Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collaborative Production and the Transformation of Publishing: The Case of Wattpad

This chapter investigates the social reading and writing platform Wattpad as a site of collaborative production and consumption. I consider Wattpad as a community of readers and writers engaging in a process of creative dialogue and collaborative production of a shared commons and also as a transactional marketplace in which these readers and writers engage in the creation and circulation of value and exchange of services. I then go on to examine the various ways in which Wattpad, as both community and marketplace, articulates with the world of traditional publishing and the wider field of commerce: providing a launch pad for fledgling writers, an audience development opportunity for established writers and a marketing service for brands. Having considered these aspects, I argue that Wattpad’s fan community represents an emerging economic force and model within publishing. Furthermore, drawing on the work of Berlant and Arvidsson, I consider the extent to which this community might have the potential to function as a ‘productive consumer public’ and to exercise social and political as well as economic influence. Coming out of this discussion, I suggest some topics for future research into contemporary trends and future models of publishing.
Active Learning Approaches in Teaching Physical Science: Direction toward Enhanced Thinking Skills of Grade 12 Senior High School Students

The study attuned the learners’ preferred modality of learning and teaching methods through inventory of students’ preferences in terms of active learning approaches, find out the effects of the employment of respondents’ preferred approaches in enhancing low order and high order thinking skills in Physical Science subject and ascertain the most effective to enhance such skills. To align the preferred learning and teaching approaches of both the students and the teachers, the study purposively involved 92 students from three different sections of Grade 12 in Recto Memorial National High School, Tiaong Quezon and employed experimental method of research. Using inventory, t-test, and ANOVA as statistical tools, findings revealed that the preferred active learning approaches of the Senior High School Students are collaborative, inquiry-based, and reflective. Moreover, both the mean pre and post-tests in low and high order thinking skills of the three (3) preferred active approaches were found to have a significant difference. However, there are no significant differences among analyzing and evaluating sub-skills, and applying sub-skill of the three groups and higher order thinking skills of the groups particularly in creating sub-skill. Finally, there are significant differences among the low order thinking skills of the groups specifically in remembering and understanding sub-skills.
The effects of input earthquake characteristics on the nonlinear dynamic behavior of FPS isolated liquid storage tanks

There are several methods to reduce the seismic damages in liquid storage tanks. One of these methods is to use passive control devices, in particular seismic base isolators. Among the different base isolation systems, the Friction Pendulum System (FPS) whose period does not depend on the weight of the system is more appropriate for isolation of liquid storage tanks. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of peak ground acceleration (PGA) and pulselike characteristics of earthquakes on the seismic behavior of steel liquid storage tanks base isolated by FPS bearings. In addition, impact effects of the slider with the side retainer are investigated, as well as effects of tank aspect ratio, isolation period and friction coefficient. The obtained results of tanks with different aspect ratios indicate that the responses get more reduced due to isolation under far-field ground motions compared to near-fault ground motions. It is also seen that the response of a base isolated tank is affected when contact takes place with the side retainer of the FPS.
New Evidence on a Distinction between Aβ40 and Aβ42 Amyloids: Thioflavin T Binding Modes, Clustering Tendency, Degradation Resistance, and Cross-Seeding

The relative abundance of two main Abeta-peptide types with different lengths, Aβ40 and Aβ42, determines the severity of the Alzheimer’s disease progression. However, the factors responsible for different behavior patterns of these peptides in the amyloidogenesis process remain unknown. In this comprehensive study, new evidence on Aβ40 and Aβ42 amyloid polymorphism was obtained using a wide range of experimental approaches, including custom-designed approaches. We have for the first time determined the number of modes of thioflavin T (ThT) binding to Aβ40 and Aβ42 fibrils and their binding parameters using a specially developed approach based on the use of equilibrium microdialysis, which makes it possible to distinguish between the concentration of the injected dye and the concentration of dye bound to fibrils. The binding sites of one of these modes located at the junction of adjacent fibrillar filaments were predicted by molecular modeling techniques. We assumed that the sites of the additional mode of ThT-Aβ42 amyloid binding observed experimentally (which are not found in the case of Aβ40 fibrils) are localized in amyloid clots, and the number of these sites could be used for estimation of the level of fiber clustering. We have shown the high tendency of Aβ42 fibers to form large clots compared to Aβ40 fibrils. It is probable that this largely determines the high resistance of Aβ42 amyloids to destabilizing effects (denaturants, ionic detergents, ultrasonication) and their explicit cytotoxic effect, which we have shown. Remarkably, cross-seeding of Aβ40 fibrillogenesis using the preformed Aβ42 fibrils changes the morphology and increases the stability and cytotoxicity of Aβ40 fibrils. The differences in the tendency to cluster and resistance to external factors of Aβ40 and Aβ42 fibrils revealed here may be related to the distinct role they play in the deposition of amyloids and, therefore, differences in pathogenicity in Alzheimer’s disease.
Bluetongue Virus Infection of Goats: Re-Emerged European Serotype 8 vs. Two Atypical Serotypes

