Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electron interaction with dimethyl disulfide in the low- and intermediate-energy range

Author(s): Da Silva, LA; Da Mata, VAS; De Souza, GLC; Iga, I; Machado, LE; Lucchese, RR; Lee, MT; Homem, MGP | Abstract: © 2016 American Physical Society. We report a joint theoretical-experimental investigation on elastic electron scattering by dimethyl disulfide in the low- and intermediate-energy regions. Experimental angular distributions of the elastically scattered electrons were measured in the 10-800 eV and 5°-130° ranges using a crossed electron beam-molecular beam geometry. The absolute values of the differential cross sections were obtained using the relative-flow technique. Also, integral and momentum-transfer cross sections were derived from the experimental differential cross sections via a numerical integration procedure. Theoretically, differential, integral, momentum-transfer, grand-total, and total absorption cross sections are reported in the 1-500 eV range. In our calculations, a complex optical potential was used to represent the collision dynamics and a single-center expansion method combined with the Pade approximation was used to solve the scattering equations. Our experimental data are in good agreement with the present calculated data. Comparisons with other theoretical results are also made.
Impact of Government Payments, Depreciation and Inflation on Investment Behavior in American Agriculture Sector Using Sample of Kansas Farms

A farm’s physical investment is affected by its fundamental q and by its financial situation, with the later comprising both the firm’s liquidity and its possibility of facing capital market imperfections. This study determines the effects of government payments, depreciation, and inflation on crop farm machinery and equipment investment behavior employing the Nonlinear Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) estimator to estimate the investment system. The magnitude of the lagged cash flows such as government payments, cash crop income, and grain income were largely responsible for determining farm investment behavior in the Kansas agriculture sector. An increase in lagged machinery and equipment depreciation and lagged farm motor vehicle and listed property depreciation increases total crop farm investment substantially for an average farm. Statistically, there is no evidence of inflation affects on crop farm machinery investment behavior.
CHARACTERIZATION OF WIDEBAND U-SLOT PATCH ANTENNAS THROUGH CHARACTERISTIC MODAL ANALYSIS AND COUPLED MODE THEORY

Microstrip patch antennas (MPAs) are utilized in many applications as they are easy to produce and are thin, versatile, light weight, cheap, and reliable. One of the drawbacks of MPAs, however, is their narrow bandwidth, typically three to ten percent. Fortunately, a perturbation exists capable of resolving this issue known as the U-slot which can increase the operational bandwidth of a single layer MPA to around 30 percent. Often it is reported that the wideband performance of this structure results from the existence of two resonators, the patch and the U-shaped slot. While this is true, the very nature of this dual resonance and its relationship to wide bandwidth has not been well defined as misconceptions about the design are common. A few of the more significant publications on U-slot MPAs have recently utilized characteristic modal analysis
Multiproduct firms and outward foreign direct investment

This paper investigates the relationship between internationalisation of firms and the firm’s domestic product scope. The investigation is applied to Indian firms. Thus, the insights of a new dataset is added to the growing (but still infant) literature in this field. Indian firms that invest abroad are the most productive firms in the home country. The most productive firms in the home country have the greatest scope of products. This paper shows that outward investor firms have the greatest range of products in the home country. As a result of engaging in OFDI, these outward investor firms consolidate their product range and their product scope shrinks. Un ive rsi ty of Ca pe To wn The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or noncommercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. Un ive rsi ty f C ap e T ow n
Variability Pattern and the Spectral Evolution of the BL Lacertae Object PKS 2155–304

The TeV blazar PKS 2155-304 was monitored with the X-ray satellite ASCA in 1994 May as part of a multiwavelength campaign from the radio to X-ray bands. At the beginning of the two-day continuous observation, we detected a large flare, in which the 2-10 keV flux changed by a factor of 2 on a timescale of 3 × 104 s. During the flare, the increase in the hard X-ray flux clearly preceded that observed in the soft X-rays, with the spectral evolution tracking a "clockwise loop" in the flux versus photon index plane. Ascribing the energy-dependent variability to differential synchrotron cooling of relativistic electrons, we estimate the magnetic field B in the emission region. We tested two different methods of comparing the time series in various X-ray bands: (1) fitting the light curves to a Gaussian function and searching for the time shift of the peak of the flare, and (2) calculating the discrete correlation function. Both methods yielded a consistent solution of B ~ 0.1 G. We also found that the flare amplitude becomes larger as the photon energy increases, while the duration of the flare stays roughly constant throughout the ASCA energy band (0.7-7.5 keV). In the framework of the time-dependent synchrotron self-Compton model in a homogeneous region, we consider a flare where the maximum Lorentz factor (γmax) of the injected electrons increases uniformly throughout the emission volume. The temporal evolution of spectra as well as the light curves were reproduced with the physical parameters self-consistently determined from seven observables. We obtained B ~ 0.1-0.2 G and a region size R ~ 10-2 pc for relativistic beaming with a Doppler factor of δ ~ 20-30. We discuss the significance of light-travel time effects.
Proper Evaluation of Neural Network and Learning Systems based Prediction Intervals

