Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Continuum to Promote College Instructor Metacognition about Teaching

Abstract Metacognition is important for both teaching and learning. Effective teachers are metacognitive about teaching, reflecting on, and making adjustments to instructional approaches to support student learning. However, relative to the literature on student metacognition about learning, there is a paucity of research on college instructor metacognition about teaching. This article describes a study that used the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory for Teachers and qualitative analysis of responses to open-ended prompts to examine college instructors’ reflection on and adjustment of teaching strategies, that is, college instructors’ metacognition about teaching. A continuum of metacognitive reflection and practice emerged from the qualitative analysis. The continuum provides a tool for self-reflection that college instructors can use to be metacognitive about their teaching and to encourage selection of student-centered instructional strategies.
Ethics in global research: Creating a toolkit to support integrity and ethical action throughout the research journey

Global challenge-led research seeks to contribute to solution-generation for complex problems. Multicultural, multidisciplinary, and multisectoral teams must be capable of operating in highly demanding contexts. This brings with it a swathe of ethical conflicts that require quick and effective solutions that respect both international conventions and cultural diversity. The objective of this article is to describe the process of creating a toolkit designed to support global researchers in navigating these ethical challenges. The process of creating the toolkit embodied the model of ethical research practice that it advocates. Specifically, at the heart of ethical decision-making is consideration of the following: Place, solutions must be relevant to the context in which they are to be used; People, those impacted by the outcomes must be partners in co-creation; Principles, ethical projects must be guided by clear values; and Precedent, the existing evidence-base should guide the project and, in turn, the project should extend the evidence-base. It is the thesis underlying the toolkit that consideration of these 4Ps provides a strong basis for understanding ethical conflicts and allows for the generation of potential solutions. This toolkit has been designed in two phases of collaborative work. More than 200 researchers participated from more than 30 countries and more than 60 different disciplines. This allowed us to develop a model for contextual, dynamic analysis of ethical conflicts in global research that is complementary to traditional codes of ethics. It emphasizes the need to consider ethical analysis as an iterative, reflective, process relevant at all stages of the research journey, including, ultimately, in evaluating the legacy of a project. The toolkit is presented as an open access website to promote universal access. A downloadable “pocket guide” version is also now available in 11 languages.
A geographically weighted artificial neural network

ABSTRACT While recent developments have extended geographically weighted regression (GWR) in many directions, it is usually assumed that the relationships between the dependent and the independent variables are linear. In practice, however, it is often the case that variables are nonlinearly associated. To address this issue, we propose a geographically weighted artificial neural network (GWANN). GWANN combines geographical weighting with artificial neural networks, which are able to learn complex nonlinear relationships in a data-driven manner without assumptions. Using synthetic data with known spatial characteristics and a real-world case study, we compared GWANN with GWR. While the results for the synthetic data show that GWANN performs better than GWR when the relationships within the data are nonlinear and their spatial variance is high, the results based on the real-world data demonstrate that the performance of GWANN can also be superior in a practical setting.
The “Borderlandization” of the Horn of Africa in Relation to the Gulf Region, and the Effects on Somalia

ABSTRACT Over the last decade, the Gulf states and their rivals have become major players in domestic and regional politics in the Horn of Africa. Through the process of “borderlandization,” their influence has contributed to the shift of the region, and particularly Somalia, from an African borderland to an Arabic-Muslim borderland. In addition, borderlandization has provided a framework for the import into Somalia of conflicts between Gulf states and the debate between different Muslim countries, which could easily jeopardize the fragile Somali state. This is due to the fact that factionalism and division are deeply embedded in Somali politics, thus creating an opportunity for local groups to employ the support of foreign actors to maximize their influence and power.
Multimodal distributions of agricultural-like sprays: A statistical analysis of drop population from a pressure-atomized spray

Jets in the second wind induced atomization regime are challenging to investigate experimentally and theoretically. Using droplet tracking velocimetry measurements performed far from the nozzle, this study shows the bimodal nature of the size and velocity distributions of droplets generated by such jets, at a distance of between 400 and 800 nozzle diameters. Developments from turbulence and combustion applications are used to obtain satisfying models not only for the distribution of the size and the velocity but also for their joint distribution.
Review—Micro and Nano-Engineering Enabled New Generation of Thermoelectric Generator Devices and Applications

