Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survey of receiving‐water environmental impacts associated with discharges from pulp mills: 3. Polychlorinated dioxins and furans in muscle and liver of white sucker (Catostomus commersoni)

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were measured in white sucker liver samples from seven pulp and paper mill sites, and three reference sites in Ontario. The mills included five bleached-kraft mills, with and without secondary treatment, and two sulfite-mechanical mills. 2,3,7,8-T[sub 4]CDD and 2,3,7,8-T[sub 4]CDF were the dominant congeners detected in both liver and fillet samples at all of the pulp and paper mill sites, with mean 2,3,7,8-T[sub 4]CDD toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQs) as high as 124 pg g[sup [minus]1] in liver tissue. concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs in liver tissues were severalfold higher than in fillet tissue, but this difference can be accounted for by lipid normalization. Biological information, including liver weight, gonad weight, MFO activity (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, EROD), and plasma sex steroids, was measured on individual fish. There was no relationship between TEQs and condition factor, gonadosomatic index, liver somatic index, or circulating plasma 11-ketotestosterone. A weak negative correlation was observed between circulating plasma testosterone and TEQs. Although there was a positive correlation between MFO activity (EROD) and TEQ, one site with very low chlorine used and low TEQs and EROD activity similar to levels observed at more contaminated sites. This finding, along with recent observations that MFO activity ismore » rapidly cleared in pulp-mill-exposed fish, casts doubt on an exclusive causal relationship between MFO activity and PCDDs/PCDFs in these sites. « less
The Effect of Linguistic Factors on Assessment of English Language Learners’ Mathematical Ability: A Differential Item Functioning Analysis

ABSTRACT Increasing linguistic diversity in classrooms has led researchers to examine the validity and fairness of standardized achievement tests, specifically concerning whether test score interpretations are free of bias and score use is fair for all students. This study examined whether mathematics achievement test items that contain complex language function differently between two language subgroups: native English speakers (EL1, n= 1 000), and English language learners (ELL, n= 1 000). Confirmatory Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analyses using a SIBTEST were performed on 28 mathematics assessment items. Eleven items were identified to have complex language features, and DIF analyses revealed that seven of these items (63%) favored EL1s over ELLs. Effect sizes were moderate (0.05 ≤ <0.10) for six items, and marginal ( <0.05) for one item. This paper discusses validity issues with math achievement test items assessing ELLs and calls for careful test development and instructional accommodation in the classroom.
IMPACT OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS (DMBS) IN NIGERIA

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of capital structure on the financial performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and it considers variables Long term debt to Asset(LTD/TA),Short term debt to total Asset (STD/TA) and Total debt to total Asset (TD/TA) of capital structure and financial performance which was proxy by Return on Asset(ROA). The study sourced secondary data using a convenient sampling technique based on the availability of data as at the period of the study. These data were obtained from annual financial report of the five sampled Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria covering a period of 2009 -2018. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistic (i.e. mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistic (i.e. Pearson correlation and regression analysis). The results of the analysis reveals that STDTA (β= 0.936554, p 0.05) has insignificant positive impact on ROA. Therefore, the study summarily recommends that stakeholders of, deposit money banks in Nigeria should use more of short term debts portion of capital structure, the manner of utilizing the resources while expanding the banks and the amount of investment on fixed asset to the ratio of short term debt should be given keen considerations. On this note, investors must pay more attention to the capital structure mix of DMBs before investing in them.
OBSERVED AND PERCEIVED READINESS OF ENGLISH TEACHERS IN CONDUCTING TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS BASED ON 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

The 21 century requires teachers to be able to integrate 21 century skills into the teaching learning process. A study on analyzing teachers’ readiness in conducting the teaching learning process based on 21 century skills in Bali has not been conducted yet. Hence, this study aimed at analyzing the Elementary English teachers’ readiness in conducting teaching learning process based on 21 century skills. This study which was done at SDK Marsudirini Negara School in Jembrana Regency used sequential embedded mixed-method as the design. The subject were one of the school principals and the English teacher. The data were obtained through questionnaires, observations, document analysis, and interview then analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The respondents perceived themselves as ready in conducting teaching learning process based on 21 century skills. However, the 21 century skills were not entirely inserted into the teaching learning process and the teachers are expected to be aware of the changes in the education field.
Role of methotrexate in ectopic pregnancy

