Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subwavelength generation of nondiffracting structured light beams

Nondiffracting light beams have been attracting considerable attention for their various applications in both classical and quantum optics. Whereas substantial investigations on generation of the nondiffracting beams were made, their lateral dimension is much larger than optical wavelength. Here we present both theoretically and experimentally a study of the generation of nondiffracting light beams at deep-subwavelength scale. The highly localized light field is a result of in-phase interference of high-spatial-frequency waves generated by optical sharp-edge diffraction with a circular thin film. It is shown that the generated beam can maintain its spot size below the optical diffraction limit for a distance of up to considerable Rayleigh range. Moreover, the topological structure of both the phase and polarization of a light beam is found to be preserved when it passes through the diffractive configuration, which enables generating nondiffracting vortex beams as well as transversely polarized vector beams at deep-subwavelength scale. This work opens a new avenue to manipulate higher-order vector vortex beams at subwavelength scale and may find intriguing applications in subwavelength optics, e.g., in superresolution imaging and nanoparticle manipulation.
Effect of annealing temperature and time on the microstructure, mechanical properties and conductivity of cold-rolled explosive Cu/Al composite sheets

The 1.5 mm thick Cu/Al composite sheet was obtained after explosive-welding and 6 passes cold rolling. The effects of annealing temperature and time on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and conductivity of cold-rolled Cu/Al composite sheets were investigated. The results show that the thickness of the interface diffusion layer with compounds of Al2Cu, AlCu, and Al4Cu9 increases with the increase in annealing temperature and holding time, and the total activation energy is 108 kJ mol−1. The tensile strength of composite sheets decreases and the fracture elongation increases with the increase of annealing temperature. Especially when the annealing temperature increased from 300 ℃ to 350 ℃, the tensile yield strength decreased from 225 MPa to 77 MPa, and the elongation increased from 16% to 37.5%. The tensile-shear strength of composite sheets reaches to 117 MPa after annealing at 400 ℃ for 2 h. The conductivity of composite sheet is greatly affected by the annealing time. At the annealing temperature of 350 ℃ and time of 4 h, the composite sheets show a better conductivity of 96.4% IACS.
The CO2 Emissions Drivers of Post-Communist Economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

CO2 emissions have become a key environmental contaminant that is responsible for climate change in general and global warming in particular. Two geographical groups of countries that previously belonged to the former bloc of socialist countries are used for the estimations of CO2 emissions drivers. The research covers such Eastern European countries as Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russian Federation, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, and Ukraine and such Central Asian states as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan during the period 1996–2018. The main goal of the research is to identify common drivers that determine carbon dioxide emissions in selected states. To control for the time fixed effects (like EU membership), random effect model was used for the analysis of the panel data set. Results: It is found that energy efficiency progress reduces per capita CO2 emissions. Thus, an increase in GDP by 100 USD per one ton of oil equivalent decreases per capita CO2 emissions by 17–64 kg. That is, the more energy-efficient the economy becomes, the less CO2 emissions per capita it produces in a group of selected post-communist economies. Unlike energy efficiency, an increase in GDP per capita by 1000 USD raises CO2 emissions by 260 kg per capita, and the richer the economy becomes, the more CO2 emissions per capita it generates. The increase in life expectancy by one year leads to an increase in CO2 emissions per capita by 200−370 kg, with average values of 260 kg per capita. It was found that an increase in agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector share (as a % of GDP) by one percentage point leads to the decrease in CO2 emissions by 67–200 kg per capita, while an increase in industrial sector share by one percentage point leads to the increase in CO2 per capita emissions by 37–110 kg. Oil prices and foreign direct investment appeared to be statistically insignificant factors in a group of selected post-communist economies. Conclusions: The main policy recommendation is the promotion of energy efficiency policy and the development of green economy sectors. The other measures are the promotion of a less energy-intensive service sector and the modernization of the industrial sector, which is still characterized by high energy and carbon intensity.
Analysis on the effect of socio-economic and travel attributes to perceptions of the Trans Koetaradja quality of services

The urban bus reform namely Trans Koetardja (TK) has been argued and implemented by the Government Aceh as measure to mitigate autos dependency in this region. One basic element of the bus system is that how to attract private vehicle users to switch to TK by providing good bus quality of services. Thus, understanding what factors may contribute to the perceived quality of services is a crucial and need to investigate thoroughly especially in developing cities. Therefore, this paper aims to explore and clarify the relationships among socio-economic attributes and travel behavioural characteristics of the respondents to bus reform quality of services by contemplating latent constructs from bus system operation side. Revealed preference survey was conducted in the mid of 2019. On board survey with a total of 450 samples were distributed and valid used in this study. The multivariate analysis of structural equation modelling so-called exploratory factor analysis (EFA) approach employed to reveal contributing effect of causal loading among socio-economic attributes and travel behavioural characteristics of the respondents to bus reform quality of services. The path coefficient is used to examine causal relationships among latent variables and its contributing factors. The results of the analysis explore that the significant correlation between the observed variables of bus system and the latent variables happened to the variables of time of arrival and bus to the comfort of the bus stop and bus.
Chemical Composition and Digestibility of Tropical Grasses

