Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Equilibrium studies and dynamic behaviour of cadmium adsorption by magnetite nanoparticles extracted from mill scales waste

The main objective of the current work is to investigate the adsorption mechanism of magnetite that has been extracted from mill scale waste, for the removal of cadmium ions from the aqueous solution. The mill scale was grounded for 24 h in conventional milling and then milled 8 h in high energy ball milling to get nanoparticles. The characterizations of the magnetite mill scale nano adsorbents (MMSNA) were done with a high-resolution transmission electron microscope, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer– Emmett–Teller and zeta sizer. The magnetite nanoparticles from this work are crystallite, with irregularly shaped particles, a relatively low specific surface area of 4.02 m2/g, and have an isoelectric point at pH value 5.8. Comprehensive adsorption studies were performed to investigate the adsorption of cadmium ions on the MMSNA, including the evaluation of kinetics and isotherms, the effect of pH, contact time, and mass of adsorbent. The optimal time for removal was 30 min, although the adsorption reached equilibrium within 15 min, which was found to fit well with the pseudosecondorder and Langmuir model. The maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was about 3.06 mg/g. The adsorbent was regenerated using a little acidic deionised water and cadmium ions removal of 90% after 5 cycles, which confirms the chemical stability and reusability of the manufactured nanoparticles. The results and analysis of the MMSNA suggest that it can be one of the potential adsorbents for magnetic separation in wastewater treatment.
Data Warehousing Failures: Case Studies and Findings

At first, the planner for the data warehouse wanted to use a dimensional model for tabular information. But political pressure forced the system’s early use. Consequently, mainframe data was largely replicated and these tables did not work well with the managed query environment tools that were acquired. The number of tables and joins, and subsequent catalog growth, prevented Auto Guys from using data as it was intended in a concise and coherent business format.
Prevalence of zoonotic intestinal helminths in pet dogs and cats in the Belgrade area

ABSTRACT The research was conducted in dogs and cats kept as pets on the territory of the city of Belgrade (Serbia), between 2011 and 2014. Its aim was to examine the prevalence of intestinal helminths and to point out their zoonotic potential. Coprological tests were carried out on samples from 528 household pets (421 dogs and 107 cats). The research included specimens from both gender, the dogs were between 2 months and 14 years old and the cats were from 1 month to 15 years old. The diagnosed parasites included: toxocarosis (Toxocora canis 16.62% and Toxocora mystax 15.88%), ancylostomatidosis (in dogs 4.03%, and in cats 1.87%), trichuriosis (in dogs 4.03%, and in cats 0.93%) and dipilidiosis (in dogs 24.70% and in cats 21.49%). Most of the examined cats and dogs that were found positive for intestinal helminths were 1–8 years old. For the effective planning and conducting of preventive strategies, the most important is to know the epizootiology of intestinal helminths of dogs and cats, including the possibilities of transferring these helminths to people. The priorities include the continued education of pet owners by veterinarians, and also the close cooperation between the veterinary and the human health service.
A review of geographic information systems and digital imaging in plant pathology application

The increasing rate of disease incidence resulting from devastating effects of plant pathogens, limits crop productivity globally, thus affecting food security. The current global population growth with many mouths to feed is dependent on vibrant agricultural productivity. The effects of globalization, climate change, evolution of pathogens and vectors to mention a few, have combined to increase spread of invasive plant pathogens. Consequently, early detection of pathogens, accurate diagnosis and assessment and surveillance are imperative to predicting disease outbreaks and ample time to develop and apply appropriate mitigation measures for crop protection and enhanced productivity. Diagnosis is the process to determine cause of disease, while detection deals with knowing pathogen. Both disease diagnosis and pathogen detection are central to protecting crops and natural plant systems, as well as crucial prelude to undertaking prevention and management measures. Visual assessments of disease in plants populations are unreliable and subjective, arising from human limitations. Failure in pathogen detection and disease diagnosis lead directly to inadequate disease control and reductions in crop production and quality. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Digital Imaging (DI) have been applied in plant pathology to improve speed and accuracy of disease assessment, diagnostics and pathogen detection. These new technologies have assisted in collection and analysis of field data in ways that were not possible before advent of computer and thus, minimize human errors. This paper presents a brief review on application of both emerging technologies in plant disease diagnosis and detection. Key words: Geographic information systems, imaging, plant disease, detection, diagnosis.
Monitoring of compliance with fuel sulfur content regulations through unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) measurements of ship emissions

