Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Cognitive Factors of Modular Distance Learning of K-12 Students Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic towards Academic Achievements and Satisfaction

The COVID-19 pandemic brought extraordinary challenges to K-12 students in using modular distance learning. According to Transactional Distance Theory (TDT), which is defined as understanding the effects of distance learning in the cognitive domain, the current study constructs a theoretical framework to measure student satisfaction and Bloom’s Taxonomy Theory (BTT) to measure students’ academic achievements. This study aims to evaluate and identify the possible cognitive capacity influencing K-12 students’ academic achievements and satisfaction with modular distance learning during this new phenomenon. A survey questionnaire was completed through an online form by 252 K-12 students from the different institutions of Occidental Mindoro. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the researcher analyses the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The model used in this research illustrates cognitive factors associated with adopting modular distance learning based on students’ academic achievements and satisfaction. The study revealed that students’ background, experience, behavior, and instructor interaction positively affected their satisfaction. While the effects of the students’ performance, understanding, and perceived effectiveness were wholly aligned with their academic achievements. The findings of the model with solid support of the integrative association between TDT and BTT theories could guide decision-makers in institutions to implement, evaluate, and utilize modular distance learning in their education systems.
Lyapunov‐based hybrid model predictive control for energy management of microgrids

This study presents an advanced control structure aimed at the optimal economic energy management of a renewable energy-based microgrid. This control scheme is applied to energy optimisation in a microgrid with non-dispatchable renewable sources, such as photovoltaic and wind power generation, as well as dispatchable sources, as distributed generators, hybrid storage systems compound by battery bank, supercapacitors, hydrogen storage unit, and one electric vehicle charging station. The proposed controller consists of a Lyapunov-based hybrid model predictive control based on mixed logical dynamical (MLD) framework. The main contribution of the proposed technique is the assurance of the closed-loop stability and recursive feasibility, by a novel approach focused on MLD models, using ellipsoidal terminal constraints and the Lyapunov decreasing condition. Finally, simulation tests under different operational conditions are performed and the attained results have shown the safe and reliable operation of the proposed control algorithm compared to existing and well-known energy management techniques.
VaAPL1 Promotes Starch Synthesis to Constantly Contribute to Soluble Sugar Accumulation, Improving Low Temperature Tolerance in Arabidopsis and Tomato

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) is a key rate-limiting enzyme involved in starch synthesis. APL1, an AGPase large subunit, plays an important role in the growth and development of grapes; however, its function in withstanding low temperature (LT) remains elusive. Hence, VaAPL1 was cloned from Vitis amurensis (Zuoshan I), and its function was characterized. The gene was highly expressed in the phloem of V. amurensis during winter dormancy (0, −5, and − 10°C). Phylogenetic relationships demonstrated that VaAPL1 was closely genetic related to SlAPL1 (from Solanum lycopersicum), and clustered into I group. Further, VaAPL1 was ectopically expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia, Col) and tomato (“Micro-Tom” tomato) to characterize its function under LT. Compared with Col, the average survival rate of VaAPL1-overexpressing A. thaliana exceeded 75.47% after freezing treatment. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content decreased in VaAPL1-overexpressing A. thaliana and tomato plants under LT stress. The activities of AGPase, and starch contents in VaAPL1-overexpressing A. thaliana were higher than in Col after LT stress. The contents of sucrose and glucose were accumulated in overexpressing plants compared with wild-type at 0 h and 24 h after LT stress. Transcriptome sequencing of overexpressing tomato plants revealed involvement in sugar metabolism and the hormone signal pathway, and Ca2+ signaling pathway-related genes were up-regulated. Hence, these results suggest that overexpression of VaAPL1 not only ensured sufficient starch converting into soluble sugars to maintain cell osmotic potential and provided energy, but also indirectly activated signal pathways involved in LT to enhance plant tolerance.
Applying Real-Time Dynamic Scaffolding Techniques during Tutoring Sessions Using Intelligent Tutoring Systems

