Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Teachers in Facilitating Mathematics Learning Opportunities in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources.

Strengthening knowledge and skills in mathematics is critically important to preparing the next generation of innovators, problem solvers, and interdisciplinary thinkers. School-based agricultural education offers a valuable context to co-develop mathematics knowledge and skills alongside knowledge and skills in agriculture, food, and natural resources. The current study explored the role of school-based agricultural education teachers in facilitating interdisciplinary agriculture, food, natural resources, and mathematics learning experiences. Findings suggest teachers possessed positive attitudes, supportive subjective norms, high levels of perceived behavioral control, and moderate to high perceptions of mathematics knowledge. Additionally, teachers intended to teach mathematics content in an average of 24.51% of agriculture, food, and natural resources curriculum. However, in modeling the intentions of school-based agricultural education teachers to teach math, the combination of attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and mathematics knowledge explained only 9% of the variance. Within the model, perceived behavioral control was a statistically significant, positive predictor of intentions to teach math. Findings are discussed in terms of statistical and practical significance, with specific recommendations for follow-up research exploring a wider breadth of variables potentially influencing intentions to teach math.
Domain wall spacetimes: Instability of cosmological event and Cauchy horizons.

The stability of cosmological event and Cauchy horizons of spacetimes associated with plane symmetric domain walls are studied. It is found that both horizons are not stable against perturbations of null fluids and massless scalar fields; they are turned into curvature singularities. These singularities are light-like and strong in the sense that both the tidal forces and distortions acting on test particles become unbounded when theses singularities are approached.
Genistein administered as a once-daily oral supplement had no beneficial effect on the tibia in rat models for postmenopausal bone loss

ObjectiveEstrogen deficiency after menopause results in rapid bone loss, predisposing women to osteoporotic fractures. Genistein, a phytoestrogen present in high concentrations in soy, is an ingredient in dietary supplements aggressively marketed for bone health. However, in a recent long-duration clinical trial in postmenopausal women, the efficacy of soy extracts in reducing bone loss was disappointing. To better understand the failure of soy extracts to consistently induce a robust skeletal response in women, we investigated the long-term (5 mo) efficacy of genistein, administered as a daily oral supplement, (1) in preventing cancellous bone loss in skeletally mature virgin Long-Evans rats ovariectomized at 7 months of age and (2) in improving cancellous bone mass and architecture in aged retired-breeder rats ovariectomized at 16 or 22 months of age. MethodsRats within each age group were randomly assigned into one of three treatment groups (n = 7-12 rats/group): (1) vehicle control, (2) genistein 485 &mgr;g/day, or (3) genistein 970 &mgr;g/day, resulting in mean (SE) serum genistein levels of 0.18 (0.10), 0.76 (0.15), and 1.48 (0.31) &mgr;M, respectively. Total tibia bone mass and density were evaluated using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, whereas cancellous bone mass and architecture in the tibial metaphysis, as well as cortical bone mass and architecture in the tibial diaphysis, were evaluated by micro-CT. ResultsOral genistein administered as a dietary supplement did not influence the cumulative effects of ovariectomy, aging, and/or reproductive history on cancellous and cortical bone mass and architecture. ConclusionsSerum levels of genistein similar to those in women consuming a high-soy diet are ineffective in preventing or treating bone loss in rat models for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Spindle cell embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate in an adult patient: a case report and review of the literature

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate is a rare mesenchymal tumor that originates from undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma is a variant of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. The vast majority of these two pathological types occur in children, with only a few adult cases reported to date, and both are associated with poor clinical outcomes. We herein report a case involving a man in his early 40s with spindle cell embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate. His chief complaint was difficult urination. The diagnosis was confirmed by puncture biopsy of the prostate, and pelvic lymph node metastasis was already present at the time of diagnosis. The patient underwent three courses of chemotherapy. However, his response to the treatment was very poor, and he died of the disease 4 months after diagnosis.
The effects of trading methods on volatility and liquidity: Evidence from the Taiwan Stock Exchange

