Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning at home: home schooling resources and child development during the COVID-19 lockdown

School closures, forced by the COVID-19 crisis in many countries, impacted on children’s lives and their learning process. There will likely be substantial and persistent disparities between families in terms of education outcomes. Distant learning solutions adopted by schools have been heterogeneous over countries, within countries and between school levels. As a consequence, most of the burden of children’s learning fell on their parents, with likely uneven results depending on the socio-economic characteristics of the family. Using a real time survey data collected in April 2020 and early May in France and Italy on children’s use of time, distance learning resources and emotional status, we analyse how the lockdown has affected children’s use of time, their emotional wellbeing and their home learning process. We estimate child fixed effects models to identify the main contributors of children’s status during the lockdown. The analysis also focuses on the role played by online classes or other interactive methods on children’s home learning and emotional status. We find that the lockdown had a stronger negative impact on Italian families, both in terms of educational progress evaluation and of children’s emotional status. The increase in the time spend in front of screen appears to be related to a worse learning achievement and emotional status, while the opposite is true for the time spent reading. We highlight that different distance learning methodologies have been used in the two countries, and that attending online classes attenuated the negative impact on lockdown on the learning progresses of both Italian and French kids. JEL codes: I24, J13, J24
Complex adpositions in Europe and beyond : A synthesis

In the chapters of this volume, the authors describe the paradigms of complex nominal relators (CRs for short) in various languages of Europe, both Indo-European (Romance, Germanic, Slavic, Celtic, Greek and Albanian) and non-Indo-European (Estonian and Permic (Finno-Ugric), Basque (isolate), Turkish and Maltese (Afro-Asiatic)). In this final chapter, we propose to go beyond individual descriptions, and discuss the results presented in all chapters from a wider typological perspective.
A NOTE ON ACCEPTABILITY STUDIES OF MULBERRY LEAF MEAL IN YOUNG MONG CAI PIGS

The experiment involved a short-term acceptability study using four Mong Cai and four crossbred, Landrace x Mong Cai, castrated male pigs, averaging an initial live weight of 17.5 kg. The animals were fed a basal diet, which was substituted with either 20 or 40% mulberry (Morus alba) leaf meal and fed according to a balanced changeover design. There were five 3-day consecutive periods, where pigs were given the basal diet in periods 1, 3 and 5, and the mulberry leaf meal based diets during period 2 and 4. Results showed that both genotypes initially found mulberry unpalatable, as intake was negatively correlated with mulberry content in the diet. Overall, animal intake was significantly reduced (r, 0.482; P<0.05) when fed mulberry leaf meal, during the experimental periods 2 and 4, and increased during control periods 3 and 5. Intakes of rations containing mulberry leaf meal were not significantly different between them, but intake of the control diet was significantly (P<0.001) higher than intakes of those diets. These findings imply that farmers should introduce mulberry to the diet gradually, to avoid waste of feed due to initial refusals. Further studies will need to be carried out to establish how efficiently monogastrics utilize mulberry in their diet.
Ethephon Tissue Penetration and Harvest Effectiveness in Olive as a Function of Solution pH, Application Time, and BA or NAA Addition

