Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding and Optimising NO2-Sensing Using Semiconducting Phthalocyanine Films

Abstract This paper summarises recent progress in understanding the processes which lead to large increases in the semiconductivity of metal phthalocyanine films in the presence of even very small (sub-ppm) concentrations of nitrogen dioxide. A model, based on experimental data, for the kinetics of the adsorption process is described and its application in a microprocessor-controlled NO2-sensing instrument is outlined. Chemical and morphological modification of the surfaces of lead phthalocyanine films by heat-treatment at 360° C in air is shown to lead to smaller but faster responses to NO2 and possible origins of these effects are discussed with reference to data from electron microscopy, XPS and FTIR spectroscopy. Measurements of the strength of gas-surface interactions using a novel fibre-optic interferometric calorimeter are discussed with reference to the above data, and suggest that adsorption of NO2 does not lead immediately to charge-carrier generation.
Advances in agricultural drought monitoring based on soil moisture

: Soil moisture (SM) is a key variable for assessing agricultural drought. For a long time, due to the lack of large-scale, high-precision, continuous SM measurements, SM-based agricultural drought monitoring has been limited in application. With the recent development of remote sensing technologies, the spatial-temporal coverage and accuracy of SM data have been improved significantly. Agricultural drought monitoring indicators using SM have received increasing attention. This study systematically summarized the main characteristics of the SM data sets from multiple sources including in- situ measurements and microwave remote sensing, and further reviewed the three categories of agricultural drought indicators based on SM: 1) drought indicators based on long- term SM; 2) drought indicators based on both SM and soil hydraulic parameters; and 3) integrated drought indicators based on multiple variables including SM. Finally, with the aim of providing some reference for future research, we envisioned the challenges and opportunities for agricultural drought monitoring from the perspectives of 1) the development of SM data; 2) the strengthening of agricultural drought mechanism research; and 3) the improvement of agricultural drought monitoring systems.
See, Reflect, and Act: Using Equity Audits to Enhance Student Success

Promoting the success of all students is one of four institutional goals at Texas State University. Retention and graduation rates provide information regarding the academic progress and success of specific student cohorts. To gain a deeper insight into student success within the undergraduate kinesiology/exercise and sports science program at Texas State University, an equity audit was conducted during the fall 2019 academic semester. An equity audit provides a lens to critically examine institutional data to identify inequities in academic programs and student achievement based on specific variables, such as gender, age, race, and socioeconomic status. This article provides a model for conducting an equity audit in kinesiology/exercise and sports science programs, reports the findings, and highlights strategic actions implemented to combat inequities in student success.
Basic reproduction rate and case fatality rate of COVID-19: application of meta-analysis. (Special Issue: COVID-19 and demographic impact.)

The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has a wider geographical spread than other previous viruses such as Ebola and H1N1 This study aims to provide the estimates of the basic reproduction rate (R0) and case fatality rate (CFR), which applies to a generalized population The systematic review helped to retrieve the published estimates of reproduction rate and case fatality rate in peer-reviewed articles from the PubMed MEDLINE database with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria in the period 15 December 2019 to 3 May 2020 A meta-analysis, with the inverse variance method, fixed- and random-effects model and the Forest plot, was performed to estimate the mean effect size or mean value of the basic reproduction rate and case fatality rate We estimated the robust estimate of R0 at 3 02 (2 42-3 68) persons and the robust estimate of CFR at 2 56 (2 06-3 05) percent after accounting for heterogeneity among studies using the random-effects model We found that one person is likely to infect two to three persons in the absence of any control measures, and around three percent of the population are at the risk of death within one-and-a-half months from the onset of disease COVID-19 in a generalized population
Quantum-sapiens: the quantum bases for human expertise, knowledge, and problem-solving