Abstract. Air pollution from ship exhaust gas can be reduced by the establishment of emission control areas (ECAs). Efficient supervision of ship emissions is currently a major concern of maritime authorities. In this study, a measurement system for exhaust gas from ships based on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was designed and developed. Sensors were mounted on the UAV to measure the concentrations of SO2 and CO2 in order to calculate the fuel sulfur content (FSC) of ships. The Waigaoqiao port in the Yangtze River Delta, an ECA in China, was selected for monitoring compliance with FSC regulations. Unlike in situ or airborne measurements, the proposed measurement system could be used to determine the smoke plume at about 5 m from the funnel mouth of ships, thus providing a means for estimating the FSC of ships. In order to verify the accuracy of these measurements, fuel samples were collected at the same time and sent to the laboratory for chemical examination, and these two types of measurements were compared. After 23 comparative experiments, the results showed that, in general, the deviation of the estimated value for FSC was less than 0.03 % (m/m) at an FSC level ranging from 0.035 % (m/m) to 0.24 % (m/m). Hence, UAV measurements can be used for monitoring of ECAs for compliance with FSC regulations.
THE STUDY OF HEAT ISLAND AND ITS RELATION WITH URBANIZATION IN GURUGRAM, DELHI NCR FOR THE PERIOD OF 1990 TO 2018

Abstract. Rapid growth in population and land cover makes urban areas more vulnerable to Urban Heat Island. Due to which, cities experience higher mean temperature than its proximate surrounding rural or non-urban area. The relationship between UHI and urbanization is proven in previous studies. Delhi the capital city of India is well known for its extreme heat condition in summer and air pollution. In this study, an attempt has been made to understand UHI behavior in a satellite town of Delhi. Satellite town or cities are the small independent towns built in the vicinity of a large city or metropolitan city. In this paper 4 major satellite towns of Delhi, i.e. Gurugram (name changed from Gurgaon in April 2016), Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad has been studied to understand the changing trends in urbanization and temperature. The parameters used are rate of urban expansion, population density, GDP growth and increasing temperature over the last two decades. Gurugram showed the maximum urbanization and identified as study area. Gurugram has undergone a major growth journey from being a small town to ‘The Millennium city’ of the country in a short span. The Landsat images of past three decades ranging from different time period i.e. 1990, 1996, 2002, 2009, 2014 and 2018 were investigated by applying integrated approach of GIS and Remote sensing. The images represent the condition of UHI and urbanization in different period. The temporal change in LULC was used to study the rate of urban growth in last three decades. The results showed the increase in built-up area out of the total area of Gurugram from 10% (i.e.50.6 sq. km) in 1990 to 17.25% (80.5 sq. km) in 2002 which further increased to 45.1% (210.4 sq. km) in 2018. Thermal Infrared band of Landsat series were used to retrieve land surface temperature (LST) intensity of the study period. The results show a positive correlation (r = 0.46) between impervious surfaces and LST. The results of the study could be helpful in identifying the causative factors and level of impacts in different zones and also enable us to develop a mitigation strategy based on spatial decision support system.
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DOSES OF SODIUM CLOPROSTENOL AT POST-PARTUM PERIOD OF BEEF COWS

Reestablishment of reproductive activity after parturition is dependent on two physiological processes, uterine involution and reestablishment of the ovarian luteal cyclic activity. Impaired or delayed uterine involution can affect ovarian activity. Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) has an important function in uterine involution. The use of PGF2α synthetic analogous in bovine postpartum, however, has been limited. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two different doses of a racemic cloprostenol mixture (D+L-Cloprostenol) given in the postpartum period, on reproductive performance of crossbred beef cows. Beef cows with normal parturition were randomly distributed into three groups: G1 (n=144), Control Group; G2 (n=145), 0.530mg of D+LCloprostenol, given IM at three to five days after parturition, and G3 (n=145), 1.060 mg of D-Cloprostenol, in the same schedule of group 2. The following parameters were evaluated: services per conception (χ), days from parturition to first estrus, and open days (Tukey test). There was no difference in body score condition among groups at parturition or during postpartum period (P>0.05). There was also no difference in the number of services per conception. The average number of days from parturition to first estrus was 88.77 + 23.64a; 77.59 + 26.95 and 76.22 + 26.28, and the average number of open days open was 97.34±26.54a, 86.38±28.81 and 85.23±30.12 for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P<0.05). Regardless cloprostenol doses, the treatments anticipated the beginning of reproductive activity in more than 10 days. The treatment with sodium cloprostenol in the postpartum period of zebu beef cows is an alternative to reduce anestrous postpartum and open days.
Groundwater–glacier meltwater interaction in proglacial aquifers

