Independent Approaches Research Articles

Assessment of the Radiometric Calibration Consistency of Reflective Solar Bands between Terra and Aqua MODIS in Upcoming Collection-7 L1B

Two MODIS sensors onboard the Terra and Aqua spacecraft have been successfully operating for over twenty-three and twenty-one years, respectively, providing the worldwide user community with high-quality imagery and radiometric Earth observations of the land, atmosphere, cryosphere, and oceans. This study provides an assessment of the radiometric calibration stability and consistency of Terra and Aqua MODIS RSB using the L1B from the upcoming Collection 7 release. Several independent vicarious approaches based on measurements from the Libya-4 desert, Dome C, DCC, and SNO are used to assess the calibration stability at the beginning of scan, nadir, and end of scan. Results indicate that both Terra and Aqua RSB are stable to within 1% over their mission periods. Comparison of the normalized reflectances with either a BRDF model or a common reference sensor provides a radiometric assessment of Terra and Aqua calibration consistency. Comparison results show the VIS/NIR bands are in good agreement around the nadir and at the beginning of the scan for all the approaches. For cases at the end of the scan, the agreement varies depending on the approach but is typically within ±2%. The differences observed in the SWIR bands are slightly larger than the VIS/NIR bands, which are likely due to their high sensitivity to atmospheric conditions and relatively larger electronic crosstalk impact on the Terra instrument.

Investigation of Fusarium damage in wheat using hyperspectral imaging: An independent component analysis approach

With the continuously growing world population in the 21st century, the agri-food industry is in dire need of adopting rapid, eco-friendly, and reliable technologies to improve the quantity, quality, and safety of agri-food products to fulfill the world's future food needs. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI), a technique to glean a sample's spectral and spatial information, is an emerging non-destructive technique that can characterize the quality parameters of agri-food products such as Fusarium damage. Despite its vast potential, HSI systems suffer from enormous data sizes, requiring high computational time and power. One potential solution to overcome the aforementioned challenge is to reduce the data size by removing redundant information. However, detecting small optimum features from a large dataset is not trivial. To this end, an exploratory novel HSI data reduction and analysis technique was investigated and validated to identify Fusarium damage in wheat kernels. Wheat samples at three moisture contents (19, 27, and 35%, wet basis) and seven infection levels (ranging from 0 to 56 days after infection) were imaged at 256 equally spaced wavelengths from 820 to 1666 nm. Firstly, complete HSI data was utilized to successfully characterize sound and Fusarium-damaged wheat kernels using independent component analysis (ICA) algorithm. Then, a genetic algorithm optimization approach was used to reduce the data to ten wavelengths for ICA-based analysis. This data reduction approach reduced the computation time to approximately 1.31% of the original time taken for analyzing the full HSI data without compromising the performance of the system. This preliminary study suggests that such wavelength tailoring could reduce the complexity and price of the imaging hardware, e.g., the use of inexpensive non-tunable filters, and less expensive computational hardware, thereby enabling fast and affordable real-time exploration and sorting of grains. This study, while exploratory, fosters advancements in HSI data processing and identifies certain limitations that open new avenues for future research.

Development of a Pure Certified Reference Material of D-Mannitol.

A new certified reference material (CRM) of D-mannitol (GBW(E) 100681) has been developed in this study. We describe the preparation, structure determination, characterization, homogeneity study, stability study, as well as uncertainty estimation. The main component was 99.91% ± 0.01%. The moisture content of the candidate CRM was 0.036% ± 0.002%, as measured by Karl Fischer titration. The nonvolatile and volatile impurities in the candidate CRM were all much less than 0.01%, which was determined by the ICP-MS and headspace GC-FID methods, respectively. The purity of the D-mannitol CRM was 99.9% ± 1.1% (k = 2), as measured by the two independent approaches involving the mass balance method (MB) and quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance technique (qNMR). The D-mannitol CRM was stable during the monitoring period for each temperature. It is stable for up to 48 months at room temperature and 28 days at 50 °C. The uncertainty was evaluated by combining the contributions from characterization, homogeneity, and stability. The developed D-mannitol CRM would effectively support method validation and proficiency testing, as well as effectively guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and comparability of results.

