Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Missing Link: Network Influences on Class Divides in Political Attitudes

Previous research provides a detailed picture of class differences in political attitudes. Less is however known about the social structures that enforce this political divide across social classes. This article contributes towards filling this gap by considering how the class profile of personal social networks influences political attitudes. We propose a general framework for incorporating an individual’s social network into class analysis of political preferences. Using Sweden as a case, we empirically evaluate our approach using a population survey with information about the respondents’ own employment situation, egocentric networks, and political attitudes in terms of redistribution and welfare chauvinism. We find that there is considerable class segregation in social networks as individuals tend to have more ties within their own and neighbouring class positions. Concerning political preferences, results show that: (i) a substantive part of the class–attitude relationship is shaped by a person’s social network; (ii) the class profile of networks influences attitudes over and above one’s own class position; (iii) class segregation in networks fortifies class divides in political attitudes. We thus conclude that social networks constitute a (hitherto) ‘missing link’ in class analysis of political preferences that merits careful consideration in theoretical models of contemporary politics.
Economic and Non-Economic Variables Affecting Fraud in European Countries

Fraud is one of the most harmful phenomena, because it leads to collapse of organizations, causes economic downfall of countries, and destroys faith in a country’s capital markets. The impact of fraud is complex and has varying degrees depending on political and financial institutional structures of a country. In this paper, we investigate the combined effect of economic and non-economic variables on fraud using a sample of 41 developed, in transition, and developing European countries. The data cover the period July 2014–December 2020. Panel data techniques of pooled estimation and the dynamic panel data/generalized method of moments (DPD/GMM) is used, keeping in view the endogeneity perspective. Nevertheless, two-way impacts of fixed effect model estimation—cross-sectional and time-based (panel) effects (alternatively)—are used for analyzing the relationship among the given variables, based on Hausman specification test results. Empirical results of panel data extended REM and FEM approaches with country-specific cross-sectional effects showing that political stability, economic freedom, poverty, and GDP significantly affect fraud proliferation. Political stability is appraised to be the most scoring determinant of fraud incidence in a country.
Network‐Synchronization Analysis Reveals the Weakening Tropical Circulations

The impact of climate change on extreme weather is one of the most concerning problems. Climate change could cause more frequent and unexpected extreme weather. Still, synchronization features of extreme weather under climate change are not fully understood. Here, we develop a climate network approach to study global synchronization patterns of extreme events based on the 500‐hPa geopotential field. We find that a positive event synchronization (PES) network is associated with the tropical circulations in the tropics; a negative event synchronization network is associated with the large‐scale atmospheric Rossby waves in mid‐latitudes. By studying temporal evolution of the PES network, we find that the synchronization strengths in the tropics are weakening under climate change in relation to the slowing down of tropical circulations. Furthermore, our results show that the strength of synchronization in Africa and the Atlantic Ocean decrease faster than other regions.
Exploring the Drivers Controlling the Priming Effect and Its Magnitude in Aquatic Systems

Changes in mineralization rates of stable or persistent organic matter induced by inputs of labile organic matter can alter the organic carbon (C) balance along the terrestrial‐aquatic ecosystem continuum. This phenomenon, also known as the priming effect, is well‐established in terrestrial ecosystems, but has only recently been explored in the domain of aquatic ecology–with widely contrasting responses of stable carbon to the priming effect reported across the literature. Here, we compiled data from experimental studies on C mineralization in aquatic systems that directly or indirectly tested for the priming effect and used a meta‐analytic approach to investigate the physical and chemical drivers behind the differing outcomes reported across studies. We found that the reported heterogeneity could be explained by two main factors: how the priming effect is measured and whether the study was performed in the laboratory or under field conditions. These findings suggest that how the priming effect is tested and measured has strong implications for its detection and magnitude.
Effects of lumbar myelography on subarachnoid pressure and cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy sheep

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of lumbar myelography on subarachnoid pressure, cardiorespiratory parameters and pressure-volume index in sheep. Eight sheep were evaluated. The animals were submitted to puncture of the cisterna magna for monitoring of subarachnoid pressure (SaP). Lumbar myelography was performed through applying Iohexol (0.4mL/kg). ToC, PAS, PAD, MAP, InspISO, FeISO, SaP and CPP were recorded immediately after anesthetic stabilization (M0), during lumbar puncture (M1), and two, four and six minutes after contrast application (M2, M3 and M4, respectively). Blood pressure initially increased, then decreased, returning to basal level, similarly observed for InspISo and FeISo. The SaP rose initially thereafter remaining stable. Despite of the effect on subarachnoid pressure, lumbar myelography can be considered safe in sheep.
Theory Of Stainless Steel Pitting

