Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computational studies of molecular self-assembly at surfaces : from rational design to function

Molecular self-assembly at surfaces is a prominent example of self-organization of matter with outstanding technological applications. The ability to predict the structure of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed at equilibrium is of great fundamental and technological importance. In this dissertation I present a self-consistent theory for a first-principle interpretation of 2D self-assembly based on modeling and statistical thermodynamics. The developed framework provides access to the thermodynamic stability of the SAM and to its concentration dependence. This allows to study competitive equilibria at surfaces and to rationalize the 2D polymorphism evidenced by scanning probe techniques. The theory predicts the existence of a critical concentration of monomers, which is used to set an absolute scale for the 2D self-assembly propensity. Last, four technological applications are discussed, showing the potentials of the developed framework.
A Pandemic of Busywork: Increased Online Coursework Following the Transition to Remote Instruction is Associated with Reduced Academic Achievement

Under normal circumstances, when students invest more effort in their schoolwork, they generally show evidence of improved academic achievement. But when universities abruptly transitioned to remote instruction in Spring 2020, instructors assigned rapidly-prepared online learning activities, disrupting the normal relationship between effort and outcomes. In this study, we examine this relationship using data observed from a large-scale survey of undergraduate students, from logs of student activity in the online learning management system, and from students’ estimated cumulative performance in their courses (n = 4,636). We find that there was a general increase in the number of assignments that students were expected to complete following the transition to remote instruction, and that students who spent more time and reported more effort carrying out this coursework generally had lower course performance and reported feeling less successful. We infer that instructors, under pressure to rapidly put their course materials online, modified their courses to include online busywork that did not constitute meaningful learning activities, which had a detrimental effect on student outcomes at scale. These findings are discussed in contrast with other situations when increased engagement does not necessarily lead to improved learning outcomes, and in comparison with the broader relationship between effort and academic achievement.
Impact of Seed Maturation and Drought on Seed Germination and Early Seedling Growth in White Clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Background: Understanding the drought tolerance of white clover seeds during germination and early seedling growth and how that is linked to seed maturation in legume species, is crucial to developing new stand establishments.Methods: An experiment was conducted in Randomized Block design in two factorial concept to explore how seed maturation and drought tolerance influence seed germination and early seedling growth using the two factors: seed coat color (yellow and brown, two levels as one factor) and drought intensity (control: 0 MPa [distilled water], mild drought: -0.2 MPa, moderate drought: -0.4 MPa and severe drought: -0.6 MPa, four levels as another factor). Result: In contrast to the yellow-coated seeds, the mean germination percentage, germination index, seedling vigour index and radicle length of the brown-coated seeds were lowered by 7.9%, 23.1%, 20.5% and 12.9%, respectively. Compared to the control, introducing drought conditions reduced the mean of germination percentage, germination index, seedling vigour index and radicle length of yellow-coated seeds by 52.4%, 64.1%, 41.9% and 23.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, drought affected brown-coated seeds more than yellow-coated seeds. The results indicating that the seed quality of white clover seed lots with yellow-colored coats higher than the seed lots with brown-coloured coats. In agronomic practice, a larger proportion of yellow-coated seeds should be harvested to improve new stands successful establishment under environment easy to dry.
Community Development and Cultural Creolization Through Food: The Oval Site at Stratford Hall Plantation

ABSTRACT The once-dynamic Oval Site at Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, is a prime example of how the history of an enslaved community can be lost to time. As an eighteenth-century farm quarter that housed both an overseer and enslaved individuals, the undocumented space was a location of constant cultural interaction and negotiation that, without archaeology, would have remained unknown. An archaeobotanical analysis conducted on plant remains recovered from the site demonstrates how enslaved Africans and African Americans on the site acquired and consumed food, and interacted with the site overseer and slave owners. Identified botanical material suggests that food was both a mechanism and a product of community development, identity formation, and agency assertion. The botanical assemblage further illuminates the multitude of influences and experiences that went into forming new, creolized African American foodways.
Profile of concept shadows of students in solving mathematical problems viewed from learning style

