Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and analysis of modified recycling folded cascode amplifier with improved transconductance and slew rate

To improve the transconductance of operational transconductance amplifier (OTA), various architectures namely recycling folded cascode (RFC), Improved recycling folded cascode (IRFC), modified recycling folded cascode (MRFC) and high recycling folded cascode (HRFC) are existing in the literature. In this paper, further improvement in the transconductance of MRFC OTA can be achieved by shorting two nodes of its current mirror and is proposed as high modified recycling folded cascode (HMRFC) amplifier. The performance of the proposed HMRFC OTA is compared with the existing state of art OTAs. To validate the progressions in the specified parameters, recycling folded cascode (RFC), modified recycling folded cascode (MRFC) and high modified recycling folded cascode (HMRFC) OTAs are realized and implemented in UMC 180 nm process technology using Cadence Spectre for a bias current of 1.2 mA. Simulation results indicate that the proposed amplifier exhibits a DC gain of 79.47 dB, the slew rate of 194.2 V/μSec, UGB of 285.85 MHz and phase-margin of 77.12 for a load capacitance of 5 pF and also observed that the CMRR and FoMs of the proposed amplifier are better by a factor of 1.3 and 1.5 in comparison to RFC, and by a factor of 1.27 and 1.41 in comparison to MRFC OTAs respectively.
Distributed surface donor states and the two-dimensional electron gas at AlGaN/GaN heterojunctions

Surface donor states with distributed and finite density are implemented in Schrödinger–Poisson simulations of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors, with the goal of studying their effects on the two-dimensional electron gas. Our recent experimental observations of an increasing surface barrier height with increasing AlGaN thickness are fitted very well by simulations including surface donor levels represented by a constant density of states (DOS) with a density on the order of 1013 cm−2 eV−1. The highest occupied surface states are found to be around 1 eV below the conduction-band minimum, considerably higher in energy than previously reported single surface donor levels. These trends can be explained by the features of oxidized AlGaN surfaces. Furthermore, the surface DOS that fit the experimental results are found to be larger for samples with higher Al concentration.
Surface attachment of horseradish peroxidase to nylon modified by plasma-immersion ion implantation

The surface of polyamide (nylon 6) was modified by plasma-immersion ion implantation (PIII) with nitrogen ions. Structural changes associated with carbonization, oxidation, and depolymerization were observed in the modified surface layer with Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, surface energy measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The enzyme activity of surface-attached horseradish peroxidase was studied with a tetramethylbenzidine colorimetric activity assay. Compared to untreated controls, the PIII-treated surface showed a higher level of the attached protein with increased longevity of bioactivity. Detection of the immobilized protein layer was made difficult by the presence of amide groups in nylon. Here we demonstrate the potential of combining FTIR-ATR spectroscopy with XPS measurements for this purpose.
Physical and chemical properties of Nam Prig Noom, a Thai green-chili paste, following ultra-high pressure and thermal processes

A study of processing green-chili pastes (Nam Prig Noom) by pressurization (100–600 MPa/30–50°C/20 min), pasteurization (90°C/3–5 min) or sterilization (121°C/4 min), subsequently, their physical, biochemical and microbiological qualities as well as the sensory acceptance were assessed. It was found that pressure at low levels (100–300 MPa) could improve activities of enzyme peroxidase (POD), polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and lypoxygenase (LOX) in the chili paste by more than 100%, while pressures above 500 or 300 MPa combined with heat would significantly inactivate these enzyme activities. Both color parameters and enzyme activities illustrated that though some enzymatic browning occurred with the pressurized products indicated by b* (yellowish) parameter, the magnitude of these browning was still milder than those thermally treated products indicated by−a* (greenness) and L (lightness) parameters, presumably as a consequence of the Maillard reaction. Moreover, the sensory scores were found in accordance with color parameters, firmness and capsaicin contents.
Levels, Sources, and Toxic Potential of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Soil of Delhi, India

ABSTRACT This study was done to determine the concentration of PAHs in urban soil of Delhi (India). Surface top soil (up to 10 cm depth) samples were collected from four different sampling sites including industrial, roadside, residential, and agricultural areas of Delhi and 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were evaluated. Total PAH concentrations at industrial, roadside, residential, and agricultural sites were 11.46 ± 8.39, 6.96 ± 4.82, 2.12 ± 1.12, and 1.55 ± 1.07 mg/kg (dry weight), respectively, with 3–7 times greater concentrations in industrial and roadside soils than that in residential and agricultural soils. The PAH pattern was dominated by 4- and 5-ring PAHs (contributing >50% to the total PAHs) at industrial and roadside sites with greater concentration of fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene, and pyrene, whereas, residential and agricultural sites showed a predominance of low molecular weight 2- and 3-ring PAHs (fluoranthene, acenaphthene, naphthalene, chrysene, and anthracene). Isomeric pair ratios suggested biomass combustion and fossil fuel emissions as the main sources of PAHs. The toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) showed that carcinogenic potency (benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent concentration (B[a]Peq) of PAH load in industrial and roadside soils was ∼10 and ∼6 times greater than the agricultural soil.
A new insight into the Protobramidae (Teleostei, Tselfatiiformes), a fossil fish family from the marine Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Lebanon Un nouveau regard sur les Protobramidae (Teleostei, Tselfatiiformes), une famille de poissons fossiles du Cénomanien marin (Crétacé supérieur) du Liban

