Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From Solid-State Cluster Compounds to Functional PMMA-Based Composites with UV and NIR Blocking Properties, and Tuned Hues

New nanocomposite materials with UV-NIR blocking properties and hues ranging from green to brown were prepared by integrating inorganic tantalum octahedral cluster building blocks prepared via solid-state chemistry in a PMMA matrix. After the synthesis by the solid-state chemical reaction of the K4[{Ta6Bri12}Bra6] ternary halide, built-up from [{Ta6Bri12}Bra6]4− anionic building blocks, and potassium cations, the potassium cations were replaced by functional organic cations (Kat+) bearing a methacrylate function. The resulting intermediate, (Kat)2[{Ta6Bri12}Bra6], was then incorporated homogeneously by copolymerization with MMA into transparent PMMA matrices to form a brown transparent hybrid composite Ta@PMMAbrown. The color of the composites was tuned by controlling the charge and consequently the oxidation state of the cluster building block. Ta@PMMAgreen was obtained through the two-electron reduction of the [{Ta6Bri12}Bra6]2− building blocks from Ta@PMMAbrown in solution. Indeed, the control of the oxidation state of the Ta6 cluster inorganic building blocks occurred inside the copolymer, which not only allowed the tuning of the optical properties of the composite in the visible region but also allowed the tuning of its UV and NIR blocking properties.
Studies on Optimum Distribution of Fins in Heat Sinks Filled With Phase Change Materials

This paper deals with phase change material (PCM), used in conjunction with thermal conductivity enhancer (TCE), as a means of thermal management of electronic systems. Eicosane is used as PCM, while aluminium pin or plate fins are used as TCE. The test section considered in all cases is a 42 \times 42 $mm^2$ base with a TCE height of 25 mm. An electrical heater at the heat sink base is used to simulate the heat generation in electronic chips. Various volumetric fractions of TCE in the conglomerate of PCM and TCE are considered. The case with 8% TCE volume fraction was found to have the best thermal performance. With this volume fraction of TCE, the effects of fin dimension and fin shape are also investigated. It is found that a large number of small cross-sectional area fins is preferable. A numerical model is also developed to enable an interpretation of experimental results.
Modelling Household Mortgage Debt: the case of the Czech Republic

2 This paper deals with Czech household mortgage debt and its determinants in the period 1Q2005–2Q2021. Our analysis focuses on the variables determining the level of mortgage debt from both short- and long-term perspectives. Our contribution is two-fold. Firstly, we examine the relationship between the selected variables within a cross-correlation analysis. The results confirm the positive dependency of household mortgage debt and real GDP, real gross average income and the level of house prices. By contrast, a negative relationship was identified for real interest rates, the unemployment rate and the inflation rate. Secondly, we explore the ARDL and EC models and identify one cointegration relationship. Our results confirm that house prices and real wages are determinants of household mortgage debt in the long-term perspective. However, a wider range of variables plays a role in the short run, including house prices, real gross average income, inflation and long-term interest rates. Moreover, our model indicates the insignificance of unemployment in both the short and long run.
Control of nano carbon substitution for enhancing the critical current density in MgB2

The effects on transition critical temperature, lattice parameters, critical current density, and flux pinning of doping MgB2 with carbon nanoparticles, were studied for bulk, wire and tape under a wide range of processing conditions. Under the optimum conditions, magnetic Jc was enhanced by two orders of magnitude at 5 K for a field of 8 T, and by a factor of 33 at 20 K for a field of 5 T for bulk samples, whereas enhancement by a factor of 5.7 was observed in the transport Ic at 12 T and 4.2 K for a wire sample. Samples sintered at high temperature (900 and 1000 °C) exhibited excellent Jc, approximately 10 000 A cm−2 in fields up to 8 T at 5 K. This result indicates that flux pinning was enhanced by the carbon substitution for B with increasing sintering temperature. Highly dispersed nanoparticles are believed to enhance the flux pinning directly, in addition to the introduction of pinning centres by carbon substitution. Nano-C is proposed to be one of the most promising dopants besides SiC and CNT for the enhancement of flux pinning for MgB2 in high fields.
Being doubly disadvantaged or escaping gender discrimination?: female self-employment in Japan and their responses to the COVID-19 crisis

ABSTRACT This study focuses on female self-employed workers in Japan, evaluating their position in the labour market and access to social protection. It also investigates the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and their responses to it. We find that female self-employed workers are in a better position than female employees working on non-standard contracts, with less gender disparity. However, they lack social protection against sudden income loss, which caused them more serious damage during the COVID-19 crisis. Although the segment is relatively free from gender discrimination, it cannot escape the gender biases embedded in the social security system.
The Role of Control of Corruption and Quality of Governance in ASEAN: Evidence from DOLS and FMOLS Test

