Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light-Trapping-Enhanced Photodetection in Ge/Si Quantum Dot Photodiodes Containing Microhole Arrays with Different Hole Depths

Photodetection based on assemblies of quantum dots (QDs) is able to tie the advantages of both the conventional photodetector and unique electronic properties of zero-dimensional structures in an unprecedented way. However, the biggest drawback of QDs is the small absorbance of infrared radiation due to the low density of the states coupled to the dots. In this paper, we report on the Ge/Si QD pin photodiodes integrated with photon-trapping hole array structures of various thicknesses. The aim of this study was to search for the hole array thickness that provided the maximum optical response of the light-trapping Ge/Si QD detectors. With this purpose, the embedded hole arrays were etched to different depths ranging from 100 to 550 nm. By micropatterning Ge/Si QD photodiodes, we were able to redirect normal incident light laterally along the plane of the dots, therefore facilitating the optical conversion of the near-infrared photodetectors due to elongation of the effective absorption length. Compared with the conventional flat photodetector, the responsivity of all microstructured devices had a polarization-independent improvement in the 1.0–1.8-μm wavelength range. The maximum photocurrent enhancement factor (≈50× at 1.7 μm) was achieved when the thickness of the photon-trapping structure reached the depth of the buried QD layers.
Numerical simulation of contemporary kinematics at the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and its implications for seismic hazard assessment

Abstract. The slip rates of active faults in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (NETP) require clarification to understand the lateral expansion of the Tibetan Plateau and assess the seismic hazards in this region. To obtain the continuous slip rates of active faults at the NETP, we constructed a three-dimensional (3D) numerical geomechanics model that includes a complex 3D fault system. The model also accounts for the physical rock properties, gravity fields, fault friction coefficients, initial stress, and boundary conditions. Following this, we present the long-term kinematics of NETP based on the horizontal and vertical velocities and fault slip rates acquired from the model. The fault kinematic characteristics indicate that the Laohushan, middle–southern Liupanshan, and Guguan–Baoji faults, as well as the junction area of the Maxianshan and Zhuanglanghe faults, are potential hazard areas for strong earthquakes. However, as these faults are currently in the stress accumulation stage, they are unlikely to cause a strong earthquake in the short term. In contrast, it is likely that the Jinqiangshan–Maomaoshan fault will generate a earthquake with a surface-wave magnitude (MS) of 7.1–7.3 in the coming decades. In addition, the velocity profiles across the NETP imply that the plate rotation is the primary deformation mechanism of the NETP even though the intra-block straining and faulting are non-negligible.
Diurnal decline in the photosynthetic capacity of uppermost leaves in an eggplant canopy grown in a horticultural greenhouse

Acknowledgments : This study was supported by a Cabinet Office grant-in-aid, the Advanced Next-Generation Greenhouse Horticulture by IoP (Internet of Plants), Japan, and JSPS KAKENHI grant numbers JP21K14946 and JP22H02468. The authors thank Nana Miyatake and Chiyuki Yamanaka for assisting with the measurements. Conflict of interest : The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. representing photosynthetic capacity, namely, the maximal carboxylation maximal electron transport triose phosphate-utilization rate ( T p ), can vary depending on various factors. The present study investigated diurnal variations in V cmax , J max , and T p of uppermost leaves of soil-grown, well-watered eggplant in a greenhouse based on the simultaneous measurements of leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. The values of net photosynthetic rates and electron transport rates plotted against intercellular CO 2 concentrations were noticeably higher in the morning than in the afternoon. Significant differences were detected among the values of V cmax , J max , and T p obtained at different times of day (08:30, 11:00, 13:30, and 16:00 h). All three parameters tended to decline as the time of day advanced; compared to the values at 08:30 h, V cmax , J max , and T p declined by approximately 15% at 16:00 h. Among the three parameters, T p appeared to be the most sensitive to time.
Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Menstrual Cycle: A Cross-Sectional Study From Karachi, Pakistan

