Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rough continuity and rough separation axioms in $G_m$-closure approximation spaces

The theory of general topology view for continuous mappings is general version and is applied for topological graph theory. Separation axioms can be regard as tools for distinguishing objects in information systems. Rough theory is one of map the topology to uncertainty. The aim of this work is to presented graph, continuity, separation properties and rough set to put a new approaches for uncertainty. For the introduce of various levels of approximations, we introduce several levels of continuity and separation axioms on graphs in $G_m$-closure approximation spaces.
Apps within apps: predicting government WeChat mini-program adoption from trust-risk perspective and innovation diffusion theory

PurposeThe WeChat mini-program is a new channel for the delivery of online and mobile services, including electronic government services. Given the distinguishing characteristics and new business model of WeChat mini-programs, additional studies of mini-program-based government services are warranted. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that determine user adoption and usage of government WeChat mini-programs (GWMPs). Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study was conducted through an online survey of Chinese GWMPs users. The proposed model was tested by analyzing the collected data using the covariance-based structural equation modeling approach.FindingsThe findings show that trust in government, trust in WeChat, trust in GWMPs and perceived convenience have significant effects on the usage of GWMPs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the understanding of the GWMPs and mini-program-based government phenomenon. Theoretical implications for future e-government research as well as practical suggestions for GWMPs operators are also discussed.
Relative Effectiveness of Conceptual Change Texts with Concept Cartoons and 5E Learning Model with Simulation Activities on Pre-Service Teachers’ Conceptual Understanding of Waves

Accepted: 17.04. 2021 The purpose of this study was to investigate both the individual and relative effectiveness of two conceptual change interventions, gender and their interactions on preservice science teachers’ conceptual understanding and their misconceptions in mechanical waves. The interventions are conceptual change texts enriched with concept cartoons (CCTCC) and 5E learning model enriched with simulation activities (5ESA) respectively. Participants are 66 sophomores from two intact classes. A quasi-experimental design was used as a research methodology. One group studied the concept of mechanical waves with the CCTCC and the other studied it with the 5ESA. Students’ conceptual understanding levels and misconceptions were measured by a Four-Tier Mechanical Waves Misconception Test as pre and post-test. Preliminary analysis indicated that there was no significant difference among the intervention groups’ pre-conceptual understanding levels. Individual effects of the treatments from pre to post-tests were investigated by paired-sample t-tests and the main effects of the treatments, gender and their interactions on post-conceptual understanding levels were examined via two-way ANOVA. The results of t-tests showed that both treatments significantly affected learners’ conceptual understanding levels individually. ANOVA results yielded a significant treatment effect on behalf of the CCTCC, but the effects of the gender and gender*treatment interaction on students’ post-conceptual understanding levels were insignificant. Findings showed that the conceptual change approach accompanied by conceptual change text enriched with concept cartoons is likely to be more effective for increasing students’ conceptual understanding level and decreasing their misconceptions in mechanical waves.
Effects of Several Chemicals on the Migration Behavior of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle

The pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, that causes pine wilt disease (PWD), has severely damaged forests and ecosystems in countries of East Asia and Europe. Since the high propagation rate of PWD is the main cause of the devastating disease, it is very important to interfere with the spread of PWN mediated by its insect vector (Monochamus alternatus). In order to explore new methods and approaches for the prevention and control of pine wood nematode disease, chemicals with attraction or repellency to pine wood nematode and stable diffusion or volatilization in infected wood were screened out to interfere and hinder the pupa chamber effect, the aggregation behavior of PWN to pupa chamber in M. alternatus. In the present study, 22 chemicals were inoculated on water agar medium and infected wood to verify the tropism of PWN toward the chemicals from the aspects of attraction and repellency. The results indicate that linoleic acid, oleic acid, diacetyl and β-myrcene have attractive effects on PWN, while kerosene and β-humulene have repellent effects on PWN and are able to stably permeate and volatilize within pine trees. This research shows that some chemicals can affect the movement behavior of PWN and interfere with its migration to the pupal chamber in M. alternatus, thus reducing the dispersal efficiency of PWNs carried by insect vectors. This chemically based strategy would provide novel approaches for effective controlling of pine wilt disease.
Father Involvement in the First Year After Prison: Considerations for Social Work

Purpose: Paternal incarceration poses significant concerns for fathers and their children. Despite the known negative consequences, little is understood about father involvement after prison. This study aims to further understanding of fatherhood following incarceration to inform future intervention strategies. Method: Using data from the Urban Institute’s Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry Study (N = 326), we conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine three dimensions of father involvement and predictors of involvement at two time points after prison. Results: Findings reveal generally high levels of father involvement in the first year following incarceration. Father-child contact during prison and increased work hours after prison showed positive effects on early father involvement, while post-prison engagement and contact following release were associated with later involvement. Conclusions: Promoting father-child contact and positive relationships during incarceration may be important for future father involvement after release. Potential social work and criminal justice practice and research opportunities are discussed.
Optical Plasmon Excitation in Transparent Conducting SrNbO3 and SrVO3 Thin Films

