Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Performance and Recyclability of a Green Composite Based on AESO Resin

The aims and objectives of this paper are two-fold: first to investigate the production of a green composite manufactured with renewable materials (i.e., jute fabric as reinforcement, acrylate epoxidase soybean oil (AESO) as matrix and sisal particles (SP) as filler), by the wet layup method; second, to propose a recycling procedure to recover the individual materials and reuse them in the production of a second-life composite. In the first part, different combinations of SP (0, 5 and 10 wt%) and hardener (2, 5 and 10 wt%) were mixed with AESO resin, poured into a mould, cured and submitted to mechanical and physicochemical characterizations to identify the best conditions for the composite production. Virgin green composites with 10 wt% SP, 5 wt% hardener and 5 layers of jute fabric, capable of assuring 91 HA of hardness and 10.6 MPa of tensile strength, were fabricated. The second part describes the recycling process of the composites with acetone, an organic solvent recommended by the safety, health and environmental criteria, to breakdown the resin matrix and recover the jute fabric reinforcement and resin particles, which were then reused to fabricate a second-life composite. Although the hardness values of the second-life composite were smaller (4%) and the tensile strength varied with composition, the absorption of water was considerably reduced (in the range of 22 to 51%). This last result mitigates one of the green composite’s limitations and fosters circular economy by assuring the applications of the second-life composite in the field of transportations, packing and furniture, among others.
Unbundling interest rate and bank credit nexus on income inequality: structural break analysis from Nigeria

Purpose Income inequality stalls economic growth with undesirable socio-economic consequences. Despite various measures targeted towards reducing the inequality gap, disparities in income distribution persist in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aims to explore a new line of argument to the finance mechanism in reducing income inequality. Design/methodology/approach The study uses time-series data on Nigeria from 1980 to 2015 with analysis conducted using the autoregressive distributed lag-error correction model approach of Pesaran et al. (2001). Findings The results show amongst others that the channel of real interest rate on income inequality is through bank credit, real interest rate has an indirect relationship to income inequality and bank credit has an equalising impact on income inequality when the model is augmented for a structural break. The results show amongst others, that, on average, ceteris paribus, a 1% point increase in the real lending interest rate is associated with a 0.45% decline in the volume of bank credit. Originality/value This paper engages a new line of argument by unbundling how financial intermediation impacts on income inequality. The extant literature submits that finance directly impacts income inequality, whereas this study investigates further to show that interest rate impacts income inequality through bank credit. That is, the transmission mechanism by which finance affects income inequality is modelled and analysed.
Tsr4 Is a Cytoplasmic Chaperone for the Ribosomal Protein Rps2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis requires the action of approximately 200 trans-acting factors and the incorporation of 79 ribosomal proteins (RPs). The delivery of RPs to preribosomes is a major challenge for the cell because RPs are often highly basic and contain intrinsically disordered regions prone to nonspecific interactions and aggregation. ABSTRACT Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis requires the action of approximately 200 trans-acting factors and the incorporation of 79 ribosomal proteins (RPs). The delivery of RPs to preribosomes is a major challenge for the cell because RPs are often highly basic and contain intrinsically disordered regions prone to nonspecific interactions and aggregation. To counteract this, eukaryotes developed dedicated chaperones for certain RPs that promote their solubility and expression, often by binding eukaryote-specific extensions of the RPs. Rps2 (uS5) is a universally conserved RP that assembles into nuclear pre-40S subunits. However, a chaperone for Rps2 had not been identified. Our laboratory previously characterized Tsr4 as a 40S biogenesis factor of unknown function. Here, we report that Tsr4 cotranslationally associates with Rps2. Rps2 harbors a eukaryote-specific N-terminal extension that is critical for its interaction with Tsr4. Moreover, Tsr4 perturbation resulted in decreased Rps2 levels and phenocopied Rps2 depletion. Despite Rps2 joining nuclear pre-40S particles, Tsr4 appears to be restricted to the cytoplasm. Thus, we conclude that Tsr4 is a cytoplasmic chaperone dedicated to Rps2.
A review of Vision based Methods for Pothole Detection and Road Profile Analysis

: This paper is an overview of the development and application of Computer Vision for the detection of pothole, pavement distress and road profile analysis and categorisation. A brief explanation of the traditional methods for determining these factors is given, followed by a chronological description of the evolution and the challenges of using Computer Vision (CV) approaches to determine these conditions. The paper is separated into sections aligned to image capture and analysis methodologies. Qualitative evaluations and comparison of these methods have been provided along with the proposal of guidelines for new computer vision-based road analysis systems.
Mélanges de polymères à base de poly(Acide lactique) : relation structure/rhéologie/procédés de mise en forme

