Exchange Activity Research Articles

Assessing the groundwater quality in Ghana's Nanton District: comprehensive evaluation and implications for sustainable management

Abstract This study, conducted in the Nanton District of Northern Ghana, assesses groundwater quality for drinking purposes and examines hydrochemical processes. We collected and analyzed 30 groundwater samples, evaluating their physicochemical properties, microbial content, microbial and physicochemical relationship, and hydrochemistry. Utilizing methods such as the weighted arithmetic water quality index (WQI), Gibbs and Piper diagrams, Stiff plots, scatter plots, and correlation matrices, we aimed to comprehensively understand groundwater quality in the district. Physicochemically, our findings indicate that approximately 83.3% of the groundwater is safe for direct consumption without treatment. However, microbial contamination was prevalent in all samples, rendering them unsafe. Parameters such as iron, manganese, color, turbidity, nitrates, sulfate, and pH were identified as potential influencers of microbial survival in the groundwater. Regarding major ions, sodium (Na+) dominated among cations, while bicarbonate (HCO3-) was the primary anion. Water types were categorized as Na-K-HCO3−, Na-K-Cl-SO42−, Ca-Mg-HCO3−, and mixed water, reflecting the hydrochemical composition. Our analysis revealed that rock weathering, evaporation, ion exchange, and human activities influence groundwater chemistry. We recommend further research to assess groundwater availability for sustainable development in the district. Additionally, continued research is encouraged to enhance our understanding of the correlation between coliform bacteria and physicochemical water parameters.

Robust fragment-based method of calculating hydrogen atom transfer activation barrier in complex molecules.

Dynamic processes driven by non-covalent interactions (NCI), such as conformational exchange, molecular binding, and solvation, can strongly influence the rate constants of reactions with low activation barriers, especially at low temperatures. Examples of this may include hydrogen-atom-transfer (HAT) reactions involved in the oxidative stress of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Here, we develop an automated workflow to generate HAT transition-state (TS) geometries for complex and flexible APIs and then systematically evaluate the influences of NCI on the free activation energies, based on the multi-conformational transition-state theory (MC-TST) within the framework of a multi-step reaction path. The two APIs studied: fesoterodine and imipramine, display considerable conformational complexity and have multiple ways of forming hydrogen bonds with the abstracting radical-a hydroxymethyl peroxyl radical. Our results underscore the significance of considering conformational exchange and multiple activation pathways in activation calculations. We also show that structural elements and NCIs outside the reaction site minimally influence TS core geometry and covalent activation barrier, although they more strongly affect reactant binding and consequently the overall activation barrier. We further propose a robust and economical fragment-based method to obtain overall activation barriers, by combining the covalent activation barrier calculated for a small molecular fragment with the binding free energy calculated for the whole molecule.

Trocas gasosas ao longo do dia de plantas de soja submetidas ao encharcamento do solo e restrição luminosa

ABSTRACT: Aerobic respiration declines in the root tissue of soybean plants exposed to waterlogged soil with a low oxygen content, causing metabolic disorders that negatively affect gas exchange and photosynthetic activity, hampering growth and production. As such, this study to investigated daytime gas exchange, relative chlorophyll content, specific leaf area (SLA) and photosynthetic activity curves in response to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in soybean plants grown under different conditions: no stress (control), shading, waterlogged soil, and waterlogged soil + shading. Soybean plants exposed to either waterlogging or shading and both conditions simultaneously exhibited reduced photosynthesis linked to lower stomatal opening. Plants submitted to shading showed an increase in SLA, quantum yield and photosynthetic rates, while those grown in waterlogged soil, in full sun, exhibited chlorotic leaves and low apparent quantum yield, resulting in low photosynthetic rates under shading and high light levels. Thus, waterlogging and shading in isolation or combined, compromise daytime gas exchange and alter photosynthetic activity in plants.

Consistent interpretation of isotope and chemical oxygen exchange relaxation kinetics in SrFe0.85Mo0.15O3-δ ferrite.

