Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Social Responsibility and Bank Performance: A Co-integration Approach

The aim of this study is to examine the short- and the long-run effects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on the performance of listed Ghanaian banks. An elongated balanced panel design with secondary data of 65 years’ bank observations spanning 2004 to 2016 was used for the study. A co-integration approach – Pooled Mean Group (PMG/Panel ARDL) – was used to examine the short- and the long-term effects of CSR on bank performance while controlling for bank variability, growth in interest income and bank size. The results were mixed. In the short term, it was found that CSR has positive but insignificant effect on bank performance (market-to-book value). In the long-term, however, CSR has significant negative effect on bank performance. Based on the findings, the study concludes that, in the long run, engaging in CSR reduces bank performance. Therefore, CSR needs to be carefully planned and implemented to serve as a boost to bank performance and not just regarded as an inconsequential addendum.
Fuel Element Burnup Determination in HEU-LEU Mixed TRIGA Research Reactor Core

This paper presents the results of a burnup calculations and burnup measurements for TRIGA FLIP HEU fuel elements and standard TRIGA LEU fuel elements used simultaneously in small TRIGA Mark II research reactor in Ljubljana, Slovenija. The fuel element burnup for approximately 15 years of operation was calculated with two different in house computer codes TRIGAP and TRIGLAV (both codes are available at OECD NEA Data Bank). The calculation is performed in one-dimensional radial geometry in TRIGAP and in two-dimensional (r,φ) geometry in TRIGLAV. Inter-comparison of results shows important influence of in-core water gaps, irradiation channels and mixed rings on burnup calculation accuracy. Burnup of 5 HEU and 27 LEU fuel elements was also measured with reactivity method. Measured and calculated burnup values are inter-compared for these elements
The image of Pakistan in prestigious American newspaper editorials: a test of the media conformity theory

This study examines the theory that claims the American mass media generally conform to the foreign policy of the US government. Since Pakistan is a key ally in the US-led anti-terrorism coalition, it was posited that Pakistan would receive a more positive portrayal in the US. news media after 9/11 than it had before. This study tests the media conformity theory using a content analysis of the editorial coverage of Pakistan in three elite American newspapers—The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal from October 1999 to May 2007. A total of 130 editorials were retrieved from the Lexis-Nexis database and analyzed. The findings do not support the media conformity theory, but instead conform more closely to a cultural difference theory advanced by Galtung, Said, Graber and Karim. The results indicate a general bias against the Muslim world by American editorial writers.
Targeting AGEs pathway in delayed diabetic wound healing

Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2021 Received : 19 June 2020 Accepted : 10 September 2020 Published : 01 January 2021 doi: 10.33472/AFJBS.3. 1.2021. 110-119 Article Info Abstract Introduction: Diabetic complications as peripheral neuropathy and delayed wound healing affect patient’s quality of life and may lead to amputation. Several mechanisms are involved in mediating these complications including accumulation of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) and the subsequent state of inflammation which were investigated in the current study. Methos: A wound of fixed size was induced in STZ-diabetic rats and the effect of diabetes and treatment with glimepiride, -lipoic acid and pyridoxamine on the levels of glucose, insulin, HbA1c, AGEs, RAGE, sRAGE, TNF- and adiponectin were investigated. Also the latency time in the hotplate test and wound healing were quantified at different time points. Results: Our results have shown that STZ induced a condition of diabetes (elevated glucose, HbA1c, and reduced insulin), enhanced AGEs signaling (elevated AGEs, RAGE, and reduced sRAGE) and inflammation (elevated TNF-and reduced adiponectin), accompanied by hyperalgesia and delayed wound healing, while all treatments were able to ameliorate most of these effects. Conclusion: These results confirm the involvement of AGEs signaling in mediating diabetic complications and suggest their possible use in the standard therapy for diabetic patients.
Ovary Morphology and Reproductive Features of the Female Suckermouth Sailfin Catfish, Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus (Weber 1991) from Marikina River, Philippines

