Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth and characterization of L‐alanine doped KDP crystals

Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KDP) is an excellent inorganic nonlinear optical (NLO) material with different device applications. Most of amino acids possess NLO property; therefore, it is of interest to dope them in KDP crystals. In the present study, amino acid L‐alanine doped KDP crystals were grown by slow aqueous solvent evaporation technique. The doping of L‐alanine was confirmed by the paper chromatography, the CHN analysis and the FT‐IR spectroscopy. The powder XRD was carried out to assess the single phase nature of the samples. The effect of doping on thermal stability of the crystals was studied by TGA and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of dehydration were evaluated. As the amount of doping increased the thermal stability of crystals decreased. However, the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency and the UV‐Vis spectroscopy studies indicated that as the L‐alanine doping increased the SHG efficiency and optical transmission percentage increased. The dielectric behavior of the samples has been studied. The variation of dielectric constant, dielectric loss (tanδ), a.c. resistivity and a.c. conductivity with frequency of applied field in the range from 100 Hz to 100 kHz was studied. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss decreased with increase the value of frequency of applied field. The dielectric constant and the dielectric loss values of L‐alanine doped KDP crystals were lower than the pure KDP crystals. The results are discussed. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Kinetics of ammonium adsorption and desorption by the natural zeolite clinoptilolite

The kinetics of NH 4+ adsorption and desorption were investigated on the natural zeolite clinoptilolite to ascertain its ability to adsorb and release the important plant nutrient N in its NH 4+ form at various pH values and initial NH 4+ concentrations. Kinetics of NH 4+ adsorption were evaluated on the samples using solutions containing 140.1, 280.2, 560.4, and 840.6 mg L -1 of NH 4+-N at pH 4, 5, 6, and 7, equilibrated for 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 120 min. Samples for NH 4+ desorption were equilibrated with 70.1, 280.2, 560.4, and 1401 mg L -1 NH 4+-N solution at pH 4, 5, 6, and 7 for 2.5 h, and adsorbed NH 4+ extracted with 2 M KCI for 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 300 min. Equilibrium time for NH 4+ adsorption ranged from 60 min for 140.1 mg L -1 initial NH 4+-N concentration at pH 4 to 120 min for 840.6 mg L -1 initial NH 4+-N concentration at pH 7. Desorption was nearly complete in 150 min for low initial NH 4+ concentrations and 200 min for high initial NH 4+ concentrations. Amounts of NH 4+ sorbed increased with increasing pH and initial NH 4+ concentrations. Models evaluated included the first-order kinetics, modified Freundlich, parabolic diffusion, Elovich, and heterogeneous diffusion. All the models adequately described the NH 4+ adsorption process, with r 2 values ranging from 0.955 to 0.999. With the exception of first-order kinetics, they also described the desorption process well, with r 2 values ranging from 0.897 to 0.999, for all pH and initial NH 4+ concentrations. Reaction rate coefficients (k) were calculated from the modified Freundlich model and ranged from 0.134 to 0.193 min -1 for the adsorption process, and 0.129 to 0.226 min -1 for the desorption process. The models indicated that NH 4+ adsorption and desorption by the zeolite was diffusion controlled. Data from this study indicated the potential use of the tested natural zeolite as an NH 4+ adsorbent and a controlled-release NH 4 + fertilizer.
Electrohydrodynamic force and scaling laws in surface dielectric barrier discharges

The electrohydrodynamic force generated by surface dielectric barrier discharges is analyzed with a fluid mode under conditions where the electrode above the dielectric surface is the anode. The calculated current is composed of successive large pulses associated with filamentary discharges spreading along the dielectric surface, separated by low current periods where the discharge is in a transient “coronalike” regime. The contribution of the corona discharges to the overall force is by far dominant. An important result is that the extension of the region above the surface where the electrohydrodynamic force is significant depends on the product of the dielectric layer capacitance and the rate of voltage increase (spatial extension is larger when this parameter is smaller), but that the total, integrated force is not very sensitive to these parameters.
Prevalence of Faecal Carriage of Salmonella Serotypes and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern among Asymptomatic Food Handlers

