Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tell Me Why I Do Not Like Mondays

We conduct a strict and broad analysis of the 30-day expected volatility (VIX) of five very active individual US stocks, three US domestic indices, and that of 10-year US Treasury notes. We find prominent non-random movement patterns mainly on Mondays and Fridays. Furthermore, significant leaps in expected volatility on Monday occur primarily in the first two and the fifth Mondays of the month. We also document that higher values for the 30-day expected volatility on Mondays are more likely when there was a negative change in the volatility on the preceding Fridays. This pattern does not occur on other subsequent days of the week. The results are robust through time and different subsamples and are not triggered by outliers or the week during which the options on the underlying assets expire. Rational and irrational drivers are suggested to explain the findings. Given that, to date, no one has conducted such an examination, our findings are important for investors interested in buying or selling volatility instruments.
COVID-19, Employment, and Gender: Evidence from Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic-driven economic downturn can have substantial implications for gender gap in labor market in developing countries, where women are already worse-off in job participation and earnings than men. Using multiple rounds of individual-level survey data before and after the pandemic and incorporating a difference-in-differences design, we show that overall employment has reduced more for women than men in Nigeria. Women also experienced a larger shift from business employment to farm-based employment. In addition to causing longer-term unemployment for women, the COVID-19 pandemic may further aggravate women's economic condition to the extent the labor market returns in farming activities are lower than that of business activities.
The Role of Extracorporeal Blood Purification in the Treatment of a Patient with Lemierre's Syndrome

Lemierre's syndrome refers to the septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. The condition typically begins with an oropharyngeal infection and frequently involves inflammation within the wall of the vein, infected thrombus within the lumen, surrounding soft tissue inflammation, persistent bacteremia, and septic emboli. Lemierre's syndrome is a rare disease; it occurs most commonly in otherwise healthy young adults. The most common etiologic agent is Fusobacterium necrophorum. We present a case of Lemierre's syndrome in a young girl and the role of extracorporeal method of blood purification with continuous venous hemodiafiltration with the use of a highly adsorptive membrane (AN69 HeprAN), thus achieving the combined elimination of cytokines and endotoxins. The use of advanced methods, along with an antibiotic and surgical treatment, will certainly help reduce mortality in this syndrome.
A Novel Bi-Functional Fibrinolytic Enzyme with Anticoagulant and Thrombolytic Activities from a Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus versicolor ZLH-1

Fibrinolytic enzymes are important components in the treatment of thrombosis-associated disorders. A new bi-functional fibrinolytic enzyme, versiase, was identified from a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor ZLH-1. The enzyme was isolated from the fungal culture through precipitation with ammonium sulfate at 90% saturation. Additionally, it was further purified by DEAE-based ion-exchange chromatography, with a recovery of 20.4%. The fibrinolytic enzyme presented as one band on both SDS-PAGE and fibrin-zymogram, with a molecular mass of 37.3 kDa. It was elucidated as a member of metalloprotease in M35 family by proteomic approaches. The homology-modeling analysis revealed that versiase shares significant structural homology wuth the zinc metalloendopeptidase. The enzyme displayed maximum activity at 40 °C and pH 5.0. The activity of versiase was strongly inhibited by the metalloprotease inhibitors EDTA and BGTA. Furthermore, versiase hydrolyzed fibrin directly and indirectly via the activation of plasminogen, and it was able to hydrolyze the three chains (α, β, γ) of fibrin(ogen). Additionally, versiase demonstrated promising thrombolytic and anticoagulant activities, without many side-effects noticed. In conclusion, versiase appears to be a potent fibrinolytic enzyme deserving further investigation.
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication of Circular Contacts at Pure Squeeze Motion Involving the Mixture of Two Lubricants

This study investigated the pure squeeze elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) motion of circular contacts by using mixed rheology fluid models under constant load conditions. The lubricant was a homogeneous mixture of a Newtonian base oil and couple stress fluid at various volume fractions. The simulation results revealed that the effect of the couple stress fluid was equivalent to enhancing the viscosity of the lubricant. Therefore, the central film thickness and minimum film thickness increased with the volume fraction of the couple stress fluid (ν). The central pressure decreased as ν increased. In addition, the normal squeeze velocity followed the ensuing order: Newtonian lubricant ＞ mixed lubricants ＞ couple stress lubricant.
Sentience in decapod crustaceans: A general framework and review of the evidence

