Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How might micro-credentials influence institutions and empower learners in higher education?

ABSTRACT Background Micro-credentials are increasingly considered a key mechanism through which to empower learners by enabling flexible upskilling and reskilling. Despite their apparent importance for higher education institutions (HEIs) and learners, empirical research is limited. More needs to be understood, particularly about the ways in which micro-credentials can shape institutional practice and provide benefits to learners. Purpose Using a foresight approach, this study sets out to explore the potential for micro-credential adoption in relation to national and international policy initiatives and rapidly developing technologies. Its intention is to offer findings of interest internationally, particularly to those involved in strategic activities around micro-credentials. Methods A four-step Delphi study approach was used to explore how micro-credentials may shape higher education (HE) in the next 5–10 years. Educational experts undertook a consensus-building activity utilising workshops and surveys: (1) initial identification of enabling factors (i.e. drivers) and beneficial outcomes (i.e. impacts) of micro-credentials; (2) prioritisation based on importance; (3) identification of enabling factors considered essential for each beneficial outcome and (4) analysis of the extent to which micro-credentials might be accepted in HE, with participants reflecting on the importance of the previously identified enablers and outcomes for alternative scenarios. Findings The analysis sheds light on three alternative possible futures for micro-credentials. Expert consensus indicated that the potential of micro-credentials lies especially among educational institutions and the networks of institutions innovating beyond, and within, traditional study offerings and programmes. Future wide-scale adoption of micro-credentials was considered unpredictable, due to external factors at the ecosystem level, and beyond institutions’ own strategies and control. Conclusion The findings suggest that, for the successful uptake of micro-credentials, the same benefits do not need to accrue for institutions and learners: a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is not necessary or optimal. In order for the wider-scale influence of micro-credentials to be felt, there is a need for considerable international and national strategy development and implementation to overcome a variety of policy- and technology-related barriers that HEIs cannot influence or tackle on their own.
Delay‐dependent model reduction for continuous‐time switched state‐delayed systems

This paper studies the problem of exponential H∞ model reduction for continuous‐time switched delay system under average dwell time (ADT) switching signals. Time delay under consideration is interval time varying. Our attention is focused on the construction of the desired reduced order models, which guarantee that the resulting error systems under ADT switching signals are exponentially stable with an H∞ norm bound. By introducing a block matrix and making use of the ADT approach, delay‐dependent sufficient conditions for the existence of reduced order models are derived and formulated in terms of strict linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Owing to the absence of non‐convex constraints, it is tractable to construct an admissible reduced order model. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is illustrated via two numerical examples. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Novel Model Fusion Approach for Greenhouse Crop Yield Prediction

In this work, we have proposed a novel methodology for greenhouse tomato yield prediction, which is based on a hybrid of an explanatory biophysical model—the Tomgro model, and a machine learning model called CNN-RNN. The Tomgro and CNN-RNN models are calibrated/trained for predicting tomato yields while different fusion approaches (linear, Bayesian, neural network, random forest and gradient boosting) are exploited for fusing the prediction result of individual models for obtaining the final prediction results. The experimental results have shown that the model fusion approach achieves more accurate prediction results than the explanatory biophysical model or the machine learning model. Moreover, out of different model fusion approaches, the neural network one produced the most accurate tomato prediction results, with means and standard deviations of root mean square error (RMSE), r2-coefficient, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and percent bias (PBIAS) being 17.69 ± 3.47 g/m2, 0.9995 ± 0.0002, 0.9989 ± 0.0004 and 0.1791 ± 0.6837, respectively.
Experience Matters: Civic Discussion Increases Self-Efficacy and Reduces Forecasted Discomfort in Future Conversations

Interpersonal conversation about civic issues lays groundwork for cooperation and collective action, yet such conversation is uncommon. Across three studies (total N = 2,066), we find that (a) hesitation to discuss a civic topic is predicted by forecasted discomfort about such conversations (Study 1), (b) individuals tend to overestimate discomfort in such future civic conversations (Study 1), (c) forecasted discomfort is lower for those with greater experience discussing the topic (Study 2) and after a formal discussion experience, especially for those with little prior experience (Study 3), and (d) this negative relationship between experience and forecasted discomfort can be explained by greater perceived ability to discuss the topic (i.e., self-efficacy; Studies 2 and 3). Collectively, results show that forecasted discomfort is associated with reduced willingness to engage in civic conversation, and topic-relevant discussions can reduce forecasted discomfort by boosting self-efficacy, particularly for those for whom discussing the topic is novel.
A Survey of Log-Correlation Tools for Failure Diagnosis and Prediction in Cluster Systems