The study of new specimens of Abisaadichthys and Eusebichthys, two genera belonging to the Protobramidae (Tselfatiiformes), a teleost family from the marine Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Lebanon, gives a better knowledge of the skeleton of these fishes. The discovery of a pelvic girdle in thoracic position in Eusebichthys allows a better understanding of the phylogeny within the family.
Nonmonotonic Constitutive Laws and the Formation of Shear-Banded Flows

We consider constitutive models of viscoelastic behavior which predict a shear stress which is a nonmonotonic function of the shear rate. It is known that a homogeneous shear flow is unstable when the shear stress decreases with shear rate. We use a novel simulation technique (the Lagrangian-Eulerian method for the fluid dynamics combined with Ottinger's stochastic method for the constitutive equation) to solve one- and two-dimensional models of plane Couette flow for an integral constitutive equation describing entangled wormlike micelles. These results are compared with those of a 'toy' model (with a different constitutive equation). We show that the steady state actually consists of bands of different shear rate,. Such a flow is strongly inhomogeneous, and our preliminary results indicate that the constitutive equation must be modified to allow for spatial variations in the viscoelastic stress. [on SciFinder(R)]
“It Helps if You Think of Yourself as a Radio Presenter!” A Lefebvrian Commentary on the Concerns, Conflicts and Opportunities of Online Block Teaching

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated shifts in how higher education provision is offered. In one UK institution block teaching was introduced. This way of teaching and learning has brought new challenges and opportunities for staff and students. To date, little research or theoretical discussion has investigated how this hybrid approach or differences between tutors and student can arise in the use of online teaching spaces (OTS) within a block-teaching format. The present paper focuses on the institution-wide implementation of an online block-teaching model at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. With a specific emphasis on observations and reflections on the experiences of undergraduate students’ and staff by one of the authors from the Department of Psychology who employed an online block teaching approach (6 weeks) from the beginning of block 1 during the academic year 2020/21. We provide a novel methodological advancement of Lefebvre’s (1991) Trialectic of Space to discuss how students and tutors jointly produce and experience learning and teaching within an online block teaching approach. Pre-existing behavioural, cognitive and emotional experiences of using online spaces, contribute to the curriculum, student-tutor and student-student dialogue. We also highlight the importance of community within an online block teaching approach. Applications of the Lefebvrian model (1991) to present pedagogical approaches along with avenues of future research are considered.
Assessing the Abundance and Distribution of Tilapia Species in Lake Kariba

Tilapia species are among the major group of fish species commonly traded for consumption in Zambia. They have a wide market acceptance throughout the country. As such, they are extensively fished in all the country's major water bodies. In recent years, population growth has led to the increase in fishing pressure on the major lakes and rivers to the extent where some of them are being overexploited. A study was carried out in 2015 to assess the abundance and distribution of Tilapia species in Lake Kariba based on Catch Assessment survey (CAS) and Gillnet survey (GNS) conducted on the lake from 2012 to 2014 using relative abundance. Lake Kariba is divided into four strata (I, II, III and IV) based on the geographic and ecological characteristics, limnological structure and other given information of the lake. The results of the study showed no significant differences (P>0.05) in catch percentage of Tilapia species for the years considered. However, the study showed a significant decline (P<0.05) in catch percentage of Tilapia species on an individual stratum over the years. Among the four strata of Lake Kariba, stratum IV showed the highest rate of decline in catch percentage of Tilapia species. The study further showed that Tilapia species were more abundant and distributed in stratum IV compared to the other three strata.
Fluidization, Mixing and Segregation of a Biomass-Sand Mixture in a Fluidized Bed

