Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pasting, Thermal, Hydration, and Functional Properties of Annealed and Heat-Moisture Treated Starch of Sword Bean (Canavalia gladiata)

The effects of annealing (ANN) and heat-moisture treatments (HMT) on the physicochemical and functional properties of Sword bean starches were investigated. The pasting properties differ significantly among the starches, with peak viscosity ranging from 399.17 RVU to 438.33 RVU; however, all the starches exhibited ‘Type C’ class with restricted swelling. The HMT starches had the highest gelatinization temperature, while change in enthalpy of gelatinization, ΔHgel of the native starch, was higher (13.82 J/g) than that of the modified starches (1.39–6.74 J/g). The solubility and swelling power of all the starches increased as the temperature increased. The oil and water absorption capacity of the starches ranges between 3.24–3.91 g/g and 2.42–3.35 g/g, respectively. HMT (at 25 and 30% moisture level) changes the X-ray diffraction pattern of the starch from Type ‘B’ to Type ‘C’. The Scanning electron micrograph results revealed the starch granules with smooth ellipsoids and indentation in their centre, hydrothermal modification showed little effect on the morphology and size of the granules. Hydrothermal modification improved the physicochemical and functional properties of the starch without destroying the granule of the starch.
Variation in Manganese and Iron Accumulation Among Soybean Genotypes Growing on Hydroponic Solutions of Differing Manganese and Nitrate Concentrations

Abstract Manganese (Mn) is an essential element of plant growth and has been identified as a cofactor in soybean (Glycine max Merr.) leaves for catabolism of ureides, which are the main products of nitrogen fixation transported from nodules to shoot. Variations among genotypes were observed in the rate of ureide catabolism when plants were grown in nutrient solutions deficient in Mn. One possible explanation is that the differences in ureide catabolism among genotypes might be related to differences in Mn uptake from Mn-deficient nutrient solutions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare Mn uptake among six soybean genotypes grown in nutrient solutions with differing Mn and nitrate concentrations. Manganese concentration in various plant tissues was measured, as were concentrations of ureide, α-amino acid, nitrate, and iron (Fe). The genotypes segregated into two distinct groups under Mn-deficient conditions, with one group having higher leaf Mn concentrations and higher leaf Fe concentrations when nitrate was excluded from the nutrient solution. These results indicated that there exist major differences among soybean genotypes in the mechanism for root uptake of Mn and Fe. In addition to the benefit of sustaining ureide catabolism and nitrogen fixation, those genotypes that readily recovered Mn and Fe from the solution might be especially useful in developing cultivars for soils low in available Fe that might otherwise result in soybean Fe chlorosis. †Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply approval or the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.
Kinematic Determinants of Front Kick Dynamics Across Different Loading Conditions.

INTRODUCTION The efficiency of front kick is related to the kicking technique. Thus, the aim of this study was to find the kinematic determinants of front kick dynamics across different performance and loading levels (no load to 45-kg load). MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four elite and sub-elite professional military personnel (26.8 ± 10.1 years, 84.2 ± 5.4 kg, 181.1 ± 6.4 cm) performed six front kicks into a force plate across five different loading conditions. Three-dimensional kinematics of the kicks was quantified and included velocity of the hip (Vhip), velocity of the knee (Vknee), velocity of the shoulder (Vshoulder), velocity of the foot (Vfoot), angular velocity of the knee (AVknee), and angular velocity of the hip (AVhip). RESULTS The main kinematic differences between the two groups were that the sub-elite group had an increased kick time for all loading conditions (P < .001) and a lower Vfoot (P = .05) and a decreased Vhip and Vshoulder (P < .05) in the highest load condition. Vhip and AVhip were the best predictors (up to R2 = 0.58; P = .020) of peak force and impact force during no-load or loaded kicking at the elite level. Typical predictors of impulse in the elite group were AVhip, Vhip, and Vshoulder and those in the sub-elite group were AVknee and Vfoot. CONCLUSIONS The kinematic variables provide good predictions of kicking dynamics; however, the best predictor varies with the loading conditions and performance levels. Hip motion is the main differentiating factor.
TRAPPING DEERMICE: EFFECTS OF TRAP TYPE ON CAPTURE AND RECAPTURE SUCCESS IN SAGEBRUSH HABITAT

