Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scaling Carbon Nanotube Localization by Floating Potential Dielectrophoresis: An Enabling Geometry

Scaling Parallel Dielectrophoresis of Carbon Nanotubes: an Enabling Geometry Brian Scott Davis Department of Physics and Astronomy Master of Science Dielectrophoresis has been used as a technique for the parallel localization and alignment of both semiconducting and metallic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at junctions between electrodes. A variation of this technique known as Floating Potential Dielectrophoresis (FPD) allows for a selflimiting number of CNTs to be localized at each junction, on a massively parallel scale. However, the smallest FPD geometries to date are restricted to conductive substrates and have a lower limit on floating electrode size. We present a geometry which eliminates this lower limit and enables FPD to be performed on non-conducting substrates. We also discuss experiments clarifying the self-limiting mechanism of CNT localization and how it can be used advantageously as devices are scaled downward to smaller sizes.
Optimization of Cellular Response on Flexible Surfaces Using Chemically Bound Proteins

Many methods exist in the literature to modify surfaces with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins prior to cell attachment. However, there are few studies that systematically compare surface characterization and cell response results among different modification methods. In this work, we compare cell response and physical characterization results from fibronectin and laminin attached to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer surfaces by physical adsorption, chemisorption, and covalent attachment to determine the best method to modify a deformable surface. We evaluate modification methods based on completeness and uniformity of coverage, surface roughness, and hydrophilicity of attached ECM protein. Smooth muscle cell adhesion, proliferation, morphology and phenotype were also evaluated. We found that chemisorption methods resulted in higher amounts of protein attachment than physical adsorption and covalent bonding, although results among the chemisorption methods varied. All chemisorption methods were superior to covalent bonding methods, and most were superior to physisorption. The various chemisorption methods gave similar results for cell adhesion, area, aspect ratio and phenotype. One particular chemisorption method, silane modification at 70 °C, gave overall superior results in protein attachment and cell proliferation.
Experimental immunology Efficiency of oral immunization of mice with Candida albicans and Moraxella catarrhalis heat-killed cells and cross reactivity of induced antibodies

The aim of the study was to evaluate the immune response against Moraxella catarrhalis and Candida albicans antigens in mice (BALB/c) immunized by GALT system. The ELISA and immunofluorescence tests were employed for checking of mice sera activity in the presence of used antigens. Both sources of antigens were efficacious in specific antibody generation by GALT system. Furthermore, obtained results showed cross reactivity between Candida albicans antigens and anti Moraxella catarrhalis sera and also between Moraxella catarrhalis antigens and anti Candida albicans sera.
Taxonomic identity of two amnicolid gastropods of conservation concern in lakes of the Pacific Northwest of the USA

In this paper we attempt to clarify the identity of two purportedly new species of amnicolid snails in Pacific Northwest lakes that were vaguely described in grey literature and recently petitioned for federal listing. As currently understood the western American amnicolid fauna consists of the endemic genus Colligyrus (three species) and Amnicola limosa, which is distributed in a single site in western Montana (and also throughout much of eastern North America). The ‘Washington duskysnail’ was proposed for the Montana population of A. limosa and two recently discovered populations in northern Washington. The ‘masked duskysnail’ is a small amnicolid of uncertain generic status from two lakes in northern Washington. Our assessment of these putative species was based on genetic and morphological study of specimens from previously reported sites and recently discovered localities in Montana (both snails) and Washington (the first only). Molecular analyses (based on the mtCOI gene) resolved the western American populations of Amnicola as a weakly supported subunit of a clade that also contained eastern A. limosa and A. dalli; the western Amnicola differed from eastern A. limosa and A. dalli by 2.1% mean sequence divergence. We also found that western Amnicola and eastern A. limosa do not differ in body pigmentation as previously postulated and that these snails are closely similar in all other morphological details. We conclude that the Washington duskysnail is not a distinct species and that all of the western populations of Amnicola are A. limosa. This finding extends the range of A. limosa westward almost to the Pacific margin. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses and study of the female reproductive anatomy of the masked duskysnail congruently indicated that this snail, which was previously compared with other western amnicolids, belongs to the genus Lyogyrus, which is otherwise restricted to eastern North America. We were unable to resolve the taxonomic status of the masked duskysnail further, owing to the paucity of pertinent data for the poorly known eastern Lyogyrus fauna. We recommend that the masked duskysnail be treated as ‘Lyogyrus sp. ’ pending further study of this genus.
Thresholds and Time Lags in Effects of Energy Development on Greater Sage-Grouse Populations