The ovarian histomorphology during the annual reproductive cycle of the non-native suckermouth sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus (Weber 1991), a highly invasive and dominant fish population in Marikina River, Philippines was described from July 2010 to June 2011. Six ovary development stages were described with defined oocyte diameters in immature, maturing and spawning stages. Minimum length of maturity for females was at 26 cm standard length (SL), although incidences of precocious sexual maturity in several females as small as 19 cm SL were seen during the peak spawning months. Female P. disjunctivus have a relatively short spawning period (June to September) coinciding with the rainy season, followed by a short regression stage (October to December) which overlapped with the long recrudescent stage (October to early June). The three oocyte diameters in vitellogenic ovaries and the short spawning season suggest that the females were iteroparous batch spawners.
Development, characterisation and simulation of wafer bonded Si-on-SiC substrates

Novel silicon-on-silicon carbide (Si/SiC) substrates are being developed in order to produce lateral power devices for harsh environment applications. Two methods of producing 100 mm Si/SiC substrates are detailed by wafer bonding silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers to semi-insulating 4H-SiC, then removing the SOI handle wafer and buried oxide. The final process includes a radical activation bonding process with low temperature processing, resulting in 97% yield. A uniform oxide layer at the Si/SiC interface of 1.4–1.8 nm is revealed, without voids, which minimises charge density at this interface. Capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements of lateral metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors (LMOS-Cs) are carried out on both processes revealing what appears to be an inversion from an n-type to a p-type like response in the 2 μm layers. Thinning the Si layers to 1 μm and making new LMOS-Cs, C-V responses show an improved n-type-like response, though frequency dispersion and incomplete accumulation remain. Finite element simulations showed that this effect could be reproduced by the introduction of interfacial charge at the two interfaces. Finally, while one possible explanation for fully inverting the C-V response of an n-type 2 μm Si layer on SiC was shown, the full understanding for this remains to be
Evolution and identity of synapsid carpal bones

To date there is little information on carpal bone homology in late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Synapsida. Crucial to the understanding of homology in synapsid carpal elements is the fact that different nomenclatures are used for the carpals of non-mammaliamorph Synapsida (Gegenbauer’s canonical nomenclature) and Mammaliaformes (mammalian nomenclature). The homologies of the carpals of non-mammaliamorph synapsids and mammals were established early last century and have not been reviewed since then. Here we provide a detailed study of the carpal bones of synapsids ranging in age from the early Permian to Late Cretaceous. The mammaliamorph lunate, previously considered the homologue of the intermedium of non-mammaliamorph synapsids, is interpreted here as homologous to their lateral centrale. We interpret the single mammaliamorph centrale as a homologue of the medial centrale of non-mammaliamorph synapsids. In some synapsid specimens, we found that one or two centralia are fused to the radiale (e.g., the gorgonopsian Arctognathus and tritylodontid Bienotheroides ), supporting a digging habit. A third centrale is present in the therocephalian Theriognathus , very likely an abnormal duplication. An additional medial bone in a biarmosuchian was interpreted as a prepollex/ sesamoid. A cartilaginous prepollex/sesamoid may also have been present in several non-mammaliamorph synapsids, which have an open space proximal to distal carpal I. Distal carpal V is completely lost in dicynodonts and it is mainly fused to distal carpal IV in the adult stage of most other therapsid groups, but showed a delayed development in most non-mammaliamorph cynodonts. In mammaliamorphs, distal carpal V is not present. Our observations provide an updated revision of synapsid carpal homologies, mainly on the basis of position and anatomical contacts and also taking into account the results of embryological studies.
Synthesis, stability range and characterization of Pr2Cu2O5

