Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Binaural Frequency Modulation Detection in School-Age Children, Young Adults, and Older Adults: Effects of Interaural Modulator Phase

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure low-rate binaural frequency modulation (FM) detection across the lifespan as a gauge of temporal fine structure processing. Children and older adults were expected to perform more poorly than young adults but for different reasons. Design: Detection of 2-Hz FM carried by a 500-Hz pure tone was measured for modulators that were either in-phase or out-of-phase across ears. Thresholds were measured in quiet and in noise. Participants were school-age children (n = 44), young adults (n = 11), and older adults (n = 17) with normal or near-normal hearing. Results: Thresholds were lower for out-of-phase than in-phase modulators among all listening groups. Detection thresholds improved with child age, with larger effects of age for dichotic than diotic FM. Introduction of masking noise tended to elevate thresholds; this effect was larger for the dichotic condition than the diotic condition, and larger for older adults than young adults. In noise, young adults received the greatest dichotic benefit, followed by older adults, then young children. The relative effects of noise on dichotic benefit did not differ for young adults compared to young children and older adults; however, young children saw greater reduction in benefit due to noise than older adults. Conclusion: The difference in dichotic benefit between children and young adults is consistent with maturation of central auditory processing. Differences in the effect of noise on dichotic benefit in young children and older adults support the idea that different factors or combinations of factors limit performance in these two groups. Although dichotic FM detection appears to be more sensitive to the effects of development and aging than diotic FM detection, the positive correlation between diotic and dichotic FM detection thresholds for all listeners suggests contribution of one or more factors common to both conditions.
Fabrication of iron oxide core/gold shell submicrometer spheres with nanoscale surface roughness for efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering

A method to synthesize Fe3O4 core/Au shell submicrometer structures with very rough surfaces on the nanoscale is reported. The Fe3O4 particles were first modified with uniform polymers through the layer-by-layer technique and then adsorbed a lot of gold nanoseeds for further Au shell formation. The shell was composed of a large number of irregular nanoscale Au particles arranged randomly, and there were well-defined boundaries between these Au nanoparticles. The Fe3O4 core/Au shell particles showed strong plasmon resonance absorption in the near-infrared range, and can be separated quickly from solution by an external magnet. This kind of very rough Fe3O4 core/Au shell multicomponent was used in the adsorption of 4-aminothiophenol and as a substrate for detection by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Changes in chemistry, color, dimensional stability and fungal resistance of Pinus radiata D. Don wood with oil heat-treatment

Abstract Pinus radiata wood specimens were heat-treated at 160–210°C in linseed oil and the effects of treatment on chemical composition, color, dimensional stability, and fungal resistance were examined. The degradation of hemicelluloses was the most remarkable feature, which is the principal reason for alterations in wood properties. Removal or migration of extractives, oil uptake and the accumulation of oil on the wood surface were observed. The color of heat-treated wood became more uniform and darker, and its dimensional stability (i.e., anti-swelling efficiency) and fungal resistance were improved by up to 60% and 36%, respectively. The viscosity of the oil after treatment was elevated with the treatment temperature and was higher in comparison to heated oil without wood present.
Pilot Development of Polygeneration Process of Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion combined with Coal Pyrolysis

A pilot polygeneration process of a 75th –1 circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler combined with a moving bed coal pyrolyzer was developed based on laboratoryscale experimental results. The process operation showed good consistency and integration between boiler and pyrolyzer. Some critical operating parameters such as hot ash split flow from the CFB boiler to the pyrolyzer, mixing of hot ash and coal particles, control of pyrolysis temperature and solid inventory in the pyrolyzer, and pyrolysis gas clean-up were investigated. Yields of 6.0wt-% tar and 8.0wt-% gas with a heating value of about 26MJm –3 at 600 °C were obtained. Particulate content in tar was restrained less than 4.0wt-% by using a granular filter of the moving bed. Operation results showed that this pilot polygeneration process was successfully scaled up.
Vibrational Relaxation of Oxygen

The vibrational relaxation of oxygen has been studied by shock‐tube interferometry from 600° to 2600°K with the result that at 1 atm pressure the relaxation time τv in seconds is found to be τv=1.49×10—10 exp (133T—½). The presence of up to 2% CO has no observable effect on this time. The previous experimental work of Blackman was probably influenced by impurities at the lower temperatures but the present results are in accord with his at the higher temperatures. Comparison is made with various theoretical calculations and the primary temperature dependence of T—½ is confirmed. It is further noted that Schwartz's Method A of matching the exponential interaction is in better accord with observations than Method B.
Liner conformality in ionized magnetron sputter metal deposition processes

