Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of mixed phases on the optoelectronic properties of Cs-Pb-Br compounds

The current dissertation presents a correlative approach to investigate the influence of phase mixture on the optical properties of Cs–Pb–Br compounds. This material system exhibits three ternary phases, CsPbBr3, Cs4PbBr6 and CsPb2Br5, which coexist in Cs–Pb–Br materials when deposited by various methods. The coexistence influences the light emission and by extension can affect the performance of the optoelectronic devices based on these compounds. Motivated by the open debates regarding the green emission from Cs–Pb–Br, I investigated the structure, composition, and optical properties of mixed-phase materials by means of X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Using these techniques, the spatial phase distribution of Cs–Pb–Br thin films was investigated, with a resolution of below 50 nm. It was found that for three different deposition methods, at least two of the ternary phases coexist. This result agreed very well with ab-initio calculations showing very similar formation enthalpies for the three phases. Secondly, the influence of the phase transformation on the luminescence of CsPbBr3/CsPb2Br5 thin films was investigated. In-situ experiments revealed that phase transformation is preceded by crystal structure transitions of CsPbBr3 and that it only occurs at elevated temperatures of above 583 K. PL and microscopic, correlative analyses showed that annealing increases the defect density at the CsPbBr3/CsPb2Br5 interface, which contributes to the quenching of the green luminescence. Finally, green luminescent Cs4PbBr6 and CsPb2Br5 were investigated by means of PL and CL, which revealed embedded green-emitting CsPbBr3 nanocrystals with enhanced emission yield. Spectral blue and red shifts were measured for Cs4PbBr6 and CsPb2Br5. These emission shifts were explained by an effective mass approximation model, which considers band-gap energy differences and dielectric mismatch between the embedded nanocrystals and the host material. The experimental-theoretical approach in the present thesis was found to be a valuable tool to investigate the Cs–Pb–Br material system and helped improving the understanding of their optoelectronic properties.
Life-Stage Differences in Microhabitat Use by Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

Abstract: Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) are long-lived, fully aquatic salamanders that inhabit cool, well-oxygenated streams and rivers in the eastern United States. Although once abundant, C. alleganiensis populations have experienced major declines across the historical range. Habitat degradation, siltation, aquatic contaminants, and infectious diseases are commonly suggested as contributors to these declines. Although Tennessee provides areas of high-quality habitat for C. alleganiensis, microhabitat differences among life stages are not well documented. We evaluated microhabitat use of larval, subadult, and adult C. alleganiensis at three streams in east Tennessee by comparing sites occupied by C. alleganiensis to random sites within each stream. We used multivariate analysis to evaluate microhabitat use differences among larval, subadult, and adult C. alleganiensis. We completed habitat assessments for 60 individuals. We detected an association between C. alleganiensis presence (regardless of life stage) and the percentage of large rock, the percentage of low embedded rocks, and the number of rocks above 500 mm. Furthermore, the volume of cover rock, the number of rocks above 500 mm, the distance to bank, and the percentage of low embedded rocks, gravel, and sand were the most important microhabitat attributes to discriminate life-stage distributions. Overall, our analyses identify microhabitat attributes that are potentially important for long-term C. alleganiensis conservation and provide guidance for stream protection and restoration practices that might mitigate sedimentation and habitat degradation in impacted streams.
Overly strong priors for socially meaningful visual signals in psychosis proneness

Predictive coding accounts of psychosis state that an overweighing of high-level priors relative to sensory information may lead to the misperception of meaningful signals underlying the experience of auditory hallucinations and delusions. However, it is currently unclear whether the hypothesized overweighing of priors (1) represents a pervasive alteration that also affects the visual modality, and, (2) takes already effect at early automatic processing stages. Here, we addressed these questions by studying visual perception of socially meaningful stimuli in healthy individuals with varying degrees of psychosis proneness (n=39). In a first task, we quantified participants’ prior for detecting faces in visual noise. In a second task, we measured participants’ prior for detecting direct gaze stimuli that were rendered invisible by continuous flash suppression. We found that the prior for detecting faces in noise correlated with hallucination proneness (rho=0.50, p=0.001) as well as delusion proneness (rho=0.44, p=0.005). Similarly, the prior for detecting invisible direct gaze was significantly associated with hallucination proneness (rho = 0.42, p = 0.010) and trend-wise with delusion proneness (rho = 0.29, p = 0.087). Our results provide evidence for the idea that overly strong high-level priors for automatically detecting socially meaningful stimuli might constitute a generic processing alteration in psychosis.
Activism failure of state-owned pension funds with board seats in Brazil

