Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization of the Green Chemistry-like Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Grape (Vitis labrusca L.) and Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) Seeds with Concomitant Biological and Antioxidant Activity Assessments

The objective of this work was to determine the phenolic composition, chemical and cellular antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity in human cells, and peroxidative inhibition of the defatted fraction of grape (Vitis labrusca) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) seeds. Soxhlet extraction (Sox) was used to extract the fat and obtain the degreased material. A statistical optimization study was developed to maximize the extraction of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity from defatted grape and blackberry seeds. Simultaneous optimization was applied with a combination of 35.9 min of extraction and a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1 g of defatted grape seed to 61.28 mL of an extracting solvent (60% ethanol) and 62.1 min of extraction and a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1 g of defatted blackberry seed to 64.1 mL of an extracting solvent (60% ethanol). In the cell viability assay, HepG2 cancer cells seemed more sensitive to grape and blackberry extracts, while Ea.hy926 hybrid cells showed more resistance to their effects. In general, the extracts presented low/no cytotoxicity, exhibited a protective effect against H2O2-induced ROS production, and demonstrated antioxidant activity and a protective effect on the erythrocytes when subjected to hypotonic and isotonic conditions not presenting hemolytic behavior (5.0 to 10.0 μg GAE/mL). Thus, the results provided a broad assessment of the bioactivity of the extracts obtained using a simple and low-cost process developed by employing non-toxic solvents and with the potential to be used in technological applications.
Improving Student Motor Skills through a Structured Physical Training Program

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a structured exercise program can improve students' motor skills. Everyday activities, including academic and professional ones, necessitate strong motor skills. In any case, numerous understudies need assistance with their coordinated movements which can influence their general exhibition. An experimental design with a randomized control group was used in this study. There were two groups of 100 students in the research sample: the exploratory gathering, which went through an organized actual activity program, and the benchmark group, which got no mediation. Before and after the intervention, students' motor skills were assessed using a tested that was proven to work. The outcomes showed that the organized actual activity program altogether further developed understudies' coordinated abilities contrasted with the benchmark group. Motor coordination, agility, and movement accuracy all improved significantly in the experimental group. They also said they performed better on tasks that required motor skills. This study's findings show that students' motor skills can be improved with a structured exercise program. This study's practical implications include the need to incorporate structured physical activity into higher education curriculum to ensure that students have sufficient motor skills for life success.
The Response of a Hemispheric Multi-Level Model Atmosphere to Forcing by Topography and Stationary Heat Sources: (II) Forcing by stationary heat sources and forcing by topography and stationary heat sources@@@(II)定常的な熱源の強制に対する応答および地形と

The response of a Hemispheric model atmosphere to forcing by the Hemispheric topography and the stationary heat sources in winter was examined. In this computation the model described in Part I of this paper is used. The computed results show that the amplitude of standing wave responding to forcing by stationary heat sources at high latitudes, for zonal wave number 1, is larger than that forced by stationary heat sources at middle latitudes. The results also show that the amplitude of standing waves for zonal wave number 1 responding to forcing by the Hemispheric stationary heat sources is larger than that responding to forcing by the Hemispheric topography. In these computations, the role of refractive index square of standing waves for zonal wave number 1 or 2 is discussed in relation with the propagation of standing waves from the lower troposphere at middle and high latitudes toward the upper stratosphere at high latitudes or the upper troposphere at low latitudes. The momentum, heat and Eliassen-Palm fluxes due to standing waves computed by this model, are qualitatively in good agreement with the observed results.
Does the Debt Ratio Mediate the Effect of Liquidity Ratio and Profitability Ratio on Stock Returns?: Empirical Evidence on Wholesale and Retail Trade Sub-Sector Companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

This study aims to analyze the mediating effect of the debt ratio on the effect of liquidity and profitability on stock returns. Stock prices and returns are one unit, so that to estimate stock prices and returns can be seen from the company's financial performance, through financial ratios such as liquidity ratios, profitability ratios, and debt or leverage ratios. Companies with good financial performance are expected to have good stock performance. This study used a sample of 31 public companies in the wholesale and retail trade sub-sector which were listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the 2016-2020 period. Sampling of this research was based on purposive sampling technique. The data analysis technique used is tiered linear regression, path analysis, and the Sobel test. The results of this study indicate that the significant liquidity ratio has a negative effect on the debt ratio and the liquidity ratio does not have a significant negative effect on stock returns. The profitability ratio has a significant positive effect on the debt ratio which confirms the trade-off theory. The profitability ratio has a significant positive effect on stock returns, while the debt ratio has a significant negative effect on stock returns. The debt ratio is not significant to mediate the positive negative effect of the liquidity ratio on stock returns. Likewise, the debt ratio is not significant mediating the negative positive effect of profitability ratios on stock returns. The results of this study suggest that investors who expect high stock returns do not need to pay attention to the company's debt ratio, but rather pay attention to the company's liquidity and profitability.
Finite-time exact tracking control for a class of non-linear dynamical systems

