Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scanning tunneling microscopy imaging and manipulation of DNA oligomer adsorbed on Cu(111) surfaces by a pulse injection method

We have developed a pulse injection method of DNA oligomer aqueous solution onto Cu(111) surfaces as a new sample-preparation technique for scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of biomolecules. The STM images revealed that the surface of Cu(111) retains its atomic flatness even after the injection of DNA-containing solution and that the deposition of intact DNA oligomers without aggregation is possible. The observed internal structure of deposited DNA suggests the promising possibility of sequencing DNA by means of STM. In order to examine the possibility of manipulation of DNA, translational positioning of DNA oligomer has been performed by a lateral pushing of the DNA with scanning tip.
A machine learning software to estimate morphological parameters of distant galaxies

We develop a machine learning (ML) software to estimate morphological parameters (e.g., the half-light radius re) of high redshift galaxies in the Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam data. To make the ML software capture simultaneously galaxy morphological features and point spread function (PSF) broadening effects, we implement a two-stream convolutional neural network (CNN) for inputs of galaxy and PSF images. Thanks to large training samples of galaxy and PSF images, the two-stream CNN estimates re more accurately than a single-stream CNN with only galaxy images. Our ML software would be a useful tool to investigate galaxy morphological properties with PSF-unstable images obtained in future large-area ground-based surveys.
The mutational landscape of spinal chordomas and their sensitive detection using circulating tumor DNA

Abstract Background Chordomas are the most common primary spinal column malignancy in the United States. The aim of this study was to determine whether chordomas may be detected by evaluating mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Methods Thirty-two patients with a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of chordoma had blood drawn pre-operatively and/or at follow-up appointments. Mutations in the primary tumor were identified by whole exome sequencing and liquid biopsy by ddPCR and/or RACE-Seq was used to detect one or more of these mutations in plasma ctDNA at concurrent or later time points. Results At the time of initial blood draw, 87.1% of patients were ctDNA positive (P <.001). Follow-up blood draws in twenty of the patients suggest that ctDNA levels may reflect the clinical status of the disease. Patients with positive ctDNA levels were more likely to have greater mutant allele frequencies in their primary tumors (P = .004) and undergo radiotherapy (P = .02), and the presence of ctDNA may correlate with response to systemic chemotherapy and/or disease recurrence. Conclusions Detection of ctDNA mutations may allow for the detection and monitoring of disease progression for chordomas.
High-Throughput Measurement of the Contact Resistance of Metal Electrode Materials and Uncertainty Estimation

Low and stable contact resistance of metal electrode materials is mainly demanded for reliable and long lifetime electrical engineering. A novel test rig is developed in order to realize the high-throughput measurement of the contact resistance with the adjustable mechanical load force and load current. The contact potential drop is extracted accurately based on the proposed periodical current chopping (PCC) method in addition to the sliding window average filtering algorithm. The instrument is calibrated by standard resistors of 1 mΩ, 10 mΩ, and 100 mΩ with the accuracy of 0.01% and the associated measurement uncertainty is evaluated systematically. Furthermore, the contact resistance between standard indenter and rivet specimen is measured by the commercial DMM-based instruments and our designed test rig for comparison. The variations in relative expanded uncertainty of the measured contact resistance as a function of various mechanical load force and load current are presented.
Crack shape evolution and stress intensity factors for opposite surface cracks in aircraft shaft under tension and combined loading

