Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Cr3+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles: characterization and evaluation of their visible photocatalytic performance and stability

ABSTRACT Cr3+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (Ti-Cr) were synthesized by microwave-assisted sol-gel method. The Ti-Cr catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zetametry. The anatase mesoporous Ti-Cr material exhibited a specific surface area of 54.5 m2/g. XPS analysis confirmed the proper substitution of Ti4+ cations by Cr3+ cations in the TiO2 matrix. The particle size was of average size of 17 nm for the undoped TiO2 but only 9.5 nm for Ti-Cr. The Cr atoms promoted the formation of hydroxyl radicals and modified the surface adsorptive properties of TiO2 due to the increase in surface acidity of the material. The photocatalytic evaluation demonstrated that the Ti-Cr catalyst completely degraded (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid under visible light irradiation, while undoped TiO2 and P25 allowed 45.7% and 31.1%, respectively. The rate of degradation remained 52% after three cycles of catalyst reuse. The higher visible light photocatalytic activity of Ti-Cr was attributed to the beneficial effect of Cr3+ ions on the TiO2 surface creating defects within the TiO2 crystal lattice, which can act as charge-trapping sites, reducing the electron−hole recombination process.
Coupled Computation of Electric Motor Design and Control Parameters Based on Ant Colonies Speed Trajectory Optimization

The multiplicity of operational and technical specifications, characterizing the design of electric drives, favors the application of coupled computation techniques. When the combined optimization of steady-state and transient-state operation is required in terms of energy efficiency versus speed performance, the coupled computation of electric motor design and control parameters can be utilized. In this paper, a particular electric motor design technique is introduced, based on the simultaneous optimization of motor steady-state performances and speed controller transient responses. The proposed methodology has been applied for the optimization of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (PMSM) drive and offered practical reduction of the complex optimization criterion cost when compared to the decoupled approach. Implementation of the resulting drive system has been undertaken, and overall performance improvements have been experimentally validated.
All-polymer whispering gallery mode sensor in the low-Q regime

Microcavities, such as spheres, rings or toroids, show sharp optical resonances at specific wavelengths, called whispering gallery modes (WGMs). They correspond to light waves circling around the cavity, relying on continuous total internal reflection at the cavity surface. After one roundtrip, the light waves return to the same point with the same phase, hence interfere constructively with themselves and travelling waves arise. So the resonance wavelengths of such micro-resonators depend on the radius and the refractive index of the sphere as well as the surrounding refractive index [1]. All physical quantities which change one of these parameters can be well detected and quantified with such resonators, because they cause a resonance wavelength shift [2]. Besides the possibility to determine quantities like temperature, pressure or the use of the WGMs as biosensors [3], they can also be employed for high resolution wavelength measurement [4]. The most frequently applied techniques to determine the wavelength use interferometric principles, for example Michelsonor Fabry-Perotinterferometers, which are often large and very expensive. Instead of using interferometers, the wavelength could also be determined by recording the shift of the resonance frequency of a single resonator. The WGM resonator can be described by the free spectral range (FSR) c/(2πnR) between two neighboring modes, the wavelength shift ∆λ of the resonance wavelength λ as well as the quality factor (Q-factor) [2]. R is the radius and n the refractive index of the resonator. A reduction of the size simplifies the detection of the resonance wavelength shift, because the FSR and the wavelength shift scale with 1/R. Unfortunately reducing the size of the resonator causes a bandwidth broadening of the resonance due to the higher radius curvature of smaller resonators and this leads to a lower Q-factor. Using an array of microspheres with slightly different diameters takes advantage of the fact that every single microsphere has a different resonance behavior. Therefore, using many spheres instead of one relieves the high demands on the resonance quality and thus allows using inexpensive polymer spheres instead of high quality resonators [4, 5]. This opens the perspective of simple and low cost WGM sensing.
A Uniqueness to Personal Threat (UPT) Hypothesis: How Similarity Affects Perceptions of Susceptibility and Severity in Risk Assessment

