Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Financial literacy and its influence on internet banking behaviour

This study examines the level and antecedents of financial literacy and investigates its influence on consumers’ internet banking behaviour. The focus is on Cyprus, a country that experienced an unprecedented financial crisis in 2013 that caused an enormous shrinkage of the banking sector. Ever since then, banks have been investing in financial innovations, such as internet banking (i-banking), aiming to enhance customer service and efficiency in the age of financial digitalization. Notwithstanding, the results show that financial literacy is yet too low in Cyprus, whereby only 37.33% of the study’s survey adults have a good financial knowledge proficiency level. The results indicate that financially literate consumers show a strong preference for frequent use of i-banking, whereby the odds of using i-banking frequently are increased by more than 64% for one standard deviation increase in the respondents’ financial knowledge score. The findings highlight the crucial interplay of digital and financial sophistication, and their positive influence on consumers’ usage of digital financial services. The evidence from Cyprus also points to policy directions according to which digital financial education programs should be a central element in national financial literacy strategies.
Framing Jawi-Khat Move: A Comparative Analysis of Chinese, English and Malay-language Newspapers in Malaysia

The Malaysian government’s move to introduce Jawi-Khat in the Malay-language curriculum in Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools has been fraught with tension and opposition, especially among the Chinese Malaysian community. Being the second-largest ethnic group in Malaysia, the Chinese’s negative response to the initiative has generated some implications for the country’s socio-political order. Sin Chew Daily, the first newspaper to break the news, was accused by then Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng of stirring fears among the Chinese community. Lim’s condemnation of the Chinese daily and the manner in which the whole Jawi-Khat episode played out have raised questions over the roles of Chinese newspapers vis-à-vis their counterparts of other languages in the reportage of the Jawi-Khat move. Thus, a study on the ways three top vernacular-language newspapers in Malaysia, namely, Sin Chew Daily, The Star and Harian Metro, covered this issue, was conducted. The extent of news coverage, news sources, news frames and valence of the reports were analysed. The research findings reveal that each of the newspapers framed the Jawi-Khat controversy differently. Sin Chew remains a classic ethnic newspaper, having reported extensively on the issue and actively pursued the voice of opposition of various stakeholder groups towards a policy that impacts on Chinese education, a key area vital to the Chinese community. Otherwise, the three newspapers have, to varying degrees, performed the interpretive function within a controlled media landscape and attempted to de-escalate conflicts and misunderstanding arising from the Jawi-Khat move. Keywords: Jawi-Khat, media framing, vernacular newspapers, newspaper roles, ethnic relations.
Loss of pesticides from a litchi orchard to an adjacent stream in northern Thailand

In the hill country of northern Thailand use of agrochemicals is increasing steadily and contaminating streams and groundwater. We have measured pesticide leached from a litchi orchard to an adjacent stream and identified the flow components contributing to the pesticide transport after installing two discharge measurement stations with automatic water samplers in the stream. For 2 years, between June and September, we applied methomyl, and in 1 year additionally chlorothalonil, to the 2‐ha orchard and monitored water fluxes and pesticide concentrations in the stream water. Pesticide loads ranged from 1.6 to 3% of mass applied for chlorothalonil, a strongly sorbing fungicide, and 6.4–11.4% for the more weakly sorbing insecticide methomyl. Directly after application, pesticide transport was dominated by a fast flow component, reaching the flume before the discharge peak. Later, pesticides were transported mainly by preferential interflow, which peaked about 30 hours after a rain event. The groundwater pathway was not found to contribute to pesticide loss. Antecedent rain conditions proved to be important for the pesticide transport behaviour. While at the beginning of the rainy season large falls of rain did not lead to pesticide contamination, at the end of the season pesticide transport was induced by as little as 0.1 mm of rain. The occurrence of preferential interflow means that the hilly regions in northern Thailand are highly susceptible to contamination by pesticides used by farmers.
Revisiting Momentum Profits in Emerging Markets

