Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct Lending Returns

I examine the performance of US business development companies (“BDC”). BDCs have produced returns in line with those of private funds engaged in direct lending. Leveraged loan and small-cap value equity returns explain a significant part of BDC performance, and the alpha of BDCs is zero on a market-value basis but a statistically significant 2.74% per annum based on net asset value (NAV) valuations. I find no evidence of an illiquidity premium, which suggests that the alpha could result from regulatory arbitrage or a peso problem. Cross-sectional BDC returns are widely dispersed and exhibit strong persistence in top- and bottom-quartile manager performance.
A narrative review on the role of hesperidin on metabolic parameters, liver enzymes, and inflammatory markers in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract Insulin resistance, oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation play main roles in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Some studies have reported that hesperidin can reduce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia by inhibiting inflammatory pathways. In the current study, our purpose was to evaluate whether it can influence the primary parameters in NAFLD and improve the treatment effectiveness for future trials. Various studies have found that hesperidin involves multiple signaling pathways such as cell proliferation, lipid and glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which can potentially affect NAFLD development and prognosis. Recent findings indicate that hesperidin also regulates key enzymes and may affect the severity of liver fibrosis. Hesperidin inhibits reactive oxygen species production that potentially interferes with the activation of transcription factors like nuclear factor‐κB. Appropriate adherence to hesperidin may be a promising approach to modulate inflammatory pathways, metabolic indices, hepatic steatosis, and liver injury.
THE EFFECT OF LEADERSHIP STYLE, MOTIVATION, AND WORK DISCIPLINE ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE AT PT MEGA DAYA MOTOR SURABAYA (MAZDA, EAST JAVA BRANCH)

Managing human resources well is important for an organisation to be able to compete with other more advanced organisations, however, in managing human resources is different from other sources, it requires an effort to establish a harmonious relationship between workers and the organisation. Therefore, the research aims to determine and examine the variables of leadership style, motivation and work discipline that have a simultaneous, partial, and dominant effect on employee performance at PT Mega Daya Motor Surabaya (Mazda, East Java branch). The approach used is a quantitative approach. The data collection used was interviews, questionnaires, and observation. In addition, the sampling technique in this research used probability sampling technique with 60 respondents, employees of PT Mega Daya Motor Surabaya. The results of testing the model simultaneously obtained the value of F count 30.909> F table 2.77. Moreover, the resulting significant value is 0.000 which is < α = 5% = 0.05, so it can be concluded Leadership Style (X1), Motivation (X2) and Work Discipline (X3) simultaneously have a significant effect on Employee Performance (Y) PT Mega Daya Motor Surabaya (Mazda, East Java Branch).
The origin of channels on lower Taylor Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, and their implication for water runoff

Abstract Well-developed surface channels on Taylor Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, begin as medial moraines incised as shallow, narrow surface depressions, and retain this geometry for tens of km. Over a distance of 1100 m, the channel geometry dramatically changes, reaching depths >20m and widths >100 m. After rapidly enlarging, the channels appear to evolve toward a new equilibrium geometry. Compared to the glacier surface, the air temperature in the channels is warmer by ∼1.7˚C, wind speed is reduced by ∼2.4ms–1 and net shortwave radiation is greater by ∼14Wm–2. The microclimate in the channel shifts the energy balance towards enhanced melt. Field evidence and energy-balance modeling indicate ablation in the deep channels is ∼4.5 times greater than the local horizontal glacier surface and that melt accounts for ∼99% of the summer ablation, compared to ∼75% on the adjacent horizontal glacier surface. Melt in these channels supplies 65% of the unaccounted water discharge into the neighboring lake. In large part, the channels generate the water they carry, rather than merely route water generated elsewhere.
Dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts positively improved egg nutritional and flavor quality, serum antioxidant and immune functions of laying ducks

Introduction Honeycomb is a traditional natural health medicine and has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antitumor activities. It is currently unclear whether honeycomb extract supplementation has positive effects on the intensive farming laying duck production. This study aims to evaluate the effects of honeycomb extracts on the laying performance, egg nutritional and flavor quality, serum biochemical indexes, and antioxidant and immune status in laying ducks. Methods A total of 672 healthy 28-week-old Shanma laying ducks with similar laying performance and body weight were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 28 birds. The birds in each treatment were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0 (control group), 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 g/kg honeycomb extracts, respectively. Feed and water were provided ad libitum for 45 days. Laying performance, egg quality, egg nutrition and flavor quality, serum parameters were assessed. Results The results showed that compared with the control group, honeycomb extracts addition significantly increased the average daily feed intake but did not affect the other laying performance indexes, egg quality or serum biochemical indexes of laying ducks. Dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts significantly increased crude protein content and decreased the contents of cholesterol and trimethylamine in eggs. Diets supplemented with 1.5 g/kg honeycomb extracts significantly improved egg total amino acids and flavor amino acids contents, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids composition and enhanced the serum antioxidant activity and immune functions of ducks. Discussion Duck eggs are rich in nutrients and a valuable source of high-quality food for human, while they are rarely consumed directly by consumers because of their stronger fishy odor and lower sensory quality. Many studies have showed that the influence of dietary supplementation on egg components. This study indicated that dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts positively reduced the contents of egg cholesterol and trimethylamine, improve egg amino acids contents and fatty acid profiles, enhanced serum antioxidant and immune status of laying ducks. The recommended supplemental level of honeycomb extracts was 1.5 g/kg in the diet of laying ducks.
Paleotemperature variability in central China during the last 13 ka recorded by a novel microbial lipid proxy in the Dajiuhu peat deposit