This study contrasts the call and continuous auction methods using Taiwan Stock Exchange data. Volatility under the call market method is approximately one-half of that under the continuous auction method. The call market method is more effective in reducing the volatility of high-volume stocks than low-volume stocks. This contradicts conventional wisdom which suggests that the call market method is superior for thinly traded stocks, while the continuous auction method is preferred for heavily traded stocks. The call market method does not impair liquidity and price discovery. The call market appears more efficient than in the continuous auction market. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1999.
Continuous Evaluation of Monochromatic and Bichromatic Reverse Nearest Neighbors

This paper presents a novel algorithm for Incremental and General Evaluation of continuous Reverse Nearest neighbor queries (IGERN, for short). The IGERN algorithm is general as it is applicable for both the monochromatic and bichromatic reverse nearest neighbor queries. The incremental aspect of IGERN is achieved through determining only a small set of objects to be monitored. While previous algorithms for monochromatic queries rely mainly on monitoring six pie regions, IGERN takes a radical approach by monitoring only a single region around the query object. The IGERN algorithm clearly outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithms in monochromatic queries. In addition, the IGERN algorithm presents the first attempt for continuous evaluation of bichromatic reverse nearest neighbor queries. The computational complexity of IGERN is presented in comparison to the state-of-the-art algorithms in the monochromatic case and to the use of Voronoi diagrams for the bichromatic case. In addition, the correctness of IGERN in both the monochromatic and bichromatic cases are proved. Extensive experimental analysis shows that IGERN is efficient, is scalable, and outperforms previous techniques for continuous reverse nearest neighbor queries.
Patterns of Non‐influenza Respiratory Viruses Among Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Cases in Burkina Faso: A Surveillance Study

ABSTRACT Background Although influenza viruses cause only one‐fifth of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in Burkina Faso, the other viral causes of SARI remain poorly investigated to inform clinical and preventive decision making. Methods Between 2016 and 2019, we prospectively enrolled inpatients meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) case definition of SARI in Burkina Faso. Results of viral etiologies among inpatients tested negative for influenza using the Fast Track Diagnostics Respiratory Kits (FTD‐33) were reported. Results Of 1541 specimens tested, at least one respiratory virus was detected in 76.1% of the 1231 specimens negative for influenza virus. Human rhinoviruses (hRVs) were the most detected pathogens (476; 38.7%), followed by human adenoviruses (hAdV) (17.1%, 210/1231), human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) (15.4%, 189/1231), enterovirus (EnV) (11.2%, 138/1231), human bocavirus (hBoV) (7.9%, 97/1231), parainfluenza 3 (hPIV3) (6.1%, 75/1231), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) (6.0%,74/1321), parainfluenza 4 (hPIV4) (4.1%, 51/1231), human coronavirus OC43 (hCoV‐OC43) (3.4%, 42/1231), human coronavirus HKU1(hCoV‐HKU1) (2.7%, 33/1231), human coronavirus NL63 (hCoV‐NL63) (2.5%, 31/1231), parainfluenza 1 (hPIV1) (2.0%, 25/1231), parainfluenza 2 (hPIV2) (1.8%, 22/1231), human parechovirus (PeV) (1.1%, 14/1231), and human coronavirus 229E (hCoV‐229E) (0.9%, 11/1231). Among SARI cases, infants aged 1–4 years were mostly affected (50.7%; 622/1231), followed by those <1 year of age (35.7%; 438/1231). Most detected pathogens had year‐long circulation patterns, with seasonal peaks mainly observed during the cold and dry seasons. Conclusion Several non‐influenza viruses are cause of SARI in Burkina Faso. The integration of the most common pathogens into the routine influenza surveillance system might be beneficial.
Lower Bounds for the Complexity of the Hausdorff Distance

We describe new lower bounds for the complexity of the directed Hausdorr distance under translation and rigid motion. We exhibit lower bound constructions of (n 3) for point sets under translation, for the L 1 , L 2 and L 1 norms, (n 4) for line segments under translation , for any L p norm, (n 5) for point sets under rigid motion and (n 6) for line segments under rigid motion, both for the L 2 norm. The results for point sets can also be extended to the undirected Hausdorr distance.
Rock Mechanics Characteristics Test and Optimization of High-Efficiency Mining in Dajishan Tungsten Mine

