Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smartpaddle® as a New Tool for Monitoring Swimmers’ Kinematic and Kinetic Variables in Real Time

Smart technology, such as wearables, applied to sports analysis is essential for the performance enhancement. New technological equipment can promote the interaction between researchers, coaches, and athletes, facilitating the information exchange in real-time. The aim of this study was to present a new wearable equipment (SmartPaddle®) to measure kinematic and kinetic variables in swimming and understand the agreement of the propulsive force variable with a pressure sensor system. Four male university swimmers (age: 18.75±0.50 years-old, 71.55±6.80 kg of body mass, and 175.00±5.94 cm of height) were analyzed. The SmartPaddle® and a pressure sensor system were used to collect the kinetic data (propulsive force). The comparison between the propulsive force methods was based on t-test paired samples, simple linear regression, and Bland-Altman plots. SmartPaddle® is a system that consists of: (i) A wearable device; (ii) The Trainesense Session Manager mobile application for recording, and; (iii) The Analysis Center for analysis and data storage. It records a set of kinematic and kinetic parameters useful for coaches on a daily basis. The comparison between the different methods revealed non-significant differences and a very-high relationship. SmartPaddle® is a feasible wearable device that can be used by swimmers to provide immediate data about their kinematic and kinetic profile. Coaches can easily monitor these parameters and give immediate suggestions to their swimmers on a daily basis.
Origin of Ferroelectricity in BiFeO3-Based Solid Solutions

We investigate the origin of ferroelectricity in the BiFeO3–LaFeO3 system in rhombohedral R3c and tetragonal P4mm symmetries by ab initio density functional theory calculations and compare their electronic features with paraelectric orthorhombic Pnma symmetry. We show that a coherent accommodation of stereo-active lone pair electrons of Bi is the detrimental factor of ferroelectricity. A Bloch function arising from an indirect Bi_6p–Fe_3d hybridization mediated through O_2p is the primary origin of spontaneous polarization (Ps) in the rhombohedral system. In the orthorhombic system, a similar Bloch function was found, whereas a staggered accommodation of stereo-active lone pair electrons of Bi exclusively results in paraelectricity. A giant Ps reported in the tetragonal system originates from an orbital hybridization of Bi_6p and O_2p, where Fe-3d plays a minor role. The Ps in the rhombohedral system decreases with increasing La content, while that in the tetragonal system displays a discontinuous drop at a certain La content. We discuss the electronic factors affecting the Ps evolutions with La content.
Surface Pressure Perturbations Produced by an Isolated Mesoscale Topographic Barrier. Part II: Influence on Regional Circulations

Abstract This paper describes the detailed pressure and surface wind evolution associated with several important mesoscale phenomena in the region surrounding the Olympic Mountains of Washington state. The data used in this study were collected during the Olympex Experiment, during which eleven high-accuracy microbarographs were placed around the Olympics. The diurnal sea level pressure and surface wind variations of western Washington are described: lower pressure is observed over elevated terrain during the day with the opposite configuration at night. Next, this study documents the closed mesoscale lee lows that form in the lee of the Olympics during strong south-southwesterly synoptic flow regimes. Such lee lows create intense sea level pressure gradients and large ageostrophic accelerations along the eastern slopes of the Olympics. Another important feature examined in this paper is the Puget Sound Convergence Zone; it is shown that troughing in the lee of the Olympics plays an important role in dete.
A Practice-Based Approach to Developing First-Year Higher Education Students' Digital Literacy: A Case Study in a Developing Country

