Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microstructural design of CaMnO3 and its thermoelectric proprieties.

Calcium manganate (CMO) is an n-type semiconductor with promising thermoelectric proprieties. Solid state synthesis was employed to synthesise the desired material in two phases: i) reduced rock-salt phase of CaO-MnO (ss) and ii) oxidized phase of CaMnO3 with secondary phase of CaMn2O4 (marokite). In addition to stoichiometric CMO, three two-phase materials consisting of 2.5vol%, 5vol% and 10vol% of marokite were synthesised. The secondary phase was introduced to investigate its proprieties as a phonon scattering agent with the aim on lowering on the thermal conductivity and enhancement of the thermoelectric figure of merit, zT. Structural and thermoelectric proprieties of the materials were investigated in order to determine correlation between material’s microstructure, composition and TE proprieties. Investigated CMO system produced dense samples with over 90% of the theoretical density. Resulting material consists of large grains with secondary phase precipitating on grain boundaries and triple points. Increased amount of secondary phase reduced material’s strength and lead to formation of microcracks on the surface. Transformation of the rock-salt into perovskite is a very rapid reaction and it follows the topotactic reaction mechanism. Formation of marokite is a two step reaction with formation of Ca2Mn3O8 at about 570◦C and its transformation to marokite at about 850◦C. Introduction of marokite as secondary phase resulted in enhancement of electrical and thermal conductivity and lowering of the absolute value of Seebeck coefficient. Thermal conductivity was enhanced due to large grains that are beneficial for thermal transport and good thermal conductivity proprieties of the secondary phase. Electrical conductivity was enhanced due to change in [Mn 3+] [Mn4+] ratio that is governs charge carrier density. Phase transitions between the two secondary phases lead to formation of oxygen vacancies in CMO that increase its electrical proprieties through generation of Mn3+-ions that supply free charge carriers at lower temperatures. Seebeck coefficient values increase with increasing volume of secondary phase as the density of charge carrier increases. High thermal conductivity and lower than expected electrical conductivity resulted in relatively low power factor (PF) and zT. From the investigated samples CMO with 2.5vol% marokite is the most promising one as it exhibits highest PF and zT = 0.0062 at 900◦C.
Isolating Action Prediction from Action Integration in the Perception of Social Interactions

Previous research suggests that predictive mechanisms are essential in perceiving social interactions. However, these studies did not isolate action prediction (a priori expectations about how partners in an interaction react to one another) from action integration (a posteriori processing of both partner’s actions). This study investigated action prediction during social interactions while controlling for integration confounds. Twenty participants viewed 3D animations depicting an action–reaction interaction between two actors. At the start of each action–reaction interaction, one actor performs a social action. Immediately after, instead of presenting the other actor’s reaction, a black screen covers the animation for a short time (occlusion duration) until a still frame depicting a precise moment of the reaction is shown (reaction frame). The moment shown in the reaction frame is either temporally aligned with the occlusion duration or deviates by 150 ms or 300 ms. Fifty percent of the action–reaction trials were semantically congruent, and the remaining were incongruent, e.g., one actor offers to shake hands, and the other reciprocally shakes their hand (congruent action–reaction) versus one actor offers to shake hands, and the other leans down (incongruent action–reaction). Participants made fast congruency judgments. We hypothesized that judging the congruency of action–reaction sequences is aided by temporal predictions. The findings supported this hypothesis; linear speed-accuracy scores showed that congruency judgments were facilitated by a temporally aligned occlusion duration, and reaction frames compared to 300 ms deviations, thus suggesting that observers internally simulate the temporal unfolding of an observed social interction. Furthermore, we explored the link between participants with higher autistic traits and their sensitivity to temporal deviations. Overall, the study offers new evidence of prediction mechanisms underpinning the perception of social interactions in isolation from action integration confounds.
University Students Suggest Solutions to Campus Food Insecurity: A Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACT This study evaluated University students’ experiences and suggested solutions to food insecurity (N = 16). A questionnaire survey measured students’ socio-demography and food security status using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Focus group discussions assessed students’ experiences and suggestions, grouped into themes. Half (50%) of the students were male, mean age was 25.1 years and 62% were food insecure. Food insecure students reported skipping meals, and grocery shopping infrequently. Students propose a campus farmers’ market, cooking classes, online nutrition education, and financial literacy would address student resource management limitations. Revising financial aid, international study and work guidelines should address systemic gaps.
Drivers of growth expectations in Latin American rural contexts

