Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Language and space in a multilingual undergraduate physics classroom in Rwanda

This case study examines how a lecturer and a group of students adjust to a request for English-only medium of instruction in tertiary education. The study draws on sociocultural theories considering context and language use as tools for meaning making. Goffman's theories of stage setting and footing are used to analyse how the lecturer positions himself in relation to language use. The findings show that in the observed session the lecturer used code-switching as a tool to extend students’ academic literacy. Further, we found that he in most cases assigned different classroom spaces to different languages. Hence, English as the targeted language of instruction was used when the lecturer was standing at the board, the official teaching space, whereas French, a previously accepted language, was used in a semi-official space closer to the students. Kinyarwanda, the lecturer's and students’ first language, is not permitted as a medium of instruction, but was used when the lecturer was close to the students. We label this a personal space, where the lecturer changed code in order to improve interaction and students’ understanding. Such code-switching has cultural and historical traditions and is viewed in this study as a strategy to avoid misunderstandings and allow more equitable learning opportunities.
The eclipsing double-lined binaries V883 Cen and η Mus

We derive the orbital period and monitor in detail the eclipses of two deep-southern double-lined eclipsing binaries of considerable interest. We present new uvby photometry over more than 100 nights for V883 Cen, scan for the first time the eclipses of η Mus and analyse the data for these two systems together with earlier published photometry. We also add information from high-dispersion spectra. V883 Cen consists of two sharp-lined, mid-B-type stars in an orbit of 35.44733 d. The slower rotating component, Prot= 55.215 d, is a chemically peculiar star of the type He-weak SrTi that is partially eclipsed by its slightly more massive companion. Owing to the high eccentricity of the orbit and its orientation, only one eclipse occurs. The orbital period of η Mus is 57.5 h, rather than the 20 d quoted up to the present in the literature. That close binary, consisting of two late-B-type stars, shows identical partial eclipses. Interest in the close binary is triggered by the pre-main-sequence companion at 2.7 arcsec. HD 118978, one of the comparison stars used for V883 Cen, is identified as a new variable. This fast-rotating B9 (sub)giant belongs presumably to the class of slowly pulsating B-type stars.
UbiquitousCPviolation in a top-inspired left-right model

We explore CP violation in a Left-Right Model that reproduces the quark mass and CKM rotation angle hierarchies in a relatively natural way by fixing the bidoublet Higgs VEVs to be in the ratio m_b:m_t. Our model is quite general and allows for CP to be broken by both the Higgs VEVs and the Yukawa couplings. Despite this generality, CP violation may be parameterized in terms of two basic phases. A very interesting feature of the model is that the mixing angles in the right-handed sector are found to be equal to their left-handed counterparts to a very good approximation. Furthermore, the right-handed analogue of the usual CKM phase delta_L is found to satisfy the relation delta_R \approx delta_L. The parameter space of the model is explored by using an adaptive Monte Carlo algorithm and the allowed regions in parameter space are determined by enforcing experimental constraints from the K and B systems. This method of solution allows us to evaluate the left- and right-handed CKM matrices numerically for various combinations of the two fundamental CP-odd phases in the model. We find that all experimental constraints may be satisfied with right-handed W and Flavour Changing Neutral Higgs masses as low as about 2 TeV and 7 TeV, respectively.
Dirac quasinormal frequencies in Schwarzschild-AdS space-time

We investigate the quasinormal mode frequencies for the massless Dirac field in static four dimensional AdS space-time. The separation of the Dirac equation is achieved for the first time in AdS space. Besides the relevance that this calculation can have in the framework of the AdS/CFT correspondence between M-theory on AdS{sub 4}xS{sup 7} and SU(N) super Yang-Mills theory on M{sub 3}, it also serves to fill in a gap in the literature, which has only been concerned with particles of integral spin 0,1,2.
Understanding and suppressing the near scrape-off layer heat flux feature in inboard-limited plasmas in TCV