Management of pain reduction in mechanically ventilated care subjects

Introduction: Pain is an unpleasant emotional experience linked to actual or potential injuries, concerns in intensive care units (ICU), affecting life and recovery of patients. It is essential to address this pain, classifying it with WHO criteria and guidelines. The approach is to explore types of pain and strategies for its management, seeking to improve quality of life during ICU hospitalization. Methods: A PubMed search was performed with "Pain Management" AND "nursing" AND "Artificial Respiration", filtering for studies between 2018 and 2023. After review, 11 irrelevant articles were discarded, selecting 8 that met criteria. Results: The outcome focuses on an independent approach to pain management in nursing, involving non-pharmacological measures and quality standards. This brings with it the responsibility to look for better alternatives to optimize nursing care in adequate pain management. Conclusion: The data from these studies expose relevant information highlighting the importance of adequate independent pain management and sedation by nurses in critically ill ICU patients. The opportunity to implement more effective and patient-centered approaches to improve the well-being and recovery of critically ill patients is emphasized.

Integrated study of systemic and local airway transcriptomes in asthma reveals causal mediation of systemic effects by airway key drivers

BackgroundSystemic and local profiles have each been associated with asthma, but parsing causal relationships between system-wide and airway-specific processes can be challenging. We sought to investigate systemic and airway processes in asthma and their causal relationships.MethodsThree hundred forty-one participants with persistent asthma and non-asthmatic controls were recruited and underwent peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) collection and nasal brushing. Transcriptome-wide RNA sequencing of the PBMC and nasal samples and a series of analyses were then performed using a discovery and independent test set approach at each step to ensure rigor. Analytic steps included differential expression analyses, coexpression and probabilistic causal (Bayesian) network constructions, key driver analyses, and causal mediation models.ResultsAmong the 341 participants, the median age was 13 years (IQR = 10–16), 164 (48%) were female, and 200 (58.7%) had persistent asthma with mean Asthma Control Test (ACT) score 16.6 (SD = 4.2). PBMC genes associated with asthma were enriched in co-expression modules for NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity (fold enrichment = 4.5, FDR = 6.47 × 10−32) and interleukin production (fold enrichment = 2.0, FDR = 1.01 × 10−15). Probabilistic causal network and key driver analyses identified NK cell granule protein (NKG7, fold change = 22.7, FDR = 1.02 × 10−31) and perforin (PRF1, fold change = 14.9, FDR = 1.31 × 10−22) as key drivers predicted to causally regulate PBMC asthma modules. Nasal genes associated with asthma were enriched in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle module (fold enrichment = 7.5 FDR = 5.09 × 10−107), with network analyses identifying G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1 (G3BP1, fold change = 9.1 FDR = 2.77 × 10−5) and InaD-like protein (INADL, fold change = 5.3 FDR = 2.98 × 10−9) as nasal key drivers. Causal mediation analyses revealed that associations between PBMC key drivers and asthma are causally mediated by nasal key drivers (FDR = 0.0076 to 0.015).ConclusionsIntegrated study of the systemic and airway transcriptomes in a well-phenotyped asthma cohort identified causal key drivers of asthma among PBMC and nasal transcripts. Associations between PBMC key drivers and asthma are causally mediated by nasal key drivers.

Discriminative Behavior of Cyclodextrin Polymers against Dissolved Organic Matter: Role of Cavity Size and Sorbate Properties.