In this study, a new distributed fast terminal sliding mode exactly tracking control method is proposed for a class of non-integral cascade high-order uncertain non-linear systems. Based on the concept of hierarchical design, a series of decentralised sliding mode surfaces are first developed in the authors' design scheme. Every sliding mode surface is independent of each other, besides, on this designed sliding mode surface, finite-time convergence characteristic can be guaranteed. By using backstepping technology and dynamic surface control method, a finite-time exact tracking controller is finally developed. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, the stability of system has been theoretically proved, and in finite time, all the closed-loop system signals ultimately converge to the origin. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
The Effect of Dividend Policy on Stock Price Volatility: Empirical Analysis of the S&P 100

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate whether the dividend policy affects the stock price volatility in the S&P 100. A sample of 34 companies was examined on a quarterly basis between 2010 and 2020. The 1,496 observations were analysed using a pooled ordinary least-squares regression, a fixed effect model, and a random effect model. The dependent variable of share price volatility was regressed against the dividend policy represented by the independent variables of dividend yield and payout ratio. To consider further influences on the stock price volatility the control variables leverage, size, asset growth, and earnings volatility were included. The results show that the dividend yield has a positive effect on share price volatility, while the payout ratio was insignificant. Apart from size, which was significantly negative, all other control variables were found insignificant. These findings support the dividend relevance theory and suggest that the share price risk is influenced by dividend policy in the form of dividend yield. Since the fixed effect model was the best estimator, these results are only applicable to the sample, not the population.
Characterization of Noise in CMOS Ring Oscillators at Cryogenic Temperatures

Allan deviation provides a means to characterize the time-dependence of noise in oscillators and potentially identify the source characteristics. Measurements on a 130 nm, 7-stage ring oscillator show that the Allan deviation declines from 300 K to 150 K as expected, but surprisingly increases from 150 K to 11 K. At low temperatures, the measured Allan deviation can be well fit using a few random telegraph noise (RTN) sources over the range of a few kilohertz to a few gigahertz. Further, the RTN characteristics evolve to reveal an enhanced role in low-frequency noise at lower temperatures.
Comparing Elicitation Methods of Risk Preferences in Personal Financial Planning: A Field Experiment among Working Adults in Malaysia

Risk preference is an important input in designing investment types or port-folios in personal finance. Although there are many reported risk elicitation methods, the risk preference measure obtained from these methods has not been associated with any behavioural or psychological reasons underlying the choices made. This association is important in providing the underlying theoretical understanding of risk preferences and establishing the robustness of a measure. The present paper attempted to test the consistency of risk preferences between two widely used elicitation methods: Grable and Lytton (1999, 2003) risk tolerance score and probability weighting function in prospect theory (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979; Tversky & Kahneman, 1992). The risk score captures the self-reported willingness to engage in risky investment, and the probability weighting function shows overweighting or underweighting of the probability. We conducted a series of field experiments involving working adults of three main ethnic groups in Malaysia. The results showed consistency in risk preferences between the two methods: high willingness to engage in risk was complemented by optimistic probability weighting, and respondents with low willingness to engage in risky investment evaluated high probability more favourably. The study is useful to financial professionals when implementing the questionnaire to measure risk preferences.
Transient Computational Thermofluid-Dynamic Simulation of Hybrid Rocket Internal Ballistics

A computational thermofluid-dynamic model of hybrid rocket internal ballistics is developed. Numerical simulations of the flowfield in a laboratory small-scale hybrid rocket motor, operated with gaseous oxygen and high-density polyethylene propellants, are carried out with the aim of predicting the solid fuel regression rate experimentally achieved with two different oxidizer injectors. The fuel regression rate is the main parameter for the hybrid rocket design. Here, it is calculated with a detailed gas/surface interface characterization based on local mass and energy balances. The combustion of oxygen and gaseous ethylene injected from the fuel wall is modeled by means of the probability-density-function approach coupled to chemical equilibrium. Two oxidizer-injection configurations, which generate either a two-dimensional axially symmetric or three-dimensional flowfield, are analyzed. The local regression rate is evaluated along both the fuel grain axis and inner circumference in the three-dimensional .
Impact of Alcohol Dehydrogenase 7 Polymorphism and Alcohol Consumption on Risk of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Korean Case-Control Study