Abstract Stress Intensity Factor (SIF) of opposite surface cracks presented in an un-notched round bar has been determined under tension and combined load conditions. The influence of loading modes on SIF of opposite surface cracks has been attempted using numerical method. Crack depth ratio [(a/d); ‘a’ crack depth and ‘d’ diameter of the bar] ranging 0.1 to 0.4 and crack aspect ratio [(a/c); ‘a’ crack depth and ‘c’ semi major axis of the ellipse] ranging 0.2 to 1.0 were considered. Mixed mode SIF was calculated with consideration of mode-II and mode-III fractures. When the bar was subjected to pure tensile loading, as the crack depth ratio (a/d) increases, a crossover (higher SIF value changes from middle region to surface region) in SIF distribution was observed for an aspect ratio of 0.6. This implies that the growing crack has changed its propagation behavior as the depth ratio increases. In addition to tension, when torque was applied, nonuniform and asymmetric SIF spread was observed for semi elliptic crack [(a/c) = 0.2] compared to semi-circular [(a/c) = 1.0] crack. It was also noted that mode-I fracture is higher at the middle region [P/P0 = 0] of the rack border, whereas mode-II and mode-III fracture is higher at the crack surface region [P/P0 = ±1]. Due to combined loading, more influence of mode-II and mode-III fracture failure was observed and their effect is marginal at the middle region [P/P0 = 0] of the crack border. Using surface plots, SIF of opposite cracks located in un-notched round bar has been determined.
The initial behaviour of a spherical explosion II. Application to PETN charges in air and water

The initial fields of disturbance due to explosions of spherical charges of PETN in air and water are calculated, using the analysis developed in part I. The results in air compare favourably with earlier calculations (Berry & Holt 1954). In water it is found that the second blast wave immediately moves towards the centre of the explosion, with very small initial strength.
“Many of Us Have Been Previously Evicted”: Exploring the Relationship Between Homelessness and Evictions Among Families Participating in the Rapid Rehousing Program in Salt Lake County, Utah

ABSTRACT This study is concerned with homeless families that returned to the shelter and qualified to participate in the Rapid Rehousing Program (RRHP) again. Because RRH is a short-term voucher where families rent in the private market, one of the main barriers to finding housing is having an eviction record. Focus groups with tenants and case managers/service providers, as well as interviews with landlords participating in The Road Home’s RRHP in Salt Lake County, found that families tend to find housing in buildings where other homeless families with multiple evictions and criminal records are concentrated. Tenants often encounter lenient landlords, only to be evicted at a later time. Families returned to the shelter for various reasons, but mainly because after their RRH voucher ends, households end up violating their leases due to nonpayment. The article offers recommendations to those administering RRHP about how evictions and becoming homeless again can be prevented.
Estimating Submicron Aerosol Mixing State at the Global Scale With Machine Learning and Earth System Modeling

This study integrates machine learning and particle‐resolved aerosol simulations to develop emulators that predict submicron aerosol mixing state indices from the Earth system model (ESM) simulations. The emulators predict aerosol mixing state using only quantities that are predicted by the ESM, including bulk aerosol species concentrations, which do not by themselves carry mixing state information. We used PartMC‐MOSAIC as the particle‐resolved model and NCAR's CESM as the ESM. We trained emulators for three different mixing state indices for submicron aerosol in terms of chemical species abundance (χa), the mixing of optically absorbing and nonabsorbing species (χo), and the mixing of hygroscopic and nonhygroscopic species (χh). Our global mixing state maps show considerable spatial and seasonal variability unique to each mixing state index. Seasonal averages varied spatially between 13% and 94% for χa, between 38% and 94% for χo, and between 20% and 87% for χh with global annual averages of 67%, 68%, and 56%, respectively. High values in one index can be consistent with low values in another index depending on the grouping of species and their relative abundance, meaning that each mixing state index captures different aspects of the population mixing state. Although a direct validation with observational data has not been possible yet, our results are consistent with mixing state index values derived from ambient observations. This work is a prototypical example of using machine learning emulators to add information to ESM simulations.
A numerical study on nonlinear bending performance of transversely loaded composite singly curved stiffened surfaces

