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Academic dishonesty manifested in the proliferating acts of plagiarism can be eradicated by returning to value teaching. In a study involving 37 first-year students in one academic year, a single-group quasi-experimental procedure with mixed qualitative and quantitative analyses of students’ assignments was performed. The procedure involved diagnosing plagiarism by strategic manual detection and classification of occurrences and recording the frequency of occurrence. The objective was to examine the effects of communicating about plagiarism by the designed plagiarism integrity narratives (PIN) intervention on students’ integrity based on their source-attribution practices. In the first semester, an assignment was administered without any word on plagiarism as the baseline data for students’ academic integrity at pre-test. In the second semester, the post-PIN-intervention assignment set with similar cognitive demand as the first was administered. The post-PIN intervention showed 76% of students taking steps to not succumb to plagiarism, far outweighing the 5% not taking heed. Of those who acknowledged information sources, 14% showed excellent referencing skills, capturing the potential first-year role model. In terms of outsourcing and attribution combined, the PIN intervention offered a 95% transformation of moral values, hinting at the possibility of resetting academic integrity via communication and clear directives. Lifting plagiarism rules as a “litmus test” (third assignment) revealed 28% integrity-ready students applying the fundamental attribution rules. Outstanding referencing skills and honesty were portrayed by a self-regulated student who had internalized academic integrity. The findings signal the possibility of curbing plagiarism in university classrooms and nurturing students to start weaving values into the social fabric.

A fidgety character and an extremely low self-confidence were glaring circumstances of two learners in a first-year classroom. Mapping activities were designed for interactivity, considering the low aptitude for the English language as the instructional medium. While the fidget transformed into a focused learner upon role-play as a dialogue star in the coordinated classroom talks, the most reserved, diffident learner turned into an expressive participant. The cognitive engagement of the classroom population was evident from the significantly expanded knowledge map constructed by the students. The exploratory nature of classroom oracy drove the outcome within the dialogic space designed to engender the transformation. Space for active participation was mainly enabled by simplifying the verbal expression by extensive use of keywords in mapping. While the approach ruled out the need for correct English usage for expression of ideas, the seed map drawn by the instructor prompted learners to leave their seats to write an idea on the whiteboard. The freewill had links to the oracy that allowed for rewording and change of stance which was the primary ingredient of dialogue embedded in the mapping activities. Grafting of students’ ideas into the existing scientific concept was an essential outcome of dialogue externalised on the constructed map, driven by the dialogic space encouraging listening and thinking along the path of higher logic. The dialogic space in mapping activities and the resultant vibrant classroom of cognitively engaged participants provide evidence for designable classroom activities to uplift the immediate learning impacts.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) was treated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to make its surface suitable for methyl orange (MO) dye adsorption. CTAB-treated OPEFB samples were characterized for their surface functional groups using FTIR, pHzpc, proton-binding capacity, and Boehm titration techniques. The surface morphology and elemental composition of the sample were also studied, employing field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). It was found that in totality, acidic surface functional group increased after CTAB treatment. The adsorption process was well explained with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The obtained equilibrium sorption data were then analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Tempkin isotherms. The results showed that sorption was surfactant dose dependent and adsorption increased with an increase in the percentage of surfactant applied on the OPEFB. The maximum adsorpt...

Treatment of the abundant oil palm empty fruit bunches with alkaline peroxide chemicals and subsequent fibrillation at varying mechanical energies resulted in favourable morphological changes of the generated fibers. The produced fibrous mass composed of intensely fibrillated elements ranging from micro to nanodiameter fibrils. nanofibrils and webs of nanofibrils were factors contributing to the functionality of the fibrous mass as fibre web augmentation elements. Profound improvement in fiber network is particularly attributable to the ability of the collected elements to fill up inter-fiber gaps and this was attributable to the micro elements in the form of micro fines, segmented micro-fibrils and webs of nanofibrils. The uniquely generated thin layers of nanofibril webs (TN-webs), were found to increase fiber web density by gluing multiple layers of fibers, together. Having landed on the surface of micro-fiber web, these TN-webs were identified as responsible for the masking effects of the underlying micro-fibres. Under such condition, fibers were observed to coalesce, suggesting also an augmented fiber network as evident from the 130% increase in tensile index and a 450% enhancement in burst index of the resultant fiber web relative to those formed with the basic alkaline peroxide chemical-mechanical refining (CMR) synergy. This reveals a great promise to EFB for application as super-strong fibre-web materials such as packaging and specialty paper-based products.

