Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fractionation of sulfur isotopes during heterogeneous oxidation of SO 2 on sea salt aerosol: a new tool to investigate non-sea salt sulfate production in the marine boundary layer

Abstract. The oxidation of SO2 to sulfate on sea salt aerosols in the marine environment is highly important because of its effect on the size distribution of sulfate and the potential for new particle nucleation from H2SO4 (g). However, models of the sulfur cycle are not currently able to account for the complex relationship between particle size, alkalinity, oxidation pathway and rate – which is critical as SO2 oxidation by O3 and Cl catalysis are limited by aerosol alkalinity, whereas oxidation by hypohalous acids and transition metal ions can continue at low pH once alkalinity is titrated. We have measured 34S/32S fractionation factors for SO2 oxidation in sea salt, pure water and NaOCl aerosol, as well as the pH dependency of fractionation. Oxidation of SO2 by NaOCl aerosol was extremely efficient, with a reactive uptake coefficient of ≈0.5, and produced sulfate that was enriched in 32S with αOCl = 0.9882±0.0036 at 19 °C. Oxidation on sea salt aerosol was much less efficient than on NaOCl aerosol, suggesting alkalinity was already exhausted on the short timescale of the experiments. Measurements at pH = 2.1 and 7.2 were used to calculate fractionation factors for each step from SO2(g) → multiple steps → SOOCl2−. Oxidation on sea salt aerosol resulted in a lower fractionation factor than expected for oxidation of SO32− by O3 (αseasalt = 1.0124±0.0017 at 19 °C). Comparison of the lower fractionation during oxidation on sea salt aerosol to the fractionation factor for high pH oxidation shows HOCl contributed 29% of S(IV) oxidation on sea salt in the short experimental timescale, highlighting the potential importance of hypohalous acids in the marine environment. The sulfur isotope fractionation factors measured in this study allow differentiation between the alkalinity-limited pathways – oxidation by O3 and by Cl catalysis (α34 = 1.0163±0.0018 at 19 °C in pure water or 1.0199±0.0024 at pH = 7.2) – which favour the heavy isotope, and the alkalinity non-limited pathways – oxidation by transition metal catalysis (α34 = 0.9905±0.0031 at 19 °C, Harris et al., 2012a) and by hypohalites (α34 = 0.9882±0.0036 at 19 °C) – which favour the light isotope. In combination with field measurements of the oxygen and sulfur isotopic composition of SO2 and sulfate, the fractionation factors presented in this paper may be capable of constraining the relative importance of different oxidation pathways in the marine boundary layer.
Becoming Reflective and Inquiring Teachers: Collaborative Action Research for In-service Chilean Teachers

This article discusses the outcomes of a case study that engaged Chilean in-service teachers in systematic action research (AR) as a means of improving their pedagogical practice and effecting changes in their educational context. The study involved six in-service teachers from a region of Chile and two university researchers. The findings show that knowledge of systematic AR provided the teachers with the necessary means to engage in a critical reflection and inquiry process regarding their own practice. The teacher participants also perceived the self-reflective spiral of reflection and action to be crucial in establishing new habits of inquiry and reflection about their own pedagogical actions. The findings support earlier studies (e.g., Price & Valli, 2005; Steven & Kitchen, 2005, 2011) concerning the necessity of including knowledge of systematic AR in teacher preparation programs in order to foster strong habits of inquiry and reflection among preservice teachers. Finally, the study suggests that participation in a systematic reflection and inquiry process contributes to empowering in-service teachers to become agents of pedagogical change through their own actions.
Preservice Middle Grades Mathematics Teachers’ Strategies for Solving Geometric Similarity Problems

Proportional relationships and geometric similarity are two of the critical topics in school mathematics. Students and even teachers often struggle with recognizing the proportional relationships in geometric similarity problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice middle-grades mathematics teachers’ (PSTs) strategies when solving geometric similarity problems. Furthermore, we also examined the influence of the problem characteristics on the PSTs’ solution strategies. The data for the present study came from 32 PSTs’ responses to a geometric similarity test consisting of five problems and individual semi-structured interviews with three of these PSTs. The results revealed that the PSTs used a limited number of strategies when solving the similarity problems and usually relied on the cross-multiplication strategy in their solutions. Only a few PSTs were able to explain proportional relationships between corresponding sides of the geometric figures in the given problems. The PSTs’ overreliance on the cross-multiplication strategy appeared to constrain their identification of proportional relationships. Based on the results of the present study, we propose the use of dilating perspective, a dynamic dilation-oriented method that promotes side-by-side comparison of similar figures in teaching geometric similarity.
The vulnerable state of the Ghana coast: The Case of Faana-Bortianor