Ce travail de these porte sur l’etude des relations structure/procedes de mise en forme/proprietes finales de materiaux polymeres a base de PLA/PBAT. Ces derniers sont destines a l’emballage alimentaire en vue de remplacer le polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Cependant le PLA a certaines limites de processabilite par les technologies de la plasturgie. Le renforcement de ses proprietes a l’etat fondu a ete obtenu grâce a l’introduction d’un epoxyde multifonctionnel capable de reagir avec les bouts de chaines des polyesters. Aussi, des melanges a base de PLA/PBAT ont ete mis en œuvre en vue de conferer la ductilite au materiau final. La premiere etape consiste en la comprehension des mecanismes de degradation thermique et hydrolytique des deux polymeres PLA et PBAT au cours des processus de mise en œuvre. En effet, la reaction d’extension des chaines couplee au branchement induits par l’epoxyde multifonctionnel palie cette degradation. Les mecanismes d’extension de chaines et de branchements sous-jacents ont ete mis en evidence par l’analyse des energies d’activation, des spectres de relaxation a l’etat fondu ainsi que celle des grandeurs physico-chimiques en solution. En outre, les representations de Van-Gurp-Palmen confirment la co-existence de chaines macromoleculaires lineaires et aleatoirement branchees. La seconde etape de ce travail a ete dediee a la compatibilisation des melanges PLA/PBAT par ce meme epoxyde multifonctionnel. Des etudes experimentales modeles basees sur la determination de la tension interfaciale et la modelisation rheologique ont montre le role majeur de compatibilisant induit par cet agent reactif. Ainsi, la diminution de la tension interfaciale confere a ces materiaux une meilleure cohesion interfaciale et une morphologie fine et homogene de la phase dispersee, accompagnee par l’amelioration des proprietes mecaniques. L’etude des proprietes rheologiques en cisaillement et en elongation des materiaux modifies a permis de montrer une meilleure tenue mecanique a l’etat fondu. Ainsi, une meilleure aptitude a l’extrusion gonflage a ete demontree en elargissant leurs cartes de stabilite. Parallelement a ces travaux, des etudes de bi-etirage des polymeres seuls, de leurs homologues modifies et de leurs melanges montrent un durcissement structural, du a la cristallisation induite sous deformation. Les morphologies cristallines ont ete analysees finement par des methodes calorimetriques et spectroscopiques. Enfin, ces etudes ont ete transposees a l’elaboration et a la comprehension des comportements d’une formulation industrielle complexe a base de PLA, PBAT et de farine cerealiere plastifiee.
Cognitive dysfunctions in patients with bipolar disorder: A comparative study from Western Rajasthan

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is an established entity in bipolar disorder. The affected individuals exhibit wide-ranging deficits involving multiple domains of cognitive functioning. These deficits are associated with poor functional outcome and residual disability in patients. A substantial literature exists globally on cognition in bipolar disorder; however, few studies have been carried out on this subject in India and in Rajasthan. The aim of the study is to compare cognitive functions of bipolar disorder patients and healthy control subjects. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Psychiatry department of a tertiary care institution on 50 bipolar disorder patients and matched healthy controls subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The diagnosis was made by DSM-V criteria, and symptom severity was determined by the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). After seeking socio-demographic details, all participants were administered the Post Graduate Institute Battery of Brain Dysfunction (PGI-BBD) to assess cognitive functioning. Data collected were subjected to suitable statistical analysis (mean, standard deviation, and chi-square test). Results: The majority of the bipolar disorder patients (54%) were under 35 years of age, were males (60%), were from the urban background (70%), and were married (82%). Bipolar disorder patients performed poorly on all domains of cognitive functioning, i.e. memory, performance and verbal intelligence, and perceptuo-motor skills. Conclusion: The present study affirmed the previous findings of wide-spread cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder patients. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are the key steps to reduce the cognitive morbidity associated with this disorder.
Secrecy Performance Analysis of RIS-Aided Wireless Communication Systems

In this work, we study the secrecy performance of a reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS)-aided wireless communication system in the presence of an eavesdropping user. Specifically, we assume that the RIS is placed between the source and the legitimate user and is used to improve the link security. In particular, analytical results for the secrecy outage probability (SOP) are derived. We also provide an asymptotic analysis to investigate the effect of the main parameters on the secrecy performance of our proposed system, such as the number of tunable elements of the RIS and the average signal-to-noise ratios. Finally, we verify our analytical results via simulations. Results show the positive effect of utilizing RISs for enhancing the secrecy performance in wireless systems.
Journal of Intellectual Capital: a review of emerging themes and future trends

