Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teacher perceptions of A-level music: tension, dilemmas and decline

Abstract A-level music, a qualification taken most often in English and Welsh school contexts around the age of 18, has been a long-standing feature of the musical training of many musicians. Historically bound up with Western European Art Music, the qualification has somewhat broadened its horizons in recent times, though with mixed success in opening up new ways of thinking about music. Recent research has highlighted the seemingly precarious nature of A-level music in many English schools. The reasons for this picture of decline are highly complex and difficult to disentangle, and are part of a much broader diminishing of creative subjects in the school curriculum. Decreasing numbers of A-level music entries run somewhat counter to popular policy discourse, which celebrates flagship announcements of £79 million given to Music Education Hubs in 2019–2020, and 2018 survey results that reported more than 700,000 children learning to play a musical instrument through music hub provision. However, behind these headlines, although there are many children having the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, few continue through to A-level and beyond. Despite its declining numbers, A-level music is recognised as a valuable qualification amongst music teachers, offering something distinct from graded music examinations and other Level 3 musical qualifications. This article presents the results of a recent nationwide survey of A-level music teachers to offer an insight into teacher perceptions of current A-level music specifications, the extent to which it prepares students for entry into higher musical education, and its appropriateness for aspiring young musicians.
A case study of adult autonomy in English-immersed conversations

ABSTRACT This paper reports a case study focusing on naturalistic communication between a Chinese beginning non-native speaker of English (NNS) and an English native speaker (NS). The participants engage informally in a form of tandem learning, with each in turn taking the dominant role in the conversation through teaching the other vocabulary items in their L1 (English and Chinese). The study sheds light on some of the conversational and linguistic features of the autonomous Chinese beginner's construction of English conversation. From the conversational patterns identified, we conclude that: (1) NS-beginner NNS conversation works best when it follows a tight turn-by-turn structure; (2) the beginner's initiation of insertion sequences and overlapping can expand conversation; and (3) both beginner NNS and NS need to make great efforts to complete question-answer adjacency pairs in order to manage the conversation. The study also highlighted how a focus on the beginner's L1 enabled them to take greater control in the conversation, despite their very limited L2 speaking ability. In these sections of NNS-dominant communication, the L2 beginner demonstrated greater language creativity. This study has implications for how NS-NNS communication might be facilitated in English-immersion contexts as well as project implications for autonomous learners and teachers.
Visual Tracking Control of Deformable Objects With a FAT-Based Controller

Automatic manipulation of deformable objects is a challenging problem. Improper operations, such as excessive stretching and collision, are easy to cause damages to the deformable objects. Thus, not only the final configuration but also the trajectory of the deformation is supposed to be controlled during the process of interaction. In this article, a method to control the trajectory of the deformation in the unknown environment is proposed. We design an adaptive dynamic controller that adaptively estimates the deformation Jacobian matrix (DJM) online based on function approximation techniques (FAT), which approximates nonlinear functions with an arbitrary small error, avoiding modeling for compliant objects. Besides, we introduce a virtual force to improve the manipulability of the method. The stability of the proposed adaptive algorithm and the boundedness of internal signals are proved by Lyapunov theory whenever the approximation error is nonnegligible or negligible. Experiment results validate the efficiency of the algorithm proposed.
Preventing COVID-19 Spread Using Information and Communication Technology

Without an effective vaccine, treatment, or therapy, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading like fire and claiming lives. Countries began to adopt various strategies such as lockdown, mass testing, tracing, quarantine, sanitization, isolation, and treatment to contain COVID-19. However, it was soon realized that we need to take the help of powerful technologies to combat the spread of deadly COVID-19 until a vaccine or a drug is discovered. In this article, we discuss how the use of cutting edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Big data, artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)/drones, blockchain, robotics, autonomous ground vehicles, communication technologies in screening, testing, contact tracing, spread analysis, sanitization, and protocol enforcements can help prevent the COVID-19 spread.
AC Breakdown Characteristics of Polluted 10-kV Post Insulator With Concentric Externally Gapped Line Arrester

