Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some descriptive properties of normal mixtures

Abstract When two single normal densities are mixed together the shape of the resulting distribution will vary in the extent to which it indicates the underlying structure, depending on the values of the parameters. It does not seem unreasonable to suppose that the more the mixing structure is revealed the more accurately can the density be estimated in practice. For this reason it is important to identify the regions in the parameter space where the prospects are most favourable. An examination of the total parameter space is also a pre-requisite for an assessment of the efficiencies of various methods of estimation for the mixture. This is so since it is necessary to select regions of the parameter space where the methods are to be compared and essential to know the population implications of these regions.
Time to flock: time together strengthens relationships and enhances trust to teach despite challenges

ABSTRACT This study applies an Afrocentric theory (Relationship-Resourced Resilience [RRR]) to analyze teacher resilience in a less-researched context in the Global South. The Isithebe-intervention study in South African schools investigated how time together to strengthen relationships promotes teacher resilience despite structural disparities. Teachers were conveniently sampled, and South African schools were purposively sampled using concurrent mixed-methods triangulation. Based on Ubuntu social-connectedness principles, the intervention gave teachers monthly art-based time to communicate and build relationships. Pre- and post-intervention measurements included teacher-reported surveys (ENTREE and REPSSI SC subscales) and participatory reflection and action conversations (verbatim transcriptions and visual data). Inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data and showed that time together increases resilience, social connectedness, and trust. Qualitative results show time spent together promoted a sense of belonging, safety, and trust in supporting one another by sharing ideas for informal professional development or caring for children, families, and friends who depend on such help to withstand ongoing challenges. Few teacher resilience studies exist in Global South and South Africa. Structured time to build relationships capitalizes on dominant but marginalized Afrocentric belief systems favoring interdependent, collective resilience values, beliefs, and practices and encourages instructors to teach countering deficit notions of structurally disparate contexts.
Role of Nitrogen Incorporation into Hf-Based High-k Gate Dielectrics for Termination of Local Current Leakage Paths

We studied effects of nitrogen incorporation into Hf-based high-k gate dielectrics on local insulating properties by conductive atomic force microscopy. Nitrogen-incorporated HfSiO/HfO2/SiO2 gate stacks exhibited excellent dielectric reliability, whereas we observed the creation of local leakage sites for untreated gate stacks, i.e., without nitridation. Both types of high-k dielectric layers were crystallized, and there was no relationship between the current leakage sites and surface morphology. These findings indicate that grain boundaries of the high-k films do not act as the leakage sites. Instead, we propose nitrogen incorporation as an important method for terminating the current leakage paths and discuss detailed mechanisms based on first-principles calculations.
An Empirical Evaluation of In-Depth Probes Used to Pretest Survey Questions

A growing number of survey methodologists have advocated the use of in-depth probes for identifying comprehension problems, inadequate response categories, the perspectives adopted by respondents, and the strategies respondents employ when retrieving information from memory. This article reports the results of an empirical evaluation of the relative effectiveness of a number of the probes that have been used for the first three of these tasks. This work confirms that the traditional practice of field testing a questionnaire on a subsample drawn from the population of interest is not an effective way of detecting shortcomings in survey questions. It also indicates that the effectiveness of a probe is directly related to its specificity; the most effective comprehension probes are those directed at exploring the ways in which respondents interpret key concepts; probes designed to get at respondents' interpretations of key concepts are the most effective means of identifying perspectives respondents have adopted; and well-educated respondents are most likely to make substantive responses to in-depth probes.
A Consistent Higher-Order Theory of Laminated Plates with Nonlinear Impact Modal Analysis

