Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, Characterization and Biodegradation of Gum Arabic-based Bioplastic Membranes

Gum Arabic (GA) collected from Acacia senegal trees was used with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to prepare a series biodegradable membranes. Great success was achieved for production of transparent bioplastic membranes by applying a novel casting method termed as free horizontal flow. The similarities between the six FTIR spectra in their principal peaks are due to their common functional groups. The broad pattern of the GA diffractogram obtained confirmed the amorphous nature of the GA, while the relatively sharpness of the PVA confirmed its semi-crystallinity.The crystallinity index (CI) values were increased with the increasing in the PVA allocation in the blend. Thermal degradation of the samples occurred at the higher temperatures (300-500°C) were greater than those for the lower temperatures (25-300°C). The PVA lost more weight than that for the GA at higher temperatures.The overall energy absorbed up to 500°C and subsequently thermal stability of the bioplastic membranes were increased as the PVA allocation in the blend is increased although the mass loss has the same trend. The GA membranes had the lowest nanometric particle size (NPS), while those for PVA had the highest ones. Increasing the PVA concentrations in the blends increased the NPS gradually. The bioplastic membranes were degraded by the isolated bacteria and fungi comparing with control samples. The major strains of isolated bacteria were Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. , while Rhizobus spp was the major fungus. Addition PVA to GA enhanced the membranes formation and their properties such as crystallinity index, thermal stability and surface roughness.
Sociotechnical Envelopment of Artificial Intelligence: An Approach to Organizational Deployment of Inscrutable Artificial Intelligence Systems

The paper presents an approach for implementing inscrutable (i.e., nonexplainable) artificial intelligence (AI) such as neural networks in an accountable and safe manner in organizational settings. Drawing on an exploratory case study and the recently proposed concept of envelopment, it describes a case of an organization successfully “enveloping” its AI solutions to balance the performance benefits of flexible AI models with the risks that inscrutable models can entail. The authors present several envelopment methods—establishing clear boundaries within which the AI is to interact with its surroundings, choosing and curating the training data well, and appropriately managing input and output sources—alongside their influence on the choice of AI models within the organization. This work makes two key contributions: It introduces the concept of sociotechnical envelopment by demonstrating the ways in which an organization’s successful AI envelopment depends on the interaction of social and technical factors, thus extending the literature’s focus beyond mere technical issues. Secondly, the empirical examples illustrate how operationalizing a sociotechnical envelopment enables an organization to manage the trade-off between low explainability and high performance presented by inscrutable models. These contributions pave the way for more responsible, accountable AI implementations in organizations, whereby humans can gain better control of even inscrutable machine-learning models.
Building Recommendation Systems Using the Algorithms KNN and SVD

Recommendation systems are used successfully to provide items (example:movies, music, books, news, images) tailored to user preferences.Among the approaches proposed, we use the collaborative filtering approachof finding the information that satisfies the user by using thereviews of other users. These ratings are stored in matrices that theirsizes increase exponentially to predict whether an item is interestingor not. The problem is that these systems overlook that an assessmentmay have been influenced by other factors which we call the cold startfactor. Our objective is to apply a hybrid approach of recommendationsystems to improve the quality of the recommendation. The advantageof this approach is the fact that it does not require a new algorithmfor calculating the predictions. We we are going to apply the two Kclosestneighbor algorithms and the matrix factorization algorithm ofcollaborative filtering which are based on the method of (singular valuedecomposition).
High-Quality Reduced Graphene Oxide by CVD-Assisted Annealing

Graphene oxide is a promising solution-processable precursor for the mass production of graphene thin films. However, during the wet chemical oxidation and reduction process toward reduced graphene oxide (rGO) a large number of defects are created. Although it is possible to synthesize rGO with an average defect distance of 3–4 nm, the performance is still limited. Here we demonstrate the partial restoration of the graphene basal plane of rGO by annealing in Ar/H2/isopropanol flow. Detailed statistical Raman analysis over large areas corroborates that the mean defect distance increases from initially 2–3 to 10–12 nm after CVD annealing. Some areas even reach defect distances of up to 18 nm. However, residual manganese impurities from the oxidation process lead to undesired carbon nanotube growth on the substrate under these conditions and had to be removed before the deposition of graphene oxide flakes on the substrate. The observed defect reduction during CVD annealing indicates that the lattice defects .
Understanding backpacker sustainable behavior using the tri-component attitude model

