Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dividend Policy and Companies’ Financial Performance

This study aims to determine the nature of the association between dividend policy and a corporation’s financial performance in emerging countries, as well as the main variables that may have an effect on financial performance. The study included 92 industrial and service sector companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) during the period from 2015 to 2019. The study used Panel Data Analysis and cross-sectional time-series data and simple and multiple linear regression models. A multiple regression model was also developed in order to test whether guess factors may have a possible impact on financial performance (such as Dividend Yield, Dividend Pay-out Ratio, Firm Size, Leverage Ratio, Current Ratio). The data was collected from the annual reports and information that was available on the ASE website covering the period from 2015 to 2019. The results detect a strong relation between DY, DPR, and FSIZE variables that explain firm performance. Also leverage ratio is negatively and significantly associated with ROA and AOE. Moreover, no relations were detected between current ratio and financial performance. The study’s conclusion is that dividend policy explains a lot of a company’s financial performance, meaning that the dividend policy has a statistically significant impact on company financial performance.
Utility of Ivermectin and Doxycycline combination for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2

Background: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared coronavirus disease 2019 a global pandemic Ivermectin and Doxycycline against SARSCoV-2 under in-vitro conditions showed beneficial results However, large population studies with this combination are not elaborately studied, which was the aim of our study Materials and methods: A total of 122 patients admitted in a tertiary care centre, who tested positive for Reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV2 were included in the study and a total sample size of 100 patients was obtained after exclusion 50 patients of the treatment group were treated with Ivermectin-Doxycycline combination Results: The results had shown a significant reduction not only in mean duration of hospital (3 70 ± 2 27 days vs 4 69 ± 2 3 days), but also in complete resolution of symptoms stay (6 67 ± 2 01 days vs 4 69 ± 2 3 days) In a small subset of 10 patients RT-PCR for COVID was tested on 10th day after the symptom onset in both the groups and there was no difference to be found There was no significant difference in the side effect profile of either groups Conclusion: Our study supports the benefits of utilization of combination of Doxycycline and Ivermectin in mild to moderate COVID-19 infection in terms of early recovery based on the time for symptom resolution and the mean duration of hospital stay [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Archives of Integrated Medicine is the property of International Archives of Integrated Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )
Identification of heterotic hybrids for yield and yield traits in brinjal

Diallel method of analysis was followed involving eight parents IBH-2, Utkal Keshari, IBH-3, SBJH-631, Sep-034, Sep-034, A. Nerkanth and BH-2. to study of heterosis for yield characters. The F1 were evaluated during late kharif/rabi 2018-19 for the present study in randomized block design for two replications. Significant and positive heterosis was observed for most of the characters. The percentage of heterotic crosses showing heterosis over better parent were total yield of fruits per plant (71.06), fruit length (8.29), fruit weight (85.60), fruit diameter (43.27), plant height (27.45), days to 50% flowering (-19.72) and shoot borer infestation (-81.70%). High heterosis was observed in the cross 4 x 5 (SBJH-631 x Sep-034) for total yield of fruits per plant (kg/plant).
Some aspects of organic pigments

Organic pigments are traditionally used in the mass colouration of plastics and synthetic fibres, and in surface coatings such as paints and inks. More recently, they have also found increasing use in a number of high technology industries. Commercial pigments must satisfy many performance criteria, which in turn are determined by their molecular, solid state and particle surface characteristics. This review highlights some of the important aspects of organic pigments which are of importance to both producers and users.
Influence of clinoptilolite and compost on soil properties