Abstract. Groundwater plays a significant role in glacial hydrology and can buffer changes to the timing and magnitude of flows in meltwater rivers. However, proglacial aquifer characteristics or groundwater dynamics in glacial catchments are rarely studied directly. We provide direct evidence of proglacial groundwater storage, and quantify multi-year groundwater–meltwater dynamics, through detailed aquifer characterisation and intensive high-resolution monitoring of the proglacial system of a rapidly retreating glacier, Virkisjökull, in south-eastern Iceland. Proglacial unconsolidated glaciofluvial sediments comprise a highly permeable aquifer (25–40 m d−1) in which groundwater flow in the shallowest 20–40 m of the aquifer is equivalent to 4.5 % (2.6 %–5.8 %) of mean river flow, and 9.7 % (5.8 %–12.3 %) of winter flow. Estimated annual groundwater flow through the entire aquifer thickness is 10 % (4 %–22 %) the magnitude of annual river flow. Groundwater in the aquifer is actively recharged by glacier meltwater and local precipitation, both rainfall and snowmelt, and strongly influenced by individual precipitation events. Local precipitation represents the highest proportion of recharge across the aquifer. However, significant glacial meltwater influence on groundwater within the aquifer occurs in a 50–500 m river zone within which there are complex groundwater–river exchanges. Stable isotopes, groundwater dynamics and temperature data demonstrate active recharge from river losses, especially in the summer melt season, with more than 25 % and often >50 % of groundwater in the near-river aquifer zone sourced from glacier meltwater. Proglacial aquifers such as these are common globally, and future changes in glacier coverage and precipitation are likely to increase the significance of groundwater storage within them. The scale of proglacial groundwater flow and storage has important implications for measuring meltwater flux, for predicting future river flows, and for providing strategic water supplies in de-glaciating catchments.
International Capital Market Efficiency and Institutional Quality

Applying a state of the art anomaly-based stock mispricing measure, constructed by Stambaugh, Yu, and Yuan (2015), this paper aims to empirically identify a relation between structural mispricing on capital markets and international differences in legal shareholder protection. A mechanism is introduced, where environments of high institutional quality promote capital market efficiency through attraction of arbitrage investors. This paper provides empirical evidence that higher institutional quality improves equity pricing efficiency. By breaking legal shareholder environments down into quantified investor policy variables, this research is successful in explaining international mispricing differences within the context of institutional quality. However, no significant relation between English, French, German or Scandinavian legal origins and mispricing has been found. This research concludes that stronger legal shareholder protection does improve capital market efficiency, although the specific policies that do so remain difficult to identify. Furthermore, this research cautiously suggests robustness of the relation between investor protection and mispricing during periods of economics downturn. The content of this thesis is the sole responsibility of the author and does not reflect the view of either Erasmus School of Economics or Erasmus University.
Understanding biobanking: An assessment of the public engagement speaking book intervention Biobanking and Me

Background. Meaningful engagement with donors of biological samples intended for human-sample biobanking increases knowledge, and allows donors to make informed decisions. Informed donors provide a platform for public awareness, allowing communities to understand the impact of research, and may even encourage more people to donate biological samples. Objectives. The Biobanking and Me speaking book was written to explain relevant concepts, including biobanks, genetic research and participant rights, to persons from any educational level or background. Two bilingual versions of the speaking book (English-Afrikaans and English-isiXhosa) were produced, and the impact of the speaking book was assessed. Methods. Study participants were recruited from non-academic staffing sectors at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. An experimental research design was followed to assess the efficacy of the speaking book in communicating the topics covered. Paired t -tests were conducted to compare pre- and post-test scores. Descriptive and frequency statistics were used to determine participants’ opinions about the speaking book. Results. Results from the paired t -tests indicated that while a significant increase in knowledge score did not occur for all questions (no significant increase for 8/15), the overall knowledge gain was significant. Analysis of the opinion questionnaire revealed that the majority of participants had a positive reaction to the artwork, bilingual audio and text. Conclusion. The simplicity of the narrative, the illustrations, and the bilingual text and soundtrack make the Biobanking and Me speaking book an effective tool to increase knowledge of biobanking and genetics in an easy-to-use and enjoyable way.
Efficacy of insecticides and crop critical stage for the management of chickpea pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Chickpea pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) is a major insect pest constraining chickpea production in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, as there is no recommended management option in the area. Therefore the present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of insecticides and to determine the critical growth stage of the crop for effective spray at Axum Agricultural Research Center. Results indicated that in laboratory profit 72% EC (profenofos), abema 3% EC (abamectin 20 g/L + emamectin benzoit 10 g/L), perfecto (imedachloprid + lambda-cyhalothrin) and hamectin (abamectin) reduced the number of larvae by 75, 55, 44 and 34%; 86, 82, 65, 56% and 83, 83, 66 and 83% at 24, 48 and 72 h after spray, respectively. Similarly abema 3%EC and profit (Profenofos) 72% EC were the most effective insecticides to give high mortality of pod borer on chickpea under field conditions. These insecticides reduced the number of larva per plant by 51 to 56.7% five days after spray. The number of damaged pods per plant was very low in both insecticides (0.91 and 1.05) but on the untreated check 3.05. The highest yield was also obtained from chickpea treated with abema 3%EC at podding stage (23.92 qt/ha). Comparatively the most effective insecticides against pod borer were abema and profit and the best application time were at podding stage of the crop. Thus chickpea growers in the area should prefer these insecticides for better pod borer management. Key words: Chickpea, Helicoverpa armigera, insecticides, growth stage.
Human Capital and Financial Development: Firm-Level Interactions and Macroeconomic Implications

