Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear yield models for young Tectona grandis L. f. stands in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Southeastern Nigeria

Yield models are very important to forest management, especially for site quality assessment, subsequent inventories, timber valuation and assessment of stand growth. This study developed yield models for the young Tectona grandis stands in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Southeastern Nigeria. These models were necessary to the guide forest managers in timber valuation as well as monitoring growth of the stand. Data for this study was collected through complete enumeration method, tree height and stem diameters of the 295 Teak stands were measured. Non-destructive method (Newton’s formula) was used in computing individual tree volumes. The tree growth variables data were subjected to descriptive statistics and used for fitting five nonlinear regression functions. The mean stem height, diameter at breast height and volume were 10.6 m, 8.9 cm, 0.032 m3, respectively. Out of the five yield equations fitted; the generalized combined variable model had the best predictive ability; with the lowest root mean square error (0.0084 m3) and Akaike information criterion (-2809). Therefore, the generalized combined variable model was recommended for yield estimation of Tectona grandis.
Multicomponent Diffusion Revisited: Pair-Mobilities and Consistent Definition of Diffusion Coefficients

The recently proposed pair-exchange concept for multicomponent diffusion is analyzed in detail. The concept defines the differences of chemical potential gradients of two elements as general driving forces for interdiffusion and defines the corresponding proportionality coefficients as pair-mobilities for atomic exchange fluxes of a pair of elements at the mesoscopic scale. The total fluxes of alloying elements are given as the sum over corresponding pair-contributions, which rely on an interdependent set of forces to maintain a meaningful symmetric form. Onsager's reciprocal relations are satisfied as well as the consistency between description of chemical- and tracer-diffusion. It is confirmed that a consistent definition of interdiffusion coefficients requires the fulfillment of the Gibbs-Duhem relation by the applied thermodynamic Gibbs energy description.
On the True Band Gap of the (CH3NH3)2Pb(SCN)2I2 Hybrid Perovskite: An Interesting Solar‐Cell Material

The hybrid halide perovskite methyl ammonium lead iodide thiocyanate – (CH3NH3)Pb(SCN)2I2 – is synthesized both as a powder and as a thin film. The crystal structure and key optical properties (band gap) are determined by diffuse reflectance spectra and X‐ray diffraction (Rietveld refinement) measurements and compared to density functional theory (DFT) state‐of‐the‐art calculations. It is found that the refined orthorhombic crystal structure presents 2D‐layer confinement, and that the optical band gap presented in this work does confirm some previous reports and rebuts other results, too.
Evaluating Medical Underwriters in Life Settlements: Problem of Unreported Deaths

The valuation of policies in the life settlement market hinges upon life expectancy assessments provided by medical underwriters. Because accurate assessments are essential to the market functioning well, determining so is of interest to various stakeholders, including regulatory bodies. As a third party to settlement transactions, these underwriters, and hence their auditors, have to rely on public sources in compiling mortality data on underwritten insureds. Such acquired data are known to contain a significant proportion of unreported deaths. Accurate accounting for their presence is crucial to a fair evaluation of an underwriter’s methodology. However, existing methods for doing so either rely solely on actuarial opinion or are based on assumptions untenable in the life settlement context. Toward developing a practical data-driven methodology for consistently estimating mortality in the presence of unreported deaths, we propose the IBNR (incurred but not reported) rate model. This adaptation of the cure rate model accommodates the heterogeneity in the rates of both mortality and unreported deaths seen in practice. Our methodology thus facilitates an accurate and objective evaluation of an underwriter.
Thymoquinone and Costunolide Induce Extensive Apoptosis of Senescent Colon and Senescent Breast Cancer Cells

Several chemotherapeutic agents induce cancer cells’ senescence as monitored by enlargement of cell, cell cycle arrest, elevated activities of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), and upregulation of p53 and p21. Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anticancer chemotherapeutic drug, classified as an anthracycline antibiotic, that induces senescence of numerous cancer cell types. The arrest of cancer cell growth is a bright face of senescence, while these senescent cancer cells relapse again if they are not eliminated. On this principle, we investigated the apoptotic effect of thymoquinone (TQ), the active ingredient of Nigella sativa seeds and costunolide (COS), the active ingredient of Costus speciosus, on senescent colon (Sen-HCT116) and senescent breast (Sen-MCF7) cancer cell lines in reference to their corresponding proliferative cells to rapidly eliminate the senescent cancer cells. The senescence markers of Sen-HCT116 and Sen-MCF7 were determined by significant decrease in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and significant increases in SA-β-gal, p53, and p21 levels. After proliferative, Sen-HCT116, and Sen-MCF7 cells were subjected to either TQ (50 µM) or COS (30 µM), the Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and their ratio were established. Results revealed that TQ significantly increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in HCT116+Dox5+TQ, MCF7+TQ, and MCF7+Dox5+TQ compared with their corresponding controls. COS significantly increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in HCT116+Dox5+TQ and MCF7+Dox5+TQ compared with their corresponding controls. The data revealed more sensitivity of senescent cells to TQ or COS than their corresponding proliferative cells. Thus, we may be able to use TQ or COS to rapidly eliminate senescent cancer cells following Dox treatment; these results need to be confirmed with in vivo and clinical trials.
Reversible DNA codes over F16+uF16+vF16+uvF16

