Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adsorption of Ions at the Interface of Clay Minerals and Aqueous Solutions

Adsorption of ions at the interface of clay minerals and aqueous solutions plays a critical role in a wide spectrum of colloidal, chemical, physical, and geological processes. Owing to the particular complexity of related systems and the femtosecond scale of related processes, the direct experimental observations often become a challenging task. As a contrast, computer simulations have proven to be a competent and powerful approach therein and already realized fruitful and significant contribu‐ tions. In this chapter, we attempt to draw a relatively comprehensive picture of the interfacial adsorption of ions mainly within the context of computer simulations. As elaborated, quantum mechanics (QM) and molecular dynamics (MD), two popular simulation techniques currently used, have respective advantages, and with their collaborative efforts, we are striding toward the in‐depth and systematic understand‐ ing of adsorption configuration, distribution, stability, reaction thermodynamics and mechanism, dynamics, diffusivity as well as electric double layer and other funda‐ mental issues that are closely associated with the adsorption of ions at the interface of clay minerals and aqueous solutions. In addition, we demonstrate that investigation of the interfacial adsorption of ions greatly helps to unravel the origin and mechanism of ion-specific effects, whose importance has been explicitly suggested to be no less than Gregor Mendel’s work to genetics. investigate the mobility of Na + and Ca 2+ ions in the interlayer of montmorillonite, showing that the self-diffusion coefficient of
Online learning experiences of new versus continuing learners: a large-scale replication study

A vast body of research has indicated the importance of distinguishing new vs. continuing students’ learning experiences in blended and online environments. Continuing learners may have developed learning and coping mechanisms for ‘surviving’ in such learning environments, while new learners might still need to adjust their learning approaches to the new learning context. In this large-scale replication study, we investigated whether and how the learning satisfaction experiences of 16,670 new vs. 99,976 continuing students were different. Using logistical regression modelling of learner satisfaction scores of 422 undergraduate blended and online modules (including 232 learner and module learning design variables), our findings indicated that new learners indeed differed subtly in their learning and teaching experiences across two consecutive academic years. The minor differences in key drivers between the 2014 and 2015 cohorts also indicate that institutions need to continuously monitor and act upon changing learning needs.
Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Choice Of Livelihood Activities Among Rural Dwellers In Southeast Nigeria

The broad objective of this study is to identify socio-economic determinants of choice of livelihood activity among rural dwellers in southeast Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the rural dwellers in the study area, assessed livelihood activities in the study area and identified socio-economic determinants of choice of livelihood activity in the area. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and sixty rural dwellers for this study. Data was collected with the aid of structured interview schedule, focused group discussion and personal observation and analyzed using descriptive statistical tools namely; mean, frequency counts and percentages. Ordinary least square multiple regression analysis was used to identify socio-economic factors influencing choice of livelihood in the area. Result show that majority (57%) were male, married (95%) and above 40years (87.5%), with the mean age of 54years. Respondents spent an average of 10 years in school, maintained mean household size of seven persons and earned mean monthly income of ₦21,000. Farming and trading were found to be the major livelihood activity of the rural dwellers in the area with mean of 3.7 and 2.9 respectively. Age, years of education and monthly income was found to be the major socio-economic factors affecting livelihood activities in the area. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that government should improve farming with regards to mechanization of farming activities as to attract young graduates into the sector.
Replacement of Clover Hay by Biologically Treated Corn Stalks in Growing Sheep Rations

Thirty-six male growing Rahmani lambs aged 6 months with an average weight 19.07 ± 0.21 kg were used to determine the effects of inclusion biologically treated corn stalks (BTCS) treated with Trichoderma ressi ( T. ressi ) on growth performance. Animals were divided into four equal groups and assigned for control ration contained 30% clover hay (CH) and another three experimental rations replaced CH in control ration (TMR 1 ) with BTCT at 33%, 66% and complete replacement 100% of CH for (TMR 2 , TMR 3 and TMR 4 ), respectively. The results showed that treatment of BTCS decreased DM, OM, CF, EE contents, while CP and ash contents were increased in comparison with untreated corn stalks (UTCS). Also, it reduced all cell wall constituents (NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose and hemicelluloses) compared to UTCS. biologically treated corn stalks containing diets significantly improved (P 0.05) improved. Ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA's) concentrations were increased. Sampling time had no significant effect on ruminal pH while, it significantly (P 0.05) decreased. Final weight, total body weight gain, average daily gain (ADG) and relative gain were significantly (P<0.05) improved. ADG was improved by 10.53%, 18.42%, 27.89% for TMR 2 , TMR 3 and TMR 4 , respectively compared to the control ration (TMR 1 ). Daily feed intakes of DM, TDN, CP and DCP (g/h/day) were increased. Feed conversion (kg intake /kg gain) of DM, TDN, CP and DCP were significantly (P<0.05) improved. Feed cost (LE per kilogram gain) was improved by 9.59%, 14.82% and 22.46% for TMR 2 , TMR 3 and TMR 4 , respectively compared to the control diet TMR 1 . It could be concluded that biologically treated corn stalks can be successfully fed to lambs without any adverse effect on digestibility coefficients, ruminal fermentation, blood plasma constituents and performance. Also, BTCS can be used economically in formulation of sheep rations as a good alternative source of clover hay.
Reducing Social Exclusion in Highly Disadvantaged Districts in Medellín, Colombia, through the Provision of a Cable-Car