An intelligent tutoring system (ITS) is a computer system or software application that is built to replicate human tutors by supporting the theory of “learning by doing. ” Even though ITSs have been proven to be successful in academic studies, they still have not found large adoption by the industry due to the complexities of building such systems due to the high technical expertise and domain knowledge requirements. Attempts have been made to build authoring tools that can provide assistance in building tutoring systems; however, most of these tools are targeted toward authors that have considerable programming experience. This research proposes an authoring tool for ITS, which is targeted at novice authors with minimum technical/programming experience and provides real-time scaffolding to learner’s incomplete/incorrect answers using the best scaffolding techniques. Two evaluation techniques were applied for the evaluation of the performance of the proposed authoring tool, e.g., paired t-test analysis and postexperiment survey. The learning gains obtained from paired t-test contend a significant learning gain and improvement in the learning process with enhanced learning performance with multiple scaffolding techniques as compared to single scaffolding technique experience. The postexperiment survey has a notable result that shows the effectiveness of the tutor model that ensures a very user-friendly interface, deploying scaffolding techniques and adequate control of selecting and deploying scaffolding techniques and making the authoring process easy.
Parallel computing for artificial neural network training

The big-data is an oil of this century. A high amount of computational power is required to get knowledge from data. Parallel and distributed computing is essential to processing a large amount of data. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) need as much as possible data to have high accuracy, whereas parallel processing can help us to save time in ANNs training. In this paper, we have implemented exemplary parallelization of neural network training by dint of Java and its native socket libraries. During the experiments, we have noticed that Java implementation tends to have memory issues when a large amount of training data sets are involved in training. We have remarked that exemplary parallelization of a neural network training will not outperform drastically when additional nodes are introduced into the system after a certain point. This is widely due to network communication complexity in the system.
Efficacy and safety of post-auricular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate and lidocaine in the treatment of acute tinnitus, and its effect on sleep quality

Purpose: To study the efficacy and safety of post-auricular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate plus lidocaine in the treatment of acute tinnitus, and its effect on sleep quality.Methods: Eighty acute tinnitus patients admitted to Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China from January 2020 to June 2021, served as subjects for this retrospective analysis. The patients were equally assigned to a reference group given postauricular injection of lidocaine, and a research group treated with post-auricular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate in combination with lidocaine. Treatment efficacy values in the two groups of patients were determined and compared.Results: Total treatment effectiveness values in patients in the research group after one course of treatment, and at three months post-treatment, were significantly higher than the corresponding values in the reference group (p < 0.05). After treatment, the two groups had markedly improved Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores, although patients in the research group had lower scores than those in reference group (p < 0.05). There were significant decreases in post-treatment pure tone threshold and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) in the two groups of patients, with lower values in the research group than in the reference group (p < 0.05). There were no obvious adverse drug reactions during treatment and during 3-month follow-up period.Conclusion: Post-auricular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate and lidocaine effectively improved the clinical efficacy and the sleep quality of acute tinnitus patients. It is a simple and highly safe operation which merits clinical application.
Capacity Planning Considering Uncertainty Factors

Capacity planning is the process of determining the production capacity needed by an organization to meet changing demands for its products. Production capacity planning is generally based on all capabilities determining that wireless production is stable, with no fluctuations in machine downtime, variable processing times, defective products, etc., and use the mean for cycle time. However, actual production not only has many fluctuations in human resources that affecting the production time on each stage, but also affected by defective products leading to inaccurate planning. Therefore, planning production capacity under uncertain conditions is essential for any manufacturing enterprise. This paper proposes a model of capacity planning in uncertain conditions using real-time observation and then distributing observation time from which to analyze production capacity. Uncertainty factor as labor and defective products will be considered in this model.
Robust Tool Wear Monitoring Using Systematic Feature Selection in Turning Processes With Consideration of Uncertainties

This paper describes a robust tool wear monitoring scheme for turning processes using low-cost sensors. A feature normalization scheme is proposed to eliminate the dependence of signal features on cutting conditions, cutting tools, and workpiece materials. In addition, a systematic feature selection procedure in conjunction with automated signal preprocessing parameter selection is presented to select the feature set that maximizes the performance of the predictive tool wear model. The tool wear model is built using a type-2 fuzzy basis function network (FBFN), which is capable of estimating the uncertainty bounds associated with tool wear measurement. Experimental results show that the tool wear model built with the selected features exhibits high accuracy, generalized applicability, and exemplary robustness: The model trained using 4140 steel turning test data could predict the tool wear for Inconel 718 turning with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 7.80 μm and requests tool changes with a 6% margin on average. Furthermore, the developed method was successfully applied to tool wear monitoring of Ti–6Al–4V alloy despite different mechanisms of tool wear, i.e., crater wear instead of flank wear.
Effect of liraglutide dose on efficacy of correcting microcirculatory disorders in absolute insulin deficiency of albino rats

