Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rural Students Transition into Higher Education in Meghalaya: Challenges and Coping Strategies

The transition from school to college is a change every student has to make in their pursuit of higher education. The transition phase is a difficult time for many students, especially to the rural students, many of whom are from a disadvantaged background. However, little literature exists in our state and the country on the transition of rural students into higher education, especially on the challenges they face and the coping strategies they have adopted. This qualitative exploratory study, therefore, aims to explore the challenges rural students in Meghalaya faced when making the transition into higher education, along with the strategies they adopted to cope with the challenges. The participants of this study consist of 68 rural students selected by the use of purposive sampling technique and the data was collected by the use of a semi-structured interview schedule. The thematic analysis method was used to analyse the interview transcripts. The study revealed rural students faced two main challenges, which are academic challenges and socio-emotional challenges, and they had adopted task-oriented coping and emotion-oriented coping strategies in coping with these challenges. The study concludes by suggesting that rural students need additional support when making the transition into higher education.
The effect of 24-week continuous intake of quercetin-rich onion on age-related cognitive decline in healthy elderly people: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative clinical trial

Quercetin, a type of flavonoid, is believed to reduce age-related cognitive decline. To elucidate its potential function, we carried out a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative clinical trial involving 24-week continuous intake of quercetin-rich onion compared to quercetin-free onion as a placebo. Seventy healthy Japanese individuals (aged 60 to 79 years old) were enrolled in this study. We examined the effect of quercetin-rich onion (the active test food) on cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Cognitive Assessment for Dementia iPad version, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home version. The Mini-Mental State Examination scores were significantly improved in the active test food group (daily quercetin intake, 50 mg as aglycone equivalent) compared to the placebo food group after 24 weeks. On the Cognitive Assessment for Dementia iPad version for emotional function evaluation, we found that the scores of the active test food group were significantly improved, suggesting that quercetin prevents cognitive decline by improving depressive symptoms and elevating motivation. On the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home version, we found significant effects on reducing the burden on study partners. Taking all the data together, we concluded that 24-week continuous intake of quercetin-rich onion reduces age-related cognitive decline, possibly by improving emotional conditions. Clinical trial register and their clinical registration number: This study was registered with UMIN (approval number UMIN000036276, 5 April 2019).
Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) for Water and Wastewater Treatment: Preparation to Application

As the world human population and industrialization keep growing, the water availability issue has forced scientists, engineers, and legislators of water supply industries to better manage water resources. Pollutant removals from wastewaters are crucial to ensure qualities of available water resources (including natural water bodies or reclaimed waters). Diverse techniques have been developed to deal with water quality concerns. Carbon based nanomaterials, especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with their high specific surface area and associated adsorption sites, have drawn a special focus in environmental applications, especially water and wastewater treatment. This critical review summarizes recent developments and adsorption behaviors of CNTs used to remove organics or heavy metal ions from contaminated waters via adsorption and inactivation of biological species associated with CNTs. Foci include CNTs synthesis, purification, and surface modifications or functionalization, followed by their characterization methods and the effect of water chemistry on adsorption capacities and removal mechanisms. Functionalized CNTs have been proven to be promising nanomaterials for the decontamination of waters due to their high adsorption capacity. However, most of the functional CNT applications are limited to lab-scale experiments only. Feasibility of their large-scale/industrial applications with cost-effective ways of synthesis and assessments of their toxicity with better simulating adsorption mechanisms still need to be studied.
The reregulation of capital flows in Latin America: assessing the impact of post-neoliberal governments

Abstract This article assesses the impact of post-neoliberal governments on the level of capital controls in 17 Latin American countries for the period between 1995 and 2017. Contrary to administrations led by other left-of-center parties, especially the ones affiliated to the Socialist International, I contend that post-neoliberal parties, affiliated to the São Paulo Forum, opted to reregulate capital flows for three main reasons: increasing macroeconomic policy autonomy, favoring their constituencies, and/or giving concreteness to the rhetoric against financial and foreign interests. After proposing a new capital controls index and estimating a time-series cross-section model, I find that post-neoliberalism has been associated with an increase in the level of controls. Besides this main conclusion, I also find that larger financial sectors contribute to counteracting the reregulation of capital flows by post-neoliberal governments.
How have workplace coaches experienced coaching during the Covid-19 pandemic?

