Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Enactment of Lessons Using Comics to Teach Mathematics in Bruneian Classrooms

Researchers have argued that the use of comics in teaching mathematics is ideal for improving problem-solving skills among primary and secondary students. However, there are only a handful of studies that utilize comics, particularly in Bruneian classrooms. In this study, we share the journey of three teachers who enacted the use of comics in their respective mathematics lessons. All of them implemented their own choice and designs of different yet educationally related comics as intervention lessons, intending to scaffold the conceptual knowledge of the mathematics topics taught while encouraging collaboration and participation among their students. Their students’ perceptions on the use of comics were gathered from the surveys and/or the interviews and analyzed qualitatively. Among the overall main themes found were the students’ positive insights on the use of comics, the impact of their learning and engagement on the subject, the influence of color and image constructs of the comics, the emotions triggered by comics and the beneficial inclusivity particularly at the primary and secondary school levels.
ANALYTICAL THEORY FOR THE INITIAL MASS FUNCTION. III. TIME DEPENDENCE AND STAR FORMATION RATE

The present paper extends our previous theory of the stellar initial mass function (IMF) by including time dependence and by including the impact of the magnetic field. The predicted mass spectra are similar to the time-independent ones with slightly shallower slopes at large masses and peak locations shifted toward smaller masses by a factor of a few. Assuming that star-forming clumps follow Larson-type relations, we obtain core mass functions in good agreement with the observationally derived IMF, in particular, when taking into account the thermodynamics of the gas. The time-dependent theory directly yields an analytical expression for the star formation rate (SFR) at cloud scales. The SFR values agree well with the observational determinations of various Galactic molecular clouds. Furthermore, we show that the SFR does not simply depend linearly on density, as is sometimes claimed in the literature, but also depends strongly on the clump mass/size, which yields the observed scatter. We stress, however, that any SFR theory depends, explicitly or implicitly, on very uncertain assumptions like clump boundaries or the mass of the most massive stars that can form in a given clump, making the final determinations uncertain by a factor of a few. Finally, we derive a fully time dependent model for the IMF by considering a clump, or a distribution of clumps accreting at a constant rate and thus whose physical properties evolve with time. In spite of its simplicity, this model reproduces reasonably well various features observed in numerical simulations of converging flows. Based on this general theory, we present a paradigm for star formation and the IMF.
4U 1909+07: A Well-Hidden Pearl

We present the first detailed spectral and timing analysis of the High Mass X-ray Binary (HMXB) 4U1909+07 with INTEGRAL and RXTE. 4U1909+07 is detected with an average of 2.4 cps in ISGRI, but shows flares up to �50cps. The system shows a pulse period of 605s, but we found that the period changes erratically around this value. The pulse profile is extremely energy dependent: while it shows a double peaked structure at low energies, the secondary pulse decreases rapidly with increasing energy and above 20keV only the primary pulse is visible. This evolution is consistent between PCA, HEXTE and ISGRI. We find that the phase averaged spectrum can be well fitted with a photoabsorbed power law with a cutoff at high energies and a blackbody component. To investigate the peculiar pulse profile, we performed phase resolved spectral analysis. We find that a change in the cutoff energy is required to fit the changing spectrum of the different pulse phases.
SEARCH FOR IONIZED JETS TOWARD HIGH-MASS YOUNG STELLAR OBJECTS