Compost from municipal sewage sludge, bark plus zeolite, and zeolite alone were used in this study to evaluate their influence on soil properties and humus characteristics. Two incubation experiments were conducted in two low humus content soils from Bulgaria (Typic Xerochrept) and Greece (Typic Rhodoxeralf). Soil alone, soil with zeolite, and soil with compost in various rates were incubated for 90 days (24±1°C, moisture content about 60% of field capacity). The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with four treatments each replicated four times. At the end of incubation experiment samples were taken, and the basic chemical properties as well as humus composition were determined. The pH, electrical conductivity and NO3-N concentration were determined in samples taken every 15 days. The results showed that zeolite increased soil pH and exchangeable potassium (K). Compost increased available phosphorus (P) in the low P Bulgarian soil and electrical conductivity. A strong positive relationship between electrical conductivity and NO3-N was recorded. Soil pH was negatively correlated with NO3-N concentration for Bulgarian soil. Composted sewage sludge also significantly increased soil organic matter content and led to formation of condensed humic acids.
A LABORATORY-SCALE STUDY OF APPLIED VOLTAGE AND CHELATING AGENT ON THE ELECTROKINETIC SEPARATION OF PHENOL FROM SOIL

The influence of the chelating agent (1-hydroxyethane-1, 1-diphosphonic acid) (HEDPA) on the electroosmotic flow (EF) in natural, sod-podzolic soil contaminated with 0.003 g phenol per 1 g of dry soil was studied. An introduction of a small amount of HEDPA increased the electroosmotic permeability of soil from 4 × 10−5 to 11.2 × 10−5 cm2/V·s. Up to 80–95% of the phenol was removed from the soil by the EF during 30 to 50 hours of treatment with the average intensity of the EF remaining constant throughout the tests. The study confirmed that certain hazardous organic contaminants (e.g., phenol) could be successfully extracted from the soils of low permeability by combined application of a direct-current electric field and specific complexing agents.
Integrating Telegram Application into Digital Mind Mapping to Develop Student Teachers' EFL Critical Reading and Writing Skills

The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of integrating telegram application into digital mind mapping in developing student teachers' EFL critical reading and writing skills. The design of the study was a mixed research methodology. It combined both quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting data. The participants of the study were thirty -five (N= 35) students enrolled in third -year English section at the Faculty of Education, Benha University, Egypt. They were tested before and after the treatment. They were taught through using digital mind mapping and telegram application based program. The instruments of the study included an EFL critical reading skills test, an EFL critical writing skills test and a semi-structured interview. The results of the study revealed a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the study participants in the pre and post administrations of the EFL critical reading and writing skills tests in favor of the post administrations. These results were ascribed to digital mind mapping and telegram application based program. دمج تطبیق التلیجرام (Telegram) فى الخرائط الذهنیة الرقمیة لتنمیة مهارات القراءة والکتابة الناقدة فى اللغة الإنجلیزیة لدى الطلاب المعلمین إعـداد أ. م. د/ حسناء صبرى عبدالحمید أحمد حلوه أستاذ مساعد بقسم المناهج وطرق التدریس وتکنولوجیا التعلیم (تخصص لغة إنجلیزیة) کلیة التربیة – جامعة بنها المستخلص باللغة العربیة تهدف الدراسة إلى توضیح فاعلیة دمج تطبیق التلیجرام (Telegram) ف الخرائط الذهنیة الرقمیة فى تنمیة مهارات القراءة والکتابة الناقدة فى اللغة الإنجلیزیة لدى الطلاب المعلمین بکلیة التربیة . ویعد هذا البحث من البحوث المختلطة / المدمجة التى دمجت أسالیب البحث الکمیة والکیفیة معا. وتکونت عینة الدراسة من خمسة وثلاثون من الطلاب المعلمین تم اختیارهم عشوائیا من طلاب الفرقة الثالثة شعبة اللغة الإنجلیزیة بکلیة التربیة جامعة بنها, جمهوریة مصر العربیة. هذا وقد تم اختبار عینة الدراسة قبل اجراء المعالجة وبعد تطبیق البرنامج القائم على دمج تطبیق التلیجرام (Telegram) ف الخرائط الذهنیة الرقمیة. واشتملت ادوات الدراسة على اختبار فى مهارات القراءة الناقدة فى اللغة الإنجلیزیة , اختبار فى مهارات الکتابة الناقدة فى اللغة الإنجلیزیة ومقابلة شبه منظمة. واشارت نتائج البحث الى وجود فروق ذات دلالة احصائیة بین درجات الطلاب (عینة الدراسة) فى القیاس القبلى – البعدى فى مهارات القراءة والکتابة الناقدة فى اللغة الانجلیزیة لصالح القیاس البعدى . وترجع هذه النتائج الى فاعلیة البرنامج القائم على دمج تطبیق التلیجرام (Telegram) ف الخرائط الذهنیة الرقمیة فى تنمیة تلک المهارات لدى الطلاب المعلمین .
Comparison of various solvents for determination of intrinsic viscosity and viscometric constants for cellulose

