Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of mercury in muscles, liver and gills of marine and freshwater fish

In this study, the total mercury concentration was determined in the muscles, liver and gills of six fish species (rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Walb., carp Cyprinus carpio L., bream Abramis brama L., perch Perca fluviatilis L., ide Leuciscus idus L. and flounder Platichthys flesus L.). The fish were acquired from October to November 2012. Mercury was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry using thermal decomposition, compounds of mercury and amalgamation. The mercury content in fish organs reached 0.006-0.168 (in mg kgˉ1 wet weight) in muscles, 0.001-0.027 in gills and 0.003-0.045 in the liver. The muscles of perch and ide had significantly more Hg compared to the other fish’s muscles (P ≤ 0.05). The liver and gills of perch, ide and flounder contained more Hg than the same tissues of the other fish (P ≤ 0.05). Generally, the highest Hg content was determined in muscles (except rainbow trout) (P ≤ 0.05), whereas the lowest Hg content was found in gills (except perch) (P ≤ 0.05). The content of Hg in gills of perch did not differ from the one in the liver (P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the weight or length of a fish and the Hg concentration in its tissues, except for the length and Hg in the gills of carp. However, a statistically significant positive correlation between the body weight and the Hg levels in fish appeared only in the case of the organs of ide (P ≤ 0.004) and muscles of carp (P ≤ 0.038). The correlation between the factor condition and the content of Hg, albeit positive (0.106 < r < 0.811) except for the organs of flounder, was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
A Competence Model to Assess and Develop Designing Competence Assessment Tool

Studies showed that competency-based assessment improvement had generated a much greater impact on students’ achievements on standardized tests than other forms of educational activities. However, studies also indicated a number of challenges for teachers when designing competence assessment tools (CAT), especially in building assessment tasks that replicate real-life practice. There have been many different models for teachers’ assessment competencies, but the competency of designing competence assessment tools (CDCAT) was not paid much attention. In hope to develop a competency model that would serve as a supporting role in developing the CDCAT for preservice teachers and teachers, this study used a multi-step development process to construct a teachable model that reflectived the complexity of designing assessment tools. The model consisted of 12 behavioural indicators spreading across four dimensions informed by the existing literature and empirical findings in particular contexts. To guarantee the content value of the proposed model, the research twice used the expert method by two panels. The reliability of the model was tested by analyzing the data collected from the survey with students. Interesting findings were met, and the outlined CDCAT model assisted pre-service teachers in solving issues related to their assessment competence. The model was intended for educational researchers, educators, teachers, and policy makers to support teachers’ assessment competence concerning the current accountability model across educational systems. Specific implications for developing pre-service teachers' CDCAT were discussed, followed by suggestions for future studies.
Uncovering Sociological Effect Heterogeneity Using Tree-Based Machine Learning

Individuals do not respond uniformly to treatments, such as events or interventions. Sociologists routinely partition samples into subgroups to explore how the effects of treatments vary by selected covariates, such as race and gender, on the basis of theoretical priors. Data-driven discoveries are also routine, yet the analyses by which sociologists typically go about them are often problematic and seldom move us beyond our biases to explore new meaningful subgroups. Emerging machine learning methods based on decision trees allow researchers to explore sources of variation that they may not have previously considered or envisaged. In this article, the authors use tree-based machine learning, that is, causal trees, to recursively partition the sample to uncover sources of effect heterogeneity. Assessing a central topic in social inequality, college effects on wages, the authors compare what is learned from covariate and propensity score–based partitioning approaches with recursive partitioning based on causal trees. Decision trees, although superseded by forests for estimation, can be used to uncover subpopulations responsive to treatments. Using observational data, the authors expand on the existing causal tree literature by applying leaf-specific effect estimation strategies to adjust for observed confounding, including inverse propensity weighting, nearest neighbor matching, and doubly robust causal forests. We also assess localized balance metrics and sensitivity analyses to address the possibility of differential imbalance and unobserved confounding. The authors encourage researchers to follow similar data exploration practices in their work on variation in sociological effects and offer a straightforward framework by which to do so.
Enzymatic production of biodiesel from waste oil in ionic liquid medium

