Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applying natural language processing to automatically assess student conceptual understanding from textual responses

In this study, we applied natural language processing (NLP) techniques, within an educational environment, to evaluate their usefulness for automated assessment of students’ conceptual understanding from their short answer responses. Assessing understanding provides insight into and feedback on students’ conceptual understanding, which is often overlooked in automated grading. Students and educators benefit from automated formative assessment, especially in online education and large cohorts, by providing insights into conceptual understanding as and when required. We selected the ELECTRA-small, RoBERTa-base, XLNet-base and ALBERT-base-v2 NLP machine learning models to determine the free-text validity of students’ justification and the level of confidence in their responses. These two pieces of information provide key insights into students’ conceptual understanding and the nature of their understanding. We developed a free-text validity ensemble using high performance NLP models to assess the validity of students’ justification with accuracies ranging from 91.46% to 98.66%. In addition, we proposed a general, non-question-specific confidence-in-response model that can categorise a response as high or low confidence with accuracies ranging from 93.07% to 99.46%. With the strong performance of these models being applicable to small data sets, there is a great opportunity for educators to implement these techniques within their own classes. Implications for practice or policy: Students’ conceptual understanding can be accurately and automatically extracted from their short answer responses using NLP to assess the level and nature of their understanding. Educators and students can receive feedback on conceptual understanding as and when required through the automated assessment of conceptual understanding, without the overhead of traditional formative assessment. Educators can implement accurate automated assessment of conceptual understanding models with fewer than 100 student responses for their short response questions.
Data-Based Variables Used as Indicators of Dairy Cow Welfare at Farm Level: A Review

Simple Summary In recent years, the interest in the use of data from routine herd records in the monitoring of dairy welfare at farm level has increased. This review compiles 13 papers to outline the current potential of data-based variables for animal welfare monitoring. All the identified studies showed associations between data-based variables and farm-level dairy cow welfare and therefore provide a first indication of the possible use and suitability of data-based variables for welfare monitoring. However, we found that the definitions of animal welfare, its assessment on the farm, and the data-based variables varied considerably. Consequently, the current state of research does not allow a conclusive assessment of the potential of data-based variables for animal welfare monitoring. Therefore, future research is needed to clarify the potential of data-based variables. Harmonisation of the data-based variables and the use of valid measurements that reflect the multidimensionality of welfare could contribute to increased comparability between the studies. Abstract During the last years, the interest in data-based variables (DBVs) as easy-to-obtain, cost-effective animal welfare indicators has continued to grow. This interest has led to publications focusing on the relationship between DBVs and animal welfare. This review compiles 13 papers identified through a systematic literature search to provide an overview of the current state of research on the relationship between DBVs and dairy cow welfare at farm level. The selected papers were examined regarding their definition of animal welfare and classified according to this definition into three categories: (a) papers evaluating DBVs as predictors of animal welfare violations, (b) papers investigating the relationship between DBVs and animal-based measurements, and (c) papers investigating the relationship of DBVs to scores of welfare assessments like the Welfare Quality protocol or to overall welfare scores at farm level. In addition, associations between DBVs and indicators of animal welfare were extracted, grouped by the type of DBV, and examined for replications that may confirm the associations. All the identified studies demonstrated associations between DBVs and animal welfare. Overall, the first indications of a possible suitability of DBVs for predicting herds with animal welfare violations as well as good or poor animal welfare status were given. The evaluation of relationships between DBVs and animal-based measurements (ABMs) found mortality-based DBVs to be frequently associated with ABMs. However, owing to varying definitions of animal welfare, the use of different variants of DBVs, and different methods used to assess DBVs, the studies could only be compared to a limited extent. Future research would benefit from a harmonisation of DBVs and the use of valid measurements that reflect the multidimensionality of welfare. Data sources rarely investigated so far may have the potential to provide additional DBVs that can contribute to the monitoring of cow welfare at farm level.
Bi-directional communication into the deep ocean based on OrbComm satellite transmission and acoustic underwater communication

