Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chlorine dioxide bleaching of nineteen non-wood plant pulps

Abstract Bleaching of unbleached and oxygen delignified pulps from nineteen non-wood plants has been evaluated in elemental chlorine free bleaching. Chlorine dioxide charge (kappa factor 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25) and temperature (70 and 85 °C) in the delignification stage (D) were varied. Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) charge and temperature exhibited lower kappa number and higher brightness after alkaline extraction (EP) stage. High temperature ClO2 delignification (DHT) exhibited higher final pulp brightness. The final brightness of wheat straw pulp reached to 90 % after D0/DHT(EP)D1 bleaching, while banana pseudo stem pulp showed the worst bleachability. Residual hexeneuronic acid contents in final pulp from most of the non-wood plants were lower and exhibited 1–2 % higher pulp brightness in DHT process than D0 process. Oxygen delignified pulp and DHT process discharged lower COD load.
The Gel, the Colour, and the Complexing Agent: An Investigation of a Rigid Gel Application of Benzotriazole for Verdigris-Damaged Paper

Abstract The aim of this research was an investigation into creating a rigid gel application of benzotriazole (BTA), a complexing agent, as a new potential way of treating verdigris-damaged paper. Various gel recipes were mixed and tested on historical samples. The gel recipes varied in gellan gel concentration, BTA/solvent solution concentration, and BTA concentration. The recipe effectiveness was assessed using Hulthe’s indicator paper and MQuant™ Test Cu indicator strips, two types of indicator papers which detect free copper ions. The results showed that rigid gel application of BTA is effective in complexing the copper ions which may inhibit further damage to the paper caused by free copper ions. Some of the other effects of the gel were the simultaneous removal of paper discolouration by the gel. Further research is needed to refine the gel recipes as well as the treatment process to prevent or reduce potential tidelines and other possible negative side-effects of gel treatment.
Three-Form Split Questionnaire Design for Panel Surveys

Abstract Longitudinal or panel surveys are effective tools for measuring individual level changes in the outcome variables and their correlates. One drawback of these studies is dropout or nonresponse, potentially leading to biased results. One of the main reasons for dropout is the burden of repeatedly responding to long questionnaires. Advancements in survey administration methodology and multiple imputation software now make it possible for planned missing data designs to be implemented for improving the data quality through a reduction in survey length. Many papers have discussed implementing a planned missing data study using a split questionnaire design in the cross-sectional setting, but development of these designs in a longitudinal study has been limited. Using simulations and data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we compare the performance of several methods for administering a split questionnaire design in the longitudinal setting. The results suggest that the optimal design depends on the data structure and estimand of interest. These factors must be taken into account when designing a longitudinal study with planned missing data.
Balancing Versus Modeling Approaches to Weighting in Practice

Present Address 180 Longwood Ave, Office 307-D, Boston, MA 02115, USA Summary There are two seemingly unrelated approaches to weighting in observational studies. One of them maximizes the fit of a model for treatment assignment to then derive weights — we call this the modeling approach. The other directly optimizes certain features of the weights — we call this the balancing approach. The implementations of these two approaches are related: the balancing approach implicitly models the propensity score, while instances of the modeling approach impose balance conditions on the covariates used to estimate the score. In this paper, we review and compare these two approaches to weighting. Previous review papers have focused on the modeling approach, emphasizing the importance of checking covariate balance, but as we discuss, the dispersion of the weights is another important aspect of the weights to consider, in addition to the representativeness of the weighted sample and the sample boundedness of the weighted estimator. In particular, the dispersion of the weights is important because it translates into a measure of effective sample size which can be used to select between alternative weighting schemes. In this paper, we examine the balancing approach to weighting, discuss recent methodological developments, and compare instances of the balancing and modeling approaches in a simulation study and an empirical study. In practice, unless the treatment assignment model is known, we recommend using the balancing approach to weighting, as it systematically results in better covariate balance with weights that are minimally dispersed. As a result, effect estimates tend to be more accurate and stable.
A Turkish Perspective of Islamic Corporate Governance for a Sustainable Financial Performance