Abstract This study investigates the cross-sectional and time-series properties of momentum returns in 19 emerging market countries. Consistent with previous studies, we find that overall momentum profits are lower in emerging markets. One explanation for this underperformance is the negative relationship between momentum returns and market factor in down market states, which lowers overall momentum returns in emerging market countries. In this regard, we find that risk management of momentum reduces exposure to the market factor, thereby boosting returns, Sharpe ratios, and asset pricing model alphas. Finally, momentum returns are lower in more risk averse emerging market countries, and momentum crashes usually occur when risk aversion is higher.
Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to reduce the marine debris burden in the marine environment by 2020. This requires an assessment of the actual situation, which includes the occurrence as well as the caused impacts. Information on both is scarce when it comes to top predators like marine mammals and the burden of microplastic. This is hampered by the limited access to free ranging marine mammals for collecting samples, as well as sample handling. The present study investigated gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) regularly occurring in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea with the aim of gaining information on the occurrence of microplastics. In total, 255 particles ≥100 µm (70 fibres, 185 fragments) were found in exemplary ten intestine and nine faecal samples. The findings ranged from zero fibres and six fragments, up to 35 fibres and 55 fragments per sample. Additionally, this study established a protocol for sample handling, microplastic isolation (≥100 µm) and quantification of gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of marine mammals with a low share of contamination. This approach helps to quantify the presence of microplastics in free-ranging marine mammals and is therefore applicable to assess the real burden of microplastic presence in the marine environment.
Occurrence of butyltin compounds in human blood

Residues of butyltin compounds, including mono- (MBT), di- (DBT) and tributyltins (TBT), were measured in human blood collected from central Michigan, U.S.A. MBT, DBT, and TBT were detected in 53, 81, and 70% of the 32 blood samples examined. Concentrations of butyltins were in the order of MBT > DBT ≥ TBT, with total butyltin concentrations ranging from less than the limit of detection to 101 ng/mL. Exposure of humans to butyltin compounds used as stabilizers or as biocides in household articles has been regarded as a source in addition to the ingestion of contaminated foodstuffs. There was no significant difference in concentrations of butyltin compounds between sexes. Concentrations of butyltin compounds did not exhibit pronounced age-dependency, which is different from those observed for persistent pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In general, concentrations of butyltins measured in blood were less than that affected human natural killer lymphocytes (a primary immune defense against.
Reaction Field Models for the Solvent Influence upon the Fundamental Carbonyl Vibrational Peak of 2-Butanone in Aprotic Media

The solvent-induced shift of the fundamental vibrational mode of the carbonyl group in 2-butanone was measured in 27 solvents using FTIR techniques. Eight model formulations for the reaction field of the solvent in which the dielectric continuum is specified in terms of dielectric constant (e), optical dielectric constant (n2), and effective dielectric constant (ep) were applied to the solvent dependence of the carbonyl band. The critical tests for these models included both their statistical fit and their predicted value for the νgas for the carbonyl band. Most of the f(e) and f(e,n2) functions including the Kirkwood, McRae, and Block−Walker parameters clearly demonstrate that solvent dipolarity−polarizability is the dominant effect upon ν(CO) in 21−23 aprotic solvents. However, a two-term MO perturbation statement in both f(e) and a cross-product function proved to be a better overall model than those using only a single parameter. The poorest fits to the ν(CO) data were encountered with continuum st.
Experimental Study on the Impact of Landslide-Generated Waves against Wharf Pile