Lightning strikes and pollution could cause short circuits and tripping of the overhead distribution lines. To alleviate this, a 10-kV post insulator with concentric externally gapped line arrester (EGLA) has been proposed and its performance is studied in service. However, its pollution performance has to be established. This paper studies the AC pollution breakdown characteristics of the EGLA and broaden current knowledge of pollution flashover. Compared with the flashover of the normal insulator, three kinds of specificity of the EGLA were found. Firstly, the pollution flashover process can be divided into three categories. Secondly, the wet flashover voltage, <italic>U<sub>f_wet</sub></italic>, of the novel insulator is higher than the dry flashover voltage, <italic>U<sub>f_dry</sub></italic>. Thirdly, the piecewise fitting methods with <italic>a</italic> × ESDD^<sup>−</sup><italic><sup>b</sup></italic> + <italic>d</italic> and <italic>a</italic> × ESDD^<sup>−</sup><italic><sup>b</sup></italic> + <italic>c</italic> × ESDD^<sup>−</sup><italic><sup>d</sup></italic> are more suitable for fitting the empirical formula of flashover voltage. Furthermore, to explain specificity, the electric potential and electric field distribution are calculated based on the finite element method. Calculated results indicate that when the EGLA is covered with a 0.5mm water film, the maximum electric field intensity decreased from 2.17 kV/cm to 1.99 kV/cm. Also, <italic>U</italic><italic><sub>_arrester</sub> </italic>(the withstand voltage of the insulation section) was obtained from the tests and it presents a discontinuous and random increasing trend until flashover occurs, which is considered to be one of the important reasons for the specificity. Besides, based on the Obenaus’ model and Hampton's criterion, we further analyzed the arc development process by a simplified plate model.
Modeling of high pressure arc-discharge with a fully-implicit Navier–Stokes stabilized finite element flow solver

This work addresses the modeling of high pressure electric discharge in an arc-heated wind tunnel. The combined numerical solution of Poisson’s equation, radiative transfer equations, and the set of Favre-averaged thermochemical nonequilibrium Navier–Stokes equations allows for the determination of the electric, radiation, and flow fields, accounting for their mutual interaction. Semi-classical statistical thermodynamics is used to determine the plasma thermodynamic properties, while transport properties are obtained from kinetic principles with the Chapman–Enskog method. A multi-temperature formulation is used to account for thermal non-equilibrium. Finally, the turbulence closure of the flow equations is obtained by means of the Spalart–Allmaras model, which requires the solution of an additional scalar transport equation. A Streamline upwind Petrov–Galerkin stabilized finite element formulation is employed to solve the Navier–Stokes equation. The electric field equation is solved using the standard Galerkin formulation. A stable formulation for the radiative transfer equations is obtained using the least-squares finite element method. The developed simulation framework has been applied to investigate turbulent plasma flows in the 20 MW Aerodynamic Heating Facility at NASA Ames Research Center. The current model is able to predict the process of energy addition and re-distribution due to Joule heating and thermal radiation, resulting in a hot central core surrounded by colder flow. The use of an unsteady three-dimensional treatment also allows the asymmetry due to a dynamic electric arc attachment point in the cathode chamber to be captured accurately. The current work paves the way for detailed estimation of operating characteristics for arc-heated wind tunnels which are critical in testing thermal protection systems.
Study on Denoising Algorithm for Power Quality Disturbances Based on Variational Mode Decomposition

The power quality signals are always mixed with noise, which will influence the accurate measurement and characteristic extraction. Therefore, it’s important to denoise for the signal processing. This paper puts forward a novel denoising algorithm for power quality disturbances (PQDs) based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and the truth that the energy density times the average period of each intrinsic mode function (IMF) is a constant. Firstly, the VMD algorithm is used to decompose the white noise into several IMF components. Then, the average period energy product of each IMF component is calculated, and some of the IMF components are selected for reconstruction according to the judgment criterion to obtain the denoised signal. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can greatly improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the denoising effect is better than that of wavelet threshold and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) algorithm.
Teachers’ Motivation for Teaching in Higher Education: Portuguese Validation of a Questionnaire