C, osmium tetroxide Abstract. Fruit removal force (FRF) and percent leaf drop (LD) of fruit-bearing olive ( Olea europaea L.) shoots were examined 120 hours after being sprayed with ethephon at 600 mg·liter -1 and held under controlled-environmental conditions analogous to those found in the field in California at harvest time in mid-October. FRF was not significantly affected by solution pH, but FRF of all treated shoots was significantly lower than that of the untreated controls. Only at pH 5 was percent LD significantly greater than that of the controls, but, of the shoots treated with ethephon, the lowest percent LD occurred at pH 3. Percent LD after treatment with ethephon at pH 3 was not affected by application time, but FRF was significantly less than the controls' when shoots were treated at 7 AM or 12 PM but not at 5 PM or 10 PM. Adding NAA to the ethephon solution raised FRF and adding BA lowered FRF compared to ethephon alone. Adding NAA or BA did not mitigate percent LD significantly. Adding BA advanced anthocyanin production in fruit. Ethephon penetration of rachides was ≈70% that of petioles. Correlation between ethephon penetration of petioles and percent LD was greater than that between penetration of rachides and FRF. Correlation was significant for both tissues only in the 12 PM pH 3 treatment; correlation was also significant for petiole penetration and percent LD at pH 5. Autoradiographic studies of the 14 C-ethephon penetration showed no pH effect, greater penetration into petioles than rachides, and that radioactivity was limited largely to intercellular spaces, with accumulation in vascular bundles, especially xylem. Regardless of treatment, FRF and percent LD are negatively correlated (r 2 = 0.615). Mean results to be expected using ethephon as an olive harvest aid under these conditions are an FRF of ≈3 N and a percent LD of ≈15%. The desired low FRF and percent LD were obtained by applying ethephon alone at pH 3 at 7 AM. Raising ethephon solution pH does not increase harvest effectiveness. Chemical names used: (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 6- benzylaminopurine (BA).
Proof Search and the Structure of Solution Spaces

In 2019, Moritz Müller and I resolved a longstanding open question on the computational complexity of proof search. The preliminary version of the article “Automating Resolution is NP-Hard” was the co-winner of the Best Paper Award at the 60th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science (FOCS 2019). In its final version, the paper was invited for submission to the Journal of the ACM, and published in 2020 [1]. Why does the proof that yet another problem is NP-hard deserve such an important award? In this note I try to explain why. Let me begin with the historical background. This year is the 50th anniversary of Steve Cook’s article “The Complexity of Theorem Proving Procedures” [5]. Cook’s seminal work established that the satisfiability problem for propositional logic is NP-complete. For the first time, the generic task of searching a solution within an exponentially big space of candidate solutions was reduced to that of a concrete, well-defined, and combinatorially simple-to-state problem. The importance of Cook’s Theorem was quickly recognized. Only one year later, Richard Karp wrote another landmark paper where he established that “a large number of classic unsolved [computational] problems of covering, matching, packing, routing, assignment and sequencing are equivalent”. All of them, Karp showed, are equivalent to the problem of recognizing the satisfiable formulas of propositional logic [7]. The fact that hundreds, if not thousands, of NP-complete problems were discovered since then raises an intriguing question. Might any of these equivalent problems admit sufficient structure to allow for efficient search algorithms? Might the beautiful theory of matchings on graphs be useful to find Hamilton cycles? Might the powerful tools of field theory help in solving systems of polynomial equations? In a sense, what the theory of NP-completeness says is that any attempt to give computationally useful structure to the search spaces of such problems is bound to fail. Or at least fail as much as it has failed for the problem of determining truth in the algebra of propositions since its conception by George Boole more than one and a half centuries ago [3]. Proof theory is the branch of mathematical logic that links the syntactic concept of proof with the semantic notion of truth. A formula is unsatisfiable if and only if its negation is a tautology, and tautologies have proofs in any one of the many complete proof systems for propositional logic. Thought this way, the proof theory of propositional logic can be seen as giving structure to the satisfiability problem. Just like an assignment that satisfies a formula is a certificate that a solution exists, a proof of its negation is a certificate that a solution does not exist. The trouble is that while truth assignments are always short, proofs could be exponentially longer. But what if we focus on short proofs? Can reasonably-sized proofs be found in reasonable time? This is the question of automatability of a proof system.
The Association of Baseball Pitch Delivery and Kinematic Sequence on Stresses at the Shoulder and Elbow Joints.

