Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Field analyzers for lead quantification in drinking water samples

Abstract Field analyzers for the measurement of lead in drinking water samples are gaining interest from states, water utilities and building managers as rapid, inexpensive and simple tools to quantify lead concentrations. This literature review compares data quality by field analyzers to established laboratory methods and provides practical information (e.g. costs, ease-of-use) on commercial lead analyzers that are based on: (1) Electrochemistry, (2) Colorimetry and (3) Fluorescence. Between and within these three general field analyzer categories, manufacturers specify a variety of protocols to prepare the samples, which differ from the standard acidification in laboratory methods. Review of the literature raised concerns that without adequate sample preparation, field analyzers may not always fully quantify the total lead concentration, including particulate lead, thereby resulting in underestimations. Nonetheless, field analyzers have been used to quickly obtain experimental results in the laboratory, or in the field when access to laboratory equipment was limited, expensive or otherwise impractical. Field analyzers were also successfully used to detect lead from service lines, by a water utility where lead was mostly in the dissolved form. Overall, intrinsic strengths and weaknesses of field analyzers are discussed, to better balance practical convenience and adequate data quality depending on the objective.
Field Response of Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata Walper to Four Insecticidal Compounds and Their Residual Toxicity to Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae] in The Laboratory

There have been paradigm shift to the use of biopesticides as alternative to synthetic pesticides in recent years due to its environment friendliness and non-toxic to the non-target organisms. Therefore, three synthetic insecticides and water extract from neem back powder were evaluated on cowpea in the field and their residual toxicity tested against C. maculatus in the laboratory. The insecticides were applied at the rate of 2ml in 2L of water and 2L of extract from neem back powder on the field. The harvested seeds were infested with C. maculatus to evaluate the residual toxicity of the insecticides. Data on growth and yield parameters were taken on the field while data on adult mortality, oviposition, adult emergence and weight loss were recorded for the laboratory experiment. The results showed positive response of cowpea to the applied chemicals as they had higher values for the number of leaves, branches and reduced number of holes. Number of holes was significant (p 0.05). There was a reduction in number of eggs laid, adult emergence, seeds with holes and weight loss in the seeds treated with the four insecticide compounds. It was concluded that application of the insecticidal compounds positively enhanced the performance of cowpea on the field and could protect the seeds against C. maculatus in the laboratory. This study revealed that water extract from back powder of neem could be used as a botanical in the protection of cowpea against seed beetles.
Burnout Syndrome in Reception Systems for Illegal Immigrants in the Mediterranean. A Quantitative and Qualitative Study of Italian Practitioners

Illegal immigration throughout the Mediterranean Sea is an intense and epoch-making phenomenon. This quantitative and qualitative study, based on the framework of the JD-R Model of burnout, described and assessed the risk of burnout among practitioners working in the reception system for illegal immigrants. A sample of Italian practitioners completed the Link Burnout Questionnaire (N = 193) and a semistructured interview (N = 108). The analysis of the questionnaires was carried out via ANOVA and χ2 test. The content of the interviews was examined using T-LAB. Quantitative results showed that the sample was generally at risk of burnout, and about a quarter were at severe risk. Qualitative results highlighted aspects of burnout that are specific to this working context: large workload, mental fatigue, and lack of social support; inability to understand the language and cultural differences of the immigrants; having to deal with organisational problems that come up repeatedly. This study offers coping strategies that can improve organisational health and performance of practitioners working in illegal immigration. Italy’s shape, geographical location, and geo-political role make it a case in point for the whole European continent regarding the sustainability of illegal immigration across the Mediterranean Sea.
La transcription du linguiste au miroir de l’intelligence artificielle : réflexions à partir de la transcription phonémique automatique

Les systemes de reconnaissance automatique de la parole atteignent desormais des degres de precision eleves sur la base d'un corpus d'entrainement limite a deux ou trois heures d'enregistrements transcrits (pour un systeme mono-locuteur), au lieu de dizaines d'heures pour les outils anterieurs. Au-dela de l'interet pratique que presentent ces avancees technologiques pour les tâches de documentation linguistique, se pose la question de leur apport pour la reflexion du linguiste. En effet, le logiciel realise son entrainement sur la base de transcriptions fournies en entree par le linguiste, transcriptions qui reposent sur un ensemble d'hypotheses plus ou moins elaborees, et plus ou moins explicites. Le modele acoustique, decalque (par des methodes statistiques) de l'ecrit du linguiste, peut-il etre interroge par ce dernier, en un jeu de miroir ? Que peut nous apprendre la confrontation ainsi renouvelee avec le signal acoustique ? La presente etude s'appuie sur des exemples de langue na (famille sino-tibetaine) pour illustrer la facon dont l'analyse d'erreurs permet une confrontation renouvelee avec les donnees. Quelques reflexions au sujet d'experiences de transcription automatique de la langue tsuut'ina (famille dene) sont egalement presentees.
Scientific rationale of Yagya: a review

