Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermal Stability Investigations of PECVD Al2O3 Films Discussing a Possibility of Improving Surface Passivation by Re-Hydrogenation After High Temperature Processes

This work investigates the changing passivation behavior of Al2O3 after different thermal treatments based on carrier lifetime (τeff), interface defect density (Dit) and fixed charge density (Qtot) measurements. A concept of diffusing H species into the dehydrogenated Al2O3 films, termed as re-hydrogenation, has also been investigated for the PECVD deposited Al2O3 samples. Use of a-SiNx:H as a capping layer as in Al2O3/a-SiNx:H stack provides a better thermal stability for a thin PECVD Al2O3 layer. A comparison between single Al2O3 layer and Al2O3/ a-SiNx:H passivation stack after high temperature processes has been also performed in this work.
The ion channel ppk301 controls freshwater egg-laying in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are deadly vectors of arboviral pathogens including Zika, dengue, and yellow fever, and breed in containers of freshwater associated with human habitation1,2. Female Ae. aegypti lay eggs near freshwater because larval and pupal stages are aquatic3. They use volatile cues to locate water at a distance4, while at close-range they contact water to evaluate its suitability for egg-laying4–7. High salinity is lethal to mosquito offspring and therefore correctly laying eggs in freshwater is a crucial parenting decision made by female mosquitoes. Here we show that the DEG/ENaC channel8–10 ppk301 is required for mosquitoes to exploit freshwater egg-laying substrates. When ppk301 mutant females contact water, they do not lay eggs as readily as wild-type animals and are more likely to make aberrant decisions between freshwater and saltwater at concentrations that impair offspring survival. We used a CRISPR-Cas9-based genetic knock-in strategy combined with the Q-binary transactivator system11 to build genetic tools for labelling and imaging neurons in the mosquito. We found that ppk301 is expressed in sensory neurons in legs and proboscis, appendages that directly contact water, and that ppk301-expressing neurons project to central taste centres. Using in vivo calcium imaging with the genetically-encoded calcium sensor GCaMP6s12, we found that ppk301-expressing cells respond to water but, unexpectedly, also to salt. This suggests that ppk301 is instructive for egg-laying at low salt concentrations but that a ppk301-independent pathway is responsible for inhibiting egg-laying at high salt concentrations. Water is a key resource for insect survival and understanding how mosquitoes interact with water to control different behaviours is an opportunity to study the evolution of chemosensory systems. The new genetic tools described here will enable direct study of not only egg-laying, but also other behaviours in mosquitoes that influence disease transmission and enable comparative studies of insect biology more broadly.
Numerical re-assessment of the phenetic relationship between Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae

Recognition of the Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae as one family or as two separate but related families with five subfamilies was for long highly controversial. Raising some of the subfamilies to the rank of family was also disbutable. To resolve this issue, 55 morphological and palynological characters were recorded in a data matrix comprising a sample of 41 species belonging to 24 genera of Apocynaceae and 75 species from 31 genera of the Asclepiadaceae. The data matrix was subjected to cluster analysis using the Sorensen’smeasure of dissimilarity and Ward's method of clustering in the PC-ORD version 5. Out of three possible interpretations of the result, we opted for that which suggestd considering the five subfamilies Apocynaceae-Rauwolfioideae, Apocynaceae-Apocynoideae, Asclepiadaceae-Asclepiadoideae, Asclepiadaceae-Periplocoideae and Asclepiadaceae-Secamonoideae as five distinct, neatly defined and homogeneous
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Control Algorithm Based on Stability Margin and Lyapunov Stability Analysis

The permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) is widely used in various fields and the proportional-integral (PI) controller is popular in PMSM control systems. However, the motor parameters are usually unknown, which can lead to a complicated PI controller design and poor performance. In order to design a PI controller with good performance when the motor parameters are unknown, a control algorithm based on stability margin is proposed in this paper. First of all, based on the mathematical model of the PMSM and the least squares (LS) method, motor parameters are estimated offline. Then based on the estimation values of the motor parameters, natural angular frequency and phase margin, a PI controller is designed. Performance indices including the natural angular frequency and the phase margin are used directly to design the PI controller in this paper. Scalar functions of the d-loop and the q-loop are selected. It can be seen that the designed controller parameters satisfy Lyapunov large scale asymptotic stability theory if the natural angular frequencies of the d-loop and the q-loop are large than 0. Experimental results show that the parameter estimation method has good accuracy and the designed PI controller proposed in this paper has good static and dynamic performances.
CRENÇAS DE AUTOEFICÁCIA DOCENTE NO ENSINO DE FÍSICA: UMA ANÁLISE SOBRE O PERCURSO DE FORMAÇÃO DOCENTE

Um dos fatores importantes no trabalho docente é a confiança, ou crença, que o sujeito tem em suas capacidades para ensinar e sobre seu papel no processo de ensino e aprendizagem. A literatura aponta que a percepção de autoeficácia influencia nas escolhas, motivações, frequência e formas de mobilização em uma prática docente (EVANS et al., 2014; WOOLFOLK HOY et al., 2009). Desta forma, observar o percurso dos professores em formação em relação à suas crenças de autoeficácia docente, e como elas podem ser afetadas quando são introduzidos em contextos reais, pode ser importante para os cursos de formação de professores. Este trabalho procura identificar as fontes das crenças de autoeficácia dos professores de Física em formação, analisando como fontes das crenças foram impactadas pelas atividades realizadas no contexto do Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID). A metodologia de trabalho envolveu o uso do referencial da Teoria Social Cognitiva de BANDURA (1997) para analisar as crenças e de BAKHTIN (1984) para atribuir sentido à fala dos participantes. Os resultados apontam que uma mudança nas fontes de crenças de autoeficácia como consequência da interpretação que os licenciandos fizeram dos resultados de suas interações na escola básica.
Predictors of nestling survival during harsh weather events in an aerial insectivore, the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Extreme weather events influence the population dynamics of wild animals. For organisms whose food source is affected by environmental conditions, such as aerial insectivorous birds, periods of inclement weather can have devastating effects. Here, we examine predictors of survival of individual nestlings and whole broods in Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) during an extreme, 2-day harsh weather event in central British Columbia, Canada, which co-occurred with experimental reduction of nest ectoparasite loads using an antiparasite drug (ivermectin) or heat-treating nests. A curvilinear relationship existed between survival and brood age such that middle-aged broods were least likely to survive. Survival of broods and nestlings was higher when raised by males with bluer plumage, whereas nestling survival was lower when female parents had brighter and more UV-reflective plumage. Within broods, smaller nestlings had a lower chance of surviving than their larger siblings. Nestlings in broods where half of the offspring received ivermectin injections had significantly higher chances of surviving than nestlings from nonexperimental broods, suggesting that parasite loads can influence survival during inclement weather. Our results identify several factors influencing resiliency of nestlings to harsh weather and are particularly relevant in the context of declining aerial insectivorous bird populations and climate change.
Ground State Resonance Structure Calculated by Density Functional Theory for Estimating the Dielectric Response of Some Typical High Explosives

Abstract : We present calculations of ground state resonance structure associated with the high explosives B-HMX, PETN, RDX, TNT1 and TNT2 using density functional theory (DFT), which is for the construction of parameterized dielectric response functions for excitation by electromagnetic waves at compatible frequencies. These dielectric functions provide for different types of analyses concerning the dielectric response of explosives. In particular, these dielectric response functions provide quantitative initial estimates of spectral response features for subsequent adjustment with respect to additional information such as laboratory measurements and other types of theory based calculations. With respect to qualitative analysis, these spectra provide for the molecular level interpretation of response structure. The DFT software NRLMOL was used for the calculations of ground state resonance structure presented here.
Characteristics of the Delayed Rectifier Current (IKr and IKs) in Canine Ventricular Epicardial, Midmyocardial, and Endocardial Myocytes