One hundred and one tropical grasses, lightly fertilized with ammonium nitrate at the rate of 350 kg/ha, were harvested by hand (machete) at 30 days of growth. Crude protein content ranged from 9.8 to 23.8% while lignin content ranged from 2.6 to 7.9%. Wide ranges in the percentage of neutral-detergent fiber (45.7 to 79.2%), acid-detergent fiber (30.9 to 45.3%), hemicellulose (11.7 to 37.5%), and silica (0.4 to 5.5%) were obtained. Digestibility estimates obtained by the Tilley and Terry method and neutral-detergent fiber digestibilities had wide ranges: 42.6 to 66.0% and 22.0 to 62.0%, respectively. Total dry matter disappearance ranged from 44.3 to 78.2%. Digestibility estimates from predictive equations ranged from 74.0 to 94.5% for estimated digestible dry matter, 67.3 to 91.7% for estimated true digestible dry matter, and 54.4 to 78.8% for estimated apparent digestible dry matter. Analysis of variance showed significant variations between and within genera, indicating a possibility of genetic improvement through selection for high nutritive value. Silica was variably correlated with digestibility depending on genera. Acid-detergent fiber seemed more important than lignin in determining digestibility values. The significance of the term L/ADF in relation to digestibility estimates among all data and among genera was much less for in vitro estimates than for estimates calculated from predictive equations. This may indicate that lignification of cellulose has less influence on digestibility of tropical than of temperate forages. The estimated digestibility values based on fibrous constituents were poorly correlated to in vitro digestibility values, indicating inadequacy of using predictive equations developed for temperate forages with tropical grasses. Correlation coefficients between measured parameters showed great variation among four genera: Paspalum, Pennisetum, Digitaria, and Panicum .
Role of placenta accreta index in prediction of morbidly adherent placenta: A reliability study

Objective To estimate the level of interobserver agreement in the calculation of placenta accreta index (PAI) as well as to evaluate the accuracy of PAI in prediction of morbidly adherent placenta. Materials and methods This was a prospective study where 45 pregnant women (from 28 to 37 weeks of gestational age) with at least one previous Caesarean section and ultrasound-proven placenta previa were included. A known and previously published scoring system, the PAI, was evaluated independently by two radiologists and the cases were followed for the delivery and histopathology outcome. The accuracy of the PAI and the level of interrater agreement was analysed using cross-table analysis, intraclass correlation efficient and Cohen’s kappa as statistical variables. Results Adherent placenta was found in 15 patients accounting for 33% of cases. The PAI showed nearly 90% sensitivity, specificity and the predictive values. Interrater agreement in calculation of PAI by the two radiologists was perfect with an intraclass correlation efficient of 0.959. An easy-to-use morbid adherent placenta score was also predicted to simplify the results of PAI, which showed moderate agreement (κ = 0.746). Conclusions The PAI can be helpful in stratifying the individual risk of placental invasion above the baseline risk. The PAI-derived, simplified scoring system called morbid adherent placenta score can be used as a simple tool to interpret and convey the results of PAI.
pH and thermoresponsive comb-type grafted hydrogels based on polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether and monoamino/diamino terminated jeffamines: synthesis, characterization and physicochemical properties

In the present study, the synthesis of thermo- and pH-sensitive comb-type grafted hydrogels based on polyetheramine was performed using polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether [PEGDGE] as the activator. Monoamino terminated Jeffamine® M2005 was used as the polyether to incorporate the hydrophobic and thermo-sensitive character in the copolymer, while diamino terminated Jeffamine® ED600 was used as the crosslinker to initiate the amine-epoxy ring-opening reaction. These polyethylene glycol [PEG]-polypropylene glycol [PPG] hydrogels present pH responsive properties and thermo-sensitivity due to the presence of cationic functional groups and the Jeffamine moieties, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared [FTIR] spectroscopy and swelling behavior at different pH [2-10] and temperatures [4-50 °C] were applied to examine the physiochemical properties of the hydrogels. The volume-phase transition temperature [VPTT] of the hydrogels was determined based on PPG content and pH of solution. The physicochemical features of the hydrogels depended on the Jeffamine used and the ratio of Jeffamine units introduced. The maximum swelling capacity of the hydrogels as a function of time was determined at 4 °C and pH 5, while the optimum deswelling capacity was obtained at 40 °C and pH 7.4. Results showed that the dual responsive PEG-PPG based hydrogels may be suitable for potential application as drug delivery system sensors.
Shear generation in a confined, composite layer of cross-bedded porous rock