A novel Pr2Cu2O5 phase has been prepared under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions (P ∼6 GPa and T ∼1673 K) in a Belt-type apparatus and characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The crystal structure appears to be an orthorhombic “oxygen-deficient perovskite” (M.T. Anderson, J.T. Vaughey, and K.R. Poeppelmeier, Structural similarities among oxygen-deficient perovskites, Chem. Mater. 5 (1993), pp. 151–165) isostructural with La2Cu2O5 (J.F. Bringley, B.A. Scott, S.J. La Placa, R.F. Boheme, T.M. Shaw, M.W. McElfresh, S.S. Trail, and D.E. Cox, Synthesis of the defect perovskite series LaCuO 3−δ with copper valence varying from 2+to 3+, Nature 347 (1990), pp. 263–265) and Nd2Cu2O5 (B.-H. Chen, D. Walker, E. Suard, B.A. Scott, B. Mercey, M. Hervieu, and B. Raveau, High pressure synthesis of NdCuO3−δ perovskites (0≤δ≤0.5). Inorg. Chem. 34 (1995), pp. 2077–2083).
Numerical Research on the Impact of Axial Position of Endwall Suction Slot on Tip Leakage Flow

In order to reduce the adverse effect of the tip leakage flow of cantilever stator on compressor performance, the impact of the axial position of endwall streamwise suction slot on tip leakage flow was numerically studied. The study on the overall performance of the compressor and the details of the flow field near the stator end region with and without suction showed that all suction schemes could weaken the tip leakage flow intensity to a certain extent, and the flow control effect was gradually enhanced with the increase of the suction flow rate. In the case of small suction flow rate, for example, 0.5%, the short slot schemes can improve the overall efficiency of the compressor by about 0.5%, which is more advantageous than the long slot scheme, and the overall efficiency improvement of the latter is about 0.3%. The advantage of the long slot scheme in flow control is reflected in the case of large suction flow rate, that is, 1.0%, which may improve the overall efficiency of the compressor by about 0.96%. The axial position of suction slot has a significant influence on flow control effect of the tip leakage flow. Compared with the downstream suction, which only modified the flow field by reducing the blocking effect generated by tip flow vortex, the upstream suction could better control the tip leakage flow by restraining the development of the initial stage of the leakage vortex. Besides, the endwall suction scheme with a full chord length slot has the greatest impact on the passage vortex, its effect on modifying the flow field near the end zone was determined by the combinatorial action of the enhancement of the passage vortex and the attenuation of the leakage vortex.
Turbulent Spray Flames of Acetone and Ethanol Approaching Extinction

This paper presents measurements of mean temperature, axial velocity, turbulence, and droplets fields in pilot-stabilized jet flames of dilute sprays where acetone or ethanol is used as liquid fuel. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is employed to image hydroxyl radical OH which marks the existence of hot regions or reaction zones. Depending on the fuel used, droplets within the flow are delineated by imaging LIF from acetone or Mie scattering. As the jet velocity is increased, the flames gradually approach blow-off in a region further downstream from the stabilizing pilot. It is found that the mean velocity, turbulence, and droplet fields are somewhat similar for both ethanol and acetone flames, and these do not change much with increasing jet velocity, particularly when normalized with the relevant parameters. However, the temperature and reactive fields are varying and undergo departure indicative of nonpremixed to premixed flame behavior depending on the vapor pressure of the fuel and proximity to blow-off. Broad regions of OH as well as breaks in the OH profile marking possible local extinction are observed in the ethanol flames.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON CORROSION MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES USING ACOUSTIC EMISSION

This paper aims to employ acoustic emission (AE) technique to detect and identify the level of damage resulting from reinforcing steel corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. Five reinforced concrete prism samples with a constant concrete cover (20 mm) were subjected to an accelerated corrosion test. The samples were corroded until reaching five different levels of theoretical mass loss: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% calculated using Faraday’s law. The corrosion activity of the five samples was continuously monitored using attached AE sensors and a data acquisition system. The acquired AE signal parameters including AE signal strength, counts, energy, and number of hits were analyzed firstly to detect corrosion onset and secondly to predict the extent of damage as a result of corrosion propagation. The results obtained from AE monitoring were analyzed, evaluated, and compared to half-cell potential (HCP) measurements, and the amount of current passing with time. The analysis of these results involved comparing the AE cumulative signal strength (CSS) and each of the actual/theoretical percentages of mass loss, passed electrical current, and HCP readings. This analysis showed that CSS can be correlated to both HCP and electrical current at all degrees of damage from corrosion initiation up to 5% of mass loss. In addition, other AE signal parameters including number of hits, counts, and energy showed a significant increase in their cumulative values as the level of the theoretical mass loss, actual mass loss, and crack widths were increased. The results of this investigation confirmed that AE parameters (especially CSS) can be evaluated to detect corrosion earlier than other available nondestructive testing and evaluation techniques. Furthermore, it can be employed to represent the extent of damage occurring in reinforced concrete structures caused by corrosion of reinforcing steel.
Seismic response sensitivity analysis of intake towers interacting with dam, reservoir and foundation