We are carrying out multi-frequency radio continuum observations, using the Australia Telescope Compact Array, to systematically search for collimated ionized jets toward high-mass young stellar objects (HMYSOs). Here we report observations at 1.4, 2.4, 4.8, and 8.6 GHz, made with angular resolutions of about 7″, 4″, 2″, and 1″, respectively, toward six objects of a sample of 33 southern HMYSOs thought to be in very early stages of evolution. The objects in the sample were selected from radio and infrared catalogs by having positive radio spectral indices and being luminous (Lbol > 2 × 104 L☉), but underluminous in radio emission compared with that expected from its bolometric luminosity. This criterion makes the radio sources good candidates for being ionized jets. As part of this systematic search, two ionized jets have been discovered: one previously published and the other reported here. The rest of the observed candidates correspond to three hypercompact H ii regions and two ultracompact H ii regions. The two jets discovered are associated with two of the most luminous (7 × 104 and 1.0 × 105 L☉) HMYSOs known to harbor this type of object, showing that the phenomena of collimated ionized winds appear in the formation process of stars at least up to masses of ∼20 M☉ and provide strong evidence for a disk-mediated accretion scenario for the formation of high-mass stars. From the incidence of jets in our sample, we estimate that the jet phase in high-mass protostars lasts for ∼4 × 104 yr.
High-Frequency Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation over the Left Prefrontal Cortex Increases Resting-State EEG Frontal Alpha Asymmetry in Patients with Schizophrenia

Reduced left-lateralized electroencephalographic (EEG) frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), a biomarker for the imbalance of interhemispheric frontal activity and motivational disturbances, represents a neuropathological attribute of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Unidirectional high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS) can increase the excitability of the cortex beneath the stimulating electrode. Yet, it is unclear if hf-tRNS can modulate electroencephalographic FAA in patients with schizophrenia. We performed a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial to contrast hf-tRNS and sham stimulation for treating negative symptoms in 35 schizophrenia patients. We used electroencephalography to investigate if 10 sessions of hf-tRNS delivered twice-a-day for five consecutive weekdays would modulate electroencephalographic FAA in schizophrenia. EEG data were collected and FAA was expressed as the differences between common-log-transformed absolute power values of frontal right and left hemisphere electrodes in the alpha frequency range (8–12.5 Hz). We found that hf-tRNS significantly increased FAA during the first session of stimulation (p = 0.009) and at the 1-week follow-up (p = 0.004) relative to sham stimulation. However, FAA failed to predict and surrogate the improvement in the severity of negative symptoms with hf-tRNS intervention. Together, our findings suggest that modulating electroencephalographic frontal alpha asymmetry by using unidirectional hf-tRNS may play a key role in reducing negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
Neutron measurements in near-Earth orbit with COMPTEL

The fast neutron flux in near-Earth orbit has been measured with the COMPTEL instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO). For this measurement one of COMPTEL's seven liquid scintillator modules was used as an uncollimated neutron detector with threshold of 12.8 MeV. The measurements cover a range of 4.8 to 15.5 GV in vertical cutoff rigidity and 3° to 177° in spacecraft geocenter zenith angle. One of the measurements occurred near the minimum of the deepest Forbush decrease ever observed by ground-level neutron monitors. After correction for solar modulation, the total flux is well fitted by separable functions in rigidity and zenith angle. With the spacecraft pointed near the nadir the flux is consistent with balloon measurements of the atmospheric neutron albedo. The flux varies by about a factor of 4 between the extremes of rigidity and a factor of 2 between the extremes of zenith angle. The effect of the spacecraft mass in shielding the detector from the atmospheric neutron albedo is much more important than its role as a source of additional secondary neutrons. The neutron spectral hardness varies little with rigidity or zenith angle and lies in the range spanned by earlier atmospheric neutron albedo measurements.
Return From Dormancy: Rapid Inflation and Seismic Unrest Driven by Transcrustal Magma Transfer at Mt. Edgecumbe (L’úx Shaa) Volcano, Alaska

In April 2022, a seismic swarm near Mt. Edgecumbe in southeast Alaska suggested renewed activity at this transform fault volcano, which was last active ≈800 years ago. Previously, thin rhyolitic tephras were deposited 5 and 4 ka. Satellite radar data from 2014 to 2022 resolves line‐of‐sight rapid inflation up to 7.1 cm/yr beginning in August 2018. Bayesian modeling suggests a transcrustal system of a deflating (−0.528 km3) dipping sill at 20 km depth recharging a magma chamber at 10 km (0.222 km3). A near‐vertical conduit could capture the volume difference without noticeable surface deformation. Reanalyzed seismicity, recorded 25 km away, shows increases since July 2019. Magma ascent through ductile material and brittle strain release in a stressed overburden could explain the time delay. Cloud‐native open data and workflows enabled discovery and analysis of this signal within days after going unnoticed for >3 years.
Cadastre Typology as a Baseline for Incremental Improvement of Spatial Cadastre in Jakarta: Towards a Complete Cadastre

