Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COVID-19: Impact of early decision and type of lockdown over the spread of the virus

Objectives: Aim of the present study was to analyze the (1) partial vs complete lock down effects over the spread of COVID-19, (2) time taken for complete lock down decision in relation with the spread of disease. Method: COVID-19 data for the current observational study was taken up to 14th April since the outbreak of the virus. There were 28 countries which passed through the inclusion criteria and included for analysis.Results: Average number of reported cases during 1st, 2nd and 3rd week of lockdown (complete vs partial) were 6872.9 vs 8990, 13431 vs 20032 and 19005 vs 26859.5 respectively. However, differences were not statistically significant. Days taken to announce complete lockdown was found significantly correlated with number of cases reported during 1st and 2nd after lockdown announced. Similarly, number of reported cases when lockdown announced had direct and strong correlation with number of weekly reported cases after lockdown.Conclusion: Number of weekly reported cases among partially lockdown countries was found higher compare to complete lockdown countries. Furthermore, early decision of lockdown was extremely important as it had grave impact over the spread of disease.
Integrating global chlorophyll data from 1890 to 2010

Understanding large-scale phytoplankton dynamics requires accurate, multi-decadal measurements of abundance and distribution. Since 1890, marine phytoplankton abundance has been assessed using a diverse range of sensors and observational platforms, and inter-calibrating these data have been challenging. Consequently, syn-theses of historical phytoplankton data have been rarely attempted, and the need for accurate, long-term assess-ments of phytoplankton abundance and distribution is commonly acknowledged. Here, we derive quantitative indices of phytoplankton abundance from measurements of upper ocean transparency and color-calibrated with direct measurements of surface chlorophyll. The strong correlation and linear scaling of the predicted data enabled the construction of a comprehensive, globally intercalibrated chlorophyll time series from 1890 to 2010. The calibrated chlorophyll data reproduced the well-established spatial features of phytoplankton surface biomass and were strongly correlated with chlorophyll concentration derived from two independent remote sensing platforms discontinuously available since 1978. These results suggest that with careful statistical treatment it is possible to generate a globally integrated chlorophyll time series extending 120 years into the past. This database, which is available in the web appendices of this paper, may enable new insights in the areas of climate science, biogeochemical cycling, and marine ecosystem structure and functioning over the
CHANGES IN THE TOTAL POLYPHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF FERMENTED MORINDA CITRIFOLIA L.

Objective: The fermented plant beverages (FPBs) are considered as functional food. A detailed scientific investigation is required to develop functionally potential FPBs. The present study aimed to investigate the changes in total phenolic content and antioxidant properties of Lactobacillus paracasei HII01-mediated fermented Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) juice.Methods: The fermentation media consist of 3:10:1 ratio of noni, water, and carbon source (either cane sugar or honey) along with 10% of inoculum (L. paracasei). The control samples were prepared without inoculum or substrate. The variations in pH, acidity, total phenolic content, and the antioxidant capacity of the samples were kinetically measured by standard methods.Results: The pH and total acidity of the samples were progressively reduced and improved when the duration of fermentation was prolonged, respectively. After 15 days of fermentation, F1 (1.198 mg GAE/ml sample) and F3 (1.265 mg GAE/ml sample) exhibited high total phenolic compound compared to other samples. Likewise, sample F3 displayed maximum antioxidant capacity. The samples with cane sugar exhibited high phenolic content, free radical scavenging activity, and chelating power than samples with honey.Conclusion: About 15 days of fermentation in sufficient to obtain the high quality (rich in phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity) fermented M. citrifolia juice using L. paracasei, and cane sugar as starter, and carbon source, respectively
EXOGENOUS CERAMIDE INHIBITS SOME CANCER CELL LINES GROWTH, INDUCES APOPTOSIS, AND REDUCES MAMMARY ADENOCARCINOMA TUMORS IN MICE