Abstract To capture individuals in the field, small mammal researchers employ live-trapping, which can be influenced by trap type. Past studies of trap type on capture or recapture success revealed evidence of species- and habitat-specific biases. Therefore, to increase live-trapping success, we need more studies that examine effects of trap type on capture and recapture success of various species across different habitats. North American Deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are extensively used in ecological research, and, to our knowledge, no study has investigated trap type effects on Deermice in sagebrush habitat. Therefore, we examined the effects of trap type (Longworth and Sherman) on capture and recapture success of Deermice in sagebrush habitat of Montana during the summer season. We found that trap type did not influence capture or recapture success of any demographic class of Deermice. Therefore, Longworth and Sherman traps have similar capture and recapture success of Deermice, at least in sagebrush habitat during the summer. In conclusion, we recommend that researchers continue to examine how trap type may influence capture or recapture success so we can learn how to best maximize captures across species and habitats.
An Efficient ECG Denoising Method Based on Empirical Mode Decomposition, Sample Entropy, and Improved Threshold Function

The electrocardiogram (ECG) signal can easily be affected by various types of noises while being recorded, which decreases the accuracy of subsequent diagnosis. Therefore, the efficient denoising of ECG signals has become an important research topic. In the paper, we proposed an efficient ECG denoising approach based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD), sample entropy, and improved threshold function. This method can better remove the noise of ECG signals and provide better diagnosis service for the computer-based automatic medical system. The proposed work includes three stages of analysis: (1) EMD is used to decompose the signal into finite intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), and according to the sample entropy of each order of IMF following EMD, the order of IMFs denoised is determined; (2) the new threshold function is adopted to denoise these IMFs after the order of IMFs denoised is determined; and (3) the signal is reconstructed and smoothed. The proposed method solves the shortcoming of discarding the first-order IMF directly in traditional EMD denoising and proposes a new threshold denoising function to improve the traditional soft and hard threshold functions. We further conduct simulation experiments of ECG signals from the MIT-BIH database, in which three types of noise are simulated: white Gaussian noise, electromyogram (EMG), and power line interference. The experimental results show that the proposed method is robust to a variety of noise types. Moreover, we analyze the effectiveness of the proposed method under different input SNR with reference to improving SNR ( SNR imp ) and mean square error ( MSE ), then compare the denoising algorithm proposed in this paper with previous ECG signal denoising techniques. The results demonstrate that the proposed method has a higher SNR imp and a lower MSE . Qualitative and quantitative studies demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is a good ECG signal denoising method.
Sharenting, Peer Influence, and Privacy Concerns: A Study on the Instagram-Sharing Behaviors of Parents in the United Kingdom

Parental sharing of child-related content on social network sites, termed “sharenting,” is often the target of criticism. Yet, through sharenting, parents can find support systems, a way to stay in touch with relevant others, and even an opportunity for additional income. This study contributes to knowledge on antecedents of sharenting. It explores the impact of parents’ privacy concerns on the sharing of child-related content, as well as on their general Instagram sharing. In this study, we differentiate between general and situational privacy. Moreover, we investigate whether parents’ privacy self-efficacy and the support of their peers influence parental sharing practices. Drawing on a rich body of literature on privacy and information sharing, we discuss the results of an online survey distributed among 320 Instagram users who are parents of children younger than 13 and reside in the United Kingdom. We find that parents’ privacy concerns are uncorrelated to sharenting and only situational concerns marginally correlate to parents’ general sharing. Parents’ reported privacy self-efficacy also did not play a role in parents’ sharing of either personal or children-related content. On the contrary, both Instagram sharing and having a network supportive of parental sharenting positively predict sharenting. Our results indicate that (a) neither situational nor general privacy concerns influence parents’ sharenting behavior, and (b) a parent’s supportive network and frequent sharing habits make frequent sharenting more likely.
Women for Peace: Promoting Dialogue and Peace through Facebook?

