Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Surface Defects and Size on Photochemical Properties of SnO2 Nanoparticles

We report the successful synthesis of surface defective small size (SS) SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) by adopting a low temperature surfactant free solution method. The structural properties of the NPs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The presence of surface defects, especially oxygen vacancies, in the sample were characterized using micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence emission. The Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms demonstrated the superior textural properties (high surface area and uniform pore size) of SS SnO2 compared to large size (LS) SnO2. A comparable study was drawn between SS SnO2 and LS SnO2 NPs and a significant decrease in the concentration of surface defects was observed for the LS sample. The results showed that surface defects significantly depend upon the size of the NPs. The surface defects formed within the band gap energy level of SnO2 significantly participated in the recombination process of photogenerated charge carriers, improving photochemical properties. Moreover, the SS SnO2 showed superior photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic activities compared to the LS SnO2. The presence of a comparatively large number of surface defects due to its high surface area may enhance the photochemical activity by reducing the recombination rate of the photogenerated charges.
When the tables are turned: The effects of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election on in-group favoritism and out-group hostility

The outcome of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election was a big surprise to many, as the majority of polls had predicted the opposite outcome. In this two-stage cross-sectional study, we focus on how Democrats and Republicans reacted to this electoral surprise and how these reactions might have influenced the way they allocated resources to each other in small groups. We find that, before the election, Republicans showed greater in-group favoritism than Democrats, who treated others equally, regardless of their political affiliation. We then show that Democrats experienced the election outcome as an ego shock and, in the week following the election, reported significantly higher levels of negative emotions and lower levels of self-esteem than Republicans. These reactions then predicted how individuals’ decided to allocate resources to others: after the election, Republicans no longer showed in-group favoritism, while Democrats showed out-group derogation. We find these decisions when the tables were turned can be partially explained by differences in participants’ state self-esteem.
Macrofaunal diversity in the Central Indian Ocean Basin

Abstract The deep-sea is characterized by four stable physical variables: hydrostatic pressure, temperature, salinity and oxygen. This harsh environment is comprised of diverse benthic faunal groups. Presently these organisms are at threat due to the increasing interest of mankind in the non-living resources and destructive deep-sea fishing practices present in these areas. The polymetallic nodule is one such resource, looked upon as an alternative to land-based minerals. The Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) abyss is densely covered with these nodules. Commercial mining can cause danger to the species present, some of which may be as yet unknown to science. The deep-sea fauna in the CIOB is the least studied among the three oceans, hence, the aim of the current work is to investigate the composition and feeding patterns of the macrofauna in the CIOB. A total of 27 species were obtained in the current study with a dominance of polychaetes. The CIOB was composed of deposit feeding macrofauna, this is supported by the positive correlation between fauna and sediment organic carbon (p<0.05). Compared to the other oceans, the density of macrofauna is low in CIOB, since it is sustained by low surface primary productivity.
Posttraumatic Growth and Resilience after A Prolonged War: A Study in Baghdad, Iraq

This study investigates the causal relationship between resilience and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Iraqi students who are exposed to traumatic events especially after the war in 2003. A survey has been conducted among 450 students from the colleges of political science, media, science, and veterinary medicine at the University of Baghdad in academic year 2013 to 2014. Participants completed a survey that consisted of the Baghdad Trauma History Screen, Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, and Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale. Results indicate a significant positive influence of resilience on PTG. Implications of the results and recommendations for further research are discussed. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/ijere.v3i3. 6316
Metabolites from the Dark Septate Endophyte Drechslera sp. Evaluation by LC/MS and Principal Component Analysis of Culture Extracts with Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors

Secondary metabolites from the cultures of the dark septate fungal endophyte (DSE) Drechslera sp. , isolated from the roots of rye grass (Lollium sp.) and cultured under different experimental conditions, are described here for the first time. The use of suberoylanilidehydroxamic acid (SAHA) and other histone deacetylase inhibitors as epigenetic modifiers in the culture medium was evaluated by LC/MS and LC/MS/MS. Several differences in the metabolite production were detected by means of supervised principal component analysis (PCA) of LC/MS data. The presence of the compounds in the culture medium or in the mycelium was compared.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Based Grading of Cartilaginous Bone Tumors: Added Value of Quantitative Texture Analysis

