Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Students' Experiences and Perceptions of Peer Assisted Study Sessions: Towards Ongoing Improvement

Much research has been done on the effectiveness of Supplemental Instruction programs, (Peer Assisted Study Sessions, PASS, in Australasia). Less research has emerged on on students’ reasons for participating in PASS and their perceptions of the effectiveness of the program. In this article, we will report on a small improvement-focused research project at one university. Our particular focus will be to reflect on the survey tool we used and how we could improve the design and administration of this tool. Implications of the survey findings for improving the training program of PASS leaders in this instituion will also be discussed.
Anti-hypertensive Herbs and their Mechanisms of Action: Part I

The use of herbal therapies for treatment and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasing. Plants contain a bounty of phytochemicals that have proven to be protective by reducing the risk of various ailments and diseases. Indeed, accumulating literature provides the scientific evidence and hence reason d'etre for the application of herbal therapy in relation to CVDs. Slowly, but absolutely, herbal remedies are being entrenched into evidence-based medical practice. This is partly due to the supporting clinical trials and epidemiological studies. The rationale for this expanding interest and use of plant based treatments being that a significant proportion of hypertensive patients do not respond to Modern therapeutic medication. Other elements to this equation are the cost of medication, side-effects, accessibility, and availability of drugs. Therefore, we believe it is pertinent to review the literature on the beneficial effects of herbs and their isolated compounds as medication for treatment of hypertension, a prevalent risk factor for CVDs. Our search utilized the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases, and the criterion for inclusion was based on the following keywords and phrases: hypertension, high blood pressure, herbal medicine, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), nitric oxide, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, hydrogen sulfide, nuclear factor kappa-B, oxidative stress, and epigenetics/epigenomics. Each of the aforementioned keywords was co-joined with herb in question, and where possible with its constituent molecule(s). In this first of a two-part review, we provide a brief introduction of hypertension, followed by a discussion of the molecular and cellular mechanisms. We then present and discuss the plants that are most commonly used in the treatment and management of hypertension.
Ignoring detailed fast-changing dynamics of land use overestimates regional terrestrial carbon sequestration

Land use change is critical in determining the distribution, magnitude and mechanisms of terrestrial carbon budgets at the local to global scales. To date, almost all regional to global carbon cycle studies are driven by a static land use map or land use change statistics with decadal time intervals. The biases in quantifying carbon exchange between the terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere caused by using such land use change information have not been investigated. Here, we used the General Ensemble biogeochemical Modeling System (GEMS), along with consistent and spatially explicit land use change scenarios with different intervals (1 yr, 5 yrs, 10 yrs and static, respectively), to evaluate the impacts of land use change data frequency on estimating regional carbon sequestration in the southeastern United States. Our results indicate that ignoring the detailed fast-changing dynamics of land use can lead to a significant overestimation of carbon uptake by the terrestrial ecosystem. Regional carbon sequestration increased from 0.27 to 0.69, 0.80 and 0.97 Mg C ha −1 yr−1 when land use change data frequency shifting from 1 year to 5 years, 10 years interval and static land use information, respectively. Carbon removal by forest harvesting and prolonged cumulative impacts of historical land use change on carbon cycle accounted for the differences in carbon sequestration between static and dynamic land use change scenarios. The results suggest that it is critical to incorporate the detailed dynamics of land use change into local to global carbon cycle studies. Otherwise, it is impossible to accurately quantify the geographic distributions, magnitudes, and mechanisms of terrestrial carbon sequestration at the local to global scales. Correspondence to: S. Q. Zhao (sqzhao@urban.pku.edu.cn)
Effective Propagation of HPAM Solutions Through the Tambaredjo Reservoir During a Polymer Flood