Neural Network and Learning Systems approaches are increasingly used in probabilistic prediction. Forecast eval- uation then comprises a complex task for which a number of scores have been proposed, aiming to summarize the assessment of their overall quality with a single number. Such scores ought to be proper though, that is, to effectively reward interval forecasts of higher quality. If not, the ranking of score values does not allow concluding on the actual superiority of a given approach over others, since one may always have the possibility to hedge in order to obtain the best score value. Recently, the Coverage Width-based Criterion (CWC) was proposed and used for an evaluation of the state of the art. The CWC score is shown to be improper based on theoretical considerations, while the consequences are explored.
Toward Target 2 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: An Expert Analysis of the Puerto Rican Flora to Validate New Streamlined Methods for Assessing Conservation Status1

Abstract Target 2 of the 2020 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) calls for a comprehensive list of the world's threatened plant species. The lack of such a list is one of the greatest impediments to protecting the full complement of the world's plant species, and work to achieve this has been slow. An efficient system for identifying those species that are at risk of extinction could help to achieve this goal in a timeframe sensitive to today's conservation needs. Two systems that efficiently use available data to assess conservation status were tested against a provisional International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List analysis to evaluate the native seed plant species of Puerto Rico. It was demonstrated that both systems efficiently identify species at risk, which is a step toward both the GSPC Target 2 and a more comprehensive IUCN Red List for plants. Both systems were effective at identifying plant species at risk, with the New York analysis identifying 98% and the Smithsonian analysis 85% of the plant species considered Threatened in the IUCN Red List. Both analyses to some extent overestimated those plants at risk, but the species identified are all range restricted and, thus, of some conservation interest.
Comparative gene expression analysis in stems of Dolichos purpureus and Arabidopsis thaliana

The outermost layer epidermis of a plant stem plays an important role in protection and environment-sensing. The mechanisms of sensing and response to the environment through the stem epidermis remain unclear. Here we report enriched expression of genes involved in stress resistance and signal transduction functions in the stem epidermis of both D. purpureus and A. thaliana by cDNA cloning and QPCR in D. purpureus and by analysis using dataset from a genome-wide comparison with cDNAs differentially expressed between the epidermis and inner parts of top and base stem in A. thaliana. Among 188 cDNAs from the stem epidermis of D. purpureus, 13% and 17% were related to signal transduction and defense respectively. Most of them were up-regulated more in the stem epidermis than the inner stem, as well as in A. thaliana. Also, the distribution of the numbers and specificities of up-regulated genes related to signal transduction and regulatory networks in the epidermis and inner stem revealed the possibility of positional differences in regulation. The results revealed the importance of the epidermis in signal transduction and plant defence.
Efficient Portfolio Optimization in the Wealth Creation and Maximum Drawdown Space

First developed by Markowitz (1952), the mean-variance framework is the most widespread theoretical approximation to the portfolio problem. Nevertheless, successful application in the investment community has been limited. Assumptions such as normality of returns and a static correlation matrix could partially account for this. To overcome some of the limitations of the mean-variance framework, mainly the choice of the risk metric and the inconvenience of using an estimated correlation matrix typical of tranquil or euphoria periods, this paper proposes an alternative risk measure: the maximum drawdown (MDD), and combines it with a wealth creation measure to define a new portfolio optimization space. Like other market practitioners´ measures, MDD lacks of a complete and solid theoretical foundation. In an effort to contribute to its theoretical foundation, this paper uses common sense and financial intuition to introduce such measure, followed by a review of its technical advantages and coherence for risk management. Finally, an application of a MDD risk metric based portfolio optimization model is presented. The main findings indicate this proposal may effectively help overcome some of the traditional mean-variance shortcomings and provide some useful tools for portfolio optimization in practice. For long-term performance driven portfolios, such as pension funds, this approach may yield interesting results because it focuses on wealth creation over the long run.
Aggression among school children in Malaysia

