Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DUSTY WINDS: EXTRAPLANAR POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON FEATURES OF NEARBY GALAXIES

Recent observations have shown the presence of dust and molecular material in galactic winds, but relatively little is known about the distribution of these outflow components. To shed some light on this issue, we have used IRAC images from the Spitzer Space Telescope archive to investigate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission from a sample of 16 local galaxies with known winds. Our focus on nearby sources (median distance 8.6 Mpc) has revealed detailed PAH structure in the winds and allowed us to measure extraplanar PAH emission. We have identified extraplanar PAH features on scales of ∼0.8–6.0 kpc. We find a nearly linear correlation between the amount of extraplanar PAH emission and the total infrared flux, a proxy for star formation activity in the disk. Our results also indicate a correlation between the height of extraplanar PAH emission and star formation rate surface density, which supports the idea of a surface density threshold on the energy or momentum injection rate for producing detectable extraplanar wind material.
Molecular Aspects of Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy in Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

A systematic review and narrative synthesis of publications was undertaken to analyze the role of component-resolved diagnosis technology in identifying polysensitization for the provision of allergen-specific immunotherapy to patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. A search of publications was carried out in electronic databases in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The search helped to identify 568 publications, 12 of which were included in this review. Overall, 3302 patients were enrolled. The major finding was that component-resolved diagnostics change the choice of relevant allergens for allergen-specific immunotherapy in at least 50% of cases. Sensitization to allergen components differs with age, type of disease, and overall disease duration. Patients who had both bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis were sensitized to a larger number of allergens than patients who had bronchial asthma alone.
Asymmetric nematic liquid crystal cells containing lead zirconium titanate (PZT) films

Interest in thin films of PZT (lead zirconium titanate PbZr0.47Ti0.53O3) has increased because of their potential applications. For instance, the insertion of PZT in asymmetric nematic liquid crystal cells induces a rectified electro-optical response similar to that observed in such cells because of the insertion of metal oxide layers with ionic conductivity. In the present work several PZT films have been investigated, obtained by different thermal treatments after sol-gel synthesis and spin coating deposition. The observed rectifying effect, due to the insertion of PZT films in asymmetric liquid crystal cells, has been attributed to the presence of an internal field made from the reorientation of nanodomains of PZT. The presence of such internal fields is demonstrated and an estimation of it is given. Moreover, asymmetric nematic liquid crystal cells made with PZT films show considerable improvements in both contrast and response time.
A Statistical Perspective on Ill-posed Inverse Problems

Ill-posed inverse problems arise in many branches of science and engineering. In the typical situation one is interested in recovering a whole function given a finite number of noisy measurements on functionals. Performance characteristics of an inversion algorithm are studied via the mean square error which is decomposed into bias and variability. Variability calculations are often straightforward, but useful bias measures are more difficult to obtain. An appropriate definition of what geophysicists call the Backus-Gilbert averaging kernel leads to a natural way of measuring bias characteristics. Moreover, the ideas give rise to some important experimen- tal design criteria. It can be shown that the optimal inversion algorithms are methods of regularization procedures, but to completely specify these algorithms the signal to noise ratio must be supplied. Statistical approaches to the empirical determination of the signal to noise ratio are discussed; cross-validation and unbiased risk methods are reviewed; and some exten- sions, which seem particularly appropriate in the inverse problem context, are indicated. Linear and nonlinear examples from medicine, meteorology, and geophysics are used for illustration.
Selectively patterned highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-tosylate electrodes for high performance organic field-effect transistors

We have improved the performance of pentacene field-effect transistors by using highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-tosylate (PEDOT-Tos) source-drain electrodes (∼103 S/cm) formed by a simple solution-based process. A high field-effect mobility of 0.25 cm2/Vs and an ON/OFF current ratio of 107 were obtained in pentacene-based bottom contact organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), which constitutes an improvement over OFETs based on Au and PEDOT:PSS electrodes. Two-dimensional grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy results confirmed that the crystalline properties of the pentacene film and the hole injection from the PEDOT-Tos electrode to the pentacene layer are more efficient than those from Au and PEDOT:PSS electrodes.
Financing energy futures: the contested assetization of pipelines in Canada

