Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radiative exciton recombination and defect luminescence observed in single silicon nanocrystals

The role of quantum confinement (QC) and surface-related defect centers (DCs) on the photoluminescence (PL) of individual silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) is investigated using confocal microscopy with radially and azimuthally polarized laser beams. It is shown that the multiple-peak PL spectra of single Si NCs revealing SiO 2 phonon side bands are associated with a linear transition dipole moment (TDM) and a short lifetime of 4 ns, indicating that the PL originates from defect centers. In a new study applied to free-standing single Si NCs obtained by Si cluster beam deposition, we could discriminate between PL centers with one- and more-dimensional TDM. Nanoparticles revealing a three-dimensional TDM are characterized by a significantly weaker and structureless Gaussian PL band at larger wavelengths and by IŒs lifetimes. These PL features are attributed to the radiative recombination of quantum-confined excitons generated in the Si cores. Within the same sample, we found coexistence of Si NCs exhibiting QC PL and others showing DC PL.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Female Academics with Young Children in South Africa

Against the backdrop of an increase in research on the effects of COVID-19, this article uses the analysis of survey data of female academics from the 26 higher education institutions in South Africa to identify how female academics with young children coped with academic output during the pandemic-enforced lockdown. A growing body of research documents the influence of children and childcare on the careers of female academics. In this article, we see how female academics who stayed at home during the enforced lockdown period negotiated childcare and home-schooling, and how the lockdown influenced their academic output. An online survey questionnaire was administered, consisting of 12 Likert-scale questions followed by an open-ended section that solicited a narrative account of academic work and home life during the lockdown period. Data on female academics with children under the age of six years was extracted for this study. The quantitative and qualitative data that emerged from our study of 2,018 women academics at 26 universities across South Africa describes how academic mothers felt, and how they struggled to complete the academic work required by their educational institutions. Such academic work directly influences future career prospects. This study highlights the influence that the presence of young children in the home, the pressures of home-schooling, traditional gender roles, and household responsibilities have on the academic careers of women.
Objective assessment of penalized maximum likelihood reconstruction with sparsity-promoting penalty for Myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging

Novel methods of reconstructing the tracer distribution in myocardial perfusion images are being considered for lowcount and sparse sampling scenarios. Few examples of low count scenarios are when the amount of radioisotope administered or the acquisition time is lowered, in gated studies where individual gates are reconstructed. Examples of sparse angular sampling scenarios are patient motion correction in traditional SPECT where few angles are acquired at any given pose and in multi-pinhole SPECT where the geometry is sparse and truncated by design. The reconstruction method is based on the assumption that the tracer distribution is sparse in the transform domain, which is enforced by a sparsity-promoting penalty on the transform coefficients. In this work we investigated the curvelet transform as the sparse basis for myocardial perfusion SPECT. The objective is to determine if myocardial perfusion images can be efficiently represented in this transform domain, which can then be exploited in a penalized maximum likelihood (PML) reconstruction scheme for improving defect detection in low-count/ sparse sampling scenarios. The performance of this algorithm is compared to standard OSEM with 3D Gaussian post-filtering using bias-variance plots and numerical observer studies. The Channelized Non-prewhitening Observer (CNPW) was used for defect detection task in a “signalknown- statistically” LROC study. Preliminary investigations indicate better bias-variance characteristics and superior CNPW performance with the proposed curvelet basis. However, further assessment using more defect locations and human observer evaluation is needed for clinical significance.
Moralized language predicts hate speech on social media

Abstract Hate speech on social media threatens the mental health of its victims and poses severe safety risks to modern societies. Yet, the mechanisms underlying its proliferation, though critical, have remained largely unresolved. In this work, we hypothesize that moralized language predicts the proliferation of hate speech on social media. To test this hypothesis, we collected three datasets consisting of N = 691,234 social media posts and ∼35.5 million corresponding replies from Twitter that have been authored by societal leaders across three domains (politics, news media, and activism). Subsequently, we used textual analysis and machine learning to analyze whether moralized language carried in source tweets is linked to differences in the prevalence of hate speech in the corresponding replies. Across all three datasets, we consistently observed that higher frequencies of moral and moral-emotional words predict a higher likelihood of receiving hate speech. On average, each additional moral word was associated with between 10.76% and 16.48% higher odds of receiving hate speech. Likewise, each additional moral-emotional word increased the odds of receiving hate speech by between 9.35 and 20.63%. Furthermore, moralized language was a robust out-of-sample predictor of hate speech. These results shed new light on the antecedents of hate speech and may help to inform measures to curb its spread on social media.
EVOLUTION OF THE STARS AND GAS IN GALAXIES.

