Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blending virtual reality with traditional approaches to encourage engagement with core chemistry concepts relevant to an undergraduate pharmacy curriculum

Students studying pharmacy often lack motivation to engage with chemical principles. In particular, they often find fundamental chemical concepts such as the visualisation of three-dimensional structures challenging. This programme description reports the design and implementation of a teaching session where stand-alone virtual reality (VR) technology was offered alongside traditional methods of instruction in an attempt to encourage students to engage with fundamental chemistry concepts relating to the three-dimensional structures of drug molecules. By using VR technology in combination with paper-based in-class exercises and supporting material delivered via a virtual learning environment, the authors demonstrate that virtual reality could be used to both reinforce learning and enhance engagement with a topic which students often find challenging. A blended approach employing different methods of delivery presents the advantage that it allows the user control over the level of interaction with each individual element. As such, VR becomes a valuable instructional tool rather then the focus of the session or a distraction. To evaluate the sessions, student feedback was collected using a ‘ballot-box’ system where students could provide anonymous free response comments. Feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive and it was noted that the optional use of VR technology kept students engaged in tackling paper-based exercises in an area of curriculum which learners often find difficult. It is noted that a blended approach can help to overcome several of the barriers in the use of VR in a classroom setting. In addition, it highlights that effective deployment of such technology is both viable and beneficial on a classroom scale. In the future, the authors hope to apply these methods to other parts of the curriculum
Metabolic profile and adipokine levels in overweight and obese dogs

Obesity in dogs is increasingly present in the veterinary practice. In humans, it is known that there is a significant correlation between obesity and the development of hypertension and insulin resistance (IR), a clinical picture called metabolic syndrome. In dogs, however, there are only anecdotes about the syndrome. The objectives of this study were to determine serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, glucose, homeostasis assessment of B cell function (HOMA-B), homeostasis assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in dogs with different body conditions (BC) and body fat (BF) without endocrine disease. For this purpose, 76 healthy dogs were submitted to evaluation of body conditions score (BCS) and morphometry. The dogs were separated into 3 groups: optimal BC [BCS 3,4, or 5 of 9 and BF% of 13 to 27-Group 1 (G1)], overweight [BCS 6 and 7 of 9 and BF% of 14 to 38- Group 2 (G2)], obese [BCS 8 and 9 of 9 and BF% greater than or equal to 34-Group 3 (G3)]. G3 presented higher serum levels of total protein, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Adipokines did not correlate to any other parameter, but the occurrence of hyperinsulinemia was higher in G3. The results have shown that obese dogs presented IR and alterations in fat metabolism.
What do pharmacy students need to know about biochemistry?

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine what students need to know about biochemistry in order to practice pharmacy. Methods: With reference to a list of learning objectives, educators interviewed students during their advanced clinical rotations, asking if they had used each item in practice. Each item was then rated according to the number and strength of affirmative responses. The ratings were used to identify the elements of biochemistry most strongly recognised as relevant to clinical practice. Results: All of the learning objectives received affirmative responses, indicating that each was recalled or used by some respondent(s). The most highly rated objectives indicate aspects of biochemistry most closely related to clinical practice. Conclusion: The results provide guidance to educators for designing biochemistry courses, highlighting recognisable connections between biochemistry and clinical practice, and areas where relevance may need to be made clearer or re-evaluated.
Dynamic life cycle carbon and energy analysis for cross-laminated timber in the Southeastern United States

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to understand the carbon and energy implications of manufacturing and using cross-laminated timber (CLT), an emerging and sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. However, previous LCAs of CLT are static analyses without considering the complex interactions between the CLT manufacturing and forest systems, which are dynamic and largely affected by the variations in forest management, CLT manufacturing, and end-of-life options. This study fills this gap by developing a dynamic life-cycle modeling framework for a cradle-to-grave CLT manufacturing system across 100 years in the Southeastern United States. The framework integrates process-based simulations of CLT manufacturing and forest growth as well as Monte Carlo simulation to address uncertainty. On a 1-ha forest land basis, the net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions range from −954 to −1445 metric tonne CO2 eq. for a high forest productivity scenario compared to −609 to −919 metric tonne CO2 eq. for a low forest productivity scenario. All scenarios showed significant GHG emissions from forest residues decay, demonstrating the strong needs to consider forest management and their dynamic impacts in LCAs of CLT or other durable wood products (DWP). The results show that using mill residues for energy recovery has lower fossil-based GHG (59%–61% reduction) than selling residues for producing DWP, but increases the net GHG emissions due to the instantaneous release of biogenic carbon in residues. In addition, the results were converted to a 1 m3 basis with a cradle-to-gate system boundary to be compared with literature. The results, 113–375 kg CO2 eq. m−3 across all scenarios for fossil-based GHG emissions, were consistent with previous studies. Those findings highlight the needs of system-level management to maximize the potential benefits of CLT. This work is an attributional LCA, but the presented results lay a foundation for future consequential LCAs for specific CLT buildings or commercial forest management systems.
Absence of Nepotism in Waggle Communication of Honeybees (Apis mellifera)

