Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceived diversity, threat, and attitudes towards immigrants: the mitigating role of cross-group friendships and empathy

Little is known about whether the benefits of intergroup contact extend to contexts (e.g., a diverse underdeveloped township) likely to prove demanding for improved intergroup relations. There is a need for further research in these contexts on the potential inhibitors of contact (such as diversity and threat) and their effects. Perceived social diversity has been implicated in the deterioration of intergroup relations. This is particularly salient in the context of immigrant relations, where anti-immigrant sentiments are characterized by perceived threat and lower outgroup trust. Diversity can, however, have an indirect positive effect on outgroup attitudes, via intergroup contact, which reliably predicts lower perceived threat and prejudice. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that empathy could mitigate negative attitudes towards immigrants. We investigated the relationship between perceived neighbourhood diversity, cross-group friendships, realistic and symbolic threat, empathic responding, trust, and outgroup orientation within the volatile context of Black (African) South Africans’ relations with African immigrants. Survey data were collected from South Africans (N = 317) living in a township. Structural equation modelling showed that perceived diversity was significantly positively associated with both realistic threat (which was significantly negatively associated with outgroup trust) and cross-group friendships (which was significantly negatively associated with realistic threat). There was a significant indirect association between cross-group friendships and positive orientation towards African immigrants via empathic responding towards African immigrants. These findings suggest that cross-group friendships and empathy might mitigate the negative impact of diversity and threat on attitudes towards immigrants, even in this demanding context.
FOXP2 regulates thyroid cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis via transcriptional activation of RPS6KA6

The transcription factor, forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) has tumor-suppressive effects in several types of cancer. However, the regulatory role and underlying mechanism of FOXP2 in thyroid cancer (THCA) is not completely understood. In the present study, the mRNA expression levels of FOXP2 and ribosomal protein S6 kinase A6 (RPS6KA6) were evaluated using the GEPIA database and THCA cell lines. The association between FOXP2 and RPS6KA6 was analyzed using the LinkedOmics, and GEPIA databases. Then, the binding sites of FOXP2 and the RPS6KA6 promotor was predicted using the JASPAR database, and verified using a dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. In addition, functional assays investigating FOXP2 and RPS6KA6 were conducted in the TPC-1 cell line. The data showed that FOXP2 and RPS6KA6 mRNA expression levels were decreased in the THCA tissues, and cell lines. Overexpression of FOXP2 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in the THCA cell lines. Furthermore, RPS6KA6 mRNA expression levels were reduced in THCA and were correlated with FOXP2 expression level. Mechanistic studies revealed that FOXP2 binds directly to the promotor region of RPS6KA6 and modulated the expression level of RPS6KA6 transcriptionally. In addition, rescue experiments showed that knockdown of RPS6KA6 expression reversed the effects of FOXP2 overexpression on THCA cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the regulation of FOXP2/RPS6KA6 may be associated with the PI3K/AKT pathway. In summary, FOXP2 was associated with the proliferation and apoptosis of human THCA cells via the transcriptional activation of RPS6KA6. The FOXP2/RPS6KA6 axis could be a promising target for the treatment of THCA.
Optoelectronic Properties of α-MoO3 Tuned by H Dopant in Different Concentration

The optoelectronic properties of layered α-MoO3 are greatly limited due to its wide band gap and low carrier concentration. The insertion of hydrogen (H) can effectively tune the band structure and carrier concentration of MoO3. Herein, first-principles calculations were performed to unravel the physical mechanism of a H-doped α-MoO3 system. We found that the modulation of the electronic structure of H-doped MoO3 depends on the doping concentration and position of the H atoms. It was found that the band gap decreases at 8% doping concentration due to the strong coupling between Mo-4d and O-2p orbits when H atoms are inserted into the interlayer. More interestingly, the band gap decreases to an extreme due to the Mo-4d orbit when all the H atoms are inserted into the intralayer only, which has a remarkable effect on light absorption. Our research provides a comprehensive theoretical discussion on the mechanism of H-doped α-MoO3 from the doping positions and doping concentrations, and offers useful strategies on doping modulation of the photoelectric properties of layered transition metal oxides.
Capillary Pressure Behavior of CO2 - Shale System at Elevated Temperatures