Although there is a commonly held belief within the baseball community that delivery from the stretch confers more stress at the elbow and shoulder joints than delivery from the windup, there remains little evidence in the literature investigating this hypothesis. This study aimed to help address this gap in the literature by studying both intra-pitcher kinematic sequence variability, and intra-pitcher joint torque variability when throwing from the windup vs. the stretch. We hypothesized that 1) each pitchers' kinematic sequence would remain similar whether throwing from the windup or stretch, and 2) Kinematic sequence would influence peak arm torque more than delivery method. This cross-sectional 3D biomechanical study included 88 pitches thrown by ten (6 collegiate, 4 high school) pitchers with a mean age of 17.60 ± 2.63 years. Pitch velocity, throwing shoulder/elbow torques and the kinematic sequence of each pitch utilizing segmental peak angular velocities were captured. No statistically significant differences in ball velocity (p = 0.17), peak shoulder external rotation torque (p = 0.80), shoulder extension torque (p = 0.97), or elbow valgus torque (p = 0.83) were found between delivery approaches. Three primary kinematic sequences were identified. Shoulder external rotation torque [F(53,2) = 10.992, ɳ2 = . 293, p < 0.00], shoulder extension torque [F(53,2) = 15.517, ɳ2 = . 369, p < 0.00] and elbow valgus torque [F(53,2) = 9.994, ɳ2 = . 274, p < 0.00] did vary significantly across these three kinematic sequence patterns. Our data suggest that the kinematic sequence influences shoulder and elbow torque more than the delivery approach. Instructing ideal kinematic sequence may be more influential for injury avoidance than delivery method.
Microencapsulation of Ketoprofen in Blends of Acrylic Resins by Spray Drying

Microparticles of ketoprofen entrapped in blends of acrylic resins (Eudragit RL 30D and RS 30D) were successfully produced by spray drying. The effects of the proportion ketoprofen : polymer (1:1 and 1:3) and of spray-drying parameters (drying gas inlet temperatures of 80 and 100°C; microencapsulating composition feed flow rates of 4 and 6 g/min) on the microparticles properties (drug content, encapsulation efficiency, mean particle size, moisture content, and dissolution behavior) were evaluated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms and X-ray diffractograms of the spray-dried product, the free drug, and the physical mixture between the free drug and spray-dried composition (blank) were carried out. Microparticles obtained at inlet temperature of 80°C, feed flow rate of 4 g/min, and ketoprofen : acrylic resin ratio of 1:3 presented an encapsulation efficiency of 88.1%, moisture content of 5.8%, production yield around 50%, and a higher reduction in dissolution rate of the entrapped ketoprofen. Sigmoidal shape dissolution profiles were presented by the spray-dried microparticles. The dissolution profiles were relatively well described by the Weibull model, a showing high coefficient of determination, R 2, and a mean absolute error between experimental and estimated values of between 4.6 and 10.1%.
Eviction Risk of Rental Housing: Does It Matter How Your Landlord Finances the Property?

We show using a stylized model, how the financing choice of landlords can impact eviction decisions in rental markets. Since multifamily loans rely on timely cash flows from tenants, strict underwriting factors can increase the chances that landlords are able to weather income shocks. Lender provided relief may create further leeway for landlords to work out a deal with tenants who default on rental payments. Using comprehensive data on nationwide evictions in the US and performance records on multifamily mortgages, we confirm predictions from our model by documenting a negative relation between evictions and the financing activity by government-sponsored enterprises (GSE) who impose strict underwriting criteria but generally offer borrowers relief during unprecedented income shocks. We also quantify the eviction risks induced by the COVID-19 pandemic for twelve U.S. cities using our empirical model.
Co-combustion characteristic of paper mill reject and coal