Abstract Rapid expansion of energy development in some portions of the Intermountain West, USA, has prompted concern regarding impacts to declining greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations. We used retrospective analyses of public data to explicitly investigate potential thresholds in the relationship between lek attendance by male greater sage-grouse, the presence of oil or gas wells near leks (surface occupancy), and landscape-level density of well pads. We used generalized linear models and generalized estimating equations to analyze data on peak male attendance at 704 leks over 12 years in Wyoming, USA. Within this framework we also tested for time-lag effects between development activity and changes in lek attendance. Surface occupancy of oil or gas wells adjacent to leks was negatively associated with male lek attendance in 5 of 7 study areas. For example, leks that had ≥1 oil or gas well within a 0.4-km (0.25-mile) radius encircling the lek had 35–91% fewer attending males than leks with no well within this radius. In 2 of these 5 study areas, negative effects of well surface occupancy were present out to 4.8 km, the largest radius we investigated. Declining lek attendance was also associated with a higher landscape-level density of well pads; lek attendance at well-pad densities of 1.54 well pads/km2 (4 well pads/mile2) ranged from 13% to 74% lower than attendance at unimpacted leks (leks with zero well pads within 8.5 km). Lek attendance at a well-pad density of 3.09 well pads/km2 (8 well pads/mile2) ranged from 77% to 79% lower than attendance at leks with no well pad within 8.5 km. Further, our analysis of time-lag effects suggested that there is a delay of 2–10 years between activity associated with energy development and its measurable effects on lek attendance. These results offer new information for consideration by land managers on spatial and temporal associations between human activity and lek attendance in sage-grouse, and suggest that regional variation is an important consideration in refining existing management strategies.
HIGH RESOLUTIO TIME-I TERVAL MEASUREME T SYSTEMS APPLIED TO FLOW MEASUREME T

The designing process of high resolution time interval measurement systems creates many problems that need to be eliminated. The problems are: the latch error, the nonlinearity conversion, the different duty cycle coefficient of the clock signal, and the clock signal jitter. Factors listed above affect the result of measurement. The FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) structure also imposes some restrictions, especially when a tapped delay line is constructed. The article describes the high resolution time-to-digital converter, implemented in a FPGA structure, and the types of errors that appear there. The method of minimization and processing of data to reduce the influence of errors on the measurement is also described.
LOOKBACK TIME AND CHANDRA CONSTRAINS ON COSMOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

In this paper we combine the WMAP7 with lookback time and Chandra gas fraction data to constrain the main cosmological parameters and the equation of state for the dark energy. We find that the lookback time is a good measurement that can improve the determination of the equation of state for the dark energy with regard to other external data sets. We conclude that larger lookback time data set will further improve our determination of the cosmological parameters.
Contribution Younger Siblings , C-Reactive Protein , and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

In this study, we examined the relationship between exposure to siblings and 1) the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 2) C-reactive protein levels. We retrospectively analyzed pooled cross-sectional data from 2 studies: the Cardiovascular Health and Age-Related Maculopathy Study (2001–2002) and the Age-Related Maculopathy Statin Study (2004–2006). Associations between number of siblings and AMD were assessed by using multinomial logistic regression. Associations between number of siblings and C-reactive protein levels were examined by using a generalized linear model for γ distribution. A higher number of younger siblings was associated with significantly lower odds of early AMD in those with a family history of AMD (odds ratio = 0.2, 95% confidence interval: 0.1, 0.8) (P = 0.022) but was unrelated to AMD for those who had no family history of the disease (odds ratio = 1.0, 95% confidence interval: 0.9, 1.2) (P = 0.874). A higher number of younger siblings correlated with lower C-reactive protein levels (β =−0.19, 95% confidence interval: −0.38, −0.01) (P = 0.036). This supports the theory that immune modulation contributes to AMD pathogenesis and suggests that exposure to younger siblings might be protective when there is a family history of AMD.
Multidimensional Spectroscopy of Semiconductor Quantum Dots