Fresh bovine brain and spinal cord samples were collected for separation ceramide. Tissues were homogenized with organic solvents to extract ceramide which purified by using silicic acid column and obtained one fraction with yellow color. Subsequently, the purified extract analyzed and identified by using TLC, spectrophotometer, infrared assay. The results confirmed that the purified extract was identified as ceramide in comparison with commercially standard ceramides. In addition, this work included several genetic and histopathological assays to demonstrate the antitumor activity of ceramide.It was found that 30 μg/ml of exogenous ceramide had antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines (RD, Hep–2, AMN–3, and AMGM5) particularly against cancer cells model AMGM5; the percentage of growth inhibition was 80%. Moreover, ceramide was significantly induced apoptosis in cancer cell lines (RD, Hep–2, AMN–3, and AMGM5), the percentage of apoptotic cells was 18, 28, 30, and 50.3% respectively. Furthermore, histopathological study was carried out; it was found that administration of exogenous ceramide particularly at 250 mg/kg was revealed a putative regression of tumor growth and volume in adenocarcinoma mice.
Dithienylpyrrole- and Tris[4-(2-thienyl)phenyl]amine-Containing Copolymers as Promising Anodic Layers in High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices

Three dithienylpyrrole- and tris[4-(2-thienyl)phenyl]amine-containing copolymers (P(MPS-co-TTPA), P(MPO-co-TTPA), and P(ANIL-co-TTPA)) were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces using electrochemical polymerization. Spectroelectrochemical characterizations of polymer films revealed that P(MPS-co-TTPA) film was light olive green, greyish-green, bluish grey, and grey in neutral state, intermediate state, oxidized state, and highly oxidized state, respectively, whereas P(MPO-co-TTPA) film was green moss, foliage green, dark greyish-green, and bluish-grey in neutral state, intermediate state, oxidized state, and highly oxidized state, respectively. The ΔTmax of P(MPS-co-TTPA) film at 964 nm, P(MPO-co-TTPA) film at 914 nm, and P(ANIL-co-TTPA) film at 960 nm were 67.2%, 60.7%, and 67.1%, respectively, and the coloration efficiency (η) of P(MPS-co-TTPA) film at 964 nm, P(MPO-co-TTPA) film at 914 nm, and P(ANIL-co-TTPA) film at 960 nm were calculated to be 260.3, 176.6, and 230.8 cm2 C−1, respectively. Dual type complementary colored electrochromic devices (ECDs) were constructed using P(MPS-co-TTPA), P(MPO-co-TTPA), or P(ANIL-co-TTPA) as anodic copolymer layer and PProDOT-Et2 as cathodic polymer layer. P(MPO-co-TTPA)/PProDOT-Et2 ECD revealed high ΔT (55.1%) and high η (766.5 cm2 C−1) at 580 nm. Moreover, P(MPS-co-TTPA)/PProDOT-Et2, P(MPO-co-TTPA)/PProDOT-Et2, and P(ANIL-co-TTPA)/PProDOT-Et2 ECDs showed satisfactory long-term cycling stability and optical memory.
Folic acid-functionalized graphene quantum dots with tunable fluorescence emission for cancer cell imaging and optical detection of Hg2+

Functional groups may alter the optical and electrical characteristics of graphene quantum dots and lead to unusual properties and related applications. The paper reports a facile synthesis of folic acid-functionalized graphene quantum dots (FA-GQDs) via thermal pyrolysis of maleic acid (MA) and folic acid (FA). The resulting FA-GQDs display a strong and tunable fluorescence emission under visible light excitation. Interestingly, the fluorescence emission depends on the ratio of FA/MA used in the synthesis of FA-GQDs and the excitation wavelength. FA groups were covalently anchored at the edge of graphene sheets, thus FA-GQDs can be used as a turn-on fluorescent probe for folate receptor-positive cancer cells. The uptake of designed FA-GQDs by HepG2 cells was verified by confocal laser scanning microscopy. FA-GQDs also provide a highly sensitive and selective fluorescence response to Hg2+. The peak fluorescence intensity linearly decreases with the increase of Hg2+ in the concentration range of 2.0 × 10−6–5.0 × 10−12 M with a detection limit of 1.7 × 10−12 M (S/N = 3). All metal and nonmetallic ions tested don’t interfere with the optical detection of Hg2+. The analytical method provides better sensitivity and selectivity compared with previously reported optical sensors for Hg2+, which has been successfully applied for the determination of Hg2+ in natural water samples.
Long-term trends of surface ozone and its influencing factors at the Mt Waliguan GAW station, China – Part 2: The roles of anthropogenic emissions and climate variability

