Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-catalyst β-Ga2O3 semiconductor lateral nanowire networks synthesis on the insulating substrate for deep ultraviolet photodetectors

Monoclinic gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) is a super-wide bandgap semiconductor with excellent chemical and thermal stability, which is an ideal candidate for detecting deep ultraviolet (DUV) radiation (100–280 nm). The growth of β-Ga2O3 is challenging and most methods require Au as the catalyst and a long reacting time (more than 1 hour). In this work, the self-catalyst β-Ga2O3 lateral nanowire networks were synthesized on an insulating substrate rapidly by a simple low-cost Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method. A thin film of β-Ga2O3 nanowire networks was synthesized within a reacting time of 15 minutes, which possesses a huge possibility for the rapid growth of β-Ga2O3 metal oxide nanowires networks and application in the future solar-blind photodetector. MSM (metal–semiconductor–metal) photodetectors based on the β-Ga2O3 nanowire networks revealed fast response (on–off ratios is about 103), which is attributed to the unique cross-junction barrier-dominated conductance of the nanowire networks. In addition, the self-catalyst β-Ga2O3 nanowires grown on insulating SiO2 are achieved and could be expected to find important applications in a bottom-up way of fabricating the next generation semiconductor nanoelectronics.
Deep Learning to Evaluate US NOx Emissions Using Surface Ozone Predictions

Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) in the United States have declined significantly during the past three decades. However, satellite observations since 2009 indicate total column NO2 is no longer declining even as bottom‐up inventories suggest continued decline in emissions. Multiple explanations have been proposed for this discrepancy including (a) the increasing relative importance of nonurban NOx to total column NO2, (b) differences between background and urban NOx lifetimes, and (c) that the actual NOx emissions are declining more slowly after 2009. Here, we use a deep learning model trained by NOx emissions and surface observations of ozone to assess consistency between the reported NOx trends between 2005 and 2014 and observations of surface ozone. We find that the satellite‐derived trends best reproduce ozone in low NOx emission (background) regions. The 2010–2014 trend from older satellite‐derived emission estimates produced at low spatial resolution results in the largest bias in surface ozone in regions with high NOx emissions, reflecting the blending of urban and background NOx in these low‐resolution top‐down analyses. In contrast, the trend from higher resolution satellite‐based estimates, which are more capable of capturing the urban emission signature, is in better agreement with ozone in high NOx emission regions, and is consistent with the trend based on surface observations of NO2. Our results confirm that the satellite‐derived trends reflect anthropogenic and background influences.
Growth process of molybdate conversion coating on the surface of aluminum foil and its adhesive mechanism

In this study, an environmentally friendly molybdate (Mo) conversion coating was deposited on the surface of aluminum (Al) foil for use as the packaging film of lithium‐ion battery, and the surface morphology and chemical composition were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS results show that the conversion coating is composed of MoO3, MoOx, Al2O3, and (MoO3)x(P2O5)y. Then, the effects of treatment time on the corrosion resistance of Al foil and the adhesive strength between Mo‐treated Al foil and maleic anhydride (MAH)‐grafted polypropylene (MPP) were investigated. It is revealed that both the peeling strength and the corrosion resistance of Mo‐treated Al foil increase with the treatment time.
Risk factors of post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis among living‐donor liver transplant recipients with biliary complications

The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of post‐ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) pancreatitis (PEP) among living donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients and the risk factors that may predispose to PEP. From December 2008 to August 2015, a total of 652 adult LDLT cases were performed at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. LDLT recipients with biliary complications undergoing ERCP treatment were recruited in this study. PEP was assessed by using established consensus criteria. Patient‐ and procedure‐related factors were collected and analyzed to investigate the association with PEP. A total of 62 (9.5%) patients developed biliary complications after LDLT and received 223 ERCP procedures. Initial ERCP treatments were successful in 58 (93.5%) patients, and 4 (6.5%) patients failing in biliary cannulation proceeded to rendezvous procedure successfully. Pancreatic duct (PD) injection had the highest incidence (23.5%) of PEP followed by a short interval between LT and ERCP (<12 weeks) (18.5%), creatinine >2 mg/dl (16.6%), initial ERCP (16.1%), precut EST (13.8%), EST (12.9%), and use of prednisone (8.9%). Univariate analysis showed that initial ERCP, precut EST, PD injection, a short interval between LT and ERCP, and use of prednisolone were associated with PEP. However, multivariate analysis revealed that only initial ERCP (OR 17.2, 95% CI 1.9–150.2) and PD injection (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.2–24.7) were independent risk factors of PEP among LDLT recipients. LDLT recipients undergoing initial ERCP and PD injection of contrast during the procedure are at a high risk to develop PEP. Prophylactic strategies should be adopted especially in this subset of patients.
The political economy of national-neoliberalism

