Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Industry Affiliation and the Value of Portfolio Choice

In the presence of persistent inter-industry wage differentials, the value of portfolio choice varies across otherwise identical households employed in different industries. Leaving the data generating process of industry-specific earnings unspecified, I solve a dynamic portfolio choice model for households affiliated with 72 industries and document substantial heterogeneity in certainty equivalent consumption. Inequality in the value of portfolio choice across industries reflects inequality in initial earnings. Cross-sectional variation in certainty equivalent consumption per dollar of initial earnings is explained by variation in the covariance structure of industry-specific earnings growth and aggregate stock return and cyclical skewness in cumulative earnings growth.
Assessment of heavy metals in indoor dust of a university in a tropical environment

ABSTRACT Heavy metal contamination in indoor dust has received much attention, especially in tropical areas. This study measures the concentrations of selected heavy metals in indoor dust collected from three different buildings at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Pahang, Malaysia. Heavy metal concentrations were, from highest to lowest, Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > As. The results were dominated by Fe, with a range of 10201–52365 μgg−1. The metals were primarily from the earth's crust (enrichment factor, EF < 10). However, principle component analysis (PCA) suggested anthropogenic sources of As, Pb, and Zn (Factor 1), and mixed sources of Fe and Cu (Factor 2). The total hazard quotient (HQ) was found to be lower than the acceptable level of 1, indicating that exposure to heavy metals in indoor dust poses no noncarcinogenic risks to adults. If metal concentrations increase in the long term, adult exposure in the university environment, especially laboratories, may not be negligible.
Modified LUT-based DTC of NPC 3-Level Inverter fed Sensorless IPMSM Drive with DC Link Voltage Balance

In the proposed work, a modified look-up table-based direct torque control (DTC) scheme is reported for a neutral point-clamped three-level inverter-fed interior permanent magnet synchronous motor drive. In the classical DTC scheme, there are significant torque and flux ripples in the drive due to low number of available switching states. To reduce the oscillations in torque and flux, a three-level inverter-operated IPMSM drive is discussed. In a three-level inverter, the increased count of active voltage vectors is results in more sinusoidal output waveforms. Moreover, stator flux plane has 12 sectors in the proposed work unlike classical DTC. Besides, the higher level of flux and torque hysteresis comparators is implemented. DC link capacitor voltage balancing scheme is also instigated to minimize voltage stress on semiconductor devices, improve stator current THD and increased capacitor life. Based on the sector information, flux and torque hysteresis output and capacitor voltage balance logic, an improved LUT is established and explained for a three-level DTC scheme. Consequently, improved stator current (THD) and decrement in torque and flux ripples are observed. To make the system robust, model reference adaptive control (MRAC) based sensorless speed estimation algorithm is realized. The proposed DTC scheme is compared with a two-level inverter-fed and a three-level-inverter-fed DTC scheme without DC link voltage balance strategy. To carry out the analysis, MATLAB/Simulink environment is utilized. Moreover, to validate the simulation results, experimental analysis of the proposed technique is carried out using dSPACE1104.
Patient Cost-Sharing and Healthcare Utilization in Early Childhood: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design

This paper estimates the price elasticity of healthcare utilization in early childhood. We employ a regression discontinuity design by exploiting a subsidy that reduces patient cost-sharing for children under age 3 in Taiwan. Using longitudinal medical claims of over 410,000 children, we find a modest price elasticity of outpatient expenditure (e.g., −0.10 for regular outpatient care). Furthermore, increased cost-sharing at age 3 largely decreases the chance of visiting high-intensity healthcare providers (e.g., teaching hospitals) for minor illnesses. In contrast, children's utilization of inpatient care is price insensitive, providing a rationale for full inpatient care coverage to children.
Determinants of Intraocular Pressure and Time to Blindness for Glaucoma Patients at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Bar, Ethiopia: A Comparison of Separate and Joint Models

Background: Due to the substantial increase in the number of glaucoma cases within the next several decades, glaucoma is a significant public health issue. The main objective of this study was to investigate the determinant factors of intraocular pressure and time to blindness of glaucoma patients under treatment at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective study design was conducted on 328 randomly selected glaucoma patients using simple random sampling based on the identification number of patients in an ophthalmology clinic at the hospital under the follow-up period from January 2014 to December 2018. A linear mixed effects model for intraocular pressure data, a semi-parametric survival model for the time-to-blindness data and joint modeling of the 2 responses were used for data analysis. However, the primary outcome was survival time of glaucoma patients. Results: The comparison of joint and separate models revealed that joint model was more adequate and efficient inferences because of its smaller standard errors in parameter estimations. This was also approved using AIC, BIC, and based on a significant likelihood ratio test as well. The estimated association parameter (α) in the joint model was . 0160 and statistically significant (P-value = .0349). This indicated that there was strong evidence for positive association between the effects of intraocular pressure and the risk of blindness. The result indicated that the higher value of intraocular pressure was associated with the higher risk of blindness. Age, hypertension, type of medication, cup-disk ratio significantly affects both average intraocular pressure and survival time of glaucoma patients (P-value < .05). Conclusion: The predictors; age, hypertension, type of medication, and cup-disk ratio were significantly associated with the 2 responses of glaucoma patients. Health professionals give more attention to patients who have blood pressure and cup-disk ratio greater than 0.7 during the follow-up time to reduce the risk of blindness of glaucoma patients.
Effect of Hydrophobically-Modified Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose on the Crystallization from Supersaturated Solutions of Indomethacin

