Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Online discussion forums for rural teacher professional development

Rural teachers often have difficulties to participate conventionally in professional development programs in towns. This article explains the possibility and challenge of developing an online e-learning program and forum to support rural English teacher capacity building. The research was conducted through a qualitative survey in four districts in two of fourteen counties in Kalimantan Barat province, Indonesia. The data were collected through interview and observation and were analyzed using a three-level classification system that consisted of unidimensional description, multidimensional description, and explanation. The research found that the government regulations, the transportation infrastructure, the internet connection, and the teacher readiness could support the online discussion forum. The possible design to support the forum was an asynchronous discussion forum in social media groups. The challenge was finding motivated and committed teachers to initiate and lead the forums. Based on the discussion and conclusion, the research recommends that external experts mentor the leaders in the first year. When the leaders are ready to manage the groups, the mentor can motivate the leaders to manage the groups autonomously and may collaborate with the external experts to conduct some relevant professional development programs.
User experience of utilising contactless payment technology in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Contactless payments are being increasingly used with people demonstrating their interest in the payment technologyby waving or tapping their cards and devices at point-of-sale (POS) terminals across the world to make purchases. Eventhough the shift to contactless payments systems was already taking place before the COVID-19 outbreak, it is essential tostudy if the current crisis has accelerated this transformation. In this study, an online survey was used to examine the experience ofutilizing contactless payment technology in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 outbreak. We also investigated the factors thatcould affect this experience. The results showed that positive experiences in utilizing contactless payment technology have increased after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the study showed that health safety and hygiene were the mainreasons for using contactless technology for payment during the coronavirus crisis, while the security of transactions was the mainconcern in not using it for payments.
Spike-and-slab type variable selection in the Cox proportional hazards model for high-dimensional features

In this paper, we develop a variable selection framework with the spike-and-slab prior distribution via the hazard function of the Cox model. Specifically, we consider the transformation of the score and information functions for the partial likelihood function evaluated at the given data from the parameter space into the space generated by the logarithm of the hazard ratio. Thereby, we reduce the nonlinear complexity of the estimation equation for the Cox model and allow the utilization of a wider variety of stable variable selection methods. Then, we use a stochastic variable search Gibbs sampling approach via the spike-and-slab prior distribution to obtain the sparsity structure of the covariates associated with the survival outcome. Additionally, we conduct numerical simulations to evaluate the finite-sample performance of our proposed method. Finally, we apply this novel framework on lung adenocarcinoma data to find important genes associated with decreased survival in subjects with the disease.
Negotiating asymmetric borders in an emerging soft region

ABSTRACT In contemporary planning, the development of soft regions through inter-municipal collaborations plays an increasingly important role. However, as previous research has shown, local borders and local jurisdiction are likely to remain as part and parcel of the new region. This paper argues the need to consider the geography of such local borders, to reveal asymmetries which could weaken the opportunities for inter-municipal collaboration. Following relational geography, we argue that the municipalities don’t necessarily share the same border; if understood as a relational effect, the border plays different roles for each municipality. With this in mind, we offer a case study of how a Swedish local border is being negotiated within planning. The case of Kumla and Hallsberg reveals how one municipality is active in trying to negotiate the border, whereas the other procrastinates around any action which do not lie in their interest. The result is a border haunted by decades of poorly coordinated, even provocative, planning actions. Our study opens up for a discussion on asymmetries and a relational understanding of the geography (and history) of planning, as well as for further studies of the interplay between the renegotiation of the local borders within emerging soft regions.
The mechanical and chemical scarification to break dormancy and increasing vigor of Sunan candlenut seed

The objective of this research is to identify a treatment that can break the dormancy and increase the vigor of candlenut seed (Reutealis trisperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw) seedling. Treatments were mechanical scarification and chemical scarification. Mechanical scarification was control (S0), cracking (S1), filing (S2), and sanding (S3). Chemical scarification was control (T0), immersion in 10% HCl (T1), 10% H2SO4 (T2), and 10% KNO3 (T3) for 20 minutes. Soon after treatment, the persistence of seed dormancy (weeks), speed growing (% etmal−1), and height of the seedling were observed. Cracking the seed was showed the highest growth rate among all treatments (2,44 % etmal−1). Mechanicals and chemicals scarification were effective to break seed dormancy. Persistence of seed dormancy mechanical and chemical scarification various between 3-5 weeks, meanwhile the control was 7 weeks. Seedlings with the treatment combination of cracking and soaking with 10% KNO3 were the highest in 1, 3, and 5 weeks after planting.
Institutional governance and financial sector development: Panel evidence from Asian economies