Fluidization, mixing and segregation of a biomass-sand mixture in a 3D gas-fluidized bed have been investigated by means of visual observation, pressure fluctuation analysis and the bed-frozen method. Three types of mixtures are considered, in which biomass is a thin long stalk, and sand belongs to the Geldart B category. Experiments are carried out in a segmented fluidized bed equipped with multiple pressure transducers. Three initial packing conditions and two experiment procedures are used. The fluidization velocity varies to cover a wide range. Results show that in the local fluidization region, the mixing and segregation patterns are sensitive to the initial packing condition. In the case of a fully segregated state with biomass at the bottom, the bed inversion can be significantly observed due to the great segregation tendency of biomass. Further analyses indicate that the mixing ratio exerts a subtle influence on the competition between mixing and segregation by disturbing the coalescence and break-up of the bubble. In addition, the pressure fluctuation signal proves to be helpful in understanding the dynamic features of the phenomenology.
Anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities of Impatiens balsamina L

The ethanol, methanol, and acetone extracts of different parts of Impatiens balsamina L. were prepared and evaluated for anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities. Among the solvents of extraction, methanol was the most potent solvent. The tyrosinase inhibition assay suggested that the flower extracts have an anti-tyrosinase activity that was about 50% in relation to copper-chelating activity and better than leaves and stems extracts. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents found in the methanol flower extracts were 1,596.08±38.59 mg gallic acid equivalent g and 884.83±1.34 mg quercetin equivalent g, respectively, which were much more than the leaves and stems. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents possessed the anti-tyrosinase activity with r=0.632 and 0.542, respectively. Nevertheless, the flower extract exhibited the greatest amount of antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the flower extract of I. balsamina could serve as a natural anti-tyrosinase compound to promote antioxidant activities and can be developed for further applications.
"It's stressful having all these phones": Investigating Sex Workers' Safety Goals, Risks, and Practices Online

We investigate how a population of end-users with especially salient security and privacy risks — sex workers — conceptualizes and manages their digital safety. The commercial sex industry is increasingly Internet-mediated. As such, sex workers are facing new challenges in protecting their digital privacy and security and avoiding serious consequences such as stalking, blackmail, and social exclusion. Through interviews ( n =29) and a survey ( n =65) with sex workers in European countries where sex work is legal and regulated, we ﬁnd that sex workers have well-deﬁned safety goals and clear awareness of the risks to their safety: clients, deﬁcient legal protections, and hostile digital platforms. In response to these risks, our participants developed complex strategies for protecting their safety, but use few tools speciﬁcally designed for security and privacy. Our results suggest that if even high-risk users with clear risk conceptions view existing tools as insufﬁciently effective to merit the cost of use, these tools are not actually addressing their real security needs. Our ﬁndings underscore the importance of more holistic design of security tools to address both online and ofﬂine axes of safety.
Arid1a regulates cell cycle exit of transit-amplifying cells through inhibiting the Aurka-Cdk1 axis in mouse incisor.

Stem cells self-renew or give rise to transit-amplifying cells (TACs) that differentiate into specific functional cell types. The fate determination of stem cells to TACs and their transition to fully differentiated progeny are precisely regulated to maintain tissue homeostasis. Arid1a, a core component of the switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex, performs epigenetic regulation of stage- and tissue-specific genes that is indispensable for stem cell homeostasis and differentiation. However, the functional mechanism of Arid1a in the fate commitment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their progeny is not clear. Using the continuously growing adult mouse incisor model, we show that Arid1a maintains tissue homeostasis through limiting proliferation, promoting cell cycle exit and differentiation of TACs by inhibiting the Aurka-Cdk1 axis. Loss of Arid1a overactivates the Aurka-Cdk1 axis, leading to expansion of the mitotic TAC population but compromising their differentiation ability. Furthermore, the defective homeostasis after loss of Arid1a ultimately leads to reduction of the MSC population. These findings reveal the functional significance of Arid1a in regulating the fate of TACs and their interaction with MSCs to maintain tissue homeostasis.
The Effect of Immigration Enforcement on School Engagement: Evidence From 287(g) Programs in North Carolina

During the past 15 years, immigration enforcement increased dramatically in the U.S. interior. There is a growing recognition that immigration enforcement in the U.S. interior has spillover effects onto U.S. citizens. I examine the impacts of a type of partnership between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement, 287(g) programs, on school engagement within North Carolina. In North Carolina, nine counties were approved to establish 287(g) programs, and another 15 applied but were not approved to participate. I use a triple difference strategy in which I compare educational outcomes for different groups of students in these two sets of counties before and after activation of 287(g) programs between 2003/2004 and 2012/2013. I find that 287(g) programs decrease school engagement by decreasing attendance. This effect appears to be driven by increabes in chronic absenteeism (missing 15 or more days per year).
Research Article Genetic parameters of important characteristics for the development of potato cultivars designed for industrial processing

