Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Piloting an innovation for teachers’ capacity development in STEM subjects in Nigerian secondary schools

Connecting Learning for secondary school Teachers Capacity Development in STEM (CL4STEM) is a project that aims to pilot innovation and research its effectiveness and potential scaling for building capacity of teachers in secondary school in science and mathematics to foster higher-order teaching with inclusion and equity (HOTIE). It is a South-South collaboration among higher education institutions to adapt and pilot the Connected Learning Initiative (CLix) (http://clix.tiss.edu), which was developed and scaled in India, to new contexts in Bhutan, Nigeria and Tanzania with support from the IDRC. CL4STEM engaged in teacher professional development for newly recruited teachers in Nigeria by implanting and using highly localized and contextualized open education resources (OER), strengthening the use of technology and local resources in teaching enhancing contents knowledge specifically in the sciences and mathematics Data were collected in three phases, baseline, midline, and endline. The findings indicate that teachers' understanding of CL4STEM innovation improved from baseline to endline. At the baseline 2 teachers were still learning how to effectively navigate CL4STEM modules and Telegram group (CoPs) while none was at the endline. There is an increase in the number of teachers exploring ways of improving CL4STEM teaching strategies through further refinement of the modules and CoP participation and/or alternative ways of achieving better results from 1 at midline to 5 at endline. There is a decrease in the number of teachers that are exploring ways of collaboration with other teachers and educators to help impact student learning using CL4STEM teaching strategies from 11 at the midline to 3 at the endline.
A STUDY OF FOOD FESTIVAL LOYALTY

Food festivals are growing in popularity and warrant in-depth studies of festival visitors. The study of food festivals is now an important and prolific area of tourism research enquiry. The aim of this study is to fill the conceptual gap by examining the interrelationships between festival loyalty and its related constructs, in order to gain an improved understanding of visitors’ loyalty towards food festivals in Macau. The proposed hypothetical modelling the food festival would facilitate further researches into the dynamics of tourism and offer guidelines for practitioners as they constantly strive to provide the best experience for visitors to return or revisit the food festival.
Nanoscaled biphasic calcium phosphate modulates osteogenesis and attenuates LPS-induced inflammation

Micron-scale structure biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) materials have demonstrated promising clinical outcomes in the field of bone tissue repair. However, research on biphasic calcium phosphate materials at the nanoscale level remains limited. In this study, we synthesize granular-shaped biphasic calcium phosphate nanomaterials with multiple desirable characteristics, including negatively charged surfaces, non-cytotoxicity, and the capability to penetrate cells, using a nanogrinding dispersion process with a polymeric carboxylic acid as the dispersant. Our results reveal that treating human osteoblasts with 0.5 μg/mL biphasic calcium phosphate nanomaterials results in a marked increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the upregulation of osteogenesis-related genes. Furthermore, these biphasic calcium phosphate nanomaterials exhibit immunomodulatory properties. Treatment of THP-1-derived macrophages with BCP nanomaterials decreases the expression of various inflammatory genes. Biphasic calcium phosphate nanomaterials also mitigate the elevated inflammatory gene expression and protein production triggered by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in THP-1-derived macrophages. Notably, we observe that biphasic calcium phosphate nanomaterials have the capacity to reverse the detrimental effects of LPS-stimulated macrophage-conditioned medium on osteoblastic activity and mineralization. These findings underscore the potential utility of biphasic calcium phosphate nanomaterials in clinical settings for the repair and regeneration of bone tissue. In conclusion, this study highlights the material properties and positive effects of biphasic calcium phosphate nanomaterials on osteogenesis and immune regulation, opening a promising avenue for further research on inflammatory osteolysis in patients undergoing clinical surgery.
A Novel Multi–Scale One–Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network for Intelligent Fault Diagnosis of Centrifugal Pumps