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the interreader agreement and diagnostic accuracy of morphologic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis and quantitative MRI-based texture analysis (TA) for grading of cartilaginous bone tumors. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was approved by our local ethics committee. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of 116 cartilaginous bone neoplasms were included (53 chondromas, 26 low-grade chondrosarcomas, 37 high-grade chondrosarcomas). Two musculoskeletal radiologists blinded to patient data separately analyzed 14 morphologic MRI features consisting of tumor and peritumoral characteristics. In addition, 2 different musculoskeletal radiologists separately performed TA including 19 quantitative TA parameters in a similar fashion. Interreader reliability, univariate, multivariate, and receiver operating characteristics analyses were performed for MRI and TA parameters separately and for combined models to determine independent predictors and diagnostic accuracy for grading of cartilaginous neoplasms. P values of 0.05 and less were considered statistically significant. Results Between both readers, MRI and TA features showed a mean kappa value of 0.49 (range, 0.08–0.82) and a mean intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.79 (range, 0.43–0.99), respectively. Independent morphological MRI predictors for grading of cartilaginous neoplasms were bone marrow edema, soft tissue mass, maximum tumor extent, and active periostitis, whereas TA predictors consisted of short-run high gray-level emphasis, skewness, and gray-level and run-length nonuniformity. Diagnostic accuracies for differentiation of benign from malignant as well as for benign from low-grade cartilaginous lesions were 87.0% and 77.4% using MRI predictors exclusively, 89.8% and 89.5% using TA predictors exclusively, and 92.9% and 91.2% using a combined model of MRI and TA predictors, respectively. For differentiation of low-grade from high-grade chondrosarcoma, no statistically significant independent TA predictors existed, whereas a model containing MRI predictors exclusively had a diagnostic accuracy of 84.8%. Conclusions Texture analysis improves diagnostic accuracy for differentiation of benign and malignant as well as for benign and low-grade cartilaginous lesions when compared with morphologic MRI analysis.
Format dependent probabilities: An eye-tracking analysis of additivity neglect

When people are asked to estimate the probabilities of uncertain events, they often neglect the additivity principle, which requires that the probabilities assigned to an exhaustive set of outcomes should add up to 100%. Previous studies indicate that additivity neglect is dependent on response format, self-generated probability estimates being more coherent than estimates on rating scales. The present study made use of eye-tracking methodology, recording the movement, frequency and duration of fixations during the solution of ten additivity problems and two control tasks. Participants produced more non-additive estimates in the Scale format than in the Self-generated format. Self-generated estimates also led to longer decision time and a higher number of repeated inspections, suggesting a deliberate comparison process. In contrast, the Scale format seemed to encourage a case-based approach where each outcome is evaluated in isolation.
Distributed Multiagent-Oriented Average Control for Voltage Restoration and Reactive Power Sharing of Autonomous Microgrids

This paper addresses the voltage restoration and reactive power sharing problem of an autonomous microgrid with inverter-based distributed generations (DGs). A two-layer distributed average control scheme employing a multiagent system (MAS)-based finite-time consensus protocol has been proposed to control for autonomous microgrids, where each DG need merely information exchanges via a sparse communication. Accordingly, the proposed distributed average control strategy can be implemented locally for voltage restoration and reactive power sharing by the local communication among DGs. Due to the proposed distributed controllers implemented on local DGs, no central controller is required. Inspired by techniques from the MAS-based finite-time consensus algorithm, the global sharing information (i.e., total voltage deviation and total reactive power deficiency of the microgrid) can be accurately guaranteed in a distributed way. Depending on the discovered global information, the cooperative distributed average voltage control strategy, which involves primary and secondary voltage control, is not only executed to achieve a cooperative average voltage recovery but also ensures accurately reactive power sharing for each local DG and brings some advantages, such as plug-and-play property. Moreover, graph discovery algorithm is employed to achieve the self-expanding microgrids. Simulation results on an autonomous system are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in the MATLAB/SimPowerSystems Toolbox.
A Classification approach towards Unsupervised Learning of Visual Representations

In this paper, we present a technique for unsupervised learning of visual representations. Specifically, we train a model for foreground and background classification task, in the process of which it learns visual representations. Foreground and background patches for training come af- ter mining for such patches from hundreds and thousands of unlabelled videos available on the web which we ex- tract using a proposed patch extraction algorithm. With- out using any supervision, with just using 150, 000 unla- belled videos and the PASCAL VOC 2007 dataset, we train a object recognition model that achieves 45.3 mAP which is close to the best performing unsupervised feature learn- ing technique whereas better than many other proposed al- gorithms. The code for patch extraction is implemented in Matlab and available open source at the following link .
The phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, KJH‐1002, reverses a mouse model of amnesia by activating a cGMP/cAMP response element binding protein pathway and decreasing oxidative damage