Abstract Motivation for teaching is key in the establishment and further development of high-quality higher education, as it affects teachers’ investment in quality learning experiences for their students, as well as institutional efficacy and well-being. This study aimed to validate a questionnaire, originally developed in Belgium, designed to evaluate three dimensions (self-efficacy, interest, and effort) of intrinsic motivation for teaching for a different national population. The sample consisted of 616 academics working in public higher education institutions in Portugal. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted and internal consistency of items analyzed. The results show that the original dimensionality of the construct is confirmed in the Portuguese teachers’ sample. Motivation for teaching in the Portuguese context is primarily explained by the following factors: personal efficacy, interest in the task, and effort placed on teaching responsibilities. A difference was found in that personal efficacy could not be divided in context and general personal efficacy.
Reduction of Power Imbalances Using Battery Energy Storage System in a Bulk Power System with Extremely Large Photovoltaics Interactions

Power imbalances such as power shortfalls and photovoltaic (PV) curtailments have become a major problem in conventional power systems due to the introduction of renewable energy sources. There can be large power shortfalls and PV curtailments because of PV forecasting errors. These imbalances might increase when installed PV capacity increases. This study proposes a new scheduling method to reduce power shortfalls and PV curtailments in a PV integrated large power system with a battery energy storage system (BESS). The model of the Kanto area, which is about 30% of Japan’s power usage with 60 GW grid capacity, is used in simulations. The effect of large PV power integration of 50 GW and 100 GW together with large BESS capacity of 100 GWh and 200 GWh has been studied. Mixed integer linear programming technique is used to calculate generator unit commitment and BESS charging and discharging schedules. The simulation results are shown for two months with high and low solar irradiance, which include days with large PV over forecast and under forecast errors. The results reveal that the proposed method eliminates power shortfalls by 100% with the BESS and reduce the PV curtailments by 69.5% and 95.2% for the months with high and low solar irradiance, respectively, when 200 GWh BESS and 100 GW PV power generation are installed.
NOVEL SINGLE/DUAL CIRCULARLY POLARIZED ANTENNAS BASED ON POLARIZATION-CONVERSION REFLECTIVE METASURFACES

We propose single/dual circularly-polarized (CP) antennas based on reflective metasurfaces with cross-polarization conversion. By suspending a probe-fed printed bow-tie dipole or a crossed bowtie dipole above the reflective polarization-conversion metasurface and appropriately tuning the distance between them, a single-CP or a dual-CP antenna is generated. The theoretical design principle on this novel CP antenna structure has been discussed. Simulations and experiments are conducted to validate the design principle. The measured results show that the proposed single-CP antenna has achieved a 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 8.0%, from 12.67 to 13.72 GHz, and a peak gain of 8.03 dBi, while the dual-CP antenna exhibits a dual-CP AR bandwidth of 7.1%, from 13.09 to 14.05 GHz, and peak gains of 8.49 dBi and 7.03 dBi for left-handed circular polarization (LHCP) and right-handed circular polarization (RHCP), respectively. The measured isolation between the two ports of the dual-CP antenna is less than −20 dB. The operating frequency of the proposed antennas can be easily scaled to other frequencies that are applied to some specific wireless applications.
Edaphoclimatic factors determining sunflower yields spatiotemporal dynamics in northern Ukraine