As we are advancing our world to smart living, a critical challenge is increasingly pressing increased energy demand. While we need mega power supplies for running data centers and other emerging applications, we also need instant small-scale power supply for trillions of electronics that we are using and will use in the age of Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Everything (IoE). Such power supplies must meet some parallel demands: sufficient energy supply in reliable, safe and affordable manner. In that regard, thermoelectric generators emerge as important renewable energy source with great potential to take advantage of the widely-abundant and normally-wasted thermal energy. Thanks to the advancements of nano-engineered materials, thermoelectric generators’ (TEG) performance and feasibility are gradually improving. However, still innovative engineering solutions are scarce to sufficiently take the TEG performance and functionalities beyond the status-quo. Opportunities exist to integrate them with emerging fields and technologies such as wearable electronics, bio-integrated systems, cybernetics and others. This review will mainly focus on unorthodox but effective engineering solutions to notch up the overall performance of TEGs and broadening their application base. First, nanotechnology’s influence in TEGs’ development will be introduced, followed by a discussion on how the introduction of mechanically reconfigurable devices can shape up the emerging spectrum of novel TEG technologies. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is not changed in any way and is properly cited. For permission for commercial reuse, please email: oa@electrochem.org. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0081703jss] All rights reserved.
Grassroots INGOs in Africa: Perspectives on What They Are (and Are Not?)

This research explores philanthropic transfers and exchanges between and among the North and the South, namely, through grassroots international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), which tend to fall outside of the aid industry. The broad research question that frames this study is as follows: How do these organizations, grassroots INGOs in the global North and their partner organizations in the global South, represent and legitimize their work within the larger realm of development aid in Africa? The research conducts a comparative case study through the analysis of the narratives via organizational stories and artifacts produced and used by grassroots INGOs in the United States and partner organizations in Kenya. The findings show how grassroots INGOs distinguish themselves from what are the traditional images of global philanthropic exchanges and development aid, producing disassociative claims. The research derives a set of properties of grassroots INGOs to explain these perceived distinctions.
Contextual Learning for Content Caching With Unknown Time-Varying Popularity Profiles via Incremental Clustering

With the rapid development of social networks and high-quality video sharing services, the demand for delivering large quantity and high quality contents under stringent end-to-end delay requirement is increasing. To meet this demand, we study the content caching problem modelled as a Markov decision process in the network edge server when the popularity profiles are unknown and time-varying. In order to adapt to the changing trends of content popularity, a context-aware popularity learning algorithm is proposed. We prove that the learning error of this scheme is sublinear in the number of requests. In light of the learned popularities, a reinforcement learning-based caching scheme is designed on top of the state-action-reward-state-action algorithm with a function approximation. A reactive caching algorithm is also proposed to reduce the complexity. The time complexities of both the caching schemes are studied to demonstrate their feasibility in real time systems and a theoretical analysis is performed to prove that the cache hit rate of the reactive caching algorithm asymptotically converges to the optimal cache hit rate. Finally the simulations are presented to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithms.
A novel robust event‐triggered fault tolerant automatic steering control approach of autonomous land vehicles under in‐vehicle network delay

This paper proposes a novel robust event‐triggered fault tolerant automatic steering control strategy for autonomous land vehicles to achieve path tracking and vehicle lateral motion control under in‐vehicle network delay. From the practical point of view, the parameter uncertainties, time delay, and actuator fault are simultaneously introduced to make the designed controller robust to more extensive and challenging driving conditions. A novel polytope reduction and norm‐bounded uncertainty reduction method is used to effectively handle the time‐varying velocity and tire cornering stiffness uncertainties. Then, the uncertain vehicle model can be reconstructed as an uncertain network control system model with time delay and actuator fault. Due to the inevitable time delay and actuator fault, a new cubic absolute‐value Lyapunov function is developed to guarantee the asymptotical stability of the closed control system with the H∞ performance, and the modified project‐based adaptive law is applied to strengthen the fault tolerant ability. Furthermore, a progressive event‐triggered mechanism is proposed for the collaborative design of robust fault tolerant automatic steering controller, which can signally improve the communication resource utilization of the limited bandwidth in‐vehicle network. Finally, the performance comparisons of different controllers are presented. These results prove that the proposed controller can simultaneously guarantee the path tacking performance and lateral dynamics stability, and save the communication resource of the in‐vehicle network.
PL-VSCN: Patch-level vision similarity compares network for image matching

