Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vanishing‐viscosity solutions to a rate‐independent two‐field gradient damage model

A rate‐independent damage model which features two damage variables coupled through a penalty term in the stored energy is considered. Since the energy functional is nonconvex, solutions may be discontinuous in time. This calls for suitable notions of (weak) solutions which allow for jumps. We resort to a vanishing‐viscosity approach based on an L2(Ω)− arclength parametrization, where parametrized solutions arise as a limit of the (reparametrized) graphs of the viscous solutions in the extended state space. This enables us to prove that vanishing‐viscosity solutions exist and belong to the class of parametrized solutions. We show that the latter can be characterized in various different ways. These alternative formulations highlight the influence of the viscous effects at the jump points, while at the continuity points, the evolution displays a rate‐independent behavior. As it turns out, the behavior of the system at each jump point is described by an ordinary differential equation in Banach space during which the physical time is constant.
Population structure and spatial distribution of the tiger (Panthera tigris, Felidae, Carnivora) in Southwestern Primorye (Russian Far East)

In 2011–2013, we surveyed the population structure, spatial distribution and the number of tigers in Southwestern Primorye (about 5000 km2). The total number of tigers, according to winter route census, DNA analysis and camera trapping was estimated at 24–25 adults and 6–7 cubs, belonging to four different litters. The location of tigers is mainly confined to areas difficult to access for people, and with a high density of ungulates. Tigers concentrated in the habitat strip bordering China, mainly comprising the 'Land of the Leopard' National Park. A few tiger tracks were recorded outside of protected areas and on hunting tenures. Current methods for estimating tiger numbers needs critical reflection. Winter census by tracks in the snow is often largely influenced by subjectivity. The main reason for this is the large number of surveyors of various degrees of qualification and as a result the conflicting interpretation of track identification. In our opinion, the most objective results are obtained from a consistent survey of the territory by a limited number of specialists and daily adjustments of collected materials. Precise and informative methods for determining the number and the structure of tiger populations are DNA analysis of biological samples combined with camera trap census. However, a number of significant drawbacks limits their widespread use: this method is labor-intensive and results in high project costs. In addition, weather conditions can greatly affect the preservation of DNA in the samples. There is a need to organize additional survey routes for installing camera traps and detecting of biological samples in order to register the tigresses with young, as they are behavior is often distinguished by a more secretive lifestyle. As a rule, female tigers with young avoid the main movement routes of adult tigers. These methods are expedient only in the smaller survey plots of model areas.
miRNA-146a and miRNA-202-3p Attenuate Inflammatory Response by Inhibiting TLR4, IRAK1, and TRAF6 Expressions in Rats following Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic disease that induces a complex cascade of cellular reactions at the local lesion area, including secondary cell death and inflammatory reactions. Accumulating evidence has showed pro- and anti-inflammatory roles of microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small RNAs, in SCI. The present study is aimed at investigating the effects of two miRNAs, miRNA-146a and miRNA-202-3p, on inflammatory response after SCI. Initially, we found that the expression levels of miRNA-146a and miRNA-202-3p were increased in the plasma samples of 32 SCI patients at days 3 and 7 after admission and the rat spinal cord at days 3 and 7 after SCI modeling compared with healthy controls and sham-operated rats, respectively. The expression levels of TLR4, IRAK1, and TRAF6 were declined in the rat spinal cord at days 1, 3, and 7 after SCI modeling compared with sham-operated rats. Injection of miRNA-146a mimic or miRNA-202-3p mimic decreased TLR4, IRAK1, and TRAF6 expressions in the rat spinal cord at days 1, 3, and 7 after SCI modeling, while injection of miRNA-146a antagomir or miRNA-202-3p antagomir produced opposed results. Subsequent results showed that the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were upregulated in the rat serum at days 1, 3, and 7 after SCI modeling compared with sham-operated rats. Injection of miRNA-146a mimic or miRNA-202-3p mimic decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 expression levels in the rat serum at days 1, 3, and 7 after SCI modeling, while injection of miRNA-146a antagomir or miRNA-202-3p antagomir yielded opposed results. The expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were higher in the supernatants of PC12 cells transfected with anti-miRNA-146a or anti-miRNA-202-3p than in those transfected with si-TLR4, si-IRAK1, or si-TRAF6. These findings support the notion that miRNA-146a/miRNA-202-3p exerts anti-inflammatory functions after SCI.
Immobilization of arsenic in aqueous solution by waterworks alum sludge: prospects in China