The conformality of thin metal films (liners) formed on high‐aspect‐ratio trench structures in ionized magnetron sputter deposition processes is studied numerically and experimentally. The numerical simulator (SHADE) used to predict the surface topography is based on the shock‐tracking method for surface evolution. The simulation results are in good agreement with experimentally observed thin‐film topography. It is shown that combination of direct deposition and trench‐bottom resputtering results in good conformality of step coverages and the amount of the resputtering needed for the good conformality is almost independent of trench aspect ratios.
A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Young Men’s Gambling and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration in Mwanza, Tanzania

Objectives: The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Tanzania is one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. There are very few studies on the co-occurrence of gambling and IPV and none from LMICs, despite gambling being a behaviour associated with gender norms exalting masculinity underlying IPV perpetration. Methods: Cross-sectional survey data of 755 currently partnered men aged 18–24 from Mwanza, Tanzania were analysed to investigate whether gambling was associated with past-year physical, sexual, emotional and economic IPV. We conducted bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions to control for potential confounders, based on their significant association bivariately with the main outcome variables. Results: Of the men who gambled, 18 percent perpetrated physical IPV, 39 percent sexual IPV, 60 percent emotional IPV and 39 percent economic IPV. Gambling was significantly associated with sexual (aOR: 2.59; 95% CI: 1.70–3.97), emotional (aOR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.12–2.14) and economic IPV (aOR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.02–1.88) after controlling for confounders. Conclusion: The analysis shows that gambling is associated with IPV perpetration. More research is needed to understand how current IPV prevention efforts can be expanded to include problem gambling treatment.
Dividend Taxes and Corporate “Non-Capital” Investment

I present new evidence that the 2003 dividend tax cut prompted a vigorous and lasting increase in equity financing and real expenditures by a large number of US public firms, but—in contrast to the predictions of policymakers and traditional theories—this extra financing was devoted almost entirely to operations and R&D, rather than capital investment. I exploit quasi-experimental variation in equity issuance incentives created by the tax cut, enabling me to estimate both extra equity financing and use of proceeds. I find that firms facing likely cash shortages (encompassing about half of public firms since 2003) sharply increased quarterly equity financing by 48% (±9%) on average, raising roughly $50-$90bn in extra cash since 2003, suggesting an elasticity to the net-of-tax rate between 0.6 and 1.2. But these firms were not inclined to capital investment: almost all of the extra cash was devoted to operating expenditures. In short, longstanding assumptions about the productive uses of cash have likely overlooked the most substantial real impacts of dividend taxation on the firms most sensitive to the cost of equity capital. *Ph.D. Candidate, U.C. Berkeley Department of Economics; michael.love@berkeley.edu. I thank Alan Auerbach, Emmanuel Saez, Danny Yagan, David Sraer, and Aaron Edlin for their guidance and encouragement on this project. I am grateful as well to Irem Güçeri, Michael Devereux, Martin Simmler, Alice Pirlot and the participants in Oxford Centre for Business Taxation Doctoral Conference. This paper has also benefitted tremendously from comments and suggestions by Cristóbal Otero, Damián Vergara, Maximiliano Lauletta, Sree Kancherla, Jakob Brounstein, Monica Saucedo, William Morrison, Hadar Avivi, and Dominik Jurek.
Comprehensive metabolic analyses provide new insights into primary and secondary metabolites in different tissues of Jianghua Kucha tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica cv. Jianghua)

Background Jianghua Kucha (JHKC) is a special tea germplasm with enriched specialized secondary metabolites, including theacrine, non-epimeric flavanols and methylated flavanols. Moreover, primary metabolites provide precursors and energy for the production of secondary metabolites. However, the accumulation patterns of primary and secondary metabolites in different tissues of JHKC are unclear. Methods The changes of primary and secondary metabolites and related metabolic pathways (primary and secondary metabolism) in different JHKC tissues (the bud, 1st-4th leaves, and new stem) were investigated via metabolomics analysis with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS). Results Significant differences were observed in 68 primary and 51 secondary metabolites mainly related with the pathways of starch and sucrose, amino acids, caffeine, and flavanols metabolism and TCA cycle. The bud exhibited higher levels of glucose-6-phosphate, citric acid, most amino acids, theobromine, catechin-gallate, epicatechin-gallate, procyanidins, and theasinensins; the 1st leaf showed higher levels of caffeine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate; and the 4th leaf contained higher levels of most monosaccharides, theacrine, and epigallocatechin-3-O-(3”-O-methyl)-gallate. In addition, primary metabolites and important secondary metabolites had certain correlations. Conclusion This study provides comprehensive insight into primary and secondary metabolites in JHKC and offers guidelines for efficiently utilizing specialized metabolites of JHKC in the future.
Production and investigation of thin films of metal actinides (Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf)