Abstract Research on sustainable practices of backpackers lacks a comprehensive model for understanding their sustainable behavior. This paper argues that the contribution of backpacker tourism to sustainable consumption can be achieved if backpackers’ attitudes and behaviors are understood and managed. Predicated on the tri-component attitude model that conceptualizes attitude as a complex relationship among cognition (backpacker motivations and perceived impacts of backpacking), actions (backpacker sustainable and unsustainable behavior), and affection (backpacker satisfaction), this paper proposes a model for understanding backpacker sustainable behavior. We surveyed 400 backpackers in Ghana and tested 12 hypotheses using SPSS and AMOS software. The findings demonstrate that perceived positive impacts of backpacking predict backpacker sustainable behavior, suggesting that backpackers perceive their impacts positively, and hence engage in sustainable behaviors to reaffirm such perceptions. The results, however, reveal an insignificant relationship between the perceived positive impacts of backpacking and backpacker unsustainable behavior. The results also show that backpacker motivations explain the tendency to behave unsustainably. Based on these findings, we draw implications for promoting “intentional sustainability” by global organizations and destination management organizations.
Benzimidazole condensed ring systems. 2. New synthesis of substituted 1‐oxo‐1H,5H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole‐4‐carbonitriles and related derivatives

The synthesis of some 3-substituted and 2,3-disubstituted-1-oxo-1H,5H-pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole-4-carbo-nitriles 5,6 by fusing 1H-benzimidazole-2-acetonitrile 1 with some β-keto esters 2,4 in the presence of ammonium acetate or with ethyl β-aminocrotonate 3 is described. The tricyclic compounds were converted to their N-5 methyl of N-5 ethyl derivatives 8,9. Vilsmeir-Haack formylation of 3-methyl-1-oxo-1H,5H-pyrido[1,2-a]-benzimidazole-4-carbonitrile 5a afforded its 2-formyl derivative 10. Chlorination of 5 and 6 with phosphorus oxychloride yielded the respective 1-chloropyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole-4-carbonitriles 11,12 which were utilized to prepare the 1-azido, 1-amino, 1-piperidino and 1-methoxy derivatives of the ring system. Compound 11a exhibited strong in vitro activity against S. aureus. Four compounds were screened against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice but were inactive.
In situ X-ray observation of 10 Å phase stability at high pressure

Abstract The 10 Å phase, Mg3Si4O10(OH)2·H2O, is a high-pressure hydrous phyllosilicate considered as an important link in the succession of hydrous phases transporting water into the deep mantle. In this study, in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction combined with external heating diamond-anvil cell was used to determine limits of the 10 Å phase stability at pressures above 7 GPa. A reaction “10 Å phase + H2O → hydroxide-perovskite (3.65 Å phase) + stishovite” at about 10 GPa was found to be a high-pressure boundary of the 10 Å phase stability field. A dehydration temperature of the 10 Å phase “10 Å phase → enstatite + stishovite + H2O” decreases with pressure from 690 °C at 7 GPa to 450 °C at 10 GPa; a nonvariant point where 10 Å phase, hydroxide-perovskite and enstatite coexist in the presence of stishovite and hydrous fluid was found near 10 GPa and 450 °C.
OPTIMIZATION OF PO4 AND NO3 CONCENTRATION IN BENTHIC EPILITHIC DIATOM CULTURES AS BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS IN PREDICTING THE TROPHIC STATUS OF THE SWARTPRUIT RIVER, SOUTH AFRICA

A study probing the optimization of PO4 and NO3 concentrations in benthic epilithic diatom cultures as biological indicators in predicting the trophic status and water quality conditions of the Swartpruit River was undertaken. Diatom materials were collected from November 2014 – February 2015 from the river and cultivated in an optimized growth medium with 0.003, 0.005, 0.01, 0.015, 0.2, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, . 025, 0.3, 0.4 mg/L PO4 and 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, 10, 12, 13 mg/L NO3) amounts, respectively. The results revealed that optimization of PO4 and NO3 concentrations in the growth media encouraged corresponding fluctuations in the taxonomic profiles and abundance of diatom assemblage cultures and was plausibly applied in determining the trophic status and water quality condition of the river. Principal component analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between diatom diversity and optimized phosphate and nitrate concentrations in an ordination biplot revealed 45.62% and 37.93 % variations in the data. We anticipate that the methodology and data analysis presented in this report could be applied in predicting the trophic status and water quality of any inland freshwater resource like the Swartspruit River, which undergoes seasonal harmful algal bloom.
Vegetation Dynamics in the Northern Zones of Niger: Case of the Rural Commune of Tanout (Zinder) and Aderbissinat (Agadez)

