Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hong Kong vehicle emission changes from 2003 to 2015 in the Shing Mun Tunnel

ABSTRACT This study characterized motor vehicle emission rates and compositions in Hong Kong's Shing Mun tunnel (SMT) during 2015 and compared them to similar measurements from the same tunnel in 2003. Average PM2.5 concentrations in the SMT decreased by ∼70% from 229.1 ± 22.1 µg/m3 in 2003 to 74.2 ± 2.1 µg/m3 in 2015. Both PM2.5 and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission factors (EFD) were reduced by ∼80% and total non-methane (NMHC) hydrocarbons EFD were reduced by 44%. These reductions are consistent with long-term trends of roadside ambient concentrations and emission inventory estimates, indicating the effectiveness of emission control measures. EFD changes between 2003 and 2015 were not statistically significant for carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Tunnel nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and NO2/NOx volume ratios increased, indicating an increased NO2 fraction in the primary vehicle exhaust emissions. Elemental carbon (EC) and organic matter (OM) were the most abundant PM2.5 constituents, with EC and OM, respectively, contributing to 51 and 31% of PM2.5 in 2003, and 35 and 28% of PM2.5 in 2015. Average EC and OM EFD decreased by ∼80% from 2003 to 2015. The sulfate EFD decreased to a lesser degree (55%) and its contribution to PM2.5 increased from 10% in 2003 to 18% in 2015, due to influences from ambient background sulfate concentrations. The contribution of geological materials to PM2.5 increased from 2% in 2003 to 5% in 2015, signifying the importance of non-tailpipe emissions. © 2018 American Association for Aerosol Research
Estimación y priorización de requisitos no-funcionales para desarrollo de software: Estado del arte

Los requisitos de calidad (también llamados requisitos no-funcionales) son aquellos que permiten asegurar la calidad del software. Incluyen aspectos muy diversos, como disponibilidad, seguridad, rendimiento, escalabilidad, portabilidad y usabilidad, entre otros. Los continuos avances tecnológicos, como el software en la nube o el Internet de las Cosas, presentan nuevos retos en el desarrollo del software para poder garantizar un nivel de calidad satisfactorio de dichos aspectos. Asimismo, las metodologías de desarrollo ágil, cuyo uso viene en aumento, tales como SCRUM, XP, Kanban, no dan el soporte necesario para la gestión de dichos requisitos de calidad. Con el fin de facilitar a los ingenieros del software la toma de decisiones sobre el nivel de calidad necesario en un proyecto, es imprescindible conocer de antemano: 1) qué criterios se van a tener en cuenta para verificar, priorizar, planificar y/o negociar los requisitos de calidad. Asimismo, es necesario: 2) precisar cómo se van a evaluar dichos criterios, y 3) identificar qué factores del contexto del proyecto pueden afectar dicha evaluación. Para intentar dar respuesta a estas 3 cuestiones o preguntas de investigación, los autores de este capítulo han diseñado y están llevando a cabo un estudio sistemático de la literatura. Este trabajo presenta para su discusión la descripción de la metodología seguida en ese estudio, así como algunos de los resultados preliminares obtenidos durante su ejecución.
Reconstruction polarimétrique d'environnements circumstellaires à partir des données ESO/VLT-SPHERE IRDIS

La reconstruction des environnements des etoiles jeunes par imagerie directe est un de car leur emission est noyee dans les residus de lumiere stellaire malgre l'utilisation d'un coronographe. Il est cependant possible de les demelanger en exploitant leurs di erences d'etats de polarisation. Dans ce papier, nous presentons une methode regularisee de reconstruction des environnements circumstellaires polarises, a partir des donnees d'IRDIS (Infrared Dual Imager and Spectrograph), instrument de SPHERE (Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch) installe sur l'un des telescopes du VLT (Very Large Tescope) de l'ESO (European Southern Observatory). Nous discutons des merites de di erentes regularisations selon le cas astrophysique etudie.
CULTURAL CONFLICT EXPERIENCED BY THE CENTRAL CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL CRAZY RICH ASIAN BY KEVIN KWAN