The paper mill which use recycled paper as the raw material generate paper mill reject (PMR) in the range of about 5-10%. PMR has a high calorific value with low ash and sulfur contents, generally. Processing of PMR into pellet forms as boiler fuel to reduce the use of coal or other fossil fuels has not been done, yet. PMR pellets and coal was mixed in the ratio of 5% PMR and 95% coal (C95R5) and 10% PMR and 90% coal (C90R10). PMR, coal, C95R5 and C90R10 were analyzed for proximate (moisture, ash, volatile matter/VM, fixed carbon/FC), and sulfur contents. Gross calorific value (GCV) of materials was also analyzed. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and the derivative thermo-gravimetric analysis (DTG) profile were characterized. To know the possibility of slagging potential trend, analysis of ash mineral content and test of ash fussion temperature (AFT) of materials were carried out. Result indicates that addition of 5-10% PMR to coal affects combustion behaviour of materials. According to base/acid ratio (B/A) and base acid index (BAI) values, and softening temperature (ST) of slagging index, co-combustion of 5% PMR pellet and 95% coal (C95R5) as boiler fuel is still possible without causing indication of slagging tendency. Copyright © 2018 International Energy and Environment Foundation All rights reserved.
Influence and Dissemination of Solecism among Moroccan High School and University Students

 Abstract — Mass media seem to provide a rich content for language acquisition. Exposure to television, the Internet, the mobile phone and other technological gadgets and devices helps enrich the student’s lexicon positively as well as negatively. The difficulties encountered by students while learning and acquiring second languages in addition to their eagerness to comprehend the content of a particular program prompt them to diversify their methods so as to achieve their targets. The present study highlights the significance of certain media channels and their involvement in language acquisition with the employment of the Natural Approach to further grasp whether students, especially secondary and high school students, learn and acquire errors through watching subtitled television programs. The chief objective is investigating the deductive and inductive relevance of certain programs beside the involvement of peripheral learning while acquiring mistakes.
A Monitoring and Modeling Study to Investigate Regional Transport and Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution

In this study, the regional transport and characteristics of PM2.5 pollution were examined through a case study in Beijing, China. The results from an intensive monitoring program indicate that the inorganic particles (sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium), organic carbons, and the elements accounted for 35.5, 24.2, and 15.3% of the total PM2.5 on an annual average basis, respectively. The proportions of such PM2.5 components also showed clear seasonal variations. An integrated MM5-CMAQ modeling system was then developed to examine the regional transport of PM2.5 and its components in Beijing within four typical months of 2010. The results indicate that the annual average total trans-boundary contribution ratio (TBCR) is 42.2, 46.3, 77.4, and 61.6% for the concentrations of PM2.5, sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium, respectively. A logarithmic relationship was found between the total TBCR and the PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing for different seasons. Further investigations showed that trans-boundary transport played a major role in Beijing’s PM2.5 concentrations during the period of high pollution levels, with an annual average TBCR of 54.6%. As a result, the control of PM2.5 pollution in Beijing needs effective cooperation between Beijing and its surrounding regions, especially during periods of heavy pollution.
Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection induces a distinct nasal cytokine profile

Understanding the host viral interaction at the nasal mucosa, the primary site of SARSCoV2 infection, may provide important insights into COVID19 pathogenesis. Here, we studied nasal and systemic immune parameters in comprehensively characterised patients hospitalised with suspected or confirmed COVID19, and healthy community controls. PCR confirmed COVID19 participants were more likely to receive dexamethasone and a betalactam antibiotic, and more likely to survive to hospital discharge than PCR negative/IgG+ and PCR negative/IgG- participants. PCR negative/IgG+ participants exhibited a nasal and systemic cytokine signature analogous to PCR confirmed COVID19 participants, but had an increased propensity for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonisation. The nasal immune signature in PCR negative/IgG+ and PCR confirmed COVID19 participants was distinct and predominated by chemokines and neutrophils. These findings demonstrate that severe COVID19 is associated with inflammatory chemokine and neutrophil predominance in the nasal mucosa, and that PCR negative/IgG+ individuals with high COVID19 clinical suspicion have inflammatory profiles analogous to PCR confirmed disease.
Primary and secondary decay fungi on exposed pine tree logs in the forest

