Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implementation of the Kalman Filter for a Geostatistical Bivariate Spatiotemporal Estimation of Hydraulic Conductivity in Aquifers

The estimation of the hydraulic parameters of an aquifer such as the hydraulic conductivity is somehow complicated due to its heterogeneity, on the other hand field and laboratory tests are both time consuming and costly. The use of geostatistical-based techniques for data assimilation could represent an alternative tool that allows the use of space-time aquifer behaviour to characterize hydraulic conductivity heterogeneity. In this paper, a spatiotemporal bivariate methodology was implemented combining historical hydraulic head data with hydraulic conductivity sparse data in order to obtain an estimate of the spatial distribution of the latter variable. This approach takes advantage of the correlation between the hydraulic conductivity (K) and the hydraulic head (H) behaviour through time. In order to evaluate this approach, a synthetic experiment was constructed through a transitory numerical flow-model that simulates hydraulic head values in a horizontally-heterogeneous aquifer. Geostatistical tools were used to describe the correlation between simulated spatiotemporal data of hydraulic head and the spatial distribution of the hydraulic conductivity in a group of model nodes. Subsequently, the Kalman filter was used to estimate the hydraulic conductivity values at nonsampled sites. The results showed acceptable differences between estimated and synthetic hydraulic conductivity data, with low estimate error variances (predominating the 1 m2/day2 value for K for all the cases, however, the smallest number of cells with values above 2 m2/day2 correspond to the bivariate spatiotemporal case) and the best agreement between the estimated errors and the selected model variance (SMSE values of 0.574 and 0.469) were found for the bivariate cases, which suggests that the implemented methodology could be used for reducing calibration efforts, particularly when the hydraulic parameters data are scarce.
Shelf Life of Fresh and Pasteurized Organic Passion Fruit (Passiflora Edulis F. Flavicarpa Deg.) Pulp

The shelf life of the organic passion fruit pulp, both fresh and pasteurized at 70C and 90C and stored under refrigeration, was evaluated. The heat treatment did not affect the sensory and physicochemical characteristics of the pasteurized pulps when compared with the fresh pulp, except for the ascorbic acid content. The pulps were also microbiologically safe. The pulps pasteurized at 70 and 90C were suitable for consumption for a minimum shelf-life period of 207 days of storage under refrigeration and for the fresh pulp it was attributed a shelf-life period of 60 to 90 days. The pulp pasteurized at 70C showed higher acceptance scores for all the attributes and purchase intention scores, suggesting a more stable behavior and higher sensory quality. Practical Applications This work intended to evaluate the influence of the minimum pasteurization on the sensory acceptance and microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of the organic passion fruit pulp stored under refrigeration, with the aim to identify the shelf life. Heat treatment is one of the processes used for food preservation. Lower pasteurization temperature than that used by the Brazilian industries and storage under refrigeration showed to be appropriate for passion fruit pulp quality. In this way, the microbiological, physicochemical and sensory features of passion fruit were preserved. This work can be used as a reference for passion fruit pasteurization, which is able to increase the shelf life of this fruit while preserving its desirable original features.
Level of Shariah Compliance in the Operation of Islamic Banks in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study

This paper has tried to assess the level of Shariah compliance in the operation of the Islamic Banks in Bangladesh. The data were collected from questionnaire survey on 400 respondents from six Islamic banks regarding banking operations and from personal interview with bank officials & regulators of the banks. Other data were attained from different journals, books, Qur’an, Sunnah and the websites of the sample banks. Descriptive statistics are used to analyze the data. Most of the Islamic banks are not complying with the shariah with respect to deposits, investments, audit and other activities. The underlying reasons for the non-compliance are the absence of mandatory Shariah guidelines, lack of Shariah scholarly officials, dual compliance, absence of penalties for non-compliance and some other external factors. If the Central bank and other regulatory bodies are concerned enough to form a uniform guideline for all the Islamic banks operating in Bangladesh, it will be easier for the Islamic banks to comply with Shariah. This is the sole study that deals with different areas of operations in the Islamic Banks to assess the shariah compliance. It has incorporated both survey and interview findings to assess the real picture.
Understanding the 3D Formation of a Wide Rift: The Central South China Sea Rift System