Abstract. Inter-annual variability and long-term trends in tropospheric ozone are both environmental and climate concerns. Ozone measured at Mt Waliguan Observatory (WLG, 3816 m a.s.l.) on the Tibetan Plateau over the period of 1994–2013 has increased significantly by 0.2–0.3 ppbv yr −1 during spring and autumn but shows a much smaller trend in winter and no significant trend in summer. Here we explore the factors driving the observed ozone changes at WLG using backward trajectory analysis, chemistry–climate model hindcast simulations (GFDL AM3), a trajectory-mapped ozonesonde data set, and several climate indices. A stratospheric ozone tracer implemented in GFDL AM3 indicates that stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) can explain ∼ 60 % of the simulated springtime ozone increase at WLG, consistent with an increase in the NW air-mass frequency inferred from the trajectory analysis. Enhanced STT associated with the strengthening of the mid-latitude jet stream contributes to the observed high ozone anomalies at WLG during the springs of 1999 and 2012. During autumn, observations at WLG are more heavily influenced by polluted air masses originating from South East Asia than in the other seasons. Rising Asian anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors are the key driver of increasing autumnal ozone observed at WLG, as supported by the GFDL AM3 model with time-varying emissions, which captures the observed ozone increase (0.26 ± 0.11 ppbv yr −1 ). AM3 simulates a greater ozone increase of 0.38 ± 0.11 ppbv yr −1 at WLG in autumn under conditions with strong transport from South East Asia and shows no significant ozone trend in autumn when anthropogenic emissions are held constant in time. During summer, WLG is mostly influenced by easterly air masses, but these trajectories do not extend to the polluted regions of eastern China and have decreased significantly over the last 2 decades, which likely explains why summertime ozone measured at WLG shows no significant trend despite ozone increases in eastern China. Analysis of the Trajectory-mapped Ozonesonde data set for the Stratosphere and Troposphere (TOST) and trajectory residence time reveals increases in direct ozone transport from the eastern sector during autumn, which adds to the autumnal ozone increase. We further examine the links of ozone variability at WLG to the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM), and the sunspot cycle. Our results suggest that the 2–3-, 3–7-, and 11-year periodicities are linked to the QBO, EASM index, and sunspot cycle, respectively. A multivariate regression analysis is performed to quantify the relative contributions of various factors to surface ozone concentrations at WLG. Through an observational and modelling analysis, this study demonstrates the complex relationships between surface ozone at remote locations and its dynamical and chemical influencing factors.
Atomic Layer Deposited TiO2–IrOx Alloy as a Hole Transport Material for Perovskite Solar Cells

The hole transport layer (HTL) is one of the key components in planar perovskite solar cells. This study reports a new kind of HTL fabricated using atomic layer deposition (ALD). By alloying TiO2 with IrOx, it is demonstrated that TiO2, a well‐known electron‐selective contact and electron transport layer in photovoltaic devices, can behave as an HTL with an appropriately high work function. Perovskite Cs0.17FA0. 83Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3 solar cells including this new hole transport material achieve a power conversion efficiency of 15.8% under AM 1.5G simulated solar irradiation compared to a 14.3% efficiency for otherwise‐identical devices incorporating a more standard NiO HTL layer. These results suggest the promise of transition metal oxide alloys synthesized by ALD as hole contact materials for optoelectronic devices, including advanced photovoltaics.
Recent developments in graphene-based/nanometal composite filter membranes

Significant achievements have been made in the development of next-generation filtration and separation membranes using graphene materials; graphene-based membranes are promising in many areas, such as membrane separation, water desalination, proton conductors, and energy storage and conversion. In recent years, based on the excellent barrier and permeability of graphene sheets, researchers have conducted considerable research on graphene-based composite filter membranes and have made great progress. In this review paper, we summarize the key research contributions in graphene-based/nanometal composite membranes, analyze the existing problems, and elaborate on the potential application in water treatment and development trend of this kind of membrane. Graphene-based/nanometal composite membranes not only have good antibacterial activity and adsorbability, but also have potential application in seawater desalination and sewage treatment. Therefore, we can foresee that graphene-based/nanometal composite membranes will play an important role in water treatment. This review will serve as a valuable platform to fully understand filtration and adsorption mechanism through graphene-based membranes as well as the latest progress in graphene-based/nanometal composite filter membranes.
Small Chiral Molecules Modulators of P-gp: Synthesis and Studies of Enantioselectivity