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is closely associated with alcohol consumption and individual genetic susceptibility, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This study aimed to investigate the association of ADH7 SNPs with the risk of HNSCC. Methods: We analyzed ADH7 rs1573496C>G, rs3737482T>C, rs1154460G>A, and rs284787T>C SNPs in 250 patients with HNSCC and 322 controls in the Korean populations. Genotyping was conducted using the TaqMan assay. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotypes were analyzed. Results: The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the CT and CC genotypes of ADH7 rs3737482T>C were 0.48 (0.29–0.78) and 0.69 (0.49–0.96), indicating a significantly decreased risk. In SNP of rs1154460G>A, the OR and 95% CI of the AA genotype was 1.63 (1.11–2.40), showing a significant increase in the risk. Furthermore, SNPs of ADH7 rs3737482T>C and ADH7 rs1154460G>A exhibit synergistic interactions with alcohol composition on the risk of HNSCC. None of the haplotypes were associated with the risk of HNSCC. Conclusions: ADH7 rs3737482T>C and rs1154460G>A SNPs are associated with the risk of development of HNSCC in Koreans. They could serve as molecular biological markers to screen high-risk groups for HNSCC.
Underemployment and overemployment in Central Europe

This research examines the working hours preferences of the employees in selected Central European countries, specifically in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Using the country-representative data from the 2017 edition of the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU LFS), the study investigates the discrepancies between respondents' desired working hours and those usually worked per week. A comparative econometric analysis of those individuals who work more than they wish (overemployed) and those who work less than they desire (underemployed) is conducted. Several interesting observations came out of the performed analysis. We document some significant variables shaping these two situations occurring in the Central European labour markets. The obtained findings document the heterogeneity concerning gender, education, migration background, experience and occupation.
Administration of Clinical COVID-19 Mouthwashing Protocol and Potential Modulation of Pediatric Oral Bacterial Prevalence of Selenomonas noxia: A Pilot Study

Dental office protocols to combat the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic include mouth washing for an extended 60 s, thereby reducing detectable oral virus. However, it is unclear whether this protocol has any effects on the newly identified periodontal pathogen and obesity-related bacterium often found among pediatric patients, Selenomonas noxia. To determine if the mouthwash protocol has any measurable effect on S. noxia amongst pediatric patients, clinical pediatric saliva samples were obtained from pediatric patients during routine visits for clinical care and treatment. Using an approved protocol, two saliva samples were collected on the same visit before and after chlorhexidine mouthwash (Sample A, Sample B). The third sample (Sample C) was taken at the recall appointment—usually between two and eight weeks later. A total of n = 97 pre-mouthwash samples, and an equal number of matching post-mouthwash samples (n = 97) were collected, with a small number of matching recall samples (n = 36) that were subsequently collected and identified. The demographic composition of the study sample was analyzed using Chi square statistics. Sample DNA from the matching pre-, post-, and recall collections (Sample A, Sample B, and Sample C) was isolated and screened using qPCR and validated primers, which revealed that 11.1% (n = 4/36) from Sample A tested positive for S. noxia with 0% (n = 0/36) of Sample B testing positive and 13.9% (n = 5/36) of the recall (Sample C) testing positive. In addition, comparative analysis of the qPCR cycle threshold data revealed relatively lower expression (quantity) of S. noxia DNA among the recall samples, as determined by two-tailed t-tests (p=0.004). These data and results provide new evidence for the oral prevalence of S. noxia among pediatric patients, while also demonstrating that the COVID-19 protocol of mouth washing prior to clinical treatment for periods extending up to 60 s may be sufficient to reduce the levels of detectable S. noxia—at least temporarily. More research will be needed to determine whether these effects may be limited to the short- or may exhibit more lasting effects in the long-term.
Optical Amplification in Er-Doped LiNbO3-on-Insulator Photonic Wire Pumped at 1480 nm Wavelength