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease triggered a worldwide health catastrophe. To deal with this deadly situation multiple vaccines were developed and a mass immunization program started globally. However, vaccine hesitancy was seen, especially among women of reproductive age, having concerns that the vaccine might affect their menstrual cycle. This study investigated the link between COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual abnormalities. It is essential for us to understand the effects of vaccines on menstruation as menstrual distress can have effects on everyday life, and mental and reproductive health. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed using self-administered online forms to collect data from all over Karachi. The sample included 384 females aged 18 years and above. The data were collected from November 2021 to February 2022. Results Majority of the participants were aged 21 years and had a normal body mass index (BMI). Most were moderately stressed (n=245) with 146 reporting menstrual changes post-vaccination. The difference between the post-vaccine menstruation affected (n=146) and the unaffected cohort (n=238) was significant. Other factors which likely contributed to the post-vaccine menstrual changes included Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score, strenuous physical activity, and the pre-vaccine menstrual flow. Conclusions Among the women vaccinated for COVID-19, strenuous physical activity and high perceived stress levels affected the menstrual cycle. There is no denying that existing data are inadequate, which is one of the grounds for vaccination apprehension, particularly among menstruating women. To minimize this hesitation, the spread of disinformation about the vaccine's influence on the menstrual cycle must be avoided. In future research and clinical trials, menstruation-related side effects should also be investigated when developing vaccines.
Validation of Three MicroScan® Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Plates Designed for Low-Resource Settings

Easy and robust antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods are essential in clinical bacteriology laboratories (CBL) in low-resource settings (LRS). We evaluated the Beckman Coulter MicroScan lyophilized broth microdilution panel designed to support Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) CBL activity in difficult settings, in particular with the Mini-Lab. We evaluated the custom-designed MSF MicroScan Gram-pos microplate (MICPOS1) for Staphylococcus and Enterococcus species, MSF MicroScan Gram-neg microplate (MICNEG1) for Gram-negative bacilli, and MSF MicroScan Fastidious microplate (MICFAST1) for Streptococci and Haemophilus species using 387 isolates from routine CBLs from LRS against the reference methods. Results showed that, for all selected antibiotics on the three panels, the proportion of the category agreement was above 90% and the proportion of major and very major errors was below 3%, as per ISO standards. The use of the Prompt inoculation system was found to increase the MIC and the major error rate for some antibiotics when testing Staphylococci. The readability of the manufacturer’s user manual was considered challenging for low-skilled staff. The inoculations and readings of the panels were estimated as easy to use. In conclusion, the three MSF MicroScan MIC panels performed well against clinical isolates from LRS and provided a convenient, robust, and standardized AST method for use in CBL in LRS.
EFL Teachers’ Use of Coping Strategies in the Face of Identity Tensions

Early-career language teachers, who are struggling with transitory stages of identity development from students to teachers, can experience an array of negative emotions known as identity tensions. Coping strategies are used by resilient teachers to overcome these tensions. However, the nature and dynamics of such coping strategies employed by EFL teachers are still under-researched in the Iranian context. In order to address this gap, the present exploratory mixed-methods study probed the coping strategies Iranian EFL teachers most frequently use by first interviewing 16 teachers and, subsequently, administrating a developed questionnaire to a cohort of 150 participants. Thematic analysis and between-groups analyses of t-tests and ANOVAs were used for the qualitative and quantitative phases of the study respectively. The results of both phases revealed that Iranian EFL teachers tend to use active coping strategies significantly more often than passive ones. Also, it was shown that female teachers as well as more experienced teachers above the average age of 28 use more active strategies than their younger colleagues. However, type of training did not seem to play a significant role in their choices, which implies a need for a more systematic integration of coping strategy instruction in training programs. The findings of this study can help English teacher trainers, supervisors, and novice teachers form a deeper insight of coping strategies to deal with identity tensions.
Silicon-Induced Tolerance against Arsenic Toxicity by Activating Physiological, Anatomical and Biochemical Regulation in Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm)

Arsenic is a toxic metal abundantly present in agricultural, industrial, and pesticide effluents. To overcome arsenic toxicity and ensure safety for plant growth, silicon (Si) can play a significant role in its mitigation. Here, we aim to investigate the influence of silicon on date palm under arsenic toxicity by screening antioxidants accumulation, hormonal modulation, and the expression profile of abiotic stress-related genes. The results showed that arsenic exposure (As: 1.0 mM) significantly retarded growth attributes (shoot length, root length, fresh weight), reduced photosynthetic pigments, and raised reactive species levels. Contrarily, exogenous application of Si (Na2SiO3) to date palm roots strongly influenced stress mitigation by limiting the translocation of arsenic into roots and shoots as compared with the arsenic sole application. Furthermore, an enhanced accumulation of polyphenols (48%) and increased antioxidant activities (POD: 50%, PPO: 75%, GSH: 26.1%, CAT: 51%) resulted in a significant decrease in superoxide anion (O2•−: 58%) and lipid peroxidation (MDA: 1.7-fold), in silicon-treated plants, compared with control and arsenic-treated plants. The Si application also reduced the endogenous abscisic acid (ABA: 38%) under normal conditions, and salicylic acid (SA: 52%) and jasmonic acid levels (JA: 62%) under stress conditions as compared with control and arsenic. Interestingly, the genes; zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED-1) involved in ABA biosynthesis were upregulated by silicon under arsenic stress. Likewise, Si application also upregulated gene expression of plant plasma membrane ATPase (PMMA-4), aluminum-activated malate transporter (ALMT) responsible for maintaining cellular physiology, stomatal conductance, and short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) involved in nutrients translocation. Hence, the study demonstrates the remarkable role of silicon in supporting growth and inducing arsenic tolerance by increasing antioxidant activities and endogenous hormones in date palm. The outcomes of our study can be employed in further studies to better understand arsenic tolerance and decode mechanism.
Analysis of Adverse Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines in Spain following Booster Dose

