Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between sight loss and substance use: Users’ perspectives

Abstract Background: This UK study emerged from the concerns of a sight loss charity which sought to meet the support needs of its service users with problematic alcohol use. This paper presents findings from one strand of the study focusing on service users’ perspectives. Aims: The aim was to explore the meaning and function of substance use in the lives of people with sight loss. Method: Through purposive and snowball sampling, 17 semi-structured interviews were held with people face-to-face or via telephone. Data were analysed thematically through coding, recoding and categorising data with double coding providing quality control. Results: People were at different stages in their use of substances and their experiences of sight loss. They reported a number of relationships between sight loss and substance use with three main relationships emerging; substance use as, (i) a cause of their sight loss,(ii) a contributor to their sight loss and (iii) a coping mechanism for sight loss. Conclusion: The diverse experiences of people with sight loss and substance problems require an individual and tailored response from substance use professionals. This needs to include routine questioning and accurate information about the medical relationship between sight loss and substance use.
Transformation of Industrial By-Products into Composite Photocatalytic Materials

The transformation of both calcareous and siliceous Greek power station by-products (lignite ashes) into novel composite materials with photocatalytic properties for environmental application was investigated. Particularly, a comparison between the development of coated ceramic substrates and the modification of ash surfaces is attempted. Specifically, a) the sintering process (1000 °C, 2 h) of both fly and bottom ash (either calcareous or siliceous) for their conversion into compacted ceramic substrates coated with TiO2 slurry and then further thermally treated (500 °C, 1 h) to acquire TiO2 film consistency onto the ceramic substrate and b) the process of TiO2 precipitation on lignite ash surfaces in acidic solution after neutralization, and estimation of the TiO2 percentage, are compared. The microstructures obtained were examined by XRD and SEM-EDX analysis. Vickers microhardness was also determined for the ceramic microstructures, with satisfactory results (up to 356HV). The energy gap measurements of the coatings were found to be between 3.02eV and 3.17eV, which is located between the energy gap of anatase (3.23eV) and rutile (3.02eV). The coating mass was about 0.059 g/cm2. The photocatalytic activity under visible and UV irradiation was investigated in aqueous solutions of methylene blue and methyl orange organic dyes, with encouraging results. A main advantage of the processes proposed is the immobilization of TiO2 onto largely available secondary resources, which can lead to production of value-added ‘green’ photocatalysts for the treatment of industrial effluents in the framework of circular economy.
Term Structure of Recession Probabilities and the Cross Section of Asset Returns

Business cycle duration changes over time, generating time-varying investor concern over future recessions. This paper introduces ex-ante measures of recession concern based on term structure of recession probability forecasts by the Survey of Professional Forecasters. The slope of the recession term structure is negatively priced in a wide range of assets, and negatively predicts economic activity and labor income growth. A belief-augmented CAPM with the market factor and innovation to the slope largely explains size, book-to-market, and asset growth-sorted portfolios. This model's factor-mimicking portfolios also help reconcile index options and carry trade strategies. My evidence suggests that the slope of the term structure is a recession state variable of special hedging concern (Cochrane, 2005, Ch.9), and an important source of asset premia can be attributed to exposure to investors' recession concern that is priced.
Impact of Training on Preservice Teachers’ Sense of Self-efficacy to Implement Inclusive Teaching in the English Language Classroom

The purpose of teacher education is to ensure new graduates are well prepared to include all students into mainstream classrooms regardless of their differences (Winter, 2006). Examining preservice teachers’ sense of self-efficacy to implement inclusion in their classroom is important to evaluate the effectiveness of teacher education programs. In this study, we designed an inclusive teacher training program and applied a mixed-methods design to evaluate its effectiveness. Specifically, 25 students (13 female, 12 male) participated in the program and we collected survey data for all students on their self-efficacy (TEIP, Teacher Self-efficacy for Inclusive Practices) before and after the program and conducted qual-itative interviews with five students. The survey results indicate that there was a significant increase in participants’ sense of self-efficacy, especially self-efficacy for designing inclusive instructions and for collaboration. However, results also show a significant decrease in participants’ sense of self-efficacy to manage dis-ruptive behaviors. Through our inductive analyses of the qualitative interview data, we identify five factors that influence preservice teachers’ sense of self-efficacy: theoretical knowledge of inclusive/special education, cognitive pedagogical mas-tery, simulated modeling, positive feedbacks and encouragement, as well as prac-tical mastery experiences. On this basis, we discuss further indications for future inclusive preservice teacher training.
Financial sector development convergence in Africa: Evidence from bank- and market-based measures

