Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Restricted conformation dynamics of single functionalized perylene bisimide molecules on SiO2 surfaces and in thin polymer films

Intramolecular conformational dynamics caused by the bay groups of perylene bisimide (PBI) molecules have been investigated by single molecule spectroscopy in thin PMMA polymer films and on SiO2 surfaces. All dynamic processes occur in a jump-like fashion on SiO2 but in a likewise continuous way in PMMA. Surface attachment on SiO2 is accomplished by pyridyl functionalization of PBI demonstrating a nearly perpendicular orientation of the long axis of perylene as has been concluded from polarization experiments. This orientation is subject to fluctuations of the molecular orientation and/or conformation, which are considerably reduced in PMMA. According to static and time-dependent fluorescence spectra at least 2 different conformations have been identified.
Electron spin relaxation in GaAs1−xBix: Effects of spin-orbit tuning by Bi incorporation

The electron spin relaxation in n-type and intrinsic GaAs1−xBix with Bi composition 0≤x≤0.1 is investigated from the microscopic kinetic spin Bloch equation approach. The incorporation of Bi is shown to markedly decrease the spin relaxation time as a consequence of the modification of the spin-orbit interaction, which shows the feasibility of GaAs1−xBix in the applications of spintronic devices. We demonstrate that the density and temperature dependences of spin relaxation time in GaAs1−xBix resemble the ones in GaAs. Meanwhile, the Bir-Aronov-Pikus mechanism is found to be negligible compared to the D'yakonov-Perel' mechanism in intrinsic sample. Due to the absence of direct measurement of the electron effective mass in the whole compositional range under investigation, we further explore the effect of a possible variation of electron effective mass on the electron spin relaxation.
Photophysics and Photocurrent Generation in Polythiophene/Polyfluorene Copolymer Blends

Here, studies on the evolution of photophysics and device performance with annealing of blends of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) with the two polyfluorene copolymers poly((9,9‐dioctylfluorene)‐2,7‐diyl‐alt‐[4,7‐bis(3‐hexylthien‐5‐yl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole]‐2′,2′′‐diyl) (F8TBT) and poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) are reported. In blends with F8TBT, P3HT is found to reorganize at low annealing temperatures (100 °C or below), evidenced by a redshift of both absorption and photoluminescence (PL), and by a decrease in PL lifetime. Annealing to 140 °C, however, is found to optimize device performance, accompanied by an increase in PL efficiency and lifetime. Grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering is also performed to study the evolution in film nanomorphology with annealing, with the 140 °C‐annealed film showing enhanced phase separation. It is concluded that reorganization of P3HT alone is not sufficient to optimize device performance but must also be accompanied by a coarsening of the morphology to promote charge separation. The shape of the photocurrent action spectra of P3HT:F8TBT devices is also studied, aided by optical modeling of the absorption spectrum of the blend in a device structure. Changes in the shape of the photocurrent action spectra with annealing are observed, and these are attributed to changes in the relative contribution of each polymer to photocurrent as morphology and polymer conformation evolve. In particular, in as‐spun films from xylene, photocurrent is preferentially generated from ordered P3HT segments attributed to the increased charge separation efficiency in ordered P3HT compared to disordered P3HT. For optimized devices, photocurrent is efficiently generated from both P3HT and F8TBT. In contrast to blends with F8TBT, P3HT is only found to reorganize in blends with F8BT at annealing temperatures of over 200 °C. The low efficiency of the P3HT:F8BT system can then be attributed to poor charge generation and separation efficiencies that result from the failure of P3HT to reorganize.
Role of bubble-based nanosystems in chemo-immunotherapy of colon cancer

Conventional chemotherapeutic approaches result in variable outcomes in colon cancer patients for a number of reasons including the lack of homogenous drug penetration into solid tumors, inadequate drug extravasation, and presence of stromal cell mediated chemo-resistance. To overcome these barriers, nanomedicines are being currently developed to improve outcomes relative to conventional chemotherapy. This review focuses on established and novel approaches that enhance drug concentration in tumors as well as promote immunomodulation of host cells with the use of focused ultrasound and nanomedicines. Preclinical data suggest that the proposed combinatorial approach has the potential to drastically improve survival outcomes in patients. The measured success of combination therapies is linked not only to tumor control in the treated site, but also to prevention of tumor recurrence and progression of metastasis.
THE TRIPLET STATE OF β‐CAROTENE AND OF ANALOG POLYENES OF DIFFERENT LENGTH