In this study, changes in capillary entry pressure of shale when interacting with CO2, under different temperatures have been investigated. The combined impact of temperature and petrophysical properties of shale (water content, water activity, permeability and porosity) on capillary entry pressure was addressed. Pressure breakthrough measurements were used to evaluate the minimum entry pressure of CO2 through shale. A heavy-duty oven was used to vary the temperature in order to investigate the impact of temperature on CO2 capillary entry pressure through shale. Results showed that capillary entry pressure of shale when interacting with CO2 was highly affected by temperature. Higher temperatures decreased capillary entry pressure of shale. We believe that pore dilation, where pore throat size expands due to the application of heat, may have caused this decrease in capillary entry pressure. However, in some cases higher temperature activated clay swelling that may have caused an apparent decrease in pore throat radii of shale which translated into higher capillary entry pressure. Results also showed that there exists no distinct relationship between petrophysical properties of shale and its measured capillary entry pressure when interacting with CO2 at different temperatures. Heat could alter pore throat radii and cause pore dilation which may alter measured capillary entry pressure. Interfacial tension decreases with increasing temperature and that can be attributed to the weakening of intermolecular forces at the two immiscible fluids interface. Swelling of clay could be related to temperature-induced transition from passive to an active clay.
Benefits and risks of dual inhibition of the renin– angiotensin aldosterone system for kidney disease

A In most cases, neither angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy nor angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) therapy alone inhibits completely the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS). The drawbacks of ACE inhibitors are the ACE escape and aldosterone escape phenomenon, which are related to the tissue construction of angiotensin II and aldosterone by enzymes besides ACE. Combination of RAAS inhibition may avoid the ACE and aldosterone escape events that increases the efficiency of ACE inhibitors and ARBs and obstruct all angiotensin II and aldosterone actions accordingly. ONTARGET, largest trial of combination against alone RAAS blockade therapy in patients with vascular diseases or diabetes along with disease of such organs displayed that combination therapy advised no extra-benefit in reducing advance to end-stage renal disease in diabetic patients and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular. Certainly, in this trial, the administration of dual RAAS blockade therapy of an ACE inhibitor plus ARB was correlated with a higher degree of side effects in comparison to monotherapy. In addition to the study of ONTARGET, the ORIENT, VALIANT, VA NEPHRON-D and HALT-PKD trials also proved this finding. Adverse events associated with combination therapy of ACE inhibitor plus ARB is including hyperkalemia, low blood pressure, acute kidney injury (AKI) and withdrawal because of side effects.
Investigating the influence of procurement method selection on project performance in Libya

1 DEDICATION . 3 LIST OF FIGURES . 10 LIST OF TABLES . 12 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 14 DECLARATION . 15 PUBLICATIONS . 17 CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 18 1.
Stratosphere‐Troposphere Exchanges of Air Mass and Ozone Concentration in the Last Glacial Maximum

