Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Influential Parameters for the Degradation of Metronidazole Contained in Aquaculture Effluent via Sonocatalytic Process: Kinetics and Mechanism

This study examined the synthesis of a viable catalyst for the degradation of metronidazole contained in aquaculture effluent. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (n-ZnO) were synthesized via the precipitation method and calcined at 500oC in a muffle furnace to enhance the degradability properties. The morphology showed a hexagonal structure with an average particle size of 71.48 nm and the elemental composition showed a higher weight percent of 59.15% for zinc and 21.65% for oxygen. The FTIR confirms the vibrational characteristic mode of the Zn-O band at 427.21cm-1. The XRD showed a good crystallinity and the BET surface area was 8.58 m2.g-1 which showed that the n-ZnO possesses more active sites that can remove pollutants from wastewater. However, no studies have been done on the removal of MNZ in aquaculture effluent. The kinetics followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model best fit the degradation process with R2, Kc, and KLH values of 0.96781, 1.486 × 10-1 mg. Lmin-1) and 8.790 × 10-2 (L.mg-1). Under the influential parameters, the percentage COD removal achieved for MNZ in aquaculture effluent was 62.6%, 89.8%, and 98.5% of MNZ at 20% ultrasonic amplitude, 5 mL 2% H2O2 and 0.02g n-ZnO within 60 min sonication time for US only, US/n-ZnO and US/n-ZnO/H2O2 systems. Hence, MNZ contained in aquaculture effluent can best be degraded with the synergetic effect of the US/n-ZnO/ H2O2 system.
Enhancement of Partial Discharge Resistance and Breakdown Strength Characteristics of Low-Density Polyethylene Nanocomposites Using Plasma Treatment Method

: Insulations in the power cable system are prone to ageing and degradation, eventually leading to a complete breakdown. One of the solutions to reduce insulation breakdown in polymeric insulation is by adding nanofillers into the polymer matrices of the insulation to form polymer nanocomposites. However, the addition of the nanofiller into the polymer usually results in agglomeration inside the nanocomposites. Recently, atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) has been introduced by adopting the nanofiller's surface modification method to hinder agglomeration formation. The aims of using APP are to enhance the nanofiller-polymer interfaces and improve the dielectric properties, emphasizing partial discharge (PD) resistance and AC breakdown strength. In this study, APP has been used to treat boron nitride (BN) and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) nanoparticle surfaces for the purpose of enhancing the compatibility with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrices. Untreated and plasma-treated nanoparticles have been added into LDPE with different filler loading of 1 wt%, 3 wt% and 5 wt% via the direct compounding method. Compared with untreated nanocomposites, the 30-minutes plasma-treated nanocomposites could improve the PD resistance by reducing the PD magnitude up to 513 pC and reducing the PD number to 11661. Moreover, the AC breakdown strength of the plasma-treated nanocomposites had increased from 0.53 kV/mm to 26.65 kV/mm. If compared to LDPE/BN nanocomposites, it was discovered that the LDPE/SiO 2 nanocomposites displayed significantly better dielectric characteristics. In addition, plasma treatment of the nanoparticles could produce nanocomposites with better formulation stability and promising dielectric performance, which can prolong the insulation's lifetime and ensure the reliability of the power supply.
Geographic Proximity of Institutional Investors and Payout Policy

This paper studies the role of the geographic proximity of institutional investors on corporate payout policy within the U.S. context. We find that local and non-local institutional investors have different preferences for payout policy. The evidence shows that dividend payout is important for non-local institutions, but not for local institutions. Furthermore, from the firm perspective, local institutional ownership is found to be used as an alternative quality and performance signal rather than the payment of costly dividends. When using the number of states that a firm is doing business in to classify samples firm into truly-local or geographically-dispersed firm categories, we find that local institutions prefer the former while non-local institutions have a preference for the latter firm category. This finding is consistent with the notion that local institutions have more information advantage in firms that are located in the same state as their headquarters and are not geographically dispersed, and non-local institutions invest more in geographically dispersed firms in order to reduce the level of information asymmetry and maintain a better diversified investment portfolio. After the information shock created by the passage of the 2000 Fair Disclosure Regulation, we find that non-local institutions reduce their preference for dispersed firms paying relatively higher dividends. Dispersed firms with higher non-local institutional holdings are also identified as paying lower dividends after this regulatory change to the information environment. In contrast, local institutions prefer dispersed firms to pay higher dividends. This suggests that firms paying relatively higher dividends and/or geographically dispersed firms are selected by non-local institutions to reduce information asymmetry; while local institutions have information advantage in relation to truly local firm investment and they choose dividends as a compensation for the higher cost of monitoring when invest in geographically dispersed firms. JEL classification: G11, G14, G35 .
A new efficient unified strategy to compute voltage collapse point and voltage stability enhancement by generation shift

