Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining Social and Intrinsically Motivated Learning for Multitask Robot Skill Acquisition

This article proposes an approach for coupling internally guided learning and social interaction in the context of a multitask robot skill acquisition framework. More specifically, we focus on learning a parametrized distribution of robot movement primitives by combining active intrinsically motivated learning and active imitation learning. We focus on the case where the learning modalities to use are not specified in advance by the experimenter, but are chosen actively by the robot through experiences. Such approach aims at combining experiential and observational learning as efficiently as possible, by relying on a skill acquisition mechanism in which the agent/robot can orchestrate different learning strategies in an iterative manner, and modulate the use of these modalities based on previous experiences. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on a waste throwing task with a simulated 7-DoF Franka Emika robot, where at each iteration of the learning process the robot can actively choose between observational/imitation learning and experiential/intrinsically motivated learning.
INFLUENCE OF DISORDER ON ELECTRONIC EXCITED STATES : AN EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY OF ALKYLTHIOTRIPHENYLENE COLUMNAR PHASES

The spectroscopic properties of discotic hexa-alkylthiotriphenylenes are studied in solution and thin films and compared to those of hexa-alkyloxytriphenylenes. The solution properties are analyzed in the light of CS-INDO-CIPSI quantum chemistry calculations. The absorption maximum is assigned to the degenerate S0 → S4 transition. The fluorescence of the neat phases is attributed to weakly bound excimers. The phase transition leading from ordered to disordered columnar stacks induces an increase in the oscillator strength of the S0 → S1 transition and favors excimer formation. The influence of structural disorder on the properties of the delocalized states is rationalized by using various approximations within the frame of the exciton theory; three models for the calculation of the exciton coupling (point dipole, extended dipole, atomic transition charge distribution) are tested, short and long range interactions are considered, and the introduction of a dielectric constant is discussed. The best agreemen.
Vegetable Waste Compost as Substrate for Melon

Abstract The suitability of compost from horticultural residues as a growing medium in vegetable crop production was compared with the popular rock wool and coconut coir waste substrate. Physical and physio-chemical properties were initially characterized to adjust the management of this substrate for horticultural purposes. Leaching experiments were carried out with acid solution and standard nutrient solution. Two experiments were conducted to compare this compost with rock wool and coconut coir waste in terms of yield and fruit quality of a melon crop. The compost was found to initially have high salt content and a high pH. The results suggested that compost seems to be an acceptable growing medium for soilless vegetable production, provided that it is leached prior to use. Once it is leached, the compost is an acceptable substitute for rock wool and coconut coir waste.
Quantitative investigation of the bioeffects associated with terahertz radiation

The biological effects associated with Terahertz (THz) radiation are not well characterized. In this study, we investigated the cellular response of human dermal fibroblasts exposed to an optically-pumped molecular gas THz laser (υ = 2.52 THz, irradiance = 84.8 mW/cm2, exposure duration = 5 to 80 minutes). Computational dosimetry was conducted using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) modeling techniques. Empirical dosimetry was conducted using infrared cameras and thermocouples. Cellular viability was assessed 24 h post-exposure using MTT calorimetric assays. Quantitative PCR was performed 4 h post-exposure to evaluate the transcriptional activation of genes involved in protein and DNA damage pathways. Comparable analyses were also performed for hyperthermic and genotoxic positive control samples. For all of the exposure durations tested, we found that greater than 95% of the cells were viable post-exposure. In addition, the exposed cells showed only minor increases (~3.5-fold) in heat shock protein expression. The empirical dosimetric data showed that the temperature of the cells increased by ~3 °C during exposure. This value was consistent with that predicted by the computational models. Interestingly, although the THz-exposed cells exhibited increases in heat shock protein expression, the magnitude of these increases was comparable to those observed in hyperthermic controls. In addition, none of the DNA repair genes tested were up-regulated in the THz-exposed cells, whereas 40-fold increases were observed in the genotoxic control cells. These results suggest that the biological effects imposed by THz radiation appear to be primarily photothermal in nature.
A synthesis of N-formylenamides of isoquinoline

N-Formylenamides of isoquinoline (6) were obtained from N-[2-(2-acyl-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]formamides (5) by cyclization in the presence of catalytic amount of p-toluensulfonic acid. The starting keto formamides (5) were obtained by acylation of a N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]formamides (1) with carboxylic acids or their anhydrides in polyphosphoric acid (PPA).
Cárie dentária em adolescentes do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil: uma análise espacial, 2015