Abstract Pit origin and formation in stainless steels are discussed according to results of investigations from the following points of view: 1. Conditions for the Existence of Pitting Corrosion. Pitting potential range and pitting potentials. Functions dependent on the potential which are important for pitting corrosion, effect of inhibitors and results of different methods of investigation are described. 2. Kinetics of Pitting Corrosion. Analysis of the current-time relationship gives information on dependence of potential on the anodic metal dissolution process. Pit growth under potentiostatic, galvanostatic and chemical corrosion conditions can be explained theoretically. 3. Physical Forms of Pitting Corrosion. Shape of pits that can be observed in different potential ranges and under different corrosion conditions are discussed: regular etch pits, hemispherically-shaped pits, under-hollowing and elongated areal pits. 4. Theoretical Explanation of Pitting Corrosion. In connection with the “all-or-none.
Terrestrial Gamma‐Ray Flashes Can Be Detected With Radio Measurements of Energetic In‐Cloud Pulses During Thunderstorms

Many of the details of how terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) are produced, including their association with upward‐propagating in‐cloud lightning leader channels, remain poorly understood. Measurements of the low‐frequency radio emissions associated with TGF production continue to provide unique views and key insights into the electrodynamics of this process. Here we report further details on the connection between energetic in‐cloud pulses (EIPs) and TGFs. With coordinated measurements from both ground‐based radio sensors and space‐based gamma‐ray detectors on the Fermi and Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager spacecraft, we find that all ten +EIPs that occurred within the searched space‐and‐time window are associated with simultaneous TGFs, including two new TGFs that were not previously identified by the gamma‐ray measurements alone. The results in this study not only solidify the tight connection between +EIPs and TGFs, but also demonstrate the practicability of detecting a subpopulation of TGFs with ground‐based radio sensors alone.
Lesiones tendinosas del aparato extensor de la rodilla: Protocolo de tratamiento y rehabilitación

background: The rupture of the extensor mechanism can have its origin at bone or tendon level. Its main cause is patellar fracture, followed by quadriceps tendon rupture, and, finally, patellar tendon rupture. These ruptures can be due to direct or indirect trauma. Tendon ruptures of the extensor mechanism are rare, developing with trauma related to the daily routine, sports, or associated systemic diseases. They represent 3% of all tendon injuries. materials and methods: We presented 22 tendon ruptures of the knee extensor mechanism, surgically treated between June 2015 and January 2019, from which eight (8) ruptures were of the quadriceps tendon (2 bilateral) and fourteen (14) of the patellar tendon (1 bilateral). The cases were evaluated using the Lysholm score, radiographs, and MRI. Results: The minimum follow-up was one (1) year. According to the results of those twenty-two (22) surgeries, thirteen (13) cases had excellent results, seven (7) cases were good and two (2) of them were fair. Conclusion: In cases of patellar tendon injury, the primary repair with transosseous suture plus figure-of-eight cerclage as augmentation provides a stable reconstruction, allowing the implementation of an early mobilization post-surgery protocol, thus achieving excellent functional outcomes with low complication levels.
Reducing Systematic Biases Over the Indian Region in CFS V2 by Dynamical Downscaling

The usefulness of dynamical downscaling of seasonal reforecasts of Indian Monsoon is explored to address the seasonal mean biases in the reforecasts. Almost all the current generation global coupled models, including the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2, T126 ∼110 km), exhibit systematic mean dry bias over the central Indian region during the summer monsoon season. Cold sea surface temperature (SST) biases in the Indian Ocean and a weak monsoon circulation due to a colder tropospheric temperature contribute to this dry bias. Such systematic biases restrict the use of skillful forecasts from these models in climate applications (such as agriculture or hydrology). Dynamical downscaling of seasonal forecasts (∼110 km resolution) using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled to a simple ocean mixed layer model (OML; WRFOML) at 38 km resolution significantly reduces the majority of the systematic biases reported earlier. The seasonal mean dry bias reduces to 16% in WRFOML as compared to 44% (33%) in the CFSv2‐T126 (WRFCTL) over the Indian land region. Warmer SSTs in the Indian Ocean and a more robust monsoon circulation emanating from a realistic simulation of the tropospheric temperature reduced the systematic biases in WRFOML compared to CFSv2‐T126 and WRFCTL. Additionally, category‐wise rainfall distributions are also improved drastically in the downscaled simulations (WRFOML). Downscaled reforecasts with reduced systematic biases have better suitability for climate applications.
Phylogenetic analysis places Spicaticribra within Cyclotella