Abstract Corruption is a serious problem in some ASEAN countries except Singapore and Brunei, judging from their ranking and scores on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The concept of good governance is much broader than control of corruption. Governance and corruption may be related, but they are distinct nations and should not be regarded as the same. However, this study’s objective is to investigate the nexus between control of corruption and quality of governance from 1984 to 2021 for eight ASEAN countries. Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Square (DOLS) methodologies were used to estimate the long- and short-run relationships. The result reveals a positive and significant relationship between control of corruption and governance quality in ASEAN countries. It means better anti-corruption leads to enhancing the quality of governance in the ASEAN countries. In addition, the relationship between governance quality and control of corruption is also positive and significant. It shows that better governance quality will reduce corruption in the ASEAN region. This study’s practical contribution is strengthening its governance and control of corruption in the ASEAN member country’s leader. This study’s scientific contribution investigated the vice-versa of the relationship between control of corruption and quality of governance, especially in the context of the ASEAN region.
The Effect of Differentiation Learning Strategies on Student Learning Results

: The research conducted in the even semester of the 2021/2022 academic year aims to see how the influence of different learning strategies on the learning results of eighth-grade students of State Junior High School 4 Medan on vibration and wave material. This study used true experimental research with a pretest posttest control group design. The population used in this study was class VIII of State Junior High School 4 Medan as a whole consisting of 346 people. The sample of this study was class VIII-2 as the experimental class and VIII-3 as the control class selected using the cluster random sampling technique. To find out student learning results, multiple-choice questions with a total of 20 items have been previously tested for validity, reliability, difficulty, and discrimination. The learning results of the two classes were tested for normality with the Lilliefors test and the homogeneity test using the F test. Then a one-sided t-test was carried out for = 0.05, obtained t count = 2.07 > t table = 1.6697. As for the regression test obtained = 15.79 + 0.78X. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that there is an influence of differentiation learning strategies on the learning results of grade VIII students of State Junior High School 4 Medan.
Dynamical Stability in the Outer Solar System and the Delivery of Short Period Comets

Test particle stability in the outer solar system is surveyed. Roughly 7000 test particles are numerically integrated for durations ranging from 20 to 800 million yr. The initial conditions of the test particles fall into two categories: (1) orbits initially near the Lagrange L 4 and L 5 points of the Jovian planets, and (2) circular orbits in the invariable plane with semimajor axes of 5-50 AU. Clusters of test particles near the triangular Lagrange points of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune survive the full integration. However, the stable regions near Saturn's L 4 and L 5 points exclude the actual Lagrange points. Nearly all particles between the outer planets are removed by close encounters with the planets during the course of these integrations
Natives’ and migrants’ employment uncertainty and childbearing during the great recession: a comparison between Italy and Sweden

ABSTRACT This study contributes to the empirical research on the fertility decline registered in Europe in the aftermath of the Great Recession adopting a comparative perspective. We explore childbearing behavior during the crisis across three dimensions of vulnerability: migration background (measured as: country of origin and length of stay in the destination country), labor market uncertainty, and country of residence. We compare childbearing behavior by parity among native and migrant women with different employment statuses in Sweden and Italy. Using the Swedish population registers and the Italian Labor Force Survey, we investigate the change in childbearing probabilities between the pre-crisis (2006–2009) and the years following the onset of the crisis (2010–2015). We find that the chances of motherhood in the aftermath of the Great Recession decreased substantially among recently arrived migrant women, but also among unemployed natives and women with unstable careers. The migration and labor market vulnerabilities, however, do not accumulate: unemployment and career instability negatively affect only native women’s probability of motherhood. Finally, the country comparison demonstrates that while the duration of stay and the weaker labor market attachment reduces the chances of motherhood in both contexts, the negative effect of unemployment is particularly strong in Italy.
Seroprevalence of Binding and Neutralizing Antibodies against 39 Human Adenovirus Types in Patients with Neuromuscular Disorders

High pre-existing antibodies against viral vectors reduce their functionality and may lead to adverse complications. To circumvent this problem in future gene therapy approaches, we tested the seroprevalence of a large range of human adenovirus types in patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) to find appropriate viral vector candidates for gene replacement therapy for NMDs. Binding and neutralizing antibodies against 39 human adenovirus types were tested in the sera of 133 patients with NMDs and 76 healthy controls aged 17–92 years. The influence of age, sex, and NMDs on antibody levels was analyzed. The seroprevalence of different adenoviruses in the cohort varied widely. The highest levels of binding antibodies were detected against HAdV-D27, -C1, -D24, -D70, -B14, -C6, -D13, -B34, and -E4, whereas the lowest reactivity was detected against HAdV-F41, -A31, -B11, -D75, -D8, -D65, -D26, -D80, and -D17. The highest neutralizing reactivity was observed against HAdV-B3, -C2, -E4, -C1, -G52, -C5, and -F41, whereas the lowest neutralizing reactivity was observed against HAdV-D74, -B34, -D73, -B37, -D48, -D13, -D75, -D8, -B35, and -B16. We detected no influence of sex and only minor differences between different age groups. Importantly, there were no significant differences between healthy controls and patients with NMDs. Our data show that patients with NMDs have very similar levels of binding and neutralizing antibodies against HAdV compared to healthy individuals, and we identified HAdV-A31, -B16, -B34, -B35, -D8, -D37, -D48, -D73, -D74, -D75, and -D80 as promising candidates for future vector development due to their low binding and neutralizing antibody prevalence.
Overnutrition of Ewe in Late Gestation and the Impact on Placental Efficiency and Lamb’s Performance