Abstract We study the longitudinal spreading of a passive tracer by a two-dimensional pressure-driven flow through a composite layer of porous rock which is bounded above and below by impermeable seal rock. We focus on the flow across the interface between two neighbouring zones of the rock. First, we show that, with isotropic permeability, if the interface between the two zones is tilted relative to the boundaries, then this results in a difference in travel times across the formation which in turns leads to a net shear flow. We explore the strength of this shear as a function of (a) the permeability ratio across the interface, and (b) the interface angle. Second, we show that if one zone of the rock is cross-bedded, then with uniform flow, the pressure gradient is directed at an angle to the boundary. As a result, there is a transition zone across the interface, which again leads to a net shear, even if the interface is normal to the boundaries of the layer. We explore the competition between these effects, showing how they may combine constructively to produce a larger shear, or may negate one another, reducing or reversing the sign of the shear, depending on the angle of the interface, the degree of anisotropy and the change in effective downstream permeability across the interface. We discuss some of the implications of this shear for modelling flow in such composite rocks.
Tourists’ willingness to pay for holiday trip characteristics: A Discrete Choice Experiment

This article studies the marginal rates of substitution and Willingness to Pay for holiday trip characteristics. Using a Discrete Choice Experiment, we examine how much individuals from four cities in Northern Spain are willing to pay for accommodation, mode of transport, travel time and length of stay. We estimate a Latent Class Model that accounts for taste heterogeneity based on sociodemographic characteristics. The welfare loss due to a tourism daily tax is also examined. Our results show that respondents place positive utility to travelling by plane, high-quality accommodation and longer stays. Specifically, they are willing to pay €170 more for plane travelling with respect to the use of car, €120 for staying at a four-star hotel relative to an apartment and €760 for a 10-day trip relative to a 3-day one. A daily tax of €1 per person would produce a larger welfare loss in coastal destinations.
Forecasting Financial Time Series through Causal and Dilated Convolutional Neural Networks

In this paper, predictions of future price movements of a major American stock index were made by analyzing past movements of the same and other correlated indices. A model that has shown very good results in audio and speech generation was modified to suit the analysis of financial data and was then compared to a base model, restricted by assumptions made for an efficient market. The performance of any model, trained by looking at past observations, is heavily influenced by how the division of the data into train, validation and test sets is made. This is further exaggerated by the temporal structure of the financial data, which means that the causal relationship between the predictors and the response is dependent on time. The complexity of the financial system further increases the struggle to make accurate predictions, but the model suggested here was still able to outperform the naive base model by more than 20% and 37%, respectively, when predicting the next day’s closing price and the next day’s trend.
Effects of Methyl Tert-butyl Ether (MTBE) on the Mucosal Immunity in the Small Intestine of the White Albino Mice

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author LMMA designed the experiments and performed histological studies. Author ZYAS performed animal treatment experiments. Author HAM analyzed the data. Author HHA wrote and prepared the manuscript’s first draft. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. ABSTRACT Some chemical compounds have a significant effect on living organisms. This is shown in the physiological and biological changes that appear on some cells and tissues of the body. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of the dissolved MTBE in drinking water on the mucosal immune cells of the small intestine of the white mice. The presence of dissolved MTBE at a concentration of 5000 ppm in drinking water has significant increase ( P < 0.02) of mast cells in the mucosa of mice. Similarly, at a concentration of 2500 ppm a significant increase ( P < 0.01) of goblet cells were observed in treated rats compared with untreated rats. The Experiment has also shown that the effect of MTBE in drinking water included the weights of animals in general, where the weight gain was weak in the treated rats compared to those where the drinking water was free of the compound. Another observation of the effects of MTBE in drinking water was the increase of the weights of some internal organs (e.g. liver, kidneys and heart) in the treated animals, as well as effects on the behavior of these animals with an obvious fatigue was observed on treated individuals. The chronic exposure of intestinal tissues to MTBE may led to inflammatory effects and /or tissue damages, and as a response the mucosal innate immunity, particularly the numbers of mast, Paneth and goblet cells were increased in synergistic fashion to play their protective role in lessen the damages caused by MTBE.
Physical Activity Tracking Wristbands for Use in Research With Older Adults: An Overview and Recommendations

