Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Populist Attitudes: Bringing Together Ideational and Communicative Approaches

The study of populist attitudes has thus far drawn heavily on ideational definitions of populism, focussing almost exclusively on attitudes related to dimensions such as people-centredness and anti-elitism. However, these accounts have largely ignored other approaches to populism, especially the discursive-performative school which see populism as something that is communicated and done by political actors. We argue that when studying populist attitudes, these approaches are not mutually exclusive. In this article, we develop a novel measure of attitudes towards populist communication and consider how these interact with populist ideational attitudes. Testing our measures on the Australian case, we demonstrate that attitudes towards populist communication exist independently of populist ideational attitudes, and that they have a significant effect on voting behaviour and on attitudes related to the ideational approach. Therefore, we argue that studies of populist attitudes need to take attitudes towards populist communication into account in future work.
Entomopathogenic Fungi Biomass Production and Extracellular Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles for Bioinsecticide Action

Entomopathogenic fungi are microbial agents of insect control in nature. They have been used as biologic strategies to manage insect invasion; however, the challenge is to maintain their shelf life and viability when exposed to high temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, and humidity. Synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from fungal extracellular enzymes are an alternative using these microorganisms to obtain nanoparticles with insecticidal action. The present study evaluates the biomass production and the potential to synthesize silver nanoparticles using entomopathogenic fungi isolates. Sixteen isolates of entomopathogenic fungi were used in this study. The fungi pathogenicity and virulence were evaluated using the insect model Tenebrio molitor, at a concentration of 5 × 106 conidia/mL. The fungal biomass was produced in a liquid medium, dried, and weighed. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was performed with aqueous extracts of the entomopathogenic fungi and silver nitrate solution (1 mM), following characterization by a UV/vis spectrophotometer, mean size, and polydispersity index. The results showed a significant variation in pathogenicity, virulence, and biomass production among the evaluated fungi isolates; however, only one of the isolates did not have the potential to synthesize silver nanoparticles. Pearson’s correlation showed significant correlation values only between virulence × biosynthesis potential and biomass production × biosynthesis potential, both with negative values, indicating an inverse correlation. Thus, AgNPs with entomopathogenic fungus extract can produce an innovative bioinsecticide product using a green production process.
Mental Health of the General Population during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Tale of Two Developing Countries

Background: This study aimed to compare the severity of psychological impact, anxiety and depression between people from two developing countries, Iran and China, and to correlate mental health parameters with variables relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although China and Iran are developing countries based on the World Bank’s criteria, these two countries are different in access to resources and health care systems. We hypothesized that Iranians would show higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress as compared to Chinese. Methods: This study collected information related to the COVID-19 pandemic including physical health, precautionary measures and knowledge about the pandemic. We also used validated questionnaires such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the mental health status. Results: There were a total of 1411 respondents (550 from Iran; 861 from China). The mean IES-R scores of respondents from both countries were above the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Iranians had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression (p < 0.01). Significantly more Iranians believed COVID-19 was transmitted via contact, practised hand hygiene, were unsatisfied with health information and expressed less confidence in their doctors, but were less likely to wear a facemask (p < 0.001). Significantly more Iranians received health information related to COVID-19 via television while Chinese preferred the Internet (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This cross-country study found that Iranians had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression as compared to Chinese. The difference in reported measures between respondents from Iran and China were due to differences in access to healthcare services and governments’ responses to the pandemic.
A Statistical Examination of Distinct Characteristics Influencing the Performance of Vector-Borne Epidemiological Agent-Based Simulation Models

The spread of infectious diseases is a complex system in which pathogens, humans, the environment, and sometimes vectors interact. Mathematical and simulation modelling is a suitable approach to investigate the dynamics of such complex systems. The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reinforced the importance of agent-based simulation models to quickly and accurately provide information about the disease spread that would be otherwise hard or risky to obtain, and how this information can be used to support infectious disease control decisions. Due to the trade-offs between complexity, time, and accuracy, many assumptions are frequently made in epidemiological models. With respect to vector-borne diseases, these assumptions lead to epidemiological models that are usually bounded to single-strain and single-vector scenarios, where human behavior is modeled in a simplistic manner or ignored, and where data quality is usually not evaluated. In order to leverage these models from theoretical tools to decision-making support tools, it is important to understand how information quality, human behavior, multi-vector, and multi-strain affect the results. For this, an agent-based simulation model with different parameter values and different scenarios was considered. Its results were compared with the results of a traditional compartmental model with respect to three outputs: total number of infected individuals, duration of the epidemic, and number of epidemic waves. Paired t-test showed that, in most cases, data quality, human behavior, multi-vector, and multi-strain were characteristics that lead to statistically different results, while the computational costs to consider them were not high. Therefore, these characteristics should be investigated in more detail and be accounted for in epidemiological models in order to obtain more reliable results that can assist the decision-making process during epidemics.
Structural Changes Induced by Heating in Sputtered NiO and Cr2O3 Thin Films as p-Type Transparent Conductive Electrodes