From Vedic era, use of yagya (also called Yagna, Hawan or Agnihotra) for health advantage is one of the important functions of Yagya. Yagya was earlier extensively used for preventing and treating various diseases and ailments, and also for refining and maintaining immunity for individuals. Yagya has numerous applications described in Vedic and Ayurvedic literature. For instance, Yagya has been used in solving the difficulties related to environment, in handling natural disasters, for attaining spiritual progress, for preserving ecological balance, for managing social and political balance, and for averting and curing diseases. The notion of incinerating herbs in the fire to produce medicinal-smoke and taking it through nose, skin and breath and by executing pranayama prevails in the Vedic literature.
Superparamagnetic polyacrylamide/magnetite composite gels

Abstract Superparamagnetic gels based on polyacrylamide and magnetite were synthesized by the in situ preparation of magnetite nanoparticles in polyacrylamide (PAM) physical hydrogels at different polymer concentrations. The formation of magnetite nanoparticles and their magnetic properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, rheometry, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). FTIR spectroscopy showed that all composite gels had features related to pure PAM. The structural characterization by Rietveld method revealed an average crystallite size below 18 nm and SEM micrographs of the gel with Fe3O4 showed that the particles have spherical structures. The rheology-related measurements indicated that the gels had a strong pseudoplastic character. Magnetic measurements confirmed the superparamagnetic behavior of the obtained magnetite nanoparticles, both in the form of pure powder and within PAM gel matrix. Magnetite crystallite size decreased as PAM content was increased, which was explained as a function of thermodynamic and kinetic effects. Graphical Abstract
Factors affecting supervisors' enactment of interpersonal fairness: The interactive relationship between their managers' informational fairness and supervisors' sense of power

Managerial trickle-down effects refer to the tendency for supervisors to treat their subordinates in ways analogous to how they have been treated by their own bosses. Whereas trickle-down effects are widely documented, including in the justice literature, less is known about the conditions under which they are more versus less likely to emerge. Across two studies we examined how supervisors’ tendencies to exhibit interpersonal fairness are interactively determined by the informational fairness they receive from managers above them and supervisors’ sense of power. Study 1 was a multi-source survey conducted in organizational settings. Study 2 was an experiment in which we manipulated the informational fairness that supervisors received from managers and supervisors’ sense of power. The results of both studies showed that the positive relationship between the informational fairness received from managers and supervisors’ enactment of interpersonal fairness was stronger among supervisors who had a lower sense of power. This interactive effect did not emerge on supervisors’ enactment of other forms of fairness (distributive, procedural and informational), consistent with prior theory and research showing that interpersonal fairness allows for greater discretion than other forms of fairness. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed as are limitations and suggestions for future research.
Energy-efficient data retention in D flip-flops using STT-MTJ

Purpose Emerging event-driven applications such as the internet-of-things requires an ultra-low power operation to prolong battery life. Shutting down non-functional block during standby mode is an efficient way to save power. However, it results in a loss of system state, and a considerable amount of energy is required to restore the system state. Conventional state retentive flip-flops have an “Always ON” circuitry, which results in large leakage power consumption, especially during long standby periods. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the emerging non-volatile memory element spin transfer torque-magnetic tunnel junction (STT-MTJ) as one the prospective candidate to obtain a low-power solution to state retention. Design/methodology/approach The conventional D flip-flop is modified by using STT-MTJ to incorporate non-volatility in slave latch. Two novel designs are proposed in this paper, which can store the data of a flip-flip into the MTJs before power off and restores after power on to resume the operation from pre-standby state. Findings A comparison of the proposed design with the conventional state retentive flip-flop shows 100 per cent reduction in leakage power during standby mode with 66-69 per cent active power and 55-64 per cent delay overhead. Also, a comparison with existing MTJ-based non-volatile flip-flop shows a reduction in energy consumption and area overhead. Furthermore, use of a fully depleted-silicon on insulator and fin field-effect transistor substituting a complementary metal oxide semiconductor results in 70-80 per cent reduction in the total power consumption. Originality/value Two novel state-retentive D flip-flops using STT-MTJ are proposed in this paper, which aims to obtain zero leakage power during standby mode.
Algal affinity and possible life cycle of the early Cambrian acritarch Yurtusia uniformis from South China