ABSTRACT In biodiesel production, catalyzed by immobilized lipase, a solvent is needed to reduce the inhibition effects caused by excessive use of short-chain alcohols and deposited glycerol. Volatile and toxic organic chemicals are commonly used to achieve this by enhancing the solubility of the alcohols and glycerol. In this work, non-volatile ionic liquids (ILs) are proposed as alternative solvents, which are safer and easier to recycle. Several ILs were tested and their effectiveness was compared to that of the conventional solvents, n-hexane and tert-butanol. Hydrophobic ILs showed much more promising results and much higher biodiesel production yields compared to hydrophilic ILs. A set of experiments was designed using full factorial (33) experimental design to statistically evaluate the results. The effects of reaction temperature, methanol-to-oil molar ratio and enzyme loading were considered. Response surface methodology (RSM) was then used to optimize process variables. The highest yields of 72 and 48% were achieved after 14 hrs of reaction at 50°C, 6:1 molar ratio and 40% enzyme loading in [bmim][PF6] and [bmim][NTf2], respectively. Regression models were developed to predict the optimal production yields and found to be adequate and statistically acceptable.
THE COMPOSITION AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF COLOSTRUM IN BLACK-AND-WHITE POLISH HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN COWS, MONTBÉLIARDE COWS AND THEIR CROSSBREEDS

The study involved 32 cows, including 13 Black-and-White Polish HolsteinFriesian cows, 6 Montbéliarde cows and 13 crossbred cows. Material for the study included samples of colostrum, which were analysed for basic components, somatic cell count, total bacteria count, immunoglobulin G1 concentration and physicochemical properties. In contrast to Polish Holstein-Friesian and Montbéliarde breeds, the colostrum of crossbred cows contained higher levels of dry matter, protein and fat, as well as lower lactose levels both in the first and the third milkings. Additionally, in the colostrum of these cows the level of titratable acidity, total bacteria count, somatic cell count, density, resistance and coagulation were higher, while active acidity and thermostability were lower. The immunoglobulin G1 concentration in the colostrum of crossbred cows showed greater stability on the first day when compared to Polish Holstein-Friesian and Montbéliarde breeds.
Glitches and hitches: sessional academic staff viewpoints on academic integrity and academic misconduct

ABSTRACT Increasing incidents of academic dishonesty are a problem for universities globally. The traditional approach to dealing with academic dishonesty has been to detect and punish, which may not be the best solution. This study explored the perceptions of sessional teaching staff (a growing but often neglected workforce) on academic integrity and misconduct issues at an Australian university. Findings from the focus groups revealed a deep-seated concern for the size and extent of the problem. While some participants were of the view that students should be punished, others provided interesting suggestions to reduce instances of academic misconduct. This study found that prevention is preferable to punishment as a guiding principle for policy development to address academic misconduct in universities. Students should be educated on the importance of mastering established academic protocols as a way of learning the discipline. Universities need to provide sessional academic staff with contextualised professional development activities.
Studies on Properties of Multiplier CO 4 Onion Bulb (Allium cepa L.var. aggregatum. Don.)Studies on Properties of Multiplier CO 4 Onion Bulb (Allium cepa L.var. aggregatum. Don.)

The properties of multiplier onion bulbs were studied for design of equipment for processing, sorting, transportation and heat transfer processes (heating and cooling). The equatorial diameter, polar diameter, thickness, geometric mean diameter (D gm ), arithmetic mean diameter (D am ) frontal surface area (Af.s) and cross sectional areas (A s.c ) of the fresh and three months stored Co-4 cultivar were determined. Spherical shapes of bulbs were indicated by values of shape index and sphericity. Surface area ranged from 14.04 ± 6.93 cm 2 for fresh onion and 11.18 ± 2.40 cm 2 for three months stored onion. The roundness values were 0.87 ± 0.04 and 0.84 ± 0.08 for fresh and stored samples respectively. Mass, volume, true density, bulk density and porosity were also determined. The emptying angle of repose for fresh and three months stored onion bulbs was higher than the filling angle of repose. The coefficient of friction was high in rubber surface and lowest in polished wooden card board surface.
Synthesis, DFT calculations and characterisation of new mixed Pt(II) complexes with 3-thiolanespiro-5′-hydantoin and 4-thio-1H-tetrahydropyranspiro-5′-hydantoin

Cisplatin is an anticancer drug widely used in the treatment of a wide range of solid tumours (head and neck, lung, bladder etc.), testicular and ovarian cancers. Because of its severe toxicity profile and spontaneous development of drug resistance in tumours, a number of Pt(II) complexes have been synthesised and tested for anti-tumour activity. Some of the investigations have focused on using ligands bearing donor atoms other than N (e.g., S, P, O). Two new mixed Pt(II) complexes of the general formula cis-[Pt(NH3)LCl2] where L is 3-thiolanespiro-5′-hydantoin and 4-thio-1H-tetrahydropyranspiro-5′-hydantom were synthesised. The complexes were studied by elemental analysis, melting points, IR and 1H NMR spectra. The hybrid DFT calculations were used for optimisation of the structure geometries of the ligands III, IV and their Pt(II) complexes V and VI. The structural parameters so calculated, such as bond lengths and angles, are in good agreement with the experimental data for similar hydantoins and their platinum complexes. The results showed that the geometries of complexes V and VI are plane square and the bounding of ligands III and IV with platinum ions is effected by the sulphur atom from the cyclic ring. The complexes thus obtained were chemically examined in comparison with previously synthesised and published complexes of the general formula cis-[PtL2Cl2] (VII and VIII) with the same ligands. The new compounds V and VI, as well as the previously investigated complexes (VII and VIII), were analysed for cytotoxicity in vitro on SKW-3 and HL-60 human tumour cell lines. The results showed that all the complexes exerted concentration-dependent anti-proliferative activity.
Predictive Factors of Infant Mortality Using Data Mining in Iran