Essentially everything of astronomical interest is either part of a galaxy, or from a galaxy, or otherwise relevant to the origin or evolution of galaxies. Diverse examples are that the isotropic composition of meteorites provides clues to the history of star formation billions of years ago, and cosmological tests for the deceleration of the Universe are strongly affected by changes in the luminosities of galaxies during the lookback time sampled. The aim of this article is to review some of the vital connections that galaxy evolution makes among many astronomical phenomena. The evolution of galaxies can be broadly divided into three areas: dynamical evolution, chemical evolution, and the evolution of photometric properties. Chemical and photometric evolution are the main topics of this review, and dynamical processes will be considered only where they directly affect the others. The article is intended to be self-contained for readers with a general knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics but with no special expertise on galaxies. Because the background and literature relevant to the evolution of stars and gas in galaxies are so extensive, complete coverage cannot be attempted. Instead, comprehensive reviews and recent papers are emphasized in the references; these include detailed works in closely related fields, such as galaxy formation and nucleosynthesis, that are treated very briefly here. The history of the subject has been discussed in several recent reviews (e.g. Sandage et al. 1975; Spinrad & Peimbert 1975; Trimble 1975; van den Bergh 1975), so here the emphasis will be on current ideas.
Colonoscopy quality improvement after initial training: A cross-sectional study of intensive short-term training

Abstract Background and study aims High-quality is crucial for the effectiveness of colonoscopy and can be achieved by high-quality training and verified with assessment of key performance indicators (KPIs) for colonoscopy such as cecum intubation rate (CIR), adenoma detection rate (ADR) and adequate polyp resection. Typically, trainees achieve adequate CIR after 275 procedures, but little is known about learning curves for KPIs after initial training. Methods This cross-sectional study includes work-up colonoscopies after a positive screening test with fecal occult blood testing (FIT) or sigmoidoscopy, performed by either trainees after 300 training colonoscopies or by consultants. Outcome measures were KPIs. We assessed inter-endoscopist variation in trainees and learning curves for trainees as a group. We also compared KPIs for trainees and consultants as a group. Results Data from 6,655 colonoscopies performed by 21 trainees and 921 colonoscopies performed by 17 consultants were included. Most trainees achieved target standards for main KPIs. With time, trainees shortened cecum intubation time and withdrawal time without decreasing their ADR, reduced the proportion of painful colonoscopies, and increased the adequate polyp resection rate (all P < 0.01). Compared to consultants, trainees had higher CIR (97.7 % vs. 96.3 %, P = 0.02), ADR after positive FIT (57.6 % vs. 50.3 %, P < 0.01), and proximal ADR after sigmoidoscopy screening (41.1 % vs. 29.8 %; P < 0.01), higher adequate polyp resection rate (94.9 % vs. 93.1 %, P = 0.01) and fewer serious adverse events (0.65 % vs. 1.41 %, P = 0.02). Conclusions Trainees performed high-quality colonoscopies and achieved international target standards. Several KPIs continuously improved after initial training. Trainees outperformed consultants on several KPIs.
The distribution of general final state random variables for stochastic epidemic models

In this paper we introduce the notion of general final state random variables for generalized epidemic models. These random variables are defined as sums over all ultimately infected individuals of random quantities of interest associated with an individual; examples include final severity. By exploiting a construction originally due to Sellke (1983), exact results concerning the final size and general final state random variables are obtained in terms of Gontcharoff polynomials. In particular, our approach highlights the way in which these polynomials arise via simple probabilistic arguments. For ease of exposition we focus initially upon the single-population case before extending our arguments to multi-population epidemics and other variants of our basic model.
Prognostic value of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating T cells in patients with breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes have been regarded as potential biomarkers for cancer prognosis, while the prognostic effect of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating T cells remains controversial in breast cancer. In the present study, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of CD8+ T cells in breast cancer and the associations between CD8+ T cells and the pathological characteristics. The PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched entries added from the establishment of the database to November 2021 and prospective or retrospective studies of patients with breast cancer were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of evidence for each study. STATA 15.1 was used for the data analysis. A total of 14 studies comprising 22,222 patients were included in the final analysis and the pooled results suggested that a high CD8+ T-cell infiltration level was significantly related to better overall survival [hazard ratio (HR)=0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-0.82, P<0.001] and disease-free survival (HR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.49-0.81, P<0.001) for patients with breast cancer. In addition, a high CD8+ T-cell infiltration level was significantly associated with decreased expression of estrogen receptor [odds ratio (OR)=1.92, 95% CI: 1.30-2.85, P=0.001] and progesterone receptor (OR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.14-2.42, P=0.008), and increased human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression (OR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.66-0.94, P=0.010) in patients with breast cancer, while there was no significant association between CD8+ T-cell infiltration and age, tumor size or lymph node status of patients with breast cancer (P>0.05). In conclusion, CD8+ T-cell infiltration is of prognostic value in patients with breast cancer. High levels of CD8+ T-cell infiltration were related to improved prognosis, including OS and DFS, in patients with breast cancer.
Additive Nanosecond Laser-Induced Forward Transfer of High Antibacterial Metal Nanoparticle Dose onto Foodborne Bacterial Biofilms