This paper is devoted to the study of phase composition and kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of Mo-doped strontium ferrite SrFe0.85Mo0.15O3-δ (SFM15) under oxygen-conducting membrane working conditions. Single-phase SFM15 with a cubic Pm3̄m structure was synthesized using a ceramic method. It was shown that the molybdenum introduction stabilizes the perovskite cubic structure over a wide range of oxygen pressures and temperatures, preventing the bulk phase transition at high temperatures. Oxygen exchange constants, diffusion coefficients and activation energy of oxygen exchange were obtained using oxygen relaxation and isotopic exchange techniques, and the obtained values are consistent with known literature data. It was shown that the surface reaction rates obtained using chemical and tracer relaxation methods are quantitatively comparable with each other, despite significantly different experimental conditions. This result not only confirms the reliability of the data obtained by independent methods, but also allows one to expand the area of physical conditions for studying the kinetics of oxygen transfer where another method has technical or methodological limitations.

The Role of Animation Technology in Fostering Multicultural Understanding Between Malaysia and China

Contemporary society is globalised and has entered the Information Era. The Alpha Generation is proficient in technology. Over the past few decades, numerous multicultural communication initiatives have occurred in Malaysia and China, with Chinese animation technology playing significant roles. Despite advancements in its animation technologies, China continues to encounter obstacles in intercultural communication initiatives in Malaysia and China. This research is to investigate the commercial potential of Chinese animation for facilitating multicultural exchange activities in Malaysia and to examine ways for developing Chinese animation to capture market share in Malaysia through these activities. This research utilised qualitative methodologies, including interviews, observations, and desk research based on secondary data. Fifteen individuals (seven Chinese and nine Malaysian) were randomly recruited online and completed the online survey. The gathered data underwent content analysis. The interviews with participants from both countries revealed that hand-drawn animation, conventional animation, digital animation technologies (both 2D and 3D), and VR/AR technology were utilised in the post-2010 multicultural events in Malaysia and China. Nevertheless, creative animation approaches encountered obstacles, including the acceptance of local MarketWatch of professional competence, misconceptions arising from multiculturalism, and difficulties stemming from technical proficiency and resource constraints. Initiatives must be undertaken to enhance the training of animation professionals and incorporate emerging technology, including artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques. Globalisation, the new generation, and emerging technologies have influenced innovative animation techniques in multicultural exchange initiatives. This research holds substantial practical importance. This will benefit policymakers, practitioners, and animation designers

A structure–dynamics relationship enables prediction of the water hydrogen bond exchange activation energy from experimental data

Relationships between water dynamics and structure are exploited to determine the hydrogen-bond exchange activation energy from experimental data.

World financial centers: features of functioning

The article is devoted to the study of the essence, types, and stages of development of world financial centers. The work states that the globalization of the financial sphere, which is expressed in the growth of the transfer of assets, internationalization of systems, liberalization and convergence of markets, leads to the formation of a single world financial market, where international financial centers play a key role. Since the end of the 20th century, world financial centers have become an integral part of the global financial market, where surplus capital from countries where its over-accumulation led to a decrease in profits was exported. World financial centers are not just a cluster of financial institutions, but also a dynamic system where all participants constantly and actively interact with each other. The work analyzed the approaches of scientists to the definition of the concept of «world financial center» and summarized these approaches into one definition. The world financial center is where financial institutions are concentrated, contributing to the attraction and redistribution of financial resources. It was revealed that in order to form a world banking center, a country must have a stable currency and economic situation, a developed credit system, well-organized stock exchange activity, moderate taxation, a convenient geographical location, relative stability of the political regime, the presence of standardization and a high degree of information technology without paper transactions. Three key areas that determine the success of global financial centers in competition are singled out: image and communication capabilities, a wide range of financial services and professionalism. Three stages of the development of global financial centers are distinguished – the development of the local market, the transformation of the local market into a regional financial center and the formation of an international financial center. The five largest world financial centers are characterized and their features are highlighted. The methodological basis of the research is general scientific methods of scientific knowledge: analysis and synthesis, generalization, and comparison. The informational basis of the article is the publications of domestic and foreign economists.

