Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teaching strategies: How do teachers in remote area survive during remote learning?

During the pandemic of COVID-19, remote learning has been very highlighted. This environment creates huge challenges especially to those teaching in remote areas. Drawing on them, this descriptive qualitative study aims to explore teaching strategies applied there. In collecting the data, interviews and questionnaires were given to two English teachers of a Junior High School in Aranio, Banjar Regency. The results show that they have to face some challenges such as the limitedness of internet access and low motivated students when implementing remote learning. Due to this condition, they need to survive by making some efforts such as creating and using interesting teaching modules, coordinating with the related parties, carrying out blended learning, conducting home visit and setting up offline classes because of no possibility for online learning. Through this study, other teachers are kindly informed on the applicable teaching strategies to create effective remote learning experiences in remote areas.
Drought Resistance Loci in Recombinant Lines of Iranian Oryza sativa L. in Germination Stage

In order to locate control genes related to Oryza sativa L. traits at the germination stage under normal conditions and at drought stress levels (−4.5 and −9.0 bar), we evaluated 120 F8 generation offspring from the cross between two cultivars Neda × Ahlemitarum in a factorial experiment in a completely randomized block design with three replications in 2013 in the botanical laboratory of Gonbad Kavous University. A linkage map was prepared using 90 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers and 28 Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR), and 6 iPBS and 9 IRAP markers (265 polymorphic alleles). The results of the analysis of variance showed that all of the evaluated traits had a significant difference at the probability level of 1%. Hence, it can be noted that the desired genetic diversity can be found between genotypes. The results of the stepwise regression analysis for the germination percentage as a dependent variable and other traits as independent variables in the studied treatments showed that under normal conditions, there was variable coleoptile length, but under drought stress of −4.5 and −9.0 bar, the variable plumule dry weight entered the model. In this study, the markers included in RM1-RM490 and ISSR2-3-RM133 of chromosomes 1 and 6 of Oryza sativa were identified as the main regulators of traits associated with Oryza sativa drought resistance. In particular, they present the quantitative trait loci (QTL) that control the first stages of germination of Oryza sativa in water stress conditions.
An X-Band CMOS Digital Phased Array Radar from Hardware to Software

Phased array technology features rapid and directional scanning and has become a promising approach for remote sensing and wireless communication. In addition, element-level digitization has increased the feasibility of complicated signal processing and simultaneous multi-beamforming processes. However, the high cost and bulky characteristics of beam-steering systems have prevented their extensive application. In this paper, an X-band element-level digital phased array radar utilizing fully integrated complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transceivers is proposed for achieving a low-cost and compact-size digital beamforming system. An 8–10 GHz transceiver system-on-chip (SoC) fabricated in 65 nm CMOS technology offers baseband filtering, frequency translation, and global clock synchronization through the proposed periodic pulse injection technique. A 16-element subarray module with an SoC integration, antenna-in-package, and tile array configuration achieves digital beamforming, back-end computing, and dc–dc conversion with a size of 317 × 149 × 74.6 mm3. A radar demonstrator with scalable subarray modules simultaneously realizes range sensing and azimuth recognition for pulsed radar configurations. Captured by the suggested software-defined pulsed radar, a complete range–azimuth figure with a 1 km maximum observation range can be displayed within 150 ms under the current implementation.
Adaptive Pneumatic Control With Spool Deadband Compensation

Abstract This paper presents a novel approach to both adaptive deadband compensation and complete adaptive pneumatic control for a pneumatic servo control system driven by spool-type pneumatic proportional directional control valves. The controller is capable of either combined position and compliance control or combined force and compliance control. The novel adaptive approach includes control valve deadband compensation and adaptation for load variations and system mechanical properties. The control valve deadband compensation uses adjustable deadband lengths that are adapted to improve force tracking performance. The learned deadband model is then used in the complete adaptive controller, which includes adaptation for system mass, damping, and external load. The complete controller demonstrated accurate and stable force and position control for the tracking of sine, square, and sawtooth waveforms from 1 to 5 Hz.
The PIWI/piRNA response is relaxed in a rodent that lacks mobilizing transposable elements