ABSTRACT Has a post-neoliberal policy regime emerged from the challenges to neoliberalism that have accompanied the rise of nationalism and populism in some Eastern and Central European countries? Why has the political organization of these challenges to neoliberalism endured in some countries but not in others? By drawing on a mix of primary and secondary sources culled from the institutional, political and economic realities of Hungary and Romania, this paper makes two claims. First, the article sugegsts that these transformations have amounted to a distinctive variety of neoliberalism that can be dubbed ‘national-neoliberalism. ’ At its core one finds the slightly modified old goals of neoliberal orthodoxy embedded into a protective cocoon of orthodox and unorthodox economic policy instruments and institutions. The second claim of the paper is that the political organization of the national-neoliberal project was resilient in Hungary but not in Romania. The evidence suggests that this variation owes not only to the fact that the ‘national’ elements of national-neoliberalism had protections against the bond markets. While this factor was indeed critical, the resilience of Hungarian national-neoliberalism seems to have been made possible by the fact that its proponents could manage a broader social bloc and deploy techno-political capabilities that bolstered their political power relative to that of challengers. In contrast, the challengers to orthodox ("globalist") neoliberalism did not posess these characteristics in Romania. As such, the paper rejects the hypothesis of a nationalist-heterodox successor to neoliberalism and takes a first cut at a theory of policy resilience for national-neoliberalism.
To leave or retain? An interplay between quality digital banking services and customer satisfaction

PurposeIn this paper, the authors investigated the impact of quality digital banking services delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic on customers' satisfaction and retention intentions.Design/methodology/approachThis study combined constructs drawn from the E-S-QUAL and BSQ models to measure the impact of digital banking services on subscribers of digital banking services in Ghana. The study utilized structural equation modeling with partial least squares (PLS-SEM) to analyze 395 responses.FindingsResults revealed a significant direct effect between digital banking services satisfaction and customer retention decision. The results also revealed that digital banking services quality dimensions such as ease of use, efficiency, privacy/security and reliability impact customers' satisfaction and retention intentions.Research limitations/implicationsDigital banking service portfolios and their quality dimensions vary among banks. This offers an opportunity for banking institutions and other non-bank financial service providers to be wary of the impact of quality service delivery on customers' decisions. This paper makes significant theoretical contributions and practical implications on the relevance of quality digital banking services in customers' retention strategies for competitive advantage.Originality/valueThis study has underlined the significance of quality digital banking services in developing countries. The study underscored the need for banking and non-bank financial institutions to embrace the much-anticipated quality service demanded by customers and the need for continuous service improvement relative to the growing deployment of financial technologies.
An anthropometry survey of Bangladeshi university students

ABSTRACT The study aimed to establish an anthropometric dataset of Bangladeshi male and female university students. Voluntary participants included 400 students aged 17 to 23 from eight divisional areas of Bangladesh. From the sample population, 37 body parameters were measured, documented, and examined. Kolmogorov–Smirnov, ANOVA and t-tests were used to correlate intra-populations (Bangladeshi male and female) and inter-populations (Bangladeshi and other nationalities) anthropometric data. When comparing the anthropometry of male and female populations, significant differences were observed in upper body limbs rather than lower body limbs. The variability in anthropometric measurements among the four age groups of females was found to be greater than that of males. Patterns of difference between Bangladeshi and other country populations were identified and discussed. Finally, some implementation methods of the collected anthropometric data, and their differences were briefly discussed in designing furniture (as product), scissor (as tool), helmet (as equipment), and control system (as workplace).
Ecological resilience and vegetation transition in the face of two successive large wildfires