The properties of excited states of long linear conjugated polyenes (including retinal, carotenoids and analogs) are still controversial (Song et a/., 1972). These properties are important in view of the involvement of these molecules in photobiological processes. The first triplet state of carotenoids has been characterized only recently, by flash spectroscopy techniques, in uitro and in photosynthetic structures (Chessin et ol., 1966; Mathis, 1966, 1969; Wolff and Witt, 1969). A major feature is that it cannot be populated by direct excitation, but only by energy transfer from various donors. It can also be populated by pulse radiolysis (Land et af. 1971). We report here an extension of the flash spectroscopic studies, with chlorophyll a as energy donor, comparing properties of the first triplet state of p-carotene and of strict analogs, i.e. containing a p-ionone ring at both ends and differing only by the length of the linear chain. The comparisons allow a better evaluation of several properties of the triplet state of these polyenes: absorption spectrum, rate of radiationless deexcitation, and mechanism of quenching by molecular oxygen.
RECOVERY OF ZINC, CADMIUM, AND LANTHANUM BY BIOPOLYMER GEL PARTICLES OF ALGINIC ACID

Abstract Biopolymer gel particles of alginic acid were found to be a useful material for recovering zinc, cadmium, and lanthanum from aqueous solutions. The metals sorbed by the gel particles could be completely eluted by using dilute HCl solution of 0.1 kmol/m3. The distribution ratios of the individual metals between the gel and liquid phases were measured by using a batch method. The equilibrium data were consistent with predictions made assuming that sorption takes place with the ion-exchange reaction between metal ions and alginic acid. The maximum sorption capacity of the gel particles and the distribution equilibrium constants for the metals were determined by comparing the experimental data with the theoretical predictions. The observed effect of temperature on the distribution equilibrium was insignificant in the range from 15 to 35°C.
English Medium Instruction at a National University: Students’, Teachers’ and Administrators’ Views

English Medium Instruction at a National University: Students’, Teachers’ and Administrators’ Views The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is implementing ambitious reforms which are aimed at the modernization and internationalization of higher education in the country. One of the main aims of these reforms is the introduction of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) at higher educational institutions (HEI) which involves teaching more subjects through the medium of English. Despite the ambitious plans of the government towards internationalization, it must be noted that the introduction of the initiative does not guarantee its successful implementation. Since the vast majority of Kazakhstani people are either Kazakh-or-Russianspeaking, the English language as medium of instruction in Kazakhstani education may be challenging, as it is a foreign language for almost everyone. (Mehisto, Kambatyrova & Nurseitova, 2014). As the experiences of different stakeholders are crucial for the successful implementation of any initiative, this study explored the views and experiences of university administrators, teachers and students with EMI at a national university, where several content disciplines are delivered in English. This study looked at the benefits and challenges students experience from EMI courses, and their motivating drivers for this choice of language of instruction. Moreover, it investigated whether teachers conducting courses in EMI receive any support from the university administration, and how the selection of staff and students takes place. The study used a single exploratory case study. The findings showed that, in general terms, participants hold positive views towards EMI as it is associated with better career and study opportunities for students, funding and promotion opportunities for teachers, and a preparation of more competent graduates for administrators. Some recommendations might include introducing benchmark tests to examine students’ language levels and monitoring their performances. EMI AT A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY vi
Predicting Total Organic Carbon Content of Soils from Walkley and Black Analysis

Globally, there is problem of computing soil carbon stock because the Walkley–Black method gives only an approximation of soil organic carbon content. Until now, no universal relationship between Walkley–Black carbon (WBC) and total soil organic carbon (TOC) has been developed that could be applicable in all kinds of soil. In the present study, relationships between WBC and TOC were established from samples collected from central and northern India. TOC was measured by dry combustion technique and WBC was determined by wet digestion methods. A relationship between WBC and TOC was developed by taking into account silt + clay content (SICL) of soil and mean annual rainfall (MAR) of the region (adj. R2 = 0.99, n = 100). The present study gives an easy approach to measure TOC by easily available data sets (WBC, SICL, and MAR). Using this relationship, computation of soil carbon stock that was done earlier with WBC values could be revisited and improved.
Effect of capecitabine on breast cancer patients with different estrogen receptor status

This meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of capecitabine versus non-capecitabine chemotherapy on breast cancer patients with different estrogen receptor status. We searched relevant literature from the EMBASE, PubMed and OVID library to analyze the pathologic complete response (PCR) rate, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to disease progression (TTP). Eleven different studies were enrolled, which revealed that estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients who received treatment regimen containing capecitabine can effectively improve PFS, PCR, TTP. However, the difference between capecitabine-containing and non-capecitabine groups had no significant effect for DFS and OS. Estrogen receptor negative breast cancer patients who received treatment regimen containing capecitabine could improve DFS and TTP. However, there was no significant effect for PFS, PCR and OS. The results indicated that capecitabine in combination with other chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer is effective, which can delay the progression time in patients to some extent.
Structure and Properties of Regenerated Cellulose Films Prepared from Cotton Linters in NaOH/Urea Aqueous Solution