Introduction: Dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease and is a public health problem. Aim: Identify spatial pattern of dental caries distribution in adolescents living in São Paulo State. Methods: This is a population-based study with a representative sample of adolescents aged 15 to 19 residing in 162 municipalities of São Paulo State gathered proportionally among 18 health regions. In order to identify the existence of a spatial pattern of caries it was performed the spatial analysis of DMFT index using Morans’ Spatial Correlation Distribution Index (I) and Local Indicators Spatial Association (LISA). Results: The DMFT index for the adolescents of São Paulo State was 3.57. The regions of Campinas and Baixada Santista presented low DMFT (and high IDH index in some regions). Araçatuba, Franca, Marília, Sorocaba and São José do Rio Preto regions presented high DMFT (high IDH and small region with medium IDH). The region Registro present medium DMFT and regions with medium IDH. Conclusion: Spatial analysis of caries in adolescents confirmed a geographical pattern of the disease distribution. Cárie dentária em adolescentes do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil: uma análise espacial, 2015 Dental caries in adolescents from São Paulo State, Brazil: A spatial analysis, 2015 Regiane Cristina do Amaral1 Emilio Prado Fonseca2 César Penazzo Lepri3 Leonardo Campos Assis4 Carla Martins Rocha5 Marc Tennant6 Regiane Cristina do Amaral (amaralre@yahoo.com.br) – Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), Departamento de Odontologia. Rua Cláudio Batista, s/n, Cidade Nova, SE, Brasil. CEP: 49060-108. Submetido em 21/02/2019 Aprovado em 21/07/2019 1Pós-Doutorado pela Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC). Doutorado e Mestrado em Odontologia pela Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP – UNICAMP). Docente pela Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS). Aracaju, SE, Brasil. 2Doutorado em Odontologia pela Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Mestrado em Odontologia pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG). Divinópolis, MG. Brasil. 3Doutorado e Mestrado em Odontologia Restauradora Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Docente pela Universidade de Uberaba (UNIUBE). Uberaba, MG, Brasil. 4Doutorado e mestrado em Engenharia Civil pela Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV). Vice-coordenador pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Química da Universidade de Uberaba (UNIUBE). Uberaba, MG, Brasil. 5Mestrado em Prótese Dentária pela Faculdade de Odontologia São Leopoldo Mandic (SLMANDIC). Campinas, SP, Brasil. 6Docente pela University of Western Austrália (UWA). Western, Western, Austrália. >
Synthesis of a novel family of photochromic amorphous molecular materials based on dithienylethene, their photochromic properties and application for dual image formation

A novel family of photochromic amorphous molecular materials containing a dithienylethene moiety, 1-{5-[4-(di-p-tolylamino)phenyl]-2-methylthiophen-3-yl}-2-(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorocyclopentene, 1-{5-[4-(di-p-tolylamino)phenyl]-2-methylthiophen-3-yl}-2-(2-methylbenzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorocyclopentene and 1,2-bis{5-[4-(di-p-tolylamino)phenyl]-2-methylthiophen-3-yl}-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorocyclopentene, have been designed and synthesised. These compounds, together with their photocyclised products, were found to readily form amorphous glasses with well-defined glass transition temperatures and to undergo photochromism as amorphous films as well as in solution. These compounds are characterised by high quantum yields for the photocyclisation reactions, very low quantum yields for the reverse ring-opening reactions and, hence, almost 100% fractions of the photocyclised form at the photostationary state in solution. These results suggest that the anti-parallel conformer is more populated than the parallel conformer. Optical dichroism was induced by irradiation of coloured films of the photocyclised compounds with linearly polarised red light, and dual image formation at the same location was realised by utilising this phenomenon.
Thermal activation effect on spin transfer switching in magnetic tunnel junctions

A calculation of the intrinsic spin transfer switching current Ic0 is realized in the magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Ic0 is determined by the distribution of Ic in repeated measurements, assuming the linear decrease of the thermal stability by increasing the spin-polarized current. The spin transfer torque is found to be proportional to η(I)I with the applied current I and I-dependent spin polarization η(I). Even in case that I is limited less than Ic due to the tunnel barrier breakdown, Ic0 is calculated with an assisting external magnetic field and making better use of the magnetic phase diagram. In our MTJs, the average intrinsic switching current density was 6.4MA∕cm2.
Silicon thin film solar cells on commercial tiles

Nanostructured silicon single junction thin film solar cells were deposited on commercial red clay roof tiles with engobe surfaces and earthenware wall tiles with glazed surfaces, with a test area of 24 mm2. We studied the influence of the type of substrate tile, back contact, buffer layer and SiOx passivation layer on the optoelectronic performance of the solar cells. Despite the fact that typical micrometre-sized defects on the surfaces of the tiles and the porous nature of the ceramic substrates make deposition of homogeneous thin films on them quite challenging, we have been able to achieve a cell efficiency of 5% and a quantum efficiency of 80% on non-fully optimized cells on commercial tiles. The method is industrially employable utilizing pre-existing plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition technologies. The cost-effectiveness and industrial feasibility of the technique are discussed. Our study shows that photovoltaic tiles can combine energy generation with architectural aesthetics leading to significant implications for advancement in building integrated photovoltaics.
Synergistic effect of graphene and an ionic liquid containing phosphonium on the thermal stability and flame retardancy of polylactide