At the end of 1997 the DOMEST projects started. The aim was the development of a moored sensor network in the deep ocean near the Canary Islands. With the implementation of a bi-directional satellite link and underwater acoustic modems, a data-link from land into the deep sea should be established on a daily basis. With DOMEST, remotely controlled measurement of element and particle transport in the deep sea will be possible. Remote control includes access to a variety of data without recovering sensors from the deep ocean. Data access will be possible at any time via the Internet and satellite communication. Sampling intervals can be changed interactively from land, status data from the instruments can be checked and it is possible to download the data subsequently. These possibilities allows an advanced sampling and probing of parameters depending on various environmental parameters, such as satellite derived ocean colour or particle input during dust storms. Communication underwater is based on 4 independent acoustic modem clients, combined with different sensors. Bi-directional data transmission between these modems is possible up to 2,400 baud. Each sensor package and acoustic modem is controlled by an integrated digital controller, responsible for hand-shaking and data-management. At the sea surface, a permanent surface buoy is moored in 3,600 m water depth. Above water, the OrbComm based satellite network establishes data transport between the moored systems and the land based ground station in Italy. At the ground station, messages are routed via SMTP into the Internet. During a scientific cruise of RV METEOR in May 1999, the first close-loop test-with a data request from a ship via satellite into the deep sea and back via satellite to the ship-has been performed successfully, within less than 8 minutes. The final configuration of the complete DOMEST mooring will be deployed at 3,600 m water depth over a maximum duration of one year. New sensors will provide high-resolution data on particle fluxes and element concentrations in the deep ocean.
Localized corrosion resistance of duplex stainless steels: methodology and properties; a review paper

Increasing interest in duplex stainless steels is due to their ability to combine elevated mechanical properties (strength, fatigue.) and an optimal resistance to many types of corrosion like Stress Corrosion Cracking or Intergranular Sensitization. Given high chromium content of the standard and super-duplex steels along with molybdenum and nitrogen alloying additions, they also exhibit an excellent resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in halide-containing media generally equivalent to austenitic and super-austenitic with similar Pitting Resistance Equivalent. Further aspects of the question are reviewed in introduction of the present paper including passive film and metallurgical features such as two-phase microstructure, presence of non metallic inclusions, precipitates or intermetallic phases. Then, this work addresses the problems of corrosion testing of duplex stainless steels. It is intended in particular to shed light on some points of practical importance regarding electrochemical characterization best practices. Thus, a reliable ranking of materials, including new lean grades, requires a relevant choice of corrosion criteria and polarization methods. The determination of both pitting potentials and critical pitting temperatures is achieved by using a combination of several electrochemical tests based on potentiodynamic, potentiostatic as well as galvanostatic experiments together with a statistical analysis when needed.
Base Station Specific Absorption Rate Assessment Based on a Combination of Over- The-Air Measurements and Full- Wave Electromagnetic Simulations

Radio Base Stations (RBS) must comply with applicable radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure regulations. Although compliance evaluation is typically carried out using field strength acquisitions or computations, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measurement is the reference method for low-power RBS, such as those used for indoor coverage. As classical robot-based probing is extremely time-consuming, especially when the whole-body SAR in a large phantom is to be assessed, faster alternative techniques are of high interest. Such solutions are becoming even more crucial, as the number of test modes is multiplying with modern communication technologies. This paper introduces an alternative, based on the convergence of Over-The-Air (OTA) measurements, equivalent current reconstruction and full-wave electromagnetic simulation. A first set of results demonstrates the relevance of this combination, by comparing actual dosimetric measurements to OTA - based reconstructed SAR values in a flat body mannequin, for a commercial low-power RBS. A test system is realized which enables OTA electric field phase evaluations for a self-powered device under test, using digitally modulated signals. This proof of concept establishes the applicability of the technique to actual regulatory testing conditions.
OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND JOB PERFORMANCE IN SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES

Occupational stress is ubiquitous at work places and has recently gained numerous researches because of the impact it has on employees’ job performance. Unlike developing and newly industrialized countries, most advanced countries are becoming more familiar with the phenomenon and how to manage it. The current study finds out the level of occupational stress of SMEs on demographic variables and also determines the impact of occupational stress on employees’ job performance. A total of 225 employees working in SMEs were purposively selected for the study. Percentages, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient and regression were used to analyze the data gathered. The results showed that, 47 (20.9%) of the employees recorded low levels of occupational stress, 74 (32.9%) were moderately stressed and 104 representing 46.2% were highly stressed. The results showed that majority of the
Genomic Features and Clinical Implications of Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is a rare and unique form of aggressive prostate carcinoma, which is characterized by an expansile proliferation of malignant prostatic epithelial cells within prostatic ducts or acini and the preservation of basal cell layers around the involved glands. The vast majority of IDC-P tumors result from adjacent high-grade invasive cancer via the retrograde spreading of tumor cells into normal prostatic ducts or acini. A subset of IDC-P tumors is rarely derived from the de novo intraductal proliferation of premalignant cells. The presence of IDC-P in biopsy or surgical specimens is significantly associated with aggressive pathologic features, such as high Gleason grade, large tumor volume, and advanced tumor stage, and with poor clinical courses, including earlier biochemical recurrence, distant metastasis, and worse survival outcomes. These architectural and behavioral features of IDC-P may be driven by specific molecular properties. Notably, IDC-P possesses distinct genomic profiles, including higher rates of TMPRSS2–ERG gene fusions and PTEN loss, increased percentage of genomic instability, and higher prevalence of germline BRCA2 mutations. Considering that IDC-P tumors are usually resistant to conventional therapies for prostate cancer, further studies should be performed to develop optimal therapeutic strategies based on distinct genomic features, such as treatment with immune checkpoint blockades or poly (adenosine diphosphate–ribose) polymerase inhibitors for patients harboring increased genomic instability or BRCA2 mutations, as well as genetic counseling with genetic testing. Patient-derived xenografts and tumor organoid models can be the promising in vitro platforms for investigating the molecular features of IDC-P tumor.
Evaluation of the effect of misalignment and profile modification in face gear drive by a finite element meshing simulation