Abstract Recent studies have described regional differences in the electrophysiology and pharmacology of ventricular myocardium in canine, feline, rat, guinea pig, and human hearts. In this study, we use standard microelectrode and whole-cell patch-clamp techniques to examine the characteristics of the action potential and the delayed rectifier K+ current (IK) in epicardial, M region (deep subepicardial to midmyocardial), and endocardial cells isolated from the canine left ventricle. Cells from the M region displayed much longer action potential durations (APDs) at slow rates. At a basic cycle length of 4 s, APD measured at 90% repolarization was 358±16 (mean±SEM), 262±12, and 287±11 ms in cells from the M region, epicardium, and endocardium, respectively. Steady state APD-rate relations were steeper in cells from the M region. In complete Tyrode’s solution, IK was smaller in myocytes from the M region when compared with those isolated from the epicardium or endocardium. Further characterization of IK was.
The Role of Eukaryotic ABC-Transporters in Eliciting Neutrophil infiltration during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a Gram-positive, encapsulated bacterium capable of causing significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world. A hallmark of S. pneumoniae infection is infiltration of neutrophils (PMNs) that assist in controlling the spread infection but may also contribute to pathology. Paradoxically, studies have shown that limiting PMN infiltration into the lumen of the lung during infection actually betters clinical outcome in experimental S. pneumoniae infection. The final step in PMN luminal trafficking is a Hepoxilin A3 (HXA3)-dependent migration across the pulmonary epithelium. HXA3 is a PMN chemoattractant that forms gradients along the polarized epithelial face, drawing PMNs from the basolateral to the apical surface during proinflammatory responses. HXA3 requires assistance of an integralmembrane protein transporter to escape the cell and form the gradient. The pulmonary HXA3 transporter is currently unidentified. In this work, we identify the pulmonary HXA3 transporter as the ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter (ABC transporter) Multi-drug Resistance Associated Protein 2 (ABCC2, MRP2). We demonstrate that MRP1 and MRP2 are divergent ABCtransporters that control transepithelial PMN migration through efflux of a distinct antiinflammatory substance and the pro-inflammatory HXA3 in the context of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Enrichment of MRP2 on the plasma membrane requires detection of the bacterial virulence factors pneumolysin (PLY) and hydrogen peroxide. PLY and hydrogen peroxide not only coordinate MRP2 apical membrane enrichment but also influence HXA3-dependent PMN transepithelial migration. They influence migration
The nutritional ecology of maturation in a carnivorous insect

&NA; Herbivores and omnivores, faced with a nutritionally complex diet, have evolved the capacity to balance the intake of specific nutrients. Recent studies have found that carnivores also have this capacity, despite their more nutritionally homogeneous diet. However, unlike herbivores and omnivores who prioritize protein intake when restricted to imbalanced foods, carnivores instead show much stricter regulation of fat intake. These choices to over‐ or under‐consume nutrients when the intake target cannot be achieved are known as rules of compromise. To date, studies examining these rules have all been carried out at a single life stage, and it is unclear if these rules regarding the prioritization of nutrients are fixed or labile. We address this question with a carnivorous beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides. We use a combination of dietary restriction and choice tests to determine the intake target and rules of compromise in reproductively mature beetles and in newly emerged adults undergoing a period of maturation feeding. We show that, despite having very similar intake targets, the rules of compromise differ between the 2 life stages. Although mature adults follow the typical carnivore rule of fat prioritization, immature adults behave more like omnivores, showing strict regulation of protein intake, resulting in obesity when restricted to protein‐poor diets. These alternate rules suggest different mechanisms or capacities to cope with excess protein across these life stages. Examining how intake targets and rules of compromise change across life stages could be a valuable approach for our understanding of how animals will fare under rapidly changing environmental conditions.
Changes in Atmospheric Constituents and in Radiative Forcing. Chapter 2

