Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oil Price and Energy Depletion Nexus in GCC Countries: Asymmetry Analyses

Oil price has played a prominent role in oil exporter economies and may also affect energy depletion in oil-dependent countries. Considering asymmetry, the relationship between oil price (OP) and energy depletion has been investigated in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region from 1970 to 2017. We find asymmetrical positive effects of OP on the energy depletion in the panel of the GCC region. To avoid aggregation biasness in the panel estimates, we also conduct a time-series analysis on each GCC country. We find a positive impact of increasing OP on the energy depletion in six GCC countries, and this effect is found to be elastic in the case of all countries except for Kuwait. Positive effects of decreasing OP on the depletion are also found in all the GCC countries, and these effects are found to be elastic or unit elastic in the case of all countries except Saudi Arabia. Asymmetry in the relationship of oil price and energy depletion is established for Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia in terms of the different magnitude of effects.
RAPID COMMUNICATION: The decoration of carbon nanotubes by metal nanoparticles

Acid-treated carbon nanotubes have been decorated with nanoscale Au, Pt and Ag clusters by employing several procedures. The nature and extent of metal coverage can be varied by changing the concentration of the metal compound or by mild sonication (treatment with ultrasound). The metal clusters seem to get deposited on the acidic surface sites of the nanotubes.
Ronald Jones's duality analysis as a foundation for applied general‐equilibrium modeling

Correspondence James R. Markusen, Department of Economics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309‐0256. Email: james.markusen@colorado.edu Abstract Ronald Jones made seminal contributions to general‐ equilibrium theory, moving away from an emphasis on the existence of equilibrium to algebraic formulations which enabled us to characterize key relationships between parameters and variables, such as that between tariffs and domestic factor prices and welfare. But the analysis remained limited in value for policy evaluation: the analysis was local, it provided only qualitative results, it was limited to very small models, and strictly interior solutions had to be assumed. The contribution of this paper is largely pedagogic and methodological. I show how the tools and approach pioneered by Jones can be generalized via the use of duality, complementarity and the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker theorem into a global, quantitative analysis of large changes in high‐dimensional models which also allows for regime changes and corner solutions. I then show how the resulting nonlinear complementarity problem directly translates into a numerical model using the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS).
The Educators Personality Development in Industry 4.0 Based on Pumping HR-Model

Characteristics of Human personality that have existed since birth can be used as a basis for personal development and professionalism at work. Industrial Era 4.0 demands change in all fields, including the world of teaching. This study uses the literature review method by looking for various references critically to obtain valid and reliable data. The results of the analysis found that for the effectiveness of teaching in the classroom, educators must master and understand learning based on students' personalities and themselves. An understanding of the Personality Based Pumping-HR model can describe and map human personality in certain behaviours and characters. The results have a positive impact on the teaching process and teaching outcomes. Changes in the Personality of educators entering the digital era are very important when linked to the success of the teaching is carried out. So for effectiveness in teaching in the 4.0 era, an educator must understand the personality of students.
Life Cycle Assessment of a Reversible Heat Pump–Organic Rankine Cycle–Heat Storage System with Geothermal Heat Supply

The life cycle assessment of components is becoming increasingly important for planning and construction. In this paper, a novel storage technology for excess electricity consisting of a heat pump, a heat storage and an organic rankine cycle is investigated with regards to its environmental impact. Waste heat is exergetically upgraded, stored in a hot water storage unit and afterwards reconverted to electricity when needed. Such a pilot plant on a lab scale is currently built in Germany. The first part of this paper focuses on geothermal energy as a potential heat source for the storage system and its environmental impact. For a large scale application, geothermal hotspots in Germany are further investigated. The second part analyzes the storage technology itself and compares it to the impacts of commonly used battery storage technologies. Especially during the manufacturing process, significantly better global warming potential values are shown compared to lithium-ion and lead batteries. The least environmental impact while operating the system is with wind power, which suggests an implementation of the storage system into the grid in the northern part of Germany.
Encoder-based weak fault detection for rotating machinery using improved Gaussian process regression