: We outline a framework for evaluating scientific evidence of sentience, focusing on pain experience. It includes eight neural and cognitive-behavioural criteria, with confidence levels for each criterion reflecting the reliability and quality of the evidence. We outline the rationale for each criterion and apply our framework to a controversial sentience candidate: decapod crustaceans. We have either high or very high confidence that true crabs (infraorder Brachyura) satisfy five criteria, amounting to strong evidence of sentience. Moreover, we have high confidence that both anomuran crabs (infraorder Anomura) and astacid lobsters/crayfish (infraorder Astacidea) meet three criteria — substantial evidence of sentience. The case is, as yet, weaker for other infraorders, such as penaeid shrimps, highlighting important research gaps. Having demonstrated our framework’s application to decapod crustaceans, we hope that future research will apply it to other taxa.
Effect of tip geometry on blade tip flow and heat transfer

In an attempt to increase thrust to weight ratio and efficiency of modern gas turbines, engine designers are always interested in increasing turbine operating temperatures. The benefits are attributed to the fact that higher temperature gases yield a higher energy potential. However, the detrimental effects on the components along the hot gas path can offset the benefits of increasing the operating temperature. The HPT first stage blade is one component that is extremely vulnerable to the hot gas. The cause for tip failures are fairly well understood and can be explained as follows. A clearance gap between the rotating blade tip and stationary shroud is necessary to allow for the blade’s mechanical and thermal growth during operation. Unfortunately, the gap allows for leakage flow from the pressure side to the suction side. The gas is accelerated as it passes through the small gap. This leads to enhanced heat load to the blade tip region. Leakage flow, or clearance flow, also leads to undesirable aerodynamic losses not unlike the losses associated with airplane wing tips. In fact, one third of the losses through the turbine section can be attributed to leakage flow. Other relevant studies by Azad et al. [1-2], Bunker et al. [3], Bunker and Bailey [4-5] presented detailed heat transfer results on high -pressure turbine blade tips with different pressure ratios. The effect of tip geometry was also considered in some of these studies. The present study explores the effects of gap height and squealer depth on heat transfer and flow distribution. This investigation differs from those in the other studies because the tip profile is for an in -service High Pressure Turbine of an aircraft engine. Other experiments have used the E 3 test blade or a power generation blade that have different characteristics. The pressure ratio used was 1.2, which is lower than the actual pressure ratio this blade sees in service (PR = 1.7). A transient liquid crystal technique was used to obtain the tip heat transfer distributions. Pressure measurements were made on the blade surface and on the shroud for different tip geometries and tip gaps. FIGURES AND TABLES
Improvements to the Design and Use of Post-tensioned Self-centering Energy-dissipative (SCED) Braces

The self-centering energy dissipative (SCED) brace is an innovative cross-bracing system that eliminates residual building deformations after seismic events and prevents the progressive drifting that other inelastic systems are prone to experience under long-duration ground motions. This research improves upon the design and use of SCED braces through three large-scale experimental studies and an associated numerical building model study. The first experimental study increased the strength capacity of SCED braces and refined the design procedure through the design and testing of a new high-capacity full-scale SCED brace. This brace exhibited full self-centering behaviour and did not show significant degradation of response after multiple earthquake loadings. The second experimental study extended the elongation capacity of SCED braces through the design and testing of a new telescoping SCED (T-SCED) brace that provided self-centering behaviour over a deformation range that was two times the range that was achieved by the original SCED bracing system. It exhibited full self-centering in a single storey full-scale frame that was laterally deformed to 4% of its storey height. The third experimental study confirmed the dynamic behaviour of a multi-storey SCED-frame in different seismic environments and confirmed the ability of computer models of differing complexity to accurately predict the seismic response. To achieve these goals, a three-storey SCED-braced frame was designed, constructed, and tested on a shake table. Lastly, a numerical six-storey SCED-braced building model was constructed. This model used realistic brace properties that were determined using a new software tool that simulates the full detailed mechanics of SCED and T-SCED braces. The building model showed that initial SCED brace stiffness does not have a significant effect on SCED frame behaviour, that T-SCEDs generally perform better than traditional SCEDs, and that the addition of viscous dampers in parallel with SCED braces can significantly reduce drifts and accelerations while only causing a small increase in the base shear. %%%%PhD
IMPROVING HOME SECURITY USING BLOCKCHAIN

The major problem with the use of smart home technology is that it often leads to various security issues. This mainly happens because the devices use open internet connections that may be vulnerable and subjected to multiple threats, hackers, and viruses. Some household IoT devices are forcefully introduced to the market, exposing the customers to significant risk factors. The websites and links do not have any copyright information or any privacy policies, due to which the hackers may immediately steal the confidential information of the user. For instance, the door locking password may be hacked by cyber criminals, and they may use it to attack the home when there is nobody in the home. This paper presents how to use block-chain to improve home security.
Stability of Gravel on Mild Slopes in Breaking Waves