Abstract Current study aims to investigate the impact of institutional governance (GOV), trade openness (TOPEN), real output (RGDP), economic freedom (EFR), inflation rate (INFR) and real output growth on financial sector development (FSD) of selected Asian economies. A consolidated financial sector development index, representing banking sector and stock market is generated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The study conducted data analysis by applying panel estimation method of Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), and showed that trade openness, and real output moderate the financial development (FSD) through its positive interaction with institutional governance (GOV). The findings highlight that governance is an important and crucial driver of financial sector development and stock market development in four selected Asian economies.
Vitamin C May Increase the Recovery Rate of Outpatient Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by 70%: Reanalysis of the COVID A to Z Randomized Clinical Trial

The COVID A to Z trial (JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4:e210369) is important as it focused specifically on SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus patients and examined a high dose of vitamin C which was previously predicted to reduce the duration of respiratory virus infections by about 20%. Unfortunately, there are several limitations in the trial methods. The COVID A to Z trial was “stopped early for futility”. In the sample size calculation, the authors assumed a 1.0 day shorter symptoms by intervention. Duration of symptoms was reduced by 1.2 days in the vitamin C arm compared with the usual care arm. Given that the observed vitamin C effect was 20% greater than the expected effect (1.2 vs. 1.0), it is illogical to have stopped the trial early because of “futility”. In this reanalysis we calculated the rate ratio of recovery between the vitamin C and usual care arms and found that vitamin C increased the rate of recovery by 70% (95% CI 6.8% to 170%, P = 0.025). Furthermore, we calculated quantile treatment effect of vitamin C. At the 60th percentile level of symptom distribution, duration was 9 days in the usual care arm, and 6 days in the vitamin C arm, which corresponds to reduction in symptom duration by 3 days (95% CI 3 to 4.6 days; P < 0.001). The analysis of the quantile treatment effect indicates that there may be around 30% reduction in symptom duration in patients with the longest symptoms. Our reanalysis indicates a need for methodologically sound trials with larger numbers of patients to investigate the treatment effects of vitamin C against SARS-CoV-2.
Healthcare enterprises and public policies on COVID‐19: Insights from the Greek rural areas

Abstract Despite the difficulties, entrepreneurship met the socioeconomic challenges by providing solutions to rural areas during the COVID‐19 crisis, while healthcare entrepreneurial activity has been adapted to the changing conditions. The Greek rural areas' healthcare enterprises suffer the consequences of the public policies on COVID‐19 as their activities have been affected, their turnover has decreased, and liquidity problems have arisen. Entrepreneurs believe that the announced state and European support will help them overcome the implications. However, some of the support measures that have a loan rational will bring enterprises with bank loans to a halt. Indeed, entrepreneurship in rural areas faces multiple problems that they are trying to overcome during the COVID‐19 crisis. Uncertainty, insecurity and health scare prevailed. Despite the problems, the enterprises showed resilience and did not cease their operations.
MICRONUTRIENTS DEFICIENCY ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF BANANA PRATA SEEDLINGS

The knowledge of the requirements and micronutrients efficiency in banana is relevant to the development of fertilizer recommendations. This study aimed to evaluated requirements and nutritional efficiencies of banana seedlings submitted to omission of micronutrients in nutritive solution. Treatments were complete nutritive solution and solution with individual omission of B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, and two Prata-Ana and BRS Platina hybrid genotypes. Leaf area, dry matter of leaves, rhizome, roots and total and micronutrient contents were determined. With results, the following indexes were calculated: uptake, transport and micronutrient utilization efficiency. B deficiency effected more intensely the growth of both banana genotypes. The nutrient uptake corresponded to the following sequence: Fe > Mn > Zn > B > Cu, which reflects the plant requirements. The BRS Platina hybrid showed higher B, Fe and Zn absorption efficiency in relation to Prata Ana cultivar, which had higher Cu absorption efficiency. BRS Platina hybrid showed higher efficiency in the transport of Fe and Mn, while Prata Ana only for Cu. Prata Ana cultivar showed higher micronutrient utilization efficiency in complete treatment and treatment with omission of micronutrients.
Molecular phylogeography reveals two geographically and temporally separated floristic exchange tracks between Southeast Asia and northern Australia