A consistent higher order theory is developed for cross ply laminated thick plates under transverse normal impact via an energy variational approach, in which the 3D surface/edge boundary conditions and interlaminar displacement/stress continuities are satisfied, in an attempt to find the dynamic deformation and all six stress components throughout the plate during the impact process. The dynamic displacement field is expressed in a mixed form of in-plane double Fourier series and cubic polynomials through thickness as 12 variables for each layer. A system of modified Lagrange's equations is derived with all surface and interface constraints included. The nonlinear impact modal analysis is performed using the Hertz contact law in a patch loading simulation and Green's function for small time steps linearization
Detection of Colletotrichum spp. Resistant to Benomyl by Using Molecular Techniques

Colletotrichum species is known as the major causal pathogen of red pepper anthracnose in Korea and various groups of fungicides are registered for the management of the disease. However, the consistent use of fungicides has resulted in the development of resistance in many red pepper-growing areas of Korea. Effective management of the occurrence of fungicide resistance depends on constant monitoring and early detection. Thus, in this study, various methods such as agar dilution method (ADM), gene sequencing, allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) were applied for the detection of benzimidazole resistance among 24 isolates of Colletotrichum acutatum s. lat. and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides s. lat. The result of the ADM showed that C. gloeosporioides s. lat. was classified into sensitive and resistant isolates to benomyl while C. acutatum s. lat. was insensitive at ≥1 μg/ml of benomyl. The sequence analysis of the β-tubulin gene showed the presence of a single nucleotide mutation at the 198th amino acid position of five isolates (16CACY14, 16CAYY19, 15HN5, 15KJ1, and 16CAYY7) of C. gloeosporioides s. lat. Allele-specific PCR and PCR-RFLP were used to detect point mutation at 198th amino acid position and this was done within a day unlike ADM which usually takes more than one week and thus saving time and resources that are essential in the fungicide resistance management in the field. Therefore, the molecular techniques established in this study can warrant early detection of benzimidazole fungicide resistance for the adoption of management strategies that can prevent yield losses among farmers.
Parametric studies of the Hall current plasma thruster

The Hall current plasma thruster accelerates a plasma jet by an axial electric field and an applied radial magnetic field in an annular ceramic channel. A relatively large current density (>0.1 A/cm2) can be obtained as the acceleration mechanism is not limited by space charge effects. Such a device can be used as a small rocket engine on board spacecraft with the advantage of a large jet velocity compared to conventional rocket engines (10000–30000 m/s versus 2000–4800 m/s). An experimental Hall thruster was constructed and operated in a broad range of operating conditions and under various configuration variations. Electrical, magnetic and plasma diagnostics, and as well accurate thrust and gas flow rate measurements, have been used to investigate the dependence of thruster behavior on the applied voltage, gas flow rate, magnetic field, channel geometry and wall material. The studies conducted so far have demonstrated a significant effect of channel material on thruster electrical characteristics and th.
Isolation and Characterization of Ruminal Yeast Strain with Probiotic Potential and Its Effects on Growth Performance, Nutrients Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation and Microbiota of Hu Sheep

Yeast strains are widely used in ruminant production. However, knowledge about the effects of rumen native yeasts on ruminants is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain a rumen native yeast isolate and investigate its effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbiota in Hu sheep. Yeasts were isolated by picking up colonies from agar plates, and identified by sequencing the ITS sequences. One isolate belonging to Pichia kudriavzevii had the highest optical density among these isolates obtained. This isolate was prepared to perform an animal feeding trial. A randomized block design was used for the animal trial. Sixteen Hu sheep were randomly assigned to the control (CON, fed basal diet, n = 8) and treatment group (LPK, fed basal diet plus P. kudriavzevii, CFU = 8 × 109 head/d, n = 8). Sheep were housed individually and treated for 4 weeks. Compared to CON, LPK increased final body weight, nutrient digestibility and rumen acetate concentration and acetate-to-propionate ratio in sheep. The results of Illumina MiSeq PE 300 sequencing showed that LPK increased the relative abundance of lipolytic bacteria (Anaerovibrio spp. and Pseudomonas spp.) and probiotic bacteria (Faecalibacterium spp. and Bifidobacterium spp.). For rumen eukaryotes, LPK increased the genera associated with fiber degradation, including protozoan Polyplastron and fungus Pichia. Our results discovered that rumen native yeast isolate P. kudriavzevii might promote the digestion of fibers and lipids by modulating specific microbial populations with enhancing acetate-type fermentation.
On Convexity Preserving Operators