The Asian summer monsoon is a very important climatic component affecting the land ecosystem on the eastern Asian continent. Here we assess microbe-derived lipid biomarker evidence from a well-dated peat core from Dajiuhu to reconstruct paleotemperature changes in central China through the last 13 ka. The branched fatty alcohol ratio BNA15, which is defined as the relative contribution of branched C15 fatty alcohols over their straight-chain homolog, shows a positive correlation with air temperature (R= 0.83, n=11, p<0.001) in an altitude transect at Shennongjia Mountain, central China. This correspondence suggests that the microbial activities associated with branched fatty alcohol synthesis are sensitive to differences in temperature. The BNA15 sequence in the Dajiuhu peat deposit shows a trend similar to the paleotemperature record derived from pollen results over the last 13 ka, further supporting that BNA15 is a sensitive proxy of paleotemperature. Absolute temperatures estimated from BNA15 values of modern surface peats are about 3–4°C lower than the modern annual mean air temperature in the peatland, which may result from the influences of factors other than temperature or from the different microbial communities in the mountain soils used to calibrate the BNA15 acidic peats. Fluctuations in the continuous 13 ka BNA15-derived record of relative temperature change from the Dajiuhu peat core imply that solar activity is the dominant cause for most cold events at multicentennial to submillennial timescales.
Carbon accounting per unit of food and unit of land in food production systems of Argentina

Based on the notion of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the carbon footprint (CF) is an extensively used concept that quantifies and informs carbon load per unit weight (e.g., kg C/ton food) in the food system. In line with LCA, the CF computes emissions at pre-farm, farm and post-farm stages throughout a given food chain. However, the CF contribution to C accounting may sound incomplete because gains of C by photosynthesis at the farm stage are set aside. The notion of carbon balance (CB), which computes both C emission and capture (e.g., in ton C/ha), may be relevant in food production systems based on the extensive use of land. Because of the high weight that farm processes have on entire food chains, in this investigation we focused the analysis on the farm stage. In order to assess the suitability of CF and CB in extensive food production systems, we analyzed results from CF and CB in 70 surveyed commercial farms distributed across three large climatic regions (subtropical and temperate) of Argentina. The CF and CB of four relevant farming activities (beef, maize, soybean and wheat production) were compared during the year 2019. The comparison yielded contrasting results and opened space for different interpretations: The notion of CF seems to be useful in intensive food-production systems that rely on inputs and activities that depend on a high consumption of fossil fuels. Conversely, CB appears to be useful in food-production systems associated with an extensive use of land and the gain of C through a large plant-photosynthesis platform.
Large storm effects on total soil erosion

ABSTRACT: Soil erosion measurements on small upland watersheds totaling 229 watershed-years show that most of the total erosion occurring over a long-term period of record comes from a few large storms. Nine 1-ha (2.5-acre) watersheds containing residual soils with silt loam surfaces on B and C slopes were farmed under a corn-wheat-meadow-meadow rotation with moldboard plowing, disking, and harrowing in April of the corn years for seedbed preparation and cultivation for weed control. After corn harvest, stalks were disked prior to winter wheat seeding. There was no tillage in the wheat or meadow years. Four of the watersheds were farmed in straight rows across the slope; five were contoured. More than 92% of the erosion came in the corn years; the rest came in the wheat years. Erosion from the contoured watersheds averaged 30% of that from the straight-row treatment. With more than 4,000 rainfall events during the study period, the five biggest erosion-producing events on each watershed accounted for 66% of the total erosion over 28 years. On one watershed, one storm caused more than half of the long-term measured erosion.
Ultrasonic Velocities in Unconsolidated Sand/Clay Mixtures at Low Pressures

