Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EPR Study of the Surface Characteristics of Nanostructured TiO2 under UV Irradiation

Nanostructured TiO2 samples with primary particle size in the 4−20 nm range were prepared by either hydrothermal (H) or thermal (T) treatment of an amorphous precursor, and their behavior under UV illumination at 77 K was studied by means of EPR spectroscopy. The samples of the H series present the smallest crystallite size and after irradiation in a vacuum show some Ti3+ centers. In contrast, under these conditions only weak signals associated with oxygenated radicals are observed for the T samples. However, when oxygen is preadsorbed, several oxygenated complexes (O-, O2-, O2H•, and O3-) are photogenerated in proportions that depend on the characteristics of the material. Subsurface O- species are exclusively detected in the case of the samples of the H series, whereas ozonide radicals and surface O- are stabilized on materials with larger crystalline domains. These oxygenated complexes are thermally unstable, and they disappeared after warming to room temperature in the case of the T samples, but they .
The Use of Gravity Filtration of Carbon Nanotubes from Suspension to Produce Films with Low Roughness for Carbon Nanotube/Silicon Heterojunction Solar Device Application

The morphology of carbon nanotube (CNT) films is an important factor in the performance of CNT/silicon (CNT/Si) heterojunction solar devices. Films have generally been prepared via vacuum filtration from aqueous suspensions. Whilst this enables strong films to be formed quickly, they are highly disordered on the micron scale, with many charge traps and gaps forming in the films. It has been previously established that lowering the filtration speed enables more ordered films to be formed. The use of slow gravity filtration to improve the morphology of CNT films used in the CNT/Si device is reported here. It was found that slow filtration causes significant macroscale inhomogeneity in the CNT films, with concentrated thick regions, surrounded by larger thinner areas. By using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and polarised Raman spectroscopy, it was determined that there was no large improvement in directional organisation of the CNTs on the microscale. However, the films were found to be much smoother on the microscale, with arithmetic and root mean square average height deviation values roughly 3 times lower for slow-filtered films compared to fast-filtered films. A comparison was performed with CNT-Si solar cells fabricated with both slow and fast-filtered single-walled CNTs (SWCNT) films. It was found that slow filtration can produce similar photovoltaic results with thinner films. The results demonstrate that film morphology, even without improved CNT alignment, can lead to significant improvement in device performance in some applications. However, slow filtration did not form films of uniform light transmittance over an extended area, causing an increase in the variation in performance between individual devices compared to fast-filtered films.
Did Financial Markets Overreact to COVID-19?

Prior studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to negative returns and increased volatilities in various financial markets. Not many however have sought to investigate why. With anecdotal evidence pointing to investors earning abnormal returns despite the pandemic, this paper sought to determine whether markets – for whatever reason – were overreacting to the pandemic. Using a sample of the largest 3,000 companies across 15 countries, we found evidence that markets were overreacting to various COVID-19 events. Specifically, we found that markets showed strong signs of reversal in response to negative events (e.g. lockdowns, confirmed cases, deaths). Positive events (e.g. vaccine development, recoveries) did not elicit a similar response. Our results suggest that the volatilities and negative returns during the sample period may be driven by non-COVID factors. This will have profound implications for future COVID-financial markets research and government policy as it redirects attention to individual countries rather than adopting a “global” approach to research or policy-setting.
A Protocol for a Phase-II Trial to Evaluate the Effect of a Mindfulness Intervention via a Mobile Application on Resident Physicians’ Burnout

Background: Burnout is a highly prevalent occupation-related syndrome that impacts both physicians and patients. Resident physicians face unique challenges and stressors during their training, causing burnout, which affects the quality of care, patient outcomes, and the physician well being. In addition, mitigation of physician burnout creates a resilient future physician workforce. Mobile-based mindfulness interventions showed promising results in reducing physicians’ burnout. This paper describes the rationale and design of the first global multi-centered prospective randomized control study to assess the impact of mobile-based mindfulness on resident physician burnout. Methods: We plan to conduct a multicenter cluster-randomized two-arms (1:1 ratio), double-blinded clinical trial. Institutions will be randomly assigned to the use of the Smiling Mind app or a dummy app. Participants will be reassessed at 30 and 60 days for the 3 aspects of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale (MBIS). The primary outcome for analysis is the emotional exhaustion aspect of the MBIS at 30 days. A linear mixed regression model with adjustments for clusters will be used. Discussion: Burnout is a major issue especially among the particularly vulnerable and time-constrained group of physicians-in-training. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programs are time-consuming. This study will offer the opportunity to investigate the effect of a brief mobile-based mindfulness intervention on resident physicians burnout.
Assessment of hybridization and push out bond strength of fiber post after endodontic retreatment. An invitro study