This paper evaluates the role that integration of Islamic corporate governance has on the overall sustainable financial performance of a firm. Unlike the case with traditional corporate governance, Islamic institutions have a shariah supervisory board (SSB) which is tasked with the role of acting as the main supervisory, ensuring that the organization is observing the established shariah principles to guide its performance. The qualitative study methodology was adopted for the study to aid in comprehension of the underlying issues concerning adoption of Islamic corporate governance in a firm and the impact it has on sustainable financial performance. The study relied on qualitative research technique via sending questionnaires to 50 CEO and Board of directors selected via snowball sampling. The questionnaires were meant to examine the concept of ICG and the impact it has on the sustainable financial performance of an organization in Turkey. The results indicate there is a strong positive relationship between ICG and sustainable financial performance of organizations in Turkey. The analysis further indicates that shariah governance and managerial ownership have a moderating role in the performance of the organization due to the confidence they offer to the shareholders. These findings will provide a roadmap to the Islamic firms when it comes to the integration of ICG in their operations to improve the sustainability of their financial performance. One limitation of this study is the limited nature of ICG in Turkey, whereby the concept of corporate governance is still in the developing stages.
HULL VANE® VERSUS LENGTHENING A comparison between four alternatives for a 61m OPV

The patented Hull Vane® is a fixed hydrofoil that can be mounted near the transom of the vessel, aimed at reducing the resistance of the vessel. Recent CFD studies, model tests, and full-scale trials have shown that the Hull Vane® is a very effective energy saving device for fast displacement vessels. In a typical retrofit installation (attached to the transom), the Hull Vane® increases the total length of a vessel. In this paper, the question is answered whether lengthening the vessel by the same amount can achieve comparable results in case of a newbuilding. For this purpose, four versions of a state-of-the-art 61m patrol boat design by DAMEN are compared in terms of resistance and propulsion. These resistance and propulsion calculations are based on a series of CFD computations. The results show that for a given operational profile, a Hull Vane® fitted behind the transom is the most beneficial solution in reducing the fuel consumption of the vessel. Incorporating the Hull Vane® within the existing length of the vessel also proves to be more beneficial for the yearly fuel consumption than extending the overall length of the vessel. Introduction The Hull Vane® is a primarily transverse wing mounted near the transom of a vessel. Its effectiveness in reducing resistance of fast displacement vessels has been proven in various CFDstudies, towing tank tests, and full-scale trials [1], [2], [3]. The Hull Vane® (HV) can be retrofitted to existing ships or integrated into new designs. The first option usually results in an increased overall length, since the wing is positioned behind the transom for maximum efficiency. This has posed the question if a mere extension of the ship to the same length yields the same resistance reduction and the associated benefits in fuel consumption and speed. In this paper, four versions of a patrol boat design from DAMEN are compared in terms of resistance and propulsion. Furthermore, the power requirements and required fuel capacities to achieve certain ranges are checked against each other before calculating annual fuel consumption and emissions based on a given operational profile.
ELECTROLYTES: FROM DILUTE SOLUTIONS TO FUSED SALTS

Solutions with composition extending continuously from molecular liquids such as water to fused salts are relatively unusual but of considerable interest. Conductance and thermodynamic properties are considered for several examples. New equations for the activities of the respective components represent the data more accurately than previous treatments and delineate the similarities and differences between such systems and nonelectrolyte solutions.
Research on Factors That Japanese Companies Withdraw from Overseas Business

The present study examines the withdrawal behaviour of Japanese companies from overseas business. In particular, the tendency of companies that withdrew from overseas business is examined using a combined approach of dictionary-based approach and correlational approach in text mining. In addition, the study also analyses the purpose of entering the overseas business of the withdrawn companies. The study results show that most companies aimed at business expansion and strengthening by overseas expansion. On the other hand, in terms of withdrawal, a change in business strategy has a significant effect.
Sensory Feedback in Upper Limb Prostheses