Simple Summary Ewe nutrition during gestation, either in excess or in deficit, may influence fetal development and the postnatal life of the lamb. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of use the of energy (ME) and energy/protein (MECP) supplementation in the ewe’s diet in the last third of gestation on maternal placental and endocrine characteristics, as well as on the behavior of neonatal lambs and productive performance. ME and MECP ewes had higher serum concentrations of triiodothyronine and cortisol on the day of lambing. However, only ME ewes had higher placental efficiency and lower total cotyledon weight. The ME and MECP diets increased birth weight at weaning and reduced the time to kneel, to try to stand, and the latency to stand of the lambs. It is concluded that overnutrition in the last third of gestation was positive for the sheep production system, with improved production rates, hormonal profile, placental characteristics and neonatal behavior. These results are valuable to society because they indicate a management strategy during the reproductive season that can be adopted by sheep producers to increase the productivity of their flocks. Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate energy or energy/protein supplementation in the ewe diet, in the last third of gestation, on maternal placental and endocrine characteristics, as well as its effects on the behavior of neonatal lambs and productive performance until weaning. A total of 128 ewes were used, and the experimental diet was fed from 100 days gestation until lambing, with the birth of 172 lambs. The ewes were distributed into three treatments: CTL (control, n = 43) with metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) intake according to NRC (1985); ME (energy supplementation, n = 44) plus 21% ME; and MECP (energy/protein supplementation, n = 41) plus 26% ME and CP. Body weight, body condition score, serum hormone concentrations, placental characteristics, lamb performance and behavior, and production efficiency of the ewe from lambing to weaning were measured. ME and MECP ewes were heavier before (p = 0.006) and just after lambing (p = 0.002) and had higher serum triiodothyronine (p = 0.001) and cortisol (p = 0.004) concentrations on the day of lambing. ME ewes had higher placental efficiency (p = 0.036) and lower total cotyledon weight (p = 0.011). ME and MECP diets increased both lamb birth weight (p = 0.015) and weaning weight (p = 0.009). Production efficiency at birth and at weaning was not influenced (p > 0.05) by treatments. Lamb behavior was influenced by the ME and MECP diets, reducing the time to kneel (p ≤ 0.05), to try to stand (p ≤ 0.05), and the latency to stand (p ≤ 0.005). It is concluded that overnutrition in the last third of gestation was positive for the ovine production system, with improved production rates, hormonal profile, placental characteristics, and neonatal behavior.
Galactic cosmic ray intensity variations at a high latitude sea level site 1937–1994

We have created an extended cosmic ray data string (1937–1994) by combining data obtained with ion chambers at Cheltenham/Fredericksburg (1937–1972) and Yakutsk (1953–1994). Both represent high-latitude, sea level sites, with an atmospheric cutoff of about 4 GV. Their common median rigidity of response to galactic cosmic ray spectrum is 67 GV. This data string represents the longest continuous cosmic ray intensity variations record yet. Therefore it is useful for the cosmic ray modulation studies over a longer time period. We show that there is no striking quantitative correspondence between the amplitudes of solar activity cycles and cosmic ray modulation over six cycles. However, an inverse correlation is apparent between the two. Moreover, the results on the durations of the two are ambiguous. Flat-topped recovery pattern predicted for even cycles (A > 0), at lower rigidities, is not observed in the ion chamber data. We speculate that three solar activity cycle quasi-periodicity may be present in the extended data string. Its origin is not identified yet. The quasi-periodicity is shown to exist also in the planetary index Ap data. As such, it may represent a characteristic feature of the solar wind source region on the Sun as yet unexplored. The odd cycles, with a negative polarity in the solar northern hemisphere, yield a better linear correlation between galactic cosmic ray intensity decrease and Ap than even cycles and A > 0 epochs.
Credit Card Fraud Detection Based on Random Forest Model

