Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of Pyrrhotite Oxidation in Seawater: Implications for Mining Seafloor Hotsprings

Laboratory experiments have been performed to evaluate the effects of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and mineral surface area on the rate of oxidation of pyrrhotite in seawater. Experiments employed to determine these effects utilized temperature-controlled circulation baths, Teflon reaction vessels, synthetic seawater, and pure, hand-sorted natural pyrrhotite crystals. Both batch and flow-through reactor methods were used and reaction products were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The rate law takes the following form:Rsp (Fe(1-x)S) = k (MH+)a(MO2(aq))bwhere R is the specific oxidation rate of pyrrhotite (moles/L sec), k is the rate constant (a function of temperature and surface area), and a and b are reaction orders for reactant concentrations (M), determined experimentally. The isolation method was used to obtain the reaction order of each reactant on the basis of initial rates. The rate law for the oxidation of pyrrhotite in seawater derived in this study is:Rsp(Fe(1-x)S) = -5.38 x 10-8 (MH+)0.08±0.03 (MO2(aq))0.30±0.07The value for k is averaged from runs at 22.0oC, which was used at the primary run temperature for convenience. Values for k from all runs are in Appendix A. Data from batch reactor experiments indicated positive influences of oxidant concentration, surface area, temperature, and [H+] on the initial rate. Pyrrhotite oxidizes significantly faster than chalcopyrite, providing an upper limit to the anthropogenic and natural inorganic weathering rates of seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits. Inorganic rates are most relevant to rapid seafloor mining timespans (minutes to days), within which significant bacterial colonization of freshly ground sulfide mineral surfaces is not likely to occur (e.g., McBeth et al., 2011). In the future, microbial studies will be needed in order to quantify the catalyzing or inhibitory effects of bacteria on natural, in situ seafloor pyrrhotite oxidation using this study as a baseline.
Evaluation of methods to detect and quantify the bimodal precipitation over Central America and Mexico

Bimodal precipitation is a globally observed and regionally significant event that has a significant influence on the agriculture, public health, and insurance needs of associated regions. Many studies have focused on the mechanisms behind the generation and development of this event; however, little research into its characteristics exists due to a lack of a widely accepted method for accurate detection and quantification. Using a function collection containing various methods, different methods can be compared in terms of their performance in the detection and quantification of bimodal precipitation signals, allowing the proposal of appropriate criteria for method choice in various study types. Five methods (Mosiño and García, 1966; Curtis, 2002; Angeles et al., 2010; Karnauskas et al., 2013; Zhao et al., 2020) are adapted to the Climate Prediction Centre data during 1979–2017 in the domain of southern Mexico and Central America, and their performances are evaluated and compared. While outputs from the five methods reach general consistence for strong bimodal features over the Pacific side of Central America and Yucatán Peninsula, some biases are identified, specifically shown by the fact that methods using monthly climatological data demonstrates bimodal precipitation over the Caribbean side of Central America, while those using daily annual data indicate the existence of bimodal precipitation over the Pacific side of southern Mexico. By comparing two typical algorithms, we determined that this bias was induced by the limitation of temporal resolution in monthly climatological data and the nature of algorithms applying daily annual data. As part of a case study, a cluster algorithm was applied to outputs from an algorithm using daily annual precipitation, and a classification algorithm was used to test clustering performance. The resultant general high accuracy shows that annual bimodal signals offer good adaption to cluster and other potential machine learning algorithms.
Effect of [C2mim][OTf] Ionic Liquid on Tensile Properties of HDPE/KCF Biocomposites: A Primary Research

In this primary research, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ionic liquid ([C2mim][OTf]) was added to the high-density polyethylene/kenaf core fiber (HDPE/KCF) biocomposites by using an internal mixer at 150°C, followed by compression molding at the same temperature. The [C2mim][OTf] contents were varied from 0 to 10wt. %. The tensile properties of the prepared biocomposites have been determined by using a universal testing machine. The tensile results of the HDPE/KCF biocomposites indicated that the tensile strength and tensile modulus have decreased with the addition of [C2mim][OTf]. However, the presence of [C2mim][OTf] has significantly increased the tensile extension at break of the biocomposites. This research concluded that the addition of [C2mim][OTf] at the lower content (≈ 10wt.%) could act as a plasticizer for improving the flexibility of HDPE/KCF biocomposites. Short Communication Shamsuri and Darus; AJACR, 6(2): 1-6, 2020; Article no.AJACR. 58446 2
Does a Confidence Level for Automated Driving Time Estimations Improve the Subjective Evaluation of an Automation HMI?