THE CURRENT STATUS AND SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION SKILLS AT TAN TRAO UNIVERSITY

In the context of international integration, improving English listening and comprehension skills among students at Tan Trao University is an urgent requirement. However, surveys indicate that many students still struggle to understand lectures, discussions, and specialized materials in English. The main causes include: (1) lack of opportunities to use English in daily communication; (2) outdated teaching and learning methods that focus excessively on grammar and vocabulary rather than listening and comprehension skills; and (3) limited facilities and resources to support English language learning. To address this situation, the university needs to implement a comprehensive set of solutions, including: (1) enhancing international exchange activities to provide students more opportunities to practice English; (2) reforming teaching methods with a greater emphasis on listening and speaking skills through topic-based listening and discussion activities; and (3) investing in modern facilities such as language labs and specialized English libraries. With these synergistic solutions, Tan Trao University can significantly elevate students' English listening and comprehension abilities to meet the demands of future global integration.

Биржи в структуре энергетического рынка: новый взгляд

The paper offers a systematized and updated view of exchange-traded energy products. The increase in natural gas and electricity trade volumes at commodity exchanges has dramatically changed the wholesale market structure in Europe. Nowadays commodity exchanges have played an essential role in energy trading. The complexity of exchange technologies and the reasons for their demand are often hidden under everyday exchange routine. Academic analysis of exchange activity has traditionally been feebly developed, because, firstly, classical economics assumes that finding of equilibrium between supply and demand is an instantaneous and cost-free process. Markets were mainly described as simple market exchanges where faceless buyers and sellers meet for an instant to exchange standardized goods at equilibrium prices. Secondly, energy exchanges are relatively new phenomenon. The justification of exchange trading became possible as a result of new institutional economics (NIE) and transaction cost theory (TCT) findings. Under conditions of positive transaction costs, incomplete foresight and bounded rationality – the conditions of the New Institutional Economics (NIE) – the institutional framework not only of firms but also of markets matters. Also, within this institutional framework the concept of “governance structure” was introduced. A high-performance system shall align transactions with governance structures in relation to their adaptive needs. Governance structures are properly regarded as part of the optimization problem. A shift from one structure to another may permit a simultaneous reduction in both the expense of writing a complex contract and the expense of executing it effectively in an adaptive, sequential way. The founders of NIE and TCT, having been investigating the stock and commodity exchanges, approached them as a measure of transaction costs for other-the-counter trades. However, they did not include exchange trading into classification of governance structures. As far as is known, it has not been described in this way in terms of NIE and TCT to date. Natural gas and electricity markets is a good examples of network industries, which are an appropriate case of institutional flexibility regarding the alignment between transactions and governance structures. “Liberalised” network industries needed and still need an “intense” design and re-design to be able to host any kind of markets and to interact with. Organized markets, energy exchanges have developed a required bridge between leaving long-term contracts and price promulgation. The hypothesis of energy exchange classification as a special type of governance structure, in the meaning of NIE and TCT, for network industries is discussed in this article.

Research on basketball training health smart monitoring system based on picture sequence analysis

Abstract At present, exercises have become a frequent international competitive exchange activity. To some extent, a country's exercise level also measures the country's comprehensive economic strength. The holding of various international and domestic exercise events directly leads to the explosive increase of exercise videos digital. Therefore, efficient exercise video analysis is necessary. With the expansion of multimedia techniques and the emergence of message highways, the storage and transmission of digital video is no longer a difficult thing. The holding of different exercise events directly leads to the explosive increase of exercise videos. Therefore, efficient exercise video analysis is very necessary. Computer techniques have injected new vitality into most industries, but their expansion in the exercise industry is relatively slow. The means used in this paper is picture sequence analysis. The basic operation of sequence picture analysis is to detect motion messages or aims from picture sequences. It is a very active branch of picture courseing and computer sight. Because it has been widely used in many aspects of national eco and military, its research has attracted the general concentration of scientists all over the world.