: This paper uses a classifier named random forest to detect credit card fraud. Credit card fraud is one of the main issues in the economic industry. To construct a credit card fraud detection system, a certain amount of samples is required. In this paper, a dataset containing 284,807 credit card transactions is used. This dataset has gone through the PCA transformation and includes 492 frauds out of 284,807 transactions. Based on the huge amount of data and imbalanced samples, this paper compresses the dataset and uses the synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) to address the problem of imbalanced samples. Also, in this paper, we use random forest as a classification model while constructing the fraud detection system/method.
Biomechanical response of lumbar intervertebral disc in daily sitting postures: a poroelastic finite element analysis

Abstract This study aims to establish and validate a poroelastic L4–L5 finite element model to evaluate the effect of different sitting postures and their durations on the mechanical responses of the disc. During the sustained loading conditions, the height loss, fluid loss and von-Mises stress gradually increased, but the intradiscal pressure decreased. The varying rates of aforementioned parameters were more significant at the initial loading stage and less so at the end. The predicted values in the flexed sitting posture were significantly greater than other postures. The extended sitting posture caused an obvious von-Mises stress concentration in the posterior region of the inter-lamellar matrix. From the biomechanical perspective, prolonged sitting may pose a high risk of lumbar disc degeneration, and therefore adjusting the posture properly in the early stage of sitting time may be useful to mitigate that. Additionally, upright sitting is a safer posture, while flexed sitting posture is more harmful.
Linear Rayleigh-Taylor stability of viscous fluids with mass and heat transfer

The linear Rayleigh–Taylor stability of superposed viscous fluids with interfacial transfer of mass and heat is first considered for layers of finite thickness. A dispersion relation is obtained. It is then employed to derive stability and instability criteria for the case of two semi-infinite layers as well as the case where one of the layers is finite. From these criteria one arrives at a critical dispersion relation and a new critical wavenumber. This new critical wavenumber is distinct from the classical value owing to the presence of a parameter which depends, in a very simple manner, upon the kinematic viscosity of the fluids, the surface tension and the rate of interfacial transfer of mass and energy. Also it is found that the stabilizing effect of the surface tension is neither affected by the arrangement of the system nor the direction of the temperature gradient. However, the effects of the viscosity and the gravity will depend upon the relative positions of the superposed fluids and the direction of the temperature gradient at the interface.
Prior Distribution and Entropy in Computer Adaptive Testing Ability Estimation through MAP or EAP

To derive a latent trait (for instance ability) in a computer adaptive testing (CAT) framework, the obtained results from a model must have a direct relationship to the examinees’ response to a set of items presented. The set of items is previously calibrated to decide which item to present to the examinee in the next evaluation question. Some useful models are more naturally based on conditional probability in order to involve previously obtained hits/misses. In this paper, we integrate an experimental part, obtaining the information related to the examinee’s academic performance, with a theoretical contribution of maximum entropy. Some academic performance index functions are built to support the experimental part and then explain under what conditions one can use constrained prior distributions. Additionally, we highlight that heuristic prior distributions might not properly work in all likely cases, and when to use personalized prior distributions instead. Finally, the inclusion of the performance index functions, arising from current experimental studies and historical records, are integrated into a theoretical part based on entropy maximization and its relationship with a CAT process.
Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Cationic Polymers on Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells

Cationic polymers such as polyethylenimine (PEI) have found a pervasive place in laboratories across the world as gene delivery agents. However, their applications are not limited to this role, having found a place as delivery agents for drugs, in complexes known as polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs). Yet a potentially underexplored domain of research is in their inherent potential as anti-cancer therapeutic agents, which has been indicated by several studies. Even more interesting is the recent observation that certain polycations may present a significantly greater toxicity towards the clinically important cancer stem cell (CSC) niche than towards more differentiated bulk tumour cells. These cells, which possess the stem-like characteristics of self-renewal and differentiation, are highly implicated in cancer drug resistance, tumour recurrence and poor clinical prognosis. The search for compounds which may target and eliminate these cells is thus of great research interest. As such, the observation in our previous study on a PEI-based PDC which showed a considerably higher toxicity of PEI towards glioblastoma CSCs (GSCs) than on more differentiated glioma (U87) cells led us to investigate other cationic polymers for a similar effect. The evaluation of the toxicity of a range of different types of polycations, and an investigation into the potential source of GSC’s sensitivity to such compounds is thus described.
Multipliers of commutative Banach algebras, power boundedness and Fourier–Stieltjes algebras

Let A be a semisimple and regular commutative Banach algebra with bounded approximate identity. We study multipliers of A, in particular power bounded ones, and the associated ideals of A and A‐invariant projections of the dual space of A. Samples of the results are general versions of the classical theorems of Choquet–Deny and of Foguel about measures on locally compact abelian groups. The results are linked to sets of synthesis in the Gelfand spectrum of A, and the main applications are concerned with Fourier and Fourier–Stieltjes algebras of locally compact groups.