Additive laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) of metal bactericidal nanoparticles from a polymer substrate directly onto food bacterial biofilms has demonstrated its unprecedented efficiency in combating pathogenic microorganisms. Here, a comprehensive study of laser fluence, metal (gold, silver and copper) film thickness, and the transfer distance effects on the antibacterial activity regarding biofilms of Gram-negative and Gram-positive food bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp.) indicated the optimal operation regimes of the versatile modality. LIFT-induced nanoparticle penetration into a biofilm was studied by energy-dispersion X-ray spectroscopy, which demonstrated that nanoparticles remained predominantly on the surface of the biofilm.
Fiber-Coupled Fabry-Pérot Interferometric Sensor: Analysis And Modelling

: This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the Fabry-Pérot interferometric sensor uti-lizing an extrinsic ﬁber-optic cavity. Its behavior is modelled and simulated for various conditions, showing the key properties of the different sensor’s setups. The simple single-mode sensing tip and the GRIN collimator are compared. Further, new kind of sensing head is proposed exhibiting an inverse reﬂectivity and enabling a theoretical resolution less than 1 pm.
A critical examination of the effectiveness of gratitude intervention on well-Being Outcomes: A within-person experimental daily diary approach

ABSTRACT Given the rise in the global prevalence of stress and depressive symptoms, there is an increasing need to identify promising interventions that promote well-being. One potential intervention that has been widely discussed in the literature on improving well-being is the practice of gratitude. However, findings on its effectiveness have been marred by inconsistency and publication bias. Building upon past studies, the current study aims to revisit the effect of a gratitude contemplation intervention on multiple well-being outcomes by using a within-person experimental design with a daily diary approach. Multilevel modeling showed that the gratitude contemplation intervention had a significant within-person effect on multiple daily well-being outcomes including negative affect, perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Moreover, the results were robust across varying levels of personality traits. Our study provides another line of evidence to the literature supporting the benefits of gratitude contemplation intervention.
Accuracy of conventional and 3D printed casts for partial fixed prosthesis.

PURPOSE To evaluate and compare the accuracy of conventional and 3D-printed casts using five different 3D printers. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the control group (CG group, n = 5), five conventional impressions using light- and heavy-body polyvinyl siloxane were obtained from the master model, resulting in five stone models. In the test groups, five different scans were performed by a well-trained and experienced clinician using a TRIOS intraoral scanner. All data were exported as an STL file format, processed, and sent to five 3D printers. Five casts were manufactured in each group: SG (CARES P20, Straumann); FG (Form 2, Formlabs); WG (Duplicator 7, Wanhao); ZG (Zenith D, Zenith); and MG (Moonray S100, Moonray). Measurements of the accuracy (trueness and precision) of the casts obtained from conventional elastomeric impressions and 3D-printing methods were accomplished using a 3D analysis software (Geomagic Control). RESULTS The FG group showed the lowest values for trueness (closer to real dimensions), which were similar to the SG group only (P > .05). Groups MG, WG, and ZG presented higher values and were similar compared to each other. Data on precision demonstrated that all 3D-printed groups showed lower values for precision (smaller deviation) when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION The trueness depends on the chosen 3D printer. All of the tested 3D printers were more precise than cast models obtained from conventional elastomeric impressions.
Quantum entanglement and classical behaviour

'Coherent states may be of use, so they say, but they wouldn't be missed if they didn't exist. This is my modification of the 'grook' by the Danish mathematician, designer and poet Piet Hein, which reads as follows. 'The Universe may be as large as they say but it wouldn't be missed if it didn't exist.
Implementation and evaluation of real-time pan-tilt-zoom camera calibration

Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras are frequently used in surveillance applications as they can observe a much larger region of the environment than a fixed-lens camera while still providing high-resolution imagery. The pan, tilt, and zoom parameters of a single camera may be simultaneously controlled by online users as well as automated surveillance applications. To accurately register autonomously tracked objects to a world model, the surveillance system requires accurate knowledge of camera parameters. Due to imprecision in the PTZ mechanism, these parameters cannot be obtained from PTZ control commands but must be calculated directly from camera imagery. This paper describes the efforts undertaken to implement a real-time calibration system for a stationary PTZ camera. The approach continuously tracks distinctive image feature points from frame to frame, and from these correspondences, robustly calculates the homography transformation between frames. Camera internal parameters are then calculated from these homographies. The calculations are performed by a self contained program that continually monitors images collected by the camera as it performs pan, tilt, and zoom operations. The accuracy of the calculated calibration parameters are compared to ground truth data. Problems encountered include inaccuracies in large orientation changes and long algorithm execution time.
Analysis of the Green Development Effects of High-Speed Railways Based on Eco-Efficiency: Evidence from Multisource Remote Sensing and Statistical Data of Urban Agglomerations in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, China