17세기 한·중 서예문화 교류 연구 - 사행을 중심으로

This study examines the content and significance of cultural exchanges in calligraphy between the Joseon Dynasty in the 17th century and the Ming and Qing dynasties, focusing on Envoys. Through a review of the exchange content, four forms were identified: ‘exchange of literati networks’, ‘exchange of calligraphy works’, ‘appreciation of calligraphy works’, and ‘sale of calligraphy works.’ Based on these exchange activities, three significances were derived: ‘relevance to external relations’, ‘external status of Joseon's calligraphy culture’, and ‘influence on Joseon's calligraphy culture.’ Joseon engaged in calligraphy cultural exchanges with the Ming and Qing through Envoys, and the influx of new calligraphy materials had both significant and subtle impacts on the flow of Joseon's calligraphy culture. Furthermore, it is noted that the materials related to these exchanges have not been systematically organized. For these reasons, ongoing research is deemed necessary to elucidate the content and significance of calligraphy exchanges.

The KAGEDU : Its History, Structure, and Domestic and International Academic Exchange Activities

This paper first examines the history and development of the Korean Association of General Education (hereafter KAGEDU, 2006), which represents the Korean liberal/general education community, in the context of its close relationship with the Korean Council for University General Education (hereafter KCUGE, 2001) and the Korea National Institute for General Education (hereafter KONIGE, 2011). It then examines in detail the number and characteristics of the KAGEDU's members as well as its constituent organizations, operating principles, and the interrelationships among them. Next, this paper finds that the KAGEDU’s <i>The Korean Journal of General Education</i> (hereafter KJrGE, 2007), a first-class academic journal recognized by the NRF (National Research Foundation) of Korea, is a unique national academic journal in Korea that encompasses all aspects of liberal/general education. It is an outstanding leader in terms of publication frequency, number of published articles, and influence index, dominating its field. As a result, the Journal serves as the best public platform for liberal/general education in Korea. This paper also deals with the main features of the KAGEDU's domestic academic activities (Spring and Fall National Conferences, LACs, Seminar 21, Publication of ‘Collected Works of Liberal Education Classics,’ and Selection of Excellent Books) and its activities for international academic exchange (holding international forums and conferences, Blue Waves Lectures, and Libeducols). In particular, it explains that the KAGEDU initiated the establishment of the Asian Liberal Education Network (ALEN) and the holding of the first Asian Liberal Education Conference (ALEC) in late 2023. According to this paper, the two academic events symbolize a very significant outcome of the joint Asian international academic exchange efforts that the KAGEDU, as the hub for liberal education in East Asia, has been leading since 2018. Finally, this article examines the challenges facing the KAGEDU in terms of the ambivalent effects of its relationship with the KCUGE and the KONIGE, its financial independence, modernization of its administration, its under-researched areas, and its need to nurture the next younger generation of scholars. Then, it proposes measures to promote international academic exchange including the establishment of a common Asian liberal education university/college.

Factors of Preferences for Virtual and Physical Japanese Exchange Programs

In Malaysia, Japanese exchange programs have been in place for decades. Both countries have enjoyed continuous knowledge and cultural exchange throughout the years. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has temporarily halted the exchange activities. In this period, virtual exchange has started to gain the attention of academia. Despite current situation continues to improve and travel restriction has been largely lifted, virtual exchange continues to co-exist with physical exchange program. Hence, it is vital to understand the level of interest towards both physical and virtual exchange programs among the Malaysian academia so future exchange program can be further refined in the post COVID-19 era. Analysis was conducted by using the Partial Least Squares. The findings demonstrated that participants who express a strong preference for Physical Exchange Programmes (PPE) are more likely to have a heightened Interest in Exchange Programmes (IEP). Factors such as safety measures, flexible program options, and technological advancements have played a crucial role in keeping exchange programs relevant and attractive in the post-Covid-19 world.