Under limited availability of transplutonium metals some special techniques and methods of their production have been developed that combine the process of metal reduction from a chemical compound and preparation of a sample for examination. In this situation the evaporation and condensation of metal onto a substrate becomes the only possible technology. Thin film samples of metallic 244Cm, 248Cm and 249Bk were produced by thermal reduction of oxides with thorium followed by deposition of the metals in the form of thin layers on tantalum substrates. For the production of 249Cf metal in the form of a thin layer the method of thermal reduction of oxide with lanthanum was used. 238Pu and 239Pu samples in the form of films were prepared by direct high temperature evaporation and condensation of the metal onto a substrate. For the production of 241Am films a gram sample of plutonium-241 metal was used containing about 18 % of americium at the time of production. Thermal decomposition of Pt5Am intermetallics in vacuum was used to produce americium metal with about 80% yield. Resistivity of the metallic 249Cf film samples was found to decrease exponentially with increasing temperature. The 249Cf metal demonstrated a tendency to form preferably a DHCP structure with the sample mass increasing. An effect of high specific activity on the crystal structure of 238Pu nuclide thin layers was studied either.
Dynamics of Soil pH and Electrical Conductivity with the Application of Three Animal Manures

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to determine the dynamics of soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in a soil to which three animal manures [poultry (PM), cattle (CM), and goat (GM) manures] had been applied. The result of this study showed that the manures differed in qualities. Poultry manure had significantly greater EC and dissolved salts compared with the other manures, whereas the pH of cattle and goat manures are significantly greater than that of PM treatment. The liming effect of the manures was only for about 30 days after manure incorporation, and it varied with manure type and incubation period. There was an increase in EC as days of incubation increased. The potential of manure-induced soil salinization is very high in PM and GM. It was concluded that manure quality and use should be synchronized with consideration of their liming potential and reduced salinization effect.
Electrochemical Origin of Radical Cations Observed in Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectra

A variety of experimental data is presented that implicates electrochemical oxidation of analytes in the electrospray (ES) needle as the mechanism for formation of molecular radical cations observed in the ES ionization mass spectra of alkylsubstituted metalloporphyrins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH`s), and other compound types. Analyte structural characteristics and solution-phase half-wave oxidation potentials (which correlate with gas-phase ionization energies) can be used to evaluate the likelihood of forming and observing a particular compound as a radical cation. Use of an appropriate solvent is critical in the observation of radical cations generated by the ES process. In addition to dissolving the analyte and providing a stable electrospray, the solvent-(s) must {open_quotes}stabilize{close_quotes} or otherwise protect the radical cation from reactions in solution. Appropriate solvent systems (e.g., methylene chloride/0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) are much the same as used in traditional studies of electrochemically generated radical cations. The ability to produce radical cations in the ES process expands the utility of ES ionization mass spectrometry to include compound classes not normally amenable to the technique (e.g., neutral, nonpolar compounds such as PAH`s) and provides for generation of a different type of molecular species than normally produced in positive-ion ES ionization (i.e., M{sup {sm_bullet}+} versus (Mmore » + H){sup +}, (M + Na){sup +}, etc.). « less
Dust impacts on Mongolian cyclone and cold front in East Asia: a case study during 18–22 March 2010

The Gobi Desert in East Asia experiences dust outbreaks during the spring, which are often caused by high winds associated with Mongolian cyclones. The radiative forcing that arises from dust aerosols could affect the intensity and movement of Mongolian cyclones and cold fronts. A case study on a Mongolian cyclone that occurred during 18–22 March 2010 in East Asia examines these factors using an atmosphere-dust coupled model. Our numerical results show that dust’s impact on the intensity of the cyclone and its cold front varies between day and night and depends on the relative position of the weather systems of interest to the dust plume, i.e., the edge or the main dust plume region. When the dust plume approaches the cold front, most of the dust is trapped behind the cold front at low levels, but a small amount of dust extends to the middle levels, thereby reaching the warm side of the middle-level front. As a result, dust weakens the intensity of the low-level front and intensifies the middle-level front during the daytime, modifying the cold front oppositely at night. On the other hand, dust influences the cyclone in two phases. During the first phase, the dust plume edge arrives at the center of the cyclone in the daytime and warms the region, slightly intensifying the cyclone. During the second phase, the major dust plume feeds into the cyclone center in the early morning. The net dust effect is negative, which cools the cyclone center and decreases or stops the intensification. Subsequently, the cyclone is taken over by a nearby cyclonic circulation downstream. The dust plume approaches the new cyclone center, which repeats a similar pattern of intensity change: intensifying and then leveling off. Our results show that dust has no apparent influence on the movement of the cyclone and its cold front for this case study.
Porphyrins