The present study evaluates the adverse effects of three vaccines: AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna (Spikevax) according to the dose. From 733 participants collected, the vaccine schedule was as follows: 330 (45%) received a double dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, 382 (52.1%) received a double dose of Pfizer, 18 (2.5%) received a heterologous prime boost and 3 (0.4%) received a single dose. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were administered as a third dose in 70 and 121 individuals, respectively. Local and systemic reactions observed in the three vaccines were mild to moderate in severity. Only one AstraZeneca recipient (0.3%) presented a serious adverse effect: blurred vision. Adverse events were more frequent after the first dose of AstraZeneca and after the second dose of Pfizer. As the third dose, Moderna causes more adverse effects than Pfizer regardless of the type of vaccine previously administered, whereas the reactogenicity of a third dose of Pfizer is slightly higher in the group previously vaccinated with Pfizer than in that group with AstraZeneca. In short, secondary effects of the third dose of COVID-19 vaccines were similar to those after dose 2, but their frequency depends on the type of vaccine and the combinations of vaccines.
Optical, infrared, and millimeter space telescopes : 21-25 June 2004, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

This three-volume set presents papers from a June 2004 conference. Papers are in sections on the Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes, the Astro-F Infrared Sky Survey Mission, the Herschel space observatory, and the James Webb space telescope and its components. Other sections cover solar telescopes, wavefront sensing and control, mirror technology,
Influence of Biochar Application on Morpho-Physiological Attributes of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) and Soil Properties

ABSTRACT Biochar amendment has been known as a promising strategy that improves crop productivity and physio-chemical properties of soil. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of three biochars: wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, and rice husk at different levels 2%, 3%, and 5% (w/w) on soil properties and growth of tomato cv. “Money Maker. ” Results revealed that rice husk at 3% concentration showed significant improvement (+37.4–68.6%) in plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry shoot weight, fresh and dry root weight and root length compared to control. The physiological parameters like stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency were also enhanced (+38–62%) in 3% RH-treated plants while chlorophyll contents were highest in 5% WS, whereas cell membrane stability was maximum in 3% WS-treated plants compared with control. Moreover, 3% RH caused a significant increase (+22.4–81.7%) in electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, organic matter, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Conclusively, 3% RH was found to be the best treatment that improved the soil properties and plant physiological traits that led to enhance overall plant growth. Therefore, RH biochar amendment of soil can be potentially utilized for improving soil properties and plant health.
Information theory applied to space-time physics

Historical review information theory applied to measurements coordinate systems time and motion propagation in unususal coordinate systems distinction of sinusoidal functions discrete topologies and difference equations Schrodinger and Klein-Gordon difference equation Schrodinger difference equation with Coulomb Field Klein-Gordon difference equation with Coulomb Field Dirac diffrence equation with Coulomb Field mathematical supplements.
Wideband radiation enhancement of waveguide arrays operated as feeds for reflector antennas using patch array covers

This work rigorously analyzes a periodic microstrip patch array printed on a dielectric slab and placed over an array of open‐ended sidewall loaded rectangular waveguides. The method of moments using spectral Green's functions for multilayer structures is employed. The application selected to feature the computed results of this structure is array matching. This work thus investigates the ability of such patch arrays to improve the transmission levels of waveguide arrays over those of uncovered ones. The matching performance is also compared with conventional dielectric sheath‐type tuners. Two array operation scenarios are studied: direct radiating phased arrays, and focal plane arrays as feeds for reflectors. Earlier studies of the latter scenario show that the decoupling efficiency tends to be poor at low frequencies, due to the electrical proximity between the waveguide elements. It will be demonstrated here that both forms of matching layers can be tuned to provide good matching at low frequencies. This study has opted to investigate the beneficial effects of the sheet and the patch array over a wide frequency band, rather than its optimization over a selected narrow band. Such optimizations can be done in practice for known specific operating bands.
The Effect of Company Size, Company Profitability, Previous Audit Opinion, and Kap Size as A Determiner of Going Concern Audit Opinions (Empirical Study on Non-Financial Services Companies Listed on The Indonesia Stock Exchange)

