Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preservice Teachers’ Design of Technology-Enhanced Statistical Tasks

This study examined the characteristics of technology-enhanced statistical tasks written by 75 preservice mathematics teachers who used the ESTEEM project’s curriculum materials. In particular, it investigated the extent to which the tasks incorporated three key aspects related to best practices for teaching statistics: (a) analysis of large, multivariate, real datasets; (b) continual connection to context; and (c) engagement in the statistical investigation cycle. Regarding Key Aspect 1, the results showed that the tasks involved analysis of large (usually between 30 and 200 cases) datasets, with an average of 15 attributes provided per case. The vast majority of the datasets were also real, either from outside sources or collected by the students when the task would be implemented. Concerning Key Aspect 2, most tasks called for students to connect their work to the context from which the data was generated numerous times including during their orientation to the task, their reading of graphs made to display the data, and their interpretation of their analysis. Engagement in multiple phases of the statistical investigation cycle (Key Aspect 3) was asked for in the tasks as well. Hence, the ESTEEM project’s curriculum materials hold promise for supporting new teachers to plan meaningful technology-enhanced statistical tasks.
Microstrip-Line EH1/EH2-Mode Leaky-Wave Antennas With Backward-to-Forward Scanning

In this letter, EH1/EH2-mode periodic leaky-wave antennas (LWAs) are proposed for achieving backward-to-forward scanning capability. In order to suppress the open stopband, the impedance balanced condition based on the modal distribution circuit is derived. From the equivalent effects of loading slots, the composite slot loadings under the impedance balanced condition are introduced and designed as a validation. The simulated propagation constants and the continuous scanning capability of the proposed LWAs show good suppression of the open stopband. Finally, two LWAs based on EH1-mode or EH2-mode are designed with single beam or dual beams scanning from −40° to 41°, respectively. The measured reflection coefficient and the radiation patterns are in good agreement with those obtained from the simulation.
Morpho-physiological classification of seeds and morphology of fruits and seedlings of Richeria grandis

The objective was to describe and characterize the fruit morphology, seeds, seedlings and germination of Richeria grandis. Mature fruits were collected from matrix trees located in gallery forests. After, morphological descriptions were performed. Biometric measurement of fruits and seeds were carried out. A total of 650 seeds were randomly separated, with 20% being used for germination and humidity testing on the same day of collection and the others stored for 5, 10, 15 and 20 days. The germination test was performed in a gerbox, conducted in a laboratory chamber of the type B.O. D (biochemical oxygen demand) with a photoperiod of 12h and a temperature of 25 oC ± 1 oC. Periodic observations were made to monitor the development of the seedlings until the first germinated seeds reached the full seedling stage. The fruit of R. grandis is a simple, dry, capsule type septifraga, dehiscent and schizocarpic, with average length of 16.24 mm and an average width of 8.57 mm. The seed is an ellipsoid shape, containing a sarcotesta and has an average length of 7.40 mm and an average width of 4.57 mm. R. grandis presents recalcitrant seeds, which emerge in a Phanero-epigene-foliaceous manner. The radicle breaks the integument on the second day after sowing, the collection is evidenced on the 10th day, separating the primary root from the hypocotyl. At day 16, the cotyledons expand from the forehead, positioned at a 90o angle to the hypocotyl. The protophyll and the epicotyl appear only after the 50th day, characterizing the complete seedling.
A Holistic Analysis of Privacy-Aware Smart Grid Demand Response

This study presents a privacy-aware stochastic multiobjective optimization framework that considers the objectives of both consumers and utility companies (UCs) in a demand response (DR) scheme. This framework enables a fair optimization of all the objectives together, and can be used to observe their effects on one another. Using this framework, we performed a comprehensive exploration of the relationships between the objectives of consumers and UCs. The uncertainty of photovoltaic energy sources is modeled by using a stochastic optimization approach. The objectives of the households include minimizing monetary cost and maximizing privacy and comfort. The UC's objectives include minimizing the peak demand and variation of the power demand. This study is the first to present a holistic analysis of privacy-aware DR by incorporating all five objectives of both supply and demand sides. The results reveal that near-optimal privacy performance is achievable with small compromises from the other objectives.
Influences of material extrusion additive manufacturing (MEAM) parameters and additives on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) properties.

