Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of different ethical frameworks underlying a robot’s advice on charitable donations

The current work explored to what extent a robot could persuade people to participate in charitable giving by offering moral advice grounded in different ethical theories. In a laboratory, participants, who are students at a university, first performed a task to acquire lottery tickets and then received from a robot information about a charity event organized for students at their university. The robot also offered them moral advice of which the underlying framework was grounded in either deontological or Confucian role ethics to encourage donating their lottery tickets to the event. We found advice grounded in Confucian role ethics to be more effective in inducing donations than advice grounded in deontological ethics. We also found that the more strongly participants felt close to other students at their university, the less donations they would make after receiving advice grounded in deontological ethics. These findings suggest the benefits of framing moral messages of robots based upon theories of Confucian role ethics in promoting prosocial behavior. We discuss potential explanations for the negative relationship between participants’ sense of closeness with other students and their donation behavior when the robot’s advice focuses on theories of deontological ethics.
Carbon cycling hysteresis in permeable carbonate sands over a diel cycle: Implications for ocean acidification

Dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved oxygen, H+, and alkalinity fluxes from permeable carbonate sediments at Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef) were measured over one diel cycle using benthic chambers designed to induce advective pore‐water exchange. A complex hysteretic pattern between carbonate precipitation and dissolution in sands and the aragonite saturation state (ΩAr) of the overlying chamber water was observed throughout the incubations. During the day, precipitation followed a hysteretic pattern based on the incidence of photosynthetically active radiation with lower precipitation rates in the morning than in the afternoon. The observed diel hysteresis seems to reflect a complex interaction between photosynthesis and respiration rather than ΩAr of the overlying water as the main driver of carbonate precipitation and dissolution within these permeable sediments. Changes in flux rates over a diel cycle demonstrate the importance of taking into account the short‐term variability of benthic metabolism when calculating net daily flux rates. Based on one diel cycle, the sediments were a net daily source of alkalinity to the water column (5.13 to 8.84 mmol m−2 d−1, depending on advection rates), and advection had a net stimulatory effect on carbonate dissolution. The enhanced alkalinity release associated with benthic metabolism and pore‐water advection may partially buffer shallow coral reef ecosystems against ocean acidification on a local scale.
Provenance Analysis of Yellow River Terraces Highlights Causes of Siltation and Natural Hazards in the North China Plain

The avulsion and overflow of river courses during floods, a result of channel siltation above the alluvial plain, is a cause of major natural disasters, including huge property damage and destruction of farmlands. The most sensitive to such risks is the very densely populated area of the Yellow River lower reaches, one of China's most important grain‐producing regions. Problems caused by excessive siltation are a critical issue that should be addressed with full knowledge of sediment‐generation processes, and provenance studies are essential to provide fundamental information for effective environmental management. The Sanmen Gorge is the key region where the great sediment mass produced upstream is conveyed from the middle reaches of the Yellow River to its lower reaches. This study of the terrace sequence exposed along the Sanmen Gorge combines geomorphological observations and provenance analysis based on U‐Pb zircon geochronology and heavy minerals to provide a history of sediment transport through time. The combination of previous research and the outcome of the present study demonstrate that before the Yellow River was formed as an integrated sediment‐routing system, sediments fed into the North China Plain were largely derived from local sources. Instead, after the formation of the Sanmen Gorge, huge quantities of sediment, also derived from the Qinling mountains and stored in the Fenwei basin, were flushed into the North China lowlands by the Yellow River. Such an event took place at 1.2 Ma and has since then impacted severely on floodplain landscape and eventually profoundly affected human activities in the region.
Potential Linkage between Heavy Metal Pollution Risk Assessment and Dissolved Organic Matter Spectra in the WWTPs-River Integrated Area-Case Study from Ashi River

Direct sewage discharge can cause severe damage to the water environment of the river. However, the impacts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the discharge on the original pattern of DOM and the distribution of heavy metals (HMs) in the river are little known. How to monitor such areas in a long-term and systematic manner also needs to be urgently addressed. In this paper, we characterized the DOM of the sediments in the WWTPs (wastewater treatment plants)-river integrated zone by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) combined with parallel factor (PARAFAC) method. The effects of WWTP on receiving waters were investigated, and the potential link between DOM and HM pollution was explored. Hg (Igeo: 3.94 ± 0.65; EF: 44.83 ± 31.11), Cd (Igeo: 1.81 ± 0.69; EF: 8.02 ± 2.97), Cu (Igeo: 1.61 ± 0.83; EF: 6.85 ± 2.37), Zn (Igeo: 1.55 ± 0.54; EF: 7.24 ± 3.58), and Ni (Igeo: 1.46 ± 0.56; EF: 6.12 ± 1.99) in rivers were the primary risk sources of HM. The combined pollution risk indicates that the WWTPs-river integrated area is in a high pollution risk state. Moreover, α(254) has a significant correlation with pollution indicators and can be used as a proxy indicator. These results help to understand better the impact of WWTPs on receiving water bodies and the potential connection between DOM and HM pollution and provide new ideas for monitoring the water environment in highly polluted areas.
Unconditional federal transfers and state government spending: The flypaper effect in Nigeria and South Africa