vii 1 Coherent Optical Properties of Semiconductors . 1 1.1 Excitons in semiconductors . 2 1.2 Semiconductor quantum dots . 5 1.2.1 PbS quantum dots . 8 1.3 Coherent optical spectroscopy of semiconductors . 12 1.3.1 Relaxation processes . 12 1.3.2 Spectroscopic techniques . 14 2 Principles of Optical 2DFT Spectroscopy . 17 2.1 Development of 2DFT techniques . 17 2.2 Two-dimensional Fourier transform spectroscopy . 21 2.3 Advantages of 2DFT spectroscopy . 26 2.3.1 Origins of coherent response . 26 2.3.2 Isolate coupling between transitions . 28 2.3.3 Simultaneously extract homogenous and inhomogenous linewidths 29 2.3.4 Track evolution of nonradiative coherences . 30 3 2DFT Spectroscopy with Active Interferometric Stabilization . 32 3.1 Multidimensional Optical Nonlinear Spectrometer (MONSTR) . 32 3.2 Active vs. passive stabilization . 37 3.2.1 Phase stabilization procedure . 38 3.3 Four-wave mixing generation . 41 3.4 Fourier transform spectral interferometry . 43 3.5 Generating 2DFT spectra . 46 3.5. 1 All-optical retrieval of global phase . 49 4 2DFT Spectroscopy of Semiconductor Quantum Dots . 51 4.1 Preliminary spectra . 53 4.2 Dephasing rate measurements . 58 4.3 Determination of homogenous and inhomogenous linewidths . 60
A Novel Information Search Approach for Languages Without Word Delimiters

Summary In many languages there are no word delimiters among the text. It is very difficult to index articles in those languages. For example, Chinese information search engines always encounter a difficulty in segmentation of Chinese words from an article. In this paper, a suffix tree based searching approach is proposed to avoid the difficulty in segmentation of Chinese words. The suffix tree algorithms are studied and a set of optimal algorithms for index build are proposed. Based on the algorithms, a prototype of Chinese information search system is developed and applied to the Chinese Web Test collection with 100 GB Web pages (CWT100g). The experimental results show that the system is capable of searching Chinese information without segmentation of Chinese words and the speed of index build is reduced to the theoretical limitation. part of summary.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN THE DYNAMIC FRICTION CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPACT AND SIRO YARNS