Cultural conflict can occur because the diversity of cultures, religions, and races. When we refuse to learn about other cultures, stereotype, misinterpretation and tendency to change attitudes toward other ethnicity might happen. The purposes of this thesis is to explore the cultural conflict and the settlement in Kevin Kwan’s novel Crazy Rich Asian. This novel presents Rachel Chu and Nicholas Young as the central character. The research is conducted by means of descriptive analysis method. The results shows that the cultural conflicts experienced by Rachel and Nick were caused by stereotypes, misunderstandings, ethnocentrism and materialism, a high sense of selfishness that made the conflict continue without any resolution.Keywords: Crazy Rich Asian; Cultural Conflict; Culture.
The State of Distance Education in Belarus: Problems and Perspectives (Дыстанцыйная адукацыя ў Беларусі: стан, праблемы і перспектывы)

The English version of this paper can be found at https://ssrn.com/abstract=3609873 English abstract: In Soviet times, extramural education was extremely popular in Belarus – the Soviet Union took pride in having created a system for obtaining almost all educational degrees remotely. It was the first in the world to do so. Extramural education still remains popular, although its utilization is less wide-spread than in neighboring countries. Promoting distance education in Belarus would make education more accessible to broader circles of society, including those who are constrained by physical or economic factors. The established history of extramural education, good technical equipment at universities, and the wide-spread use of high-speed Internet mean that Belarus already possesses a good basis for the development of a high-quality system of distance education. In order to create a high-quality system of distance education in Belarus, it is necessary to create a corresponding legislative base, to organize additional training for specialists in the sphere of education, and to expand the cooperation between universities and the companies that work in the high tech sector. Belarusian abstract: У савецкія часы вялікую папулярнасць мела завочнае навучанне – Савецкі Саюз ганарыўся тым, што першым у свеце стварыў магчымасць атрымання ўсіх адукацыйных ступеняў завочна. Сістэма завочнага навучання застаецца папулярнай у Беларусі, аднак выкарыстанне дыстанцыйнай адукацыі ў Беларусі мала пашыранае ў параўнанні з суседнімі краінамі. Укараненне дыстанцыйнага навучання ў Беларусі дазволіць атрымліваць адукацыю больш шырокім колам грамадства, у тым ліку тым хто з-за абмежаваных фізічных ці эканамічных магчымасцяў не можа вучыцца на стацыянарнай аснове. Глыбока ўкаранёная сістэма завочнага навучання, добрае тэхнічне абсталяванне ўніверсітэтаў і шырокі доступ насельніцтва да хуткага інтэрнэта ствараюць добры падмурак для развіцця якаснай сістэмы дыстанцыйнай адукацыі. На шляху да якаснай сістэмы дыстанцыйнай адукацыі ў Беларусі неабходна стварыць адпаведную заканадаўчую базу, арганізаваць дадатковую адукацыю спецыялістаў у сферы адукацыі і пашыраць супрацу ўніверсітэтаў з кампаніямі, якія працуюць у сектары высокіх тэхналогіяў.
Physical characteristics and effect of germination on functional properties of black soybean (Glycine max)

The present research analyzed the physical and functional properties of black soybean. Germinated sample was prepared by soaking grains for overnight and allowed for germination for 72-hours in incubator at 320C, dried, milled and kept in air tight containers for further analysis. The results showed that black soybean seeds had good physical properties. Functional properties showed that germinated seed flour had significantly higher water absorption capacity (203.33ml/100g) and foaming capacity (22.67%), while raw black soybean seeds flour had higher emulsion activity (49.46%), emulsion stability (47.67%), fat absorption capacity (126.67ml/100g) and foam stability (95.35%). Both the samples had the highest solubility at alkaline medium. The results of particle size distribution showed that both the flour samples had maximum retention on 85 mesh sieve.The study concluded that black soybean has good physical and functional properties which makesit potentially ideal for local food uses and industrial food systems.
Colombian economic growth under Markov switching regimes with endogenous transition probabilities