In this study, groups of batch experiments were designed to identify the characteristics of alum sludge for arsenic (As) adsorption. Air-dried alum sludge (moisture content 13.9%) collected from a water treatment works in Xi’an, China, was subjected to artificial As-rich wastewater adsorption tests using As2O3 as a model As source. Adsorption behaviours were investigated and the results have shown that the Langmuir adsorption isotherm well fits the experimental data (R2 = 0.94957–0.99365). The maximum adsorption capacities range from 0.61 to 0.96 mg-As/g when the pH of the As solution was varied from 9.0 to 4.0. The prospects in China for the outcome of this study are discussed. This promising low-cost technique can eradicate As contamination in China.
Analysis of Turkish Sentiment Expressions About Touristic Sites Using Machine Learning

Analyzing data by inferring from unstructured data about customers is one of the main purposes of the tourism and many other industries as well. However, performing unstructured data analysis using traditional methods is quite inconvenient and costly. This can be overcome by using sentiment analysis, an area of application of text mining. Since there is no proven methodology for sentiment analysis, researchers often perform their studies by trial and error. Many studies on sentiment analysis have focused on comparing the preprocessing or the performance of various machine learning algorithms. Both for these reasons and since research on sentiment analysis with Turkish content is limited, this study aimed to determine the effects of labeling, stemming, and negation on the success of sentiment analysis using Turkish touristic site analysis. From the data set prepared for this study, 12 different variations were created according to labeling, number of classes, stemming, and negation. These data sets were classified using the algorithms Naive Bayes (NB), Multinominal Naive Bayes (MNB), k-Nearest Neighbor, and Support Vector Machines (SVM), often used in sentiment analyses, and the findings were compared.
Urban organic aerosol composition in eastern China differs from north to south: molecular insight from a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (Orbitrap) study

Abstract. Air pollution by particulate matter in China affects human health, the ecosystem and the climate. However, the chemical composition of particulate aerosol, especially of the organic fraction, is still not well understood. In this study, particulate aerosol samples with a diameter of ≤2.5 µ m ( PM2.5 ) were collected in January 2014 in three cities located in northeast, east and southeast China, namely Changchun, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Organic aerosol (OA) in the PM2.5 samples was analyzed by an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatograph (UHPLC) coupled to a high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer in both negative mode (ESI-) and positive mode electrospray ionization (ESI+). After non-target screening including the assignment of molecular formulas, the compounds were classified into five groups based on their elemental composition, i.e., CHO, CHON, CHN, CHOS and CHONS. The CHO, CHON and CHN groups present the dominant signal abundances of 81 %–99.7 % in the mass spectra and the majority of these compounds were assigned to mono- and polyaromatics, suggesting that anthropogenic emissions are a major source of urban OA in all three cities. However, the chemical characteristics of these compounds varied between the different cities. The degree of aromaticity and the number of polyaromatic compounds were substantially higher in samples from Changchun, which could be attributed to the large emissions from residential heating (i.e., coal combustion) during wintertime in northeast China. Moreover, the ESI- analysis showed higher H / C and O / C ratios for organic compounds in Shanghai and Guangzhou compared to samples from Changchun, indicating that OA undergoes more intense photochemical oxidation processes in lower-latitude regions of China and/or is affected to a larger degree by biogenic sources. The majority of sulfur-containing compounds (CHOS and CHONS) in all cities were assigned to aliphatic compounds with low degrees of unsaturation and aromaticity. Here again, samples from Shanghai and Guangzhou show a greater chemical similarity but differ largely from those from Changchun. It should be noted that the conclusions drawn in this study are mainly based on comparison of molecular formulas weighted by peak abundance and thus are associated with inherent uncertainties due to different ionization efficiencies for different organic species.
Wavelet Transform and Fractal Theory for Detection and Classification of Self-extinguishing and Fugitive Power Quality Disturbances

In this paper, fractal theory and wavelet transform are combined to detect and classify self-extinguishing and fugitive scenarios of power quality disturbances (PQDs). After deciding whether the disturbance is simple or complex, the additional voltage is denoised through Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT); the denoising process is adapted according to whether the distorted voltage contains oscillatory transients or not. At the detection stage, the grille fractal dimension of the DWT decomposition detail is computed. Then, a threshold is deduced to detect the start and end moments of the disturbance. The results reveal that the proposed detection scheme yields accurate location of PQDs even in the presence of high oscillatory transients. An algorithm based on geometric and statistical approaches is developed at the classification stage to recognize PQDs automatically. The geometric classification is based on Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), whereas the statistical classification is based on Multifractal Detrended Fluctuations Analysis (MFDFA) and an energy metric. The results prove that the combination of geometric and statistical classification can serve as an effective discrimination tool for PQDs. The major strength of the proposed approach is its ability to interpret the impact of each disturbance on the multifractal behavior of the nominal voltage, thus giving the possibility to draw the necessary generalizations for real-time applications.
What makes them snap? Gratifications of using Snapchat by Generation Z