The study aims to determine the effect of firm size on the acceptance of going concern audit opinion, the effect of corporate profitability on the acceptance of going concern audit opinion, the effect of previous year's audit opinion on the acceptance of going concern audit opinion, the effect of accounting firm size on the acceptance of going concern audit opinion, and the simultaneous influence of company size, company profitability, previous year audit opinion, and accounting firm size on the acceptance of going concern audit opinion. The research method used in this research is a hypothetico-deductive method which is a systematic approach and valuable to produce knowledge to solve fundamental and managerial problems. Initially, the researcher determined the theme or problem area. Furthermore, the researcher identified a problem formula. Based on theories and previous research, the researcher made the hypothesis to be tested. This study focused on non-financial service companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The results of the partial test show that there is no significant influence of firm size ongoing concern opinion, there is the significant influence of profitability ongoing concern opinion, there is the significant influence of previous audit opinion of with going concern opinion, and there is no significant influence of accounting firm size ongoing concern opinion. The simultaneous testing result indicates that the firm size, the company profitability, the previous year's audit opinion, and the size of the accounting firm influence the acceptance of going concern audit opinion.
Toward the Simulation of Flashing Cryogenic Liquids by a Fully Compressible Volume of Fluid Solver

We present a fully compressible single-fluid volume of fluid (VOF) solver with phase change for high-speed flows, where the atomization of the liquid can occur either by the aerodynamics or by the effect of the local pressure. The VOF approximation among a non-miscible phase (non-condensable gas) and a mixture of two fluids (liquid and vapor) represents the liquid core of the jet and its atomization. A barotropic model is used in combination with the equation of state (EoS) to link the mixture density to pressure and temperature. The solver is written with the aim to simulate high-pressure injection in gas–liquid systems, where the pressure of the liquid is great enough to cause significant compression of the surrounding gas. Being designed in an C++ object-oriented fashion, the solver is able to support any kind of EoS; the aim is to apply it to the simulation of the injection of liquid propellant in rocket engines. The present work includes the base development; a verification assessment of the code is provided by the solution of a set of numerical experiments to prove the boundedness, convergence and accuracy of the method. Experimental measurements of a cavitating microscopic in-nozzle flow, available in the literature, are finally used for a first validation with phase change.
Parametric Influences of Geometric Dimensions on High Temperature Mechanical Behaviors and Damage Mechanisms of Ceramic Matrix Composite and Superalloy Double Bolted Joints

Given multiple material performance advantages, ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material has become one of the most promising hot structural materials used for thermal protection system in hypersonic vehicles. Under harsh thermal exposure of vehicles in flight, the design of connection structure would be a critical issue in improving load-carrying efficiency and ensuring service safety of aircraft structures in service environments. However, little attention was paid on mechanical behavior and its factors affecting the mechanical property of CMC joining at elevated temperature. To address this concern, a 3D finite element model coupled with progressive damage analysis is carried out to predict high temperature tensile properties and failure behavior of single-lap, double-bolt CMC/superalloy joints assembled by two serial protruding-head bolts. In the implementation of progressive damage analysis of 2D plain-woven C/SiC composites, a user-defined subroutine UMAT including a nonlinear constitutive model, 3D Alvaro failure criterion and Tan’s material degradation rule were embedded into the general package ABAQUS® through Fortran program interface. A parametric study considering geometries of joints was performed to evaluate their resultant influence on high temperature tensile behavior and the associated damage mechanisms for the CMC/superalloy double-bolt joint. New findings were provided for full exploitation of high performance through geometric design of ceramic matrix composite hot structure for hypersonic aircraft.
Do Armed Drones Counter Terrorism, Or Are They Counterproductive? Evidence from Eighteen Countries

Do armed drone programs decrease or increase terrorism? Existing studies on this question produce conflicting arguments and evidence. Drone optimists contend that armed drones reduce a country's vulnerability to terrorism, while pessimists claim that this military technology provokes higher levels of terrorism. Prior research focuses almost exclusively on one particular context: the short-term effect of the US drone program in Pakistan. However, armed drones have proliferated rapidly over the last decade and eighteen countries now possess this technology. We expand the scope of prior studies by leveraging new data to assess how obtaining armed drones and conducting drone strikes changed the degree to which all drone possessors experienced terrorism between 2001 and 2019. Employing a variety of estimation strategies, including two-way fixed effects, we find that armed drone programs are associated with significant reductions in terrorism. Our analysis, based on the full universe of cases over an eighteen-year period, provides further evidence that drones can be effective as a counterterrorism tool in some cases.