Abundant, well‐preserved specimens of spheroidal organic‐walled microfossil Yurtusia uniformis are reported from the basal Cambrian Yanjiahe Formation in the Changyang area of Hubei Province, South China. Thin and hollow processes extend between the double walls of the vesicle. The single to multiple internal bodies within the vesicle cavity are observed in the genus for the first time, representing reproductive structures (dividing daughter cells). A small circular perforation may occur on the vesicle wall to release the internal bodies. Morphological analyses of specimens preserved at various life stages reveal that processes gradually became longer as the vesicle grew in size. The internal bodies (daughter cells) underwent several successive divisions within the vesicle, which was accompanied by the simultaneous growth of both vesicle and processes. The regular growth of cells, formation and release of daughter cells, and the remarkable morphological similarity between extant algae and the studied microfossils suggest that Yurtusia uniformis is probably a green microalga that may be closely related to the Trebouxiophyceae or even Chlorellales (Chlorophyta). The growth and reproductive mode of individuals indicates that Y. uniformis is an actively growing vegetative cell of microalgae, rather than a metabolically inert cyst or resting spore. A life cycle involving vegetative growth and asexual reproduction is proposed for Y. uniformis on the basis of the life histories of modern chlorophytes. The multiple internal cells may represent autospores produced by a mature autosporangium during asexual reproduction, which subsequently developed into separate young vegetative cells after their release from the opened autosporangium.
The Long and Winding Road: Archiving and Re-Using Qualitative Data from 12 Research Projects Spanning 16 Years

We describe a pilot project designed to assess the feasibility of re-use across 12 diverse qualitative datasets related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the UK, from research projects undertaken between 1997 and 2013 – an approach which is chronically underused. First, we consider the sweeping biomedical changes and imperatives relating to HIV in this time frame, offering a rationale for data re-use at this point in the epidemic. We then reflexively situate the processes and procedures we devised for this study with reference to relevant methodological literature. Hammersley’s and Leonelli’s contributions have been particularly instructive through this process, and following their lead, we conclude with further considerations for those undertaking qualitative data re-use, reflecting on the extent to which qualitative data re-use as a practice requires attention to both the given and the constructed aspects of data when assembled as evidence.
Melatonin as a potential therapeutic molecule against COVID-19 associated gastrointestinal complications: An unrevealed link

Outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province of China, in early December 2019 which was later declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses has termed this novel coronavirus as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). According to the report of WHO on 29th April, 2020, 3018681 confirmed cases along with 207973 deaths have been documented globally. COVID-19 was originally reported as a lethal lung disease with fever and cough as the most common symptoms; however, the increasing number of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain in patients have clearly suggested that gastrointestinal tract (GIT) may also serve as a potential route for SARS-CoV-2 infection. To identify the effective therapies on this pandemic is urgent. Keeping this in mind, we realize that melatonin is a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecule and it has been used in diverse diseases and pathophysiological conditions, including respiratory disease and viral infections. Importantly, melatonin specific receptors and its endogenously synthetic machinery are distributed throughout the mammalian gastrointestinal system. Therefore, the therapeutic potentiality of melatonin in SARS-CoV-2 associated digestive symptoms cannot be ignored. In this review, we focus on the clinical implications of melatonin on the digestive complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Foreign Terrorist Fighters Indonesia: Belief in A Just World and Terrorism

The phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters’ movement to Syria to join ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) has received enormous attention in the world. Tens of thousands of individuals are moving from various parts of the world, including Indonesia, to join the Caliphate that ISIS is fighting for. There are still many reasons for the departure of foreign terrorist fighters to Syria, so this study will examine those that have not been revealed before. This is a qualitative research project using in-depth interviews as data collection techniques. There are 20 speakers who were foreign terrorist fighters but had returned to Indonesia. Just World Theory is used as a framework for thinking in this research. The findings show that not only the issue of religious ideology is the reason for the departure of foreign terrorist fighters to Syria but also the illusion of utopian life they imagined abroad. The findings of this study categorize the respondents' answers in seven ways, i.e. fair and prosperous life, verses and hadith, helping the cause of fellow Muslim who are being wronged, heaven, khilafah, living life like in the age of the prophet, and the order of hijrah.
Laccase Did It again: A Scalable and Clean Regeneration System for NAD+ and Its Application in the Synthesis of 12-oxo-Hydroxysteroids