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is an acute emergency in obstetric if not timely diagnosed and timely treated. Ectopic pregnancy is leading cause of death in first trimester. Ectopic pregnancy can be managed surgically or medically. Medical management with Methotrexate administration avoids anesthesia in surgery, is cost effective and also offers success rate comparable to surgical management. Aim and objectives were to study the role of methotrexate in ectopic pregnancyMethods: This will be a retrospective observational study conducted in Obstetrics and Gynecology department of AMC MET medical college. Study group constitutes of 30 females with ectopic pregnancy. Preliminary blood investigations, ultrasonography and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hcg) level will be tested. Patients will be treated with single dose of methotrexate 50 mg/M2. Follow up b-hcg level will be done after 48 hours. Response and tolerance to methotrexate will be monitored.Results: The success rate of methotrexate therapy in our study was 83.33% (n=25) and 16.66% (n=5) required surgical intervention with tubal ruptured and abdominal pain.Conclusions: Methotrexate treatment of ectopic pregnancies is safe and effective with no major side effects. It has the advantage of tubal conservation and saves patients from surgical intervention.
Education in the Context of Digitalization and Culture: Evolution of the Teacher's Role, Pre-pandemic Overview

This study was conducted before the outbreak of the pandemic and now the results seem clear. The intensive forced use of distance technologies in the educational process has changed the approach to education forever. What exactly has changed? this is already a topic for new research. We suggest going back a little and see how the role of the teacher changed as the use of digital technologies intensified before the pandemic. This article analyzes the studies devoted to teachers’ experiences in interacting with digital environments, and reviews digital learning systems, environments, and tools. The study found that there are many opportunities, applications, and automated digital environments in the world, but none of them can, to a greater or lesser extent, do without a supervisor, or a teacher. In addition, the paper found that, despite the diversity of digital learning tools, that issues existed related to using such tools by teachers due to the lack of adequate digital competence or even because some teachers tend to have a negative attitude towards this new concept of education. Therefore, sufficient conditions and opportunities should be created for teachers to obtain the required digital competence and to explore the culture of digital technology in education and learning environments to succeed in the subsequent integration of digital technology into the field of education.
A living catalog of stream interaction regions in the Parker Solar Probe era

Stream interaction regions (SIRs) and corotating interaction regions (CIRs) are important phenomena in heliospheric physics. These large-scale structures vary temporally and spatially, both in latitude and with radial distance. The additions of Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and Solar Orbiter have allowed for investigations into the radial evolution of these structures over a wide range of heliocentric distances for the first time since the Helios era. To better enable investigations of SIRs and CIRs within the inner heliosphere, we have developed a living catalog of SIR and CIR observations by Parker Solar Probe with corresponding observations by STEREO-A as well as ACE and Wind at 1 au. The methodology used for the identification of events and the generation of this catalog, the initial catalog of PSP observations spanning orbits one through five along with corresponding 1 au observations, and information on accessing the living catalog for future studies is described. This list of SIR and CIR events from PSP and corresponding observations from other heliophysics missions will enable case studies utilizing unique orbital arrangements, as well as aid in future statistical studies to further understand the properties and evolution of these structures.
Assessing explicit and implicit stereotypes in tourism: self-reports and implicit association test

Abstract Stereotyping is a dichotomy system of cognitive information processes reflecting explicit and implicit biases. While existing studies have studied tourist stereotypes with a wide range of approaches, ranging from face-to-face interviews to numerical scale ratings via self-reports, these studies measured only one type of stereotypes: explicit stereotypes, while neglecting the other: implicit stereotypes. The nature of explicit stereotypes allows individuals to access their cognitions, which could increase the chance of socially desirable responses and thus offer incomplete knowledge in tourist stereotyping. Drawing from existing literature on explicit and implicit stereotypes, this study seeks to identify implicit tourist stereotypes via implicit association test (IAT) and measure them against explicit biases from residents of four popular destinations, covering Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. This study contributes by presenting a detailed development of the IAT and demonstrates the applicability of this method for future cognitive-related studies in the tourism literature. Overall, this study provides a timely and impactful methodology for measuring tourist stereotypes, an important cognitive component that could shape residents’ attitudes toward sustainable tourism development, and harmonious host-guest relationships.
Pengembangan formula enteral hepatogomax untuk penyakit hati berbasis tepung kedelai dan tepung susu kambing