The goal of this study is to examine the ways in which dialogue and peace are promoted and mobilized through a Facebook page in the protracted, ethnopolitical conflict between Israeli-Jews and Palestinians. A thematic qualitative text analysis based on the grounded theory approach was conducted on posts and comments that were published on the Facebook page of the Israeli grassroots movement Women Wage Peace (WWP), created by the Jewish and Arab women that participate in this movement. Our findings point to three major mechanisms through which attempts to mobilize peace were performed: building solidarity, maintaining engagement, and calling for action, thus contributing to our understanding of social media as a dialogue-provoking platform that enables users from different gender and ethnopolitical groups in divided and conflicted societies to perform peacebuilding actions. However, the findings indicate that at the same time, the page also constitutes a space for blatant expressions of hostility, hatred, and sexism that convey a backlash against the initiative and activity of WWP.
Managing Diverse Online Networks in the Context of Polarization: Understanding How We Grow Apart on and through Social Media

Social media enable their users to be connected with a diverse group of people increasing their chances of coming across divergent viewpoints. Thus, network diversity is a key issue for understanding the potentials of social media for creating a cross-cutting communication space that is one of the premises of a functioning democracy. This article analyzes the strategies social media users adopt to manage their network diversity in the context of increasing polarization. The study is based on 29 semi-structured interviews with diverse social media users from Turkey and qualitative network maps. Furthermore, the study adopts a cross-platform approach comparing Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp in relation to the diversity of their users’ networks. The study shows that social media users adopt different strategies interchangeably in specific contexts. These strategies include visible (unfriending, blocking) and invisible (muting, unfollowing, and ignoring) forms of disconnection, debating, observing divergent opinions, and self-censorship. Political interest of social media users, political climate, issue sensitivity, and “imagined affordances” of social media platforms play a role in users’ choices about which strategy to choose when they are confronted with divergent viewpoints through their diverse online networks. Building on the unfriending literature that points out to rather partisan users, who unfriend, unfollow or block others, this article demonstrates that in peak moments of polarization, also the politically disengaged or moderate users disconnect from diverse others.
Photovoltaic effects at the interface between amorphous selenium and organic polymers

Band bending in the surface layer of amorphous selenium induced by contact with an insulating organic polymer was detected by photoelectric signals generated at the interface under no external bias. The magnitudes and polarities of the signal varied among samples involving different polymers, and also among samples involving the same polymer with and without doping by an electropositive organic impurity. Details of this behavior, along with the observation that the polarity of the signal was reversed when the method of making the contact between selenium and polymer was altered, indicate that the preferred orientation of polymer molecules containing dipole moments on the selenium surface is the principal cause of the surface potential gradient in the selenium.
Learning Management System Adoption: A Theory of Planned Behavior Approach