Rock mechanics test is not only the basis for obtaining the mechanical parameters of rock but also an important means for studying rock mechanics and engineering. In this paper, the uniaxial compression deformation test, Brazilian splitting test, and cornea pressure shear test are carried out for rocks in the Dajishan tungsten mine. The basic mechanical parameters such as uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and internal friction angle of ore rock and surrounding rock are obtained. Meanwhile, damage characteristics of rock are deeply studied and analyzed under different experimental conditions. According to rock mechanics parameters which are obtained from indoor rock mechanics tests, three design schemes of stope structure parameters are optimized by using the FLAC3D numerical simulation software. On the premise of ensuring the stability of the stope structure, the recovery rate of ore and the production capacity of the stope are taken into consideration. It is suggested that the second scheme should be adopted for mines (18 m for ore room and 7 m for ore pillar), which provides scientific guidance for the safe and efficient mining of mines.
Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora

____________________________________ Brown, James K. ; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 257 p. This state-of-knowledge review about the effects of fire on flora and fuels can assist land managers with ecosystem and fire management planning and in their efforts to inform others about the ecological role of fire. Chapter topics include fire regime classification, autecological effects of fire, fire regime characteristics and postfire plant community developments in ecosystems throughout the United States and Canada, global climate change, ecological principles of fire regimes, and practical considerations for managing fire in an ecosytem context.
The Kautz mesh: A new topology for SoCs

Nowadays networks-on-chip are emerging as a hot topic in IC designs with high integration. In addition to popular mesh topologies, other structures can also be considered especially in 3D VLSI design. The Kautz topology is one of the interconnection architectures for multiprocessors. In this paper we propose an efficient three dimensional layout for a novel 2D mesh structure based on the Kautz topology. Simulation results show that by using the third dimension, performance and latency can be improved compared to the 2D VLSI implementation.
Assessment Issues in the Testing of Children at School Entry

The authors introduce readers to the research documenting racial and ethnic gaps in school readiness. They describe the key tests, including the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS), and several intelligence tests, and describe how they have been administered to several important national samples of children. Next, the authors review the different estimates of the gaps and discuss how to interpret these differences. In interpreting test results, researchers use the statistical term "standard deviation" to compare scores across the tests. On average, the tests find a gap of about 1 standard deviation. The ECLS-K estimate is the lowest, about half a standard deviation. The PPVT estimate is the highest, sometimes more than 1 standard deviation. When researchers adjust those gaps statistically to take into account different outside factors that might affect children's test scores, such as family income or home environment, the gap narrows but does not disappear. Why such different estimates of the gap? The authors consider explanations such as differences in the samples, racial or ethnic bias in the tests, and whether the tests reflect different aspects of school "readiness," and conclude that none is likely to explain the varying estimates. Another possible explanation is the Spearman Hypothesis—that all tests are imperfect measures of a general ability construct, g; the more highly a given test correlates with g, the larger the gap will be. But the Spearman Hypothesis, too, leaves questions to be investigated. A gap of 1 standard deviation may not seem large, but the authors show clearly how it results in striking disparities in the performance of black and white students and why it should be of serious concern to policymakers.
Diversidad de las mariposas diurnas (Lepidoptera: papilionoidea y hesperioidea) en una selva baja espinosa caducifolia de condición primaria y secundaria en Victoria, Tamaulipas, México.