Background: Patients with chronic liver disease were risk to be malnourished due to malabsorption, hipermetabolic condition, and not receiving adequate nutrients orally. Diet therapy through enteral feeding based on soybean flour and goat milk flour play role as an alternative formula for chronic liver patients since it contains high Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) and Medium-chain Triglyceride (MCT). Objectives: to analyze viscosity, nutrient content, protein digestibility, and organoleptic properties of enteral feeding using soybean flour and goat milk flour.Methods: An experimental study using 3 distinc formula with ratio soybean flour to goat milk flour was P1(45:55), P2(50:50), P3(55: 45). Viscosity, fat, carbohydrate content, and energy density were analyzed using One Way Anova followed by Tukey test while protein content, protein digestibility, and energy density were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis followed by Mann Whitney test. Organoleptic properties were analyzed using Friedman followed by Wilcoxon test.Results:The higher the soybean flour, the higher the formula viscosity (p=0.000) and protein (0.007). In contrast, the higher the got milk flour, the higher the fat (p=0.000), carbohydrate (p=0.000), energy (p=0.000) and energy density (p=0.013). Formula P3 has the highest viscosity (1.93±0.039 cP) and protein (9.66±0.16%), while P1 has the highest fat (27.33±0.15%), carbohydrate (65.97±0.23%), energy (1.175±3.04 kkal), energy density (1.17±0.00 kkal/ml), and protein digestibility (45.90±1.49%) among others. However, there is no effect of different formula toward protein digestibility (p=0.116). Organoleptic properties showed that the higher the got milk flour, the higher its acceptance in all aspect including color (p=0.046), flavor (p=0.000), taste (p=0.009) dan texture (p=0.002). Conclusion: P1 was the best formula due to its level of viscosity, fat, energy, protein and energy density that meet requirements according to European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN). P1 also has the highest protein digestibility, and have the highest score of all organoleptic parameters.
Evaluation radiation use efficiency and growth indicators on two mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes under the influence of biological fertilizers.

Abstract Leaf area index (LAI) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) are important ecophysiological characteristics for the realization of crop growth, development, and radiation absorption. A factorial field experiment was carried out base on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Two mung bean genotypes (Dezfouli and Indian) were planted under six fertilization treatments during 2017 and 2018. Six fertilization treatments include: (1) free-living nitrogen fixating bacteria (NFB), (2) phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB), (3) potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB), (4) free-living nitrogen fixating bacteria + phosphorus solubilizing bacteria + potassium solubilizing bacteria (NFB + PSB + KSB), (5) nitrogen fertilizer (source of urea 46%), and (6) Control (without biological and chemical fertilizers). The maximum LAI was recorded in NFB + PSB + KSB treatment in Dezfouli genotype that compared with controls, increased by 37% and 42%, respectively, in 2017 and 2018. The maximum absorbed radiation at NFB + PSB + KSB treatment increased by 20% and 12% when compared with the control in 2017 and 2018. Also, maximum radiation was proportional to the time of maximum LAI. During 2017 and 2018, the highest RUE (1.21 and 1.03 g MJ–1 m−2, respectively) obtained from Indian genotype in the NFB + PSB + KSB application. The greatest effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) was observed in the NFB + PSB + KSB treatment compared to other treatments. The PGPR could promote mung bean biomass via increasing of LAI and RUE.
Stability-indicating HPLC-DAD method development, validation, and stress degradation studies for triamterene and xipamide in their combined tablet dosage form

A simple stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of triamterene (TRI) and xipamide (XIP) in presence of the degradation products generated in studies of forced decomposition. Drugs were subjected to stress by hydrolysis (acidic, alkaline, and neutral), oxidation, photolysis (254 and 365 nm), and dry and wet heat treatments. Degradation occurs under acidic and alkaline conditions (TRI only), oxidative stress (TRI and XIP), and by photolysis (XIP only), but both drugs were stable under other stress conditions investigated. Separation of the two drugs from all the degradant peaks was achieved within 11 min using C8 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) and mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.05 M phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 4 delivered at a flow rate of 1 mL min−1 using gradient elution system. The drugs were quantified at 220 nm using photodiode array detector, based on peak area. Peak homog.
Methane Emission Factor in Italian Mediterranean Buffalo According to Production Management

The environmental impact of greenhouse gases caused by livestock farms plays a fundamental role due to the implications and environmental consequences that livestock practices entail, affecting the stability of the entire ecosystem connected to them, especially as a consequence of the growing demand for products of animal origin. The aim of this work was to quantify the CH4 emissions factor in lactating buffaloes by comparing four different types of livestock management: family, conventional, organic and sustainable. To determine the enteric CH4 emissions from buffalo, information about animal production and farm management was analyzed, and the CH4 emission factor was calculated using the IPCC Tier 2 model. ANOVA was conducted to evaluate significant differences between the farms; Pearson’s correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between parameters. In a conventional farm, the CH4 emission factor for buffalo was 27.69 kg CH4/head/yr compared to 22.77 and 21.61 kg CH4/head/yr respectively for organic and family-run. These data may also depend on the higher protein and fiber content in the administered unifeed. Furthermore, the ratio of enteric emissions factor of CH4 / gross energy intake ratio reflected these data (12.04 vs 10.93 vs 10.16 vs 10.65 for conventional, organic, sustainable, and family-run farms, respectively).
Leverage Shocks: Firm-Level Evidence on Debt Overhang and Investment