Centrifugal pumps are susceptible to various faults, particularly under challenging conditions such as high pressure. Swift and accurate fault diagnosis is crucial for enhancing the reliability and safety of mechanical equipment. However, monitoring data under fault conditions in centrifugal pumps are limited. This study employed an experimental approach to gather original monitoring data (vibration signal data) across various fault types. We introduce a multi–scale sensing Convolutional Neural Network (MS–1D–CNN) model for diagnosing faults in centrifugal pumps. The network structure is further optimized by examining the impact of various hyperparameters on its performance. Subsequently, the model’s efficacy in diagnosing centrifugal pump faults has been comprehensively validated using experimental data. The results demonstrate that, under both single and multiple operating conditions, the model not only reduces reliance on manual intervention but also improves the accuracy of fault diagnosis.
Metagenomic Sequencing of Lloviu Virus from Dead Schreiber’s Bats in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bats are a natural host for a number of viruses, many of which are zoonotic and thus present a threat to human health. RNA viruses of the family Filoviridae, many of which cause disease in humans, have been associated with specific bat hosts. Lloviu virus is a Filovirus which has been connected to mass mortality events in Miniopterus schreibersii colonies in Spain and Hungary, and some studies have indicated its immense zoonotic potential. A die-off has been recorded among Miniopterus schreibersii in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time, prompting the investigation to determine the causative agent. Bat carcasses were collected and subjected to pathological examination, after which the lung samples with notable histopathological changes, lung samples with no changes and guano were analyzed using metagenomic sequencing and RT-PCR. A partial Lloviu virus genome was sequenced from lung samples with histopathological changes and found to be closely related to Hungarian and Italian virus sequences. Further accumulation of mutations on the GP gene, coding the glycoprotein responsible for cell tropism and host preference, enhances the need for further characterization and monitoring of this virus to prevent spillover events and protect human health.
Component Composition of Aerosols and their Dynamics in the Atmosphere of the Baikal South-Eastern Coast

This paper presents the results of chemical composition analysis of aerosol samples taken in the summer of 1998–2001 and 2013–2021 at the southeast coast of Lake Baikal. It was revealed that the dominant aerosol ions are SO 42– , NO 3– , Cl – , Ca 2+ , Na + . In fire periods, an increase in the proportion of nitrate ions, chloride ions, calcium ions, sulfate ions, bromide ions in suspended particles on average up to 10 times or more compared to background conditions, as well as the proportion of metal ions (calcium, potassium, sodium). The found high correlation between potassium ions and chloride ions (r = 0.8–0.9) indicates the predominant proportion of potassium chloride in the composition of atmospheric aerosols at Baikal. In case of smoke emission from the centers of intense wildfires, the proportion of secondary components in the long-range transport of smoke aerosol as a result of its aging was higher than in a regional wildfire (51.6% versus 40.5%).
Multivariate climatic effects and declining avian populations in an alkaline grassland complex

: As shown by recent studies, the population dynamics of many avian species have been affected by global climatic processes. Nevertheless, the number of studies on the effects of multivariate climatic predictors is still rather low. Using a long-term dataset of 19 species breeding in the Hortobágy (Hungary), considered the largest unbroken alkaline steppe in Europe, we esti-mated the effects of global and local climatic variables on avian population trends. Our results indicate that the population dynamics of several species might be driven by multivariate climatic effects. Specifically, the population trends of long-distance migratory species increasing in the Hortobágy were affected by both the NAO inducing milder climatic conditions in the southern part of Europe and increasing trends in Sahel rainfall. In turn, short-distance migrants reacted to warming winters through population growth. Additionally, negative population trends correlated with climatic parameters in several species of key conservation importance, with unknown causes of decline. In sum, we suggest that a sound understanding of multivariate climatic effects on avian populations is needed to outline more effective management plans that help avoid the erroneous attribution of causes of failure and success in practical conservation.
Data to three insect orders (Embiidina, Dermaptera, Isoptera) from the Balkans

The Embiidina, Dermaptera and Isoptera material, collected in the Balkans by the soil zoological expeditions of the Hungarian Natural History Museum and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences between 2002 and 2012, is enumerated and depicted on maps. New country records of six earwig species are reported: Chelidurella s.l. acanthopygia (Gene, 1832) from Montenegro, Anechura bipunctata (Fabricius, 1781) from Albania, Apterygida media (Hagenbach, 1822) from Montenegro and Macedonia, Guanchia obtusangula (Krauss, 1904) from Macedonia, Forficula aetolica Brunner, 1882 from Bulgaria and Forficula smyrnensis Serville, 1839 from Montenegro and Macedonia. Populations of Chelidurella Verhoeff, 1902 from Dalmatian Croatia and Montenegro probably belong to two undescribed taxa, but these are threated as C. s.l. acanthopygia herein and their morphological features are showed on figures. Due to its rarity in the Balkans, taxonomical features of the Macedonian Guanchia obtusangula specimen are also showed on figures. The webspinner Haploembia palaui Stefani, 1955 is reported from Crete for the first time, which represents the second occurrence in the Balkans. The order Isoptera is reported from Montenegro and the Aegean Isles for the first time, while Reticulitermes balkanensis Clement, 2001 is considered as a nomen nudum.
Study on the effects of incorporating various levels of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) on the performance of sheep.

