Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distance and Local Competition in Mobile Geofencing

The growing ubiquity of GPS-enabled smartphones has ushered in a new era of location-based services and online-to-offline commerce. Geofencing is one instance of this broader phenomenon, and it is being widely adopted in the context of retail, restaurant, entertainment, and other local services. By targeting users on mobile apps while they are in the vicinity of physical establishments, there is potential for higher levels of engagement and consumption of the products or services on offer. However, the level of consumer interest is likely to depend on distance from the establishment and local competition in the surrounding areas. This study examines the impact of these two factors on consumer response to geofence advertising at different points in the purchase funnel, namely the click stage and conversion phase. Analyzing a rich data set from one of the leading location-based marketing agencies and using a sophisticated Bayesian empirical methodology, we find that having one more competitor in the consumer’s vicinity reduces click-through rate by about 1%, and a 1-mile increase in distance is associated with a 17.6% reduction in conversion rate. These and other results suggest that accounting for distance and local competition in data-analytic mobile targeting would increase both the return on advertising spend and consumer welfare.
Contribution of anthropogenic land cover change emissions to pre-industrial atmospheric CO2

Based on a recent reconstruction of anthropogenic land cover change (ALCC), we derive the associated CO2 emissions since 800ADby two independent methods: a bookkeeping approach and a process model. The results are comparedwith the pre-industrial development of atmospheric CO2 known from antarctic ice cores. Our results show that pre-industrial CO2 emissions from ALCC have been relevant for the pre-industrial carbon cycle, although before 1750 AD their trace in atmospheric CO2 is obscured by other processes of similar magnitude. After 1750 AD, the situation is different: the steep increase in atmospheric CO2 until 1850 AD—this is before fossil fuel emissions rose to significant values—is to a substantial part explained by growing emissions from ALCC.
A COMPARISON OF EXTRACTANTS FOR HEAVY METALS IN CONTAMINATED SOILS FROM SPAIN

Many soils in industrialized countries are affected by acid deposition, mine waste disposal and organic refuse including sewage sludge that are sources of pollutants and especially heavy metals. In Spain, the measurement of heavy metals in soils has encountered problems with the standardization of extraction procedures due to the wide diversity of soils, the low concentrations of these elements, and the lack of appropriate analytical instruments. In this research, the extractability of Cd, Ni, Pb, Co and Cr from eight contaminated soils from Spain was evaluated using ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, strontium chloride and DTPA extractants. Earlier workers who assessed plant available metals have used these procedures for soils from other countries. Each extraction procedure was performed in triplicate in 50 mL polycarbonate centrifuge tubes. All the extracts were centrifuged for 10 min at 3000 rpm, and the supernatant filtered into volumetric flasks containing 10 μg In/Rh L−1. All the extracts and standard solutions were acidified to 1% HNO3. The amounts of metal extracted were related to total metal contents, determined following microwave digestion using HNO3. Quantification of dissolved metals was by ICP-MS using matrix-matched standards. Results showed a high variability of metal extraction depending on extraction procedure, source of pollution, and nature of the soil. We found that the extractability for calcareous soils was best determined by DTPA. In a comparison of chloride salts, we found a higher efficiency of extraction with ammonium chloride for almost all the soils and heavy metals analyzed.
A shock tube study of pyrolysis of tetrahydrothiophene at elevated temperatures

A single pulse shock tube has been used to study the pyrolysis of a hydrogenated sulphur compound, tetrahydrothiophene over the temperature range 1686–1885 K and pressures between 2.4 and 3.5 bars. Product yield and composition was determined using capillary column gas‐chromatography with flame ionization detection and flame photometric sulphur selective detection. The principal hydrocarbon products at all temperatures were C2H4 and C2H2. Other hydrocarbon reaction products were CH4, C2H6, C3H4, C3H6, C4H3, C4H6, C4H10, C4H4, C6H6, C4H2 and some traces of C5 and C6H5 species. The sulphur compounds identified were hydrogen sulphide, carbon disulphide, thiophene and traces of ethyl mercapton. The pyrolysis experiments indicated that at lower temperatures the hydrogenated thiophene molecule reacts in two unimolecular channels to form C2H4+(CH2)2–S in the major faster channel which may be the route for other products. However, a second lower route may be the formation of C3H6+CH2S. The rate constant obtained for tetrahydrothiophene pyrolysis calculated for this study was kdis(C4H8S)=1.26×1013 exp (316.9 kJ mol−1) s−1. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High-pressure phase transition in CaTiOSiO4 titanite