Abstract The polyandrous mating behavior of the honeybee queen increases the genetic variability among her worker offspring and the workers of particular subfamilies tend to have a genetic predisposition for tasks preference. In this study, we intended to understand whether there is nepotism in dance communication of honeybees during natural conditions. Microsatellite DNA analyses revealed a total of fourteen and twelve subfamilies in two colonies. The subfamily composition of the dancer and the followers did not deviate from random. The majority of the subfamilies did not show kin recognition in dance-recruit communication in honeybee colonies, but some subfamilies showed significant nepotism for workers to follow their super-sister dancer. Because it seems unlikely that honeybee would change the tendency to follow dancers due to the degree of relatedness, we conclude that honeybees randomly follow a dancer in order to e benefit colony gain and development.
Enzymatic bacterial dehairing of bovine hide by a locally isolated strain of Bacillus licheniformis

Bacterial isolation and identification were realized for microbial enzymatic dehairing of animal skin. The process was optimized for the required skin quality taking into account the contact time, temperature, pH, crude enzyme concentration (%) as well as mechanical agitation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to show the effect of bacterial enzyme on the grain surface and fibres in comparison with the chemical unhairing considering the quality of the skin. The optimization of keratinase activity was also examined. The bacterial isolates were identified as Bacillus licheniformis, (coded as D-10). The experimental results showed that the contact time of 48hr at 35°C, pH8.7, crude enzymatic concentration (v/v) 6% and shaking at 100 rev. min - 1 are optimal for enzymatic dehairing of animal hide. The results obtained and the SEM results indicate the possibility of using bacterial enzymes to dehair animal skin instead of using chemical compounds, to assure good skin quality, protecting the environment and saving time.
Shape dependence of snow crystal fall speed

Abstract. Improved snowfall predictions require accurate knowledge of the properties of ice crystals and snow particles, such as their size, cross-sectional area, shape, and fall speed. The fall speed of ice particles is a critical parameter for the representation of ice clouds and snow in atmospheric numerical models, as it determines the rate of removal of ice from the modelled clouds. Fall speed is also required for snowfall predictions alongside other properties such as ice particle size, cross-sectional area, and shape. For example, shape is important as it strongly influences the scattering properties of these ice particles and thus their response to remote sensing techniques. This work analyzes fall speed as a function of particle size (maximum dimension), cross-sectional area, and shape using ground-based in situ measurements. The measurements for this study were done in Kiruna, Sweden, during the snowfall seasons of 2014 to 2019, using the ground-based in situ instrument Dual Ice Crystal Imager (D-ICI). The resulting data consist of high-resolution images of falling hydrometeors from two viewing geometries that are used to determine particle size (maximum dimension), cross-sectional area, area ratio, orientation, and the fall speed of individual particles. The selected dataset covers sizes from about 0.06 to 3.2 mm and fall speeds from 0.06 to 1.6 m s−1. Relationships between particle size, cross-sectional area, and fall speed are studied for different shapes. The data show in general low correlations to fitted fall speed relationships due to large spread observed in fall speed. After binning the data according to size or cross-sectional area, correlations improve, and we can report reliable parameterizations of fall speed vs. particle size or cross-sectional area for part of the shapes. For most of these shapes, the fall speed is better correlated with cross-sectional area than with particle size. The effects of orientation and area ratio on the fall speed are also studied, and measurements show that vertically oriented particles fall faster on average. However, most particles for which orientation can be defined fall horizontally.
Synoptic causes of torrential rainfall in South-eastern Spain (1941–2017)