The increasing popularity of the oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) as a source of non-wood fibre has prompted a variety of research on processing and utilisation of the material. In an attempt to define the characters, reusability and end-of-life, oil palm EFB was processed by the alkaline peroxide variable treatment (APVT) systems. Low synergy between alkaline peroxide (AP) chemical and mechanical fibrillation through fibrillation (CMR synergy) revealed the yield of segments of EFB vascular bundles while heightening the mechanical forces further, generated more uniform but a mixture of fiber and segments of fibre bundles. An intermediate CMR synergy generated fibres forming a more well-defined but a rough resultant fibre network due to partial fibrillation of the vascular bundle. Applying maximal CMR synergy was found to generate higher yield of network strengthening fibrous cells. These were later identified as nanoscale fiber network or nanoscan, consisting of 10-80 nm diameter fibers arranging themselves in a systematic network. Analysis of the polarity of fibers harvested from the APVT systems manifests the systematic construction of nanofibrils winding in helical manner to form arrays of nanofibres that glue themselves together as micro-fibrils. Interconnections between fibers and other gluing elements led to the vascular bundle known as the EFB biomass that was once dross and that can now be marvelled as an alternative source of nanofibers for the nanoindustry sector.

The thermodynamics of clouding in an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and quaternary phosphonium bromides systems in the presence of glycerol are reported. The standard Gibbs energy change of solubilization (ΔsG°) for all of the additives was found to be negative. The standard enthalpy change (ΔsH°) and the standard entropy change (TΔsS°) values were found to be negative as well as positive depending upon the type and nature of the additive. The results were explained on the basis of their nature, effect on the water structure, and solubilization of these additives either in the micellar or aqueous phase.

The energetics of clouding in anionic surfactant (SDBS) and tetrabutylammonium bromide system in the presence of additives, such as ureas, amino acids and sugars is reported. The change of standard Gibbs energy of solubilization (ΔG o ) for all of the additives was found to be negative. The values of change of standard enthalpy (ΔH o ) and that of standard entropy (TΔS o ) values were found to depend on the type and chemistry of the additive. The results were explained on the basis including chemistry of additives, their effect on water structure, and solubilization of additives either in the micellar or in aqueous phases.

Cathodic electrodeposition in the presence of EDTA in aqueous solution was found to offer some noteworthy improvements in our attempt to synthesise an SnS thin film. EDTA has shown its capacity for improving the longevity of the deposition bath as well as the adhesion of the deposited film on a titanium substrate. Photoelectrochemical analysis reveals outstanding photoactivity of the electrodeposited thin film, while an optical study shows an energy gap of approximately 1.1 eV. The effects of chelating agent were extracted from the results of cyclic voltammetry, photoelectrochemical test, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. The latter which displays better defined signals reaffirms the appreciable improvement in the polycrystallinity of the thin film. Analysis of peak locations, coincidentally, confirms that SnS of Herzenbergite form has been obtained.

SnS thin films were prepared by cathodic electrodeposition on ITO/glass and Ti substrates from a solution containing SnCl2 and thiosulphate ions. Cyclic voltammetry experiments were performed to elucidate the electrodic processes occurred when potentials were applied and to determine the optimum potential for electrodeposition. The photoactivity of the deposited films and their conduction types were evaluated using the photoelectrochemical technique. The bandgap energy and type of optical transitions were determined from optical absorbance data. Structural and compositional analysis were accomplished using X-ray diffractometry, electron dispersive analysis of X-ray, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphology of the films were examined using scanning electron microscopy.

Desired pulp-based product properties can be achieved by addition of filler in the pulp network. In exploring this, fines co-generated upon refining the alkaline peroxide treated oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) were collected based on their passage and retention capacities when subjected to varying mesh-sizes stainless-steel square mesh wires. Pulp network incorporating fines produced from the synergy of low alkaline peroxide (AP) and low energy refining effects shows that blending 12% of the 400-mesh fines (P300/R400) with the normal 200-mesh pulp fraction enhanced paper tensile strength by 100% due to their favourable dimensions. This defines the usefulness of fibrillar particles whose cell wall collapsibility increases the web density by increasing bonding ability and thus, strength of pulp-based products. Fines produced from more extreme synergy between alkaline peroxide and degree of refining, exhibit unique submicron fibrils and 'nano-CGF' also responsible for further augmentation of EFB alkaline peroxide pulp network. Whether from the simple (low-AP and low energy refining) or the extreme synergy of AP and refining, the co-generated fines are apparently suitable materials for use as natural filler for augmentation of pulp network. Particularly for the simple AP and refining synergy, the introduced recovery and utilization of the co- generated filler (CGF) was found to reduce 74% turbidity and this improvement will help reduce the complexity of whitewater generation in the pulping system.