A new efficient, robust and unified strategy is presented to compute the saddle node bifurcation (SNB) by the combined use of the continuation power flow (CPF), point of collapse (PoC) method and the method of a pair of multiple load flow solutions (PMLFS) with Lagrange interpolation utilizing only their advantages. The approximate nose curves and critical loading is determined fast by interpolating two stable and two unstable solutions using the PMLFS and robust CPF, and the exact SNB is computed using the quadratically converging PoC method. The proposed method is so efficient that computation time for determining the SNB in Korea Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) 791-bus system is about 24 sec in PC with Pro-Pentium processor, 166 MHz. Presented is also an improved direct method for calculating the closest SNB (CSNB) where the structure and size of the nonlinear systems equations is the same as those of the PoC method. It is shown with Klos-Kerner 11-bus system that voltage stability may be improved significantly by shifting generations in the direction of the left eigenvector at the CSNB.
Tournament Incentives and Labor Investment Efficiency

This study examines the impact of promotion-based tournament incentives on corporate labor investment efficiency. We find tournament incentives, measured as the pay gap between the CEO and the next layer of senior executives, lead to inefficient labor investments, measured as the absolute deviation from optimal net hiring warranted by firm fundamentals. Further analysis shows that the positive relationship between tournament incentives and labor investment inefficiency is weakened the firm appoints a new CEO or operates in industries with a high degree of product similarity and market concentration. Our main findings are robust to the alternative explanation, endogeneity concerns, and alternative measures. Overall, our evidence is consistent with the dysfunctional view of tournament incentives and highlights that senior executives play an influential role in labor investments. EFMA Classification: 110 150 190
Trends in Worker Bargaining Power

This paper investigates worker bargaining power evolution over the last decades and its consequences on the American and French labor markets. I use a framework where wages and marginal productivity of labor are linked by a negotiation process, allowing the bargaining power of the parties involved to vary over time. I uncover a sizable disproportion between employees and employers in salary negotiation by estimating an average worker bargaining power of 17% in the US and 25% in France. However, these average estimates mask an aggregate declining trend in both countries since the 90s. Worker bargaining power followed a hump-shaped trend in the US over the last 60 years, peaking in the 80s and then halving until nowadays. In France, it has also been declining steadily over the last 30 years. These patterns help explain the low unemployment and wage growth over the last decades: ﬁrms exploited the low level of worker bargaining power to hire an ine � ciently high number of employees. I propose marginal wage and proﬁt taxes to restore labor market e � ciency. Surprisingly, technological advancement, regulation, trade, and outsourcing seem to play a minor role in the decline of bargaining power. Gender and occupation di ↵ erences are crucial, with male employees and routine abstract jobs experiencing the most signiﬁcant erosion of bargaining power.
The Effect of Stock Selection Ability, Market Timing Ability, Fund Size and Portfolio Turnover on Equity Fund Performance in Indonesia

: Mutual funds are a group of funds managed by an investment manager into a portfolio of securities that can be traded to the public at an offering price and the withdrawal is reflected in the net asset value. This study aims to analyze the effect of the variable stock selection ability, market timing ability, fund size, and portfolio turnover on equity fund performance, especially in Indonesia. This research was conducted on equity funds that have been registered and active in the Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Indonesia Stock Exchange with an observation period of 2018-2019. The sample selection in this study was carried out using purposive sampling technique which resulted in a total sample size of 38 equity funds. The data collection method in this study is non-participant observation with observations made on data that has been published on the official website of the Financial Services Authority (OJK). The data analysis technique used is multiple linear regression analysis. The research results obtained in this study shows that the variable stock selection ability and market timing ability have a positive effect on equity fund performance, while the variables of fund size and portfolio turnover have no effect on equity fund performance.
Using Forecast Temporal Variability to Evaluate Model Behavior

AbstractThe statistics of model temporal variability ought to be the same as those of the filtered version of reality that the model is designed to represent. Here, simple diagnostics are introduced to quantify temporal variability on different time scales and are then applied to NCEP and CMC global ensemble forecasting systems. These diagnostics enable comparison of temporal variability in forecasts with temporal variability in the initial states from which the forecasts are produced. They also allow for an examination of how day-to-day variability in the forecast model changes as forecast integration time increases. Because the error in subsequent analyses will differ, it is shown that forecast temporal variability should lie between corresponding analysis variability and analysis variability minus 2 times the analysis error variance. This expectation is not always met and possible causes are discussed. The day-to-day variability in NCEP forecasts steadily decreases at a slow rate as forecast time incre.
Determination of complex refractive index and thickness of a homogeneous layer by combined reflection and transmission ellipsometry