Two new methods were developed for anaerobically sampling polymer solutions from production wells in the Sarah Maria polymer-flood-pilot project in Suriname. Whereas previous methods indicated severe polymer degradation, the improved methods revealed that the polymer propagated intact more than 300 ft through the Tambaredjo formation. Our results may help explain the inconsistency between good production responses and highly degraded polymer observed in many past field projects. Analysis of produced salinity, polymer concentration, and viscosity indicated that the polymer banks retained low salinity and, therefore, high viscosity for much of the way through the Sarah Maria polymer-flood-pilot pattern. A strong shear-thickening rheology was observed for 1,000 ppm and 1,350 ppm hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) solutions in porous media, even though the salinity was only 500 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS). Examination of injectivities revealed that these solutions were injected above the formation parting pressure in the Sarah Maria polymer-injection wells. Injectivity was insufficient until fractures were initiated hydraulically; however, the fractures propagated a distance of only approximately 20 ft and did not jeopardize sweep efficiency. In contrast, the short fractures greatly improved polymer injectivity and reduced concern about polymer mechanical degradation.
Radiocarbon-Dated Subfossil Stomach Oil Deposits from Petrel Nesting Sites: Novel Paleoenvironmental Records from Continental Antarctica

Radiocarbon dating is an important tool for reconstructing Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental history of the Antarctic continent. Because of the scarcity of datable material, new suitable substances are welcomed. We present here novel paleoenvironmental records—subfossil stomach oil deposits (mumiyo). This waxy organic material is found in petrel breeding colonies, especially in those of snow petrels, Pagodroma nivea. The substance is formed by accumulation and solidification of stomach oil regurgitated for the purpose of defense. We demonstrate and outline the usefulness and limitations of 14C dating mumiyo for determining dates of local ice retreat, moraines and petrel occupation history.
Ag-Cu colloid synthesis: bimetallic nanoparticle characterisation and thermal treatment

The Ag-Cu bimetallic colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by solvothermal synthesis from metalloorganic precursors in a mixture of organic solvents. The nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The properties of metallic core and organic shell of the nanoparticles were studied by direct inlet probe mass spectrometry (DIP/MS), Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry (KEMS), double-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (DPLIBS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for particle characterization before and after thermal analysis. The experiment yielded results that were for AgCu nanoparticles for the first time. The detected liquidus temperature has been compared with the prediction obtained from calculation of the phase diagram of Ag-Cu nanoalloy. The experimental results show that of near-eutectic composition AgCu nanoparticles possess the fcc crystal lattice. Surprisingly, spinodal decomposition was not observed inside the AgCu nanoparticles at temperatures up to 230°C. The depression of the eutectic AgCu melting point was calculated but not observed. The eutectic AgCu microparticles are formed before melting.
Selenium status of sheep and their lambs in the Northern Serbian province of Vojvodina

The blood plasma concentrations of selenium and plasma and whole blood GSH-Px activities were determined in 30 sheep on three farms (A=Kac, B=Ecka and C=Coka) in marginally deficient areas of Vojvodina. Selenium concentrations in feedstuffs from the territories surrounding the studied farms were lower than 0.10 ppm in more than 90% of the samples. Plasma selenium concentrations in sheep from farms A, B and C were 83.44 ± 19.09 μg/L; 183.90 ± 37.10 μg/L and 82.14±25.09 μg/L respectively. Plasma GSH-Px activity was the lowest on farm B (0.70 ± 0.37 μkat/L), nonsignificantly higher on farm A (0.81 ± 0.40 μkat/L) and highest on farm C (1.66 ± 0.88 μkat/L). Mean whole blood GSH-Px activities ranged between 194.38 μkat/L (farm C) and 236.51 μkat/L (farm B). On farm A the blood plasma concentrations of selenium and plasma and whole blood GSH-Px activities were determined also in suckling lambs in relation to their mothers. Plasma selenium content in lambs (50.58 ± 10.06 μg/L) was lower than in adult sheep at the same location. Both plasma (0.81 ± 0.40 μkat/L) and whole blood (424.21 ± 117.19 μkat/L) GSH-Px activities were significantly higher in lambs compared to their dams.
The Tlaxcala basin paleosol sequence: a multiscale proxy of middle to late Quaternary environmental change in central Mexico