Contributing Authors: G. Bodeker (New Zealand), O. Boucher (UK, France), W.D. Collins (USA), T.J. Conway (USA), E. Dlugokencky (USA), J.W. Elkins (USA), D. Etheridge (Australia), P. Foukal (USA), P. Fraser (Australia), M. Geller (USA), F. Joos (Switzerland), C.D. Keeling (USA), R. Keeling (USA), S. Kinne (Germany), K. Lassey (New Zealand), U. Lohmann (Switzerland), A.C. Manning (UK, New Zealand), S. Montzka (USA), D. Oram (UK), K. O’Shaughnessy (New Zealand), S. Piper (USA), G. -K. Plattner (Switzerland), M. Ponater (Germany), N. Ramankutty (USA, India), G. Reid (USA), D. Rind (USA), K. Rosenlof (USA), R. Sausen (Germany), D. Schwarzkopf (USA), S.K. Solanki (Germany, Switzerland), G. Stenchikov (USA), N. Stuber (UK, Germany), T. Takemura (Japan), C. Textor (France, Germany), R. Wang (USA), R. Weiss (USA), T. Whorf (USA)
Improved approximations for estimation of size-transition probabilities within size-structured models

Modelling annual growth of individuals in a size-structured model requires calculation of the size-transition probabilities for moving from one size class to another. This requires evaluation of two-dimensional integrals when there is individual variability in growth. For computational simplicity, it is common to approximate the integrals by setting all individuals in a size class to the midsize of that class or by ignoring the individual variability. We develop a more accurate approximation that assumes a uniform distribution in size within each size class. The approximation is fast and hence feasible for Bayesian models in which the matrix of transition probabilities must be computed for each posterior sample. The improved accuracy of the new approximation is shown to hold over a diverse range of formulations for incremental growth. For the New Zealand Paua 5A (Haliotis iris) stock assessment model, it was found to reduce the average approximation error of the size-transition probabilities by 86% and 98% compared with the midpoint and deterministic growth approximations, respectively. Moreover, the midpoint and deterministic approximations inflated the estimated maximum sustainable yield by 6% and 8%, respectively, and the current biomass by almost 30% in comparison with the more accurate approximation.
The role of exogenous DJ-1 in neuroprotection

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder and profoundly affects movement. PD is pathologically characterized by the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta leading to loss of dopamine in the striatum. The etiology of PD is not well understood but seems to involve both genetic and environmental factors, and 10% of the cases correspond to monogenic forms of the disease. Mutations in DJ-1 protein have been linked to the pathogenesis of PD, with a growing interest in the study of this protein over the last years. Several studies have shown a direct and indirect involvement of this protein in neuroprotection mechanisms against oxidative stress insults. DJ-1 was found in different cell types, including neurons and glial cells, with a widespread sub-cellular distribution. Furthermore, DJ-1 has also been shown to be secreted by astrocytes, but its neuroprotective role underlying this process is still not understood. Some hyposthesis of DJ1 neuroprotective mechanisms include triggering neuronal internalization of the protein and receptor-mediated activation of signalling pathways. This study intended to give some clues about these mechanisms possibly involved in neuroprotection by using a recombinant DJ-1 exogenously added to SH-SY5Y cells. The dimeric produced protein had a neuroprotective effect in cultured SH-SY5Y cells under oxidative stress conditions. Moreover, although preliminary results, the exogenously addition of this protein, under normal or oxidative stress conditions, activated the Akt and the ERK1/2 signaling pathways in the same cell line. On the other hand, there was no evidence for a DJ-1 uptake by the neuroblastoma cells, as there was also no evidence for any interaction of DJ-1 with membrane proteins, so DJ-1 must be exerting its neuroprotective effect outside of cells, probably not needing to be internalized by neurons after its secretion from astrocytes. In order to find some possible extracellular DJ-1 interactors a pull-down assay followed by LC-MS/MS analysis was performed. This preliminary approach allowed the identification of some interesting proteins, including cell adhesion proteins, proteins involved in cellular processes, such as, axon guidance, cell migration and proliferation, carbohydrate metabolism, synaptic process and positive or negative regulation of signalling pathways. The identified putative DJ-1 interactors must be validated, but can be an usefull tool to understand the molecular mechanisms that lead to PD.
Secure End to End transmission using Audio Steganography and AES encryption