Abstract The P21/a to A2/a transition in titanite has been studied at high pressure (and room temperature) by X-ray powder diffraction. On the basis of the disappearance of k + l= odd reflections from the diffraction pattern, the transition was located between 3·351(3) and 3·587(3) GPa. The variation with pressure of the spontaneous strain in the P21/a phase indicates that the transition has an effective critical exponent significantly less than 1/2. Within the uncertainties of the data, the transition could be weakly first-order in character or be continuous with an effective critical exponent in the range of ∼0·13-0·25. The A2/a to P21/a transition is accompanied by a significant expansion of the a-axis as a result of the bond-valence sum requirements of the Ti atoms: in the high-pressure phase they occupy the centres of the TiO6 octahedra, but they are displaced along the a-axis in the P21/a phase to form alternating short and long Ti-O bonds.
The Impact of COVID-19 Management Policies Tailored to Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: Policy Analysis

BACKGROUND: Daily new COVID-19 cases from January to April 2020 demonstrate varying patterns of SARS-CoV-2 transmission across different geographical regions. Constant infection rates were observed in some countries, whereas China and South Korea had a very low number of daily new cases. In fact, China and South Korea successfully and quickly flattened their COVID-19 curve. To understand why this was the case, this paper investigated possible aerosol-forming patterns in the atmosphere and their relationship to the policy measures adopted by select countries. OBJECTIVE: The main research objective was to compare the outcomes of policies adopted by countries between January and April 2020. Policies included physical distancing measures that in some cases were associated with mask use and city disinfection. We investigated whether the type of social distancing framework adopted by some countries (ie, without mask use and city disinfection) led to the continual dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 (daily new cases) in the community during the study period. METHODS: We examined the policies used as a preventive framework for virus community transmission in some countries and compared them to the policies adopted by China and South Korea. Countries that used a policy of social distancing by 1-2 m were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of countries that implemented social distancing (1-2 m) only, and the second comprised China and South Korea, which implemented distancing with additional transmission/isolation measures using masks and city disinfection. Global daily case maps from Johns Hopkins University were used to provide time-series data for the analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that virus transmission was reduced due to policies affecting SARS-CoV-2 propagation over time. Remarkably, China and South Korea obtained substantially better results than other countries at the beginning of the epidemic due to their adoption of social distancing (1-2 m) with the additional use of masks and sanitization (city disinfection). These measures proved to be effective due to the atmosphere carrier potential of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm that social distancing by 1-2 m with mask use and city disinfection yields positive outcomes. These strategies should be incorporated into prevention and control policies and be adopted both globally and by individuals as a method to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Long-Run Persistence of Dividend Policy

Dividend policy is not set de novo each year, but dividends are smoothed from one year to another. This smoothing leads to a short-term persistence in dividend policy. In this paper, we investigate the persistence of a dividend policy in the long run by using a unique sample of firms listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange (BSE) since 1824. The imprinting theory argues that firms develop certain persistent characteristics at important moments in their life cycle. Our investigation provides evidence that the initial dividend policy, measured at a firm’s first listing, has an effect on the future dividend policy. This effect persists for many years but decreases over the firm’s life cycle. However, a new stable slowly changing persistent component in dividend policy is formed.
Viscosity of pure hydrocarbons