La porcion central de la Altiplanicie Mexicana Central aun carece de un escenario consistente de evolucion ambiental del Cuaternario, especialmente para el periodo previo al ultimo ciclo glacial/interglacial. En este trabajo se presenta una amplia secuencia tefra-paleosuelos (11 paleosuelos agrupados en tres unidades: Gris, Parda y Roja) cerca de la ciudad de Tlaxcala, en dos localidades (Tlalpan y Mamut) para obtener un proxy paleoclimatico del Pleistoceno medio y del Holoceno. A partir de los datos de la localidad Tlalpan, se ha interpretado una tendencia paleoclimatica general para los ultimos 900,000 anos (la base de la secuencia se fecho por el metodo de K/Ar), mientras que de la localidad del Mamut se obtuvo un registro mas detallado, que comienza a partir de la etapa isotopica marina 3 (EIM 3), proporcionada por una serie de fechamientos de radiocarbon. Las caracteristicas fisicoquimicas y mineralogicas de todos los paleosuelos sepultados evidencian los procesos pedogeneticos tipicos de ecosistemas humedos: intemperismo, neoformacion de arcillas kaoliniticas-haloisiticas, gleizacion e iluviacion de arcillas. El suelo superficial del Holoceno tardio se caracteriza por la presencia de carbonatos, indicativos de un clima mas seco. En Tlalpan, la Unidad Roja, en la parte baja de la secuencia, demuestra el fuerte desarrollo de los rasgos de intemperismo con una acumulacion maxima de arcilla y cristalizacion de oxidos de hierro. Los paleosuelos sobreyacentes tienen un menor grado de intemperismo: la Unidad Parda, en la parte intermedia, muestra prominentes caracteristicas de iluviacion de arcilla mientras que en la Unidad Gris superior, hay marcadas propiedades reductomorficas. Se ha considerado que los paleosuelos de la Unidad Roja corresponden al periodo de la Transicion Climatica del Pleistoceno Medio, cuando una ciclicidad menos pronunciada glacial/interglacial permitio un mayor desarrollo del suelo a traves de periodos mas largos de estabilidad del paisaje. En el Mamut, el paleosuelo inferior posee propiedades verticas, en tanto el intemperismo y la iluviacion de arcilla son mas frecuentes en el paleosuelo intermedio. Finalmente, en el suelo superior, incipiente, dominan las propiedades gleicas. Esta tendencia indica un cambio de clima mas seco, con fuerte estacionalidad, en la segunda mitad de la EIM3, hacia condiciones humedas y frias, uniformes, durante la mayor parte de EIM2 y posteriormente hacia un clima inestable con precipitaciones ocasionales pero excesivas e irregulares en el ultimo glacial, las cuales promovieron la formacion de un suelo sinsedimentario, en un ambiente pantanoso.
Cropping Intensification and Technical Inefficiency of Maize-Based Farming Households in Southern-Guinea Savanna (SGS) of Nigeria

Maize is a main staple food in Nigeria, high productivity and efficiency in its production are critical to food security and poverty alleviation in the country. Thus, this paper estimates cropping intensification, the levels of technical efficiency of 252 maize–based farming households in southern-guinea savannah (SGS) of Nigeria and provides an empirical analysis of the determinants of technical inefficiency. Results show that the crop production intensity scores among the farming households ranged between 5.5 and 38.50 with a mean score of 23.13. Technical efficiencies of smallholder maize-based farming households ranged from 0.183 to 0.926 with a mean of 0.478. This result indicated the possibility of improving the efficiency of the sampled farming households by 51.3% with the existing resources and technology. The result of the inefficiency model shows that cropping intensification, farming experience and household size are the significant variables determining technical efficiency of maize-based households. Favourable inputs and output prices of agricultural produce as well as other policies that could facilitate households’ access to agricultural inputs are hereby suggested. Policies aimed at reducing household size should also be vigorously pursued.
The knowledge of lexical collocation among university students and its relation to their speaking proficiency