Abstract Pipelines are technological and political undertakings, but also financial feats. When pipelines are in protracted states of uncertainty—not yet built, but not yet canceled—the outcomes seem not to benefit anyone: proponents face cost overruns and regulatory battles, while potentially affected communities remain under threat of disruption and dispossession. In light of these negative outcomes, why do such projects remain in liminal states for so long? To answer this question, we interrogate two contested oil pipeline proposals in Canada, the Northern Gateway Pipelines and the Trans Mountain Expansion projects. In both cases, we find that the complex and shifting financial arrangements for these pipelines produced what we call ‘contested assetization. ’ This process operates through three intertwined dynamics: temporality (collapsing and expanding time), market valuation (specific forms of knowledge and professional practices), and financial tools (contractual, equity, and other financial arrangements). Proponents create complex, layered future-oriented investable assets, mediating corporate risk; at the same time, opponents target multiple regulatory venues, challenge valuation systems, and highlight future social and ecological costs. We find that although the strategic use of these dynamics has contradictory consequences, overall, these financial processes reinforce corporate power, prolonging fossil fuel-based energy futures.
Teachers’ adjustment to work: Effects of organizational justice and teacher resilience via psychological need satisfaction

Abstract There is a gap in the literature for how organizational and individual factors affect teachers’ adjustment. This study, focused on teachers, attempts to fill this lack by examining the extents to which psychological need satisfaction acts as a mediator between organizational justice, resilience, and teachers’ adjustment to work. We based this study on the predictive model of psychological health at work, psychological adjustment theory, and self-determination theory which argue that individuals have a sense of well-being at work if it promotes the satisfaction of their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. We tested our model in the education sector. Using a cross-sectional design, we asked French teachers (N = 393) to fill in a one-step self-report questionnaire. Mediation analyses showed that satisfaction of the three needs played a mediating role between organizational justice and job adjustment, and between resilience and job adjustment.
Comprehensive Analysis and Functional Verification of the Pinus massoniana NBS-LRR Gene Family Involved in the Resistance to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Pinus massoniana Lamb. is a crucial timber and resin conifer in China, but its plantation industry is threatened by outbreaks of pine wilt disease (PWD) caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pinewood nematode; PWN). However, as of yet, there is no comprehensive analysis of NBS-LRR genes in P. massoniana involved in its defense against PWN. In this study, 507 NBS genes were identified in the transcriptome of resistant and susceptible P. masoniana inoculated with the PWN. The phylogenetic analysis and expression profiles of resistant and susceptible P. massoniana revealed that the up-regulated PmNBS-LRR97 gene was involved in conferring resistance to PWN. The results of real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that PmNBS-LRR97 was significantly up-regulated after PWN infection, especially in the stems. Subcellular localization indicated that PmNBS-LRR97 located to the cell membrane. PmNBS-LRR97 significantly activated the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes in P. massoniana. In addition, the overexpression of PmNBS-LRR97 was capable of promoting the production of ROS, aiding in plant growth and development. In summary, PmNBS-LRR97 participates in the defense response to PWN and plays an active role in conferring resistance in P. massoniana. This finding provides new insight into the regulatory mechanism of the R gene in P. massoniana.
SNPs Sets in Codifying Genes for Xenobiotics-Processing Enzymes Are Associated with COPD Secondary to Biomass-Burning Smoke

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide; the main risk factors associated with the suffering are tobacco smoking (TS) and chronic exposure to biomass-burning smoke (BBS). Different biological pathways have been associated with COPD, especially xenobiotic or drug metabolism enzymes. This research aims to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) profiles associated with COPD from two expositional sources: tobacco smoking and BBS. One thousand-five hundred Mexican mestizo subjects were included in the study and divided into those exposed to biomass-burning smoke and smokers. Genome-wide exome genotyping was carried out using Infinium Exome-24 kit arrays v. 1.2. Data quality control was conducted using PLINK 1.07. For clinical and demographic data analysis, Rstudio was used. Eight SNPs were found associated with COPD secondary to TS and seven SNPs were conserved when data were analyzed by genotype. When haplotype analyses were carried out, five blocks were predicted. In COPD secondary to BBS, 24 SNPs in MGST3 and CYP family genes were associated. Seven blocks of haplotypes were associated with COPD-BBS. SNPs in the ARNT2 and CYP46A1 genes are associated with COPD secondary to TS, while in the BBS comparison, SNPs in CYP2C8, CYP2C9, MGST3, and MGST1 genes were associated with increased COPD risk.
Educational job mismatch, job satisfaction, on-the-job training, and employee quit behaviour: a dynamic analytical approach

ABSTRACT This paper extends the literature on the consequences of over-education, in particular quit outcomes. It is the first study that explicitly tests the impact of job satisfaction and on-the-job training for workers in educational mismatched jobs and on quit behaviour using a longitudinal data set. Accounting for unobserved heterogeneity and endogeneity, the dynamic analytical framework examines labour market outcomes for job-mismatched workers. We find that over-education alone, or accompanied by skill under-utilization in combination with lower job satisfaction, increases the incidences of job quitting. Opportunities for training facilitate the retention of initially job-mismatched workers. These results have implications for interpreting mismatch data, retention, and resource allocation.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Remote Sensing for Antarctic Research: A review of progress, current applications, and future use cases

