Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finding a Unified Field Theory for Instruction: Utilizing Case Studies to Engage Deeper Learning About Complex Issues

Einstein spent much of his adult life pursuing a unified field theory that could explain the complexities of the physical universe. Case studies represent an interface with the world that can provide meaning for academic studies too often constrained by reductionist curricular objectives that focus on what can be tested in standardized formats. As such case studies offer one avenue to a “unified instructional field theory” that embraces the complexities of higher level learning within a consciously sophisticated approach to teaching. In his seminal work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas Kuhn (2012) noted how old paradigm promotes “increasingly rigid” thinking (64). William Perry (1999), in turn, argued for a focus on learning in postsecondary education, in particular, that would help students handle increasing levels of complexity and ambiguity and embrace what Ramsden (1992) referred to as “deeper levels of learning. ” The themes that emerged in this study of case study applications offers testimony to the higher order thinking we want in college, university, and high school classrooms, especially when focusing on controversial topics like peace, conflict resolution, and reconciliation.
SAGE-Based Algorithm for Direction-of-Arrival Estimation and Array Calibration

Most existing array processing algorithms are very sensitive to model uncertainties caused by the mutual coupling and sensor location error. To mitigate this problem, a novel method for direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation and array calibration in the case of deterministic signals with unknown waveforms is presented in this paper. The analysis begins with a comprehensive perturbed array output model, and it is effective for various kinds of perturbations, such as mutual coupling and sensor location error. Based on this model, the Space Alternating Generalized Expectation-Maximization (SAGE) algorithm is applied to jointly estimate the DOA and array perturbation parameters, which simplifies the multidimensional search procedure required for finding maximum likelihood (ML) estimates. The proposed method inherits the characteristics of good convergence and high estimation precision of the SAGE algorithm. At the same time, it forms a unified framework for DOA and array perturbation parameters estimation in the presence of mutual coupling and sensor location error. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Multicultural Dialogue in Literature-History Classes: The Dance of Creative and Critical Thinking. Report Series 7.9.

An ethnographic study examined 2 case study students, "Nick" and "John," as they engaged in an integrated literature-United Sates history class cotaught by an English and a social studies teacher in a high school in New York state. The emergent critical perspectives and pluralistic understandings of Nick and John were examined as they were invited into a problem-posing pedagogy and thereby into the dance of creative and critical thinking. Nick engaged in the "stretching" and moving invited in the class to expand his intellectual horizons and learn from multiple perspectives. John, on the other hand, frequently referred to his fundamentalist religious stance and held fixed opinions, resisting much of the multicultural literature and some of the classroom dialogue. Nick opened himself up to the dialogic dance and grew by leaps and bounds toward productive citizenship, the communal dance of the human race. John, on the other hand, entered on the fringes and seems to have left the same way. It seems that he never had any desire or ability to know the joy of dancing with other partners, to be part of the community of learners, to experience the possibilities of expanded humanness. (Contains 44 references and 3 notes.) (RS) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************
High temperature semiconductor sensor for the detection of fluorine

The possibility of high temperature measurements up to 350/spl deg/C with a chemical semiconductor sensor for fluorine was proven using silicon carbide as the substrate. A structure SiC/SiO/sub 2//LaF/sub 3//Pt leads to results comparable to the silicon based sensor. The influence of temperature on the sensor behaviour is smaller than expected but the increased desorption rate improves the limit of detection. An impulse method using the initial slope of the response curve was shown to be advantageous.
Ultrafast terahertz detectors based on three-dimensional meta-atoms

Terahertz (THz) and sub-THz frequency emitter and detector technologies are receiving increasing attention, underpinned by emerging applications in ultra-fast THz physics, frequency-combs technology and pulsed laser development in this relatively unexplored region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In particular, semiconductor-based ultrafast THz receivers are required for compact, ultrafast spectroscopy and communication systems, and to date, quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) have proved to be an excellent technology to address this given their intrinsic ps-range response However, with research focused on diffraction-limited QWIP structures (lambda/2), RC constants cannot be reduced indefinitely, and detection speeds are bound to eventually meet un upper limit. The key to an ultra-fast response with no intrinsic upper limit even at tens of GHz is an aggressive reduction in device size, below the diffraction limit. Here we demonstrate sub-wavelength (lambda/10) THz QWIP detectors based on a 3D split-ring geometry, yielding ultra-fast operation at a wavelength of around 100 {\mu}m. Each sensing meta-atom pixel features a suspended loop antenna that feeds THz radiation in the ~20 m3 active volume. Arrays of detectors as well as single-pixel detectors have been implemented with this new architecture, with the latter exhibiting ultra-low dark currents below the nA level. This extremely small resonator architecture leads to measured optical response speeds - on arrays of 300 devices - of up to ~3 GHz and an expected device operation of up to tens of GHz, based on the measured S-parameters on single devices and arrays.
The One Minute Manager: Lightweight On-Demand Overlays for Distributed Application Management