The present study conducted in the northern zone of Niger aims to show the impact of land use dynamics on woody vegetation. The methodological approach consisted in making in addition to the floristic surveys, the analysis of land use maps (LANDSAT images of the years 1975 and 2018). The floristic inventory allowed the identification of twenty-seven (27) woody species of which eleven (11) in Tanout and sixteen (16) in Aderbissinat. The most important families remain the Fabaceae-Mimosoideae which represent 37.5% at Aderbissinat and 45.45% at Tanout. The biological types remain dominated by microphanerophytes which dominate (86.67%), while for the phytogeographic types it is the Sudano-Zambezian and Sudanian species that dominate, with proportions respectively equal to 31.25%. There is a regression of woody vegetation at the level of these communes with a slight loss in Aderbissinat (60588,034 ha) and an accentuated degradation of vegetation in Tanout (781797,738 ha).
Wideband Metamaterial Absorber Based on Combination of Unit Cells

Metamaterial absorber is an electromagnetic wave absorber made from metamaterial. Especially, it works in narrow-band frequency as it is designed in a particular shape that related to its resonance frequency. However, some applications, e.g., anechoic chamber, requires metamaterial absorber that can work in a wide frequency band. This paper discussed the design of a wideband metamaterial absorber using the combination of multiple unit cells. The unit cell type was split-ring resonator (SRR). SRR had advantages in terms of its simple shape, it could have more than one resonant frequencies depending on the number of its ring, and its shape could be modified easily to obtain the desired resonant frequencies. We designed metamaterial absorber having a good absorption rate in 2-10 GHz frequency band. To cover this wide frequency band, we used five unit cells which were arranged on a flat plane. Each unit cell had several resonant frequencies. The design was carried out using the simulation software of CST (Computer Simulation System). The fabricated design was measured and the results have shown that it had an absorption rate of 99% in the measured frequency band. Keywords—metamaterial absorber, unit cell, an absorption rate
Economic Optimization of a Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger (STHE) based on New Method by Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA)

Today, minimizing the cost of heat exchangers (HEs) is a major goal for the designer. In this study, a fast and reliable method is used to simulate, optimize design parameters and evaluate heat transfer enhancement and the economic optimization of STHE. Taking into account the importance of STHEs in industrial applications and the complexity in their geometry, the GOA methodology is adopted to obtain an optimal geometric configuration. The GOA is a metaheuristics search algorithm based on the mimics and simulates grasshoppers 'behavior in nature and the grasshoppers ' move to food sources. The total annual cost (TAC) (including the capital investment cost and the total operating cost consumption to overcome the pressure drop) is chosen as the objective function, and the design variables include number of tubes, number of tube passes, length of tubes, the arrangement of tubes, size and percentage of baffle cut, tube diameter, tubular step ratio have been considered. The developed algorithm is applied to two case studies and the results are compared with the original design and other optimization methods available in literature such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Hybrid Genetic-Particle Swarm Optimization (GA-PSO), Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA), Falcon Optimization Algorithm (FOA), Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Biogeography Based Optimization (BBO), Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA) and Firefly Algorithm (FFA). In order to investigate the feasibility of the proposed method, two case studies have been presented that show a significant TAC reduction of up to 30% with respect to traditional designed STHEs.
CULTURAL ORIENTATIONS AS ANTECEDENT OF CUSTOMERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF BANKING SERVICES: EVIDENCES FROM TANZANIAN BANKING INUDSTRY

The paper examined how the cultural orientations influence customers’ perception on the banking services offered in the Tanzanian banking by carrying out a comparison between foreign and local banks. The sample size of 380 customers were involved, of whom 196 used local banks services while 184 used foreign bank services. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the psychometric properties of cultural orientations as based on the Tanzanian bank customers. Validity and reliability assessment as well as measurement invariance testing were performed on the cultural orientations’ measurement models used in the study. In carrying out the confirmatory factor analysis, Sharma’s (2010) cultural orientation scale was applied and, the dimensions consumer innovativeness, traditional values and prudence values were used in the model. The findings indicate that Foreign bank customers had significantly higher mean values than local bank customers for consumer innovativeness and traditional values, but there was no significant difference between the two types of banks for prudence values. The findings of the study suggest that there are significant differences in the consumer innovativeness between local and foreign bank customers, with foreign banks customers having significantly higher latent mean consumer innovativeness scores than local customers. There were no significant differences between local and foreign bank customers based on prudence values. Surprisingly, foreign bank customers had a slightly higher significant mean traditional values than local bank customers. The study recommends that Bank managers should change the strategic focus of their offerings by identifying the exact customers’ needs, incorporating cultural values so that these needs can be met and exceeded.
MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN WISTAR RAT LIVERS AFTER CLOFIBRATE TREATMENT

