Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Meta-Analysis of Studies on the Effectiveness of Using Games Strategies in English Language Learning and Teaching

This study aimed to identify the general trends, description and focus of research about the effectiveness of using games strategy in English language teaching and learning. That is, it investigated the strategies used, instrument, year of publication, publication type, participant, design of the study, skills and areas analyzed in the study, and length of text in studies about the effectiveness of games method. The study used a meta-analysis research design in data collection and analysis. The sample of the study consisted of 70 journal articles, conference proceedings, and graduate theses and dissertations published between 2000-2018. The instrument of the study was a meta-analysis checklist. The descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages were used to find differences between the different features. The findings revealed that strategies used in this study and, the feature games (regular) method had the highest frequency. Moreover, the test instrument had the highest frequency in the sample studies analyzed. However, the year 2016 obtained the highest frequency for the year of the study. The type of publication got the next highest frequency in favour of conference proceedings. This was followed by the participant type and level features (EFL learners, school, and 16 participants and more) in the study sample. The experimental design of studies about games strategies received a high frequency. There was also the frequency for skills and areas in studies about games strategies in favour of reading. The feature games are more effective than other methods and the text length of 11 to 20 pages (2,645-4,729 words) category had the highest frequency. Finally, several related recommendations were introduced to the researchers, curricula designers, supervisors, and English teachers.
Breast imaging with time-reversed ultrasound

Ultrasonic imaging has the potential to enhance our capability to detect and diagnose breast cancers, but its imaging quality and resolution need to be significantly improved. We make use of the principle of the time-reversal mirror to develop an image-reconstruction method for ultrasonic breast imaging. It reconstructs images of scatterers (e.g., tumors) that generate/scatter ultrasonic waves by backpropagating measured ultrasonic signals into a heterogeneous breast model on computers using the principle of time-reversal mirror. We use solutions of the (two-way) full wave equation and one-way wave equation in heterogeneous media for backpropagation. We found that the one-way wave-equation-based imaging method can produce higher-resolution images than the two-way propagation-based imaging method when the data acquisition aperture is limited (for a linear transducer array). With a full aperture, our imaging results demonstrate that imaging with time-reversed ultrasound can produce high-quality images of the breast.
Exploitation of Angular Diversity for Bistatic Image Formation using Opportunistic Transmitters

Opportunistic transmitters are increasingly being studied for detection purposes. However, the bandwidth offered by these transmitters is still not sufficient for meaningful imaging. In this paper, we consider the use of angular diversity arising from a moving receiver to improve resolutions for bistatic imaging using such transmitters. The equations for imaging in the case of a bistatic airborne radar are first derived based on existing monostatic indoor imaging techniques. Approximated expressions for the resolutions are then derived and their configurationdependence is investigated. Some simulation results using a bistatic electromagnetic tool which models the fields scattered by forested areas are then presented.
Circuit-level comparison of STATCOM technologies

This paper performs a circuit-level evaluation of four modern STATCOM systems, namely true-48-pulse and quasi-48-pulse STATCOMs, cascade multilevel and binary multilevel inverters. The comparison is based on a number of factors including circuit topology, harmonic distortion, system losses, GTO quantities, their specific applications and other considerations. The theoretical results are verified by simulation with the use of MATLAB-simulink power system blockset.
Graphical touch screen of thermal signs for the blind people – clinic tests

Purpose – The paper aims to present the prototype of a graphical touch screen of thermal signs for the blind.Design/methodology/approach – The surface of every Peltier pump is a touch point that demands the thermal stabilization. Miniature Peltier modules can work both as heat and cold generators. They are also able to measure the required dot temperature. Graphical screen of thermal signs displays a simple symbol or Brail text. Special computer program was made to control this innovative device. The software enables monitoring the temperature of each Peltier module.Findings – The experiments carried out with blind people show that they are able to recognize hot and cold dots. Infrared photos of the device have been made using the thermographic MK525 camera.Originality/value – The paper illustrates that it is possible to display simple graphics by using Peltier micropumps.
Evidence-Based Background Material Underlying Guidance for Federal Agencies in Implementing Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans - Implementing Sustainability: The Institutional-Behavioral Dimension