Effective seismic interrogation of the near subsurface requires that measured parameters, such as compressional and shear velocities and attenuation, be related to important soil properties. Porosity, composition (clay content), fluid content and type are of particular interest. The ultrasonic (100-500 kHz) pulse transmission technique was used to collect data for highly attenuating materials appropriate to the vadose zone. Up to several meters of overburden were simulated by applying low uniaxial stress of 0 to about 0.1 MPa to the sample. The approach was to make baseline measurements for pure quartz sand, because the elastic properties are relatively well known except at the lowest pressures. Clay was added to modify the sample microstructure and ultrasonic measurements were made to characterize the effect of the admixed second phase. Samples were fabricated from Ottawa sand mixed with a swelling clay (Wyoming bentonite). The amount of clay added was 1 to 40% by mass. Compressional (P) velocities are low (228-483 m/s), comparable to the sound velocity in air. Shear (S) velocities are about half of the compressional velocity (120-298 m/s), but show different sensitivity to microstructure. Adding clay increases the shear amplitude dramatically with respect to P, and also changes the sensitivity of the velocities to load. These experiments demonstrate that P and S velocities are sensitive to the amount of clay added, even at low concentrations. Other properties of the transmitted signals including the ratio of S and P amplitudes, velocity gradient with depth, and the frequency content of transmitted pulses, provide additional information about the clay content. Direct observation of sand-clay microstructure indicated that the clay particles electrostatically cling to the sand grains but do not form a coating. Instead, in the dry mixture clay particles tended to bridge the gaps between grains, influencing how stresses were carried across grain contacts. Because of this tendency to bridge the gaps, small amounts of clay can have large effects on the wave propagation.
Nutrient Loading Characteristics for Two Sub-watersheds Exhibiting Differing Agricultural Land-Use Practices

Abstract : The purpose of this research was to describe and quantify biologically labile and refractory nitrogen and phosphorus constituents, transformations, and loads in the runoff of two sub-watersheds exhibiting differing agricultural land-use practices. Runoff was impacted by intensive row-cropping for corn production in one of the watersheds while the other one was impacted by dairy livestock management.
The Contribution of Kampus Mengajar Program to the Students’ Personal Development and Employability

This research aimed to examine the effect of Kampus Mengajar program experience on personal development and employability, with the usefulness of the program as an intervening variable. This study applied the quantitative method with causality research design and the Structural Equation Model (SEM) for the research analysis approach. The data collection technique used the Likert scale questionnaires sent through a Google form. 62 students of the Accounting Education Study Program joined Kampus Mengajar program Batch 1 and Batch 2. The data were analyzed by software SmartPLS 3 with a Partial Least Square (PLS) approach. The first step of the analysis was model measurement, which consisted of construct reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity. The second step was structural model measurement to examine the hypotheses which comprised of R2 value, f2 value, direct effect, and indirect effect. The result revealed a direct and significant effect of Kampus Mengajar experience on program's usefulness. Besides, Kampus Mengajar experience showed an immediate and significant effect on each personal development and employability variable. Another research result showed an indirect significant effect of Kampus Mengajar experience on personal development with the program's usefulness as an intervening variable. This study concludes that Kampus Mengajar program as a teaching internship program positively influences students, and thus, this program needs to be followed up.
Evolution and diversification of the geckos of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra Archipelago, compared to other mainland-island systems

Uno de los retos mas importantes en biologia evolutiva es entender las causas principales de la diversidad de fenotipos y de especies. La oportunidad ecologica (o el acceso a recursos nuevos y previamente inaccesibles) se considera como uno de los factores mas importantes en la generacion de nuevas especies y fenotipos. El objetivo principal de esta tesis es estudiar el papel generador de especies y fenotipos de uno de los grandes tipos de oportunidad ecologica, la colonizacion de islas. Para ello, se han usado dos sistemas continente-isla como modelo: los gecos de Arabia y el Archipielago de Socotra y los gecos diplodactiloideos australasiaticos. Dado que las islas proporcionan ambientes con pocos competidores y depredadores, esto permite a los grupos insulares experimentar una gran expansion de nicho que puede estar asociada a una expansion del morfoespacio mediada por tasas elevadas de diversificacion fenotipica y de especies. Los resultados de esta tesis respaldan totalmente esta hipotesis. Tanto en los gecos australasiaticos como en los gecos de Arabia y Socotra, la colonizacion de islas vino acompanada con aumentos sustanciales de disparidad fenotipica asociados con incrementos en las tasas de diversificacion de tamanos del cuerpo y de especies. Aunque esto subraya la gran capacidad que tienen los entornos insulares en promover diversificacion, diferentes grupos diversificando en las mismas islas no necesariamente siguen caminos evolutivos equivalentes. En el archipielago de Socotra, la diversificacion intra-isla en los generos Hemidactylus y Haemodracon estuvo acompanada de grandes cambios del tamano del cuerpo, que solo posteriormente derivaron en cambios macroecologicos. Por el contrario, en el genero Pristurus, la diversificacion intra-isla fue principalmente mediada por cambios macroecologicos, siendo la diversificacion del tamano del cuerpo casi negligible. Esto demuestra que grupos cercanos diversificando en las mismas islas, pueden presentar patrones diversificacion completamente dispares. Al margen de las diversificaciones intra-isla expuestas, los resultados de esta tesis tambien han expuesto importantes patrones de diversificacion tambien en el continente. Uno de ellos es el encontrado en los gecos pigopodidos australasiaticos, que despues de adquirir una innovacion clave (un fenotipo en forma de serpiente), entraron en dinamicas de diversificacion comparables a los grupos insulares. Otro ejemplo destacado trabajado en esta tesis la diversidad encontrada dentro de la subespecie de geco Pristurus rupestris rupestris. Esta subespecie, en realidad, esta formada por 14 especies altamente divergentes que diversificaron en las montanas del noroeste de Arabico, constituyendo uno de los casos mas extremos de diversificacion en vertebrados en Arabia.
Antibiotic Consumption Behaviour of Dental Patients Attending in Tertiary Hospital