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess hybridization and push out bond strength of fiber post after endodontic retreatment. Materials and methods: 10 freshly extracted human canines were collected having single root canal, samples were decoronated. Endodontic treatment was made to all samples. Samples were inserted into resin blocks. Then randomly divided in to: group I (control group) (5n) drilling to prepare post space followed by post cementation using total etch cement; while in group II (retreatment group) (5n) endodontic retreatment was made followed by drilling and post cementation as group one. Samples were sectioned into six sections of 1.5 mm thickness. Push-out test was performed using universal testing machine. Scanning of the root interface was made by SEM. Results: Group I showed significantly higher mean push-out bond strength (11.55 MPA) than Group II (7.93 MPA). Coronal (13.13 MPA) and middle root levels (9.62 MPA) showed significantly higher mean push-out bond strength than apical level (6.48 MPA). GI showed significantly higher mean push-out bond strength (16.06 MPA) than GII (10.19 MPA) at coronal level. At middle and apical levels; there were no significant difference. SEM showed resin tags and hybridization within dentin in GI while in GII there was an ill-defined hybrid layer at interface. Conclusions: Endodontic retreatment showed significant adverse effect on fiber post push-out bond strength. Root level affected fiber post push-out bond strength only in endodontically treated teeth. Interface of the endodontically treated teeth showed hybrid layer while in endo-retreatment gaps and void were seen.
Hatch traits of artificially incubated ostrich eggs as affected by setting position, angle of rotation and season

High levels of hatching failure in artificially incubated ostrich eggs cause considerable loss in income for the industry. During the 2015 - 2016 breeding seasons, between 846 and 1 549 egg records were used to determine the effect of various setting positions during artificial incubation. Fresh eggs were placed in trolleys to be turned automatically through a 60-degree or a 90-degree angle hourly in the setter. Additional treatments in a factorial design consisted of eggs set in the horizontal position for the total period of five weeks in the setter; eggs set horizontally for three weeks and vertically for two weeks; and eggs set vertically for five weeks in the setter. These treatments were repeated over two production years to represent various seasons, namely winter (June to August), spring (September to November) and summer (December). Late embryonic mortalities were improved significantly in eggs set in trolleys to turn through an angle of 90 degrees (0.16 ± 0.02) compared with eggs set in trolleys to turn through 60 degrees (0.28 ± 0.02), regardless of season and setting position. The preferred way of setting ostrich eggs would thus be in the vertical position in a trolley that turns hourly through an angle of 90 degrees with the air cell upwards to utilize incubator space optimally. Keywords: chick weight, embryonic mortalities, moisture loss, ostrich, pipping time
A SIMPLE AND RELIABLE TENSION TABLE

Summary A tension table may be constructed from a Perspex tray ⅝ in. thick, approximately 12 in. wide and 19 in. long with 21 drainage channels. With a filter paper membrane, which gives rapid transmission of water and can be readily changed when contaminated it may be used to equilibrate 3–4 kg of moist soil overnight at suctions up to 100 cm of water. Several small samples may be handled at once by using small filter-paper trays.
Conformational Radiotherapy of Prostatic Adenocarcinoma at the Dalal Jamm Hospital, Senegal—(Retrospective Analysis of a Series of 62 Cases)

Aim: We endeavored to describe the epidemiological profile of prostatic cancer, and to evaluate its diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Method: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study on the conformational radiotherapy of prostatic adenocarcinoma at the Dalal Jamm University Hospital, Senegal from June 2018 to December 2019. We included 62 consecutive patients. The average age of the patients was 68.9 years. The average consultation time was 7.6 months. Results: Symptom manifestation and high PSA triggered the diagnosis of cancer in 74.2% and 25.8% of patients, respectively. Symptoms: pollakiuria (72.3%), bone pain (8%) and erectile dysfunction (4.8%). The digital rectal examination: normal (33.8%), nodular (30.6%), induration (24.1%), and shielding (11.3%). The mean PSA level was 90.6 ng/ml. Histology: adenocarcinoma was the most common (98.6%). The Gleason score: 7 (19.4%). The majority of patients were in the high-risk group (70.9%) and 7 patients (11.2%) were metastatic at diagnosis. Therapy: first radical prostatectomy (20.9%), first-line curative radiotherapy (67.8%), adjuvant (21%) and palliative radiotherapy in 7 patients (11.2%): patients having received palliative radiotherapy had an estimated decline in symptoms of 80%. Hormone therapy was performed in 88.8% of patients, with average duration of 12.5 months. After a mean follow-up of 15 months, 59 patients were alive, including 45 cases (81.8%) in complete remission; 3 patients with metastasis at the first visit (having received palliative radiotherapy) died. Conclusion: The collected data show a profile of prostate cancer that is specific to the sub-Saharan context in which the discovery is still late. Also in comparison to developed countries, the therapeutic means necessary to fight against this cancer are limited, even though three-dimensional conformational radiotherapy remains an effective and essential treatment; this study provided fundamental data in the area of insufficient data/tools.
Experimental Modeling and Evaluation Sediment Scouring in Riverbeds around Downstream in Flip Buckets