ABSTRACT Despite the great promises and potential of quantum computing, the full range of possibilities and practical applications is not yet clear. In this contribution, we highlight the potential for quantum theories and computation to reignite the art and science of expert systems and knowledge engineering. With their grounding in uncertainty and unpredictability, quantum concepts are able to expand theoretical and practical boundaries of research and exploration. We demonstrate the advantages of using quantum logic and computation when applying expert knowledge such as the ability to ask imprecise (inherently probabalistic) queries and do so efficiently through large and complicated computational spaces by leveraging quantum concepts such as superposition, entanglement, parallelism, and interference to sustain and manipulate networks of quantum qubits. This, we argue, can provide non-insignificant computational speedups and enable more complex data representations and analysis. We then point the keen reader towards three practical applications and provide some evidence for their quantum advantages – Scientific Discovery, Creativity and Breakthrough Thinking, Complex Systems, and Future of Sports – that we regard as largely unexplored in popular accounts of quantum theory; as such, we suggest these are low hanging fruit for the more-immediately feasible applications of quantum technologies.
THE RATE‐LIMITING STEP IN PLANT NUTRIENT ABSORPTION FROM SOIL

The rate of uptake of a nutrient may be limited by its rate of diffusion through the soil or by the ability of the root to absorb it from low concentration in the soil solution. In the growth-response range of concentration, uptake of N, P, and K appears to be limited by diffusion. Transpiration rate, in these conditions, should have little influence. The root may be able to increase the soil solution concentration of sparingly soluble nutrients.
STATE I‐STATE II TRANSITIONS IN THE THERMOPHILIC BLUE‐GREEN ALGA (CYANOBACTERIUM) Synechococcus lividus *

Time courses of state I‐state II transitions were measured in the thermophilic blue‐green alga (Cyanobacterium), Synechococcus lividus, that was grown at 55°C. The rate of the state I–II transition using light II illumination was the same as that in the dark, and the dark state was identified to be state II. Therefore, light regulation attained by state transitions is produced by the state II–I transition induced by system I light. The redox level of plastoquinone did not affect this dark state II.
Is marketing communication really a challenge for companies on Instagram?

Meeting the challenges of social media is becoming more and more important for companies in the 21st century. If companies want to be successful, they need to be present not only in the real world but also in the virtual world. With this paper, we would like to help companies in their marketing communication on Instagram. We carried out an international research on the most important factors of Instagram business profile and examined their relationship by correlation analysis. Our results are summarized in a model, which includes several factors that companies must simultaneously consider when following a particular social media strategy. Since we have not discovered big differences among the countries we examined, our model could have been used internationally (primarily by Central European companies).
The Effect of Person-Job Fit on Nurses' Engagement in the Context of COVID-19: The Mediating Role of Exemplary Role of Heroes in Harmâ€™s Way

Objective: to understand the status quo of nurse's person-job fit, nurse's engagement, and nurses' attitude towards the exemplary role of heroes in harm’s way To explore the relationship between person-job fit and nurses' engagement under the background of COVID-19, and the mediating role of the exemplary role of heroes in harm’s way In the context of COVID-19 and other major public health emergencies, it provides countermeasures for strengthening the matching degree between nurses and their work and enhancing nurses' engagement, so as to provide theoretical support for further demonstrating exemplary role of heroes in harm’s way during the COVID-19 and major public health emergencies Methods: in August 2020, 639 nurses were investigated with person-job fit scale, model demonstration scale and engagement scale Results: person-job fit positively affected nurses' engagement and its dimensions, and the exemplary role of heroes in harm’s way mediated the relationship between them Conclusion: The degree of understanding and influence of the heroes in harm’s way is different, and the influence degree of each variable is also different;the higher the level of person-job fit of nurses, the higher the degree of nurses' engagement The exemplary role of heroes in harm’s way will mediate the relationship between the two
Toward Verifiable and Privacy Preserving Machine Learning Prediction