<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1.5~\mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>m optical amplification in a ridge-type Er-doped LiNbO3-on-insulator (Er:LNOI) photonic wire (PW) pumped at 1480 nm wavelength is studied theoretically. The study considers a three-level Er3+ model with inclusion of excited-state absorption and cooperative upconversion. Based on the model, steady-state rate equations and pump/signal power propagation equations have been established, and closed expression was derived for population density of each level involved. Quantitative relations of population inversion, signal gain or gain coefficient to propagation distance, pump power, scattering loss of pump/signal wave and Er3+ concentration are established. In comparison with Ti-diffused Er:LiNbO3 (Ti:Er:LN) waveguide, the Er:LNOI PW exhibits much more efficient gain performance because of ultra-compact mode field and hence ultra-high light intensity (photon density) in it. These include two orders of magnitude lower threshold pump power, tens of times lower saturation pump power and three times higher saturation gain. Due to the same reason, the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{4}\text{I}_{11/2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> population of Er3+ in the Er:LNOI PW is four times higher than that in the Ti:Er:LN waveguide. Consequently, the 1480 nm upconversion process of Er3+ in the Er:LNOI PW is much stronger than that in the Ti:Er:LN. It strengthens at higher pump power and definitely affects the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1.5~\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> gain at higher pump level. Combined effects of ultra-high pump intensity, upconversion process and large non-radiative multi-phonon relaxation rate from <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{4}\text{I}_{11/2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{4}\text{I}_{13/2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> level result in some interesting features, including non-monotonic variation of gain coefficient with propagation distance, slight drop of gain in saturation region and gain increase with pump loss at higher pump power. These combined effects make it possible to realize <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.7~\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> lasing and an output power of sub-mW is theoretically expected for a 1480 nm pump power of 100 mW. The study also shows that amplified spontaneous emission is significant in the Er:LNOI PW but affects little the signal gain performance.
Examining entry-level social workers’ substance use prevention capacities in a Northeastern State: a field perspective

ABSTRACT This article details the findings of a 2018 study that explored the perceptions of substance misuse prevention program directors on the initial substance misuse prevention knowledge, skills, and service delivery capacities of newly graduated, entry-level social workers in a Northeastern state. The research conducted was composed of a survey of program directors from all state-funded substance misuse prevention programs in the state, with 38% (N = 66) of identified programs represented in the results. In total, the findings of the study identified that the majority of surveyed program leaders believe that entry-level social workers in the state generally lack knowledge of substance misuse prevention concepts and are not initially prepared to provide substance misuse prevention services without moderate to extensive amounts of additional training post-entry into the professional workforce.
Modality-Specificity of the Neural Correlates of Linguistic and Non-Linguistic Demand

Abstract Imaging studies of language processing in clinical populations can be complicated to interpret for several reasons, one being the difficulty of matching the effortfulness of processing across individuals or tasks. To better understand how effortful linguistic processing is reflected in functional activity, we investigated the neural correlates of task difficulty in linguistic and non-linguistic contexts in the auditory modality and then compared our findings to a recent analogous experiment in the visual modality in a different cohort. Nineteen neurologically normal individuals were scanned with fMRI as they performed a linguistic task (semantic matching) and a non-linguistic task (melodic matching), each with two levels of difficulty. We found that left hemisphere frontal and temporal language regions, as well as the right inferior frontal gyrus, were modulated by linguistic demand and not by non-linguistic demand. This was broadly similar to what was previously observed in the visual modality. In contrast, the multiple demand (MD) network, a set of brain regions thought to support cognitive flexibility in many contexts, was modulated neither by linguistic demand nor by non-linguistic demand in the auditory modality. This finding was in striking contradistinction to what was previously observed in the visual modality, where the MD network was robustly modulated by both linguistic and non-linguistic demand. Our findings suggest that while the language network is modulated by linguistic demand irrespective of modality, modulation of the MD network by linguistic demand is not inherent to linguistic processing, but rather depends on specific task factors.
Experientially-grounded and distributional semantic vectors uncover dissociable representations of conceptual categories

Neuronal populations code similar concepts by similar activity patterns across the human brain ’ s semantic networks. However, it is unclear to what extent such meaning-to-symbol mapping re ﬂ ects distributional statistics, or experiential information grounded in sensorimotor and emotional knowledge. We asked whether integrating distributional and experiential data better distinguished conceptual categories than each method taken separately. We examined the similarity structure of fMRI patterns elicited by visually presented action-and object-related words using representational similarity analysis (RSA). We found that the distributional and experiential/integrative models respectively mapped the high-dimensional semantic space in left inferior frontal, anterior temporal, and in left precentral, posterior inferior/middle temporal cortex. Furthermore, results from model comparisons uncovered category-speci ﬁ c similarity patterns, as both distributional and experiential models matched the similarity patterns for action concepts in left fronto-temporal cortex, whilst the experiential/integrative (but not distributional) models matched the similarity patterns for object concepts in left fusiform and angular gyrus.