The flypaper effect is undoubtedly among the most interesting concepts in subnational government spending behavior. This study is the first attempt to provide empirical evidence on the existence of the flypaper effect in the two largest economies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria and South Africa. Using the two-step system generalized method of moment’s estimator, our results show that the flypaper effect exists for both state and provincial governments in Nigeria and South Africa. Provincial governments in South Africa are found to be more responsive to positive changes in unconditional federal transfers than state governments in Nigeria. We therefore recommend sen­sitization on the receipt and disbursement of unconditional federal transfers. This will help reduce the illusion or information asymmetry about the use of unconditional federal transfers.
Enhancing Compressive Strength in Cementitious Composites through Effective Use of Wasted Oyster Shells and Admixtures

Wasted oyster shells generate environmental pollution and odor, thereby causing inconvenience to people. In addition, low-quality aggregates are generated owing to the lack of sand. To address these problems, cementitious composites that replaced sand with oyster shell powder were fabricated in this study, and a total 120 specimens were fabricated (specimen size: 50×50×50 mm3). The oyster shell substitution rate for sand, admixture type, and presence or absence of admixture were set as the experimental parameters. Herein, 0, 30, 70, and 100% of sand was replaced with oyster shell powder to examine the compressive strength of the cementitious composites according to the oyster shell powder content. The experiment results confirmed the decrease in the compressive strength of the cementitious composite with an increase in the oyster shell powder content. In the case of the cementitious composites mixed with oyster shell powder, silica fume, blast furnace slag, and an air-entraining water-reducing agent, the compressive strength increased by up to 30% with an increase in the oyster shell powder content. The results of cementitious composites containing oyster shell powder and admixture fabricated in this study indicate the potential of oyster shells as a new construction material that can replace sand.
Depositional and structural evolution of the middle Miocene depositional episode, east-central Gulf of Mexico

A regional stratigraphic and structural framework has been established for the middle Miocene sediment-depositional episode from the shelf through the slope to the basin floor for the east-central Gulf of Mexico. Two widespread, transgressive deposits associated with the faunal tops Amphistegina B (15.5 Ma) and Textularia W (12.1 Ma) define the middle Miocene depositional episode. The middle Miocene episode incorporates four genetic cycles (each 1–2 m.y.) bounded by regional maximum flooding surfaces and distal condensed sections. Two long-lived extrabasinal fluvial-deltaic axes, the ancestral Mississippi and the eastern Tennessee systems, provided the bulk of sediments that infilled the middle Miocene depocenters. Salt-related structural provinces controlled the location and configuration of the depocenters. Linked structural systems, dominated by gravity spreading, and an eastern minibasin province, driven by differential subsidence, were established during this period. Two depositional systems tracts characterize the constructional shelf margin of the middle Miocene: (1) a volumetrically dominant mixed-load fluvial-dominated platform delta, shelf-margin delta, and delta-fed apron systems tract; and (2) a strand-plain, shelf, and muddy slope systems tract. However, the offlapping shelf-margin systems were punctuated by a large-scale slope failure, the Harang collapse system, associated with massive salt withdrawal and retreat of delta systems. A large volume of sediment, funneled by the Harang collapse system, bypassed the slope, initiating a long-lived submarine-fan system. The fan formed in a minibasin corridor and unconfined abyssal plain, approximately 240 mi (384 km) from the active shelf margins. The fan system evolved from a structurally controlled, elongate, sand-rich to mixed sand and mud fan to a large, radial, mixed sand and mud fan.
Case History of Installing Instrumented Jacked Open-Ended Piles

Construction effects on pile-soil systems arise from the process of installing displacement piles. This study conducted a comprehensive field test program complemented with laboratory tests to observe the performance of jacking open-ended concrete pipe piles into silt deposits. The jacked piles were examined in a plugged mode during installation. Direct observation on the soil plugs reveal that their formation generally accords with the stratigraphic nature of the layered soils. Soil-arching behavior during pile penetration causes the soil in the shear zone along the inner pipe wall to mainly come from the uppermost layer of the deposit. Laboratory tests on the soil plug shows evident compaction and the tendency increased strength over time. The buildup of the excess pore pressure and radial total stress in the soil is sensitive to the jacking installation procedure. By taking into account the soil displacement related to the plugging degree, the captured peak excess pore pressure at a given horizon can be modeled by the cavity expansion theory that normally adapts to closed-ended pile. The jacking annulus resistance normalized by the cone tip resistance is independent of the penetration depth and the degree of plugging. A considerable portion of the annulus resistance is locked in the pile after installation, decreases a little during adjacent pile installation, and remains stable over a long period. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000638. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Concrete piles; Pipe piles; Field tests; Pore pressure; Jacking; Case studies. Author keywords: Concrete pipe piles; Field tests; Soil plugging; Pore water pressure; Jacking resistance.
Recovery of breeding success in a population of brown pelicans