This document is part of a larger, programmatic effort to assist federal agencies in taking action and changing their institutions to achieve and maintain federal sustainability goals, while meeting their mission goals. FEMP is developing guidance for federal agency efforts to enable institutional behavior change for sustainability, and for making sustainability “business as usual. ” The driving requirement for this change is Executive Order (EO) 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance. FEMP emphasizes strategies for increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy utilization as critical components of attaining sustainability, and promotes additional non-energy action pathways contained in EO 13514. This report contributes to the larger goal by laying out the conceptual and evidentiary underpinnings of guidance to federal agencies. Conceptual frameworks focus and organize the development of guidance. We outline a series of progressively refined conceptual frameworks, including a multi-layer approach, key steps in sustainability implementation, a process view of specific approaches to institutional change, the agency Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans (SSPPs), and concepts related to context-specific rules, roles and tools for sustainability. Additionally, we tap pertinent bodies of literature in drawing eight evidence-based principles for behavior change. These principles are important foundations upon which to build in selecting strategies to effect change in organizations. Taken together, this report presents a suite of components that inform the training materials, presentations, web site, and other products that provide guidance to federal agencies.
The “Silent Teacher”: Learning by teaching via writing a verbatim teaching script

Learning by teaching others is a potent educational strategy, but its implementation is typically cumbersome. This study ( N = 108) investigated “ silent teaching ” — writing a verbatim teaching script — as a convenient approach for independent learning, while assessing whether the teaching benefit is a production benefit. Learners studied a science text on the Doppler effect using one of three learning methods: (1) generating and studying their own notes (restudying control), (2) preparing to teach and then verbally teaching (verbal teaching), or (3) preparing to teach and then writing a verbatim teaching script (silent teaching). On a conceptual knowledge retention test 1 week later, participants who wrote teaching scripts performed as well as those who taught verbally; both teaching groups outperformed control learners. Verbal and silent teaching significantly increased social presence and elaboration to comparable extents, relative to restudying. “ Silent teaching ” is a promising and efficient alternative learning approach to traditional verbal teaching.
Critical Success Factors for Public-Private Partnerships in Infrastructure Development

Different types of public–private partnerships (PPPs) have been practiced in worldwide infrastructure development with diverse results and a variety of problems have been encountered. A number of factors combine to determine the success or failure of an infrastructure project in terms of its objectives. There is an urgent need for a workable and efficient procurement protocol for improved practices in future PPP projects. As an important step toward the development of such a protocol, this study identifies, analyzes, and categorizes various critical success factors (CSFs) for PPPs in general based on a public–private win–win principle and a systematic research approach that includes case studies, literature review, and interviews/correspondence with international experts. A CSF package is developed that contains five main CSFs, each including a number of success subfactors (SSFs). Relative significances of these CSFs and SSFs are examined based on the results of a questionnaire survey of international exp.
Fallacy of Covid-19 Vaccine Coverage: Discovering Vaccine Hesitancy and Compliance in Private Dental Practitioners and Hospital-based Dentists to Improve Immunization Levels in Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate Covid-19 vaccine compliance amongst the general private practicing dentists’ population in comparison to tertiary hospital-based dentists in Pakistan post second wave of mass spread of the Covid-19 infection. Methodology: Multi-centered study conducted after taking ethical research committee approval. Total 300 participants enrolled via paper-based questionnaire. Participants included the general dentists and tertiary care dental hospital-based dentists. Exclusion criteria implied participants of pilot study, participants that were already vaccinated and those unwilling to participate in the study. Results: 32% of general dentists in Pakistan agreed to immunization if the Covid-19 vaccine is available in Pakistan (p<0.001). General private practicing dentists were also less likely to pay for the vaccination (p<0.001), less confident for a locally manufactured vaccine (p<0.001) as compared to hospital-based dentists. Conclusion: This study concluded that the general dentists’ population in Pakistan is still skeptical of Covid-19 vaccination and this attitude in-fact poses as a pandemic within pandemic.
Global value chain participation and its impact on industrial upgrading

Participation in global value chains (GVCs) has become a central topic in trade and development policy. It has opened new ways to achieve industrial upgrading. However, some theoretical models suggest that not all countries will upgrade through participation in GVCs. Using panel data from the World Input-Output Database, we examine the effects of backward and forward GVC participation on three dimensions of industrial upgrading (
Genetic parameters and trends for lamb survival following long-term divergent selection for number of lambs weaned in the Elsenburg Merino flock