Stratosphere‐troposphere exchange (STE) of ozone represents a significant source term in the tropospheric ozone budget and can impact surface ozone concentrations, tropospheric oxidation capacity, and methane lifetime. Using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model 6, changes in the air mass and ozone STEs in the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) as compared with preindustrial (PI) climate are investigated. We use dynamic isentropic surfaces that are determined by fitting to the tropical tropopauses as the upper boundary of the lowermost stratosphere in a mass budget approach, a method particularly suitable for estimating air mass and ozone STEs across different climates. Relative to the PI, the magnitude of ozone STE in the LGM is decreased by 14%–19%, 18%–24%, 18%–23%, 16%–21%, and 15%–21% over the Northern hemisphere extratropics, Southern hemisphere extratropics, the tropics, the extratropics, and the globe, respectively. The extratropical and global decreases are mainly caused by decreased ozone in the extratropical lower stratosphere associated with a weakening of Brewer‐Dobson circulation, while changes in air mass fluxes play a minor role because the effects of weakening Brewer‐Dobson circulation and increased isentropic density partly cancel each other. Analysis of the modeled tropospheric ozone budget indicates that the ozone STE in the LGM is 28% of the tropospheric ozone production rate, as compared to about 9% in the modern climate (year 2000) and 19% in the PI.
Sediment Residence Times in Large Rivers Quantified Using a Cosmogenic Nuclides Based Transport Model and Implications for Buffering of Continental Erosion Signals

The weathering of continental surfaces and the transport of sediments via rivers into the oceans is an integral part of the dynamic processes that shape the Earth's surface. To understand how tectonic and climatic forcings control regional rates of weathering, we must be able to identify their effects on sedimentary archives over geologic timescales. Cosmogenic nuclides are a valuable tool to study rates of surface processes and have long been applied in fluvial systems to quantify basin‐wide erosion rates. However, in large rivers, continual processes of erosion and deposition during sediment transport make it difficult to constrain how long sediments spend within the fluvial system. In this study, we examine the role of rivers in buffering erosional signals by constraining the timescales of fluvial transport in large rivers across the world. We apply a stochastic numerical model based on measurements of cosmogenic nuclides concentrations and calculate sediment residence times of 104–105 years in large rivers. These timescales are equal to or longer than climatic cycles, implying that changes to rates of erosion brought on by climatic variations are buffered during transport in large rivers and may not be recognizable in the sedimentary record.
Metabonomic Characteristics of Myocardial Diastolic Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Patients

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most essential cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients associated with glucose and lipid metabolism disorder, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in cardiomyocytes. Despite increasing research on the molecular pathogenesis of DCM, it is still unclear whether metabolic pathways and alterations are probably involved in the development of DCM. This study aims to characterize the metabolites of DCM and to identify the relationship between metabolites and their biological processes or biological states through untargeted metabolic profiling. UPLC-MS/MS was applied to profile plasma metabolites from 78 patients with diabetes (39 diabetes with DCM and 39 diabetes without DCM as controls). A total of 2,806 biochemical were detected. Compared to those of DM patients, 78 differential metabolites in the positive-ion mode were identified in DCM patients, including 33 up-regulated and 45 down-regulated metabolites; however, there were only six differential metabolites identified in the negative mode including four up-regulated and two down-regulated metabolites. Alterations of several serum metabolites, including lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, organic oxygen compounds, benzenoids, phenylpropanoids and polyketides, and organoheterocyclic compounds, were associated with the development of DCM. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that there were three signaling pathways (metabolic pathways, porphyrin, chlorophyll metabolism, and lysine degradation) that were changed in both negative- and positive-ion modes. Our results demonstrated that differential metabolites and lipids have specific effects on DCM. These results expanded our understanding of the metabolic characteristics of DCM and may provide a clue in the future investigation of reducing the incidence of DCM. Furthermore, the metabolites identified here may provide clues for clinical management and the development of effective drugs.
Solar Cells Performance Reduction under the Effect of Dust in Jazan Region

The accumulation of dust on the solar cells panels worsens the situation and lowers the efficiency of the solar cells day by day especially in the regions known by their high rate of dust, low frequency and intensity of rain. The accumulated dust on the solar cells panel blocks the cells from the sun’s rays and act as a screening effect as shown by the calculated spectral transmittance of dust which decreases the performance of the solar cells over time until the cell panels are cleaned manually or by rain. The tilt angle of the solar cell panels affects considerably the amount of accumulated dust on the surface of the panels. The study focuses on the effects of dust accumulation on photovoltaic solar panels in Jazan region. The effect is tested in outdoor measurements and it was found that regular dust accumulation reduces the solar cells efficiency by about 10% for an exposure time of 16 weeks. Moreover the tilted panel with an angle of 30° receives more dust than the panel tilted by 50° which means higher efficiency loss for the lower tilted panel. The efficiency loss is significant of large of annual monetary losses. This study can be considered as a reference to predict the level of degradation of any photovoltaic system that might be installed in the Jazan region and also to estimate the real cost include the cost of the solar panel cleaning.
Application of soil remineralizer to poultry litter as an efficient and sustainable alternative for fertilizing maize crop