Poor feed quality and lack of water are the major constraints for livestock production under arid conditions. To solve these problems, looking for potential plants is mandatory. Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is an extremely drought tolerant, highly productive, multipurpose and succulent plant. It has incomparably high water and land use efficiency. In cactus pear producing regions of Ethiopia its fruits play life-saving role during rainy seasons while livestock depend mainly on its cladodes during dry seasons and drought years. Under the latter circumstances, diarrhoea and bloat are reported to be major problems. In spite of its vital forage use, the nutritive value of cactus pear is little researched. This study aimed at determining the optimum level of inclusion of cactus pear and its contribution as source of water. A three-months experiment, laid out in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with eight growing male sheep per treatment, was conducted. Cactus pear replaced the basal diet (grass hay) at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80% (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively), on dry matter basis. Diets were offered in individual troughs twice daily. Common salt licks were available ad libitum. Feed and water consumption and refusals were recorded daily. Animals were weighed weekly. Data were subject to ANOVA using the SAS software JMP5. Highly significant differences (p<0.001) were observed for total dry matter intake (DMI), water consumption and live weight change. The highest DMI (100 g/kgW 0.75 ) was recorded in sheep in T4 (60% cactus) followed by T3 and the lowest (77 g/kgW 0.75 ) was recorded in the control, T1. Sheep in T1 consumed the highest amount of water (1.24 l) followed by T2 (0.068 l) while sheep in T3, T4 and T5 drunk negligible amount of water (0.008, 0.016 and 0.006 l, respectively). Live weight change was relatively high (+33.0 g/day) in T2. It is concluded that cactus pear could optimally substitute grass hay up to 60%. It has a substantial contribution in satisfying the water requirement of sheep. Thus, cactus pear could play a significant role in mitigating feed and water shortage in drought prone areas of the tropics
A Priority-Based Adaptive Firefly Optimized Conv-BiLSTM Algorithm for Electrical Resistance Image Reconstruction

As a high-speed, noninvasive process measurement technology, electrical resistance tomography (ERT) is well suited for visualization of media distribution in industrial and biomedical fields. An innovative optimal hybrid deep-learning strategy utilizing a 1-D convolution neural network (CNN) and recurrent neural network (RNN) is proposed to solve the ERT inverse problem. In the proposed hybrid deep-learning model, the priority-based adaptive firefly algorithm (PAFA) optimizes the neuron structure by feature engineering and adaptively estimates the local optimum to accelerate convergence. The feature selection technique controls randomness through efficient local search and finding the optimal value fit. The input and output relation is enforced by local recurrent cells in the hybrid model feedback with a bidirectional long-short-term memory (BiLSTM) network. The proposed model extracts the latent features from the prior cells during the training period of the network architecture. Simulation and experimental tests are carried out, and the quantitative analysis shows that the proposed hybrid deep-learning model has better imaging accuracy than the traditional image reconstruction methods.
BODIPY-Based Molecules for Biomedical Applications

BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) derivatives have attracted attention as probes in applications like imaging and sensing due to their unique properties like (1) strong absorption and emission in the visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, (2) strong fluorescence and (3) supreme photostability. They have also been employed in areas like photodynamic therapy. Over the last decade, BODIPY-based molecules have even emerged as candidates for cancer treatments. Cancer remains a significant health issue world-wide, necessitating a continuing search for novel therapeutic options. BODIPY is a flexible fluorophore with distinct photophysical characteristics and is a fascinating drug development platform. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent breakthroughs in BODIPY-based small molecules for cancer or disease detection and therapy, including their functional potential.
Electrical Characteristics of Silicon p-n Junction Solar Cells Produced by Plasma-Assisted Matrix Etching Technique

In this work, plasma-induced matrix etching technique was used to fabricate p-n junction solar cells and their electrical characteristics were studied. Results showed reasonable improvement in solar cell characteristics when compared to the characteristics of the cells fabricated without etching process or by conventional thermal evaporation technique. The maximum conversion efficiency of the fabricated cells was about (2.15%) at irradiation power of (90W/cm 2 ) and the fill factor was (56.90%).
Samoan hot spot track on a “hot spot highway”: Implications for mantle plumes and a deep Samoan mantle source