Encoder signal analysis has proven to be a novel and cost-effective tool for the health monitoring of rotating machinery. Nevertheless, how to effectively detect the potential fault utilizing encoder information, especially at an early stage, remains a challenging issue. In light of this limitation, an improved Gaussian process regression analysis is proposed for the weak fault detection of rotating machinery via encoder signal. In this article, the Gaussian process regression model is first introduced to estimate the instantaneous angular speed and its confidence interval. Subsequently, to improve the robustness of Gaussian process regression under weak fault conditions, a spectral density complex kernel is constructed through modeling the spectral density with a mixture of Gaussians. Finally, built upon the eigenvalue decomposition, the optimal inference approach of improved Gaussian process regression is proposed. Compared with other regression methods, the major contribution is that the new method not only enhances the weak fault-related features but also sets their confidence interval adaptively. Using the proposed improved Gaussian process regression, the interference components are suppressed, while the fault-related instantaneous angular speed outliers are accurately detected. In addition, the significance of fault can be quantitatively evaluated according to the confidence level of the improved Gaussian process regression. The simulated and experimental analyses manifest that the proposed improved Gaussian process regression method can effectively identify the early weak fault. It may offer an effective tool for early fault detection of rotating machinery in industrial applications.
Pseudosperma citrinostipes (Inocybaceae), a new species associated with Keteleeria from southwestern China

Pseudosperma citrinostipes sp. nov. from southwestern China is described and illustrated based on morphological, ecological, and molecular data. The new species is characterized by a medium-sized slender habit, straw yellow to golden yellow pileus, crowded lamellae without olive tinges, an equal stipe with lemon yellow to golden fibrils, large ellipsoid to subphaseoliform basidiospores, subfusiform to lageniform cheilocystidia, and the presence of caulocystidia at the stipe apex. Phylogenetically, P. citrinostipes is placed in the P. rimosum complex and is sister to the rest of the taxa of the species complex.
Green extraction of ethnomedicinal compounds from Cymbopogon citratus Stapf using hydrogen-bonded supramolecular network

ABSTRACT Deep eutectic solvent (DES) was synthesized using choline chloride/glycerol for the extraction of ethnomedicinal compounds from Cymbopogon citratus by maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The optimization of extraction parameters and their interactive influence were evaluated by response surface methodology. Extracts were characterized using different antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Different phenolics/flavonoids were identified by LC-ESI-MS. The significantly enhanced extraction yield was obtained using DES in comparison with aq. methanol. Higher values of TPC, TFC, and DPPH inhibition were obtained (135 mg GAE/g, 91 mg QE/g, and 93%, respectively) for DES by applying UAE as compared to maceration. Abbreviations: DES: Deep eutectic solvent; ChCl:Gly: Choline chloride: glycerol; UAE: Ultrasound-assisted extraction; TPC: Total phenolic content; TFC: Total flavonoids content; DPPH: 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl; RSM: Response surface methodology; ANOVA: Analysis of variance; BBD: Box-Behnken design; C.V: Coefficient of variation; MIC: Minimum inhibitory concentration; LC-ESI-MS: Liquid chromatography-electron spray ionization-mass spectroscopy
Bimetallic Catalysts for Volatile Organic Compound Oxidation

In recent years, the impending necessity to improve the quality of outdoor and indoor air has produced a constant increase of investigations in the methodologies to remove and/or to decrease the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Among the various strategies for VOC elimination, catalytic oxidation and recently photocatalytic oxidation are regarded as some of the most promising technologies for VOC total oxidation from urban and industrial waste streams. This work is focused on bimetallic supported catalysts, investigating systematically the progress and developments in the design of these materials. In particular, we highlight their advantages compared to those of their monometallic counterparts in terms of catalytic performance and physicochemical properties (catalytic stability and reusability). The formation of a synergistic effect between the two metals is the key feature of these particular catalysts. This review examines the state-of-the-art of a peculiar sector (the bimetallic systems) belonging to a wide area (i.e., the several catalysts used for VOC removal) with the aim to contribute to further increase the knowledge of the catalytic materials for VOC removal, stressing the promising potential applications of the bimetallic catalysts in the air purification.
Computational approaches for literacy of children with autism: a systematic mapping

ABSTRACT Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with deficits in communication, social interaction, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Due to these restrictions, one can cite the literacy process as a learning problem for people with autism. Although psychological interventions have been used to mitigate this problem, technology plays an essential role in this public. Recent studies show that children with autism demonstrate interest and best performance results when in contact with technology. Nevertheless, it is still a challenge to find studies that gather technological approaches to help the improvement of literacy skills. Based on this premise, this work focus on identifying technological approaches used to aid in the literacy process of children with autism. To achieve our goal, we conducted a systematic mapping where six studies were analyzed to answer our research questions. We identified several computational contributions, like software, desktop, and web applications that benefit the enhancement of the learning process of children with autism.
USING THE TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL (TAM) IN EXAMINING ABSHER SYSTEM ACCPETANCE IN THE KINGDOM SAUDI ARABIA

