Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Dissolution Efficiency of Tamoxifen Combined with Methacrylate Copolymers in Amorphous Solid Dispersions

Amorphous solid dispersions (SDs) containing poorly soluble tamoxifen dispersed in a meth(acrylate) copolymer combination were proposed as a controlled release system. The objective of this work was to investigate the characteristics and performance of the tamoxifen–polymer mixture and evaluate the changes in functionality through a supersaturating dissolution study condition while comparing it to a physical mixture at a fixed drug-loading proportion. Two polymers, Eudragit® L 100 and Eudragit® RL 100, were used to prepare SDs with a 1:1 polymer ratio, containing 10%, 20%, or 30% (wt/wt%) of tamoxifen, by the solvent evaporation method. A physical mixture containing 30% of tamoxifen was also prepared for comparison. SDs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Dissolution tests were conducted under non-sink conditions to verify the occurrence of drug recrystallization upon its release. Solid-state characterizations confirmed that the drug was in the amorphous state within the polymeric matrix. Tamoxifen release in an acidic medium was mainly affected by the increase in drug concentration caused by the possible loss of interactions that characterize the main polymer functionalities. At pH 7.4, supersaturation was slowly achieved while also contributing to the increase in the kinetic solubility of the drug. The physical mixture demonstrated the best overall performance, suggesting that the polymeric interactions may have negatively affected the drug release. The combination of polymers in the composing SD proved to be a promising strategy to tailor the delivery of poorly soluble drugs. Our study highlights important information on the behavior of tamoxifen as a poorly soluble drug in supersaturating dissolution conditions while released from SD systems.
“Certain Uncertainty: The Role of Internal Climate Variability in Projections of Regional Climate Change and Risk Management”

Internal climate variability co‐exists with anthropogenic climate change and places limits on the accuracy of regional climate projections due to its inherent unpredictability. This “certain” uncertainty in regional projections introduced by internal variability contrasts with uncertainty resulting from structural differences amongst climate models, which is potentially reducible as climate models improve. Initial‐condition “Large Ensembles” of simulations with individual climate models provide a new perspective on the expected range of future climate change outcomes. Their value for climate risk assessment, adaptation management, and decision‐making has yet to be fully realized.
Molecular screening of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins associated with samples of meat / Iraq

Staphylococcus aureus secreted many types of toxins accompanying Intestinal poisoning resulting from eating food contaminated with bacteria or their toxins. Five hundred meat samples were collected from local markets, including fresh, frozen, canned, sausage and hamburger to investigate their contamination with S.aureus and then determined their ability of these isolates to secrete enterotoxins by using polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the ratio of isolated S.aureus is 30 (6%) and the percentage of encoding genes for toxins is 30(100%), 0(0%), 3(10), 0(0%),0(0%),3(10), 2(6.7), 1(3.3), 0(0%) and 3(10) to sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, see, sei, sej and sel respectively.The result shows the S.aureus isolated from contamination meat able to produce different type to enterotoxins sea, sec, seg, see, sei, and sel and present the sea toxin is the most prevalence type of staphylococcus enterotoxins.
Characterizing gas-water interfacial and bulk-water partitioning for gas-phase transport of organic contaminants in unsaturated porous media

This study was performed to investigate the impact of interfacial and bulk-water partitioning on the retention and retardation of gas-phase contaminants during transport in unsaturated porous media. Gas-flow experiments were conducted using columns packed with three types of sandy porous media. Moisture contents were 11.9%, 16.0%, and 9.4% for the columns packed with glass beads, silica sand, and aquifer material, respectively. Contaminant retardation was the sum of retention by the gas, aqueous, and solid phases and accumulation at the gas−water interface. The results indicated that 29−73% of total trichloroethene retardation was due to accumulation at the gas−water interface, depending on porous media type. Partitioning into the bulk water accounted for 12−30% of total trichloroethene retardation for the various systems. Given the potential significance of interfacial and bulk-water retention for contaminant transport and remediation, it is important to consider methods for characterizing these processe.
Phenotypic adaptability and stability of herbaceous cotton genotypes in the Semiarid region of the Northeast of Brazil