Hydrophobically-modified hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HM-HPMC), possessing long-chain alkyl groups, is a new thickening agent for gel preparations. The solubility of indomethacin (IM) in supersaturated solutions increased with HM-HPMC concentration, but HM-HPMC did not solubilize IM crystals. This is not due to the suppression of the transformation of IM crystals from α to γ. HM-HPMC would thus appear to suppress the crystallization of IM from supersaturated solutions. Nucleation and crystal growth rates in a supersaturated solution of IM in the absence and presence of HM-HPMC were determined by measuring light transmittance under cooling. It became clear that HM-HPMC caused a slight stimulation of nucleation and a strong suppression of crystal growth. This activity of HM-HPMC was derived from the original polymer, HPMC, but was greater than that of HPMC itself. The suppression of crystal growth by HM-HPMC may thus be due to the hydrophobic interaction between hydrophobic regions, particularly long-chain alkyl groups, and IM molecules.
Hybrid, optimization, intelligent and classical PV MPPT techniques: Review

Renewable energy-based solar photovoltaic (PV) generation is the best alternative for conventional energy sources because of its natural abundance and environment friendly characteristics. Maximum power extraction from the PV system plays a critical role in increasing the efficiency of the solar power generation during partial shading conditions (PSCs). Therefore, a suitable maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique to track the maximum power point (MPP) is of high need, even under PSCs. This paper presents an organized and concise review of MPPT techniques implemented for the PV systems in literature along with recent publications on various hardware design methodologies. Their classification is done into four categories, i.e. classical, intelligent, optimal, and hybrid depending on the tracking algorithm utilized to track MPP under PSCs. During uniform insolation, classical methods are highly preferred as there is only one peak in the P-V curve. However, under PSCs, the P-V curve exhibits multiple peaks, one global maximum power point (GMPP) and remaining are local maximum power points (LMPP's). Under the PSCs, classical methods fail to operate at GMPP and hence there is a need for more advanced MPPT techniques. Every MPPT technique has its advantages and limits, but a streamlined MPPT is drafted in numerous parameters like sensors required, hardware implementation, cost viability, tracking speed and tracking efficiency. This study provides the advancement in this area since some parameter comparison is made at the end of every classification, which might be a prominent base-rule for picking the most gainful sort of MPPT for further research.
Cell wall and cell membrane defects contribute to reduced cell growth at 28 °C in Phaffia rhodozyma mutant strain MK19

Background: Phaffia rhodozyma has many desirable properties for astaxanthin production, including rapid heterotrophic metabolism and high cell densities in fermenter culture. The low optimal temperature range (17-21 °C) for cell growth and astaxanthin synthesis in this species presents an obstacle to efficient industrial-scale astaxanthin production. The inhibition mechanism of cell growth at > 21 °C in P. rhodozyma have not been investigated.Results: MK19, a mutant P. rhodozyma strain grows well at moderate temperatures, its cell growth was also inhibited at 28 °C, but such inhibition was mitigated, and low biomass 6 g/L was obtained after 100 h culture. Transcriptome analysis indicated that low biomass at 28 °C resulted from strong suppression of DNA and RNA synthesis in MK19. Growth inhibition at 28 °C was due to cell membrane damage with a characteristic of low mRNA content of fatty acid (f.a.) pathway genes (acc, fas1, fas2), and consequent low f.a. content. Thinning of cell wall and low mannose content (leading to loss of cell wall integrity) also contributed to reduced cell growth at 28 °C in MK19. Levels of astaxanthin and ergosterol, two end-products of isoprenoid biosynthesis (a shunt pathway of f.a. biosynthesis), reached 2000 μg/g and 7500 μg/g respectively; ~2-fold higher than levels at 21 or 25 °C. Abundance of ergosterol, an important cell membrane component, compensated for lack of f.a. , making possible the biomass production of 6 g/L for MK19 at 28 °C. Conclusion: Inhibition of growth of P. rhodozyma at 28 °C results from blocking of DNA, RNA, f.a. , and cell wall biosynthesis. In MK19, abundant ergosterol made possible biomass production 6 g/L at 28 °C. Significant accumulation of astaxanthin and ergosterol indicated a active MVA pathway in MK19 at 28 °C. Strengthening of the MVA pathway can be a feasible metabolic engineering approach for enhancement of astaxanthin synthesis in P. rhodozyma. The present findings provide useful mechanistic insights regarding adaptation of P. rhodozyma to 28 °C, and improved understanding of feasible metabolic engineering techniques for industrial scale astaxanthin production by this economically important yeast species.
BEHAVIOR OF THERMALLY MODIFIED WOOD TO BIODETERIORATION BY XYLOPHAGE FUNGI

