Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dissent by Design: A Multimodal Study of 2019 Women’s March MY Protest Signs

The power of texts and visuals in the repertoire of protests – in both its production and consumption – allows protest movements to not only spread their message faster and mobilise support, but also promote active engagement in the public sphere. The present study examined multimodal discourse of protest by analysing textual and visual resources in protest signs used to express and negotiate feminist ideology at the 2019 Women’s March MY in Kuala Lumpur. Following Kress & van Leeuwen’s Visual Grammar (2006) and van Leeuwen’s Social Actor Network (2008), three themes of the march were selected for multimodal analysis. Findings of the study show that multimodal representations through verbal and visual resources vary in its salience across different themes – where some protest signs lean more towards texts in conveying its messages with minimal visuals, others show a higher reliance on textual and visual convergence to convey meaning as well as to bait the attention of readers. Weighing in on the Malaysian feminist discourse, this study puts forth the potential of multimodal strategies through verbal and visual resources in conveying feminist messages and negotiating social change through the act of protest.
Environment Mapping with a Kinect Sensor using Industrial Robots

When integrating an industrial robot to its working cell, an integrator often builds up the scene including the machines surrounding the robot in a virtual environment and performs the programming online. By introducing a precise and correct 3D model of the surroundings of the robot, the integrator must no longer go through the process of building up the environment. Using a low cost Kinect sensor mounted on an industrial robot, a series of 3D scans of the working environmentcan be acquired. By registering the 3D scans, the working environment can be mapped and the integrator can take advantage of the mapping to better adapt the robot to the environment and make the integration more flexible. The resulting 3D model can then be used as a basis for collision free path planning, better recognition and localization of static objects in the scene as workbenches and non-movable machines. This thesis investigates how well the Kinect sensor is suited for building a 3D model of the industrial robot's surroundings, that could be used for industrial robot programming and integration. The point clouds obtained using Kinect were registered together by an initial coarse registration followed by a fine registration. By doing a hand-eye calibration, the pose of Kinect relative to the robot base was obtained, and a transformation for the initial registration could be acquired from the robot itself. The fine registration was done with help of the Iterative Closest Point, which was applied to a set of keypoints extracted from the pair of point clouds to be registered by using the SIFT3D keypoint detector. As the depth data of Kinect is noisy, the data was smoothed out using the Fast Bilateral Filter. The evaluation of this mapping was done both visually and by a comparison to ground-truth data gathered with the industrial robot itself. The results showed that the error of the models obtained varied between negative and positive values, reaching values from approximately -0.5 cm to approximately 1.9 cm. It was concluded that the resulting models could be used for integrating an industrial robot and is suited when a rougher representation of the surroundings is needed where mm precision is not required.
Pre-service teachers’ investments in English and construction of professional identity in the Indonesian context

This study explored the pre-service teachers (PSTs) professional identity construction during their teacher education training at a private university in Central Java, Indonesia. It particularly investigated their understanding of the teaching profession and their professional identity, guided by two research questions: 1) what have been the influential aspects of the Indonesian pre-service teachers’ investment in the teaching profession? and 2) what professional identities do the PSTs (re)construct during their teacher education training? A qualitative case study was adopted as the design of this study. Data of this study were collected using an open-ended questionnaire and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Participants of this study are eleven PSTs of a private university in Central Java. The obtained data were analyzed by using the theoretical grounding of situated learning, professional identity, and investments. An interpretive approach and thematic analysis were adopted in coding and analyzing the PSTs’ open-ended questionnaire responses and narrative accounts obtained from the interviews. It is found that most aspects of PSTs’ construction of professional identity are their continuous learning participation and contemplation during their training in the English teacher education (ETE) program and their dynamic inner dialogue with their two selves (i.e. the student-self and the teacher-self) during the teaching practicum at school. These influential aspects lead to the emerging professional identity of the PSTs as caring, motivational, pleasant, and empathetic teachers. This result implies the need to emphasize the acquisition of teacher identity and reflective teaching at the heart of teacher education.
Models and Molecular Markers of Spermatogonial Stem Cells in Vertebrates: To Find Models in Nonmammals

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the germline stem cells that are essential for the maintenance of spermatogenesis in the testis. However, it has not been sufficiently understood in amphibians, reptiles, and fish because numerous studies have been focused mainly on mammals. The aim of this review is to discuss scientific ways to elucidate SSC models of nonmammals in the context of the evolution of testicular organization since rodent SSC models. To further understand the SSC models in nonmammals, we point out common markers of an SSC pool (undifferentiated spermatogonia) in various types of testes where the kinetics of the SSC pool appears. This review includes the knowledge of (1) common molecular markers of vertebrate type A spermatogonia including putative SSC markers, (2) localization of the markers on the spermatogonia that have been reported in previous studies, (3) highlighting the most common markers in vertebrates, and (4) suggesting ways of finding SSC models in nonmammals.
Characterisation of a phospholipase C-δ from sea urchin eggs and embryos.

