Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of a Middle School Engineering Course on Students’ Academic Achievement and Non-Cognitive Skills

Engineering and integrated STEM experiences are being promoted at the K-12 level to increase interest and retention in STEM and to reinforce learning of mathematics and science content. However, research is still emerging regarding best practices for curriculum development, student impacts, and transfer of knowledge across disciplines. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of middle school engineering curriculum on students‘ academic achievement in science and mathematics and also on non-cognitive skills such as student engagement and self-efficacy in academics. Specifically, the Engineering Design Process (EDP) conceptual model is used as a framework for the engineering curriculum, which is also grounded in Problem-Based Learning (PBL) practices while integrating science practices and foundational mathematics. Participants include 6th-8th grade students at four public middle schools in Georgia. The research results show that students who have taken at least two engineering courses show statistically significant gains on state-level standardized science and mathematics tests over those students who were never enrolled in these courses. Further, the results show a statistically significant increase in cognitive and behavioral engagement in STEM and science interest. The results of this study support the idea that enabling students to practice their science and mathematics skills and knowledge within the context of interesting and engaging middle school engineering classes can significantly benefit both their engagement in STEM and their academic achievement.
WHOI-2006-04 Internal Solitons in the Ocean

Nonlinear internal waves in the ocean are discussed (a) from the standpoint of soliton theory and (b) from the viewpoint of experimental measurements. First, theoretical models for internal solitary waves in the ocean are briefly described. Various nonlinear analytical solutions are treated, commencing with the well-known Boussinesq and Korteweg–de Vries equations. Then certain generalizations are considered, including effects of cubic nonlinearity, Earth’s rotation, cylindrical divergence, dissipation, shear flows, and others. Recent theoretical models for strongly nonlinear internal waves are outlined. Second, examples of experimental evidence for the existence of solitons in the upper ocean are presented; the data include radar and optical images and in situ measurements of waveforms, propagation speeds, and dispersion characteristics. Third, and finally, action of internal solitons on sound wave propagation is discussed. This review paper is intended for researchers from diverse backgrounds, including acousticians, who may not be familiar in detail with soliton theory. Thus, it includes an outline of the basics of soliton theory. At the same time, recent theoretical and observational results are described which can also make this review useful for mainstream oceanographers and theoreticians.
Parameterizing the High Frequency Evolution of Nearshore Waves in a Nonlinear Wave Model

Abstract : Waves propagating through the shoaling and surf zones exhibit properties not characteristic of linear sinusoidal waves. Nonlinear wave-wave interactions act to transfer energy between the different harmonics of the peak frequency; this transfer is most apparent from the peak frequency of the spectrum to higher harmonics of the peak. As a result of these nonlinear interactions, the shape of a wave is altered making it asymmetrical vertically (skewness) and horizontally (asymmetry). The effects of nonlinear interactions are most easily seen in wave spectra, and the accuracy of a model's frequency dispersion relation greatly affects nonlinear interactions. Therefore, the frequency domain version of a nonlinear mild slope equation gives a very good representation of the propagation of waves through the shoaling and surf zones. However, such models are computationally expensive. To reduce the computational cost of the nonlinear mild slope equation model, it is combined with the high-wave number Toba range parameterization of Smith and Vincent (2003) to form a hybrid model, thus constraining the high frequencies to a specified energy level. The hybrid model reduces the number of frequency components explicitly modeled by the nonlinear mild slope equation so that the one-dimensional model satisfactorily replicates chosen experiments in minutes, rather than hours. However, important wave parameters, like skewness and asymmetry disagree with observations and full model results. Further work is needed to improve the hybrid model's energy level computation for the parameterized portions of spectra and the model's ability to produce results capable of adequately replicating important wave parameters.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SENSOR PLACEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DETECTION