Even though controlling shareholders are dominant in Brazil, there is a substantial number of shared control companies, in which a group of large shareholders controls the company by means of a formal agreement, and a few widely held ones (Zeidan & Fontes Filho, 2012; Sternberg, Leal, & Bortolon, 2011). The Brazilian state plays an important role as regulator, and somewhat indirectly, as an occasional activist shareholder through pension funds sponsored by state-owned companies or state-owned financial institutions. Investor protection and participation have improved Abstract
Pertumbuhan, Produksi Umbi dan Kandungan Flavonoid Bawang Dayak dengan Pemberian Pupuk Daun

Bawang dayak [Eleutherine americana Merr. ] adalah salah satu jenis tanaman obat. Bawang dayak mengandung flavonoid dan antosianin yang berfungsi sebagai antioksidan dan laktagogum. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan informasi tentang pengaruh pemberian pupuk daun terhadap pertumbuhan, produksi umbi dan kandungan flavonoid bawang dayak. Penelitian ini dilakukan di kebun percobaan Politeknik LPP Yogyakarta dari bulan Maret hingga September 2017. Percobaan menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok dengan satu faktor yaitu pemupukan daun dengan empat perlakuan (P0: kontrol/tanpa pupuk daun, P1: pemupukan NPK, P2: pupuk daun NPK 6-30-30, dan P3: pupuk daun NPK 6-20-30). Setiap perlakuan diulang tiga kali sehingga terdapat 12 satuan percobaan. Setiap satuan percobaan terdiri dari lima tanaman. Hasil percobaan menunjukkan bahwa pemberian pupuk daun meningkatkan pertumbuhan dan produksi umbi bawang dayak. Pemberian pupuk daun NPK 6-30-30 menghasilkan jumlah daun, jumlah anakan, bobot basah dan kering tajuk tanaman yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan kontrol. Pupuk daun NPK 6-30-30 menghasilkan jumlah umbi dan bobot umbi per tanaman yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan tanpa pemberian pupuk daun. Kandungan total flavonoid bawang dayak tidak dipengaruhi oleh pemberian pupuk daun.
Temporal pattern separation in hippocampal neurons through multiplexed neural codes

Pattern separation is a central concept in current theories of episodic memory: this computation is thought to support our ability to avoid confusion between similar memories by transforming similar cortical input patterns of neural activity into dissimilar output patterns before their long-term storage in the hippocampus. Because there are many ways one can define patterns of neuronal activity and the similarity between them, pattern separation could in theory be achieved through multiple coding strategies. Using our recently developed assay that evaluates pattern separation in isolated tissue by controlling and recording the input and output spiketrains of single hippocampal neurons, we explored neural codes through which pattern separation is performed by systematic testing of different similarity metrics and various time resolutions. We discovered that granule cells, the projection neurons of the dentate gyrus, can exhibit both pattern separation and its opposite computation, pattern convergence, depending on the neural code considered and the statistical structure of the input patterns. Pattern separation is favored when inputs are highly similar, and is achieved through spike time reorganization at short timescales (< 100 ms) as well as through variations in firing rate and burstiness at longer timescales. These multiplexed forms of pattern separation are network phenomena, notably controlled by GABAergic inhibition, that involve many celltypes with input-output transformations that participate in pattern separation to different extent and with complementary neural codes: a rate code for dentate fast-spiking interneurons, a burstiness code for hilar mossy cells and a synchrony code at long timescales for CA3 pyramidal cells. Therefore, the isolated hippocampal circuit itself is capable of performing temporal pattern separation using multiplexed coding strategies that might be essential to optimally disambiguate multimodal mnemonic representations.
Interaction of modified oligonucleotides with nuclear proteins, formation of novel nuclear structures and sequence-independent effects on RNA processing

Oligonucleotides and nucleic acid analogues that alter gene expression are showing therapeutic promise for selected human diseases. The modification of synthetic nucleic acids to protect against nuclease degradation and to influence drug function is common practice, however, such modifications may also confer unexpected physicochemical and biological properties. Here we report backbone-specific effects of modified oligonucleotides on subnuclear organelles, altered distribution of nuclear proteins, the appearance of novel structured nuclear inclusions, and modification of RNA processing in cultured cells transfected with antisense oligonucleotides on a phosphorothioate backbone. Phosphodiester and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers elicited no such consequences. Disruption of subnuclear structures and proteins elicit severe phenotypic disturbances, revealed by transcriptomic analysis of fibroblasts exhibiting such disruption. These data suggest that the toxic effects and adverse events reported after clinical evaluation of phosphorothioate nucleic acid drugs may be mediated, at least in part, by non-specific interaction of nuclear components with the phosphorothioate backbone.
Influence model and doubly extended TOPSIS with TOPSIS based matrix of interpersonal influences