In inboard-limited plasmas, the scrape-off layer (SOL) shows two regions: the near SOL, extending a few mm from the last closed flux surface (LCFS), characterized by a steep gradient of the parallel heat flux radial profile, and a far SOL, typically some cm wide, with flatter heat flux profiles. The physics of the near SOL is investigated in TCV with two series of experiments featuring deuterium and helium plasmas, in which the plasma current, density and elongation have been varied. The parallel heat flux profiles are measured on the limiter by means of infrared thermography. For the first time, the near SOL is reported to disappear for low plasma current or at high density, for values of the SOL collisionality νSOL∗ corresponding to a conduction-limited regime. The power in the near SOL ΔPSOL is shown to decrease with the normalized Spitzer resistivity ν as ΔPSOL∝ν−1. The floating potential profiles, measured at the limiter using flush-mounted Langmuir probes (LP), show the presence of non-ambipolar currents, and their relation to the presence of a velocity shear layer is discussed. The shearing rate is shown to strictly correlate with the power in the near SOL ΔPSOL, consistently with a recent theoretical model. Measurements of the near SOL on the Low Field Side (LFS) are performed using a reciprocating Langmuir probe (RP). The near SOL is reported to vanish simultaneously at the LFS and at the limiter. The near and far SOL widths are compared with the predictions from existing theoretical models, to which empirical corrections with resistivity and elongation are proposed.
A unified approach and descriptor for the thermal expansion of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have enabled promising applications in modern miniaturized devices. However, device operation may lead to substantial temperature rise and thermal stress, resulting in device failure. To address such thermal challenges, the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) needs to be well understood. Here, we characterize the in-plane TECs of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers and demonstrate superior accuracy using a three-substrate approach. Our measurements confirm the physical range of 2D monolayer TECs and, hence, address the more than two orders of magnitude discrepancy in literature. Moreover, we identify the thermochemical electronegativity difference of compositional elements as a descriptor, enabling the fast estimation of TECs for various TMD monolayers. Our work presents a unified approach and descriptor for the thermal expansion of TMD monolayers, which can serve as a guideline toward the rational design of reliable 2D devices.
Measuring σ8 with Cluster Lensing: Biases from Unrelaxed Clusters

We use gravitational lens models and X-ray spectral analysis of 10 X-ray-luminous galaxy clusters at z ≃ 0.2 to study the impact of cluster substructure on attempts to normalize the matter power spectrum. We estimate that unrelaxed clusters are 30% hotter than relaxed clusters, causing σ8 to be overestimated by 20% if the cluster selection function is not accounted for. This helps to explain the wide range in σ8 derived from different techniques, σ8 ~ 0.6-1, and offers a physically motivated explanation for some of the discrepancy. We identify two further systematics: (1) the extrapolation of small field-of-view mass measurements to cluster virial radii and (2) the projection of three-dimensional mass estimates from n-body simulations to match two-dimensional observables. We quantify these effects and estimate from the current data that σ8 = 0.75 ± 0.05(statistical) ± 0.15(systematic), where the systematic error reflects the extrapolation and projection uncertainties, and we assume ΩM = 0.3 and ΩΛ = 0.7. All three systematics (substructure, extrapolation, and projection) are fundamental to future cluster-based measurements of σ8 regardless of the techniques employed. We identify gravitational lensing as the tool of choice for such studies because a combination of strong and weak lensing offers the most direct route to control the systematics and thus achieve an unbiased comparison between observation and theory.
Long Time Scales and Eternal Black Holes

We discuss the various scales determining the temporal behaviour of correlation functions in the presence of eternal black holes. We point out the origins of the failure of the semiclassical gravity approximation to respect a unitarity-based bound suggested by Maldacena. We find that the presence of a subleading (in the large-N approximation involved) master field does restore the compliance with one bound but additional configurations are needed to explain the more detailed expected time dependence of the Poincare recurrences and their magnitude.
Characteristics of Superconducting Nb Layer Fabricated Using High-Vacuum Electron Beam Evaporation

We have fabricated a niobium (Nb) layer for a Josephson junction by means of a high-vacuum electron beam (EB) evaporation technique. The high-vacuum EB-evaporated Nb layer is deposited under the base pressure of 4×10-9 Pa and the deposition rate of 1.2 nm/min. In spite of the extremely low deposition rate, Nb layers of over 50 nm thickness have the transition temperature of 9.3 K and the ratio of residual resistivity of more than 3. The surface roughness and the grain size of the high-vacuum EB-evaporated Nb layer are studied using atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The stress in the high-vacuum EB-evaporated Nb layers is examined by measuring the change in the radius of curvature of the substrate before and after Nb layer deposition, and the X-ray diffraction patterns of the Nb layers. The high-vacuum EB-evaporated Nb layer exhibits a weak tensile stress.
Massive star and star cluster formation

Abstract I review the status of massive star formation theories: accretion from collapsing, massive, turbulent cores; competitive accretion; and stellar collisions. I conclude the observational and theoretical evidence favors the first of these models. I then discuss: the initial conditions of star cluster formation as traced by infrared dark clouds; the cluster formation timescale; and comparison of the initial cluster mass function in different galactic environments.
IMC and its impact on intention to use Mobile based fitness apps