Abstract Loss of an arm is a devastating condition that can cross all socioeconomic groups. A major step forward in rehabilitation of amputees has been the development of myoelectric prostheses. Current robotic arms allow voluntary movements by using residual muscle contraction. However, a significant issue is lack of movement control and sensory feedback. These factors play an important role in integration and embodiment of a robotic arm. Without feedback, users rely on visual cues and experience overwhelming cognitive demand that results in poorer use of a prosthesis. The complexity of the afferent system presents a great challenge of creating a closed-loop hand prosthesis. Several groups have shown progress providing sensory feedback for upper limb amputees using robotic arms. Feedback, although still limited, is achieved through direct implantation of intraneural electrodes as well as through non-invasive methods. Moreover, evidence shows that over time some amputees develop a phantom sensation of the missing limb on their stump. This phenomenon can occur spontaneously as well as after non-invasive nerve stimulation, suggesting the possibility of recreating a sensory homunculus of the hand on the stump. Furthermore, virtual reality simulation in combination with mechanical stimulation of skin could augment the sensation phenomenon, leading to better interface between human and robotic arms.
Strong convergence of the functional nonparametric relative error regression estimator under right censoring

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the asymptotic properties of a nonparametric estimator of the relative error regression given a functional explanatory variable, in the case of a scalar censored response, we use the mean squared relative error as a loss function to construct a nonparametric estimator of the regression operator of these functional censored data. We establish the strong almost complete convergence rate and asymptotic normality of these estimators. A simulation study is performed to illustrate and compare the higher predictive performances of our proposed method to those obtained with standard estimators.
Genetic Characterisation and Local Genotypes of Canine Parvovirus Strains Collected from Pet Dogs in Central and Eastern China During 2018–2019

Abstract Introduction Canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) causes acute infectious diseases in puppies, which show high morbidity and mortality. Better effect of vaccination against these diseases could be achieved with deeper knowledge of CPV-2 genotype dissemination and mutation history. This study investigated CPV-2–positive samples collected recently over a wide region of China. Material and Methods A total of 118 faecal samples from dogs identified as CPV-positive were collected from veterinary clinics in central and eastern China. Overall, 16 strains collected from Anhui, 29 from Henan, and 16 from Zhejiang Province were sequenced to determine the genotypic composition of CPV-2 and mutational complexity of CPV-VP2. Results The CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c genotypes were detected in Anhui and Henan Provinces, while CPV-2c alone was detected in Zhejiang Province. Sequence analysis of all strains showed 98.5%–99.8%, 98.3%–99.9%, and 98.7%–99.8% identity among the 16 Anhui, 29 Henan, and 16 Zhejiang strains, respectively. Strains collected from Anhui and Henan Provinces showed lower identity (97.0%), suggesting greater genetic divergence in central China. The mutation rates of Henan and Anhui strains were lower than that of Zhejiang strains. Major amino acid mutations occurred at sites 5, 370, 426, and 440. Epitope and entropy analyses implied these sites’ likely conformance to the principles of mutation tendency, complexity, and diversity. Conclusion The findings for the evolutionary structure of CPV-2 strains collected from three provinces in central and eastern China advance trend monitoring of the genetic variation in canine parvovirus and point to its implications in the development of novel vaccines.
The Impact of Supply Chain Dynamic Capabilities on Operational Performance

