Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Polarization Measurements in Several Ferroelectric Oxides Using a Pulsed‐Field Method

The room‐temperature spontaneous polarizations in LiNbO3, LiTaO3, Ba2NaNb5O15, Sr0.5Ba0. 5Nb2O6, Ba1.1Sr0. 9NaNb5O15, and Sr2KNb5O15 have been measured directly by a pulsed field method using an aqueous solution of LiCl as the electrode material. The experimental results are: P8 (LiNbO3) = 0.71±0.02 C/m2, P8 (LiTaO3) = 0.50±0.01 C/m2, P8 (Ba2NaNb5O15) = 0.40±0.01 C/m2, P8 (Ba1.1Sr0.9NaNb5O15) = 0.36±0.01 C/m2, P8 (Sr2KNb5O15) = 0.25±0.01 C/m2, and P8 (Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6) = 0.25±0.01 C/m2. Experimental techniques are presented, and the advantages of the pulsed‐field method over hysteresis‐loop methods are discussed.
On the Orthogonal Bases of Symmetry Classes

Abstract Let V be an n-dimensional complex inner product space and let {e1,…,en} be an orthonormal basis of V. Suppose G is a permutation group of degree m and χ is an irreducible character of G. We denote by Vχ(G) the symmetry class of tensors associated with G and χ. In this article, we discuss the problem of existing orthogonal bases for Vχ(G) consisting of symmetrized decomposable tensors e*α.
Remediation of chromium-contaminated soil in semi-arid areas by combined chemical reduction and stabilization

ABSTRACT The indoor simulation remediation of chromium-contaminated soil in semi-arid areas with chemical reduction-stabilization method was conducted to study the effects of remediation agent types and dosage, water (mL)-soil (g) ratio and remediation time on reduction and stabilization efficiency of the chromium-contaminated soil. The results showed that FeSO4 was the most effective reduction agent for reduction of Cr(VI) in soil. The optimally combined chemical reduction-stabilization remediation conditions were 2.5 times theoretical reaction dosage FeSO4 and 8% of modified corn stover biochar (KBC), 50% of water-soil ratio, and 7 days remediation time. The total Cr and Cr(VI) leaching concentrations and Cr(VI) content in soil were reduced from 65.65 mg L-1, 61.98 mg L-1 and 1000.00 mg kg-1 without treatment to 0.114 mg L-1, 0.125 mg L-1 and 18.909 mg kg-1 after treatment, respectively. They were according with comprehensive wastewater discharge standards and construction land soil contamination risk control standards, respectively. Graphical abstract
Outcomes and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality among Older Patients with Dementia

Dementia is associated with high rates of admission to hospital, due to acute illness, and in-hospital mortality. The study aimed to investigate the impact of dementia on in-hospital mortality and identify the predictors of in-hospital mortality in these patients. This was a retrospective study evaluating all the patients ≥65 years consecutively admitted to our Emergency Department (ED). We compared the clinical outcomes of the patients with dementia at ED admission with those who did not have dementia, using a propensity score-matched (PSM) paired cohort of controls. The patients were matched for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index value, and clinical severity at presentation (based on NEWS ≥ 5). The primary study endpoint was all-cause in-hospital death. After the PSM, a total of 7118 patients, 3559 with dementia and 3559 in the control group, were included in the study cohort. The mean age was 84 years, and 59.8% were females. The overall mortality rate was higher for the demented patients compared with the controls (18.7% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.002). The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) showed that dementia was an independent risk factor for death (HR 1.13 [1.01–1.27]; p = 0.033). In the patients with dementia, respiratory failure (HR 3.08 [2.6–3.65]), acute renal failure (HR 1.64 [1.33–2.02]; p < 0.001), hemorrhagic stroke (HR 1.84 [1.38–2.44]; p < 0.001), and bloodstream infection (HR 1.41 [1.17–1.71]; p = 0.001) were significant predictors of worse outcomes. Finally, the comorbidities and severity of illness at ED admission negatively influenced survival among the patients with dementia (CCI HR 1.05 [1.01–1.1] p = 0.005; NEWS ≥ 5 HR 2.45 [1.88–3.2] p < 0.001). In conclusion, among the hospitalized older patients, dementia was associated with a higher risk of mortality. Furthermore, among the older patients with dementia, respiratory failure and bloodstream infections were independently associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality.
Investigation of the mechanism of tanshinone IIA to improve cognitive function via synaptic plasticity in epileptic rats