This paper contributes to the conceptualisation of digital literacy as a social practice. While previous studies have focused on student digital skills and digital practices in well-resourced environments, there is a research gap concerning digital literacy as a social practice in resource constrained environments, such as South African universities. A qualitative approach is used to explore the acquisition of discipline-specific digital literacy practices by a purposive sample of three first-year students from two extended degree programme courses. The findings reveal that the discipline-specific learning and assessment activities instantiated students' digital literacy practices in the technical, cognitive, and social-emotional dimensions. Furthermore, the participants acquired digital literacies in the technical and cognitive dimension. The research findings provide insight to how other higher education educators in developing contexts could integrate digital literacies into course curricula as a means of building students' capacity on discipline-specific digital literacies.
Enhancing Electrochemical Biosensor Performance for 17β-Estradiol Determination with Short Split—Aptamers

Chronic exposure of 17β-estradiol (E2) even at low concentration can disorganize the endocrine system and lead to undesirable health problems in the long run. An electrochemical biosensor for rapid detection of E2 in water samples was successfully developed. The biosensor was based on split DNA aptamers attached onto poly (methacrylic acid-co-n butyl acrylate-succinimide) microspheres deposited on polypyrrole nanowires coated electrode (PPY/PMAA-NBA). The sandwich paired of split DNA aptamers used were truncated from 75 mer parent aptamers. These two strands of 12-mer and 14-mer split DNA aptamers were then immobilized on the PMAA-NBA microspheres. In the presence of E2, the split DNA aptamers formed an apt12-E2-apt14 complex, where the binding reaction on the electrode surface led to the detection of E2 by differential pulse voltammetry using ferrocyanide as a redox indicator. Under optimum conditions, the aptasensor detected E2 concentrations in the range of 1 × 10−4 M to 1 × 10−12 M (R2 = 0.9772) with a detection limit of 4.8 × 10−13 M. E2, which were successfully measured in a real sample with 97–104% recovery and showed a good correlation (R2 = 0.9999) with the established method, such as high-performance liquid chromatography. Interactions between short and sandwich-type aptamers (split aptamers) demonstrated improvement in aptasensor performance, especially the selectivity towards several potential interferents.
Occupational composition of an economy and effective retirement age across European countries: an econometric analysis

In this study, panel regression models for 21 European countries and data covering the period between 2008 and 2014 were used to demonstrate that the distribution of working population across different occupational groups explains cross-country differences in terms of the average effective retirement age. Thus, while the great majority of previous studies verified the causal trade-off investigated on the basis of single-country micro data with reference to one economy, this study takes perspective of cross-country diversity in terms of the investigated relationship. The confirmed link holds even when controlling inter alia for health status, education, unemployment, old-dependency ratio, interest rate, GDP per capita, or the share of salaries and wages in GDP. An important practical implication for the policy-makers is that decisions limited only to the increase in the universal pensionable age cannot be effective, since the occupational composition of an economy is very relevant.
Predictive Effect of Self-Efficacy on Academics’ Performance Appraisals

For the past few decades, universities in many countries have been required to adopt systematic performance appraisal systems to increase quality and effectiveness of academics’ performances. In line with much effort expended to examine aspects of effective performance appraisals and how appraisal processes likely influence academics’ performance, increasing attention has been paid to empirically study how intra-individual psychological factors and cultural orientations at the individual level are related to performance appraisal. With the aim to develop knowledge of self-efficacy in relation to academic performance appraisal from a cross-cultural perspective, this exploratory study through an online survey investigated relationships between academics’ self-efficacy for research, self-efficacy for teaching, self-efficacy for performance appraisal, trust in performance appraisal, and cultural orientation at the individual level. The study proposes a newly conceptualised construct, “self-efficacy for appraisal”, and reports the first attempt to examine this construct in universities. The main results pointed to positive association of self-efficacy for research, self-efficacy for teaching, and trust in appraisal with self-efficacy for appraisal. These relationships together appear never to have been proposed previously in the literature.
Preparation of exfoliated graphite nanoplates/thermoplastic polyurethane composites with enhanced dielectric properties