Improving the quality of spatial cadastre remains a challenge in Indonesia. The lack of data quality impacts the legal uncertainty of land rights and the inequality of control, ownership, use, and utilization of land. This study discusses the efforts that can be made to achieve an accurate, assured, and authoritative spatial cadastre by referring to cadastral regulations in Indonesia, especially in urban areas. This research focuses on three spatial elements: boundary determination survey, measurement methods, and base map accuracy in order to assess systematic and sporadic registration activities previously conducted in two sub-districts in North Jakarta. The areas are located in a compacted urban area that consists of 19,173 land parcels as a research sample. A multivariate clustering tool is used to analyze the grouping of land parcels into a cadastral typology (comply/not comply). This study indicates that the level of compliance of the land parcel maps against three spatial elements are the following: (1) the compliance to boundary determination survey by 100%; (2) the compliance to measurement method by 17.36%; and (3) the compliance to base map accuracy by 0%. This paper explains how the cadastre typology can be used as an indicator of compliance as well as a baseline to improve the quality of spatial data.
Evaluation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Gene (−308 G/A, −238 G/A and −857 C/T) Polymorphisms and the Risk of Gastric Cancer in Eastern Indian Population

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related decimations worldwide. The gastric infection at both the stomach and duodenum with Helicobacter pylori causes inflammation by the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The aim of the study was to associate and evaluate the three TNF-α gene polymorphisms at positions −308 G/A, −238 G/A, and −857 C/T with the risk of GC. Methods: A total of 156 individuals (consecutively diagnosed 95 GC patients and 61 controls) above the age of 18 years were enrolled in the study. Healthy individuals with normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) irrespective of their family history of GC or peptic ulcer were included as controls. The cited three TNF-α gene polymorphisms were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Results: There was no significant difference in the distribution of gene polymorphisms as genetic factors, TNF-α−308 GA/AA (22.1% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.2), TNF-α−238 GA/AA (21% vs. 19.6%, p = 0.8), and TNF-α−857 CT/TT (8.4% vs. 11.5%, p = 0.5), between GC cases and healthy controls. A subgroup analysis of H. pylori-positive patients showed that there was no significant difference in the distribution of GA/AA polymorphisms in TNF-α−308 (15(45.5%) vs. 3(23%); p = 0.17) and −238 (12(36.3%) vs. 2(15.4%); p = 0.17), and the distribution of TT/CT −857 CT/TT (13(39.4%) vs. 2(15.4%); p = 0.13), among the GC cases and controls. Conclusion: The statistical comparisons of GA/AA vs. GG genotypes at −308 (with OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.6–3.8), −238 (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.4–2.4) and TT/CT vs. CC genotypes at −857 (OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.2–2.1) did not suggest any association of TNF-α with GC in the population herein. Hence, the TNF-α (−308 G/A, −238 G/A and −857 C/T) may not be the associating factor for GC incidence determined by the PCR–RFLP method.
Multiple Mycotoxin Contamination in Medicinal Plants Frequently Sold in the Free State Province, South Africa Detected Using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS

Medicinal plants are important in the South African traditional healthcare system, the growth in the consumption has led to increase in trade through muthi shops and street vendors. Medicinal plants are prone to contamination with fungi and their mycotoxins. The study investigated multiple mycotoxin contamination using Ultra High Pressure Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) for the simultaneous detection of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), Deoxynivalenol (DON), Fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3), Nivalenol (NIV), Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Zearalenone (ZEN) in frequently sold medicinal plants. Medicinal plant samples (n = 34) were purchased and analyzed for the presence of eight mycotoxins. DON and NIV were not detected in all samples analyzed. Ten out of thirty-four samples tested positive for mycotoxins —AFB1 (10.0%); OTA (10.0%); FB1 (30.0%); FB2 (50.0%); FB3 (20.0%); and ZEN (30.0%). Mean concentration levels ranged from AFB1 (15 µg/kg), OTA (4 µg/kg), FB1 (7–12 µg/kg), FB2 (1–18 µg/kg), FB3 (1–15 µg/kg) and ZEN (7–183 µg/kg). Multiple mycotoxin contamination was observed in 30% of the positive samples with fumonisins. The concentration of AFB1 reported in this study is above the permissible limit for AFB1 (5 µg/kg). Fumonisin concentration did not exceed the limits set for raw maize grain (4000 µg/kg of FB1 and FB2). ZEN and OTA are not regulated in South Africa. The findings indicate the prevalence of mycotoxin contamination in frequently traded medicinal plants that poses a health risk to consumers. There is therefore a need for routine monitoring of multiple mycotoxin contamination, human exposure assessments using biomarker analysis and establishment of regulations and standards.
Do Uncertainty and Financial Development Influence the FDI Inflow of a Developing Nation? A Time Series ARDL Approach

The study focuses on investigating the long-term and the short-term effect of uncertainty, and financial development on the FDI inflow of Pakistan during the period 2001–2019. To achieve the objective of this study, we obtained the data from World Development Indicators (WDI) and the European policy uncertainty index’s websites. The dependent variable was FDI inflow. Experimental variables of the study are uncertainty and financial development. The stationarity testing revealed that FDI and Economic Policy Uncertainty (EUP) have weak significance and FD has no significance. However, by taking the first difference, all the variables become highly significant. Similarly, it is further indicated that the optimal lag level is four. Additionally, the bound test confirmed that a long-term relationship (co-integration) existed between the variables of the study. The ARDL estimations conclude that uncertainty and financial development have long-run as well as short-run effects on FDI inflow for Pakistan during the period of study. The uncertainty plays a strong part in decreasing the FDI inflow, whereas financial development plays a strong part in enhancing the FDI inflow in Pakistan during the period of study.
A NEW REFERENCE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION FOR TMC-1

Recent detections of complex organic molecules in dark clouds have rekindled interest in the astrochemical modeling of these environments. Because of its relative closeness and rich molecular complexity, TMC-1 has been extensively observed to study the chemical processes taking place in dark clouds. We use local thermodynamical equilibrium radiative transfer modeling coupled with a Bayesian statistical method which takes into account outliers to analyze the data from the Nobeyama spectral survey of TMC-1 between 8 and 50 GHz. We compute the abundance relative to molecular hydrogen of 57 molecules, including 19 isotopologues in TMC-1 along with their associated uncertainty. The new results are in general agreement with previous abundance determination from Ohishi & Kaifu and the values reported in the review from Agúndez & Wakelam. However, in some cases, large opacity and low signal to noise effects allow only upper or lower limits to be derived, respectively.
Leaving Past Adversities Behind: Gratitude Intervention Compensates for the Undesirable Effects of Past Time Perspectives on Negative Affect

Both gratitude and savoring the moment are considered to be well-established “well-being boosters” (WBBs). Each of them has a salient temporal reference: Gratitude is past-related, whereas savoring the moment refers to the present. The temporal match–mismatch model posits that time perspectives (TPs) moderate the effects of WBBs on well-being if they refer to the same temporal frame (e.g., gratitude and Past-Positive). Our study tested whether TPs moderate the effects of two positive interventions on positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). The participants (N = 174 individuals, 73% women) completed measures of TPs, PA, and NA, followed by a brief intervention of gratitude (N = 86) or savoring (N = 88). Subsequently, they completed the PA/NA measures again. Both interventions significantly decreased NA but did not foster PA. The magnitude of the shift in NA in the gratitude condition depended on the levels of past TPs: Individuals high in Past-Negative and low in Past-Positive displayed greater baseline NA than their counterparts; however, the difference was leveled after the gratitude intervention. No interaction effects between the present TPs and the savoring intervention were observed. The results suggest that practicing gratitude may diminish the undesirable consequences of negative views of the past.
Measurement of Nu(e)-bar -Electron Scattering Cross-Section with a CsI(Tl) Scintillating Crystal Array at the Kuo-Sheng Nuclear Power Reactor