Inhibition of PDE5 improves synaptic plasticity and memory via enhancing cGMP expression, thus activating the cGMP/cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) signalling pathway. This study investigated the effects of a PDE5 inhibitor on scopolamine‐induced cognitive dysfunction, using memory‐related behavioural tests and biochemical assays.
Application of Quadruple Multiplex PCR Detection for Beef, Duck, Mutton and Pork in Mixed Meat

In this study, we have developed quadruple multiplex PCR assay for meat (beef, duck, mutton and pork) in processed meat products. By mixing four primers in appropriate ratios could be identified by the PCR. A forward primer was designed on a conserved DNA sequence in the mitochondrial ND2 and 16S rDNA gene in sheep and duck genes, and reverse primers on species-specific DNA sequences for each species. PCR primers were designed to give different length fragments from the four meats. The products showed species-specific DNA fragments of 116, 212, 177 and 322 bp from beef, pork, mutton and duck. Optimal PCR conditions were established. The assay sensitivity under these conditions was 0.1ng, and its specificity was 100 %. The results of the study suggest that PCR represents a simple, efficient test method as a practical alternative for the rapid detection and identification of meat.
How Brains Make Up Their Minds

dressing this long-standing philosophical concern about reference, Edelman and Tononi's embodied system for memory also allows an important synthesis with psychoanalytic theory. The associative connections they allude to with respect to memory (quoted at length above) are the same sort of associative connections recognized by Freud (1900) as characteristic of thought in humans very early in life, prior to the development of a clear sense of self and the capacity to use ordinary logic. Freud called this early mode of thought organization the primary processes, and he was the first to observe the operation of this association-based thinking not only as the predominant mode in the very young, but in the dream and hallucinatory states of adults, and comprising their neurotic symptoms. The positing of this earlier and different mode of thought-something that can be substantiated today-remains one of Freud's most important contributions. In conclusion, although Edelman and Tononi may not have directly resolved the mind-body problem in A Universe of Consciousness: How Matter Becomes Imagination, they have done quite a lot. They have provided an embodied theory of brain-mind that can (1) potentially dissolve the mind-body problem; (2) be relevant to one of Freud's most important posits regarding the primary process mode of mental organization; and (3) address another vexing philosophical problem, that of indeterminacy of reference. These are most impressive accomplishments.
From THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOSCIENCES AND NUTRITION, UNIT FOR PREVENTIVE NUTRITION, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS AND ABDOMINAL ADIPOSITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Cardiovascular fitness (CVF) and adiposity, especially abdominal adiposity, are well-known factors associated with general health status in childhood and adolescents. Physical activity (PA) may play a crucial role in CVF enhancement and the prevention of abdominal adiposity accumulation. The apparently obvious association of PA with CVF and adiposity still requires further research, since current knowledge is mostly based on data from self-reported measures but such measures are of limited use in pediatric populations. The current thesis aimed to examine the associations of objectively measured PA with CVF and abdominal adiposity in more than one thousand children (9-10 years) and adolescents (15-16 years) from the Swedish part of the European Youth Heart Study. Total PA levels and time spent in PA of different intensities (i.e. moderate and vigorous PA) were measured by accelerometry. Cardiovascular fitness was measured by a maximal cycling test. Body mass index was used to define overweight/obesity, and waist circumference to define an excess of central adiposity. Percentage body fat was estimated from skinfold thickness. Stages of sexual maturation were identified according to Tanner. The main findings and conclusions were: I) When examining CVF in adolescents, sexual maturation status and percentage body fat, as well as the way in which CVF is expressed, should be taken into account. II) Those adolescents who spend 60 minutes or more in moderate to vigorous PA daily seem to be more likely to have a healthier CVF level, independently of their sexual maturation and adiposity status. III) Low levels of total PA and, in particular, of vigorous PA, are associated with an increased risk for overweight and excess of central adiposity, independently of other important determinant factors, such as television viewing and birth weight. The data also indicate that the adverse association of television viewing with abdominal adiposity could be attenuated if sufficient vigorous PA is accumulated. IV) Cardiovascular fitness is inversely associated with abdominal adiposity and seems to modify the associations between PA and abdominal adiposity. In children and adolescents with low CVF, time spent in vigorous PA seems to be the key component linked to abdominal adiposity. The findings reported in this thesis will contribute to a better understanding of the associations of PA with CVF and abdominal adiposity, a prerequisite for more efficient health promotion. Future public health recommendations should consider the evidence-based importance of high intensity
INNOVATIVE ENERGY-ABSORBING CONCEPT FOR AIRCRAFT CABIN