In this paper, we employ data from 46 African countries over the period 1980â€“2014 to examine financial sector development convergence, using bank- and market-based measures of financial development. Within the framework of the generalized method of moments (GMM), we present evidence that both the bankâ€“ and marketâ€“based financial sector development in Africa diverge over time. However, we find strong evidence of financial development divergence when using bank-based financial sector development indicators whereas this evidence is weaker for market-based indicators. Given the divergence in the level of finance, the gap between countries with underdeveloped and wellâ€“developed financial markets will continue to widen as financially less developed countries do not appear to catch-up with the financially more developed economies. Â Â Keywords: Financial development; divergence, convergence, AfricaJEL Classification: F15, F36, G01, O55
Regulatory function of EARLI1‐LIKE HYBRID PROLINE‐RICH PROTEIN 1 in the floral transition of Arabidopsis thaliana Zhen Du1 · Li Zhang1 · Na Tian1 · Meng‐Xin Lu1 · Yan‐Qin Ma1 · Jing‐Wen Yao1 · Michael Schläppi2 · Zi‐Qin Xu1

The plasma membraneand endoplasmic reticulum-localized proteins encoded by the EARLI1 (EARLY ARABIDOPSIS ALUMINUM INDUCED 1) subfamily of genes contain a signal peptide, a proline-rich domain and an eight-cysteine motif. We previously showed that knockdown of EARLI1 subfamily genes in the late-flowering background of Col-FRI-Sf2 accelerates flowering time, suggesting that EARLI1 genes participate in maintenance of vegetative growth and prevention of premature reproductive growth. We show here that ELHyPRP1 (EARLI1-LIKE HYBRID PROLINE-RICH PROTEIN 1, AT4G12490), a member of this subfamily, is induced by environmental factors such as cold and long-day photoperiod. Detailed analyses with RNA interference and overexpressing lines demonstrated that modulation of ELHyPRP1 can affect the expression of photoperiod, vernalization, gibberellin, age, and autonomous flowering pathway genes. When ELHyPRP1 and other EARLI1 subfamily genes were silenced by RNA interference, most genes participating in the promotion of flowering were activated, while suppressors of the floral transition were repressed. Downregulation of ELHyPRP1 leads to increased expression of the flowering time genes FT and SOC1, and enhanced circadian expression patterns of genes associated with the promotion of the floral transition. Together with the silencing of ELHyPRP1, the flowering repressor FLC and the GA signalling repressor RGA were inhibited. ELHyPRP1 transgenic tobacco plants displayed late-flowering phenotypes and their flowering time was remarkably delayed in comparison to the wild-type Qinyan 95 tobacco plants grown under long-day photoperiod. These results indicate that ELHyPRP1 may be involved in balancing biomass accumulation and seed proliferation.
Cognitive, Motor and Social Factors of Music Instrument Training Programs for Older Adults’ Improved Wellbeing

Given emerging evidence that learning to play a musical instrument may lead to a number of cognitive benefits for older adults, it is important to clarify how these training programs can be delivered optimally and meaningfully. The effective acquisition of musical and domain-general skills by later-life learners may be influenced by social, cultural and individual factors within the learning environment. The current study examines the effects of a 10-week piano training program on healthy older adult novices’ cognitive and motor skills, in comparison to an inactive waitlisted control group. Fifteen participants completed piano training led by a music facilitator in small groups (max n = 4 per lesson class; two experimental, two waitlisted control groups). Data was collected using an explanatory sequential design: quantitative data from a battery of cognitive and motor tests was collected pre/post-test on all participants, with further post-test data from the waitlisted control group (n = 7). Qualitative data included weekly facilitator observations, participant practice diaries, and an individual, semi-structured, post-experiment interview. Bayesian modelling demonstrated moderate evidence of a strong positive impact of training on part A of the Trail Making test (TMT), indicating improved visuo-motor skills. Moderate evidence for negative impacts of training on part B of the Trail Making Test (and difference score delta) was also found, suggesting no benefit of cognitive switching. Qualitative results revealed that the group learning environment motivated participants to play in musical ensembles and to socialize. Motivation was optimal when all participants were happy with the chosen repertoire (participants reported they were motivated by learning to play familiar music) and when the facilitator observed that groups had formed cohesive bonds. Informed by these factors, exploratory analyses demonstrated strong evidence that a participant’s lesson class had an impact on post-test scores (TMT part A). These results not only demonstrate the extent of cognitive benefits of a short-term piano training intervention for older adults, but also the importance of considering the group dynamics in the learning environment.
Modulation format recognition scheme using orthogonal codewords for wavelength division multiplexing system

