Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TEACHING PHOTOSYNTHESIS USING AN INQUIRY-BASED APPROACH VIA A DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM TO PROMOTE STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING

Our research aimed to identify whether inquiry-based learning via Go-LAB platform, could enhance students learning about photosynthesis. The study sample consisted of 92 second-year high-school students, and the educational intervention consisted of three teaching hours. We conducted a pre- and a post- test via a questionnaire with closed-ended questions to detect the possible results of our teaching intervention. The statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-test surveys indicated that the inquiry-based intervention via Go-LAB platform helped students to better understand the concept of photosynthesis. At the same time, positive learning effects in our study were found to be gender-independent, a finding that is in line with a multitude of studies. Students gave more correct answers about the photosynthesis process, and several alternative ideas seemed to be overturned. Consequently, according to our findings, inquiry-based learning supported by the Go-LAB platform seems to represent an efficient way of teaching complex biological concepts like photosynthesis. Article visualizations:
The Annual Amount of Radon Radiation from Drinking Water Sources in Children and Adults in Roudan county, Iran

Background: Radon is a major source of natural radiation in water, soil, and air. Natural sources of radiation are major contributors to the radiation humans and other living beings receive. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on drinking water sources of three cities and 18 villages of Roudan county in 2021. The measurement of radon concentration in the collected samples was performed using the RAD7 device. Results: In the studied water sources, the highest and lowest radon concentrations were 11.00±2.09 and 0.95±0.23 kBq/m3 , respectively. The average radon concentration was 4.98±0.76 Bq/L which was lower than 11 Bq/L (the EPA level recommended for drinking water). The mean annual effective dose of radon, due to direct and continuous water intake for adults and children was 48.01±11.56 and 65.86±15.86 µSv/y, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that radon concentrations in two regions of Roudan county were higher than the allowed World Health Organization (WHO) concentration and people who normally use these resources for drinking during the year are exposed to abnormal radiation levels.
Semianalytical Model for Shear Stress Distribution in Simple and Compound Open Channels

Semianalytical equations were derived for distribution of shear stress in straight open channels with rectangular, trapezoidal, and compound cross sections. These equations are based on a simplified streamwise vorticity equation that includes secondary Reynolds stresses. Reynolds stresses were then modeled and their different terms were evaluated based on the work of previous researchers and experimental data. Substitution of these terms into the simplified vorticity equation yielded the relative shear stress distribution equation along the width of different channel cross sections. In compound channels the effect of additional secondary flows due to the shear layer between the main channel and the flood plain were also considered. Comparisons between predictions of the model and experimental data, predictions of other analytical or three dimensional numerical models with advanced turbulent closures, were made with good agreement.
Organizational Culture, Work Ethics and Spouse Relations as Determinants of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Job Effectiveness in South-West, Nigeria

The job effectiveness of employees has received significant attention in workplace studies. This is due to the general recognition that this variable can be a major determinant of an organizational working system. The fact that job effectiveness among academic staff in the College of Education may have an impact on institutional quality performance necessitates that closer attention be paid to factors such as organizational culture, work ethics, and spouse relations as potent variables that could influence job effectiveness. This study therefore examined organisational culture, work ethics, and spouse relations as determinants of job effectiveness of academic staff in Colleges of Education in South West, Nigeria. It also looked at the moderating influence of gender, age, and academic qualification on the predictive powers of the independent variables on academic staff job effectiveness. This study adopted a survey research design of ex-post facto type. A sample of 1,146 married academic staff was selected through the multistage sampling technique from a population of 2,898 academic staff in Colleges of Education in South-West, Nigeria. Three research questions and eight hypotheses were answered and tested respectively to guide the study. Four validated instruments were used for data collection; LJEQ (? =0.82), OCQ (? =0.75), LWERS (? =0.78), and WPAT (? =0.78). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, Multiple Regression Analysis, t-test, and analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed, among other things, that to some extent, the level of academic staff job effectiveness was very high in Colleges of Education. The finding further showed that organizational culture, work ethics, and spouse relations significantly predicted academic staff job effectiveness in Colleges of Education (F(3, 1017) = 58.672, p < . 05). It was recommended among others that the management of colleges should continuously carry out regular appraisals to determine the level of job effectiveness of the staff and invest in capacity development through training and retreats to align staff with organizational culture and work ethics of the institution.
Examining Environmental Performance of Islamic Banks Through Green Banking Practices: Mediating Role of Employees Commitment