Accurate viscosity measurements have been performed on eight pure hydrocarbons at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range 20-150/sup 0/C, or up to approximately 20/sup 0/C below the boiling point of the hydrocarbon, by use of an absolute oscillating viscometer. The hydrocarbons are cyclohexane and benzene and the n-alkanes of hexane, heptane, octane, decane, dodecane, and tetradecane. The viscosities are described with a modified Arrhenius equation, and the deviation in fit is 0.12% or less. The accuracy is estimated to be 0.33-0.56%. The lowest viscosities are assumed to have the highest deviation. Literature data reported by Dymond and Young normally fit our viscosities within our estimated accuracy. Other literature viscosities tend to be higher than our results, especially for the n-alkanes.
The Role of Nutrient Efficient Plants in Improving Crop Yields in the Twenty First Century

ABSTRACT In the 21st century, nutrient efficient plants will play a major role in increasing crop yields compared to the 20th century, mainly due to limited land and water resources available for crop production, higher cost of inorganic fertilizer inputs, declining trends in crop yields globally, and increasing environmental concerns. Furthermore, at least 60% of the world's arable lands have mineral deficiencies or elemental toxicity problems, and on such soils fertilizers and lime amendments are essential for achieving improved crop yields. Fertilizer inputs are increasing cost of production of farmers, and there is a major concern for environmental pollution due to excess fertilizer inputs. Higher demands for food and fiber by increasing world populations further enhance the importance of nutrient efficient cultivars that are also higher producers. Nutrient efficient plants are defined as those plants, which produce higher yields per unit of nutrient, applied or absorbed than other plants (standards) under similar agroecological conditions. During the last three decades, much research has been conducted to identify and/or breed nutrient efficient plant species or genotypes/cultivars within species and to further understand the mechanisms of nutrient efficiency in crop plants. However, success in releasing nutrient efficient cultivars has been limited. The main reasons for limited success are that the genetics of plant responses to nutrients and plant interactions with environmental variables are not well understood. Complexity of genes involved in nutrient use efficiency for macro and micronutrients and limited collaborative efforts between breeders, soil scientists, physiologists, and agronomists to evaluate nutrient efficiency issues on a holistic basis have hampered progress in this area. Hence, during the 21st century agricultural scientists have tremendous challenges, as well as opportunities, to develop nutrient efficient crop plants and to develop best management practices that increase the plant efficiency for utilization of applied fertilizers. During the 20th century, breeding for nutritional traits has been proposed as a strategy to improve the efficiency of fertilizer use or to obtain higher yields in low input agricultural systems. This strategy should continue to receive top priority during the 21st century for developing nutrient efficient crop genotypes. This paper over views the importance of nutrient efficient plants in increasing crop yields in modern agriculture. Further, definitions and available methods of calculating nutrient use efficiency, mechanisms for nutrient uptake and use efficiency, role of crops in nutrient use efficiency under biotic and abiotic stresses and breeding strategies to improve nutrient use efficiency in crop plants have been discussed.
Effect of High Pressure on the Lattice Parameters of Cr2O3 and α‐Fe2O3

The effect of pressure to several hundred kilobars has been measured on Cr2O3 and α‐Fe2O3. Both have the corundum structure. Results are compared with previously published data for Al2O3.Cr2O3 exhibits a compressibility which decreases markedly with increasing pressure; Al2O3 has a compressibility nearly independent of pressure; the compressibility of α‐Fe2O3 actually increases with pressure in the low‐pressure region. This is probably associated with the unusual behavior observed in Mossbauer studies.Based on hexagonal indexing, Al2O3 shows the smallest change in aH and the largest change in CH. Cr2O3 is at the opposite extreme with α‐Fe2O3 in between. In rhombohedral indexing, Al2O3 exhibits the largest change in aR and Cr2O3 the smallest. Al2O3 shows an increase of ½ deg in α, Cr2O3 a decrease of about 1 deg, while for Fe2O3 α is nearly independent of volume.
Max Headroom: Discretionary Capital Buffers and Bank Risk

This paper examines the association between discretionary capital buffers, capital requirements, and risk for European banks. The discretionary buffers are banks' own buffers, or headroom: the difference between reported and required capital. I exploit capital requirements data that banks started to disclose since the release of a 2015 European Banking Authority opinion. Results using detailed SREP and Pillar 2 data of the largest 99 European banks over 2013-2019 show that less headroom is associated with increased bank risk. An additional examination reveals a positive association between headroom and stress test results for banks subjected to the Single Supervisory Mechanism, a result that runs against supervisory requirements.
Phosphorus‐containing terephthaldialdehyde adducts—Structure determination and their application as flame retardants in epoxy resins