Face gear drives have many advantages over other cross axis transmissions especially in high performance applications. The lack of published design experience and design standards make their design difficult. This is mainly due to the complex geometries and to the lack of practical experience. For these reasons face gears have not been used for long. This work is aimed at investigating the behavior of a face gear transmission considering contact path under load, load sharing and stresses, for an unmodified gear set including shaft misalignment and modification on pinion profile. The investigation is carried out by integrating a 3D CAD system and a FEA code, and by simulating the meshing of pinion and gear sectors with three teeth, using contact elements and an automated contact algorithm. The procedures followed to create the 3D models of teeth in mesh are described and finite element analysis results discussed showing the differences between unmodified, modified and misaligned teeth. Results show the influence of load on theoretically calculated contact paths, contact areas, arc of action and load sharing. The differences with respect to the ideal case are sometimes remarkable. Further developments are discussed.
The Identification of Small RNAs Differentially Expressed in Apple Buds Reveals a Potential Role of the Mir159-MYB Regulatory Module during Dormancy

Winter dormancy is an adaptative mechanism that temperate and boreal trees have developed to protect their meristems against low temperatures. In apple trees (Malus domestica), cold temperatures induce bud dormancy at the end of summer/beginning of the fall. Apple buds stay dormant during winter until they are exposed to a period of cold, after which they can resume growth (budbreak) and initiate flowering in response to warmer temperatures in spring. It is well-known that small RNAs modulate temperature responses in many plant species, but however, how small RNAs are involved in genetic networks of temperature-mediated dormancy control in fruit tree species remains unclear. Here, we have made use of a recently developed ARGONAUTE (AGO)-purification technique to isolate small RNAs from apple buds. A small RNA-seq experiment resulted in the identification of 17 micro RNAs (miRNAs) that change their pattern of expression in apple buds during dormancy. Furthermore, the functional analysis of their predicted target genes suggests a main role of the 17 miRNAs in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, gene regulation, plant development and growth, and response to stimulus. Finally, we studied the conservation of the Arabidopsis thaliana regulatory miR159-MYB module in apple in the context of the plant hormone abscisic acid homeostasis.
Caulerpin Mitigates Helicobacter pylori-Induced Inflammation via Formyl Peptide Receptors

The identification of novel strategies to control Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-associated chronic inflammation is, at present, a considerable challenge. Here, we attempt to combat this issue by modulating the innate immune response, targeting formyl peptide receptors (FPRs), G-protein coupled receptors that play key roles in both the regulation and the resolution of the innate inflammatory response. Specifically, we investigated, in vitro, whether Caulerpin—a bis-indole alkaloid isolated from algae of the genus Caulerpa—could act as a molecular antagonist scaffold of FPRs. We showed that Caulerpin significantly reduces the immune response against Hp culture filtrate, by reverting the FPR2-related signaling cascade and thus counteracting the inflammatory reaction triggered by Hp peptide Hp(2–20). Our study suggests Caulerpin to be a promising therapeutic or adjuvant agent for the attenuation of inflammation triggered by Hp infection, as well as its related adverse clinical outcomes.
Host Range, Biology, and Species Specificity of Seven-Segmented Influenza Viruses—A Comparative Review on Influenza C and D