This exploratory interpretive study provides impactful preliminary evidence on which to base further research into coaching amid challenging circumstances. Thematic analysis of transcript and visual data from eleven semi-structured interviews examines practitioner perspectives of workplace coaching during the exceptional disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic when abnormal stress amongst professionals was widespread. Findings revealed multiple environmental pressures affecting both coaches and coachees. These pressures added complexity to managing coaching interactions, driving intentional self-care on the part of coaches as well as multiple delivery-oriented innovations. Flexibility and adaptive capacity were found to be foundational for successful practice.
Experimental investigation on optimal plasma generation in inductively coupled plasma

Total energy loss per ion–electron pair lost ( e T) is investigated to optimize the plasma generation at various RF powers and gas pressures in an argon inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The ion densities and electron temperatures are measured to obtain e T at the plasma–sheath edge. At a fixed RF power, the obtained e T has a minimum at a certain electron temperature, and at this condition, an optimal plasma generation is achieved according to a global model. Since the electron temperature is a function of the gas pressure, at that certain gas pressure the energy loss in the plasma is minimized and plasma is generated most efficiently. Interestingly, the electron temperature at which e T becomes the minimum decreases as the RF power increases. This is explained by multistep ionization and the electron density dependence of the density of the excited states. Measured e T is compared with the calculated result from the global model that includes multistep ionization, and these are consistent with each other.
State of the Art Management of the Central American Locust Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons (Walker, 1870)

The Central American locust (CAL), Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons (Walker, 1870), is a transboundary pest that is distributed from Mexico to Panama. It is a true locust species characterized by density-dependent phase polyphenism. The ancient record of the CAL is found in the Popol Vuh, the Mayan sacred book, demonstrating how it has affected humans for millennia. In Mexico, the CAL have been declared a national threat to agriculture since 1824. Serious locust plagues occurred in 1882–1883 when swarms of 20 km2 in size invaded the Yucatán Peninsula and neighboring states in southern Mexico and, since then, management actions to suppress populations and economic damage have been implemented. A better understanding of the biology, ecology, and behavior of the CAL replaced a manual and mechanical collection of locust swarms, hopper bands, and egg pods with modern techniques such as the use of safer chemical products and environmentally friendly bioinsecticides. Presently, biomodels and GIS support the monitoring and forecasting of outbreaks. Currently, studies are conducted to investigate environmental factors that trigger locust gregarization, the evolution of phase polyphenism, and CAL bioactive compounds and nutritional contents, envisioning its potential use in biotechnological industries. Findings will be crucial to improve the management strategies of the CAL.
Estimating the superstition value: why not decomposition analysis?

Abstract Superstitious belief of the number of eight as a lucky number is common among the Malaysian Chinese as its pronunciation carries the meaning of “prosperity”. Nevertheless, for the non-Chinese (i.e. Malay) who do not believe in superstition, it is just a neutral number. The existence of the two groups provides a natural setting to use the nonlinear decomposition analysis. This innovative approach allows us to decompose the price premium of number 8 obtained from the hedonic regression model into superstition and non-superstition components. The nonlinear decomposition analysis shows that approximately 37% to 45% of the estimated premium value which are associated with number 8 is attributed to superstition. This implies that the estimation of previous studies on superstitious value of number eight by using the hedonic regression model is subjected to an upward bias.
A conceptual framework for latecomer linkage capabilities

In this article, we put forward a framework for conceptualizing processes of linkage capability-building in firms based in developing countries, so-called latecomer firms. To do this, we combine the literature on latecomer capabilities with insights from the literature on industrial marketing and supply-chain management. Our framework distinguishes between different levels of development across three capability categories: envisioning opportunities for useful market and knowledge-based linkages, engaging with external partners in ways that create suitable organizational arrangements, and exploiting relationships for technological learning.
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using Sabin- Feldman dye test among equines in Isparta province, Turkey

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan disease widely spread among different animal species with an incidence of up to 90%. The presence of this agent among equine species has been reported to be about 46.3%. T.gondii infection in equids could favor the spreading of the infection as equine carcasses are used for animal diets in zoos, as well as dead equine carcasses left outside villages are eaten by stray dogs and cats. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii among equine species (horses, donkeys and mules) raised in Isparta province of Turkey by using Sabin Feldman Dye test which is a reference test widely used for detecting T. gondii antibodies in different animal species. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) among equids in Isparta province, Turkey. Material and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 192 animals including horses (n=72), donkeys (n=88) and mules (n= 32) from January to December of 2016. Separated sera were tested for Anti-T. gondii antibodies using the Sabin-Feldman Dye Test (SFDT). Results: Out of 192 samples, 44 (22.9%) reacted positive. Sero-positivity was 27.8%, 27.8% and 25.0% in horses, donkeys, and mules, respectively with no statistical difference. According to age of animals, the seroprevalence was 14.3%, 32.8%, and 20.8% in age groups 0-5, 6-10 and over 11 years, respectively with a statistically significant difference. Sero-positivity in male animals was 19.44% and in females 25.0%, with no statistical difference. Conclusion: The prevalence of exposure to T. gondii was determined as 22.9% in equids in Isparta province.
Do South African state-owned entities follow the pecking order theory of capital structure?