In recent years, numerous atypical Bluetongue virus (BTV) strains have been discovered all around the world. Atypical BTV strains are phylogenetically distinct from the classical BTV serotypes 1–24 and differ in terms of several biological features. For the first time, the atypical strains BTV-25-GER2018 and BTV-33-MNG3/2016 as well as the re-emerged classical strain BTV-8-GER2018 were evaluated comparatively in a pathogenesis study in goats—the natural host of atypical BTV. A substantial number of in-contact animals were included in this study to detect potential contact transmissions of the virus. After infection, EDTA blood, ocular, nasal and oral swab samples as well as serum were collected regularly and were used for virological and serological analyses, respectively. Our study showed differences in the immunological reaction between the two atypical BTV strains (no group-specific antibody detection) and the classical BTV strain BTV-8-GER2018 (group-specific antibody detection). Furthermore, we observed an increase in the total WBC count (neutrophils and lymphocytes) in goats infected with the atypical BTV strains. No horizontal transmission was seen for all three strains. Our study suggests that the atypical BTVs used in the trial differ from classical BTVs in their immunopathogenesis. However, no evidence of direct contact transmission was found.
Early-Onset of Gestational Diabetes vs. Late-Onset: Can We Revamp Pregnancy Outcomes?

Background: We assessed risk factors, antenatal and intrapartum complications associated with early-onset Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in comparison with late-onset GDM. Methods: This retrospective study included 161 GDM women having singleton pregnancies, without previous medical disorder and delivered at a tertiary care Hospital in Ha’il City, KSA from Dec 2020 till Jun 2021. Women diagnosed at < 24 weeks of pregnancy were grouped as early-onset GDM (n=71) and those diagnosed at ≥ 24 weeks as late-onset GDM (n=90). Both groups were matched for background variables. Chi-square and binary logistic regression analysis were applied with P-value significance at 0.05. Results: Past history of GDM, macrosomia and stillbirth were significant predictors for early-onset GDM (P value 0.000, 0.002 and 0.040 respectively). Regression analysis showed early-onset GDM significantly increases the risk for recurrent urinary tract infections (AOR 2.35), polyhydramnios (AOR 2.81), reduced fetal movements (AOR 2.13), intrauterine fetal demise (AOR 8.06), macrosomia (AOR 2.16), fetal birth trauma (2.58), low APGAR score at birth (AOR 8.06), and neonatal ICU admissions (AOR 2.65). Rate of preterm birth, hypertensive disorders, labor onset (natural vs. induced) and cesarean section and intrapartum maternal complications were same in both groups. Conclusion: Early-onset GDM significantly increases certain maternal (recurrent urinary tract infections, polyhydramnios and reduced fetal movements) and fetal complications (intrauterine fetal demise, macrosomia fetal birth trauma, low APGAR score at birth and neonatal ICU admissions). Most of these adverse pregnancy outcomes can be prevented through early registration and screening, close follow up, growth ultrasounds, and provision of efficient emergency and neonatal care services.
Computational Thinking and Educational Robotics Integrated into Project-Based Learning

In the context of the science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics disciplines in education, subjects tend to use contextualized activities or projects. Educational robotics and computational thinking both have the potential to become subjects in their own right, though not all educational programs yet offer these. Despite the use of technology and programming platforms being widespread, it is not common practice to integrate computational thinking and educational robotics into the official curriculum in secondary education. That is why this paper continues an initial project of integrating computational thinking and educational robotics into a secondary school in Barcelona, Spain. This study presents a project-based learning approach where the main focus is the development of skills related to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics and the acquisition of computational thinking knowledge in the second year of pupils’ studies using a block-based programming environment. The study develops several sessions in the context of project-based learning, with students using the block-programming platform ScratchTM. During these sessions and in small-group workshops, students will expand their knowledge of computational thinking and develop 21st-century skills. We demonstrate the superior improvement of these concepts and skills compared to other educational methodologies.
Tree species classification based on stem-related feature parameters derived from static terrestrial laser scanning data