Information on genetic parameters is essential to obtain rapid progress in the development of cultivars, which is of great interest to the potato processing industry in Brazil, as the consumption of processed potatoes has increased significantly in the last 10 years. Unfortunately the lack of raw material of quality limits its growth. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of characters of importance in the development of potato cultivars aimed at this agroindustry, in a hybrid population of 20 potato families in Embrapa's Potato Breeding Program. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa, Pelotas, RS, in two growing seasons. The design was randomized blocks with four replications; each repetition was composed of five genotypes of each family, and each plot was represented by five plants of each genotype. After harvesting, the tubers of each plot were evaluated for industrial quality, yield, external physiological defects and external appearance of tubers. The estimates of the variance components and genetic parameters (Restricted Maximum Likelihood) were obtained using the Harmonic Mean of the Relative Performance of the Genetic Values. There was an estimated high broad sense heritability for film
Disparity in health-related quality of life between kidney transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients, and related implications for physical rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study

Background Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important indicator of medical treatment and is a strong predictor of disability and mortality. The literature has shown mixed evidence about whether kidney transplantation improves HRQOL compared with other renal replacement modalities. The aim of this study was to compare the HRQOL in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods A cross-sectional study of 100 KTRs and 272 HD patients from two central kidney units in West Bank, Palestine. The HRQOL was assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate differences in mean HRQOL scores between KTRs and HD patients. Results After accounting for sociodemographic variables, KTRs had higher clinically important differences than HD patients in HRQOL mean scores in role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health, physical and mental component summaries ranging from 15.5 points for social functioning (95% CI 10.1, 20.7) to 34.3 points for general health (95% CI 28.7, 39.9). However, unexpectedly, KTRs had significantly lower HRQOL physical functioning than HD patients by 24.5 points (95% CI 18.7, 29.9). Conclusions Kidney transplantation is associated with important improvements in most aspects of HRQOL but also with noticeably poor physical functioning. HRQOL among KTRs should be routinely measured and closely monitored in clinical settings. KTRs should be encouraged to participate in individually tailored physical exercise programs. Identification and elimination of barriers to physical functioning may improve HRQOL and prevent premature mortality among KTRs.
Long-Horizon Stock Valuation and Return Forecasts Conditional on Demographic Projections

We incorporate low frequency information from demographic variables into a simple predictive model to forecast stock valuations and returns conditional on demographic projections. The demographics appear to be an important determinant of stock valuations, such as the dividendprice ratio. The availability of long-term demographic projections allows us to provide (very) long-horizon conditional forecasts of stock market valuations and returns. We also exploit the strong contemporaneous correlation between returns and valuations to improve conditional return forecasts – something which is not possible in a predictive regression with only lagged predictors. Extensive conditional out-of-sample forecast comparisons and tests demonstrate the predictive value that an accurate demographic projection can deliver. The model also provides a simple way to adjust predictions under alternative demographic assumptions, incorporating, for example, the demographic impact of covid19 or recent changes to immigration policy. JEL Classification: G14, G17, C22.
Hedonic Adaptation and the Set Point for Subjective Well-Being

: Classical theories of hedonic adaptation assume that lasting changes in subjective well-being (SWB) are not possible because one’s SWB inevitably returns to its baseline level, a phenomenon known as the hedonic treadmill. This baseline level is sometimes referred to as the set point for SWB and is assumed to be primarily determined by heritable factors. In this chapter, we review classical theories on hedonic adaptation: adaptation-level theory, range-frequency theory, hedonic relativism and the hedonic treadmill, opponent-process theory, the concept of the genetically determined set point, the distinction between desensitization and shifts in adaptation levels, and dynamic equilibrium theory. We then review the empirical evidence on these theories, with a focus on longitudinal studies on the heritability and stability of SWB, on changes in SWB after life events, and on the effectiveness of SWB interventions. Together, the empirical evidence suggests that although SWB is stable for most people, lasting changes are nevertheless possible. Recent theoretical developments such as the revised set-point theory, SWB homeostasis theory, and the hedonic adaptation prevention model offer different explanations for these findings. The chapter concludes with a discussion of four central questions that need to be addressed in future research.
Investigation of the carrier distribution in InGaN‐based multi‐quantum‐well structures

We investigate colour-coded InGaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) where the position of a cyan-emitting quantum well (QW) embedded into a blue-emitting active region was varied systematically. The intensity ratio between the light output originating from the cyan and the blue QWs for different temperatures is analyzed both under electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence (PL) conditions. In EL, the contribution of the cyan QW increases when its position draws nearer to the p-side. Surprisingly, a similar behaviour is also observed under PL excitation. Clear evidence of limited multi-quantum-well (MQW) operation at room temperature is found by comparing the relative emission intensities for different temperatures. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)