Beyond the beneficial characteristics of smart polymers associated with all polymers such as flexibility and cost fabrication, smart materials exhibit multifunctional behaviors. The prospect of integrating structural and sensing/actuation capabilities into a single structure gives design engineers an ability to innovate highly novel, multi-functional creations. Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) is one of the widely used multi-functional materials which offers a variety of desirable material properties. It possesses exceptional chemical and UV resistance, biocompatibility, low processing temperature and affordable price making it a competitive choice for many commercial applications. In addition, among polymers, PVDF is simply the most dominant piezoelectric polymer. On the other hand, material extrusion additive manufacturing technique helps to fabricate parts with different levels of complexity which can be joined with PVDF advantageous properties to be useful for different purposes. However, due to high thermal expansion and low surface energy of PVDF material, fabrication of this semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer via material extrusion process is challenging and commonly results in substantial stress accumulation during filament extrusion and unwanted distortion in printed parts. In order to facilitate the printing challenges, advanced manufacturing techniques and optimal printing parameters were employed to create viable 3D printed PVDF structures with a balanced mix of mechanical and electromechanical characteristics. In addition, effect of deposition parameters on potential piezoelectric properties of PVDF 3D additively manufactured components were investigated. Moreover, in order to enhance net piezoelectric properties of fabricated parts, impact of post processing methods like annealing process and corona poling on piezoelectric behavior of printed samples were evaluated. Also, microscale zirconium tungstate particulates with a negative coefficient of thermal expansion were added to PVDF matrix in the attempt to decrease the total coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite and improve the printability of PVDF materials. Experimental and simulation methods were employed in order to control and minimize component warping and residual stress in the printed objects. Successful completion of this research will help enable products and prototypes that exhibit multi-functional behavior to be rapidly manufactured, a capability that will provide benefits in a variety of applications.
Wideband 23.5–29.5-GHz Phased Arrays for Multistandard 5G Applications and Carrier Aggregation

This article presents a 23.5–29.5-GHz <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8\times 8$ </tex-math></inline-formula> phased array for wideband multistandard applications. The array is based on wideband high-performance <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2\times 2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> transmit/receive (TRX) quad-beamformer chips with 6 bit of phase control and 8 bit of gain control. The antenna is designed using a stacked-patch structure combined with a two-stage impedance matching network to enhance its bandwidth. The <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8\times 8$ </tex-math></inline-formula> phased array achieves an effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of 54.8 dBm at P1dB with a 3-dB bandwidth of 23.5–30.5 GHz and can scan to ±60° in the azimuth plane and +/40° in the elevation plane with excellent patterns with a single-point calibration at 27 GHz. Measured error vector magnitude (EVM) for a 64-QAM 200 and 800-Mbaud waveforms result in a system EVM of 5% (−26 dB) in the TX mode at an average EIRP of 46–47 dBm at 24.5–29.5 GHz. Also, the wideband array is capable of 16-QAM 24-Gb/s links with an EVM <16% over all scan angles. An interband carrier aggregation (CA) system is also demonstrated with the wideband array using 200-Mbaud 64-QAM waveforms with 25- and 29-GHz carriers. The phased-array phase and amplitude settings are chosen such that the 25- and 29-GHz waveforms are radiating simultaneously at the same angle with low scan loss, resulting in an efficient system. Also, the out-of-band third-order intermodulation products generated by the power amplifier on each element are filtered out by the antenna. CA measurements with up to 50° scan angles are demonstrated with low EVM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of CA in millimeter-wave fifth-generation (5G) systems.
VARIOUS MODELS FOR FAULTS IN TRANSMISSION LINES AND THEIR DETECTION USING TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY

This paper presents new ways of modelling several types of faults that can be encountered while monitoring cables throughout their lifecycle. These models comply with the traditional RLGC representation of a transmission line, which makes them easily usable for numerical simulations in frequency-domain. Theoretical fault signatures will then be extracted in time-domain to provide a better way of analyzing plots given by traditional devices, like time domain reflectometers (TDR). This allows a more accurate assessment of a cable’s health and condition. It will be shown in particular that some faults can be detected even if their damaged zone remains small compared to the wavelength. A direct benefit from this is that very expensive high frequency tools are not always necessary to detect these faults. The general objective of this paper is to improve fault location accuracy by combining measurement and simulation. It will be shown how this combination can become a powerful tool to detect, locate, and characterize a defect in a cable. The suggested models can be applied to any type of cable, from a coaxial line to a multi wire harness. In this work, a focus has been put on civil and military aircrafts, but similar cables are also found in cars or nuclear power plants for instance.
Complete chloroplast genome sequence of an endangered tree species, Magnolia sieboldii (Magnoliaceae)

Abstract The characteristic of complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Magnolia sieboldii, an endangered species in China, was first sequenced in this study. It showed a typical quadripartite structure with a length of 160,177 bp. It composed of a large single copy (LSC) region of 88,238 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,763 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,588 bp. Further maximum parsimony phylogenetic analysis was performed based on 38 complete plastomes from 30 magnoliids and basal angiosperm species. The result supported a close relationship among M. grandiflora, M. officinals, M. sieboldii, and M. tripetala.
UPPER EXTREMITY KINEMATICS OF AN ELITE SNOOKER PLAYER ON STOP SHOTS