This paper aims to understand the motivations and behavioural patterns of Snapchat use by Generation Z (Gen-Z) and their social relationships with friends and romantic companions. Focus group discussion and in-depth interview methodology were employed to conduct the research with 49 respondents participating in focused group discussions. The respondents reported Snapchat being adopted for connecting with friends as it provided them with secure and authentic experience over other social media platforms. The gratifications gained from the use of Snapchat by Gen Z users were identified emerging from the features and experience of using the technology platform. The results were supported for uses and gratifications as the respondents justified the ephemerality of Snapchat being useful, the gratifications gained from snapping with friends and social groups. Snapchat was seen as a useful medium for security, privacy and ephemerality it provided along with a medium for authentic communications with friends and romantic companions.
Sustainable rice production in Myanmar impacts on food security and livelihood changes

ABSTRACT In Myanmar, 70% of the rural population engages in rice farming for their livelihoods. Since 2013, the government and development projects have introduced a variety of sustainable rice cultivation practices such as improved fertilizer-, water-, pest- and post-harvest management. A mixed method approach was used to gain a better understanding of adoption behaviour and livelihood changes. One hundred and twenty nine farmers participated in the study which revealed the adoption of sustainable practices; reasons include higher yields, reduced costs and labour savings. Reasons for non-adoption included unsuitable or expensive practices. We find that profitability analysis and partial budgeting calculations revealed an estimated increase in income (>0) of 113 USD/ha (SD = 90.64 USD/ha), due to an increase in yield and reduced costs. Furthermore, in-depth interviews revealed that farmers (n = 32) used this extra income for religious and social activities, for food, health care and education. They were able to expand their farm business and produce rice more sustainably. The paper thus contributes to the adoption literature by linking development project outputs to outcomes and impact. Concerted efforts by the government and development projects can enable farmers to produce cereals more sustainably and experience positive changes to their livelihoods and strengthen rural development at local and regional level.
The Determinants of Firm Value and Financial Performance in Islamic Stocks

One of the company’s long-term goals is to maximize the firm value. It is the present value of the company, which can be a prospect in the future. Therefore, the problem in this study is the factors that affect the company’s value in the Jakarta Islamic Index for 2015-2019. This study analyzes the influence of Intellectual Capital, Good Corporate Governance, and Debt to Equity Ratio on Firm Value directly and indirectly through Financial Performance. The data used in this study is panel data using purposive sampling, and there are 17 stocks listed on the Jakarta Islamic Index for 2015-2019 period. The analysis technique of this research is Partial Least Square. The test results of the direct effect show that Intellectual Capital, Debt to Equity Ratio, and Financial Performance have a significant impact on Firm Value on the Jakarta Islamic Index. Corporate governance has a substantial effect on Financial Performance. Meanwhile, indirect testing proves that the Financial Performance variable can only mediate the impact of Corporate Governance on Firm Value. However, it cannot mediate between the relationship between the variable intellectual capital and debt ratio to equity.
Critical Limits of Sulfur in Relation to the Growth and Development of French-bean and Cauliflower in Acidic Soils of Northwestern Himalayas

ABSTRACT Sulfur deficiency is recognized as a constraint to crop production all over the world from last decade. The soils of Northwestern Himalayas are also administering sulfur deficiency. To achieve higher yields with better nutritive quality, the plant fertilization management must include sulfur. Critical-level approach hardly advocated in vegetables, and no reports of critical limits of S were reported in Northwestern Himalayas. The present experiment on French bean and cauliflower on 10 types of soil (varying in pH and clay content) was laid out in completely randomized design under glass house with five levels of sulfur (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 kg ha−1). Application of sulfur significantly increased the yield of French-bean and cauliflower as compared to no application of sulfur. The highest yield was obtained with application of 40 kg S ha−1 in both the crops. The green pod yield of French-bean at 30 kg S ha−1 was statistically at par with 40 kg S ha−1. Critical limits of sulfur in soil were 9.5 mg kg−1 and 10.5 mg kg−1 for French-bean and cauliflower, respectively. Critical limits of S in French-bean and cauliflower plants were 0.103 and 0.336% sulfur, respectively. Critical limits of S in French-bean and cauliflower will help to supply nutrients in balanced amount and to achieve sustainability in production.
Host-parasite associations in a population of the nectarivorous bat Anoura geoffroyi (Phyllostomidae) in a cave in a Brazilian ferruginous geosystem