Objectives: Reducing infant mortality in the whole world is one of the millennium development goals.The aim of this study was to determine the factors related to infant mortality using data mining algorithms. Methods: This population-based case-control study was conducted in eight provinces of Iran. A sum of 2,386 mothers (1,076 cases and 1,310 controls) enrolled in this study. Data were extracted from health records of mothers and filled with checklists in health centers. We employed several data mining algorithms such as AdaBoost classifier, Support Vector Machine, Artificial Neural Networks, Random Forests, K-nearest neighborhood, and Naïve Bayes in order to recognize the important predictors of infant death; binary logistic regression model was used to clarify the role of each selected predictor. Results: In this study, 58.7% of infant mortalities occurred in rural areas, that 55.6% of them were boys. Moreover, Naïve Bayes and Random Forest were highly capable of predicting related factors among data mining models. Also, the results showed that events during pregnancy such as dental disorders, high blood pressure, loss of parents, factors related to infants such as low birth weight, and factors related to mothers like consanguineous marriage and gap of pregnancy (< 3 years) were all risk factors while the age of pregnancy (18 - 35 year) and a high degree of education were protective factors. Conclusions: Infant mortality is the consequence of a variety of factors, including factors related to infants themselves and their mothers and events during pregnancy. Owing to the high accuracy and ability of modern modeling compared to traditional modeling, it is recommended to use machine learning tools for indicating risk factors of infant mortality.
Effect of External Electric Field on Diffusivity and Flash Sintering of 8ysz: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Abstract The atomistic structural modification and ionic diffusivity in 8YSZ at elevated temperature with the presence of an external electric field (E-field) were investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. As an example, a sufficiently large system of atomic configuration for a bi-crystal ∑ 5 ( 310 ) / [ 001 ] grain boundary (GB) model was studied. MD results show that the E-field promotes the formation of Frenkel pair defects. Notably, some Zr ions diffuse out of GB regions at E-field > ∼ 500-1000V/cm, resulting in an “avalanche” of cation vacancies at GBs and reduction of GB space charge. Consequently, the diffusivities of cations and anions are enhanced in the 8YSZ system with the presence of E-field. The atomistic level understanding of E-field induced structural modifications and ionic diffusivities provide an in-depth insight to unravel the flash sintering mechanisms of ionic ceramics, especially the coupled thermal-field effect during the flash sintering process.
Assessment of morphological variations in wild populations of Nile tilapia from South West Nigeria

The pattern of morphological variations among Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichlidae; Teleostei) from three populations from South West Nigeria (Asejire reservoir, Ureje reservoir and Ogbese River were examined (n=10 speciments from each water body) with a view to investigate the genetic diversity using morphometrics and meristics indices. In general, 77.22% of the total variation in the sampled populations is from first principal component (PC1) and the characters that contributed to this variation are with pre-dorsal length, pre-pectoral length, pre-anal length, dorsal spine length and anal spine length. Canonical variate analysis (CVA) showed that O. niloticus populations from the three water bodies formed a separate cluster from each other and that there was an intersection between the Asejire and Ureje reservoirs samples and the Asejire reservoir with Ogbese River samples. However, the samples from Ureje reservoir and Ogbese River had no intersection. Cluster analysis revealed two major clusters with Ureje reservoir samples belong to one and Ogbese River and Asejire reservoir fall in the other cluster. Principal Components for meristic (PC1 and PC2) accounted for 46.49% and 24.17% revealed that transverse scales and scales surrounding the caudal peduncle, pre-dorsal scales accounted for the variation. The CVA revealed that of all the populations sampled, samples from Ureje reservoir are more diverse that the other two populations. The research disclosed that there is variation in O. niloticus populations from the three water bodies, which could be a result of genetic structure and environmental conditions, being major factors affecting morphological variability among different geographical populations. Further study on genetic differentiation of individuals from different species is necessary to confirm findings of the present study.
Primary Prostatic Adenocarcinoma in a Domestic Short-Haired Cat