Two novel phosphorus-rich prepolymers based on epoxy novolac and terephthaldialdehyde and potential flame retardants, 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and 2,8-dimethyl-phenoxaphosphin-10-oxide (DPPO) were synthesised. The resultant flame-retardant epoxy resins were cured with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and 4,4′-diamino-dicyclohexylmethane (PACM). Their flammability and burning behavior were characterised by UL 94 and LOI and compared with analogue prepolymers based on diethylphosphite (DEPP). The glass transition temperatures were determined by DSC measurements. Furthermore, the structures of two exemplary molecules based on p-tolylaldehyde adducts were examined by XRD and NMR analysis to determine the possibilities of linking the two novel DOPO and DPPO derivatives to the backbone of the epoxy resin. Additionally, the char yields were determined by TG analysis and thermal desorption mass spectroscopy of the thermosets used and compared with each other to obtain more information about the possible mode of flame-retardant action of the different phosphorus compounds. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Radiosurgical Management of Brainstem Metastasis

Brainstem metastases account only for 3% to 5% of all intracranial metastasis. However, brainstem metastases undoubtedly represent a significant source of severe morbidity and mortality in affected patients with estimated average survival duration of only less than 6 months. Surgical resection is not suitable for most brainstem metastases due to the vital architectural structure of the brainstem. What’s more, most conventional chemotherapeutics and targeted agents are ineffective on account of their low blood-brain-barrier penetration capacities. Accordingly, palliative short-course wholebrain radiotherapy stays to be the present standard of care for brainstem metastases. Nonetheless, the limited efficacy of WBRT and related neurocognitive toxicity concerns prompted eagerness on the utilization of stereotactic radiosurgery for brainstem metastases in like manner the cerebral and cerebellar metastases. In a shortage of reliable large series outcomes, the present review article Review Article Topkan et al.; IRJO, 3(1): 37-46, 2020; Article no.IRJO. 56599 38 meant to succinctly summarize the current stereotactic radiosurgery evidence on brainstem metastases with an explicit accentuation on the feasibility and efficacy of this novel sophisticated radiotherapy technique in such patients’ groups of bleak prognoses.
Investigation of Porous Structures Using Mercury Reintrusion and Retention

Abstract Factors causing errors in the evaluation of mercury porosimetry measurements are surveyed to show how the customarily calculated pore dimensions may give rise to a false impression of the pore structure. It is suggested that reintrusion curves be measured. From these measurements the net reintrusion and retention volume-pressure dependences can be evaluated and the pores can be separated into two groups, one with reversible and one with irreversible retention of mercury. A cylindrical model of a pore divided into three parts by constrictions and a model with a conical termination are used to demonstrate the procedure, which makes it possible to estimate the type of pore and the cause of the mercury retention, as well as revealing pore structure damage caused by the mercury intrusion. Samples of two porous materials, silica gel and lignite, which differ in particle size, porosity, and relative retention, are investigated using the suggested method.
PENGGUNAAN VIDEO UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN BERBICARA DALAM BAHASA INGGRIS MAHASISWA BIDANG STUDI KEPERAWATAN