In this paper, we modelled the Colombian long run per capita economic growth (1925-2005) using a Markov switching regime model with both fixed (FTP) and time-varying transition probabilities (TVTP) to explain regime changes in the economic growth. We found evidence of non-linearity in the per capita economic growth, and two different levels in the data associated with depression and sustainable growth regimes were identified. In addition, the hypothesis of fixed probabilities is rejected in favour of the time-varying transitional probabilities, meaning that the correct model is the one with endogenous probabilities, when the probability of remaining in the sustainable growth regime increases with a rise in terms of trade, government expenditures and decreases with capital outflows. On the other hand, increases in government expenditures and terms of trade decrease the probability of being in the depression state while an increase in capital outflows raises such probability. Finally, we found that TVTP model gives more information than FTP model because the probabilities have changed significantly during the period under analysis and the explanatory variables are very informative in dating the evolution of the state of the economy, especially those associated with external shocks.
Investigation of SAP, NPTX1 and their interaction on synaptic function and microglia activity and their possible role in Alzheimer's disease

The pentraxins comprise of a family of proteins that exist in the brain to modulate synaptic formation and plasticity, and in the periphery as part of the immune response. Both the peripheral pentraxin serum amyloid-P component (SAP) and the neuronal pentraxin 1 (NPTX1) have been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and show up-regulation in AD brains. SAP is always found on amyloid plaques and is linked to amyloid fibril stability, while NPTX1 is present in dystrophic neurons in plaques and can mediate some of the effects of amyloid-beta (Aβ). Under conditions of blood-brain barrier compromise, SAP can also enter the brain and is capable of exerting effects on synaptic transmission. Results from the current study show that SAP is capable of forming complexes with the neuronal pentraxins. Specifically, SAP can bind with NPTX1, NPTX2 and NPTXR when co-overexpressed in 293T cells. To investigate the effects that this complex may be having in the brain, SAP and NPTX1 were applied separately or simultaneously to primary neurons and to organotypics slices. To evaluate post-synaptic effects, spine density after SAP and/or NPTX1 application was examined. NPTX1 application resulted in decreased spine density, but this effect was prevented by SAP. A similar blocking effect of NPTX1 by SAP was found in the microglia counts from organotypic cultures, where NPTX1 alone resulted in decreased microglia and NPTX1+SAP showed a reduced deficit. Application of both SAP and NPTX1 resulted in a decrease in the proportion of activated microglia, whereas the application of either pentraxin alone was not found to affect levels of activation. Therefore, while SAP alone has no effect, it can block the effect of NPTX1 in decreasing microglial numbers, and contribute to decreased activation levels when co-applied with NPTX1. These results suggest that when SAP enters the brain it may be capable of exerting effects on synaptic transmission and immune response in the CNS via an interaction with the neuronal pentraxins.
Sponge-like quaternary ammonium-based poly(ionic liquid)s for high CO2 capture and efficient cycloaddition under mild conditions

Mesoporous poly(ionic liquid)s (MPILs) are promising candidates for CO2 capture and CO2 conversion; however, no quaternary ammonium-based MPIL has been reported for cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides. Herein, a series of novel sponge-like crosslinked quaternary ammonium-based MPILs containing rich exposed anions and a large surface area were successfully prepared by free-radical polymerization and subsequent supercritical CO2 drying (SCD). It was discovered that the SCD treatment was vital to form the mesoporous structure of MPILs. These MPILs behaved like a CO2 sponge and facilitated high CO2 adsorption, which accelerated the cycloaddition process. Among these MPILs, poly(N,N′-(methylene)bis(N,N-dimethyl-1-(4-vinylphenyl)methanaminium)chloride) with a halogen anion-enriched skeleton showed the best catalytic performance for CO2 cycloaddition with various epoxides under mild conditions, i.e. 1 atm, 90 °C, solvent-free, metal-free, and additive-free conditions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the activation energy was lower for the rate-determining epoxy ring-opening step when the quaternary ammonium monomer was used as compared to the case when the imidazolium monomer was used, revealing the lower CO2 cycloaddition temperature with the quaternary ammonium-based MPIL. Moreover, the catalyst can be separated easily and reused with high stability.
Enhancing emission intensity and thermal stability by charge compensation in Sr2Mg3P4O15:Eu3+