Context Mortality of new-born lambs is well known to have important implications for both animal production and welfare. Improving survival rates by genetic selection is very desirable, but the low heritability of survival traits challenges the prospect of useful genetic gain. Aim This study aimed to derive genetic and environmental parameters for lamb survival in the Elsenburg Merino resource flock. It also investigated correlations to possible indicator traits birthweight and birth coat score and reported genetic progress in breeding values for lamb survival following 33 years of divergent selection. Methods The flock was divergently selected for number of lambs weaned and was separated by the High (positive) and Low (negative) selection groups. The pedigree file identified 8138 lambs as the progeny of 273 sires and 2062 dams. The study considered total survival from birth to weaning (Tsv) that was also partitioned into perinatal survival to 3 days of age, and the remaining period. Variance components were derived by linear mixed models by using the ASREML® program. Genetic trends were derived by predicting mean breeding values for selection groups within each year and evaluated by fitting linear and broken-stick regression models. Results Predicted Tsv of H-line lambs (0.81 ± 0.01) was higher (P < 0.01) than that of L-line lambs (0.68 ± 0.01). Heritability was significant but low for survival traits (0.03–0.07), moderate for birthweight (0.16) and high for birth coat score (0.54). Genetic trends of the H-line trended divergently (P < 0.01) to the L-line for survival traits, but a changepoint (P < 0.01) in trend suggested that the H-line reached a selection plateau following 19–22 years of selection. Preceding this period, the rate of genetic change equalled ~1% of the mean for Tsv. Conclusions Despite the low heritability of survival, the genetic trends reported in this study contradicted the premise that genetic selection is not a worthwhile method to reduce incidences of lamb mortality. Implications It is recommended that lamb survival phenotypes should be recorded and incorporated into indices individually where possible, but composite traits are a viable alternative.
The sliding mechanics of the subcutaneous structures in man Illustration of a functional unit: the microvacuoles

The mobility of our body structures is so intrinsic and natural to us that we tend to take it for granted. The very fact of being able to pinch your skin and lift it, then let it go and see it return to its initial shape and texture in just a few seconds may seem banal enough until you begin to think of all the elements involved. The same is true when you bend your fingers and think of the movement of the flexor tendon across the palm without external translation. For decades, scientists thought that the skin was simply an elastic structure with loose connective tissue and a more or less virtual space. However, in biomechanical terms, this explanation is very vague. These old concepts, developed more than 50 years ago, have evolved thanks to the impact of research at the microscopic level, and the global, mesospheric concept has been abandoned. And yet, surgical dissection in vivo demonstrates that there are only tissue connections, simply a histological continuum without any clear separation between skin and hypodermis, the vessels, the aponeurosis and the muscles. In fact, visible everywhere are structures which ensure a gliding movement between the aponeurosis, the fat structures and the dermis. As they studied this system of gliding between the various organs, in particular at the level of the tendons, the authors noted the existence of a type of system composed of cables and veil-like structures that they term the Multimicrovacuolar Collagen Dynamic Absorption System (MCDAS). This system looks totally chaotic in organization and seems to function in a manner far removed from traditional mechanical structures. The functional unity of this sliding system is dependent upon a polyhedral three-dimensional crisscrossing in space of the microvacuoles, whose collagen envelope is type 1 or type 4 and whose content is made up of proteoglycoaminoglycans. The dynamic of this multimicrovacuolar system allows all of the subtle movements that occur within the body, thanks to its pre-stressed nature and the molecular fusion-scissiondilacerations that it is capable of. In this way, the system is mobile, can move quickly and interdependently, and is able to adapt is plasticity. This notion of microvacuoles is a fascinating one because it provides an explanation for the system’s space-filling ability. The matter is composed of elements: although they seem to be arranged in a haphazard manner, this is not the case. In fact, they occupy space in an optimal manner. If we accept this notion of microvacuoles, then it becomes possible to explain certain pathologies occurring with age, such as edema, obesity, aging and inflammation.
Self-Control, Cyberbullying, and the Moderating Effect of Opportunity

ABSTRACT Extensive prior research has examined the effect of low self-control on delinquency, as well as whether this effect is moderated by criminal opportunity. The purpose of our study is to examine whether these relationships can be extended to cyberbullying as an outcome. In doing so, we discuss ways in which key theoretical arguments and common measurement strategies must be modified in order to apply to cyberbullying. Using data from a nationally representative sample of South Korean youth, the analysis reveals that low self-control is, indeed, a significant predictor of cyberbullying. Moreover, we find that the effect of low self-control on cyberbullying is amplified by criminal opportunity, but only when opportunity is measured in a manner that specifically refers to the usage of social media. In contrast, opportunity as traditionally measured has no moderating effect. We suggest several avenues for future research, and conclude that studies of cybercrime must pay careful attention to conceptualizing and operationalizing key concepts with specific regard to the differences between cybercrime and traditional forms of offending.
Lightning Protection Improvement and Economic Evaluation of Thailand’s 24 kV Distribution Line Based on Difference in Grounding Distance of Overhead Ground Wire