Plant exchange networks in the 19th century – 200 years of citizen science

Plant exchange networks in the 19th century have been investigated in a largescale study, firstly by identifying as many plant exchange organizations (PEOs) as possible and secondly by searching for exchange partners in a 19th century private herbarium from Southwest Germany, and by analysing exchange activities related to the rare central European endemic Saxifraga rosacea subsp. sponhemica (C.C.Gmel) D.A.Webb. In this paper a first overview on selected results is given: 101 PEOs – founded from 1819 to 1947 – with a total of 3000 to 5000 members have been found; they distributed 15 to 20 million specimens; 111 collectors have been identified in the exemplary private herbarium, from which specimens have been found in 27 herbaria; S. rosacea subsp. sponhemica has been collected by 242 individuals, 233 exchange partners received duplicates distributed by 12 PEOs.

Field Trip and Class Exchange Activation Method Using the Metaverse Platform

Field Trip and Class Exchange Activation Method Using the Metaverse Platform

Comparative Analysis of User Satisfaction Levels on Livin By Mandiri and BSI Mobile Applications Using the PIECES Method

In social life, transactions are inseparable from humans. In general, exchange activities, means of payment for goods, are gradually being replaced in the modern world with the presence of banks to facilitate all human transactions. The facilities provided by banks centrally are Mobile Banking (M-Banking) or banking services through digital or mobile phones that function almost like ATMs. Livin By Mandiri and BSI Mobile are among the mobile banking providers with around 62 million users. As a new thing that has just entered the country, mobile banking, especially applications launched for the needs of the community, requires satisfaction analysis. Aiming at these issues, this study examines the effectiveness and efficiency of the system from the following aspects: User interface convenience. The following research aims to analyze user satisfaction of Livin By Mandiri and BSI Mobile mobile banking applications. User satisfaction analysis is determined using qualitative research methods and PIECES or performance, information and data, economy, control and safety, efficiency, service methods. The results showed that both applications had good performance according to PIECES indicators, but in terms of information, BSI Mobile outperformed Livin By Mandiri in the category and the Livin By Mandiri application outperformed BSI Mobile in terms of efficiency. With these satisfactory results, Livin By Mandiri and BSI Mobile can be said to be very good and this value must be maintained.

To what extent do universities’ formal and informal knowledge exchange activities interact: evidence from UK HE-BCI survey

Third Mission engagement has become a necessary vehicle to transfer science and knowledge from higher education institutions (HEIs) to society. An extensive body of research has mainly focused on the determinants of research commercialization, and the consequence of knowledge exchange activities largely carried out on an individual academic level. There is a lack of theoretical and empirical evidence on the link and interaction between formal (traditionally referred to as commercialization of university research, such as patent, licensing and spin-off) and informal knowledge exchange activities (usually denoted as university community engagement activities, such as collaborative research, consultancy, facilities and equipment, continuing professional development etc.). In this article we seek to fill this gap by viewing knowledge exchange activities as an enabler and supporter of commercial activities. Against this background, we intend to provide an analysis into the relationship between informal activities and formal activities using an unbalanced panel of UK universities for the period 2005–2020. Our results reveal that while provision of continuing professional development courses, facilities and equipment, and consultancy significantly impact commercial activities such as patenting and licensing, collaborative research appears to be a strong predictor for spin-offs generation. This study offers some general implications for HEIs’ policy and Technology Transfer Offices.