Flip buckets are a common configuration for side channel spillways. Similar to other spillways, the flip bucket or ski jump has its disadvantages, among which the scour hole downstream due to the flip bucket jet is the most important. The structure safety and stability may be influenced by the scour holes generated at the downstream side of bucket type energy dissipators. This study has employed an experimental model in order to examine the sediment scour created at the end of flip bucket energy dissipators at various flow rates and tail water depths. A total of 45 experiments were performed under different conditions. The experimental invistigation was conducted at the hydraulic laboratory of Shahid Chamran University in Iran. The main objective of this research was to identify the maximum depth of sediment scour ( ) and the maximum distance of sediment scour hole ( ) from the structures. The results showed that the maximum depth of scour and its distance from the structure increased by increasing discharge. The results of experimental models show that, at the downstream depths ( ) of 0.2 and 0.3 m, the stack was formed by the scouring at the upstream side of the hole, and at a depth of 0.1 m, this stack was transferred to the area after the scour hole. This could be explained by the fact that at downstream depths of 0.2 and 0.3 m, the rolling flow moved from the bottom upwards in the opposite direction of the water flow and sequestrated the sediments upstream. According to Equation Mean Absolute Relative Error(MARE) proposed relation based on laboratory studies has MARE of about 34.2%.
Effect of Thermodynamic Aging on Colour Stability, Roughness and Flexural Strength of Two CAD/CAM Lithium Disilicate Glass Ceramics

Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the effect of thermodynamic aging on colour stability, roughness, and flexural strength of two CAD/CAM Li2Si2O5 ceramics. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 rectangular bar samples were fabricated representing two groups according to type of ceramic (20 samples each). Group I:IPS e.max CAD and Group II:Rosetta SM. Samples of each group were randomly distributed among two subgroups (10 samples each) according to testing procedure and thermodynamic aging condition: Subgroups IA and IIA (10 samples each) act as a control for flexural strength testing in non-aged condition. For Subgroups IB and IIB (10 samples each) both colour and surface roughness (Ra) were measured before thermodynamic aging. Then the samples were subjected again to colour, surface roughness and finally flexural strength (MPa) tests after thermodynamic aging. Data were statistically analyzed. Results: Neither colour nor flexural strength of the examined ceramic materials were significantly affected by thermodynamic aging. Regarding surface roughness, Rosetta SM was significantly affected by aging, while IPS e.max CAD did not. Conclusion: Concerning the measured parameters Rosetta SM is comparable to IPS e.max CAD being as clinically acceptable even after aging.
Products of commutators of symplectic involutions

Let be the identity matrix and . A matrix A is called symplectic if . A symplectic matrix A is a commutator of symplectic involutions if , where X and Y are symplectic matrices satisfying . In this article, we give necessary and sufficient condition for a symplectic matrix over the complex number field to be expressed as a product of two commutators of symplectic involutions.
The impact of foreign capital on profitability: the case of Portuguese manufacturing SMEs

The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between the firms’ ownership and control structure, in particular the presence of foreign capital, and its profitability. The relation between profitability and ownership and control structure is a topic less studied in the literature. This paper uses a balanced panel data of 5.722 firms for the period 2010–2017, researching if the presence of foreign capital influences financial performance. Possible nonlinear effects or moderating and interaction roles between variables are also tested. Our results evidence that, despite foreign firms’ higher levels of profitability, the degree of foreign ownership and institutional difference generally showed a non-significant relation with profitability. Nevertheless, there seems to exists a nonlinear relation between the development level of the country of origin of the share capital and profitability, with the results indicating that firms with share capital originated from more advanced countries attain a higher financial performance.
LEVERAGE, LIQUIDITY AND PROFITABILITY RATIOS: ACCOUNTABILITY OF MALAYSIAN LISTED OIL AND GAS FIRMS