This study aimed to investigate the level of aggression among primary school children in Malaysia. A total of 450 students aged 11 were randomly selected from nine schools in the Selangor State to participate in this study. Children Aggression Inventory (CAI) was administered to collect data from the respondents. The reliability of the CAI in this study was found to be high (α = 0.90). The data obtained were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics to address the research objectives. Findings from this study showed that the aggression level demonstrated by school children was moderate (M = 2.18, SD = 0.392). The highest mean score for aggressive behaviour exhibited by the children is hostility (M = 1.88, SD= 0.37), followed by anger (M = 1.86, SD = 0.36), verbal aggression (M = 1.71, SD = 0.37), indirect aggression (M = 1.66, SD = 0.38), and physical aggression (M = 1.66, SD = 0.45). Results also indicated a significant difference between the boys and girls in the mean scores of physical aggression [t (443) = 6.034, p < 0.01] and anger [t (445.78) = -3.034, p < 0.01]. Boys were found to be more aggressive than girls in terms of physical aggression while girls were found to be more aggressive than boys in terms of anger.
Pattern Recognition of Human Grasping Operations Based on EEG

The pattern recognition of the complicated grasping operation based on electroencephalography (simply named as EEG) is very helpful on realtime control of the robotic hand. In the paper, a new spectral feature analysis method based on Band Pass Filter (simply named as BPF) and Power Spectral Analysis (simply named as PSA) is presented for discriminating the complicated grasping operations. By analyzing the spectral features of grasping operations with the use of the two-channel EEG measurement system and the pattern recognition of the BP neural network, the degree of recognition by the traditional spectral feature method based on FFT and the new spectral features method based on BPF and PSA could be compared. The results show that the proposed method provides highly improved performance than the traditional one because the new method has two obvious advantages such as high recognition capability and the fast learning speed.
Self-similarity in electrorheological behavior

In this work we study the creep flow behavior of a suspension of polyaniline (PANI) particles in silicone oil under the application of an electric field. A suspension of PANI in silicone oil, a model electrorheological (ER) fluid, shows an increase in the elastic modulus and the yield stress with an increase in the magnitude of the electric field. Under the creep flow field, the application of a greater magnitude of electric field reduces the strain induced in the material while application of a greater magnitude of shear stress at any electric field enhances the strain induced in the material. Remarkably, the time evolution of strain in a PANI suspension at different stresses, electric field strengths and concentrations show superposition after appropriate shifting of the creep curves on the time and strain axes. Observed electric field–shear stress–creep time–concentration superposition demonstrates self-similarity in electrorheological behavior. We analyze the experimental data using the Bingham and Klingenberg–Zukoski models and observe that the latter predicts the experimental behavior very well. We conclude by discussing the remarkable similarities between the observed rheological behavior of ER fluids and the rheological behavior of aging soft glassy materials.
Nodal sets of eigenfunctions, Antonie Stern’s results revisited

— These notes present a partial survey of our recent contributions to the understanding of nodal sets of eigenfunctions (constructions of families of eigenfunctions with few or many nodal domains, equality cases in Courant’s nodal domain theorem), revisiting Antonie Stern’s thesis, Göttingen, 1924.
Views and Practices of High School Coaches on the Education and Training of Team Captains in Leadership

This cross-sectional study (1) described the views and practices of a national U.S. sample of high school coaches on the education and training of team captains in leadership; and (2) examined if their views and practices differed as a function of leadership behavior and coaching efficacy. Results of 255 online surveys showed nearly 90% of coaches thought formal captain leadership development programs were beneficial; only 12% used such a program. Coaches with higher character-building and motivation efficacy more strongly endorsed the intentional education and training of their captains and perceived fewer barriers to this process. These findings encourage coaches, others working directly with scholastic athletes, and leadership educators more broadly to leverage and examine sport, including captaincy, as a valuable leadership development opportunity for youth.
A New Approach to Software Development Process with Formal Modeling of Behavior Based on Visualization

This work investigates the advantages and limitations of various modeling methods. Despite of their advantages, due to some limitations of each modeling method, using only one of them as the sole approach will not ensure high quality software. This work proposes a new feasible approach to improve the software development process by integrating semi-formal and formal modeling methods. In this approach, software is initially modeled using the formal specification language Object-Z. The formal models, produced by Object-Z, are formally refined to ensure correctness. Then, software behavior is extracted and visualized in specific intervals using UML. Applying design patterns to the visualized models increases reusability and flexibility. The newly improved models are then re-formalized. Such an iterative and evolutionary process continues until developing the software with the desired quality. This paper proposes a new approach to develop reliable, yet flexible software. Keywords-Formalization; visualization; design patterns; formal modeling methods; semi-formal modeling methods.
In vitro identification and control of Pestalotiopsis longisetula fungus, pathogens strawberry crop