An innovative concept for energy absorbers integrated in cabin components of commercial aircrafts is presented. The concept involves fibre-reinforced plastics as an energy-absorbing material of low weight, but leads to challenges in design and simulation. Because of the complex failure modes, extensive material testing was conducted, creating a knowledge-base for design, including design-guidelines. The simulation of the energy absorbers with the finite element code LS-DYNA has to consider non-physical input due to the complicated failure modes, which is discussed based on the used material model. The presented information is the output of a joint research project between Airbus Germany, EADS Innovation Works and the Hamburg University of Technology funded by the Department of Economy and Labour of Hamburg.
Socioeconomic determinants of hybrid maize adoption in Kenya

Kenya has increasingly relied on modern agricultural technology to increase productivity since land extensification is no longer a feasible option to satisfy national food demands. Hybrid maize varieties have been one of the more successful technologies developed, responsible for dramatic yield increases in the developed world since World War II and more recently as an integral part of the Green Revolution. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that affect the adoption of hybrid maize varieties in Kenya. A household survey was conducted to collect data on demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as to elicit farmers’ perceptions of the agronomic and consumption benefits of hybrid maize compared to open pollinated varieties. Using econometric (discrete choice) models, results showed that farmers’ perceive that hybrid maize provides significant benefits in obtaining higher yields, but are less effective protecting against drought. Several other demographic and socioeconomic variables also had positive effects on hybrid maize adoption including access to modern farm equipment, distance to market, age, gender, education level and occupation of the household head. As Kenya and other African countries look to biotechnology as a means to increase productivity, the seed industry will need to continue finding ways to develop genetically modified maize to improve drought protection. Key words: Hybrid maize, adoption, open pollinated variety, farmer’s preference, Kenya.
Biomechanical factors influencing successful self-righting in the pleurodire turtle Emydura subglobosa

ABSTRACT Self-righting performance is a key ability for most terrestrial animals, and has been used as a metric of fitness, exhaustion and thermal limits in a variety of taxa. However, there is little understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive variation in self-righting performance. To evaluate the mechanical factors that contribute to success versus failure when animals attempt to self-right, we compared force production and kinematic behavior in the rigid-bodied, pleurodire turtle Emydura subglobosa between successful and unsuccessful self-righting efforts. We found that the moment exerted during efforts to roll the body and the velocity of that roll are the primary drivers behind self-righting success. Specifically, turtles that self-righted successfully produced both larger moments and faster rolls than turtles that failed. In contrast, the angle at which the head was directed to lever the body and the extent of yaw that was incorporated in addition to roll had little impact on the likelihood of success. These results show that specific performance metrics can predict the ability of animals to self-right, providing a framework for biomimetic applications as well as future comparisons to test for differences in self-righting performance across animals from different environments, sexes, populations and species. Summary: Success in self-righting freshwater turtles is determined primarily by the velocity of the attempt and the moment exerted by the head during self-righting efforts.
Automated ovarian volume quantification in transvaginal ultrasound

Ovarian quantification by volume measurement is performed in routine clinical practice for diagnosis and management of gynecological conditions such as infertility. This paper describes an automated algorithm for ovarian volume measurement using three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) images. The algorithm integrates deep learned energy map as a soft shape prior within the variational segmentation framework for 2D radial slice segmentation. The output of the segmentation framework is used for mesh generation using U-V spherical parametrization to estimate the surface of the ovarian volume. The segmentation framework provides approximately 86% average Dice overlap with the ground truth annotations. The mean absolute volume difference is found to be approximately 5ml between manual and automated measurements on 55 TVUS images.
Dual tRNA mimicry in the Cricket Paralysis Virus IRES uncovers an unexpected similarity with the Hepatitis C Virus IRES

Co-opting the cellular machinery for protein production is a compulsory requirement for viruses. The Cricket Paralysis virus employs an Internal Ribosomal Entry Site (IRES) to express its structural genes in the late stage of infection. Ribosome hijacking is achieved by a sophisticated use of molecular mimicry to tRNA and mRNA, employed to manipulate intrinsically dynamic components of the ribosome. Binding and translocation through the ribosome is required for this IRES to initiate translation. We report two structures, solved by single particle electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM), of a double translocated CrPV IRES with aminoacyl-tRNA in the peptidyl site (P site) of the ribosome. CrPV IRES adopts a previously unseen conformation, mimicking the acceptor stem of a canonical E site tRNA. The structures suggest a mechanism for the positioning of the first aminoacyl-tRNA shared with the distantly related Hepatitis C Virus IRES.