Current research in human factors and automated driving is increasingly focusing on predictable transitions instead of urgent and critical take-overs. Predictive human–machine interface (HMI) elements displaying the remaining time until the next request to intervene were identified as a user need, especially when the user is engaging in non-driving related activities (NDRA). However, these estimations are prone to errors due to changing traffic conditions and updated map-based information. Thus, we investigated a confidence display for Level 3 automated driving time estimations. Based on a preliminary study, a confidence display resembling a mobile phone connectivity symbol was developed. In a mixed-design driving simulator study with 32 participants, we assessed the impact of the confidence display concept (within factor) on usability, frustration, trust and acceptance during city and highway automated driving (between factor). During automated driving sections, participants engaged in a naturalistic visual NDRA to create a realistic scenario. Significant effects were found for the scenario: participants in the city experienced higher levels of frustration. However, the confidence display has no significant impact on the subjective evaluation and most participants preferred the baseline HMI without a confidence symbol.
Characterisation and Dissolution Studies on Natural and Synthetic Brannerites

The structural and leaching characteristics of titanate minerals such as brannerite is of interest from a hydrometallurgical processing perspective and due to the potential of this mineral to be used as a host material for the immobilization of radio isotopes found in nuclear waste. In this study two different brannerites were synthesised and characterised using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy. A natural brannerite sample was also characterised using the aforementioned techniques. Characterisation studies revealed that in un-doped synthetic brannerite (UTi2O6) uranium was present only in the +4 oxidation state whereas in synthetic doped brannerite and natural brannerite uranium was found to be present in +4 and +5 oxidation states. Of the various brannerites studied un-doped synthetic brannerite underwent the highest extent of dissolution over the range of conditions studied, natural brannerite which had been pre-heated to convert it to a crystalline form was the most difficult to dissolve.
How does FDI influence health outcomes in Africa?

While most developing countries are devising strategies to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows, the effect of FDI on sustainable economic development remains debatable, with very little known on its health effects. Using data from 1980 to 2018 on 43 African countries, this study therefore, investigates the effect of FDI on health outcomes (life expectancy and the death rate) by employing the panel fixed effects estimator. The study finds that, FDI improves health outcomes even after robustness checks using different estimator and specification. The implication is that, efforts toward attracting more FDI into Africa as well as making optimum use of the advantages that accompany FDI, should be deepened given its health enhancing effects.
Comparative floral and pollen morphology of some invasive and native impatiens species

To evaluate the hypothesis of competitive superiority of invasive species, we compared the invasive Impatiens parviflora DC. and I. Glandulifera royle, the naturalized I. Nevskii pobed. and the native I. Noli-tangere L. in the flowers’ morphometric characters at different phases of anthesis. The characters in which alien species have a competitive superiority over closely related I. Noli-tangere are revealed. Morphological variability was studied by morphometric observations of the following characters: bud: length and diameter; spurred sepal: length and width; spur: length and diameter; lateral sepal: length and width; largest petal: length and death; large lobe of lateral petal: length and width; small lobe of lateral petal: length and width; anther: length; stamen’s filament: length; calyptra: length and width; ovary: length and diameter; length of a style, length of a stigma. There is a tendency for alien Impatiens species of the earlier development of androecium and gynoecium: сaliptra is formed at the stage of uncolored bud, the pistil is differentiated in ovary, short style and stigma is formed at the stage of colored bud. No other flowers’ morphometric characters, representing competitive advantage of the invasive I. Glandulifera and I. Parviflora over the native I. Noli-tangere and naturalized I. Nevskii were identified.
Combined Phonological Awareness and Print Knowledge Training Improves Reading Accuracy and Comprehension in Children with Reading Disabilities

ABSTRACT We examined the effects of a combined phonological and print intervention program on the enhancement of phonological awareness, text reading accuracy and comprehension in fourth grade Arabic-speaking children with severe difficulties in reading accuracy (dyslexia) and reading comprehension. We compared an experimental group (n = 22; mean age = 122.9 months) to a control group (n = 22; mean age = 124.65 months). The training program focused on two domains: phonological awareness and print knowledge. The results showed that the experimental group performed better in the post and follow-up assessments than in the baseline assessment on phonological awareness, reading accuracy, and comprehension. We discuss findings indicating the positive impact of phonological awareness and print knowledge on reading development in terms of decoding and comprehension abilities.
How Postgraduate Students Use Video to Help Them Learn