Transposable elements (TEs) are genomic parasites that can propagate by inserting copies of themselves into host genomes. Mammalian genomes are typically dominated by LINE retrotransposons and their associated SINEs, and their mobilization in the germline is a challenge to genome integrity. There are genomic defenses against TE proliferation and the PIWI/piRNA defense is among the most well understood. However, the PIWI/piRNA system has been investigated largely in animals with abundant and actively mobilizing TEs and it is unclear how the PIWI/piRNA system functions in the absence of mobilizing TEs. The 13-lined ground squirrel provides an excellent opportunity to examine PIWI/piRNA and TE dynamics within the context of minimal, and possibly nonexistent, TE accumulation. We sequenced RNA and small RNAs pools from the testes of juvenile and adult squirrels and compared results to TE and PIWI/piRNA dynamics in the European rabbit and house mouse. Interestingly in squirrels, despite a lack of young insertions, TEs were still actively transcribed at higher levels compared to mouse and rabbit. All three PIWI proteins were either not expressed, or only minimally expressed, prior to P8 in squirrel testis, but there was little TE expression change with the onset of PIWI expression. We found PIWIs largely did not reduce TE transcription, and the ping-pong cycle was significantly reduced among squirrel LINEs and SINEs compared to the mouse and rabbit. We speculate that, although the PIWI/piRNA system is adaptable to novel TE threats, transcripts from TEs that are no longer threatening receive less attention from PIWI proteins.
Tradeoffs between revenue enhancements and emissions reductions with energy storage-coupled photovoltaics

Energy storage has the potential to dramatically change the operation of photovoltaics by allowing for a delay between generation and use. This flexibility has the potential to impact both the revenue from generating electricity using photovoltaics and the associated emissions reductions. This thesis attempts to quantify the impacts of adding energy storage to photovoltaics. The thesis formulates an optimization problem to solve for the optimal use of photovoltaics with energy storage from 2000 to 2005 in New England. The optimization is first solved using perfect information about historical solar generation, energy prices, and marginal emissions rates. Then, the model is solved using forecasted energy prices and emissions rates. The analysis finds that adding energy storage to photovoltaics can increase annual revenues by over 30%. With energy storage capacity and power equal to solar capacity, annual revenues were found to increase between 19.3% and 31.1% with an energy storage efficiency of 100%. Unfortuneately, the potential revenue increases were found to fall to between 9.1% and 21.3% with 80% efficient storage and between 3% and 14.5% with 60% efficient storage. However, when owners utilize energy storage to maximize revenue, the changes in avoided emissions with energy storage are found to be negligible. Alternatively, it is possible to achieve significant increases in the emissions offset by photovoltaics with energy storage. However, when energy storage is utilized to maximize emissions reductions, revenue decreases. This tradeoff between the economic and environmental benefits that can be achieved when energy storage is added to photovoltaics means it is unlikely to be possible, without policy, to simultaneously achieve large increases in both revenue and avoided emissions. Policy mechanisms could be used to enable energy storage to enhance both the revenue from photovoltaics and avoided emissions. Thesis Supervisor: Stephen Connors Title: Director, Analysis Group for Regional Energy Alternatives
Microelectromechanical systems based Stewart platform with sub-nano resolution

There have been difficulties in the fabrication of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based Stewart platforms [D. Stewart, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. 180(15), 371 (1965)]. The macroscale positioning technology, such as universal joints, ball and roller bearings, and commercial actuators, used for building the macro Stewart platforms could not be fit into MEMS version machines. In this paper, we report that these difficulties were overcome at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A prototype of NIST’s MEMS-based Stewart platform showed six degree-of-freedom kinematic capability with sub-nano-scale resolution. This MEMS Stewart platform can be adopted as a precision stage for sub nano-scale applications, such as the atomic force microscope and manipulation of molecules.
Using fuzzy logic to enhance control performance of sliding mode control and dynamic matrix control