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate students’ collocational competence by examining the relationship between the knowledge of lexical collocation among them. The respondents were 30 students of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK). A lexical collocation test (LCT) was constructed to gauge the knowledge of collocation, while a speaking proficiency test (SPT) adopted from the IELTS was administered to determine the students’ level of speaking proficiency. Both variables were then correlated. The result indicates that there was no significant correlation between the knowledge of collocation and speaking proficiency among the respondents. Based on the findings, it is revealed that exposure to the target language plays a vital role in language acquisition. Exposure to collocations in particular would enable the learners to speak more fluently and sound more native-like.
Investigating the Effect of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Pollution on the Performance of the Mono-crystalline Solar Module

This paper presents a study of titanium oxide TiO2 as one of the components of dust pollution affecting the PV performance. This pollutant can be found in various quantities in different locations around the world. The production of energy by different types of photovoltaic systems is very sensitive and depends on various environmental factors. Dust is one of the main contributing factors, yet the type of the dust is often neglected when studying the behaviour of the solar panel. In this experimental work we have studied the performance of the monocrystalline solar module as affected by the density of TiO2. The reduction of the PV module power caused by titanium dioxide under various mass densities was investigated. The results showed that the TiO2 has a significant effect on the PV output power. The dust density varied between 0-125 g.m-2. The corresponding reduction of the PV output power increased from 0 to 86.7%. This is based on various influencing parameters such as: short circuit current (Isc), maximum current (Im), open circuit voltage (Voc), maximum voltage (Vm), maximum power (Pm) and efficiency (E). Two functions are proposed as a mathematical model in order to explain this behaviour, namely the exponential and Fourier functions. The coefficients of all general models are valid for this type of dust with a density value ranging from 0-125 g.m-2 .
Drivers of Store Choice in an Evolving Market: An empirical study

Retailing in India is at a crossroads. Currently, retailers are experimenting and trying different retail format based on local conditions. However, most of these formats are fetching moderate to lukewarm success. In such a scenario, it is important for retailers to understand the customer preferences of store atmospherics and their impact on store choice. The purpose of this study is to explore the store attributes as perceived by customers that act as motivators in store choice in food & grocery retailing. Mall intercept survey method using structured questionnaire is used for data collection. Descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistical tools (Factor analysis) are used to analyse the data collected from 250 food and grocery retail customers from convenience stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets in tier-2 cities in Punjab in India. The findings suggest that customers value availability and variety of products at store, store ambience, service and facilities, and value for money offered at store. Further, the finding that the store location is overshadowed by other store atmospherics is in opposition to the common belief that Indian customer look for proximity while shopping for food & grocery. The present study provides an understanding of shoppers’ preferences related to store environment in an evolving Indian retail market. The findings may help the food & grocery retailers to use store atmospherics as a fertile opportunity of market differentiation. Due to lack of research in the field of drivers of store choice, this study may serve as a departure point for future studies in this area of concern.
Improving Quality, Reproducibility, and Usability of FRET‐Based Tension Sensors