Antarctica has been significantly influenced by global climate change. Owing to the spatiotemporal limitations of existing datasets, budgetary constraints, logistical challenges, and adverse temperature and climatic conditions of Antarctica, researchers face great challenges. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have helped to solve this issue because they can collect high-resolution spatiotemporal data and conduct operations in inaccessible locations at a low cost and with ease compared with in situ observation and conventional spaceborne and airborne remote sensing. The development and testing of UAVs for use in polar environments mainly focus on enhancing UAV performance in extreme Antarctic conditions by improving their endurance, wind resistance, and aerial photography stability. The equipped multisensors, flexible data collection and operation window, and high-spatiotemporal resolution all contribute to making UAVs the most powerful platform for cryospheric research. In recent years, a series of UAV-related studies on the cryosphere have been published. However, a thorough review that explicitly details the scientific progress and possibilities of using UAVs in Antarctic polar research is lacking. In this era of rapid global and regional climate change, it is becoming increasingly necessary to employ UAVs to investigate the finer changes in the Antarctic ice sheet (AIS) and ice shelves. This work investigates the use of UAVs in the monitoring of the glacial microtopography (including rifts and crevasses, surface subsidence, and melting ponds), ice surface landforms, atmosphere, flora and fauna, sea ice, subglacial environment, and other aspects of Antarctic glaciology investigation, and it speculates on their future use in multidisciplinary research.
Recognition of killer whale individuals from multiple stereotyped call types.

Recognition of marine mammal individuals will be an essential tool for obtaining demographic information of populations as habitat monitoring is increasingly being conducted with passive acoustics. Our previous research established the potential to identify killer whale individuals with passive acoustic recordings with up to 78% accuracy. The data for this result consisted of 75 vocalizations from four adult (two male, two female) killer whales of Icelandic origin in residence at SeaWorld San Diego. The stereotyped vocalizations used were all SD1a or SD1b, and caller identification was known to a high degree of certainty allowing for quantifiable validation. Classification was performed with 12 mel‐frequency cepstral coefficients, and 12 delta and 12 delta‐delta cepstral coefficients as inputs to a Gaussian mixture model. We initially chose to use one call type as the SD1 call was frequently produced by all four individuals and it eliminated potential ambiguity from identifying call type instead of indivi.
SECALROC2: A Low-Noise, High-Speed, and Full Digital Outputs Front-End ASIC for STCF Electromagnetic Calorimeter With APD Detectors

In this work, a low-noise and high-rate front-end readout application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) named SECALROC2 for the electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) in the super tau-charm factory (STCF) is presented. The chip is designed to process signals generated from avalanche photodiode detectors (APDs) for both energy and time measurement. The large detector capacitance and leakage current of the APD pose a great challenge to the noise and speed performance of the front-end readout circuit (ROC). A low-noise preamplifier and a fifth-order high-linearity shaper with adjustable peaking times are proposed to decrease noise induced by the 270-pF detector capacitance. A peak detect-and-hold circuit and a high-linearity differential analog buffer are adopted to convert each peak voltage of the shaper to differential voltages with sufficient driving capability. A fast shaper and a discriminator are implemented to produce trigger signals for the time of arrival (TOA) measurement. To reduce the complexity and power consumption of the ECAL system, a 12-bit 10-MS/s pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a 16-bit three-stage time-to-digital converter (TDC) with 42-ps bin size TDC are integrated on-chip for full-digitalized outputs. This ASIC was designed and fabricated in a standard commercial 1P6M 0.18-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mixed-signal CMOS process and the chip area occupancy is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.4\times1.6$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm2. The experimental results show that the input charge of the ASIC ranges from 3.2 to 400 fC. The measured nonlinear error of the system is less than 2.5% with an event rate up to 400 kcps. The equivalent noise charge (ENC) is 1367 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{e}^{-}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> + 4.93 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{e}^{-}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>/pF at 800-ns peaking time. The timing resolution is better than 540 ps at an input charge of 160 fC. The measured ENC can achieve 3820 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{e}^{-}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> when the ASIC is connected to an APD detector. The effective number of bits (ENOB) of the ADC is 10.8-bit when operated at 10 MS/s.
Cosmological Growth History of Supermassive Black Holes and Demographics in the High-z Universe: Do Lyman Break Galaxies Have Supermassive Black Holes?