An 8-years-old, domestic short-haired cat was presented for constipation and symptoms referable to the lower urinary tract. A solid mass located in the caudal area of the abdomen was palpated. Abdominal ultrasonography, positive-contrast retrograde urethrocystography and total body computed tomography showed the presence of a prostatic neoformation occupying almost completely the pelvic cavity. The neoformation displaced dorsolaterally the descending colon and completely englobed the prostatic urethra, without apparent involvement of the urethral lumen. Histopathologic examination revealed a prostatic carcinoma. Neoplastic cells showed a moderate to intense cytoplasmatic expression of AE1/AE3, while no expression of cytokeratin 7 and Uroplakin III was observed. Topographical, histological and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with a diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma of the prostate body
Factors influencing enrolments and study completion of persons with physical impairments in universities

ABSTRACT This survey research investigated the factors influencing enrolments and study completion rates of persons with physical impairments in two government universities of Karachi. The population of the study consisted of non-students with physical impairments and university students with physical impairments. The sample of the study consisted of 20 non-students and 20 university students. Snowball sampling was used to collect the sample. Two structured questionnaires were developed to collect the data. Data analysis was conducted in the form of frequency tables. Results indicated that environmental factors (85%), academic grades (85%), transport factors (85%) and financial factors (90%) influenced enrolments rates of non-students in universities while environmental factors (75%), transport factors (75%), financial factors (90%) and lack of interest (90%) and will (90%) influenced study completion rates of university students. It is suggested to make the environment accessible, provide academic support, develop accessible transport, poverty reduction strategies and self-motivation in these persons.
Evaluation of surface tension of Ce-bearing slag based on calcium aluminate system

The surface tension of the Ce-bearing calcium aluminate slag was studied by the modified Butler’s equation. By taking the slag structure into account, the parameter related to AlO4-tetrahedron has been modified, imparting the model with good reproducibility. Ce2O3 and Li2O were surfactants. Ce2O3 can decrease the surface tension because of the decrease in the total ion moment of the slag and the weaker interactions between Ce3+ and O2−. Li+ had the weakest ionic potential, and increasing Li2O content decreased the total ion moment, which led to the decrease in the surface tension. The dissociated Ca2+ ions showed stronger absorption of the anions in the surface, so the surface tension increased with increasing the content of CaO. Increasing the value of w(CaO)/w(Al2O3) decreased the surface tension, because of the decrease in the total polymerised anions in the slag and the increase in the total ion moment.
Multinational Dividend Policies: A Systematic Literature Review to Future

: Purpose: To identify knowledge gaps about multinational companies´ dividend distribution policy. Design/Approach/Methodology: A bibliometric analysis and systematic review on the theme is carried out, considering the period between January 1972 and August 2020. The database used is the Web of Science. Findings: Among the knowledge gaps, an opportunity stands out for comparative analysis of the dividend distribution policy between multinational and domestic companies - or subsidiaries - especially in emerging markets. Other gaps identified are the impact of share buybacks, profit repatriation, mergers and acquisitions, foreign exchange, taxes, credit supply, and other characteristics of each country about these companies' payout ratio. Practical Implication: This study contributes to the bibliometric analysis of the most recent studies about dividend distribution policy between multinational and domestic companies. Also, it points out knowledge gaps on the topic, presenting suggestions for evolution to other researchers. Originality/Value: Absence of studies that combine quantitative method - bibliometric analysis - and qualitative method – literature systematic review. Additionally, for the bibliometric analysis, the laws of Zifp, Bradford, and Lotka are applied.
Hot Box Investigations of a Ventilated Bioclimatic Wall for NZEB Building Façade

The building sector is the largest consumer of energy, but there are still major scientific challenges in this field. The façade, being the interface between the exterior and interior space, plays a key role in the energy efficiency of a building. In this context, this paper focuses on a ventilated bioclimatic wall for nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB). The aim of this study is to investigate an experimental setup based on a hot box for the characterization of the thermal performances of the ventilated wall. A specific ventilated prototype and an original thermal metrology are developed. This paper presents the ventilated prototype, the experimental setup, and the experimental results on the thermal performances of the ventilated wall. The influence of the air space thickness and the air flow rate on the thermal performances of the ventilated wall is studied.
PROTOCOL: What are the effects of different elements of media on radicalization outcomes? A systematic review

Abstract Objectives In this systematic review and meta analysis we will collate and synthesize the evidence on media‐effects for radicalization, focusing on both cognitive and behavioral outcomes. The goal is to identify the relative magnitudes of the effects for different mediums, types of content, and elements of human‐media relationships. Methodology Random‐effects meta analysis will be used and the results will be rank‐ordered according to the size of the pooled estimates for the different factors. Meta‐regressions, moderator analysis, and sub‐group analyses will be used to investigate sources of heterogeneity. Implications The results of this review will provide a better understanding of the relative magnitude of the effects of media‐related factors. This information should help the development of more evidence‐based policies.