Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
User Experience of Mobile Virtual Reality: Experiment on Changes in Students' Attitudes.

Contemporary technological advancements, such as augmented reality and virtual reality, have extended smartphones’ capabilities further than ever before. These devices are especially popular among students for performing their educational activities. However, students are skeptical or hesitant to try new technologies for various physical and psychological reasons, such as lack of knowledge, wrong attitudes, and misperceptions of the ease of installation and usage. In this study, we investigated students’ mental models and perceptions of mobile virtual reality (MVR) application installation and usage. To achieve the research objective, we designed and developed an MVR case study application and conducted a usability evaluation, a user-experience assessment, and pre- and post-questionnaires. The questionnaires helped us compare the students’ attitude changes from before and after the case study experiment. Based on the results of this study, we elaborate the challenges, opportunities, and best practices associated with the MVR application’s design and development in an educational context. The results of this study will help practitioners design and develop robust MVR applications in an educational context and open up a new research domain for academicians on MVR design and development.
The project as a system. Inducing emergence of a system rather than designing a system

In this article we consider how the activity of design and manage a system within the conceptual framework of the classical systemics assumes validity of concepts and approaches based, for instance, on explicit and symbolic representations; completeness; explicit decisions; adoption of control, degrees of freedom, optimisation, regulation and planning. Complex systems instead require different approaches since they are combinations of functioning and emergence. The systemics of complexity is rather based on concepts like coherence; incompleteness; induction; multiplicity of representations, levels of descriptions, and models; multiple systems; nonexplicitness; non-invasiveness; non-prescribability; structural dynamics; and usage of degrees of freedom. This requires new competences and approach for the managerial activity in any field by using new appropriated knowledge and approaches in order to combine, i.e., allow multiple usages of design and emergence, to induce, keep and act on complex systems. Keywordscombination, complexity, emergence, multiplicity, systemic. I . INTRODUCTION: COMPLETE-INCOMPLETE Classic systemics introduced by Bertalanffy and successively elaborated in a huge variety of contributions is based on some epistemological assumptions like 1. Completeness; 2. Possibility to control; 3. Possibility to take the best decision; 4. Degrees of freedom; 5. Possibility to forecast; 6. Possibility to set objectives; 7. Optimisation always possible; 8. Possibility to plan; 9. Reversibility; 10. Separability and unconnectedness. 11. solvability 12. symbolic modelling; and 13. Standardisation. Complexity deals with negations of such assumptions. For instance with theoretical incompleteness as introduced by Logical Openness [1, 2]. Logical openness considers phenomena, such as system-environment and phenomenon-observer interactions, that can not be described: explicitly, i.e., by using analytical models like equations; completely, and Acta Europeana Systemica n°4
Assessing Polyphenol Components and Antioxidant Activity during Fermented Assam Tea Ball Processing

Fermented tea is traditionally consumed in many Asian countries. In Thailand, the product is made by anaerobic submerged fermentation of semi-mature tea leaves before being made into a ball form. This study aims to investigate the composition of health-associated bioactive compounds in fermented tea balls made from Camellia sinensis var. assamica, which is naturally grown in the forests of northern Thailand. The processing involves steaming semi-mature tea leaves followed by anaerobic fermentation in 2% NaCl solution (1:5 w/v of tea leaves solution). Levels of catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin (GC), flavonols (myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol), phenolic acids (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, and sinapic acid), total phenolic content, and in vitro antioxidant activity were evaluated in fresh tea leaves, steamed tea leaves, and fermented tea leaves over a period of 60 days’ monitoring. The results indicated that fermented tea balls still contain significant amounts of tea polyphenols, although their processing may result in some loss of most bioactive compounds. The antioxidant activity measured by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays also declined as the fermentation time was extended. However, phenolic acids, including caffeic acid and sinapic acid, contrastingly increased during prolonged fermentation by 74.35% and 171.43% from fresh leaves, respectively.
Flexible piezoelectric cum‐electromagnetic‐absorbing multifunctional nanocomposites based on electrospun poly (vinylidene fluoride) incorporated with synthesized porous core‐shell nanoparticles