The objective was to study the dose-dependent effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, on microcirculation in white rats under the alloxan-induced insulin deficiency. Materials and Methods. Our study was carried out on 70 white rats, divided into four groups: 20 intact control animals; 20 animals of the comparison group with alloxan-induced diabetes; 10 animals with insulin deficiency, injected with liraglutide at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg per day (treatment group No. 1); and 20 animals with insulin deficiency treated with liraglutide at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg per day (treatment group No. 2). Diabetic status, skin perfusion of the posterior limb and mechanisms of blood flow modulation were assessed in all groups of animals. Results. It was established that administering liraglutide at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg per day allowed achieving complete normalization of carbohydrate metabolism in rats with alloxan-induced insulin deficiency, thereby more effectively improving the state of microcirculation, compared with a dose of 0.2 mg/kg per day. Conclusion. The efficacy of correcting the microcirculatory disorders with liraglutide correlates with correcting the carbohydrate metabolism in rats with insulin deficiency and depends on liraglutide dose. The dose-dependent effect is achieved by the endothelial mechanism of flow modulation in microcirculation. However, the restoration of the vascular tone neurogenic component is independent of liraglutide dose.
Axial impact behavior and energy absorption of rubberized concrete with/without fiber-reinforced polymer confinement

This study investigates the axial impact resistance and energy absorption of rubberized concrete with/without fiber-reinforced polymer confinement. The impact tests were carried out using an instrumented drop-weight testing apparatus. The experimental results have shown that rubberized concrete significantly reduced the maximum impact force of up to 50% and extended the impact duration. These characteristics make rubberized concrete a promising material for protective structures and particularly for future sustainable construction of rigid roadside barriers. Glass fiber–reinforced polymer confinement is a very effective method to improve the impact resistance for both conventional concrete and particularly for rubberized concrete. It was found that the rubberized concrete reduced the maximum impact force so that it transferred a lower force to a protected structure as well as a lower rebound force, which is desirable for protection of passengers in an incident of vehicle collision. Interestingly, the rubberized concrete showed a lower energy absorption capacity as compared to conventional concrete, where the exact reason for this is unknown to the authors. Therefore, further research is sought to provide more understanding of the response of rubberized concrete under impact and improve its energy absorption. This study explored experimentally the use of rubberized concrete as a promising sustainable construction material for applications to construction of columns in buildings located in seismic active zones or subjected to terrorist attack, security bollards and rigid road side barriers.
On the Sensitivity of Microwave Fabry–Perot Interferometers for Displacement Detection

Microwave interferometers have been attractive devices for high-precision measurements of displacement-related physical quantities in a variety of scientific and engineering applications. However, due to the long operating wavelength, the displacement measurement resolution of microwave interferometers is limited to the micrometer scale. In this article, we propose and demonstrate a novel technology based on microwave interferometry for displacement measurements with potential picometer resolution. An open-ended (OE) transmission line resonator based on a homemade hollow coaxial cable is explored in proof-of-concept numerical and experimental investigations. The technique involves two stages of displacement sensitivity amplification: one is the open end-based phase sensitivity amplification, and the other is the destructive interference-based phase sensitivity amplification. We experimentally demonstrate a wavelength sensitivity amplification factor of 1800 through spectral interrogation where only the open end-based amplification is involved, and a phase sensitivity amplification factor of 1.4 million through phase interrogation where both the open end-based amplification and the destructive interference-based phase shift amplification are involved, i.e., two-stage phase shift amplified microwave interferometry (TPAMI). The numerical investigations and the experimental results match well.
Impact of Vial Bubble on the Accuracy of Positions in the GNSS-RTK Mode

: The use of the GNSS devices in the RTK mode involves taking a vertical position using a circular spirit vial bubble located on the rod. Since the market of geodetic instruments, accessories and software is growing, the authors of this paper performed measurements with the GNSS devices in the RTK mode to determine and demonstrate the impact of the position of the central vial bubble (level) on coordinate accuracy. Measurements were performed on the same rod in the RTK permanent stations network. Instruments of different manufacturers and generations were used in the experiment. Newer generations of the GNSS devices are equipped with special sensors for measuring the inclination of the receiver and eliminating this error. Devices that do not have a sensor give measuring coordinates that are loaded with error. The error is random and cannot be measured. The subject of the analysis of this paper is the magnitude and impact of the error caused by the non-verticality of the rod on which the GNSS-RTK antenna is mounted. The authors experimentally determined that the bubble of the central level has the influence on the accuracy of the position, made conclusions and recommendations for reducing or eliminating the error of non-verticality of the pole.
Low profile single feed monopole antenna for quad-band circularly polarised applications