Salmonella enterica serotype typhi is a gram-negative bacterium that is responsible for typhoid fever and has been a burden on developing nations for generations. Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection due to a specific type of Salmonella that causes symptoms. They may vary from mild to severe, and usually begin 6 to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several days. A hospital based, prospective, cross-sectional study, was conducted in Microbiology laboratory-KMC hospital Ambedkar Circle from October 2012 to March 2014.The study included screening of 200 food handlers working in the mess of seven hostels, and in the canteens of three hospitals, for Salmonella carriage. Blood cultures were performed using the BacT/Alert system, Bio’Merieux. Isolates obtained from blood cultures were identified by the automated Vitek II system, Bio’Merieux. Studying the hygiene standards of the food handlers is necessary because, a good hygiene can reduce the transmission rate of various infections, especially enteric fever. RAPD is a rapid typing method based on random amplification of polymorphic DNA segments. Here, a short oligonucleotide of arbitrary sequence is used to prime DNA synthesis by accessing random segments of genomic DNA at low stringency to reveal polymorphism. Between 16 clinical isolates, 6 various Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were observed. Clinical S.Typhi isolates and isolates from healthy carriers are genetically different.
A Deep Learning Based Cost Model for Automatic Code Optimization

Enabling compilers to automatically optimize code has been a longstanding goal for the compiler community. Efficiently solving this problem requires using precise cost models. These models predict whether applying a sequence of code transformations reduces the execution time of the program. Building an analytical cost model to do so is hard in modern x86 architectures due to the complexity of the microarchitecture. In this paper, we present a novel deep learning based cost model for automatic code optimization. This model was integrated in a search method and implemented in the Tiramisu compiler to select the best code transformations. The input of the proposed model is a set of simple features representing the unoptimized code and a sequence of code transformations. The model predicts the speedup expected when the code transformations are applied. Unlike previous models, the proposed one works on full programs and does not rely on any heavy feature engineering. The proposed model has only 16% of mean absolute percentage error in predicting speedups on full programs. The proposed model enables Tiramisu to automatically find code transformations that match or are better than state-of-the-art compilers without requiring the same level of heavy feature engineering required by those compilers.
Dark Trading at the Midpoint: Pricing Rules, Order Flow and Price Discovery

We exploit a regulatory discontinuity in the minimum pricing increment, or tick size, to explore the mechanism by which tick size regulations benefit “dark” trading venues at the expense of traditional stock exchanges and the associated effects on displayed liquidity and price discovery. Under Rule 612 of Regulation NMS, orders priced at or above $1.00 per share are required to be priced in penny increments, while all other orders can be quoted in subpennies. Using all trading data from 2011-2013, our regression discontinuity analysis of this $1.00 cut-off confirms that the penny tick size facilitates “queue-jumping” of exchanges by dark pools; however, we show that the most significant portion of such queue-jumping occurs by means of trades at the midpoint of the NBBO—a form of trading that is generally considered to have significant benefits for institutional investors. Further, while queue-jumping in dark venues is associated with a significant decrease in the quantity of displayed liquidity on public exchanges, we show that the largest effect is on liquidity providers utilizing high frequency trading (HFT) algorithms, thus revealing an important inverse relation between dark trading and HFT. Finally, notwithstanding the drop in displayed liquidity associated with dark trading, a tick size rule that encourages queue-jumping of exchanges’ limit orders books is associated with an overall grater rate of actual trading. In light of recent concerns about HFT, these findings suggest that the deterioration of liquidity on public exchanges facilitated by wider tick sizes may be less detrimental for market quality than previously believed. They also emphasize the difficulty of stemming the flow of trades away from stock exchanges without prohibiting midpoint trading within non-exchange venues.
Depassivation of the reinforcement in a concrete exposed to seawater

The main cause of deterioration of concrete infrastructure exposed to seawater is the corrosion of reinforcement. Some mechanisms are proposed to investigate the corrosion process. One of these is the degradation of this layer by chemical reactions with aggressive agents from the outside. However, this mechanism is little known and its model is not completed. A theoretical investigation is performed in order to explain dissolution/precipitation of oxides/hydroxides of the passive layer of concrete steels exposed to seawater. The dissolution of lepidocrocite with simultaneous precipitation akageneite is a first step in the depassivation of reinforcement. Furthermore, the result shows some threshold chloride concentration to initiate corrosion of reinforced concrete.
Contraceptive (mis)education among young adults in Higher Education

Method: This was a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study with a non-probability sample of convenience consisting of 365 Higher Education students from Northern Portugal. We included students attending the fi rst year of Teaching Degree programs, therefore, younger students who would have had their Secondary Education under Law no. 60/2009 (August 6) would be included (this Law currently regulates sex education in schools). Data were collected using a questionnaire, which was submitted to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis with a confi dence level of 95%.
Effect of encapsulating agent and drying air temperature on the characteristics of microcapsules of anthocyanins and polyphenols from juçara (Euterpe edulis Martius)