Regenerated cellulose (RC) films having various viscosity-average molecular weights (Mη) ranging from 2.2 × 104 to 8.2 × 104 g/mol were prepared from cotton linters in 6 wt % NaOH/4 wt % urea aqueous solution by coagulation with 2 M acetic acid and 2% H2SO4 aqueous solution. The dissolution of cellulose and the structure, transparency, and mechanical properties of the RC films were investigated by 13C NMR, ultraviolet, and infrared spectroscopies; scanning electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; and a strength test. The RC films exhibited the cellulose II crystalline form and a homogeneous structure with 85% light transmittance at 800 nm. 13C NMR spectroscopy indicated that the presence of urea in NaOH aqueous solution significantly enhanced the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between cellulose and the solvent, resulting in a higher solubility of cellulose and the complete transition of its crystalline form from I to II. The tensile strength (σb) of the RC films in the dry state increased with increasing .
A Hydrodynamic Invariant of Polymeric Molecules

Theories of the hydrodynamic properties of macromolecules in solution are examined, from which the invariant relation A0 = kη0(M[η]/100)1/3f can be obtained between the intrinsic viscosity [η] , the molecular mass M, and the coefficient of sliding friction of the molecule f. Analysis of the experimental results will indicate the most probable values of the invariant A0 for various classes of polymers. A list of 314 references is included.
Bacterial and Chemical Iron Oxide Deposition in a Shallow Bay on Palaea Kameni, Santorini, Greece: Microscopy, Electron Probe Microanalysis, and Photometry of in situ Experiments

The present study was aimed at determining whether microorganisms mediate iron oxide deposition in a shallow bay (Iron Bay) on the still volcanically active island of Palaea Kameni, Santorini, Greece, north of Crete in the Aegean Sea. The results of in situ experiments showed that iron oxide deposition in this marine environment occurs at an exceptionally high rate. It was also found that deposition in the central part of the bay proceeded within specific vertical zones in the water column, showing that the bay may be regarded as a stratified system. Using light and scanning electron microscopic methods, including electron probe microanalysis, it was shown that deposition (binding and oxidation) of Fe(II) was mediated by bacteriological processes, which differed in intensity depending on their specific location in the bay. The most intensive iron oxidations and depositions were found in the hot volcanic springs at the toe of the bay, where rates more than 60 times those found in freshwater iron-oxidizing environments were measured. Bacteria that excreted extracellular slime (EPS), which apparently catalysed the process and itself became encrusted with tiny globules of hydrated iron(III) oxide, were responsible for this extremly high rate of iron deposition. The same process of oxidation catalysed by bacterial EPS was also responsible for iron oxide deposition in the main oxidation zone in the central part of the bay. Thus, precipitation of Fe(II) in Iron Bay is not, as was previously assumed, a purely chemical, Eh- and pH-dependent process, but results from the interaction of water chemistry with a high level of bacterial activity, especially surface reactions on bacterial excretion products.
Learning trajectories visualizations of visual programming on the computational thinking context

The ever growing importance of computers and their use created a need for the teaching of computational thinking. In order to better analyze the learning process of the students, teachers and researches often resort to alternative ways of teaching and analysis like visual programming and learning trajectories. Learning trajectories are the steps or paths the students follow as they learn. The task of analyzing the learning trajectories falls upon the area of information visualization. This field of knowledge and research aims to present and extract meaning by creating visual representations of data, the so called visualizations. In this context, this work objective is to propose new literature based and interactive intensive visualizations to represent learning trajectories in order to further enhance the computational thinking learning process by helping teachers to analyze student’s learning trajectories. A usability evaluation was conducted with the participation of 23 elementary school teachers and gathered their understanding and feedback in order to assess the usability, acceptance, effectiveness and expressiveness of the proposed visualizations with good overall results. This study contributions besides the proposed visualizations include a new way of organizing visualizations based on layers of representational and interaction aspects and the knowledge gathered about what seems to increase the effectiveness of the visualizations according to the educators perspective. Key-words: Computational Thinking. Visual Programming. Visualization, Information Visualization, Learning Trajectories, Usability Evaluation.
Characteristics that influence product adoption and defection decisions:the case of telecom service diffusion within the social network

Thanks to technological advancement an ease of communication between individuals is constantly increasing, which has an impact on their decisions as the consumers. As a result of this technological development it is possible to investigate the motives, which guide customer’s behavior. The goal of this thesis is to investigate such characteristics which influence customer decision, in the context of the adoption and defection of a mobile add-on (call-tune) service. For this purpose, information about individuals’ demographic characteristics, the use of telecommunication services and, most importantly, the social tie with an already adopter or defector of this service, is used. For the purpose of statistical inference, the statistical model of logistic regression and the machine learning model of classification decision trees are applied. The results of this research have indicated that individual’s decisions can be predicted based on their demographic profiles and the previous use of telecom service. Similarly, close social neighbors and people with similar social profiles can affect an individual’s decision to conform with his social tie. Finally, it is demonstrated that some individuals are more influential regarding their peer’s decision to adopt or defect the service.
Fluid modelling of the positive column of direct-current glow discharges