Rifted margins result from continental lithosphere extension, breakup, and transition to seafloor spreading by modes typically described by end‐member conceptual models. However, current geophysical data challenge these archetypes showing a more complex spectrum of rifting styles. Here, we integrate geophysical and geological observations to constrain the time and space evolution of the central South China Sea (SCS) rift system. We provide new insights into the continental extension mechanisms and continent‐ocean transition (COT) formation from a seismic transect parallel to the extensional direction of the central SCS rift system. We present 850‐km‐wide region of continental crust where distributed extensional deformation formed a pattern of lithospheric boudinage defined by seven 100‐ to 200‐km‐long structural segments. Each segment is formed by an 18‐ to 24‐km‐thick crust sector laterally thinning into an interboudin neck with ≤10‐km ultrathin crust (ß factors ~3.3–6.5). Drill and stratigraphic information support that extension continued at all six interboudin necks in the central SCS until ~23 Ma, when breakup by seafloor spreading propagation reached one of them. We propose that the seven segments evolved as discrete subsystems from early rifting to breakup. Structurally equivalent ultrathin crust grabens occur NE and SW of both SCS conjugate margins, supporting a 3D wide rift mode of deformation across the SCS rift system. The six ultrathin crust contemporaneous necks and the abrupt nature and location of the COT support that the breakup was not controlled by further continental lithospheric thinning but rather was determined by the seafloor spreading propagation toward the SW.
Theoretical studies on structural and electrical properties of PES/SPEEK blend nanofiltration membrane

Polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiltration membranes were prepared using a simple dry-jet wet spinning technique with different contents of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) ranging from 0 to 4 wt %. The structural parameters (rp and Ak/Δx) and electrostatic properties (ξ and X) of the blend membranes were deduced by employing the combination of irreversible thermodynamic model, steric hindrance pore (SHP) model, and Teorell-Meyer-Sievers (TMS) model. The modeling results obtained have been analyzed and discussed. The mean pore radius and pore size distribution of the blends were also determined based on the theoretical models. The results showed that pore radius increased with increasing the concentration of SPEEK from 0 to 2 wt % but decreased with a further increase in SPEEK content. The water flux, however, showed a systematically increase with increasing SPEEK content. The SPEEK also showed significant effect on membrane electrical properties. Both effective charge density and ratio of effective charge density to electrolyte solution increased with increasing concentration of SPEEK in the dope solution, reaching a value of −21.02 and −2.29, respectively. The pore radius which was determined by using different transport models has also been analyzed and discussed. It is found that the addition of SPEEK into dope solution is one of the paramount parameters in developing the negatively charged nanofiltration membrane with enhanced water flux while retaining the pore radius in the nanometer range. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
A Review on Extracellular Matrix Mimicking Strategies for an Artificial Stem Cell Niche

In adults, stem cells live in a distinctive microenvironment known as “stem cell niche”. Within such a niche, biochemical and biophysical attributes of extracellular matrix (ECM) executes a major role in regulating stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. However, in conventional in vitro culture system, stem cells are deprived of ECM and hence it is difficult to maintain, expand and differentiate them into a particular lineage. Therefore, different two- and three-dimensional substrates have been designed to mimic the ECM features in vitro. The present review focuses mainly on different scaffolds/substrates made up of or functionalized with proteins, polysaccharides and peptides (biochemical) in form of fibers, gels, gratings, pillars, pits (geometrical) of varying stiffness, and mechanical pressure (mechanical) for replicating stem cell microenvironment that not only helps in understanding stem cell-ECM interactions but also in the development of systems for regenerative medicine applications.
Prediction of Soil Cadmium Bioavailability to Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) using Single-Step Extraction Procedures

In this study, complexation extractants ammonium bicarbonate diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA), diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and mild cation-exchange extractants calcium chloride (CaCl2) and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) were used to evaluate the bioavailability of soil cadmium (Cd) to cacao in the field. Among the five extractants, the extractable Cd generally followed the order EDTA > DTPA > AB-DTPA > CaCl2 > NH4NO3. Correlation analysis was done between the extractable Cd in soil and total Cd content of cacao tissues (nibs, shells, leaves, and pods). The Cd extracted by CaCl2 and NH4NO3 was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with some of the tissues but their Pearson correlation coefficients were weak. In contrast, extractants AB-DTPA, DTPA, and EDTA showed stronger, significant correlations to the Cd concentration in all four tissues. Overall, regression analysis demonstrated that AB-DTPA, DTPA, or EDTA can be used to predict bioavailable Cd in soils for cacao. Of these, AB-DTPA and DTPA both showed the strongest correlations compared to EDTA. However, the ease of preparation and the superior shelf-life of DTPA over AB-DPTA make it the preferred reagent for Cd bioavailability extractions from cacao soils and is currently being used to develop cost-effective soil treatments to reduce bioavailable Cd to cacao plants.
Exploring the Process Toward Corporate Sustainability at a Thai SME