Transparent and metallic oxides based on 3d and 4d metals are promising materials for plasmonics. Here, the growth window to obtain epitaxial SrNbO3 (4d1) thin films is determined and the role of substrates to achieve optimal electrical conductivity and the largest residual resistivity ratio is disclosed. Optical measurements on optimized films indicate a large transparency at the visible with a sharp edge at about 1.9 eV, which coincides with the zero‐crossing of the permittivity, allowing to identify the plasma frequency ωp. Similar features are observed in SrVO3 (3d1) films. Optical losses display well pronounced maxima at the corresponding ωp. Polarization‐dependent optical transmittance measurements and ellipsometric data show a dip at ωp, occurring for p‐ but not s‐polarized light, which is a fingerprint of optical bulk plasmon excitation. Remarkably, plasmon resonance is achieved here by using oblique incidence of light rather than phase‐matching arrangements, and by exploiting charge density gradients at the film surface. This observation points to new opportunities for engineering plasmons in heterostructures.
Moving safely at night? Women’s nocturnal mobilities in Recife, Brazil and Brussels, Belgium

Abstract This paper examines the links between women’s un/safety and their night-time mobilities in Brussels, Belgium and Recife, Brazil. While the significance of women’s intersectional identities to the construction of fear and safety in urban space has been well documented in feminist urban geography, we argue that the lens of South-North comparison highlights specific ways in which local urban spaces are implicated in women’s experiences of un/safety. A comparative perspective draws out the spatial and temporal embeddedness of un/safety, while at the same time challenges the framing of particular cities and areas as either safe or unsafe (which is particularly damaging when it reproduces simple global North – global South binaries). The paper draws on mixed-method research combining a questionnaire-based survey and a series of interviews with women in Recife and Brussels. The four dimensions examined include transport modes; situated experiences of un/safety; the accumulation of unsafety feelings over the long term; and the work women perform in maintaining mobility. We find that while unsafety broadly limits women’s access to cities at night, feeling unsafe plays out differently in specific and situated interactions, many of which are recognisable from both Brussels and Recife. Across the two research locations, women’s mobility strategies at night are similar, in that they involve extensive planning, preparation, and drawing on financial and non-financial resources. We conclude with some reflections on the role of comparative research in the feminist geographies of gendered urban mobilities, particularly in relation to previously little-studied cities.
Anti-bacterial activity of secondary metabolites from Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium

This study evaluated antibacterial activity of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium (pyrethrum) flower dichloromethane crude extract, fractions and isolated compounds; pyrethrin II, jasmolin I and cinerolone against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella sonnei. The isolated compounds were obtained by carrying out column chromatography on dichloromethane extract and purifying the fractions using preparative High Perfomance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR. The bioactivity of crude extract, fractions and isolated compounds were determined using disc diffusion assay at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. The MIC and MBC were determined using microdilution method. The bioassay results showed that individually isolated compounds were not active on all the micro-organisms except Jasmolin I which showed slight activity on P. aeruginosa with 7.7±0.6 mm. There was significant difference in the activity of the isolated compounds as a mixture and the activity of individual compounds on MRSA, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, with P= 0.01, P= 0.0002, P= 0.0007 respectively (α =0.05, Tukey’s test). Isolated compounds and isolated compounds as a mixture in a ratio of (1:1:1) were not active on S. sonnie. Those fractions and isolated compounds which caused inhibition zones of above 10 mm were subjected to MIC and MBC. The lowest MIC and MBC observed was for fraction 3 against MRSA which were 6.5 and 12.5 mg/mL respectively. The compound mixture had MIC and MBC of 25 and 50 mg/ml respectively against P. aeruginosa. Key words: MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration), MBC (minimum bacteriostatic concentration), bioassay, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium, Jasmolin, Pyrethrin II, Cinerolone.
Estimating the impact of automated truck platoons on asphalt pavement’s fatigue life using artificial neural networks