Qin Li, Information Engineering University, No.66 Longhai Road, 450000, Zhengzhou, China. Email: leequer120419@163.com Abstract Image matching plays an important role in various computer vision tasks, such as image retrieval and loop closure detection in Simultaneous Localization andMapping. The authors propose a discriminative patch‐based image matchingmethod that converts the problem of whole image matching to that of local patch matching. To construct the patch representation, the Patch‐Level Vision Similarity Compare Network (PL‐VSCN) is proposed to produce the patch feature. In the image matching process, local patches that potentially contain objects within images are initially detected, and the discriminative feature of each patch is extracted based on the pre‐trained PL‐VSCN. Then, the similarities between the patch pairs are calculated to construct the similarity matrix, and the corresponding patch pairs are detected based on the mutual matching mechanism on the similarity matrix. Experimental results indicate that the proposed PL‐VSCN can generate the discriminative patch feature, which can accurately match the patch pairs with the corresponding content and distinguish those with non‐corresponding content. In addition, the comparison experiments demonstrate that the proposed image matching method outperforms existing approaches on most datasets and effectively completes the image matching task.
ZUR PHARMAKOLOGISCHEN WIRKSAMKEIT P-SUBSTITUIERTER DL-2-PHENYLGLYCINOCTYLESTER

DL-2-phenylglycine octyl ester has antiphlogistic, analgesic and spasmolytic activities as shown in different animal models. The antiphlogistic effectiveness is changed only a little by the p-substitution at the phenyl ring, whereas the analgesic action is markedly influenced. The spasmolytic activity is differently changed by the substituents
Scope Challenges to Social Impact

Over the past 50 years, social science has increasingly become involved in the business of not just understanding social problems, but of helping solve them as well. Progress towards this goal will benefit not just from the growing work on solving the challenge of scale, by which we mean the capacity to effectively reach large numbers of people, but also from more attention to the less-appreciated challenge of scope, by which we mean the capacity to change a large share of the decisions that affect a given person’s outcomes. In this essay, we provide a simple framework to help think about the scope of candidate policies, and highlight some common situations that are often associated with potential for large scope.
Nonlinear Transient Stability Analysis of Phased-Locked Loop-Based Grid-Following Voltage-Source Converters Using Lyapunov’s Direct Method

In this article, using Lyapunov’s stability theorem, the transient stability conditions for a grid-following voltage-source converter (VSC) are found. These conditions take into account both the grid specifications and the VSC’s dynamics. The derived conditions are based on a well-known nonlinear model of the VSC’s phase-locked loop. To evaluate the stability of the nonlinear system, Lyapunov’s direct method is employed. To this end, a new Lyapunov’s function is proposed, and its characteristics are analyzed. Using this Lyapunov’s function, the domain of attraction of the system’s equilibrium point is calculated. In addition, a novel system strength index based on the domain of attraction of the system is proposed. The privileges of this index over the conventional indices are absoluteness, VSC’s dynamics consideration, and comparability of different VSCs with each other from a stability point of view. In the end, the correctness of the proposed stability analysis is validated via simulation in MATLAB/PLECS and experiment.
Foreign language acquisition via artificial intelligence and extended reality: design and evaluation

Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (XR) have been employed in several foreign language education applications to increase the availability of experiential learning methods akin to international immersion programs. However, research in multi-modal spoken dialogue in L2 combined with immersive technologies and collaborative learning is thin, limiting students’ experiences to solo interactions focused mostly on vocabulary and grammar in such settings. We intend to fill this gap as we present the Cognitive Immersive Language Learning Environment (CILLE). The AI in CILLE can hear, see, and understand its users and can engage with them in non-dyadic multimodal conversations. The XR offers students a feeling of being somewhere else without the use of intrusive devices and supports multi-party, multi-modal interactions. Together, AI and XR create naturalistic conversational interactions targeted towards comprehensive foreign language acquisition. We evaluate CILLE as a Chinese-as-a-foreign-language (CFL) education tool through a seven-week, mixed-methods study with university students (N = 10). Results display statistical significance and retained improvement in CFL vocabulary, comprehension, and conversation skills. Coupled with an analysis of student feedback and researcher observations, we show how CILLE is designed and experienced by students to learn CFL.
Bleaching of eucalypt kraft pulp with peracids: the effect on pulp characteristics