The specific oxidation of 12α-OH group of hydroxysteroids is required for the preparation of cheno- and ursodeoxycholic acid (CDCA and UDCA, respectively). The C12 oxidation of hydroxysteroids into their 12-oxo derivatives can selectively be performed by employing 12α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. These enzymes use NAD(P)+ as an electron acceptor, which has to be re-oxidized in a so-called “regeneration system”. Recently, the enzyme NAD(P)H oxidase (NOX) was applied for the regeneration of NAD+ in the enzymatic preparation of 12-oxo-CDCA from cholic acid (CA), which allows air to be used as an oxidant. However, the NOX system suffers from low activity and low stability. Moreover, the substrate loading is limited to 10 mM. In this study, the laccase/mediator system was investigated as a possible alternative to NOX, employing air as an oxidant. The laccase/mediator system shows higher productivity and scalability than the NOX system. This was proven with a preparative biotransformation of 20 g of CA into 12-oxo-CDCA (92% isolated yield) by employing a substrate loading of 120 mM (corresponding to 50 g/L). Additionally, the performance of the laccase/mediator system was compared with a classical ADH/acetone regeneration system and with other regeneration systems reported in literature.
Assessment of facilities and reasons for settlement in old age homes of Himachal Pradesh, India

Background: Ageing though a physiological phenomenon has massive implications on health status of an individual. Once a nation of joint families, India has also seen increase in nuclearization of families. This in-turn has led to increase in old age homes (OAHs) in our country and also increased number of admissions in such institutions. The present study evaluated such facilities in state of Himachal Pradesh and the reasons for the settlement among the occupants. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to capture socio-demographic variables, reasons for settlement, facilities available in such institutions, medical facilities provided and overall satisfaction level among the occupants of all seven OAHs of the state. After taking ethical considerations into account, data was collected and analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques. Results: A total of 145 inmates were included in the study. About 86.2% inmates belonged to rural area and about three fourth of the elderly were illiterate. About 53.8% of the inmates had no children with about 45.5% of participants having lost their spouse. About 19.3% individuals had no source of income. Most common cause for settlement in OAHs was the non-availability of a care giver. About 85% of inmates had satisfaction level of average and above. Conclusions: Considering the increase in elderly population in the country there is a need for increase in number of facilities for elderly too. Moreover there is a need for standardizing such institutions in term of infrastructure, staff and facilities, with more emphasis on medical aspect.
Does neuroticism disrupt the psychological benefits of nostalgia? a meta-analytic test

Nostalgia, a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, confers self-oriented, existential, and social benefits. We examined whether nostalgic engagement is less beneficial for individuals who are high in neuroticism (i.e. emotionally unstable and prone to negative affect). Specifically, we tested whether the benefits of experimentally induced nostalgia are moderated by trait-level neuroticism. To address this issue, we conducted a high-powered individual participant data meta-analysis (N = 3556, k = 19). We found that the benefits of nostalgia were not significantly moderated by neuroticism, as they emerged for both high and low neurotics. This finding upheld when the self-oriented, existential, and social benefits of nostalgia were analysed jointly and when they were analysed separately. Taken together, individuals high and low in neuroticism are equally likely to benefit psychologically from engagement in nostalgic reverie.
Modified Least Trimmed Quantile Regression to Overcome Effects of Leverage Points

Quantile regression estimates are robust for outliers in y direction but are sensitive to leverage points. The least trimmed quantile regression (LTQReg) method is put forward to overcome the effect of leverage points. The LTQReg method trims higher residuals based on trimming percentage specified by the data. However, leverage points do not always produce high residuals, and hence, the trimming percentage should be specified based on the ratio of contamination, not determined by a researcher. In this paper, we propose a modified least trimmed quantile regression method based on reweighted least trimmed squares. Robust Mahalanobis’ distance and GM6 weights based on Gervini and Yohai’s (2003) cutoff points are employed to determine the trimming percentage and to detect leverage points. A simulation study and real data are considered to investigate the performance of our proposed methods.