Steganography refers to data or a document hidden in a digital image, video or audio file. If a person perceives the files in which the data is stored inside, there will be no evidence that any information is concealed. So the person is not going to try to decrypt the data. Mostly, LSB encoding is used to encode the text in the image which is called as Image steganography. But image steganography is susceptible to pixel degrading techniques which allows attacker to degrade the image pixels and recover the secret message. This prototype will act as the secondary secure channel of transmission, when the key of AES encryption is compromised. In this paper, we have implemented the 256-bit AES encryption and image and audio steganography using LSB encoding and DWT. Audio files are less susceptible to attack. We also study the audio steganography with the cryptography method to accomplish the safety.
Thyroid hormone modulation during zebrafish development recapitulates evolved diversity in danionin jaw protrusion mechanics

One of three vertebrates belongs to a fish lineage for which protrusile jaws are a synapomorphy. Identifying the developmental determinants of protrusion ability will improve our understanding of an important area of evolutionary diversification. The high water viscosities experienced by tiny fish larvae inhibit the viability of protrusile jaws. In the zebrafish protrusion does not arise until after metamorphosis. Fish metamorphosis typically includes significant changes in trophic morphology, accompanies a shift in feeding niche and coincides with increased thyroid hormone production. We tested whether thyroid hormone affects the development of zebrafish feeding mechanics. We found that it affected all developmental stages examined, but that these effects were most pronounced after metamorphosis. Thyroid hormone levels affected the development of jaw morphology, feeding mechanics, shape variation and cranial ossification. Adult zebrafish utilize protrusile jaws, but an absence of thyroid hormone eliminated postmetamorphic remodeling of the premaxilla and the premaxillary structure that permits protrusion never formed. The premaxillae of late juvenile and adult zebrafish are similar to those found in the adults of other Danio species. Premaxillae from early juvenile zebrafish and hypothyroid adult zebrafish resemble those from adults in the genera Danionella, Devario and Microdevario that show little to no jaw protrusion.
Abiotic effects on the cover and richness of corticolous lichens on Araucaria angustifolia trunks

Lichens play a key role in natural ecosystems, as they can function as primary producers, recycle minerals and fix nitrogen. Despite their environmental importance, little is known about lichen ecology in Brazil, and especially about how abiotic factors may influence their spatial distribution. In this study, we aimed to verify how the cover and richness of corticolous lichens on Araucaria angustifolia trunks vary between two different habitats (Forest and Grassland). The photoquadrat sampling method was applied to A. angustifolia trunks. The Coral Point Count software with Excel extensions (CPCe) was used to analyze photographs for lichen cover and richness. Additionally, a redundancy analysis was conducted to estimate how five abiotic and two biotic variables affected the spatial distribution of lichens. Twenty-five morphospecies were identified, none of them occurring exclusively in the Grassland habitat. Canopy openness, air humidity and tree trunk rugosity were important parameters influencing lichen distribution; therefore, spatial segregation of growth forms can be explained by environmental selectivity. Foliose lichens require more air humidity, which explains their predominance in the Forest habitat. Canopy openness in Grassland habitat favors fruticose lichens, which depend on factors such as wind for reproduction.
Molecular phylogeographic structure within the Perognathus fasciatus species-group

There are four recognized species-group assemblages of silky pocket mice in the genus Perognathus. This study used molecular data to address phylogenetic and biogeographic hypotheses within the Perognathusfasciatus species group, which includes three species: P. fasciatus, P. flavescens, and P. apache. DNA sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) revealed that these three species comprise a monophyletic clade relative to other species of Perognathus. MtDNA sequence divergence and nucleotide diversity are much higher within populations of P. apache than within P. flavescens. While this difference could be attributed to a higher rate of mtDNA lineage divergence in P. apache, a more likely explanation is that the high nucleotide diversity within P. apache is the result of a lower rate of mtDNA lineage extinction relative to P. flavescens. Differences in the rate of mtDNA lineage extinction could be due to historical differences in the population structure of P. apache and P. flavescens.