At fertilisation the sea urchin egg is activated by an increase in calcium (Ca '̂*), largely generated by an increase in inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate (IP3). Increases in intracellular IP3 and Ca^^ are also observed during the first cell cycle. The precise role of phospholipase Cs (PLCs) during these events is unknown. To date, PLC-y is the only PLC isoform identified in sea urchin egg cytosol, yet evidence suggests the presence o f additional PLC activity. Here, immunoblot analysis suggests that a PLCÔ isoform is also present in sea urchin egg cytosol and remains present in fractions with PLC activity after heparin column and gel filtration fractionation. This thesis investigates this previously unidentified PLC-ô activity. Strongylocentrotus purpuratus egg, embryo and testes cDNA databases and macro-arrays were used to identify and clone a PLC-ô, named PLC-ôsu, from sea urchin embryos. PLC-ôsu consists of 2.44 kb, has a molecular weight o f 84.6 kDa and is most similar to zebrafish PLC-ô. Production of a recombinant PLC-Ôsu fusion protein proved PLCôsu to be a catalytically-active PLC. In addition, RNA transcripts of full-length and truncated PLC-ôsu were used to study the function o f PLC-ôsu in mouse and sea urchin eggs. Data suggests that PLC-ôsu may play a role in producing apoptosis in the developing sea urchin. This thesis also shows that the PH domain o f PLC-ôsu preferentially binds 3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides on membranes spotted with phospholipids. The localisation of the PLC-ôsu PH domain in mouse and sea urchin eggs during fertilisation has been investigated by the construction and use of GFPtagged PH domain fusion proteins and confocal microscopy. Different localisation patterns are observed in mouse and sea urchin eggs. Publications and Presentations Publication Owen, H. ; Coward, K. ; Poustka, AJ. ; Hibbitt, O. ; Kubota, H. ; Swann, K. ; Parrington, J. 2004. ‘Cloning o f a novel phospholipase C-delta isoform from Pacific purple sea urchin {Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) gametes and its expression during early embryonic development’ Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 313: 894-901 Oral Presentation at the Societv for Reproduction and Fertilitv, Leeds, June 2002 Owen, H; Coward, K; Tunwell, R; Churchill, G; Halet, G; Poustka, A; Swann, K. ; Parrington, J. 2002. ‘Characterisation o f a phospholipase C-ô from sea urchin eggs and embryos’
THE INFLUENCE-FACTOR OF CYCLING AS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ELDERLY POST COVID-19

As the age increases, the number of deaths caused by Covid-19 becomes prominent. In China, 3,6% of people aged 60-69 years died, followed by 8% of those aged 70-79 years because older people commonly experienced various comorbidities such as cardiovascular, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and hypertension. Therefore, if older people perform cycling consistently as an exercise, it would increase their immunity and derive long-term benefits. This study was a descriptive-quantitative study aimed to describe the factors that influence physical activity, specifically cycling, in aged-people post-Covid-19. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) has been used to collect the information. The results showed that 88,6% of elderly people cycle because they know about the importance of exercise in health. In terms of age, the people aged between 55 and 60 years old were dominated by cycling with 29% of them being female.
Extraction and characterization of Nanocellulose obtained from sugarcane bagasse as agro-waste

This study aimed to characterize nanocellulose extracted from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) by acid hydrolysis 60% (w/w) H2SO4 at 45 â—¦C. The effect of hydrolysis time (20, 30 and 40 min) on the structure and properties of the nanofibers was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the hemicellulose and lignin were removed extensively in the cellulose whiskers. The morphology and dimensions of the fibers and acid-released cellulose nanowhisker (CNW) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that SCB could be used as source to obtain cellulose whiskers and they had needle-like structures. Longer hydrolysis time produced a lower yield of nanofibers; whereas the degree of crystallinity increased from 38.22% to 65.37% with increasing hydrolysis time due to removal of amorphous cellulose.
Influence of the Web Formation of a Basic Layer of Medical Textiles on Their Functionality