Purpose: This article aims to provide a bibliometric and systematic literature analysis of studies published in the Journal of Intellectual Capital (JIC) from 2014 to 2018 in order to highlight emerging themes and future trends. Methodology: The analysis focused on 187 papers published in the JIC over five years. A scientometric approach to data mining enabled the detection of patterns in the dataset. Precisely, the investigation was conducted by integrating a bibliometric analysis on VOSviewer with a systematic literature review. Findings: Four main streams of research have emerged in the JIC during the years of the analysis: reporting and disclosure of intellectual capital; intellectual capital research in universities, education and public sector; knowledge management; intellectual capital, financial performance, and market value. Research implications: The study offers compelling insights into the topics covered by the Journal of Intellectual Capital by identifying the main research gaps and trends along with future research avenues. Originality: Prior scholars mostly focused on systematic literature reviews, while the use of bibliometric methods generally seems to be a missing tile in the research domain. Also, none of the extant studies have focused on the Journal of Intellectual Capital regarding the 2014 to 2018 period. The use of both bibliometric and systematic approaches to literature review delivered remarkably fine-tuned results in terms of factors such as citations, contents, and evolution of clusters over time.
Evaluation of attractants and traps for monitoring small banded pine weevil Pissodes castaneus

This study aimed to develop a semiochemical‐baited trapping system to monitor the populations of small banded pine weevil, Pissodes castaneus, a serious pest in Pinus sylvestris young stands that are weakened by biotic and abiotic factors. The scope of the work included the development of a dispenser for compounds (ethanol and α‐pinene) emitted by P. sylvestris and the pheromones of P. castaneus: grandisol and grandisal. Additionally, the effectiveness of beetle catches in different types of traps (unitrap, cross‐unitrap and long and short pipe traps) baited with a dispenser was assessed. The olfactometric studies showed that most of the newly hatched beetles that had not fed were attracted by a mixture of grandisol and grandisal. However, in the group of feeding beetles, half were attracted by a mixture of ethanol and α‐pinene. These results indicated that both pheromones and α‐pinene plus ethanol should be useful for capturing P. castaneus beetles. In the field trials, the highest efficiency was found in baited unitraps that caught up to several hundred P. castaneus beetles, while the baited cross‐unitraps caught up to a few dozen beetles. No insects were found in either type of baited pipe trap or in any of the unbaited control traps. The baited unitraps and cross‐unitraps also collected, with varied intensity, Hylobius abietis beetles, a serious pest of reforestations. These results indicate the possibility of using a unitrap baited with a 4‐component attractant for monitoring P. castaneus in integrated pest management for the protection of young forests.
On the theory of the propagation of detonation in gaseous systems

The existing theory of detonation is critically examined. It is shown that the considerations with which the steady value of the velocity of detonation is chosen are not convincing. In connection with the problem of the process of the chemical reaction in a detonation wave, the objections raised against the conceptions of Le Chatelier and Vieille of the 19th century with regard to the ignition of the gas by the shock wave are refuted. On the basis of this concept, it is possible to give a rigorous foundation for the existing method of computing the detonation velocity. The distributions of the temperature, the pressure, and the velocity in the detonation wave front as the chemical reaction proceeds, are considered. On the assumption of the absence of losses, the pure compression of the gas in the shock wave at the start of the chemical reaction develops a temperature that is near the temperature of combustion of the given mixture at constant pressure.
Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, Canada

Because they generate more wood per area and time, short rotation plantations are likely to play an increasing role in meeting the global increase in the demand for wood fiber. To be successful, high-yield plantations require costly intensive silviculture regimes to ensure the survival and maximize yields. While hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) is frequently used in intensive, short rotation forestry, it is particularly sensitive to competition and resource levels. Mechanical site preparation is thus of great importance to create microsites that provide sufficient light levels and adequate soil water and nutrient availability. We conducted an experiment in Québec (Canada) to compare two intensive site preparation treatments commonly used to establish hybrid poplar. We compared the effects of double-blade site preparation (V-blade), mounding and a control on hybrid poplar growth and nutritional status four growing seasons after planting on recently harvested forested sites. We also evaluated the effects of site preparation and planted poplar on inorganic soil N. Our results confirmed general positive effects of site preparation on the early growth of hybrid poplar clones. After four growing seasons, survival was higher in the mounding treatment (99%) than in the V-blade (91%) and the control (48%). Saplings planted in the V-blade and in the mounding treatments had mean diameters that were respectively 91% and 155% larger than saplings planted in the control plots. Saplings were 68% taller in the mounding treatment than the control plots, but differences between the V-blade and controls were not significant. We did not detect significant effects of site preparation or the presence of planted hybrid poplar on soil inorganic N. Sapling foliar nutrient concentrations were not influenced by the site preparation treatments. Based on these results, mounding appears to be a good management approach to establish hybrid poplar plantations under the ecological conditions we have studied, as it is less likely to cause erosion because of the localized nature of the treatment. However, these environmental benefits need to be balanced against economic and social considerations.
High level of intraspecific divergence and low frequency of RNA editing in the chloroplast genome sequence of Tagetes erecta