This study aims to investigate the substantial impact of green banking practices on the environmental performance of banks, concurrently exploring the mediating influence of employees' commitment. To achieve these objectives, a comprehensive empirical inquiry was conducted. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey method from a diverse selection of banks operating within the Lahore region. The study employed statistical techniques, including regression analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), to analyze associations and moderating influences within the conceptual framework. The findings of the study indicated that there is a significant effect of green banking practices on the environmental performance of Islamic banks operating in Pakistan. Further, the research indicated that there is a significant mediating effect of the employee’s commitment between the observed variables. The primary novelty of this research is its comprehensive examination of the intricate interplay between green banking practices and environmental performance within the Islamic banking industry. The primary limitations of the study include a small sample size and considering only Islamic bank managers as the population of the study.
Temporal and Spatial Variability of Dust in the Urmia Basin, 1990–2019

The living conditions in the Urmia Basin (northwestern Iran) face significant challenges due to dust events. This study investigates the spatial and temporal characteristics of dust phenomena in the Urmia Basin using MERRA-2 data and observational data from Tabriz, Urmia, Sarab, and Mahabad over a 30-year period (1990–2019). The findings reveal that despite several fluctuations, the annual number of dusty days increased from the 1990s to the 2010s in the Urmia Basin. The maximum number of dusty days was found to predominantly occur in May (spring) and October (autumn), driven by two distinct mechanisms. In early autumn, developing synoptic systems associated with increased wind speeds can cause dust emission from dry land sources. Consequently, an increase in dust wet deposition, precipitation, dust surface concentration, and the number of dusty days occurs in October. In contrast, a sharp decrease in precipitation from April to May leads to drying soil and dust emission in May. Among the studied cities, Tabriz experienced the highest number of dusty days (728) due to the combined effects of cross-border and local dust sources. The highest dust column density and dust dry deposition in the south and east of Urmia Lake indicate the impact of declining water levels, which resulted in a dry lakebed as the primary local dust source. The MERRA-2 spatial distribution reveals that dust surface concentration, and the number of dusty days decrease similarly from the southwest to the northeast of the Urmia Basin as the distance from cross-border dust sources increases. A positive correlation is observed between the number of dusty days and MEERA-2 data, including dust surface concentration, dust dry deposition, column mass dust, and total aerosol extinction, with coefficients of 0.74, 0.71, 0.69, and 0.68, respectively.
Iron nutrition of phytoplankton and its possible importance in the ecology of ocean regions with hight nutrient and low biomass

biochemical catalysis. IN SOME REGIONS o f the oceans, namely the North and Equatorial Pacific and the Antarctic, the surface waters contain relatively high concentrations of nutrients (e.g., P 0 4 > 1 uM) yet only a low biomass (chlorophyll < 0.5 ug/L). On the basis of measurements of very low iron concentrations (<0,1 nM) and observations of increased growth on Fe enrichments, J. Martin and coworkers have proposed that iron limits primary production in these waters (Martin, 1991, this issue). Other authors have proposed alternate hypotheses chiefly on the basis of grazing (Miller et al., 1991, this issue) and light limitation (Mitchell et al., 1991). Here we examine the "iron hypothesis" in light of what we know about the iron physiology of marine phytoplankton and its relation to iron chemistry.
On-land ice loss and glacial isostatic adjustment at the drake passage: 2003-2009

[1] Land glacier extent and volume at the northern and southern margins of the Drake Passage have been in a state of dramatic demise since the early 1990s. Here time-varying space gravity observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) are combined with Global Positioning System (GPS) bedrock uplift data to simultaneously solve for ice loss and for solid Earth glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) to Little Ice Age (LIA) cryospheric loading. The present-day ice loss rates are determined to be −26 ± 6 Gt/yr and −41.5 ± 9 Gt/yr in the Southern and Northern Patagonia Ice Fields (NPI+SPI) and Antarctic Peninsula (AP), respectively. These are consistent with estimates based upon thickness and flux changes. Bounds are recovered for elastic lithosphere thicknesses of 35 ≤ h ≤ 70 km and 20 ≤ h ≤ 45 km and for upper mantle viscosities of 4–8 × 1018 Pa s and 3–10 × 1019 Pa s (using a half-space approximation) for NPI+SPI and AP, respectively, using an iterative forward model strategy. Antarctic Peninsula ice models with a prolonged LIA, extending to A.D. 1930, are favored in all χ2 fits to the GPS uplift data. This result is largely decoupled from Earth structure assumptions. The GIA corrections account for roughly 20–60% of the space-determined secular gravity change. Collectively, the on-land ice losses correspond to volume increases of the oceans equivalent to 0.19 ± 0.045 mm/yr of sea level rise for the last 15 years.
Understanding the effects of gamification on work engagement: The role of basic need satisfaction and enjoyment among millennials