Recent research has shown that increasing trip making and improving a person’s social capital and sense of community is likely to reduce risks of social exclusion, and increase wellbeing. This, and most other related research on social exclusion, has been undertaken in countries with developed economies. This paper examines some of these relationships within a developing economy, where social exclusion is likely to be more widespread, using secondary data. It examines two districts in Medellin, Colombia, which are historically marginalised, with considerable poverty and also suffering from substantial drug-related violence. The focus is on the role of Metrocable, an aerial cable-car public transport system built to improve transport options in the area’s steep terrain, in reducing risk of exclusion. The analysis shows that increasing the number of trips is significantly associated with a reduced risk of social exclusion and that increasing social capital is weakly supportive. Metrocable is therefore likely to be successful in reducing exclusion. The model suggests that secondary data can be used to explore relationships between mobility and risk of social exclusion.
Comparison of pixel- and object-based classification in land cover change mapping

Land use/land cover (LULC) change occurs when humans alter the landscape, and this leads to increasing loss, fragmentation and spatial simplification of habitat. Many fields of study require monitoring of LULC change at a variety of scales. LULC change assessment is dependent upon high-quality input data, most often from remote sensing-derived products such as thematic maps. This research compares pixel- and object-based classifications of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data for mapping and analysis of LULC change in the mixed land use region of eastern Ontario for the period 1995–2005. For single date thematic maps of 10 LULC classes, quantitative and visual analyses showed no significant accuracy difference between the two methods. The object-based method produced thematic maps with more uniform and meaningful LULC objects, but it suffered from absorption of small rare classes into larger objects and the incapability of spatial parameters (e.g. object shape) to contribute to class discrimination. Despite the similar map accuracies produced by the two methods, temporal change maps produced using post-classification comparison (PCC) and analysed using intensive visual analysis of errors of omission and commission revealed that the object-based maps depicted change more accurately than maximum likelihood classification (MLC)-derived change maps.
Seasonal prediction of precipitation over Nigeria

The availability of quantitative means of probing anticipated rainfall is essential for the purpose of planning and policy formulation everywhere in the world. However reliable prediction of rainfall remains a challenge over West Africa and Nigeria in particular. This paper predicts sea-sonal rainfall in Nigeria with the hope of increasing the reliability of predicted seasonal rainfall. Seasonal rainfall data (June-September) from 21 Nigerian stations and monthly Extended Re-constructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) of the tropical Oceans spanning 1960-2012 con-stituted the input data for the formulation of prediction equations using regression analysis. Cross-validation was applied with training period of 1960-1985, verification period of 1986-2012 and vice versa. The correlations between the predicted and the observed seasonal rainfall of the training and verification periods of 1960-1985 were all significant at 5 % level except for one station. While for the training and verification periods of 1986-2012, correlations are not gener-ally significant although some were found to be above the significant level of 5%. For the recon-structed seasonal precipitation, correlations of ten stations were found to be significant at 5 %, but at 10 % level, their number increased to 13. The t-test analysis revealed that there is no sig-nificant difference between the means of predicted and observed seasonal rainfall amount for all stations except for only three stations (Osogbo, Calabar and Enugu). This suggests some degree of skill which is also an indication that Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is a good predictor of June, July, August and September (JJAS) seasonal rainfall in Nigeria. Keywords : Rainfall, Prediction, Tropical Ocean, Cross-validation, Sea Surface Temperature
Spatial semiparametric models improve estimates of species abundance and distribution

Accurate estimates of abundance are imperative for successful conservation and management. Classical, stratified abundance estimators provide unbiased estimates of abundance, but such estimators may be imprecise and impede assessment of population status and trend when the distribution of individuals is highly variable in space. Model-based procedures that account for important environmental covariates can improve overall precision, but frequently there is uncertainty about the contribution of particular environmental variables and a lack of information about variables that are important determinants of abundance. We develop a general semiparametric mixture model that incorporates measured habitat variables and a nonparametric smoothing term to account for unmeasured variables. We contrast this spatial habitat approach with two stratified abundance estimators and compare the three models using an intensively managed marine fish, darkblotched rockfish (Sebastes crameri). We show that the spatial habitat mo.
EFEKTIFITAS MODEL PEMBELAJARAN GROUP TO GROUP EXCHANGE TERHADAP KARAKTER PEDULI SOSIAL DALAM PEMBELAJARAN IPS PADA SISWA SD MUHAMMADIYAH DOMBAN 3