NiO and Cr2O3 are transition metal oxides with a partially filled d electron band that supports p-type conduction. Both are transparent to the visible light due to optical absorption beginning at wavelengths below 0.4 μm and the creation of holes by metal vacancy defects. The defect and strain effects on the electronic characteristics of these materials need to be established. For this purpose, NiO and Cr2O3 thin films were deposited on unheated glass substrates by reactive DC sputtering from metallic targets. Their structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties were analyzed comparatively in the as-grown conditions (25 °C) and after heating in air at 300 °C or 500 °C. The cubic NiO structure was identified with some tensile strain in the as-grown conditions and compressive strain after heating. Otherwise, the chromium oxide layers were amorphous as grown at 25 °C and crystallized into hexagonal Cr2O3 at 300 °C or above also with compressive strain after heating. Both materials achieved the highest visible transmittance (72%) and analogous electrical conductivity (~10−4 S/cm) by annealing at 500 °C. The as-grown NiO films showed a higher conductivity (2.5 × 10−2 S/cm) but lower transmittance (34%), which were related to more defects causing tensile strain in these samples.
Non - prismatic model for laterally loaded pile in granular soil resisted by ultimate lateral reaction

ABSTRACT This paper introduces a non-prismatic model for laterally loaded piles in cohesionless soil. The response of the laterally loaded pile may not be accurate by modelling the pile as a prismatic member, especially when the soil lateral resistance is considered linear at the heavy lateral loads. The governing differential equation for the new non-prismatic model is derived considering the ultimate lateral soil reaction and it is solved using the differential quadrature method. Formulas, which determine the geometry of the non-prismatic model, are introduced for both driven and bored piles considering both free head and fixed head conditions. The proposed model is verified by field experimental results and theoretical results for both bored and driven piles which show a good agreement. The new model becomes more effective than the traditional prismatic model after lateral load reaches 41.6667% of the lateral load capacity of both bored and driven piles.
Convergence stories of post‐socialist Central‐Eastern European countries

This paper views the growth and convergence process of five Central- Eastern European economies between 1996 and 2019— the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia— through the lens of an open economy, stochastic neoclassical growth model with simple financial frictions. Our main question is whether shocks to the growth rate of productivity (‘trend’) or shocks to the external interest premium are more important to understand the volatility of GDP growth and its components. We find that while GDP growth fluctuations can be traced back to productivity shocks, the composition of GDP— and consumption in particular— was driven particularly by premium shocks. Investment- specific and labor market shocks are also important. Our panel estimation allows us to separate global and local
Separation of Sn, Sb, Bi, and Cu from Tin Anode Slime by Solvent Extraction and Chemical Precipitation

Tin anode slime is a by-product of the tin electrolytic refining process. This study investigated a route to separate Sn, Sb, Bi, and Cu from tin anode slime after leaching with hydrochloric acid. In the solvent extraction process with tributyl phosphate, Sb and Sn were extracted into the organic phase. Bi and Cu were unextracted and remained in the liquid phase. In the stripping experiment, Sb and Sn were stripped and separated with HCl and HNO3. Bi and Cu in the aqueous phase were also separated with chemical precipitation procedure by controlling pH value. The purities of Sn, Sb, Cu solution and the Bi-containing solid were 96.25%, 83.65%, 97.51%, and 92.1%. The recovery rates of Sn, Sb, Cu, and Bi were 76.2%, 67.1%, and 96.2% and 92.4%.
Analytical and empirical modelling of the origin and heliospheric propagation of coronal mass ejections, and space weather applications

The focus is on the physical background and comprehension of the origin and the heliospheric propagation of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), which can cause most severe geomagnetic disturbances. The paper considers mainly the analytical modelling, providing useful insight into the nature of ICMEs, complementary to that provided by numerical MHD models. It is concentrated on physical processes related to the origin of CMEs at the Sun, their heliospheric propagation, up to the effects causing geomagnetic perturbations. Finally, several analytical and statistical forecasting tools for space weather applications are described.
Environmental Management, Green Innovation, and Social–Open Innovation