Parasitic relationships between Neotropical bats and their ectoparasites are not well known, even though parasitism is one of the factors that can affect the fitness of a host population. This study characterized parasite-host relationships in relation to sex, age, body size and reproductive status in a population of Anoura geoffroyi using the indices of Prevalence, Mean Intensity and Mean Abundance. Total prevalence for 93 sampled bats was 94.6%. Two species of streblid flies that are considered primary parasites of A. geoffroyi, Exastinion clovisi (n = 203) and Anastrebla modestini (n = 152), were the most abundant ectoparasites, followed by Trichobius sp. (n = 7). Two mite species, Periglischrus vargasi (Spinturnicidae) (n = 98) and Spelaeorhynchus praecursor (Spelaeorhynchidae) (n = 11), were also found. We recorded higher mean abundance and intensity of parasitism in pregnant females compared to reproductive males and reproductively inactive females, for different specific associations of ectoparasites. Host age and body condition had no effect on the parasitological indices. Even with high rates of parasitism, parasitic load did not influence host body condition, but infestation rates by mites were higher in reproductive males and higher by flies in reproductive females, showing that ectoparasites can have variable influences between the different stages of the life history of these host bats. Thus, the reproductive activity of the hosts could be an adverse factor for resistance to parasite infestations. Subterranean Biology 39: 63–77 (2021) doi: 10.3897/subtbiol.39. 64552 https://subtbiol.pensoft. net Copyright Luísa Lauren Lima Vidal et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. RESEARCH ARTICLE Subterranean Biology Published by The International Society for Subterranean Biology A peer-reviewed open-access journal
Islamic banks’ brand personality and customer satisfaction: an empirical investigation through SEM

Purpose Brand personality plays an important role in affecting customer satisfaction. The Muslim population is estimated to reach 30% of the world’s population, and it is considered as the fastest-growing religion in the world. To tap into this market, it is important to explore various aspects of business, in general, and marketing, in particular, from the perspective of Muslim consumers. The present research also attempts to do the same by proposing a conceptual model related to the brand personality of Islamic Banks, named, Islamic Banks’ Brand Personality (IBBP) and its impact on customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach This paper analyses the causal relationship that exists between the variables related to Islamic brand personality and customer satisfaction. For this purpose, data was collected quantitatively from 337 customers of different Islamic banks, through a self-administered questionnaire. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS software. Factor analysis was performed to extract and decide on the number of factors underlying the measured variables of interest. Structural equation modelling was then used to examine the variables and the fitness of the proposed model. Findings The result revealed that five out of the total six hypotheses were supported. In this case, trustworthiness and Shariah compliance resulted in the strongest impact on customer satisfaction followed by sincerity and justice. Practical implications The positive significant impact of trustworthiness and Shariah compliance on customer satisfaction attests to the importance of these variables in the development of a strong brand personality in the context of Islamic banks. Policymakers of the financial industry in general and the Islamic financial service industry, in particular, may benefit from the findings of this study. Originality/value There is a dearth of research conducted on investigating the impact of brand personality-related variables on the Islamic banking sector. The present research did not only develop variables of IBBP but also empirically tested their effect on customer satisfaction. This paper, therefore, offers invaluable insight into IBBP with its impact on customer satisfaction.
Aqueous Conversion of Fructose Phosphate Precursor Nanoparticles into Emissive C‐Dot Composite Nanoparticles

: A one-pot, fully water-based synthesis of blue- and red-emitting C-dots is presented. To this concern, [ZrO] 2 + [F6P] 2 (cid:0) and [Eu(OH)] 2 + [F6P] 2 (cid:0) precursor nanoparticles (F6P: D-fructose-6-phosphate) are prepared in water and converted to C-dot@[ZrO] 2 + [HPO 4 ] 2 (cid:0) and C-dot@[Eu(OH)] 2 + [HPO 4 ] 2 (cid:0) composite nanoparticles in boiling water (100 ° C) via microwave heating. Composition, structure, and fluorescence of the composite nanoparticles are validated by different analytical methods (e.g., FT-IR, EA, TG, DLS, SEM, TEM, EDXS). The resulting aqueous suspensions are characterized by high colloidal stability and intense emission. Specifically, C-dot@-[Eu(OH)] 2 + [HPO 4 ] 2 (cid:0) exhibits Eu 3 + -type red emission in water. The one-pot water-based synthesis with fructose-containing precursor nanoparticles and the structure of the phosphate-stabilized C-dot composite nanoparticles are reported for the first time. nanoparticles water-based be also transferred to intense Eu 3 + -driven red emission in water. Our material composition compares to concepts with C-dots that were formed or in porous materials such as or metalorganic frameworks. nanoparticles, in a one-pot the necessity of C-dot infiltration into a non-porous with C-dots densely embedded in the phosphate matrix, which is advantageous in terms of a dispersion in and a 3 + -based red were generated by second harmonic generation and sum frequency mixing of the 800 and 400 nm pulses. Spot size in the sample was about 200 μ m, which was more than twice the white-light spot size. Delay of the pump pulse was managed by a computer controlled translation stage (maximum delay ~1.2 ns, Thorlabs), whereby every second pulse was blocked with an optical chopper (Thorlabs), resulting in spectra with and without excitation. Differentiation results in Δ OD spectra with a time resolution better than 100 fs. Data were collected with an in-house written Labview