A modulation format identification (MFI) scheme based on orthogonal coding scheme is proposed to solve the modulation format identification problem in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems. The scheme uses sidebands to carry orthogonally encoded modulation format information. The basic orthogonal codeword is generated by the Hadamard matrix, and the codewords that are not equal to other codewords after the cyclic shift are selected. The receiving end decodes the modulation format information by using mutual information. We calculate the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the mutual information between the received symbols after cyclic shifting and the standard codewords to make the proposed scheme more robust. We numerically simulated the proposed scheme in a wavelength division multiplexing system, where its channels carry 12.5 Gbaud 4/16/64 QAM and 8/16 PSK. The simulation results show that the modulation format information in the sideband has little effect on the main band information. In the absence of symbol calibration, the receiver can still recover modulation format information from the sideband information with a high accuracy rate. Compared with the MFI algorithm based on Stokes space and the MFI based on signal amplitude performance, the proposed MFI still performs well at low OSNR, although it occupies some bandwidth resources. Moreover, this solution only requires a small number of symbols for decision, so it can achieve fast response requiring little extra storage space.
Normal incidence polarization independence, oblique incidence large angle insensitivity broadband plasmonic absorber from ultraviolet to near infrared

In this paper, we theoretically design and numerically verify a broadband plasmonic absorber that works continuously in ultraviolet to near-infrared region. Different from the traditional metal-insulator-metal (MIM) three-layer structure, our perfect absorber is based on insulator-metal-insulator-metal (IMIM) four-layer structure. This perfect absorber has 280 nm ultra-thin thickness, and the combination of refractory metal titanium nitride and high-melting-point insulator silica gives our absorber strong thermal stability. The novel titanium nitride ring-square array layer combines the absorption of different wavelength bands so that the absorber can achieve a continuous absorption of more than 90% from wavelength 200 to 1200 nm. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculated average absorption rate reaches 94.85%, which 99.40% maximum absorption at wavelength 270 nm and 90.30% minimum absorption at 390 nm. In addition, polarization independence under normal incidence and large incident angle insensitivity under oblique incidence, making our perfect absorber more advantageous in applications such as solar energy collection, photothermal conversion, and invisibility cloak.
Effect of precipitation on the transmission of high power laser radiation

Absorption and scattering by gaseous species, aerosol particles and precipitation lead to atmospheric attenuation of laser radiation. High power laser propagation over long horizontal and/or vertical distances is significantly affected by atmospheric attenuation in outdoor locations. Laser transmission experiments can be used to derive experimental extinction coefficients, which can be included in the assessment of the laser safety. However, a full representation of the effect of precipitation types on high power laser propagation is unknown to the authors. Laser transmission experiments at 1030 nm under rainy and snowy weather conditions were performed on a laser test range to investigate the effect of atmospheric attenuation on high power laser radiation. Based on these laser transmission measurements, experimental extinction coefficients were derived. The experimental extinction coefficients are compared with theoretical values. In addition, the experimental extinction coefficients are correlated with visibility measurements.
Study of the temperature effect on the laser amplification process

This paper is focused on the investigation of the effect of temperature on the laser amplification process. In case of Ybdoped active media there is a significant dependency of laser and physical properties on temperature that leads to reducing of gain coefficient. Theoretical description and experimental study carried out based on Yb:YAG crystal pumped by high power laser diode. Despite the cooling of the active element, the heating significantly affects at cwpumping regime and determines the shape of gain coefficient dependency on the pump power.
Full-field optical coherence tomography with an acousto-optically tuned external-cavity laser diode

Full-field swept source optical coherence tomography using an acousto-optically tuned external-cavity laser diode is proposed and demonstrated. The wavelength of the light source is controlled by diffraction in an acousto-optic modulator, instead of by mechanical motion. This allows tuning rates of over 100 kHz without mode hopping. For phase analysis, we used a continuous wavelet transform. This allows for accurate signal processing that reduces calculation error caused by the nonstationary features of an interference signal. We measured the two-dimensional thickness distribution of a thin glass plate. The average thickness of the glass plate was found to be 152.2 μm.
Power supplies dedicated to the efficient control of the excimer lamps power

