Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selective synthesis of E-isomers of aldoximes via a domino aza-Michael/retro-Michael reaction

A highly stereoselective synthesis of E-isomer of aldoximes was developed through a base-catalysed domino aza-Michael/retro-Michael reaction of hydroxylamine and 2-(R-benzylidene)malononitrile. This reaction generates (E)-aldoxime diastereomer in high yields (eight examples, isolated yields of 82-93 %), excellent diastereomeric purity (diastereomeric ratio higher than 95: 5 by 1H NMR), and proceeds under mild reaction conditions (aqueous NaOH, pH 12, room temperature, 4 h).
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and male infertility risk

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Background: 18 previous meta-analyses have been published on the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C polymorphisms with male infertility risk. However, results of the previous meta-analyses were still inconsistent. Moreover, their meta-analyses did not assess false-positive report probabilities except one study. Furthermore, many new studies have been published, and therefore an updated meta-analysis and re-analysis of systematic previous meta-analyses were performed to further explore these issues. Objectives: To determine the association between MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and male infertility risk. Methods: Crude odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the association between MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and male infertility risk. We used the Bayesian false discovery probability (BFDP) to assess the credibility of statistically significant associations. Results: Fifty-nine studies were included concerning the MTHFR C677T and 28 studies were found on the MTHFR A1298C with male infertility risk. Overall, the MTHFR C677T was associated with increased male infertility risk in overall populations, Africans, East Asians, West Asians, South Asians, azoospermia, and Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). In further sensitivity analysis and BFDP test, the positive results were only considered as “noteworthy” in the overall population (TT vs CC: BFDP = 0.294, CT + TT vs CC: BFDP = 0.300, T vs C: BFDP = 0.336), East Asians (TT vs CC: BFDP = 0.089, TT vs CT + CC: BFDP = 0.020, T vs C: BFDP < 0.001), West Asians (TT vs CC: BFDP = 0.584), hospital-based studies (TT vs CC: BFDP = 0.726, TT vs CT + CC: BFDP = 0.126), and OAT (TT vs CT + CC: BFDP = 0.494) for MTHFR C677T. In addition, a significantly increased male infertility risk was found in East Asians and population-based studies for MTHFR A1298C. However, we did not find that the positive results were considered as “noteworthy” in the overall and all subgroup analyses for MTHFR A1298C. Conclusions: In summary, this study indicates that the MTHFR C677T is associated with increased male infertility risk in East Asians, West Asians, and OAT. No significant association was observed on the MTHFR A1298C with male infertility risk.
Understanding Time in Natural Language

Time is an important dimension when we describe the world because the world is evolving over time and many facts are time-sensitive. Understanding time is thus an important aspect of natural language understanding and many applications may rely on it, e.g., information retrieval, summarization, causality, and question answering. My thesis research has so far focused on a key component of it, temporal relation extraction. That is, given a pair of events or actions, determine which of them occurred ﬁrst (or other temporal relations between them, e.g., simultaneous or overlapping). The task is challenging because the actual timestamps of those events or actions are rarely expressed explicitly and their temporal order has to be inferred, from lexical cues, between the lines, and often based on strong background knowledge. In addition, collecting enough and high-quality annotations to facilitate machine learning algorithms for the task is also diﬃcult, which makes it even more challenging to investigate the task. My contribution has been along three directions. One is the machine learning direction , where I propose to better exploit the structure induced by the transitivity property of temporal relations in the structured learning framework [1-2]; two is to inject human prior knowledge of the typical temporal ordering of events to help resolving cases lack of contextual information [3-4]; three is the natural language perspective , where I investigate how temporal relations are expressed (from the authors’ standpoint) and perceived (from the readers’ standpoint) [5]. Integrating these improvements, my current sys-tem signiﬁcantly improves the state-of-the-art temporal relation extraction performance by approximately 20% in F 1 . My current system is made public through this online demo
An analytical study of the hydrogen-air reaction mechanism with application to scramjet combustion

A chemical kinetic mechanism for the combustion of hydrogen has been assembled and optimized by comparing the observed behavior as determined in shock tube and flame studies with that predicted by the mechanism. The reactions contained in the mechanism reflect the current state of knowledge of the chemistry of the hydrogen/air system, and the assigned rate coefficients are consistent with accepted values. It was determined that the mechanism is capable of satisfactorily reproducing the experimental results for a range of conditions relevant to scramjet combustion. Calculations made with the reaction mechanism for representative scramjet combustor conditions at Mach 8, 16, and 25 showed that chemical kinetic effects can be important and that combustor models which use nonequilibrium chemistry should be used in preference to models that assume equilibrium chemistry. For the conditions examined the results also showed the importance of including the HO2 chemistry in the mechanism. For Mach numbers less than 16, the studies suggest that an ignition source will most likely be required to overcome slow ignition chemistry. At Mach 25, the initial temperature and pressure was high enough that ignition was rapid and the presence of an ignition source did not significantly affect reaction rates.
Kilo what? Default units increase value sensitivity in joint evaluations of energy efficiency