Breeding populations of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) declined during the 1960's on both east and west coasts of the United States. In 1969, colonies in South Carolina fledged an average of 0.78 young per nest (Blus et al. 1974b), and those in California only 0.004 (Anderson et al. 1975). The minimum production for population stability has been estimated to be 1.0 to 1.2 fledglings per nest (Henny 1972, Anderson et al. 1977). The South Carolina population may have decreased by as much as 80% during the previous decade (Blus 1970).
Technological sensing and response capabilities as drivers for radical innovation in the context of apocalyptic uncertainty

This paper introduces a new conceptual model to examine the impact of technological opportunism (technology sensing and response capabilities) on the adoption of incremental and radical technological innovation by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We tested our hypotheses with data from 228 Indian SMEs using a symmetric method of partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) and the asymmetric method of fuzzy–set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) followed by sensitivity analysis done by an artificial neural network (ANN) modeling. PLS‐SEM results highlighted the roles of technology sensing and response capabilities as key drivers of both incremental and radical product innovations and the strengthening of these relationships by market uncertainty triggered by external events and crises. Apart from this, the results of fsQCA demonstrated multiple configurations of dimensions associated with the adoption of technological innovations by SMEs. This paper extends the current literature by exploring the process by which SMEs may adopt different types of technological innovation. Our findings also have useful implications for SMEs aiming to adopt technological innovations.
Optimization of the method of hydrothermal treatment of mogar grain for production of food concentrate "Talkan"

The possibility of using mogar grain for the production of food concentrates based on the traditional national dish "Talkan" is considered. "Talkan" is a national food concentrate for Republic of Kazakhstan, which has been used as a staple food in long-distance trekking by various cultures for centuries. Traditionally, talkan is prepared from various cereals, particularly millet, wheat and barley. When boiling water and oil are added, it turns into a hearty porridge, and when oil and sugar are added, it becomes a delicious dessert. The difficulty lies in the careful handling and preparation of the mogar grain. During intensive cooking, the grain can easily overcook, resulting in all the valuable nutrients being leached into the broth. In addition, improperly prepared mogar can burn during further roasting. To determine the optimal parameters of mogar hydrothermal treatment and to create a high-quality food concentrate based on the national dish "Talkan", a complex experiment was conducted using modern methods of experiment planning. A number of variables were tested during the experiment, including temperature limits and duration of cooking, as well as temperature, duration and intensity of stirring during drying and roasting of mogar. The study showed that the most favourable conditions for mogar grain involve cooking at an initial temperature of between 15–20 °C for about 60 minutes, gradually reaching 100 °C. The drying and roasting processes are best carried out for 25 minutes, with a layer thickness of 25 mm and a surface temperature of 250 °C. The determined of hydrothermal treatment serve as a basis for the design of specialised equipment for preparation of mogar grain for the purpose of making Talkan
Quality of Life of People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Monastir, Tunisia

Introduction Despite the benefits of an efficient antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS epidemic still represents the most seriousaffection worldwide that negatively impacts people’s quality of life (QoL). As no studies exist on QoL in Tunisia, the aim of the present work was i: to assess, based on WHOQOL-HIV BREF tool, the perception of QoL of people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving ART and ii: to investigate the relationship between socio-demographic features, disease-related variables and QoL domains’ mean scores. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of infectious diseases of F. Bourguiba Teaching Hospital in Monastir, Tunisia. One hundred and five participants receiving ART were involved. QoL assessment was based on the WHOQOL-HIV Bref including six domains with 29 items with scores ranged from the lowest (4) to the highest (20). Results were reported as frequencies and means (±SD). The Student’s t-test for independent samples and the one-way ANOVA were performed to assess differences in QoL mean scores. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate predictors of QoL. The confidence interval was set at 95%. Results Clients’ mean age was 39.20±10.18 years old with a male to female sex ratio of 3.12. Low mean scores were seen with the environment (12.34±2.90), social relations (12.58±3.94) and psychological domains (12.76±3.31), and moderate mean scores were noted for the physical (14.11±3.52), the spiritual (14.05±3.78) and the level of independence (13.98±3.57) domains. Regression analysis showed that health status and feeling healthy were related to all QoL domains and that profession, marital status and the presence of a confident person were related to environment and spiritual domains. Conclusion QoL of PLHIV on ART is affected. Concrete measures and strategies should be undertaken by healthcare stakeholders to improve QoL determinants.
MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis of schizophrenia and influence of antipsychotic treatment