A recurrent challenge in the hydraulic engineering is to establish the required stone diameter for a stone protection on mild slopes, since the stability of gravel on a mild slope is not yet sufficiently covered by existing design methods. The objective of this study is to investigate the relation between the loads and the stability of stones on a mild slope in order to be able to design a protection with more accuracy, both statically and dynamically stable. It was found that for statically stable structures the required stone diameter can become significantly smaller than the Van der Meer formula suggests. For dynamically stable structures, even smaller stone sizes are found to be stable. This study showed that XBeach-G provides an accurate way of determining the required stone size for gravel protections on mild slopes in breaking waves.
Engineering residential learning communities: evaluating the impact on freshmen engineering students

Margaret A. Flynn ENGINEERING RESIDENTIAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES: EVALUATING THE IMPACT ON FRESHMEN ENGINEERING STUDENTS 2011/12 Burton R. Sisco, Ed.D. Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of an engineering living-learning community (ELLC) on freshmen engineering students. A control group of non-ELLC participants was used to compare the experiences of the ELLC students. Data were collected using Likert scale survey items and open-ended questions. Analysis of the survey data showed that there were significant differences between the ELLC students and non-ELLC students in how they responded to questions regarding social support, academic support, connectedness to campus, and satisfaction with the college of engineering and Rowan University. A focus group of ELLC participants was also conducted to get a better understanding of the participants’ level of satisfaction in the program. Students reported that the ELLC program allowed them to make friends quickly and provided them with academic support. They also indicated that they wanted more say in ELLC programming and more diversity within the group. Furthermore, they mentioned that disputes were common among peers, but that they tended to be resolved quickly. Overall, the ELLC focus group said they were very satisfied or satisfied with the program and seemed happy to be part of the ELLC.
Fertility and Family Labor Supply∗

We study the role of fertility adjustments for the labor market responsiveness of men and women. First, we use longitudinal Danish register data and tax reforms from 2009 to provide new empirical evidence on asymmetric fertility adjustments to tax changes of men and women. Second, we quantify the importance of these fertility adjustments for understanding the labor supply responsiveness of couples through a life-cycle model of family labor supply and fertility. Allowing fertility adjustments increases the labor supply responsiveness of women by 28%. These adjustments affect human capital accumulation and has permanent implications for the gender wage gap within couples.
Bridging the Gap between Stock Price and Bottom-Line Accounting Numbers

We develop a method for extracting “other information” from the articulation between bottom-line accounting numbers and stock prices. We posit that “other information” captures future earnings growth originating from conservative accounting recognition principles as demonstrated by Penman and Zhang (2020) and Penman and Zhu (2022), as well as nonzero net present value investment opportunities. Our findings confirm that “other information” is strongly associated with various proxies for expected future earnings growth and firm risk attributes. Furthermore, we show how a structural expected return model incorporating our “other information” estimate can predict out-of-sample future stock returns and generate sizeable long-short return spreads.
Efficacy and Safety of Treatments for Different Stages of Syphilis: a Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Observational Studies

Parenteral penicillin is the first-line regimen for syphilis treatment. However, allergic reactions and poor drug tolerance still present emerging threatening problems with respect to use of this antibiotic. ABSTRACT Parenteral penicillin is the first-line regimen for treating syphilis. However, allergic reactions and poor drug tolerance still present challenging problems with respect to use of this antibiotic. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ceftriaxone, erythromycin, minocycline, tetracycline, and doxycycline for syphilis treatment, compared with penicillin, to determine which antibiotic could be a better substitute for penicillin. This study included 17 articles, comprising 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 14 observational studies and involving 4,485 syphilis patients. Estimated risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were used to compare the serological response rates. At the 6- and 12-month follow-ups, the serological response rates were compared by direct meta-analysis and network meta-analysis (NMA). Based on direct meta-analysis, the serological response rates at the 3- and 24-month follow-ups were compared. Our NMA showed a higher serological response rate for ceftriaxone than for penicillin at the 6-month follow-up (RR of 1.12, 95% CI of 1.02 to 1.23). Ceftriaxone was equally effective as penicillin for syphilis in terms of serological response rates, and it was a better substitute for penicillin than ceftriaxone, erythromycin, minocycline, tetracycline, or doxycycline. However, more large-scale, high-quality, double-blind trials are still needed to determine whether ceftriaxone can safely replace penicillin for the treatment of syphilis when necessary. IMPORTANCE Parenteral penicillin is the first-line regimen for syphilis treatment. However, allergic reactions and poor drug tolerance still present emerging threatening problems with respect to use of this antibiotic. Our results showed a higher serological response rate for ceftriaxone than for penicillin at the 6-month follow-up. Sufficient data are not available for demonstrating significant differences in the efficacy of the other four antibiotics (erythromycin, minocycline, tetracycline, and doxycycline) for treating syphilis. In the clinical treatment of syphilis in patients who are allergic to penicillin or for whom penicillin is not available, ceftriaxone appears to be a better alternative treatment. This meta-analysis provides a reference for clinical treatment of syphilis. Currently, a lack of sufficient evidence to guide antibiotic treatment of syphilis exists, and a need for more high-quality RCTs is still present. This network meta-analysis can lay a foundation for further research.
Simple PDM pattern generation for an AC/AC resonant converter