Abstract. In this paper, parameter sensitivity analysis of the dynamic response of cylindrical intake towers interacting with the concrete dam, foundation, internal and surrounding water is performed. The tower is modelled and verified using three-dimensional finite elements according to the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach in the time domain. In order to carry out a parametric study, the Taguchi optimization method is employed to distinguish the most influential parameters. Thus, the iteration algorithm and number of numerical tests are designed. The models are tested under longitudinal horizontal excitation of selected reference accelerograms for either hard soil or hard rock. The evaluation of the results indicated that the two parameters, i.e. tower’s slender ratio, and the surrounding water depth are the most effective factors on both intake tower’s top drift and the base shear coefficient under seismic excitations on hard soil. It is observed that the elasticity modulus of the foundation is another influential factor in the seismic response, as the tower’s drift increases with the foundation’s flexibility. Furthermore, the effect of dam interaction on the tower drift reduces as the distance from the dam increases and stays relatively constant for any distance higher than twice the tower’s height. Interesting to note that the intake tower did not show notable sensitivity to the reference hard rock ground motion compared with that of the hard soil ground motion.
λ/2 Contamination in charge‐coupled‐device area‐detector data

A method is proposed to estimate the amount of λ/2 contamination inherent in area-detector [charge-coupled device (CCD) or image plate] data using Mo radiation. The intensity increase due to the Mo λ/2 contribution to I hkl has been determined by measurement of the intensity for reflections where h, k or l is half-integral, i.e. reflections where there is no contribution from λ, for three crystals using two different CCD diffractometers. This information is present in all data sets obtained with area detectors but is usually ignored. The correction thus determined has been applied to nine data sets. The improvement to the data, as measured from the least-squares refinement, is shown to be insignificant for routine data sets, even for the weak low-angle reflections. Some reduction in the number of 'observed' systematic absences is noted, thus improving space-group assignments. In addition, for strongly diffracting crystals, incorrect unit cells may be obtained owing to the presence of strong λ/2 reflections at the reciprocal-lattice nodes.
Combined DMS and DGS Techniques for Compact and Low Cutoff Frequency LPF Design

high performance and compact size low pass filters with narrow stopband and sharp cutoff characteristics are highly required in numerous wireless communication systems for noise and interference suppression. In this paper, a compact microstrip LPF with sharp cutoff characteristics is introduced. Defected ground structure (DGS) and defected microstrip structure (DMS) have been used to obtain wide stopband. The proposed filter is composed of two arc-shaped DGS units in the ground plane and a shaped microstrip line where stub and inset feed matching techniques is attached to enhance the pass band characteristics. This structure allows sharp cutoff frequency response and high harmonics suppression. Furthermore, it provides compact filter size without the need for cascading periodic DGS structures. The stop band attenuation is controlled by adjusting the depth of the inset feed and the length of the stub sections. It has a 3 dB cutoff frequency at 1.3725 GHz and it is as small as 20 mm × 19 mm.
THE EXOTHERMICITY AND RECOVERY OF Al-Mn COMPACTS INTO MOLTEN ALUMINUM