Two application applications of Fuzzy Logic to improve the performance of two controllers are presented. The first application takes a Sliding Mode Controller designed for chemical process to reject disturbances. A fuzzy element is added to the sliding surface to improve the controller performance when set point change affects the control loop; especially for process showing highly nonlinear behavior. This fuzzy element, ΔSF, is calculated by means of a set of fuzzy rules designed based on expert knowledge and experience. The addition of ΔSF improved the controller response because accelerate or smooth the controller as the control loop requires. The Fuzzy Sliding Mode Controller (FSMCr) is a completely general controller. The FSMCr was tested with two models of nonlinear process: mixing tank and neutralization reactor. In both cases the FSMCr improves the performance shown for other control strategies, as the industrial PID, the conventional Sliding Mode Control and the Standard Fuzzy Logic Controller. The second part of this research presents a new way to implement the Dynamic Matrix Control Algorithm (DMC). A Parametric structure of DMC (PDMC) control algorithm is proposed, allowing to the controller to adapt to process nonlinearities. For a standard DMC a process model is used to calculate de controller response. This model is a matrix calculated from the dynamic response of the process at open loop. In this case the process parameters are imbibed into the matrix. The parametric structure isolates the process parameters allowing adjust the model as the nonlinear process changes its behavior. A Fuzzy supervisor was developed to detect changes in the process and send that information to the PDMCr. The modeling error and other parameters related were used to estimate those changes. Some equations were developed to calculate the PDMCr tuning parameter, λ, as a function of the process parameters. The performance of PDMCr was tested using to model of nonlinear process and compare with the standard DMC; in most the cases PDMCr presents less oscillations and tracks with less error the set point. Both control strategies presented in this research can be implemented into industrial applications easily.
The Occlusal Status of 6 to 12 Years Old Saudi Arabian Children: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Malocclusion may cause frequent biting of the inner cheeks or tongue, aesthetic issues, discomfort when chewing or biting, speech problems, or development of mouth breathing therefore affecting the overall quality of life. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of different degrees of malocclusion associated dental complications among children aged 6-12 years. Materials & Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 526 children aged 6-12 years old after consents obtained from their parents. The Saudi children were selected from certain cities using proportional allocation technique by dividing these cities into districts where children were selected from malls and gardens with high attendance rate. Results: Based on molar relation, the prevalence of malocclusion in children aged 6-12 (children with mixed dentition) was 35.4%, of them 55% had class II division I with or without subdivisions and 34% had class III with or without subdivisions. The remaining 11% of children had different types of malocclusion include class II division II and combination of class II and class III malocclusions. Normal bite was reported in 34.8% of the children, other types of bites include open bite, deep bite, edge to edge bite which were recorded in 40.1%, 21.3%, 3.8% of children respectively. Conclusion: This study found more than one third of Saudi children affected by different types and degrees of malocclusion, malalignment and crowding. Significant associations were detected between age of children and prevalence of malocclusion and crowding.
Wideband aperture coupled substrate integrated waveguide power divider based on half mode analysis

A wideband substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) power divider based on half mode analysis is presented in this article. The structure is constructed by two substrate layers and three metal layers. Two symmetrical longitudinal apertures etched on the middle ground are introduced to realize the equal power division, and couple the signal from the SIW to the upper layer output ports simultaneously. Two fork‐type microstrip lines on the top metal layer are used to improve the bandwidth of the power divider. The equivalent circuit based on the half mode analysis method is presented for theoretical analysis and further design of the power divider, and good impedance matching can be obtained accordingly. For demonstration, a power divider prototype with the dimension of 48 × 73 × 1.38 mm3 is designed, fabricated, and measured. Good agreement is observed between the simulated and measured results. The measured return loss of the SIW power divider is better than 12 dB in the frequency range of 6.2 ~ 10.3 GHz, and the insertion loss is around 1.6 dB over the entire frequencies of interest.
Spreading ‘green’ infrastructural harm: mapping conflicts and socio-ecological disruptions within the European Union’s transnational energy grid

ABSTRACT Climate change now serves to justify new mandates for increasing ‘clean’ and ‘renewable’ energy, which affirms the existing European trajectory of infrastructural expansion. Employing a multi-sited political ecology analysis of infrastructure (MSPEAI), this article connects five environmental conflicts via a 400-kV high-voltage power line (HVPL). The conflicts span across France, Catalonia and Spain, revealing how the European ‘green’ transition entrenches infrastructural harm by branding it ‘green’. The European Green Deal, and other climate change legislation, are intensifying the infrastructural colonization of the countryside and the neoliberalization of the energy sector. By examining five interlinked environmental conflicts, this article, contrary to public relations efforts and European policy, demonstrates how there is no ‘renewable’ energy transition, only electrical grid expansion (e.g. increasing material and energy-use) and conflict resulting in green infrastructural harm. The conclusion, thereby, reveals the necessity of enacting degrowth policy proposals immediately to lessen and stop the spread of ecological and climate catastrophe.
Impact of iron loss on speed estimation in sensorless vector controlled induction machines

Methods of sensorless vector control of induction machines rely on rotor speed estimation using either stator current spectral estimation techniques, or mathematical model of an induction machine in conjunction with one of the modern control methods. The first approach enables speed estimation which is independent of parameter variations in the machine. The accuracy of all the schemes that belong to the second group is however strongly affected by parameter variations. The impact of iron loss on operation of vector controlled induction machines has been examined in detail for the drives that do possess a speed sensor. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of iron loss on accuracy of speed estimation in sensorless rotor flux oriented induction machines. The scheme elaborated in the paper is the well-known MRAC based method that relies on the mathematical model of an induction machine. Error in speed estimation is evaluated on the basis of experimentally identified iron loss for a particular machine in the speed range from zero up to twice the rated speed, in steady-state operation. It is shown that the omission of iron loss representation in the speed estimator leads to a typical speed estimation error of two to three RPM in the base speed region (for a four pole 50 Hz machine) and that the speed estimation error increases in the field-weakening region, reaching eleven RPM at twice the rated speed with rated torque command. The results of the paper show that the speed estimation error due to iron loss is comparable with speed estimation errors due to other parameter variation effects.
Patch size adaptive image inpainting