A series of nanocomposites based on the biodegradable plastic, polylactide (PLA), have been prepared by melt-blending with graphene (Gra) and ionic liquid containing phosphonium ([PCMIM]PF6, IL) surface-functionalized graphene (GIL). The morphology, mechanical properties, thermal stability and burning behaviour of the composites were investigated by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), tensile test, impact test, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), UL-94 test and Cone Calorimeter Test (CCT), respectively. The surface morphology and chemical structure of the char residues were explored by FESEM and Raman spectroscopy. It is confirmed that the fire-retardant performance of the PLA/GIL composites was significantly improved compared to PLA/IL and PLA/Gra; the CCT data showed a reduction in heat release rate and total heat released with increase of the char residue from the TGA results. It revealed that the catalytic charring effect of the ionic liquid, the physical isolating effect of graphene, and the combined effect of both the ionic liquid and graphene (forming continuous and compact char layers) were very efficient in improving the flame retarding properties of PLA/GIL nanocomposites.
Framing the News Media in Germany? Background and Linguistic Analyses of a Manual for the General Public Broadcasting Services in Germany (ARD)1

This contribution discusses the ARD Framing Manual from 2016, “expert advice” by a German “renowned linguist” from the “Berkeley International Framing Institute”. It provides the background to the Manual and traces the public debate in the German media (in translation). It argues that awareness raising of “negative” frames is important, but concrete language alternatives of “positive” frames may be more difficult. A brief corpus-linguistic analysis illustrates the specific style of the Manual and discusses the concrete and constructive application of cognitive linguistic framing concepts to the language in the German public broadcasting system. What is more, the general idea of linking public communication to moral superiority is academically misleading (“selling conceptual brainwashing as cognitive science”) and the few concrete examples contained in the Manual appendix are too elementary or too controversial (“our free broadcasting ARD” vs. “media capitalist locusts”, in DeepL translation). But the ARD Framing Manual is a good starting point for discussion as it may be seen as an example of framing itself.
Employer Femvertising: Women Empowerment in Employer Brand Messages

This article develops for the first time the concept of employer femvertising as a talent attraction tool companies can use to position themselves as employers committed to empowering women. Based on the concepts of employer branding and femvertising, employer femvertising emerges as a set of messages and strategies through which an organization positions itself as an employer that demands and promotes the professional development of women and fights the stereotypes, obstacles, and labor challenges women face in the workplace. A social media content analysis was conducted to explore the messages used in the employer branding campaigns published by four top employer companies on LinkedIn in the first quarter of 2020. The contributions in this article reveal the existence of employer femvertising in employer brand building and identify a taxonomy of 5 categories for this femvertising content: gender equality, female leadership, inclusive recruitment, female talent growth, and work-life balance.
Air Pollution Exposure Mapping by GIS in Kano Metropolitan Area

Because of the pinch of air pollution on human health and its environment, it has become necessary to monitor and map out the peaks and lows threat places of air pollution in different land use across a city. In this regard, air pollution exposure mapping of Kano metropolis based on land use classifications namely industrial, residential, commercial and institutional was carried out for interpretive and assessment of health hazard associated with the selected pollutants. The observations for ambient air quality parameters (CO, SO2, H2S, NO2, and PM10) monitored with portable digital air pollution detecting devices for creation of data. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technique was applied to create spatial distribution maps of urban air quality of the metropolitan area. The results of pollution index map of ArcGIS extrapolation indicated that neighbourhoods in the vicinity of Bompai and Sabon Gari industrial and commercial zones, respectively were found to be highly exposed and liable to ailments associated with air pollution, while places nearby Dorawa and School of Technology were air pollution-ease zones but could experience bioaccumulation over long exposure time. Therefore, the study reveals that variability of air quality was strongly related to predominant land use in particular areas within the metropolis and could help in estimate and valuation of likely health challenges associated with poor air quality due to air pollution. Besides, the observed spatial variation for air quality could serve as hot spot identifier and as an informant for rational decision on air quality control strategies for environmental management.
Molecule–Surface Plasmon Interactions in Hole Arrays: Enhanced Absorption, Refractive Index Changes, and All‐Optical Switching