The unit in which numerical information is presented can have a strong influence on how decision makers evaluate and choose between available choice options. The present work examines the influence of frequently used default units on judgments and decisions of energy efficiency. Across three experiments (Ntotal = 497), our results provide evidence that value sensitivity increases by about 25% in joint evaluation mode when a product attribute is presented in the default unit versus a non-default unit. As a result, presenting an attribute in the default unit led to more favorable evaluations of superior products and less favorable evaluations of inferior products. This result was robust to changes in the numerical magnitude of the non-default unit. Moreover, when joint evaluation was performed across different units, products described using the default unit were evaluated more favorably than products described using a non-default unit. More favorable evaluations based on the default unit translated into a higher willingness to pay for efficiency advantages. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of default units to guide informed consumer judgments and effective energy efficiency labeling.
Impact of microteaching training on prospective teachers’ performance

This study observed the impact of microteaching training in comparison with traditional teaching on student teachers’ performance while practicing teaching. Fifty student teachers of the Regional Institute for Teacher Education female Abbottabad comprised the sample of the study. Pre-test post-test equivalent group design was used for the experiment. For data collection valid and reliable observation sheet was adopted. Pre-test post-test data were analyzed. Pre-test findings showed the same level of performance of student teachers of both control and experimental groups. Post-test t test application indicated a significant difference between the performance of student teachers of the control and experimental group. Comparatively the performance of prospective teachers of the experimental group was better than the performance of student teachers of the control group in the use of set induction, presentation, questioning, and students’ reinforcement skill. By the application of microteaching skills, the overall teaching performance of the student teachers gets better. Hence, it is suggested that inclusion of microteaching with its proper application may essentially be made. So, the student teachers may put into use microteaching skills in their professional careers for better teaching performance.
How Are Acquirers and Targets Different?

To help understand mergers and acquisitions (M&As), this paper utilizes the most recent M&A data (1991-2007) to establish empirical facts on a variety of performance measures for M&A acquirers, targets, and non-participants. Unlike the finance literature which mainly focuses on abnormal returns, our performance measures include firm size, technology, productivity, and profitability. Generally, prior to M&As and during post-merger period, acquirers perform better than targets, whereas targets perform better than non-participants. Better acquirers purchase better targets. The gap between an acquirer’s performance and its target’s performance is smaller in within-industry M&As than in cross-industry M&As. Firms with better performance prior to M&As are more likely to bring success to their M&As.
Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Personality Traits: A relationship Study

The present study had two main objectives; first, to discover the relationships between job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and personality traits among employees of AW (Air Weapon Complex), Second, to find out the age, salary, marital status, and education differences on job satisfaction and organizational commitment of employees. In present study three instrument; Job Satisfaction Scale JSS (Macdonald & Maclntyre, 1997), Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) (Mowday, Steer, & Porter, 197), and Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) (Rentfrow, Gosling & Swann, 2003); were administered to a sample of (N=100) along with demographic sheet. Results of the study revealed significant positive correlation between job satisfaction and organizational commitment of employees; significant negative association of neuroticism with job satisfaction and organizational commitment; extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness showed significant positive correlation with job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Findings of the study also showed significant age, education, salary, and marital status differences on job satisfaction and organizational commitment as all these demographic variables were positive correlates of job satisfaction and organizational commitment.
THE ROLE OF RECENT EXPOSURE

While monolingual speakers can use contrastive pitch accents to predict upcoming referents, bilingual speakers do not always use this cue predictively in their L2. The current study examines the role of recent exposure for predictive processing in native German (L1) second language learners of English (L2). In Experiment 1, participants followed instructions to click on two successive objects, for example, Click on the red carrot/duck. Click on the green/GREEN carrot (where CAPS indicate a contrastive L+H* accent). Participants predicted a repeated noun following a L+H* accent in the L1, but not in the L2, where processingwas delayed. Experiment 2 shows that after an exposure periodwith highly consistent prosodic cues, bilinguals engaged in predictive processing in both their L1 and L2. However, inconsistent prosodic cues showed different effects on bilinguals’ L1 and L2 predictive processing. The results are discussed in terms of exposure-based and resource-deficit models of processing.
Experimental perspectives on the semantics and pragmatics of plurality