The emergence of large-scale distributed computing clusters such as PlanetLab and Utility Grids has fueled the development of applications ranging from content distribution to name service to large-scale prototype experiments. However, the management of such applications when they are deployed in a real world, wide area environment remains a challenging problem. In this paper, we present MON (Management Overlay Networks), a simple, scalable and lightweight system for distributed application management. At the most basic level, MON builds short-lived, on-demand overlays that can be used to execute management commands such as status query and control. To further address the coverage, reliability and performance issues of on-demand overlays, we exploit techniques such as incremental overlay construction, overlay adjustment and opportunistic DAG (directed acyclic graph) based aggregation, which greatly improve the practicality of on-demand overlays. Our extensive experiments on the PlanetLab show that for a large group of more than 300 nodes, on-demand overlays can be built to (1) cover more than 95% of the nodes (2) last for tens of minutes even without failure repairs; and (3) achieve an end-to-end response time of just a couple of seconds. Further, we demonstrate the utility of MON by showing how it can be used to query the aggregate state of a real application (Pastry) deployed in a real world environment.
Toxicity of the purple mucus of the polychaete Halla parthenopeia (Oenonidae) revealed by a battery of ecotoxicological bioassays

Mucus secretions play a number of functions related to polychaete physiology and ecology. Under stress conditions, the polychaete Halla parthenopeia (Oenonidae) produces a purple mucus after mechanical stimulation, whose function is still unknown. Here, we assessed the toxicity of this purple mucus by means of both acute toxicity bioassays on the polychaete Dinophilus gyrociliatus and commercial ecotoxicological kits (Microtox®, Rotoxkit® and Artoxkit®). Palatability was also tested with the fish Oryzias melastigma . After emitting purple mucus, H. parthenopeia quickly moves away and starts releasing transparent mucus. Acute toxicity bioassays showed that the mucus was harmless (transparent), or lethal even when diluted about 1000 times (purple). Purple mucus was toxic at different concentrations, the LC50 ranging from 0.7-0.3 g l –1 for D. gyrociliatus to 76 g l –1 for Artemia franciscana (Artoxkit®). Freeze-dried brine shrimp coated with transparent or purple muci were both consumed by O. melastigma . We hypothesized that the purple mucus is involved in the chemical defence of H. parthenopeia against competitors and parasites, and that its colour and toxicity are due to hallachrome, a 1,2-anthraquinone found in the skin of H. parthenopeia .
Scaling up a learning technology strategy: supporting student/faculty teams in learner-centred design

The need for post-secondary institutions to think strategically about the application of learning technologies has been well documented. The strategy must plan to effect change in faculty approaches to teaching and learning, not just to 'add technology and stir'. An effective strategy will also address both content - the particular applications with the most leverage for institutional goals - and the process of obtaining commitment and moving forward (Daniel, 1996). DOI: 10.1080/0968776990070203
Testing Occam's razor to characterize high-order connectivity in pore networks of granular media: Feature selection in machine learning

A perennial challenge for the characterization and modelling of phenomena involving granular media is that the internal connectivity of, and interactions between, the pores and the particles exhibit hallmarks of complexity: multi-scale and nonlinear interactions that lead to a plethora of patterns at the mesoscale, including fluid flow patterns that ultimately render a permeability of the granular media at the macroscale. A multitude of physical parameters exist to characterize geometry and structure, including pore/particle shape, volume and surface area, while a rich class of complex network parameters quantifies internal connectivity of the pore and particles in the material. A large collection of such variables is likely to exhibit a high degree of redundancy. Here we demonstrate how to use feature selection in machine learning theory to identify the most informative and non-redundant, yet parsimonious set of features that optimally characterizes the interstitial flow properties of porous, granular media, e.g., permeability, from high resolution data.
THE SEARCH FOR EXOPLANETARY RADIO EMISSIONS