Analytic inversion of combined reflection and transmission ellipsometric data is demonstrated. When the thickness is eliminated between the equations that give the reflection and transmission ratios ρ = rp/rs and τ = tp/ts, an algebraic equation for the unknown dielectric constant e of the layer is obtained. After removal of some factors, this reduces to a linear equation in e. The solution for unsupported films agrees with that previously obtained by Azzam [ J. Phys. (Paris)C10, 67 ( 1993)]; it can be simplified to e = e1 sin2θ1/(cos2θ1 − ρ/τ), where e1 is the dielectric constant of the ambient medium and θ1 is the angle of incidence. Stability of the solution with respect to noise in the data is analyzed.
Chennai Annual Rainfall Prediction using k -Nearest Neighbour Technique

India is basically an agricultural country and weather forecasting is a challenge that has depended primarily on model-based methods. Rainfall prediction in particular is very vital for agricultural and meteorological department and is one of the most challenging tasks. Chennai city in particular depends heavily on its ground water resources which are replenished by rainwater. Various techniques like ARIMA, ANN, Regression analysis, Ge-netic Algorithm, Fuzzy logic, SVM etc., are applied for rainfall prediction. This paper presents one of the machine learning algorithm k -nearest neighbour technique for the prediction of Chennai rainfall. Analysis has been made using Mean Absolute Percentage Error.
asylum seekers and local people : experience from the Crossing Cultures project in Southern Italy

Background: Participatory architecture can promote dialogue across cultures, whilst working together on creating physical outputs. A team of academics with a background in architecture, psychology and health sciences evaluated a specific participatory architecture workshop in Southern Italy, part of the Crossing Cultures project, to explore participants’ experiences and perceived benefits. In the context of situated learning, the workshop brought together architecture students, local citizens and asylum seekers, who by working together and learning from each other have formed a community of practice (CoP). Objective: The aim of this study was to explore experiences of members of this CoP and their beliefs on the benefits of this project and ways to improve it. Setting: Data collection took place during the 2019 participatory architecture workshop in Belmonte in Italy. Method: Twenty-five asylum seekers, locals and students took part in in-depth interviews, which were later subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Participants reported experiences relating to “living together”, “working together”, “making home”, “making locals comfortable to be involved” and of “understanding and respecting differences”. Perceived benefits were “creating a space for connection”, “revitalising local communities”, “promoting development of towns”, “broadening horizons”, “gaining or practising skills”, “having your ideas heard” and “creating lasting things”. Conclusion: These data suggest that creating a CoP, as per Lave and Wenger’s theoretical framework, not only fulfils individual goals but also, importantly, common concerns. In conclusion, participatory architecture workshops in an area with high immigration can create connections between asylum seekers and locals, and promote intercultural dialogue, whilst helping to reactivate deprived areas.
A Narrative Review of Sex and Gender Differences in Sleep Disordered Breathing: Gaps and Opportunities

Introduction: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a common condition, associated with multiple comorbidities including cardiovascular and metabolic disease. It has been previously established that SDB is more prevalent in men than women, shifting the literature’s focus away from the latter population. As such, underdiagnosis, and thus undertreatment, of SDB in women exists. Methods: To establish the differences in prevalence, clinical presentation, and pathophysiology of SDB between the two sexes, a narrative review of the current literature was performed. Results: Rates of SDB are higher among men, likely driven by differences in symptom presentation between men and women, with women presenting with more “atypical” symptoms, and lack of sensitivity in SDB screening tools to detect SDB in women. In addition to the cardiovascular risks of SDB, women with SDB may have worse quality of life, higher prevalence of insomnia, and respiratory issues. Discussion: More research is needed to better define the unique pathophysiology and clinical presentation of SDB in women. In addition, an increased awareness among health care providers and the lay public of the SDB-specific sex and gender differences will serve to minimize disparities in identification and treatment of SDB in women.
THE CONTRASTING PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF TWO DISTINCT MIGRATORY STRATEGIES

Migratory flight is energetically challenging, requiring alternating phases of fuel catabolism and fuel accumulation, accompanied by dramatic changes in body composition and behavior. Baseline corticosterone (CORT; the primary glucocorticoid in birds) is thought to underlie transitions between fuel catabolism during flight, fuel deposition during stopover, and the initiation of migratory flight. However, studies of CORT on stopover physiology and behavior remain disparate efforts, lacking the cohesion of a general hypothesis. Here we develop a Stopover-CORT hypothesis formalizing the relationships among CORT, body condition, and refueling rate in migratory birds. First we expect body mass to increase with triglycerides (TRIG) as birds refuel. Second, based on a synthesis of previous literature, we predict a U-shaped CORT curve over the course of stopover, postulating that elevated CORT at arrival is reactive, responding to poor body condition, while CORT elevation before departure is preparative, driving changes in behavior and body condition. We tested these predictions in Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) following a trans-Gulf flight during spring migration. We found baseline CORT was negatively correlated with body condition and TRIG, corresponding with our predictions for arriving and refueling—but not departing—birds. It is possible catbirds undergo regional habitat translocations rather than complete the entire stopover phase at our study site. We propose the Stopover-CORT hypothesis as a useful predictive framework for future studies of the mechanistic basis of stopover physiology. By studying the regulation of stopover refueling and departure, we may better understand physiological limitations to overall migration rate and improve assessments of habitat quality for refueling birds.
Globular cluster orbits and second parameter effects