____________________________________________________________________ xv Abstract The P-glycoprotein is an efflux pump belonging to the superfamily of ABC transporters, and promotes the outward transport of a wide range of structurally unrelated compounds, thus playing important physiological functions. Though its primary function is the protection of cells against toxic xenobiotics and endogenous metabolites, this membrane transporter also plays a relevant role in drug pharmacokinetic processes. Recently, our group showed that newly synthesized thioxanthonic derivatives protected against toxic P-gp substrates, acting as potent inducers/activators of this transporter. Therefore, it is essential to discover new P-gp modulators and enlightening the stereoselectivity of this ABC transporter face to this class of modulators. In this dissertation, eight chiral thioxanthonic derivatives (ATx's 1-8) were synthesized by Ullmann cross coupling reaction between the thioxanthone derivative 1-chloro-4-propoxy-9Hthioxanthen-9-one (Tx) and eight enantiomerically pure building blocks (A 9-16). The structure elucidation of all synthesized compounds was carried out by spectroscopic methods, including IR, NMR (1H, 13C, HMBC and HSQC), and their purity evaluated by HPLC. The evaluation of P-gp modulation of all the synthesized chiral thioxanthonic derivatives was, then, performed in vitro, in order to study the influence of the stereochemistry on Pgp induction and activation. Several biological activity assays were performed using Caco-2 cells as an in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelium. The data from P-gp expression showed that ATx 2 and ATx 6 were the only thioxanthones which significantly increased P-gp expression, when compared to control cells. However, all the tested compounds significantly decreased the RHO 123 intracellular accumulation, that was evaluated in the presence of the tested ATx’s, thus reflecting a significantly increased P-gp activity. Since this assay allows the evaluation of potential immediate effects of the compounds on P-gp activity, as a result of a direct activation of the pump, it was possible to conclude that ATx's 1-8 were P-gp activators. The RHO 123 accumulation assay in Caco-2 cells pre-exposed to the tested ATx’s for 24 hours, demonstrated a significant decrease in RHO 123 intracellular accumulation for all compounds, with exception of ATx 3, thus also reflecting an increased P-gp activity. Since ATx 1, ATx 4, ATx 5, ATx 7 and ATx 8 were not able to significantly increase P-gp expression, the increase in its activity may result from a direct pump activation. No significant differences in the levels of P-gp expression and activity were observed between the isomers (R) and (S) of each enantiomeric pair, suggesting that P-gp modulation may not be significantly affected by enantioselectivity concerning this class of compounds _____________________________________________________________________ Abstract
A ternary nanocomposite of reduced graphene oxide, Ag nanoparticle and Polythiophene used for supercapacitors

ABSTRACT The ternary nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), Ag nanoparticles, and polythiophene (PTh), (rGO/Ag/PTh) with different initial feed ratios of [GO]o/[Th]o = 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 were used in a symmetric supercapacitor device formation. rGO/Ag/PTh nanocomposite has been prepared by in-situ polymerization and chemical reduction of graphene oxide. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy –Attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed in order to characterize the composition of the resulting nanocomposites and morphology. The electrochemical behavior of these nanocomposites were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) measurements in 1.0 M H2SO4 solution. As an electroactive material, rGO/Ag/PTh nanocomposite shows good capacitive performance in acidic electrolyte solution, a high specific capacitance (up to Csp = 953.13 F/g at a scan rate of 4 mV/s) at [GO]o/[Th]o = 0.2. Moreover, the rGO/Ag/PTh nanocomposites at [GO]o/[Th]o = 0.2 show high stability with 91.88% specific capacitance saved after 1000 charge/discharge processes. Furthermore, larger energy density (up to E = 28.8 Wh/kg at a scan rate of 5 mV/s and a power density of P = 2843.3 W/kg at a scan rate of 1000 mV/s) of the nanocomposites at [GO]o/[Th]o = 0.2 is obtained in 1 M H2SO4 aqueous electrolyte for two-electrode device formation. This study has revealed that the rGO/Ag/PTh nanocomposite electrode materials may lead to a stable supercapacitor for portable electronic applications. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
How Does Declining Worker Power Affect Investment Sensitivity to Minimum Wage?