The concept of shadow is a description of students’ understanding of a mathematical concept. Concept shadows are cognitive structures that are composed of mental images, traits, and processes associated with a mathematical concept. Concept images affect problem-solving done by students. The concept of each student’s image is certainly different. These differences are influenced by learning styles. This study aims to describe in detail the shadow profiles of students’ visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles in solving mathematical problems. This research is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. The subjects in this study amounted to six people taken from students of the 7th grade at the junior high school in the odd semester of 2019/2020 consisting of two students learning visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles. Data collection makes use of written assignments and task-based interviews. Written assignment and interview data analyzed based on the concept of shadow indicators in solving problems. The results of this study indicate that the shadow of the concept of students with visual and auditory learning styles can reveal all aspects of the concept of mental images, processes, and properties. Whereas students with kinesthetic learning styles simply cannot disclose aspects of the process at the re-checking stage.
High Step-Up DC-DC Converter Using Built-In Transformer Voltage Multiplier Cell and Dual Boost Concepts

This article proposes a new high step-up dc-dc converter for fuel cell applications. Built-in transformers and voltage multiplier cells are integrated into the structure to step-up the voltage gain. This article proposes a new topology with common ground. Two of them are connected using the dual boost concept. Thus, the final structure provides input current interleaved that reduces the current ripple, output-series connection that increases the voltage gain, and floating ground on the output voltage, which can be a limitation for some applications. Additionally, on designing the built-in transformer with a leakage inductance value much less than the magnetizing inductance value (less than 0.5%), the proposed topology does not need a clamp circuit, which reduces the number of components and increases the efficiency. Operational steps, static gain analysis, and design guide of the new converter are described in detail herein. Furthermore, a 1-kW, 48–800-V prototype was built to verify the theoretical analysis. Tests in the laboratory reached 94.60% of maximum efficiency at 480 W and 93.00% of efficiency at 1.0 kW (rated power).
Synthesis and characterization of novel silver nanoparticles using Chamaemelum nobile extract for antibacterial application

The present study reports green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at room temperature using aqueous Chamaemelum nobile extract for the first time. The effect of silver nitrate concentration, quantity of the plant extract and the reaction time on particle size was optimized and studied by UV–Vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The appearance of brownish color with λmax of 422 nm confirmed the formation of AgNPs. Synthesized nanoparticles were further characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis was evaluated based on the inhibition zone using the disc-diffusion assay and measurement of minimal inhibition concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration by standard microdilution method. In conclusion, synthesis of nanoparticle with aqueous Chamaemelum nobile extract is simple, rapid, environmentally benign and inexpensive. Moreover, these synthesized nanoparticles exhibit significant antibacterial activity.
Variations in the Effects of a Single Monetary Policy: The Case of Russian Regions

This research analyses regional heterogeneity in the reaction of core inflation to shocks of a single monetary policy on the example of Russia. We use a global vector autoregression model to reveal impulse response functions of core inflation in Russian regions to monetary policy shocks. The average 5-year cumulative response of regional core inflation to a MIACR shock of 1 percentage point (pp) is ‒0.74 pp. For 77 out of 80 regions, the 5-year cumulative core inflation response is found to be statistically significant. If we exclude three statistically insignificant responses and discard the four regions with the highest and lowest responses, we get a spread of ‒0.55 to ‒0.93 pp with a standard deviation of 0.12. We show that, over a one-year horizon, the heterogeneous response to monetary policy shocks can moderately reduce the heterogeneity of the response of regional inflation to exchange rate shocks. However, the magnitude of this effect is limited. According to the analysis of the regional heterogeneity factors, the higher are the share of extractive industries in the gross regional product of a region, the share of loans to manufacturing sector, the share of loans to small enterprises, as well as the unemployment rate, the stronger will be the reaction of the core inflation to the monetary policy shock. The degree of heterogeneity in the Russian regions’ core inflation response to monetary policy shocks, the set of factors explaining this heterogeneity, and the explained variation in the regional response (30–40% depending on the model specification) turn out to be comparable to similar indicators in other countries with pronounced regional heterogeneity.
Human Delta Like 1-Expressing Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Human T Cell Development and Antigen-Specific Response in Humanized NOD/SCID/IL-2Rgnull (NSG) Mice