The ubiquitous needs for extracting insights from data are driving the emergence of service providers to offer predictions given the inputs from customers. During this process, it is important and highly nontrivial for the service providers to generate proofs of honest predictions without leaking the key parameters of their trained models. In addition, the customers are usually unwilling to reveal their sensitive inputs. In this article, we proposed MVP, which enables Machine learning prediction in a Verifiable and Privacy preserving fashion. MVP features the properties of polynomial decomposition and prime-order bilinear groups to simultaneously facilitate oblivious evaluation and batch outcome verification while maintaining function privacy and input privacy. We further instantiated MVP with Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and extensively evaluated its performance for the spam detection task on three practical Short Message Service (SMS) datasets. Our analysis and evaluation results reveal that MVP achieves the desired properties while incurring low computation and communication overhead.
Micronization of Dihydroartemisinin by Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solutions

The purpose of this study was to prepare fine particles of antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) by rapid expansion of supercritical solutions (RESS) using carbon dioxide as supercritical fluid. The mechanical grinding by jet mill and additional vibration rod mill also was performed as a comparative method. In the RESS process, drug particles were prepared by varying processing conditions, including extraction condition, pre-expansion condition, nozzle diameter, nozzle temperature, and collecting distance. Particle size and morphology and physicochemical characteristics of the drug particles were investigated. The RESS process could produce the smaller drug particles (about 1–2 μm) when compared to mechanical grinding method (about 7 μm). All RESS processing parameters had an effect on size and morphology of drug particles. The particle size of drug was related to the solubility of drug in supercritical CO2 at each processing condition. The fine particles of DHA (about 1 μm) with narrow size distribution could be obtained at extraction pressure of 18 MPa and extraction temperature of 32°C, which was closed to the critical temperature of supercritical CO2 whereas broad size distribution was obtained at extraction temperature of 60°C. Powder X-ray diffraction study indicated that the RESS-processed particles were in crystalline form. The results revealed that RESS process is applicable for micronization of DHA.
Effect of Rhamnolipids on the Dissolution, Bioavailability, and Biodegradation of Phenanthrene

Biodegradation rates for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the environment are limited by their low solubility and sorption to solid surfaces. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of biosurfactants on the dissolution, bioavailability, and biodegradation of a slightly soluble PAH, phenanthrene, in a series of batch solution studies. A mathematical model that describes the combined effects of solubilization and biodegradation, including description of bioavailability within surfactant micelles, was used to analyze the experimental results. Two forms of the biosurfactant, a monorhamnolipid and a dirhamnolipid, were tested; it was found that both surfactants increased the solubility and enhanced the rate of phenanthrene biodegradation. Monorhamnolipid was more effective than dirhamnolipid for solubilization; however, overall rates of mineralization were essentially the same. This seems to result from variable bioavailability of substrate: phenanthrene within monorhamnolipid micelles w.
THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY(LACTIC ACID) AND STARCH BLENDS WITH VARIOUS PLASTICIZERS

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has potential for use in disposable and biodegradable plastics. Blending starch with PLA would increase biodegradability and reduce costs. However, the brittleness of the starch/PLA blend is a major drawback for many applications. The objective of this study was to characterize thermal and mechanical properties of PLA/starch blends with addition of six plasticizers at various levels. Three groups of plasticizers were used: (1) acetyl triethyl citrate (AC) and triethyl citrate (TC); (2) poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) of low molecular weight and containing an ether group that might interact with PLA; and (3) glycerol and sorbitol, which are miscible with starch. The PLA and cornstarch were blended at a 60:40 weight ratio by using a lab–scale twin–screw extruder with addition of these plasticizers ranging from 5% to 25%. The thermal transition temperatures (glass transition, crystallization, and melting) of the extruded PLA/starch blends decreased as AC, TC, and PEG contents increased. The PPG almost had no effect on the transition temperatures of the blends. Cold crystallization and melting temperatures of PLA increased slightly with increasing sorbitol content. Glycerol reduced the cold crystallization and melting temperatures but had no effect on the glass transition temperature. Starch formed a continuous phase in the presence of 25% sorbitol or 15%, 20%, or 25% glycerol. The TC and PEG enhanced the crystallization of PLA. The annealed samples containing glycerol had the highest crystallinity. As concentration of AC, TC, PEG, PPG, and glycerol increased, tensile strength and Young’s Modulus of the extruded and molded blends decreased, and elongation increased in comparison to the blend without plasticizers.
Phonons in Ca2-xSrxCuO3 (x=0, 0.2 and 0.4): Raman and infrared spectroscopy, and lattice dynamics calculation