Given that corporate leaders seek to ensure the long-term sustainability of their organization, this study explores how a business adopting a Thai Sufficiency Economy philosophy improves its sustainability performance. Adopting the Sufficiency Thinking model as the research framework, this study uses a qualitative research approach with a set of different data collection techniques to explore a sample Small–Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) called Plan Creation. Collected data are identified as themes, according to the Sufficiency Thinking model. Our findings reveal that there is a close fit between the collected data and the Sufficiency Thinking model. Virtuous attributes, individual and shared knowledge and the decision-making framework of Sufficiency Mindset are observed through the sustainable leadership actions, leading to, among other things, social and environmental innovation. Implications for practicing managers and directions for future research are also discussed.
A convenient synthesis of a 2,7-difunctional tetra(alkoxy)triphenylene involving 4,4′-diacetoxy-3,3′-dialkoxybiphenyl as a key precursor and its conversion to extended hybrid mesogenic compounds

A new rational pathway to 2,7-difunctionalised-β-hexa-substituted triphenylenes is presented, requiring less protection/deprotection and purification steps than more conventional synthetic procedures in the framework of the ‘biphenyl route’. Main improvements are deprotection via alkaline hydrolysis of an ester in ethanol/water medium instead of using toxic and pyrophoric reagents like lithium diphenylphosphide, and the use of easily prepared brominated precursors instead of iodinated reagents for biphenyl synthesis. 4,4′-Diacetoxy-3,3′-bis(hexyloxy)biphenyl has been synthesised under this scheme, and characterised by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectrometry, elemental analysis and single-crystal crystallography. It crystallises in the P-1 space group, and exhibits a layered structure built-up through dipolar, C–H … π and C–H … O=C non-covalent interactions. This compound has been oxidatively coupled with 1,2-bis(hexyloxy)benzene to yield 2,7-dihydroxy-3,6,10,11-tetrakis(hexyloxy)triphenylene, a non-mesogen key precursor for the synthesis of the corresponding liquid-crystalline 2,7-difunctional triphenylenes. Indeed, a reactive 2,7-difunctional mesogen was prepared and used to produce new triphenylene-siloxane hybrid monomeric, trimeric and polymeric mesogens. All of them exhibited columnar hexagonal (Colh) mesophases.
Distribution, Orientation, and Dynamics of DPH Probes in DPPC Bilayer

We employ 50 ns molecular dynamics simulations to study the distribution, orientation, and dynamics of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) fluorescent probes in a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer. We find no evidence for clustering of DPH molecules, and our results show that DPH does not prefer to be embedded in the membrane center where free volume is largest. Rather, DPH prefers to be accommodated in the hydrophobic acyl chain region of DPPC, oriented such that the long axis of DPH along its rodlike shape is approximately aligned in the direction of the bilayer normal, thus reflecting the ordering of lipid acyl chains. These conclusions are supported by further studies of radial distribution functions indicating DPH to be located beside the lipid acyl chains. Studies of DPH dynamics in DPPC bilayers reveal a number of rare events, including flip-flops of DPH molecules from one leaflet to another, their rotational diffusion whose time scale can be compared with that found through experiments.
Astragaloside IV attenuates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats through the inhibition of calcium-sensing receptor-mediated apoptosis

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI), caused by the reperfusion of blocked vessels following ischemic stroke, can lead to secondary brain injury. Throughout CIRI, apoptosis serves an important role. Astragaloside IV is a potential neuroprotectant that alleviates CIRI by inhibiting apoptosis. The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor, the activation of which aggravates ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the protective effect of Astragaloside IV on CIRI may be associated with the regulation of CaSR. A rat middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model and an oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model of pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were used to study the neuronal injury induced by CIRI. Neurological function scores (NFS), 2,3,5-triphe-nylterazolium chloride and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to determine brain damage in rats. Cell viability was measured to evaluate the injury of OGD/R PC12 cells. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of proteins associated with apoptosis and CaSR. The CaSR antagonist NPS-2143 and agonist GdCl3 were used to further confirm the effects of CaSR during the process of apoptosis. The results demonstrated that Astragaloside IV alleviated CIRI by decreasing the NFS of rats, reducing the infarction volume of the brain and promoting the viability of PC12 cells, as well as inhibiting the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and CaSR, which was induced by CIRI. The results of the present study suggested that the activation of CaSR may be involved in CIRI-induced brain damage in rats, and that Astragaloside IV may alleviate CIRI by inhibiting CaSR activation-induced apoptosis.
Assessing the Factors Influencing Customer Satisfaction at a Specialised Boutique Restaurant in Bangkok