Abstract Context Tanshinone IIA is an extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae) used to treat cardiovascular disorders. It shows potential anticonvulsant and cognition-protective properties. Objective We investigated the mechanism of tanshinone IIA on antiepileptic and cognition-protective effects in the model of epileptic rats. Materials and methods Lithium chloride (LiCl)-pilocarpine-induced epileptic Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the following groups (n = 12): control (blank), model, sodium valproate (VPA, 189 mg/kg/d, positive control), tanshinone IIA low dose (TS IIA-L, 10 mg/kg/d), medium dose (TS IIA-M, 20 mg/kg/d) and high dose (TS IIA-H, 30 mg/kg/d). Then, epileptic behavioural observations, Morris water maze test, Timm staining, transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence staining, western blotting and RT-qPCR were measured. Results Compared with the model group, tanshinone IIA reduced the frequency and severity of seizures, improved cognitive impairment, and inhibited hippocampal mossy fibre sprouting score (TS IIA-M 1.50 ± 0.22, TS IIA-H 1.17 ± 0.31 vs. model 2.83 ± 0.31), as well as improved the ultrastructural disorder. Tanshinone IIA increased levels of synapse-associated proteins synaptophysin (SYN) and postsynaptic dense substance 95 (PSD-95) (SYN: TS IIA 28.82 ± 2.51, 33.18 ± 2.89, 37.29 ± 1.69 vs. model 20.23 ± 3.96; PSD-95: TS IIA 23.10 ± 0.91, 26.82 ± 1.41, 27.00 ± 0.80 vs. model 18.28 ± 1.01). Discussion and conclusions Tanshinone IIA shows antiepileptic and cognitive function-improving effects, primarily via regulating synaptic plasticity. This research generates a theoretical foundation for future research on potential clinical applications for tanshinone IIA.
Increased resting‐state thalamocortical functional connectivity in children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder

There is converging evidence that abnormal thalamocortical interactions contribute to attention deficits and sensory sensitivities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous functional MRI studies of thalamocortical connectivity in ASD have produced inconsistent findings in terms of both the direction (hyper vs. hypoconnectivity) and location of group differences. This may reflect, in part, the confounding effects of head motion during scans. In the present study, we investigated resting‐state thalamocortical functional connectivity in 8–25 year‐olds with ASD and their typically developing (TD) peers. We used pre‐scan training, on‐line motion correction, and rigorous data quality assurance protocols to minimize motion confounds. ASD participants showed increased thalamic connectivity with temporal cortex relative to TD. Both groups showed similar age‐related decreases in thalamic connectivity with occipital cortex, consistent with a process of circuit refinement. Findings of thalamocortical hyperconnectivity in ASD are consistent with other evidence that decreased thalamic inhibition leads to increase and less filtered sensory information reaching the cortex where it disrupts attention and contributes to sensory sensitivity. This literature motivates studies of mechanisms, functional consequences, and treatment of thalamocortical circuit dysfunction in ASD.
Brain Natriuretic Peptide Protects Cardiomyocytes from Apoptosis and Stimulates Their Cell Cycle Re-Entry in Mouse Infarcted Hearts

Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) supplementation after infarction increases heart function and decreases heart remodeling. BNP receptors, NPR-A and NPR-B are expressed on adult cardiomyocytes (CMs). We investigated whether a part of the BNP cardioprotective effect in infarcted and unmanipulated hearts is due to modulation of the CM fate. For this purpose, infarcted adult male mice were intraperitoneally injected every two days during 2 weeks with BNP or saline. Mice were sacrificed 1 and 14 days after surgery. BNP or saline was also injected intraperitoneally every two days into neonatal pups (3 days after birth) for 10 days and in unmanipulated 8-week-old male mice for 2 weeks. At sacrifice, CMs were isolated, counted, measured, and characterized by qRT-PCR. The proportion of mononucleated CMs was determined. Immunostainings aimed to detect CM re-entry in the cell cycle were performed on the different hearts. Finally, the signaling pathway activated by BNP treatment was identified in in vitro BNP-treated adult CMs and in CMs isolated from BNP-treated hearts. An increased number of CMs was detected in the hypoxic area of infarcted hearts, and in unmanipulated neonatal and adult hearts after BNP treatment. Accordingly, Troponin T plasma concentration was significantly reduced 1 and 3 days after infarction in BNP-treated mice, demonstrating less CM death. Furthermore, higher number of small, dedifferentiated and mononucleated CMs were identified in adult BNP-treated hearts when compared to saline-treated hearts. BNP-treated CMs express higher levels of mRNAs coding for hif1 alpha and for the different cyclins than CMs isolated from saline-treated hearts. Higher percentages of CMs undergoing DNA synthesis, expressing Ki67, phospho histone3 and Aurora B were detected in all BNP-treated hearts, demonstrating that CMs re-enter into the cell cycle. BNP effect on adult CMs in vivo is mediated by NPR-A binding and activation of the ERK MAP kinase pathway. Interestingly, an increased number of CMs was also detected in adult infarcted hearts treated with LCZ696, an inhibitor of the natriuretic peptide degradation. Altogether, our results identified BNP and all therapies aimed to increase BNP’s bioavailability as new cardioprotective targets as BNP treatment leads to an increased number of CMs in neonatal, adult unmanipulated and infarcted hearts.
Stiff-String Basis Functions for Vibration Analysis of High Speed Rotating Beams

A new rotating beam finite element is developed in which the basis functions are obtained by the exact solution of the governing static homogenous differential equation of a stiff string, which results from an approximation in the rotating beam equation. These shape functions depend on rotation speed and element position along the beam and account for the centrifugal stiffening effect. Using this new element and the Hermite cubic finite element, a convergence study of natural frequencies is performed, and it is found that the new element converges much more rapidly than the conventional Hermite cubic element for the first two modes at higher rotation speeds. The new element is also applied for uniform and tapered rotating beams to determine the natural frequencies, and the results compare very well with the published results given in the literature.
Does ESG Performance Improve the Quantity and Quality of Innovation? The Mediating Role of Internal Control Effectiveness and Analyst Coverage

This study tests the performance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) on corporate innovation and the mediating effect of internal control effectiveness and analyst coverage on this relationship, by using data on China’s A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2020. The results show that ESG performance significantly improves innovation quantity, measured by the number of authorized invention patents, and innovation quality, measured by the number of patent citations. The internal and external mechanism tests show that the quantity and quality improvement effect of ESG performance on corporate innovation is dependent on effective internal controls and adequate analyst coverage. The results of the heterogeneity analysis show that improvement in the quality of enterprise-driven innovation is primarily due to knowledge spillover into the domestic market. The additional analysis suggests that the promoting effect is more obvious when the chief executive officer (CEO) serves as a board chairman, the corporation belongs to non-state-owned and large-scale enterprises, the industry in which the market competition is higher, and the corporation is located in a general city. This study provides a foundation for developing a better ESG valuation theory to assist management and investors in making better decisions to improve business performance and investment returns.
Order identification for Gaussian moving averages using the codifference function

In the traditional Box–Jenkins modelling procedure, we use the sample autocorrelation function as a tool for identifying the plausible models for empirical data. In this paper, we consider the sample normalized codifference as a new tool for the preliminary order identification of pure univariate Gaussian moving average process. From simulation studies, we find that when the number of observations are large (more than 100), the proposed method may be superior than a similar identification procedure which is based on the sample autocorrelation function. Simulation results also indicate that the proposed method may perform as well as Gallagher’s procedure [Gallagher, C. , 2002, Order identifi-cation for Gaussian moving averages using the Covariation. Journal of the Statistical Computation and Simulations, 72(4), 279–283. ].
Rapid and Non-Invasive Detection of Aedes aegypti Co-Infected with Zika and Dengue Viruses Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy

The transmission of dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) has been continuously increasing worldwide. An efficient arbovirus surveillance system is critical to designing early-warning systems to increase preparedness of future outbreaks in endemic countries. The Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a promising high throughput technique to detect arbovirus infection in Ae. aegypti with remarkable advantages such as cost and time effectiveness, reagent-free, and non-invasive nature over existing molecular tools for similar purposes, enabling timely decision making through rapid detection of potential disease. Our aim was to determine whether NIRS can differentiate Ae. aegypti females infected with either ZIKV or DENV single infection, and those coinfected with ZIKV/DENV from uninfected ones. Using 200 Ae. aegypti females reared and infected in laboratory conditions, the training model differentiated mosquitoes into the four treatments with 100% accuracy. DENV-, ZIKV-, and ZIKV/DENV-coinfected mosquitoes that were used to validate the model could be correctly classified into their actual infection group with a predictive accuracy of 100%, 84%, and 80%, respectively. When compared with mosquitoes from the uninfected group, the three infected groups were predicted as belonging to the infected group with 100%, 97%, and 100% accuracy for DENV-infected, ZIKV-infected, and the co-infected group, respectively. Preliminary lab-based results are encouraging and indicate that NIRS should be tested in field settings to evaluate its potential role to monitor natural infection in field-caught mosquitoes.
Religion and Employees Fraud Prevention: With Moderation of Spirituality, Leadership and Oganizational Culture

This study aims to define and analyse the relationship between religiosity and Employees Fraud Prevention with spirituality, leadership dan organizational culture as a moderating variable. The data analysis method used in this research is in the form of multiple linear regression testing and interaction test or moderated regression analysis (MRA). The population in this reseach is Baitul Mal Wattamwil Nuansa Ummah (BMT NU) and Baitul Mal Wattamwil Sidogiri Integrated Joint Venture (BMT UGT Sidogiri) spread across Madura Island. The result indicate that the Religiosity and spirituality Variable affects the employees fraud prevention. This study also verifies that Leadership and Organizational Culture cannot moderate the effect of religiosity on employees fraud prevention.
Estimation of hydraulic parameters in a heterogeneous low‐lying farmland near Venice

Estimating the hydraulic properties of the vadose zone is essential to understand soil‐water dynamics and achieving appropriate water management in agricultural lands. Inverse modelling methods are commonly used to estimate hydraulic properties from field observations. Unlike the extensively applied local search methodologies, data assimilation techniques can fully account for multiple uncertainties and are becoming a widely used tool for estimating hydraulic parameters. However, only few applications on real field tests are available. The main objective of this study was to estimate the van Genuchten‐Mualem (VGM) parameters and the saturated hydraulic conductivity ( Ks$$ {K}_s $$ ) of a heterogeneous low‐lying farmland at the margin of the Venice Lagoon, Italy, characterized by high peat content, sandy drifts, and a very shallow water table. To this end, two methods were tested, that is, the Ensemble Smoother (ES) and the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm associated with hydrological modelling performed with Hydrus‐1D. Volumetric water content (VWC) observations were collected at three monitoring sites from May to September 2011. Results on parameters highlighted that the ES technique effectively reduced the uncertainty of α$$ \alpha $$ and n$$ n $$ , but it was less effective on θr$$ {\theta}_r $$ and Ks$$ {K}_s $$ . The results on VWC showed that the ES efficiency decreased with the increasing non‐linearity of the system (e.g., higher sand content) and when the variability of the experimental data was lower (e.g., deepest soil layers where saturation remained permanently close to 1). Both LM and ES allowed to reproduce the VWC observations in the calibration and validation phases, with the former and the latter performing better in the case of sandy and peat soils, respectively. As concerns the method applicability, the ES was less time‐demanding as it efficiently updated all the parameters at once and was less dependent on the user choices. Finally, the paper points out the importance of previous knowledge of the VGM parameters (e.g., from lab hydraulic analyses) in defining the constraints for the optimization.
Performance and carcass characteristics of broiler finisher fed diets containing water hyacinth meal as a replacement for wheat offal