Abstract Millennial perspectives on work engagement can aid companies in fostering a more dynamic and successful workforce by recognizing that engaged employees tend to be more productive and satisfied. However, recent polls and studies have raised concerns about the lower levels of work engagement reported among millennials compared to previous generations. To address this, we conducted a study to investigate the potential of gamification to enhance workplace engagement among millennials and delve into the intricate dynamics of this relationship by examining the mediating roles of basic need satisfaction and enjoyment. Utilizing a cross-sectional approach with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), we found both direct and indirect positive effects of gamification on work engagement. Specifically, gamification positively influenced work engagement, mediated by basic need satisfaction and enjoyment. Remarkably, generational differences were minimal, as revealed in a multigroup analysis. While our findings demonstrate gamification’s potential to boost millennial work engagement, we acknowledge limitations such as data heterogeneity and small sample size; thus, further research in diverse contexts is needed. In summary, our study highlights gamification as a promising strategy to boost work engagement among millennials. It underscores the importance of addressing psychological needs in gamification design and calls for continued investigation to refine our understanding of these dynamics.
InSAR constraints on the source parameters of the 2001 Bhuj earthquake

We present InSAR results of the coseismic displacement field for the January 2001 Bhuj earthquake. Using InSAR data along multiple tracks, we determine the optimal source parameters of the earthquake. The deformation pattern is first modeled assuming uniform slip on an elastic dislocation. A grid search is used to constrain the source location and finiteness assuming a strike, rake, and dip consistent with seismic studies. An inversion for the distributed slip places oblique reverse slip at depth with strike‐slip motion resolved at shallower depths. The estimated size of the event is Mw 7.6. Results also suggest that the postseismic response is minimal.
Global, Seasonal Surface Variations from Satellite Radiance Measurements

Abstract Global, daily, visible, and infrared radiance measurements from the NOAA-5 Scanning Radiometer (SR) are analyzed for the months of January, April, July, and October 1977 to infer surface radiative properties A radiative transfer model that simulates the spectral and angular characteristics of the NOAA-5 SR measurements is used to retrieve monthly mean surface visible reflectances and temperature at 25 km resolution. These surface properties were found sufficiently accurate for simulation of clear sky radiances to determine global, seasonal variations in cloudiness. Further comparisons of these results with other data highlight the analysis difficulties and radiative model shortcomings that must be overcome to monitor regional and seasonal variations of earth's surface. These preliminary results also provide an estimate of the magnitude of these variations.
Health-Related Quality of Life after Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Quantitative Comparison between Children’s and Parents’ Perspectives of the QOLIBRI-KID/ADO Questionnaire

Pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as a measure of subjective wellbeing and functioning has received increasing attention over the past decade. HRQoL in children and adolescents following pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI) has been poorly studied, and performing adequate measurements in this population is challenging. This study compares child/adolescent and parent reports of HRQoL following pTBI using the newly developed Quality of Life after Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents (QOLIBRI-KID/ADO) questionnaire. Three hundred dyads of 8–17-year-old children/adolescents and their parents were included in the study. The parent–child agreement, estimated using intraclass correlation coefficients and Cohen’s κ, displayed poor to moderate concordance. Approximately two-fifths of parents (39.3%) tended to report lower HRQoL for their children/adolescents on the total QOLIBRI-KID/ADO score. At the same time, about one-fifth (21.3%) reported higher HRQoL Total scores for their children/adolescents. The best agreement for parents rating adolescents (aged 13–17 years) was found in terms of the Total score and the Cognition and Self scale scores. To date, parent-reported HRQoL has been the preferred choice in pediatric research after TBI. However, with a parent–child disagreement of approximately 60%, our results highlight the importance of considering self-reports for children/adolescents capable of answering or completing the HRQoL measures.
Did a small thermosensitive intron contribute to the temperate adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster?