In the literature, perceived risk is conceptualized as perceptions of both susceptibility and severity. Optimistic bias, the belief that one is less vulnerable than others to various diseases, is based primarily on assessments of personal susceptibility. In this article, the authors ask how perceptions of relative severity/susceptibility differ as a function of perceived similarity between oneself and a referent. Based on predictions from the optimistic bias literature, Study 1 (N = 67) manipulated similarity and measured both susceptibility and severity. As anticipated, ratings of susceptibility were negatively correlated with similarity. Ratings of severity, however, were unexpected in that they were highest for a similar referent. The uniqueness of personal threat hypothesis was proposed as an explanation for this finding, and this hypothesis was tested in Study 2 (N = 121). Results were mostly supportive. Findings indicated that individuals strategically use susceptibility and severity ratings to modulate their assessment of overall risk and personal identity.
The Coordination Chemistry of DNA Nucleosides on Gold Nanoparticles as a Probe by SERS

The DNA nucleosides (dA, dC, dG, dT) bound to gold nanoparticles (~13 nm) in aqueous solution has been studied as a probe by the SERS and their coordination structures have been proposed on the basis of them. According to UV-Visible absorption of gold nanoparticles after modifying with DNA nucleosides, the rates of absorption of dA, dC, and dG were much faster than that of dT as monitored by the aggregation kinetics at 700 nm. These data indicated that the nucleosides dA, dC, and dG had a higher affinity for the gold nanoparticles surface than nucleoside dT. As the result of SERS spectra, the binding modes of each of the nucleosides on gold nanoparticles have been assigned. A dA binds to gold nanoparticles via a N(7) nitrogen atom of the imidazole ring, which the C(6)-NH2 group also participates in the coordination process. In the case of dC, it binds to the gold surface via a N(3) nitrogen atom of the pyrimidine ring with a partial contribution from the oxygen of C(2)=O group. A coordination of dG to the gold surfaces is also proposed. Although the dG has the two different nitrogens of a pyrimidine ring and the amino group, the N(1) nitrogen atom of a pyrimidine ring has a higher affinity after the hydrogen migrates to the amino group. Conversely, dT binds via the oxygen of the C(4)=O group of the pyrimidine ring. Accordingly, these data suggest that the nitrogen atom of the imidazole or the pyrimidine ring in the DNA nucleosides will bind more fast to the gold nanoparticles surfaces than the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group.
Performance of output-buffered banyan networks with arbitrary buffer sizes

A report is presented on a queueing analysis and a simulation study of a switch fabric based on a buffered banyan structure whereby buffers are placed at the output links of each switching element. When buffers are located at the input links, it is well known that maximum throughput is limited to approximately 0.45 under a uniform input traffic pattern. This bottleneck is due to the head of the line (HOL) contention at each switching element and is intrinsic to input queueing. The authors propose a buffered banyan switch built from smaller knockout switches which are output-buffered switches. With small knockout switches as the basic switching elements, the complexity of the overall switch fabric is manageable and no internal clock speedup is required. Furthermore, it is shown that with the proposed output-buffered banyan switch, a maximum throughput of 1 can be achieved. <<ETX>>
Convergence of the Multipoint Flux Approximation L-Method on General Grids

We prove first order convergence of the flux and the pressure for the multipoint flux approximation (MPFA) method known as the MPFA L-method. The proof is based on that presented for the mimetic finite difference paper by Brezzi, Lipnikov, and Shashkov in 2005. Particular to this procedure is that no velocity interpolation is needed inside the element. Hence the volume integration of the velocity field is substituted with a quadrature involving only the fluxes. The proof is valid on polyhedra but limits the possibility of the MPFA L-method to choose a stencil to each and every half-face, as is the usual procedure. The assumption needed for convergence is local and poses limits on grid deformation and the anisotropy of the permeability tensor. This assumption is then used to compare the convergence properties of the MPFA L-method with those of the MPFA O-method and the mimetic finite difference method.
Dissociation of retinoblastoma gene protein hyperphosphorylation and commitment to enter S phase

