Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ground-based characterization of aerosol spectral optical properties of haze and Asian dust episodes under Asian continental outflow during winter 2014

Abstract. Long-range transported (LRT) haze can affect the regional radiation budget and the air quality in areas downwind of the Asian continental outflow. Because in situ observations of spectral aerosol optical properties of the LRT haze are rare, an intensive characterization of aerosol optical properties is needed. This study characterized the spectral optical properties of the LRT haze and Asian dust originating from the Asian continent. Integrated chemical and optical measurements of aerosol particles were carried out in a downwind area of the Asian continental outflow (Daejeon, South Korea) during winter 2014. High concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 10 µm) and light scattering coefficients at 550 nm, σs, 550, were observed during a long-range transport (LRT) haze episode (PM10 = 163.9 ± 25.0 µg m−3; σs, 550 = 503.4 ± 60.5 Mm−1) and Asian dust episode (PM10 = 211.3 ± 57.5 µg m−3; σs, 550 = 560.9 ± 151 Mm−1). During the LRT haze episode, no significant change in the relative contribution of PM2. 5 (particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 2.5 µm) chemical components was observed as particles accumulated under stagnant atmospheric conditions (13–17 January 2014), suggesting that the increase in PM2. 5 mass concentration was caused mainly by the accumulation of LRT pollutants. On the other hand, a gradual decrease in Angstrom exponent (A) and a gradual increase in single scattering albedo (ω) and mass scattering efficiency (MSE) were observed during the stagnant period, possibly due to an increase in particle size. These results imply that a change in particle size rather than chemical composition during the stagnant period is the dominant factor affecting the aerosol optical properties. During the Asian dust episode, a low PM2. 5 ∕ PM10 ratio and A(450∕700) were observed with average values of 0.59 ± 0.06 and 1.08 ± 0.14, respectively, which were higher than those during the LRT haze episode (0.75 ± 0.06 and 1.39 ± 0.05, respectively), indicating that PM2. 5 ∕ PM10 mass ratios and A(450∕700) can be used as tracers to distinguish aged LRT haze and Asian dust under the Asian continental outflow.
Negative Gossip Decreases Targets’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior by Decreasing Social Inclusion. A Multi-Method Approach

Ample experimental evidence shows that negative gossip fosters cooperation in groups by increasing individuals’ reputational concerns. However, recent field studies showed that negative gossip decreases organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) among its targets (i.e., people whom gossip is about). Bridging these findings, we study the role of social inclusion in explaining how negative gossip affects targets’ engagement in OCB. Based on social exchange theory, we predict that targets of negative gossip experience low social inclusion. In turn, we propose that low social inclusion leads to low OCB of gossip targets. Results of three studies, a correlational study (N = 563), a laboratory experiment (N = 85), and an online scenario experiment (N = 597), showed that being the target of negative gossip reduced social inclusion and indirectly decreased OCBs. Our multi-method approach bridges findings from research conducted in organizations and in laboratory experiments and offers a more nuanced understanding of the effects of negative gossip on targets’ behavior. We show that due to its detrimental effect on targets’ social inclusion, negative gossip may not be as effective for enabling sustainable cooperation as experimental studies claim it to be.
roles of efficiency and complexity in the processing of verb particle constructions

Abstract: Recent theories have proposed that processing difficulty affects both individuals’ choice of grammatical structures and the distribution of these structures across languages of the world (Hawkins, 2004). Researchers have proposed that performance constraints, such as efficiency, integration, and storage costs, drive languages to choose word orders that minimize processing demands for individual speakers (Hawkins, 1994; Gibson, 2000). This study investigates how three performance factors, adjacency, dependency, and complexity, affect reading times for sentences with verb-particle constructions. Results from a self-paced reading task indicate that reading times increase with each performance factor, such that shifted sentences, more dependent verb-particle constructions, and more complex noun phrases are more difficult. More importantly, I explore the relative weightings and interactions of the performance factors. The results support the notion that processing ease affects grammaticalization, such that those structures which are more easily processed by individuals (subject relatives and adjacent dependent constituents) are also more common crosslinguistically (Keenan & Hawkins, 1987).
Investigation of phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity of selected Eucalyptus species using conventional extraction