ABSTRACT Tree species information is crucial for forest ecology and management, and development of techniques efficient for tree species classification has long been highlighted. In order to fulfil this task, a large variety of remote-sensing technologies have been attempted. Static terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is such a representative case, which has proved to be capable of deriving explicit tree structure feature parameters (ETSPs) and has been primarily validated for tree species classification. However, in practice for each forest plot mapped by TLS, this kind of ETSP-based solutions can only work for the first circle layer of individual trees surrounding the TLS systems, because the trees at the outer circle layers tend to show incomplete crown representations due to the effect of laser obscuration. This adverse circumstance even may occur to the scenario of TLS-based inventory in the multi-scan mode. To break through this restriction, this study focused on tree stems that tend to be more readily mapped by TLS in the complicated forest environment, and then, their comparatively complete forms were used to comprehensively derive primarily stem-related feature parameters (SRPs) for distinguishing different tree species. Specifically, in this study 14 SRPs were proposed, mainly based on stem structure and surface texture characteristics. Based on a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier, the classification was operated in the leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) mode. In the case of four typical boreal tree species, that is, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Populus tremula, and Quercus robur, tests showed that the optimal total classification accuracy reached 71.93%. Given that tree stems generally display less features than crowns, the result is acceptable. Overall, the positive results have validated the strategy of fulfilling TLS-based tree species classification by deriving predominantly stem-related feature parameters, and this, in a broad sense, can expand the effective range of TLS on forest ecological studies.
Computing optimal portfolios of multi-assets with tail risk: the case of bitcoin

ABSTRACT Assets with tail risk may produce a suboptimal portfolio under mean-variance optimization when asset returns are not normally distributed. We provide a new Monte Carlo simulation method for computing and attaching tails to observed empirical return distributions. We find that a combination of stochastic optimization and the new method for simulating tails in returns with expected shortfall utility function produces optimal portfolios that have better return and risk characteristics than those of mean-variance optimal portfolios. Results from this study suggest that bitcoin can be a diversifier in a multi-asset portfolio when optimization takes all moments of return into consideration.
Development of a Small-Scale Electricity Generation Plant Integrated on Biomass Carbonization: Thermodynamic and Thermal Operating Parameters Study

Biomass has been known as a source of energy with a thermochemical process that produces heat and can be converted further into electricity. However, thermal energy losses are a huge problem during combustion. To overcome this problem, a system based on organic Rankine cycle (ORCs) was developed to recover and utilize them to generate electricity. The proposed ORCs include an evaporator, a turbine, a condenser, and a pump coupled with a biomass carbonizing system to create a promising technology for small-scale electricity generation. In this work, a thermodynamic modelling equation based on energy and exergy balances was briefly expressed for each subcomponent of the system. A case study with R134a as the working fluid is being investigated to validate the system’s performance. In addition to the effects of R134a on temperature at the turbine exit, the suitable operating pressures has been specially adopted from several valid journals that focused on the effects of a wide range of possible operating pressure on the working fluid characteristics, which have a significant effect on the system performance. Finally, the theoretical analysis shows that the turbine work is profitable at an inlet pressure of 5 bar and an outlet pressure of 2 bar. This system is recommended to be integrated into the thermochemical biomass process. Recommendations have been made for the future development of small-scale biomass-fuelled power generation systems. This study shows that the thermal losses of the biomass thermochemical processes can be theoretically recovered in the form of electricity by using ORC efficiently.
Practical Implications of the Ambidexterity Concepts

Scientific publications treating the topic of ambidexterity have experienced a great increase in number since the last twenty years. However, the implications for managers to achieve ambidexterity in practice remain a largely neglected field of research. This thesis aims at bridging the rigor-relevance gap regarding the concept of ambidexterity by systematically reviewing findings from academic and practitioner literature in order to provide practical implications for managers to reconcile exploration and exploitation and to, thus, achieve ambidexterity in practice. Keywords: Ambidexterity, Practical implications, Exploitation, Rigor-relevance gap
Clearance of Persistent SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection in a NFκB-Deficient Patient in Association with the Ingestion of Human Breast Milk: A Case Report