Human delta-like 1 (hDlk1) is known to be able to regulate cell fate decisions duringhematopoiesis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to exhibit potentimmunomodulatory roles in a variety of diseases. Herein, we investigated in vivofunctions of hDlkl1-hMSCs and hDlk1+hMSCs in T cell development and T cell responseto viral infection in humanized NOD/SCID/IL-2Rγnull (NSG) mice. Co-injection ofhDlk1-hMSC with hCD34+ cord blood (CB) cells into the liver of NSG mice markedlysuppressed the development of human T cells. In contrast, co-injection of hDlk1+hMSCwith hCD34+ CB cells into the liver of NSG dramatically promoted the development ofhuman T cells. Human T cells developed in humanized NSG mice represent markedlydiverse in terms of TCR Vβ usages, functionally active, and the restriction to human MHCmolecules. Upon challenge with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), EBV-specific hCD8+ T cellsin humanized NSG mic were effectively mounted with phenotypically activated T cellspresented as hCD45+hCD3+hCD8+hCD45RO+hHLA-DR+ T cells, suggesting thatantigen-specific T cell response was induced in the humanized NSG mice. Taken together,our data suggest that the hDlk1-expressing MSCs can effectively promote thedevelopment of human T cells and immune response to exogenous antigen in humanizedNSG mice. Thus, the humanized NSG model might have potential advantages for thedevelopment of therapeutics targeting infectious diseases in the future.
Optimizing Dewatering of Biosolids from Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digesters (ATAD) Using Inorganic Conditioners

Biosolids obtained through the autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) process exhibit greater polymer demand for dewatering than those obtained through conventional mesophilic aerobic digestion processes. An increase in ATAD retention time and operating temperature resulted in an increase in proteins and polysaccharides in solution, and this resulted in a corresponding increase in cationic polymer demand and an increase in dewatered cake filtrate chemical oxygen demand (COD). Alternative chemical conditioners were used to minimize polymer consumption. Coagulation of solution phase biological polymers (proteins and polysaccharides) using ferric chloride or alum was extremely effective in reducing cationic polymer conditioning demand and dewatered cake filtrate COD. Ferric chloride and alum in laboratory experiments were also able to precipitate and remove phosphate, thus preventing its recycle to the influent of the plant.
Complexes of tin(IV) and zirconium(IV) with Schiff bases derived from isatin and diamines

A series of new metal chelates of Sn I V and Zr I V with the Schiff bases formed by condensation of isatin with diamines have been synthesized and characterized via elemental analyses, infrared, electronic, IH NMR spectroscopy and molar conductivity measurements. The data suggest a 1 : 1 (metal : ligand) stoichiometry for all the isolated complexes. They behave as dibasic ONNO tetradentate ligands.
Measurement report: Spatial variations in ionic chemistry and water-stable isotopes in the snowpack on glaciers across Svalbard during the 2015–2016 snow accumulation season

Abstract. The Svalbard archipelago, located at the Arctic sea-ice edge between 74 and 81 ∘ N, is ∼60 % covered by glaciers. The region experiences rapid variations in atmospheric flow during the snow season (from late September to May) and can be affected by air advected from both lower and higher latitudes, which likely impact the chemical composition of snowfall. While long-term changes in Svalbard snow chemistry have been documented in ice cores drilled from two high-elevation glaciers, the spatial variability of the snowpack composition across Svalbard is comparatively poorly understood. Here, we report the results of the most comprehensive seasonal snow chemistry survey to date, carried out in April 2016 across 22 sites on seven glaciers across the archipelago. At each glacier, three snowpits were sampled along the altitudinal profiles and the collected samples were analysed for major ions ( Ca2+ , K+ , Na+ , Mg2+ , NH 4 + , SO 4 2 - , Br− , Cl− , and NO 3 - ) and stable water isotopes ( δ18O , δ2H ). The main aims were to investigate the natural and anthropogenic processes influencing the snowpack and to better understand the influence of atmospheric aerosol transport and deposition patterns on the snow chemical composition. The snow deposited in the southern region of Svalbard is characterized by the highest total ionic loads, mainly attributed to sea-salt particles. Both NO 3 - and NH 4 + in the seasonal snowpack reflect secondary aerosol formation and post-depositional changes, resulting in very different spatial deposition patterns: NO 3 - has its highest loading in north-western Spitsbergen and NH 4 + in the south-west. The Br− enrichment in snow is highest in north-eastern glacier sites closest to areas of extensive sea-ice coverage. Spatial correlation patterns between Na+ and δ18O suggest that the influence of long-range transport of aerosols on snow chemistry is proportionally greater above 600–700 m a.s. l.
Quasi-static analysis of susceptibility of the spacecraft power bus bar to the effects of electrostatic discharge