Anthocyanins are natural pigments that provide attractive colours to food products and have potential health benefits. These pigments are present in large quantities in juçara palm plant (Euterpe edulis Martius). However, anthocyanins are unstable under certain technological processes, thereby motivating the use of microencapsulation to maintain their stability. The present work was therefore aimed to evaluate the microencapsulation of anthocyanins from juçara palm plant by spray drying using different encapsulating agents (maltodextrin, gum Arabic, inulin) and outlet air temperatures (50, 55, 60, 65, 70°C). To this end, the anthocyanins retention, total phenolic contents, antioxidant activity, hygroscopicity, wettability, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction were evaluated. These responses were simultaneously optimised using the desirability tool, and it was observed that microcapsules produced with 10 DE maltodextrin at 50°C, gum Arabic at 70°C, and inulin at 70°C showed the most desirable characteristics, while those with maltodextrin had the highest desirability (0.85). SEM analysis indicated the presence of spherical capsules of uniform size and X-ray diffraction allowed the identification of the microcapsules amorphous structure. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of microencapsulation under such optimised conditions.
Distortion of GdFeO3-type perovskites with pressure: A study of yalo3 to 5 GPa

Abstract The crystal structure of orthorhombic (Pbnm) YAlO3 perovskite has been investigated between 0 and 4 GPa using single-crystal X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. The compression of the structure is anisotropic with β a = 1.40(4) × 10−3 GPa−1, β b = 1.99(6) × 10−3 GPa−1 and β c = 1.52(5) × 10−3 GPa−1. The dominant compression mechanism involves shortening of the octahedral Al-O bond, but the compression of the octahedra is counteracted by increased interoctahedral tilting in the bc-plane. The octahedral tilting results in expansion of the YO12 site relative to the AlO6 site (B dod > β oct). The distortion of the structure decreases slightly with pressure, and the distortion of the AlO6 octahedra also decreases with pressure. The implications for other GdFeO3-type perovskites is discussed.
Pledge your teeth! The willingness of dental students to donate their teeth: A pilot study

Extracted human teeth is the preferred choice for preclinical training as it simulates the clinical scenario as compared to artificial teeth. However, the increase in the number of dental undergraduates might cause an imbalance in the demand and supply of extracted human teeth. Not only that, extracted human teeth are also needed by researchers for the development of dentistry (e.g. dental pulp stem cells research). This study aimed to evaluate the socio-demographic and preclinical training factors associated with the willingness to donate teeth among dental students of a selected university in Malaysia. The results of this study show that the majority of students were willing to donate their teeth after extraction for educational purposes, followed by keeping their tooth, leaving it behind as clinical waste and donating it to research. Further research is recommended to determine the willingness of the community or public to donate their teeth to meet the demand for dental schools and researchers in Malaysia.
CLO Performance

We study the performance of collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) to understand the market imperfections giving rise to these vehicles and their corresponding economic costs. CLO equity tranches earn positive abnormal returns from the risk-adjusted price differential between leveraged loans and CLO debt tranches. Debt tranches offer higher returns than similarly rated corporate bonds, making them attractive to banks and insurers that face risk-based capital requirements. Temporal variation in equity performance highlights the resilience of CLOs to market volatility due to their closed-end structure, long-term funding, and embedded options to reinvest principal proceeds.
Policy implications of behavioural finance

Classical financial theory assumes that individuals are perfectly rational and act by using complete and homogeneous information sets. For a long time, this has been used both on descriptive and normative grounds. However, empirical research has shown that investors systematically commit reasoning or preference errors hard to reconcile with the rationality assumption. These errors are reflected in “behavioural anomalies” that lead retail investors to low participation in the equity market, perception errors of the riskreturn relationship, poor portfolio diversification and excessive trading. This paper surveys and discusses the insights of behavioural finance that help us to understand observed anomalies using the theoretical apparatus of cognitive psychology and experimental evidence. These insights, by providing a review of the real perceptions of phenomena and the psychological and irrational components at the basis of individual choices, may be helpful to strengthen the efficiency of financial regulation and supervision. In particular, financial education in a behavioural vein can be used to improve investors' capacity to judge and to raise their understanding of the most serious behavioural “traps”. The contents and presentation format of disclosure on the characteristics of financial products also lay themselves open to be geared to the prescriptions of behavioural finance. Finally, financial advice is an indispensable supplement for guiding investors to make decisions that best serve their interests and for strengthening the efficiency of financial regulation; financial advisors should therefore endeavour to help customers to contain the most common behavioural errors. The purpose of this work is to stimulate debate on the behavioural analysis of the above mentioned policy issues, in order to strengthen the efficiency of instruments made available to investors to understand the characteristics of financial products. JEL Classifications: D03, G11, G18, G28. ∗ Consob, Divisione Studi Economici. The opinions expressed in this work are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Consob.
Ultrasonic investigation on elastic and mechanical properties of borate doped glass specimen