The weather types of 68 dates with torrential rainfall (≥200 mm/day) recorded at any weather station in the provinces of Alicante or Murcia during the period between 1941 and 2017 were determined using the MartínVide’s 1984 manual synoptic classification. Other relevant synoptic characteristics, as well as the surface pressure, and the value of the Western Mediterranean Oscillation index (WeMOi) on which those dates fell were also considered. The results show the high percentage of the Advection from the East with DANA (isolated highaltitude depression) or ‘gota fría’ type, which is present in more than 50% of the events, followed by the Trough type at 500 hPa and the Dynamic or Cold-core Low type, in the torrential rainfalls of South-eastern Spain. Except for the latter type, the average air pressure is close to or higher than normal. The WeMOi was negative for all events, which is consistent with the nature of this teleconnection pattern. Causas sinópticas de las precipitaciones torrenciales en la región del Sureste, España (19412017) RESUMEN. Se han determinado los tipos sinópticos, a partir de la clasificación manual de Martín-Vide (1984), de 68 fechas con precipitación torrencial (>200 mm/día) en alguna estación meteorológica de las provincias de Alicante y Murcia durante el período 1941-2017. Se han considerado otras características sinópticas relevantes, así como la presión en superficie, y el valor del índice de la Oscilación del Mediterráneo Occidental (WeMOi) de las citadas fechas. Los resultados muestran la importancia porcentual en las precipitaciones torrenciales del Sureste de España de las advecciones del este con DANA (“gota fría”), presentes en más del 50% de los casos, seguida por las vaguadas en 500 hPa y las borrascas dinámicas o frías. Salvo en este último tipo, la presión atmosférica media es próxima o superior a la normal. En todos los casos el WeMOi fue negativo, lo que es consistente con la naturaleza de este patrón de teleconexión.
Integrating AHP, Cluster Analysis, and Fuzzy TOPSIS to Evaluate Emergency Warehouse Locations of Mount Merapi Eruption Victims

This paper discusses using a multi-criteria decision model (MCDM) to determine a logistics warehouse location for humanitarian aid. This study concerns the volcanic disaster that occurred in Sleman Regency, Indonesia, in 2010. When this disaster occurred, the location for the logistics warehouse was still based on the closest distance with road access. Since it was located without considering several criteria, delivery to victims was not optimal and faced many obstacles. In this study, MCDM is applied using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Fuzzy TOPSIS (a technique for the order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution); AHP is used to generate selection criteria and sub-criteria based on expert opinion, while Fuzzy TOPSIS is used to identify the best option among potential locations based on these criteria and subcriteria. This study also uses cluster analysis to determine potential emergency warehouse locations in each operational area based on distance and the number of refugees. Seven criteria and 17 subcriteria were identified to determine the location of the emergency warehouse. In this case, the criteria and subcriteria with the highest weights were both delivery time. Based on the weight of the criteria and subcriteria and the cluster analysis, four potential warehouse locations were identified in the following priority order: Sukoharjo, Sidokerto, Tamanmartani, and Wedomartani. Keywords— logistics warehouse; volcanic disaster; cluster analysis; MCDM.
Synchrotron- und laseraktiviertes Wachstum von Edelmetallpartikeln in Gläsern

Within this work, the novel technique of synchrotron X-ray activation has been developed and was used in combination with subsequent annealing to generate noble metal particles spatially resolved and on demand in noble metal ion-doped soda-lime silicate glasses. The photoactivation technique has enabled the separation of nucleation and growth of noble metal particles. Thus, atomic particles and the early stages of the cluster growth process could be identified for the very first time. The glasses have been characterised by photoluminescence, UV-Vis absorption, EPR, SAXS and XANES spectroscopy. As a result, the red luminescing gold dimer could be identified in synchrotron activated gold-doped glasses. Thermal annealing at 550◦C has induced the growth of gold nanoparticles by heterogeneous nucleation. As a model for the nucleation center a gold dimer bound to a silanolate center has been suggested. In contrast to gold, in synchrotron activated silverdoped glasses non-luminescent silver atoms have been generated. Annealing at 300◦C has induced the growth of luminescent atomic silver particles. After a thermal treatment at a higher temperature of 500◦C non-emitting silver nanoparticles have been generated. The early stages of the gold and silver cluster growth process have been identified as efficient donators in photoluminescence energy transfer processes. Therefore, the luminescence of glassintrinsic luminescence centers as well as the phosphorescence of co-doped trivalent lanthanoide ions could be enhanced significantly. As for nonlinear luminescence studies, an unprecedented increase of the gold amount of up to 20 mol% has been achieved by the preparation of ultrathin silicate-titanate layers with a combined sol-gel and spin-coating approach. The photoluminescence of the gold nanoparticles generated by annealing at 300◦C could be excited by a three-photon induced process. Furthermore, the technique of confocal titanium:sapphire laser activation has been developed to write nanometer-sized patterns containing luminescent gold nanoparticles into the glassy layers. TEM and SEM studies have shown, that the gold nanoparticles are not only embedded within the thin films, but are also located on top of the glassy layers. Furthermore, their accessibility to biological molecules has been proven by determining the surface-enhanced Raman scattering of adsorbed adenine molecules.
The Effects of Online Assignments and Weekly Deadlines on Student Outcomes in a Macroeconomics Course