In this paper we study the structure of specific linear codes called DNA codes. The first attempts on studying such codes have been proposed over four element rings which are naturally matched with DNA four letters. Later, double (pair) DNA strings or more general \begin{document} $k$ \end{document} -DNA strings called \begin{document} $k$ \end{document} -mers have been matched with some special rings and codes over such rings with specific properties are studied. However, these matchings in general are not straightforward and because of the fact that the reverse of the codewords ( \begin{document} $k$ \end{document} -mers) need to exist in the code, the matching problem is difficult and it is referred to as the reversibility problem. Here, \begin{document} $8$ \end{document} -mers (DNA 8-bases) are matched with the ring elements of \begin{document} $R_{16}=F_{16}+uF_{16}+vF_{16}+uvF_{16}. $ \end{document} Furthermore, cyclic codes over the ring \begin{document} $R_{16}$ \end{document} where the multiplication is taken to be noncommutative with respect to an automorphism \begin{document} $\theta$ \end{document} are studied. The preference on the skewness is shown to be very useful and practical especially since this serves as a direct solution to the reversibility problem compared to the commutative approaches.
Anomalous temperature dependence of isotactic polypropylene α-on-β cross-nucleation kinetics

A particular kind of heterogeneous nucleation, i.e., cross-nucleation, is sometimes observed in polymorphic substances, when a new crystal structure nucleates on the surface of a crystal of a different modification. Here we show a unique and apparently incongruous nucleation behavior in polymorphic isotactic polypropylene (i-PP). The rate of cross-nucleation of the monoclinic α-phase on the trigonal β-phase crystals increases with increasing temperature, in the vicinity of the α-crystals melting point. This behavior is contrary to that of the heterogeneous nucleation kinetics of the same crystal on various solid substrates, and also to the previously reported cases of cross-nucleation rate of other polymorphic systems, both exhibiting the expected decrease with temperature in the same range of undercoolings. i-PP α-on-β cross-nucleation apparently eludes the nucleation theory. The results are explained as a manifestation of a kinetic competition between α-on-β cross-nucleation and growth of β-crystalline .
Self-diffusion in granular shear flows

The collisionally induced random particle velocities in a rapid granular shear flow drive the diffusion of particles in manner directly analogous to the thermal diffusion of molecules or the eddy-induced diffusion in a turbulent flow. This paper reports measurements, via computer simulation, of the anisotropic diffusion tensor for a granular shear flow. The components are determined both by particle tracking and through velocity correlations, which are found to agree with reasonable accuracy. As might be expected from symmetry arguments, there are four non-zero components generated in a simple shear flow: the three diagonal components and one off-diagonal component.
Study of molecular interactions and chemical reactivity of the nitrofurantoin–3-aminobenzoic acid cocrystal using quantum chemical and spectroscopic (IR, Raman, 13C SS-NMR) approaches

Investigations of structural reactivity, molecular interactions and vibrational characterization of pharmaceutical drugs are helpful in understanding their behaviour. The aim of this study is to determine the molecular, electronic and chemical properties of the antibiotic drug nitrofurantoin (NF), after cocrystallisation with 3-aminobenzoic acid (3ABA) and to understand how those changes lead to variation of properties in the cocrystal NF–3ABA. NF–3ABA formation is explained by stabilization via the hydrogen-bond network between NF and 3ABA molecules. It is thoroughly characterized by IR, Raman and CP-MAS solid-state 13C NMR techniques, along with quantum chemical calculations. The results of IR, Raman, and 13C NMR analyses showed that imide N–H23 and C12O of NF interact with the acid CO and –OH groups in 3-ABA, respectively. Therefore the IR, Raman, and 13C NMR spectra verified the formation of N–H⋯O and O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds. To study hydrogen bonding interactions theoretically in NF–3ABA, two functionals B3LYP and wB97X-D have been used. A comparison is made between the results obtained by B3LYP and those predicted at the wB97X-D level. It is found that wB97X-D is best applied density functional theory (DFT) functional to describe the hydrogen bonding interactions. The strength and nature of hydrogen bonding in NF–3ABA have been analysed by quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. To validate the results obtained by QTAIM theory and to study the long-range forces, such as van der Waals interactions, the steric effects in NF–3ABA, the reduced density gradient (RDG) and the isosurface have been plotted using Multiwfn software. QTAIM and isosurface analysis suggested that the hydrogen bonding interactions present in NF–3ABA are moderate in nature. The calculated HOMO–LUMO energy gap shows that NF–3ABA is more active than NF and 3ABA. Chemical reactivity descriptors are calculated to understand the various aspects of pharmacological sciences. Chemical reactivity parameters show that NF–3ABA is softer and chemically more reactive than NF. The results suggest that cocrystals can be a feasible alternative for positively changing the targeted physicochemical properties of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).
P roblem based Learning on Creativity Domain in Problem Solving for Secondary School: A Systematic Literature Review Analysis

Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of the 21 st century teaching and learning strategies in STEM education. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Ministry of education has found that PBL can be successfully applied to STEM field. PBL has the potential to develop creativity in problem solving and make students think creatively. It is also considered as an active learning method that encourages the students’ interest in understanding STEM concepts. Therefore, it is becoming a necessity to see how far the creativity domain in problem-based learning has been applied towards students especially in secondary school. Because there was lack of research about that. This systematic literature review analysis aims to focus on the similarities and differences such as the steps of problem-based learning applied, the creativity domain in problem solving, the findings of the study and the gap of research between all the articles. The study article was selected through a database of Scopus and Science Direct Journals according to keywords.
Seeing the World From Others’ Perspective: 14-Month-Olds Show Altercentric Modulation Effects by Others’ Beliefs

Abstract Humans have a propensity to readily adopt others’ perspective, which often influences their behavior even when it seemingly should not. This altercentric influence has been widely studied in adults, yet we lack an understanding of its ontogenetic origins. The current studies investigated whether 14-month-olds’ search in a box for potential objects is modulated by another person’s belief about the box’s content. We varied the person’s potential belief such that in her presence/absence an object was removed, added, or exchanged for another, leading to her true/false belief about the object’s presence (Experiment 1, n = 96); or transformed into another object, leading to her true/false belief about the object’s identity (i.e., the objects represented under a specific aspect, Experiment 2, n = 32). Infants searched longer if the other person believed that an object remained in the box, showing an altercentric influence early in development. These results suggest that infants spontaneously represent others’ beliefs involving multiple objects and raise the possibility that infants can appreciate that others encode the world under a unique aspect.
Community-Based Learning for International Graduate Students: Impact and Implications

Integrating community- based learning (CBL) into graduate education has gained attention in higher education during the past decade because CBL allows students to inculcate professional values and ethics, situate academic knowledge and understanding in contexts, and practice academic citizenship through serving communities with disciplinary knowledge and skills. In a North American higher education context, about half of the graduate student population are international students, who have needs in several areas. How-ever, their experiences in CBL are under- investigated and scarcely documented in existing literature and scholarship in either community- based learning or international education. Drawing on international students’ experiences in a graduate program infused with CBL components in Canadian higher education, this mixed methods case study examined the impact of CBL on international students’ developments in five areas: academic, sociocultural, personal, professional, and global citizenship. Through discussions on the benefit, barriers, and implications of providing CBL to international graduate students, this article offers recommendations for improved higher education policy, programs, and praxis to make CBL more inclusive and responsive to international graduate students. not tied to a specific course or program. This article reports a mixed meth ods case study examining the impact of CBL on international graduate students at a Canadian public university. Beginning with a brief review of the research context, methodology, and methods, the article reports findings on students’ perceptions of CBL and the impact of CBL on international graduate students in five areas: academic, sociocultural, personal, professional, and global citizenship development. The article then discusses the impli cations for higher education institutions (HEIs) and offers recommendations on CBL program development in graduate education and future research possibilities. Findings shed light on the pitfalls and opportunities of enhancing the inclusivity and responsiveness of a CBL program and praxis in a HEI with a large number of international graduate students.
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS ISOLATED FROM TURKEYS