Purpose Given the importance of growth-oriented entrepreneurship in the context of economic development and the need to understand how rural communities can be developed, the purpose of this research paper is to determine how the drivers of growth expectations differ between urban and rural settings. Design/methodology/approach The methodology is threefold: firstly, a descriptive analysis with non-parametric testing is conducted; then pooled regression model is used to analyse the predictors of growth expectations in both contexts, and finally, coarsened exact matching is used to identify possible self-selection bias. Findings In contrast to mainstream entrepreneurship theory, it is found that entrepreneurs’ intrinsic knowledge, skills and abilities are not significant in the rural-specific model. The only exception is entrepreneurs’ educational level, the importance of which is emphasised as a pivotal factor in increasing high-growth ventures in rural communities. Additionally, when self-selection is eliminated, rurality worsens growth intentions. Practical implications There is evidence that some growth-oriented entrepreneurs self-select into rural communities. Because the high-growth entrepreneurial dynamics in rural areas are unique, public policies should target purpose-driven entrepreneurial education. This includes encouraging “lifestyle entrepreneurship” (e.g. retirees returning to rural areas to become entrepreneurs), preventing entrepreneurial brain drain in rural areas and attracting highly educated urban entrepreneurs to exploit opportunities in rural areas. Originality/value This research attempts to contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the factors that drive high-growth entrepreneurs in rural areas by analysing rural entrepreneurs in the high-growth context of a developing economy. The focus is on Chile – a country that is rarely investigated compared to the USA or Europe – to extend the literature on high-growth ventures and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Pre‐ and Co‐Eruptive Analysis of the September 2021 Eruption at Cumbre Vieja Volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands) Through DInSAR Measurements and Analytical Modeling

We investigate the 19 September 2021 eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain). In particular, we analyze the Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) measurements obtained by processing Sentinel‐1 images acquired from both ascending and descending orbits. First, we show the importance, for oceanic islands like La Palma, of investigating DInSAR products retrieved from time series, instead of single interferograms, to effectively remove possible atmospheric artifacts within the displacement measurements. Subsequently, we invert the retrieved data through analytical modeling. Our results highlight that a sill–like source was active in the pre–eruptive phase (8–16 September), whereas the action of two dikes prevailed during the co‐eruptive phase (17–22 September). This evolution suggests a process of magma rising through a network of interconnected sills and dikes. The seismicity, that preceded and accompanied the onset of the eruption, is consistent with our findings.
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Rubber Seed Oil in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW 267.4 Macrophages

Rubber seed oil (RSO) is a typical PUFA-enriched plant oil, but it has not been widely used as a healthy edible oil resource due to the lack of understanding of its nutritional values, health biological effects, and action mechanisms. This work was conducted to characterize the basic physicochemical properties, evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and explore the involved mechanisms of RSO in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In the present study, the basic physicochemical parameters of RSO indicated that RSO has good qualities as a potential edible plant oil resource. In LPS-induced macrophages, RSO supplementation displayed a significant antioxidant effect by decreasing ROS and MDA levels as well as elevating T-AOC. In addition, RSO supplementation showed an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the production of NO, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α while promoting the production of IL-10. Moreover, RSO supplementation decreased the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and MCP-1 genes while increasing the mRNA expression of the IL-10 gene. Furthermore, RSO supplementation increased Nrf2 protein expression and up-regulated antioxidant genes (HO-1 and NQO-1), which was accompanied by the decrease in TLR4 protein expression and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation as well as IκBα phosphorylation. This study provided some insight into the applications of RSO as a healthy edible oil resource.
FDI and Institutions in BRIC and CIVETS Countries: An Empirical Investigation

In recent years, a number of countries with emerging economies have proceeded to use market-oriented strategies, deregulation and reforms in order to attract more foreign investors and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. The present paper aims to empirically investigate the role of governance in attracting FDI using panel data and comparing two groups of fast-growing emerging countries, namely BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa). The study includes a panel data analysis using the latest available secondary data ranging from 2002 to 2019. Empirical models are extended and presented. The findings suggest that FDI inflows in BRICS are attracted by rule of law, regulatory quality, political stability and absence of violence, while CIVETS absorb FDI inflows due to control of corruption, political stability, absence of violence, regulatory quality and government effectiveness. The paper contributes to the existing literature since it is the first attempt to investigate the role of governance in attracting FDI in BRIC and CIVETS economies, taking into consideration other FDI determinants. To our knowledge, it is the first paper to study and compare FDI and institutional determinants in the specific groups of emerging countries.
Sexual behavior of Metaltella iheringi (Keyserling, 1891) (Araneae: Desidae): sexual patterns, female quiescence and comparisons with other spiders