We report new geochemical data for submarine lavas from the Samoan region that greatly enhance the geochemical data set for volcanoes from the hot spot. Additionally, two volcanoes dredged in the northern Lau Basin, Futuna Island and Manatu seamount, are young (<5 Ma), appear to be genetically related, and may have been generated by melting a component of Samoan mantle that has been advected into the region. We also find evidence for three seamounts and one atoll along the Samoan hot spot track that are not geochemically related to Samoa. We use a plate motion model to show that three non‐Samoan hot spots, currently active in the Cook‐Austral Islands, provided volcanism to the Pacific Plate now in the Samoan region approximately 10–40 Ma. The four interloping volcanoes in the Samoan region exhibit geochemical affinities with the three hot spots. All three hot spots would have left a depleted, viscous, refractory keel that is coupled to the base of the Pacific lithosphere that has been “rafted” to the Samoan region. Therefore, the new data also have implications for the origin of the Samoan hot spot as its origin has been suggested to be a result of either a deep‐seated mantle plume or a consequence of lithospheric cracking. Without major modification of the current “propagating lithospheric cracks” model, it is not clear how such cracks could yield melts from the refractory keel present under the Samoan lithosphere. Instead, a region of buoyantly upwelling mantle, or plume, is suggested to generate the shield stage volcanism in the Samoan region.
Soil and fecal coliform trapping by grass filter strips during simulated rain

ABSTRACT: Poultry production is increasing in Kentucky. The wastes produced are typically added to soil but surface runoff from agricultural soils treated with poultry waste may exceed water quality standards for fecal indicator bacteria and contribute to agricultural nonpoint-source pollution. While soil erosion in surface runoff is frequently managed by grass filter strips, this management practice may not be an equally effective control for fecal bacteria. We measured soil and fecal coliform trapping in surface runoff from two poultry manure-amended plots in a simulated rain study. The simulation reflected a worst-case event in which poultry waste application was followed by high intensity rain. Grass filter strips, 9 meters long trapped more than 99% of the soil in surface runoff but fecal coliform trapping was less effective. The efficiency of fecal coliform removal from surface runoff was 74% and 43% in the two plots studied. Fecal coliforms in surface runoff always exceeded primary contact water standards of 200 fecal coliforms/100 mL. These data indicated that grass filter strips which adequately controlled sediment runoff were inadequate to bring surface water contaminated with fecal bacteria into compliance with current primary water contact standards.
Paxton Revisited: The Essence of the Lived Experiences of Urban Agricultural Education Students

The rapidly growing world population and need for more food and agricultural knowledge has inspired city dwellers to explore urban cultivation practices such as vertical farming and community gardening. Ultra-modern approaches to growing crops and livestock in urban highrise buildings has sparked the imagination of scientists, agriculturists, and engineers as well as rural and urban citizens in recent years. With this new piqued interest for urban agriculture, secondary urban Agricultural Education programs are in a prime position for growth. However, more research is needed to inform the profession regarding quality Agricultural Education growth in American cities. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to discover the essence of the shared experiences of urban students who were persistently enrolled in Agricultural Education. The findings, conclusions, implications, and recommendations associated with the study are reported as five interpretive themes of meaning including: (a) disorienting experience, (b) critical assessment, (c) shared experiences, (d) thoughtful planning, and (e) projected transformation. The essence of the shared lived experiences of Thomas High School Agricultural Education students was discovered through the lens of the Transformational Learning Theory and can be described best as a Journey Toward Transformation.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Virtual Assistants for Leukemia Self-Management

Aim and purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the various influencing factors affecting the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled virtual assistants (VAs) for self-management of leukemia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design is adopted in this study. The questionnaire included eight factors (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, behavioral intention, trust, perceived privacy risk, and personal innovativeness) affecting the acceptance of AI-enabled virtual assistants. A total of 397 leukemia patients participated in the online survey. Results: Performance expectancy (μ = 3.14), effort expectancy (μ = 3.05), and personal innovativeness (μ = 3.14) were identified to be the major influencing factors of AI adoption. Statistically significant differences (p < .05) were observed between the gender-based and age groups of the participants in relation to the various factors. In addition, perceived privacy risks were negatively correlated with all other factors. Conclusion: Although there are negative factors such as privacy risks and ethical issues in AI adoption, perceived effectiveness and ease of use among individuals are leading to greater adoption of AI-enabled VAs.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Resides in Macrophages in Laryngeal Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Laryngeal tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that questions the natural history of this infection. We report one such case in which a pathological examination of a laryngeal biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis. Further investigations combining immunofluorescence detection of macrophages and in situ hybridization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis indicated the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) in laryngeal granulomatous inflammatory lesions. This observation suggests that the natural history of laryngeal tuberculosis does not differ from that of other forms, guiding early diagnosis in patients with laryngeal lesions to ensure appropriate check-ups and treatment.