Purpose: This study examines the impact of leverage and liquidity on the profitability among the listed O&G firms in Malaysia. Methodology: Data were gained from the audited financial statements of 22listed O&G firms for a period of ten years (2008 – 2017) and a quantitative data methodology was utilized to analyze the study. Main Findings: The findings demonstrated that leverage in terms of debt-equity ratio has a significant negative association on a firm's profitability. Nevertheless, liquidity ratios are found to be insignificantly related to the profitability of the O&G industry in Malaysia. Implications: This study contributes to raising awareness amongst the top management of firms, the analysts, and the investors in monitoring and forecasting for the firm's profitability and the value of the firms, thus contributing to the better investment decision making.
Mathematical Modeling the Drying of Poplar Wood Particles in a Closed-Loop Triple Pass Rotary Dryer

Closed-loop drying systems are an attractive alternative to conventional drying systems because they provide a wide range of potential advantages. Consequently, type of drying process is attracting increased interest. Rotary drying of wood particles can be assumed as an incorporated process involving fluid–solid interactions and simultaneous heat and mass transfer within and between the particles. Understanding these mechanisms during rotary drying processes may result in determination of the optimum drying parameters and improved dryer design. In this study, due to the complexity and nonlinearity of the momentum, heat, and mass transfer equations, a computerized mathematical model of a closed-loop triple-pass concurrent rotary dryer was developed to simulate the drying behavior of poplar wood particles within the dryer drums. Wood particle moisture content and temperature, drying air temperature, and drying air humidity ratio along the drums lengths can be simulated using this model. The model presented in this work has been shown to successfully predict the steady-state behavior of a concurrent rotary dryer and can be used to analyze the effects of various drying process parameters on the performance of the closed-loop triple-pass rotary dryer to determine the optimum drying parameters. The model was also used to simulate the performance of industrial closed-loop rotary dryers under various operating conditions.
Evaluation of biodiesel storage stability using reference methods

The recorded changes in 8 different samples of biodiesel (from 4 different feedstocks, both undistilled and distilled) during accelerated ageing are shown in this paper. ASTM D 4625 method for quick ageing of common diesel fuels, carried out at 43 °C, allows to simulate the changes taking place in fuel during a long-term storage. All quality parameters of biodiesel are changing during time, according to the storage stability of different samples. The changes in other parameters not included in CEN tentative specification such as polymer content and peroxide value were recorded and plotted against storage time. Samples were also evaluated in terms of insoluble formation (filterable + adherent) but in any case significant insoluble formation was observed. The conclusion was that polymers formed during storage of biodiesel in controlled conditions are soluble in oxidised biodiesel, thanks to its high polarity and become insoluble only when oxidised biodiesel is mixed with diesel fuel.
EFFECTS OF ILL-HEALTH COST ON MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY: EVIDENCE FROM RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGERIA

Good health is important in the economy of any nation especially in the fight against poverty, poor health affects productivity and income of the workers and this will further deepen the incidence of poverty and ill-health. This study examined the linkage between ill-health cost and multidimensional poverty of rural households in Ogun state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling was used to select 240 households for the study. Data collected were analysed with descriptive statistics, economic cost of illness, multidimensional poverty index and logistic regression model. The result revealed that majority (95%) of the households experienced malaria infestation, time cost of illness contributed most (92.6%) to the total economic cost. Result revealed that 69% of households are multidimensionally poor. Furthermore, marital status (p<0.01), off-farm income (p<0.01), financial cost (p<0.01), days forgone production (p<0.1), time cost (p<0.01) and area cultivated (p<0.1) positively, and significantly influence multidimensional poverty status while household size (p<0.01), cooperative membership (p<0.05), public health care services (p<0.1) and health extension contact (p<0.01) have negative, and significant effect. The study concluded that increase in out of pocket expenditure as a result of ill-health cost increases poverty status, availability and access to public health facilities reduces poverty status, it was therefore recommended that public health facilities should be located nearer to the people with minimum social stratification that might discourage poor masses from its usage, essential drugs should be provided at subsidized rates as this will go a long way in reducing financial cost thereby reducing poverty status.
Preparation and Characterization of Cross-Linked Starch/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Green Films with Low Moisture Absorption

The effects of incorporating different cross-linking agents into starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), mechanical characterization, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), moisture absorption tests, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Different cross-linkers such as borax, formaldehyde, epichlorohydrin, and ZnO were used to cross-link the films at the same weight percent. The films were prepared by gelatinization followed by a solution casting method. SEM microstructures revealed that the destructuring of starch granules was significantly influenced by the presence of cross-linkers during the gelatinization process. The extent of cross-linking was measured through the determination of the normalized gel mass and the normalized swelling degree of the films in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent. Tensile strength and tensile modulus were highest in borax cross-linked film, while the high.