In this era of technological disruption, people are much oriented to offer and experience new technological interventions in their daily activities. Information and communication technology (ICT) hold a pivotal designation in allowing the integration of technological interventions with daily life activities. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) proved as the helping hand for making this situation much more sophisticated so that global technological determinism that is at the threshold of revitalization can go through a realistic situation. Absher information system that is primarily adopted by the Saudi Arabia government for facilitating their e-government initiatives demonstrated in this study. TAM used as the theoretical background for justifying the holistic applicability of Absher services. Absher is a strategic move by the Saudi government for accommodating betterment in e-governance. Thus, different aspects of global e-government principles are appropriately demonstrated in this study so that a proper justification for Absher usefulness can be displayed. Also, in this study, several theoretical persuasions are augmented, followed by taking into account variables such as perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), behavioral intentions (BI), attitude towards use (ATU), and user satisfaction (US). The survey was conducted by the researcher, taking into account a sample of 300 Absher users from KSA. Data analysis has been conducted by the researcher using a linear regression model in which the T-test, ANOVA test, and Cronbach's' alpha test. The study results revealed that most users provide positive and high attitudes towards the use of the Absher System. Also, there is a positive correlation between ease of use and the user's attitudes towards using Absher System. Furthermore, the study found that the majority of participants thinks that using Absher System is useful for them. JEL: H10; H70
Stability of risk attitude, agricultural policies and production shocks: evidence from Italy

This article investigates the stability of farmers’ risk attitude over time. To this end, we estimate responses to changes in agricultural policies and production shocks. We use a unique panel data of over 36,000 Italian farms specialised in cereals, during the period 1989–2009. We find evidence of risk preference changes over time in response to changes in the European Union Common Agricultural Policy and possibly after a drought-induced production shock.
Malaysia's Economic Growth and Transition to High Income: An Application of the World Bank Long Term Growth Model (LTGM)

This paper studies economic growth in Malaysia, with the purpose of assessing the potential to attain the status and characteristics of a high-income country. Future economic growth is simulated under a business-as-usual baseline, where the growth drivers follow their historical or recent trends, and under different scenarios of reform, using the World Bank Long-Term Growth Model (LTGM). Under the business-as-usual baseline, Malaysia's GDP growth is expected to decline from 4.5 to 2.0 percent over the next three decades, following the country's transition to high income in 2024 (which might be delayed due to the effects of COVID-19). This decline is partly due to demographics, but also a declining marginal product of private capital and slowing growth rates of total factor productivity and human capital. Strong reforms are required for Malaysia to grow beyond what is expected based on historical trends, especially for human capital, female labor force participation, and total factor productivity. In the strong reform scenario, based on growth drivers achieving a target corresponding to the 75th percentile of high-income countries, GDP growth is expected to have a substantially higher trajectory, reaching 3.6 percent by 2050.
Co-sputtering of Lu2O3, Eu2O3 and Ga2O3 for optoelectronics applications

In this paper oxides of lutetium, gallium and europium were co-sputtered on to soda lime glass substrates to produce mixed rare earth oxides by physical vapour deposition (RF magnetron sputtering). Post deposition, the films were characterized by FESEM, XRD, ED-XRF and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The combinatorial oxides were successfully deposited on soda lime glass substrate with an aggregate thickness of 433 nm with uniform nanocrystalline microstructure and a transparent surface, with no visible cracks and defects. The optical properties show that the optical transmittance in the visible region (300 to 800 nm) is around 83%. The Tauc plot calculates that the band gap to be 3.96 eV indicating its good light absorbing capability. This shows that co-sputtering is an effective method to produce mixed rare earth oxides with wide band gap which can increase the operating temperatures and switching speeds for opto-electronic devices (like LED and radar).
The Treatment of Acute Stroke

Stroke is a major public health issue, because of its high incidence rate, high case fatality rate, risk of residual physical and neuropsychological disabilities, and direct and indirect costs. Many strokes are preventable and treatable in the acute stage, provided that patients are admitted soon enough. The term stroke covers a wide range of heterogeneous disorders, depending on the severity of the clinical presentation, from transient deficits to severe cases with coma and early death; the underlying mechanism, i.e., cerebral ischemia, parenchymal hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH); and the cause, i.e., atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, small-vessel occlusion, rare vasculopathies and undetermined causes in cerebral ischemia, or vascular malformations, cerebral amyloid angiopathies, small-vessel diseases, rare vasculopathies and undetermined causes in parenchymal hemorrhages. This chapter will focus only on acute cerebral ischemia and parenchymal hemorrhage. We will cover the general assessment of stroke patients, the complications that can occur in the acute stage, the treatment of acute stroke, and finally a few situations that require specific managements and where evidence-based data are scarce.
The complete mitochondrial genomes of three Ellobius mole vole species (Rodentia: Arvicolinae)

