Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DETERMINANTS OF EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT AS APPLIED ON THE EGYPTIAN PETROLEUM SECTOR

This paper aims to investigate the role of empowerment on employee performance in petroleum industry EMS departmentin order to improve the application of the EMS ISO 14001. The study addresses two perspectives of empowerment (i.e., structural and psychological). Research population three hundred and seventy-seven questionnaires. Findings reveal that both forms of empowerment have a positive and significant impact on employees’ performance. However, psychological empowerment has a stronger impact on employees’ behavior than does structural empowerment. Three dimensions of structural empowerment (communications, training, and knowledge and skills) have a significant positive impact on the dependent variable. In addition, three dimensions of psychological empowerment (meaning, competences and impact) have significant and positive impacts on employees’ performance. This study offers new insights into the existing literature and provides implications and directions for future research. INTRODUCTION A rapidly changing environment threatens the survival of many organizations. The global economy propelled by booming regional economies, new media and information technology, universal consumer cultures, emerging global standards, and opportunities for corporate costsharing, has dramatically changed the environment in which organizations exist today (Reza Borghei 2010) J. Environ. Sci. Institute of Environmental Studies and Research – AinShamsUniversity Vol. 36, No.2, Dec. 2016 86 Oil and gas (OOG) production is rapidly expanding to meet increasing energy demands. Since the environment is sensitive, attention is increasingly devoted to environmental issues associated with OOG operations. An Environmental Management System (EMS) can be utilized to systematically manage all activities in OOG operations that give rise to environmental impacts. Common EMS frameworks have the following limitations: (1) they are not very effective to convey and interpret sufficient information for decisionmaking; (2) there is no specified performance evaluation system to drive improvement; and (3) there is a burden of extensive documentation. This requires academic researches examine the employee empowerment as a new trends in human resources management. This research was carried out to discuss this issue. Organizational adaptation theory “proposes that organizational variability reflects designed changes in the strategy and structure of individual organizations in response to environmental changes, threats, and opportunities”. These theories suggest that an organization’s ability to adapt to environmental changes affects its survival. Organizations need to be flexible in order to react in a timely manner to environmental pressures. The popularized literature commends an empowered organization” as a strategy to enhance organizational performance and insure survival (Graetz and Smith, 2006).
Isolation and molecular identification of extracellular lipase-producing bacillus species from soil

Microbial lipases are the most valuable Biocatalysts with Industrial applications that show a large variety of enzymatic properties among microbial populations. This study aimed to isolate extracellular lipase-producing Bacilli and their molecular identification in the soils of western Mazandaran, Iran. A total of 50 soil samples with bacterial lipolytic potential were collected from the depth of 10-15 cm of soils in the rural areas of western Mazandaran, Iran. The samples were directly cultured on tributyrin agar medium with Lipidic glycerol butyrate substrate after heat treatment and preparation of serial dilutions. DNA was isolated from bacillus isolates with a clear zone. The molecular identification of isolates was carried out by using 16S rDNA Real Time PCR, High Resolution Melting (HRM), direct sequencing, and sequence alignment in BLAST. The primary properties of lipase enzymes produced by isolates were determined using supernatant of medium culture by spectrophotometer measurement of enzymatic activity at different temperatures, different concentrations of substrate, and relative molecular weight determination of enzymes by SDS-PAGE. Total of 5 gram-positive bacilli was isolated. After identification of biochemical and morphological characteristics, sequence alignment of their 16S rDNAs, the strains were identified as B. megaterium 37-1, Bacillus safensis 1-1, Bacillus pumilus KN-Lip2, Bacillus subtilis KN-Lip3, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis KN-Lip4 in Genbank database. The highest lipase activity of each strain was determined as 626.1069 u/ml and 422.5517 u/ml for B. megaterium 37-1 and B. safensis 1-1, respectively. The relative molecular weight of lipases produced by both strains was about 55 KDa. Vmax and km parameters were calculated by Michaeilis-Menthen hyperbola and Lineweaver-Burk plots. The Vmax value of lipase enzyme produced by B. megaterium 37-1 at 37°C was higher than that produced by B. safensis 1-1. The km values of B. megaterium 37-1 were higher and lower than that of B. safensis 1-1 at 37°C and 55°C, respectively. In this study, lipolytic bacillus isolates were collected and identified from soil of various environments in the northern part of Iran. Among 5 new strains found in this study, B. megaterium 37-1 showed a higher enzymatic activity in compare to other strains.
Centrifugation, Storage, and Filtration of Olive Oil in an Oil Mill: Effect on the Quality and Content of Minority Compounds