Eucalyptus species have found their place in traditional medicine and pharmacological research and they have also been shown to possess a large number of phenolic compounds and antioxidants. The present study sought to implement conventional extraction to yield maximal total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), proanthocyanidins, antioxidants, and saponins from E. robusta using different solvents. The most suitable extraction solvent was further employed for extracting phytochemicals from E. saligna, E. microcorys, and E. globulus to select the Eucalyptus species with the greatest bioactive compound content. The results emphasised the efficiency of water in extracting TPC ((150.60 ± 2.47) mg of gallic acid equivalents per g), TFC ((38.83 ± 0.23) mg of rutin equivalents per g), proanthocyanidins ((5.14 ± 0.77) mg of catechin equivalents per g), and antioxidants ABTS ((525.67 ± 1.99) mg of trolox equivalents (TE) per g), DPPH ((378.61 ± 4.72) mg of TE per g); CUPRAC ((607.43 ± 6.69) mg of TE per g) from E. robusta. Moreover, the aqueous extract of E. robusta had the highest TPC, TFC and antioxidant values among the other Eucalyptus species tested. These findings highlighted the efficiency of conventional extraction in extracting natural bioactive compounds from Eucalyptus species for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Ecosystem‐Atmosphere Exchange of CO2, Water, and Energy in a Basin Mangrove of the Northeastern Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula

Coastal settings variations are linked to composition, structural, and functional differences among mangrove ecotypes. Basin mangroves undergo larger flooding and salinity fluctuations, yet remain understudied, compared to other ecotypes. We evaluated the effect of flooding and air temperature (T a) on the surface energy balance and eddy covariance‐derived net CO2 ecosystem exchange (NEE) of a basin mangrove with sporadic freshwater flooding. During the study period (June 2017–November 2018) the site was more frequently not flooded. Under these conditions, in combination with high T a (>27°C), daytime CO2 uptake was significantly lower, while evapotranspiration and sensible heat flux were higher than when flooded. CO2 uptake increased with T a and vapor pressure deficit, but after exceeding a threshold (29°C and 1.4 kPa), uptake declined. Flooding extended this T a threshold by 3°C and increased the radiation saturation point of NEE. The ecosystem is a net sink of CO2 annually (709 ± 09 g C m−2 yr−1), however, it turned a net source of CO2 for 3 months of prolonged rainfall deficit. Most of the precipitation input is returned to the atmosphere (evaporative index: 0.94) and on average, for each gram of atmospheric carbon assimilated into the ecosystem, 2.21 ± 0.50 kg of water was returned to the atmosphere. This ecosystem‐level water‐use efficiency decreased with flooding, but the correlation was not strong. Future temperature increases and lower precipitation (local and regional), combined with lower water table (and/or stronger saline intrusion), imply important losses of primary productivity and stored soil carbon in basin mangroves of northeast Yucatan Peninsula.
Climate and soil mediate the effects of liana density on forest dynamics

Forest community dynamics is a topic of great interest in times when the global carbon budget is a widespread concern due to climate change. Among its effects, longer periods of drought and liana proliferation, coupled with land use change, may endanger tropical forest carbon sinks. Here, in a 10.3 ha sampling of six Atlantic semideciduous forests, we investigated the effects of liana crown occupancy and large‐stemmed lianas, as well as their interactions with climate and soil, on forest dynamics. We expected that harsh environmental conditions would enhance the negative effects of lianas on forest productivity. Our hypothesis was corroborated by the findings that the positive effect of lianas on tree mortality increases under drier conditions, as well as their negative effect on tree recruitment. In addition, liana crown occupancy was the best predictor of net aboveground woody biomass productivity, which decreases as liana crown occupancy increases. Our study provides additional evidence of indirect climate change impacts on the tropical forest carbon sink by increasing the negative effects of liana crown occupancy on tree biomass productivity.
Biomimetic synthesis of platinum nanoparticles utilizing a terrestrial weed Antigonon leptopus

ABSTRACT In this work, we report for the first time a new bio-inspired method for platinum nanoparticle (PtNP) synthesis utilizing a highly invasive terrestrial weed coral vine (Antigonon leptopus) as the main bioagent. Extracts of all three basic components of the plant – leaves, stem and root – were explored and were found to be suitable in effecting the PtNP synthesis. The electron micrographs of the synthesized PtNPs revealed the presence of particles of monodispersed spherical and polydispersed shapes in sizes ranging from 5 to 190 nm. The presence of Pt atoms was confirmed from the energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The FTIR spectral study indicated that the polysaccharides and proteins in the plant extract could have been responsible for the reduction of Pt ions to PtNPs and the latter’s stabilization.
Sperm Has an Impact on Embryonic Development and Clinical Outcomes: A Study of Sibling Oocytes.