Let $K * f$ denote a convolution type operator, defined for periodic functions with period $2\pi $; we present a characterization of the class of such operators preserving the set of odd functions which are concave on $2\pi $. The paper concludes with some necessary conditions on the Fourier coefficients of functions of those classes.
Residual Effects of Low Noise Levels on the Temporary Threshold Shift

The present study measures the temporary threshold shift (TTS) following two conditions of high‐level noise exposure: (1) a control condition where the high‐level noise is preceded by a period of silence; (2) an experimental condition where the high‐level noise is preceded by noise levels which alone produce no apparent TTS. When the non‐TTS‐producing noise was coupled with the high‐level noise, a greater threshold shift resulted than when equivalent periods of silence preceded the same high‐level noise.
Silenced voices and speaking up: A case study of Romani people in Europe

This paper presents the perceptions of silence in two Romani (Gipsy) cultures in Europe – Bulgaria and Finland. On the basis of field studies and two in-depth interviews, conducted in the towns of Mikkeli (Finland) and Ihtiman (Bulgaria), it outlines the attitudes of the European Roma people towards “being marginalised” and “silenced”. Silence is perceived by them in terms of “being different” and “being sometimes ashamed”. In the Romani culture there is a special relationship between “silence”, “pride” and “shame” as a specific worldview and a mechanism of constructing of both the personal and the collective ethnic identities. The paper also studies the phenomenon of self-silencing as a strategy of coping with undesirable situations that seem to disturb the mental wellbeing of two individuals. It underlines the need for raising the awareness of education within the Roma community in Europe and concludes that it is necessary to differentiate between “cultural” and “non-cultural” practices in the educational system.
A stabilised characteristic finite element method for transient Navier–Stokes equations

In this work, we consider a stabilised characteristic finite element method for the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations based on the lowest equal-order finite element pairs. The diffusion term in these equations is discretised by using finite element method, the temporal differentiation and advection terms are treated by characteristic schemes. Unconditionally stable results and error estimates of optimal order for the velocity and pressure are established. Finally, some numerical results are provided to verify the performance of this method.
Induced Membrane Technique for the Management of Segmental Femoral Defects: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Individual Participant Data

Several modifications of the induced membrane technique (IMT) have been reported, but there is no consensus regarding their results and prognosis. Moreover, most studies have focused on tibial defects; no meta‐analysis of the treatment of femoral defects using the IMT has been reported. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to identify the potential risk factors of post‐procedural complications following the treatment of segmental femoral defects using the IMT. A comprehensive search was performed on the Cochrane Library, EBSCO, EMBASE, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, using the keywords “femur,” “Masquelet technique,” and “induced membrane technique. ” Original articles composed in English, having accessible individual patient data, and reporting more than two cases of bony defect or nonunion of femur or more than five cases of any body part were included. Post‐procedural bone graft infections, final union status, and union time after second‐stage operation were analyzed. Fourteen reports, including 90 patients, were used in this study. External fixation in second‐stage surgery had an odds ratio of 9.267 for post‐procedural bone graft infection (p = 0.047). The odds ratio of post‐procedural bone graft infection and age >65 years for final non‐union status was 51.05 (p = 0.003) and 9.18 (p = 0.042). Shorter union time was related to impregnated antibiotics in the spacer (p = 0.005), transplanting all‐autologous grafts (p = 0.042), and the application of intramedullary nails as the second‐stage fixation method (p = 0.050). The IMT appears to be reasonable and reproducible for femoral segmental bone defects. Several preoperative and surgical factors may affect post‐procedural complications and union time.
The Varying Fertilities of the Amish Groups of Holmes County, Ohio