Centrifugation, storage, and filtration of olive oil were evaluated in an oil mill to determine their effect on the final quality of virgin olive oil. The main functions of these processes are to clarify the olive oil by removing water, solids, and other possible suspended particles. Although some changes were detected in the oil quality parameters after these processes, all the samples were extra virgin olive oil. The phenolic and volatile compound content of the olive oil was influenced by vertical centrifugation processing. Significantly, vertical centrifugation led to a 53% reduction in ethanol content. Oil storage before filtration resulted in a significant increase of around 30% in the peroxide index, while the antioxidant capacity decreased by 78%. Comparison of the results for filtered and unfiltered oil samples revealed that the most significant change was the reduction in the photosynthetic pigment content, with a decrease of around 50% in chlorophyll. Due of all this, the conditions applied in vertical centrifugation and the time of storage of the olive oils should be further controlled, enabling cleaning and decantation but avoiding the reduction of the antioxidant capacity and the content of phenolics compounds.
Extraction optimization and adsorption isotherm kinetics of polyphenols from blossoms of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl

ABSTRACT Crude extracts were extracted from blossoms of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. with 50% ethanol (CAVAP-E), 50% methanol (CAVAP-M), and hot water (CAVAP-W). CAVAP-W had the highest polyphenol yield of 3.7%. The optimum values of liquid/solid ratio, ultrasonic time, and ultrasonic power were 34.06 mL/g, 1 h, and 81.04 W, respectively. The adsorption characteristics of polyphenols were investigated using different macroporous resins. AB-8 and HP-20 resins offered higher adsorption and desorption capacities. Langmuir equation was more suitable to predict the adsorption of polyphenols. The pseudo second-order model was satisfactory to describe the kinetic data of polyphenols onto AB-8 and HP-20.
Physical and Chemical Properties of the Rice Straw Activated Carbon Produced from Carbonization and KOH Activation Processes

In this study, highly porous activated carbon was produced from rice straw by carbonization and followed by activation using potassium hydroxide (KOH). Activated carbon samples were prepared under different activation temperatures, i.e., 650, 750 and 850°C, and their physical and chemical properties were characterized accordingly. The BET surface area of the activated carbon samples was increased from 520 to 1048 m2/g with the increase of activation temperature from 650 to 850°C. These values were much higher than the non-activated rice straw carbon i.e., 1.16 m2/g. The pore sizes of the rice straw activated carbon were found to be mainly in mesopore size range of 2-50 nm. Total carbon content of the AC sample was increased from 8.35% to 31.73% with the increase of activation temperature from 650 to 850°C. XRD and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the graphite properties of the activated carbons produced. SEM images proved high porosity of the AC after KOH activation.
Effect of Phosphate and Nitrate Supplement on Growth and Agar Quality in Gracilaria dura (C. Agardh, 1842) - In Vitro Culture

The present study on growth performance of Gracilaria dura were conducted at Veraval from December 2017 to March 2018. The different concentration of nitrate and phosphate content were given to check the effect on growth, agar quality and Daily Growth Rate (DGR). Initially 200 g of G. Dura ware planted in culture tank of 5 litre capacity in 4 replication Growth and Physico chemical parameters were measured at every 30 days interval, final harvest was done at the end of 120 days. Highest mean growth was observed in treatment T-8 (2 ppm Phosphate and 2 ppm Nitrate) 709.25 ± 9.70 g FW; while, lowest (538.75 ± 7.13) in control condition. Weights of Gracilaria were found significant with increase in time period from 0 to 120 days at interval of 30 days. DGR % has been observed highest (0.651 %) in treatment 8 at 60 days, while lowest (0.207 %) in control. Estimation of agar agar during that culture period (120 days) at an interval of 30 days show the range of 23.33 ± 1.38 to 34.52 ± 1.28.
Impact of black silicon on light‐ and elevated temperature‐induced degradation in industrial passivated emitter and rear cells