The﻿growing﻿popularity﻿of﻿online﻿learning﻿has﻿put﻿learning﻿management﻿systems﻿(LMS)﻿at﻿the﻿forefront﻿ of﻿learning﻿technologies. ﻿The﻿adoption﻿of﻿LMS﻿by﻿students﻿has﻿therefore﻿been﻿a﻿major﻿driving﻿force﻿ for﻿online﻿education. ﻿However,﻿true﻿adoption﻿must﻿transcend﻿initial﻿use﻿for﻿significant﻿success. ﻿This﻿ study﻿utilizes﻿the﻿theory﻿of﻿planned﻿behavior﻿(TPB)﻿to﻿gain﻿new﻿insights﻿on﻿students’﻿short-term﻿ versus﻿ long-term﻿adoption﻿of﻿LMS. ﻿Specifically,﻿ it﻿ examines﻿ the﻿determinants﻿ of﻿ initial﻿ use﻿ and﻿ continuance﻿use﻿through﻿the﻿lens﻿of﻿the﻿TPB. ﻿Results﻿obtained﻿from﻿a﻿sample﻿of﻿248﻿undergraduate﻿ students﻿suggest﻿that﻿difference﻿in﻿continuing﻿use﻿and﻿initial﻿use﻿decision﻿depends﻿on﻿differences﻿in﻿ the﻿influences﻿of﻿personal﻿control﻿perceptions﻿about﻿technology﻿and﻿subjective﻿norms. ﻿Protagonists﻿ of﻿ online﻿ education﻿ will﻿ find﻿ these﻿ results﻿ interesting﻿ in﻿ that﻿ it﻿ provides﻿ insights﻿ for﻿ developing﻿ intervention﻿strategies﻿that﻿can﻿help﻿in﻿increasing﻿online﻿education﻿adoption﻿regardless﻿of﻿whether﻿ the﻿focus﻿is﻿long-term﻿or﻿short-term. KeyWoRdS Continuance Use, Innovation, Learning Management Systems, Learning Technologies, Online Learning, Technology Acceptance Model, Technology Adoption, Theory of Planned Behavior
Indoor Visible Light Communication: A Tutorial and Survey

With the advancement of solid-state devices for lighting, illumination is on the verge of being completely restructured. This revolution comes with numerous advantages and viable opportunities that can transform the world of wireless communications for the better. Solid-state LEDs are rapidly replacing the contemporary incandescent and fluorescent lamps. In addition to their high energy efficiency, LEDs are desirable for their low heat generation, long lifespan, and their capability to switch on and off at an extremely high rate. The ability of switching between different levels of luminous intensity at such a rate has enabled the inception of a new communication technology referred to as visible light communication (VLC). With this technology, the LED lamps are additionally being used for data transmission. This paper provides a tutorial and a survey of VLC in terms of the design, development, and evaluation techniques as well as current challenges and their envisioned solutions. The focus of this paper is mainly directed towards an indoor setup. An overview of VLC, theory of illumination, system receivers, system architecture, and ongoing developments are provided. We further provide some baseline simulation results to give a technical background on the performance of VLC systems. Moreover, we provide the potential of incorporating VLC techniques in the current and upcoming technologies such as fifth-generation (5G), beyond fifth-generation (B5G) wireless communication trends including sixth-generation (6G), and intelligent reflective surfaces (IRSs) among others.
A Multiclass Detection System for Android Malicious Apps Based on Color Image Features

The visual recognition of Android malicious applications (Apps) is mainly focused on the binary classification using grayscale images, while the multiclassification of malicious App families is rarely studied. If we can visualize the Android malicious Apps as color images, we will get more features than using grayscale images. In this paper, a method of color visualization for Android Apps is proposed and implemented. Based on this, combined with deep learning models, a multiclassifier for the Android malicious App families is implemented, which can classify 10 common malicious App families. In order to better understand the behavioral characteristics of malicious Apps, we conduct a comprehensive manual analysis for a large number of malicious Apps and summarize 1695 malicious behavior characteristics as customized features. Compared with the App classifier based on the grayscale visualization method, it is verified that the classifier using the color visualization method can achieve better classification results. We use four types of Android App features: classes.dex file, sets of class names, APIs, and customized features as input for App visualization. According to the experimental results, we find out that using the customized features as the color visualization input features can achieve the highest detection accuracy rate, which is 96% in the ten malicious families.
The Risk of Losing Deserted Medieval Rural Settlements: Opportunities for Agroturism and Rural Development

Abstract A significant number of deserted medieval rural settlements have been identified in Europe. These sites are at risk of disappearance as a consequence of current urban development and cropping intensification implying that relevant features of the cultural landscape informing about past rural traditions in the European countryside may be lost. The objective of this article is to illustrate this fact by means of a case study consisting of a deserted medieval rural upland settlement in Wales. A field walk carried out in this site revealed that old rural traditions and past ways of living can be identified from its own bodily engagement with the surrounding landscape. This evidence is used to argue that strategies that involve personal experience of deserted medieval rural settlements such as agroturism may be implemented to protect these sites and the cultural information contained in them.
The Mid-Lecture Break:: When Less Is More

