Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TiO2-La2O3 as Photocatalysts in the Degradation of Naproxen

The indiscriminate use of naproxen as an anti-inflammatory has been the leading cause of pollution in sewage effluents. Conversely, titanium dioxide is one of the most promising photocatalyst for the degradation of pollutants. Ti-La mixed oxides containing 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt. % of lanthanum were synthetized by sol-gel and tested as photocatalysts in the degradation of naproxen (NPX). The materials were further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD patterns resembled that of anatase titania. The Eg values, determined from the UV-Vis spectra, vary from 2.07 to 3.2 eV corresponded to pure titania. The photocatalytic activity of these materials showed a degradation of naproxen from 93.6 to 99.8 wt. % after 4 h under UV irradiation.
Exploring the Dynamics of Investors’ Decision Making in Pakistan Stock Market: A Study of Herding Behavior

Stock markets are often considered as a yardstick for economic growth and development. Therefore, understanding investment behavior in stock markets is pivotal for better regulation and promoting growth and stability. Hence current study is aimed at understanding the influence of one of the most significant factors, i.e. herding behavior on the Pakistan stock market. Besides, it also investigates the impact of demographical differences among investors. The herd behavior or tendency to follow peers is a counterintuitive behavior to the traditional paradigm of rationality and efficiency. This can influence the whole decision-making process by making it irrational. Data from (n=210) investors trading at Lahore and Islamabad are gathered to test this proposed linkage. Structural equation modeling is used for establishing these associations. The results revealed that herding significantly influences the rational decision-making process of investors. For a better and contextualized understanding of these results, demographical characteristics are considered, which indicate that a non-business related occupation, higher income and lower age are associated with a higher tendency towards herding, and conclusively demography plays a significant role. These findings can be extremely useful for investors, policymakers, and investment professionals and can be utilized to make the decision-making process optimal. Investors need to account for the influence of their inclination to follow peers and their occupation, income, and age before making any decision. Theoretically, these findings are the pioneer in providing a comprehensive linkage of the behavioral aspect of the stock market functioning and to explore the whole decision making process instead of focusing on a dimension.
Does financial development mediate the impact of remittances on sustainable human capital investment? New insights from SSA countries

Abstract Remittances play an important role in human capital development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly when it comes to helping families to pay for their children’s education, access health care and alleviate poverty. However, many countries on the continent lack the financial systems to efficiently facilitate the inflows of remittances and allow them to be used to their greatest potential such as investment in education. The education of children is particularly essential if Saharan Africa is to achieve sustainable development goal number four which aims to ensure inclusive and quality education for all by 2030 . This paper examines the impact of remittances on human capital development from 1996–2016 in sub-Saharan Africa and further explores the role financial development in this established nexus. The empirical results revealed that remittances positively influence human capital investment, but when interacted with financial development and regressed on human capital investment, we found remittances impact to be more pronounced and statistically influence human capital. This study recommends that policymakers develop proactive policies that facilitate the inflows of remittances. Our policy suggestions are based on the fact that remittance recipients in SSA countries do not have adequate funds to invest in human capital because of weak financial systems. Financial market reform is therefore paramount for attracting greater remittances into SSA countries which, in turn, could be harnessed to ease credit constraints and allow for greater investment into human capital.
The Impact of Lifestyle on Prostate Cancer: A Road to the Discovery of New Biomarkers

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers among men, and its incidence has been rising through the years. Several risk factors have been associated with this disease and unhealthy lifestyles and inflammation were appointed as major contributors for PCa development, progression, and severity. Despite the advantages associated with the currently used diagnostic tools [prostate-specific antigen(PSA) serum levels and digital rectal examination (DRE)], the development of effective approaches for PCa diagnosis is still necessary. Finding lifestyle-associated proteins that may predict the development of PCa seems to be a promising strategy to improve PCa diagnosis. In this context, several biomarkers have been identified, including circulating biomarkers (CRP, insulin, C-peptide, TNFα-R2, adiponectin, IL-6, total PSA, free PSA, and p2PSA), urine biomarkers (PCA3, guanidine, phenylacetylglycine, and glycine), proteins expressed in exosomes (afamin, vitamin D-binding protein, and filamin A), and miRNAs expressed in prostate tissue (miRNA-21, miRNA-101, and miRNA-182). In conclusion, exploring the impact of lifestyle and inflammation on PCa development and progression may open doors to the identification of new biomarkers. The discovery of new PCa diagnostic biomarkers should contribute to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Synthesis, Redox and Spectroscopic Properties of Pterin of Molybdenum Cofactors