Light and elevated‐temperature induced degradation (LeTID) is currently a severe issue in passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC). In this work, we study the impact of surface texture, especially a black silicon (b‐Si) nanostructure, on LeTID in industrial p‐type mc‐Si PERC. Our results show that during standard LeTID conditions the b‐Si cells with atomic‐layer‐deposited aluminum oxide (AlOx) front surface passivation show no degradation despite the presence of a hydrogen‐rich AlOx/SiNx passivation stack on the rear. Furthermore, b‐Si solar cells passivated with silicon nitride (SiNx) on the front lose only 1.5%rel of their initial power conversion efficiency, while the acidic‐textured equivalents degrade by nearly 4%rel under the same conditions. Correspondingly, clear degradation is visible in the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the acidic‐textured cells, especially in the ~850 to 1100‐nm wavelength range confirming that the degradation occurs in the bulk, while the IQE remains nearly unaffected in the b‐Si cells. The observations are supported by spatially resolved photoluminescence (PL) maps, which show a clear contrast in the degradation behavior of b‐Si and acidic‐textured cells, especially in the case of SiNx front surface passivation. The PL maps also suggest that the magnitude of LeTID scales with surface area of the texture, rather than wafer thickness that was recently reported, although the b‐Si cells are slightly thinner (140 vs 165 μm). The results indicate that b‐Si has a positive impact on LeTID, and hence, benefits provided by b‐Si are not limited only to the excellent optical properties, as commonly understood.
New type of alginate/chitosan microparticle membranes for highly efficient pervaporative dehydration of ethanol

A new type of composite alginate membranes filled with chitosan (CS) and three different modified chitosan submicron particles, i.e. phosphorylated (CS-P), glycidol (CS-G) or glutaraldehyde (CS-GA) crosslinked ones, were prepared, and the pervaporation of water/ethanol mixture was investigated. The influence of various chitosan particles and their content on the transport properties of membranes was discussed. It was found that the addition of chitosan particles into the alginate matrix has a prominent effect on the ethanol/water separation efficiency. All tested membranes are characterized simultaneously by a high flux and selectivity, exhibiting advantageous properties, and outperforming numerous conventional materials. The best results were achieved for alginate membranes filled with phosphorylated chitosan particles at 10 wt%, for which separation factor, flux and PSI were equal to 136.2, 1.90 kg m−2 h−1 and 256.9 kg m−2 h−1, respectively.
New Fe II energy levels from stellar spectra

Aims. The spectra of B-type and early A-type stars show numerous unidentified lines in the whole optical range, especially in the 5100−5400 A interval. Because Fe ii transitions to high energy levels should be observed in this region, we used semiempirical predicted wavelengths and gf-values of Fe ii to identify unknown lines. Methods. Semiempirical line data for Fe ii computed by Kurucz are used to synthesize the spectrum of the slow-rotating, Fe-overabundant CP star HR6000. Results. We determined a total of 109 new 4f levels for Fe ii with energies ranging from 122324cm −1 to 128110cm −1 . They belong to the Fe ii subconfigurations 3d 6 ( 3 P)4f (10 levels), 3d 6 ( 3 H)4f (36levels), 3d 6 ( 3 F)4f (37levels), and 3d 6 ( 3 G)4f (26levels). We also found 14 even levels from 4d (3levels), 5d (7levels), and 6d (4levels) configurations. The new levels have allowed us to identify more than 50% of the previously unidentified lines of HR6000 in the wavelength region 3800−8000 A. Tables listing the new energy levels are given in the paper; tables listing the spectral lines with log gf ≥− 1.5 that are transitions to the 4f energy levels are given in the Online Material. These new levels produce 18000 lines throughout the spectrum from the ultraviolet to the infrared.
PENGARUH KEPEMIMPINAN, KOMPETENSI DOSEN, PERILAKU BELAJAR, MOTIVASI BELAJAR TERHADAP KUALITAS SOFT SKILL MAHASISWA STIPAS KEUSKUPANG AGUNG KUPANG