Excimer lamps take place among the numerous industrial applications which rely on cold plasmas generated by means of Dielectric Barrier Discharges. For the performance and reliability of these applications, the control of the electrical energy injected into the plasma is of prominent importance; it also contributes to the homogeneity of the electrical discharge and to the amount of created excited species, thus the UV emission. In this scope, we have developed generations of pulsed current power supplies aimed at controlling the energy of the injected pulses. For UV generation processes by means of excimer lamps, the design approach of two of the most performing topologies is presented. The performances are highlighted, as well as the pitfalls and solutions for their use. The critical impact of the high voltage transformer, through its parasitic parameters, is pointed out, as well as solutions trying to take advantage of them.
Non-uniform QAM OFDM modulation system based on probabilistic shaping and geometric shaping

A non-uniform QAM OFDM modulation system based on probabilistic shaping (PS) and geometric shaping (GS) is proposed in this paper, which can effectively resist the interference among signal waveforms and improve spectrum utilization and channel capacity. First, Huffman coding is used in the scheme for probability shaping to reduce the average energy of the signal. Uniform 16QAM is adjusted to non-uniform 12QAM and uniform 32QAM is adjusted to non-uniform 12QAM. Then geometric shaping is applied. Taking generalized mutual information (GMI) as the objective function, pairwise optimization (PO) algorithm is applied to continuously adjust the constellation. Finally, the coordinate point with the largest mutual information is obtained. The simulation results show the performance of non-uniform 12QAM and non-uniform 24QAM under different conditions, we obtain the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with generalized mutual information curve, signal-to-noise ratio with bit error rate (BER) curve under different QAM modulation formats and the bit error rate with the different length of the fiber under different transmission modes. The results show that the proposed non-uniform 12QAM-GS-OFDM has a gain of 0.02 bit/symbol over 12QAM-OFDM, the proposed non-uniform 24QAM-GS-OFDM has a gain of 0.02 bit/symbol over 24QAM-OFDM.
Numerical optimization of the dual-wavelengths copper vapor laser treatment of basal cell cancer

The use of a copper vapor laser (CVL) for the treatment of basal cell cancer (BCC) has allowed achieving highly effective elimination of BCC malignant cells without any recurrence for a long time after the procedure. According to recent translational medicine studies, the pathogenetic treatment of malignant skin diseases should include eliminating of not only pathological vascular bed, but also malignant melanocytes of the basal layer of the epidermis, promoting pathological development in the BCC involved area [1]. The targeted chromophore of melanocytes of the basal layer of the epidermis - melanin significantly differs in optical characteristics from the targeted chromophore of the vascular bed - oxyhemoglobin. Therefore, for the relevant pathogenetic laser treatment of BCC, it seems appropriate to use a dual-wavelengths laser exposure to CVL with wavelengths, one of which provides the high absorption by melanin (511 nm), and the other by oxyhemoglobin (578) nm. In this regard, it seems appropriate to use numerical modeling to analyze the effect of the relationship between the contribution of CVL radiation with a wavelength of 511 nm and a wavelength of 578 nm, taking into account the optical characteristics of the photoactive targets of the basal layer and blood in the pathological vascular bed of BCC.
Design and simulation of a polarization insensitive optical 90° hybrid based on InP multimode interference coupler

We propose a polarization insensitive multimode interference coupler (MMI) design for optical 90° hybrid. The 90° hybrid used in coherent receiver application is based on the Indium Phosphorus (InP) platform, which can realize monolithic integration with detectors. By using the three dimension beam propagation method, a 90° hybrid based on a polarization insensitive MMI has been designed and optimized. We find that there is an ideal interference length for both transverse electric (TE) mode and transverse magnetic (TM) mode in this structure. Using the designed 90° hybrid, we demonstrate the common mode rejection ratios for in-phase channels and quadrature channels better than -20 dB and the phase errors better than ±3° in an ideal interference length range. The phase errors of the I-channel and Q-channel less than ±4° when the interference length is 480μm across the C band (1535-1560 nm).
Sensing properties of tapered optical fiber coated with atactic polystyrene thin film

Tapered optical fiber-based interferometric sensors have potential applications in some fields for the measurements of solution concentration, refractive index, biomolecules, etc. By coating specific functional film onto the surface of a tapered optical fiber, it is possible to further extend the detection range and enhance the measurement sensitivity. In this paper, a tapered optical fiber sensor based on Mach-Zehnder modal interference is studied. An atactic polystyrene thin film was used as a functional layer to coat onto the surface of the tapered region. Detection of aqueous glucose of different concentrations was carried out using the tapered fiber sensor with or without the coating. The experimental results show that the measurement sensitivity can be significantly improved by coating the atactic polystyrene thin film onto the tapered fiber with suitable waist parameter.