Flexibility, protection against harmful electromagnetic (EM) waves, and mimicking movement patterns of human beings are among the most required features of advanced textiles. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the possibility of producing flexible, piezoelectric, and EM‐sensitive multifunctional nanofibers. Porous core‐shell Fe3O4@MnO2 Nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and dispersed in poly (vinylidene fluoride) through solution mixing methods in different concentrations. Then, nanofibers were prepared by the electrospinning technique. Extensive characterizations including morphological, structural, piezoelectric response, and EM wave absorbance tests were performed on both synthesized NPs and electrospun mats. The effects of filler content, piezoelectric dimension, and test dynamic condition on the output voltage of the piezoelectric generator were also assessed. FTIR and XRD investigations respectively showed that the β phase content increased up to 10% and 7% in presence of 4% NPs that led to an increase of up to 105% in piezoelectric response (up to 23.5 V). Output voltages increased linearly with slopes of 2.83, 1.92, 0.55, 0.306, and 0.086 by increasing the NP content, frequency, piezoelectric area, force, and thickness, respectively. The results of the study indicated that produced nanofibers can absorb significant EM waves in addition to showing high piezoelectric response.
Dysbiosis of the Biomphalaria glabrata vector snail microbiota following infection by Schistosoma parasites

The importance of the microbiota in host-parasite interactions has taken a deeper interest recently. Microbiota has to be considered as a third partner playing a central role in these interactions. Biomphalaria glabrata is the vector snail of the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, the agent of human schistosomiasis causing hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. How snail microbiota is affected in such host-parasite interaction following infection remains unstudied. Here, we analyse for the first time how the snail bacterial microbiota is affected or modified by schistosoma infections. We used a massive 16s DNA sequencing approach (MiSeq) to characterize the Biomphalaria bacterial microbiota at the individual level in naïve and infected snails. Sympatric and allopatric strains of parasites were used following infections and re-infections to analyse the modification or dysbiosis of snail microbiota populations in different host-parasite co-evolutionary contexts. Concomitantly, using RNAseq data, we investigate the link between bacterial microbiota dysbiosis and snail anti-microbial immune response. These investigations would have a central role in the understanding of snail/schistosome interaction, and would have critical consequences in terms of snail control strategies for fighting schistosomiasis disease in the field.
Precipitation quality control method based on SFA and phase space local prediction

Most of the quality control applications of hydrological data are based on basic quality control methods such as logical detection, extreme value check and spatial consistency check. Although these methods can detect problem data with large errors, this makes the data lack credibility. Therefore, a single station data quality control method, SFA-WZLM, is proposed in this paper. This method uses slow feature analysis (SFA) to extract external forcing factors for embedding in chaotic local prediction models. Observations from January 1987 to October 2015 was used as the train set, and observations from December 2015 to October 2017 were used as the test set. The results indicate that the method has higher prediction accuracy than the prediction model without embedded external forcing factors, weighted first-order local prediction model (WFLM) and weighted first-order local prediction model (SFA-WFLM) including external forcing factors and exhibited the best quality control error detection. In addition, the method shows good stability in 6 different climates and different terrain stations across the country in China.
Assessment of Wind and Vegetation Interactions in Constructed Wetlands

Meteorological data from vegetated and un-vegetated wetlands during wet and dry seasons, were collected and analyzed to evaluate the role of wind and vegetation on wetlands’ hydrology. Wind speed diminished by as much as 40%, accompanied by a measurable change in wind directions in the vegetated compared to the open water site. Wind speed and direction means were significantly different (p < 0.001 and <0.01), for vegetated and non-vegetated wetland, respectively. Cattails (Typha sp.) and open water estimates of wind drag coefficients using the log wind profile, were 0.016 and 0.009 for dry season, and 0.012 and 0.005 for wet season, respectively. Wind set up near the wetland outlet was more pronounced at shallow water depth (<20 cm). Measured velocity profile during inflow discharge event with a wind speed of 0.53 ms−1, showed two-layer flows; wind-generated surface water flow opposite to a sub-surface inflow. This opposing surface flow increases hydraulic residence time and improve nutrient uptake. Conversely, wind-generated flows aligned with inflow discharges, accelerates water flow towards the outlet, reduce the duration of water-biotic interactions, and decrease nutrient uptake.
Lateral Velocity Gradients in the African Lower Mantle Inferred From Slowness Space Observations of Multipathing