Bu calisma, dusuk iplik tuylulugune sahip (kompakt, siro, kompakt siro) iplikler ile konvansiyonel ring ipliklerinin dinamik surtunme ozelliklerini kiyaslamak amaciyla gerceklestirilmistir. Farkli egirme sistemleriyle uretilen ipliklerin surtunme ozellikleri, farkli yuzey ozelliklerine bagli olarak degisiklik gostermektedir. Hammaddenin etkisini bertaraf etmek icin, ayni pamuk fitilleri kullanilarak iplik tipi, iplik numarasi ve fitiller arasi mesafe (siro iplikler icin) gibi cesitli egirme parametreleriyle ozdes iplikler uretilmistir. Iplikiplik surtunme katsayisi (μYY),, iplik-metal surtunme katsayisi (μYM) ve ipliklerin asinma ozellikleri CTT cihazi ile test edilmistir. Sonuclar incelendiginde, egirme yonteminin ve iplik inceliginin ipliklerin surtunme ozellikleri ve dokuntu olusturma ozellikleri uzerinde onemli etkisi oldugu ancak fitiller arasi mesafenin iplik ozelliklerini sinirli duzeyde etkiledigi tespit edilmistir
Pacific SST influence on spring precipitation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Recent periods of drought in Ethiopia and other parts of East Africa have highlighted the growing importance of producing reliable forecasts of seasonal precipitation. Key in deriving such forecasts is a good understanding of the atmospheric and oceanic drivers of different precipitation regimes. In Ethiopia and other parts of East Africa, interannual variability of precipitation depends on variations in sea surface temperature (SST) and atmospheric circulation on both regional and global scales. Links between summer precipitation in Ethiopia and large‐scale modes of climate variability such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) have previously been established but the influence of global SST on spring precipitation has not yet been fully explored. Here, we analyse the links between Pacific SST and precipitation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a century‐long period (1900–2004). A tripole correlation pattern between spring precipitation and SST in the Pacific basin is found. We develop regression‐based models to estimate spring precipitation from Pacific SST with a lead time of two to three months. When subject to cross‐validation, models based on principal component multiple linear regression (PC‐MLR) calibrated on Pacific SST during December show substantial skill in reproducing observed temporal variability in Addis Ababa precipitation during February (r = 0.48) and March (r = 0.40), and the period spanning February to April (r = 0.44). Our findings suggest that the inclusion of Pacific SST in predictive models may benefit drought forecasting across Ethiopia.
Mobile speech recognition software: A tool for teaching second language pronunciation

This study examines the impact of the pedagogical use of mobile automatic speech recognition software (ASR) on the acquisition of the French vowel /y/ in production and perception. The participants were 42 beginner French students with no previous training in French phonetics and exposure to speech recognition software. They were divided into three experimental groups: (1) the ASR Group used an ASR application installed on their mobile devices to complete weekly pronunciation activities, with immediate written visual (textual) feedback provided by the software; (2) the Non-ASR Group completed the same weekly pronunciation activities in individual weekly sessions with a teacher, who provided immediate oral feedback using recast and repetitions; finally, (3) the Control Group participated in weekly individual meetings “to practice their conversation skills” with a teacher, who provided no pronunciation feedback. Following a pre-test/post-test design, our findings indicate that the ASR Group outperformed the other groups in French /y/ production, but not in perception.
Genetic Variation among Cat Fish (Mystus vittatus) Population Assessed by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic (RAPD) Markers from Assam, India

Mystus vittatus is a small indigenous fish species having higher nutritional value in terms of protein, micronutrients, vitamins and minerals. But the catfish aquaculture including Mystus sp has not been developed extensively for its aquaculture potential even though the demand of catfishes in the Indian domestic markets are very high. Therefore for good aquacultural practices and to maintain a healthy gene pool, detailed knowledge on the population structure of Mystus sp. is needed. In the present study molecular and morphological analysis of a population of Mystus vittatus caught from four different freshwater bodies of Assam about 100-400 km away from each other was done using RAPD markers. Total 412 RAPD fragments were generated using nine decamer primers of arbitrary nucleotide sequences. In the experiment 322 polymorphic bands and 90 monomorphic bands were produced which shows 78.15% of polymorphism and 21.84% of monomorphism. UPGMA dendrogram constructed on the basis of genetic distance formed three distinct clusters indicating comparatively higher level of genetic variations in the studied M. vittatus populations in Assam. Once the population structure is known, scientific management for optimal harvest and conservation of the catfish fishery resource can be undertaken. Therefore, the present study may serve as a reference for future examinations of genetic variations within the populations of fishes which are commercially important and the possible use of DNA markers in future may create new avenues for cat fish molecular biological research in this part of world.
Design science research for decision support systems development: recent publication trends in the premier IS journals