Plural morphology in English is associated with a ‘more-than-one’ meaning. For example, a sentence like (1a), in contrast to its singular counterpart in (1b), is generally interpreted as conveying (2). This data point in itself is unproblematic: on the basis of our intuitions about (1a), we might simply conclude that the literal meaning contributed by plural morphology precisely excludes singularities among the possible denotations of the predicate, as proposed for instance by Chierchia (1998).
Azdejković Dragan* Marković Dušan** THE IMPACT OF CROSS-BORDER ACQUISITIONS IN SERBIA ON PRODUCTIVITY, WAGES, AND EMPLOYMENT

* University of Belgrade, Republic of Serbia; E-mail: azdr@ekof.bg. ac.rs ** University of Belgrade, Republic of Serbia; E-mail: dusanm@ekof.bg. ac.rs JEL CLASSIFICATION: F23, F61,G34, P32 ABSTRACT: Globalization created a new business environment, characterized by intensive privatization and economic liberalization. The changed business environment opened the way to increased use of crossborder acquisitions, which make the lion’s share of foreign direct investment in transition economies. The acquisitions accelerate transition, facilitating the restructuring of state-owned enterprises and making them more efficient. This paper analyses the impact of cross-border acquisitions in Serbia, an economy in transition, on employee productivity, employment, and wages in acquisition targets. Statistical analysis of a sample comprising 79 cross-border acquisitions carried out in Serbia in the period 2003-2009 shows that the change of ownership had a positive impact on employee productivity and real wages, while the number of employees in the acquired enterprises decreased.
Un co rre cte d P ro of VAT NOTCHES , VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION , AND BUNCHING : THEORY

Using administrative tax records for U.K. businesses, we document both bunching in annual turnover below the VAT registration threshold and persistent voluntary registration by almost half of the firms below the threshold. We develop a conceptual framework that can simultaneously explain these two apparently conflicting facts. The framework also predicts that higher intermediate input shares, lower product-market competition, and a lower share of business to consumer sales lead to voluntary registration. The predictions are exactly the opposite for bunching. We test the theory using linked VAT and corporation tax records from 2004 to 2014, finding empirical support for these predictions.
PERSPECTIVES OF FOREIGN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ON HEALTHCARE SERVICES USED IN BRAZIL

1,*Maria da Conceição dos Santos Oliveira Cunha, 1Ana Gesselena da Silva Farias, 1Raylla Araújo Bezerra, 1Francisca Mayra de Sousa Melo, 1Darrielle Gomes Alves Mororó, 1Alexsandro Batista de Alencar, 2Carolina Maria de Lima Carvalho, 2Emanuella Silva Joventino, 2Ana Caroline Rocha de Melo Leite, 2Lydia Vieira Freitas dos Santos, 2Violeta Maria de Siqueira Holanda, 2Thiago Moura de Araújo and 2Márcio Flávio Moura de Araújo
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND ITS PERIODIC VARIATION OF ENDANGERED MUD EEL Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton) FROM MEGHALAYA, INDIA

Reproductive biology of an endangered freshwater, air breathing mud eel, Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton) was analyzed to identify its peak breeding season. The samples were collected from January 2016-February 2018. In males, highest GSI value of 3.4±0.8 was observed during the month of May and lowest value of 0.02±0.1 was observed during the month of September. Similarly in case of females, highest GSI value of 7.33±0.081 was observed during the month of May and the lowest GSI value of 0.27±0.089 was observed during the month of September. Thus this indicates the maturity of the species which corresponding to the breeding period. Monthly variation in the fecundity of female M. cuchia was also calculated and found out that the fecundity of female M. cuchia was highest during the month of May with a peak value of 924 eggs (length= 78cm, weight= 344 gms) and lowest during the month of September with a value of 150 eggs (length= 70cm, weight= 365 gms). Ova diameter was analyzed during breeding season and observed to vary from 0.0 to 4.0 mm during September to May. However, this analysis implies that highest GSI value in May is indicative of the fact that M. cuchia may have peak breeding season in May.
Numerical Investigation of a High Momentum Jet Flame at Elevated Pressure: A Quantitative Validation with Detailed Experimental Data