Landslide-generated waves have caused great catastrophic damage to the infrastructure, e.g., dam and wharf, because of the extreme loading in the reservoir area, while the wharf pile is rarely designed to withstand the loading associated with landslide-generated waves. This experimental study was conducted in a generalized 3D basin to simulate the waves generating process and explore the impact of the dynamic pressure process on the wharf pile. As the phenomenon that landslide-generated impulse waves impacted on the wharf pile in the form of dynamic pressure, the distribution pattern of the dynamic pressure along the water column was analyzed and revealed specifically. The results indicate that the dynamic pressure was constant below the water surface along the vertical direction and its magnitude was correlated with the wave amplitude as well as wave celerity. On this basis, a multivariate dimensionless analysis was implemented, and the empirical formulas for the dynamic pressure were established. Furthermore, the total force acting on the wharf pile was given. From a practical perspective, these findings could offer guidance to prevent the damage of the impulse wave pressure on the wharf pile.
Investigations on Gastrointestinal Parasites in Camels Rearing in Nineveh Governorate

During the present investigation a total of 120 faecal samples from camels were examined to determine the distribution of gastrointestinal parasites infestations in camels rearing in Nineveh, Iraq.About 96 camels were found to be infected by variant parasites, with total of 80% infection rate. Protozoan infection was 60% among these camels. Animals were found to be infected with Cryptosporidium spp. , Eimeria spp. , Giardia spp. and large protozoan Balantidium coli. Helminthes were also prevalent in these animals, among which 27.5 % were nematodes including Toxocara spp. , Trichostrongylus spp. ,Haemonchus spp. and Trichuris spp. Amongst Trematodes Dicrocoelium spp. and cestode such as Moniezia spp. were also found with 5% infection rate.No significant difference (p≥0.05) in infection between both sexes of camels was found. High infection rate was found in young camels (under 5 years old) in comparison to adult animals (p≥0.05). Camels showed carriage of single type of infection (43.75%) with parasites higher than those with mixed infection.
Populism versus Technocracy? Populist Responses to the Technocratic Nature of the EU

While populism and technocracy have attracted enormous scientific attention in recent years, surprisingly how the two concepts relate to each other has rarely been investigated. Looking at the case of the EU, we investigate how populist parties position themselves in relation to technocracy in general and the technocratic nature of EU institutions in particular. In a first theoretical step, we identify the core elements, modes of governance, and policy output of technocratic governance and use them to derive potential responses of populist parties. In the empirical part, we investigate these aspects of technocracy by applying quantitative and qualitative approaches using the 2019 European election manifestos of 12 populist parties. We show that left- and right-wing populist parties articulate anti-technocratic positions, particularly regarding the core elements of technocratic governance. The concrete technocratic critique differs regarding the respective host ideology. However, within the group of hybrid populist parties, ANO 2011 and GERB appear not to have a critical stance towards technocracy and thus can be classified as technocratic populist parties.
Spectroscopic characterisation of rosasite and aurichalcite

Chemical and textural studies show fibrous rosasite crystals, with a spread Cu : Zn ratio, occuring in a calcite matrix together with goethite, psilomelane, quartz and saponite in oxidation zones of copper ore deposits. Aurichalcite occurs also as fibrous crystals and has a more fixed composition (Cu : Zn ratio is 1.3 : 3.7). Aurichalcite sample also contains prismatic hemimorphite. The nature of the copper ion and its site symmetry in rosasite and aurichalcite were investigated using a combination of optical absorption and EPR spectroscopy. Optical absorptions of rosasite exhibited three bands due to Cu 2 + in tetragonally elongated octahedral site and the parameters evaluated from the observed band positions are Dq = 1480, Ds = 2330 and Dt = 410cm - 1 . The EPR features observed in rosasite (g⊥>g∥) is an indication of predominant interactions within the copper ions (Cu > Zn). Optical and EPR spectra of aurichalcite sample account for Cu 2 + ion in the distorted octahedron site. The molecular structures of the two copper zinc carbonate hydroxide minerals were also studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The infrared spectra of the two minerals are different in line with differences in crystal structure and composition. The shift towards lower wave numbers of the carbonate bands and splitting of bands are more in aurichalcite than the other. This indicates that the symmetry of CO 3 2- ion in both the minerals is lowered from D 3 h to C 2 v or C s and distortion is more in aurichalcite.
Variation in Atrazine Mineralization Rates in Relation to Agricultural Management Practice