Over the past seven years, pestalotiopsis has been the main strawberry disease found all over the crops located in the south of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The leaves of the plants were severely attacked by an uncommon fungus in the regional crops, mainly in 2005 and 2006. The non-immediate identification of the microorganism resulted in catastrophic pathogen control processes performed by farmers who, eagerly trying to save their crops ended up using a series of toxic agrochemicals that had been previously purchased for the control of other types of diseases. Due to these events, the present paper aims at identifying the pathogen and put chemical as well as biological products into test that might help control the disease. Results showed that no fungicide under test in the present experiment was able to inhibit the isolate at a 100% rate, even under in vitro conditions. Pathogen identification revealed a fungi known as Pestalotiopsis longisetula .
The effects of mesenchymal stem cells on a model of autoimmune liver disease

End stage liver disease is the only one of the top five causes of death in the United Kingdom increasing in prevalence each year, with the only curative treatment being liver transplantation. Autoimmune liver disease remains a prevalent but poorly understood cause with limited treatment options to prevent progression to cirrhosis. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is gaining an evidence base in conditions involving the immune system. This study describes a technique for prospective isolation of MSC from C57BL/6 mice and a pilot in vitro study using MSC in the OVA-Bil model of autoimmune liver injury, with the hypothesis that MSC will reduce liver inflammation. Male 8-12 week old OVA-Bil mice were injected IP with 1x107 OT1 cells and 4x106 OT2 cells. Control mice (n=3) were given phosphate buffered saline (PBS) whilst treated mice (n=3) were infused with 5x105 PaS MSC IV on days 3 and 6. At day 10 the mice’s serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analysed. Liver tissue was fixed and paraffin sections were stained for Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E). No significant difference was shown in serum markers of liver injury and qualitative analysis of H&E sections demonstrated no difference in lymphocytic infiltration in the portal regions of the liver tissue between the control and MSC treated mice. This work has demonstrated the feasibility of an in vivo animal model of autoimmune hepatitis and will guide further study into efficacy and mechanism of action of PaS MSC in models of autoimmune liver disease.
In vitro Propagation of Gladiolus Plantlets and Cormels

Gladiolus is a potential cut flower grown throughout the world for its elegant attractive spikes of different hues and good keeping quality. Commercially it is propagated by vegetative mean by corms and cormels. However the multiplication rate of corms and cormels is slow and the conventional methods are insufficient to meet the demand of planting material (corms and cormels). In vitro techniques are applicable for the propagation of corm producing species. These techniques are adopted at commercial level in order to fulfill supply gap of huge demand. A number of in vitro protocols have been developed for regeneration of gladiolus plantlets by using various explants sources of the plant. However, literature is rather scanty on in vitro cormel formation and acclimatization of in vitro propagules.
Impact of land use and soil types on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in tropical soil of India

A study was undertaken along land use gradients with different soil types in subtropical ecosystem of Northern India to evaluate the accurance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The gradients was from natural land with forest tree, farmer’s field under chemically managed, farmer’s field under organically managed and Industrial wasteland with five different plant species. We investigate the total AMF species in land use system of different soil types and also in trap culture set from same land use system.Distribution of mycorrhizal species were calculated directly by quantification AMF spores and indirectly by sequencing the SSU-ITS and LSU regions of rDNA. A total 19 AMF morphotypes from direct field sampling and additional 35 morphotypes from trap culture were recovered, which represented seven genera and eighteen species. Result suggested that few Rhizophagus and Funneliformis species came from organically managed and natural land; most of the species came from sites representing chemically managed and industrial wasteland sites from which Gigaspora and Scutellospora species were absent. Organically managed land contributed the largest number of AMF species and diversity, even more than those found in natural sites, which suggests that factors contributing to the diversity of AMF are indeed complex: For example, chemically managed sites not only causes loss of fungal biodiversity but also selectively favors smaller spores of genera Rhizophagus and Funneliformis. Key words: Tillage, diversity, ribosomal dna, raised bed plantation, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), morphotypes.
Genotoxicity assessment of fipronil (frontline plus®) in Canis familiaris

Fipronil is a pesticide widely used for controlling fleas and ticks in domestic animals, and its short-term exposure can lead to serious effects on animals. However, the possible genotoxic effect of this compound has not been investigated in target animals. Based on the hypothesis that fipronil can induce genotoxicity, this study evaluated the effect of fipronil on DNA damage in peripheral blood cells. For that purpose, ten dogs of both sexes were used in the study. The product (6.7mg/kg) was applied on the dorsal neck region of each animal. Peripheral blood samples were collected immediately prior to application of the product, and at 3, 8 and 24 hours after the application. Samples were processed for comet assay. No statistically significant differences were found among the four time points. The current study suggests for the first time that a single exposure to this pesticide does not induce systemic genotoxic effect in dogs.