Mitogenic activities of simian virus 40 large T and small t antigens were studied in serum-deprived human diploid fibroblasts. Wild-type large T and small t cooperated in stimulating DNA synthesis and in inducing hyperphosphorylation of the Rb gene product (pRb). In contrast, a T antigen mutant defective for pRb binding (Rb- T) possessed no detectable mitogenic activity alone and failed to complement small t in stimulating DNA synthesis. Surprisingly, Rb- T and small t cooperated as strongly as wild-type T and small t with respect to pRb hyperphosphorylation. As a consequence, in two closely related conditions (i.e., stimulation by small t plus wild-type T versus small t plus Rb- T), the fraction of pRb in hyperphosphorylated forms dissociated from the fraction of cells in the S phase. These results indicate that pRb hyperphosphorylation is not always tightly coupled with a commitment to initiate DNA replication.
Theorem Proving in Type Theory

As one aspect of the endeavor to c r e a te new i n t e l l e c t u a l t o o l s f o r mankind, we w ish to enable computers to p rove , and t o a s s i s t i n the p roo f s o f , theorems o f mathematics and ( e v e n t u a l l y ) o t h e r d i s c i p l i n e s which have ach ieved the r e q u i s i t e l o g i c a l p r e c i s i o n . For t h i s purpose, a p a r t i c u l a r l y s u i t a b l e f o rma l language i s Church 's f o r m u l a t i o n [4] o f type t heo ry w i t h A -convers ion . i n t h i s language t r a d i t i o n a l mathemat ica l n o t a t i o n s can be expressed ve ry d i r e c t l y , and the i n t u i t i v e d i s t i n c t i o n s between d i f f e r e n t types of mathemat ica l e n t i t i e s (such as numb e r s , f u n c t i o n s , and se ts o f f u n c t i o n s ) are made s y n t a c t i c a l l y e x p l i c i t .
Studying the Influence of Market Timing on the Capital Structure of Companies Listed on Tehran Stock Exchange

This paper aims to study the influence of market timing on the capital structure of companies listed on Tehran stock exchange. The descriptive analysis of market timing behavior in these companies during 2006-2011 was not sufficient to confirm market timing theory. In this research debt rate is dependent variable and market rate by share book value, profitability, size of company, and the rate of tangible assets to total assets are independent variables. Results of research prove that market timing theory cannot explain the financial behavior of the companies listed on Tehran stock exchange. In other words it is cannot be proved that the companies listed on Tehran stock exchange tend to increase the equity of shareholders through issuing new shares when the value of their market is high due to the influence of market conditions.
Aligning Software Design with Development Team Expertise

Large enterprise applications are developed by teams of developers specializing in particular functional or technical areas. An overall application architecture is used to guide allocation of development tasks to the development teams. However, quality of the architecture degrades over the application life-cycle and manual refactoring is challenging due to the size and complexity of enterprise applications. This paper proposes to use automated clustering of large enterprise applications, where clusters are built around application business centers, as a means for refactoring the software design with an objective to improve allocation of software modules to development teams. The paper outlines a module allocation process in the framework of the overall enterprise application development process and reports an illustration of the allocation process. The illustration is based on the case of refactoring of a large third tier ERP system.
Timing and Fault Attacks on Lattice-based Cryptographic Libraries