The review of recent literature shows that the bending performances of transversely loaded laminated composite singly curved stiffened surfaces are not studied in detail using the geometrically nonlinear strains. The present paper aims to fill that void and proposes an isoparametric C° finite element formulation combining von-Karman nonlinearity and Sanders’ first approximation theory. The curved surfaces are simulated using nonlinear strains. The stiffeners are formulated using geometrically linear and nonlinear strains. The correctness of the proposed approach is confirmed through solution of benchmark problems. The relative performances of stiffened curved surfaces in terms of maximum transverse displacements are studied for industrially important parametric variations like boundary conditions, laminations, stacking sequences, and number, orientations, eccentricities, and depth of stiffeners. The results are critically discussed and it is concluded that the clamped 0°/90°/0° shell with curved stiffeners (y-stiffener) located below the mid-surface shows the greatest bending stiffness. The nonlinear approach is essential for both shell and stiffener for correct prediction of the transverse displacements. The relatively simpler linear approach can be considered for single x-stiffener only.
Comparison of inherited neural tube defects in companion animals and livestock

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are congenital malformations resulting from the improper or incomplete closure of the neural tube during embryonic development. A number of similar malformations of the protective coverings surrounding the central nervous system are also often included under this umbrella term, which may not strictly fit this definition. A range of NTD phenotypes exist and have been reported in humans and a wide range of domestic and livestock species. In the veterinary literature, these include cases of anencephaly, encephalocele, dermoid sinus, spina bifida, and craniorachischisis. While environmental factors have a role, genetic predisposition may account for a significant part of the risk of NTDs in these animal cases. Studies of laboratory model species (fish, birds, amphibians, and rodents) have been instrumental in improving our understanding of the neurulation process. In mice, over 200 genes that may be involved in this process have been identified and variant phenotypes investigated. Like laboratory mouse models, domestic animals and livestock species display a wide range of NTD phenotypes. They remain, however, a largely underutilized population and could complement already established laboratory models. Here we review reports of NTDs in companion animals and livestock, and compare these to other animal species and human cases. We aim to highlight the potential of nonlaboratory animal models for mutation discovery as well as general insights into the mechanisms of neurulation and the development of NTDs.
INFLUENCE OF THE FILAMENT MATERIAL ON LOW-PRESSURE HOT-FILAMENT CVD DIAMOND DEPOSITION

The behavior of Re, Ta and W filaments during lowpressure hot-filament CVD diamond synthesis was investigated. With proper matching of the deposition parameters it was possible to produce uniform, well faceted diamond films on cemented carbide substrates using all three filament materials. Carbon layers were formed only on Ta filaments when using 1.0 and 2.0 % CH4 at filament temperatures below 2200°c. No carbon layer formation was observed on Re and W filaments under these conditions. Between 2000 and 2400"~ the mechanical stability of the Re filaments was superior to that of the Ta filaments as well as that of the W filaments. The W filaments showed the greatest deformation during the carburization.
Influence of Long‐Term Sodic‐Water Irrigation, Gypsum, and Organic Amendments on Soil Properties and Nitrogen Mineralization Kinetics under Rice–Wheat System

Abstract Influence of long‐term sodic‐water (SW) irrigation with or without gypsum and organic amendments [green manure (GM), farmyard manure (FYM), and rice straw (RS)] on soil properties and nitrogen (N) mineralization kinetics was studied after 12 years of rice–wheat cropping in a sandy loam soil in northwest India. Long‐term SW irrigation increased soil pH, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and decreased organic carbon (OC) and total N content. On the other hand, application of gypsum and organic amendments resulted in significant improvement in all these soil properties. Mineralization of soil N ranged from 54 to 111 mg N kg−1 soil in different treatments. Irrigation with SW depressed N mineralization. In SW‐irrigated plots, two flushes of N mineralization were observed; the first during 0 to 7 d and the second after 28 d. Amending SW irrigated plots with GM and FYM enhanced mineralization of soil N. Gypsum application along with SW irrigation reduced cumulative N mineralization at 56 days in RS‐amended plots but increased it under GM‐treated, FYM‐treated, or unamended plots. Nitrogen mineralization potential (No) ranged from 62 to 543 mg N kg−1 soil. In the first‐order zero‐order model (FOZO), the easily decomposable fraction ranged from 5.4 to 42 mg N kg−1 soil. Compared to the first‐order single compartment model, the FOZO model could better explain the variations in N mineralization in different treatments. Variations in No were influenced more by changes in pH, SAR, and ESP induced by long‐term SW irrigations and amendments rather than by soil OC.
INST Institutional Ownership and Firm Value: A Study on the Bist Manufacturing Index

