Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Natural Resources, Urbanisation, Economic Growth and the Ecological Footprint in South Africa: The Moderating Role of Human Capital

Abstract South Africa is the largest emitter of CO2 and arguably the most developed and urbanised country in Africa. The country currently harbours an ecological deficit territory which could be the outcome of economic expansion, urban explosion, unsustainable resource exploration and a low level of human development. After all, environmental distortions are mainly the outcome of human activities. This study is a maiden attempt to examine the linkage between urbanisation, human capital, natural resources (NR) and the ecological footprint (EF) in South Africa. Unlike previous studies, this study employs positivist and relevant environmental indicators that accommodate built-up land, forest land, carbon footprint, ocean, grazing land and cropland. Findings from the long-run results suggest that urbanisation, economic growth and NR increase the EF, whereas human capital ensures environmental sustainability. The interaction between urbanisation and human capital mitigates environmental degradation by reducing the EF. The canonical cointegrating regression (CCR), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) results further confirm the nature of the relationships and linkages existing with respect to NR, urbanisation, economic growth and the EF. A bidirectional causality exists between human capital, economic growth and the EF. Policies related to NR and urban sustainability, the limitations of the study, as well as possible directions for future research are discussed.
Multivariate Modelling of Effectiveness of Lubrication of Ti-6al-4v Titanium Alloy Sheet using Vegetable Oil-Based Lubricants

Abstract The article presents the results of modelling the friction phenomenon using artificial neural networks and analysis of variance. The test material was composed of strip specimens made of 0.5-mm-thick alpha-beta Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) titanium alloy sheet. A special tribotester was used in the tests to simulate the friction conditions between the punch and the sheet metal in the sheet metal forming process. A test called the strip drawing test has been conducted in conditions in which the sheet surface is lubricated with six environmentally friendly oils (palm, coconut, olive, sunflower, soybean and linseed). Based on the results of the strip drawing test, a regression model and an artificial neural network model were built to determine the complex interactions between the process parameters and the friction coefficient. A multilayer perceptron with one hidden layer and eight neurons in this layer showed the best fit to the training data. The network training was conducted using three algorithms, i.e. Levenberg-Marquardt, back propagation and quasi-Newton. Taking into consideration both the coefficient of determination R2 (0.962) and S.D. ratio (0.272), the best regression characteristics were presented by the network trained using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. From the response surfaces of the quadratic regression model it was found that an increase in the density of lubricant at a specific pressure causes a reduction in the coefficient of friction. Low density and high kinematic viscosity of the oil leads to a high coefficient of friction.
Studies on the shelf life and quality of Robusta bananas as affected by post-harvest treatments

SummaryThe effects of skin coating with ‘Waxol’ (6%) and ‘Tal Prolong’ (1.0% and 2.0%) combined with packing in polyethylene bags and the use of the ethylene absorbent ‘Purafil’, on the physiochemical changes and ripening of cv Robusta banana were compared at ambient storage conditions (21–28°C; 70–90° RH). There were no differences in ripening between untreated and Waxol (6%)-treated fruits but 1% and 2% Tal Prolong delayed ripening by 4 to 5 days. Waxol-and Prolong-treated fruits kept in ventilated polyethylene packs showed delayed ripening by 6 days, and untreated fruits kept in sealed Purafil packs also showed a 7-day delay in ripening. This delayed ripening was correlated with reduced rates of softening, and the development of yellow surface colour and with increases in moisture, the pulp:peel ratio, acidity, tannin, total sugar, starch and alcohol-insoluble residue contents in the pulp of the fruit. Weight loss during storage was considerably less in fruits kept in polyethylene bags than in unpacked.
Development, characterization, molecular docking, and in vivo skin penetration of coenzyme Q10 nanostructured lipid carriers using tristearin and stearyl alcohol for dermal delivery

Abstract Objectives This study aims to develop coenzyme Q10 nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) using tristearin and stearyl alcohol as well as isopropyl palmitate (IPP) as solid and liquid lipid respectively for the dermal delivery system. Methods The coenzyme Q10 NLCs were optimized using tristearin, and stearyl alcohol in different concentrations and further characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffractometry for crystallinity behavior, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) for drug-lipid interaction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for particle shape, viscometer for viscosity, and pH meter for pH value. Furthermore, entrapment efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), and skin penetration in vivo were also evaluated while molecular docking was conducted to examine the interaction between coenzyme Q10 and the lipids. Results The coenzyme Q10 NLCs with tristearin-IPP and stearyl alcohol-IPP as lipid matrix had <1,000 nm particle size, <0.3 PDI, less negative than −30 mV zeta potential, about 41% crystallinity index, and about six as the pH value. Moreover, the EE, DL, viscosity, and in vivo skin penetration of the NLCs using tristearin were higher compared to stearyl alcohol, however, the skin penetration depths for both NLCs were not significantly different. Furthermore, the in silico binding energy of coenzyme Q10-tristearin was lower compared to coenzyme Q10-stearyl alcohol. Both of them showed hydrophobic and van der Waals interaction. Conclusions The NLCs of coenzyme Q10 were formulated successfully using tristearin-IPP and stearyl alcohol-IPP for dermal delivery.
Distributed refractive index sensing based on U-bent fiber through spectral detection of Rayleigh scattering