System logs are the first source of information available to system designers to analyze and troubleshoot their cluster systems. For example, High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems generate a large volume of heterogeneous data from multiple sub-systems, so the idea of using a single source of data to achieve a given goal, such as identification of failures, is losing its validity. System log-analysis tools assist system designers gain understanding into a large volume of system logs. They enable system designers to perform various analyses (e.g., diagnosing node failures or predicting node failures). Current system log-analysis tools vary significantly in their function and design. We conduct a systematic review of literature on system log-analysis tools and select 46 representative articles out of 3,758 initial articles. To the best of our knowledge, there is no work that studied the characteristics of log-correlation tools (LogCTs) with respect to four quality attributes including (a) spurious correlations, (b) correlation threshold settings, (c) outliers in the data and (d) missing data. In this paper, we (a) propose a quality model to evaluate LogCTs and (b) use this quality model to evaluate and recommend current LogCTs. Through our review, we (a) identify papers on LogCTs, (b) build a quality model consisting of the four quality attributes and (c) discuss several open challenges for future research. Our study highlights the advantages and limitations of existing LogCTs and identifies research opportunities that could facilitate better failure handling in large cluster systems.
3D Printed Osteoblast–Alginate/Collagen Hydrogels Promote Survival, Proliferation and Mineralization at Low Doses of Strontium Calcium Polyphosphate

The generation of biomaterials via 3D printing is an emerging biotechnology with novel methods that seeks to enhance bone regeneration. Alginate and collagen are two commonly used biomaterials for bone tissue engineering and have demonstrated biocompatibility. Strontium (Sr) and Calcium phosphate (CaP) are vital elements of bone and their incorporation in composite materials has shown promising results for skeletal repair. In this study, we investigated strontium calcium polyphosphate (SCPP) doped 3D printed alginate/collagen hydrogels loaded with MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. These cell-laden scaffolds were crosslinked with different concentrations of 1% SCPP to evaluate the effect of strontium ions on cell behavior and the biomaterial properties of the scaffolds. Through scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, we showed that the scaffolds had a granular surface topography with the banding pattern of alginate around 1100 cm−1 and of collagen around 1430 cm−1. Our results revealed that 2 mg/mL of SCPP induced the greatest scaffold degradation after 7 days and least amount of swelling after 24 h. Exposure of osteoblasts to SCPP induced severe cytotoxic effects after 1 mg/mL. pH analysis demonstrated acidity in the presence of SCPP at a pH between 2 and 4 at 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 mg/mL, which can be buffered with cell culture medium. However, when the SCPP was added to the scaffolds, the overall pH increased indicating intrinsic activity of the scaffold to buffer the SCPP. Moreover, cell viability was observed for up to 21 days in scaffolds with early mineralization at 0.3, 0.5, and 1 mg/mL of SCPP. Overall, low doses of SCPP proved to be a potential additive in biomaterial approaches for bone tissue engineering; however, the cytotoxic effects due to its pH must be monitored closely.
Endothelial progenitor cell mobilization based on exercise volume in patients with cardiovascular disease and healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a vital role in protecting endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Physical exercise stimulates the mobilization of EPCs, and along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), promotes EPC differentiation, and contributes to vasculogenesis. The present meta-analysis examines the exercise-induced EPC mobilization and has an impact on VEGF in patients with CVD and healthy individuals. Database research was conducted (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library of Controlled Trials) by using an appropriate algorithm to indicate the exercise-induced EPC mobilization studies. Eligibility criteria included EPC measurements following exercise in patients with CVD and healthy individuals. A continuous random effect model meta-analysis (PROSPERO-CRD42019128122) was used to calculate mean differences in EPCs (between baseline and post-exercise values or between an experimental and control group). A total of 1460 participants (36 studies) were identified. Data are presented as standard mean difference (Std.MD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Aerobic training stimulates the mobilization of EPCs and increases VEGF in patients with CVD (EPCs: Std.MD: 1.23, 95% CI: 0.70–1.76; VEGF: Std.MD: 0.76, 95% CI:0.16–1.35) and healthy individuals (EPCs: Std.MD: 1.11, 95% CI:0.53–1.69; VEGF: Std.MD: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.01-1.48). Acute aerobic exercise (Std.MD: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.00–1.80) and resistance exercise (Std.MD: 0.46, 95%CI: 0.10–0.82) enhance EPC numbers in healthy individuals. Combined aerobic and resistance training increases EPC mobilization (Std.MD:1.84, 95% CI: 1.03–2.64) in patients with CVD. Adequate exercise volume (>60%VO2max >30 min; P = 0.00001) yields desirable results. Our meta-analysis supports the findings of the literature. Exercise volume is required to obtain clinically significant results. Continuous exercise training of high-to-moderate intensity with adequate duration as well as combined training with aerobic and resistance exercise stimulates EPC mobilization and increases VEGF in patients with CVD and healthy individuals.
Hot-electron production and suprathermal heat flux scaling with laser intensity from the two-plasmon–decay instability

