic neuronal network

MODELING PROJECTION NEURON AND NEUROMODULATORY EFFECTS ON A RHYTHMIC NEURONAL NETWORK by Nickolas Kintos Projection neurons shape the activity of many neural networks. In particular, neuromodulatory substances, which are often released by projection neurons, alter the cellular and/or synaptic properties within a target network. However, neural networks in turn influence projection neuron input via synaptic feedback. This dissertation uses mathematical and biophysically-realistic modeling to investigate these issues in the gastric mill (chewing) motor network of the crab, Cancer borealis. The projection neuron MCN 1 elicits a gastric mill rhythm in which the LG neuron and INT 1 burst in anti-phase due to their reciprocal inhibition. However, bath application of the neuromodulator PK elicits a similar gastric mill rhythm in the absence of MCN 1 participation; yet, the mechanism that underlies the PK-elicited rhythm is unknown. This dissertation develops a 2-dimensional model that is used to propose three potential mechanisms by which PK can elicit a similar gastric mill rhythm. The network dynamics of the MCN 1-elicited and PK-elicited rhythms are also compared using geometrical properties in the phase plane. Next, the two gastric mill rhythms are compared using a more biophysically-realistic model. Presynaptic inhibition of MCN 1 is necessary for coordinating network activity during the MCN 1-elicited rhythm. In contrast, the PK-elicited rhythm is shown to be coordinated by a synapse that is not functional during the MCN 1-elicited rhythm. Next, the gastric mill rhythm that is elicited by two coactive projection neurons (MCN 1 and CΡΝ2) is studied. A 2-dimensional model is used to compare the network dynamics of the MCN 1-elicited and MCN 1 /CPN2-elicited gastric mill rhythms via geometrical properties in the phase plane. While the MCN 1-elicited rhythm requires the presence of reciprocal inhibition between INTl and the LG neuron, the MCN 1 /CPN2-elicited rhythm persists in the absence of this reciprocal inhibition, due to an inhibitory feedback synapse from ΓΝΤΙ to CPN2 that changes the locus of coordination in the gastric mill rhythm. Next, the effect of a second feedback synapse, from the ΑΒ neuron to MCN 1, is shown to change the motor pattern of the MCN 1and MCN 1 /CPN2-elicited rhythms. Finally, a third MCN 1 /CPN2-elicited rhythm is studied where the ΑΒ to MCN 1 feedback synapse only affects the LG burst phase of the rhythm. MODELING PROJECTION NEURON AND NEUROMODULATORY EFFECTS ON A RHYTHMIC NEURONAL NETWORK
Nonlinear multifractional order systems in chemical engineering

This article is devoted to the study of fractional order systems applied to chemical engineering. Fractional calculus is a branch of calculus which extends typical integer order operations like differentiation and integration to the real line and even the complex plane. Between applications developed using this tool there are two main areas of the engineering interest: modelling transport phenomena and control theory. Fundamental theory related to transport phenomena at the microescale is treated for complex media such as nanoparticle difusion in biological tissues, heat transfer in granular media and reological characterization of water-in-oil (W/O) highly concentrated emulsions. Then, the focus is traspased to the macroscale for the study of reactor dynamics under nonideal mixng and flow conditions. Finally, the controller proposed by (Tavazoei and Haeri, 2008) is used in order to switch between fractional order dynamics of a mixed reactor.
Potassium Fertilization in Potato

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the major vegetable crops of Nepal. Potato is grown all over the globe and consumed as either vegetable or staple food depending upon the crop production scenario. It is also an integral part of human diet. Potato is a high nutrient mining crop and needs higher fertilization for economic tuber production. Despite sufficient application of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P2O5), low replenishment and widespread potassium deficiency are limiting the potato production in Nepalese condition. Growth parameters such as plant height, leaf area and chlorophyll% was positively correlated with potassium application. Potassium alleviated stresses of frost and drought and reduced incidence of diseases like late blight, black scurf and hollow heart. Potassium also decreased the reducing sugar content and improved chips color and quality. Similarly, potassium application before harvest was found to increase storage life of potato tubers. Furthermore, potassium application significantly increased the yield of potato tubers and quality parameters such as Vitamin C content and specific gravity. Source of potassium and method of potassium application also affected growth, yield and quality parameters. Soil application of potassium in splits coupled with foliar spay was found to perform better. Optimum dose of potassium was recommended for economic tuber production. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 7(2): 153-160
UNDERSTANDING THE FACTORS AFFECTING CONSUMERS CONTINUANCE INTENTION IN MOBILE SHOPPING: THE CASE OF PRIVATE SHOPPING CLUBS