Pterins are bicyclic heterocycles that are found widely across Nature and are involved in a variety of biological functions. Notably, pterins are found at the core of molybdenum cofactor (Moco) containing enzymes in the molybdopterin (MPT) ligand that coordinates molybdenum and facilitates cofactor activity. Pterins are diverse and can be widely functionalized to tune their properties. Herein, the general methods of synthesis, redox and spectroscopic properties of pterin are discussed to provide more insight into pterin chemistry and their importance to biological systems.
Export expansion, domestic investment, and economic growth in Nigeria

This paper seeks to investigate the nexus between export expansion, investment and output growth in Nigeria. In doing this, annual time series data, covering the periods from 1981 to 2019 were analysed using the “Johansen co-integration test”, VECM, and the “Granger-Causality test”. The study revealed an insignificant relationship between domestic investment and export expansion. Based on the Granger-Causality test, the result shows a bi-directional relationship between domestic investment and economic growth. These findings give evidence that domestic investment and economic growth are not viewed as sources of export expansion in Nigeria during the period under review. Therefore, changes in policies and regulations to speed up the export expansion of Nigeria will ultimately yield positive results to achieve high rates of stable economic growth. Policymakers in Nigeria should search for the alternative catalyst to stimulate domestic investment and economic growth geared towards promoting long-term export expansion in Nigeria effectively.
Salvadora persica's Biological Properties and Applications in Different Dental Specialties: A Narrative Review

Salvadora persica is a tree that belongs to the salvadorecea family. It is also known as Miswak, which is a popular natural toothbrush that was used centuries ago in oral hygiene by Muslims in all parts of the world, especially in the Middle East. Numerous researchers highlighted the biological activity of this plant in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacology. The purpose of this article is to narratively review the biological properties of Salvadora persica. In addition, it expresses variant applications of this herb in different dental specialties. Materials and Methods. The search of the literature was based on PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar using keywords: Salvadora persica, S. persica, Miswak, Dentistry, and Dental. All relevant articles were reviewed to check if they would fit within the scope of this review, and then, the information was extracted. Results. Multiple biological effects of S. persica have been reported including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and even antiulcer effects. Dental effects were discussed and presented. Conclusion. The wide biological range of Salvadora persica's effects is promising for dental and nondental fields and allows for an expanded clinical application that has otherwise not been discussed in the literature.
A Case Series of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Patients With Acute Leukemia

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory viral illness caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease often presents with non-specific symptoms, including fever, and fatigue, usually associated with respiratory symptoms (eg., cough) and other systemic involvement. The primary strategy to prevent transmission and reduce the disease severity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection is through vaccination. However, the virus had shown significant changes and mutations that resulted in the emergence of different strains. Each strain varies in its virulence, disease severity, and the body's immune system response. Previous reports showed that the Omicron variant causes mild disease. Little is known about the effect of Omicron in patients with acute leukemia. We present three patients with acute leukemia who had an infection with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Role of Absorption, Dedication, and Vigour on Turnover Intention of Colleges of Education Non-Academic Staff

Abstract: Staff turnover has been a recurring decimal in organisations. Due to mobility of skilled workers and competition over limited experienced workforce, most organisations strive to retain their employees. However, workers still show propensity to leave for many reasons – ranging from organisational variables to personal motives. This study examined vigour, dedication, and absorption as determinants of turnover intention among the non-academic staff of Colleges of Education in Ogun State, Nigeria. Two hundred and sixteen participants, randomly drawn from two public Colleges of Education, partook in the study. We collected data using two standardised instruments. One research question was raised to guide the study and the results affirmed the enquiry. Data was subjected to correlational, t-test, regression analysis and ANOVA to establish the relationships and prediction among the studied variables. Findings indicated that turnover intention, vigour, dedication, and absorption are variously significantly positively related. Further analysis revealed a significant influence of vigour, dedication, and absorption to the prediction of turnover intention of participants; accounting for 19.4% of the variance in the criterion variable. Dedication was the most potent positive indicator of turnover intention followed by absorption and vigour in that order. Building on the results, some recommendations were made.
The effect of rotary drying temperature on drying characteristic and
antioxidant activity of Etlingera elatior Jack