Coastal communities worldwide are becoming increasingly vulnerable to a wide range of potential hazards including shoreline erosion and coastal resource degradation. The problem is exacerbated due to rapid urbanization and the concomitant anthropogenic beach changes which influence coastal processes. The lack of basic services and disaster warning as well as response mechanisms makes the situation daunting. Using mainly qualitative methods, which include two Focus Group Discussions and 17 in-depth interviews, the authors explore the perception of respondents in regard to coastal erosion and how to mitigate the observed condition. The research incorporates both physical and social science knowledge. Our key finding is that although the Faana coastline is eroding at a significantly high rate, residents are resolved to maintain their occupancy for as long as they have the opportunity to practise their trade. The authors argue that proactive measures can be taken to reduce vulnerability and provide the enabling conditions for communities to absorb and bounce back from disruptions in basic services and economic activities.
Dutch disease in aid-recipient countries: are there medicines to avoid an outbreak?

The idea of scaling up aid to developing countries has increased fears of “Dutch Disease” in the donor community and recipient countries. Through its impact on inflation and the exchange-rate, aid could slow down growth and human development, undermining the aims of donors and recipients. By using the basic model of Dutch Disease, adjusting it to the circumstance of developing countries and taking a medium-term view, we explain how it is possible to avoid Dutch Disease. Important factors determining the impact seem to be: the spending pattern of aid, the amount of imports financed with aid and the coordination between the fiscal and monetary authorities. As the IMF is one of the most important participants in the discussion around this topic, we also clarify the specific terms this institution uses to discuss this sort of topics. The paper ends with referring to the fact that understanding the problem is one thing, taking these economic decisions on a political level may in certain countries form another problem.
The Effects of Open-Market Stock Repurchases by Insurance Companies

We examine the effects of stock repurchase annnouncements on the value of the announcing insurance firms and on the value of rival insurance firms. We find that insurance firms experience a significant increase in value at the time of the announcement. Repurchasing firms continue to earn excess returns for several months after the announcement. We study the intra-industry effect of the announcements and find that there is a significant decrease in value of rival insurance firms. This suggests that perceived changes in the competitive positions of repurchasing firms occur at the expense of rival firms and dominate any signals of favorable industry conditions. Cross-sectional tests show that the increase in the value of repurchasing firms is related to the relative size of the buyback, stock returns prior to the announcement and the market-to-book ratio.
Photolysis of frozen iodate salts as a source of active iodine in the polarenvironment

Abstract. Reactive halogens play a key role in the oxidation capacity of the polar troposphere. However, sources and mechanisms, particularly those involving active iodine, are still poorly understood. In this paper, the photolysis of an atmospherically relevant frozen iodate salt has been experimentally studied using infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The samples were generated at low temperatures in the presence of different amounts of water. The IR spectra have confirmed that, under near-ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) radiation, iodate is efficiently photolysed. The integrated IR absorption coefficient of the iodate anion on the band at 750 cm−1 has been measured to be A = 9.8 ± 0.5 × 10−17 cm molecule−1. The photolysis rate of the ammonium iodate salt was measured by monitoring the decay of ammonium or iodate IR bands (1430 and 750 cm−1 respectively) in the presence of a solar simulator. The absorption cross section of the liquid solutions of ammonium iodate at wavelengths relevant for the troposphere (250 to 400 nm) has been obtained and used to estimate the photolytic quantum yield for the frozen salt. Finally, using an atmospheric model, constrained with the experimental data, we suggest that the photolysis of iodate in frozen salt can potentially provide a pathway for the release of active iodine to the polar atmosphere.
Phenotypic variability and characteristics of lentil Lens culinaris Medik germplasm of Ethiopia by multivariate analysis

Multivariate statistical techniques, which simultaneously analyze multiple measurements on each individual under investigation, are widely used in the analysis of genetic diversity. The objective of this study were to classify groups of genotypes based on morphological diversity, identification of the major traits contributing to the diversity and identify superior genotypes for future use of the Ethiopian germplasm. Eleven variables were subjected to analysis by applying the method of Mahalanobis's generalized distances (D2), Principal Components Analysis (PCA), and a cluster analysis following the method of the Unweight Pair Group Method using Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA). The result of the analyses of variance and dendrogram revealed the existence of considerable genetic diversity among lentil genotypes, the source of origin and population groups for yield and yield contributing characters indicating the scope and guarantee for use in the breeding programmes. PCA showed that the most important traits that contributed to the genetic divergence were above ground biomass, seed yield, number of seeds per plant, days to maturity and number of pods per plant. UPGMA grouped into 6 major and 15 sub clusters characterized by distinct morphological feature irrespective of their origin.Considering yield and agronomic performance, cluster distance and cluster mean, accessions belonging to cluster B.1 and cluster F can be used as parents for the hybridization and back crossing programme for the development of high yielding lentil genotypes resistant to lentil rust disease.
Heterotrophic prokaryote distribution along a 2300 km transect in the North Pacific subtropical gyre during a strong La Niña conditions : relationship between distribution and hydrological conditions