Exchange of plant lineages between Australia and Southeast Asia has had a substantial impact on the evolution of Australia's northern, tropical flora, with important ramifications for its conservation and biosecurity. Despite this, floristic exchange tracks between northern Australia and Southeast Asia remain poorly understood. To address this, we conducted a molecular phylogeographic case study to identify exchange tracks between Australia and Southeast Asia.
Quantitative product spectrum analysis of poly(butyl acrylate) via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is used to analyze poly(butyl acrylate) samples at full conversion obtained by bulk free radical polymerization in the temperature range of 60−140 °C in the presence of the chain transfer agent (CTA) 1-octanethiol at concentrations varying between 0 and 0.4 mol·L−1. Termination by combination products carrying initiator and transfer-derived fragments as well as three β-scission products were identified in the accessible mass range of up to 2000 m/z. The resulting mass spectra are subsequently quantitatively evaluated via integration to assess product distributions as a function of varying reaction conditions, that is, different temperatures and CTA concentrations. The present study provides for the first time quantitative product distribution data for butyl acrylate polymerization. The main species of interest, defined to be those most sensitive to variations in temperature, CTA concentration, or both, are identified to be thiol-capped polymers (TCPs) pro.
Rapid soil organic carbon decomposition in river systems: effects of the aquatic microbial community and hydrodynamical disturbance

Abstract. Different erosion processes deliver large amounts of terrestrial soil organic carbon (SOC) to rivers. Mounting evidence indicates that a significant fraction of this SOC, which displays a wide range of ages, is rapidly decomposed after entering the river system. The mechanisms explaining this rapid decomposition of previously stable SOC still remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the relative importance of two mechanisms that possibly control SOC decomposition rates in aquatic systems: (i) in the river water SOC is exposed to the aquatic microbial community which is able to metabolize SOC much more quickly than the soil microbial community and (ii) SOC decomposition in rivers is facilitated due to the hydrodynamic disturbance of suspended sediment particles. We performed different series of short-term (168 h) incubations quantifying the rates of SOC decomposition in an aquatic system under controlled conditions. Organic carbon decomposition was measured continuously through monitoring dissolved O 2 (DO) concentration using a fiber-optic sensor (FireStingO 2 , PyroScience). Under both shaking and standing conditions, we found a significant difference in decomposition rate between SOC with aquatic microbial organisms added (SOC + AMO) and without aquatic microbial organisms (SOC − AMO). The presence of an aquatic microbial community enhanced the SOC decomposition process by 70 %–128 % depending on the soil type and shaking–standing conditions. While some recent studies suggested that aquatic respiration rates may have been substantially underestimated by performing measurement under stationary conditions, our results indicate that the effect of hydrodynamic disturbance is relatively minor, under the temperature conditions, for the soil type, and for the suspended matter concentration range used in our experiments. We propose a simple conceptual model explaining these contrasting results.
Green skills in vocational learning through the project citizen model

The problem in this research is effort to increase green skills implementation in vocational school. The purpose of research is how green skills implementation through the project citizen model. The method used is Classroom Action Research (CAR). The subjects of the study were students of SMK Muhammadiyah Palangka Raya and SMKN 1 Palangka Raya in class XI. The results of this study indicate that the planning carried out in this study is to sort waste according to the type of waste. Another thing when implementing is the need for deeper explanation to students in identifying green skills problems, explaining solutions in applying green skills, and efforts to apply green skills to students when practicing in a laboratory or workshop. In this study an increase in green skills in the aspects of the ability to sort waste, the ability to analyze costs, and the ability to process products that will be made with used waste. This can be seen from the results that have been described where from each cycle from cycle I to cycle III increased in aspects of waste management with a score of 82 (good), the ability to make products from used mate-rials with a score of 3.7 (very good) and the ability to analyze the production costs of the product to be made with a score of 3.70 (very good) related to green skills in students practicum in vocational education.
“It’s like a lifeboat”: stakeholder perspectives of an intensive comprehensive aphasia program (ICAP)”

