Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moisture Source Tagging Confirming the Polar Amplification Effect in Amplifying the Temperature-δ18O Temporal Slope Since the LGM

Stable water isotopologues in paleoclimate archives ( δ 18 O ) have been widely used as an indicator to derive past climate variations. The modern observed spatial δ 18 O -temperature relation in the middle and high latitudes has been used to infer the paleotemperatures changes from ice core data. However, various studies have shown that the spatial slope is larger than the temporal slope at the drill site by a factor of 2. Physically, the different spatial and temporal slope has been suggested to result from the amplified local surface air temperature cooling in the polar region at Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), according to the slope ratio equation derived in our previous study. To explicitly confirm the “polar amplification” effect in understanding the differences between temporal and spatial isotope–temperature relations, here we use the same isotope-enabled atmospheric general circulation model with a moisture-tracing module embedded to quantitatively estimate the contributions of different sources to the precipitated heavy oxygen isotopes in the middle and high latitudes. Our results show that the major sources of δ 18 O in precipitation over middle and high latitudes are from oceans where the sea surface temperature cooling at Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) is less than −2 ° C , while the local moisture sources with a higher cooling can be also relevant for polar regions, such as north Greenland. Additionally, the neglect of the strengthened local inversion layer strength at LGM could be the main cause for the overestimated source temperature cooling by the slope ratio equation, especially for the polar regions in the Northern Hemisphere.
The complete mitochondrial genome of a marine gastropod: Umbonium thomasi (Trochida, Trochidae)

Abstract The mitogenome sequence of a marine gastropod, Umbonium thomasi (Crosse, 1863) (Trochida, Trochidae), was determined first in the genus Umbonium. The assembled mitogenome, consisting of 15,998 bp in length, has 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The order and structure of the genes are similar to those of other Trochid species. The overall base composition of mitogenome is 34.8% A, 22.1% C, 14.0% G, and 29.1% T with an A + T bias of 64%. The complete mitogenome of U. thomasi provides essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of marine gastropods.
Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Chemically Peculiar Stars

This discussion focuses on high dispersion spectroscopic observations of chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence, classical HgMn, Si and SrCrEu stars, obtained with the IUE. Two subjects will be emphasized - the confirmation of composition anomalies previously identified in ground-based spectra and evidence relating to the validity of the diffusion theory for the production of chemical pecularities. The gallium anomaly occurs primarily in the hotter Mn stars (Cowley 1975). Model atmospheres analyses of Mn stars yield overabundances of Ga as large as 2×10 5 relative to the solar value (Heacox 1979). The identification of the Ga peculiarity and estimates of Ga abundances are based upon a few high excitation lines observed in the blue. Figure 1 illustrates the resonance line of GaII, λ1414. 44, observed in six Mn stars. The feature is strong and broad in the hotter stars, к Cnc and μ Lep. It is present but weaker in 46 Dra (A+B). It is absent in the cooler stars г CrB, χ Lup and HR 4072. The sharp feature seen near λ1414. 4 in the latter three stars is probably Mnll and is also seen in normal stars. The Gall λ1414. 44 line varies in strength from star-to-star in the same manner as the blue Gall lines. The absence of the blue Gall lines in cool Mn stars cannot be an excitation effect, since the resonance line is also absent in these stars. Neither can the presence of the blue Gall lines in hotter Mn stars be due to non-LTE effects, because the resonance line is also abnormally strong in these stars. The IUE observations confirm the Ga peculiarity as a genuine abundance anomaly.
In search of artificial domatia for predatory mites

ABSTRACT Banker plants can enhance biological pest control by providing both floral resources and appropriate oviposition sites, e.g. through acarodomatia, to predator species. The use of materials mimicking domatia i.e. artificial domatia may be an economically favourable alternative to the use of banker plants bearing domatia. The aim of the present study was to identify materials that are able to host eggs of the Neoseiulus californicus predatory mite but not those of the Tetranychus urticae pest mite. In a laboratory experiment, the oviposition of predatory and phytophagous mites were compared in Petri dishes containing leaves. The different modalities compared were (i) natural domatia of Viburnum tinus or (ii) one of twelve potential artificial domatia materials. The overall oviposition response of predatory mites to all artificial domatia was similar to that of the natural domatia. The oviposition of the Tetranychus urticae pest mite did not increase in response to the artificial domatia. Five artificial domatia hosted as many eggs of the predatory mite as observed in the natural domatia. The effect of the physical properties of artificial domatia was also tested and N. californicus was found to favour the artificial domatia that had high heat retention capacities for oviposition. Three of these artificial domatia were tested on rose plants in a greenhouse experiment; none of which enhanced the biological control on the plants under these conditions. The present study highlights the difficulty in identifying and using suitable artificial domatia as substitutes to banker plants in biological pest control efforts.
Coinhive’s Monero Drive-by Crypto-jacking