An evaluation of the capabilities and limitations of practical placement techniques used for damage detection in civil engineering structures is performed. Three previously development sensor distribution methods, Eigenvector Sensitivity, Effective Independence, Damage Measurability are compared through numerical studies. The focus of this comparative study is beam-like structures, and two representative examples are considered to evaluate the techniques. The first example considers a single span beam, which could represent a highway bridge. The second example considers a structure with intermediate supports, and could represent the entire deck of a long-span bridge. Due to its successes in previous studies, the Bayesian Probabilistic Approach is employed to identify, locate and quantify damage using the resulting sensor measurements. The impact of noise in the modal parameters is considered. The effectiveness of the resulting sensor configurations for accurately identifying damage scenarios is assessed.
Optimal sequences, power control and capacity of spread spectrum systems with multiuser linear recei

To meet the increasing demand on wireless networks, there has been intense eifort in the past decade on developing multi-user receiver structures which mitigate interference between users in spread-spectrum systems. While much of this research is performed at the physical layer, the appropriate power control and choice of signature sequences in conjunction with multiuser receivers and the resulting network capacity is not well understood. In this paper we will focus on a single cell and consider both the uplink and downlink scenarios and assume a synchronous CDMA (S-CDMA) system. We characterize the capacityof a single cell with both the optimal linear receiver (MMSE receiver) and matched filter receiver structures. The capacity of the system is the maximum number of users per unit processing gain admissible in the system such that each user has its quality-of-service (QoS) requirement (expressed in terms of its desired signal-to-interference ratio) met. We also identify the "optimal" signature sequences and power control strategies so that the users meet their QoS requirement. We propose a simple construction scheme for the "optimal" signature sequences that we identify. We also characterize the effect of transmit power constraints on the capacity.
Supervision in Language Teaching: A Supervisor's and Three Trainee Teachers' Perspectives.

This article reports on the findings from a study which investigated supervision in language teaching from a supervisor’s and her three trainee teachers’ perspectives. The data in the study were from three sources: 1) audio recordings of the supervisor’s feedback sessions with each trainee teacher, 2) audio recording of an interview between the supervisor and the researcher, in which her beliefs about and her practice of supervision are investigated, 3) audio recordings of interviews with the trainee teachers, which were conducted to elicit their beliefs about and expectations from supervision. The study presents the supervisor’s beliefs about supervision, her approach to supervision and her strategies to make the supervision process more beneficial to the trainees despite the time constraints and her heavy work load. Moreover, the trainee teachers’ beliefs about supervision and their expectations from this process are described.
High-NA aberration retrieval with the extended Nijboer-Zernike vector diffraction theory

The reconstruction of the exit pupil function of an optical system can basically be carried out by collecting intensity data in the focal region from a certain number of defocused image planes. In this paper we present the ﬁrst results of such a reconstruction operation for optical systems with a high numerical aperture using a point source in the object plane. The main feature of our approach is the use of the extended Nijboer-Zernike diffraction analysis that has been modiﬁed to incorporate vector diffraction effects. The quality of the optical system is expressed by means of a set of complex Zernike coefﬁcients that describe the phase and transmission variation in the exit pupil of the imaging system. The ’vector’ method will be compared to the more common scalar diffraction analysis. We also analyse the practical limits of the vector retrieval process regarding the maximum allowed aberration and the noise of the intensity data. The sensitivity of the method with respect to parameter settings (state of polarisation and value of numerical aperture) is also examined. [DOI: 10.2971/jeos.2006. 06004]
A Cryptographic Test of Quantumness and Certifiable Randomness from a Single Quantum Device

We give a protocol for producing certifiable randomness from a single untrusted quantum device that is polynomial-time bounded. The randomness is certified to be statistically close to uniform from the point of view of any computationally unbounded quantum adversary, that may share entanglement with the quantum device. The protocol relies on the existence of post-quantum secure trapdoor claw-free functions, and introduces a new primitive for constraining the power of an untrusted quantum device. We then show how to construct this primitive based on the hardness of the learning with errors (LWE) problem. The randomness protocol can also be used as the basis for an efficiently verifiable "quantum supremacy" proposal, thus answering an outstanding challenge in the field.
The zircon archive of continent formation through time