Charge compensation was the effective methods to enhance the luminescence properties of phosphors. In this paper, novel single-phased orange light emitting Sr2Mg3P4O15:Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by solid state method. The phase purity and luminous characteristics were examined detailly. Meanwhile, three kinds of charge compensation methods (co-doping the alkali metal R+ (R+ = Li, Na, K), substituting Si4+ for P5+ and self-compensation) were employed to solve the charge imbalance problem between Sr2+ and Eu3+. The results showed that emission intensity of Eu3+ was improved by 1.43 (Li+), 1.58 (Na+), 1.53 (K+), 1.61 (Si4+) and 1.30 (self) times than that of Sr1.6Mg3P4O15:0.40Eu3+ respectively and there was no change of the emitting color simultaneously. Furthermore, as the temperature reached at 423 K, the emission intensity increased from 41.67% of Sr1.6Mg3P4O15:0.40Eu3+ to 55.69% (Li+), 61.62% (Na+), 58.98% (K+), 71.15% (Si4+) and 80.59% (self) of that at room temperature. The reasons of those phenomena were the reduction of ion vacancies caused by charge imbalance through the charge compensation process. The specific mechanisms were elaborated in detail. Overall, this research validated that the charge compensation strategies could be severed as the key method to improve the luminescence properties, especially the thermal stability of phosphor. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PRE-PLAY COMMUNICATIONS AND CREDIBILITY: A TEST OF AUMANN'S CONJECTURE

The effectiveness of pre-play communication in achieving efficient outcomes has long been a subject of controversy. In some environments, cheap talk may help to achieve coordination. However, Aumann conjectures that, in a variant of the Stag Hunt game, a signal for efficient play is not self-enforcing and concludes that an agreement to play [the efficient outcome] conveys no information about what the players will do. " Harsanyi and Selten (1988) cite this example as an illustration of risk-dominance vs. payoff-dominance. Farrell and Rabin (1996) agree with the logic, but suspect that cheap talk will nonetheless achieve efficiency. The conjecture is tested with one-way communication. When the sender first chooses a signal and then an action, there is impressive coordination: a 94% probability for the potentially efficient (but risky) play, given a signal for efficient play. Without communication, efforts to achieve efficiency were unsuccessful, as the proportion of B moves is only 35%. I also test a hypothesis that the order of the action and the signal affects the results, finding that the decision order is indeed important. Aumann's conjecture is rejected when the signal is determined prior to the action. However, the signal's credibility diminishes when the sender is known to have first chosen an action, supporting the conjecture, as the results are not statistically distinguishable from those in the no signal case. Some applications and issues in communication and coordination are discussed.
Assimilate or Differentiate? Contributors' Choice of Subjects in User-Generated Content

A key to the content diversity on user-generated content platforms is what subjects users choose to contribute on. This research investigates how two factors can shape contributors’ subject choice decisions, namely, the amount of existing content and content contributed by online friends, or “friend content. ” Our experimental findings show that both the amount of existing content and friend content can shape a contributor’s subject choice decisions: ceteris paribus, contributors prefer subjects with less existing content and ones with friend content when the amount of existing content is the same. In addition, contributors’ preference for subjects with friend content weakens as the amount of existing content on other subjects decreases. Our findings hold important implications for research and practice in user-generated content platforms and beyond.
Anionic Nitrogen Chelate Ligands: From Molecular Self-assembly to Small Molecule Activation

This thesis examines the use of anionic nitrogen chelate ligands in coordination-driven self-assembly and small molecule activation. The two classes of anionic nitrogen chelate ligands that were explored are β-diiminate and 4,5-diazafluorenide derivatives. Chapter 2 deals with Pd β-diiminate chemistry. Chloro-bridged dimers served as versatile starting materials, and their reactivity toward pyridine and arylboronic acids was explored. An unusual transmetallation reaction with arylboronic acids triggered the self-assembly of tetrapallada-macrocycles. The formation of the self-assembled tetrapallada-macrocycles is through the generation of new Pd-C bonds. Chapter 3 deals with 4,5-diazafluorenide as an actor ligand in CO2 activation. A reversible formal insertion of CO2 into a remote ligand C-H bond was discovered. A variety of spectator metal centres were used to tune the reactivity of the actor ligand toward CO2. The spectator metal centre could even be replaced entirely with an organic group allowing for the first metal-free reversible tandem CO2 and C-H activation.
Efficient oxygen electrocatalysis on special active sites: A theoretical study