ABSTRACT Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop areas in the Northeast region of Brazil present high edaphoclimatic variability, which contributes to a strong genotype versus environment interaction (G × E). This situation requires the use of adaptability and stability methodologies to study G × E interaction before the selection and recommendation of cultivars. Among these methodologies, the genotype + G × E (GGE) biplot analysis has been currently used and highly recommended. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the G × E of cotton genotypes through GGE biplot analysis, focusing on the identification of adapted and stable genotypes for the Semiarid region of the Northeast of Brazil. Four crop value and use tests were conducted in the municipalities of Apodi, state of Rio Grande do Norte, and Barbalha, state of Ceará, Brazil, in 2016 and 2017. A randomized block experimental design, with 17 treatments and four repetitions, was used. The treatments consisted of 17 cotton genotypes. The variables evaluated were: cotton seed and fiber yields. According to the analysis, the genotypes CNPA BA 2011-4436, CNPA BA 2011-1197, and CNPA BA 2010-1174 were stable and presented high adaptability to the evaluated region.
Achieving structured knowledge management with a novel online group decision support system

Knowledge management (KM) is a complicated process that involves socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization and requires close collaboration among the people involved. Although Nonaka proposed the SECI (Socialization, Externalization, Combination, Internalization) model and the concept of Ba, which provides a process-oriented view of knowledge creation and transfer, practicing it is rather ad hoc. COVID-19 has provided a chance for practitioners to find a new method for KM. In this study, we adapted a group problem-solving system called TeamSpirit and structured it as a Ba for the SECI model. We then compared TeamSpirit with two other implementations of Ba, email and face-to-face communication, to evaluate their effects on knowledge externalization, knowledge combination, and knowledge internalization. Then, we evaluated whether these knowledge-conversion processes could improve knowledge acquisition and intention to share knowledge. A 3 × 2 mixed factorial design experiment was conducted. The results show that (a) TeamSpirit was better than the others, and face-to-face was better than email for each of the three knowledge conversion processes (externalization, combination, and internalization) and (b) the better the team’s knowledge conversion process lead, the stronger its knowledge acquisition and knowledge-sharing intention.
Experimental and numerical study of ammonia combustion

The problems of oil resources and CO2 emissions becoming increasingly alarming, the search for alternatives to fossil fuels is an important concern of our society. Even though hydrogen has been recognized as a promising fuel, implementing a global hydrogen-based economy is at present a non-feasible approach unless a suitable storage medium could be found. To bypass such difficulties, the use of ammonia in a modified spark ignition engine has been suggested. Since hydrogen must still be produced to obtain ammonia in large amount, it can be seen as a H2 vector. The successful application of ammonia as an alternative transportation fuel should be based on a detailed understanding of its combustion characteristics. The main objective of this thesis is thus the study of the ammonia combustion reaction in several conditions of pressure and temperature. First of all, a low pressure ammonia flames structure study allows a more fundamental investigation of the ammonia consumption and products formation pathways. The elaboration of a kinetic mechanism able to reproduce the experimentally observed phenomena is the main objective of this first part. Then, the kinetic of ammonia under atmospheric pressure is investigated thanks to an ammonia laminar burning velocity study. Because of its low value, the laminar flame speed of ammonia in air is to date still unknown and in that way this part makes a significant contribution in the field of ammonia combustion research. This part allows also to validate the kinetic mechanism at atmospheric pressure. Finally, the combustion of ammonia in a spark ignition engine is experimentally investigated. The effects of the compression ratio, the spark timing and the equivalence ratio on the exhaust gases composition and the engine performances are analyzed. Such a study has never been performed for ammonia to the best of our knowledge.
The Effect of Governance on International Trade and the Mediating Role of Business Regulations

The purpose of the study is to investigate the mediating role of business regulations in between the relationship of governance and international trade. Data were collected from 181 countries and the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. It was found that the business regulations practiced by a country significantly influence its international trade, but the governance of the country has a significant indirect influence on its international trade. A full mediation was evident from the results, where the indirect effect of governance on international trade was observed to be fully mediated by business regulations. The study will contribute to guiding governments and regulatory bodies to improve governance and business regulatory environment to facilitate international trade.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Atmospheric PM2.5 during Winter Haze in Huang-gang, Central China: Characteristics, Sources and Health Risk Assessment