Abstract The successional diversity of basidiomycetous fungi was studied on Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and pitch pine (Pinus rigida) logs that were left exposed on the forest floor based on fungal surveys conducted after 18, 42, and 54 months of exposure. A total of 131 basidiomycetous isolates were recovered from the logs and grouped by their cultural morphology. Fungal identification was achieved by a BLAST search of partial nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA sequences in GenBank. The results of the 18 month survey revealed that the isolation frequency and fungal diversity were higher for pitch pine than Korean pine. The dominant species found on Korean and pitch pine logs during the first survey were Hypochnicium karstenii and Phlebiopsis gigantea, respectively. In the 42 and 54 month surveys, the primary species were replaced by Hypochnicium eichleri, Phanerochaete velutina, Phlebia radiata, Rhizochaete sp. , and Trametes versicolor. These results showed that decay fungi have host preference for woody materials that vary according to the species of tree being colonized.
Development of New LC Chiral Stationary Phases Based on Ruthenium Tris(diimine) Complexes

Abstract Enantiopure ruthenium(II) tris(diimine) complexes have been covalently bonded to silica and evaluated as chiral stationary phases for LC. Three binding chemistries were tested and the CSP synthesized by reductive amination of the aldehyde-functionalized silica provided the largest enantioselectivity. The Ru complex bonded CSP showed selectivity toward a variety of racemic compounds. Circular dichroism (CD) detection was used to confirm the enantiomeric separations. This CSP worked especially well for the enantiomeric separation of binaphthyl type compounds in the normal phase mode and appeared to be selective for acidic compounds in the polar organic mode. Effects of mobile phase composition on the enantioseparations were also studied.
Toward Emphatic Reinforcement Learning

Emphatic-Temporal-Difference (Emphatic-TD) learning algorithms were recently proposed based on the most central and widely used reinforcement learning algorithms, Temporal-Difference (TD) methods. Emphatic-TD learning algorithms were originally designed to solve the divergence problem of conventional TD methods when they are applied to off-policy training. However, recent studies on Emphatic-TD learning have shown that Emphatic-TD methods can outperform conventional TD methods even in the on-policy case on prediction problems. Thus we are interested in how Emphatic-TD methods can in general be extended for on-policy control in this thesis. Also, Emphatic-TD methods are sensitive to the step-size parameter, and inappropriate step-size parameters will lead to divergence, which is called “the sensitivity problem” in this thesis. We encountered this problem during the empirical studies on Emphatic-TD methods, thus we provide a solution to this sensitivity problem. In this thesis, we will make contributions in two separate but correlated areas. First, we proposed new heuristics for reliably adapting step sizes to emphatic methods for the sensitivity problem of the step-size parameter. Second, we extended the idea of emphatic methods to the on-policy control methods and proposed the new n-step Emphatic-Sarsa method and Emphatic-Sarsa(λ) method. We also conducted some empirical studies for them and our empirical results showed that both the step-size heuristics and the new on-policy emphatic control methods worked, and the new on-policy emphatic control methods outperformed the corresponding non-emphatic methods in some parii ticular cases. A limitation of our work is that our empirical studies on the on-policy control methods is only designed in the equal-interest case.
Analysis of the Volatile Components of Onosma echioides (L.) L. var. columnae Lacaita Growing in Central Italy

Abstract Volatile components obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts (leaves and flowers) of Onosma echioides (L.) L. var. columnae Lacaita (Boraginaceae family) growing wild in central Italy (Marche, Umbria and Abruzzo regions) were investigated by GC and GC/MS for the first time. Sixty-four volatile components were identified: hexadecanoic acid (3.2–33.8%) and phytol (7.3–15.2%) were predominant in the flower oils, while phytol (36.5–54.5%) and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (7.1–12.1%) were the major components in the leaf oils. Alkanes, fatty acids and aldehydes constituted the major fraction in the flower oils, while oxygenated diterpenes and ketones were predominant in the leaf oils. Phytol was isolated by flash chromatography and its identity was confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra. Variation of the volatile components in the six populations of O. echioides var. columnae, due to genetic and geographic factors, was analyzed by cluster analysis.