Different solvents used to determine the intrinsic viscosity and the viscometic constants, a and K, published in the literature for cellulose, were compared. The various parameters affecting the viscometric constants were also evaluated. The main conclusions obtained from the experimental data available in the literature are that (1) the intrinsic viscosities in various solvents are ordered as follows: [η]LiCl/DMAc > [η]NH3/NH4SCN ≥ [η]FeTNa > [η]CED > [η]Cadoxen > [η]Cuoxam; (2) the reported intrinsic viscosities and molecular weights for cellulose are lower than the true value due to degradation of cellulose in the solvents; (3) the rate of degradation was the smallest in LiCl/DMAc and NH3/NH4SCN, moderate in cadoexn and FeTNa, and the highest in CED and cuoxam; (4) the plot of log K versus exponent a was linear and inversely related; (5) the curve was used for estimation of the constant K for cellulose in a solvent (NH3/NH4SCN) with a known exponent a; and (6) among various reported solvents, LiCl/DMAc and NH3/NH4SCN are advantageous over other solvents because of a complete dissolution of the polymer with a negligible reduction in its intrinsic viscosity. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2189–2193, 2002
Approaches to Area Efficient High-Performance Voltage-Controlled Oscillators in Nanoscale CMOS

By optimizing the design of the inductor of a voltage-controlled oscillator for performance without the area constraint and fully filling the area underneath the inductor with other necessary components, the voltage-controlled oscillator performance, including area efficiency, can be simultaneously optimized. In addition to varactors and cross-coupled transistor pairs, a current source, VCO buffers, frequency dividers, and MOS bypass capacitors can be placed underneath an inductor of a VCO. Exploiting this, a 4.3–5.6-GHz VCO with an area of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$14~400~\mu \text{m}^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and FOM<sub>A</sub> and FOM<sub>TA</sub> of −202 and −210 dBc/Hz, respectively, have been demonstrated in a 65-nm CMOS process. The VCO performance is further improved by using nMOS–pMOS cross-coupled pairs and operating at 16–19 GHz, which are near the frequency at which the <italic>LC</italic> tank <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is near the maximum for the process. The output is frequency divided by four to generate signals at 4–4.8 GHz. These reduce the circuit area by ~3X. The circuit including all the components including a frequency divide-by-four circuit achieves FOM<sub>A</sub> and FOM<sub>TA</sub> of −209 and −214 dBc/Hz, respectively.
Gas–Particle Distribution of PAHs in Wood Combustion Emission Determined with Annular Denuders, Filter, and Polyurethane Foam Adsorbent

Equipment consisting of annular denuders, a filter, and a polyurethane foam adsorbent was used for sampling 15 PAHs from the diluted emission from a heat-storing masonry heater. The denuder method was compared to the ISO 11338 method which was used for the sampling from hot and undiluted exhaust gas. The denuder method used with the exhaust dilution gave a realistic gas–particle distribution of PAHs in more atmospheric-like conditions compared to the sampling from undiluted exhaust gas where PAHs were almost totally in the gas phase. The results gained with the denuder method from the diluted exhaust are more relevant, e.g., from exposure and atmospheric processes point of view. The emissions from smoldering combustion conditions (SC) were compared with the emissions from normal combustion conditions (NC). The emission of each PAH was 7 to 14 times higher from SC than from NC, and the gas–particle distribution was shifted towards the particle phase due to increased condensation of PAHs. The PAHs could be divided into three groups based on their phase distributions. In the first group, PAHs existed mostly in the gas phase in both combustion cases; the vapor pressures of PAHs were lower than the saturation vapor pressures. In the second group, the gas phase was saturated and the concentration was almost the same in both combustion cases, whereas the particle phase concentration was higher in SC. In the third group, PAHs were mostly in the particle phase where the concentration was higher in SC.
A DFT+U Study of Strain-Dependent Ionic Migration in Sm-Doped Ceria