This paper provides study of behaviour on a drive-by crypto-jacking, specifically Coinhive’s Monero. Crypto-jacking is a form of cyber threat where a host machine’s processing power hijacked thru infected website to solve cryptographic puzzles as an unwitting participant. The sample study share host machine and network behaviours when host visited websites that have been embedded with Coinhive’s Monero related script. These data collection of behaviour can be utilize to identify and detect Coinhive’s Monero mining activities in networks.
The Impact of Talent Management Strategies on the Employees’ Performance in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor MOSAL in the State of Kuwait

Talent management is of great importance to organizations in the public and private sectors, and this study aims to test the impact of talent management strategies on the employees’ performance in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor MOSAL in the State of Kuwait. The researchers conducted a study of a practical nature (Empirical) based on the discovery of cause and effect relationships (Causal & effect) between variables. The study population included employees of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in Kuwait. The researchers decided to choose a convenience sample of 150 employees to distribute the questionnaire of the study. It is found that there is an impact of Talent Management Strategies on the employees’ performance in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor MOSAL in the State of Kuwait. The researchers recommended that employees in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in Kuwait should be involved in the process of developing plans related to their work.
Cost-Savings and Patient Experience with a Pharmacy-Led Medicare Part D Consultation Service

Abstract Background: There are many Medicare Part D plans, making it difficult for patients to choose the optimal plan. The decision to remain on current Medicare plans is reinforced by patient inertia and uncertainty associated with plan-switching decisions. By helping patients identify more cost-effective plans, pharmacists and pharmacy personnel have the ability to inform plan-switching decisions resulting in lower out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. Objectives: This study evaluates 1) patient experience with a pharmacy Medicare Part D consultation service and 2) potential out-of-pocket savings based on a patient’s best plan for 2019 compared to continuation of a patient’s 2018 Medicare Part D plan. Methods: This study was a retrospective descriptive analysis and took place at a single, independently owned community pharmacy. Patients received free individual consultations with a pharmacist that included a medication review and information on all available Part D plans. Patients were selected to receive the service using pharmacy software to identify potential inefficiencies in current Part D plans. Data on satisfaction and perceived pharmacist role in providing Medicare Part D information were collected via an in-person survey administered at the pharmacy. Potential out-of-pocket cost savings were determined using cost information provided for patient specific medication regimens entered into Medicare.gov, the online platform for Medicare Part D plan information. Results: Of the 318 patients identified, 79 used the consultation service. Out of 79 patients who used the service in fall of 2017, 44 completed the survey for a response rate of 56%. Patients generally reported good experiences with the service. Open-ended responses revealed patients utilize a variety of helpers for plan information and decisions. A subset of 14 patients were identified as having clear plan-switching decisions and were included in the cost-savings analysis. Conclusions: Patients using a free Medicare Part D plan consultation were satisfied with the service, suggesting that helpers were an important resource n their plan-selection process. Using the pharmacist-led Part D consultation may result in decreases in out-of-pocket cost savings due to identification of optimal Medicare Part D plans.
Teachers’ responses to face-to-face and cyberbullying of colleagues by others in Israeli schools

ABSTRACT Teachers are bullied by their students and their students’ parents, both face to face and online. This victimization affects their psychological well-being and their sense of safety. Moreover, witnessing others being bullying may also cause emotional damage. This study aimed to assess the frequency with which teachers witness face-to-face and cyberbullying of their colleagues, examine the correlation between witnessing colleagues being bullied and emotional distress, and examine the role of school culture (Jewish and Arab) as a factor mediating between witnessing colleagues being bullied and emotional distress. The qualitative study included 330 teachers who completed four online questionnaires: demographic questionnaire, bystander in physical space questionnaire, bystander in cyberspace questionnaire, emotional distress questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and multiple regressions, indicating that 93% of the teachers reported witnessing colleagues being bullied in the physical space and 85% reported witnessing cyberbullying. Moreover, the data showed that witnessing bullying, whether online or face-to-face, is positively and significantly associated with emotional distress. In light of these findings, the article concludes with implications for policymakers whose role is to protect and ensure the strength and resilience of those entrusted with the education of our children.
Firm size – firm growth relationship during economic crises