Mechanobiology, the study of how mechanical forces affect cellular behavior, is an emerging field of study that has garnered broad and significant interest. Researchers are currently seeking to better understand how mechanical signals are transmitted, detected, and integrated at a subcellular level. One tool for addressing these questions is a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)‐based tension sensor, which enables the measurement of molecular‐scale forces across proteins based on changes in emitted light. However, the reliability and reproducibility of measurements made with these sensors has not been thoroughly examined. To address these concerns, we developed numerical methods that improve the accuracy of measurements made using sensitized emission‐based imaging. To establish that FRET‐based tension sensors are versatile tools that provide consistent measurements, we used these methods, and demonstrated that a vinculin tension sensor is unperturbed by cell fixation, permeabilization, and immunolabeling. This suggests FRET‐based tension sensors could be coupled with a variety of immuno‐fluorescent labeling techniques. Additionally, as tension sensors are frequently employed in complex biological samples where large experimental repeats may be challenging, we examined how sample size affects the uncertainty of FRET measurements. In total, this work establishes guidelines to improve FRET‐based tension sensor measurements, validate novel implementations of these sensors, and ensure that results are precise and reproducible. © 2018 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
How are false negative cases perceived by mammographers? Which abnormalities are misinterpreted and which go undetected?

A radiographic 'false negative' or a case which has been 'missed' can be categorised in terms of errors of search (where gaze does not fall upon the abnormality); detection (a perceptual error where the abnormality may be physically 'seen' but remains undetected) and misinterpretation (a perceptual error whereby an abnormality, although detected, is not deemed worthy of further assessment). This study aims to investigate perceptual errors in mammographic film-reading and will focus on the later of the two error types, namely errors of misinterpretation and errors of non-detection. Previous research has shown, on a self-assessment scheme of recent and difficult breast-screening cases, that certain feature types are susceptible to errors of misinterpretation and others to errors of non-detection. This self assessment scheme, 'PERFORMS' (Personal Performance in Mammographic Screening), is undertaken by the majority (at present over 90%) of breast-screening mammographers in the UK Breast Screening Programme. The scheme is completed biannually and confidentially and participants receive immediate and detailed feedback on their performance. Feedback from the scheme includes information detailing their false negative decisions including case classifications (benign or malignant), feature type (masses, calcification, asymmetries, architectural distortions and others) and case perception error (percentage of misinterpretation and percentage of non-detection). Results from a recent round of PERFORMS (n=506), revealed that certain feature types had significantly higher percentages of error overall (including architectural distortion and asymmetries), and that these feature types also showed significant differences for error type. Implications for real-life screening practice were explored using real-life self-reported data on years of screening experience.
The impact of organizational innovation through innovation capabilities in process and product on the performance of manufacturing firms

Abstract Innovation is considered as a critical factor for organizations to create value and ‎sustainable competitive advantage in today's complex and changing environment. ‎Organizations with more innovation, in response to the changing environments and ‎creating development of new capabilities that allows them to achieve better ‎performance will be more successful. The aim of current study is to investigate the ‎impact of organizational innovation through innovation capabilities in process and ‎product on the performance of manufacturing firms in Rasht Industrial Town. This ‎research paper is a kind of descriptive and correlation study. The statistical population ‎includes all companies in the industrial city of Rasht (n = 157). Simple random ‎sampling method has been applied, and SPSS 20 and warp pls5 software has been ‎used in order to analyze acquired data. The results indicated that there is a positive ‎relationship between organizational innovation and process innovation capabilities. ‎There was also a positive relationship between organizational innovation and ‎performance through process innovation capabilities. Also a positive relationship ‎between product innovation and company performance and a positive relationship ‎between organizational innovation and performance through product innovation ‎capabilities were observed. ‎
Occupational Therapy Early Intervention in Indiana and Contiguous States

Objective: This study examined the reasons why a particular discipline is chosen to provide early intervention services within the states of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky, the perception of the personnel that determines appropriate disciplines, and the personnel understanding of that discipline’s scope of practice. Method: A total of 72 early intervention personnel from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky completed an online survey. IRB approval was obtained prior to the initiation of the study. Results: Some determiners of early intervention services perceive an overlap in the services offered by occupational therapy and developmental therapy. Some participants acknowledged that occupational therapy services are underutilized; however, most believed services were utilized appropriately. Conclusions: The perception of occupational therapy and developmental therapy scopes overlapping can result in a lack of referrals to the best discipline for a child’s need. Some barriers may exist to receiving occupational therapy in early intervention.