Traditional physical activity tracking tools, such as self-report questionnaires, are inherently subjective and vulnerable to bias. Physical activity tracking technology, such as activity tracking wristbands, is becoming more reliable and readily available. As such, researchers are employing these objective measurement tools in both observational- and intervention-based studies. There remains a gap in the literature on how to properly select activity tracking wristbands for research, specifically for the older adult population. This paper outlines considerations for choosing the most appropriate wrist-worn wearable device for use in research with older adults. Device features, outcome measures, population, and methodological considerations are explored.
Song learning in Varied Tits Poecile varia: sensitive period and the effects of night-sleep

ABSTRACT Capsule: Varied Tits Poecile varia learned vocalizations in the first few weeks of their life. Night-sleep affected the development of vocal learning in Varied Tits. Aims: We aimed to quantify the sensitive period of song learning and to examine the effects of sleep on song development in Varied Tits, an endemic forest songbird in East Asia. Methods: Song development in Varied Tits was investigated in the first 90 days following hatching. The effect of night-sleep on birdsong learning was examined by analysing and comparing the song structure in the evening and the next morning. Results: We found that most individuals began to sing a subsong from 15 days of age and acquired mature song at about 53 days. The sensitive period of song learning in Varied Tits was from 25 to 53 days after hatching. There were significant and positive correlations between maximum frequency and vocal changes before and after night-sleep. Conclusion: Our findings uncover the timings and processes of song development, and highlight the importance of the sensitive period in birdsong development in wild birds.
Resilience and Creativity in Teenagers with High Intellectual Abilities. A Middle School Enrichment Experience in Vulnerable Contexts

This article presents and describes an extracurricular enrichment intervention program to promote the development of resilience factors, aimed at teenagers with high abilities from vulnerable social contexts. In addition, its effects on aspects related to creativity and resilience are explored. This program proposes a series of creative and meaningful activities so that students can explore, experiment, express their emotions and analytically contrast their own identity characteristics with their surrounding reality. A comparative case study was carried out with a mixed methodological approach. Three students (two male and one female) of 13 and 14 years of age and with high abilities, who attended a public middle school located in a disadvantaged sector of the Mexican capital, participated. The program was developed over nine sessions (90 min each), over two months. The quantitative analysis did not show significant differences in the creativity and resilience factors. However, the qualitative analysis of the tasks and products created by the participants has provided positive evidence about the program’s contribution to enhancing their self-knowledge and coping skills, considering the adversities of their family, school and social contexts.
The effect of a product with three gluconeogenic precursors during the transition period on blood metabolites and milk yield in Chilean Holstein cattle

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a product containing calcium propionate 70 g/kg, propylene glycol 95 g/kg and glycerol 330 g/kg on blood β-hydroxy butyrate, non-esterified fatty acids and milk yield in Chilean Holstein cows. Cows were housed in a free-stall with head-locks, milked 3× and fed a total mixed ration. At 21 days before expected parturition 40 cows were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 20) and a treated group (n = 20). Controls received the farm diet. Treated cows received 300 g of the supplement, top dressed on the same diet, during the morning until 15 cows per group accomplished 30 days pp. A blood sample was obtained at calving for non-esterified fatty acids determination and at 7, 14 and 21 days pp for β-hydroxy butyrate determination. Milk yield up to 60 days pp was higher (2 kg/day) in the treated than control group. Non-esterified fatty acids were higher in the control than treated group. The control group at 14 days pp had a lower concentration of β-hydroxy butyrate than the treated group. In conclusion, a product with three gluconeogenic precursors improved milk yield and maintained a moderated energy status during the transition period of Chilean dairy cattle.
Immune factors guiding Listeria monocytogenes infection

Bacteria systemically circulating in murine blood have been described to bind blood platelets. In this thesis the interaction of Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.) with blood platelets was examined and how complex-formation altered bacterial clearance from the bloodstream. It was found that circulating L.m. and L.m. -platelet complexes are cleared in the liver by two independent mechanisms, balancing rapid restoration of blood sterility and antigen-targeting to the spleen for the generation of a robust adaptive immune response.
Visual Relationship Detection With A Deep Convolutional Relationship Network

Visual relationship is crucial to image understanding and can be applied to many tasks (e.g., image caption and visual question answering). Despite great progress on many vision tasks, relationship detection remains a challenging problem due to the complexity of modeling the widely spread and imbalanced distribution of {subject – predicate – object} triplets. In this paper, we propose a new framework to capture the relative positions and sizes of the subject and object in the feature map and add a new branch to filter out some object pairs that are unlikely to have relationships. In addition, an activation function is trained to increase the probability of some feature maps given an object pair. Experiments on two large datasets, the Visual Relationship Detection (VRD) and Visual Genome (VG) datasets, demonstrate the superiority of our new approach over state-of-the-art methods. Further, ablation study verifies the effectiveness of our techniques.