Declining worker power has been advanced as an explanation for dramatic generational changes in the U.S. macroeconomic environment such as the substantial decline in labor's share of the national income, the loss of consumer purchasing power, and growing income and wealth inequality. In this paper, we consider microeconomic implications by examining the extent to which declining working power affects firm-level investment decisions as reflected in firm responses to mandated increases in the minimum wage. Over our sample period, we find that investment-wage sensitivities go from negative (when worker power constrains management) to insignificant (when management becomes less constrained and can pursue outside options). We also provide evidence on the channel through which declining worker power affects firm investment responses, by showing that changes in investment-wage sensitivities are more significant for firms that are more exposed to globalization, technological change, and declining unionization.
Firm-Level Uncertainty and the Transmission of Forward Guidance to Investment

I study the role of firms' uncertainty in the transmission of forward guidance to investment. To do so, I employ a quarterly firm-level panel of U.S. publicly traded firms. I measure forward guidance shocks based on unexpected changes in the slope of the yield curve in a 30-minute window around Federal Reserve announcements. I show that firms which are more uncertain adjust their investment as if they are more pessimistic. More uncertain firms adjust their investment relatively more downward for expected monetary tightenings and relatively less upward for expected loosenings. To explain my empirical findings, I construct a New Keynesian model with a high-uncertainty and a low-uncertainty sector. Agents in the high-uncertainty sector are ambiguous (Knightian uncertain) about the informativeness of forward guidance, and choose to take a pessimistic stance due to their ambiguity aversion. The model implies that expansionary forward guidance is less powerful in recessions due to a larger share of uncertain agents.
Design and Synthesis of a New Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanocomposite for Specific Adsorption and Simultaneous Determination of Diazinon Insecticides from Aqueous Media

Today, molecularly imprinted polymers have received much engrossment as selective adsorbents and substrates. In the present study, a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on clay, graphene oxide and polydopamine was synthesized and used for adsorption and specific entrapment of Diazinon pesticide. The magnetic MIP nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, VSM, and AFM methods. The response surface method (RSM) was used to optimize and modeling the effective parameters of the adsorption of Diazinon by this polymer, and the results were compared with an artificial neural network (ANN). The results showed magnetic saturation of GO/Clay/Fe 3 O 4 @PDA MIP nanocomposite is equal to 8.28 emu/g, average particle size, average surface roughness and imprinting factor of this polymer are equal to 105 nm, 66.72 nm and 2.35, respectively. This polymer has a very selective ability to adsorption of Diazinon by removal percentage equal to 99.85 at pH=7, the concentration of Diazinon=1.45 ppm, the dosage of polymer=1.24 g/L, time=16 min. Also, the RSM results showed that the model included the effect of parameters on the absorption efficiency is a quadratic polynomial equation with the coefficient of determination equal to 0.98% and the most effective parameter on removal percentage is the dosage of the polymer. The artificial neural network with 11 neurons in the hidden layer with the coefficient of determination of 0.96% was also suitable for modeling the absorption process. Compared to the ANN model, the RSM model has better capability and lower error values. Freundlich isothermal models and pseudo-second-order and Elovich kinetic models in different concentrations of Diazinon were appropriate for explanation the adsorption process. The mechanism of Diazinon adsorption by MIP nanocomposite was influenced by intraparticle and extraparticle diffusion. Also, GO/Clay/Fe 3 O 4 @PDA MIP nanocomposite has an adsorption capacity of more than 98% up to nine cycles of the adsorption/desorption process.
The Effects of the U.S. Tax Reform on Investments in Low-Tax Jurisdictions – Evidence from Cross-Border M&As

This paper examines the effects of the 2017 U.S. tax reform, commonly known as the ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’ [TCJA] on cross-border M&As of U.S. acquirers. The TCJA replaced the U.S. worldwide tax system by a territorial system, albeit with one important exception: the ‘Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income’ [GILTI] provision. Our results suggest that the outbound acquisition pattern changed significantly for those U.S. acquirers that are affected by the new GILTI provision. GILTI-affected firms acquire targets in low-tax countries and tax havens significantly less often after the TCJA. We also provide weak evidence that U.S. firms not affected by the GILTI regime acquire more often targets in low-tax countries and tax havens.