This paper presents a tutorial on the fluid modelling of the positive column of direct-current cylindrical glow discharges. The model writes the continuity and momentum-transfer equations for electrons and ions, coupled with Poisson's equation and the electron mean energy transport equations. The model is solved for helium at pressures p ≃ 0.1–10 Torr, gas temperature Tg = 500 K, discharge currents Idc = 5–200 mA, and tube radius R = 1 cm. The electron transport parameters and rate coefficients are calculated using the local mean energy approximation in articulation with a two-term Boltzmann solver. Model equations are integrated from the discharge axis to the wall, passing through the space-charge sheath and monitoring the charge separation within it. The results obtained allow a systematic characterization of discharge energy deposition and space-charge sheath formation, as a function of pressure and axial current. A general good agreement is found between model results and experimental measurements available in the literature.
The Perceived Usage Scenario’s of Continuous Monitoring, Continuous Auditing and Continuous Assurance: an Explorative Study

—Continuous monitoring, continuous auditing and continuous assurance are three methods that utilize a high degree of business intelligence and analytics. The increased interest in the three methods has led to multiple studies that analyze each method or a combination of methods from a micro-level. However, limited studies have focused on the perceived usage scenarios of the three methods from a macro level through the eyes of the end-user. In this study, we bridge the gap by identifying the different usage scenarios for each of the methods according to the end-users, the accountants. Data has been collected through a survey, which is analyzed by applying a nominal analysis and a process mining algorithm. Results show that respondents indicated 13 unique usage scenarios, while not one of the three methods is included in all of the 13 scenarios, which illustrates the diversity of opinions in accountancy practice in the Netherlands.
A New Type of Bismuth Electrode for Electrochemical Stripping Analysis Based on the Ammonium Tetrafluorobismuthate Bulk‐Modified Carbon Paste

A carbon paste electrode bulk-modified with ammonium tetrafluorobismuthate (BiF4-CPE) was developed and examined in the anodic stripping voltammetric mode for measurement of selected trace heavy metals. The BiF4-CPE has revealed a favorable performance in more acidic solutions (pH 0.5–2.5) in the presence of dissolved oxygen for Cd(II) and Pb(II) as model metal ions at the low μg L−1 concentration level. In comparison with the bismuth-oxide bulk-modified carbon paste electrode and the other two bismuth film-plated carbonaceous substrate electrodes examined, the BiF4-CPE proved to be another attractive variant of the environmentally friendly bismuth-based electrodes, particularly convenient for analysis of acidified water samples.
U.S. Stock Returns, the Berry-Esseen Theorem, and Statistical Testing

Neither existing theory nor prior empirical work can tell us the impact of non-normality on required sample sizes for Student-t tests of the mean in U.S. stock returns. Prior empirical work and bounds from a modified Berry-Esseen theorem do suggest, however, that the answer should vary with market capitalization, driven by third moments. For two-tailed nominally 5%-sized one-sample tests, we find that at least 100 observations are needed for large-capitalization stocks, and at least 200 observations are needed for small-capitalization stocks. Larger sample sizes are required for significance levels below 5%, or if one-tailed tests are used with skewed data.
ROLE OF DEINDIVIDUATION BETWEEN PERCEIVED CROWDING AND TOURIST BEHAVIORS: MODERATING EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE

ROLE OF DEINDIVIDUATION BETWEEN PERCEIVED CROWDING AND TOURIST BEHAVIORS: MODERATING EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE Yuxuan Lin Advisor: University of Guelph, 2020 Dr. WooMi Jo Destination crowding has emerged as a serious issue for tourist sites and visitors alike. The deviant behaviors accompanied by crowding not only affect tourists’ travel experience but also damage the environment of the destinations. This study was then designed to examine the relationship between two dimensional perceived crowding (spatial and human crowding) and two types of tourist behaviors (pro-environmental and deviant behavior) as well as to explore the role of deindividuation and environmental knowledge on the stated relationships. The data comprised responses from 313 Chinese domestic tourists who have visited the Great Wall most recently in 2019. Using SPSS and AMOS, the empirical findings indicate that deviant behavior was significantly stimulated by both dimensions of perceived crowding, while pro-environmental behavior was indirectly restricted by perceived crowding, mediated by deindividuation. Perceived crowding, both spatial and human, significantly and positively influenced deindividuation, leading to a reduction of self-awareness. The level of environmental knowledge helped people make better behavioral decisions and diminished the negative effects of deindividuation on tourist behaviors. Overall, these findings offered an in-depth understanding of tourist behavior in crowding situations through deindividuation and provided theoretical and practical implications for sustainable tourism and destination management.