Surface plasmons have generated a considerable amount of interest over the years as they have opened many possibilities, ranging from molecular sensors to photonics applications, due to their unique properties. A surface plasmon (SP) is essentially light trapped at the surface of a metal as a result of its interaction with the free electrons of the metal. This leads to two important properties: the electromagnetic fields near the surface can become extremely strong due to its confinement in either one or two dimensions, and the SP is very sensitive to minor changes in the surface environment. Therefore, placing molecules in the immediate vicinity of a SP has consequences both for the molecule and the SP. On the one hand, the molecules perceive the high electromagnetic fields as if they were being irradiated with a much higher light intensity than the light impinging on the surface. On the other hand, the SP response is shifted to new wavelengths by the presence of the molecule. A classical example of the first case is surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, where the light is momentarily trapped and concentrated in certain spots of the surface. The surface acts on the Raman signal by enhancing both the input of light and then the extraction of the Raman scattering. A spectroscopic technique such as SP-based attenuated total internal reflection (ATIR) is a good example of the second case since it is based on small changes in refractive indices induced by the presence of molecules on a thin metal film; the SP response of the metal is very sensitive to relative values of the dielectric constants at the interface. Another SP effect that has generated considerable interest since it was first reported is the so-called extraordinary or enhanced optical transmission (EOT) phenomenon through sub-wavelength holes. It has raised many fundamental issues, since it showed that the light could be transmitted through holes with lateral dimensions smaller than half the incident wavelength, while classical theory predicts orders-ofmagnitude less transmission. For the transmission to be very efficient, the metal should be corrugated with a periodic structure such as an array of holes (Fig. 1a) or a single hole surrounded by grooves. Even the light that impinges on the metal surrounding the aperture can be transmitted, implying that the whole structure acts like an antenna to the incident light that is then funneled through the holes by a tunneling mechanism. As a consequence, the transmission normalized to the area occupied by the holes can be larger than one. A typical transmission spectrum of a hole array contains several peaks (Fig. 1b) corresponding to wavelengths where the incident light can give rise to SP standing waves (more correctly, C O M M U N IC A IO N S
Mass‐spectrometer bias in stable isotope ecology

Stable isotope analysis (SIA) is recognized as a powerful analytical tool with numerous ecological applications. This has been highlighted by the increase in popularity of the isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) technique and the large number of studies reporting isotopic data. Comparisons of new isotopic data with previously published results and the use of large volumes of isotopic ratios in meta‐analyses to explain isotopic variance are commonplace. Such data often originate from different IRMS instruments and are assumed to be readily comparable as all instruments are calibrated to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. To test the validity of this assumption, we analyzed a single ecological sample (homogenized cod muscle, Gadus morhua) on eight anonymous IRMS instruments and found significant variation in both δ15N and δ13C. We used a one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with random effects to estimate the average variability of laboratory results within and among instruments. Overall, 74% of variation in δ15N and 35% of variation in δ13C of a single ecological sample was explained by differences in the IRMS instrument used. In light of these findings, researchers are encouraged to submit their own sample reference to provide an independent check on variation between runs and between instruments; consistent discrepancies between instruments should be corrected through linear regression. Comparisons of data obtained from multiple instruments should acknowledge inter‐instrument variation as a potential source of error.
Vertically aligned indium doped zinc oxide nanorods for the application of nanostructured anodes by radio frequency magnetron sputtering

Vertically aligned indium doped zinc oxide (IZO) nanorods (NRs) have been grown without any external catalyst on an indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrate by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Wurtzite IZO NRs distributed homogeneously on the substrate with a preferential orientation along the (002) crystallographic plane. The indium atoms are found to be spatially incorporated into the ZnO lattice along the axial direction by the migration of adatoms from the ITO coated glass substrate at the growth temperature of 550 °C. The doping concentration and mobility of the NRs are determined to be 1.3 × 1017 cm−3 and 68 cm2 V−1 s−1 by the Raman line shape analysis of the longitudinal optical phonon–plasmon coupled mode. The maximum optical transmittance of 83% in the visible region could be an ideal system for nanotextured anode and photovoltaic applications.
APPLICATION OF SCALING THEORY TO DESCRIPTION OF ADSORPTION HYSTERESIS IN OPEN SLIT-LIKE MICROPORES

To describe the adsorption hysteresis in open slit-like micropores, the theory based on the scaling concept for the variation of the relative pressure of adsorbate in the bulk phase at the adsorption and desorption branches of the hysteresis loop is proposed. The equations obtained from this theory are applied to some adsorption systems leading to a reasonable agreement between the calculated values and experimental data.
Ligand design for complexation in aqueous solution. 2. Chelate ring size as a basis for control of size-based selectivity for metal ions

The role of chelate ring size in complex stability, and selectivity based on metal ion size, is examined. Formation constants of pairs of ligands which differ in that one member of the pair forms a five-membered chelate ring where the other forms a six-membered chelate ring are reported with metal ions ranging in ionic radius from small to medium sized