The spatial distribution of heterotrophic prokaryotes was investigated during the Tokyo–Palau cruise in the western part of the North Pacific subtropical gyre (NPSG) along a north–south transect between 33.60 and 13.25 N. The cruise was conducted in three different hydrological areas identified as the Kuroshio region, the subtropical gyre area and the transition zone. Two eddies were crossed along the transect: one cold-core cyclonic eddy and one warmcore anticyclonic eddy and distributions of the heterotrophic prokaryotes were recorded. By using analytical flow cytometry and a nucleic acid staining protocol, heterotrophic prokaryotes were discriminated into three subgroups depending on their nucleic acid content (low, high and very high nucleic acid contents labelled LNA, HNA and VHNA, respectively). Statistical analyses performed on the data set showed that LNA, mainly associated with low temperature and low salinity, were dominant in all the hydrological regions. In contrast, HNA distribution seemed to be associated with temperature, salinity, Chl a and silicic acid. A latitudinal increase in the HNA / LNA ratio was observed along the north–south transect and was related to higher phosphate and nitrate concentrations. However, the opposite relationship observed for the VHNA / HNA ratio suggested that the link between nucleic acid content and oligotrophic conditions is not linear, underlying the complexity of the biodiversity in the VHNA, HNA and LNA subgroups. In the Kuroshio Current, it is suggested that the high concentration of heterotrophic prokaryotes observed at station 4 was linked to the path of the cold cyclonic eddy core. In contrast, it is thought that low concentrations of heterotrophic prokaryotes in the warm core of the anticyclonic gyre (Sta. 9) are related to the low nutrient concentrations measured in the seawater column. Our results showed that the high variability between the various heterotrophic prokaryote cluster abundances depend both on the mesoscale structures and the oligotrophic gradient.
Estimate of nitrogen oxide emissions from shipping by satellite remote sensing

In recent years, the role of ship emissions has attracted increasing attention. Recent inventories estimate that they contribute significantly to anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides, with a large impact on composition and chemistry of the marine boundary layer. Nevertheless, the number of observational studies is still rather small. Here we present the first detection of ship tracks in NO2 maps derived from satellite data. We have used the congested track connecting Sri Lanka to Indonesia to estimate the corresponding ship emissions of nitrogen oxides to 23 (10–73) Gg [N]/yr. In addition, we were able to derive the mean lifetime of boundary layer NOx to be 3.7 (1.9–6.0) hours in the respective region. Our estimates are in good agreement with ship emission inventories (about 22–54 Gg [N]/yr) as well as the short lifetimes (of down to 2 hours at daytime) as recently modeled for ship plumes.
Dynamic Simulator of Transmission Gear to Damage Gearing Analysis

The dynamic torsional model presented in this paper is driven to the implementation of simulator software of vibration response of gears pairs. The equivalent rigidity of the set is obtained from the dimensional numbers of the gears and is defined during the turn describing the variation during the contact of each pair of teeth, tooth to tooth of the pinion. It makes possible to get a response involving defects in the tooth (crack and shape) and on the assembly (eccentricity and misalignment). The vibration signal is obtained through the time integration of the initial value represented by the model equation of movement, considering the excitations are stationary.
A Multilevel Analysis of Classroom Goal Structures’ Effects on Intrinsic Motivation and Peer Modeling: Teachers’ Promoting Interaction as a Classroom Level Mediator

This study investigated how classroom goal structures (mastery and performance goal structures) related to intrinsic motivation and peer modeling focusing on teachers’ promoting interaction as a classroom level mediator. Authors tested multilevel mediational models with a sample of 1212 Japanese elementary and junior high school students from 43 classrooms. Results provided support for classroom level mediational process in mastery goal structures. Specifically, mastery goal structures related to promoting interaction, and promoting interactions related to both intrinsic motivation and peer modeling. Limitations and future directions of the study were discussed.
Facts and Speculations on the Onset and Clonal Expansion of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells

 Abstract— In this review, we describe the major phenotypic and functional features of CLL cells. Moreover, we discuss the interactions with the microenvironment required for clonal survival and expansion. These interactions include signals delivered directly via cell-cell contact with cells like T cells, monocytes/macrophages and nurse-like cells and those delivered by cytokines and chemokines. These interactions may facilitate clonal expansion, but also may serve to limit the clonal size, a finding which can be exploited for therapeutic strategies. Signals delivered through their B cell Receptor (BcR) can also be instrumental for CLL cell clonal survival and expansion; the BcR specificity of the single clones may dictate disease aggressiveness. Genetic lesions, which were amply documented in CLL, and are constituted by chromosomal deletions or duplications and by inactivating gene mutations, may be particularly relevant in the late stages of clonal expansion as well in the control of response to therapy.In contrast, lesions causing deregulations of miRNA, which control a number of cellular functions, may be involved in the pathogenesis of the early CLL steps.
The effect of organic composts on the chemical characteristics of fenugreek (trigonellafoenum greacum) from sudan and tunisia