Abstract Background and purpose: Literature is lacking on how supply chain dynamic capabilities influence operational performance. This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of supply chain dynamic capabilities on operational performance in Hungarian manufacturing companies. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used an online survey for data collection. The model is tested with data from 208 supply chain management professionals from Hungarian manufacturing industry. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Results: The empirical results indicate that supply chain dynamic capabilities namely; collaboration capability, agility capability, and responsiveness capability are significantly and positively associated with operational performance. However, the results show that integration capability has no significant impact on operational performance Conclusion: The study concludes that in a dynamic environment, developing supply chain dynamic capabilities can help manufacturing company managers to build effective supply chains and achieve superior performance. Further, managers need to recognize that supply chain dynamic capabilities are multidimensional and each dimension has different effects on operational performance. Also, the study provides theoretical and managerial implications that are further ‎discussed in detail.
Salt tolerance QTL derived from the Bangladeshi landrace Horkuch

Salinity has a significant negative impact on the production of rice yield which will become severe due to recent climate changes. To cope with this increased soil salinity, we need to develop salt tolerant rice varieties that can maintaining higher yield. Rice landraces indigenous to the coastal region of Bangladesh can be a great resource to study the genetic basis of salt adaptation. In this study, we developed a reciprocal mapping population between a salt tolerant landrace Horkuch and a high yielding rice variety IR29. We applied a QTL analysis framework to identify genetic loci that contributes to salt adaptive responses for two different developmental stages of salinity treatment. We identified 14 QTL for 9 traits and found most QTL are unique to the specific developmental stage. Moreover, we discovered a significant effect of the cytoplasmic genome on the QTL model for some important traits such as leaf total potassium and filled grain number. This underscores the importance of considering cytoplasm-nuclear interaction for breeding programs. Along with that, we detected QTL co-localization for multiple traits that highlights the constraint of multiple QTL selection for breeding program. Overall, in this study we identified multiple QTL for different physiological and yield related traits for salinity treatment for two different developmental stages of the rice plant. We detected a significant contribution of cytoplasm-nuclear genome interaction for many traits. This study also suggests the selection constraint of donor alleles due to the presence of QTL co-localization. HighlightsWe identified QTL for salt tolerance response for two different developmental stages of rice plant and detected a significant contribution of cytoplasm-nuclear genome interaction for few traits.
The origin of Ti-oxide minerals below and within the eastern Athabasca Basin, Canada

Abstract Titanium oxide minerals along the P2 fault in the eastern Athabasca Basin are characterized to constrain their origin and the geological history of the area. Two types of rutile are recognized in the basement rocks. Early rutile is disseminated in graphitic metapelite and quartzite, and it formed during regional metamorphism and post-metamorphic hydrothermal activity. Late rutile occurs as a needle-like alteration product of mica and likely formed during retrogression of the basement. In graphitic metapelite, early rutile commonly occurs with an assemblage of oxy-dravite, quartz, graphite, zircon, pyrite, biotite, and muscovite. In quartzite, rutile occurs with quartz, sillimanite, muscovite, and zircon. Metamorphic rutile is characterized by high Nb/ Ta ratios (up to 47) with high concentrations of U (up to 126 ppm) and V4+ (up to 1.44 wt%; V valance calculated from EPMA data). Hydrothermal rutile contains distinctly low Nb/Ta (as low as 4.80) with high Ta (≤3050 ppm), and relatively low V (as V3+; as low as 0.02 wt%) and U (as low as 9.06 ppm), reflecting fluids in reduced oxidation conditions. Anatase forms small anhedral (rarely coarse and euhedral) grains in the basal sandstones and altered basement rocks. In sandstones, anatase occurs with the late diagenetic mineral assemblage, whereas in basement rocks it commonly occurs with the clay-sized minerals related to uranium mineralization. In both rocks, anatase likely formed through the dissolution of rutile and/or other Ti-bearing minerals. Anatase is characterized by variably high Fe (up to 0.99 wt%; possibly contributed by hematite micro-or nanoinclusions) and U (up to 180 ppm). The mineral assemblages and composition of anatase suggest its protracted crystallization from relatively low temperature, oxidizing, acidic, uraniferous fluids of the sandstones during late diagenesis and hydrothermal activity. Therefore, the occurrence of anatase records the incursion of basin fluids into the basement, and the interaction of basement rocks with fluids responsible for the formation of the McArthur River uranium deposit. The results of this study confirm that Ti-oxides are useful in unraveling the geological history of an area that underwent prolonged hydrothermal activity.
Synthesis and Characterization of Ppy-PVS, Ppy-pTS, and Ppy-DBS Composite Films