The aim of this research is to test the relation between institutional ownership and firm value. To accomplish this aim, data from 104 firms listed in the BIST (i.e. Borsa Istanbul) industrial index between 2006 and 2018 have been used. Studies on the structure of ownership have problems with endogeneity. In order to avoid these problems, this study adopted Durbin-Wu-Hausman test with advanced econometric techniques, Ordinary Least Squares (i.e. OLS), and Two-Stage Least Squares (i.e. 2SLS). As a result of the simultaneous equation system improved in this study, a positive relation between institutional ownership as an endogenous variable, and firm value has been located. Besides, it has been found that institutional investors are more interested in the firms that have a higher market performance.
CEOs’ supply chain experience and firm innovation: evidence from China

Using manually collected data of Chinese listed companies, this study investigates the effect of CEOs’ supply chain experience on corporate innovation. We find that such experience is positively associated with corporate innovation inputs, outputs, and innovative efficiency. The main findings withstand checks for endogeneity, self-selection bias, and robustness tests. Additionally, CEOs’ supply chain experience improves corporate innovation performance through providing information more efficiently, reducing the financial constraints faced by firms, and improving the effectiveness of corporate governance. Further analyses indicate that the effect this experience on innovation varies in different environments. Overall, our results suggest that CEOs’ supply chain experience, as an essential component of social ties, contributes to corporate innovation.
Fe 2p Core-Level Spectra for Pure, Epitaxial α-Fe2O3(0001), γ-Fe2O3(001), and Fe3O4(001)

We have measured high-energy resolution Fe 2p and O 1s photoemission spectra and high-angular resolution Fe 2p and O 1s photoelectron diffraction angular distribution for the following iron oxide films grown by molecular beam epitaxy: α-Fe2O3/α-Al2O3(0001), γ-Fe2O3/MgO(001), and Fe3O4/MgO(001). The combination of these two techniques allows the crystallinographic quality of the near-surface region to be determined for each phase prior to measurement and interpretation of the core-level spectra. These spectra thus constitute state-of-the-art energy-resolved data on phase-pure, crystallographically well-defined iron oxides.
Raw Cognition
 Rhythms as Dynamic Constraints

There is increasing evidence that the rhythmic interactions between intrinsic oscillators both in the body and in the brain play a constitutive role in cognition. However, the mechanisms and extent of these interactions are yet to be fully understood. In this article, I will contend that a notion of rhythm as an open entrainment can be useful for enactive approaches to different aspects of cognition. It allows us to think of the different oscillators that we find in the body, the brain, and the environment as nested dynamic constraints that through neuronal and non-neuronal interactions tie together the different domains while retaining their specific functions.
XPS studies of the oxygen 1S and 2s levels in a wide range of functional polymers

Over 70 oxygen-containing polymers have been studied using high-resolution monochromated XPS. O 1s binding energies (BEs) are reported and compared with previous data from much smaller sample sets. The separation of the two components from O-C=O groups is quite sensitive to structural variation. O 1s peak widths and the effect of shake-up on peak areas are also discussed. For about a representative one-third of these polymers the O 2s region of the valence band has been studied in detail. O 2s BEs are reported and a nen parameter is introduced: the O Is-O 2s energy separation (oxygen valence parameter). This parameter has a greater range than the O Is chemical shift, is independent of any surface charging, and appears to have interesting diagnostic potential
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TIN MINING POND WATER USED FOR IRRIGATION IN PLATEAU STATE, CENTRAL NIGERIA