Atrazine (6-chloro-N-ethyl-N-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) mineralization rates were measured in surface soils with different agricultural management practices at the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area (Ohio MSEA) site in Piketon, OH. Two management practices were studied at this site: (i) a continuous-corn (Zea mays L.) plot (CC) receiving annual application of atrazine, and (ii) a crop-rotation plot (CR) with corn-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ]-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and hairy vetch [Vicia villosa (L.) Roth] with reduced use of atrazine during corn years. Soil collected from a riparian zone (RZ) near the site served as an herbicide-free reference soil. The agricultural site (both CC and CR) had received atrazine applications for about 25 yr before this study. Uniformly ring-labeled 14 C-atrazine was added to the soil samples in biometer flasks and 14 CO 2 evolution was measured by scintillation counting of alkaline trapping solution. Sterile controls showed no evolution of 14 CO 2 Within 30 d of incubation at 22 ± 2°C, about 80% of the initial radioactivity was evolved as 14 CO 2 in CC soils collected during different seasons of the year. Parallel samples from CR showed 15 to 30% atrazine mineralization while samples from RZ showed 3 to 7% 14 CO 2 evolution within 80 d of incubation. Prior amendment of soil samples from the three sites with 1 mg kg -1 atrazine accelerated subsequent mineralization measured after 90 d of incubation, indicating enhanced activity of indigenous microorganisms. The CC mineralization data suggest that a single annual atrazine application sustains an active microbial community throughout the year.
How much does NH -N contribute to mineral-N losses in N-impacted acid soils under grassland in the UK? A microcosm study

It is hypothesised that NH -N is more mobile in soils than often thought. However, because litter layers and live vegetation can modify N species transformation in soils, intact microcosms were employed to investigate NH -N, NO -N and total dissolved inorganic N (DIN) leaching in soils from across an unfertilised and N-impacted grassland in York, UK. Simulated rain of diverse compositions was applied to five intact core microcosms, and leachate samples were collected at regular intervals. Leaching with simple simulated rain, consisting of appropriately dilute NaCl solution, showed that broadly comparable NH -N and NO -N leaching would occur from freely draining profiles. Profiles of heavy textured soils result in marginal DIN losses, primarily as NH -N because of denitrification, but possibly substantial losses as NH -N via overland flow during heavy precipitation. Further sequential leaching experiments on freely draining profiles with rain containing supplementary NH -N showed enhanced NH -N and NO -N leaching in two of three pairs of microcosms. However, one profile showed consistently lower NH -N leaching associated with the development of a consistently higher nitrification rate. The marked difference between profiles was thought to be due to the presence of a more distinct surface litter layer in one profile, compared with observable litter incorporation into subsoils for other profiles. Effects on mineral N species mobilities of drying and rewetting were also assessed. This confirmed that a delay of several days is required to re-establish the microbial population and its activities. Final phases, in which NO -N and then NH4NO3 were added via the rain, confirmed the mobility of N pollutant inputs through the freely draining soils.
The Pandemic of Productivity

Initially with the massive outbreak of COVID-19, physical distancing in the form of stay-at-home campaigns made the headlines The most stringent lockdown period in India was envisaged by the privileged class as a productive time at home I show that the home as a space of leisure and intimacy is also a site of caste and gender privilege that upholds the social division of labour By looking at both the work of home and the work from home, I problematise the notion of productivity from home and argue for a renewed understanding of what constitutes work and what constitutes home as an intimate space © The Author(s)
Adsorption Characteristics of Reactive Black 5 from Aqueous Solution onto Chitosan