This paper evaluates the effects of associated factors (Quality, Service, and Environmental) that influence customer satisfaction at a single, stand-alone boutique restaurant. It uses ACSI as a research model to study customer satisfaction. This research uses a defined population of 4800 restaurant visitors over, for 60 days representing a previous, specific, and focused marketing exercise. The calculated sample size was 369, where respondents were chosen using systematic random sampling. Data analysis is conducted using appropriate tests that are applied to 4 variables determined as Customer Expectation, Perceived Quality, Perceived Value, and customer satisfaction extracted from the ACSI index. The study result shows that females are the target purchase group. Environmental factors respond primarily to Customer expectation and Perceived Quality; Quality and Environmental factors respond mostly to Perceived Value, Perceived Quality, Service factors that influence Customer Satisfaction. From this study, Perceived Quality and Perceived Value are significantly positive for customer satisfaction, but Customer expectation does not positively affect customer satisfaction. Business and Economic Research ISSN 2162-486
The Use of a Cooperative-Learning Activity with University Students: A Gender Experience

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) show how education is essential for creating values in students. In particular, SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 5 (gender equality) indicate how co-education should be a sustainable benchmark. Co-educational methodologies have been studied for decades. Among them, cooperative learning is considered a valid technique for developing social relations and competences. This study aims to describe and characterize the gender differences between university students regarding their impressions and behaviors when working cooperatively. One hundred and seventy-seven university students (98 women and 79 men), from Physical Education and Primary Education degree courses, worked with Aronson’s Jigsaw technique. After its completion, they completed a questionnaire to analyze cooperative work in higher education (ACOES). The results are organized into seven dimensions. The main gender differences found show that women gave a higher evaluation to relating cooperative learning to future teaching roles ( p = 0.017) and to understanding the need for cooperative tasks ( p = 0.035). Additionally, female students prefer groups to be organized according to academic criteria and that they should remain stable throughout the academic period. Both genders value Aronson’s Jigsaw as a good method for developing social competences, although they are more neutral when considering it effective at improving academic performance. These findings help to generate a gender-cooperation profile that will enable future research to discuss results more accurately.
A case-study to examine doctors' intentions to use IoT healthcare devices in Iraq during COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeSeveral countries have been using internet of things (IoT) devices in the healthcare sector to combat COVID-19. Therefore, this study aims to examine the doctors’ intentions to use IoT healthcare devices in Iraq during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThis study proposed a model based on the integration of the innovation diffusion theory (IDT). This included compatibility, trialability and image and a set of exogenous factors such as computer self-efficacy, privacy and cost into the technology acceptance model comprising perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude and behavioral intention to use.FindingsThe findings revealed that compatibility and image of the IDT factors, have a significant impact on the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and behavioral intention, but trialability has a significant impact on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and insignificant impact on behavioral intention. Additionally, external factors such as privacy and cost significantly impacted doctors’ behavioral intention to use. Moreover, doctors’ computer self-efficacy significantly influenced the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and behavioral intention to use. Furthermore, perceived ease of use has a significant impact on perceived usefulness and attitude, perceived usefulness has a significant impact on attitude, which, in turn, significantly impacting doctors' behavior toward an intention to use.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the present study are the retractions of the number of participants and the lack of qualitative methods.Originality/valueThe finding of this study could benefit researchers, doctors and policymakers in the adaption of IoT technologies in the health sectors, especially in developing counties.
Clostridium difficile infection in patients with end stage renal disease. Is it preventable?

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of a healthcare-associated diarrhea worldwide. Recently, an increased number of new cases and growing mortality due to CDI have been observed. Patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are highly exposed to CDI. It has been proven that CDI in patients receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) significantly increases mortality, prolongs hospitalization and increases the cost of treatment. Important risk factors of CDI in ERSD patients include hospitalization or stay in an intensive care unit in the last 90 days, HIV infection, bacteraemia, prolonged antibiotic therapy and hypoalbuminemia. Cirrhosis, age over 65 years, hypoalbuminaemia, longer hospitalization time and use of antibiotics are significant risk factors of death in these patients. Effective methods of preventing CDI include hand hygiene, isolation of infected patients, the use of masks, gloves, disinfection of the environment and systematic education and control of medical personnel, as well as rational antibiotic policy. In addition, it is important to avoid antibiotics with a proven risk of CDI, cautious use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and H2 receptor antagonists. It is also important in the prevention of CDI, in people with ERSD, to apply fast diagnostics right from the onset of the first symptoms. Use of probiotics and bile acids in the primary prevention of CDI requires further research. It seems that knowledge of these factors and methods of prevention will significantly reduce morbidity and mortality caused by the CDI.