ABSTRACT A single fed monopole antenna for circularly polarised quad-band applications is presented. The antenna radiator is comprised of half ring-shaped arcs integrated with the 50Ω microstrip feed line. In the proposed design, the circular polarisation is achieved by means of integrating ring, stubs and implanting an open-ended C-shaped slot in the ground surface. The designed antenna has a −10 dB impedance bandwidth in the range of 2.41 GHz to 4.14 GHz and 4.34 GHz to 6.33 GHz. The 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth varies from 3.01 to 3.21 GHz, 3.46 to 3.79 GHz, 4.53 to 4.68 GHz and 5.08 to 5.10 GHz, therefore, exciting four circularly polarised bands. The proposed antenna covers almost all the IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.16 standards and may be a suitable candidate for WLAN and WiMAX applications. The optimisation of the designed antenna is conducted using tool Ansys HFSS and found simulated results in a good match with measured results.
Effectiveness of and Perspectives for the Sedimentation Analysis Method in Grain Quality Evaluation in Various Cereal Crops for Breeding Purposes

The existing standardized methods for assessing the quality of marketable grain do not always meet the requirements of the breeding, such as the method’s rapidity, sufficiency of the minimum amount of experimental material, the minimal modifying influence of the external environment on the degree of expression of a criterion, and genetic determination and heritability of the latter. One of the methods that meets these requirements is the sediment volume test. The present study offers an analysis and examples of methodological developments in relation to the assessment of winter bread wheat grain in arid regions of cultivation, as well as of winter triticale. The fluorescent probing method was used as an example for demonstrating the prospects for assessing the swelling of ground grain products of both bread and durum wheat, and for such crops with a less-strong complex of storage polymers as triticale, rye, and millet. A two-stage sedimentation procedure that allows a successful differentiation of samples has been developed for sorghum and maize grain. It is presented here alongside with methodological works on wheat from different countries of the world. Examples of the proven high reproducibility of the sediment volume test in the offspring, and its genetic determination are provided. In general, the data obtained and the material accumulated by various researchers indicate that a modification of the sedimentation method, correctly chosen for specific goals and objectives, solves the problem of assessing grain quality in breeding samples starting from early progenies. All these circumstances make the sedimentation testing the leading or most promising method for assessing grain quality when breeding of a broad range of grain crops is carried out.
Analysis and Verification of Seebeck Effect and Peltier Effect Co-existence on a Thermoelectric Device

Thermoelectric conversion can directly use thermal energy to generate electricity, a promising green waste heat recovery technology. It has been applied to medium- and low-temperature waste heat power generation in the industry. However, it is found that some components in the series thermoelectric module group are not working, and the power generation components are transformed into power consumption components due to the uneven temperature distribution of the heat source. The co-existence of the Seebeck effect and the Peltier effect appears in the circuit. In this study, the experimental bench with a thermoelectric module group, a heat source, and a water-cooling system was established, the power generation under different working conditions was tested, and the coexistence of the Seebeck effect and the Peltier effect was verified. The results show that the thermoelectric module group has excellent power generation performance when the temperature distribution of heat source is uniform. As the temperature of one heat source decreases, the output power curve is inversely proportional. When the heat source temperature difference exceeds 70K, there is an obvious inflection point in the output power curve, proving that the Seebeck effect and the Peltier effect exist simultaneously. This result has a guiding role in the practical application of thermoelectric conversion technology.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Gender Gap in Newly Created Domains of Household Labor

In this study, we draw on interview data from 62 matched different-sex, dual-career spouses raising young children to examine the mechanisms behind the gender gap in household labor during the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that the pandemic represents a unique case of social uncertainty and an opportunity to observe how structural conditions shape the gendered division of household labor. We find that under the rapid social transformation imposed by the pandemic, gender serves as an anchor and orienting frame for couples with young children. We argue that the pandemic (1) expanded traditional gender expectations to new domains of household labor and (2) heightened the importance of gendered explanations for the division of labor that justified intra-couple inequality. Our findings suggest that the particular structural conditions that characterize different times of uncertainty work through slightly different mechanisms, yet produce the same outcome: gender inequality, with long-lasting and wide-ranging implications.