The present study aims to determine the impact of green innovation (GI) on the overall performance of an organization while keeping the variable of environmental management (EM) as a moderator. We used a dataset consisting of four data years, from 2014 to 2017, of A-share companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE). The concept of green innovation refers to the use of advancements in technology that enable savings in energy, along with the recycling of waste material. When advanced technology is utilized in the production process, the products are referred to as green products and the whole process of adopting such technologies and product design is referred to as “Corporate Environmental Management”. Such innovations improve the overall financial performance of companies as it enables them to improve their social image by reducing their carbon footprint and ensures their long-term sustainability. The main issue is the limited focus and attention given to the topic, from the perspective of companies. This research focuses on the impact of green innovation and the importance of environmental management for the sustainability of companies. Our findings suggest that the relationship between green innovation and the performance of the company is positive and verifies the existence of moderating effects of environmental management on the relationship between green innovation and firm performance. Implications are given to academia and practitioners.
Accounting for Uncertainties in the Safety Assessment of Concrete Gravity Dams: A Probabilistic Approach with Sample Optimization

Important advances have been made in the methodologies for assessing the safety of dams, resulting in the review and modification of design guidelines. Many existing dams fail to meet these revised criteria, and structural rehabilitation to achieve the updated standards may be costly and difficult. To this end, probabilistic methods have emerged as a promising alternative and constitute the basis of more adequate procedures of design and assessment. However, such methods, in addition to being computationally expensive, can produce very different solutions, depending on the input parameters, which can greatly influence the final results. Addressing the existing challenges of these procedures to analyze the stability of concrete dams, this study proposes a probabilistic-based methodology for assessing the safety of dams under usual, unusual, and extreme loading conditions. The proposed procedure allows the analysis to be updated while avoiding unnecessary simulation runs by classifying the load cases according to the annual probability of exceedance and by using an efficient progressive sampling strategy. In addition, a variance-based global sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the parameters most affecting the dam stability, and the parameter ranges that meet the safety guidelines are formulated. It is observed that the proposed methodology is more robust, more computationally efficient, and more easily interpretable than conventional methods.
Ephemeral habitat supports high fish α‐diversity and β‐diversity during drought in a subtropical semiarid wetland

Globally, the number of rivers with intermittent flow is increasing due to climate change and water abstraction for human consumption. Currently, our understanding of how hydrology in subtropical rivers with intermittent flow affects the structure and dynamics of aquatic communities is poorly understood. Here, we investigated how fish α‐ and β‐diversity patterns in intermittent channels in the lower reaches of the Okavango Delta respond to seasonal flooding and drought. Under low‐flow conditions, ephemeral habitat had higher α‐diversity, and this was influenced by a combination of fish aggregation and apparent transient legacy effects as habitat patches became smaller and more isolated. Investigation of changes in fish assemblage structure across different hydrological periods and habitat types showed significant species turnover when water levels fell, suggesting a strong influence from species sorting. During high‐water periods, species assemblages were homogenized both at local and regional scales, suggesting a greater influence of mass effects. Our findings support hydrology as a major factor regulating diversity patterns in intermittent rivers of a major wetland in a semiarid region of subtropical Africa. We infer from these findings that maintenance of a relatively natural flow regime will be necessary for conserving aquatic ecosystem structure and function in this system.
Controllable synthesis of three dimensional electrodeposited Co–P nanosphere arrays as efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Novel three dimensional (3D) electrodeposited Co–P nanosphere arrays on FTO (Co–P/FTO) have been successfully prepared as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting in alkaline media. The morphologies and properties of the 3D Co–P nanosphere arrays can be controlled by the electrolyte concentration. At the middle concentration, Co–P nanospheres have a more homogeneous size and array distribution and a rough surface, implying a larger surface area and an increased number of active sites for water splitting. The electrochemical measurements confirm the best electrocatalytic performances of Co–P/FTO at the middle concentration. They show excellent activity, with an overpotential of 125 mV for HER, 420 mV for OER and Tafel slopes of 54 mV dec−1 and 83 mV dec−1, respectively. The fabricated bifunctional systems of Co–P/Co–P can efficiently catalyse HER and OER at the same time, solving the incompatible problem of different media between HER and OER. Therefore, controlling the synthesis of 3D Co–P/FTO nanosphere arrays through electrodeposition can provide a facile way for the bifunctional electrocatalysis of both HER and OER.
E-learning satisfaction and retention: a concurrent perspective of cognitive absorption, perceived social presence and technology acceptance model