Abstract The exothermic assimilation and recovery of Al-Mn powder compacts into liquid aluminum were studied. In this study, cylindrical Al-Mn powder compacts were used. During the assimilation of these compacts into liquid aluminum various parameters were monitored simultaneously. These parameters included various temperatures and the apparent weight of the cylindrical addition using a load cell. The reaction between metallic powders of aluminum and manganese was examined by means of differential thermal analyses. The sequence of the intermetallic reactions prior to the complete disintegration of the compact was also investigated by microscopically examining the morphology and local composition in a partially reacted compact. As soon as the intermetallic reactions were triggered, the centreline temperature of the compact rose well over that of the aluminum bath. In tandem with this exothermic reaction, compact swelling was observed. Both the bath temperature and the compact composition influenced the exothermicity of the intermetallic reactions. The observed manganese recovery varied drastically with the aluminum melt stirring. The recovery was very low in a stagnant aluminum melt and it increased substantially with melt stirring. On a étudié l’assimilation exothermique et la récupération de comprimés de poudre d’Al-Mn dans l’aluminium liquide. Dans cette étude, on a utilisé des comprimés cylindriques de poudre d’Al-Mn. Lors de l’assimilation de ces comprimés dans l’aluminium liquide, on a surveillé simultanément des paramètres variés. Ces paramètres incluaient des températures variées et le poids apparent de l’addition cylindrique, en utilisant une cellule de charge. On a examiné la réaction entre les poudres métalliques d’aluminium et de manganèse au moyen d’analyses thermiques différentielles. On a également investigué la séquence des réactions intermétalliques avant la désintégration complète du comprimé en examinant au microscope la morphologie et la composition locale d’un comprimé partiellement réagi. Aussitôt que les réactions intermétalliques étaient déchenchées, la température de la ligne d’axe du comprimé s’élevait bien au-dessus de celle du bain d’aluminium. En tandem avec cette réaction exothermique, on observait le gonflement du comprimé. La température du bain et la composition du comprimé influençaient tous deux l’exothermicité des réactions intermétalliques.
Theoretical Studies of GG-Specific Photocleavage of DNA via Electron Transfer: Significant Lowering of Ionization Potential and 5‘-Localization of HOMO of Stacked GG Bases in B-Form DNA

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations of stacked DNA bases were performed at the 3-21G(*) and 6-31G* levels to elucidate the origin of the 5‘-GG-3‘ sequence specificity for the photocleavage of DNA in the presence of electron-accepting photosensitizers. Ionization potentials (IP) were estimated as Koopman's theorem values for 16 sets of two stacked nucleobases and seven sets of stacked nucleobase pair systems in a B-form geometry. It was found that the GG/CC system is the lowest among the 10 possible stacked nucleobase pairs and that approximately 70% of the HOMO is localized on the 5‘-G of 5‘-GG-3‘. These calculations indicate that the 5‘-G of 5‘-GG-3‘ is the most electron donating site in B DNA and suggest that one-electron transfer from DNA to an electron acceptor occurs most effectively at 5‘-GG-3‘ sites which are fully consistent with the experimental data. In order to know the fate of the cation radical, the vertical IPs were estimated for seven stacked nucleobase pairs. It was found that the GG/.
YIELD, COMPOSITION AND SOME PROPERTIES OF MILK AND SOFT CHEESE AS AFFECTED BY UTILIZATION OF ZINC METHIONINE IN COWS FEEDING

Twelve lactating Friesian cows with body weight of 450 to 550 kg and 2 to 5 lactation season were used after 8weeks of calving in a complete switch-back design with three treatments and three successive experimented periods; each period consisted of 28days. The first 14 days of each period were considered as transition period followed by 14days as test period. Cows in the first group were fed control ration (G1) consisted of 35% concentrated feed mixture, 40% fresh berseem and 25% rice straw without or with supplementation with 5g zinc methionine/head /days (G2) or with 10g zinc methionine/ head /days (G3). The attained results revealed an increase in milk yield, total solids, fat total protein, casein nitrogen and whey protein nitrogen contents in milk (G2) and solid not-fat, lactose, non-casein nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen, total volatile fatty acid and ash contents in milk (G3). On the other hand, zinc increased in (G2) and (G3) compared with the control. Minerals contents of milk were not affected by zinc methionine supplementation. Clotting time was decreased while curd tension and curd syneresis increased in milk of (G3) treatment, whereas cheese yield, total solids, fat, recovery of fat and protein in (G3) and (G2) were also increased. The organoleptic properties were insignificantly from the different treatments. keywords: Friesian cows, zinc methionine, milk, soft cheese,