Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Layer-transferred MoS2/GaN PN diodes

Electrical and optical characterization of two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) p-molybdenum disulfide/n-gallium nitride (p-MoS2/n-GaN) heterojunction diodes are reported. Devices were fabricated on high-quality, large-area p-MoS2 grown by chemical vapor deposition on sapphire substrates. The processed devices were transferred onto GaN/sapphire substrates, and the transferred films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). On-axis XRD spectra and surface topology obtained from AFM scans were consistent with previously grown high-quality, continuous MoS2 films. Current-voltage measurements of these diodes exhibited excellent rectification, and capacitance-voltage measurements were used to extract a conduction band offset of 0.23 eV for the transferred MoS2/GaN heterojunction. This conduction band offset was confirmed by internal photoemission measurements. The energy band lineup of the MoS2/GaN heterojunction is proposed here. This work demonstrates the potential.
Evolution of Genetic Manipulation of Laboratory Animals

High quality research depends on the purity and consistency of reagents, including experimental animals, for effi cient reproducibility of results. It is readily recognized that purity and consistency in experimental animals depends on both genetic homogeneity and controlled environments that avoid variation caused by nutritional, pathogenic, or other environmental effects. Evolution of genetic manipulation of laboratory animals for research use has been taking place for nearly a century, beginning with the creation of the fi rst inbred strain started by C. C. Little around 1909 (1). The fi rst 50 years of that evolution can be characterized by the achievement of genetic homogeneity through the creation of many inbred strains, primarily of mice. In the last 50 years that evolution is best characterized by discoveries of mutations and manipulations of the genome that have resulted in animal models of disease and specialized strains that have been used to answer very specifi c questions about genetics, nature of disease, and biological pathways. The story of the evolution of genetic manipulation of laboratory animals is primarily the story of the evolution of genetic manipulation in mice, and some of the milestones along that path will be described here.
How to quantify uncertainty in water allocation models? An exploratory analysis based on hypothetical case studies

Water allocation models are the principal tools used to build water sharing plans in regulated river systems across Australia. These models associate components describing the physical system (e.g. rainfall– runoff transformation and flow routing) and the management rules (e.g. operation of dams and irrigation extractions). In a context of growing pressure on water resources, the uncertainty associated with these highly parameterised models needs to be quantified in a defensible and transparent way. This paper is an exploratory analysis based on the application of two uncertainty methods to hypothetical river system case studies. First, a simplified model structure is developed by using existing characteristics from six regions of the Murray-Darling basin. Each model contains a schematic representation of the region with: (1) one upstream storage, (2) ungauged and gauged tributaries inflows, and (3) one downstream irrigation extraction point. Second, the model outputs (streamflow) are corrupted and an alternative model is calibrated based on the corrupted data using the standard least-squares method. Finally, the uncertainty in the output is generated using two uncertainty post-processors and compared with the uncorrupted (“true”) outputs using deterministic and probabilistic scores. The uncertainty post-processor based on the empirical distribution of the residuals proved simple yet effective, especially when compared to the more advanced bootstrapping method. It performed systematically better when applied to the stored volumes in the reservoir. However, the predictive uncertainty was greatly improved by the bootstrapping method to assess the uncertainty on streamflow. This highlights the important differences that can occur in the uncertainty analysis for a multivariate model.
Molecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of Wheat TtLOX Gene Involved in Aphid Resistance

The English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) is one of the most important and destructive pests in wheat production worldwide. Lipoxygenase (LOX) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in the bio-synthesis pathway of jasmonate and methyl jasmonate in plants and animals. This enzyme is essential for plant growth and for biotic and abiotic stresses response. In this study, the TtLOX gene from wheat (Triticum turgidum) was isolated and characterized, and its conserved domains, phylogenetic relationship and subcellular localization were investigated. As a 2787-bp open reading frame (ORF) gene, TtLOX was predicted to encode a protein of 928-amino acid. TtLOX transcription was up-regulated in response to aphid feeding; the expression of TtLOX in wheat leaves was significantly higher in Lanmai, an aphid-resistant variety, than in Poland 305, an aphid-sensitive variety. In contrast, TtLOX expression was down-regulated both in individuals treated with methyl-jasmine (MeJA) and in individuals with the TtLOX gene silenced by barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV). The aphid numbers on the MeJA treated plants and on the TtLOX gene-silenced plants were higher than that on the control plants. These results suggest that the TtLOX gene may have potential as a target gene for controlling Sitobion avenae in wheat.
Mitragyna speciosa Korth standardized methanol extract induced short-term potentiation of CA 1 subfield in rat hippocampal slices