Background: The consumption of antibiotics is increasing globally and in dentistry, it is increasing day by day at an alarming rate. The irrational consumption of antibiotics results not only in the emergence of antibiotic resistance but also in various adverse reactions and imposes financial burden on health system. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the antibiotic consumption behaviour of dental patients attending in tertiary hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Dhaka Dental College Hospital from July 2020 to June 2021 among 195 dental patients. After obtaining informed written consent, data were collected by face to face interview using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 version. Pearson’s Chi-square test and Likelihood Ratio were done to assess the association with 5% level of significance. Results: In this study, mean (±SD) age of the dental patients was 41.11 (±14.09) years. Majority of the patients were male (52.8%). More than half (52.8%) of the patients’ monthly family income was ≤20000 BDT with predominant urban dwellers (72.8%). Mean (±SD) antibiotic consumption behaviour score of the patients were 10.96 (±3.879) and behaviour categories were good behaviour (35.9%), average behaviour (32.8%) and poor behaviour (31.8%) respectively. More than half of the patients (56.4%) sometimes forgot or missed any of their antibiotics and about one-fourth (26.7%) of the patients were not aware that they were prescribed antibiotics for their dental conditions. Antibiotic consumption behaviour showed significant association with educational status (p<0.001), occupation (p<0.010), residence (p<0.002), family income (p<0.001) and awareness about antibiotics (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study revealed improper antibiotic consumption behaviour among a large number of dental patients. Behaviour change communication measures focusing on both prescribers and dental patients is recommended to reduce inappropriate consumption of antibiotics and to promote rational usage. Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2023; 49(2): 91-97
A Study of Factors that Influence Intention to Use Telemedicine Applications in the Era of Post Covid-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

This study was conducted to get some insights into what factors influence individual behavior to use telemedicine applications post-COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Some studies were done previously during the COVID-19 pandemic era; however, as we moved to the new era post covid-19 pandemic, it would be interesting to find the answers. The research method was the quantitative approach. Survey to total 746 respondents spread throughout Indonesia were conducted, but 620 valid responses were collected to analyse user behavior towards the of telemedicine applications. Findings – The findings indicated that intention to use telemedicine application post COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia was jointly predicted and explained 64.8% by performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating condition, hedonic motivation, price values, habit, perceived security and reliability. The result also revealed that three variables which are performance expectancy, habit, perceived security and reliability have strong positive correlations and significant influence on individual behavior towards the use of telemedicine. Respondents were collected randomly from some areas, meanwhile Indonesia is a large country, consists of more than 10,000 islands. The result may be applicable only in some places. Based on the findings, it is important for healthcare professionals or those who have interest in the telemedicine industry to carefully look at three key factors related to improve performance expectancy, build users habit, and ensuring security and reliability in order to drive individuals' behavior to use telemedicine application in Indonesia. This study is using modified UTAUT2 model to assess individual behavior towards use of telemedicine application post covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia.
The Sensitivity of Salt Wedge Estuaries to Channel Geometry

AbstractThe authors develop a two-layer hydraulic model to determine the saline intrusion length in sloped and converging salt wedge estuaries. They find that the nondimensional intrusion length = CiL/hS depends significantly on the channel bottom slope and the rate and magnitude of landward width convergence, in addition to the freshwater Froude number. In the definition of , Ci is a quadratic interfacial drag coefficient, L is the salt wedge intrusion length, and hS is the depth at the mouth of the estuary. Bottom slope is found to limit the saline intrusion length, and this limitation accounts for the deviation of the observed exponent n in a scaling relationship with the river discharge of the form L ~ Q−n from the canonical value of 2 to 2.5 predicted by the theory of Schijf and Schonfeld for a flat, prismatic estuary. The authors find that estuary convergence is important only when the ratio of the slope-limited intrusion length to the convergence length is greater than one, and that the effects of .