Cyclodextrin polymers (CDPs) are promising next-generation adsorbents in water purification technologies. The selectivity of the polymer derivate cross-linked with tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile (TFN-CDP) for nonionic and cationic micropollutants (MPs) over dissolved organic matter (DOM) renders the adsorbent also attractive for many analytical applications. The molecular drivers of the observed selectivity are, nonetheless, not yet fully understood. To provide new insights into the sorption mechanism, we (i) synthesized TFN-CDPs with different cavity sizes (α-, β-, γ-CDP); (ii) assessed their extraction efficiencies for selected nonionic MPs in competition with different DOM size fractions (<1, 1-3, 3-10, >10 kDa) to test for size-selectivity; and (iii) performed nontargeted, ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry analysis on CDP-extracted DOM compounds (<1 kDa) to probe for molecular sorbate properties governing their selective sorption. First, no evidence of size-selectivity was obtained through either the different CD cavity sizes (i) or the two independent approaches (ii) and (iii). Second, we found a dominant impact of sorbate oxygenation and polarity on the extraction of DOM and MPs, respectively, with relatively oxygen-poor/nonpolar molecules favorably retained on all α-, β-, and γ-CDP. Third, our data indicates exclusion of an anionic matrix, such as carboxylic acids, but preferential sorption of cationic nitrogen-bearing DOM, pointing at repulsive and attractive forces with the negatively charged cross-linker as a likely reason. Therefore, we ascribe TFN-CDP's selectivity to nonpolar and electrostatic interactions between MPs/DOM and the polymer building blocks. These molecular insights can further aid in the optimization of efficient and selective sorbent design for environmental and analytical applications.

Alternative Approaches for Real-time Monitoring of the Effectiveness of Hydrogenerator Heat Exchangers

Heat exchangers require periodic maintenance. Offline cleaning scheduled shutdowns are usually needed to restore the exchanger effectiveness, drastically reduced when fouling accumulation occurs. An online real-time alternative for monitoring the effectiveness of exchanger (during a period of eleven months of continuous operation) and an adapted version of the ε-NTU method to calculate its effectiveness are discussed. The experimental difficulties of measuring the mass flow rate and the hot air temperature at the exit of the exchanger is examined. Detailed analysis confirmed that the outlet temperature of the hot fluid could introduce errors of up to 30% in the calculation of the exchanger effectiveness. A skillful treatment of the energy balance is proposed to address the issue. The associated uncertainties are estimated by two independent approaches, the so-called classic method, i.e., the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement and the Monte Carlo method. Both confirmed that measurements of the air outlet temperature accounts for more than 50% of the uncertainty associated with the calculation of the exchanger effectiveness. It is suggested that the conventional method (based on measurements of the outlet air temperature) is not suitable for traditional everyday practices to monitor the effectiveness of the heat exchangers of hydrogenerators.

Sustainable and cleaner production of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) biopolymer using floral waste and its anti-staling properties

The framework of sustainable development (SD) hinges on 17 different ideals established by the United Nations. This call for SD can be addressed by the circular bio-economy concept, which not only ensures effective waste management but also encourages its valorization and repurposing, hence fostering both ecological and economic stability. One-third of the world's floral production is in jeopardy, and because there are no potential solutions for sustaining floral waste, it inevitably ends up in landfills and riverine systems, which is detrimental to the environment. Therefore, in the present study, floral waste that was destined for landfills or water bodies was productively valorized to poly gamma glutamic acid (γ-PGA), a high value biopolymer, with a yield of 40 g/L and productivity of 1.6 g/L/h employing an L-glutamic acid (L-GA) independent feeding approach. When γ-PGA was coated onto Vitis vinifera grapes, it exhibited excellent moisture retention, reduced microbial contamination, and preserved the grapes' aesthetic characteristics and nutrient content. The weight loss study demonstrated that grapes coated with 1% and 2% γ-PGA experienced significantly lower weight loss (13% and 14% respectively) compared to the control group (21.6%). Moreover, a 5-min dip coating time proved to be the most effective in reducing weight loss to 12.43%. Over a period of 14 days, the control group exhibited a remarkably high weight loss (41%) in contrast to the treated group, which showed significantly lower weight loss (16%). Our work is a fine example of how the circular bio-economy and waste valorization may be used to achieve the long-term objectives of sustainable development, economic stability, and food security.