Структура правових відносин пов'язаних із обігом віртуальних активів

The article discloses subjects and objects of legal relations that are related to the circulation of virtual assets on the virtual assets market of Ukraine. The relevance of the research is determined by the fact that the article analyzes the innovations of national legislation and in the context of the implementation of the basis of legal regulation of cryptocurrency exchanges as subjects of the virtual assets market. In particular, the provisions of the Law of Ukraine «On Virtual Assets» were considered as a future legal basis for the legalization of cryptocurrency exchanges and the virtual assets market as a whole. The article highlights the positive and problematic aspects of the regulation of the above-mentioned law. In particular, the presence of freedom of emission and decentralization can be attributed to the positive aspects. The absence of intermediaries in transactions leads to a decrease in costs. That is, virtual assets are available to a wide range of users and have a fairly high degree of protection. Negative points are manifested in the presence of the threat of illegal use of virtual assets for the purpose of financing terrorism, carrying out subversive activities, trading in prohibited goods and using them to launder the proceeds of crime. The purpose of the study was to consider and reveal the structure of legal relations related to the circulation of virtual assets in accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine. The following research methods were used during the research: general scientific research methods (deduction and induction, synthesis and analysis, scientific abstraction, systematic approach); special legal methods of knowledge (formally legal, comparative legal, retrospective, legal forecasting); methodological substantiation of the essence, structure and nature of the structure of legal relations in the field of circulation of virtual assets, which is the object of the study. The legal participants of the virtual assets market, the procedure for their registration, licensing of activities of service providers related to the circulation of virtual assets are characterized. Based on the analysis, it was emphasized the importance of determining the legal mechanisms of state regulation, supervision and monitoring of the activity of cryptocurrency exchanges, finalizing the provisions of the law, as well as the need for further research on this topic of the article. The conducted research summarizes the existing structure of new legal relations related to the circulation of virtual assets.

Impaired Autophagic Clearance with a Gain-of-Function Variant of the Lysosomal Cl-/H+ Exchanger ClC-7.

ClC-7 is a ubiquitously expressed voltage-gated Cl-/H+ exchanger that critically contributes to lysosomal ion homeostasis. Together with its β-subunit Ostm1, ClC-7 localizes to lysosomes and to the ruffled border of osteoclasts, where it supports the acidification of the resorption lacuna. Loss of ClC-7 or Ostm1 leads to osteopetrosis accompanied by accumulation of storage material in lysosomes and neurodegeneration. Interestingly, not all osteopetrosis-causing CLCN7 mutations from patients are associated with a loss of ion transport. Some rather result in an acceleration of voltage-dependent ClC-7 activation. Recently, a gain-of-function variant, ClC-7Y715C, that yields larger ion currents upon heterologous expression, was identified in two patients with neurodegeneration, organomegaly and albinism. However, neither the patients nor a mouse model that carried the equivalent mutation developed osteopetrosis, although expression of ClC-7Y715C induced the formation of enlarged intracellular vacuoles. Here, we investigated how, in transfected cells with mutant ClC-7, the substitution of this tyrosine impinged on the morphology and function of lysosomes. Combinations of the tyrosine mutation with mutations that either uncouple Cl- from H+ counter-transport or strongly diminish overall ion currents were used to show that increased ClC-7 Cl-/H+ exchange activity is required for the formation of enlarged vacuoles by membrane fusion. Degradation of endocytosed material was reduced in these compartments and resulted in an accumulation of lysosomal storage material. In cells expressing the ClC-7 gain-of-function mutant, autophagic clearance was largely impaired, resulting in a build-up of autophagic material.

Exploring the effects of cross-cultural collaborating on bilingual digital storytelling on students’ intercultural learning

ABSTRACT As intercultural learning has been increasingly regarded as essential in higher education, researchers have promoted it through integration of digital storytelling into cultural exchange activities. However, most studies have focused on the utilization of only one language whereas the effects of multilingual digital storytelling on students’ intercultural learning is understudied. To help bridge this gap, in this study, the effects of creating bilingual digital stories with students in an English-speaking country on the intercultural learning of students in a Chinese-speaking country were investigated. Data included students’ learning portfolios and reflective essays and were analyzed utilizing content analysis and matrix coding query. The findings revealed that the students became more critically aware of their own and others’ cultural diversity and sensitive to the uses of both English and Chinese language and multimedia resources for communication with people from different cultural backgrounds. They also reported multiple advantages associated with their cross-cultural online interactions, specifically in the domains of language acquisition and cultural understanding. However, they also highlighted challenges, notably the difficulties in coordinating meeting schedules and overcoming communication barriers. Implications and limitations are also discussed.