El analisis de la biodiversidad, su variacion y los factores que originan su distribucion, son un tema central en ecologia. El conocimiento sobre los patrones ecologicos que presentan las especies esta actualmente documentado para muchos grupos biologicos; sin embargo, en Mexico se carece de este tipo de estudios para las mariposas diurnas, que constituyen un grupo megadiverso de invertebrados y con un potencial importante para ser utilizado como bioindicadores. Para contribuir al conocimiento de este clado en Mexico, se realizo un estudio sobre diversidad de especies en dos ecosistemas de selva baja espinosa caducifolia, uno en condicion conservada y el otro en condicion perturbada, en el area natural protegida Altas Cumbres en Tamaulipas, Mexico. Se establecieron dos transectos permanentes de longitud no definida, uno por cada condicion. El muestreo se realizo de manera mensual en cada sitio mediante red entomologica aerea y diez trampas Van Someren-Rydon, durante diciembre del 2015 a noviembre del 2016. Se obtuvieron en total 2,448 ejemplares para la selva baja espinosa caducifolia de condicion conservada, distribuidos en 287 especies, y 3,394 ejemplares distribuidos en 218 especies para la selva baja espinosa caducifolia de condicion perturbada. Las pruebas tanto para la abundancia como para la riqueza especifica entre ambas condiciones, no revelaron diferencias significativas; sin embargo, los analisis realizados entre temporadas en cada una de las condiciones, resultaron significativos. La diversidad en la selva baja espinosa caducifolia conservada, resulto ser mayor en comparacion con la perturbada, esto debido probablemente a una mayor disponibilidad del habitat. La respuesta de la comunidad de mariposas ante ambos factores se explica con base a la respuesta que presento cada una de las especies; en ese sentido, las variables que determinaron los patrones de abundancia en el area de estudio fueron la temperatura, humedad relativa, punto de condensacion y cobertura vegetal; 52 especies presentaron una asociacion significativa con el uso de estos recursos, pero la respuesta de cada una ante estos fue diferente.
EFFECT OF GRAPE SEED EXTRACT ON REMINERALIZATION OF ARTIFICIAL CARIES: AN IN-VITRO STUDY

Objective: Grape seeds are gaining more importance because the “Proanthocyanidins” present in them have excellent anticaries, remineralizing, and antibacterial properties. Although many preventive measures have been tried, dental caries remains one of the most prevalent diseases in humans. The ultimate goal of any intervention is the preservation of tooth structure, prevention of lesion progression and inducing remineralization. The present in-vitro study was done to investigate the effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on artificial enamel caries in human teeth. Methods: A total of 50 sound premolars extracted from patients undergoing orthodontic treatment were used in the study. The teeth were cleaned and were immersed in a demineralizing solution for 96 hrs at 37°C and 50% relative humidity to create artificial lesions. The samples were randomly divided into two groups of 25 each. Half of the samples were immersed in the GSE solution (test) and the other half in saline (control), respectively, for 8 days. The samples were measured by microhardness tester to obtain values in Vickers hardness scale. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and were analyzed using independent t-test for inter-group comparison and paired t-test for intra-group comparison using SPSS version 21. Results: The mean±SD microhardness values after remineralization for the test and control groups were 357.56±5.53 and 337.60±6.38. GSE group significantly increased the microhardness of the lesions (p≤0.001). Conclusion: GSE is a potential remineralizing agent and can be used to prevent progression of dental caries. Keywords: Grape seed extract, Remineralization, Dental caries.
Use of Cepstrum-Based Parameters for Automatic Pathology Detection on Speech - Analysis of Performance and Theoretical Justification

A time division switching circuit with time slot interchange uses an input shift register to convert one-frame binary coded input data of time division multiplex type from an incoming line into a parallel bit output. The parallel bit output undergoes gate control of a gate matrix and its bit array is statically changed to a given bit array. The on/off control of the gate at the cross point of the gate matrix is conducted according to parallel bit outputs of a plurality of control shift registers which stores predetermined contents. The one-frame bit data thus exchanged are supplied to an output shift register. They are transmitted to an outgoing line as binary coded output data of time division multiplex type.
The Freiburg Acuity Test in Preschool Children: Testability, Test–Retest Variability, and Comparison With LEA Symbols