Abstrak : Efektifitas Model Pembelajaran Group To Group Exchange Terhadap Karakter Peduli Sosial Dalam Pembelajaran IPS Pada Siswa SD Muhammadiyah Domban 3. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui efektifitas model pembelajaran Group to Group Exchange terhadap karakter peduli sosial dalam pembelajaran IPS pada siswa SD Muhammadiyah domban 3. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah non tes berbentuk angket. Analisisi data dilakukan menggunakan uji t. Hasil penelitian menunjukan model pembelajaran Group to Group Exchange efektif terhadap karakter peduli sosial pada siswa kelas IV. Efektifitas tersebut dapat dilihat dari nilai angket peduli sosial minimal sebelum pembelajaran di kelas kontrol 19 dan maksimum 36. Sedangkan nilai minimum hasil angket sebelum perlakuan di kelas eksperimen 23 dan nilai maksimum nilai angket peduli sosial setelah perlakuan sebesar 40. Perbedaan antara nilai angket sebelum perlakuan dan setelah perlakuan untuk kelas eksperimen sebesar 1,8.Kata Kunci : Model Pembelajaran GGE, Karakter Peduli Sosial
Modeling of New Three-Phase High Voltage Power Supply For Industrial Microwave Generators With One Magnetron Per Phase

This original work treats the feasibility study of a new HV power supply with a three-phase character, supplying a magnetron 800 Watts-2450 MHz per phase, for industrial microwave generators from the modeling with the EMTP code of a single-phase HV power supply for one magnetron. The exploitation of the modeling, with EMTP code, of the power system for one magnetron is to use, essentially, the developed model of its transformer, which is a π quadruple, consisting of saturable inductances able to translate the non-linear phenomena of saturation, while guaranteeing the stabilization process of the magnetron current. Using the new power supply device with a three-phase character and the EMTP code, the feasibility study, in nominal mode, of the three-phase power supply was performed satisfactory. The analysis of the results obtained helped to confirm the possibility of functioning of this new system without interaction between magnetrons, which provides, relative to the current device, gains of size, volume, cost of implementation and maintenance and makes this new system more economical, while guaranteeing the regulation process of the current in each magnetron. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/ijece.v3i2. 2409
Developing Clinical Guidelines to Treat Stroke with Stem Cells Part I: Acute and Sub Acute Ischemic Stroke

The evolution of stem cell-based therapies has been exponential in recent years, going from animal models to human clinical trials in a relatively short period of time. The field has also changed the rationales about the main mechanisms of action. While stem cell-based therapies were previously thought to be “just” the replacement of damaged cells, more complex actions have been discovered in the meantime, including paracrine effects, activation of local stem cells towards trans differentiating, neuro protection of local tissues and a systemic and local neuroimmuno modulation. Furthermore, additional methods to repair genetic defects or improve autologous stem cells with relatively and easy techniques are revolutionizing the field. This means that we are currently experiencing how stem cell-based therapies are increasingly employed to develop curative treatments.
High precision X-ray log N – log S distributions: implications for the obscured AGN population

Context. Our knowledge of the properties of AGN, especially those of optical type-2 objects, is very incomplete. Because extragalactic source count distributions are dependent on the cosmological and statistical properties of AGN, they provide a direct method of investigating the underlying source populations. Aims. We aim to constrain the extragalactic source count distributions over a broad range of X-ray fluxes and in various energy bands to test whether the predictions from X-ray background synthesis models agree with the observational constraints provided by our measurements. Methods. We have used 1129 XMM-Newton observations at |b| > 20 ◦ covering a total sky area of 132.3 deg 2 to compile the largest complete samples of X-ray selected objects to date both in the 0.5− 1k eV, 1− 2k eV, 2−4.5 keV, 4.5−10 keV bands employed in standard XMM-Newton data processing and in the 0.5−2 keV and 2−10 keV energy bands more usually considered in source count studies. Our survey includes in excess of 30 000 sources and spans fluxes from ∼10 −15 to 10 −12 erg cm −2 s −1 below 2 keV and from ∼10 −14 to 10 −12 erg cm −2 s −1 above 2 keV where the bulk of the cosmic X-ray background energy density is produced. Results. The very large sample size we obtained means our results are not limited by cosmic variance or low counting statistics. A break in the source count distributions was detected in all energy bands except the 4.5−10 keV band. We find that an analytical model comprising 2 power-law components cannot adequately describe the curvature seen in the source count distributions. The shape of the logN(>S ) − logS is strongly dependent on the energy band with a general steepening apparent as we move to higher energies. This is due to the fact that non-AGN populations, comprised mainly of stars and clusters of galaxies, contribute up to 30% of the source population at energies <2 keV and at fluxes ≥10 −13 erg cm −2 s −1 , and these populations of objects have significantly flatter source count distributions than AGN. We find a substantial increase in the relative fraction of hard X-ray sources at higher energies, from ≥55% below 2 keV to ≥77% above 2 keV. However, the majority of sources detected above 4.5 keV still have significant flux below 2 keV. Comparison with predictions from the synthesis models suggest that the models might be overpredicting the number of faint absorbed AGN, which would call for fine adjustment of some model parameters such as the obscured to unobscured AGN ratio and/or the distribution of column densities at intermediate obscuration.
Development of a parallel sampling and analysis method for the elucidation of gas/particle partitioning of oxygenated semi-volatile organics: a limonene ozonolysis study