A strong consensus has emerged that taxonomic classifications should be based on an underlying phylogenetic hypothesis. According to this view, named groups should be monophyletic, ensuring that a name uniquely matches the evolutionary history and biological attributes of a group of taxa. As originally conceived, the diatom genus Cyclotella is a large and morphologically diverse assemblage of taxa that we now know consists of several distantly related lineages. Considerable progress has been made in placing these lineages into different monophyletic genera. The genus Spicaticribra was originally described as monotypic and has features that suggest a close relationship to Cyclotella, but it has also retained some ancestral features that appear to differentiate it from Cyclotella. We sequenced two nuclear and two plastid genes to resolve the phylogenetic position of Spicaticribra and show that it is embedded within a clade that includes the type species of Cyclotella and, further, that maintaining Spicaticribra renders Cyclotella non-monophyletic. We transfer Spicaticribra species into Cyclotella, resolve related nomenclatural issues, and caution against using ancestral characters and character states for taxonomic classification.
The Impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on Saudi stock market performance using a Regression model and Granger causality test-Empirical Analysis

The objective of the study to investigates the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on Saudi stock market performance by using regression model and pairwise granger causality tests. The time series data has been taken for this study from 01 March 2020 to 6 Dec 2020. Coronavirus has been measured in terms of cumulative new corona cases per million, new corona deaths per million, total corona cases per million and total corona deaths per million, whereas stock market return is evaluated in terms of stock market index. The study’s finding reveal that Saudi stock market significance affected by COVID-19. The study also depicts that unidirectional and bidirectional relationship between corona-virus cases and Saudi stock market with the help of granger causality test. We also highlight the main the preventive policies taken by governments related to COVID-19 have affected the stock market.
Students' preference for the use of gamification in virtual learning environments

Virtual education faces tremendous challenges such as lack of motivation and high dropout rates. However, one solution to this problem is the incorporation of digital pedagogical strategies based on gamification, which promote interest, facilitate the learning process, and contribute to reducing dropout. In this sense, we evaluated the student's preference for using the gamified tool Didactic City, by using a quantitative methodology and structural equation models. This preference included fundamental factors such as utility, knowledge, engagement, enjoyment, motivation, and ease of use. The results are expected to contribute to create a more informed decision-making process not only for video game designers but also for pedagogues, and educational managers who could perform game improvements, redesigns, inclusion, or exclusion of individual elements that would make students prefer to use gamification tools in the future. The results indicate that the students' utility, the enjoyment generated by the tool, and the improvement of knowledge are the critical factors in terms of preference for using gamified tools in virtual learning environments. Implications for policy and practice: In virtual learning environments, higher education institutions and instructors can include gamified tools to create pleasant environments that increase students' motivation and facilitate learning. Designers and developers of gamified educational tools should measure their acceptance, as this factor is decisive for fulfilling the purposes of these pedagogical tools. Researchers could evidence more factors that influence the preference for the use of gamified educational tools.
Does financial system development, capital formation and economic growth induces trade diversification?

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate long-run and short-run relationships between trade diversification, financial system development, capital formation and economic growth.Design/methodology/approachARDL estimation approach is applied to analyze long-run and short-run relationships between the financial system development, capital formation, economic growth and trade diversification in case of the Sultanate of Oman over the period 39 years starting from 1979 till 2017.FindingsThe results show that financial system development and economic growth has a positive impact on trade diversification in the short-run and long-run. However, capital formation has a negative impact on trade diversification in the short run and long run. The negative relationship between trade diversification and capital formation implies that over the period of study, the investment in capital goods was made to enhance the production capacity of the oil sector to maximize revenue.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited to analyze long-run and short-run relationship between the financial system development, capital formation and economic growth and trade diversification in case of Sultanate of Oman.Practical implicationsTo achieve the diversification goal, the policymakers need to formulate policies to strengthen the financial system and invest in infrastructure development to promote the non-oil sector. The research findings of this study will provide insights to the policymakers to formulate an effective diversification policy.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence of the short-run and long-run analysis of the selected variables in the context of an oil-dependent country.
Medicinal Plants and Biogenic Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: A Paradigm Shift to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia. Improving the amount of acetylcholine in the brain is an efficient way to treat the illness. The global incidence of dementia is estimated to be as high as 50 million, and it is expected to increase every 20 years until 2040, resulting in a costly burden of disease. Early-life risk factors for pathology include genes, chromosomal abnormalities, head injury, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Potentially modifiable risk factors including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking are associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and represent promising targets for intervention. The drugs currently being used to manage AD have various drawbacks. The chemical inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes is an effective technique for treating signal related neuropathology, and possible sources of compounds with these properties are natural products and biogenic metal oxide nanoparticles. There is a potential source of AChE and BChE inhibitors in the abundance of plants in nature, and natural goods appear to offer useful medications and templates for the development of other compounds. This dissertation represents a review of the literature on species of medicinal plants and nanomaterial related plants tested for their inhibitory action of AChE and BChE. Plant species and the plant-mediated metal oxide nanoparticles referred to are possible cholinesterase inhibitors and can assist researchers in their study of natural products that may be beneficial in the treatment of AD.
Effect of Pyrolysis and CO2 Gasification Pressure on the Surface Area and Pore Size Distribution of Petroleum Coke