Abstract Tagetes erecta L. is an important commercial and medicinal plant. In this study, we reported the complete chloroplast genome sequence of T. erecta. The genome has a circular structure of 152,076 bp containing a large single-copy region (LSC) of 83,914 bp, a small copy region (SSC) of 18,064 bp, and two inverted repeats (IR) of 25,049 bp by each. It harbors 111 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes, and 28 transfer RNA genes. A total of 41 microsatellite, 20 tandem, and 37 interspersed repeats were detected in the genome. The phylogenomic analysis shows that T. erecta is a single phylogenetic cluster. The complete chloroplast genome of T. erecta lays the foundation for the phylogenetic, evolutionary, and conservation studies of the genus Tagetes. Furthermore, the intergenic region of atpB-rbcL was variable among the species T. erecta. This suggests that this region might be a mutation hotspot and will be useful for phylogenetic study and the development of molecular markers. At last, we systematically identified the RNA editing sites in the chloroplast genome of T. erecta based on the transcriptome downloaded from the SRA database. This study identified the characteristics of the T. erecta chloroplast genome, SNPs, and RNA editing sites, which will facilitate species identification and phylogenetic analysis within T. erecta.
UV-Index Climatology for Europe Based on Satellite Data

The UV-Index (UVI) is aimed at the prevention of skin cancer as well as other negative implications of ultraviolet radiation exposure. In order to support health related applications, assessments and planning that rely on long term data in high spatial resolution and as there exist only limited ground-based measurements, satellite products from reliable atmospheric monitoring services are used as sustainable data sources to create a climatology of the UVI at the local noon. In this study, the (all-sky) UVI as well as the hypothetically clear-sky UVI were analysed for the European region from 30° North to 65° North and from 25° West to 35° East in a spatial resolution of 0.05° for the time period 1983 to 2015. Maps of the monthly mean UVI provide an overview of the distribution of UVI for Europe as well as the spatial and temporal differences and regional variability at local solar noon. Additionally, eight selected locations provide insight into the effects of latitude and altitude on UVI in Europe. Monthly boxplots for each location provide information about regional differences in the variability of UVI, showing maximum variability in Northern and Central Europe in summer, where in Southern Europe this basically occurs in spring. The frequency of the World Health Organization exposure categories moderate, high and very high UVI is provided based on ten-day means for each month. The maximum difference between mean values per decade of 2006–2015 compared to 1983–1992 ranges from −1.2 to +1.2 for UVI and from −0.4 to +0.6 for UVI c l e a r − s k y . All locations, except the Northern European site, show an increase of UVI during spring and early summer months. A statistically significant increase in the annual mean all-sky UVI has been found for four sites, which ranges from +1.2% to +3.6% per decade. The latest eleven-year period of the UVI climatology (2005–2015) has been validated with UVI measured in five sites. The sites that are located north of the Alps show an underestimation of the UVI, likely due to the cloud modification. In the south, the UVI climatology provides values that are on average overestimated, possibly related to the use of climatological aerosol information. For the site within the Alps, a switch between underestimation and overestimation during the course of the year has been found. 7% to 9% of the UVI values of the climatology differ from the measured UVI by more than one unit.
Does learning by observing matter for M&As? International evidence from the insurance industry

ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of learning by observing in insurance mergers and acquisitions (M&As) by employing an international sample across 18 countries spanning the years 1990 to 2014. The empirical results support a view of semi-strong market efficiency: the long-run improvements in financial performance and risk profiles are significantly related to past M&As in the insurance industry. Moreover, we find evidence of more accurate stock market predictions of long-run financial performance and risk profiles if there are more recent insurance merger activities. This paper provides a new explanation for the controversy observed in the failure of insurance M&As to create value.
Strategy of Insan Kamil in Building Green Education

The reality of life illustrates the low level of human concern on environment. In fact, it undeniably promotes environmental damage nationally and globally. Therefore, the ecosystem damage in various places and regions has become a serious threat to the survival of the life of the universe. Humans are closely related to nature and they have a great responsibility to protect the universe. In regard to this issue. This article provides an overview of the ideal human strategy, namely Insan Kamil, as a means of increasing awareness of our status as ‘Abdun and our role as caliph in instilling awareness of environmental love through Green Education. This study employed a qualitative approach in the form of literature study in collecting data. The result found that Insan Kamil is considered as a human who is trying to realize his status as a servant of Allah and his role as khalifatullah who has a Divine vision to worship Allah and they also have mission in maintaining natural order and prosperity of the environment. Through the approach of spiritual education, its strategy must be applied within family, school, and community. Thus, it is clear that the strategy of this Insan Kamil is not only in the scope of formal education, but non-formal and in-formal education must also have the same objective integration in order to foster awareness of environmental love through Green Education. Keywords: Strategy of Insan Kamil, Green Educaiton