Abstract Brazil is one of the largest grain producing countries in the world, and therefore also one of the largest importers of soluble fertilizers. In this light, it becomes necessary to study lower cost nutrient sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the mixture of poultry litter and soil remineralizer, at different doses, as an alternative source of nutrients for fertilization of maize culture. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse following a 5x4 + 2 factorial arrangement with four replications. For each soil type (clayey and medium-textured) we evaluated five treatments (T1: pure soil remineralizer; T2: pure poultry litter; T3: poultry litter with 10% soil remineralizer; T4: poultry litter with 30% soil remineralizer; T5: poultry litter with 50% soil remineralizer), four doses of these mixtures (2.0; 4.0; 6.0, and 8.0 Mg ha−1) and an absolute control treatment. At the end of the experiment, we evaluated maize dry matter (DM), total chlorophyll content, N, P and K of the aerial part of the plant, as well as pH, P, K, Ca and Mg in each soil type. The evaluations conducted according to the variables analyzed showed that there is an improvement in the soil attributes and in the aerial part of the plants, especially when larger doses of soil remineralizer are used, and that there is a residual effect of the mixture of poultry litter and soil remineralizer applied to maize crop. Thus, the application of soil remineralizer to poultry litter may be an alternative for a high-quality, low-cost, and sustainable fertilization.
D-Alpha-Tocopheryl Poly(ethylene Glycol 1000) Succinate-Coated Manganese-Zinc Ferrite Nanomaterials for a Dual-Mode Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent and Hyperthermia Treatments

Manganese-zinc ferrite (MZF) is known as high-performance magnetic material and has been used in many fields and development. In the biomedical applications, the biocompatible MZF formulation attracted much attention. In this study, water-soluble amphiphilic vitamin E (TPGS, d-alpha-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol 1000) succinate) formulated MZF nanoparticles were synthesized to serve as both a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent and a vehicle for creating magnetically induced hyperthermia against cancer. The MZF nanoparticles were synthesized from a metallic acetylacetonate in an organic phase and further modified with TPGS using an emulsion and solvent-evaporation method. The resulting TPGS-modified MZF nanoparticles exhibited a dual-contrast ability, with a longitudinal relaxivity (35.22 s−1 mM Fe−1) and transverse relaxivity (237.94 s−1 mM Fe−1) that were both higher than Resovist®. Furthermore, the TPGS-assisted MZF formulation can be used for hyperthermia treatment to successfully suppress cell viability and tumor growth after applying an alternating current (AC) electromagnetic field at lower amplitude. Thus, the TPGS-assisted MZF theranostics can not only be applied as a potential contrast agent for MRI but also has potential for use in hyperthermia treatments.
Foreign exchange rate shocks and stabilizing role of interbank markets: evidence from Turkey

ABSTRACT We study the transmission of exchange rate shocks in the Turkish interbank loan market using high-frequency bank-level data. Our results suggest that interbank market plays a stabilizing role: following large domestic currency depreciations, banks with a higher share of foreign currency liabilities borrow more in the interbank market, with a higher but insignificant effect on borrowing costs. The results are stronger the larger the exchange rate shock is and the lower the capital adequacy or liquidity ratios of borrower banks. Interbank markets play a weaker stabilizing role for banks with higher short-term rollover risks.
Reproductive Potential of the Mackerel Scad, Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier, 1833) in the Coastal Waters of Tanzania