The Amish are known for their high fertility, and one of the groups, the Swartzentruber Amish, is known for its exceptionally large families. Opinions vary about the number, but there are many distinct Amish affiliations in the Holmes County, Ohio, area, ranging from the progressive New Order Amish to the ultraconservative Swartzentruber Amish. In this study, fertility was calculated for the five groups large enough for such analysis. The fertilities (i.e., number of live births for women 45 years and over) were notably congruent with the degree of conservatism (from progressive to conservative): New Order, 5.76; Old Order, 6.09; Dan or Andy Weaver, 7.79; Hostetler, 8.68; Swartzentruber, 10.42. The families of the Old Order group (the only group large enough) were subdivided into farming and nonfarming subgroups and families of ministers and families of laymen for fertility comparisons. The farming families subgroup had a higher fertility rate (6.88) than the nonfarming subgroup (5.90), presumably because their labor-intensive work of farming begs for large families. The ministers’ family subgroup also had a higher fertility (6.54) than the laymen’s family subgroup (5.89), the difference being attributed to ministers having a deeper religious commitment than laymen. The interval between marriage and first birth was nearly the same for all five groups. For the Swartzentruber Amish, the interbirth intervals remained short throughout the reproductive span, but for the other four groups, they became progressively longer. The reproductive span of women in the New Order Amish group was 13.75 years. It was progressively longer for the more conservative groups and was longest (17.74 years) for Swartzentruber Amish. These results are consistent with other studies that showed that people with more intense religious practice have larger families than people whose religious practice is less intense.
The Role of the Social Environment in Pacing and Sports Performance: A Narrative Review from a Self-Regulatory Perspective

As proposed by Triplett in 1898 and evidenced by a recent series of lab and field studies, racing against other competitors consistently results in increased performance compared to when racing alone. To explain this phenomenon, we will explore the process of self-regulation, a process relevant to pacing, which is linked to athletes’ emotions and facilitates their sports performance optimization. We will apply the cyclical model of Self-regulation of Learning to pacing and sports performance settings and explore the role of the social environment (in particular, opponents but also coaches) in each phase of the self-regulatory model. It seems that the social environment could be considered as a significant self-regulatory and sports performance facilitator. More specifically, athletes can focus on their social environment (opponents) when they have to set goals and select appropriate strategies to achieve them (forethought phase), monitor and manage their actions and their emotions (performance phase), and make self-judgements and choose self-reactions (self-reflection). Moreover, the social environment (coaches) can observe, step in, and facilitate these intricate processes. These findings could guide athletes and their coaches towards more effective pacing acquisition and development, and better sports performance, which could be of particular relevance for youth athletes or athletes with disabilities impacting on their self-regulatory skills.
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SERGIPE PRÓ-REITORIA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO E PESQUISA MESTRADO EM CIÊNCIAS DA SAÚDE