In this work, exfoliated graphite nanoplates (xGNPs)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites with enhanced dielectric constant and relatively low dielectric loss factor were prepared by an effective method involving solution blending and water precipitating. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction results proved that the xGNPs had been added into the TPU. Furthermore, the microstructure of the resultant xGNPs (2 wt.%)/TPU composite was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images showed that there were many xGNPs in the TPU elastomer matrix. According to differential scanning calorimetry the melting peak temperature and the crystallization peak temperature of the xGNPs/TPU composites were lower than those of the pure TPU but the melting enthalpy and the crystallization enthalpy of the xGNPs/TPU composites were higher than those of the pure TPU. More importantly, the dielectric constant at 1000 Hz and the thermal conductivity of the xGNPs/TPU composites obviously increased in comparison with those of the pure TPU, especially when the xGNPs content was 2 wt. %.
Modal analysis of a 3D gravitational liquid sheet

Modal analysis of three-dimensional gravitational thin liquid sheet ﬂows, interacting with unconﬁned gaseous environments located on both sides of the liquid phase, is performed in the present work. Numerical data of this relevant two-phase ﬂow conﬁguration are obtained through the single-phase formulation and the Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) technique implemented in the ﬂow solver Basilisk . This class of ﬂows exhibits a variety of spatial and temporal relevant structures, both in free and forced conﬁgurations, that are investigated through the Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (SPOD). By means of such methodology, we explore the eﬀect of two main governing parameters on the ﬂow dynamics, namely the liquid sheet aspect ratio, AR = W/H , where H and W are the sheet inlet thickness and width, and the Weber number, We = ρ l U 2 H/ (2 σ ), in which U is the inlet liquid velocity, ρ l the liquid density, and σ the surface tension coeﬃcient. Finally, for the highest aspect ratio value considered ( AR = 40), we investigate the forced dynamics of the system excited by a harmonic perturbation in transverse velocity component applied at the inlet section, comparing results with ones arising from a purely two-dimensional analysis of the ﬂow. The obtained results highlight the low rank behavior exhibited by the ﬂow, suggesting that reduced order modeling could be particularly appealing to reduce complexity and computational eﬀort in numerical simulation of this class of ﬂows.
Fast ion production by suprathermal electrons in laser fusion plasmas

The acceleration of ions by two isothermal species of electrons, thermal and suprathermal, in a laser‐fusion plasma is investigated. The disassembly of an initially stationary plasma slab, including charge separation effects, is described. Before the rarefaction wave has penetrated appreciably into the slab, an interior Debye sheath which separates the suprathermal and thermal electrons, as well as an exterior sheath at the ion‐vacuum interface is found. As the rarefaction approaches the center of the slab, the dynamics is modified due to the conservation of species number and total energy. The energetics of the long‐time evolution is described by a quasi‐neutral similarity solution appropriate to finite two‐electron species systems.
Metabolic and Performance Responses to a Simulated Routine in Elite Artistic Swimmers

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the interrelationship between time spent underwater (UW), movement frequency and accompanying blood acid base balance response. Elite artistic swimmers (n = 6) participated in the investigation and were all familiar with the testing procedures. All athletes completed the same choreographed artistic swimming routine. The routine was videoed and the number of movements during each ‘lap’ of the routine counted. Fingertip capillary blood samples were collected prior to the routine 60 sec post routine for pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), partial pressure of oxygen (pO2), bicarbonate (HCO3−) and potassium (K+). and lactate (La) concentration (mmol/L). On a separate day an incremental exercise test to exhaustion was performed on a cycle ergometer for determination of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Over half the routine was performed underwater (56 ± 4%). Aside from pCO2 (−1.07 ± 12.29%, p = 0.686), there were significant changes in all variables measured from the BG analysis. VO2peak was significantly correlated to total UW of the routine (r = −0.93; p = 0.007). as well as ∆PO2 r = 0.47 and ∆HCO3 r = 0.51. There was also a significant correlation between total UW and post routine pCO2 (r = 0.86; p = 0.030). There was also a significant correlation between total movements during the routine and post pO2 (r = −0.83; p = 0.044). These data show UW in combination with movement rate during a AS routine imfluence the metabolic response to the exercise. In addition, VO2max represents an important performance variable influencing AS performance.
Finite-cell-gap corrections to the capacitance analysis of liquid crystal displays with periodic interdigital electrodes

