Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and characterization of single carbon nanotube emitters as point electron sources

Individual carbon nanotube electron field emitters with good controllability have been fabricated in a two-step process involving (a) producing micron-size carbon fibers which contain single carbon nanotubes at their cores by a chemical vapor deposition method and (b) exposing the nanotubes by fracturing the fiber with mechanical forces and mounting the fiber to a copper wire. These fiber-nanotube electron emitters show low operating voltage, generate high field enhancement, and produce fine electron beams. The field emission characteristics and durability of this structure offer promising applications for analytical instruments where high performance point electron sources are required.
Images of the Educational Dialogue of Meanings Occurring in the Portfolio of Early Education Students

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to identify and characterise the specifics of the dialogue of meanings occurring in the portfolio of early education students, considered in the context of the possibilities of educating teachers. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The considerations focus on two research problems: What content of the portfolio of early education students demonstrates that they engage the dialogue of meanings with educational issues and their own school experience? What shape does the knowledge about the world as reconstructed by teacher entrants take? To analyse the portfolio, which I treat as legacy data, I use the method of qualitative analysis of text. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: In the first part, I reconstruct the relationship between the dialogue of meanings as a component of learning strategies, and the educational portfolio as a tool for monitoring achievements. In the empirical part, I characterise the categories that emerged in the content analysis and show their interconnections with the dialogic assignment of meanings to educational reality. RESEARCH RESULTS: The results of the analysis show that the learning strategy which makes use of the dialogue of meanings and the portfolio enables students to discover the possibility of assigning individual sense to educational reality, not excluding the existence of different perspectives and respecting them. By undertaking a dialogue with personal knowledge and their own experiences, the students gradually went beyond the framework of obviousness and expanded their perspective of thinking about the world of school. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS: Thinking about teacher professionalism is changing, with the presented analysis providing a view on this matter. It shows the premises and effects of a certain possibility of educating teachers who are open to the complexity of educational reality and to the dialogue preventing its reduction.
Thermal shock of orthotropic rectangular plates

The dynamic response of homogeneous, orthotropic plates having two parallel, simply supported edges and exposed to rapid surface heating is examined. Uncoupled, thin-plate theory is used to determine the inducedflexural vibrations. The solution is obtained as the superposition of two displacement fields, representing the quasi-static and the dynamic behaviors. An exact Levy-type solution is derived for the quasi-static problem. For the dynamic case, the governing partial differential equation is first reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations in time by means of the Galerkin method. For special situations in which the latter equations are uncoupled (e.g., plates having all edges simply supported), the solution is obtained using the Laplace transform. For cases involving more general support conditions, the equations are integrated numerically using the Runge-Kutta-Gill technique. Numerical results are presented for both isotropic and orthotropic plates having various combinations of edge cond.
Compact Law of the Iterated Logarithm for Matrix-Normalized Sums of Random Vectors

Let $(X_n)_{n\ge 1}$ be a sequence of independent centered random vectors in ${\bf R}^d$. We give conditions under which the sequence $S_n=\sum_{i=1}^nX_i$ normalized by a matricial sequence $(H_n)$ satisfies a compact law of the iterated logarithm. As an application of this result, we obtain the compact law of the iterated logarithm for $B_n^{-1/2}S_n$ and for $\Delta_n^{-1/2}S_n$, where $B_n$ is the covariance matrix of $S_n$, and where $\Delta_n$ is the diagonal matrix whose jth diagonal term is the jth diagonal term of $B_n$; the eigenvalues of $B_n$ may go to infinity with different rates, but their iterated logarithms have to be equivalent.
Attitude of farmers towards Integrated Farming System in Agro Climatic Zone IVa of Rajasthan, India

Integrated farming system is playing a vital role to enhance the farmers welfare as well as the gross income of the farmer and optimum utilization of available resources. The present study was conducted in agroclimatic zone IVa of Rajasthan. It comprises of four districts Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand and Udaipur. Among these four districts selected 240 farmers were selected randomly. The data were collected through wellstructured and pre-tested interview schedule. The findings revealed that the (56.25 %) of the respondents had favourable of attitude towards IFS, followed by most favourable (25.41 %) and least favourable (18.34 percent) of attitude towards integrated farming system. It was also concluded that farmers of selected districts of Zone IVa of Rajasthan had more or less similar attitude towards Integrated Farming System.
Effect of Targeted Embolization on Seizure Outcomes in Patients with Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