Corresponding author: Saadanaile@gmail.com Abstract Proximate composition and quality of seeds for Fenugreek plant from Sudan and Tunisia were examined in their response to two types of organic composts compared to control. Organic composts are prepared from animal manures and wheat husks by different combinations. The addition of organic composts is significantly affecting the quality of fenugreek seeds at 0.05 probability level. It increases (MC, Ash, fat, fiber, carbohydrate and volatile oil), and decreases the protein content significantly at the second season. This result is logically matching the previous reviewed data at this stage; still having a good quality remains the main point to take the accurate decision regarding the organic fertilizer to be added or not; this needs further studies to confirm the result after the three years of transitional period.
Soret and Dufour Effects on Mixed Convection from an Exponentially Stretching Surface

The Soret and Dufour effects on mixed convection flow, heat and mass transfer from an exponen- tially stretching vertical surface in a quiescent fluid is analyzed. Stretching velocity, wall temperature and wall concentration are assumed to have specific exponential function forms. The governing partial differen- tial equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations and then solved numerically using an implicit finite difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. The present results are found to be in excellent agreement with previously published work on various special cases of the problem. A parametric study of the physical parameters involved in the problem is conducted and a represen- tative set of numerical results is illustrated graphically.
Effect of local factors on concentrations and flora of viable fungi in school buildings

A wide range of health effects among occupants are associated with the exposure to bioaerosols from fungal sources. Although the accurate role of these aerosols in causing the symptoms and diseases is poorly understood, the important effect of bioaerosol exposure on human health is well recognized. Thus, there is a need to determine all of the contributing factors related to the concentration of fungi in indoor air. In this study, we reviewed and summarized the different factors affecting the concentrations of viable fungi in school buildings. The literature research was conducted using Pubmed and Google Scholar. In addition, we searched the lists of references of selected articles. According to the literature, the main factors influencing the concentration of viable fungi in the school buildings are moisture damage in building structures, the season (temperature and humidity conditions), the type and rate of ventilation, the number and activities of occupants and diurnal variations. This study offers valuable information that can be used in the interpretation of the fungal analysis and to decrease microbial exposure by reducing known sources and/or contributing factors. However, more studies of different local factors contributing to the human microbial exposure in school buildings—as well as other type of buildings and different indoor environments—are needed. Keywords—Fungi, concentration, indoor, school, contributing factor.
Customer's Perception on Usage of Internet Banking

Internet banking is still at infancy stage in the world. Many studies focused on usage of internet banking but many factors on non-usage were overlooked. This research was carried out to validate the conceptual model of internet banking. The causes were identified and researched through correcting the causative factors so that internet banking can be used by more people. This will help the banking operations to be more cost effective. The research is focused on what are the customer’s perceptions about internet banking and what are the drivers that drive consumers. How consumers have accepted internet banking and how to improve the usage rate were the focus of research area in this study. Qualitative exploratory research using questionnaire was applied. 500 respondents were selected for study after initial screening. They were all bank customers. The study revealed that education, gender, income play an important role in usage of internet banking. Not much research has been done on these areas as they were focused more on the acceptance of technology rather than on people. The research corroborated the conceptual framework stating that if skills can be upgraded there will be greater will to use internet banking by consumers. Inhibitory factors like trust, gender, education, culture, religion, security, price can have minimal effect on consumer mindset towards internet banking.
Decomposition of Arachis pintoi and Hyparrhenia rufa litters in monoculture and intercropped systems under lowland soil

Tropical grasslands under lowland soils are generally underutilized and the litter of forage legumes may be used to recover these degraded pastures. The objective of this work was to study the dynamics of litter decomposition of Arachis pintoi (pinto peanut), Hyparrhenia rufa (thatching grass) and a mixture of both species in a lowland soil. These treatments were analyzed in three areas: grass monoculture, legume monoculture and legume intercropped with the grass during the dry and wet seasons. Litter bags containing the legume, grass or a mixture of both species were incubated to estimate the decomposition rate and microorganism colonization. Decomposition constants (K) and litter half-lives (T1/2) were estimated by an exponential model whereas number of microorganisms in specific media were determined by plate dilution. The decomposition rate, release of nutrients and microorganisms number, especially bacteria, increased when pinto peanut was added to thatching grass, influenced by favorable lignin/N and C/N ratios in legume litter. When pinto peanut litter was incubated in the grass plots, 50% N and P was released within about 135 days in the dry season and in the wet season, the equivalent release occurred within 20 days. These results indicate that A. pintoi has a great potential for nutrient recycling via litter and can be used to recover degraded areas.