Purpose The purpose of this study is to concurrently test the effect of cognitive absorption and perceived social presence on technology acceptance model core variables, e-satisfaction and e-retention among undergraduate students of Northern Malaysian public universities. Design/methodology/approach To empirically test the model, the authors developed quantitative research by collecting data from 730 undergraduate students of public universities in the Northern states of Malaysia. Partial least squares–structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings The results of the study reveal that cognitive absorption has a direct significant and positive effect on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of e-learning platforms and an indirect effect on e-satisfaction and e-retention. Equally, perceived social presence has a direct positive and significant effect on perceived ease of use and an indirect effect on e-satisfaction and e-retention, while e-satisfaction positively and significantly influences electronic retention. However, perceived social presence has an insignificant effect on perceived usefulness. Practical implications The findings of this study provide insights to practitioners, academia and university management, policymakers, designers and marketers on how to use the selected variables to improve the e-learning systems generally, and LearningZone Moodle in particular. Originality/value Several studies have been conducted in the domain of electronic learning; none of them, however, concurrently linked cognitive absorption and perceived social presence with technology acceptance model core factors to predict e-satisfaction and e-retention using LearningZone Moodle. This study helps the research community to fill this gap as the literature lacks a concerted discussion concerning these variables to significantly predict e-satisfaction and e-retention in an online learning context.
Jahnsite-(CaMnMn), a new member of the whiteite group from Mangualde, Beira, Portugal

Jahnsite-(CaMnMn), a new mineral species from Mangualde, Beira, Portugal, occurs as equant, brownish yellow crystals to 0.5 mm, associated with phosphosiderite, zodacite, varulite, and microcline. The mineral is transparent and has a vitreous luster. It is brittle with a poor parting on {001} and has a hardness of approximately 4 (Mohs). Doto : 2.73(8) and Do," : 2.798 g/cm3. Optically it is biaxial negative, a: 1.643(l), B : 1.659(l), 7 : 1.671(l), 2V^. ": 80(2)', 2V^b: 8l'. It is monoclinic with possible space groups P2/a or Pa, a: 14.887(8), b : 7.t52(7), c : 9.966(6) A, p : 109.77(5). , andZ:2. The strongest X-ray powder diffracrion l ines are ld(A),1, hkn9.40 (10) (001), 5.74 (2) (l l l , 0il), 5.02 (2) (210), 4.97 | (2) (r02), 4.704 (3) (202,002),3.532 (2) (3r2),3.463 (2) (r20),2.986 (2r3, ll3),2.870 (8) (313), and 2.608 (2) (510). Electron microprobe and TGA analyses gave Al2O3 0.7, FerOr 2l.5, MgO 0.5, CaO 5.8, MnO 20.2, PrO5 34.3, HrO 18.5, total 101.5 wt0/0, which yields the formula Cao ,uMno ,o(Mn, ,uFeo ,oMgo.,oLdFe? IrAL , J"r(POo)o(OH), . u .
Comparisons of initial outcomes and cost-effectiveness after total ankle arthroplasty versus bipolar osteochondral allograft transplantation in the ankle: a retrospective cohort study

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has been a standard-of-care surgical treatment option for patients who are suffering from ankle disorders since the 1960s. It is costly with a limited lifespan; younger, active patients will likely need additional surgeries. Evidence-based advancements in osteochondral allograft (OCA) preservation and transplantation techniques have resulted in improved outcomes, making it a potentially more appropriate treatment option for specific patients. This study compares 90-day clinical and self-reported outcomes for patients who received TAA or bipolar OCA ankle transplantation. Methods: Differences in costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) for patients were determined using postoperative 1-year follow-up. An institutional review board-approved review of electronic medical records and billing data was conducted for patients who underwent TAA or bipolar OCA ankle transplantation (n=35) at a single institution between 2014 and 2018. Postoperative patient-reported outcome scores and cost comparisons were completed using a two-sample t-test, or nonparametric alternative, or chi-square test. Results: Three months after surgery, no statistically significant differences in patient-reported outcomes, postsurgical complications, or value-based care metrics were observed between older TAA (n=18) or younger OCA groups (n=17). Based on data, OCA and TAA were both considered cost-effective treatment options; differences in the incremental cost-effectiveness between OCA and TAA were not statistically significant (P=0.99), and 1-year outcomes were good to excellent. Conclusions: These results will guide more robust planning for 90-day postoperative reimbursement guidelines. Ongoing work is needed to assess mid-term and long-term outcomes for patients with respect to morbidity, complications, patient-reported outcomes, costs, and QALY. Level of Clinical Evidence: Level III.
How Do Gender, Sexuality, and Age Impact Perceptions of Teacher Sexual Misconduct? An Intersectional Vignette-Based Study

In this study we investigate the intersecting impacts of perpetrators’ gender, sexuality, and age on perceptions of teacher sexual misconduct. When the teacher was a woman, respondents perceived the relationship to be less detrimental to the student, the student to be more mature and responsible, and the relationship as more acceptable. Heterosexual pairings were perceived as more acceptable than same-sex pairings, with the student perceived as more mature and responsible. Lastly, when the teacher was older respondents perceived them as more responsible and the student as having psychological issues contributing to the relationship.