Abstract Use of smart devices and mobile based fitness apps are new in India and people are hesitating to adopt it as a personal fitness coach or fitness guide. Little knowledge or known factors explored regarding determinants that affect intention to use of fitness apps, and role of Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) on adoption of such fitness apps. We examine the intention to use fitness apps. We studied the effect of IMC on intention to use fitness apps and other relationships were also checked. Variables we took for the study are IMC, Usability, Trust, Experience and Intention to Use (ITU). The study has been conducted with the help of 263 respondents, those using fitness apps for their personal fitness goals. Administered questionnaire was used for data collection and partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique has been used to analyze the model and hypotheses check. The model triggered that ITU has significance influenced by IMC, experience, trust directly, usability have indirect effect with help of positive experience, IMC has direct effect on usability and trust, IMC has indirect effect on experience with the help of usability. Overall, the fitness app intention to use has been positively influence by the other variables of the study.
A cointegration analysis of nifty index with sectoral indices of NSE

Abstract The study aims to examine the short run and long run relationship between bank nifty and other selected sectoral indices of NSE. 10 sectoral indices e.g. Current research has taken into account Nifty Bank, Nifty Auto, Nifty IT, Nifty FMCG, Nifty Media, Nifty Metal, Nifty Pharma, Nifty PSU, Nifty Private Banks, and Nifty Reality. We used the Unit Root Test, VAR, Descriptive Analysis, Johansen’s Cointegration Test, Beta, and VECM to test our hypothesis. According to the study, there is no long-term association between the variables and the data was not steady at the level.Only short term relationship was seen between NIFTYINDEX and RETNIFTY_MEDIA. Beta justified that Nifty Pharma is most defensive sector i.e. it is least sensitive to changes occurring to Nifty, whereas Nifty Private bank is most sensitive sector. It was also seen that 3 sectors, Nifty_ Media, Nifty_PSU, and Nifty Pharma Indexes have negative correlation with Nifty Index.
Binary or Nonbinary Fission? Reproductive Mode of a Predatory Bacterium Depends on Prey Size

Most eukaryotic and bacterial cells divide by binary fission, where one mother cell produces two progeny cells, or, rarely, by nonbinary fission. All bacteria studied to date use only one of these two reproduction modes. ABSTRACT Most bacteria, including model organisms such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Caulobacter crescentus, reproduce by binary fission. However, some bacteria belonging to various lineages, including antibiotic-producing Streptomyces and predatory Bdellovibrio, proliferate by nonbinary fission, wherein three or more chromosome copies are synthesized and the resulting multinucleoid filamentous cell subdivides into progeny cells. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus reproduces through both binary and nonbinary fission inside different prey bacteria. Switching between the two modes correlates with the prey size. In relatively small prey cells, B. bacteriovorus undergoes binary fission; the FtsZ ring assembles in the midcell, and the mother cell splits into two daughter cells. In larger prey cells, B. bacteriovorus switches to nonbinary fission and creates multiple asynchronously assembled FtsZ rings to produce three or more daughter cells. Completion of bacterial cell cycle critically depends on precise spatiotemporal coordination of chromosome replication with other cell cycle events, including cell division. We show that B. bacteriovorus always initiates chromosome replication at the invasive pole of the cell, but the spatiotemporal choreography of subsequent steps depends on the fission mode and/or the number of progeny cells. In nonbinary dividing filaments producing five or more progeny cells, the last round(s) of replication may also be initiated at the noninvasive pole. Altogether, we find that B. bacteriovorus reproduces through bimodal fission and that extracellular factors, such as the prey size, can shape replication choreography, providing new insights about bacterial life cycles. IMPORTANCE Most eukaryotic and bacterial cells divide by binary fission, where one mother cell produces two progeny cells, or, rarely, by nonbinary fission. All bacteria studied to date use only one of these two reproduction modes. We demonstrate for the first time that a predatory bacterium, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, exhibits bimodal fission and the mode of division depends on the size of the prey bacterium inside which B. bacteriovorus grows. This work provides key insights into the mode and dynamics of B. bacteriovorus proliferation in different pathogens that pose a major threat to human health due to their emerging antibiotic resistance (Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enterica, and Shigella flexneri). The use of predatory bacteria such as B. bacteriovorus is currently regarded as a promising strategy to kill antibiotic-resistant pathogens. We find that B. bacteriovorus employs different chromosome replication choreographies and division modes when preying on those pathogens. Our findings may facilitate the design of efficient pathogen elimination strategies.
Identifying genes and pathways linking astrocyte regional specificity to Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility

Astrocytes have been shown to play a central role in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, the genes and biological pathways underlying disease manifestation are unknown, and it is unclear whether regional molecular differences among astrocytes contribute to regional specificity of disease. Here, we began to address these challenges with integrated experimental and computational approaches. We constructed a human astrocyte-specific functional gene network using Bayesian integration of a large compendium of human functional genomics data, as well as regional astrocyte gene expression profiles we generated in the mouse. This network identifies likely region-specific astrocyte pathways that operate in healthy brains. We leveraged our findings to compile genome-wide astrocyte-associated disease-gene predictions, employing a novel network-guided differential expression analysis (NetDIFF). We also used this data to predict a list of astrocyte-expressed genes mediating region-specific human disease, using a network-guided shortest path method (NetPATH). Both the network and our results are publicly available using an interactive web interface at http://astrocyte.princeton. edu. Our experimental and computational studies propose a strategy for disease gene and pathway prediction that may be applied to a host of human neurological disorders.
Context-induced renewal of passive but not active coping behaviours in the shock-probe defensive burying task