The fully kinetic reduced-description particle-in-cell (RPIC) method has been applied to simulations of two-plasmon–decay (TPD) instability, driven by crossed laser beams, in an inhomogeneous plasma for parameters consistent with recent direct-drive experiments related to laser-driven inertial fusion. The nonlinear saturated state is characterized by very spiky electric fields, with Langmuir cavitation occurring preferentially inside density channels produced by the ponderomotive beating of the crossed laser beams and the primary TPD Langmuir waves (LWs). The heated electron distribution function is, in all cases, bi-Maxwellian, with instantaneous hot-electron temperatures in the range 60–100 keV. The net hot-electron energy flux out of the system is a small fraction (∼1% to 2%) of the input laser intensity in these simulations. Scalings of the hot-electron temperature and suprathermal heat flux as functions of the laser intensity are obtained numerically from RPIC simulations. These simulations lead to t.
Magnetic Composite Based on Carbon Nanotubes and Deep Eutectic Solvents: Preparation and Its Application for the Determination of Pyrethroids in Tea Drinks

In this study, a novel composite material prepared by using deep eutectic solvent (tetrabutylammonium chloride-dodecanol, DES5) functionalized magnetic MWCNTs−ZIF−8 (MM/ZIF−8@DES5) was employed as an adsorbent for the magnetic solid-phase extraction of six pyrethroids from tea drinks. The characterization results show that MM/ZIF−8@DES5 possessed sufficient specific surface area and superparamagnetism, which could facilitate the rapid enrichment of pyrethroids from tea drink samples. The results of the optimization experiment indicated that DES5, which comprised tetrabutylammonium chloride and 1-dodecanol, was selected for the next experiment and that the adsorption properties of MM/ZIF−8@DES5 were higher than those of MM/ZIF−8 and M-MWCNTs. The validation results show that the method has a wide linear range (0.5–400 μg L−1, R2 ≥ 0.9905), low LOD (0.08–0.33 μg L−1), and good precision (intra-day RSD ≤ 5.6%, inter-day RSD ≤ 8.6%). The method was successfully applied to the determination of pyrethroids in three tea drink samples.
Work-life balance practice: A proposed study for a Japanese higher education institution

Japan, a country suffering from a significant decline in their working population, has been criticised for the long working hours for many years, which is attributed to the traditional work culture that emphasises work as a way of life rather than working just for work sake, hence impeding the individual ability to balance work and life. This conceptual paper aims to cast a light on new empirical evidence concerning the work-life balance practice in Japan from a private higher education institution perspective. It will be framed upon a quantitative design via a self-administered questionnaire. Keywords: work-life balance; working hours; Japan eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i22. 4147
Extended wavelength SWIR detectors with reduced dark current

Most SWIR sensing applications are limited to cutoff wavelength of 1. 7μm at room temperature due to the energy gap of InGaAs alloy lattice matched to InP. Nevertheless, there is an increasing demand for detectors with extended cutoff wavelength of up to 2. 5μm for various applications. Due to system requirements those detector should be operated at near room temperature conditions. The high temperature operation requirement limits the use of high Indium content alloys, since those alloys are strained related to the InP substrate and exhibit high dark current and poor uniformity, or even SWIR MCT – both of which need significant cooling. In this paper we will present some comparative methods for evaluation of extended wavelength SWIR detectors with reduced dark current, working at near room temperature. Those types of detectors can be based on lattice matched alloys consist of type II superlattice, as well as other advanced structures, expected to have better uniformity and utilized for variety of SWIR based applications.
An analysis of the accuracy of the linear sampling method for an acoustic inverse obstacle scattering problem

We investigate the accuracy of the linear sampling method for a two-dimensional acoustic inverse obstacle scattering problem with a Dirichlet boundary condition using asymptotic analysis of the so-called indicator function around the boundary of the obstacle. An asymptotic expansion of the limit, as the noise level and the regularization parameter tend to zero, of the indicator function is obtained. The theoretical results show the dependence of the blowup rate of this limit on the geometrical properties of the obstacle. This partly (up to the above limit) explains the dependence of the accuracy of the linear sampling method on the obstacle's geometry. Some numerical results are given to verify the theoretical results.
Stability of the standard Crank‐Nicolson‐Galerkin Scheme applied to the diffusion‐convection equation: Some new insights