Composite films of polypyrrole-poly(vinyl sulphonic acid) (Ppy-PVS), polypyrrole-p-toluene sulphonic acid (Ppy-pTS) and polypyrrole-dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid (Ppy-DBS) were synthesized on ITO coated glass, using electrochemical polymerization. The synthesized films were characterized using electrochemical technique, electrical conductivity, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectra, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study reveals that Ppy-PVS composite films provide a polymer matrix with very good mechanical and environmental stability, uniform surface morphology, and higher conductivity, which are suitable for the immobilization of biocomponent.
Evaluation of elastomeric heat shielding materials as insulators for solid propellant rocket motors: A short review

Abstract This review addresses a comparison, based on the literature, among nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber (EPDM), and polyurethane (PU) elastomeric heat shielding materials (EHSM). Currently, these are utilized for the insulation of rocket engines to prevent catastrophic breakdown if combustion gases from propellant reaches the motor case. The objective of this review is to evaluate the performance of PU–EHSM, NBR–EHSM, and EPDM–EHSM as insulators, the latter being the current state of the art in solid rocket motor (SRM) internal insulation. From our review, PU–EHSM emerged as an alternative to EPDM–EHSM because of their easier processability and compatibility with composite propellant. With the appropriate reinforcement and concentration in the rubber, they could replace EPDM in certain applications such as rocket motors filled with composite propellant. A critical assessment and future trends are included. Rubber composites novelties as EHSM employs specialty fillers, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS), nanofibers, nanoparticles, and high-performance engineering polymers such as polyetherimide and polyphosphazenes.
A Novel Approach for CdS Thin-Film Deposition: Electrochemically Induced Atom-by-Atom Growth of CdS Thin Films from Acidic Chemical Bath

Thin films of cadmium sulfide (CdS) have been electrochemically deposited in acidic chemical baths (pH between 1.4 and 4.6) containing cadmium chloride and thioacetamide (TAA). Although chemical formation of CdS particles continuously occurs in the solution phase, no chemical growth of CdS thin film takes place under the acidic conditions. Electroreduction of protons at conductive substrates at small current densities (several tens of μA/cm2) was found to trigger a growth of highly crystallized hexagonal CdS thin films. The resultant film consists of particles having hexagonal cylindrical shape. The individual particles are made up of single crystals of CdS. The film growth is achieved by the atom-by-atom growth of individual crystallites and not by the agglomeration of fine particles formed in the solution phase. The film could become as thick as 500 nm without suffering from disordering of the film structure. Kinetic analysis was made for the formation of CdS particles in the solution phase, the film gr.
Systematic ionic screening theory of macroions

Techniques of lattice field theory are utilized to compute the free energy of a system of fixed charged macroions surrounded by small (atomic size) mobile ions. The grand partition function for the simple ions is written down as a functional integral over a three‐dimensional auxiliary field. This functional integral is discretized on a lattice, and then subjected to saddle point analysis. The lowest order or ‘‘mean field’’ result of the analysis isolates a field which satisfies the Poisson–Boltzmann equation, and from which the Helmholtz free energy can be extracted. The formalism also provides a minimum principle for the Poisson–Boltzmann field that can be realized numerically by elementary annealing techniques. Most importantly, the mean field approximation can be systematically corrected by evaluating fluctuations around the saddle point to successive orders in an appropriate interaction strength. It is shown by numerical tests on a two‐macroion system that the hierarchy of corrections converges rapidl.