During pyrolysis and gasification, the pore structure of the feed material will change, and these changes affect the reaction rates. In this study, the surface area and reactivity of petroleum coke char prepared at different pyrolysis pressures were studied. In addition, the surface area and pore size distribution of petroleum coke have been monitored during gasification at various pressures. The change in these properties has been related to reactivity to determine how the physical structure of the petroleum coke influences the gasification rate. The samples were characterized using nitrogen and carbon dioxide physisorption and X-ray diffraction, while the reactivity was measured in a thermogravimetric analysis unit at 1173 K and total pressures of CO2 between 0.1 and 2.1 MPa. The surface area of char, prepared at higher pressures, is slightly higher than that prepared at 0.1 MPa. The corresponding increase in reactivity with an increasing surface area suggested that the different reactivities of chars p.
A filament-level analysis on failure mechanism and ballistic limit of real-size multi-layer 2D woven fabrics under FSP impact

This paper investigates the failure mechanism and fabric ballistic performance of real-size multi-layer 2D woven fabrics impacted by sharp-edge fragment simulating projectile (FSP). First, the relations between digital fiber shear force and bending rigidity are established under the modified digital element approach (DEA) framework. Then, a systematic parametric study was carried out on the ballistic impact of a 4-inch-long single yarn and 4-inch by 4-inch 2D woven fabric at near fiber level to solve for the relations of digital fiber moment of inertia and ballistic limit. The results show that for the same number of digital fibers per yarn model, the simulated ballistic limits are in direct proportion to digital fiber moment of inertia. The increase of the number of digital fibers per yarn, however, decreases the digital fiber moment of inertia effect on ballistic limits. Second, the 1- to 28-layer real-size 2D woven Kevlar KM2 fabrics are simulated at filament level against FSP on the cluster to estimate the V50 zone. The perforation process and failure mechanism of 4-layer fabric is investigated and analyzed in detail. The simulation results demonstrate the deformed fabric shape with respect to time and the damage modes at the impact area. Numerical results are compared with standard ballistic test results.
Mortality factors acting on field populations of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) SSA1 on cassava in Uganda

Natural death is a key determinant of a species population dynamics. Thus, a clear understanding of natural mortality factors aids the development of appropriate management strategies for insect pests. Cohort-based life tables were constructed to determine the sources and rates of mortality of fi eld populations of the pest, Bemisia tabaci Sub-Saharan Africa 1 (SSA1) on cassava in Uganda. Monthly cohorts (10 in total) were established separately for eggs and nymphs on two cassava genotypes with known levels of resistance to B. tabaci infestation (Alado alado and NAROCASS 1). Mortality was recorded using daily observations for the eggs and the different nymphal instars. The recorded mortality sources were disappearance (total removal of egg or nymph from the leaf), predation, parasitism (nymphs only), unknown death and inviability (eggs only). Median marginal mortality rate was highest for disappearance (0.355) followed by parasitism (0.058). The highest level of mortality occurred during the third nymph stage (55% on Alado alado) and only 12% of nymphs reached the adult stage. Irreplaceable mortality (Ic) was highest for disappearance followed by third instar parasitism. Key-factor analysis revealed a close resemblance of the curve for disappearance to that of total mortality coupled with the highest regression slopes: 0.896 for eggs and 0.725 for nymphs on NAROCASS 1. From these results, we conclude that disappearance and parasitism are the major mortality factors controlling B. tabaci SSA1 populations. Therefore, the development of interventions that focus on enhancing the levels of disappearance and third instar parasitism may lead to population-level reductions in B. tabaci SSA1. Further studies need to be conducted to understand the factors that contribute to the high mortality associated with disappearance.
Identification and comparative analysis of the skills structure of the data analyst profession in Russia

Abstract The development of digital technologies has created a market need for specialists working with the big data that is necessary for making management decisions. This study aims to identify the skills structure of the data analyst profession (DAP) in Russia. The authors used a program code written in Python to examine relevant vacancies extracted from a recruitment website and employed a social network analysis method to identify skill clusters. Findings suggest that the DAP consists of predominately hard skills, that is, specialists must have the technical skills required to collect and process information. These results could be used to develop a Higher Education curriculum in data analysis.