The climate and soil conditions have a significant impact on sunflower yields. Sunflower yield dynamics in the Central European mixed forests (Polissya) and Eastern European forest-steppe ecoregions in Ukraine from 1991 to 2017 was proved to fit a log-logistic model most adequately. The model has four characteristic parameters: the Lower Limit indicates the lowest level of yield over the study period; the Slope indicates the rate of yield increase over time; the ED50 is the time required to reach half of the maximum yield level and simultaneously the point with the highest rate of yield increase; the Upper Limit shows the highest yield level. The parameters of the yield model are used to meaningfully interpret the causes of yield dynamics. Edaphoclimatic factors account for 34 to 58% of the variation in the yield trend parameters. The soil texture and soil organic carbon (SOC) predominate among the edaphic factors that determine the variability of sunflower yield. Continentality of climate and degree of temperature variability during the growing season are the main climatic determinants of sunflower yield parameters.
A Nonlinear Finite-Element Analysis Tool to Prevent Rupture of Power Transformer Tank

High-energy internal failures of transformers are catastrophic events which are hardly predictable. For this reason, a full-scale controlled experiment represents a valuable learning opportunity to gather accurate information about sequence of events during the very short time in which the failure occurs. Controlled parameters include tank design, material properties, experimental load and measurements. In this paper, we present a detailed investigation using nonlinear finite-element analysis of a 210-MVA transformer high-pressure experiment. We begin by evaluating the relationship between internal arcing pressure rise and tank expansion characteristics. Since this relationship is not linear due to geometric and material nonlinearities, an iterative process is proposed to ensure result accuracy. Stress–strain material properties are retrieved by tension experiments of specimens extracted from the tested tank to enable accurate comparison of numerical and experimental results. It is shown in this paper that nonlinear material parameters have a small influence on the tank pressure rise, but a significant one on large strain prediction and therefore the true stress-strain curve is recommended. In addition, the ductile rupture criterion based on the ultimate plastic strain of the material correlates with the experimental and explicit dynamic analysis results. This can ensure a certain design margin for tank rupture prevention.
Structural basis for small molecule targeting of 
Doublecortin Like Kinase 1 DCLK1

Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a bi-functional protein classified as a Microtubule-Associated Protein (MAP) and as a serine/threonine kinase that plays a critical role in regulating microtubule assembly. This understudied kinase is upregulated or mutated in a wide range of cancers. Knockdown studies have shown that DCLK1 is functionally important for tumour growth. However, the presence of tissue and development specific spliced DCLK1 isoforms and the lack of systematic evaluation of their biological function have challenged the development of effective strategies to understand the role of DCLK1 in oncogenesis. Recently, DCLK1-IN-1 was reported as a potent and selective DCLK1 kinase inhibitor, a powerful new tool to dissect DCLK1 biological functions. Here, we report the crystal structures of DCLK1 kinase domain in complex with two DCLK1-IN-1 precursors and DCLK-IN-1. Combined, our structural data analysis illuminates and rationalises the structure-activity relationship that informed development of DCLK1-IN-1 and provides the basis for DCLK1-IN-1 increased selectivity. We show that DCLK1-IN-1 induces a drastic conformational change of the N-lobe, which uncovered a new allosteric site. In addition, we demonstrate that DCLK1-IN-1 binds DCLK1 long isoforms with high affinity but does not prevent DCLK1 MAP function. Together, our work outlines the need for in-depth studies to rationally design of isoform-specific modulators and provides an invaluable structural platform to further the design of selective DCLK1 therapeutic agents.
Achieving Sustainable Organisational Performance through Employee Job Satisfaction and Organizational Culture