Characterized by positive symptoms (such as changes in behavior or thoughts, including delusions and hallucinations), negative symptoms (such as apathy, anhedonia, and social withdrawal), and cognitive impairments, schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling mental disorder with late adolescence or early adulthood onset. Antipsychotics are the most commonly used drugs to treat schizophrenia, but those currently in use do not fully reverse all three types of symptoms characterizing this condition. Schizophrenia is frequently misdiagnosed, resulting in a delay of or inappropriate treatment. Abnormal expression of microRNAs is connected to brain development and disease and could provide novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of schizophrenia. The recent studies reviewed included microRNA profiling in blood- and urine-based materials and nervous tissue materials. From the studies that had validated the preliminary findings, potential candidate biomarkers for schizophrenia in adults could be miR-22-3p, -30e-5p, -92a-3p, -148b-5p, -181a-3p, -181a-5p, -181b-5p, -199b-5p, -137 in whole blood, and miR-130b, -193a-3p in blood plasma. Antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia patients was found to modulate the expression of certain microRNAs including miR-130b, -193a-3p, -132, -195, -30e, -432 in blood plasma. Further studies are warranted with adolescents and young adults having schizophrenia and consideration should be given to using animal models of the disorder to investigate the effect of suppressing or overexpressing specific microRNAs.
North Atlantic sea-surface temperatures for the last 1.1 million years

Summary A 1.2 Ma time series of north-east Atlantic sea-surface temperature (SST) has been assembled from the spliced record of piston core K 708-7 (0.68-0 Ma) and hydraulic piston cores taken in nearby DSDP Hole 552A (1.2–0.68 Ma). A no-analogue fauna precludes making credible SST estimates in the interval 1.2–1.1 Ma, but the record above 1.1 Ma is suitable for SST estimates and related time-series analysis. The amplitude of SST variation is considerably higher in the Brunhes than in the upper Matuyama. This is due both to colder glacial SST minima after 0.85 Ma, and to increasingly warm interglacial SST maxima from 0.7 to 0.4 Ma. The dominant periodicity in the SST signal is centred near 95 000 years; it increases in amplitude by a factor of four from the bottom of the record to the top, with the largest increase occurring between 0.7 and 0.4 Ma. This suggests a relatively gradual evolution of ‘100 000-year’ power over half a million years of the late Quaternary, rather than a single abrupt change at 0.9 Ma. Significant, but progressively smaller, spectral peaks occur at periods of 54 000, 41 000, 31 000, 23 000 and 19 000 years. Both the 54 000-year and 31 000-year signals may be a response to insolation forcing by minor obliquity terms. Long-term δ18O records show small responses by the ice sheets at or near these two periods, indicating the probable initial response of the climate system to these insolation rhythms. In-phase relationships between δ18O and SST at these periods suggest that the ice sheets then impose these rhythms on the ocean with no lag. The mechanism by which such small insolation and ice-volume signals become enhanced in the SST record is not clear.
Sustainability of traditional building practices in Nigeria: The case of Igala traditional architecture

Nigeria's diverse ethnic landscape is marked by distinct traditional building practices, each representing a unique cultural identity. This study delves into the architectural heritage of the Igala people of North Central Nigeria, shedding light on their sustainable building practice. Despite its profound cultural and historical significance, the Igala traditional architecture, like many others in Nigeria, faces challenges due to modernization. This trend is pervasive across Nigeria, where contemporary buildings often disregard indigenous socio-cultural, environmental, and climatic considerations in their design and construction. Consequently, modern buildings in Nigeria tend to be costly and incompatible with the local culture, environment and climate. This study explores the imperatives and values of Igala traditional housing pattern, aiming to enhance the sustainability of contemporary building practices in Nigeria. Employing a narrative approach, the study utilized archival/historical research, field surveys, and interviews with local building professionals, indigenous elders, and environmental experts to explore the Igala traditional building practice. Thematic content and descriptive analysis were used to interpret the gathered data. The study revealed intrinsic features of Igala traditional housing pattern, including the courtyard system, hierarchical spatial arrangement, organic expansion, food storage facilities and the integration of socio-economic and socio-cultural spaces. These features exemplify sustainability through values such as security, privacy, communal living, cultural identity, energy efficiency, resource efficiency, passive solar techniques and environmental conservation. The research emphasized the critical importance of these identified features and values, not only for preserving cultural heritage but also for guiding sustainable contemporary architectural practices in Nigeria.