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of the spunbond process and the meltblown process, as well as various combinations of the two processes, on the functional performance of layered nonwovens for medical purposes. In the present study, eight samples used in the medical field, mainly for medical masks, were analysed. The samples studied were laminated nonwovens produced by the spunbond and meltblown processes, and combinations of spunbond and meltblown processes. In order to determine the influence of the technological process used to produce a base layer of nonwoven fabrics on their functionality, measurements of tensile strength and extension, water vapour permeability, air permeability, porosity, and thermal conductivity were performed. In addition, the structural characteristics of selected samples were analysed, such as fibre diameter, thickness, mass, raw material composition, and surface openness. The aim of the present study was to find the optimal combination of spunbond and meltblown processes for medical textiles. Based on the research results, we can conclude that the five-layer composite in which three layers are made by spunbond (S) and two layers are made by meltblown (M) in combination as SSMMS from PP fibres has optimal air permeability, filtration of pollutants passing through a protective mask, water vapour permeability and thermal conductivity, and is optimal for use as a multilayer nonwoven fabric for medical masks. Multilayer SSMMS composites also have a lower weight, resulting in less energy and time required for recycling such textiles.
Energy Metabolism in Mouse Sciatic Nerve A Fibres during Increased Energy Demand

The ability of sciatic nerve A fibres to conduct action potentials relies on an adequate supply of energy substrate, usually glucose, to maintain necessary ion gradients. Under our ex vivo experimental conditions, the absence of exogenously applied glucose triggers Schwann cell glycogen metabolism to lactate, which is transported to axons to fuel metabolism, with loss of the compound action potential (CAP) signalling glycogen exhaustion. The CAP failure is accelerated if tissue energy demand is increased by high-frequency stimulation (HFS) or by blocking lactate uptake into axons using cinnemate (CIN). Imposing HFS caused CAP failure in nerves perfused with 10 mM glucose, but increasing glucose to 30 mM fully supported the CAP and promoted glycogen storage. A combination of glucose and lactate supported the CAP more fully than either substrate alone, indicating the nerve is capable of simultaneously metabolising each substrate. CAP loss resulting from exposure to glucose-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) could be fully reversed in the absence of glycogen by addition of glucose or lactate when minimally stimulated, but imposing HFS resulted in only partial CAP recovery. The delayed onset of CAP recovery coincided with the release of lactate by Schwann cells, suggesting that functional Schwann cells are a prerequisite for CAP recovery.
Economic determinants of national carbon emissions: perspectives from 119 countries

The study aims to analyze the economic determinants of national carbon emissions in a large cross-section of 119 countries. The study followed the ‘ theory of sustainable development ’ to assess the national sustainable developmental agenda. The study employed cross-sectional, robust least squares, and Markov switching regression for parameter estimates. The findings indicate that information disclosure, the cost of business start-up procedures, sustainable fuel imports, and renewable energy decrease emissions stock. In contrast, ease of doing business and logistics operations increase it. According to the ex-ante analysis, information disclosure, the cost of business start-up procedures, and environmentally friendly logistical operations would likely reduce emissions stock. Ease of doing business and lower renewable fuel expenditures will almost certainly increase emissions stock in the majority of subsequent years. Over time, information disclosure is expected to significantly impact carbon emissions, followed by renewable energy consumption, doing business, and logistical operations. Sustainable economic policies worldwide make it possible for green technology and environmentally friendly manufacturing to be put into place
Multilevel transition in empty substrate integrated waveguide

Empty substrate integrated waveguide (ESIW) is an improvement of the well-known substrate integrated waveguide. While maintaining the low cost, easy manufacturing, small size, and integration with other circuits in the same substrate, ESIW decreases the related losses by removing the dielectric substrate, thus rendering it more interesting for practical applications. A wide band transition has been already developed to connect ESIW to microstrip lines. Filters, couplers, and antennas have also been developed in ESIW. For multilevel configurations, where different ESIW devices are implemented in different stacked substrates, a transition is needed that connects ESIW lines in different substrate levels. A low reflection wideband transition is presented for connecting two stacked ESIW lines.
Pharmaceutical pollution: Prediction of environmental concentrations from national wholesales data

The regulation and monitoring of pharmaceutical pollution in Europe lag behind that of more prominent groups. However, the repurposing of sales data to predict surface water environmental concentrations is a promising supplement to more commonly used market-based risk assessment and measurement approaches. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has since the 1980s compiled the Drug Wholesale Statistics database - covering all sales of both human and veterinary pharmaceuticals to retailers, pharmacies, and healthcare providers. To date, most similar works have focused either on a small subset of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) or used only prescription data, often more readily available than wholesale data, but necessarily more limited. By using the NIPH’s product wholesale records, with additional information on API concentrations per product from, we have been able to calculate sales weights per year for almost 900 human and veterinary APIs for the period 2016–2019. In this paper, we present our methodology for converting the provided NIPH data from a public health to an ecotoxicological resource. From our derived dataset, we have used an equation to calculate Predicted Environmental Concentration per API for inland surface waters, a key component of environmental risk assessment. We further describe our filtering to remove ecotoxicological-exempt and data deficient APIs. Lastly, we provide a limited comparison between our dataset and similar publicly available datasets for a subset of APIs, as a validation of our approach and a demonstration of the added value of wholesale data. This dataset will provide the best coverage yet of pharmaceutical sales weights for an entire nation. Moreover, our developed routines for processing 2016–2019 data can be expanded to older Norwegian wholesales data (1974–present). Consequently, our work with this dataset can contribute to narrowing the gap between desk-based predictions of exposure from consumption, and empirical but expensive environmental measurement.
Vulnerability Analysis and Seismic Retrofit of a Strategic Building