Abstract The global economy is in the midst of an unprecedented slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This systemic risk like no other at a time of record-breaking debt levels, especially among non-financial firms across the world, could exacerbate corporate vulnerabilities, deepen macro-financial instability, and cause long-lasting damage to economic potential. Using data on more than 3.7 million non-financial firms from 58 countries during the period 1997–2019, we develop a two-pronged approach to investigate the relationship between corporate leverage and fixed investment spending. The empirical analysis, robust to a battery of sensitivity checks, confirm corporate leverage is highly vulnerable to disruptions in profitability and cash flow at the firm level and economic growth at the aggregate level. These findings imply that corporate debt overhang could become a strenuous burden on non-financial firms, especially if the COVID-19 pandemic lingers and global downturn becomes protracted.
Mantle Transition Zone Receiver Functions for Bermuda: Automation, Quality Control, and Interpretation

The origin of the Bermuda rise remains ambiguous, despite, or perhaps because of, the existence of sometimes incongruous seismic wave‐speed and discontinuity models in the sub‐Bermudian mantle. Hence, whether Bermuda is the surface manifestation of a mantle plume remains in question. Using the largest data set of seismic records from Bermuda to date, we estimate radial receiver functions at the Global Seismographic Network station BBSR in multiple frequency bands, using iterative time‐domain deconvolution. Motivated by synthetic experiments using axisymmetric spectral‐element forward waveform modeling, we devise a quality metric for our receiver functions to aid in the automation and reproduction of mantle transition zone discontinuity studies. We interpret the complex signals we observe by considering the mineralogical controls on mantle transition zone discontinuity structure, and conclude that our results are likely to be indicative of a thicker than average mantle transition zone. Our result is incompatible with the canonical model of a whole mantle plume in an olivine dominated mantle; however, considerations of phase transitions in the garnet system would allow us to reconcile our observations with the possible presence of a through‐going hot thermal anomaly beneath Bermuda.
Interface and Interphase in Polymer Nanocomposites with Bare and Core-Shell Gold Nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles are used to modify/enhance the properties of a polymer matrix for a broad range of applications in bio-nanotechnology. Here, we study the properties of polymer/gold nanoparticle (NP) nanocomposites through atomistic molecular dynamics, MD, simulations. We probe the structural, conformational and dynamical properties of polymer chains at the vicinity of a gold (Au) NP and a functionalized (core/shell) Au NP, and compare them against the behavior of bulk polyethylene (PE). The bare Au NPs were constructed via a systematic methodology starting from ab-initio calculations and an atomistic Wulff construction algorithm resulting in the crystal shape with the minimum surface energy. For the functionalized NPs the interactions between gold atoms and chemically adsorbed functional groups change their shape. As a model polymer matrix we consider polyethylene of different molecular lengths, from the oligomer to unentangled Rouse like systems. The PE/Au interaction is parametrized via DFT calculations. By computing the different properties the concept of the interface, and the interphase as well, in polymer nanocomposites with metal NPs are critically examined. Results concerning polymer density profiles, bond order parameter, segmental and terminal dynamics show clearly that the size of the interface/interphase, depends on the actual property under study. In addition, the anchored polymeric chains change the behavior/properties, and especially the chain density profile and the dynamics, of the polymer chain at the vicinity of the Au NP.
Factors influencing consumption of street vended local foods (SVLFs) in Urban Ghana

Street foods are important in meeting dietary and nutritional needs of growing urban populations, contributing to their food security needs. In spite of concerns of nutritional value, affordability and localness of street foods, street food vending enterprise is prolific in urban places with consumers of different socio-cultural and economic statuses. This is because several factors inform people on their food choices. These may include their socio-cultural and economic status and not just the food characteristics. This study was to examine the factors influencing consumption of Hausa koko, Waakye and Ga kenkey referred to as street vended local foods (SVLFs) associated with specific ethnic groups in Ghana. Data was collected from a cross section of 631 urban consumers of SVLFs in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. Binary probit regression models were used to estimate factors influencing SVLFs consumption. Results showed that consumers were from different social, cultural and economic backgrounds. Food characteristics (such as safety, nutritional value, affordability, convenience and closeness to vendor), social status (including, age, educational level and work status), and cultural factors (like consumer coming from place of food origin and consumption of food from infancy) positively influenced consumption of SVLFs. Food vendors should be aware of these factors to promote consumers’ continual patronage of healthy, nutritious and affordable SVLFs in urban Ghana. Key words: Food choices, Hausa Koko, Waakye, Ga Kenkey.