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify kinematic characteristics of stroking upper extremity during final stroke when an elite snooker player using stop shots and compared them with the description of technical books. Methods: The participant was Stephen Maguire, an elite player and the data was recorded by Qualisys Analysis System. The sucessful stop shots was performed 3 times totally. Results: The hitting moment occurs near the minimum value of the forearm angle, as well as the elbow-shoulder-wrist
Robust Estimator-Based Dual-Mode Predictive Fault-Tolerant Control for Constrained Linear Parameter Varying Systems

This article presents a novel robust estimator-based dual-mode predictive fault-tolerant control (FTC) design scheme for linear parameter varying systems with state/input constraints. The overall FTC is composed of an unconstrained robust fixed FTC component and a constrained robust predictive FTC component. The former is determined by solving an offline integrated design of generalized unknown input observer and fault compensation control law. It is mainly used to compensate the influence of faults and stabilize the tracking error system. The robust predictive FTC is formulated based on the tightened invariant set constraint and quadratic programming. It is used to guarantee the recursive feasibility of the overall FTC under constraints, so its optimal value should be determined by solving the programming problem in real time. An algorithm is also provided to summarize all the involved steps of offline design and online implementation. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed results is verified in a practical dc–dc buck converter.
Tunable synthetic extracellular matrices to investigate breast cancer response to biophysical and biochemical cues

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is thought to play a critical role in the progression of breast cancer. In this work, we have designed a photopolymerizable, biomimetic synthetic matrix for the controlled, 3D culture of breast cancer cells and, in combination with imaging and bioinformatics tools, utilized this system to investigate the breast cancer cell response to different matrix cues. Specifically, hydrogel-based matrices of different densities and modified with receptor-binding peptides derived from ECM proteins [fibronectin/vitronectin (RGDS), collagen (GFOGER), and laminin (IKVAV)] were synthesized to mimic key aspects of the ECM of different soft tissue sites. To assess the breast cancer cell response, the morphology and growth of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and T47D) were monitored in three dimensions over time, and differences in their transcriptome were assayed using next generation sequencing. We observed increased growth in response to GFOGER and RGDS, whether individually or in combination with IKVAV, where binding of integrin β1 was key. Importantly, in matrices with GFOGER, increased growth was observed with increasing matrix density for MDA-MB-231s. Further, transcriptomic analyses revealed increased gene expression and enrichment of biological processes associated with cell-matrix interactions, proliferation, and motility in matrices rich in GFOGER relative to IKVAV. In sum, a new approach for investigating breast cancer cell-matrix interactions was established with insights into how microenvironments rich in collagen promote breast cancer growth, a hallmark of disease progression in vivo, with opportunities for future investigations that harness the multidimensional property control afforded by this photopolymerizable system.
Reassessment of Croton sect. Cleodora (Euphorbiaceae) Points to the Amazon Basin as Its Main Center of Diversity1

Abstract Ongoing studies of Neotropical Euphorbiaceae have uncovered a surprising number of new species belonging to Croton L. sect. Cleodora (Klotzsch) Baill. , one of the better studied clades in the genus. Here we describe six new species and reclassify three others that were either misplaced to section or regarded as species of unknown phylogenetic affinity in previous studies. The new species are all from South America, and five of them are restricted to the Amazon region. We update the most recent taxonomic revision of Croton sect. Cleodora by providing a new taxon list and an identification key for the 27 currently recognized species. Sixteen species occur in lowland forested areas of the Amazon basin. Our finding calls attention to the Neotropics, and the Amazon region in particular, where information about the flora and species geographic ranges is still incomplete, even for relatively well-studied plant groups.
Operational considerations for case management of COVID-19 in health facility and community/ Praktyczne aspekty postępowania z pacjentem z COVID-19 w placówkach opieki zdrowotnej i w opiece środowiskowej Wytyczne tymczasowe

Based on the largest cohort of COVID-19 patients, about 40% of patients with COVID-19 may have mild disease, where treatment is mostly symptomatic and does not require inpatient care; about 40% of patients have moderate disease that may require inpatient care; 15% of patients will have severe disease that requires oxygen therapy or other inpatient interventions; and about 5% have critical disease that requires mechanical ventilation.
The secret life of possums: data loggers reveal the movement ecology of an arboreal mammal

Understanding animal movement patterns is fundamental to ecology, as it allows inference about species' habitat preferences and their niches. Such knowledge also underpins our ability to predict how animals may respond to environmental change, including habitat loss and modification. Data-logging devices such as GPS trackers and accelerometers are rapidly becoming cheaper and smaller, allowing movement at fine scales to be recorded on a broad range of animal species. We examined movement patterns of an arboreal mammal (bobuck, Trichosurus cunninghami) in a highly fragmented forest ecosystem. The GPS data showed males travelled greater distances than females in linear roadside strip habitats, but not in forest fragments. The accelerometer data showed that both sexes exhibited higher activity levels in roadside habitats compared to forest fragments. By coupling GPS and accelerometer data, we uncovered for this species an ecological pattern similar to other mammals: that male bobucks had higher activity levels than females for a given distance travelled. Our findings also suggest that habitat fragmentation changes the amount and type of activity bobucks perform while moving, and that linear forest strips could be considered “energetically challenging” habitats, which informs how we should manage the spatial distribution of key supplementary resources for this species such as nest sites and minimum fragment sizes.
A Review on Bioactivities of Honey Bee Venom

