Lecture capture with real‐time rearrangement of visual elements: impact on student performance

The primary goal of this study is to create and test a lecture‐capture system that can rearrange visual elements while recording is still taking place, in such a way that student performance can be positively influenced. The system we have devised is capable of integrating and rearranging multimedia sources, including learning content, the instructor and students' images, into lecture videos that are embedded in a website for students to review after school. The present study employed a two‐group experimental design, with 153 participants (145 females and 8 males) making up an experimental group in which lecture courses were recorded using the new lecture‐capture system, and 149 participants (140 females and 9 males) forming a control group whose lectures were recorded by traditional means. All participants were in the freshman college and studying Introduction to Computer and Information Science in one of six classes, and were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The participants' midterm examination and final examination scores were collected as indicators of their academic performance, with their mathematics entrance scores used as a pre‐test. The findings obtained from analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) suggest that appropriate rearrangement of visual elements in lecture videos can significantly impact students' learning performance.     

Photovoltaic Power Supply Unit for the Basic Stations of Cellular Companies

The data on the use of solar photovoltaic plants (PVPs) for providing a reliable and guaranteed power supply to telecommunication systems and cellular communication systems in the conditions prevalent in Uzbekistan are given. The research-based structures developed by OOO MIR SOLAR and the selection of PVP elements ensuring their reliable operation are described. The main influencing factors are discussed, and the use of effective combinations of different types of panels (from monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon) and a specially developed controller are considered.     

Phase-Field Modeling of Nugget Zone for a AZ31-Mg-Alloy Friction Stir Weld

This work presents simulation of microstructure evolution in the nugget zone (NZ) of a AZ31-Mg-alloy friction stir weld. The process parameters (tool geometrical characteristics, rotational speed, travel speed, applied load) have been correlated with the resulting microstructural features in the NZ of the weld (grain size and population) with the aid of the MICRESS software, which provides the ability to simulate both nucleation and grain growth during dynamic recrystallization phenomena evolving in the NZ during the weld thermal cycle. The input parameters of the developed model include the tool geometry, the welding conditions as well as the recrystallization energy, the grain boundary mobility and specific material properties. NZ microstructure obtained by simulation shows good agreement with experimental measurements for both grain population and size.     

Three‐dimensional color prediction modeling of single‐ and double‐layered woven fabrics

In this research, the three‐dimensional structural and colorimetric modeling of three‐dimensional woven fabrics was conducted for accurate color predictions. One‐hundred forty single‐ and double‐layered woven samples in a wide range of colors were produced. With the consideration of their three‐dimensional structural parameters, three‐dimensional color prediction models, K/S‐, R‐, and L*a*b*‐based models, were developed through the optimization of previous two‐dimensional models which have been reported to be the three most accurate models for single‐layered woven structures. The accuracy of the new three‐dimensional models was evaluated by calculating the color differences ΔL*, ΔC*, Δh°, and ΔE_CMC(2:1) between the measured and the predicted colors of the samples, and then the error values were compared to those of the two‐dimensional models. As a result, there has been an overall improvement in color predictions of all models with a decrease in ΔE_CMC(2:1) from 10.30 to 5.25 units on average after the three‐dimensional modeling.     

On stochastic comparisons of finite mixtures for some semiparametric families of distributions

In this paper, we consider the classical finite mixture model, which is an effective tool for modeling lifetime distributions for random samples from heterogeneous populations. We discuss new results on stochastic comparison for two finite mixtures when each of them is drawn from one of the following semiparametric families, i.e., proportional hazards, accelerated lifetime and proportional reversed hazards.     

Back-analysis of geotechnical parameters on PVD-improved ground in the Mekong Delta

This study presents a back-analysis of geotechnical parameters on prefabricated vertical drain improved ground at a site in the Mekong Delta. Various time?settlement behaviors that reflected different clay thicknesses and loading patterns were observed. The total surface settlement behavior at several monitoring locations was simulated using an updated exponential method that considered staged construction. The analyzed results were validated by substituting the values into a theoretical solution for radial consolidation. The estimated theoretical behaviors were comparable with the monitored behaviors. The geotechnical parameters were back-analyzed by applying the previously analyzed results to various theoretical and empirical formulas. However, the use of extensometer data that were installed at large intervals produced different values of the geotechnical properties. Furthermore, finite element analysis supported the back-analyzed total settlement behaviors and nearly disregarded the application of the geotechnical properties that were obtained using either surface or subsurface settlement data. However, settlements and excess pore pressures in the sublayers were not successfully predicted even when the geotechnical properties were adjusted. Thus, subsurface instruments that can be installed closely in thick clay deposits are required to reliably reevaluate the variations in geotechnical properties along a certain depth.     

Relative expression and regulation by short-term fasting of lysophosphatidic acid receptors and autotaxin in white and brown adipose tissue depots

Lysophosphatidic acid (lysoPtdOH) levels have previously been reported to decrease in rodents with short-term fasting. We investigated whether a 16 h fast would change expression of autotaxin, the predominant phospholipase D responsible for adipose-derived lysoPtdOH synthesis, or any of the lysophosphatidic acid receptors (1–6) in four white adipose tissue (WAT) depots and interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) in male C57Bl/6J mice fed ad libitum, or fasted for 16 h. Aside from small inductions of Lpar1 in epididymal WAT and Lpar2 in epididymal and inguinal WAT, no significant changes were observed in expression of the Lpar family members, or autotaxin in perirenal, retroperitoneal, epididymal, or inguinal WAT or BAT with fasting. Comparison of the relative expression of Lpar1-6 in various depots showed that Lpar6 was the predominant Lpar in both WAT and BAT, and suggests that further work on the adipose-specific role of Lpar6 is warranted.