Background: Seizures are one of the most debilitating manifestations of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of curative embolization on brain AVM patients presenting with seizures. Methods: The records of patients who underwent embolization for brain AVM from January 2012 to December 2020 were evaluated and patients presenting with seizures were interviewed. Patient responses were evaluated according to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and Engel classifications. Statistical analyses of factors associated with seizure outcomes and complications were performed using ANOVA and Fischer’s exact tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.2 ± 10.7 years. More than 80% of the patients received no or suboptimal dosages of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) prior to embolization. Positive seizure dynamics were observed in 50% of the patients post-procedure. A correlation was found between length of seizures in anamnesis and outcomes of both Engel and ILAE score, where shorter length was associated with better outcomes. Post-embolization hemorrhage was associated with initial presentation with hemorrhage. Conclusions: The embolization of brain AVMs had a positive effect on seizure presentation and a relatively low prevalence of complications. However, the results of the study are obscured by inadequate AED treatment received by the patients, which prompts prospective studies on the topic with careful patient selection.
Encapsulation of Volatile Monoterpene Fragrances in Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles and Potential Application in Fruit Preservation

In this work, we synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and periodic mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles containing bridging groups of ethylene (E-PMO) and phenylene (P-PMO) and compared their adsorption properties using D-limonene (Lim), myrcene (Myr), and cymene (Cym) as model guest molecules. For the selected nanoparticles of ~100 nm in diameter, the loading capacity to the volatile fragrances was in the order of P-PMO < E-PMO < MSN, consistent with the trend of increasing total pore volume. For example, P-PMO, E-PMO, and MSN had a Lim uptake of 42.2 wt%, 47.3 wt%, and 62.7 wt%, respectively, which was close to their theoretical adsorption capacity. Under isothermal thermogravimetric analysis conditions (30 °C, a N2 flow of 1 mL min−1), the lowest fragrance release of ~56% over 24 h was observed for P-PMO, followed by E-PMO (74–80%), and MSN (~89%). The release kinetics of the fragrant molecules from MSN and PMO materials can be well described by first-order and Weibull models, respectively. Moreover, the incorporation of Lim-loaded P-PMO NPs in an aqueous solution of regenerated silk fibroin provided a composite coating material suitable for perishable fruit preservation. The active layer deposited on fruit peels using dip coating showed good preservation efficacy, enabling the shelf-life of mangoes in a highly humid and hot atmosphere (30–35 °C, 75–85% RH) to be extended to 6 days.
Uric acid relationships with lipid profile and adiposity indices: Impact of different hyperuricemic thresholds

Previous studies focused on the relationships between Serum Uric Acid (SUA) and lipids have found an association mainly with triglycerides. Furthermore, previous studies on adiposity indices have been focused on the evaluation of the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI). The present study was aimed at providing within the same population a systematic evaluation of lipids and adiposity indices with SUA, employing both the classic cutoff for hyperuricemia and the newly one identified by the Uric Acid Right for Heart Health (URRAH) study. We analyzed data collected in 1892 subjects of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study with available SUA, lipid profile and variables necessary to calculate VAI, Cardio‐Metabolic Index (CMI) and Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP). At linear regression model (corrected for confounders) SUA correlated with all the lipids values (with the strongest β for triglycerides) and adiposity indices. When the two different cutoffs were compared, the URRAH one was significantly related to atherogenic lipids profile (OR 1.207 for LDL and 1.33 for non‐HDL, P < 0.001) while this was not the case for the classic one. Regarding adiposity indices the classic cutoff displays highest OR as compared to the URRAH one. In conclusions, newly reported URRAH cutoff for hyperuricemia better relate to atherogenic lipoprotein (LDL and non‐HDL) when compared to the classic one. The opposite has been found for adiposity indexes where the classic cut‐off seems to present highest performance. Among adiposity indexes, LAP present the highest OR for the relationship with hyperuricemia.
Associations between adolescent mental health and pedestrian- and transit-oriented urban design qualities: Evidence from a national-level online Canadian survey