The present work divulges about ultrasonic characterization on the elastic and mechanical properties of borate doped ternary glass systems. The Ultrasonic wave velocity (longitudinal and shear) and density for the two ternary (B2O3-WO3-Bi2O3) BTB and (B2O3-SiO2Bi2O3) BSB glass systems have been measured at room temperature by using Pulse–Echo technique at 5 MHz. The glass samples were prepared by melt-quenching method. The measured experimental values have been utilized to evaluate the Elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, Acoustic Impedance, Debye Temperature, and Thermal Expansion Coefficient. The incorporation of heavy metal ion in BTB glass system is attributing for its decrease of most of its parameters. The elevation of Debye Temperature in this study advocates structural rigidity and compactness of BSB glass system over BTB glass system. The trends of other evaluated parameters supporting this. The UV-Vis (DRS) study on the band gap energies of these glass specimens confirming their amorphous nature and suggesting their nature of rigidity.
CONSUMER SATISFACTION IN THE PLACE MARKETING

We can approach the satisfaction of the local residents from two sides. One of those can be identified as the peak of the regional competitiveness pyramid model [Lengyel 2006], the enhancement of the local residents’ quality of life and living standards, which is also the aim of the place marketing. The other one comes from the marketing communication side, under the notion that local residents are the ambassadors of settlements and their image will also form that of the settlement, ultimately what appears in the heads of consumers about the place. As the communication of the local residents formally cannot be regulated, the managers of the settlements have to strive for more satisfied local residents, since the satisfied residents will not damage the reputation of the settlement for others (e.g. for tourists). Last but not least it is important to mention that satisfied local residents will not have the desire to move to other settlements, thus the settlement could hold on to these residents as a “loyal consumers”. The aim of the study is to highlight to the importance of consumer satisfaction in the place marketing, and to explore models belonging to the basic models of consumer satisfaction that focus on examining the residents’ satisfaction.
THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS AND AGRICULTURAL GROWTH IN IRAQ

The object of this paper is to investigate the causal relationship between agricultural exports and agricultural growth in Iraq using annual data for the period 1990 – 2017 under Vector Auto-regressive (VAR) framework. The order of integration of variables is determined by using unit root tests. The tests show that the variables are non-stationary in their levels but stationary at the first differences by applying of a modified version of the Granger causality test developed by Hiro Y. Toda and Taku Yamamoto in 1995. The results show that there is no causal relationship from any direction between agriculture exports and agriculture growth in Iraq and this result shows that Iraq still suffering from economic disruption from sanctions imposed by the United Nations started in (August, 1990) until the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the economics disturbing because of that especially in agriculture sector.
EFFICIENCY OF MODIFIED CLAYS IN WATER SOFTENING

The scenario of water scarcity, present in various parts of the world, implies on the need for searching alternatives to obtain drinking water. In Northeastern Brazil, for instance, wells are indispensable for survival of the inhabitants of the areas affected by droughts. In general, this water contain components that, when in very high concentrations, are harmful (WHO, 2011). Two components are calcium ions (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), whose added quantities result in a water quality parameter called hardness. Given this reality, there is need to create methods meeting the treatment purposes of this natural resource. Therefore, the application of Green Chemistry principles becomes essential to defend sustainable, environmental and social guidelines (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2007). Highlighting the need to develop low cost processes, and taking advantage of local raw materials to facilitate logistics, this paper aims to study the efficiency of using clays in water softening and their application in column filtration. Parallel analysis of methodologies for the modification of clays (bentonite and vermiculite) and tracking of fundamental physicochemical parameters – conductivity, total dissolved solids and pH – were performed. Through extensive specialized literature – represented by scientific articles focused on chemical and structural properties of the clays, as well as their modification processes – chemical methods were selected in order to obtain a variety of materials to be tested for the ability to adsorb components that, when in excess, can alter water quality.
Effects of Tin on Product Distribution and Catalyst Stability in Hydrodechlorination of CCl4 over Pt-Sn/γ-Al2O3

The Pt−Sn/γ-Al2O3 catalyst with a moderate amount of tin showed an enhanced catalytic stability and selectivity to CHCl3 in hydrodechlorination of CCl4 compared to monometallic platinum catalyst. The tin added in consecutive order to 1.0wt%Pt/γ-Al2O3 acted as a diluting component of platinum ensemble sites and resulted in reducing the formation of C2 compounds and carbon deposition. Furthermore, tin addition modifies the electronic state of supported platinum particles by the electron transfer from tin to platinum, results in the reduction of the binding energy of intermediate species, and suppresses the complete hydrodechlorination activity of surface intermediates. Thus on Pt−Sn/γ-Al2O3 catalysts, adsorbed CCl4 is readily desorbed as CHCl3 instead of residing too long on the surface until it is completely dechlorinated to form CH4.