Recently, the education system has faced an unprecedented health crisis that has shaken up its foundation. Given today’s uncertainties, it is vital to gain a nuanced understanding of students’ online ...learning experience in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many studies have investigated this area, limited information is available regarding the challenges and the specific strategies that students employ to overcome them. Thus, this study attempts to fill in the void. Using a mixed-methods approach, the findings revealed that the online learning challenges of college students varied in terms of type and extent. Their greatest challenge was linked to their learning environment at home, while their least challenge was technological literacy and competency. The findings further revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had the greatest impact on the quality of the learning experience and students’ mental health. In terms of strategies employed by students, the most frequently used were resource management and utilization, help-seeking, technical aptitude enhancement, time management, and learning environment control. Implications for classroom practice, policy-making, and future research are discussed.
Abstract
Theory predicts that biodiversity changes due to climate warming can mediate the rate of disease emergence. The mechanisms linking biodiversity-disease relationships have been described both ...theoretically and empirically but remain poorly understood. We investigated the relations between host diversity and abundance and Lyme disease risk in southern Quebec, a region where Lyme disease is rapidly emerging. We found that both the abundance of small mammal hosts and the relative abundance of the tick’s natural host, the white-footed mouse (
Peromyscus leucopus
), influenced measures of disease risk in tick vectors (
Borrelia burgdorferi
infection abundance and prevalence in tick vectors). Our results suggest that the increase in Lyme disease risk is modulated by regional processes involving the abundance and composition of small mammal assemblages. However, the nature and strength of these relationships was dependent both on time and geographic area. The strong effect of
P. leucopus
abundance on disease risk we report here is of significant concern, as this competent host is predicted to increase in abundance and occurrence in the region, with the northern shift in the range of North American species under climate warming.
An automated procedure for the analysis of homologous protein structures has been developed. The method facilitates the characterization of internal conformational differences and inter-conformer ...relationships and provides a framework for the analysis of protein structural evolution. The method is implemented in bio3d, an R package for the exploratory analysis of structure and sequence data. Availability: The bio3d package is distributed with full source code as a platform-independent R package under a GPL2 license from: Contact:bgrant@mccammon.ucsd.edu
The surface topology of the scale pattern from the European sea bass (
) was measured using a digital microscope and geometrically reconstructed using computer assisted design modelling. Numerical ...flow simulations and experiments with a physical model of the surface pattern in a flow channel mimic the flow over the fish surface with a laminar boundary layer. The scale array produces regular rows of alternating, streamwise low-speed and high-speed streaks inside the boundary layer close to the surface, with maximum velocity difference of approximately 9%. Low velocity streaks are formed in the central region of the scales whereas the high velocity streaks originated in the overlapping region between the scales. Thus, those flow patterns are linked to the arrangement and the size of the overlapping scales within the array. Because of the velocity streaks, total drag reduction is observed when the scale height is small relative to the boundary layer thickness, i.e. less than 10%. Flow simulations were compared with surface oil-flow visualisations on the physical model of the biomimetic surface placed in a flow channel. The results show an excellent agreement in the size and arrangement of the streaky structures. The existence of streaks is also shown on sea bass and common carp (
) by surface flow visualisation. From comparisons with recent literature on micro-roughness effects on laminar boundary layer flows, it is hypothesised that the fish scales could delay transition, which would further reduce the drag.
An underlying assumption of most soil carbon (C) dynamics models is that soil microbial communities are functionally similar; in other words, that microbial activity under given conditions is not ...dependent on the composition or diversity of the communities. Although a number of studies have indicated that microbial communities are not intrinsically functionally similar, most soil C dynamics models can adequately describe C dynamics without explicitly describing microbial functioning. Here, we provide a mechanistic basis for reconciling this apparent discrepancy. In a reciprocal transplant experiment, we show that the environmental context (soil and pore-network properties) of microbial communities can constrain the activity of functionally different communities to such an extent that their activities are indistinguishable. The data also suggest that when microbial activity is less constrained, the intrinsic functional differences among communities can be expressed. We conclude that soil C dynamics may depend on microbial community structure or diversity in environments where their activity is less constrained, such as the rhizosphere or the litter layer, but not in oligotrophic environments such as the mineral layers of soil.
In this paper, an effort has been made for intense review on Knowledge-Based Expert System (KB-ES) applications in manufacturing planning. Uniqueness of the present review work is addressed in terms ...of analysis on published review articles and their review gap. Research works exemplified between 1981 and 2016 were reviewed in terms of ES application in handling product variety, execution of process planning activities, machining, tool selection, tool design, welding, advanced manufacturing, product development. A statistical analysis was carried out in relation with number of publications, domain-specific area and their percentage contribution. It was inferred that, most of the work focused on ES applications related to tool design and machining apart from execution of various process planning activities. Future research can focus on the development frame-based, object oriented-based, ontology-based knowledge representation in order to develop robust system in decision-making for handling complex engineering problem. ES applications can be extended to field of micro fabrication, machine tool development and integrated system development from design to manufacturing.
This survey investigates artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among academic library employees, predominantly in the United States, with a total of 760 respondents. The findings reveal a modest ...self-rated understanding of AI concepts, limited hands-on experience with AI tools, and notable gaps in discussing ethical implications and collaborating on AI projects. Despite recognizing the benefits, readiness for implementation appears low among participants. Respondents emphasize the need for comprehensive training and the establishment of ethical guidelines. The study proposes a framework defining core components of AI literacy tailored for libraries. The results offer insights to guide professional development and policy formulation as libraries increasingly integrate AI into their services and operations.
This article examines the proposed artificial intelligence policies of the USA, UK, European Union, Canada, and China, and their implications for libraries. As artificial intelligence revolutionizes ...library operations, it presents complex challenges, such as ethical dilemmas, data privacy concerns, and equitable access issues. The article highlights key themes in these policies, including ethics, transparency, the balance between innovation and regulation, and data privacy. It also identifies areas for improvement, such as the need for specific guidelines on mitigating biases in artificial intelligence systems and navigating data privacy issues. The article further provides practical recommendations for libraries to engage with these policies and develop best practices for artificial intelligence use. The study underscores the need for libraries to not only adapt to these policies but also actively engage with them, contributing to the development of more comprehensive and effective artificial intelligence governance.
Motivated by the recent study about the extended uncertainty principle (EUP) black holes, we present in this study its extension called the generalized extended uncertainty principle (GEUP) black ...holes. In particular, we investigated the GEUP effects on astrophysical and quantum black holes. First, we derive the expression for the shadow radius to investigate its behavior as perceived by a static observer located near and far from the black hole. Constraints to the large fundamental length scale, L*, up to two standard deviations level were also found using the Event Horizont Telescope (EHT) data: for black hole Sgr. A*, L*=5.716×1010 m, while for M87* black hole, L*=3.264×1013 m. Under the GEUP effect, the value of the shadow radius behaves the same way as in the Schwarzschild case due to a static observer, and the effect only emerges if the mass, M, of the black hole is around the order of magnitude of L* (or the Planck length, lPl). In addition, the GEUP effect increases the shadow radius for astrophysical black holes, but the reverse happens for quantum black holes. We also explored GEUP effects to the weak and strong deflection angles as an alternative analysis. For both realms, a time-like particle gives a higher value for the weak deflection angle. Similar to the shadow, the deviation is seen when the values of L* and M are close. The strong deflection angle gives more sensitivity to GEUP deviation at smaller masses in the astrophysical scenario. However, the weak deflection angle is a better probe in the micro world.
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