We developed a distributed refractive index (RI) sensor based on high performance optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR) by simply bending a piece of standard single mode fiber (SMF) in a U shape. In the U-bent region, cladding modes are excited, which can reach to the boundary of the SMF to sense external RI variation. The cladding modes are then coupled back to the core mode and interfere with the fundamental mode. Thus, the fundamental mode can carry the varied RI information, and distributed index sensing is achieved by measuring the wavelength shifts of the local Rayleigh backscattered spectra. Thanks to the high signal SNR of OFDR, that compensating the bending induced loss, the proposed sensor can be bent in a small bending radius so that a high sensitivity of RI could be achieved. In the experiment, index sensitivity of 39.08 nm/RIU is achieved by imposing a bending radius of 4 mm, when the RI ranges from 1.3330 to 1.3773. Additionally, the proposed sensor maintains buffer coating intact, which boosts its practicability and application flexibility.
Wall temperature and bluntness effects on hypersonic laminar separation at a compression corner

Abstract This paper describes a numerical investigation on the effects of wall temperature and leading-edge bluntness on hypersonic laminar separation induced by a finite-span compression corner. The flow conditions were: Mach number 9.66; Reynolds number $1.34 \times 10^6$ per metre; and stagnation temperature 3150 K. The wall to stagnation temperature ratio ($s_w$) varied from 0.095 to 0.333 and was thus in the subcritical range as per the classification of Brown et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 220, 1990, pp. 309–337). Two leading-edge bluntnesses of $40\ \mathrm {\mu }\textrm {m}$ and $200\ \mathrm {\mu }\textrm {m}$ were used in the investigation. Numerical solutions were obtained using a compressible Navier–Stokes solver and compared with triple-deck solutions obtained using the numerical method of Cassel et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 300, 1995, pp. 265–285). Separation was induced by ramp angles of $10^{\circ }$ and $20^{\circ }$, which produced near incipient and large separations. The scaled angles, which increased with wall to stagnation temperature ratio, were not sufficient to induce secondary separation in the main recirculation region. Two regimes of shock interference were identified depending on the wall temperature ratio. The corner instability in the form of a stationary wave-packet identified by Cassel et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 300, 1995, pp. 265–285) for scaled angles $\alpha \geq 3.9$ was investigated but is shown to be a numerical artefact of the algorithm rather than having any physical basis. Increasing both the wall temperature ratio and blunting increased the separation length. And there is an equivalence between cooling the wall and reducing bluntness both leading to a reduced separation length.
Contrasting Behaviors of 210Pb and 210Po in the Productive Shelf Water Versus the Oligotrophic Water

We measured the total, truly dissolved (<10 kDa), colloidal (10 kDa–0.2 μm), and particulate phases (>0.2 μm) of 210Pb and 210Po in the East China Sea (ECS) shelf water and the East Sea (Japan Sea). In order to examine the behaviors of 210Pb and 210Po in different marine environments, we compiled our results with previously reported data in the same region and in the northwestern Pacific Ocean (NWPO). The proportions of the truly dissolved, colloidal, and particulate phases in the shelf water were 32, 27, and 41% for 210Pb and 49, 32, and 19% for 210Po, respectively. Based on a steady-state scavenging model, 210Pb and 210Po showed higher (3.0 ± 0.6 year–1) and lower (0.3 ± 0.2 year–1) scavenging rates, respectively, in the shelf water than those in the NWPO and the East Sea. A non-steady-state model, accounting for the residence time of the shelf water, also showed twice more efficient removal rate of 210Pb in the shelf water than that in the NWPO and the East Sea. In contrast, there was the net input of 210Po in the shelf water relative to the large removal in the NWPO and the East Sea. The large proportions of total dissolved (truly dissolved + colloidal) 210Po (>80%) in the shelf water indicate active regeneration of 210Po from the sinking particles and the surface sediments. Our results suggest that the ECS shelf is the source for Po in the northwestern Pacific marginal seas, a proxy for sulfur group elements (S, Se, and Te), whereas it is the efficient sink for Pb, together with other particle-reactive trace elements.
How and Why Patient Concerns Influence Pain Reporting: A Qualitative Analysis of Personal Accounts and Perceptions of Others’ Use of Numerical Pain Scales