The aim of our study was to determine whether short-term administration of clofibrate can lead to morphological changes in the Wistar rat livers and weather these changes were accompanied by changes in the specific activity of the enzymes involved in oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats divided in two groups: control and experimental were treated with saline solution and clofibrate respectively (250 mg/1000 g/day) for 12 days. Tissue liver samples were taken for morphological examination and liver homogenates and sub-cellular fractions were used for measurement of proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing and ROS scavenging enzyme activities. Following clofibrate treatment, liver histopathology in the treated group has shown deranged liver architecture, focal necrosis and presence of atypical lymphocytes. Electron light mitochondrial matrix and increased number of peroxisomes and mitochondria were also observed. These changes were accompanied by increase of the specific activity of ROS producing enzymes (urate oxidase and palmitoyl CoA oxidase). The most prominent increase of the activity with the increase of relative subcellular distribution was observed in the peroxisomal fraction (LMF). Specific activity of catalase was increased, whereas superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase have shown almost a double decrease. Morphological changes in the liver accompanied by ROS production which has prevailed over their removal pointed to a conclusion that clofibrate can cause morphological changes accompanied by biochemical changes.
Genetic Similarity of Commerson’s Anchovy across Segara Anakan Cilacap Assessed Using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers

Keyword: Commerson anchovy Conservation Genetic diversity RAPD Segara Anakan Segara Anakan areas can be divided into three different regions according to their salinity. Salinity differences suggested that Commerson’s anchovy population in that area can be divided into three subpopulations due to genetic differences. Genetic differences among subpopulation can be assessed through a population genetic study using random amplified polymorphic DNA. This study aims to evaluate the genetic variation and differences of Commerson's anchovy (Stolephorus commersonnii) collected at three different water salinities in Segara Anakan estuary Cilacap Indonesia. Total genomic DNA was isolated using the Chelex method. Genetic diversity and differences were assessed using RAPD markers and were analyzed statistically using an analysis of molecular variance, as implemented in Arlequin software. The results showed that high genetic diversity was observed within the subpopulations. However, no significant genetic differences were observed among subpopulations which indicate genetic similarity. A high number of offspring are likely to cause high genetic variation within subpopulations. Adult and larvae migration is the cause of genetics similarity across Segara Anakan. Another impressive result is that water salinity did not affect the genetic characteristic of Commerson,s anchovy. Genetic similirarity of Commerson’s anchovy indicates that Segara Anakan forms a single genetic conservation unit. Article history: Received: 17/12/2020 Revised: 04/01/2021 Accepted: 05/01/2021
Personnel and human resource management specifics of basketball clubs

The article aims to explore and present the personnel structures and human resource management specifics of basketball clubs from four post-transitional South-East European countries. First, the author presents the post-transitional context, by conducting analyses of variance ant t-tests highlights the differences between clubs at different quality levels regarding financing and the degree of professionalization, and describes the implications on the personnel structures. The second part analyzes the impact of various stakeholders on human resource management processes, and in that context presents the head coach’s role in observed basketball clubs. The findings show the higher quality clubs have better infrastructure, larger financial budgets and obtain higher percentage of funds from private sources. First-division clubs are more professionalized and have larger administrative organizational parts compared to their second and third division counterparts. The largest share of responsibility for organizational performance is on head coaches, athletes, and clubs' presidents. The sporting directors’ influence on human resource management related decisions and their responsibility for the performance increase, while the influence of the clubs' presidents decreases with the quality of division. Finally, sponsors' representatives and athletes’ agents are also relatively more influential in higher-ranked clubs.
Exploring the Role of Motivation in English Language Teaching: Learners and Teachers Perspective

This study aims at exploring and investigating the role of motivation in learning and teaching of English language. It highlights the fact if extrinsic motivation is likely to have an impact on the learning process of a student stronger than intrinsic motivation, or both types of motivations have a significant role to play in the process. The study also focuses on the role of a teacher in building a conducive environment to sustain a healthy competition in teaching a second language. The questionnaire was sent to undergraduate students of 2 universities by using Google forms. The sample size for this research population was 60. There were a total of 19 (31.7%) male respondents and 41 (68.3%) female respondents. The results conclude that students’ guardians have a significant role to play in learning a new language. The primary method, for most students, to learn English language was through entertainment media such as television and movies. A significant motivator for students was the opinion of other people. There was a moderate, positive correlation between the two variables namely extrinsic and intrinsic motivation [r=. 345, n = 60, p <. 0005]. This shows that the two types of motivations are not mutually exclusive but can co-exist as they did in our sample. Both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations are crucial in the development of effective pedagogical practices.
Chronic Kidney Disease Prediction by Machine Learning

:- The application of machine learning in the field of medical diagnosis is increasing gradually. This can be contributed primarily to the improvement in the classification and recognition systems used in disease diagnosis which is able to provide data that aids medical experts in early detection of fatal diseases and therefore, increase the survival rate of patients significantly. In this paper, we apply different classification algorithms on the dataset available in UCI repository for disease prediction.