Different types of environment stimuli (e.g. noise, aesthetics) in urban environments are becoming better understood as determinants of the mental health of urban dwellers. Research on the impacts of urban exposures, especially those related to urban designs, and their potential impacts on the mental health of adolescents specifically, however, is currently lacking. In this study, we examine the relationships between five pedestrian- and transit-oriented design (PTOD) concepts – imageability, enclosure, human scale, transparency and complexity – and adolescent emotional responses to six settings of varied PTOD quality, and discuss potential design-related emotional affordances within Gibson’s Theory of Affordances (ToA). Using an online survey method with videos of each setting, a nationally representative sample of Canadian adolescents viewed the videos and indicated responses to six mental health indicators (positive affect, negative affect, calmness, anxiousness, perceived restorativeness and mental demand). Adjusted linear mixed models (LMMs) were constructed to examine the association between different urban settings and each outcome. Results indicated that, generally, as the quality of five PTOD concepts increased, as reflected in the scores of the different settings, positive emotional responses tended to increase while negative responses decreased (excluding mental demand). Within the frame of the ToA, multiple emotional response outcomes were significantly associated with settings high in aggregate PTOD quality (e.g. Plaza-Positive Affect: β = 0.116, 95% CI: 0.010–0.222, p = 0.033; Bluespace-Mental Demand: β = −1.634, 95% CI: −1.770 to −1.498, p = <0.000), suggesting such spaces may be perceived by adolescents as possessing greater emotional richness with respect to affordances. Future studies should further explore these relationships with other means (e.g. objective methods).
Maternal and Placental DNA Methylation Changes Associated with the Pathogenesis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an important metabolic complication of pregnancy, which affects the future health of both the mother and the newborn. The pathogenesis of GDM is not completely clear, but what is clear is that with the development and growth of the placenta, GDM onset and blood glucose is difficult to control, while gestational diabetes patients’ blood glucose drops and reaches normal after placenta delivery. This may be associated with placental secretion of insulin-like growth factor, adipokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, cytokines and insulin resistance. Therefore, endocrine secretion of placenta plays a key role in the pathogenesis of GDM. The influence of DNA methylation of these molecules and pathway-related genes on gene expression is also closely related to the pathogenesis of GDM. Here, this review attempts to clarify the pathogenesis of GDM and the related maternal and placental DNA methylation changes and how they affect metabolic pathways.
Projective collineations in Einstein spaces

Spacetimes admitting a group of (local) projective collineations are considered. In an n-dimensional proper Einstein space it is shown that any vector field xi i generating a proper projective collineation (that is one which is not an affine collineation) is the gradient of a scalar field phi (up to the addition of a Killing vector field). Then a four-dimensional Einstein spacetime admitting a proper projective collineation is shown to have constant curvature. For an n-dimensional space of non-zero constant curvature, the scale field phi satisfies a system of third-order linear differential equations. The complete solution of this system is found in closed form and depends on (n+1)(n+2)/2 arbitrary constants. All gradient vector fields xi i generating projective collineations are found explicitly and together with the n(n+1)/2 Killing vector fields generate a Lie algebra of dimension n(n+2).
Machine Learning-Based Automated Detection and Quantification of Geographic Atrophy and Hypertransmission Defects Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

The current study describes the development and assessment of innovative, machine learning (ML)-based approaches for automated detection and pixel-accurate measurements of regions with geographic atrophy (GA) in late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using optical coherence tomography systems. 900 OCT volumes, 100266 B-scans, and en face OCT images from 341 non-exudative AMD patients with or without GA were included in this study from both Cirrus (Zeiss) and Spectralis (Heidelberg) OCT systems. B-scan and en face level ground truth GA masks were created on OCT B-scan where the segmented ellipsoid zone (EZ) line, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) line, and bruchs membrane (BM) line overlapped. Two deep learning-based approaches, B-scan level and en face level, were trained. The OCT B-scan model had detection accuracy of 91% and GA area measurement accuracy of 94%. The en face OCT model had detection accuracy of 82% and GA area measurement accuracy of 96% with primary target of hypertransmission on en face OCT. Accuracy was good for both devices tested (92–97%). Automated lesion size stratification for CAM cRORA definition of 250um minimum lesion size was feasible. High-performance models for automatic detection and segmentation of GA area were achieved using OCT systems and deep learning. The automatic measurements showed high correlation with the ground truth. The en face model excelled at identification of hypertransmission defects. The models performance generalized well across device types tested. Future development will include integration of both models to enhance feature detection across GA lesions as well as isolating hypertransmission defects without GA for pre-GA biomarker extraction.
Endocranial Casts of Camelops hesternus and Palaeolama sp.: New Insights into the Recent History of the Camelid Brain

Endocranial casts are capable of capturing the general brain form in extinct mammals due to the high fidelity of the endocranial cavity and the brain in this clade. Camelids, the clade including extant camels, llamas, and alpacas, today display high levels of gyrification and brain complexity. The evolutionary history of the camelid brain has been described as involving unique neocortical growth dynamics which may have led to its current state. However, these inferences are based on their fossil endocast record from approximately ∼40 Mya (Eocene) to ∼11 Mya (Miocene), with a gap in this record for the last ∼10 million years. Here, we present the first descriptions of two camelid endocrania that document the recent history of the camelid brain: a new specimen of Palaeolama sp. from ∼1.2 Mya, and the plaster endocast of Camelops hesternus, a giant camelid from ∼44 to 11 Kya which possessed the largest brain (∼990 g) of all known camelids. We find that neocortical complexity evolved significantly between the Miocene and Pleistocene Epochs. Already ∼1.2 Mya the camelid brain presented morphologies previously known only in extant taxa, especially in the frontal and parietal regions, which may also be phylogenetic informative. The new fossil data indicate that during the Pleistocene, camelid brain dynamics experienced neocortical invagination into the sagittal sinus rather than evagination out of it, as observed in Eocene to Miocene taxa.
The Impact of Job Training on Employee’s Satisfaction: A Study in Public Institutions in Western Uganda