Wildfire can both promote and erode resilience to future disturbances in fire‐adapted ecosystems. Through a combination of past fire exclusion and climate change, fire patterns and successional trajectories are shifting with potentially negative consequences for forest resilience. In particular, high‐severity short‐interval reburns can lead to permanent transitions from forested to persistent non‐forested ecosystems. To test conditions under which wildfires promote resilience or initiate vegetation transitions we leveraged high‐resolution LiDAR data, field data and a natural experiment where two uncharacteristically severe wildfires burned the same area in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Specifically, we evaluate what factors influence resistance to high‐severity reburn and whether early forest recovery is evident following vegetation transition. Our findings indicate that topography and vegetative structure influenced resistance to high‐severity effects of a second wildfire and that environmental heterogeneity played an important role. Forests that survived the initial burn were most resistant to subsequent high‐severity fire when they were characterized by relatively dense but heterogeneous upper strata and a sparse understorey, located in variable and mesic terrain and burned under milder fire weather conditions. Early seral vegetation was most likely to resist repeat high‐severity fire and potentially continue post‐fire forest recovery when it was located in variable and mesic terrain and was characterized by relatively sparse understorey vegetation and a heterogeneous subcanopy. Some early seral areas that reburned at lower severity showed signs of conifer forest recovery. Vegetation structure and composition of areas that repeatedly burned at high severity are consistent with a transition to persistent shrubland or hardwood forests. Synthesis. Short‐interval reburns close to historical fire intervals but of unusually high burn severity can create challenges for maintaining resilient forests, as sequential fires can expand upon and stabilize non‐forest vegetation. However, forest communities that survive such disturbances appear partially restored with increased structural heterogeneity and greater resistance to future high‐severity fire. If climate and fire regime trends continue, we are likely to see broadscale shifts towards vegetation types and species able to recover quickly from high‐severity fire at the expense of forests and species resistant to frequent low‐severity fire.
Overview of methods to identify the static normal wheel-rail contact

Determining the shape and size of a wheel-rail contact area is required to calculate fatigue and wear of wheel and rail. Fatigue and wear are influenced by high pressures of up to 1000 MPa that act on the small contact area of approximately 1 cm². One problem in identifying the contact patch is the inaccessibility of the contact point. Therefore, numerical and experimental methods have been applied to identify the shape and size of the contact area in the static wheel-rail contact. Here, we summarize and compare methods to identify the static wheel-rail contact area, in particular the Hertzian calculation, the use of carbon paper, the use of pressure measurement film, the finite element method, the use of ultrasonic testing, and a semi-Hertzian method called STRIPES. Our review revealed that several methods exist to determine the static wheel-rail contact, which were introduced as well as results of some research projects. However, the partly incomplete description of methods studied impeded a detailed assessment of the results. Furthermore, due to the non-comparable parameters applied in the different studies, it was impossible to contrast the results and methods presented in the different publications. Hence, it is recommended that future results in the field of static wheel-rail contact should be directly contrasted with a detailed finite element model. This proceeding will allow to directly compare different methods on the bases of finite element analysis and thus the identification of a method for each situation.
Development of pavement roughness models using Artificial Neural Network (ANN)

ABSTRACT Pavement roughness in terms of the International Roughness Index (IRI) plays an important role in determining the riding quality of road networks. Moreover, it is considered as a pavement performance measure and a determinant of the optimal time for pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation (M & R). Due to the high cost of evaluating pavement roughness using automated devices, it is crucial to find a suitable alternative method with low cost and high accuracy, especially in developing countries. The main objective of this research was to develop pavement roughness models using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based on smartphone measurements. The effects of pavement age, traffic loading, and traffic volume on the IRI values were investigated. The results of ANN model development showed that ANN is promising to predict the future IRI with a relatively low average error of less than 10%. M & R alternatives were also suggested based on the present and predicted IRI values. The predicted alternatives using ANN showed a relatively low average error (less than 15%) compared to the actual M & R alternatives. The comparison result between regression and ANN models showed that developed ANN models were more accurate in IRI prediction than the regression models.
A measure of ionospheric irregularities: zonal velocity and its implications for L‐band scintillation at low‐latitudes

We estimate the zonal drift velocity of small‐scale ionospheric irregularities at low latitude by leveraging the spaced‐receivers technique applied to two GNSS receivers for scintillation monitoring installed along the magnetic parallel passing in Presidente Prudente (Brazil, magnetic latitude 12.8°S). The investigated ionospheric sector is ideal to study small‐scale irregularities, being located close to the expected position of the southern crest of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly. The measurement campaign took place between September 2013 and February 2014, i.e. equinox and summer solstice seasons under solar maximum, during which the probability of formation of small‐scale irregularities is expected to maximize. We found that the hourly average of the velocity increases up to 135 m/s right after the local sunset at ionospheric altitudes and then smoothly decreases in the next hours. Such measurements are in agreement with independent estimations of the velocity made by the Incoherent Scatter Radar located at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory (magnetic latitude 0.1°N), by the Boa Vista Ionosonde (magnetic latitude 12.0°N), and by applying a recently‐developed empirical regional short‐term forecasting model. Additionally, we investigated the relationship with the percentage occurrence of amplitude scintillation; we report that it is exponentially dependent on the zonal velocity of the irregularities that cause it.
Phonological awareness and learning to read in Afrikaans: The role of working memory