The great recession of 2008 hit the entrepreneurial sector all over the world. Understanding the pattern of firms’ reactions in a time of global crisis is essential for developing an adequate crisis and post-crisis policy. Using a sample of 7,563 surviving Croatian firms in the manufacturing and hospitality industries over the six-year period of economic recession (2008-2013) and total assets as a measurement of firm size and growth, this study seeks to examine whether the law of proportionate effect can be confirmed in times of economic recession. The results of a two-step dynamic panel indicate the rejection of the law in both industries since asset growth is positively associated with the size of the firms. However, firms’ total assets dynamics differ across size classes and industries suggesting potentially different strategic decisions on asset utilization and/or investments.
The More You Search, the More You Find: A New Mediterranean Endemism of the Genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Muricidae) from a Submarine Cave of the Messina Strait Area (Italy)

Three hundred years of study on the Mediterranean molluscan fauna led the scientific community to consider it as the best ever known. However, the rate at which new taxa are discovered and described every year is still remarkably high, even in key predators such as Muricidae Rafinesque, 1815. Within this family, the genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847 comprises species widely distributed in the northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea that were already the target of a decadal nomenclatural, morphological, and molecular combined research. Notwithstanding, we hereby describe an additional ocenebrid endemism from the Mediterranean Sea, whose distribution appears to be restricted to a circalittoral submarine cave of the Messina Strait area (Italy). The new species Ocenebra vazzanai is compared with the recent Atlanto-Mediterranean congeneric taxa on the basis of the known type materials, and a table summarizing the main diagnostic features of the species is offered to facilitate future identifications. The high biodiversity highlighted in the genus Ocenebra reveals a wide adaptive radiation and suggests the necessity of further studies aiming to tackle biodiversity issues even in popular groups, such as molluscs, and in widely studied biogeographic areas, such as Italy, and the Mediterranean basin in general.
Droplet behaviour in liquid/liquid extraction

The behaviour of liquid/liquidextractors, with special reference to spray columns, pulsed sieve-plate columns and mixer-settlers, has been theoretically and experimentally investigated. Drops in spray columns can be formed singly or by the break up of jets. Based on 484 data points for 12 liquid/liquid Systems from 8 different sources, correlations of drop size have been developed for the Single drop and jetting regions in terms of physical properties and nominal nozzle velocity which predict the drop diameter with an average error of 9.7%. A general correlation treating nozzle velocities up to the critical velocity is also presented which predict the drop size with an average deviation of 9.5%. The concept of slip velocity has been used to correlate the dispersed phase hold-up in spray columns. The drag coefficient defined by Barnea and Mizrahi (1975e) has been modified and slip velocity data in the intermediatezone and lower ränge of the turbulent zone correlated. The proposed correlation, which predicts two values of hold-up corresponding to loose and dense-packed dispersions, has a practical value of a simple correlation over the relevant ränge of Reynolds numbers covered. New correlations to predict dispersed phase hold-up in pulsed sieve-plate columns have been developed in terms of physical properties, operting conditions and column geometry. An analysis of 725 data points for 8 liquid/liquid Systems from 5 different sources gave correlations in the absence of mass transfer for mixer-settler, dispersion and emulsion regions, which predict the hold-up with average percentage deviations of 13.5, 12.4 and 13.7 respectively. The break-pointbetween the mixer-settler and dispersion regions is given by the minimum value of the hold-up, and between dispersion and emulsion regions when the dimensionlessgroup (Af) p / (X8.Ap3/4 a1/4g5/4) is equal to 0.05. Mechanisms of binary coalescence and coalescence at the disengaging interface have been proposed. Based on drop growth and the effect of the thickness of the dense-packed layer on drop/interfacecoalescence time, modeis are presented which relate the observationson batch decay profiles to continuous settling. Experimental batch decay data have been correlated by using one of the modeis and the evaluated parameters used to predict the steady State height in a continuous settler. Good agreement has been achieved between experimentaland predicted heights. Finally, an empirical correlation to predict the dispersion band height in a spray column in terms of physical properties and dispersed phase throughput is presented and fairly good agreement between experimentaland calculated dispersion band heights obtained.
Effects of Brisk Walking Combined with Green Tea Extract on the Aerobic Capacity and Physical Fitness Function in Overweight and Obese Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

In the present study we investigated the effects of brisk walking combined with GTE ingestion on the physical fitness function and aerobic capacity of inactive overweight and obese men. Participants were randomly assigned to the GTE group (150 mg GTE/tablet, twice/day) or the placebo group. All subjects in the GTE group (n = 12) or placebo group (n = 12) took part in the 12-week intervention program, and were followed for 4 weeks post-intervention. All variables were measured at week 0, week 12 and week 16. We found a significant increase in the aerobic capacity in both groups (P P P balance.
Defining the importance of protein geranylgeranylation in innate immunity