Currently, there are no evidence-based treatment options for long COVID-19, and it is known that SARS-CoV-2 can persist in part of the infected patients, especially those with immunosuppression. Since there is a robust secretion of SARS-CoV-2-specific highly-neutralizing IgA antibodies in breast milk, and because this immunoglobulin plays an essential role against respiratory virus infection in mucosa cells, being, in addition, more potent in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 than IgG, here we report the clinical course of an NFκB-deficient patient chronically infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Gamma variant, who, after a non-full effective treatment with plasma infusion, received breast milk from a vaccinated mother by oral route as treatment for COVID-19. After such treatment, the symptoms improved, and the patient was systematically tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Thus, we hypothesize that IgA and IgG secreted antibodies present in breast milk could be useful to treat persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunodeficient patients.
Portable Respiration Monitoring System with an Embroidered Capacitive Facemask Sensor

Respiration monitoring is a very important indicator of health status. It can be used as a marker in the recognition of a variety of diseases, such as sleep apnea, asthma or cardiac arrest. The purpose of the present study is to overcome limitations of the current state of the art in the field of respiration monitoring systems. Our goal was the development of a lightweight handheld device with portable operation and low power consumption. The proposed approach includes a textile capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes embroidered into the facemask, integrated with readout electronics. Readout electronics is based on the direct interface of the capacitive sensor and a microcontroller through just one analog and one digital pin. The microcontroller board and sensor are powered by a smartphone or PC through a USB cable. The developed mobile application for the Android™ operating system offers reliable data acquisition and acts as a bridge for data transfer to the remote server. The embroidered sensor was initially tested in a humidity-controlled chamber connected to a commercial impedance analyzer. Finally, in situ testing with 10 volunteering subjects confirmed stable operation with reliable respiration monitoring.
Understanding the institutional, struggling with the personal: White bilingual teachers learning about race in multiple spaces

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the personal experiences and contexts that influenced the racial awareness of three White bilingual teachers. Using Bourdieu’s theories of habitus and field and discourse analysis as a framework, this study sought to understand: (1) how and which contexts contributed to a White teacher’s understanding of racial constructs such as institutionalised racism, White privilege, and oppression; and (2) how and which aspects of their pre-service teacher education programme deepened their understanding of these issues. Findings suggest that study participants entered the program with disparate understandings of institutionalised racism, struggled with their privilege, or did not place themselves within the discourse on White privilege. Additionally, findings showed that the courses necessary for bilingual certification pushed study participants to consider what it means to be a White bilingual teacher.
Fractal Dimension Analysis of Earth Magnetic Field during 26 August 2018 Geomagnetic Storm

We analyse the fractal nature of geomagnetic field northward and eastward horizontal components with 1 min resolution measured by the four stations Belsk, Hel, Sodankylä and Hornsund during the period of 22 August–1 September, when the 26 August 2018 geomagnetic storm appeared. To reveal and to quantitatively describe the fractal scaling of the considered data, three selected methods, structure function scaling, Higuchi, and detrended fluctuation analysis are applied. The obtained results show temporal variation of the fractal dimension of geomagnetic field components, revealing differences between their irregularity (complexity). The values of fractal dimension seem to be sensitive to the physical conditions connected with the interplanetary shock, the coronal mass ejection, the corotating interaction region, and the high-speed stream passage during the storm development. Especially, just after interplanetary shock occurrence, a decrease in the fractal dimension for all stations is observed, not straightforwardly visible in the geomagnetic field components data.
A Reflection on Challenges Faced by Deaf Trainees in Effective Social Interaction in St. Angela Mumias Vocational School, Kakamega, Kenya

The purpose of the study was to establish the challenges deaf trainees face in their social interactions. The study focused on St. Angela Mumias Vocational School for the Deaf, Kakamega County. The study was anchored on the Theory of Mind by David Premack (1978). A case study design was adopted. The study target was 103, including 95 deaf trainees, one principal, and 7 trainers. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select 3 trainers and the principal, while simple random sampling was used to select 39 deaf trainees. This study adopted a mixed-methods data collection approach. Questionnaires comprising both open-ended and close-ended questions were used to collect data from the principal and deaf trainees. In contrast, semi-structured interview schedules were used to collect primary data from trainers. Quantitative data was coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). Descriptive data was represented in the form of mean, median, mode, correlation, frequency distribution tables, graphs, pie charts, and percentages. Qualitative data were coded systematically by hand, analyzed thematically and presented in narrative form. The findings revealed that only 27.8 % of deaf trainees interacted with the hearing trainees and they also do not share their problems and secrets. Based on the results, the study recommends that the government, through the Ministry of Education, decentralize sign language training to the villages and community settings to assist in enhancing communication between the Deaf and the hearing.