Oxygen electrocatalysis will be pivotal in future independent of fossil fuels. Renewable energy production will rely heavily on oxygen electrocatalysis as a method for storing energy from intermittent energy sources such as the wind and sun in the form of chemical bonds and to release the energy stored in these bonds in an eco-friendly fashion in fuel cells. This thesis explores catalysts for oxygen electrocatalysis and how carefully designed local structures on catalysts surfaces termed special active sites can influence the activity. Density functional theory has been used as a method throughout this thesis to understand these local structure effects and their influence on surface reactions. The concept of these special active sites is used to explain how oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts can have activities beyond the limits of what was previously thought possible. The concept is used to explain the increase in activity observed for the OER catalyst ruthenium dioxide when it is mixed with nickel or cobalt. Manganese and cobalt oxides when in the vicinity of gold also display an increase in OER activity which can be explained by locally created special active sites. Density functional theory calculation provides an insight into the how the activity is increased at these special active sites and proposes a modified reaction mechanism for the oxygen evolution reaction on these sites. Another type of special active site can explain the production of hydrogen peroxide on nickel and cobalt incorporated in ruthenium dioxide at high overpotentials during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Density functional theory calculations were used to explain this phenomenon. The special active sites concepts are used to propose a general unified approach to increase the efficiency for oxygen electrocatalysis (ORR and OER) using organic functional groups on another class of catalysts. These consist of graphene sheets modified to have a local porphyrine site with different transition metals ions as model systems.
Social Media Use, Perceived Depression and Academic Performance of College Students in a Philippine Higher Education Institution

The study aimed to determine the relationship between social media use, depression, and the academic performance among college students. A descriptive-correlative design was applied to study 194 randomly selected Nursing and Medical technology students from a tertiary health educational institution in the CALABARZON area using an adapted survey questionnaire. The data were treated using frequency and percentage, weighted mean, Pearson’s r and regression. Results revealed that the College of Allied Medicine students showing good academic performance are active social media users with one to ten social media platforms, spending an average of one to two hours per engagement in search for information. Facebook still is the most popular social media platform site among this population group. Most of the students do not show evidence of perceived depression despite the number of engagements in social media platform. There is no significant relationship between perceived depression and social media use among allied medicine students. Social media use and depression are not predictors of academic performance.
Enhanced mechanical properties of silica nanoparticle-covered cross-linking graphene oxide filled thermoplastic polyurethane composite

In this work, silica nanoparticle-covered cross-linking graphene oxide (GOES) was successfully synthesized in a stacking graphene oxide (GOE) solution where ethylenediamine (EDA) was used for simultaneous reduction and functionalization of the graphene oxide (GO). The GOES-filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites were prepared through solution mixing and the mechanical properties of GOES/TPU were systematically investigated. The results revealed that the properties of composites filled with the cross-linked (GOE, GOES) filler are better than those of un-cross-linked (GO, GOS) filler. Furthermore, with a loading of 2 wt%, the tensile strengths and the tensile strains of GOES/TPU composites were significantly enhanced (48.9 MPa, 2140%), as compared to pure TPU (30.6 MPa, 1370%). The improvement in mechanical properties of GOES/TPU is attributed to the homogeneous dispersion of GOES in the TPU matrix and the strong interfacial interactions between them.
Effect of glycinebetaine application on photosynthesis, sugar content, invertase activity and plant yield of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under water stress condition

A study was conducted to evaluate the response of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to foliar applied glycinebetaine (GB) under water stress condition. Three varieties of hot pepper e.g. Arka Lohit, Pusa Jwala and Arka Haritha were subjected to water stress at fl owering stage. The plants applied with GB had the greater plant height, leaf area, fruit fresh and dry mass under water defi cit conditions. GB application increased the PN under water defi cit condition. It was attributed to an improvement in stomatal conductance under water stress. There was a varietal difference in invertase activity and total sugar contents to GB application under water stress. Higher yield and better water use effi ciency (WUE) were found in GB applied plants. The plants treated with GB 10 days before and at the time of imposing water stress (T2) responded better. The results suggested that exogenous GB ameliorates the negative effects of water stress in hot pepper.