Corrections to the capacitance analysis of liquid crystal displays with periodic interdigital electrodes are presented, accounting for the finite thickness of the liquid crystal (LC) cell gap. Conformal mapping calculations of the corrected equivalent dielectric constant for the LC material and glass substrate are carried out in terms of the aperture ratio, cell gap and LC effective dielectric constant. Departure from the infinite-cell-gap approximation occurs as the gap thickness approaches the electrode width, or the aperture ratio approaches unity. The capacitance–voltage characteristic curve obtained from the conformal mapping calculations is very close to that obtained from the two-dimensional simulations with less than 5% deviation.
Moving on from the pandemic in school- a roadmap to flexible modalities

Teaching during the remote episodes of the Covid pandemic demonstrated that the majority of classroom teachers replicated classroom practices rather than adapting to a new system for learning. During the rapid shift online, professional development of teachers focused on upskilling rather than changing and challenging teaching practices. As a result, students were unmotivated and disengaged. The problem now exists that teachers are stuck with a lack of understanding of how to teach online with the likelihood of further external uncontrollable occurrences. Additionally, there is no roadmap forward on how to harness the benefits of learning online through the emerging flexible modalities of blended or hybrid teaching in schools. The current risk is that schools return to classroom based pedagogies and miss the opportunities that learning online brings. This paper responds to this crucial stage in schooling offering a way forward. To do this, there is a need to pause in time, to reflect on what is known and what is important to consider to be able to move forward effectively. As such this paper firstly examines the rush to get online and the frenzied up-skilling of teachers so that we have a better understanding of what skills were developed. This paper then synthesises the literature to identify what pedagogical skills are needed to effectively teach online in a schooling context. Drawing extensively from theories and empirical studies over the last 30 years this paper then presents a roadmap forward that offers professional development of a different kind identifying how to change teachers’ practices from replicating the classroom to teaching effectively online. Directives and implications are provided for school leaders, teacher educators and researchers in the field of digital pedagogical transformation. It is a critical time in education to shift from classroom based pedagogies to flexible modalities.
Strong Decline in Breeding-Bird Community Abundance Throughout Habitats in the Azov Region (Southeastern Ukraine) Linked to Land-Use Intensification and Climate

In recent decades, bird communities associated with agricultural systems have declined in Western and Central Europe and in North America, but how widely these dynamics extend to other regions is poorly known. In this study, we assessed the dynamics and the main drivers of the changes in the abundance, richness, and composition of breeding bird communities over a 30-year period in the various types of habitats of southeastern Ukraine (Azov region), a region that has undergone agricultural intensification for several decades. This study was conducted in the valley of the Molochna River during the 1988 to 2018 nesting seasons. The area studied hosted 81 bird species. Species richness varied from three species in salt marshes to thirty-three in reed beds but did not show a general trend over time. However, we identified a decline in bird communities’ total abundance over time in all habitats except shelterbelts and meadows. Similarly, species composition changed over time, reflecting the way in which species varied in their abundance changes. Climatic variables contributed to bird community turnover, but with decreasing importance over time. Overall, our results indicate that the recent declines in bird populations in farmland regions also extend to eastern Europe, with land-use effects interacting with climate to shape temporal dynamics of bird communities.
BATSE spectroscopy catalog of bright gamma-ray bursts