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance and carcass characteristics of broilers finisher fed diets containing water hyacinth meal as a replacement for wheat offal at various inclusion levels. Ninety broiler finisher were used for this study which were allotted equally into three dietary treatments such that Treatment 1 served as the Control without inclusion of water hyacinth meal; Treatment 2 had inclusion of 5% water hyacinth meal and Treatment 3 were served the inclusion of 10% water hyacinth as a replacement for wheat offal respectively in a Completely Randomized Design. Data were collected on performance and carcass characteristics of the chicken, the data were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS. Result revealed that there was no significantly difference (p>0.05) in the initial weight, final weight, total weight gain and average daily weight gain among the control and water hyacinth meal diets. However, there were significant (p<0.05) differences in the feed intake, average daily feed intake and the feed conversion ratio of the experimental birds. There was no significant differences (p>0.05) of the treatments on carcass characteristics of the chicken except in the weight of the head and shank of the chicken. Based on the result obtained, it is therefore concluded that inclusion of water hyacinth meal up to 10% as a replacement for wheat offal in broiler finisher diet did not have effect on growth performance as well as carcass characteristics. Thus it is recommended that further studies could be conducted on increasing the inclusion levels of water hyacinth meal as supplementary diet or replacement of wheat offal in broiler production
A comparative study of the finite-sample distribution of some portmanteau tests for univariate time series models

Monte Carlo experiments are conducted to investigate the finite-sample properties of some portmanteau tests for univariate time series models, with special attention being paid to estimated sizes (i.e. type I errors), means, variances, and empirical powers. Our main results indicate that (i) with the exception of the test proposed by Ljung (1986), size distortions can be substantial for portmanteau tests when parameter values are close to the boundary of the stationary or invertible region, (ii) the choice of the number of autocorrelations affects the empirical performance of most tests considered, and (iii) the empirical power of these tests is significantly affected by the nature of the data (seasonal vs. nonseasonal).
APPLICATION OF CHEBYSHEV SERIES TO SOLUTION OF NON-PRISMATIC BEAM VIBRATION PROBLEMS

The problem of the vibration of a non-prismatic beam resting on a two-parameter elastic foundation has been solved by applying the approximation by Chebyshev series. As a result, closed analytical formulas defining the coefficients of the sought solutions were obtained. The method was used to solve the eigenproblem for a simply supported beam and a cantilever beam. The obtained results were compared with the results reported by other authors.
On fixed points of automorphisms of finitely generated free groups

If <f> is an automorphism of a finitely generated free group, then Fix(<£) is finitely generated. 0. Introduction. A conjecture attributed to G. P. Scott [St2] states that the fixed points of an automorphism <j> of a finitely generated (fg) free group F is fg. It is known that this is the case if <t> is periodic [D-S] or geometric [J-S], where <\> is called geometric if it is the induced map on 7Ti of a homeomorphism of (M, x), where M is a compact bounded two-dimensional manifold and x € M. In a recent article [G2] we showed that Scott's conjecture is valid for automorphisms of 7Ti of a finite graph induced by change of maximal trees. In this article we announce the affirmative solution of Scott's conjecture. The methods involved are an extension of methods of [G2] and blend combinatorics, topology, and group theory. 1. Graphs. We work with a combinatorial notion of a graph introduced in [Gl] (and based on an idea of Serre's [S]). A graph X is a nonempty set with involution x —• x (so f = x) and retraction i: X —• V(X), where V(X) is the fixed point set of x —• x. Thus i(i(x)) = i(x). One defines r(x) =: i(x). Intuitively, V(X) is the set of vertices, X — V(X) =: E(X) is the set of edges, i is the initial vertex and r is the terminal vertex. A morphism ƒ : X -» X' of graphs is a function such that f(x) = /(x), and i(f(x)) = f(i(x)), x G X. The category of graphs has a final object, fibre products and push outs. In addition, there is a geometrical realization functor BX which assigns to X a 1-dimensional CW complex. This permits us to use the geometrical language of maximal trees, fundamental group and homotopy equivalence, although the notions have purely combinatorial definitions in the category of graphs. A morphism ƒ : X -> Y is called an immersion [Stl] if fv: Starv(X) —• Star/(V)(Y) is injective for each v G V(X). Here Starv(X) = {e€ E(X) \ it = v}. Immersions preserve reduced paths and hence induce injective maps on 7Ti [Stl]. Of crucial importance in our work is the degenerate set Df of a morphism ƒ : X -+ Y ; here D ƒ =: {x G X | ƒ (x) G VQT)}. If v G V(X) and ƒ : X —• Y is a morphism, denote by ƒ* the induced map T i C X » * ! ^ , ƒ(«)). Received by the editors November 24, 1982 and, in revised form, January 26, 1983. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 20F34, 94C15, 57M05, 57M15, 05C10, 05C25.