Decline of attention toward mid-lecture can be avoided by inserting an interactive "intermission", the mid-lecture break. Change of pace, student involvement, and in-class assessment are the three essential features of mid-lecture breaks. These can be implemented in a variety of ways, depending on the instructor's interests and ingenuity.
Investigation of saturation flow rate using video camera at signalized intersections in Jordan

Abstract This study aimed to investigate a potential list of variables that may have an impact on the saturation flow rate (SFR) associated with different turning movements at signalized intersections in Jordan. Direct visits to locations were conducted, and a video camera was used. Highway capacity manual standard procedure was followed to collect the necessary traffic data. Multiple linear regression was performed to classify the factors that impact the SFR and to find the optimal model to foretell the SFR. Results showed that turning radius, presence of camera enforcement, and the speed limit are the significant factors that influence SFR for shared left- and U-turning movements (LUTM) with R2 = 76.9%. Furthermore, the presence of camera enforcement, number of lanes, speed limit, city, traffic volume, and area type are the factors that impact SFR for through movements only (THMO) with R2 = 69.6%. Also, it was found that the SFR for LUTM is 1611 vehicles per hour per lane (VPHPL),which is less than the SFR for THMO that equals to 1840 VPHPL. Calibration and validation of SFR based on local conditions can improve the efficiency of infrastructure operation and planning activities because vehicles’ characteristics and drivers’ behavior change over time.
Quantifying the Effects of Climate Change on Crop Production

Abstract This study attempts to analyze the impact of climate change on crop production using household consumption survey collected by the national institute of statistics and data imported from the department of statistics of ministry of agriculture and rural development. The main research question is: what is the relationship between climate change and crop production? Methodologically, used is made of instrumental variable and control function models to compute for the data. We realized that to a lesser extent climate change has an effect on agricultural production and more of a fishing phenomenon. In terms of policy, mainstreaming climate change adaptation into national development strategy and budgets could promote proactive engagement on the formulation and implementation of climate change adaptation strategy; this is a wise step towards increasing crop production and malnutrition reduction.
Two symmetric and computationally efficient Gini correlations

Abstract Standard Gini correlation plays an important role in measuring the dependence between random variables with heavy-tailed distributions. It is based on the covariance between one variable and the rank of the other. Hence for each pair of random variables, there are two Gini correlations and they are not equal in general, which brings a substantial difficulty in interpretation. Recently, Sang et al (2016) proposed a symmetric Gini correlation based on the joint spatial rank function with a computation cost of O(n2) where n is the sample size. In this paper, we study two symmetric and computationally efficient Gini correlations with the computational complexity of O(n log n). The properties of the new symmetric Gini correlations are explored. The influence function approach is utilized to study the robustness and the asymptotic behavior of these correlations. The asymptotic relative efficiencies are considered to compare several popular correlations under symmetric distributions with different tail-heaviness as well as an asymmetric log-normal distribution. Simulation and real data application are conducted to demonstrate the desirable performance of the two new symmetric Gini correlations.
Is there a relationship between the use of motorcycles and the level of development of countries?

Abstract Our paper aims to analyse the hypothesis that locations with a higher Human Development Index (HDI) present lower rates of motorcycle use. For this we use an econometric model for 117 countries on five continents for the years 2013, 2015 and 2018. We assume that when a country reaches a higher level of development, its population is more likely to experience improvements in the quality of life, which also affects the quality of individual transportation, public transport and roads. Increases in income discourage the use of motorcycles, mainly due to their low safety and comfort features. Our results indicate that rates of motorcycle use in countries increase as HDI rises, before reaching a maximum point and then declining. Therefore, this evidence suggests that a certain degree of development discourages the use of this means of transport in favour of others.