The implications of left bundle branch block in cardiovascular performance of patients with preserved left systolic function (dissertation). BARROS M. Aracaju: Universidade Federal de Sergipe; 2013. Presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB), regardless of evidence of heart disease, increases cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Isolated LBBB induces ventricular septal asynchrony, it can cause repercussions in left ventricular (LV) function and diameter, which may evolve into ventricular remodeling and heart failure. Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is a noninvasive diagnostic method and physiological, that simultaneously evaluates cardiovascular and respiratory functions, fundamental to understanding the mechanisms of exercise limitation. This study sought to evaluate the implications of isolated LBBB to cardiovascular performance in patients with preserved LV systolic function and absence of myocardial ischemia. This is an observational, cross-sectional analysis, which evaluated 02 groups: LBBB (26 patients) and control (23 patients). All patients showed LV systolic function > 50% and myocardial ischemia was excluded through the physical stress echocardiography. They underwent CPET. At statistical analysis, we chose the general linear model, specifically multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in which the dependent variables were the parameters of CPET and fixed factors were the LBBB and sedentary lifestyle. The results showed that the percentage of predicted peak oxygen pulse (O2P) in the LBBB group was 98.6 ± 18.6% versus 109.9 ± 13.5% (p = 0.02); the percentage of predicted peak oxygen consumption (VO2) in patients with LBBB was 87.2 ± 15.0% versus 105.0 ± 15.6% (p <0.0001); the percentage of predicted anaerobic threshold VO2 in LBBB group was 67.9 ± 13.6 % versus 70.2 ± 12.8% (p = 0.55); in the LBBB group, ΔVO2/Δwork rate was 15.5 ± 5.5 ml.min.watts versus 20.7 ± 7.3 ml.min.watts (p = 0.006); the VE/VCO2 slope in LBBB group was 29.8 ± 2.9 versus 26.2 ± 2.9 (p = 0.0001) and T1/2 VO2 was the LBBB group of 85.2 ± 11.8 seconds versus 71.5 ± 11.0 seconds (p = 0.0001). By MANCOVA, adjusting the intervention of sedentary lifestyle and covariates, it was showed that patients with LBBB with preserved left systolic function and absence of myocardial ischemia, showed increase in the VE/VCO2 slope, but the LBBB did not affect aerobic performance. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether the VE/VCO2 slope will be an earlier marker of ventricular dysfunction in patients with LBBB. Key-words: heart rate; oxygen consumption; pulse; bundle-branch block; left ventricular function.
Photovoltaic properties and exciplex emission of polyphenylenevinylene-based blend solar cells

By studying the photoluminescence emission and photovoltaic properties of blends of polyphenylenevinylene (PPV)-based electron donating and accepting polymers, the authors observed a strict anticorrelation between relative exciplex emission in the solid state and photovoltaic efficiency of corresponding blend devices. Comparative studies on defined bilayer geometries showed that the overall shape of the current-voltage characteristics under illumination is independent of device geometry and layer thickness. Consequently, they conclude that the photocurrent in PPV-based blends is mainly determined by the efficiency to form free carriers rather than by free carrier recombination.
Climate-controlled organic matter accumulation as recorded in the Upper Jurassic Argiles de Châtillon Formation, a shallow-marine counterpart of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation

Abstract Mudstones from the Argiles de Châtillon Formation exposed in the Boulonnais region of Northern France represent a proximal lateral equivalent of the organic-rich Kimmeridge Clay Formation. The Argiles de Châtillon Formation is composed of two subunits that straddle the Kimmeridgian–Tithonian boundary. Each subunit contains an organic-rich interval. The two conspicuous organic-rich intervals have been linked to either periods of high sea level or greenhouse warming. Here, we use palynology to further understand climate and environmental mechanisms that drove organic matter enrichment. We use bulk organic carbon isotope records (δ13Corg) to correlate the Boulonnais sections with those of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation. The palynological results suggest that the stratigraphically lower organic-rich interval (Kimmeridgian) was deposited under suboxic to anoxic stratified conditions. A large-scale climate shift from cooler/humid to warmer/arid conditions marked the Kimmeridgian–Tithonian boundary, influencing organic matter enrichment in the stratigraphically higher organic-rich interval (Tithonian). In contrast with the lower organic-rich interval, there are no indications of stratified conditions for the higher organic-rich interval. Within this thicker organic-rich interval, cyclic variations in amorphous organic matter distribution, total organic carbon and δ13Corg trends on a 2 m scale are observed. They co-occur with fluctuations of the palynological assemblages, indicative of more humid versus arid climate conditions, likely alternating on a ∼100 kyr eccentricity timescale. Our results show that under the most humid phases of these overall arid climate conditions, sulfurization of carbohydrates was the dominant control on organic matter preservation. This climate-controlled process that drives organic matter enrichment in the Tithonian can be recognized on a basin-wide scale.