We study the demographics of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the local and high-z universe. We use the continuity equation of the population of SMBHs as the leading principle. We consider three physical processes for the growth of SMBHs: mass accretion, mergers, and direct formation of SMBHs. The mass accretion history of SMBHs is estimated by the hard X-ray luminosity functions (HXLFs) of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). First, we compare the mass accretion history at z > 0 with optical luminosity functions (OLFs) of QSOs previously studied and that with HXLFs. We conclude that the constraints on parameters of mass accretion (energy conversion efficiency, ϵ, and Eddington ratio, fEdd) based on the continuity equation appear to be adequate using HXLFs rather than OLFs. The sub-Eddington case (fEdd < 1) is allowed only when we use HXLFs. Next, we extend the formulation and can obtain the upper limit of the cumulative mass density of SMBHs at any redshift. For an application, we examine if Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z ~ 3 already have SMBHs in their centers, which is suggested by recent observations. We tentatively assume the presence of SMBHs in LBGs and that their mass, MBH, is proportional to the stellar mass of LBGs, M*, with the mass ratio ξ = MBH/M*. If most LBGs already have massive SMBHs at z ~ 3, the resultant mass density of SMBHs at z ~ 0 should exceed the observational estimate because such SMBHs should further grow by accretion. Therefore, we can set the upper limit of the probability that one LBG has SMBHs. Since the merger rates and direct formation rates of SMBHs are uncertain, we consider two limiting cases: (1) mergers and/or direct formations are not negligible compared with mass accretion, and (2) mass accretion is the dominant process to grow the SMBHs. The special conditions should be met in order that a large part of LBGs have SMBHs in both cases. In case 1, we may assume the constant parameters of mass accretion of AGNs for simplicity. Then, large energy conversion efficiency and frequent mergers and/or direct formations at z > 3 are needed so that a large part of LBGs have SMBHs with ξ = 0.002-0.005. In case 2, on the other hand, energy conversion efficiency should be mass dependent and the constraint is strict; the fraction of LBGs that have SMBHs must be less than 10%-40%. In both cases, the possibility that nearly all LBGs have SMBHs with large mass ratio, such as ξ ≥ 0.005, is reliably ruled out.
The Effect of Marangoni-Rayleigh-Benard Convection on the Process Parameters in Blown-Powder Laser Cladding Process—A Numerical Investigation

A two-dimensional model has been developed for the blown-powder laser cladding process to study the influence of Marangoni-Benard and Rayleigh-Benard convection on the process parameters: average dilution, maximum and average melt pool temperatures. Dimensionless governing equations are solved by the finite-volume method. It is found that for Marangoni number, Ma < 0 dilution decreases whereas for Ma > 0 dilution increases slightly. Rayleigh-Benard convection reduces dilution, but its effect is more prominent for Ma > 0 and lower scanning speed. Maximum and average melt pool temperatures fall due to convective heat transfer. However, the reduction in temperature with Ma ≠ 0 is significant only at low scanning speeds, i.e., U* < 2.
Mathematical modeling on experimental protocol of glucose adjustment for non-invasive blood glucose sensing

Currently, blood glucose concentration levels from OGTT(Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) results are used to build PLS model in noninvasive blood glucose sensing by Near-Infrared(NIR) Spectroscopy. However, the univocal dynamic change trend of blood glucose concentration based on OGTT results is not various enough to provide comprehensive data to make PLS model robust and accurate. In this talk, with the final purpose of improving the stability and accuracy of the PLS model, we introduced an integrated minimal model(IMM) of glucose metabolism system. First, by adjusting parameters, which represent different metabolism characteristics and individual differences, comparatively ideal mediation programs to different groups of people, even individuals were customized. Second, with different glucose input types(oral method, intravenous injection, or intravenous drip), we got various changes of blood glucose concentration. And by studying the adjustment methods of blood glucose concentration, we would thus customize corresponding experimental protocols of glucose adjustment to different people for noninvasive blood glucose concentration and supply comprehensive data for PLS model.
Semiconducting ground state of GdN thin films

We report the growth of $\mathrm{GdN}$ thin films and a study of their structure and magnetic and conducting properties. It is demonstrated that they are semiconducting at ambient temperature with nitrogen vacancies the dominant dopant. The films are ferromagnetic below $68\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, and a significant narrowing of the band gap is signaled by more than a doubling of its conductivity. The conductivity in the low-temperature ferromagnetic state remains typical of a doped semiconductor, supporting the view that this material is semiconducting in its ground state and that no metal-insulator transition occurs at the Curie temperature.