The polarized Raman spectra of Ca2CuO3, Ca1.8Sr0. 2CuO3 and Ca1.6Sr0. 4CuO3 single crystals and the IR transmission spectra of Ca2CuO3 and Ca1.6Sr0. 4CuO3 have been measured. The frequencies of all Gamma -point phonons of Ca2CuO3 have been determined on the basis of assignment of the one-phonon Raman (Ag) and IR lines to definite normal modes and calculations of the lattice dynamics. The line assignment is consistent with earlier results for Ca1.8Sr0. 2CuO3 as well as with the line shifts upon substitution of Sr for Ca. The intensive broad lines in the (bb)-polarized Raman spectra of both Sr-free and Sr-substituted samples (in addition to the two Ag lines already assigned) have been attributed to resonantly enhanced two-phonon scattering involving modes related to motions of Cu and/or O(2) atoms. A coincidence has been found between most of the line frequencies and half-widths in the (bb)-polarized Raman spectra and some of the maxima in the two-phonon density of states as obtained from lattice dynamics calculations.
Spatial agglomeration pattern of homestay inn and influencing factorsbased on the comparison of Hangzhou, Huzhou, and Enshi cities

: In recent years, homestay inn has developed and matured based on its personalized services and cozy accommodation experience. Its spatial agglomeration also promotes the homestay inn industry to grow in clusters and become specialized. This study chose Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province, Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province, and Enshi City in Hubei Province, which are the typical areas of the homestay inn industry, as cases. Based on the homestay inn data of Tujia.com, this study used global spatial association indicators and Getis-Ord G i * index to explore the agglomeration pattern and influencing factors of the three areas. The spatial distributions of homestay inn in Hangzhou, Huzhou, and Enshi Cities all show an agglomeration pattern, and the largest hot spot region of Hangzhou spreads around the city center. The spatial agglomeration pattern of homestay inn of Hangzhou is based on locations within the city. The hot spot region of homestay inn in Huzhou is far away from the city center and spreads around the Mogan Mountains. The spatial agglomeration pattern of homestay inn of Huzhou is based on the regional brand. The hot spot region of Enshi homestay inn consists of three small hot spots, which are all connected to the scenic spots. The spatial agglomeration pattern of homestay inn of Enshi is based on the scenic spots. Through the analysis of location, transportation, tourism resources, and regional brands of the three areas, the study showed that location is the basis of the agglomeration of homestay inn in cities. Regional brand is a booster to promote the agglomeration of homestay inn. Tourism resources are the early motivation of clustering for homestay inn. Road transportation is a guarantee for the clustering and expansion of the homestay inn. The conclusions provide a useful reference for choosing reasonable locations for homestay inn and allocating resources rationally.
The Savior and the Survivor: Virtual Afterlives in New Media

ABSTRACT:Two recent cases of new media practices, produced by Lubavitcher (Habad) Hasidim and the Shoah Foundation (University of Southern California), make provocative use of technologies to address the passing of revered figures: Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe) and Holocaust survivors, respectively. In both instances, the deaths of these people are understood to pose daunting challenges to the continuity of their devotees' commitment to future generations. The turn to new technologies—including video, the Inter-net, interactive holography, and virtual reality—strives to simulate "live" contact with the deceased. These endeavors create new cultural practices that rely on the ambivalent status of their subjects as simultaneously present and absent. These new media practices have telling implications for Jewish cultures as they grapple with concerns for continuity, remembering the past, and envisioning a transformed future.
A Wireless and Passive Strain Sensor With Improved Sensitivity Enabled by Negative Poisson’s Ratio Structure