Abstract. The gas/particle partitioning behaviour of the semi-volatile fraction of secondary organic matter and the associated multiphase chemistry are key features to accurately evaluate climate and health impacts of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). However, today, the partitioning of oxygenated secondary species is rarely assessed in experimental SOA studies and SOA modelling is still largely based on estimated partitioning data. This paper describes a new analytical approach, solvent-free and easy to use, to explore the chemical composition of the secondary organic matter at a molecular scale in both gas and particulate phases. The method is based on thermal desorption (TD) of gas and particulate samples, coupled with gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS), with derivatisation on sampling supports. Gaseous compounds were trapped on Tenax TA adsorbent tubes pre-coated with pentafluorobenzylhydroxylamine (PFBHA) or N-Methyl-N-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA). Particulate samples were collected onto quartz or Teflon-quartz filters and subsequently subjected to derivatisation with PFBHA or MTBSTFA before TD-GC/MS analysis. Method development and validation are presented for an atmospherically relevant range of organic acids and carbonyl and hydroxyl compounds. Application of the method to a limonene ozonolysis experiment conducted in the EUPHORE simulation chamber under simulated atmospheric conditions of low concentrations of limonene precursor and relative humidity, provides an overview of the method capabilities. Twenty-five compounds were positively or tentatively identified, nine being in both gaseous and particulate phases; and twelve, among them tricarboxylic acids, hydroxyl dicarboxylic acids and oxodicarboxylic acids, being detected for the first time.
Biomarker sensitivity for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in two marine fish species collected in Galveston Bay, Texas

The Galveston Bay estuary exhibited a contamination gradient for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, and the comparative sensitivity of various biomarkers in fish from different bay locations were determined. Two fish species, hardhead catfish (Arius felis) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogon undulatus), were collected from four stations where sediment total PAHs ranged from 68 to >1,000 ng/g. The induction of cytochrome P4501A‐(CYP1A‐) dependent hepatic ethoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase (EROD) activity, CYP1A mRNA levels, or CYP1A immunoreactive protein in hardhead catfish was highly variable in the field‐collected fish and in fish dosed with up to 15 mg/kg benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). In contrast, significant differences were seen in biliary concentrations of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and BaP metabolites in hardhead catfish from polluted versus less polluted areas. In croakers taken from the same four Galveston Bay locations, EROD and glutathione S‐transferase activities, immunoreactive CYP1A protein, biliary PAH metabolites, and PAH–DNA adducts were higher at the contaminated stations compared with less polluted locations. These studies suggest that the croaker is a good species for monitoring contaminants that induce CYP1A‐mediated responses. Biliary PAH metabolites and PAH–DNA adducts were also sensitive indicators of exposure to PAH contamination in both species of fish.
Collective Trust Behavior

This paper investigates trust in situations, where decision-makers are large groups and the decision-mechanism is collective, by developing a game to study trust behavior. Theories from behavioral economics and psychology suggest that trust in such situations may differ from individual trust. Experimental results here reveal a large difference in trust but not in trustworthiness between the individual and collective setting. Furthermore, an artefactual field experiment captures the determinants of collective trust behavior among two cohorts in the Swedish population. One result is that beliefs about the other and the own group are strongly associated with collective trustworthiness and trust behavior.
Effects of Trait Competitiveness and Perceived Intraorganizational Competition on Salesperson Goal Setting and Performance

The authors assess the effects of trait competitiveness and competitive psychological climate on self-set goal levels and sales performance. The results indicate an interaction between trait competitiveness and competitive psychological climate, such that (1) salespeople who are high in trait competitiveness set higher goals when they perceive the organizational climate as competitive and (2) salespeople who are low in trait competitiveness set relatively low goals, regardless of their perceptions of competition in the organizational climate. Results also indicate that a self-set goal level is related strongly to performance and that self-efficacy has strong direct and indirect effects on sales performance. The authors also discuss implications for theory and practice.