PDM control applied to a series resonant inverter reduces switching losses and eliminates the requirement for the rectifier DC voltage smoothing filter. Synthesis of a PDM control signal is quite complex and the aim of the paper is to simplify the PDM control law based equations. In the control law derived from the simplified model, PDM signal is generated by comparing a triangular carrier and a power reference signal. It is shown that the proposed simplified model is very accurate if the carrier frequency is below a certain limit. Validation of the simplified model is based on the comparison of harmonics content of the input current. Simulation results validate the proposed PDM pattern generator.
Risk Factors Associated with HIV Counselling and Testing among Undergraduate Students at the College of Health Sciences at the University of Nairobi, Kenya

BACKGROUND: The human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome epidemic remains a burden worldwide and young people constitute the majority of the burden. Establishing factors that influence the uptake of HIV counselling and testing among young people is mandatory to reduce HIV incidences, and hence help to prevent and control the epidemic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with the uptake of HIV counselling and testing among undergraduate students at the University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences among undergraduate students. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select participants and a mobile tablet device-based questionnaire on the Open Data Kit application was used to collect data. Univariable logistic regression was performed by using STATA software version 11.2. RESULTS: Factors that were independently associated with the uptake of HIV counselling and testing among the participants were; privacy of the location of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing center (AOR:8.1; 95%Cl:2.7-24.6; p<0.01), peer influence (AOR:1.6; 95%Cl:1.0-2.4; p = 0.05), duration in the academic programme (AOR:0.77; 95%Cl:0.25-2.28; p = 0.03), and whether the participants were sexually active or not (AOR:2.1; 95%Cl:1.3-3.2; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Privacy during counselling and peer influence are among the risk factors which need to be addressed to increase the uptake of HIV Counselling and Testing.
Diving in the Minds of Recruiters: What Triggers Gender Stereotypes in Hiring?

IZA DP No. 15261 APRIL 2022 Diving in the Minds of Recruiters: What Triggers Gender Stereotypes in Hiring? We investigate the drivers of gender differentials in hiring chances. More concretely, we test (i) whether recruiters perceive job applicants in gender stereotypical terms when making hiring decisions and (ii) whether the activation of these gender stereotypes in recruiters’ minds varies by the salience of gender in a particular hiring context and the gender prototypicality of a job applicant, as hypothesised in Ridgeway and Kricheli-Katz (2013). To this end, we conduct an innovative vignette experiment in the United States with 290 genuine recruiters who evaluate fictitious job applicants regarding their hireability and 21 statements related to specific gender stereotypes. Moreover, we experimentally manipulate both the gender prototypicality of a job applicant and the salience of gender in the hiring context. We find that employers perceive women in gender stereotypical terms when making hiring decisions. In particular, women are perceived to be more social and supportive than men, but also as less assertive and physically strong. Furthermore, our results indicate that the gender prototypicality of job applicants moderates these perceptions: the less prototypical group of African American women, who are assumed to be less prototypical, are perceived in less stereotypical terms than white women, while some stereotypes are more outspoken when female résumés reveal family responsibilities. JEL Classification: J71, J16, J15, J13, J24
Numerical Study on Pool Boiling of Hybrid Nanofluids Using RPI Model

The performance of deionized (DI) water and hybrid nanofluids for pool boiling from a horizontal copper heater under atmospheric pressure conditions is numerically examined in the current study. The Eulerian–Eulerian scheme is adopted with a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) sub-boiling model to simulate the boiling phenomena and predict the heat and mass transfer in the interior of the pool boiling vessel. This paper attempts to correct the coefficient of the bubble waiting time (BWTC) in the quenching heat flux partition as a proportion of the total heat flux and then correlate this coefficient to the superheat temperature. The pool boiling curve and pool boiling heat transfer coefficient (PBHTC) obtained for the present model are verified against experimental data from the literature and show good agreement. In addition, this work comprehensively discusses the transient analysis of the vapor volume fraction contours, the vapor velocity vectors, and the streamlines of water velocity at different superheat temperatures. Finally, for BWTC, new proposed correlations with high coefficients of determination of 0.999, 0.932, and 0.923 are introduced for DI water and 0.05 vol.% and 0.1 vol.% hybrid nanofluids, respectively.