The conventional magnetostrictive strain sensor suffers from low detection sensitivity. In this study, a wireless and passive magnetostrictive strain sensor with improved sensitivity was proposed, modelled, analyzed, and tested. A hollow plate with a negative Poisson’s ratio structure was taken as the substrate, substituting this for the conventional positive Poisson’s ratio material. An analysis model was established for the negative Poisson’s ratio substrate. Finite element method (FEM) analysis was conducted to verify the negative Poisson’s ratio model. Experiments were carried out to prove the sensitivity enhancement principle. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the influence of the geometry dimension on the output of the electric signal. We show that the proposed sensor has an improved strain test sensitivity of up to 176.3%. The experimental results further indicate that different geometry dimensions of the negative Poisson’s ratio have different influences on the sensitivity of the magnetostrictive strain sensor. The proposed magnetostrictive strain sensor shows the advantages of high sensitivity, easy implementation, convenient fabrication, and low cost.
Experimental INVESTIGATION OF influence WEDM PARAMETERS ON SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND FLATNESS DEVIATION

Wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a modern technology that is widely used in the production of difficult to cut conductive materials. Stochastic nature of electrical discharges causing to difficult to identify the influence WEDM parameters on surface roughness and dimensional accuracy of machining parts. Predicting favorable machining conditions for the required surface finish and dimensional accuracy plays a key role in the process. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to build empirical models on the influence of the discharge voltage VB , pulse interval SB , and workpiece height on the surface roughness ( Ra ) and the flatness deviation during the machining of tool steel X153CrMoV12. The conducted analysis of the material removal physics in relation to investigated parameters indicated potential sources of shape errors of cutting parts.
Ferric Ion and Oxygen Reduction at the Surface of Protoplasts and Cells of Acer pseudoplatanus

This work was undertaken to verify whether surface NADH oxidases or peroxidases are involved in the apoplastic reduction of Fe(III). The reduction of Fe(III)-ADP, linked to NADH-dependent activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), protoplasts and cells of Acer pseudoplatanus, was measured as Fe(II)-bathophenanthrolinedisulfonate (BPDS) chelate formation. In the presence of BPDS in the incubation medium (method 1), NADH-dependent HRP activity was associated with a rapid Fe(III)-ADP reduction that was almost completely inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD), while catalase only slowed down the rate of reduction. A. pseudoplatanus protoplasts and cells reduced extracellular Fe(III)-ADP in the absence of exogenously supplied NADH. The addition of NADH stimulated the reduction. SOD and catalase only inhibited the NADH-dependent Fe(III)-ADP reduction. Mn(II), known for its ability to scavenge O−2, inhibited both the independent and NADH-dependent Fe(III)-ADP reduction. The reductase activity of protoplasts and cells was also monitored in the absence of BPDS (method 2). The latter was added only at the end of the reaction to evaluate Fe(II) formed. Also, in this case, both preparations reduced Fe(III)-ADP. However, the addition of NADH did not stimulate Fe(III)-ADP reduction but, instead, lowered it. This may be related to a re-oxidation of Fe(II) by H2O2 that could also be produced during NADH-dependent peroxidase activity. Catalase and SOD made the Fe(III)-ADP reduction more efficient because, by removing H2O2 (catalase) or preventing H2O2 formation (SOD), they hindered the re-oxidation of Fe(II) not chelated by BPDS. As with the result obtained by method 1, Mn(II) inhibited Fe(III)-ADP reduction carried out in the presence or absence of NADH. The different effects of SOD and Mn(II), both scavengers of O−2, may depend on the ability of Mn(II) to permeate the cells more easily than SOD. These results show that A. pseudoplatanus protoplasts and cells reduce extracellular Fe(III)-ADP. Exogenously supplied NADH induces an additional reduction of Fe(III) by the activity of NADH peroxidases of the plasmalemma or cell wall. However, the latter can also trigger the formation of H2O2 that, reacting with Fe(II) (not chelated by BPDS), generates hydroxyl radicals and converts Fe(II) to Fe(III) (Fenton's reaction).