This study examined the relationship between on-job and off-job training on employee job satisfaction at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Western Uganda. To be able to realise the study objectives, a cross-sectional survey design, quantitative in nature was adopted. The targeted population comprised the employees of MUST where a sample of 230 respondents was chosen guided by Krejcie and Morgan sample determination table. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires through telephone interview in order to adhere to Corona Virus pandemic guidelines related to social distancing. Simple random sampling technique was adopted during sample selection. Data collected was analysed using the analysis function of the Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS version 20). The study findings indicate a moderate positive and significant relationship between on-job training/off-job training and job satisfaction. On-job training predicted job satisfaction to the tune of 14% compared to 9% variation in job satisfaction caused by off-job training. On the basis of observation that the case institution does not organize trainings for supervisors on how to conduct appraisals, the study recommends that human resource (HR) practitioners and policy makers inculcate trainings for supervisors on how to conduct performance appraisals in order to equip supervisors with sufficient performance appraisal skills to be able to appropriately identify employee training needs. Future research may carry out a long tudinal study to test how on-job and off-job training predict job satisfaction in a private higher learning institution setting in another country.
Improving the Functional Performance of Date Seed Protein Concentrate by High-Intensity Ultrasonic Treatment

Date kernel is a plant-derived byproduct that has the potential to be converted into a high-value-added food ingredient, such as protein concentrate, in the food industry. Ultrasound, which is an alternative method for improving the functional properties of food proteins, is an effective physical treatment for modifying protein functionality. Solubility is the main criterion that primarily affects other functional properties of protein concentrates, such as emulsification, foaming, and water and oil binding. The aim of this study is to enhance the techno-functional performance of date seed protein concentrate (DSPC) by maximizing the solubility via a high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) treatment at a fixed frequency of 20 kHz. The effect of ultrasonic homogenization under varying amplitudes and times (amplitude of 40, 60, and 80% for 5, 10, and 15 min, respectively) on the functional properties of the DSPC was investigated by using the response surface methodology (RSM). A face-centered central composite design (FC-CCD) revealed that the optimal process conditions of HIUS were at an amplitude of 80% for 15 min. The physicochemical and functional properties of the ultrasound-applied concentrate (DSPC-US) were determined under the optimum HIUS conditions, and then these properties of DSPC-US were compared to the native DSPC. The results showed that the solubility of all DSPC samples treated by HIUS was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of the native DSPC. In addition, emulsion activity/stability, foaming activity/stability, and oil-binding capacity increased after HIUS homogenization treatments, whereas the water-binding capacity decreased. These changes in the techno-functional properties of the DSPC-US were explained by the modification to the physicochemical structure of the DSPC (particle size, zeta potential, SDS-PAGE, SEM, FTIR, DSC, free SH content, surface hydrophobicity, and intrinsic emission). This work revealed that HIUS could be an effective treatment for enhancing the functional properties of date seed protein concentrate.
Pursuit Eye Movements in the Context of Speech Development in Children with ASD

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The main goal of the presented research was to assess the pursuit eye movement of five- and six-year-old children with ASD in the context of speech development. RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research concerns the oculomotor activity of children with ASD in the situation of tracking slowly moving objects. The research questions refers to the relationships between the tracking movements and the dynamics of the speech development of the research participants, and to their current abilities in this area. The eye tracking method was used in the research. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: We presented the basic information about the vision process, with particular emphasis on the role of the pursuit eye movement. We also described the research on the importance of eye movement in the process of acquiring communication skills, building social relationships and effective functioning. RESEARCH RESULTS: The obtained results indicate the correlation between the independent variable (the pattern of smooth pursuit presented by the children taking part in the research), and the dynamics of disorder development and the level of speech development in the children with reference to the analyses of other authors. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The conducted analyses revealed strong and moderate correlations between the variables and made it possible for the author to confirm the main hypothesis that the eye movements while tracking slow-moving objects in all directions are characterized by variability related to the dynamics of speech development in early childhood and the current abnormalities in this area among the research participants. The obtained results indicate the necessity to start vision training in children with ASD as early as possible.