A total of 82 C. perfringensisolates (41%) were recovered from 200 samples collected from 100 turkeys (20 apparently healthy, 40 clinically diseased and 40 freshly dead), 4-6 weeks old. The clinical signs of diseased birds were sudden mortality, depression, ruffled feathers, diarrhea, dehydration, emaciation and decrease in feed consumption with increase in water consumption. While, postmortem findings were consistent with necrotic enteritis (NE), the small intestine was severely affected. Small and demarcated lesions were found in the duodenal loop, hepatitis and cholecystitis were also observed. Unopened intestines were gas-filled and enlarged with thin wall. The intestinal contents were dark due to necrotic material. The opened intestines showed necrotic lesions of varying severity of the mucosa. Isolation and biochemical identification of C.perfringenswere done.Five C.Perfringens field isolates were analyzed by PCR assay to determine the presence of some toxin genes.In all tested isolates, the Cpa gene (alpha toxin) was detected (100%) confirming the isolates were C.perfringens. While, Cpb (beta toxin) gene was detected in two samples (40%). But the Etx gene (epsilon toxin) was not detected in any isolate (0%). NetB gene was detected in two isolates (40%). Antimicrobial susceptibility of 40 C.perfringens field isolates recovered from turkeys revealed that C.perfringens isolates were sensitive to Ampicillin (85%), Amoxicillin (85%), Penicillin (82.5%), Florfenicol (72.5%), Enrofloxacin (67.5%), Vancomycin (65%), Bacitracin (60%), Oxytetracyclin (32.5%), Lincomycin (22.5%) and Clindamycin (15%). These five C. perfringens isolates were also screened by PCR which detected the presence of tetracycline resistance gene tet(K) in three isolates (60%) and Lincomycin resistance gene lin(B) in three isolates (60%).
The Rise, Demise, and Reprise of the Increasingly Protracted APA Journal Article?

Are APA journal articles getting longer or shorter over time? Earlier work that examined changes over time in article length in 24 APA journals (1986–2005) found that pages per article increased over time for the average journal, peaking around 2001, and then plateaued thereafter. But have these trends continued during the past 14 years? The current research extends prior work by adding additional years (1986–2019) and four additional journals (28 journals, 34 years, and 865 total observations). Multilevel growth curve analyses revealed a cubic effect of time on average article length, showing an increase in the 1980s and 1990s, a plateau or slight decline in the 2000s, and a slight increase again in the 2010s. Journal impact factors (JIFs) moderated linear growth over time; journals with higher JIFs had larger linear increases in article length. Exploratory multilevel interrupted time-series analyses suggested that the average linear increase in pages per article over time was greater after the start of psychology’s credibility crisis (2012–2019) than before it (1986–2011), which may relate to an increased emphasis on reporting details and transparency. We discuss implications for article length in the contexts of publishing and psychology’s ongoing credibility crisis.
Impact of gate dielectrics and oxygen annealing on tin-oxide thin-film transistors

In this work, we study the impact of gate dielectrics on the characteristics of bottom-gated tin-oxide thin-film transistors annealed in an oxygen ambience at 300 °C for various periods. SiO2, HfO2, and Al2O3 are employed as the gate dielectric in the test devices. The results show that the devices will start exhibiting p-type conduction behavior as the annealing reaches a specific time period which is closely related to the underlying gate dielectric, and the device characteristics can be improved as the annealing proceeds further. Nonetheless, a prolonged annealing may cause degradation of the devices. High hole mobility (3.33 cm2 V−1 s−1), low threshold voltage (1.95 V), and excellent Ion/Ioff ratio (∼104) are achieved on SnO TFTs with a SiO2 gate dielectric after an annealing of 30 min.
Shigella and Salmonella, Antibiotics Susceptibility Pattern and Associated Risk Factors among Diarrheic Children in Southern Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

Background: Salmonella and Shigella is a major health problem worldwide, in developing countries like Ethiopia, it is responsible for high morbidity and mortality of children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella infection, their antibiotic susceptibility pattern and associated risk factor among the diarrheic pediatrics patients that visited Alamura Health Center in southern Ethiopia. Method: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted at Alamura Health Center from April 2018 – July 2019. The study was performed on pediatrics below the age of 14 years in which consecutive children with diarrhea were included for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data after assent and consent obtained from parents or care taker. The stool sample cultured as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the microbiology laboratory. Antibiogram was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and was interpreted based on the Clinical and laboratory standard institute guidline (CLSI) version 2018. Results: Out of 263 children enrolled in the study, 50.5 % were females. The overall, 21/263 (8 %) 95% CI, (4.6 - 11.4%) Shigella and Salmonella was isolated. Shigella dysenteriae was dominantly isolated 11 (4.2%) followed by 9(3.42%) Shigella spp, and 1(0.38%) Salmonella typhi. Those with habit of washing the hands of children after toilet sometimes (AOR = 235.1, 95% CI, 20.9 - 2643.3, P = .000) and store cooked food in open container for later use (AOR = 36.44, 95% CI, 5.82 - 228.06, P = .000) showed statistically significant association. Conclusion: High level of Shigella spp and one Salmonella was isolated from diarrheic children at Alamura Health Center. Shigella dysentery was the most dominantly isolated. Those practised hands wash for their child after defecation for sometimes was 235.1-fold at risk of infection. Similarly, those store foods for later use in an open container was 36.44 times at risk of infection. Therefore, to alleviate this infection the concerned body should focus on giving health education for hand wash after defecation and storing food in a closed container later use is mandatory.