ABSTRACT Background Intensive comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) have gained popularity in recent years. Outcomes from ICAPs have demonstrated measurable improvements for most who take part, but how do people with aphasia and their family members experience an ICAP? Aim The aim of this paper was to explore, through qualitative interviews, the experiences of persons with aphasia and their family members who took part in an ICAP. Methods & Procedures Twelve interviews were conducted with persons with aphasia and family members regarding their experiences with the ICAP that they had just completed. Nine persons with aphasia were interviewed with their family members and three chose to take part in the interview alone. The Framework Analysis method was used to identify themes from the transcribed interviews. Outcomes & Results The interviewees discussed four themes related to treatment, psychosocial environments, physical environments, and outcomes. The interviewees remarked on the challenges that were provided by the treatment and how the treatment was different from previous treatment. Comments were made related to the relationships the participants and families developed within the context of the program. The physical environment allowed for relationships to develop. The interviewees discussed the physical and social environment as important additional factors that contribute to the overall therapeutic effect of the ICAP. Positive outcomes were noted in language skills and psychosocial contexts. Conclusions Based on interviewees’ descriptions of this one ICAP, the concept of a therapeutic milieu was developed to describe how the intersection of the treatment, psychosocial interactions, and physical setting related to outcomes. Interviewees described how the therapeutic milieu of the ICAP was interwoven with the intensive therapy to create a “package” of therapy that led to improved outcomes. Implications for non-ICAP clinical practice is that participants linked more intensive therapy and greater social interactions with better outcomes.
Apple Detection in Complex Scene Using the Improved YOLOv4 Model

To enable the apple picking robot to quickly and accurately detect apples under the complex background in orchards, we propose an improved You Only Look Once version 4 (YOLOv4) model and data augmentation methods. Firstly, the crawler technology is utilized to collect pertinent apple images from the Internet for labeling. For the problem of insufficient image data caused by the random occlusion between leaves, in addition to traditional data augmentation techniques, a leaf illustration data augmentation method is proposed in this paper to accomplish data augmentation. Secondly, due to the large size and calculation of the YOLOv4 model, the backbone network Cross Stage Partial Darknet53 (CSPDarknet53) of the YOLOv4 model is replaced by EfficientNet, and convolution layer (Conv2D) is added to the three outputs to further adjust and extract the features, which make the model lighter and reduce the computational complexity. Finally, the apple detection experiment is performed on 2670 expanded samples. The test results show that the EfficientNet-B0-YOLOv4 model proposed in this paper has better detection performance than YOLOv3, YOLOv4, and Faster R-CNN with ResNet, which are state-of-the-art apple detection model. The average values of Recall, Precision, and F1 reach 97.43%, 95.52%, and 96.54% respectively, the average detection time per frame of the model is 0.338 s, which proves that the proposed method can be well applied in the vision system of picking robots in the apple industry.
Lighting for Cultural and Heritage Site: An Innovative Approach for Lighting in the Distinct Pagoda-Style Architecture of Nepal

Nepal houses many traditional and cultural sites rich in historical cultural diversity. These sites are also economically important to the nation. These monuments show the culture and the living beliefs of the communities; hence, people from all over the world are attracted to such place to observe the beauty and to feel the spirit and the conservational perspectives behind these articulated edifices. In today’s context, artificial light is a basic necessity for human activities and has been used in various applications: one such application being night-time illumination of historical sites and monuments. Most of the historic monuments in Nepal were constructed during the 15th to 18th century and are designed to incorporate oil-based wick lamp as the light source. Recently with the availability of modern luminaires and lack of technical expertise and scientific approach, most of the historic sites are being filled up with uneven, exaggerated, and inappropriate illumination. This inappropriate illumination practice may lead to negative consequences that may create disturbance to human and the surrounding environment. Scope of this paper is to identify the special needs for illuminating cultural and heritage sites with Pagoda-style architecture and introduce a methodology for a case study in Nepal. As a first step, this paper analyzes lighting malpractices in the temples of Nepal at different geographical locations and cultural values. As a next step, a prototype LED luminaire that enhances the unique type of architecture of Nepalese heritage sites was built, installed, and demonstrated in one of the temples. The work presents the design process of the lighting system and the results of a new lighting installation. The study also discusses possible problems that may arise while designing lighting for cultural and heritage site and provides recommendations on considerations to be taken during the design.
Longitudinal density variation in irrigated hardwoods

Nine hardwood species, comprising six eucalypts, two acacias and a casuarina, were sampled from a 6-year-old plantation trial at Bolivar, 20 km north of Adelaide in South Australia. For the eucalypts, the predominant trend was for a reduction in density from the base of the stem to 10% of total tree height, followed by a progressive increase in density thereafter. However, in one seedlot of Eucalyptus grandis, and in E.botryoides, Acacia melanoxylon and A.mearnsii, the overall trend was for a reduction in density with tree height. It was concluded that prediction of whole-tree mean basic density from a single disc sample would only be reliable if models specific to individual species and seedlots were used. Moreover, because the correlations between the whole-tree mean density and that of single disc samples were lower at the top and bottom of the tree, these levels should be avoided as density sampling positions.