Thermally modified wood undergoes chemical, physical, and mechanical modifications, resulting in changes in resistance to wood biodegrading agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance to biodeterioration of thermally modified wood by the industrial process VAP HolzSysteme ® of Eucalyptus grandis , Pinus taeda and Tectona grandis , submitted to the Lentinula edodes fungi (brown rot) and Pleurotus djamor fungi (white rot), and to analyze the chemical properties, contents of holocellulose, lignin, total extracts, and ash, before and after biodeterioration. Three treatments were considered for each species: Control - wood in natura , modified wood at 140 °C and 160 °C. The specimens were made according to ASTM D 1413 (ASTM, 1994), in a total of
Childhood Trauma Associated With Abnormal Resting-State Brain Network Connectivity in First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients

Childhood trauma is a central risk factor for schizophrenia. We explored the correlation between early traumatic experiences and the functional connectivity of resting-state networks. This fMRI study included 28 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 27 healthy controls. In first-episode schizophrenia patients, higher levels of childhood trauma associated with abnormal connections of resting-state networks, and these anomalies distributed among task-positive networks (i.e., ventral attention network, dorsal-ventral attention network and frontal-parietal network), and sensory networks (i.e., visual network and auditory network). These findings mentioned that childhood traumatic experiences may impact resting-state network connectivity in adulthood, mainly involving systems related to attention and execution control.
Onset of Flow-Induced Crystallization Kinetics of Highly Isotactic Polypropylene

Brief intervals of shear prior to a temperature quench accelerate crystallization, resulting in much smaller spherulites. Crystallization kinetics of five commercial linear isotactic polypropylenes were investigated, using a rheometer to impose shear and monitor crystallization after quenching. Shear and quench temperatures, shear rate, and duration were all systematically varied. The crystallization rate increases with increasing applied work, up to a value independent of undercooling beyond which the rate remains constant. This saturation is consistent with a maximum number of nuclei, possibly set by the concentration of heterogeneous impurities. The crystallization rate likewise increases with increasing shear rate, saturating at about 1 s–1 for all grades studied. Only chains in the high molecular weight tail, above about 104 kg/mol, are stretched at this shear rate. Faster crystallization after shear was observed for grades with lower isotacticity. Flow-induced crystallization persists even when shea.
Effects of Planting Distance and Seed Rate on the Growth and Yield of Egusi Melon (Citrullus colocynthis)

Background: Egusi melon production is declining, even though the crop plays a significant role in the well-being of farmers. Few farmers that grow the crop do not allow adequate spacing and seed rate which compels the crop to produce flourishing vegetative parts without producing many fruits. The study was therefore, aimed at determining the effect of planting distance and seed rate on the growth and yield of egusi melon. Methods: A split-plot design which was replicated thrice was adopted to carry out the study during 2018 and 2019 planting seasons. Twenty-four plots were made and were randomly assigned to eight treatment groups with each replicating thrice. The egusi melon seeds were sown in four different seed rates of one seed/hole, two seeds/hole, three seeds/hole and four seeds/hole and four different spacing of 30cm × 50cm, 45cm × 70cm, 60cm × 60cm and 60cm × 90cm respectively. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data collected and was tested at 0.05 level of probability. Result: The number of leaves/plant, branches/plant, flowers/plant, fruits/plant and fruit weight (g) were significantly higher in egusi melon planted at 60cm × 90cm. Furthermore, the parameters measured were significantly higher in egusi melon planted at 1 seed/hole.
The Impacts of Home Confinement Due To Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Children: A Cross Sectional Survey Study, Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, UAE