The development of efficient low emission combustion systems requires methods for an accurate and reliable prediction of combustion processes. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in combination with combustion modelling is an important tool to achieve this goal. For an accurate computation adequate boundary conditions are crucial. Especially data for the temperature distribution on the walls of the combustion chamber are usually not available. The present work focuses on numerical simulations of a high momentum jet flame in a single nozzle FLOX® type model combustion chamber at elevated pressure. Alongside the balance equations for the fluid the energy equation for the solid combustor walls is solved. To assess the accuracy of this approach, the temperature distribution on the inner combustion chamber wall resulting from this Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) simulation is compared to measured wall temperatures. The simulation results within the combustion chamber are compared to detailed experimental data. This includes a comparison of the flow velocities, temperatures as well as species concentrations. To further assess the benefit of including the solid domain in a CFD simulation the results of the CHT simulation are compared to results of a CFD computation where constant temperatures are assumed for all walls of the combustion chamber.
Analysis of the internal anatomy of mandibular molars using different cone-beam computed tomography protocols

Introduction and Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the root canal anatomy variations of permanent mandibular molars using three different cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) protocols. Material and methods: Thirty-five freshly extracted first and second mandibular molars were collected and subjected to three CBCT protocols: i-CAT Classic (ICC); i-CAT Next Generation (ICN), and PreXion 3D (PXD). Images were evaluated by two previously calibrated and experienced endodontists. The morphological root canal configurations were classified according to Vertucci. Data were analyzed for frequency, and the binomial and Kappa tests were then performed (α = 0.05). Results: ICC and ICN were able to diagnose a higher percentage of anatomical variations in the mesial roots. In this same root, Vertucci’s type V was the most prevalent, and in distal was the type I. In comparisons of CBCT techniques for agreement, significant differences in the mesial root canals were found in the following: ICC versus (vs) ICN; ICC vs PXD; and ICN vs PXD (p <0.001). However, there were no statistical differences in
The Effectiveness of the Learning Stations Strategy on Developing Mathematical Power and Mindfulness for Elementary Classroom Student Teachers at Al– Zaytoonah University of Jordan

This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of using the learning stations strategy in developing the mathematical power and mindfulness of elementary classroom student teachers at AlZaytoonah University of Jordan. The purposive research sample in this study consisted of two groups of elementary classroom student teachers: an experimental group (30 students) who studied geometrical topics by means of the learning stations strategy and a control group (28 students) who studied the same geometrical topics via traditional methods. To achieve the aims of this study two tests were designed to measure mathematical power: a mathematical knowledge test and a mathematical processes test. In addition, a mindfulness scale was also utilised by the researchers in this study. Prepost-tests were conducted on both groups; moreover, the data was analysed using independent samples and Eta square. The results revealed the effectiveness of learning the stations strategy in improving both mathematical power (i.e. mathematical knowledge and mathematical processes) and mindfulness for elementary classroom student teachers.
Effect of Long-Term Consumption of a Probiotic Bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, in Milk on Dental Caries and Caries Risk in Children

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, ATCC (LGG), has shown antagonism to many bacteria including mutans streptococci. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study was designed to examine whether milk containing LGG has an effect on caries and the risk of caries in children when compared with normal milk. 594 children, 1–6 years old, from 18 municipal day-care centres were included. The children received the milk with meals from coded containers 5 days a week in the day-care centres for 7 months. The children’s oral health was recorded at baseline and at the end, using WHO criteria. The caries risk was calculated based on clinical and microbiological data, comprising mutans streptococcus levels from dental plaque and saliva. The risk was classified as high if the child had a dmft/DMFT or initial caries score c0, and a mutans streptococcus count a105 CFU/ml. The results showed less dental caries in the LGG group and lower mutans streptococcus counts at the end of the study. LGG was found to reduce the risk of caries significantly (OR = 0.56, p = 0.01; controlled for age and gender, OR = 0.51, p = 0.004). The effect was particularly clear in
VALUE RELEVANCE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXPENDITURE AMONG LISTED FIRMS AT THE NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE

Companies have increasingly used corporate social responsibility expenditure on social activities like education, sports and health activities to boost their corporate image and brand value with the intention of translating this into a favorable market valuation in line with the social impact theory. Accordingly, this study aims to establish how corporate social responsibility expenditure on social activities particularly education, sports and health affects the market value of publicly listed companies at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). The study relies on a census of 12 qualifying companies over the study period of 5 years of 2015 through 2019 based on semi-annual financial statement and NSE secondary data on expenditures and values respectively. To achieve this objective the study relies on the descriptive research design and pooled multivariate linear regression are used in the study to establish the effect. Based on the t-statistic and p-value at 95% confidence interval, the findings reject the null hypotheses and show that all the three expenditures on social programmes have a positive effect on market value of the companies listed at the NSE. The study was limited on its focus on public companies on an aggregate level and therefore recommends further study based on private companies, the various segments of the NSE and by use of the panel analysis model. It further recommends that expenditure be diversified to a variety of social programmes so as to have a strong joint effect on market value.