Complex factors influence how people report and interpret numerical pain ratings. Such variability can introduce noise and systematic bias into clinical pain assessment. Identification of factors that influence self-rated pain and its interpretation by others may bolster utility of these scales. In this qualitative study, 338 participants described motivations for modulating their own pain reports relative to a numerical pain scale (0–10), as well as perceptions of others’ pain reporting modulation. Responses indicated that people over-report pain to enhance provider belief/responsiveness or the likelihood of pain relief, and out of fear of future pain or potential illness. Concerns of how one’s pain affects and is perceived by others, and financial concerns motivated pain under-reporting. Unprompted, many participants reported never modulating their pain ratings, citing trust in providers and personal ethics. Similar reasons were assumed to motivate others’ pain ratings. However, participants often attributed others’ over-reporting to internal causes, and their own to external. This bias may underlie common assumptions that patients over-report pain for nefarious reasons, distort interpretation of pain reports, and contribute to pain invalidation. Recognition of patient concerns and one’s own personal biases toward others’ pain reporting may improve patient-provider trust and support precision of numerical pain ratings.
Colorism and Racial Identity Development in Black/African American Women: An Autoethnographic Perspective

Abstract:This paper examines the phenomenon of colorism within the Black community, as well racial/ethnic identity development as impacted by colorism. Colorism is defined as bias which exists based upon an individual's skin tone as compared to others of their particular race (Russell, Wilson, & Hall, 2013). Color plays an important role in racial and ethnic identity development, although it is seldom addressed either empirically or conceptually. This paper examines the historical context and current implications of colorism as it relates to identity development, and identifies areas of focus related to clinical practice and future research.
Are E-Participation Initiatives Related to Quality of Life of Nations Dependent on Cultural Dimensions? A Country-Level Empirical Investigation

ABSTRACT:A study was conducted to learn how e-participation initiatives are related to the quality of life of citizens and whether this relationship depends on their cultural dimensions; namely, (a) power distance; (b) individualism; (c) masculinity; and (d) uncertainty avoidance. The literature on Theory of Modernization, Socio-technical Theory, e-participation, culture, and quality of life outcomes was considered as the guiding theoretical framework. Publicly available secondary data from 89 countries were collected to study the moderating effect of Hofstede’s national cultural dimensions. The quality of life of a country is measured through the human development index and the level of e-participation is measured using the e-participation index in the e-government survey report. The moderation effect was evaluated using multiple linear regression. According to the findings, the quality of life outcomes of a nation is directly affected by the e-participation initiatives of its citizens. Both individualism and uncertainty avoidance have moderated this relationship negatively. Theoretical and practical implications along with the future direction of the study are discussed in this paper.
Implementation of Secure Health Information Technology Innovations: An Extended Diffusion of Innovations Perspective

ABSTRACT:Successful implementation of health information technology (HIT) innovations has numerous benefits to healthcare providers, physicians, patients, and society. Increasingly, securing digitized health data is becoming an unstated mandate when developing and deploying HIT innovations. In this paper, an extended version of Roger’s diffusion of innovations (DOI) model is presented for secure HIT innovation implementations, in the context of electronic medical records (EMR) implementation. The authors theorize that perceived information privacy and security (IP&S) is a vital DOI antecedent. The findings of this research reveal a positive association between perceived IP&S attributes in a HIT innovation such as EMR, and its implementation success.This study is of value to both researchers and practitioners. This study contributes to academic literature by empirically validating an extended DOI model which includes an IP&S dimension, which researchers would be able to employ in future research. Based on the findings of this study, practitioners would be well-advised to pay close attention to the IP&S aspects of HIT innovations upfront during the implementation process, and solicit inputs and elicit requirements for the same from the key stakeholders early on in the process. This would facilitate the allocation of monetary and other resources to address the technology aspects, especially the IP&S aspects of HIT innovations, and also assist with positioning HIT innovations in the organization’s broad strategy in a meaningful way.
Fabrication and characterization chitosan/functionalized zinc oxide bionanocomposites and study of their antibacterial activity

Abstract This study deals with preparation and evaluation of properties of chitosan/zinc oxide bionanocomposites (CT/ZnO BNCs) with different amounts of modified zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) through ultrasonic irradiation technique. Due to the high surface energy and tendency for agglomeration, the surface ZnO NPs was modified by a coupling agent as 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) to form APS–ZnO nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that APS was successfully grafted onto the ZnO nanoparticles surface. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed a surface coverage of the coupling molecule of 2.6 wt%. The resulting bionanocomposites were characterized by FTIR spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns, and TGA. The antibacterial activity of bionanocomposite films was tested against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The results of CT/ZnO BNCs revealed that the thermal and antibacterial properties obviously improved the presence of ZnO NPs in comparison with the pure CT and that this increase is higher when the NP content increases. Further, it was observed that antibacterial activity of the resulting hybrid biofilms showed somewhat higher for gram-positive bacteria compared to gram-negative bacteria.
Escaping Atonement in Sunni Islam: Death by Jihad for Deliverance