ABSTRACT Levels, compositions, sources and health risk of PM2.5-bound PAHs were measured at a regional monitoring site of Huang-gang in the winter of 2018. Samples were collected every morning, afternoon, evening and late night (LN). The average concentrations of PM2.5 and PAHs were 110.4 ± 48.3 μg m-3 and 25.6± 12.0 ng m-3, respectively. The concentration of PM2.5 was in the order of evening > morning > afternoon > LN, while PAHs concentration was in the order of evening > LN > morning > afternoon. According to PM2.5 concentration and its changing trend, the haze can be divided into three stages: early (low concentration, January 13–15, EHZ), medium (high concentration, January 16–22, MHZ) and late (concentration decreased rapidly, January 23–24, LHZ). A positive correlation (P < 0.01) was observed between PM2.5 and ∑16PAHs concentration only in MHZ. Besides, PAHs concentration was positively related to NOX concentration, CO concentration and temperature but negatively correlated with RH, independent of O3 concentration. The ratios of OC/EC indicated that the secondary aerosol had a great influence on the formation of haze. Three sources of PAHs including traffic emission, coal combustion and biomass combustion were extracted and quantified, accounting for 54.4%, 13.3% and 32.3% of PAHs, respectively. Potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) indicated the transmission of PM2.5 from Wuhan and local pollutant emission were crucial to the formation of haze. BaPeq concentration combined with ILCR values was used to evaluate health risk and the results showed this haze had potential health risk to both adults and children.
Drivers of the variability of the isotopic composition of water vapor
in the surface boundary layer

Abstract. Measurements of the isotopic composition of water vapor, δv, as well as measurements of the isotopic composition of evaporation and transpiration provide valuable insights in the hydrological cycle. Here we present measurements of δv in the surface boundary layer (SBL) in combination with eddy covariance (EC) measurements of the isotopic composition of evapotranspiration δET for both δD as well as δ18O over a full growing season above a managed beech forest in central Germany. Based on direct measurements of isoforcing IF and the height h of the planetary boundary layer (PBL), we provide an estimate of isoforcing-related changes in δv, revealing the influence of local evapotranspiration (ET) on δv. At seasonal time scales we find no evidence for a dominant control of δv by local ET. Rayleigh distillation could at most explain 35 % of the observed variability and we did not find indications for the influence of entrainment at seasonal time scales. Instead, we obtain a strong significant correlation (R2 ≈ 0.52; p
Carboxymethyl cellulose : Polyvinylamine complex hydrogel swelling

The swelling behavior of the polyelectrolyte complex films made from polyvinylamine (PVAm) or poly(vinylformamide-co-vinylamine) copolymers and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was studied as a function of polymer composition, pH, and salt concentration. Swelling is determined by the balance between ionic cross-link density, opposing swelling, with solvation and Donnan effects promoting swelling. Films containing excess ammonium groups gave the greatest swelling at low pH, whereas excess carboxyl groups enhanced swelling at high pH. Films with balanced charge stoichiometry (CMC:PVAm 3:1 w:w) gave the minimum swelling. High concentrations of sodium chloride increased swelling due to the decomposition (screening) of ionic cross-links, whereas calcium ion decreased swelling possibly because of calcium dicarboxylate cross-links. A simple swelling model based on the ionization behavior of dilute polymers and ionic cross-linking predicted the major swelling behaviors, including the effects of pH and polymer compos.
An Unprecedented Set of High‐Resolution Earth System Simulations for Understanding Multiscale Interactions in Climate Variability and Change

We present an unprecedented set of high‐resolution climate simulations, consisting of a 500‐year pre‐industrial control simulation and a 250‐year historical and future climate simulation from 1850 to 2100. A high‐resolution configuration of the Community Earth System Model version 1.3 (CESM1.3) is used for the simulations with a nominal horizontal resolution of 0.25° for the atmosphere and land models and 0.1° for the ocean and sea‐ice models. At these resolutions, the model permits tropical cyclones and ocean mesoscale eddies, allowing interactions between these synoptic and mesoscale phenomena with large‐scale circulations. An overview of the results from these simulations is provided with a focus on model drift, mean climate, internal modes of variability, representation of the historical and future climates, and extreme events. Comparisons are made to solutions from an identical set of simulations using the standard resolution (nominal 1°) CESM1.3 and to available observations for the historical period to address some key scientific questions concerning the impact and benefit of increasing model horizontal resolution in climate simulations. An emerging prominent feature of the high‐resolution pre‐industrial simulation is the intermittent occurrence of polynyas in the Weddell Sea and its interaction with an Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation. Overall, high‐resolution simulations show significant improvements in representing global mean temperature changes, seasonal cycle of sea‐surface temperature and mixed layer depth, extreme events and in relationships between extreme events and climate modes.
Drinking among friends: The role of personality in links between online exposure to peer drinking and adolescent alcohol use