Mitragyna speciosa Korth or ketum or kratom has long been used by local people in Thailand and Malaysia to treat various types of diseases and to boost energy. There is lack of information available on the effect of M. speciosa Korth in learning and memory function, therefore this study was conducted to understand its effect using a cellular model (hippocampus). The objective of this study was to delineate the effect of M. speciosa Korth standardized methanol extract (MS), we used extracellular recording in rat hippocampal slices in vitro. Acute hippocampal slices were prepared from 4 weeks-old male Sprague dawley rats. Field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSP) were investigated after the application of test materials in concentrations of 0.0001, 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1% dissolved in 0.1% DMSO. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of test material was then calculated. Superfusion of MS (all concentrations) produced irreversible fEPSP amplitude reduction with an IC50 of 0.008%. The same concentration of MS (0.008%) prevented the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) and induced only short-term potentiation (STP) in CA1 neurons. In the CA1 region of the hippocampus, reduced concentration-dependently glutamatergic transmission and blocked LTP at the IC50.
The influence of socioeconomic status on changes in young people’s expectations of applying to university

Abstract A much larger proportion of English 14-year-olds expect to apply to university than ultimately make an application by age 21, but the proportion expecting to apply falls from age 14 onwards. In order to assess the role of socioeconomic status in explaining changes in expectations, this paper applies duration modelling techniques to the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England, analysing transitions in young people’s expectations both from being ‘likely to apply’ to being ‘unlikely to apply’ and vice versa. Young people’s socioeconomic background has a significant association with changes in expectations, even after controlling for prior academic attainment and other potentially confounding factors; in addition, young people’s backgrounds affect their responsiveness to new evidence on academic attainment at age 16. This suggests more could usefully be done to maintain the educational expectations of academically able young people from less advantaged families, especially providing guidance on how to view new academic results.
Development of Palm Kernel Shell Lightweight Masonry Mortar

There need to construct building walls with lightweight masonry bricks/blocks and mortar to reduce the weight and cost of cooling/heating of buildings in hot/cold climates is growing partly due to legislations on energy use and global warming. In this paper, the development of Palm Kernel Shell masonry mortar (PKSMM) prepared with Portland cement and crushed PKS fine aggregate (an agricultural waste) is demonstrated. We show that PKSMM can be used as a lightweight mortar for the construction of lightweight masonry walls with good thermal insulation efficiency than the natural river sand commonly used for masonry mortar production. Keywords—Building walls, fine aggregate, lightweight masonry mortar, palm kernel shell, wall thermal insulation efficacy.
Costa Rican cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.): Essential oils, carotenoids and bromatological analysis

Considering cashew tree as economically relevant in Costa Rica, we extracted and characterized the essential oil from leaves and ripe cashew apple. Both oils were tested in vitro for antioxidant potential. The ripe cashew apple was also tested for carotenoid content. We performed nutritional analysis on the nutshell to assess its potential as a supplement for animal feed. Finally, the cashew nut’sfatty acid profile was also determined. Cashew tree leaves exhibited 2, 4-di-tert-butylphenol, 3-hydroxy-1, 3diphenylpropan-1-one, and 5-methylpyrogallolin 14.14, 6.59, and 6.10 g/100 g, respectively while cashew apple volatile compounds included 2-hydroxy-4-methylvaleric acid, 1, 4-xylene, and 1nonadeceneat relative concentrations of 13.89, 12.08, and 9.84 g/100 g, respectively. Cashew nut fat profile included oleic and linoleic acids as most prevalent with 56.26 and 14.50 g/100 g, respectively with monounsaturated fatty acids representing an average of (71.97 ± 1.49) g/100 g. Total carotenoids accounted for (2.93 ± 0.07) mg β-carotene/100 g fresh material. It was concluded that the pigment in cashews is imparted, by α-carotene and β-carotene representing 0.24 mg (8.2%) and 1.25 mg (42.5%) per 100 g sample, respectively. We also obtained average values of (2 291.2 ± 35.6) and (6 158.9 ± 136.8) μmol TE/100 g, for leaves and apple essential oils, respectively. Cashew outer shell exhibited a profile rich in fiber (NDF and ADF 38.46 and 27.67 g/100 g, respectively) and crude fat (16.00 g/100 g). Furthermore, we assessed the residue to input a 57.3% of digestible energy. We concluded essential oil to have antioxidant potential and the cashew nut shell to prove potential as a feed supplement.
Catastrophic Drug Errors Involving Tranexamic Acid Administered During Spinal Anesthesia