Renewal is the return of extinguished responding after removal from the extinction context. Renewal has been extensively studied using classical aversive conditioning procedures that measure a passive freezing response to an aversive conditioned stimulus. However, coping responses to aversive stimuli are complex and can be reflected in passive and active behaviours. Using the shock-probe defensive burying task, we investigated whether different coping responses are susceptible to renewal. During conditioning, male, Long-Evans rats were placed into a specific context (Context A) where an electrified shock-probe delivered a 3 mA shock upon contact. During extinction, the shock-probe was unarmed in either the same (Context A) or a different context (Context B). Renewal of conditioned responses was assessed in the conditioning context (ABA) or in a novel context (ABC or AAB). Renewal of passive coping responses, indicated by an increased latency and a decreased duration of shock-probe contacts, was observed in all groups. However, renewal of passive coping, measured by increased time spent on the side of the chamber opposite the shock-probe, was only found in the ABA group. Renewal of active coping responses linked to defensive burying was not observed in any group. The present findings highlight the presence of multiple psychological processes underlying even basic forms of aversive conditioning and demonstrate the importance of assessing a broader set of behaviours to tease apart these different underlying mechanisms. The current findings suggest that passive coping responses may be more reliable indicators for assessing renewal than active coping behaviours associated with defensive burying.
ETV2 Upregulation Marks the Specification of Early Cardiomyocytes and Endothelial Cells During Co-differentiation

Abstract The ability to differentiate human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) efficiently into defined cardiac lineages, such as cardiomyocytes and cardiac endothelial cells, is crucial to study human heart development and model cardiovascular diseases in vitro. The mechanisms underlying the specification of these cell types during human development are not well understood which limits fine-tuning and broader application of cardiac model systems. Here, we used the expression of ETV2, a master regulator of hematoendothelial specification in mice, to identify functionally distinct subpopulations during the co-differentiation of endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes from hiPSCs. Targeted analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing data revealed differential ETV2 dynamics in the 2 lineages. A newly created fluorescent reporter line allowed us to identify early lineage-predisposed states and show that a transient ETV2-high-state initiates the specification of endothelial cells. We further demonstrated, unexpectedly, that functional cardiomyocytes can originate from progenitors expressing ETV2 at a low level. Our study thus sheds light on the in vitro differentiation dynamics of 2 important cardiac lineages.
Characterizing the landscape of gene expression variance in humans

Gene expression variance has been linked to organismal function and fitness but remains a commonly ne-glected aspect of molecular research. As a result, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the patterns of transcriptional variance across genes, and how this variance is linked to context-specific gene regulation and gene function. Here, we use 57 large publicly available RNA-seq data sets to investigate the landscape of gene expression variance. These studies cover a wide range of tissues and allowed us to assess if there are consistently more or less variable genes across tissues and data sets and what mechanisms drive these patterns. We show that gene expression variance is broadly similar across tissues and studies, indicating that the pattern of transcriptional variance is consistent. We use this similarity to create both global and within-tissue rankings of variation, which we use to show that function, sequence variation, and gene regulatory signatures contribute to gene expression variance. Low-variance genes are associated with fundamental cell processes and have lower levels of genetic polymorphisms, have higher gene-gene connectivity, and tend to be associated with chromatin states associated with transcription. In contrast, high-variance genes are enriched for genes involved in immune response, environmentally responsive genes, immediate early genes, and are associated with higher levels of polymorphisms. These results show that the pattern of transcriptional variance is not noise. Instead, it is a consistent gene trait that seems to be functionally constrained in human populations. Furthermore, this commonly neglected aspect of molecular phenotypic variation harbors important information to understand complex traits and disease. Author Summary Gene expression variance, or the variation in the level of gene expression within a population, can have significant impacts on physiology, disease, and evolutionary adaptations. While the average level of gene expression is typically the focus of research, the variation around this average level (i.e., gene expression variance) can also be important for understanding complex traits and disease. Here, we investigate the landscape of transcriptional variance across tissues, populations, and studies. Using large publicly available RNA-seq data sets, we were able to identify the general properties associated with high- and low-variance genes, as well as factors driving variation in variance across genes. Specifically, we uncovered gene expression variance was significantly associated with gene length, nucleotide diversity, the degree of connectivity and the presence of non-coding RNA. Our results suggest that the mechanisms responsible for maintaining optimal levels of variation in high-versus low-variance differ, and that this variability is the result of different patterns of selection.