Lattice-based cryptography is based on mathematical hard problem such as Learning with Error(LWE) and Ring-Learning with Error(Ring-LWE). These problems can be used for Fully Homomorphic Encryption(FHE) which attracts a lot of attention in the field of cloud computing environment and big data processing. On the other hand, side-channel attacks on a lot of cryptographic libraries have been tried except lattice-based cryptosystems. We first try to timing attack in latticebased cryptographic libraries such as FHEW and HElib. Timing attack is simple and relatively easy to approach than other hardware-based side-channel attacks. In this paper, we compare and analyze four lattice-based open cryptographic libraries such as FHEW, HElib, Λ ◦ λ, and LatticeCyrpto. In particular, aftter checking the time traces of the FHEW and HElib libraries, we investigate to determine if timing and fault attacks are feasible. As a countermeasure against timing attacks, we present a method for a padding to make of a message constant time encryption.
Communication of behavorial state in multi-agent retrieval tasks

The impact on performance of a society of robots in a foraging task when simple communication is introduced is assessed. Results are obtained comparing task achievement in the absence of inter-agent communication relative to performance given the minimal knowledge of the behavorial state of fellow agents. Simple communication can result in significant performance enhancement. More robots generally mean more efficient use of time, and an overall speedup of goal recovery. Upon inspection of the larger body of results, which give the percentage of timeouts per number of shots, it is apparent that there is greater tendency for timing out with fewer robots. The distance graphs indicate that by adding robots, independent of communication, the task can be accomplished faster. <<ETX>>
A real options approach to evaluating investments in the South African chemical industry.

Investment in the South African economy is acutely needed for it to absorb the high numbers of unemployed and to grow the economy. The valuation of potential investments needs to capture all sources of revenue so that the investor has all possible information about the enterprise. The current methods of evaluating capital investment in the South African Chemical Industry continue to be based almost exclusively on Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methods. While these techniques are certainly useful, they are unable to capture all aspects of capital investment viability. A more recent valuation technique of regarding investments as options can substantially change the decision making process about capital investment. Investment in the chemical industry can be viewed as a strategic initiative to develop the long term potential of the industry. This investment can also contribute to growth in other sectors of the economy. While these benefits are difficult to measure, the criteria of maximizing investor returns remain the cornerstone of any investment decision. Using the DCF methods and real options framework for analyzing capital investments, a proposed investment to manufacture the chemical resorcinol in South Africa will be analysed. This study will illustrate how the real options approach, developed in this study, can more fully capture the dynamic and strategic value of the investment project, than the DCF methods.
Computational Modeling and Human Values: A Comparative Study of Corporate, Academic, and Government Research Labs

This paper investigates the relationship between human values and computational modeling through mixed-method field research at three organizations (corporate, academic, and government research labs). This research builds on research on the role of values in information technology design from science and technology studies, information ethics, and human-computer interaction. Surveys and interviews were used to identify statistically significant differences among modelers in the three organizations both in terms of their self-assessment of their values and in the frequency of value occurrences within specific organizational contexts. Interviews also provided qualitative data that explain the statistically significant differences. Results included a higher value placed on creativity and lower values placed on conformity-related values among researchers in the academic lab. This paper demonstrates that there are statistically significant differences among the values of the modelers employed within the three organizations. Future research involving more sites can generalize the relationship between values and organization type.
Diacylglycerol analogues activate second messenger‐operated calcium channels exhibiting TRPC‐like properties in cortical neurons