Abstract. There are few works on the reproductive behavior of species of cribellate spiders. Even more scarce are studies of the reproductive behavior of representatives of the Desidae, such as the genus Metaltella Mello-Leitão, 1931. In this paper, we describe for the first time the reproductive behavior of Metaltella iheringi (Keyserling, 1891), a species that is characterized by complex genitalia in both sexes. We determined frequencies and durations of the behaviors in the different phases. Thirty virgin males were exposed to virgin females and the behaviors performed by each sex, as well as their frequencies, were recorded. Three phases were identified: pre-copulatory, copulatory, and post-copulatory. The most frequent behaviors were chelicera-palp rubbing, abdomen vibration and web-stretching by the male, and body-shaking and leg-tapping on the web by the female. When the male grabbed the female, she typically fell into a state of quiescence (the female remained motionless with legs in a semi-flexed position) and she remained so even after the male ended the copulation. Mating was characterized by low aggression by the female and a low incidence of cannibalism. In the post-copulatory phase, the male performed frequent behaviors such as abdomen vibration, sperm induction, and post-copulatory cohabitation. We discuss the possible implications of these behaviors in a pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection context. We also provide information that serves as a basis for future studies to understand the mechanisms involved in these behaviors.
Frontogenesis, mixing, and stratification in estuarine channels with curvature

Idealized numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the influence of channel curvature on estuarine stratification and mixing. Stratification is decreased and tidal energy dissipation is increased in sinuous estuaries compared to straight channel estuaries. We applied a vertical salinity variance budget to quantify the influence of straining and mixing on stratification. Secondary circulation due to the channel curvature is found to affect stratification in sinuous channels through both lateral straining and enhanced vertical mixing. Alternating negative and positive lateral straining occur in meanders upstream and downstream of the bend apex respectively, corresponding to the normal and reversed secondary circulation with curvature. The vertical mixing is locally enhanced in curved channels with the maximum mixing located upstream of the bend apex. Bend-scale bottom salinity fronts are generated near the inner bank upstream of the bend apex as a result of interaction between the secondary flow and stratification. Shear mixing at bottom fronts, instead of overturning mixing by the secondary circulation, provides the dominant mechanism for destruction of stratification. Channel curvature can also lead to increased drag, and using a Simpson number with this increased drag coefficient can relate the decrease in stratification with curvature to the broader estuarine parameter space.
Determinants of Mobile Cloud Computing Adoption by Financial Services Firms

Prior studies have found that mobile cloud computing could bring substantial cost savings to firms, ultimately resulting in reduced transaction cost to customers. Despite this, financial firms in Fiji are slow adopters of mobile cloud computing. The study identifies the challenges faced by financial firms in the adoption of mobile cloud computing to advance the literature on innovation adoption with evidence from a unique context – a Pacific island country. The context is important as the issues are likely to be similar in other developing and remote island countries but the extant research is largely confined to developed countries. Our findings suggest that the lack of mobile cloud computing policy, infrastructure constraints, and security constraints, among others are the main barriers to the adoption thereof. The study contributes by presenting a revised model based on factors that emerged from the study.
Requirements and Solution Approaches to Personality-Adaptive Conversational Agents in Mental Health Care

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies enable Conversational Agents (CAs) to perform highly complex tasks in a human-like manner and may help people cope with anxiety to improve their mental health and well-being. To support patients with their mental well-being in an authentic way, CAs need to be imbued with human-like behavior, such as personality. In this paper we cover an innovative form of CA, so-called Personality-Adaptive Conversational Agents (PACAs) that automatically infer users’ personality traits and adapt accordingly to their personality. We empirically investigate their benefits and caveats in mental health care. The results of our study show that PACAs can be beneficial for mental health support, but they also raise concerns about trust and privacy issues. We present a set of relevant requirements for designing PACAs and provide solution approaches that can be followed when designing and implementing PACAs for mental health care.
Who Leaves and Who Enters? Flow Measures of Neighborhood Change and Consequences for Neighborhood Crime

Objectives Longitudinal studies of the relationship between neighborhood change and changes in crime typically focus exclusively on the net level of change in key socio-demographic characteristics. Methods We instead propose a demographic accounting strategy that captures the composition of neighborhood change: our measures capture which types of people are more likely to leave, stay, or enter the neighborhood. We use data for 3,325 tracts in the Southern California region over nearly two decades of 2000–2010 and 2010–2017 and construct flow measures based on race/ethnicity; the length of residence of owners and renters; the age structure. Results These flow measures improve the predictive power of the models—implying important theoretical insights. Neighborhoods with higher percentages of middle-aged residents who recently entered the neighborhood exhibit larger increases in violent and property crime. The relative stability of those in the highest crime-prone ages (aged 15–29) is associated with the largest increases in violent and property crime. The greater loss of Black and Asian residents decreased crime while moderate outflows of Latinos increased crime. The mobility of long- and short-term renters was related to crime changes. Conclusions This new technique will likely encourage further theoretical innovation for the neighborhoods and crime literature.
Product market competition and a firm’s R&D investment: New evidence from Korea