BackgroundGood quality gametes are necessary to produce high-quality embryos in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Both the sperm and oocyte genomes constitute the embryonic genome. Up to now, there is debate about the effect of paternal factors on embryo quality and reproductive outcomes. To investigate whether paternal factors can influence embryonic development and the clinical outcomes.MethodsThe study included 50 patients undergoing split IVF/ICSI procedures: half with sperm from the partner and half with sperm from the donor. In total, 295 sibling oocytes were obtained and fertilized in two groups: partner sperm group (n=145) and donor sperm group (n=150). The main outcomes were the oocyte utilization rate (OUR) and the live birth rate (LBR). ResultsThe OUR in the partner sperm group was significantly lower than that in the donor sperm group (18.62% vs. 38.00%, P<0.001). The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and the LBR in the group of oocytes fertilized by the partner’s sperm was significantly lower than that in the group fertilized by donor sperm (25.00% vs. 57.14%, P=0.03; 16.67% vs. 50.00%, P=0.02, respectively). Furthermore, logistic regression analysis results showed the partner sperm was associated with a significant decrease in the utilized oocyte rate and the live birth rate compared to the donor sperm (OR=0.63; 95% CI [0.42-0.94]; P=0.023 and OR=0.16; 95% CI [0.04-0.69]; P=0.014, respectively ). Conclusions﻿This study provides strong evidence to support the fact that paternal factors exert influence on embryonic development and clinical outcomes. Further studies are required to confirm and elaborate on our conclusions.
Politics, pandemics, and support: the role of political actors in Dutch state aid during COVID-19

Abstract How do governments distribute resources across economic sectors during a crisis? And why do some sectors receive more than others? The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of these questions. In this paper, we explore the extent to which a political economy perspective can help explain the characteristics of sector-specific state aid in the Netherlands, a traditionally corporatist country. While KLM, the biggest player in the Dutch aviation sector, was promised loans worth €3.4 billion, the horeca (hospitality) sector was denied a similar deal. Limited cross-case analysis eliminates purely economic accounts. We employed process-tracing and analyzed hundreds of national media articles to understand the influence of elected leaders, interest groups, and experts. We find that, against the backdrop of economic concerns, vote-seeking behavior by elected leaders as well as the strength and organization of interest groups influenced how much each sector could expect. Meanwhile, policy-seeking behavior helps explain the form that aid took. Our findings highlight the need to consider fiscal support in political economy terms, even during crises, and to explore the composition of state aid, not just its presence or amount.
Digging Deeper into the Ecology of Subterranean Ants: Diversity and Niche Partitioning across Two Continents

Soil fauna is generally understudied compared to above-ground arthropods, and ants are no exception. Here, we compared a primary and a secondary forest each on two continents using four different sampling methods. Winkler sampling, pitfalls, and four types of above- and below-ground baits (dead, crushed insects; melezitose; living termites; living mealworms/grasshoppers) were applied on four plots (4 × 4 grid points) on each site. Although less diverse than Winkler samples and pitfalls, subterranean baits provided a remarkable ant community. Our baiting system provided a large dataset to systematically quantify strata and dietary specialisation in tropical rainforest ants. Compared to above-ground baits, 10–28% of the species at subterranean baits were overall more common (or unique to) below ground, indicating a fauna that was truly specialised to this stratum. Species turnover was particularly high in the primary forests, both concerning above-ground and subterranean baits and between grid points within a site. This suggests that secondary forests are more impoverished, especially concerning their subterranean fauna. Although subterranean ants rarely displayed specific preferences for a bait type, they were in general more specialised than above-ground ants; this was true for entire communities, but also for the same species if they foraged in both strata.
Estimating the Speed of Adjustment of Leverage in the Presence of Interactive Effects*

Dynamic panel data regression models with fixed effects to account for unobserved heterogeneity are standard econometric tools. It is not until recently, however, that the problems involved when fitting such regressions to leverage data have been investigated. The main problem is that models of leverage are extremely noisy, much more so than what can be accommodated using fixed effects. The present article can be seen as a reaction to this. The purpose is to consider a more general interactive effects model in which there are multiple time effects, each with their own firm-specific sensitivities. Our empirical results suggest that proper accounting for the interactive effects and the bias that they cause leads to a marked increase in the estimated speed of adjustment to target leverage.
Effect of Health Extension Service on Under-Five Child Mortality and Determinants of Under-Five Child Mortality in Derra District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Under five-child mortality is the highest in Ethiopia even though it decreased steadily in last two decades. Hence, this study aimed to identify the risk factors and effects of Health Extension Service on under-five child mortality in Derra district, Ethiopia. The study used a random sample of 446 mothers from the district and analyzed. One-fourth (23.5%) of mothers experienced at least one under-five child mortality in the last thirteen years and the propensity score analysis also indicated that utilizing and being model in HEP reduced under five child mortality by 29.84% and 15.71%, respectively. The Poisson regression model identified that Kebeles, being model in HEP, mother educational level, mother age at first birth, source of drinking water and Place of child delivery were significant risk factors of under-five child mortality per mother. Hence, the health sectors and district health offices have to work on a health extension program to increase the community awareness of basic preventive and promotive health service, and minimize risk factors of under-five child mortality.
Systematic Review of Methodical Local Studies Re Usefulness of Antidepressants on Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Introduction: Though negative symptoms are a real barricade against effective recovery in schizophrenia, their management by add-on antidepressants has produced changeable consequences. In the current study, some of the local systematic published studies have been the subject of a systematic review, to assess the effectiveness of adjunctive antidepressants on negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Methods: Following probing in identified databank, eight home-based appropriate randomized clinical trials, containing 277 male participants, was nominated. All samples were selected among the long-lasting male patients, meeting the diagnosis of schizophrenia in line with ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’, 4th edition, text revision, who entered into double-blind studies for random assignment to an antidepressant or placebo in addition to their current antipsychotic medications. In the said trials, the ‘Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms’ was the primary outcome measure for assessment of negative symptoms. Moreover, response was demarcated as a decrease of ⩾20% in the score of the said measure (total and/or subscales). Results: analysis of Combined Effect Size showed a significant positive influence of antidepressants on negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Similar results, too, were palpable separately with reference to different sub-scales of primary outcome measure. Anhedonia -Asociality displayed the best response, followed by Affective Blunting, Avolition –Apathy, Attention Deficit, and finally Alogia. Heterogeneity of the said analysis was insignificant and acceptable. Conclusion: Antidepressants have promising sound effects with respect to improvement of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Arabic Lexicography and the Holy Quran