A chronological review of this relatively recent subject is presented, from the discovery of the first exoplanet – orbiting a pulsar – to theoretical predictions and ongoing searches conducted with most large low-frequency radiotelescopes. The specific interest of radio observations is emphasized. 1 Historical Landmarks “Pre”–history of the field started with Yantis et al. [1977], Winglee et al. [1986], Lecacheux [1991], and Burke [1992], all making an analogy between Jupiter and putative exoplanets and suggesting to look for radio emissions of the latter. Most of them noticed that the high intensity of the galactic background is a serious drawback to the detectability of such emissions (see below). Winglee et al. [1986] conducted in addition a first search using the VLA at 330 MHz and 1.4 GHz, with negative results. The first exoplanet was discovered around the pulsar PSR1257+12, by pulse arrival timing, using the Arecibo radiotelescope at 430 MHz [Wolszczan and Frail, 1992]. In the same year, a Nançay-Meudon/Graz/Kharkov collaboration started around the use of the UTR-2 radiotelescope [Braude et al., 1978] together with modern Nançay receivers. The first tentative exoplanet search at UTR-2 started in 1995, in parallel with Jupiter studies, using an Acousto-Optical Spectrograph (AOS [Raterron, 1985]) in the band 18-28 MHz. Its principles and method were presented at the first French workshop on exoplanet search, held at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence [Zarka, 1995]. In october 1995, the discovery of 51 Peg B around a solar type star [Mayor and Queloz, 1995] marked the true birth of a new field, which counts today >500 known exoplanets (see exoplanet.eu). The radio search for exoplanets was much developed at UTR-2, using an AOS with a dual beam (simultaneous On & Off) observation strategy and specific processing algorithms for mitigating the effect of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and ionospheric perturbations, and for weak burst detection. The method and preliminary results (negative) were published in [Zarka et al., 1997] together with theoretical considerations about the LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, UMR CNRS 8109, 92195 Meudon, France
Active and Reactive Current Control Strategy Based on Active Power Filter for Power Balance Application using PV Arrays

In this paper, the merged performance of the active power filter on the photovoltaic generation system has been analysed. The suggested scheme comprises of a PV power plant, a Quasi-z-source DC-DC converter, and a shunt active power filter. A new contained scheme for the DC–DC converter has evolved in order to distil the utmost quantity of power by means of PV arrays. As well as a new contained scheme, which are based on instantaneous active and reactive current control strategy (id-iq) has been suggested for the active power filter. The simulation results are done on MATLAB, show that the advised scheme could supply for the power balancing, harmonic elimination, injecting active current and Interpose the maximal power available from the PV array into the power grid.
Quality Service and Its Relation With Global Satisfaction in Fast Food Consumers. A Case Study

The present study analyzes the quality service perception and its relation with the satisfaction for the fast food consumers of hamburgers’ sector of the chain Burger King in Hermosillo, Sonora. By the application of Servperf of Cronin and Taylor methodology and a data regression method, through the coefficient of determination (R2) was determined that the independent variables explain the variability or variance of 82.9% in consumer satisfaction and that the explanatory variable which has the most influence in absolute value over the explained variable is reliability, due to its standardized beta is 0.301, being the highest score among the variables. To achieve the objective of this study, a quantitative and correlation investigation was designed, where data was collected from a survey structured by five dimensions, measured by 22 items. It was applied to a random and representative sample of 385 consumers, with a 95% level confidence and a ±5% of permissible error. An inferential statistical analysis allowed observing a positive relation between consumers’ satisfaction level and quality service. The results showed that Servperf is a valid instrument with psychometric characteristics of high reliability that makes it appropriate to measure quality service. The same way, it was observed an index of service global satisfaction of 69.27%, which according to the scale used implies clients are satisfied with the received service.
Rational curves on hypersurfaces

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A Test for Cluster Bias: Detecting Violations of Measurement Invariance Across Clusters in Multilevel Data

We present a test for cluster bias, which can be used to detect violations of measurement invariance across clusters in 2-level data. We show how measurement invariance assumptions across clusters imply measurement invariance across levels in a 2-level factor model. Cluster bias is investigated by testing whether the within-level factor loadings are equal to the between-level factor loadings, and whether the between-level residual variances are zero. The test is illustrated with an example from school research. In a simulation study, we show that the cluster bias test has sufficient power, and the proportions of false positives are close to the chosen levels of significance.
Time dependent formation of markers of oxidative stress induced by a high fat diet supplemented or unsupplemented with vitamin E in pigs

The time dependent formation of oxidative damage induced by polyunsaturated fat in the diet was investigated in an experiment with pigs as a model for humans. The role of vitamin E in the prevention of oxidative stress was also studied. Twenty-four growing pigs were penned individually and after an adaptation period divided into three groups. All groups received isocaloric daily rations composed of a basal diet isocalorically supplemented with: starch, linseed oil or linseed oil and vitamin E. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the degree of lymphocyte and granulocyte nuclear DNA damage, concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood plasma, 24-hour urine MDA excretion rate and concentration of vitamin E isomers in the blood at the beginning, after 24 hours, after 6 days and at the end of the 22 day experimental period. The results confirmed that a high proportion of polyunsaturated fat in the diet increased lymphocyte and granulocyte DNA damage only after 6 days. The lymphocytes appear to be more sensitive to this type of oxidative stress than granulocytes. The MDA concentration in the blood and urinary MDA excretion after 24 hours of oxidative stress seem to be more accurate indicators than the rate of lymphocyte and especially granulocyte DNA damage. Vitamin E supplementation effectively protects the blood cells against increased DNA damage during the whole course of the experiment, but failed to reduce MDA formation significantly 24 hours and 6 days after the beginning of oxidative load. The study further suggests that supplementation of vitamin E is able to completely prevent DNA damage of both types of investigated blood cells at any time, but is only able to reduce the formation of lipid peroxidation products after prolonged treatment.
Mitochondrial contributions to oocyte and embryonic quality in bovine