Abstract The strong resilience of the mineral zircon and its ability to host a wealth of isotopic information make it the best deep-time archive of Earth's continental crust. Zircon is found in most felsic igneous rocks, can be precisely dated and can fingerprint magmatic sources; thus, it has been widely used to document the formation and evolution of continental crust, from pluton- to global-scale. Here, we present a review of major contributions that zircon studies have made in terms of understanding key questions involving the formation of the continents. These include the conditions of continent formation on early Earth, the onset of plate tectonics and subduction, the rate of crustal growth through time and the governing balance of continental addition v. continental loss, and the role of preservation bias in the zircon record. Supplementary material: A compilation used in this study of previously published detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf isotope data are available at http://www.geolsoc. org.uk/SUP18791
Ultra-low resistive GaSb/InAs tunnel junctions

The GaSb and InAs(Sb) material combination results in a type-III (broken gap) band alignment and is of particular interest for use as an ohmic, low-resistive intra-cavity contact in complex optoelectronic devices, such as buried-tunnel-junction vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. In this work, we report electrical characteristics of MBE-grown p+-GaSb/n+-InAs tunnel junctions. The investigated structures exhibit ultra-low resistive behavior, yielding specific resistivity values below 2.8 × 10−7Ω cm2. This value is nearly ten times better than previously reported best values.
Effects of marinating ingredients on physicochemical, microstructural and sensory properties of golek chicken.

Marination directly affects the texture and flavor of meat and is important for product yield. This research investigated the effects of various marinating solutions on the physicochemical, microstructural and sensory properties of golek chicken, a popular dish in Malaysia, Indonesia and southern Thailand. Non-marinated meat (Tr1-control) was compared with five marinating treatments: distilled water (Tr2); sodium chloride (Tr3); a mixture of sodium chloride and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) (Tr4); a mixture of sodium chloride, STPP and citric acid (Tr5); and a mixture of sodium chloride, STPP and sodium bicarbonate (Tr6). Marinating meat in Tr3–Tr6 resulted in higher water-holding capacity and cooking yield, as well as lower shear force value and cooking loss, when compared to Tr1 and Tr2 (p<0.05). Marination in Tr6 increased the pH to 7.86 in raw chicken meat and to 7.02 in golek chicken, resulting in greater water-holding capacity and cooking yield (p<0.05) compared to other marinating treatments. Scanning electron micrographs of raw chicken meat marinated in Tr5–Tr6 clearly showed swelling of muscle fibers due to the absorption of marinating solution; this was also evident in the meat after cooking and grilling at 175 °C for 40 min. The Tr6 marinade produced the highest cooking yield, 112.14% (p<0.05); the second-highest was with Tr5 (110.95%). However, golek chicken obtained from Tr6 had lower hardness and chewiness, as measured by a texture analyzer. When some sensory characteristics of golek chickens were evaluated using a 7-point hedonic scale, it was found that Tr6 had lower overall acceptance scores than Tr5. In addition, the surface of the Tr6-treated meat was slightly dark due to the effect of sodium bicarbonate, which resulted in less acceptable appearance. Therefore, a combination of sodium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate and citric acid (Tr5) was suggested as the optimal marinating ingredients for the golek chicken process since it improved the textural property of meat after cooking, increased cooking yield (99.58% for Tr1 vs 110.95% for Tr5), and received the highest overall acceptance (p<0.05).
Oscillation Theorems for the Wronskian of an Arbitrary Sequence of Eigenfunctions of Schrodinger's Equation