We performed a quasi-static analysis of susceptibility of the spacecraft power bus bar to the effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD). For the analysis, we used a schematic diagram of a power bus bar model with branch conductors. The schematic diagram consists of series-connected transmission lines, which represent the cross-sections of each power bus bar element. An ESD pulse with a current shape of fourth severity level was accepted as an excitation. The work shows the voltage waveforms at the beginning and end of the power bus bar when ESD impacts the branch conductors. We localized the maximum amplitude of the voltage in the bus section under ESD exposure. It revealed that when ESD affects the shielding tape covering the negative branch, there is a maximum attenuation (13.5 times) at the positive branch and a minimum attenuation (1.6 times) at the negative branch.
Clinical characteristics and diagnostic accuracy of the revised Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination (ACE-R) in older adults with a low educational level

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) as a cognitive screening tool for older adults with low levels of schooling and healthy aging, MCI and dementia in Brazil. Methods: All participants underwent neurological and psychiatric examinations and were administered a validated version of ACE-R. Results: A total of 85 participants were evaluated; most were females (84.7%, n = 72). The post hoc analysis showed statistical differences in ACE-R total scores between older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and controls (p < 0.001) and in subitem scores including verbal fluency, language, visuospatial skills and attention (p < 0.001). The visual-spatial skills subitem was the most strongly correlated with schooling level (r = 0.509, p < 0.001), whereas late, immediate recall and recognition memory were not influenced by schooling. The ACE-R had the best diagnostic accuracy in discriminating between MCI and controls = 0.69 (<57.5; 80/66), MD and controls = 0.98 (<50; 100/96), MCI and MD = 0.86 (<49.5; 100/74). Conclusions: ACE-R and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores for older adults with MCI and controls were significantly lower than those reported in similar studies. These preliminary findings support the need for establishing reliable cut-off scores for cognitive assessment of older Brazilian adults with low schooling at risk for dementia taking into consideration ecological and local variables.
A novel full-order and reduced-order fault detection filters design method for continuous-time singular Markov jump systems with complexity transition rates

This work is concerned with the problem of full-order and reduced-order fault detection filters (FDFs) design in a convex optimization frame for continuous-time singular Markov jump systems (CTSMJSs) with complexity transition rates (TRs). A novel Lyapunov function construct approach is utilized to cope with the stochastic admissibility problem for CTSMJSs with complexity TRs. In order to obtain effective full-order and reduced-order FDFs, we decoupled the inequality using the presupposed Lyapunov matrix. Owing to the use of Lyapunov stochastic admissibility theory and a novel decoupling method based on convex polyhedron technique, some sufficient conditions are obtained to guarantee that the resulting full-order and reduced-order FDFs are suitable for CTSMJSs with complexity TRs. In particular, the reduced-order FDF has the advantages of small storage space and fast detection speed compared with the full order FDF. Four illustrative examples are given to explain the effectiveness of the proposed full-order and reduced-order FDFs design method.
Modernisation, demographic change and state-level variations in household composition in India

ABSTRACT This study examines whether modernisation and demographic change explain subnational household variations in India using state-level data from six rounds of the National Sample Survey harmonised by IPUMS-International. Results highlight significant regional differences in living arrangements, mainly between south India, where joint households are rare, and selected states located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, where joint households are most prevalent. Key indicators of modernisation (urbanisation, occupational diversification, educational expansion) and demographic change explain roughly half of these differences, although modernisation indicators have a much weaker explanatory power than demographic ones. Further analyses show that men's rising age at marriage is linked to a modest increase in nuclear households, whereas educational expansion may have hindered this increase. These findings support the claim that the preference for joint households has long been considerably weaker – if at all present – in selected southern states, a nuance largely ignored in explanations of household change in India.
Perceived threats looming on SDG of peace and justice: Effects of investor’s identity, symbolic and economic threats on attitudes towards FDI

Foreign investment has always been a polemic in Indonesia, facilitated by provocative undertones on several media outlets. However, how this information can influence people’s attitudes towards foreign investment has not been explored much. This research aimed to understand how foreign investment information from different countries could trigger threats and, consequently, influence people’s attitude toward foreign investment with the framework from Integrated Threat Theory and information processing. As much as 559 participants participated in an online experimental survey. They were randomly grouped into six experimental groups with 3 (investors cue: China, Saudi Arabia, US) x 2 (threat: symbolic, economic) and one control group. Mediation analysis showed exposure to threat laden information influenced the formation of negative attitudes towards foreign investment through systematic processing by activating economic and symbolic threat perceptions. This effect significantly appears on participants exposed by information containing the economic threat and symbolic threat from China, but not from Saudi Arabia and the US. This result indicates that support towards foreign investment is still heavily related to sentiment to Chinese ethnicity deeply rooted in Indonesia which can hinder the goals towards establishing peace, justice and strong institutions.