Abstract The subterranean voles of the genus Ellobius are species of subfamily Arvicolinae well adapted to underground life. In this paper, we report the assemblies of complete mitochondrial genomes for three mole voles from genus Ellobius – northern mole vole Ellobius talpinus (16,376 bp), transcaucasian mole vole E. lutescens (16,540 bp), and southern mole vole E. fuscocapillus (16,388 bp). Each of three mitogenomes encode for 12S and 16S rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, and D-loop in the characteristic arrangement of subfamily Arvicolinae (Rodentia: Cricetidae). This study verifies the evolutionary status of subgenera Bramus and Ellobius within the genus Ellobius at the molecular level. The mitochondrial genome would be a significant supplement for the Ellobius genetic background. The three Ellobius species formed a monophyletic group with the high bootstrap value (100%) in all examinations.
Knowledge of Health Communications Management and Treatment Seeking-Behavior Regarding Malaria in Uganda

In Uganda, there is still insufficient comprehension of malaria as a lethal disease especially in rural areas despite universal bed-net distribution coverage and effective anti-malarial treatment. Aim: To get evidence-based knowledge to establish the contribution of an individuals’ knowledge from various health communications that could increase their active involvement in health care especially seeking timely appropriate treatment for malaria or suspected malaria. Method: A cross-sectional survey using a correlational design was employed on a clustered sample of 380 rural households in 05 sub-counties of Kanungu district. Data were corrected between October 2016-January 2017 using researcher-administered questionnaires, key-informant interviews and focus group discussions. Correlation analysis was done. Result: There is a significant positive relationship between knowledge of health communications and treatment-seeking behavior (r = 0.312; p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Exposure to consistent Behavioral Change Communications messages influences treatment-seeking behaviour. Thus, in malaria-prone communities, it appears that other factors including sufficient targeted persuasive health communication are lacking in influencing personal orientations towards treatment-seeking behaviour. Therefore, proper Health Communications management supplements efforts from other disciplines and players, against malaria in Uganda.
Average treatment effects for stayers with correlated random coefficient models of panel data

Correlated random coefficient (CRC) models provide a useful framework for estimating average treatment effects (ATE) with panel data by accommodating heterogeneous treatment effects and flexible patterns of selection. In their simplest form, they lead to the well-known differencein-differences estimator. Estimators for CRC models yield estimates of ATE for “movers”, i.e. cross-sectional units whose treatment status changed over time, while ATE for “stayers”, i.e. cross-sectional units who retained the same treatment status over time, are not identified. In some cases ATE for stayers are of first order importance, for instance when predicting the effect of expanding access to treatment. We study how to identify ATE for stayers in a CRC framework. We show that imposing particular restrictions on selection into treatment leads to the identification of ATE for stayers by a linear extrapolation using quantities identified by the CRC model. We show that this extrapolation is implicitly used by methods found in existing empirical work that rely on panel data models where a single term of unobserved heterogeneity determines both treated and untreated outcomes. We propose a test for the validity of the extrapolation as well as a more robust extrapolation that relaxes the restrictions imposed on selection into treatment. We also propose an easy to implement two-step estimation procedure. We use our results to estimate the returns to agricultural technology adoption among maize
Modularity-Based Incremental Label Propagation Algorithm for Community Detection

Label Propagation Algorithm (LPA) is a fast community detection algorithm. However, since each node is randomly assigned a different label at first, there is serious randomness in the label updating process of LPA, resulting in great instability of detection results. This paper proposes a modularity-based incremental LPA (MILPA) to address this problem. Unlike LPA, MILPA first assigns all nodes the same label, and then repeatedly uses divide strategy to split locally dense connected nodes into a community and give them a new label. After that, MILPA uses modularity gain as the optimization function to fine-tune the label of nodes so as to obtain an optimal partition. The proposed MILPA has been compared with LPA and other known methods. Experimental results show that MILPA has the best and most stable performance in LFR benchmark networks and is comparable to the best algorithm in many real networks.
Julius Obsequens’s book, Liber Prodigiorum: A Roman era record of meteorite falls, fireballs, and other celestial phenomena

Julius Obsequens was the pseudonym of a Roman historian presumably living in the 4th century ad, whose life is shrouded in mystery. All that is known about Obsequens’s biography is that he was the author of a book entitled Liber Prodigiorum (Book of Prodigies), a collection of prodigies deduced from Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita Libri (Books from the Founding of the City). The Liber Prodigiorum covered the period from 190 to 11 bc and gathered a chronological list of portents of various kinds (e.g., births of monstrous animals or men, statues that shed blood, voices from beyond the grave, epidemics, earthquakes, unidentified flying objects). Among these extraordinary reports, chronicles of celestial phenomena were also included. The interdisciplinary approach adopted in this research has clarified the nature of the events described in the text and has enabled the identification of new Italian meteorite falls that are not included in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database.