The work of Adler provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the Wronskian of a given sequence of eigenfunctions of Schrodinger's equation to have constant sign in its domain of definition. We extend this result by giving explicit formulas for the number of real zeros of the Wronskian of an arbitrary sequence of eigenfunctions. Our results apply in particular to Wronskians of classical orthogonal polynomials, thus generalizing classical results by Karlin and SzegA. Our formulas hold under very mild conditions that are believed to hold for generic values of the parameters. In the Hermite case, our results allow to prove some conjectures recently formulated by Felder et al.
Nondestructive Testing and System Reliability Based on Finite Element Modeling in GFRP-Reinforced Timber Beams

In the past few decades, the use of glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRP) to enhance the strength and stiffness of timber beams has been established. Research to predict the performance of structural timber is ongoing. Nondestructive evaluation of its dynamic performance and reliability are important. A nondestructive testing method based on fast Fourier transform analysis was used to establish the dynamic modulus of elasticity of GFRP-reinforced timber beams. The results were compared to those obtained via destructive measurements of the static modulus of elasticity using a regression analysis method. Significant correlations between the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE) and static MOE indicate that nondestructive testing is a suitable tool for practical use. Reinforced timber beams were designed based on the measured dynamic MOE. Orthogonal theories were used to analyze the effects of the thickness, glue application, and surface area of GFRP on the MOE of reinforced timber beams. Furthermore, the system reliability of GFRP-reinforced timber beams was predicted with a finite element model. The results showed that GFRP can significantly increase the reliability of structural lumber.
Psychometric Evaluation of Job Satisfaction Scale in Ugandas Teacher Population Sample

Despite several studies in the field of job satisfaction, troublesome areas are still evident. There is still controversy as to whether specific sample may be assessed using instruments which were largely developed based on a dissimilar type of sample other than the one under study. With focus on the problematic area, we derived the purpose for our study. The purpose of the present study is to examine Job Satisfaction Surveyâ€™s (JSS) relevance for estimation of job satisfaction in teacher population in Uganda. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, using structural equation modelling technique was used to assess the model fit in 208 primary school teachers in Uganda. Results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the teachersâ€™ sample did not support the existence of the original 9 facet model by (Spector, 1985), suggesting that some of the JSSâ€™s sub scales do not reflect teachersâ€™ job satisfaction within the context of Uganda. The best model in the present study was determined to be a four factor solution model, including promotion, supervision, fringe benefits and nature of work. In view of studyâ€™s originality/value; the current wave of changes in the education sector in Uganda demand validated scales that can address job context specific requirements to follow-up va riations in the satisfaction levels of primary school teachers, an area least addressed in literature in Uganda, which this study has fulfilled.
Language and academic achievement: Perspectives on the potential role of indigenous African languages as a lingua academica

Although research literature abounds with studies that show the importance of language for academic achievement, the potential role of indigenous African languages in the educational sector in South Africa has not been adequately appraised or appreciated. Accordingly, ambivalence is still rife among parents, teachers, learners and government about the use of these languages for academic purposes. This ambivalence is evident from the existing national language education policies, school language policies, language curricula and language practices in schools. Thus, the purpose of this article is to discuss the perspectives on the potential role of indigenous African languages for academic purposes in South Africa. The focus is mainly on the use of these languages to provide a scaffold for academic language proficiency which is critical to academic success. To this end, a complementary language-use framework or model for using indigenous African languages to support the development of academic language in multilingual schools and universities is proposed .
Field evaluation of low-cost particulate matter sensors in high- and low-concentration environments