Capital-skill complementarity in production implies non-trivial interactions between the availability of human capital and financial constraints. Firms that are constrained in their access to finance hire a lower proportion of skilled workers than do unconstrained firms. Conversely, a lack of human capital increases skilled wages, reducing firms’ desired capital intensity and thus loosening firms’ effective financial constraints. To assess the macroeconomic implications of such firm-level interactions, we build an occupational-choice model with capital-skill complementarity in production, which we calibrate to US data. We vary financial frictions, educational attainment, and total factor productivity across countries, and we quantify how aggregate output, wage inequality, and entrepreneurship are affected by these variations. For aggregate output, the joint effect of both factors is, on average 30 % larger than the sum of the individual effects. Taking the educational attainment of the population as given, in countries with a negligible share of tertiary educated workers and low TFP, financial development has only small effects on aggregate output.
Identification and Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus Aureus from Newly Hatched Imported Poultry

Bacteriological examination of 166 different flocks collected from 62, 52 and 52 imported duck, chick and poult flocks respectively, revealed that 15, 8 and 14 flocks were positive for S.aureus isolation with percentage of 24.2%, 15.4% and 26.9% respectively. In-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing for isolates was studied using disc diffusion method. All Staphylococcus aureus isolates were subjected to molecular detection using PCR to confirm the results of isolation. This data focusing on newly hatched imported poultry represent a risk of introducing S. aureus to the country. Effective control measures are required to mitigate the economic impact on the poultry industry and to prevent possible public hazards.
CMAR_A_218532 10555..10562

Yehia Sadek Younis Hatem Samir Alegaily Waleed Elagawy Atteyat Aboelmaged Semeya Yousry Esam-Eldin Abo-Amer 3 Mohamed El-Abgeegy Sahar Mohamed Mostafa Heba Fadl Elsergany Sherief Abd-Elsalam 5 1Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Qalybia, Egypt; 2Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Port Said University, Port Fouad, Egypt; 3Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Mahala Hepatology Teaching Hospital, Gharbia, Egypt; 4National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt; 5Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Gharbia, Egypt Background: This study aimed to evaluate the role of Dickopff 1 (DKK1) serum levels as a marker for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to compare it with alphafetoprotein (AFP) after non-surgical intervention (microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation) in HCC. Patients and methods: This prospective study was conducted in Al-Mahalla hepatology teaching hospital from June 2015 to June 2017. One hundred and twenty patients were included. They were classified into four groups: Group A: 40 patients with chronic liver disease; Group B: 40 patients with HCC which were divided into 2 main sub groups, group Ba which included HCC patients who were not eligible for ablative therapy and group Bb which included HCC patients who were eligible for ablative therapy; Group C: 20 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex; Group D: 20 HCC patients with negative AFP, DKK1 was done for them. Results: There was a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) between groups regarding serum level of Dickpoff 1 with mean of 1 ng/mL in group A (cirrhotic), 2.38 ng/mL in group B (HCC), and 1.83 ng/mL in group D (AFP negative HCC) in comparison to control group C with mean of 0.54 ng/mL. There was a highly statistically significant difference (p value less =0.01) in the studied groups regarding serum Dickpoff 1 before and after intervention with a mean of 2.38 ng/mL before intervention and mean of 1.37 ng/mL after 1 month of intervention. Conclusion: Serum Dkk-1 has higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in early diagnosis of HCC than AFP.
The AfD’s Policy Positioning within the German Multi-Level Governance System

This thesis deals with the policy positions of the German populist right-wing party AfD at the national and the federal level. Following theoretical assumptions, potential linkages influencing (in-)congruence between the national and the federal level are tested alongside the positions formulated in the latest election manifesto of each federal state and the national party.