Adsorption of reactive black 5 (RB5) from aqueous solution onto chitosan was investigated in a batch system. The effects of solution pH, initial dye concentration, and temperature were studied. Adsorption data obtained from different batch experiments were modeled using both pseudo first- and second-order kinetic equations. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to the Freundlich, Tempkin, and Langmuir isotherms over a dye concentration range of 45–100 µmol/L. The best results were achieved with the pseudo second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm equilibrium models, respectively. The equilibrium adsorption capacity (qe) was increased with increasing the initial dye concentration and solution temperature, and decreasing solution pH. The chitosan flakes for the adsorption of the dye was regenerated efficiently through the alkaline solution and was then reused for dye removal. The activation energy (Ea) of sorption kinetics was estimated to be 13.88 kJ/mol. Thermodynamic parameters such as changes in free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (ΔS) were evaluated by applying the van't Hoff equation. The thermodynamics of reactive dye adsorption by chitosan indicates its spontaneous and endothermic nature.
Sewage Water Quality of Phnom Penh City

Sewage water quality from Phnom Penh City in Cambodia was studied from December 1997 to September 1999. Samples were collected from the outfalls of sewer pipes to Tonle Sap River, channels, lakes, and pumping stations.As a result, concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) in dry season were much higher than those of surface water in Cambodia, possibly due to the domestic wastewater. In rainy season, these amounts decreased due to attenuation by the rainwater. In dry season, 56% of suspended solid (SS) in sewage deposited as sediments in channels and lakes. The levels of Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb in the sediments of these channels and lakes were higher than those in other points of the area studied. In rainy season, SS and heavy metals were flushed outside by the rainwater. Levels of anionic and nonionic surfactants, total organic halogen (TOX) and Bisphenol-A were found to those in Japan. Both surfactants mainly came from domestic wastewater while TOX and Bisphenol-A came from specific emission sources. Daily pollutant loads of SS, COD, T-N, T-P, anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant were 13, 53, 8.2, 1.1, 1.4 and 0.3 (g/person-day), respectively.
Factors Underlie Selfie Addiction: Developing and Validating a Scale

This study aimed at investigating the underlying factors of selfie addiction among university students. It further attempted to find out the role of gender difference in selfie addiction. A 19-item self-developed questionnaire used to measure selfie addiction. The questionnaire was validated using a sample of 269 randomly selected university students. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted to test the validity of the questionnaire. The results revealed three underlined factors which were: Intention, Self-Obsessed, and Self-Acceptance. The results also indicated that females are more addicted with respect to selfies on social media than their males.
Analysis of amino acids, hydroxy acids, and amines in CR chondrites

The abundances, relative distributions, and enantiomeric and isotopic compositions of amines, amino acids, and hydroxy acids in Miller Range (MIL) 090001 and MIL 090657 meteorites were determined. Chiral distributions and isotopic compositions confirmed that most of the compounds detected were indigenous to the meteorites and not the result of terrestrial contamination. Combined with data in the literature, suites of these compounds have now been analyzed in a set of six CR chondrites, spanning aqueous alteration types 2.0–2.8. Amino acid abundances ranged from 17 to 3300 nmol g−1 across the six CRs; hydroxy acid abundances ranged from 180 to 1800 nmol g−1; and amine abundances ranged from 40 to 2100 nmol g−1. For amino acids and amines, the weakly altered chondrites contained the highest abundances, whereas hydroxy acids were most abundant in the more altered CR2.0 chondrite. Because water contents in the meteorites are orders of magnitude greater than soluble organics, synthesis of hydroxy acids, which requires water, may be less affected by aqueous alteration than amines and amino acids that require nitrogen‐bearing precursors. Two chiral amino acids that were plausibly extraterrestrial in origin were present with slight enantiomeric excesses: L‐isovaline (~10% excess) and D‐β‐amino‐n‐butyric acid (~9% excess); further studies are needed to verify that the chiral excess in the latter compound is truly extraterrestrial in origin. The isotopic compositions of compounds reported here did not reveal definitive links between the different compound classes such as common synthetic precursors, but will provide a framework for further future in‐depth analyses.