AbstractThe seismic vulnerability analysis of a strategic building is presented in this paper. A refined finite-element model was set up on the basis of available experimental results, and updated on the basis of new experimental analyses on materials and structure. As demonstrated by an experimental vibration analysis, the structural behavior is influenced very much by the irregularity of the building and the presence of an adjacent building with no seismic joint. The results indicate a high vulnerability of the building to seismic actions, and the inadequacy of the pile foundation—for which a specific nonlinear analysis was performed—to support horizontal seismic loads. A retrofit intervention, based on the insertion of a seismic isolation system and the realization of a seismic joint with the adjacent building, was proposed, which allows the reduction of horizontal forces in the piles and the torsional movements of the structure.
Using of Adhesives and Binders for Agglomeration of Particle Waste Resources

This review presents the usage of adhesives and binders for agglomeration of particle materials, including waste, in order to obtain strong bodies. The binding materials were classifi ed into three categories: inorganic binders, organic binders, and compound binders. Many examples of the agglomeration eff ect of binders in view of their adhesive and thickening reveal that they have a signifi cant impact on the qualities and use of waste lumps. Binders for fi ne waste granulation, briquetting, and pelletizing were demonstrated in-depth. In all cases, the mechanical strength of the agglomerates produced was increased. It was observed that the majority of the additives may be easily obtained from waste resources, posing a minimal environmental risk.
Role of Morphology in Visual Word Recognition: A Parafoveal Preview Study in Arabic Using Eye-Tracking

Words in Semitic languages such as Arabic and Hebrew are composed of two interwoven morphemes: roots and word patterns (verbal and nominal). Studies exploring the organizing principles of the mental lexicon in Hebrew reported robust priming effects by roots and verbal patterns, but not by nominal patterns. In Arabic, prior studies have produced some inconsistent results. Using the eye-tracking methodology, this study investigated whether the Arabic morphological classes (i.e., root, verbal pattern, nominal pattern) presented parafoveally would facilitate naming of foveally presented words among young native Arabic skilled readers. Results indicate that roots and both word patterns accelerated word naming latencies, suggesting that morphological knowledge contributed to word recognition processes in Arabic. The inclusion of the three morpheme classes into one study represents so far the most comprehensive study of morphological priming effects in Arabic.
Fiscal consumption and private consumption in Europe: what have we learned?

ABSTRACT In this paper we contribute to the long literature on how fiscal policy affects the real economy. In particular, we focus on how government consumption affects private consumption for a pool of European economies. We estimate panel vector error correction models between the two consumption variables for the EU 28 + Norway and Switzerland, for the two periods before and after 2008. The results show that government consumption affects private consumption differently in the periods before and after 2008. This means an increase in government consumption could have a positive impact on private consumption.
The Comparison of Motivating Factors for Taking English and Other Foreign Languages Among Thai College Students

This study adopted mixed method research to investigate motivating factors of Thai undergraduate students who took foreign language courses at a Thai university in the Greater Bangkok area, using Dörnyei’s (2009) L2MSS as a study framework. One hundred and seventy-three undergraduate students completed a questionnaire, 25 of whom agreed to participate in the semi-structured interview session. Quantitative data were analyzed utilizing frequency, mean, standard deviation, one-way ANOVA, and two-way ANOVA, while interview data were content analyzed. The findings revealed different motivating sources for the students who had taken or were taking foreign language courses. English and Korean students reported the Ought-to L2 Self as their primary source of motivation, while French, Chinese, and Japanese students reported the Past L2 Learning Experience. The study suggested that teachers provide an adequate and supportive learning experience to foreign language students, leading to higher motivation and engagement in foreign language classrooms.
Best Practices in Faculty Training for Online Course Design: Implications for St. Catherine University

5 Introduction 6 Purpose of Research 6 Analysis of Conceptual Context 8 Definitions of Key Terms 8 Trends in Online Education 9 Best Practices in Faculty Training for Online Course Design 10 Structured learning. 10 Training content. 11 Peer mentorship. 13 Evolution of Training at St. Catherine University 14 Research Question 15 Methodology 15 Validity 17 Results and Discussion of Findings 19 Analysis of Foundations Course 19 Analysis of Faculty Interviews 22 Analysis of Follow-Up Questions 23 Lack of additional follow-up training. 24 Lack of collaboration across disciplines. 24 Lack of consensus around stakeholder needs. 25