Mitochondria are powerhouse organelles involved in several vital functions in cells, mainly maintaining balance between ATP synthesis and oxidative stress during early development in mammalian embryos. It has been shown that impaired mitochondrial function in bovine model might reach failure in oocyte and embryo developmental competence. In this review, we analyse implications of mitochondrial role on successful early development through recent studies on bovine oocytes and embryos.
“Nature and Estimated Human Toxicity of Polar Metabolite Mixtures in Groundwater Quantified as TPHd/DRO at Biodegrading Fuel Release Sites,”

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. Nature and Estimated Human Toxicity of Polar Metabolite Mixtures in Groundwater Quantified as TPHd/DRO at Biodegrading Fuel Release Sites
Effects of Brand Credibility on Technology Acceptance Model: Adaption of the Model to the Purchase Intention

The purpose of this paper is to adapt Technology Acceptance Model into technological product purchase behavior, as well as to add brand credibility, into the model. In order to test the relations included in the model, Linear Regression and Mediation Test were conducted. As a result it was determined that Brand Credibility affects both purchase intention shown towards technological products and the perceived usefulness and the perceived ease of use of the products in a positive and significant way. Besides the determined direct effects, according to the results of mediation test, as the brand credibility, which affects perceived usefulness, increases also the purchase intention shown towards the given technological product.
Two-nozzle flame synthesis of Pt / Ba / Al 2 O 3 for NO x storage

NO x storage-reduction (NSR) is applied for exhaust gas treatment of lean fuel engines The proximity between Pt and BaO in Pt/Ba/Al2O3 NSR catalysts affect the storage-reduction due the different spillover length the different interaction with the support. Here, we applied a two-nozzle flame synthesis way to control the location of the deposition of platinum with Pt either on the alumina support or on the Ba storage component. Differently deposited Pt were elucidated by electron microscopy techniques. NSR behavior of these catalysts was investigated in a microreactor by switching between lean and rich conditions. Our studies on the effect of the preferential deposition of platinum on the alumina support or Ba storage component corroborate that the remote control of the different constituents is a crucial factor for high performance of NSR catalysts. Flame synthesis based on a two-nozzle system was shown to be a suitable tool for controlling the proximity of storage and reduction components in NSR catalysts.
Evaluation of a Humor Generation System by Real World Application with ¥500,000 to Win

We describe the evaluation of a system for automatic humor generation in Japanese. First we used the traditional "having jokes rated by evaluators" method, with a result of 3.3 on a scale from 1 (boring) to 5 (funny). To complement this evaluation and to see if 3.3 is "good enough" we entered a system generated performance in a competition with a ¥500,000 prize. We also generated responses to arbitrary requests from the audience at a live event. While we did not win the 500,000 yen we did reach the final, and both the performance and the real time generation were well received. Sentiment analysis of blogs covering the event also showed that our system compared well to the other teams. That the system could compete successfully against human made contributions indicates that the score of 3.3 is "good enough" for real world applications of the system.
The "dual-spot" Aethalometer: an improved measurement of aerosol black carbon with real-time loading compensation

Abstract. Aerosol black carbon is a unique primary tracer for combustion emissions. It affects the optical properties of the atmosphere and is recognized as the second most important anthropogenic forcing agent for climate change. It is the primary tracer for adverse health effects caused by air pollution. For the accurate determination of mass equivalent black carbon concentrations in the air and for source apportionment of the concentrations, optical measurements by filter-based absorption photometers must take into account the "filter loading effect". We present a new real-time loading effect compensation algorithm based on a two parallel spot measurement of optical absorption. This algorithm has been incorporated into the new Aethalometer model AE33. Intercomparison studies show excellent reproducibility of the AE33 measurements and very good agreement with post-processed data obtained using earlier Aethalometer models and other filter-based absorption photometers. The real-time loading effect compensation algorithm provides the high-quality data necessary for real-time source apportionment and for determination of the temporal variation of the compensation parameter k.