PORPHYRINS By A. VANOTTI. Pp. xv + 258, illustrated. L London: Hilger & Watts, Ltd. '954. 50os. This is a remarkable book. It has been written by one international authority on the subject of the porphyrins, and has been translated by another. It can thus truly be described as an authoritive monograph. The first four chapters of the book describe the distribution and origins of the porphyrins in the normal human body. The next two chapters are concerned with the changes in porphyrin metabolism seen in different diseases, and with the effects on the body of the production of large quantities of porphyrins. Finally there is a very long chapter on porphyria and a shorter one on treatment. The book is illustrated by a number of graphs and also by a series of photographic plates showing the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the porphyrins. There is also a number of extremely interesting clinical photographs. The book is undoubtedly the most reliable and up-todate account of the porphyrins at present available although, inevitably, the delays of translation and publication have resulted in the ommission of some of the most recent publications.
Lithium Ion Batteries

Phase entropy as a function of lithium filling in the layered oxide S = KB ln(Ω) , Boltzman configuration entropy With Ω the configuration multiplicity (number of ways the inserted lithium cations could be arranged in the host lattice). Under the reasonable assumption of indistinguishable lithium cations, the configuration multiplicity of N lithium cations into the host material with Ns effective total number of sites follows the combinatorial equation below: Notes by MIT Student (and MZB)
Lipid oxidation in emulsified food products.

Most lipids in foods exist as colloidal dispersions stabilized by surface active agents that slow down the gravitational separation of oil and water. The surface active agents in emulsion create an oil–water interface that has major impacts on the distribution of the components in foods that impact lipid oxidation. This includes location and reactivity of prooxidative factors such as transition metals, lipid hydroperoxides and minor lipid components and antioxidants such as free radical scavengers and metal chelators. Understanding of how the physical properties of the lipid-oil interface in food emulsions impacts the chemistry of lipid oxidation has lead to new strategies to inhibit oxidation such as creating charged surfaces that electrostatically repel metals and thick interfaces that inhibit lipid–prooxidant interactions. As food formulations continue to move towards inclusion of more polyunsaturated fatty acids and the use of traditional antioxidants becomes more limited due to increased consumer demand for all natural foods, it is important to have a better understanding of the mechanisms of lipid oxidation in foods dispersion so that novel antioxidant technologies can be developed.
Structure-function relationships in haloalkane dehalogenase

De chemische industrie heeft in de afgelopen eeuw veel nieuwe chemicalien ontwikkeld die prachtige toepassingen hadden, maar achteraf schadelijk voor het milieu bleken te zijn. In dat opzicht springt de groep van de gehalogeneerde koolwaterstoffener uit. Zie: Samenvatting
What Makes the Teacher Happy

: Teacher happiness has become an important part in education context because it can be predicted to student academic success. The study aimed to examine the effect of job satisfaction and gender on teacher happiness. Participants were 358 teachers at Islamic kindergarten and Islamic primary school in East Java. Data were obtained through the job satisfaction index, life satisfaction scales and approach to happiness questionnaire. Data were analyzed by regression and variance analysis. The result showed that teacher's job satisfaction had an effect on teacher's happiness (R = .526 p <.01), and female are happier than male teachers (F = 6.147 p <.05). ; The teacher who has shorter of work period are happier than longer of work period (F = 3.889 p <.05).
A Robust and General Protocol for the Lewis‐Base‐Catalysed Reaction of Alcohols and Alkyl Propiolates

This research was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MICINN) and the European Regional Development Fund (CTQ2011-28417-C01-01 and CTQ2011-28417-C02-02). S. J. A. -M. thanks the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (MEC) for an FPU grant.
Boosting production of methane from sewage sludge by addition of grease trap sludge

Feasibility and possible use of grease trap waste (GTW) as a co-substrate for improving biogas production in anaerobic digestion with sewage sludge has been established. Anaerobic co-digestion was studied in a semi-continuous experiment at 37 °C with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10 days. The grease trap sludge accounted for 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30% of the mixture based on volatile solids. The results of the present laboratory study revealed that the use of GTW as a cosubstrate is considered to be interesting option for digestion of sewage sludge due to increased methane production.