The reason for this examination is to inspect the intervening function of occupation fulfillment on the connection between the components of authoritative culture, association culture, consistency culture, flexibility culture and mission culture with hierarchical execution on the financial segment of Pakistan. This investigation was directed to advance the idea of hierarchical culture out in the open banks with the goal that it very well may be reflected in the exhibition of the bank. The example of this investigation comprises of 320 including branch chief (BM), provincial supervisor (RM), operational director (OM), and colleague branch administrator (ABM) workingin eight public banks inside the region of Punjab and Sindh,Pakistan.Dimensions of hierarchical culture weremeasured by a prior approved 12item instrument, work fulfillment 16 things and authoritative execution were estimated by 7 things. Factor examination was utilized to develop four elements of hierarchical culture (i.e., contribution culture, consistency culture, versatility culture and mission culture). The connection between hierarchical culture measurements, work fulfillment, and authoritative execution was tried by SmartPLS 3.2. 9.Among the variousdimensions of authoritative culture, inclusion culture, versatility culture and mission culture had a critical, positive relationship with work satisfactionalso as hierarchical execution. Moreover, consistency culture displayed the most grounded, negative relationship however huge impact on work fulfillment, while consistency culture indicated aninsignificant impact, negative relationship with hierarchical performance.Bank administrators and policymakers ought to be cognizant that circumspect the authoritative culture can assist them with figuring out where to endeavor to help increment their worker work fulfillment and bank execution. The aftereffects of this investigation could likewise be helpful to bank leaders who wish to broaden authoritative execution. Improving worker work fulfillment inside the work environment may expand productivity and help guarantee steady and effective representatives.
Global dynamics in a tumor-immune model with an immune checkpoint inhibitor

In this paper, we fill several key gaps in the study of the global dynamics of a highly nonlinear tumor-immune model with an immune checkpoint inhibitor proposed by Nikolopoulou et al. (Letters in Biomathematics, 5 (2018), S137-S159). For this tumour-immune interaction model, it is known that the model has a unique tumour-free equilibrium and at most two tumorous equilibria. We present sufficient and necessary conditions for the global stability of the tumour-free equilibrium or the unique tumorous equilibrium. The global dynamics is obtained by employing a new Dulac function to establish the nonexistence of nontrivial positive periodic orbits. Our analysis shows that we can almost completely classify the global dynamics of the model with two critical values \begin{document}$ C_{K0}, C_{K1} (C_{K0}>C_{K1}) $\end{document} for the carrying capacity \begin{document}$ C_K $\end{document} of tumour cells and one critical value \begin{document}$ d_{T0} $\end{document} for the death rate \begin{document}$ d_{T} $\end{document} of T cells. Specifically, the following are true. (ⅰ) When no tumorous equilibrium exists, the tumour-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. (ⅱ) When \begin{document}$ C_K \leq C_{K1} $\end{document} and \begin{document}$ d_T>d_{T0} $\end{document} , the unique tumorous equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. (ⅲ) When \begin{document}$ C_K >C_{K1} $\end{document} , the model exhibits saddle-node bifurcation of tumorous equilibria. In this case, we show that when a unique tumorous equilibrium exists, tumor cells can persist for all positive initial densities, or can be eliminated for some initial densities and persist for other initial densities. When two distinct tumorous equilibria exist, we show that the model exhibits bistable phenomenon, and tumor cells have alternative fates depending on the positive initial densities. (ⅳ) When \begin{document}$ C_K > C_{K0} $\end{document} and \begin{document}$ d_T = d_{T0} $\end{document} , or \begin{document}$ d_T>d_{T0} $\end{document} , tumor cells will persist for all positive initial densities.
MULTI-MODE SUBSTRATE INTEGRATED WAVEGUIDE WIDEBAND FILTER DESIGN WITH WIDE STOPBAND REJECTION USING COMPLEMENTARY SPLIT RING RESONATORS AND DEFECTED GROUND STRUCTURES

This paper proposes a novel wideband filter based on a quintuple-mode substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) resonator. Two metallic vias loading a rectangular SIW cavity diagonal line are used to excite five resonant modes. A pair of the complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) etched on the top plane to further control the degenerating modes. A quintuple-mode filter is implemented based on this resonator. One transmission zero (TZ) at the lower frequency side and three TZs at the upper frequency side were obtained to improve the filter selectivity. A seven-order filter with wide stopband rejection is investigated under the use of a pair of microstrip low-pass filters (LPFs). The proposed SIW cavity filter has been designed, manufactured, and measured as an experimental example to verify the proposed concept. Simulation and measurement results agree with 49.8% of fractional bandwidth at 5.3 GHz central frequency.