In corporate finance, the pecking-order theory suggests that companies adhere to a particular financing hierarchy, with internal funding taking preference over external funding, and debt financing taking preference over equity. This paper examines whether South African state-owned entities prioritize their financing sources as predicted by the pecking-order theory. A financing deficit variable comprising various cash flow-based components was used to test the theory. A panel regression model was employed using panel data estimators. Using a cross-section sample of 33 state-owned entities from 1995 to 2018, the study finds no evidence that South African state-owned entities follow a pecking order to finance investment projects. The pecking order theory proposition that costs of adverse selection are dominant for lower levels of leverage provides a reason for the financing deficit coefficient not being close to unity and hence an indication that the SOEs in South Africa do not follow the pecking order behavior in their financing decisions, an indication that South African capital market is still developing.
THE INFLUENCE OF ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP AND ISLAMIC WORK ETHICS ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE OF ISLAMIC BANKS IN RIAU PROVINCE MEDIATED BY ISLAMIC ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of Islamic leadership and Islamic work ethics on employee performance of Islamic banks in Riau province, whereby Islamic organizational culture became the mediator variable. This research employs the Structure Equation Model (SEM) based on Partial Least Square (PLS) with the help of SmartPLS 3.0 M3 software. The data were collected by using a questionnaire from 275 respondents. The respondent in this research was an employee of Islamic banks in Riau Province. The result showed that Islamic leadership, Islamic work ethics, and Islamic organizational culture positively and significantly influence on employee performance of Islamic banks in Riau province. On another side, the Islamic leadership mediated by Islamic organizational culture does not significantly influence on employee performance of Islamic Banks in Riau Provence. The finding of this research suggests that to enhance the role of Islamic leadership to create Islamic organization culture and Islamic work ethics increasingly would be an effect on employee performance of Islamic Bank in Riau province.
Anterior position of dispersive patch for esophageal protection during atrial fibrillation ablation. A pilot feasibility study

Type of funding sources: None. Ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) carries a significant risk of esophageal injury. Current methods of esophageal protection are invasive, expensive and their cost-effectiveness can be questioned. Standard placement of dispersive patch (DP) at patient’s back exposes esophagus to radio-frequency (RF) current-mediated thermal injury and such complications as esophageal wall ulceration, peri-esophageal injury or life-threatening atrio-esophageal fistula. Redirecting RF current by DP repositioning to anterior chest can theoretically protect oesophagus from thermal injury, however, such an approach has not yet been investigated. To determine feasibility of anterior DP position for treatment of AF using RF catheter ablation (RFCA)-based system. We retrospectively analysed consecutive patients undergoing RFCA-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using multi-electrode PVAC catheter with DP located either in anterior or traditional-posterior position. Two additional patients underwent point-by-point RFCA and mapping of PV ostia with impedance measurements during RFCA performed using anterior and posterior DP positioning. 62 patients (25 females, age 60 ± 12 years) underwent PVI using PVAC: 40 patients in posterior and 22 in anterior DP group. There were no major complications during procedures. There was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between anterior and posterior DP groups during one-year follow up (log rank p = 0.065). In two additional consecutive patients (1 female, age 74 ± 2 years) undergoing point-by-point RFCA a total number of 30 measurements around PV ostia were performed. There was a significant difference between impedance values in anterior vs posterior DP positions (134 ± 7 Ω vs 122 ± 8 Ω, p = 0.0004). Anterior position of dispersive electrode for PV isolation using RFCA-based systems is safe, feasible, atraumatic and is not associated with any additional cost. Apart from redirecting RF current away from the esophagus, anterior dispersive patch placement is associated with higher impedance values which can act as an additional protection. Possible prevention of esophageal complications using anterior dispersive patch positioning needs to be determined in prospective studies. Abstract Figure. AF-free survival and impedance
The effect of metabolic phenotype on sociability and social group size preference in a coral reef fish