Abstrak: Mengajar bahasa Inggris untuk tujuan khusus (English for Specific Purposes/ESP) berbeda dengan mengajar bahasa Inggris untuk tujuan umum atau akademik, dan biasanya diterapkan pada mahasiswa pendidikan vokasi, salah satunya adalah pada mahasiswa keperawatan. Bahasa Inggris ESP memiliki tantangan tersendiri dalam hal pengembangan keterampilan bahasa terutama dalam pengembangan keterampilan berbicara yang akan menjadi sangat penting ketika harus diaplikasikan dan disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan komunikasi perawat di dunia kerja. Untuk mencapai tujuan penguasaan keterampilan ini, penggunaan teknologi dalam pembelajaran bisa menjadi salah satu alternative. Salagh satunya adalah penggunaan video untuk media pembelajaran yang dipandang efektif dalam meningkatkan keterampilan berbicara. Penggunaan video sebagai media pembelajaran dapat meningkatkan keterlibatan peserta didik dalam proses pembelajaran sehingga dapat meningkatkan efektifitas proses belajar mengajar. Berdasarkan uraian latar belakang tersebut, artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji beberapa strategi bagaimana video bisa digunakan untuk meningkatkan keterampilan berbicara mahasiswa keperawatan dalam bahasa Inggris Kata Kunci: ESP, Keterampilan Berbicara, Media Pembelajaran, Video
Time-resolved structural analysis of K- and Ba-exchange reactions with synthetic Na-birnessite using synchrotron X-ray diffraction

Abstract Time-resolved Rietveld refinements using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) have documented real-time changes in unit-cell parameters in response to cation substitution in synthetic Na-birnessite. Potassium- and Ba-birnessite, like Na-birnessite, were found to have triclinic symmetry. Rietveld analyses of the XRD patterns for K- and Ba-exchanged birnessite revealed decreases in the a, c, and β unit-cell parameters, with a decrease of 1.7 and 0.5%, respectively, in unit-cell volume relative to Na-birnessite. Fourier electron difference syntheses revealed that the changes in the configuration of the interlayer species, and the charge, size, and hydration of the substituting cations, serve as the primary controls on changes in unit-cell parameters. Split electron density maxima with centers at (0 0 0.5) were present for Na, K, and Ba end-members; however, with increased substitution of K+ for Na+, the axis connecting the split-site maxima rotated from an orientation parallel to the b-axis to along the a-axis. Substitution of Ba2+ for Na+ did not result in rotation, but splitting of the interlayer site was more pronounced.
Targeting the Poor of the Sitios through Adopt-A Barangay: Basis for University Extension Programs

San Juan is the poorest barangay in Malvar, Batangas, Philippines for having the highest number of households with income below poverty threshold. San Juan also has the most number of households with income below food threshold (CBMS 2012). For these reasons, San Juan was chosen for the Adopt-A Barangay project of BatStateU-Malvar. The 100 respondents are composed of female adult (67%), youth (15%), male adult (11%) and senior citizen (7%). They were mostly concentrated in the two sitios of Hiyaw and Balayan. Results of the survey confirmed the Community Based Monitor System (CBMS) report particularly on education and livelihood. Most of the respondents are elementary graduates with children in the elementary level. Most of them also are farmers and vendors with no other income and no other skills. However, most of them also do not have idea of what skill to have and training to attend to improve their current situation. Two important issues emerged as basis for intervention of the university. First is the provision of education for out-of school youth (OSY) to finish high school or of technicalvocational training to acquire competency needed by the industry. Second is the provision of livelihood trainings for female adults to start a business even at home. Original Research Article Mojares et al.; AJL2C, 3(3): 1-18, 2020; Article no.AJL2C. 56441 2
Obstacles and Barriers Facing Adopting Electronic Inventory Control Systems in Four-star Hotels in Cairo

This paper aims to determine the obstacles and challenges facing adopting electronic inventory control systems in four-star hotels in Cairo. This study is based on a quantitative research approach. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the 150 questionnaire forms were distributed to stores department staff (stores manager, assistant stores manager, store keeper, assistant store keeper, and inventory controller) in 30 four-star hotels located in Greater Cairo. The number of valid questionnaires for analysis is 136 with a response rate (90.6%). The data analysis was conducted through the statistical package of social sciences SPSS (version 26.00). The current study found that there are some obstacles that prevent and reduce the optimal level of adopting the electronic inventory control systems in stores departments in four-star hotels in Cairo, despite the importance of such electronic systems in inventory monitoring. The obstacles facing stores departments included technical, organizational, financial, and security obstacles. This is confirmed by the study urging more considerable attention to this aspect and by trying to overcome these obstacles.