ABSTRACT Automated truck platooning may cause up to 85% reduction in truck following distance compared to conventional vehicles and therefore reduces rest periods between loading cycles on pavement materials. Fatigue cracking is one of the major distresses in asphalt pavement structures, and pavement fatigue life is highly dependent on rest periods between loading cycles. In this paper, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling was applied on the existing NCHRP 09-44A project’s database of extensive laboratory beam fatigue testing results on asphalt mixtures with various rest periods. The developed ANN model was used to predict number of cycles to failure as a function of rest periods and to estimate the impact of truck platooning on pavement fatigue life. In addition, a stand-alone linear multivariate regression equation of fatigue life was developed independently from the ANN model. Based on the results, an 85% reduction in the following distance of platooned trucks may lead to between 7% and 25% reduction in pavement fatigue life. The Platooning Fatigue Life Ratio (PFLR) was found to be dependent on temperature, applied strain level, and mixture parameters. Finally, the applied strain level was the most significant testing factor and binder grade was the most significant mixture parameter on PFLR.
Effect of Cooking on the Fructooligosaccharide Content of Yacon Root

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius), a vegetable which originates from the Andean region in South America, was introduced to Japan about 20 years ago. Yacon root is known to be a good source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS). However, the effects of cooking on the FOS content in roots have not been sufficiently investigated. In this study, roots of four species of yacon (Peru-A, Sarada-Otome, Andesu-No-Yuki and Sarada-Okame) were cooked by several methods, such as boiling, microwaving, and steaming, and FOS was extracted from the treated roots and evaluated. Furthermore, the effects of peeling and grating on FOS content in the root were investigated. The following results were obtained: 1) Yacon FOS decreased markedly by storage at 4°C for 1month, 2) FOS decreased by heating at 100°C after peeling and grating, 3) FOS in species, except for Sarada-Otome, was little influenced by treatment with 1% acetic acid for 1 hour, 4) FOS dramatically decreased with deep-frying and was little influenced by heating by methods such as boiling, microwaving, baking and steaming, and 5) Yacon extracts from Sarada-Otome containing 4% FOS had decreased emulsifying activity and increased emulsion stability. These findings suggest that high concentrations of FOS from yacon root could be obtained by using suitable cooking conditions. (Received Sep. 15, 2011 ; Accepted Dec. 21, 2011)
Competitive Pressure and the Moderating Role of the Knowledge Network on Internationalization Intent of Indian State-owned Enterprises

The incumbent State-owned Enterprises (SOE) are dominant players in the home markets. New entrants’ arrival challenges the SOEs’ market dominance while the technology discontinuity challenges the technical leadership by obsoleting the existing technology. This study focuses on the effect of these competitive pressures on the internationalization intent of the Indian SOEs. The incumbent firms develop a knowledge network in technical and market aspects by working with the partners, the suppliers and the buyers. The study also focuses on the moderating effect of the knowledge networks. This study uses structured equation modelling using the partial least squares technique as the analytical technique. The results confirm the positive effect of technological discontinuity on the internationalization intent. In contrast, new entrants had no such effect. The study also confirms the positive moderating influence of the knowledge network on the effect of technological discontinuity on the internationalization intent.
Hardness and contact angle of thermo-treated poplar plywood for bio-building

Abstract: The interest towards poplar cultivation and its wood has recently been growing in Italy, where the use of timber and wood-based materials in construction is increasing as well. Poplar plywood, with a national production of around 270.000 m3 in 2017, is a key product for the Italian wood sector, and currently is destined for several applications as component for furniture and motorhomes. Previous research has shown that thermal treatment can be effectively applied to poplar plywood in order to make it suitable to the requirements of new end-uses. The present study aims to widen the knowledge of the effects of thermal treatment on poplar plywood. With this purpose, 7-layered, 12-mm thick plywood bonded with urea-melamine-formaldehyde (UMF) resin was thermally treated for 2 h at 170, 190 and 210 °C through the Termovuoto® process. The treatment aimed to improve the dimensional stability and durability against fungal decay. The process was set at lower temperature and shorter time than those of many thermal treatments commonly used in practice in order to limit the reduction in mechanical properties and to maintain an adequate bonding quality. The above properties were already verified by previous research, whereas in this study Brinell hardness and contact angle of treated panels were investigated as relevant for several end-uses that can be prospected in building and in outdoor environments. Brinell hardness decreased from 10.8 to 8.3 N mm-2 and contact angle increased from 75.8° to 103.6°. Overall, treatment at 190 °C seems the most suitable to induce balanced modifications in the panels. From a technical point of view, these appear ready to enter the market, for instance for use in exterior claddings, partitions and outdoor flooring.
Structural engineering of graphene for high‐resolution cryo‐electron microscopy

The revolutionary improvement of hardware and algorithm in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) has made it a routine method to obtain structures of macromolecules at near‐atomic resolution. Nevertheless, this technique still faces many challenges. The structure‐solving efficiency of cryo‐EM can be significantly reduced by the biomolecules' denaturation on the air–water interfaces, the preferred orientation, strong background noise from supporting films and particle motion, and so forth. To overcome these problems, nanomaterials with ultrahigh electronic conductivity and ultrathin thickness are explored as promising cryo‐EM specimen supporting films. Herein, we summarize the structural engineering of graphene, for example, surface and interface modification, as supporting films for grids and the application on high‐resolution cryo‐EM and discuss potential future perspectives.
The bile acid phospholipid conjugate ursodeoxycholate lysophoshatidylethanolamide acts by binding to calcium independent membrane phospholipase A2 type beta