Although individuals within social groups experience reduced predation risk and find food patches more consistently, there can be competition for food among group mates. Individuals with a higher standard metabolic rate (SMR) may be less social, to prioritize food acquisition over defense, while a greater maximum metabolic rate (MMR) may modulate sociability through increased competitive ability. Therefore, in theory, individuals with a higher SMR may prefer smaller groups and those with greater MMR may prefer larger groups. We examined links among metabolic phe -notype, sociability, and choice of group size in the redbelly yellowtail fusilier Caesio cuning . Individuals were exposed to three association tests: (a) a choice between two fish or zero fish; (b) a choice between five fish or zero fish; and (c) a choice between two fish and five fish. The first two tests quantified sociability while the third meas ured relative group size choice. Although there was no link between SMR and socia -bility, fish with a higher MMR were more social than those individuals with a lower MMR. While no correlation was found between MMR and group size choice, there was weak evidence that, if anything, individuals with a higher SMR preferred larger groups, contrary to our hypothesis. As C . cuning is an active fish that spends a large proportion of time operating above SMR, this result could suggest that the links be tween sociability and SMR may shift depending on a species’ routine behavior. Links between sociability and MMR may arise if competitive ability allows individuals to obtain resources within groups. Although metabolic traits had no significant influ ence on group size choice, variation in food availability or predation risk could alter the effects of metabolism on group size choice.
Associations between Parental Mental Health and Child Maltreatment: The Importance of Family Characteristics

The study expands the literature on parents’ mental health and risk of poor parenting by exploring the association between parental mental health diagnoses and types of child maltreatment among 522 parents who were adjudicated for child maltreatment by Israeli courts. The study was cross-sectional and used a manual for the content analysis of court cases. The results showed that 62% of the parents suffered from mental health problems, including emotional problems, personality disorders, mental illness or intellectual disability. Child neglect was associated with all types of mental health diagnoses for both the mothers and fathers. However, child abuse and specifically physical abuse were associated only with the mother’s mental health diagnoses. The mother’s mental illness and personality disorder predicted child neglect and the mother’s personality disorder predicted child abuse, after controlling for poverty, child’s intellectual disability and age. No mental health diagnosis of the father predicted child maltreatment. The study concluded that the effect of mental health condition is greater for mothers. A mother’s personality disorder and mental illness should raise a special concern. Screening for maternal mental health in every case involved in the child welfare system and implications of the findings for prevention of child maltreatment are discussed.
An Efficient Positivity-Preserving Finite Volume Scheme for the Nonequilibrium Three-Temperature Radiation Diffusion Equations on Polygonal Meshes

This paper develops an efficient positivity-preserving finite volume scheme for the two-dimensional nonequilibrium three-temperature radiation diffusion equations on general polygonal meshes. The scheme is formed as a predictor-corrector algorithm. The corrector phase obtains the cell-centered solutions on the primary mesh, while the predictor phase determines the cell-vertex solutions on the dual mesh independently. Moreover, the flux on the primary edge is approximated with a fixed stencil and the nonnegative cell-vertex solutions are not reconstructed. Theoretically, our scheme does not require any nonlinear iteration for the linear problems, and can call the fast nonlinear solver (e.g. Newton method) for the nonlinear problems. The positivity, existence and uniqueness of the cell-centered solutions obtained on the corrector phase are analyzed, and the scheme on quasi-uniform meshes is proved to be L2and H1-stable under some assumptions. Numerical experiments demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency and positivity of the scheme on various distorted meshes. AMS subject classifications: 65M08, 65M22
Simulation of RPAS/UAV Data Traffic Using Space-Air-Ground Networks

The latest applications of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) for telecommunication data transmission require reliable two-way communications. In this regard, it is necessary to answer two questions: how can existing space, air and ground networks be combined for effective interaction with RPASs during heavy traffic and under what data transmission modes can the required Quality of Service (QoS) be ensured. To answer such questions, this study was undertaken. Models of space, air and ground networks were created to simulate remote data transmission. Models including the Base Station (BS), the Public Terrestrial Network (PTN), the Low-Orbit Satellite, and different number of RPASs were designed using NetCracker Professional 4.1 software. For the first time, quantitative characteristics of traffic in Space-Air-Ground Integrated Network (SAGIN) communication channels were obtained. The Average Utilization (AU) dependencies of BS links on the Transaction Size (TS) were obtained and analyzed. BS links with different bandwidths were studied. Effect of the Bit Error Rate (BER) on the AU parameters was considered. The dependences of the dropped packets on the TS parameters were studied. SAGIN traffic characteristics for terrestrial and satellite communication channels were compared.