The focus of this research is to discover whether leadership, lecturer’competence, learning behavior dan learning motivation influence students’ soft skill quality at the Pastoral Institution of Higher Learning of Kupang Archdiocese. This research is also designed for analyzing which of those four variables that becomes the most dominant factor on student’soft skill quality. Research’s population refers to the student at Pastoral Institution of Higher Learning, Kupang Archdiocese, with total of 136 students. Using simple random sampling as the method, this research focuses on 103 respondents. The results of the descriptive statistics analysis showed that the leadership was catagorized as good (72,74 %), lecturers’ competence as good (67,45 %), learning behavior as good (72,37 %), learning motivation was good (73,31 %), and students’ soft skill quality was also catagorized as good (73,50 %). The results of t-test showed that partially leadership (3.307, sig. 0.001 < 0,05), lecturers’ competence (3.395, sig. 0.001 < 0,05), learning behavior (3.255, sig. 0.002 < 0,05), and learning motivation (2.380, sig. 0.006 < 0,05) had a positive and significant effect on the student’ soft skill quality of Pastoral Institution of Higher Learning, Kupang Archdiocese. The results of F-test indicated that simultaneously the four independent variables: leadership, lecturers’ competence, learning behavior and learning motivation (16,778, sig. 0,000 < 0,05) had a positive and significant effect on the student’ soft skill. It is suggested to the management of Pastoral Institution of Higher Learning, Kupang Archdiocese has to make a evaluation on the leadership and lecturer performance, evaluation on the learning behavior, learning motivation and students’ soft skill quality, to make a research of the others factor that influence on students’ soft skill quality, and human resource development. The management of Pastoral Institution of Higher Learning, Kupang Archdiocese and Swasti Sari Institution can do their job and responsibility to improve the leadership quality, lectrurer’ competence, learning behavior, learning motivation and students’ soft skill quality.
New high-pressure phases in MOOH (M = Al, Ga, In)

Abstract A unique phase, belonging to an orthorhombic crystal system (Pbca, Z = 8), is proposed in AlOOH using crystal structure searches based on an evolutionary genetic algorithm method, combined with density functional theory. This phase features a nonlinear asymmetric doubly covalent hydrogen-bond and metal cations that are sixfold oxygen coordinated. Unlike the earlier proposed monoclinic phase, the stability region of Pbca (166–189 GPa) lies well below the pressure of decomposition to Al2O3+ice X (287 GPa). In GaOOH the Pbca-type phase is not energetically favorable at any pressure. In the course of evaluating the breakdown of GaOOH to its constituent oxides, we have found a new phase of Ga2O3 (U2S3-type). In InOOH, Pbca is energetically favorable over a narrow pressure interval (12–17 GPa). Also in InOOH, we find a new tetragonal structure (P4̄21m, Z = 4) stable above 51 GPa. This phase has nonlinear asymmetric hydrogen-bonds and metal cations that are sevenfold oxygen coordinated. Phonon calculations confirm the vibrational stability of the new phases and show that the high-pressure polymorphs of AlOOH are likely to be important carriers of water into the deep lower mantles of Earth and rocky super-Earths.
Analysis of Quality Involving in Minerals, Amylose, Protein, Polyphenols and Antioxidant Capacity in Different Coloured Rice Varieties

In this study, we investigated six minerals, amylose, soluble protein and total protein, total polyphenols contents, and antioxidant capacity for three black rice, two red rice and three white rice cultivars. The results showed that coloured rice varieties contained the higher minerals and polyphenols content than those of white rice. Besides, the study indicated that polyphenols contributed to accumulation of divalent and trivalent minerals, but little effect to monovalent minerals. Blackand red rice possessed the stronger antioxidant capacity than that of white rice, and red rice presented the highest among three different coloured rice varieties. Then the study showed that protein content slightly influenced accumulation of amylose. Besides, protein and amylose content both existed hardly in significant difference among different coloured rice varieties. Hence, this suggests that redand black rice has higher levels of nutrition and stronger antioxidant capacity for ones health than white rice.
Fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of oils recovered from acid silage and bacterial fermentation of fish (Sea bass – Dicentrarchus labrax) by‐products