The Honeybee (Apis mellifera) is one of the world’s most beneficial insects, as it plays a critical role in many terrestrial ecosystems. The use of honeybee products has been documented for thousands of years in many cultures for the treatment of human diseases, and their healing properties have been documented in many religious texts. The present study sets out to compile information on the history, chemical composition and scientific evidence concerning bee venom research. The promising bioactivities have the potential to provide practical directions for further investigation. PubMed database, Google Scholar Library, research articles, books, and relevant web pages have been accessed to accumulate data so that the updated information included in this study is as Review Article Azam et al.; ARRB, 30(2): 1-13, 2018; Article no.ARRB. 45028 2 current as possible. At least 18 pharmacologically active components including various enzymes, peptides, and amines are present in bee venom. Medicinal use of bee venom therapy wields significant in vivo and in vitro outcomes to some extent mitigate the effects of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV, arthritis, liver fibrosis, cancer, tumors, fibrotic diseases, Lyme disease, etc. The effects of bee venom were the first documented in 1888 with the publication of a European clinical study conducted on its impact on rheumatism. According to a study published in the journal, bee venom has been used to treat various conditions for centuries. Such research activities confirm the therapeutic effectiveness of bee venom and as a potential future biomedicine.
Ciprofloxacin- and gentamicin-mediated inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms is enhanced when combined the volatile oil from Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Pseudomonas biofilms cause therapeutic failures in many clinical infections. This study investigated the combined actions of the volatile oil from Eucalyptus camaldulensis and antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and gentamicin) against planktonic and biofilm populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Further, the quorum sensing genes of P. aeruginosa, grown as biofilms, were also investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and biofilm inhibitory concentrations (BICs) of gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and/or the volatile oil of Eucalyptus camaldulensis were determined against planktonic and biofilm populations of clinical P. aeruginosa isolates. Further, the fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) were determined for the antibiotics and volatile oil using a modified checkerboard assay. The bacterial genomic DNA was extracted from biofilm-producing isolates and the target quorum sensing genes were amplified using polymerase chain reaction. Out of 96 biofilm-producing isolates, 43 (44.8%), 29 (30.2%), and 24 (25%) were, respectively, strong, intermediate, and weak biofilm producers. The ciprofloxacin BICs were 30200-fold higher than the ciprofloxacin MICs. Ciprofloxacin and the volatile oil demonstrated a synergistic effect against both planktonic and biofilm populations. Although the volatile oil and gentamicin also demonstrated a synergistic effect against planktonic cells, only an additive effect was observed against biofilm cells. There was a significant relationship between the frequency of quorum sensing genes, rhlLR and lasLR, and the MICs of piperacillin, with P values of 0.043 and 0.032, respectively. The ciprofloxacin MIC was significantly correlated with the presence of lasLR (P = 0.031) and the ceftazidime MIC was correlated with the presence of lasLR (P = 0.023). The volatile oil from E. camaldulensis leaves has antibacterial effects on P. aeruginosa biofilms, alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin. There is a high correlation between the presence of quorum sensing genes (LaslR and rhlLR) and biofilm production, and with pipracillin resistance.
Local adaptation of trees at the range margins impacts range shifts in the face of climate change

1Université du Québec à Montréal Département des sciences biologiques, Montréal, Québec, Canada 2National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), Montréal, Québec, Canada 3Département des Sciences naturelles, Institut des Sciences de la Forêt Tempérée (ISFORT), Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Ripon, Québec, Canada 4Ministère des Forêts de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada 5Institut de recherche sur les forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi‐ Témiscamingue, Rouyn‐Noranda, Québec, Canada 6Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
HSFE Network and Fusion Model based Dynamic Hand Gesture Recognition

Dynamic hand gesture recognition(d-HGR) plays an important role in human-computer interaction(HCI) system. With the growth of hand-pose estimation as well as 3D depth sensors, depth, and the hand-skeleton dataset is proposed to bring much research in depth and 3D hand skeleton approaches. However, it is still a challenging problem due to the low resolution, higher complexity, and self-occlusion. In this paper, we propose a hand-shape feature extraction(HSFE) network to produce robust hand-shapes. We build a hand-shape model, and hand-skeleton based on LSTM to exploit the temporal information from hand-shape and motion changes. Fusion between two models brings the best accuracy in dynamic hand gesture (DHG) dataset.