Children are developing individuals with countless factors affecting their growth and development, from genetics to parenting, schools, environments, nutrition, good habits of sleep and health. They are very sensitive individuals to sudden changes in routine. Schools represent life for them and a place of not only learning, but also social interaction and sensory neurodevelopment. Disasters and pandemics such as the existing situation of COVID-19 are a major cause of trauma affecting their education, play, mental health, physical health, vaccinations, sleep, and development. The governments’ strategies particularly home confinement and school closure to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic spread added unavoidable stress and psychosocial impacts on both adults and children. Trauma of this kind may endure for a long time with negative consequences that may manifest later on, even up to adult life. We conducted a cross sectional parental survey, to assess the impacts of home confinement on children in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai, UAE. Children included were from 3 years until 16 years old who were in schools or pre-school placements before COVID-19 started. Total number of children included in the survey was 658 of which 327 were boys and 331 girls. We found that the impact of the home confinement on children was significant and directly affected their quality of life (QoL) that may extend beyond the lockdown for longtime. This study will help relevant authorities and organizations to understand the negative impacts brought by the COVID-19 confinement on children and to adopt appropriate strategies to help children and their parents tackle these impacts and get them back to normal life and school again. This study also paved the way for future studies in the identification and management of children’s behavior, attention, education, and other factors that play active roles in QoL and normal development. Moreover, this study may help in embracing early preventative and management plans by schools and authorities in future similar pandemics, infections, disasters or school outbreaks. We also discuss strategies for school reopening and flexibility when an outbreak happens again in a school or community.
Acúmulo de nutrientes, produtividade e qualidade de batata, cv. 
Asterix, sob fontes de fertilizantes potássicos

OLIVEIRA, ROBERTA CAMARGOS. Nutrient accumulation, productivity and quality of potato cv. Asterix after application of potassium fertilizer sources. 2013. 89f. Dissertation (Master's degree in Agriculture / Soil Sciences) – Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 2 . The high demand and response of potatoes to the addition of nutrients to the soil provides attention to relevant aspects related to fertility (application, quantity, sources). Adequate fertilization allows a balance between soil and plant nutrients, resulting in excellent returns for farmers and better quality produce for consumers. This study evaluated the development, productivity and quality of potato tubers, cultivar Asterix, after the application of two sources of potassium fertilizers and their combinations (KCl and K2SO4.2MgSO4), as well as nutrient absorption and nutritional diagnosis. The experiment was conducted in the county of Perdizes (MG). The experimental design was a randomized block with nine treatments and four replications as a split plot factorial. Plots were the treatments while subplots were plant sampling dates (biweekly). The amount of nutrients (N, P and K) used was based on physical and chemical analyses of soil and crop demand. Ninety quilograms of N, 180 kg of K2O and 750 kg of P2O5 were applied per hectare. Treatments consisted of application of the K2O dose in combinations of two sources of potassium fertilizer (KCl and K2SO4.2MgSO4). In general, the combination of sources of potassium fertilizers favors the accumulation of dry leaf, stem and tuber matter, with a quadratic response for leaves and stems and linear for tubers. Some proportions between the sources favored the accumulation of K in leaves and stems; however, these were not different from the application of each source alone. There was a gradual accumulation increase in the tubers during the crop cycle, with the greatest accumulations when the fertilizer proportions of the two sources of fertilizer were applied. The application of 100% of the fertilizer as KCl showed greater Cl accumulation in leaves, stems and tubers; however, not different from some combinations with K2SO4.2MgSO4. The order of deficiency obtained from the DRIS, in areas of high and low productivity were, respectively: Mn> Zn> P> Cu> K> Mg> Fe> B> N> S> Ca and Mg> Zn> K> Mn > Ca> P> B> S> Cu> N> Fe, whereas the order of excess were P> Fe> Mg> Zn> Mn> B> Ca> O> N> Cu> K and Cu> Zn> Fe> B> N> S> Mg> P> Mn> K> Ca. The nutritional unbalances obtained by IBN showed that soil nutrient levels should be monitored, looking for the improvement in nutrient dynamics along the successive crops. Productivity, percentage of soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars, starch, tuber dry matter, moisture and ash contents did not differ between sources of potassium fertilizers: KCl and K2SO4.2MgSO4 and their combinations, for cv. Asterix at the dose of 180 kg K2O ha -1 , possibly because the amount applied was not sufficient to reflect the potential deleterious effects of chlorine.
Investigation of crystallization behavior of sputter-deposited nitrogen-doped amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 thin films

The crystallization behavior of nitrogen-doped amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5-(N) phase-change thin films was studied by utilizing differential scanning calorimetry, in situ ellipsometry and in situ transmission electron microscopy. The combined analysis of in situ ellipsometry isotherms of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5-(N) films and the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation revealed that the crystallization process of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5-(N) films changes depending on the nitrogen content. The crystallization behavior of Ge2Sb2Te5 film revealed a two-step process that includes spherical-nucleation and disc-shaped grain growth. In contrast, nitrogen-doping into Ge2Sb2Te5 thin films suppresses the second step and the crystallization of Ge2Sb2Te5-(N) becomes a one-step process that is the primary nucleation process. The number of nucleation sites during the crystallization of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5-(N) films, increased markedly with the annealing temperature in the spherically shaped nuclei and eventually saturated. The effective crystallinity of Ge2Sb2Te5-(N) alloy films decreased with the increase in nitrogen content, mainly due to the grain-size refinement.