This study determines the voltage across insulators after a direct lightning strike to an overhead ground wire on a 24 kV pole structure for different grounding distances of overhead ground wire, to calculate the maximum ground resistance required to avoid disruption of the distribution line system using ATP-EMTP software. The results show that when a 40 kA lightning current, the average lightning current in Thailand, strikes a 24 kV pole structure, the maximum ground resistance should not exceed 4 Ω for a 40 m grounding distance of overhead ground wire, based on an existing critical insulator flashover of 205 kV. However, because the average ground resistance in Thailand is approximately 10 Ω, this study proposes increasing the insulation level from 205 kV to 300 kV to reduce the likelihood of power outage. The cost-effectiveness of such an investment is assessed in terms of net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), profitability index (PI), and discounted payback period (DPP) using existing economic tools. Results show that when the critical insulator flashover is increased from 205 kV to 300 kV for a 40 m grounding distance of overhead ground wire, the project is likely to have a DPP of 15.12 years, NPV of 143,321.87 USD, IRR of 12%, and PI of 1.15. On the other hand, grounding distances greater than 40 m for overhead ground wire result in negative NPV, although the back flashover rate can be reduced by 1.51–5.71% with grounding distances of 80–200 m compared to the situation in the absence of grounding.
Simple Oblivious Routing Method to Balance Load in Network-on-Chip

SUMMARY This letter presents an oblivious and load-balanced routing (OLBR) method without virtual channels for 2D mesh Network-on-chip (NoC). To balance the tra ﬃ c load of network and avoid deadlock, OLBR divides network nodes into two regions, one region contains the nodes of east and west sides of NoC, in which packets are routed by odd-even turn rule with Y direction preference (OE-YX), and the remaining nodes are divided to the other region, in which packets are routed by odd-even turn rule with alterable priority arbitration (OE-APA). Simulation results show that OLBR’s saturation throughput can be improved than related works by 11.73% and OLBR balances the tra ﬃ c load over entire network.
Secure and Reliable Transmission in mmWave NOMA Relay Networks With SWIPT

In this article, we consider the millimeter-wave simultaneous wireless information and power transfer nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) relay networks in the presence of multiple passive eavesdroppers, where the near and far Internet of Things (IoT) devices with different communication requirements are served by one source with the help of the relays, and stochastic geometry is used to characterize the distribution of multiple nodes. First, a NOMA pairing and relay selection scheme is designed. Then, the closed-form expressions for the energy-information coverage probability (EICP) and the effective secrecy throughput of the near IoT devices are derived. Finally, the EICPs of the far IoT device under random relay selection and opportunistic relay selection schemes are obtained. Moreover, the asymptotic expressions of the EICP for both the near and far IoT devices are derived, which show that the asymptotic EICP when the number of antennas at the source or relay tends to infinity is only dependent on the location distribution of nodes and blockage environment. The simulation results show that NOMA can outperform orthogonal multiple access, and the advantage of the opportunistic relay selection scheme over the random relay selection scheme is more obvious when the density of the relay is relatively large.
A Cost Effective Method of Brake Testing on Long Trains

The design and development of a computer controlled pneumatic brake pipe wave generator (BPWG) is described. Brake pipe pressure data recorded in electronic form at a point in the train is fed into the brake pipe wave generator controller. The controller then drives proportional pneumatic valves replicating the recorded pressure profile in another section of brake pipe. The controller uses direct feedback of the pressure signal to produce a replicated pressure wave with high accuracy. By recording a pressure wave at a distance down the train then using the BPWG to reproduce the pressure profile in a brake test rack of limited length, testing of braking effects on very long trains can be achieved.
The Effects of Mutual Inclusiveness between Captains and First Officers on Psychological Safety and Engagement in Flight Safety

This research aims at determining psychological elements that influence team coordination between a captain and a first officer in a commercial airline cockpit. It also examines how these elements interact between one another in different cultural settings. We propose that mutual inclusiveness of differential status enhances psychological safety and engagement in safety improvement efforts. Survey results based on 254 airline pilots suggest that status (captain, first officer) and mutual inclusiveness (openness between team members) influence psychological safety and mutual inclusiveness moderates the relationship between status and psychological safety. The results also suggest that psychological safety is positively associated with engagement in safety improvement efforts and also mediates the relationship between mutual inclusiveness and improvement efforts. This research provides insights into antecedents of fostering safety improvement efforts in airline crew teams in which cultural differences and professional hierarchy exist.