Peracetic acid (Pa), peroxymonosulfuric acid (Px), and their mixture (Pxa) were used in the Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) bleaching of an oxygen pre-delignified eucalypt kraft pulp (kraft-O). For ECF sequences, peracids were used to replace chlorine dioxide in the D 1 stage and for TCF sequences they were used to replace hydrogen peroxide in the Eop stage. ECF bleaching was carried out to 90% ISO brightness whereas TCF was carried out to 86 to 88% ISO. ECF bleaching produced pulps with lower Kappa numbers in relation to TCF. The use of peracids increased brightness reversion in the ECF bleaching but decreased it in the TCF bleaching. Pulp viscosity was negatively affected by the peracids both in ECF and TCF bleaching. There were practically no differences in the physical-mechanical properties among pulps bleached by the various bleaching sequences, indicating that peracids were not harmful to cellulose fibres under the conditions used. These results indicated that Pa, Px and Pxa could be successfully used in ECF and TCF bleaching of kraft-O pulps, achieving acceptable brightness without damaging pulp quality.
Heterogeneous Photocatalysis Remediation of Wastewater Polluted by Indigoid Dyes

Organic dyes constitute one of the largest groups of wastewater’s pollutants. In general, they are released into the environment by textile industries. Approximately 100,000 dyes are widely used in the textile industry, and a large wastewater of dyestuff is generated annually. Among these, indigoid class is commercial dyes used mostly for cotton cloth dyeing. Indigo carmine (IC) is also one of the oldest dyes and still one of the most used in textile industry and is considered as a very toxic indigoid dye. Most toxic dyes are recal‐ citrant to biodegradation, causing a decrease in the efficiency of biological wastewater treatment plants. Titanium dioxide is a well-known photocatalyst mostly used in suspen‐ sions in photoreactions for wastewater treatment. The use of TiO2 has some advantages such as ease of handling, low cost, low toxicity, high photochemical reactivity, and nonspecific oxidative attack ability. In this way, it can promote the degradation of different target organic compounds with little change of operational parameters. The aim of this chapter is to present the different approaches already used in our team for the remedia‐ tion of waters containing IC mainly through heterogeneous photocatalysis with TiO2. Ad‐ sorption over activated carbon (AC) and photocatalytic degradation of IC mediated by titanium dioxide will be revised as well as some studies on the phototoxicity of the pho‐ toproducts with aquatic and terrestrial organisms. This chapter makes a comprehensive approach to the different results on the remediation of model effluents containing IC un‐ dertaken by this team of researchers.
The Moderate Effect of Audit Committee Independence on the Board Structure and Real Earnings Management: Evidence from Jordan

The current study aimed to explore the moderate effected of independence of the audit committee on the connection between board structure (i.e. size, independence and CEO duality) and real earnings management (REM) in listed companies in Jordan. The current study covered 910 firm-year observations of the industrial and service sector listed companies in the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) from 2009 to 2018. Using the Fixed Effect approach, the results of the data analysis show a negative and significant impact of board size and CEO duality on REM. There was, however, a significant positive correlation between board independence and REM. In general, the findings showed that the structure of the board is a determinant of REM. In the case of the moderate effect, found the audit committee independence have moderately affected the relationship between board structure and REM. In short, the findings of this study indicate that the moderate effect of audit committee independence weakens the effect of board size and CEO duality on the determination of REM while increasing the effectiveness of board independence to control of REM. Furthermore, the findings of the current study have significant implications for audit practitioners, policymakers, investors and regulators in their efforts to limit REM activities and increase the quality of Jordanian firms' financial reporting.
Hidden Diversity of Crown Rust Resistance within Genebank Resources of Avena sterilis L.

The most widespread and damaging fungal disease of the oat plant is crown rust. Resistance to the crown rust pathogen, Puccinia coronata Cda. f. sp. avenae (Pca), at the seedling stage of Avena sterilis accessions from the Polish national genebank was characterised by five North American and Polish pathotypes of Pca of diverse pathogenicity. Pca pathogenicity was determined on a series of 34 differential lines carrying known seedling resistance genes. Seventy-five percent of studied accessions showed a heterogeneous infection pattern, 17% behaved as homogenous susceptibles, and 7% of tested genotypes could be unambiguously described as resistant. This study proved that A. sterilis accessions preserved in a genebank as complex populations could be a very valuable source of resistance to crown rust. The complexity of analysed populations was ascertained by a detailed variance analysis of transformed resistance/susceptibility data. We demonstrate here that hidden sources of resistance may be discovered in accessions with general susceptibility.