This paper presents a contemporary literature review of design science research (DSR) studies in the domain of decision support systems (DSS) development. The latest studies in the DSS design domain claim that DSR methodologies are the most popular design approach, but many details are still yet to be revealed for supporting this claim. In particular, it is important to thoroughly investigate the trends in either the form or deeper insights in use of DSR in this field. The aim of this study is to analyse the existing DSS design science studies to reveal insights into the use of DSR, so that we can outline research agenda for a special issue, based on findings of analysis. We selected articles (from 2005 to 2014) that were published in seven selected premier IS journals (ranked as A* in the ABDC journal ranking). The selected 57 sample articles are representative of DSS design studies that used DSR in theorising, designing, implementing, and evaluating DSS solutions. We discuss the theoretical positions of DSR for DSS development through six categories: DSS artefacts, DSR methods, DSR views, user involvement, DSS design innovations and problem domains. The findings indicate that new studies are needed to fill the knowledge gap in DSS design science, for more solid theoretical basis in near future.
Spatial Variability of Shear Wave Velocity Using Geostatistical Analysis in Mashhad City, NE Iran

Shear wave velocity (Vs) is one of the most important parameters of a geological model to assess the site effect and the ground response. In this paper the spatial variability of shear wave velocity in Mashhad capital city are investigated. For this purpose, 243 Vs profiles of different projects throughout the city were used. Based on the Vs profiles the iso-level maps of the Vs interfaces 300, 500, 750, 950 and 1200 m/s were obtained by kriging interpolation method. The best semivariogram models were obtained with changing the effective parameters and assessing the components of the models and spatial dependence. The best models for the entire interfaces were exponential. Based on these models, the spatial dependence of depth data was moderate to strong. The performance of interpolations was checked by cross-validation and its indices i.e. mean standardized prediction errors (MSPR), root mean square prediction errors (RMSPE), average kriging standard error (AKSE), and root mean square standardized prediction errors (RMSSPE) were assessed. A trend of depth increasing towards the northeast was observed at all of the interfaces.
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE STUDY OF DIFFERENT OAT VARIETIES UNDER AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF SIBI

Fodders are the main source of animal feed in Sibi region. However, the yield per acre is still far below than optimum level of production. Considering such a miserable picture in the region, a series of different fodder production trials were initiated at Large Ruminant Research Institute, Sibi. In the present study, nine cultivars of oats (Avena sativa) were evaluated for different yield components during November, 2007 to January, 2008. Data on plant height, leaf area and fodder yield per unit area were recorded. Differences among cultivars were considered as significant (P< 0.05). The results further revealed that variety No. 725 excelled over all other varieties in higher fresh fodder yield (47.6 kg/hectare) under agro-climatic conditions of Sibi. However, further studies are needed in order to recommend a suitable variety for general cultivation to meet increasing demand of fodder in the region.
Physiological and phylogenetic analysis of rhizobia isolated from Acacia nilotica L.

The legume-rhizobia relationship is known to be a beneficial symbiosis in the direction of agriculture. The present investigation was aimed to isolate and characterize five rhizobia isolates from woody legume tree; Acacia nilotica L. Physiological properties of all five isolated strains were similar. However, on the basis of nitrogen fixation test, only two isolates were symbiotic and the other three were non- symbiotic. Therefore, for phylogenetic analysis, only two isolates were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing for strains. Hence, the DNA was isolated from the well grown bacterial cultures. Amplified DNA was sequenced for 16S rRNA. The phylogenetic tree was constructed and bacterial isolates were identified as rhizobia. Isolate first showed strong homology with Mesorhizobium loti and isolate second showed intermediate with Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium hainanense . For the confirmation of nitrogen fixing ability of isolates, nifH gene was amplified. Application of effective rhizobia strains as biofertilizers to improve legume production is an important approach in sustainable agriculture. Key words : Legume, rhizobia, physiological, phylogenetic, biofertilizers.
Simulations of the broad line region of NGC 5548 with CLOUDY code: Temperature determination

SUMMARY: In this paper an analysis of the physical properties of the Broad Line Region (BLR) of the active galaxy NGC 5548 is presented. Using the photoionization code CLOUDY and the measurements of Peterson et al. (2002), the physical conditions of the BLR are simulated and the BLR temperature is obtained. This temperature was compared to the temperature estimated with the Boltzmann-Plot