Abstract. Low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensors are promising tools for supplementing existing air quality monitoring networks. However, the performance of the new generation of low-cost PM sensors under field conditions is not well understood. In this study, we characterized the performance capabilities of a new low-cost PM sensor model (Plantower model PMS3003) for measuring PM2.5 at 1 min, 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h integration times. We tested the PMS3003 sensors in both low-concentration suburban regions (Durham and Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC, US) with 1 h PM2.5 (mean ± SD) of 9±9 and 10±3 µg m−3, respectively, and a high-concentration urban location (Kanpur, India) with 1 h PM2.5 of 36±17 and 116±57 µg m−3 during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. In Durham and Kanpur, the sensors were compared to a research-grade instrument (environmental β attenuation monitor, E-BAM) to determine how these sensors perform across a range of PM2.5 concentrations and meteorological factors (e.g., temperature and relative humidity, RH). In RTP, the sensors were compared to three Federal Equivalent Methods (FEMs) including two Teledyne model T640s and a Thermo Scientific model 5030 SHARP to demonstrate the importance of the type of reference monitor selected for sensor calibration. The decrease in 1 h mean errors of the calibrated sensors using univariate linear models from Durham (201 %) to Kanpur monsoon (46 %) and post-monsoon (35 %) seasons showed that PMS3003 performance generally improved as ambient PM2.5 increased. The precision of reference instruments (T640: ±0.5 µg m−3 for 1 h; SHARP: ±2 µg m−3 for 24 h, better than the E-BAM) is critical in evaluating sensor performance, and β-attenuation-based monitors may not be ideal for testing PM sensors at low concentrations, as underscored by (1) the less dramatic error reduction over averaging times in RTP against optically based T640 (from 27 % for 1 h to 9 % for 24 h) than in Durham (from 201 % to 15 %); (2) the lower errors in RTP than the Kanpur post-monsoon season (from 35 % to 11 %); and (3) the higher T640–PMS3003 correlations (R2≥0.63) than SHARP–PMS3003 (R2≥0.25). A major RH influence was found in RTP (1 h RH =64±22 %) due to the relatively high precision of the T640 measurements that can explain up to ∼30 % of the variance in 1 min to 6 h PMS3003 PM2.5 measurements. When proper RH corrections are made by empirical nonlinear equations after using a more precise reference method to calibrate the sensors, our work suggests that the PMS3003 sensors can measure PM2.5 concentrations within ∼10 % of ambient values. We observed that PMS3003 sensors appeared to exhibit a nonlinear response when ambient PM2.5 exceeded ∼125 µg m−3 and found that the quadratic fit is more appropriate than the univariate linear model to capture this nonlinearity and can further reduce errors by up to 11 %. Our results have substantial implications for how variability in ambient PM2.5 concentrations, reference monitor types, and meteorological factors can affect PMS3003 performance characterization.
Observation of new particle formation and measurement of sulfuric acid,ammonia, amines and highly oxidized organic molecules at a rural site incentral Germany

Abstract. The exact mechanisms for new particle formation (NPF) under different boundary layer conditions are not known yet. One important question is whether amines and sulfuric acid lead to efficient NPF in the atmosphere. Furthermore, it is not clear to what extent highly oxidized organic molecules (HOMs) are involved in NPF. We conducted field measurements at a rural site in central Germany in the proximity of three larger dairy farms to investigate whether there is a connection between NPF and the presence of amines and/or ammonia due to the local emissions from the farms. Comprehensive measurements using a nitrate chemical ionization–atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight (CI-APi-TOF) mass spectrometer, a proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS), particle counters and differential mobility analyzers (DMAs), as well as measurements of trace gases and meteorological parameters, were performed. We demonstrate here that the nitrate CI-APi-TOF is suitable for sensitive measurements of sulfuric acid, amines, a nitrosamine, ammonia, iodic acid and HOMs. NPF was found to correlate with sulfuric acid, while an anti-correlation with RH, amines and ammonia is observed. The anti-correlation between NPF and amines could be due to the efficient uptake of these compounds by nucleating clusters and small particles. Much higher HOM dimer (C19/C20 compounds) concentrations during the night than during the day indicate that these HOMs do not efficiently self-nucleate as no nighttime NPF is observed. Observed iodic acid probably originates from an iodine-containing reservoir substance, but the iodine signals are very likely too low to have a significant effect on NPF.