The present work was conducted by monitoring the water from twelve major tin mine ponds water in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria (Bokkos, Barkin – Ladi and Jos – South) used for irrigation. Their quality was assessed in terms of physico-chemical parameters for dry and rainy seasons. The physico-chemical parameters such as; Turbidity, pH, Temperature, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total alkalinity (TA), Total Hardness (TH), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Phosphate (PO43-), Sulphate (SO42-), Chloride (Cl- ), Fluoride (F-), Sodium (Na+) and Potassium (K+) were investigated to ascertain the water quality for irrigation purposes. Water quality parameters with regards to its use for the purpose of irrigation such as FAO/WHO/FEPA standards satisfy the requirement for use in agriculture. However, turbidity which ranged from18.1 – 27.4 and 15.9 – 18.8, dissolved oxygen 20.9 – 26.3 and 20.2 – 27.4 mg/L, Total alkalinity 101 – 134 and 122 – 167mg/L, total phosphate 6.3 – 8.9 and 6.5 – 10.5 mg/L, BOD 7.4 – 23.8 and 7.2 – 29.2 mg/L, potassium 1.13 – 1.18 and 3.81 – 4.63 mg/L both in dry and rainy seasons, respectively were found to be above the irrigation water standard limits. The study therefore recommends that the mining pond water should be used with caution as some of the parameters are liable to be toxic to the irrigated crops. The positive correlation exhibited among some of the parameters examined is a clear indication of a common relationship between these sources of water.
Reflecting on asynchronous internet mediated focus groups for researching culturally sensitive issues

ABSTRACT Internet-mediated focus groups (FGs) have become a feature of qualitative research over the last decade; however, their use within social sciences has been adopted at a slower pace than other disciplines. This paper considers the advantages and disadvantages of internet-mediated FGs and reflects on their use for researching culturally sensitive issues. It reports on an innovative study, which utilised text-based asynchronous internet-mediated FGs to explore attitudes to abortion, and abortion as a workplace issue. The authors identify three key elements of text-based asynchronous online FGs as particularly helpful in researching culturally sensitive issues – safety, time and pace. The authors demonstrate how these elements, integral to the actual process, contributed to ‘opinion change/evolution’ and challenged processes of stigmatisation centred on over-simplification, misinformation as to the incidence of a culturally sensitive issue in a population, and discrimination.
Long-term outcomes of adjacent and antagonistic teeth after implant restoration: a focus on patient-related factors

Purpose To investigate factors affecting the antagonistic and adjacent teeth in patients after implant restoration and prosthetic rehabilitation. Methods In total, 160 patients who visited Kyungpook National University Dental Hospital for implant surgery, prosthesis placement, and supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) were included in this study. The average follow-up period was 88.06 months, and the maximum was 175 months. Patients’ history of smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis was investigated, and panoramic radiographs were taken after surgery and prosthetic treatment. During the follow-up period, extraction and prosthetic/endodontic treatments of the antagonistic and adjacent teeth were analyzed. The statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the Fisher exact test, and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results Treatment was performed on 29.4% of the studied antagonistic teeth with extraction performed in 20.0% and prosthetic treatment in 10.0%. Furthermore, 19.4% of the studied adjacent teeth underwent treatment, of which extraction was performed in 12.5% and prosthetic treatment in 7.5%. The treatment rate for adjacent teeth was 25.3% in smokers, which was higher than that of non-smokers (12.3%) (P=0.039). Patients who were non-adherent to SPT showed a significantly higher rate (19.6%) of antagonistic prosthetic treatment than did those who were adherent (5.5%) (P=0.006). Conclusions Implant restoration can affect the adjacent and antagonistic teeth. Smoking, osteoporosis history, and absence of SPT may be risk factors for the treatment of the adjacent and antagonistic teeth.