detect deterioration up to 15 minutes before arterial hypotension occurred.4 Oglesby et al1 also emphasizes the fact that early warning systems may not be universal and that specific measurement scores or systems are likely necessary due to variable patient conditions and physiology. This is clearly the case for obstetrics where maternal physiological changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period lead to a difficult definition of thresholds. In the present study, patients in the labor ward only were studied, and hemodynamic and respiratory changes during labor and delivery might reduce the value of thresholds established for pregnant (or postpartum) but not laboring women. This suggests that different scores might be necessary at each stage of pregnancy. A similar situation is encountered in pediatric care in which physiological measurements of a neonate and a 1-year-old child are significantly different. These comments do not summarize the whole spectrum of questions that arise with the use of early warning systems but mainly show that a very innovative idea (and well-accepted concept) may be extremely difficult to translate into clinical terms.
Do People with Dyslexia Need Special Reading Software ?

Around 10% of the population has dyslexia, a reading disability that negatively affects a person’s ability to read and comprehend texts. Since certain text alterations can impact the reading performance of people with dyslexia, several specialized reading tools have been developed for this target group. However, there is also evidence that dyslexicrelated difficulties do not only overlap with the ones of other groups with special needs but also appear among most people with varying degrees. These facts lead us to question the actual need of specific reading software for people with dyslexia. In this paper we analyze the textual parameters that impact dyslexic reading and compare them with the features of the current reading tools, specialized or not. Our main conclusion is that people with dyslexia are an example to support universal accessibility: the inclusion of their needs match the usability requirements of all other readers. Most of the dyslexic needs are covered through the customization of the text in existing generic reading tools, but to cover all the requirements, specialized software is needed.
Time-uniform, nonparametric, nonasymptotic confidence sequences

A confidence sequence is a sequence of confidence intervals that is uniformly valid over an unbounded time horizon. Our work develops confidence sequences whose widths go to zero, with nonasymptotic coverage guarantees under nonparametric conditions. We draw connections between the Cram\'er-Chernoff method for exponential concentration, the law of the iterated logarithm (LIL), and the sequential probability ratio test---our confidence sequences are time-uniform extensions of the first; provide tight, nonasymptotic characterizations of the second; and generalize the third to nonparametric settings, including sub-Gaussian and Bernstein conditions, self-normalized processes, and matrix martingales. We illustrate the generality of our proof techniques by deriving an empirical-Bernstein bound growing at a LIL rate, as well as a novel upper LIL for the maximum eigenvalue of a sum of random matrices. Finally, we apply our methods to covariance matrix estimation and to estimation of sample average treatment effect under the Neyman-Rubin potential outcomes model.
Practical guidance on the use of the MMPI instruments in remote psychological testing.

The coronavirus-2019 pandemic was declared a national emergency in the United States on March 13, 2020 The disruptions resulting from subsequent unprecedented mitigation efforts have limited and, in some cases, eliminated the ability of psychologists to meet in person with their patients, clients, and examinees This has led to a broad and sudden reliance on synchronous (live) videoconferencing (also commonly referred to as telehealth, telepsychological practice, and telepractice) to deliver clinical services A vital component of psychological practice involves the administration of psychological testing, particularly in clinical settings and specialties that rely heavily on the use of assessment instruments Remote administration of psychological testing presents challenges that cannot be ignored, even in a crisis, without risking the violation of ethical standards and without compromising the reliability and interpretability of test results and the security of test instruments With these considerations in mind, we provide practical guidance for remote test administration, using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory instruments (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Public Significance Statement-Social distancing requirements resulting from the coronavirus-2019 pandemic have led to a broad and sudden reliance on synchronous (live) videoconferencing (also commonly referred to as telehealth, telepsychological practice, and telepractice) to deliver clinical services A vital component of psychological practice involves the administration of psychological testing, particularly in clinical settings and specialties that rely heavily on the use of assessment instruments This article provides psychologists guidance for remote administration of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory instruments that can be adapted and applied to the administration of other self-report measures (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
Character Strengths and Deep Connections Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita : Spiritual and Secular Pathways to Resistance Among Volunteers

This study investigated a conceptual model with two pathways, altruism and perceived spiritual support, leading to resilience among student volunteers following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (H-KR). Both strengths share the sense of deep connections. Parallel pathways with the two major constructs were estimated using structural equation modeling, adjusting for demographics and peritraumatic emotional reactions. The two indicators may have served as a protective mechanism for all volunteers despite differing racial/cultural backgrounds. The potential protection of these strength factors was mediated through optimism and hope. Resilience among minority volunteers was associated more with faith-related strengths, as indicated in the relevant pathway that also contributed to their altruistic actions. The resilience of white volunteers, however, was directly associated with altruism, a strength that does depend heavily on religious beliefs. Further, the modification index suggested a direct path from race to depression.
NEWS ON STAGE: Towards Re-configuring Journalism through Theatre to a Public Sphere