Lipid quality and fatty acid compositions of fish oils recovered from fish (Sea bass – Dicentrarchus labrax) waste silages produced with formic acid (FA) and five different LAB strains (Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), Pediococcus acidilactici (PA), Enterococcus gallinarum (EG), Lactobacillus brevis (LB) and Streptococcus spp. (ST)) were assessed to ensure for the usage for human consumption. Generally, it was observed that there were no significant differences between PUFA contents (23.27–23.64%). Peroxide (PV) (2.12 meq active O2/per kg of oil) and TBA values (1.07 mg malonaldehyde (MA) g 1 oil) of fish oils from acid silage were significantly higher than those of the fermented ones (1.14–1.91 meq active O2 kg , 0.67–0.81 mgMA g 1 oil, respectively). Anisidine values (AV) were determined in range of 8.04– 11.14 for fermented silages and 13.08 from acid silage. The highest totox value (17.33 0.88) was also detected in acid silage oil whereas fermented groups gave totox value in the range of 10.40–13.88. It can be concluded that the initial lipid quality of fermented fish waste silages was better than the initial lipid quality of acid fish waste silage. Therefore, fish oils recovered from fermented silages can be used as food additives or supplements for animal and human diets.
Cytotoxic Activity of Methoxy-4’amino Chalcone Derivatives Against Leukemia Cell Lines

Background: Chemotherapy is a common treatment for leukemia as well as in other cancer treatment. The lack of tumor selectivity and development of multi-drug resistance by chemotherapy caused the development of new strategy in cancer treatment become a pressing need. This study was performed to evaluate the anticancer activity and selectivity of seven derivatives of chalcones against K562 and HL-60 leukemia cell lines. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxicity of chalcone’s seven derivatives (compound 1-7) was tested by using MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxyme-thoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) method. The percentage of cell mortality data was calculated then the IC50 was analyzed using probit analysis (SPSS 17). The selectivity index (SI) then calculated from IC50 ratio of normal lymphocyte cells and cancerous cells line (HL-60 and K562). Results: The IC50 of almost all seven tested compounds were lower in HL-60 cell lines than K562 cell lines, except for Compound 7. The number and position of methoxy groups in chalcone derivatives influenced the anticancer and cancer selectivity of chalcone derivatives.Conclusion: The results revealed that the number and position of methoxy groups in chalcone derivatives influenced the anticancer and cancer selectivity of chalcone derivatives.Keywords: anticancer, chalcone derivatives, methoxy-4’-amino chalcone, leukemia, cytotoxic, selectivity
k-Casein upregulates osteogenic differentiation on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured on agarose microcarriers

Abstract Microcarriers have been used as a three-dimensional substrates for cells cultivation and expansion. The present study aimed to fabricate a novel agarose-κ-casein microsphere, and assess its compatibility towards stem cells attachment, proliferation, survival, differentiation and osteogenic expression. Agarose microspheres were synthesized by emulsion method and activated with CNBr. Cells compatibility of the composite was observed at day 1, 4 and 7 by MTT, in addition FTIR, and SEM analysis were also performed. This microcarrier systems upregulated the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured on the carrier systems (p < 0.0001). Graphical Abstract
Homogeneous Nucleation Mechanism of NaCl in Aqueous Solutions

In this study, molecular dynamic simulations are employed to investigate the homogeneous nucleation mechanism of NaCl crystal in solutions. According to the simulations, the dissolved behaviors of NaCl in water are dependent on ion concentrations. With increasing NaCl concentrations, the dissolved Na+ and Cl- ions tend to be aggregated in solutions. In combination with our recent studies, the aggregate of dissolved solutes is mainly ascribed to the hydrophobic interactions. Different from the two-step mechanism, no barrier is needed to overcome the formation of the aggregate. In comparison with the classical nucleation theory (CNT), because of the formation of solute aggregate, this lowers the barrier height of nucleation and affects the nucleation mechanism of NaCl crystal in water.
3.5: Investigation of excited‐state dynamics upon both photo‐ and electro‐excitation of thermally activated delayed fluorescent molecules

Exciton dynamics is one of the core issues lies in the field of achieving high efficiency organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules. The authors briefly review the host dependence of TADF dopant, and then discuess the host—guest interaction in TADF OLEDs. By the means of transient electroluminescence measurement, the dynamics of triplet and singlet excitons are studied. Results show that host material with high T1 energy levels, large spectral overlap with TADF dopant's absorption and free of exciplex formation exhibits higher TADF character. Furthermore, the underlying reason for the efficiency roll‐off of the TADF OLEDs is clarified to be attributed to deeply trapped charges.