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of drying temperature on a rotary type of dryer for drying characteristics and antioxidant activity of Etlingera elatior flower. This study used a lab-scale rotary dryer which was a modification of the commercial oven heater from the market. The research design was a Randomized Block Design (RCBD) with one factor, i.e. the drying temperature, which consisted of four temperature levels, 60oC, 70oC, 80oC and 90oC. All experiments were repeated six times. The results showed that the drying of Etlingera elatior flowers at three different temperatures (70oC, 80oC and 90oC) required a shorter drying time than that of 60oC. The drying rate of the samples at 70oC, 80oC and 90oC was drastically decreased before the 200th min, while 60oC took a long time to 380 mins. The drying rate pattern with the drying temperature of 60oC showed a significantly lower total phenolic content of Etlingera flowers compared to 70oC, 80oC and 90oC, while there was no significant difference in total phenolic content among 70oC, 80oC and 90oC. In addition, different drying temperatures did not give a significant effect on the antioxidant activity based on the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl radical) method. This study proposed the effectiveness of drying using a rotary dryer in maintaining the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Etlingera flowers.
Barrier Effect in a Medium-Sized Brazilian City: An Exploratory Analysis Using Decision Trees and Random Forests

This study aims to examine if an urban road with intense motorized traffic in a medium-sized Brazilian city constitutes a barrier for walking trips. A questionnaire was conducted with 103 individuals in an area up to 800 m from the road selected for the study to obtain information about personal characteristics (age, income, etc.), social interactions in the neighborhood, and travel and mobility characteristics. We used the dataset to explore the potential of Decision Tree and Random Forest classification models to predict the users’ perception of the barrier effect, which was characterized by the dependent variables speed and volume (of motorized traffic). For 36.9% and 47.6% of respondents, traffic speed and traffic volume, respectively, represent a barrier to walking. The results also show that the following variables considerably affect the perception of the barrier effect of the respondents: distance from their residence to the studied road, time living at the address and in the study area, social connections in the neighborhood, and the street reported as the busiest one in the neighborhood. Identifying the variables with the largest influence on the perception of the barrier effect may be very useful for planning and policy initiatives.
European Journal of Educational Research The Effect of Learning by Teaching on Soft-Skill Improvement Among Undergraduate Students

: Learning by teaching is a technique where students teach an actual class to facilitate active learning. This paper reports ongoing research involving undergraduate students at an established university in Indonesia. The objective of this quantitative study was to find out the effect of this teaching technique in improving students’ 21st century skills. The sample was selected usi ng a cluster sampling technique, where 25 students who were English as a Foreign Language pre-service teachers were assigned to an experimental group, and the other 23 students were treated as a control group. The students in the experimental group were asked to conduct a workshop in groups to students from the same department at a different university. Each group selected one of the topics in their course syllabus. A pre- test measuring the students’ soft skills was conducted before the course started and after it finished. The results show that soft skills, which include accountability, communication, innovation, problem-solving, teamwork, professional working, and networking skills, improved significantly among students in the experimental group, but the improvement was not evident in the control group. Therefore, learning by teaching should be embraced as an alternative teaching technique when soft-skill development becomes a target of instruction.
Astragalin and Isoquercitrin Isolated from Aster scaber Suppress LPS-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses in Microglia and Mice

The current study investigated the anti-neuroinflammatory effects and mechanisms of astragalin (Ast) and isoquercitrin (Que) isolated from chamchwi (Aster scaber Thunb.) in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia and hippocampus of LPS induced mice. LPS induced increased cytotoxicity, nitric oxide (NO) production, antioxidant activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, protein kinase B phosphorylation, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) phosphorylation in LPS-treated microglial cells. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS also induced neuroinflammatory effects in the murine hippocampus. Ast and Que significantly reduced LPS-induced production of NO, iNOS, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the microglia and hippocampus of mice. Therefore, anti-inflammatory effects on MAPK signaling pathways mediate microglial cell and hippocampus inflammation. In LPS-activated microglia and hippocampus of LPS-induced mice, Ast or Que inhibited MAPK kinase phosphorylation by extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 signaling proteins. Ast and Que inhibited LPS-induced ROS generation in microglia and increased 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging. In addition, LPS treatment increased the heme oxygenase-1 level, which was further elevated after Ast or Que treatments. Ast and Que exert anti-neuroinflammatory activity by down-regulation of MAPKs signaling pathways in LPS-activated microglia and hippocampus of mice.
Metabolic-Syndrome-Related Comorbidities in Narcolepsy Spectrum Disorders: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