Purpose To determine the testability, performance, and test–retest variability (TRV) of visual acuity (VA) assessment using the Freiburg Visual Acuity Test (FrACT) compared to the LEA Symbols Test (LEA) in preschool children. Methods In 134 preschool children aged 3.0 to 6.8 years, monocular VA of each eye was measured twice with a four-orientation Landolt C version of the FrACT and once with the LEA. FrACT runs were preceded by a binocular run for explanatory purposes. Test order alternated between subjects. Optotypes were presented on a computer monitor (FrACT) or on cards (LEA) at a distance of 3 m. Results Overall, 68% completed the FrACT (91/134 children) and 88% completed the LEA (118/134 children). Testability depended on age: FrACT, 19% (<4 years) and 87% (≥4 years); LEA, 70% (<4 years) and 95% (≥4 years). Mean ± SD VA difference between tests was 0.11 ± 0.19 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR], with LEA reporting better acuity. The difference depended on age (0.27 ± 0.23 logMAR [<4 years], 0.09 ± 0.18 logMAR [≥4 years], P < 0.001) and on test sequence (higher age dependence of FrACT VAs for LEA first, P < 0.001). The 95% limits of agreement for the FrACT TRV were ±0.298 logMAR. Conclusions The examiner-independent FrACT, using international reference Landolt C optotypes, can be used to assess VA in preschool children aged ≥4 years, with reliability comparable to other pediatric VA tests. Translational Relevance Use of the automated FrACT for VA assessment in preschool children may benefit objectivity and validity as it is a computerized test and employs the international reference Landolt C optotype.
Synergistic Adsorption and Flotation of New Mixed Cationic/Nonionic Collectors on Muscovite

The mixed cationic collector cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and nonionic collector octanol (OCT) was found to exhibit a synergistic effect on the flotation and adsorption of muscovite. To understand the underlying synergistic mechanism, flotation, contact angle, surface tension, and adsorption measurements were carried out. The results obtained from flotation measurements indicated that the mixed CTAC/OCT exhibits a better collecting ability than CTAC or OCT. The recovery of muscovite with CTAC only rapidly decreased from 97.25% at pH 2.64 to 75.26% at pH 5.82, followed by a flat horizontal at a pH is higher than 6. In contrast, a high recovery of greater than 85% muscovite was observed using mixed CTAC/OCT at α CTAC = 0.67 (the mole ratio of CTAC:OCT = 2:1) over the investigated pH range. From the surface activity parameters (CMC, γ CMC, Γmax, Amin) estimated from surface measurements and interaction parameters (βm, βσ), in addition to the micellar and interfacial compositions ( x 1 m , x 1 σ ) obtained from the theory of regular solutions, a synergistic effect is evident in the mixed micelle and at the water/air interface. Moreover, the mixed CTAC/OCT at α CTAC = 0.67 exhibited the maximum synergistic interaction. The results obtained from surface tension measurements indicated that the mixed CTAC/OCT exhibits considerably higher surface activities compared to single CTAC or OCT. The contact angle results confirmed that the mixed CTAC/OCT is a better collector than the individual CTAC or OCT for the flotation of muscovite. According to the results obtained from adsorption experiments, compared with that of individual CTAC or OCT, the amounts of CTAC and OCT adsorbed on the muscovite surface are considerably increase in the mixed systems because of co-adsorption. Based on these results, the mixed CTAC/OCT exhibits a remarkable synergistic effect during the flotation and adsorption of muscovite.
Hierarchical Encoding of Binary Descriptors for Image Matching

Binary descriptors are increasingly popular such as BRIEF, ORB, and BRISK. Typically, binary descriptors are computed by comparing pairs of image pixel intensities over a sampling pattern. To improve matching performance, lots of progresses have been made on the selection of pixel pairs, yet the discriminative power of pixel pairs is not fully studied. In this paper, we hierarchically encode the intensity differences between pixel pairs to build our discriminative binary feature. To avoid efficiency loss, a stepwise distance metric is proposed for directly matching these descriptors without decoding. Extensive experiments on benchmark database demonstrate that we outperform the state-of-the-art binary descriptors in image matching performance. In addition, we show that our encoded descriptor is as efficient as the state-of-the-art binary descriptors in both computing and matching.