Other than genome structure, influenza C (ICV), and D (IDV) viruses with seven-segmented genomes are biologically different from the eight-segmented influenza A (IAV), and B (IBV) viruses concerning the presence of hemagglutinin–esterase fusion protein, which combines the function of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase responsible for receptor-binding, fusion, and receptor-destroying enzymatic activities, respectively. Whereas ICV with humans as primary hosts emerged nearly 74 years ago, IDV, a distant relative of ICV, was isolated in 2011, with bovines as the primary host. Despite its initial emergence in swine, IDV has turned out to be a transboundary bovine pathogen and a broader host range, similar to influenza A viruses (IAV). The receptor specificities of ICV and IDV determine the host range and the species specificity. The recent findings of the presence of the IDV genome in the human respiratory sample, and high traffic human environments indicate its public health significance. Conversely, the presence of ICV in pigs and cattle also raises the possibility of gene segment interactions/virus reassortment between ICV and IDV where these viruses co-exist. This review is a holistic approach to discuss the ecology of seven-segmented influenza viruses by focusing on what is known so far on the host range, seroepidemiology, biology, receptor, phylodynamics, species specificity, and cross-species transmission of the ICV and IDV.
Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and In Vivo Bioimaging

Simple Summary Chemotherapy, a conventional treatment strategy, is associated with several limitations. Alternatively, cancer nanotechnology offers new strategies for remedy from drug delivery and extending to therapeutics using nanoformulation. Recently, silver nanoparticles were utilized for different cancer theranostics. In this context, the current manuscript demonstrates the design and development of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgZE) and their applications for cancer theranostics. The synthesized AgZE is optimized and thoroughly characterized. The AgZE exhibits biocompatibility and selective anticancer activity towards the cancer cell lines established through various assays. The fluorescence properties of AgZE are observed in the NIR region (excitation: 710 nm, emission: 820 nm) in the normal and tumor bearing C57BL6/J mice. The silver of AgZE is found to be biodistributed in different vital organs as analyzed by ICPOES. Thereafter, these results highlight that AgZE could be an efficient cancer therapeutic and NIR based non-invasive imaging agent in the upcoming times. Abstract In the current communication, a simple, environmentally compatible, non-toxic green chemistry process is used for the development of silver nanoparticles (AgZE) by the reaction between silver nitrate (AgNO3) and the ethanolic leaf extract of Zinnia elegans (ZE). The optimization of AgZE is carried out using a series of experiments. Various physico-chemical techniques are utilized to characterize the nanomaterials. The cell viability assay of AgZE in normal cells (CHO, HEK-293T, EA.hy926, and H9c2) shows their biocompatible nature, which is supported by hemolytic assay using mouse RBC. Interestingly, the nanoparticles exhibited cytotoxicity towards different cancer cell lines (U-87, MCF-7, HeLa, PANC-1 and B16F10). The detailed anticancer activity of AgZE on human glioblastoma cell line (U-87) is exhibited through various in vitro assays. In vivo the AgZE illustrates anticancer activity by inhibiting blood vessel formation through CAM assay. Furthermore, the AgZE nanoparticles when intraperitoneally injected in C57BL6/J mice (with and without tumor) exhibit fluorescence properties in the NIR region (excitation: 710 nm, emission: 820 nm) evidenced by bioimaging studies. The AgZE biodistribution through ICPOES analysis illustrates the presence of silver in different vital organs. Considering all the results, AgZE could be useful as a potential cancer therapeutic agent, as well as an NIR based non-invasive imaging tool in near future.
Collaborative programming problem-solving in augmented reality: Multimodal analysis of effectiveness and group collaboration

Although numerous studies have demonstrated different ways that augmented reality (AR) can assist students to understand the learning content via contextualised visualisation, less explored is its effect on collaborative problem-solving (CPS) in computer programming. This study aims to investigate how AR affects a CPS in a programming task. We designed a mobile app that could visualise computer programming in AR and non-AR 3D images. The app could involve two participants working together on a programming problem face to face in the same workspace. We conducted a within-subjects experiment to compare their AR experience to the non-AR experience and collected multimodal usage data about the task performance, verbal communication, and user experience. The analysis showed that the participants in the AR experience had higher task performance and more insightful communication than the non-AR. The participants also had positive attitudes toward the use of AR in classroom instructions. In a semi-structured interview, the participants reflected that AR helped them engage in the content and analyse the task easier. Based on this study, we discuss several challenges and implications for future instruction designers. Implications for practice or policy: AR can improve student engagement in a collaborative problem-solving task. AR has the potential to promote and improve group communication in collaborative work. Instruction designers may need to carefully align the characteristics of AR with the task content especially when physical models are rarely used in the learning content.