Large low‐velocity provinces (LLVPs) are hypothesized to be purely thermal features or possess some chemical heterogeneity but which exactly remains ambiguous. Regional seismology studies typically use travel time residuals and multipathing identification in the waveforms to infer properties of LLVPs. These studies have not fully analyzed all available information such as measuring the direction and inclination of the arrivals. These measurements would provide more constraints of LLVP properties such as the boundary velocity gradient and help determine their nature. Here, we use array seismology to measure backazimuth (direction) and horizontal slowness (inclination) of arriving waves to identify structures causing multipathing and wavefield perturbation. Following this, we use full‐wavefield forward modeling to estimate the gradients required to produce the observed multipathing. We use SKS and SKKS data from 83 events sampling the African LLVP, which has been extensively studied providing a good comparison to our observations. We find evidence for structures at heights of up to 600 km above the core‐mantle boundary causing multipathing and wavefield perturbation. Forward modeling shows gradients of up to 0.7% δVs per 100 km (0.0005 km s−1 km−1) can produce multipathing with similar backazimuth and horizontal slowness to our observations. This is an order of magnitude lower than the previous strongest estimates of −3% δVs per 50 km (0.0044 km s−1 km−1). As this is lower than that predicted for both thermal and thermochemical structures, lateral velocity gradients capable of producing multipathing are not necessarily evidence for a thermochemical nature.
A PLACKETT-BURMAN DESIGN FOR SUBSTITUTING MRS MEDIUM COMPONENTS WITH AVOCADO SEED HYDROLYSATE FOR GROWTH AND LACTIC ACID PRODUCTION BY Lactobacillus sp.

Lactic acid is a platform chemical with many commercial applications. Even though the biotechnological production is the leading approach, medium cost is a serious bottleneck. Starch from agroindustrial residues, such as avocado seeds, stands out as a promising feedstock. A Plackett-Burman design was used for screening and selection of MRS medium components that could be substituted with avocado seed hydrolysate (ASH) for growth and lactic acid production by Lactobacillus sp. The screening was performed using 20 g/L initial reducing sugars from the ASH; then, the effect of an increasing carbon-source concentration was evaluated. Five out of nine components could be substituted from the MRS medium for lactic acid production; this represented a medium cost reduction of at least 17 %. Peptone from casein (10 g/L), meat extract (8 g/L), yeast extract (4 g/L), and sodium acetate (5 g/L) had to be maintained. The highest lactic acid concentration was estimated at 5.7 ± 0.7 g/L, achieved at 40.0 ± 2.0 g/L initial reducing sugar in experiments carried out in a stirred tank bioreactor, despite the presence of some inhibitory growth effects. Kinetic parameters were also obtained. This study may serve as a starting point for further research since this is the first study reported in the literature exploring the production of lactic acid from ASH as a feedstock.
A Mathematical Study on a Diseased Prey-Predator Model with Predator Harvesting

--In this paper, we present a mathematical model for a prey-predator system with infectious disease in the prey population. We assumed that there is harvesting from the predator and a defensive property against predation. This model is constituted by a system of nonlinear decoupled ordinary first order differential equations, which describe the interaction among the healthy prey, infected prey and predator. The existence, uniqueness and boundedness of the system solutions are investigated. Local stability of the system at equilibrium points is discussed. Keywords--Pre-predator model, Equilibrium points, Stability Analysis, Non-linear differential equations
Contributions of climate, plant phenology and natural enemies to the seasonal variation of aphids on cabbage

Brevicoryne brassicae (L), Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt) and Myzus persicae (Sultzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) form the aphid complex that causes great losses in Brassicaceae in tropical and subtropical regions. Knowledge of their population dynamics is important for the development of integrated pest management programmes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cabbage phenology, climatic factors and natural enemies populations on the dynamics of these organisms, and the factors regulating their predators’ occurrence. The densities of aphids and their natural enemies and the climate were monitored for two years in 16 cabbage crops. The highest densities of the aphids occurred during periods of relative humidity (RH) drop, a condition that affects them positively. Regarding the predators, the factors affecting their abundance varied but RH was positively related to most of them. This study provides relevant insights into the factors that regulate the aphids in cabbage and for the decision‐making process of control of these severe pests.
Trophic roles of Bufo bankorensis (Barbour 1908) tadpoles in an Asian subtropical stream

ABSTRACT Tadpoles may be omnivorous with diverse trophic positions beyond herbivory, and may require multiple approaches for identification. Understanding the trophic and ecological roles of omnivorous tadpoles may require examination at a species level. The goals of this study were to determine the trophic positions of Bufo bankorensis tadpoles by using stable isotopes and food selection experiments, verify the tadpoles’ effects on benthic resources with enclosure–exclosure experiments, and examine their role on nutrient cycling. Stable isotope experiments showed that B. bankorensis tadpoles fed on algae and animal items, indicating a trophic level close to that of a damselfly. The food selection experiments showed that the tadpoles fed on dead tadpoles and mayflies but not on live animals, making them necrophagous, and further testing revealed that the tadpoles preferred dead tadpoles over algae. In the enclosure–exclosure experiment, the tadpoles reduced the amounts of algae and organic matter and changed the compositions of algal growth forms. The tadpoles released nitrogen (N) into the ambient water, which was then recycled by benthic algae, as revealed by an 15N addition experiment. We concluded that B. bankorensis tadpoles have trophic and ecological roles related to their trophic positions in a subtropical stream ecosystem.
Kinetic model of a CO2 recycling rotary adsorption wheel for gas turbine power plants with carbon capture