This study aims to examine the effect of product market competition on a firm’s investments in research and development (R&amp;D) and how this effect varies depending on the firm’s internal corporate governance. This study employs the regression method to analyze the association between product market competition and a firm’s R&amp;D investment. Since product market competition works effectively as an external corporate governance mechanism that reduces agency problems and information asymmetry, this study hypothesizes that a competitive product market promotes R&amp;D investments. Using 11,560 firm-year observations of Korean listed firms for 2001–2020, this study finds a positive association between product market competition and R&amp;D investment. The result also shows this association is more pronounced for firms with weak internal corporate governance mechanisms. Furthermore, additional analysis shows that the effect of product market competition on a firm’s R&amp;D investment is stronger for firms in the low-tech industry. This study provides new insights on the inconclusive association between product market competition and a firm’s R&amp;D investment and practical implications that product market competition drives firms to invest in R&amp;D. AcknowledgementsThis work was supported by the Gachon University research fund of 2021. (GCU-202103550001)
Plasma Cytokine Atlas Reveals the Importance of TH2 Polarization and Interferons in Predicting COVID-19 Severity and Survival

Although it is now widely accepted that host inflammatory response contributes to COVID-19 immunopathogenesis, the pathways and mechanisms driving disease severity and clinical outcome remain poorly understood. In the effort to identify key soluble mediators that characterize life-threatening COVID-19, we quantified 62 cytokines, chemokines and other factors involved in inflammation and immunity in plasma samples, collected at hospital admission, from 80 hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 disease who were stratified on the basis of clinical outcome (mechanical ventilation or death by day 28). Our data confirm that age, as well as neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia, procalcitonin, D-dimer and lactate dehydrogenase are strongly associated with the risk of fatal COVID-19. In addition, we found that cytokines related to TH2 regulations (IL-4, IL-13, IL-33), cell metabolism (lep, lep-R) and interferons (IFNα, IFNβ, IFNγ) were also predictive of life-threatening COVID-19.
Overexpression of SgDREB2C from Stylosanthes guianensis Leads to Increased Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis

Stylosanthes guianensis is an excellent forage legume in subtropical and tropical regions with drought tolerance, but little is known about its drought tolerance mechanism. Dehydration responsive element binding proteins (DREBs) are responsive to abiotic stresses. A SgDREB2C was cloned from S. guianensis, while SgDREB2C protein was localized at nucleus. SgDREB2C transcript was induced by dehydration treatment. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing SgDREB2C showed enhanced osmotic and drought tolerance with higher levels of relative germination rate, seedlings survival rate and Fv/Fm and lower levels of ion leakage compared with WT after osmotic and drought stress treatments. In addition, higher levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities and stress responsive gene (COR15A, COR47) transcripts were observed in transgenic Arabidopsis than in WT under drought stress. These results suggest that SgDREB2C regulated drought tolerance, which was associated with increased SOD and APX activities and stress-responsive gene expression under drought stress.
Taxonomic Revision of Barbacenia (Velloziaceae) Atlantic Forest Inselberg Group, with two New Species

Abstract The systematics of the Barbacenia Vand. Atlantic Forest Inselberg group (Barbacenia AFI), and the description of two new AFI species, B. amphirupia Mello-Silva & Andr. Cabral and B. maritima Mello-Silva & Andr. Cabral, are here presented. Lectotypes are designated for B. fannieae (N. L. Menezes) Mello-Silva, B. mantiqueirae Goethart & Henrard, B. purpurea Hook. var. minor Seub. , B. squamata Herb. , and Vellozia coerulescens Hort. Belg. ex Gumbl. , and a neotype is designated for B. foliosa Goethart & Henrard. Barbacenia burlemarxii L. B. Sm. & Ayensu was placed into synonymy of B. pabstiana L. B. Sm. & Ayensu, B. caricina Goethart & Henrard of B. brevifolia Taub. , B. gaveensis Goethart & Henrard, B. foliosa, B. purpurea var. minor, and B. seubertiana Goethart & Henrard under B. squamata, B. ionantha L. B. Sm. and B. monticola L. B. Sm. & Ayensu under B. irwiniana L. B. Sm. , and V. coerulescens under B. purpurea. An identification key and morphological and anatomical descriptions for the species are presented, as well as comments on the affinities among the species, geographical distribution, and conservation status.