This paper presents comprehensive results on the spectra of 30 bright gamma ray bursts (GRBs) as observed by the Spectroscopy Detectors (SDs) of the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE). The data selection was strict in including only spectra that are of high reliability for continuum shape studies. This BATSE Spectroscopy Catalog presents fluences, model fits (for five spectral models for three energy ranges), and photon spectra in a standard manner for each burst. Complete information is provided to describe the data selection and analysis procedures. The catalog results are also presented in electronic format (from the Compton Observatory Science Support Center) and CD-ROM format (AAS CD-ROM series, Vol. 2). These electronic formats also present the count spectra and detector response matrices so as to allow for independent study and fitting by researchers outside the BATSE Team. This BATSE Spectroscopy Catalog complements the catalog from BATSE Large Area Detector (LAD) data by Fishman et al. (1994).
Projection-Pursuit Approach to Robust Dispersion Matrices and Principal Components: Primary Theory and Monte Carlo

Abstract This article proposes and discusses a type of new robust estimators for covariance/correlation matrices and principal components via projection-pursuit techniques. The most attractive advantage of the new procedures is that they are of both rotational equivariance and high breakdown point. Besides, they are qualitatively robust and consistent at elliptic underlying distributions. The Monte Carlo study shows that the best of the new estimators compare favorably with other robust methods. They provide as good a performance as M-estimators and somewhat better empirical breakdown properties.
Spatio-temporal modeling and prediction of CO concentrations in Tehran city

One of the most important agents responsible for high pollution in Tehran is carbon monoxide. Prediction of carbon monoxide is of immense help for sustaining the inhabitants’ health level. In this paper, motivated by the statistical analysis of carbon monoxide using the empirical Bayes approach, we deal with the issue of prior specification for the model parameters. In fact, the hyperparameters (the parameters of the prior law) are estimated based on a sampling-based method which depends only on the specification of the marginal spatial and temporal correlation structures. We compare the predictive performance of this approach with the type II maximum likelihood method. Results indicate that the proposed procedure performs better for this data set.
The synthesis of surface reactance using an artificial dielectric

A thin artificial dielectric layer consisting of a rectangular array of closely spaced, thin conductive cylinders (pins), was constructed above a perfectly conducting ground plane. The reactance of the surface was measured at 4.8 GHz for a variety of pin heights and dielectric embedding material by measuring the height-gain profile of a transverse magnetic (TM) surface wave launched across it. Design equations using the theories of artifical dielectrics and propagation in anisotropic media are given. These can be used to predict the surface reactance providing a correction factor accounting for fringing fields at the tops of the pins is included. Using an embedding dielectric tends to reduce this fringing effect.
Developing a Technique to Separate Dwarfs and Giants Using DDO51 Photometry in a Photometric Survey of M33

We obtained ground-based imaging in V , I , and DDO 51 with the MOSAIC camera on the Kitt Peak 4-m telescope for two fields on the minor axis and two fields on the major axis of the Local Group spiral galaxy M33, covering a total area on the sky of ∼ 1 deg 2 (see Teig 2007 for the complete dissertation). Using DAOPHOT III (Stetson 1987) and ALLFRAME (Stetson 1994), profile-fitting photometry was performed on 390,000 objects that appeared in the images, and 154,000 stars were defined as objects with (cid:1) 1 : 0 < sharp < 1 : 5 and χ < 1 : 2 . Artificial star tests were performed to quantify the completeness and photometric error as a function of magnitude. Typical photometric errors at the 50% completeness level for I ¼ 23 : 2 mag and V ¼ 24 : 5 mag were σ V ¼ 0 : 13 mag, σ ð V (cid:1) I Þ ¼ 0 : 21 mag, and σ ð DDO 51 (cid:1) V Þ ¼ 0 : 23 mag. This photometry was used to derive a new technique to separate low-luminosity foreground Milky Way dwarf stars from high-luminosity distant red giant branch (RGB) stars in M33. The DDO 51 filter is centered at ∼ 5130 Å with a width of ∼ 1 50 Å and measures the strength of the Mg I absorption lines, which are highly sensitive to the star's surface gravity and are relatively insensitive to metallicity. When viewed on a col-or-color plot of V (cid:1) I versus DDO 51 (cid:1) V , dwarfs and giants are separated by ∼ 0