The lipid diacylglycerol (DAG) analogue 1‐oleoyl‐2‐acetyl‐sn‐glycerol (OAG) was used to verify the existence of DAG‐sensitive channels in cortical neurons dissociated from E13 mouse embryos. Calcium imaging experiments showed that OAG increased the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in nearly 35% of the KCl‐responsive cells. These Ca2+ responses disappeared in a Ca2+‐free medium supplemented with EGTA. Mn2+ quench experiments showed that OAG activated Ca2+‐conducting channels that were also permeant to Ba2+. The OAG‐induced Ca2+ responses were unaffected by nifedipine or omega‐conotoxin GVIA (Sigma‐Aldrich, Saint‐Quentin Fallavier, France) but blocked by 1‐[β‐(3‐(4‐Methoxyphenyl)propoxy)‐4‐methoxyphenethyl]‐1H‐imidazole hydrochloride (SKF)‐96365 and Gd3+. Replacing Na+ ions with N‐methyl‐d‐glucamine diminished the amplitude of the OAG‐induced Ca2+ responses showing that the Ca2+ entry was mediated via Na+‐dependent and Na+‐independent mechanisms. Experiments carried out with the fluorescent Na+ indicator CoroNa Green showed that OAG elevated [Na+]i. Like OAG, the DAG lipase inhibitor RHC80267 increased [Ca2+]i but not the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate. Moreover, the OAG‐induced Ca2+ responses were not regulated by protein kinase C activation or inhibition but they were augmented by flufenamic acid which increases currents through C‐type transient receptor potential protein family (TRPC) 6 channels. In addition, application of hyperforin, a specific activator of TRPC6 channels, elevated [Ca2+]i. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings showed that hyperforin activated non‐selective cation channels. They were blocked by SKF‐96365 but potentiated by flufenamic acid. Altogether, our data show the presence of hyperforin‐ and OAG‐sensitive Ca2+‐permeable channels displaying TRPC6‐like properties. This is the first report revealing the existence of second messenger‐operated channels in cortical neurons.
The Dark Side of Internal Capital Markets Ii: Evidence from Diversified Conglomerates

This paper is an empirical examination of capital allocation in a sample of 165 diversified" conglomerates in 1979. I find that divisions in high-Q manufacturing industries tend to invest" less than their stand-alone industry peers, while divisions in low-Q manufacturing industries tend" to invest more than their stand-alone industry peers. This sort of socialism in which investment tends to get equalized across divisions is particularly pronounced in a" conglomerate's smaller divisions. It is also more pronounced in firms in which management has" small equity stakes suggesting that agency problems between corporate headquarters and" investors are at the root of the problem. By 1994, only 53 (32%) of these firms continue to be" free-standing diversified conglomerates. Fifty-five (33%) choose to sell off unrelated divisions" and focus on one core business. These firms tend to sell their smaller divisions do, their investment behavior changes relative to 1979: it more closely resembles that of their" stand-alone industry peers. The remaining 57 (35%) firms were acquired or (in two cases)" liquidated.
Bayesian model averaging in astrophysics: a review

We review the use of Bayesian model averaging in astrophysics. We first introduce the statistical basis of Bayesian model selection and model averaging. We discuss methods to calculate the model‐averaged posteriors, including Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), nested sampling, population Monte Carlo, and reversible jump MCMC (RJMCMC). We then review some applications of Bayesian model averaging in astrophysics, including measurements of the dark energy and primordial power spectrum parameters in cosmology, cluster weak lensing, and Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect data, estimating distances to Cepheids and classifying variable stars. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 6: 3–14, 2013
[Genetic diversity of different geographical populations of Rhodiola rosea based on AFLP markers].

OBJECTIVE To research the genetic diversity of different Rhodiola rosea geographical populations in Tianshan Mountain, China; METHOD The genetic diversity of eighteen R. rosea geological populations from six niches was estimated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The data of amplified bands were analyzed by the software POPGENE v1.31 (32-bit) and SPSS. RESULT The nine primers employed produced a total of 238 discernable and reproducible amplified fragments. There were 228 polymorphic bands. The percentage of polymorphic bands with in different populations was 95.6%. Genetic diversity analysis showed that average number of alleles per loci was Na = 1.4883, effective number of alleles per loci Ne = 1.3907, Neis gene diversity index H = 0.2170, Shannon's information index I = 0.3108, the percentage of polymorphic loci P = 52.71, genetic differentiation among populations Gst = 0.364; UPGMA cluster analysis based on genetic distance data divided eighteen populations into two clusters: Cluster I composed of twelve populations and Cluster II 6 populations which distributed in attitude upper 3 175 m; CONCLUSION Our researches suggest that the best niche of R. rosea was at attitude between 3 150-3 250 m; this region is important for the conservation of R. rosea germplasm resource.