The selective recycling of carbon dioxide (CO2) upstream of post-combustion capture processes can greatly reduce both the size of equipment and capital costs by process intensification. For combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants, flue gas flow rates can be lowered by two thirds and CO2 concentration greatly increased from 4% to 14% v/v. Selective recycling of carbon dioxide (CO2) can be achieved in CCGT plants with a low pressure drop, regenerative rotary CO2 transfer device using physical adsorption. A newly developed kinetic model of this CO2 transfer device shows that, for an activated carbon material with suitable equilibrium properties, a mass requirement of circa 600 tonnes is necessary for a new build CCGT plant of 800 MW with 90% capture. This is 3.7 times higher than the mass previously reported, by means of an equilibrium model, for the best performing commercially available activated carbon material. A rigorous design shows that the mass of 600 tonnes of activated carbon can be distributed on a honeycomb structure on two CO2 transfer wheels of 30m diameter and 2.2m height, rotating at 1rpm, with a preferential direction of leakages towards the flue gas side. The design then provides the basis for an optimisation study of CO2 recovery rate and adsorbent mass by examining first kinetic properties of the CO2 adsorbent to inform material development and research; second, rotational speed; and, last, the partitioning of the wheel. Further, the selective recycling of CO2 is examined as a retrofit option for CCGTs with solventbased post-combustion capture. The aim is to explore the possibility to increase overall capture level beyond the initial design of 90% capture using an integrated model consisting of a gas turbine combined cycle, a rotary CO2 transfer device and a post-combustion capture unit and compression train. The operation of the absorber column at reduced gas velocity is, however, shown to be detrimental to retrofitting selective CO2 recycling to existing CCGT plants with solvent-based capture. Finally, a comparison between a new build CCGT with PCC and fully integrated regenerative selective CO2 transfer wheel to a new build CCGT with PCC without SEGR is performed. The results show a possible reduction in absorber total packing volume of 42% and a marginal increase of net power output of 0.3% relative to a new build CCGT with PCC without SEGR.
Field validation of phylodynamic analytical methods for inference on epidemiological processes in wildlife.

Amongst newly developed approaches to analyse molecular data, phylodynamic models are receiving much attention because of their potential to reveal changes to viral populations over short periods. This knowledge can be very important for understanding disease impacts. However, their accuracy needs to be fully understood, especially in relation to wildlife disease epidemiology, where sampling and prior knowledge may be limited. The release of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) as biological control in naïve rabbit populations in Australia in 1996 provides a unique dataset with which to validate phylodynamic models. By comparing results obtained from RHDV sequence data with our current understanding of RHDV epidemiology in Australia, we evaluated the performances of these recently developed models. In line with our expectations, coalescent analyses detected a sharp increase in the virus population size in the first few months after release, followed by a more gradual increase. Phylodynamic analyses using a birth-death model generated effective reproductive number estimates (the average number of secondary infections per each infectious case, Re ) larger than one for most of the epochs considered. However, the possible range of the initial Re included estimates lower than one despite the known rapid spread of RHDV in Australia. Furthermore, the analyses that accounted for geographical structuring failed to converge. We argue that the difficulties that we encountered most likely stem from the fact that the samples available from 1996 to 2014 were too sparse with respect to both geographic and within outbreak coverage to adequately infer some of the model parameters. In general, while these phylodynamic analyses proved to be greatly informative in some regards, we caution that their interpretation may not be straight forward. We recommend further research to evaluate the robustness of these models to assumption violations and sensitivity to sampling regimes.
Agroclimatic risk zoning of lemon (citrus aurantifolia) in the hydrographic basin of Paraná River III, Brazil

A lima acida Tahiti esta entre as dez variedades de frutas mais importantes produzidas e consumidas no Brasil, sendo o quinto maior produtor mundial. O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar o zoneamento de risco agroclimatico para o limoeiro (Citrus aurantifolia) na bacia do Rio Parana III. Foram elaborados mapas tematicos por meio de interpolacao e regressoes, alem de graficos de probabilidade para a analise do risco. O risco agroclimatico para o limoeiro foi pautado nas exigencias da especie, sendo estas, precipitacao, deficiencia hidrica, temperatura do ar media e maxima, unidade termica/graus dia e risco de geada. A maior parte da area da bacia foi apta para o cultivo. Nao houve areas inaptas, apenas restritas demonstrando assim, o potencial para a producao na regiao.