Clusters that lie on retrograde orbits are found to belong preferentially to Oosterhoff class I (> 99% confidence). M3-like clusters predominantly occupy plunging orbits (98.5% confidence). Furthermore, orbit shape and Galactocentric distance are found to be correlated (99.9% confidence), with a tendency for clusters at large distances to have plunging orbits and below-average luminosities. Half of the 10 halo clusters known to be on retrograde orbits are observed to have − 1.60 < [Fe/H] < − 1.50. This strengthens and confirms a similar conclusion previously published by Rodgers & Paltoglou [ApJ, 283, L5 (1984)]. The results obtained in the present paper suggest that some second parameter effects might be due to the way in which the protoGalaxy collapsed
An Examination of the Breakup of Marine Stratus: a Three-Dimensional Numerical Investigation

Abstract Cloud top entrainment instability, as a mechanism for the breakup of marine stratus, is examined with a three-dimensional, planetary boundary layer (PBL) model. Specifically, we examine the criterion developed by Randall and Deardorff; this criterion states that stratus will break up if the equivalent potential temperature gradient at cloud top becomes less than a critical value. To examine this hypothesis, we simulate a horizontally uniform stratus layer which is excited from above by small random temperature perturbations. The buoyancy instability ratio (BIR), defined as Δθe(Δθe)crit and computed at cloud top, is calculated locally across the domain and also averaged to define a mean value. Six cases, involving different wind speeds and above-cloud soundings, produce different initial BIRs and different breakup sequences. In general, we find that a mean BIR greater that one is a necessary condition for stratus breakup; however, we also find that the timing of breakup following achievement of th.
Infinitely Many Radial and Non-Radial Solutions for a Class of Hemivariational Inequalities

This paper is concerned with the existence of infinitely many radial respective non-radial solutions for a class of hemivariational inequalities, applying the non-smooth version of the fountain theorem. The main tool used in our framework is the principle of symmetric criticality for a locally Lipschitz functional which is invariant under a group action.
Impact of generation current on the evaluation of the depletion width in heavily irradiated Si detectors

The depletion width and full depletion condition are essential parameters in the search for radiation tolerant detector design and operational regimes. In this work, results of measurements of barrier capacitance by combining a transient technique for barrier evaluation by linearly increasing voltage (BELIV), with temperature dependent capacitance-voltage and current-voltage characteristics of neutron irradiated Si pin detectors are discussed. It is shown that the generation current, caused by a high density of radiation induced traps, distorts the capacitance measurements in heavily irradiated devices. There is no space charge sign inversion effect, however, and heavily irradiated detectors become fully depleted in equilibrium.
A realistic interpretation of quantum mechanics. Asymmetric random walks in a discrete spacetime.

1 Abstract In this paper, I propose a realistic interpretation (RI) of quantum mechanics, that is, an interpretation according to which a particle follows a definite path in spacetime. The path is not deterministic but it is rather a random walk. However, the probability of each step of the walk is found to depend from some average properties of the particle that can be interpreted as its propensity to have a certain macroscopic momentum and energy. The proposed interpretation requires spacetime to be discrete. Prediction of standard quantum mechanics coincide with predictions of large ensembles of particles in the RI.
LXIV. On the interaction of natural forces

The following article is a translation of a popular lecture, but it will, I doubt not, be studied with interest by many of the readers of this Journal. I once had thoughts of presenting the lecture in a condensed form, omitting allusions, which though proper and necessary in a spoken discourse, might not appear so in a strictly scientific article. On reflection, however, I think it better to let the accomplished author state, in his own fashion, the important question which he has contributed so much to expand and elucidate. —J. T.
Laboratory investigations on the origins of cosmic rays

We report our recent efforts on the experimental investigations related to the origins of cosmic rays. The origins of cosmic rays are long standing open issues in astrophysics. The galactic and extragalactic cosmic rays are considered to be accelerated in non-relativistic and relativistic collisionless shocks in the universe, respectively. However, the acceleration and transport processes of the cosmic rays are not well understood, and how the collisionless shocks are created is still under investigation. Recent high-power and high-intensity laser technologies allow us to simulate astrophysical phenomena in laboratories. We present our experimental results of collisionless shock formations in laser-produced plasmas.