Drosophila melanogaster was first used for research in the early 1900’s by scientists located in the northeastern corridor of the United States, gaining prominence with the establishment of the famous “fly room” by Thomas Hunt Morgan at Columbia University circa1908. Several reasons for using D. melanogaster in research are well known; easy and inexpensive to breed, short lifespan, amongst others. But why was this insect species flourishing in a temperate northeast region of the New World during the late 1800’s when they originated in the tropical forests of sub-Saharan Africa millions of years ago? The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the experimental underpinnings for a temperature sensitive mechanism that likely contributed to the rather unique ability of Drosophila melanogaster to successfully colonize temperate regions on a global scale. It also furnishes an interesting historical insight into how ancestral genetics serendipitously held the keys to the journey of D. melanogaster becoming such a popular research organism. While numerous papers have been published detailing different aspects of the work, this is the first comprehensive review. Herein, I discuss the discovery of a small thermosensitive intron in D. melanogaster (termed dmpi8) that controls midday siesta levels. Like many day-active animals, Drosophila exhibits a robust genetically based midday siesta that is protective in warm climates. Yet long bouts of daytime inactivity might be counterproductive in temperate climates, especially since daylength in these regions is shorter during the cooler months. Evidence discussed in this review strongly indicates that targeting of dmpi8 splicing efficiency by natural selection enhanced the ability of D. melanogaster to scale daytime sleep levels commensurate with a wide range of local climates. Surprisingly, dmpi8 splicing regulates midday siesta levels in trans by controlling the expression of a nearby anti-siesta gene called daywake. The “fortuitous” genetic arrangement of a thermosensitive intron in proximity to an anti-siesta gene might have contributed to the cosmopolitan nature of D. melanogaster and its historical journey in becoming a popular research organism.
Influences on cycling to school among teenagers: An investigation using the theory of planned behaviour and the prototype willingness model in Christchurch, New Zealand

In New Zealand few teenagers cycle to school and the percentage of teenagers cycling to school has dropped greatly since the 1990s. This research investigates why more teenagers do not cycle to school in Christchurch, New Zealand. Specifically it aims to identify: 1) the nature of teenagers’cycling behaviour in Christchurch; 2) the key barriers to teenagers cycling to school; and 3) whether theories of behaviour change are useful in predicting cycling to school by teenagers. The research uses the results of interviews with staff, and focus groups and surveys with students at seven high schools in Christchurch, New Zealand. Focus groups with students at a British international high school in Voorschoten in the Hague Region of the Netherlands also enabled comparison of whether teenagers who had grown up in places where few teenagers cycled to school (such as the UK) were influenced by different factors when they moved to places like the Netherlands where almost everyone cycles. Perceived social pressure by friends had the greatest influence over whether or not students intended to cycle to school, closely followed by perceived social pressure by parents. Both of these factors are classified in the literature as ‘subjective norms’. Analysis also showed additional factors concerning the individual and the behavioural setting also influenced teenagers’ decisions to cycle to school. The comparative study showed students who had grown up in places where few people cycled changed their behaviour and cycled to school when they moved to places where lots of people cycled, due to the influence of norms. Teenagers who cycled the least were girls, older students and students from lower socioeconomic areas. Therefore, to be effective, any programmes to increase cycling to school would need to be targeted in recognition of the differences between these groups. After all, a thirteen year-old teenage boy is quite different to an eighteen year-old girl. To increase the number of teenagers cycling to school in Christchurch, the most important thing required is change to societal attitudes and norms in favour of cycling. In addition, a range of practical initiatives such as improved infrastructure and cycle skills programmes are recommended. Overall what is required is change at multiple levels, targeting individuals, social environments, physical environments, and policies. Change will never be achieved by tinkering around the edges.
Summertime Airborne Measurements of Ammonia Emissions From Cattle Feedlots and Dairies in Northeastern Colorado

Phase One of the Transportation and Transformation of Ammonia (TRANS2Am) field campaign took place in northeastern Colorado during the summer of 2021. One of the goals of TRANS2Am was to measure ammonia (NH3) emissions from cattle feedlots and dairies. Most of these animal husbandry facilities are co‐located within oil and gas development, an important source of methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6) in the region. Phase One of TRANS2Am included 12 near‐source research flights. We present estimates of NH3 emissions ratios with respect to CH4 (NH3 EmR), with and without correction of CH4 from oil and gas, for 29 feedlots and dairies in the region. The data shows larger emissions ratios than previously reported in the literature with a large range of values (i.e., 0.1–2.6 ppbv ppbv−1). Facilities housing cattle and dairy had a mean (std) of 1.20 (0.63) and 0.29 (0.08) ppbv ppbv−1, respectively. We also found that only 15% of the total ammonia (NHx) is in the particle phase (i.e., NH4+ ${\text{NH}}_{4}^{+}$ ) near major sources during the warm summertime months. We examined the evolution of NH3 in one plume that was sampled at different distances and altitudes up to 25 km downwind and estimated the NH3 lifetime against deposition and partitioning to the particle phase to be 87–120 min. Finally, we calculated estimates of NH3 emission rates from four optimally sampled facilities. These ranged from 4 to 29 g NH3 · h−1 · hd−1.