A stability analysis of the classical Crank-Nicolson-Galerkin (CNG) scheme applied to the one-dimensional solute transport equation is proposed on the basis of two fairly different approaches. Using a space-time eigenvalue analysis, it is shown, at least for subsurface hydrology applications, that the CNG scheme is theoretically stable under the condition PeCr ≤ 2, where Pe and Cr are the mesh Peclet and Courant numbers. Then, to assess the computational stability of the scheme, the amplification matrix is constructed, and its norm is displayed in the (Pe, Cr) space. The results indicate that the norm of the amplification matrix is never smaller than unity and exhibits a hyperbolic nature analogous to the above theoretical condition.
Issues of design and analysis of surveys across time

Les changements qui se produisent dans le temps dans les populations d'enquete, a la fois dans les caracteristiques et dans la composition, donnent naissance a une gamme de differents objectifs pour l'analyse. On enumere les objectifs et on discute des aptitudes de certains plans d'enquete a y satisfaire (plans repetes, de panel, sur echantillon renouvele et plans de panel divise)
High Frequency Recording with Electrostatically Deflected Ink Jets

A high speed oscillograph, using ordinary ink and paper, has been developed that provides a new approach to the old problem of producing instantly visible, high frequency records with inexpensive writing materials. A high speed jet of ordinary fountain‐pen ink is divided into a uniform procession of drops, each of which is independently charged in proportion to an input‐signal voltage. After projection through a constant transverse‐deflecting field, the charged drops are collected on a moving chart to form an instantly visible, permanent record of the input signal. Drops are typically formed at a rate of 100 000/sec; each has an independent trajectory and makes an individual mark representing an independent sample of the input waveform. The ink stream may be switched on or off at high speed by providing, between the drop‐launching point and the record surface, a collector that intercepts drops having a specific trajectory. Besides oscillography, which is discussed in detail, the technique has applications.
MASS AND ENERGY-MOMENTUM TENSOR OF QUANTUM STRINGS IN GRAVITATIONAL SHOCK-WAVES

We investigate at the quantum level the nonlinear transformation relating the string operators (zero modes and oscillators) and Fock space states before and after the collision with gravitational shock waves. This throws light on the role of the space–time geometry in this problem. We do all the treatment for a general shock wave space–time of any localized source. We compute the exact expectation values of the total number (N) and mass (M2) operators and show that they are finite, which generalize our previous results in the Aichelburg–Sexl geometry. We study the energy-momentum tensor of the string and compute the exact expectation values of all its components. We analyze vacuum polarization and quadratic fluctuations. All these physical magnitudes are finite. We express all of them in terms of exact integral representations in which the role of the real pole singularities characteristic of the tree level string spectrum (real mass resonances) are clearly exhibited. The presence of such poles is not at all related to the structure of the space–time geometry (which may or may not be singular).
Presmoothed kernel density estimator for censored data

Some kernel density estimator is presented in the context of right randomly censored data. The estimator makes use of presmoothing ideas replacing the indicators of no censoring by some preliminary nonparametric estimator of the conditional probability of uncensoring. Some i.i. d representation is given for this presmoothing estimator. This is useful to obtain the limit distribution and the asymptotic mean squared error of the estimator. An asymptotic mean integrated squared error result is also presented and used to derive large-sample formulas for the optimal presmoothing and the smoothing parameters. Finally, some simulations illustrate the theory.
Dynamics of director fields

An asymptotic equation for weakly nonlinear hyperbolic waves governed by variational principles is derived and analyzed. The equation is used to study a nonlinear instability in the director field of a nematic liquid crystal. It is shown that smooth solutions of the asymptotic equation break down in finite time. Also constructed are weak solutions of the equation that are continuous despite the fact that their spatial derivative blows up.
Testing Factorial Invariance across Groups: A Reconceptualization and Proposed New Method

Many cross-cultural researchers are concerned with factorial invariance; that is, with whether or not members of different cultures associate survey items, or similar measures, with similar constructs. Researchers usually test items for factorial invariance using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). CFA, however, poses certain problems that must be dealt with. Primary among them is standardization, the process that assigns units of measurement to the constructs (latent variables). Two standardization procedures and several minor variants have been reported in the literature, but using these procedures when testing for factorial invariance can lead to inaccurate results. In this paper we review basic theory, and propose an extension of Byrne, Shavelson, and Muthgn’s (1989) procedure for identifying non-invariant items. The extended procedure solves the standardization problem by performing a systematic comparison of all pairs of factor loadings across groups. A numerical example based upon a large published data set is presented to illustrate the utility of the new procedure, particularly with regard to partial factorial invariance.
The Applicability of Stokes Expansions to Reversed Flow

The Jeffery-Hamel solution for flow in a diverging channel is discussed in relation to the reverse flow phenomenon. Exact values of the critical Reynolds number at which reverse flow first commences are compared with the approximate values obtained from the two-term Stokes expansion for a whole range of the channel semi-angle. There is a striking agreement between the exact and approximate values, and the error even when the critical Reynolds number becomes large and channel semi-angle small is only of an order $3\% $.