The research tackles lexicographical phenomenon as it is considered to be one of the characteristics of Arabic calligraphy. Ancient and modern scholars differ about its origin between saying that its status was related to the status of Arabic letters or viewing it as a modern phenomenon. The research uncovers both views and discusses arguments and evidently reaches upon transferred, concrete and mental evidences, some firstly presented, that lexicographical dot is a subject that is part of Calligraphy and it is one of the defining characteristics of it.
Spatial Evolution of Urban Expansion in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Coordinated Development Region

Against the background of coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH), it is of great significance to quantitatively reveal spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion for optimizing the layout of urban land across regions. However, the urban expansion characteristics, types and trends, and spatial coevolution (including urban land, GDP, and population) have not been well investigated in the existing research studies. This study presents a new spatial measure that describes the difference of the main trend direction. In addition, we also introduce a new method to classify an urban expansion type based on other scholars. The results show the following: (1) The annual urban expansion area (UEA) in Beijing and Tianjin has been ahead of that in Hebei; the annual urban expansion rate (UER) gradually shifted from the highest in megacities to the highest in counties; the high–high clusters of the UEA presented an evolution from a “seesaw” pattern to a “dumbbell” pattern, while that of the UER moved first from Beijing to Tianjin and eventually to Hebei. (2) Double high speed for both UEA and UER was the main extension type; most cities presented a U-shaped trend. (3) Qinhuangdao has the largest difference between the main trend direction of spatial distribution of urban land, GDP and population; the spatial distribution of GDP is closer to that of urban land than population. (4) The area and proportion of land occupied by urban expansion varied greatly across districts/counties. BTH experienced dramatic urban expansion and has a profound impact on land use. These research results can provide a data basis and empirical reference for territorial spatial planning.
THE MEDIATING ROLE OF REAL-TIME INFORMATION BETWEEN LOCATION-BASED USER-GENERATED CONTENT AND TOURIST GIFT PURCHASE INTENTION

The global use of Web 2.0 applications has generated enormous volumes of user content. Drawing on cognitive load theory, this study examines unexplored factors that influence gift purchase intention of tourists. The authors identify localization and realtime information for shaping tourists' gift purchase intention, which is facilitated by reduced cognitive overload. Analyzes of the study relies on a sample of 273 foreign tourists in Malaysia. A cross-sectional quantitative study is conducted using partial least square structural equation modeling. Results showed that location-based user-generated content and real-time information significantly affect gift purchase intention of tourists. Moreover, real-time information partially mediates the relationship between location-based user-generated content and gift purchase intention. 1 Address correspondence to Mustafa R. Khan (Ph.D. Candidate), University Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia. E-mail: mustafa.r. khan03@gmail.com
Tungsten Sulfide Nanoflakes: Synthesis by Electrospinning and Their Gas Sensing Properties

Abstract Tungsten sulfide (WS2) nanoflakes were successfully prepared via electrospinning with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as organic solvent. In addition, Ag-deposited WS2 (Ag-WS2) was obtained by chemical blending/calcination method. The structure and morphology of as-prepared materials were characterised by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. The XRD result shows that the prepared WS2 has a graphene-like structure with P63/mmc space group symmetry. The SEM illuminates that the sensing samples have nanoflake appearance. Furthermore, heater-type gas sensors were fabricated based on WS2 and Ag-WS2 nanomaterials. The sensing responses of WS2 and Ag-WS2 on the ammonia (NH3), ethanol (C2H5OH), and acetone (C3H6O) were investigated at about 220°C. The results indicate that gas sensor based on WS2 and Ag-WS2 nanoflakes has 60 ppm sensing threshold value for ammonia. One possible gas sensing mechanism of WS2 and Ag-WS2 gas sensors is surface control via charge transfer.