As part of the modern transport infrastructure, high-speed railways (HSRs) have been considered an important factor affecting eco-efficiency (EE). This study used multisource remote sensing and statistical data from 185 counties representing urban agglomerations in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR) in China from 2009 to 2018. The study integrated ArcGIS analysis, the Super-SBM (super slack-based measure) model, and the DSPDM (dynamic spatial panel Durbin model) to explore the spatial effects of HSRs on EE. The results showed that the coordinates of the interannual centers of gravity for EE and HSRs both fell in the same county, possessing similar parameter values for the standard deviation elliptical, a negative spatial mismatch index, and obvious spatial mismatch characteristics. In different spatially dislocated areas, the spatial effects of HSRs on EE are variable. Overall, the short-term effects are more intense than the long-term effects, and both the long-term and short-term effects are dominated by the effects of spatial spillover. A new perspective is proposed to explore the green development effects of HSRs, with a view to providing policy implications for the enhancement of EE and the planning of HSRs.
Global model for an rf hydrogen inductive plasma discharge in the deuterium negative ion source experiment including negative ions

A study of the gas-phase kinetics and the plasma chemistry for an rf inductively coupled H2 plasma discharge, in the deuterium negative ion source experiment (DENISE), has been carried out by means of a global model of the discharge implemented by the numerical code, Global Model Solver (GMS), which gives results for the spatially averaged densities of the species included in the model and the electron temperature in the steady state. The modelling of the discharge includes H-, with the production mechanism assumed to be dissociative attachment of H2(v). The effect of the magnetic filter in the source is taken into account for obtaining an estimate of the H- density also in the extraction chamber. The differences in the cross-section data assumed for some processes, between this paper and previous work, are pointed out, along with the consequences on H- density. The ratio between the H- density and the electron density obtained with GMS for the considered negative ion production mechanism is always far lower than 0.1, even with the most optimistic assumptions for H- production that can be put forward.
Completely positive maps on *-algebras

Completely positive maps on U*-algebras with identity are characterized in terms of *-representations on Hilbert space. A result on restricted multiplicativity of such maps is established, from which it follows that completely positive maps which take unitaries to unitaries are *-homomorphisms. It is also shown that positive maps on commutative U*-algebras with identity are completely positive. Banach algebras with involution may be profitably studied in the purely algebraic setting of U*-algebras, recently introduced by Palmer. In this paper we give U*-algebra versions of two results of Stinespring concerning completely positive linear maps of B*-algebras into the algebra of bounded operators on a Hilbert space. We also show that if 9 is a 1 -preserving completely positive map on a U*-algebra A with identity, then the set {x E A: g(x*x) = 9(x)*q? (x)} is a subalgebra of A on which 9 is multiplicative. 1. Preliminaries. All algebras and spaces considered here will be over the complex field C. An algebra A with involution a->a* (henceforth called a *-algebra) is a U*-algebra if it is the span of the set {v E A:v+v* = v*v=vv*}. Elements of this set are called quasi-unitary. If A is a *-algebra with multiplicative identity 1, then u E A is unitary (uu*=u*u= 1) iff 1-u is quasi-unitary, so a U*-algebra with 1 is spanned by its unitaries. All Banach *-algebras are U*-algebras. For a summary of important results on U*-algebras, see [21; details may be found in [3, ? 2.21. Let $ be a Hilbert space, B($) the algebra of bounded operators on A linear map q from a *-algebra A into B($) is calledpositive if p(a*a) is a positive operator for all a E A. We call q completely positive if for every n > 1 and every a1,, a. *, an E A, h,. * * *, an 5 $ we have E(,(aj*a j) j, $j) > ? Received by the editors June 14, 1971. AMS 1970 subject classifications. Primary 46K10, 46L05; Secondary 16A28.
Modeling of the atmospheric transmission of UV radiation with use of different data on water vapor absorption lines

The atmospheric transmission of UV radiation was simulated with use of new data on H2O absorption lines in the 0.25- 0.4 μm spectral region. The transmittance spectra were calculated with the most complete H2O line list POKAZATEL, its new modification in 2020 by Conway et al, refined databank W2020, and new version of popular spectroscopic database HITRAN2020, in which the H2O lines were added in the UV region. The intercomparison of the spectra was made. The water vapor contribution to the atmospheric transfer of solar radiation in the UV region was estimated. The radiative transfer was modeled with taking into account of aerosol and Rayleigh multiple scattering and absorption.