Purpose of the study: The object of this paper is to explore the literature in order to discover on what conditions a video-mediated form of instruction can be a learning instrument, the one that enhances teaching, increases the potential of improving learners’ performance and leads to a change in students’ knowledge and behaviours. Methodology: This exploration is literature based and involves a critical discussion of articles on video-based instruction and video pedagogies. Main findings: Video-based forms of teaching and learning are steadily gaining popularity in the classroom and beyond and are supported by a growing body of academic and professional literature. However, while the pedagogical use of video within a lesson has been explored, what is missing is a focus on the pedagogy within the video – the pedagogical style or design of the video that leads to learning – the transformation of information. Applications of this study: Research involving university students suggests that students conceive of video as an important element of their learning process and they will often choose to use videos for support and clarification rather than any other form of digital instruction. The conducted analysis of the research subject will eliminate concerns of instructional designers over the video design and help employ video more consciously and efficiently. Novelty/Originality of this study: In the last decade, the majority of the literature focusing on creating video for learning purposes adopt a transmission of knowledge approach. Thus, the authors focus on a list of characteristics that will facilitate the transmission of content. Few of the articles focus on learning per se. This paper discusses the results of our review of the literature that support the transmission styles of learning, the “hygiene” principles and then it explores the literature to identify the elements that enable a more transformative learning pedagogy for video.
Human death from suspected rabid dog bite in Zamfara State, Nigeria

Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease occurring mostly as a result of dog bites and with a case fatality rate approaching 100% in humans. We describe here a suspected case of human rabies from a stray dog bite in a 52-year-old woman in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria. In response to the exposure, a team of researchers was set up to investigate further the possible contacts between the rabid dog and the subjects at risk. Rabies was identified based on clinical signs observed on the victim, in addition to exposure history and incubation period. Rabies is becoming a rising public health problem in Nigeria. Coordinated efforts from various partners guided by one-health approach in the control and prevention of rabies should be prioritized at a wider scale in the country. Keywords: Dog bite, Human rabies, Nigeria, Zamfara, Zoonosis
Effects of tillage and residue management on soil microbial communities in North China.

The impacts of tillage system (conventional tillage and no-tillage) and residue management (0, 50, and 100%) on soil properties and soil microbial community structure were determined in the Fengqiu State Key Agro-Ecological Experimental Station, North China. The microbial community structure was investigated by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles. The results showed that tillage had significant effects on soil properties and soil microbial commu nities. In no-tillage (NT), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), total N, microbial biomass carbon/soil organic carbon (MBC/SOC), total microbes, and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi increased, while actinomycetes, G + /G – bacteria ratio and monounsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (MUFA/STFA) decreased, compared with those in conventional tillage (CT). Residue had a significant positive effect on C/N ratio and MUFA/STFA. Canonical correspon dence analysis indicated that tillage explained 76.1%, and residue management explained 0.6% of the variations in soil microbial communities, respectively. Soil microbial communities were significantly correlated with MBC, total N, C/N ratio and MBC/SOC. Among the six treatments, NT with 100% residue application obviously improved soil microbiological properties, and could be a proper management practice in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China.
Ontogenetic shifts in plant ecological strategies

1. Ontogenetic shifts in plants are ubiquitous, but their ecological and evolutionary significance remain largely unknown. Juveniles have few opportunities to accumulate sufficient biomass to withstand damage, whereas adults allocate resources to reproduction. Thus, age‐specific environmental filters are expected to drive selection towards specific resource‐investment strategies for each developmental stage. 2. We tested whether species exhibited strategies that favour faster rates of biomass accumulation during early developmental stages to cope with vulnerability, shifting towards habitat‐dependent strategies to optimise resource acquisition and use later on. We also hypothesised that juveniles exhibit greater intraspecific variability of strategies than adults, as a result of continuous filtering of traits throughout the plant’s development towards adulthood. 3. We measured key leaf traits—leaf area (LA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA)—and calculated scores for competitor (C), stress‐tolerator (S), ruderal (R) strategies of the CSR system for juveniles of 54 species and conspecific adults of 27 species naturally occurring either in unproductive (grassland) or productive (forest) habitats. 4. Juveniles exhibited higher SLA and LA and lower LDMC, and thus a more R‐strategy in both habitats when compared with adults, but were not necessarily “R” in absolute terms. We also found smaller intraspecific variation for the R‐strategy in adults compared with juveniles in both habitats, whereas the variation of the other strategies was habitat dependent.
Variation in Health Care Prices Across Public and Private Payers