Recent experiments on thin films and hetero-structures of ionically conducting oxides have indicated enhancement of oxygen ion conduction typically ascribed to strain-related effects. We performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations with Hubbard U correction to investigate the effects of biaxial lattice strain on the oxygen anion diffusivity in Sm-doped ceria (SDC). Here we found that the migration barriers are strongly affected by the applied strain. The changes in the migration barriers can almost be linearly correlated with cation–anion bond-lengths between the migrating oxygen and its nearest neighbor cations. In this work, we reported various possible dopant configurations for oxygen ion migrations at the vicinity of the oxygen vacancy. Our results indicate that the ionic migration barriers can be lowered by both compressive and tensile strains. The insight gained from this study may enable us to engineer and to improve oxygen ion migration in ceria-based solid electrolyte materials by compr.
MATRIX EFFECTS IN LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY

Despite their enormous utility and diffusion, atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry techniques are subjected to relevant drawbacks called matrix effects (ME). These effects could be summarized in matrix-dependent signal suppression or enhancement that could lead to erroneous quantitative results. The most important method parameters as well as linearity, precision, and accuracy could be modified due to interfering compounds present in the matrix. No validation methods could be accepted without a thorough evaluation of ME and possible strategies to minimize or to correct their influence should be addressed. In this article, we investigate mechanisms that lead to ME and discuss calibration techniques and other strategies to limit these phenomena. Significant examples from different fields of application are discussed as well. Sample preparation procedures, together with instrumental improvements and alternative calibration techniques used by many authors, are reported.
Correlation of phase-separation behavior in polymer blends with thermodynamic measurements in the one-phase region

Evaluation des predictions theoriques de la theorie de la recomposition spinodale de melanges de polymeres en utilisant les donnees de SANS de melanges de PMMA avec un copolymere αMS/AN. Etude de l'influence des fluctuations thermiques au voisinage de la temperature spinodale
Low spatial overlap between foraging shearwaters during the breeding season and industrial fisheries off the west coast of Portugal

Fisheries have impacted seabird populations worldwide, either via bycatch mortality or resource depletion. Understanding the overlap between seabird distributions and fisheries is an important element for bycatch risk assessment, though the drivers of variation in seabird-fishery overlap are not well understood for some seabird populations. Here, we quantified the spatial overlap between foraging Cory’s shearwaters Calonectris borealis during the breeding season and commercial fisheries operating within the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone. In addition, we evaluated whether overlap varied as a function of an individual’s boldness, sex or breeding stage. For this, we GPS tracked 361 foraging trips by 72 Cory's shearwaters nesting at Berlenga Island, Portugal, over 5 consecutive breeding seasons (2012-2016). Simultaneously, we used fishing effort data from Global Fishing Watch detailing the distribution of industrial fisheries within the temporal and spatial range of Cory's shearwater tracks. Although fishing vessels were present during 88.1% of foraging trips, Cory's shearwaters spent only on average 13.3% of the time foraging in the same areas as fisheries. Such low spatial overlap is likely driven by high prey availability near the colony and suggests low direct competition for resources. We also found variation in overlap with fisheries across the breeding period, with Cory's shearwaters spending approximately 11% more time foraging in the same areas as fixed gear and purse seine vessels during pre-laying than during chick-rearing. Surprisingly, no sex or boldness-related differences were found in the overlap with any fishing gear. Our findings have implications for understanding within population variation in the overlap between fisheries and seabirds and, in turn, bycatch risk.
Sorption of isotopically exchangeable and non-exchangeable phosphate by some soils of Colombia and Brazil, and comparisons with soils of southern Nigeria