The development of proficient reading skills is a fundamental objective of school (Dessemontet & De Chambrier 2015). The ability to read and subsequently to learn through reading is important in the academic success of learners (Finlayson 2017). Attaining a high level of phonological awareness (PA) skills enables a child to acquire reading skills more easily as these skills interact with and facilitate the development of vocabulary and word consciousness both on recognition and encoding level (Finlayson 2017). Learning to read requires the sequential decoding of the graphemes into their spoken form and temporarily storing the various forms in the exact order until the last grapheme has been decoded (Dessemontet & De Chambrier 2015). Adequate phoneme-grapheme association knowledge secures the connection in memory (Li et al. 2016). Phoneme-grapheme correspondence improves the quality of lexical representations in the memory (Li et al. 2016). Phonemic awareness (PhA) skills, primarily blending and segmentation are required to connect the pronunciation and spelling of a word and to preserve these words in the memory (Ehri 2014). Research suggests that working memory (WM) is one of the most important predictors of children’s reading abilities and later academic success (Giofrѐ, Donolato & Mammarella 2018; Toffalini et al. 2019). Research on the role of PA skills and WM in Afrikaans is limited. Furthermore, to the researchers’ knowledge, no comparable research project involving Afrikaans as a transparent orthography has been conducted. A more robust understanding of PA and the role of WM in learning to read in Afrikaans will contribute to support programmes for young readers.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Green Banking of Financial Institutions in an Emerging Economy: Implications for the Green Economic Recovery

This study aims to identify the COVID-19 impact on the green banking activities including green financing of banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) during the pandemic. Besides, this study also reveals the in-house environmental management of banks and NBFIs during the COVID-19 outbreak. To analyze the impact of the pandemic on green banking activities, secondary data were obtained from the quarterly and annual reports of Bangladesh Bank (BB) on green banking activities, annual reports and websites of the sample banks and NBFIs in Bangladesh for the period 2020–2019. The study utilized descriptive statistics, relative percentage changes, and varying tables and graphs to analyze the obtained secondary data. Consequently, the empirical findings revealed that, compared to the pre-pandemic period, banks’ total green financing rose by 7.26% during the pandemic, while total green financing of NBFIs plummeted by 18.53% during the same period. In addition, the category-wise results indicate that green financing of the private commercial banks (PCBs) decreased by 11% during the COVID-19 pandemic, contrasting the 56.54% increase witnessed by the state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs) during the same period. Interestingly, our findings showed that green financing of foreign-owned commercial banks (FCBs) during the pandemic increased by 78.69% in 2020 compared to 2019. During the same period, BB refinancing scheme for green products/initiatives of banks and NBFIs grew by 76.97%. The results further showed that the PCBs and FCBs’ in-house environmental management expanded during the outbreak except for the number of solar-powered ATM booths, which dropped by 68.25% for PCBs and 9.09% for FCBs. On the other hand, SOCBs’ in-house environmental management grew during the pandemic. Furthermore, the results indicate that the Bangladeshi banks’ automation towards green banking were satisfactory during the pandemic. Therefore, major policy implications for the green economic recovery of the government, BB, and mangers of the banks and financial institutions in emerging economies like Bangladesh were discussed.
Decision-making in people with mild intellectual disability: Relations with intelligence and a measure of executive functioning

ABSTRACT Background In this study we aimed to explore how intelligence and executive functioning are related to decision-making regarding social situations in persons with mild ID. Method We studied 80 vocational school students with mild ID; the controls were 80 students of a similar age. We assessed decision-making ability with the Important Life Decisions Task. Intelligence was assessed with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised (WAIS-R), and executive functioning with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Results The WAIS-R Verbal Comprehension and the Memory/Freedom From Distractibility factors predicted the decision-making score. Executive functioning was not related to decision-making. There was no interaction between the group and other variables. Conclusions Verbal intellectual abilities and abilities related to short-term memory and attention play an important role in decision-making regarding social situations. The difference in performance between persons with ID and the control group should be regarded as quantitative and not qualitative.