ABSTRACT Journalism’s various crises have been well-documented, such as the decline in its credibility and active role in the democratic process, but constructive ideas to address them are far and few between. In an age of confused news literacy, this article presents evidence to show how face-to-face journalism might be successful in helping to re-establish its status, authority and truth-telling role in society. It reviews past and present relationships between journalism and theatre and uses them as a springboard to introduce the concept of “news on stage”. It makes historical connections between early formats of live news such as the town crier, through revolutionary theatre to today’s experiments in event journalism around the world. Using qualitative, empirical data from interviews and two case studies, the FT Weekend Festival and the Byline Festival, it examines whether and how such events offer ways of strengthening the relationship between news, public and performance, rebuilding communities of readers and/or activists. It configures a version of Habermas’s public space/sphere as a new locus for this kind of open journalism, performed to the public. The author concludes that journalism can benefit from such events and proposes practical models for presenting “news on stage” in the future.
The role of reputation in the underpricing of private equity backed initial public offerings

This paper explores the impact of private equity (PE) firm reputation on the underpricing of PE backed initial public offerings (IPOs). Using a sample of 470 IPOs issued between January 2011 and December 2015 in the United States, I find that PE backing as such no longer leads to lower initial returns. However, within the sub-sample of PE backed IPOs, issues backed by more reputable PE firms are characterized by less first-day and lock-up returns. I argue that these key findings imply the certification paradigm has shifted from PE backing as such to the adoption of PE firm reputation as an indication of quality. The results further provide partial support for the recently developed analyst lust hypothesis in that “top” underwriters boast larger initial returns and firms that carry out a seasoned equity offering are able to significantly raise prices.
Extragalactic background light: a measurement at 400 nm using dark cloud shadow* † - I. Low surface brightness spectrophotometry in the area of Lynds 1642

We present the method and observations for the measurement of the Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) utilizing the shadowing effect of a dark cloud. We measure the surface brightness difference between the opaque cloud core and its unobscured surroundings. In the difference the large atmospheric and Zodiacal light components are eliminated and the only remaining foreground component is the scattered starlight from the cloud itself. Although much smaller, its separation is the key problem in the method. For its separation we use spectroscopy. While the scattered starlight has the characteristic Fraunhofer lines and 400 nm discontinuity the EBL spectrum is smooth and without these features. Medium resolution spectrophotometry at $\lambda$ = 380 - 580 nm was performed with ${VLT}$/FORS at ESO of the surface brightness in and around the high-galactic-latitude dark cloud Lynds 1642. Besides the spectrum for the core with $A_V \ge 15$ mag, further spectra were obtained for intermediate-opacity cloud positions. They are used as proxy for the spectrum of the impinging starlight spectrum and facilitate the separation of the scattered starlight (cf. Paper II, Mattila et al. 2017b). Our spectra reach a precision of $\sim 0.5$ $10^{-9}$ erg cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$sr$^{-1}$\AA$^{-1}$ as required to measure an EBL intensity in range of $\sim$1 to a few times $10^{-9}$ erg cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$sr$^{-1}$\AA$^{-1}$. Because all surface brightness components are measured using the same equipment the method does not require unusually high absolute calibration accuracy, a condition which has been a problem for some previous EBL projects
The mediating role of total quality management on co-ordination mechanisms in quality service delivery in Uganda ’ s Local Governments

The aim of this paper is to assess the mediating effect of total quality management on the relationship between co-ordination mechanisms and quality service delivery in Uganda’s Local Governments. The findings of this paper are based on a sample of 212 Local Governments in Uganda whose heads of department and section heads formed the unit of inquiry. The paper utilises Med Graph programme, Sobel tests, and Kenny and Baron procedure to test for the mediation effects of total quality management on the relationship between co-ordination mechanisms and quality service delivery in local governments. The findings of the study revealed that total quality management is a significant mediator in the relationship between co-ordination mechanisms and quality service delivery, and heighten the relationship by 29.5% in Uganda’s Local Governments. A partial type of mediation was established. The study was limited by the fact that it relied on cross sectional research design. Future studies could consider assessing similar mediation effects but taking a longitudinal approach. The findings of this study inform management of the necessity to give due attention to total quality management principles in their multi level endeavours to improve on the quality of services that they offer.