RHO family proteins and other intracellular proteins are prenylated with a 20carbon lipid—a product of the cholesterol synthesis pathway—by protein geranylgeranyltransferase type I (GGTase-I). Prenylation is widely believed to target proteins to membranes where they encounter effector molecules that stimulate GTP-binding and activation. However, my host group found that knockout of GGTase-I in mouse macrophages (Pggt1b) actually increases GTPloading of RHO proteins such as RAC1, RHOA, and CDC42, and also increases proinflammatory signaling and cytokine production, and induces severe rheumatoid arthritis. These results suggest that prenylation may inhibit rather than stimulate RHO protein function. The mechanisms underlying increased GTP-loading and exaggerated innate immune responses in the absence of GGTase-I are not known. During my PhD, I have addressed these issues in two independent but interconnected projects. In project 1, we found that there is an imbalance between inflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines produced by Pggt1b macrophages. We also found that knockout of GGTase-I prevents the interaction between KRAS and PI3K catalytic subunit p110δ and that this reduces signalling through the PI3K-AKT-GSK3β pathway. Moreover, Pggt1b macrophages exhibit increased caspase-1 activity that is directly responsible for the production of active interleukin IL-1β, and that this effect requires the MEFV (pyrin) inflammasome. Thus, we conclude that GGTase-I promotes an association between KRAS and p110δ and thereby controls major inflammatory pathways in macrophages. In project 2, we tested the importance of RHO proteins in the development of arthritis in Pggt1b mice. We found that knockout of Rac1 (i.e., in Pggt1bRac1 mice), but not Rhoa and Cdc42, markedly reduced inflammatory cytokine production and arthritis in Pggt1b mice. We also found that nonprenylated RAC1 bound more strongly to the RAS GTPase-activating-like protein 1 (IQGAP1) – which facilitated RAC1 GTP-loading and activation. Knockout of Iqgap1 in Pggt1b mice abolished cellular phenotypes in vitro and inhibited arthritis in vivo. Thus, we conclude that blocking prenylation stimulates RAC1 effector interactions and activates wide-spread pro-inflammatory signaling. Thus, prenylation normally restrains innate immune responses by inhibiting RAC1 effector interactions.
The use of pomegranate seed activated by mechanochemical process as a novel adsorbent for the removal of anionic dyestuffs: response surface method approach

Abstract This study aims to reveal the potential of using pomegranate seed (PS) as an alternative, new and cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of anionic dyestuffs such as Congo Red (CR) and Remazol Brillant Blue R (RBBR) from aqueous solutions. In addition, the PS was activated by a high-energy planetary ball milling. It was seen that the activated PS (APS) has a higher adsorption capacity and mechanical activation has a positive effect on the adsorption process. The effects of experimental factors were evaluated using both conventional univariate methods and multivariate methods such as response surface methodology (RSM) approach. The effects of experimental factors and possible interactions on both dyestuff removal and adsorption capacity were expressed in mathematical equations. The removal efficiencies over 90% were achieved for both dyestuffs at optimum conditions determined by central composite design (CCD). As a result of isothermic, kinetic, and thermodynamic evaluations, the nature of adsorption was best explained by the Temkin isotherm model and the adsorption mechanism was defined as a chemically controlled, exothermic, and spontaneous reaction. The functional groups and the morphological properties of the adsorbent were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to explain the possible interactions between adsorbent and adsorbent molecules.
Synthesis and fabrication of polyaniline/eggshell composite in ammonia detection

This study focuses on the measurement and performance of bio-filler composite based on polyaniline (PANI)/chicken eggshell (CES). The composite films were prepared via ex-situ polymerisation using DBSA as its dopant. The PANI solution was distributed equally before mixing it with three different ratios of CES powder. Characterisations of the composite films were analysed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive x-ray (SEM/EDX) and multimeter. PANI film that contained 20mg CES filler possessed the highest conductivity and the fastest time to achieve 90% of sensitivity. The film was also very selective towards ammonia gas and can be reused up to eight cycles. All data reported in this study proved that PANI film with 20mg CES filler can act as a sensitive sensor with 6 ppm limit of detection.
Detecting and mapping drought severity using multi-temporal Landsat data in the uMsinga region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract Drought has become a more frequent phenomenon under changing climatic conditions, particularly in Sub Saharan Africa. This study tested the utility of a newly proposed Temperature-Vegetation Water Stress Index (T-VWSI) in detecting drought severity using Landsat data for the years 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2018. This index was created using both NDVI and LST to detect drought severity within the region. The results show that the year 2016 experienced the most severe levels of drought, with the northern areas of the uMsinga region being most severely affected. SPI was used to corroborate the findings of the T-VWSI index and also established that the year 2016 was the year of severe drought in uMsinga. The results of this study have illustrated the potential of the T-VWSI index in effectively mapping and detecting drought over large spatial areas.