Texture synthesis technology has the advantages of repairing texture and structure at the same time. However, during the filling process, the size of the patch is fixed, and the content of the filling is not fully considered. In order to be able to adaptively change the patch size, we used the exemplar-based inpainting technique as the test algorithm, considering the image structure and texture, calculated the image structure patch size and texture patch size
DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE FORMULATIONS BASED ON POLYSACCHARIDES FOR TUMOR TREATMENT

The development of a wide spectrum of new strategies based on controlled drug delivery systems for tumor treatment have attracted a great deal of interest thanks to their ability to encapsulate and control the release of a large array of anticancer drugs and to their targeting ability to many tumor sites. In the last years, the use of polysaccharides for the development of innovative formulations for drug delivery and targeting is rapidly growing. This could be probably attributed to their peculiar properties, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, large availability as natural source, low cost manufacturing process and to the presence of multiple reactive groups in their structures, which make them suitable for an easy chemical functionalization. In this context, the overall aim of this thesis was to design, produce and characterize innovative formulations based on polysaccharides with potential application in tumors treatment. In particular, in the present thesis, two different strategies were envisaged. The first one is based on the evidence that chemoattraction through the CXCR4-CXCL12 axis has been shown to be an important mechanism to direct circulating tumor cells toward distant sites. Thus, a fake metastatic niche made up of a gel loaded with CXCL12 was realized. This gel was engineered to create a steep concentration gradient of the chemokine in the proximity of the site of administration/injection thus diverting and capturing the circulating CXCR4+ tumor cells. To this aim, different thermo-responsive gels based on methylcellulose or poloxamers, with or without the polysaccharide hyaluronic acid, were designed, loaded with CXCL12 and their mechanical properties correlated with the ability to attract and capture in vitro CXCR4+ cells. The second strategy concerned the use of polysaccharides both as structural and coating component for different types of nano-carriers, prepared with simple and easily up-scalable manufacturing process. In this context, two different polysaccharides were investigated, hyaluronic acid and enoxaparin. These polysaccharides, thanks to their ability to recognize and bind specific receptors and growth factors overexpressed in tumor cells, can favor a greater drug accumulation to target sites, thus promoting and improving the selectivity and effectiveness of the chemotherapy. The nano-carriers here investigated are chitosan-based polyelectrolyte complexes, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymeric nanoparticles and self-emulsifying drug delivery systems.
Support vector machines for detection and characterization of rolling element bearing faults

Abstract Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been used to detect faults in rotating machinery for a number of years, using statistical estimates of the vibration signal as input features, and they have been shown to be highly successful in this type of application. Support vector machines (SVMs) are a more recent development, and little use has been made of them in the condition monitoring (CM) arena. The availability of a limited amount of training data creates some problems for the use of SVMs, and a strategy is offered that improves the generalization performance significantly in cases where only limited training data are available. This paper examines the performance of both types of classifier in one given scenario—a multiclass fault characterization example.
Mobile technology access and use among youth in Nairobi, Kenya: implications for mobile health intervention design.

Background Social media can be used to support the health of underserved youth beyond clinical settings. Young people are avid users of social media, but estimates of smartphone access among youth in sub-Saharan Africa are lacking, making it difficult to determine context-appropriateness of online and social media interventions. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional observational survey assessing technology access and use among youth aged 14-24 receiving general outpatient or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care in three hospitals in Nairobi, Kenya. Correlates of smartphone access and social media use were evaluated by Poisson regression. Results Of 600 youth, 301 were receiving general outpatient care and 299 HIV care. Median age was 18 years. Overall, 416 (69%) had access to a mobile phone and 288 (48%) to a smartphone. Of those with smartphones, 260 (90%) used social media. Smartphone access varied by facility (40% at the sub-county hospital vs. 55% at the national referral hospital, P=0.004) and was associated with older age [65% in 20-24-year-old vs. 37% in 14-19-year-old, adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 1.58, 95% CI: 1.30-1.92], secondary vs. primary education (aPR 2.59, 95% CI: 1.76-3.81), and HIV vs. general outpatient care (aPR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01-1.38). Social media use was similarly associated with facility, older age, higher education, and male gender. Conclusions These data suggest that smartphone-based and social media interventions are accessible in Nairobi, Kenya, in the general population and youth living with HIV, and most appropriate for older youth. Intervention developers and policymakers should consider smartphone and social media interventions as candidates for youth health programs, while noting that heterogeneity of access between and within communities requires tailoring to the specific intervention context to avoid excluding the most vulnerable youth.