Narcolepsy types 1 (NT1) and 2 (NT2) and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) are thought to be a disease continuum known as narcolepsy spectrum disorders (NSDs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with metabolic-syndrome-related disorders (MRDs) among patients with NSD. Japanese patients with NSD (NT1, n = 94; NT2, n = 83; and IH, n = 57) aged ≥35 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. MRD was defined as having at least one of the following conditions: hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Demographic variables and MRD incidence were compared among patients in the respective NSD categories. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the factors associated with MRDs. Patients with NT1 had a higher body mass index (BMI) and incidence of MRD than that had by those with NT2 or IH. Age, BMI, and the presence of OSA were significantly associated with the incidence of MRD in NSDs. Age and BMI in NT1, BMI and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQB1*06:02 positivity in NT2, and only age in IH were factors associated with the incidence of MRD. Obesity should be carefully monitored in narcolepsy; however, NT2 with HLA-DQB1*06:02 positive should be followed up for the development of MRD even without obesity.
Modelling 5-km Running Performance on Level and Hilly Terrains in Recreational Runners

Simple Summary In the last decades, performance models have helped to comprehend the mechanisms involved in long-term physical performance. In addition, predictive models have aided in the evaluation and prescription of physical training. Here, we tested the hypothesis that physiological assessments under inclined conditions would better explain hilly running performance. We also checked the predictive role of running biomechanical, anthropometric, and neuromuscular factors. Velocity associated with maximal oxygen consumption was more predictive when assessed in inclined conditions (7%) than testing at level. Secondarily, ventilatory thresholds submaximal heart rate improved the performance models at hilly and level conditions. Spatiotemporal, strength, and anthropometric factors were not determinants of performance. Physiological assessments in inclined conditions predict 5-km running performance at hilly terrains in higher degree than evaluations at level in endurance runners. Abstract Incline and level running on treadmills have been extensively studied due to their different cardiorespiratory and biomechanical acute responses. However, there are no studies examining the performance determinants of outdoor running on hilly terrains. We aimed to investigate the influence of anthropometrics, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory and gait spatiotemporal parameters during level (0%) and inclined (+7%) running on performance in level and hilly 5-km races. Twenty male recreational runners completed two 5-km outdoor running tests (0% vs. +7% and −7%), and two submaximal (10 km·h−1) and incremental treadmill tests at 0 and 7% slopes, after complete laboratory evaluations. The velocity at maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) evaluated at 7% incline and level treadmill running were the best performance predictors under both hilly (R2 = 0.72; p < 0.05) and level (R2 = 0.85; p < 0.01) conditions, respectively. Inclusion of ventilatory and submaximal heart rate data improved the predictive models up to 100%. Conversely, none of the parameters evaluated in one condition contributed to the other condition. The spatiotemporal parameters and the runners’ strength levels were not associated to outdoor performances. These results indicate that the vVO2max evaluated at similar slopes in the lab can be used to predict 5-km running performances on both level and hilly terrains.
Comparison between Vernier-cascade and MZI as transducer for biosensing with on-chip spectral filter

Abstract The Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and the Vernier-cascade are highly responsive photonic sensors with large design freedom. They are therefore very suitable for interrogation through a broadband source and an on-chip spectral filter, a sensing scheme that is well equipped for point-of-care applications. In this work, the MZI is shown to outperform the Vernier-cascade through a better minimum detectable wavelength shift as well as a higher power efficiency, indicating its superiority in this sensing scheme. Fabricated MZIs yield bulk detection limits down to 8.8×10−7 refractive index units (RIU) in a point-of-care compatible measuring setup, indicating the potential of the proposed sensing scheme.
Thermal time indices for some mustard genotypes in the Jammu region

Prevailing weather conditions during the whole crop growing season have direct bearing upon the phenological events of the crop which ultimately affect the crop yield. The effect of temperature, determining the phenological behavior of the crop, can be assessed by accumulated heat units. The duration of each growth phase is a result of crop response to external environmental factors. The concept of heat units has been applied to correlate the phenological development of different crops to predict grain yield and physiological maturity (Swan et al., 1989) of the crop. Thermal time effect has been described as the independent variable to delineate plant growth and development (Dwyer and Stewart, 1986.) Temperature based agrometeorological indices such as growing degree days (GDD), heliothermal units (HTU) and photothermal units (PTU) are based on the concept that real time to attain the phenological stage is linearly related to temperature in the range between base temperature and optimum temperature (Monteith, 1981).
Arch Dam Failure Diagnosis Applying Micro-Planes Damage Based Framework

A recently new developed set of constitutive equations which simulating the mechanical behavior of plane concrete have been implemented for monitoring the probability of cracking phenomenon within an arch concrete dam . The applied constitutive model was build on the basis of combination of micro-plane theory and damage framework. This model had been verified through comparing numerical results with experimental ones. The case study is a high elevated concrete arch concrete dam entitled Liroo dam. Obtained analysis results demonstrated that under proposed earthquake excitations, dam experiences some cracks near its middle crest. (Journal of American Science. 2010;6(12):102-107). (ISSN: 1545-1003).