This study investigated the reproductive biology of Decapterus macarellus locally known as ''Msumari", one of the most economically important scad fish along the coastline of Tanzania. Fish samples were collected from ring net artisanal fishers operating in Tanga and Bagamoyo coastal waters, monthly between April 2019 and September 2020. Findings indicated that D. macarellus spawns throughout the year with peaks in August at Tanga and September at Bagamoyo. Overall sex ratios (M: F) were 1:1.03 (Tanga) and 1:1.2 (Bagamoyo) in favour of females. The males and females of D. macarellus at Tanga attained the first maturity at 145.5 mm and 153.2 mm, respectively, whereas at Bagamoyo males attained first maturity at 149.9 mm and females at 156.9 mm. Batch fecundity was not statistically significant (U = 500.5; p = 0.73), with Tanga having mean values (± SE) of 46,105.9 ± 4243.4 ova and Bagamoyo 43,082 ± 2272.9 ova. Although this species appears to spawn all year round, management interventions such as seasonal closure and reduced fishing effort should be used during their spawning peaks to protect the spawners, recruits and ensure the species' long-term survival in the Tanzanian coastal waters. Keywords: Scad; Decapterus macarellus; reproductive potential; ring net fishery; Tanzania.
Granular computing and optimization model-based method for large-scale group decision-making and its application

Abstract In large-scale group decision-making process, some decision makers hesitate among several linguistic terms and cannot compare some alternatives, so they often express evaluation information with incomplete hesitant fuzzy linguistic preference relations. How to obtain suitable large-scale group decision-making results from incomplete preference information is an important and interesting issue to concern about. After analyzing the existing researches, we find that: i) the premise that complete preference relation is perfectly consistent is too strict, ii) deleting all incomplete linguistic preference relations that cannot be fully completed will lose valid assessment information, iii) semantics given by decision makers are greatly possible to be changed during the consistency improving process. In order to solve these issues, this work proposes a novel method based on Granular computing and optimization model for large-scale group decision-making, considering the original consistency of incomplete hesitant fuzzy linguistic preference relation and improving its consistency without changing semantics during the completion process. An illustrative example and simulation experiments demonstrate the rationality and advantages of the proposed method: i) semantics are not changed during the consistency improving process, ii) completion process does not significantly alter the inherent quality of information, iii) complete preference relations are globally consistent, iv) final large-scale group decision-making result is acquired by fusing complete preference relations with different weights.
Effects of grit roughness and pitch oscillations on the S809 airfoil

An S809 airfoil model was tested in The Ohio State University Aeronautical and Astronautical Research Laboratory (OSU/AARL) 3{times}5 subsonic wind tunnel (3{times}5) under steady flow and stationary model conditions, and also with the model undergoing pitch oscillations. To study the possible extent of performance loss due to surface roughness, a standard grit pattern (LEGR) was developed to simulate leading edge contamination. After baseline cases were completed, the LEGR was applied for both steady state and model pitch oscillation cases. The Reynolds numbers for steady state conditions were 0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5 million, while the angle of attack ranged from {minus}20, to +40 {degrees}. With the model undergoing pitch oscillations, data were acquired at Reynolds numbers of 0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.4 million, at frequencies of 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 Hz. Two sine wave forcing functions were used; {plus_minus} 5.5{degrees} and {plus_minus} 10{degrees}, at mean angles of attack of 8{degrees}, 14{degrees}, and 20{degrees}. For purposes herein, any reference to unsteady conditions means the model was in pitch oscillation about the quarter chord. In general, the unsteady maximum lift coefficient was from 4% to 86% higher than the steady state maximum lift coefficient, and variation in the quarter chord pitching moment coefficient magnitude was from {minus}83% to 195% relative to steady state values at high angles of attack. These findings indicate the importance of considering the unsteady flow behavior occurring in wind turbine operation to obtain accurate load estimates.