This study aims to determine the factors affecting the continuance intention in using mobile shopping apps and websites. Within the scope of the study, a research model is proposed that integrates an information systems (IS) expectation-confirmation model (ECM), flow theory, and trust. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to analyse data collected from 518 users of the most popular private shopping clubs in Turkey. The results revealed that the variables of perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and enjoyment directly and significantly affected the consumers' continuance intention in using the private shopping clubs' mobile apps and websites. The focus dimension of the flow experience was not found to have a significant effect on either consumer satisfaction or continuous usage intention. Another interesting result of the study is that, contrary to the general belief in the literature, the trust dimension does not have a significant effect on consumers' continuance intention.
Molecular Regulation of Collagen Deposition in the Extracellular Matrix of Cultured Ventricular Fibroblasts From Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

MOLECULAR REGULATION OF COLLAGEN DEPOSITION IN THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX OF CULTURED VENTRICULAR FIBROBLASTS FROM RAINBOW TROUT, ONCHORHYNCUS MYKISS Rainbow trout remain active in temperate waters that annually fluctuate by ~16°C in temperature. This is impressive as vertebrate cardiac function is highly sensitive to temperature change. Trout are able to compensate for the detrimental effects of temperature on cardiac function by remodeling both the active (muscle) and passive (extracellular matrix, ECM) components of the myocardium. The extent to which rainbow trout are able to remodel cardiac ECM is notable in comparison to other vertebrates such as mammals, as mammalian hearts have a limited capacity to remove collagen from the heart. Therefore, rainbow trout may represent a useful model to study ECM remodeling in the vertebrate heart. However, little is known about the mechanisms that regulate this response in trout. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the signaling factors and pathways involved in collagen type I deposition and removal in cardiac fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing ventricular collagen. The application of cytokine transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) to cardiac fibroblasts induced collagen synthesis and altered the expression of key genes involved in remodeling. Repetitive treatment of TGF-β1 caused the fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts. The trout myofibroblasts exhibited increased gelatinase activity in response to TGF-β1, which may have played a role in the decrease in collagen observed in myofibroblasts. It was then hypothesized that deformation of cardiac fibroblasts could stimulate the pathways associated with remodeling. To test this hypothesis, fibroblasts were stretched and the phosphorylation levels of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) involved in remodeling were quantified. p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs were significantly phosphorylated in response to stretch. The final goal of this thesis was to investigate the role of microRNA (miR) in collagen removal. This was achieved by transfecting trout cardiac fibroblasts with miR-29b, a miR known to be involved in collagen regulation. miR29b transfection significantly decreased collagen type I protein. Associated with this response was a decrease in the transcript levels of col1a3 isoform. Together, the results of this thesis establish several key molecules and pathways involved in trout cardiac remodeling, and also provide further evidence that these factors are highly conserved between vertebrate species.
How to increase the loyalty of public library users? A qualitative study

The main objective of this study is to explain how to increase user loyalty behavior to public library services. This study uses a qualitative method based on grounded theory. The research population included users of public libraries in Iran. The data were collected through in-depth interviews, and the theoretical saturation was obtained after interviewing 24 members of public libraries. The collected data through interviews were analyzed using theoretical coding and content analysis. Results indicated that observing moral and humane principles when dealing with library users plays a significant role in both building user loyalty to the library and attracting new users. In addition, it was found that causal conditions in increasing loyalty among public library users are related to four areas including physical space management, information resource management, human resource management, and information technology management. It was also noted that factors such as service quality, proper design of interiors, providing diverse and updated information resources, the use of new communication technologies, and the use of cyberspace and social network applications must be taken into account by public libraries. Building loyalty among users and members of public libraries in today’s technological world is of high importance, as it will guarantee the repeated and more frequent use of public libraries and their services and thus reflect their positive effects. The loyalty of users of libraries and information centers can be based on perceived quality, effective communication between librarians and users, and satisfaction with services offered by libraries and their staffs and can affect the intention for repeated visits, and the use of library service and preferring a library over other libraries.