Summary Fourteen soils from Colombia and Brazil provided a wide range of sorption characteristics. Curves of sorbed phosphate that was exchangeable to 32P were described by Freundlich's equation, and of non-exchangeable phosphate by Temkin's equation. Exchangeable phosphate was associated with aluminium in poorly-crystalline oxides and in organic complexes. Non-exchangeable phosphate was related to aluminium in organic complexes, and especially to the ratio of AI/C in them. In Nigerian soils similar mechanisms controlled sorption of phosphate but oxides and organic complexes of iron were important. The concentration of phosphate in solution when affinities of soil for exchangeable and non-exchangeable phosphate are equal, and the importance of organic matter, are discussed in relation to soil management and to responses of crops to fertilizer phosphate. The results indicate that sorption curves should not be split into sections.
Effect of ClO2 Pretreatment on Subsequent Water Treatment Processes

The effect of chlorine dioxide ( ClO2 ) pretreatment on subsequent treatment processes (coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and ozonation) was studied at pilot-scale at the Upper San Leandro Water Treatment Plant near Oakland, Calif. Potential impacts of ClO2 on the distribution system were also studied at bench scale using simulated distribution system (SDS) tests. Pilot trials were conducted with one train operating without ClO2 pretreatment (Train 1) and the other with a ClO2 dose of between 0.6 and 1.0 mg∕L (Train 2). Comparison between Trains 1 and 2 showed that ClO2 pretreatment resulted in a 0.1–0.2 NTU decrease in settled water turbidity when compared to no pretreatment. ClO2 pretreatment also resulted in a small (0.01 cm−1 ) decrease in ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm . Following sedimentation, about 60% of the applied ClO2 formed chlorite ( ClO2− ) , with 10–20% forming chlorate ( ClO3− ) . Ozonation immediately converted all residual ClO2 and ClO2− to ClO3− . There was no sig.
Understanding Trend Inflation Through the Lens of the Goods and Services Sectors

La politique monetaire cherche dans une large mesure a agir sur la part de l’inflation qui est durable ou permanente, laquelle est souvent qualifiee d’« inflation tendancielle ». Il suffit d’ouvrir n’importe quel rapport sur la politique monetaire de la Reserve federale americaine pour constater que cette banque centrale se focalise non seulement sur l’inflation globale, mais aussi sur des mesures de l’inflation dite « sous-jacente » ou « fondamentale » qui excluent les composantes les plus volatiles comme l’alimentation et l’energie. Cette strategie repose sur l’idee que les fluctuations des prix des aliments et de l’energie ne sont en definitive que temporaires et que les considerations de politique monetaire concernant la trajectoire a long terme de l’inflation devraient en faire abstraction. Les notions d’inflation tendancielle et d’inflation fondamentale sont donc etroitement liees, puisque l’une et l’autre permettent d’obtenir une lecture de l’inflation qui n’est pas entachee du « bruit » cense s’estomper a court terme. Or, les prix dans les secteurs des biens et des services – les deux grands secteurs sur lesquels repose la mesure de l’inflation – ont evolue selon des dynamiques tres differentes au cours des 30 dernieres annees. Dans cette etude, nous avons cherche a comprendre comment des evolutions sectorielles aussi contrastees se repercutent sur la dynamique de l’inflation tendancielle globale. Nous elaborons a cette fin un cadre empirique qui prend en compte les variations de la volatilite de l’inflation tendancielle dans les secteurs des biens et des services aux Etats-Unis et les covariations entre ces inflations tendancielles sectorielles au fil du temps. La principale conclusion de notre etude est que si les deux secteurs contribuaient auparavant a la variation totale de l’inflation tendancielle globale, depuis les annees 1990, les variations de cette mesure sont presque entierement attribuables au secteur des services. Ce resultat tient a deux changements intervenus dans la dynamique de l’inflation particuliere a chaque secteur : premierement une baisse marquee de la variance de l’inflation tendancielle dans le secteur des biens et, deuxiemement, la disparition de la covariation entre les deux secteurs. Nous arrivons a des conclusions similaires quand nous etendons notre analyse aux cas de l’Australie et du Canada, ce qui donne a penser que le phenomene n’est pas propre aux Etats-Unis.