Background: The hallmarks of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are inflammation, ongoing liver cell damage, and the accumulation of hepatic fat. Although the pathogenesis is not fully understood yet, there is clear evidence that disease progression is associated with an increased ratio of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is an indicator of elevated phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) activity. The isoform iPLA 2 β is a member of the fatty acid uptake complex and has an intrinsic capability to generate LPC, while the bile acid phospholipid conjugate, ursodeoxycholate-lysophosphatidylethanolamide (UDCA-LPE) inhibits iPLA 2 β and suppresses pro-inflammatory LPC generation in a dose-dependent mode. However, the precise mode of activity of this inhibition is still enigmatic. Methods: In the present study, we used in silico techniques for predicting the potential docking sites of UDCA-LPE in iPLA 2 β . Results: We identified a region between Phe84 and Leu125 that should have a large affinity for UDCA-LPE. The proposed docking site is nearly identical with those that were determined for binding of pyrrophenone to the evolutionarily conserved PLA 2 α . Conclusions: The affinity of UDCA-LPE for iPLA 2 β might explain the rationale for the efficacy of UDCA-LPE in preventing hepatic fatty acid uptake. acts independent phospholipase A
Influence of Polyvinyl Alcohol Powder on the Mechanical Performance and Volume Stability of Sulfoaluminate–Portland Cement Composite

Cement quick repair materials generally have the defects of brittleness and early shrinkage. The modification of composite cement mortar by water-soluble glue powder—polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)—was studied in the condition of settled water cement ratio. At 90 days, the maximum flexural strength of mortar was 15.4 MPa, which was 1.3 times of the group without PVA and there was no strength shrinkage phenomenon. Through the analysis of the porosity, PVA improved the total porosity; high porosity could play a better role of buffering and absorbing the impact stress, effectively improving the toughness of mortar. At 28 days, the maximum impact resistance was 1.72 J/cm2, which was 1.75 times of the group without PVA. In addition, the increased total porosity also greatly absorbed the shrinkage stress at the early stage, and reduced the mortar self-shrinkage. When the PVA content was 1%, the volume self-shrinkage of mortar decreased from the initial 3360 μm·m−1 to 700 μm·m−1. According to the analysis of hydration heat, the addition of PVA effectively reduced the early hydration heat release rate and alleviated the concentrated heat release phenomenon to a certain extent. In this paper, the hydration reaction of composite cement and the action mechanism of PVA in composite cement were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrum and hydration heat analysis.
UAV-Assisted MEC Networks With Aerial and Ground Cooperation

With the high altitude and flexible mobility, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assisted mobile edge computing (MEC) is becoming a promising technology to cope with the computation-intensive and latency-critical task in prospective Internet of Things. In this paper, we propose a novel MEC system with several ground servers at access points and one aerial server carried by UAV. To balance the vital metrics of the MEC system, computation bits and energy consumption, we aim to maximize the weighted computation efficiency of the system, subject to the constraints on communication and computation resources, minimum computation requirement and UAV’s mobility. To this end, a joint optimization problem with the goal of weighted computation efficiency maximization is formulated. First, we analyze the problem and transform it into an equivalent tractable form. Then, we solve the challenging non-convex problem by jointly optimizing the computation task assignment, time slot partition, transmission bandwidth and CPU frequency allocation, transmit power allocation, and UAV’s trajectory, based on the Dinkelbach’s method, Lagrange duality and successive convex approximation technique. Furthermore, we propose an alternative computation efficiency maximization algorithm, followed by the convergence and complexity analysis. Finally, numerical simulations show that our proposed algorithm significantly improves the computation efficiency compared to benchmark schemes. It is also validated that the proposed algorithm effectively obtains a good tradeoff between the computation task bits and energy consumption of the system.
Design of a Gamma Densitometer for Hydrocarbon Fuel at High Temperature and Supercritical Pressure

The densities of endothermic hydrocarbon fuel at supercritical pressure condition are measured online using a radial measurement method. The densitometer is based on the attenuation theory of gamma ray using a count rate mode. One advantage of the method is that it is noninstrusive and practical for a small tube measurement. The densitometer was measurably optimized for the design and calibrated by the reference fluids with different density ranges. A kind of endothermic hydrocarbon fuel was measured covering the temperature from (283 to 950) K at the supercritical pressures of (3.0 and 4.0) MPa. The data were regressed with polynomial equations and the isobaric thermal expansion could be obtained by the fitted density curve.