The aim of this paper is to construct a matrix of interpersonal influences employing TOPSIS and then to apply the matrix in influence model and doubly extended TOPSIS. Entries of that matrix are obtained from coefficients of relative closeness. Such a systematically constructed matrix performs better than the direct influence matrix because of the consideration of alternatives under certain criteria/attributes. Implementation of such influence matrix improves an influence model and group decision process. In this paper, TOPSIS is used for individual as well as group decisions. Once the decisions are reached by individuals with the help of TOPSIS, then coefficients of relative closeness are obtained and matrix of interpersonal influences is constructed. This matrix is used in influence model and to construct the influenced decision matrices. These influenced decision matrices are aggregated to get the collective decision. This strategy is based on the fact that the decisions taken by individuals affect their collective decision in future.
Quality improvement of deteriorated cutting fluid treated by atmospheric-pressure plasma jet and in-liquid plasma

Friction between a tool and chip, and the heat generated, often limit machining in metal cutting operations. Coolants and lubricants are used in great quantities to reduce friction at the cutting area. However, the cost of cutting fluids is increasing because of the increasingly stringent environmental standards for fluid handling and disposal, and these standards are likely to be further tightened in proposed national and international legislation (Weinert and Inasaki, 2004). Although dry and semi-dry machining is an attractive option, it is currently unavailable in many operations because cooling cannot be achieved (Tasdelen et al., 2008; Werda et al., 2016). Therefore, cutting fluids will continue to be required. As a fluid deteriorates, its cutting power decreases and the work environment becomes polluted. Techniques that extend the life of cutting fluids are therefore needed. One of the key causes of deterioration is decomposition due to bacterial growth (Rabenstein et al., 2009; Griffiths, 1978). Bacteria enter the fluid from both the air and the chip. Because preventing bacteria from contaminating the cutting fluid is difficult, chemical additives are widely used for bacterial control. The widespread use of oil additives has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria, and the additives change the characteristics of the cutting fluid. Therefore, we proposed a sterilization technique using plasma treatment under atmospheric pressure (Miyamoto et al., 2018). Moreover, we suggested that the molecular structure of the fluids was not affected by plasma jet treatment (Miyamoto et al., 2018). In our previous study, the number of bacterial colonies in fluid sterilized using atmospheric-pressure plasma was reduced by more than 90% compared with the number in an untreated fluid (Miyamoto et al., 2018). From this report, however, it is unclear whether the remaining bacteria and surface Junji MIYAMOTO*, Ryo TSUBOI*, Masashi YOSHIDA** and Koichiro NAMBU*** * Department of Mechanical Engineering, Daido University 10-3 Takiharu-cho, Minami-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 457-8530, Japan E-mail: j-miya@daido-it.ac. jp ** Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Daido University 10-3 Takiharu-cho, Minami-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 457-8530, Japan *** Toyota Technological Institute 2-12-1 Hisakata Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya, Japan
An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship Between Enrolment in Finance Specialization and Employability: Effects of Graduates Skills

The purpose of the study was an empirical analysis of the relationship between students’ enrolment in finance specialization and employability with effects of graduates’ skills. Bachelor of commerce program takes a period of three to four academic years. The program has various specializations from which students are allowed to select their favorite areas at the start or end of the second academic year. One such area is finance specialization. Empirical research has shown that finance specialization is popular to most students. It was expected that students who graduated with finance specialization had been taken through the course contents by experienced and knowledgeable Instructors. They were also expected to have undergone both internal and external attachments that heightened their practical skills which would attract employers. However, empirical research shows that this has not been the case since most finance graduates in Kenya are not being absorbed into the job market. This phenomenon called for an empirical analysis between students’ enrolment in finance specialization and employability with the effects of graduates’ skills. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design with a linear regression model. The population of the study comprised of Kenyan universities management, Finance students and graduates and selected organizations. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire which had been distributed among the respondents. A pilot study was conducted which proved the reliability and validity of the research instrument. Findings revealed a significant relationship between enrolment in finance specialization and graduates’ employability; a significant intervening effect of graduates’ skills on the relationship between enrolment in finance specialization and employability. The study recommended the need to restructure the course content of finance to be more hands-on. Universities to limit the number of students specializing in finance based on high entry points to avoid over enrolment in finance specialization which comes with its limitations including massive unemployment; the government of Kenya to create more jobs to the youths and graduates if they are to realize Kenya vision 2030. Keywords: Enrolment in Finance Specialization, Employability, Graduate Skills DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-12-13 Publication date: June 30th 2020
Helminths of the lizard Colobosauroides cearensis (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) in an area of Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil

Lizards are hosts to a variety of parasites, but in South America only 15% of lizard species have been studied for helminths. In the present study, the component community of helminths associated with the gymnophthalmid Colobosauroides cearensis in an area of Caatinga (7°22’46.08” S, 38°38’47.87”W) is reported. We examined 91 specimens from the Brazilian state of Ceara, and five taxa of helminths were recovered: four Nematoda ( Parapharyngodon largitor, Spauligodon sp., Physaloptera sp . and Oswaldocruzia sp.) and one Cestoda ( Oochoristica sp.). Parapharyngodon largitor was the most prevalent species (61%), and presented the highest mean abundance of infection (1.60 ± 0.18). Lizard body size influenced the richness and abundance of helminths, while infection parameters were not related to lizard sex.
Context triggers the retrieval of long-term memories into working memory to guide attention

How do we know what we are looking for in familiar scenes and surroundings? Here we tested a novel hypothesis derived from theories of human memory that working memory (WM) buffers mnemonic contents retrieved from long-term memory (LTM) to control attention. To test this hypothesis, we measured the electrical fields recorded noninvasively from human subjects’ as they searched for specific sets of objects in learned contexts. We found that the subjects’ WM-indexing brain activity tracked the number of real-world objects people learned to search for in each context. Moreover, the level of this WM activity predicted the inter-subject variability in behavioral performance. Together, our results demonstrate that familiar contexts can trigger the transfer of information from LTM to WM to provide top-down attentional control.
Impact of Globalization and Foreign Direct Investment on Economic growth: Empirical evidences from Pakistan

Globalization and FDI an important input to future economic growth and in general they are regarded as a positive energy for improved quality of life, acceleration of economic growth, efficient allocation of resources and great productivity improvement. Whereas, anti-globalization site squabbled that it adds to poverty and leads to worsening in the distribution of incomes. Pakistan also embarked on a path towards liberalizing like many other developing countries, its trade and investment with the expectations that it will stimulate economic growth. This study examines the impact of globalization and FDI on economic growth in Pakistan using ARDL bound testing technique over the period 1980-2016.
Dollar Shortages and Central Bank Swap Lines

We explore the role of ‘dollar shortage’ shocks and central bank swap lines in a two-country New Keynesian model with financial frictions. Domestic banks issue both domestic and foreign currency debt and lend in domestic currency. Foreign currency-specific funding shocks, which are amplified via their effect on the exchange rate given balance sheet mismatches, lead to uncovered interest rate parity deviations, a contraction in lending and have a significant negative effect on macroeconomic variables. We show that central bank swap lines can attenuate these dynamics provided they are large enough.
Effect of Merino sheep age on consumer sensory scores, carcass and instrumental meat quality measurements

Slower growing Merino sheep often miss the lamb category and become yearlings. Yet, they may still produce meat of acceptable eating quality, thus opening the opportunity to develop high quality yearling products. Consumer sensory differences (tenderness, overall liking, juiciness, liking of flavour and liking of odour) of grilled wet-aged (5 days) steaks from the M. longissimus lumborum (LL) and M. semimembranosus (SM) derived from wether lamb (n = 185; average age 355 days) and wether yearling (n = 206; average age 685 days) Merinos were tested. Additionally, the age effect on carcass and instrumental meat quality traits was analysed. Lambs were born in 2009 and 2010 at two research sites (Kirby, Katanning), and yearlings were born in 2009 at five research sites (Kirby, Cowra, Rutherglen, Struan, Katanning). On average within each muscle, yearlings had lower scores for all sensory attributes (P < 0.01) compared to lambs. Lambs versus yearlings born in the same year and reared at the same research site had greater sensory differences within the SM (P < 0.01), up to 10.0 eating quality scores more for tenderness. In contrast, the LL samples had almost no significant differences between the two age groups. A portion of the differences in overall liking and liking of flavour scores was explained by intramuscular fat. Yearlings were slightly heavier (P < 0.01) but leaner (P < 0.01), compared to lambs, and yearling meat colour was darker (P < 0.01). While the results generally supported the better eating quality of lamb, they demonstrated a very acceptable yearling LL eating quality, and showed the smaller impact of age on the LL muscle in Merinos. Hence, the development of a high quality yearling product for the LL muscle is possible.
Rapid anaerobic incubation method for measuring N mineralization potential in soil.

It takes a long time to measure the N mineralization potential by the incubation method. To shorten the incubation time, the incubation temperature was raised, and to measure simultaneously the C mineralization potential, headspace air in the incubation bottle was replaced by N2• That is, an anaerobic incubation method was proposed. Estimated amount of N mineralized in anaerobic incubation was in agreement with that in paddy incubation compared with that in upland incubation. Minimum incubation time, which was necessary to measure the rate constant accurately, was 18 days on the average, ranging from 8 to 43 days. Through anaerobic incubation at 40 °C , the incubation time was reduced to half of that at 35 °C . The N mineralization potential showed a positive correlation with the C mineralization potential in Brazilian upland soils.