The roles of conscientiousness and excitement seeking were investigated in the relationship between exposure to peer alcohol use online and adolescent alcohol consumption. It was hypothesized that higher levels of perceived peer alcohol use online would be associated with reports of higher adolescent alcohol consumption. Additionally, it was proposed that the relationship between perceived levels of peer alcohol use online and individual alcohol consumption would be stronger for adolescents lower in conscientiousness, and higher in excitement seeking, than it was in more conscientious, and less excitement-seeking students. Control variables included gender, pubertal timing, frequency of social networking site use, social networking site investment, and in-person peer alcohol norms. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey from a sample of 1,018 students (M = 16.45 years old, SD = 0.32 years). Higher levels of in-person peer drinking norms and social networking site alcohol exposure were associated with higher adolescent drinking. Furthermore, excitement seeking significantly moderated the relationship between social networking site alcohol exposure and alcohol use. Participants reporting higher excitement seeking appeared more susceptible to online alcohol exposure than those reporting lower excitement seeking. The current study contributes to understandings of adolescent drinking by demonstrating personality differences in adolescent susceptibility to online alcohol consumption norms.
Contributing Factors to Failed Oxytocin Induction among Women Giving Birth at Referral Hospitals of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, in 2018: A Case-control Study

Background & aim: Failed oxytocin induction of labor increases the rate of cesarean section and associated complications. The present study aimed to identify contributing factors to failed oxytocin induction among women who gave birth at the referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia, in 2018. Methods: This unmatched case-control study was conducted on a total of 336 parturient women (112 cases and 224 controls) at the referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia, within March 19 to May 18, 2018. Systematic and consecutive sampling methods were applied for the selection of controls and cases, respectively. Both the interviewer-administered questionnaire and medical chart review were utilized as tools for data collection. The validity of the tools was determined by content validity, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient as a measure of tool reliability was rendered at 0.82. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS software (version 23) using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: According to the obtained results, primiparity (AOR=6.24; 95% CI: 3.32-11.73), intermediate Bishop score (AOR=11.77; 95% CI: 5.19-26.71), emergency oxytocin induction (AOR=2.47; 95% CI: 1.31-4.68), and age of ≤ 30 years (AOR=2.16; 95% CI: 1.13-4.16) were considered the determinants of failed oxytocin induction. Conclusion: Considering the factors of primiparity, intermediate Bishop score (5-8) and the age of ≤ 30 years as determinants of failed oxytocin induction, it is recommended to use oxytocin induction after obtaining a favorable Bishop score.
Trying to Deteriorate an Attraction Effect: A Lesson for Challengers

The study is designed to answer a question: Can competitors override the effect of attraction that a particular firm’s product has been experiencing? The study demonstrates that sale promotions, particularly discount and rebate, could lead to the alteration of attitude. Data are analyzed by employing Amos 22.0 and SPSS 21.0. The findings are not far from the expectation, that after the promotion of the competitor’s product, the attraction effect is no longer remaining. The customers’ intention to buy the product promoted obviously increases. In addition, hypotheses relating with attraction effect and theory of planned behavior are supported.
Revisiting Feldstein–Horioka Puzzle: Evidence from SAARC Economies

In the macroeconomic perspective, domestic saving and investment constitute two important wheels that keep the growth process moving on towards stability. But when domestic savings tend to fly away to foreign countries for excess returns, the warranted domestic investment remains unattained thereby which impair the growth trend unless the gap is bridged by the foreign investment inflows. However, excess inflows of foreign investments may deteriorate current account balances, if not appropriately absorbed. In this pretext, this article revisited the Feldstein–Horioka puzzle with the twin-deficit hypothesis for SAARC countries. The results lend to support the validity of the twin-deficit hypothesis along with a low degree of association between domestic savings and investment in the region thereby justifying the argument that international capital movements or financial integration have increased in the post-reform era. This observation has significant policy implications for the sustained growth of the SAARC nations.
Effect of Poverty on Financial Development in Developing Countries

Numerous studies in the literature have investigated the effect of financial development on poverty, and tend to report a poverty reduction effect of financial development. The present paper considers the issue in the other way around, by examining the effect of poverty on financial development. In particular, it has investigated the financial development effect of poverty that passes through three main channels, including the education level, the level of trade openness, and the degree of export product concentration. The analysis is carried out using a sample of 97 developing countries over the period 1980-2017, and the two-step Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM). Results have shown that poverty genuinely affects financial development through these three channels. Specially, lower poverty rates induce greater financial development in countries that experience higher education levels. Similarly, a rise in poverty rates in the context of restrictive trade policies (that eventually result in lower levels of trade openness) undermines the development of the financial sector. Finally, higher poverty levels adversely affect financial development in countries that experience an increase in the level of export product concentration.