This study examined how weekly, externally set deadlines affected the completion of adaptive learning assignments and student outcomes in an introductory macroeconomics course. We imposed different deadline schemes for the same adaptive learning assignments in two sections of the course. One section was given flexible deadlines and the other section was given rigid weekly deadlines. We found that weekly deadlines did not affect assignment completions or total points earned on unit exams. We investigated how the adaptive learning assignments affected student retention of material. A measure of staying on pace in the course provided a positive effect on the comprehensive final exam for students with weekly deadlines. The weekly deadlines may not have influenced assignment completions but consistent engagement with the flow of topics through the course increased student knowledge retention. Regardless of deadline type, completions of adaptive learning assignments positively affected outcomes on the unit exams and final exam. JEL Classifications: A20, A22
Resistance Exercise and Art Therapy on Body Image in Breast Cancer: A Scoping Review

Background: Treatments for breast cancer are invasive, causing visible changes such as loss of the breast, body weight change, and hair loss. These changes in conjunction with the pressure for women to conform to societal beauty standards may lead to body image disturbance in breast cancer survivors (BCS). The aims of this scoping review were to explore the nature, characteristics, and extent of the literature examining resistance exercise or art therapy on body image in BCS; and examine how body image is defined and measured across the studies. Methods: We searched the literature up to January 2020, which included conducting electronic searches of three major databases and checking references of screened articles. Results: Ninety-three articles were identified, 28 underwent full-text screening, with 8 studies eligible for inclusion in the review. Five randomized control trials, one hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial, and two single group studies were found. All studies showed significant within-group difference in body image scores, with two studies showing a between-group difference in favor of resistance exercise. No studies were found combining resistance exercise and art therapy. None of the studies defined the aspect of body image they wished to measure, and only one used theory to inform their research. Discussion: Preliminary evidence supports the benefit of resistance exercise and art therapy as single interventions to improve body image perception among BCS. Findings suggest the need for closer attention to the delivery format of interventions. Future research is needed that is theory-informed, with a clear definition of the aspect of body image of interest, and with body image as the primary outcome.
Conformally deposited NiO on a hierarchical carbon support for high-power and durable asymmetric supercapacitors

Metal oxide based supercapacitors can provide much higher energy densities as compared with carbon-based ones. However, metal oxides usually suffer from low power densities together with poor cycle life, which is a big barrier for their practical applications. In this work, purposely confined NiO nanoparticles have been deposited uniformly on a three-dimensional graphite foam–carbon nanotube forest substrate, giving rise to a well-integrated free-standing electrode (GF–CNT@NiO) with strong synergetic effects generated from nickel oxide and the carbon support. The electrode with 57.6% mass content of NiO delivers a high specific capacity of 196.5 mA h g−1 and excellent cycling stability for 30000 cycles. By coupling with a graphene–CNT paper anode, an asymmetric supercapacitor (GF–CNT@NiO//G–CNT) is assembled, which demonstrates excellent cycling ability (only 18.3% of capacitance drop after 30000 cycles) and high power density (1.06–7.14 kW kg−1), suggesting its great promise for advanced supercapacitors.
Natural Violence, Unnatural Bodies: Negotiating the Boundaries of the Human in MMIWG Narratives

Released in 2019, the final report on the Canadian National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) terms the high rates of murder and disappearance an ongoing genocide. The connected forms of violence that Native American women in the United States experience, however, remain largely unacknowledged. This essay considers how two contemporary cultural narratives attempt to render violence against Native American women speakable, through a focus on the film Wind River (2017) directed by Taylor Sheridan and the novel The Round House (2012) by Ojibwe author Louise Erdrich. By analyzing these texts, this essay examines how cultural narratives mediate the boundaries of human life, emphasizing the extent to which such borders are framed by racial and gendered experience. Placing Mel Y. Chen’s understanding of animacy hierarchies into dialogue with Judith Butler’s work on ungrievability, I argue that animalistic associations can alternately work to reproduce or disrupt normative conceptualizations of the human. I contrast the dehumanizing rhetoric that is produced in Wind River with The Round House, which I argue disrupts the boundaries between human and nonhuman through the recovery of Ojibwe ontologies. Through this comparison, I locate the pervasiveness of a discourse that de-animates Indigenous women in the public sphere, as well as consider the potential for cultural narratives to disrupt this violent logic.
Accurate Prediction of Melt Electrowritten Laydown Patterns from Simple Geometrical Considerations

Melt electrowriting (MEW), an electrohydrodynamic additive manufacturing technology, can produce polymer structures with micrometer resolution. Unlike conventional direct writing of fluids, the laydown pattern often deviates from the programmed one, due to a lag in the electrified jet. MEW of increasingly complex patterns currently entails a cumbersome trial‐and‐error procedure of adjusting printing parameters to ensure good accuracy. This issue is addressed with a geometrical model that predicts the expected printed fiber path, based on the coded trajectory, critical translation speed, and the collector speed. The influence of the process parameters on the jet lag is investigated and a general equation for the lag computation is implemented into the model. The presented model can evaluate the printing result up to ten times more accurate than the designed collector movement path and thus assist in identifying printing defects and adjustment of the printing G‐code in advance.