Abstract:In the Islamic hadith corpus and Quran, the way to atone for sins is called tawba (or tawbah), which requires one to complete a series of steps to receive forgiveness from Allah (God). Jihadist terrorist organizations use primarily Quranic scripture to recruit and employ suicide bombers who may have a guilty conscience for their past sins. It is said that martyrdom, or istishadi, will automatically save Muslims from hell and grant access to paradise no matter the sin committed. One of the understudied reasons for istishadi suicide bombings in jihadist groups is the concept of atonement. This article answers the following research questions: What role does guilt in Islam play in the motivations for male and female Sunni jihadist suicide bombers, and why is tawba not utilized?
The Effect of Higher Education on Youth Unemployment in European Regions During a Period of Economic Instability

abstract:This paper examines the impact of higher education on youth unemployment. Following the 2008 financial crisis, youth unemployment returned to the fore as a serious concern among policy makers in Europe. A crucial difference from previous recessions is that this time around supply of higher education opportunities was much higher than in the 1980s, and indeed higher education participation rates grew rapidly in many regions during this period. Drawing on previous work on youth unemployment and the economic impacts of education we identify a variety of channels through which higher education is likely to influence youth unemployment. We examine this issue using a macro-panel of European regions for the period 2002-2012. This decade was characterized by variation in economic activity and higher education rates. Our results suggest that expansion of higher education during this period had a mitigating effect on youth unemployment and not recognizing this external benefit of education risks underestimating the effects of macroeconomic shocks on young people.
The Intersection of Institutional and Worker Hierarchies: Understanding Factors Related to Non-Instructional Staff Salaries Over Time

Abstract:Research on higher education institution (HEI) employees neglects an essential group–non-instructional staff. Literature on HEI workers and their salaries focuses primarily on faculty and administrators. Furthermore, the literature that does focus on staff salaries neglects variation within this group as well as the role of institutional and environmental factors in determining staff salaries. Drawing on prior work in higher education and sociology, we address this gap and argue that salaries should vary across institutions and occupations based on institutional context, occupational structure, and environmental factors. Consequently, we analyzed staff salaries at public and private four-year U.S. HEIs (2012-2017) to understand salary variation across institutions and occupational groups. We used multilevel regression models to assess how both overall staff salaries and occupation-specific staff salaries differed within and across institutions, and how they changed over time. Our analyses show that HEIs with more resources, students, staff unions, and elite status pay higher staff salaries compared to others on average. Additionally, there were significant differences in how institutional and environmental factors were related to salaries across different staff occupations. The relationship among institutional context, occupational structure, and environmental factors, and staff salaries is clear, as is the potential for institutional practices that better support this often-overlooked sector of the academic workforce.
Does Competition Enhance or Hinder Innovation? Evidence from Philippine Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Abstract:Competition has two possible contrasting effects on firm innovation. On one hand, it can force businesses to innovate to become more competitive. On the other, competition can shrink a firm’s market share, revenues and profit, making it difficult to implement costly innovations. Applying logistic regression on data from a survey of 480 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines, this paper found evidence that there is a generally positive relationship between competition and innovation. The magnitude of the relationship, however, depends on the type of innovation. The form of innovation most strongly associated with competition is improvement in the production process, followed by improvement in marketing. It is most weakly associated with introduction of a product new to the market and with improvement of an existing product. There is also some evidence that the magnitude of the competition-innovation relationship varies across sectors and across firms of different sizes.
A neuromorphic model of olfactory processing and sparse coding in the Drosophila larva brain

Animal nervous systems are highly efficient in processing sensory input. The neuromorphic computing paradigm aims at the hardware implementation of neural network computations to support novel solutions for building brain-inspired computing systems. Here, we take inspiration from sensory processing in the nervous system of the fruit fly larva. With its strongly limited computational resources of <200 neurons and <1.000 synapses the larval olfactory pathway employs fundamental computations to transform broadly tuned receptor input at the periphery into an energy efficient sparse code in the central brain. We show how this approach allows us to achieve sparse coding and increased separability of stimulus patterns in a spiking neural network, validated with both software simulation and hardware emulation on mixed-signal real-time neuromorphic hardware. We verify that feedback inhibition is the central motif to support sparseness in the spatial domain, across the neuron population, while the combination of spike frequency adaptation and feedback inhibition determines sparseness in the temporal domain. Our experiments demonstrate that such small, biologically realistic neural networks, efficiently implemented on neuromorphic hardware, can achieve parallel processing and efficient encoding of sensory input at full temporal resolution.