We study a unique all-payer data set spanning 38 states to examine the differences in inpatient reimbursement rates paid by traditional Medicare (TM), Medicare Advantage (MA), Medicaid, and private (under-65) insurers, and the differences in negotiated rates across the 60 largest private insurers. After controlling for enrollee and hospital mix, we find that private insurers pay 37 percent more than TM, and MA pays 10 percent more than TM for the five most common inpatient diagnoses. The correlation in risk-adjusted payments by private insurers and by TM at the same hospital for the same diagnosis is only 0.10. There is significant variation in negotiated prices within and across private payers. Among the five largest US insurers, the most expensive insurer negotiates prices that are 5-26 percent higher than the mean price for the 20 most common inpatient diagnoses. Additionally, we find a 10 percent increase in insurer market share corresponds to a 7 percent decrease in inpatient negotiated prices and a 10 percent decrease in the standard deviation of prices. This finding suggests that increased insurer market power allows payers to negotiate prospective payment contracts – rather than the more common fee-for-service payments – thereby offloading financial risk to providers.
Herbal and essential oil yield of Genovese basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown with mineral and organic fertilizer sources in Egypt

The main objective of this work was to evaluate a measure to decrease the excessive application of chemical fertili­zers and to increase the quality of medicinal and aromatic plants grown in Egypt. Basil is one of the most important medicinal plants which grows well under Egyptian conditions and plays a vital role for the export of the country. Two field experiments were conducted on the farm of the National Research Center in Giza during two successive seasons in 2003 and 2004. The treatments of the first experiment were 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended NPK fertilization. In the second experiment different percentages of chemical and organic fertilizers (100% orga­nic, 100% chemical, 50 organic and 50 chemical, 25 organic and 75 chemical and 75 organic and 25 chemical) were applied. The investigation yielded the following main result: increasing NPK rates increased the growth and yield of Genovese basil but the application of only 50% from recommended NPK gave already about 80% of the yield of 100% recommended NPK. Compost as a source of nutrients gave similar yield but higher quality than fertilization with chemical NPK fertilizers alone.
Pracademics in the pandemic: pedagogies and professionalism

PurposeThis thinking piece examines, from the viewpoint of two Canadian pracademics in the pandemic, the role of pedagogy and professionalism in crisis teaching and learning. The purpose of the paper is to highlight some of the tensions that have emerged and offer possible considerations to disrupt the status quo and catalyze transformation in public education during the pandemic and beyond.Design/methodology/approachThis paper considers the current context of COVID-19 and education and uses the professional capital framework (Hargreaves and Fullan, 2012) to examine pandemic pedagogies and professionalism.FindingsThe COVID-19 pandemic has catapulted educational systems into emergency remote teaching and learning. This rapid shift to crisis schooling has massive implications for pedagogy and professionalism during the pandemic and beyond. Despite the significant challenges for educators, policymakers, school leaders, students and families, the pandemic is a critical opportunity to rethink the future of schooling. A key to transformational change will be for schools and school systems to focus on their professional capital and find ways to develop teachers' individual knowledge and skills, support effective collaborative networks that include parents and the larger school community and, ultimately, trust and include educators in the decision-making and communication process.Originality/valueThis thinking piece offers the perspective of two Canadian pracademics who do not wish for a return to “normal” public education, which has never serve all children well or equitably. Instead, they believe the pandemic is an opportunity to disrupt the status quo and build the education system back better. Using the professional capital framework, they argue that it will be educators' professionalism and pandemic pedagogies that will be required to catalyze meaningful transformational change.
Cryptic speciation associated with geographic and ecological divergence in two Amazonian Heliconius butterflies

The evolution of reproductive isolation via a switch in mimetic wing coloration has become the paradigm for speciation in aposematic Heliconius butterflies. Here, we provide a counterexample to this, by documenting two cryptic species within the taxon formerly considered Heliconius demeter Staudinger, 1897. Amplified fragment length poly-morphisms identify two sympatric genotypic clusters in northern Peru, corresponding to subspecies Heliconius demeter ucayalensis H. Holzinger & R. Holzinger, 1975 and Heliconius demeter joroni ssp. nov. These subspecies are reciprocally monophyletic for the mitochondrial genes COI and COII and the nuclear gene Ef1 α , and exhibit marked differences in larval morphology and host plant use. COI sequences from 13 of the 15 currently recognized subspecies show that mtDNA differences are reflected across the range of H. demeter , with a deep phylogenetic split between the southern and northern Amazonian races. As such, our data suggest vicariant speciation driven by disruptive selection for larval performance on different host plants. We raise Heliconius demeter eratosignis (Joicey & Talbot, 1925) to Heliconius eratosignis based on nomenclatural priority, a species also comprising H. eratosignis ucayalensis comb. nov. and three other southern Amazonian races. Heliconius demeter joroni spp. nov. remains within H. demeter s.s. , along with northern Amazonian and Guianan subspecies.