The {nu}{sub e}-e{sup -} elastic scattering cross section was measured with a CsI(Tl) scintillating crystal array having a total mass of 187 kg. The detector was exposed to an average reactor {nu}{sub e} flux of 6.4x10{sup 12} cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} at the Kuo-Sheng Nuclear Power Station. The experimental design, conceptual merits, detector hardware, data analysis, and background understanding of the experiment are presented. Using 29882/7369 kg-days of Reactor ON/OFF data, the standard model (SM) electroweak interaction was probed at the squared 4-momentum transfer range of Q{sup 2{approx}}3x10{sup -6} GeV{sup 2}. The ratio of experimental to SM cross sections of {xi}=[1.08{+-}0.21(stat){+-}0.16(sys)] was measured. Constraints on the electroweak parameters (g{sub V},g{sub A}) were placed, corresponding to a weak mixing angle measurement of sin{sup 2{theta}}{sub W}=0.251{+-}0.031(stat){+-}0.024(sys). Destructive interference in the SM {nu}{sub e}-e process was verified. Bounds on anomalous neutrino electromagnetic properties were placed: neutrino magnetic moment at {mu}{sub {nu}{sub e}} <3.3x10{sup -32} cm{sup 2}, both at 90% confidence level.
Carbon enrichment of the evolved stars in the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal

We present spectra of 1142 colour-selected stars in the direction of the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal (Sgr dSph) galaxy, of which 1058 were taken with VLT/FLAMES multi-object spectrograph and 84 were taken with the SAAO Radcliffe 1.9-m telescope grating spectrograph. Spectroscopic membership is confirmed (at >99 per cent confidence) for 592 stars on the basis of their radial velocity, and spectral types are given. Very slow rotation is marginally detected around the galaxy's major axis. We identify five S stars and 23 carbon stars, of which all but four carbon stars are newly determined and all but one (PQ Sgr) are likely Sgr dSph members. We examine the onset of carbon richness in this metal-poor galaxy in the context of stellar models. We compare the stellar death rate (one star per 1000–1700 yr) with the known planetary nebula dynamical ages and find that the bulk population produce the observed (carbon-rich) planetary nebulae. We compute average lifetimes of S and carbon stars as 60–250 and 130–500 kyr, compared to a total thermal-pulsing asymptotic giant branch lifetime of 530–1330 kyr. We conclude by discussing the return of carbon-rich material to the interstellar medium.
Measurement of the van der Waals interaction between two Rydberg atoms

Neutral atoms are promising candidates for the realization of entangled states involving up to a few tens of particles. To generate such states, one approach consists in using the dipole blockade mechanism, which results from the strong dipole-dipole interactions between Rydberg atoms.Following this approach, this thesis describes the design and the characterization of an experimental apparatus allowing to manipulate single 87Rb atoms trapped in microscopic optical tweezers, and to excite them towards Rydberg states. A stable electrostatic environment and controlled electrodes enable the fine manipulation of these states. Using two optical tweezers separated by a few microns, we demonstrate the Rydberg blockade between two single atoms, and we observe their collective excitation.Finally, by operating in the partial blockade regime, we develop a method allowing to measure the van der Waals interaction ∆E = C6 /R6 between two atoms separated by a controlled distance R. The C6 coefficients obtained for various Rydberg states agree well with ab initio theoretical calculations, and we observe the dramatic increase of the interaction with the principal quantum number n of the Rydberg state.