Mobilome characterization of the beetle Euchroma gigantea (Buprestidae) uncovers multiple long range Tc1-Mariner horizontal transfer events

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile repetitive DNA sequences that can transfer horizontally between species. Due to their mutagenic characteristics, TEs are associated with different evolutionary events, including chromosomal rearrangements that are abundant in the beetle Euchroma gigantea. In order to understand more in depth the impact of TEs on the genomic evolution of E. gigantea, we characterized the E. gigantea mobilome and evaluated the horizontal transfer of Tc1-Mariner elements. Genomic sequencing data was generated on the Illumina Hiseq plataform, from a specimen (Northeast lineage) collected in Recife, Pernambuco - Brazil. The TEs were characterized by two independent approaches based on the clustering and assembly of highly repetitive sequences, the RepeatExplorer and dnaPipeTE. The sequences obtained were further characterized using ORFfinder and CD-Search, to obtain the TEs’ potential coding proteins and verify the presence and integrity of known TE domains. Evidence for horizontal transfer was evaluated by nucleotide and protein genetic distance between TEs from E. gigantea and other species and phylogenetic incongruences detected between TEs and hosts phylogenetic trees. The mobilome of E. gigantea represents about 21 to 26% of its genome. This mobilome is composed of TEs from 31 superfamilies, belonging to different classes and most known orders of TEs. Several types of TEs with intact domains were observed with emphasis on Tc1-Mariner suggesting the presence of potentially autonomous elements. This superfamily also stands out for having the greatest abundance and diversity, with TEs being classified into four families. When compared to TEs deposited in databases, Mariner TEs stood out as having the highest nucleotide identity (above 90%) with TEs from phylogenetically distant species, such as ants and bees. Altogether these results suggest that E. gigantea Mariner TEs underwent multiple horizontal transfer events to other insect species.

Thermal state of the Siberian craton marginal zone at the time of Mesozoic kimberlitic magmatism within the Kuoika field (Yakutian diamondiferous province)

Research subject. Clinopyroxene xenocrysts from the heavy-mineral concentrates of 14 kimberlite bodies (western part of the field: Obnazhennaya, Rubin, Seraya, Vodorazdelnaya, Vtorogodnitsa, Antoshka; central part of the field: Sliudyanka, Skiff II; western part of the field: Irina, Noyabrskaya, Vechernyaya, Lyusya, Dianga and Zhila 79) of the Kuoika field (Yakutian diamondiferous province, Siberian craton). Aim. To reconstruct the mantle paleogeotherms Under the six kimberlite pipes (Vodorazdelnaya, Obnazhennaya, Vtorogodnitsa, Sliudyanka, Dianga, and Zhila 79) using two independent approaches. Materials and methods. The chemical composition of clinopyroxene xenocrysts was investigated and last equilibrium temperatures and pressures were estimated using single-crystal thermobarometry. The geothermal line fitting to the P-T data set was performed using two methods. The first method is based on the D. Hasterok and D.S. Champan model, and the second - on the D. McKenzie model. Results. The value of lithosphere thickness falls within the margin of error for the two methods, being also comparable with earlier reconstructions for the Vtorogodnitsa, Dyanga, and Obnazhennaya pipes. The obtained results indicate that, during the Mesozoic kimberlitic magmatism, the lithosphere thickness beneath the Kuoika field was about 200 km. Conclusion. The determined peculiarities of the chemical composition of clinopyroxene xenocrysts indicate heterogeneity of the lithospheric mantle composition. Different depths of transported mantle material for kimberlite pipes of the Kuoika field, which are coeval and are located a few km apart, may be related to peculiarities of kimberlite magma ascent to the surface and the presence of intermediate magma chambers. The eastern part of the Kuoika field contains more garnet and garnet-spinel peridotites compared to the central and western parts, which may indirectly indicate a greater diamondiferous potential of the eastern block, where the diamondiferous Dianga pipe is located. The absence of diamonds in other discovered pipes of the Kuoika field may be connected with the metasomatic enrichment of the lithospheric mantle in the area of the “diamond window”, which is confirmed by a large number of high-temperature clinopyroxenes at these depths.

A static stiffness reference object for instrumented indentation with integrated fiber Fabry–Perot displacement measuring interferometer

Instrumented indentation is a technique used for measuring the mechanical response of materials to deformation. The accuracy of these measurements relies on force and displacement values recorded during the indentation process. This paper presents a miniature fused silica parallelogram flexure to serve as a reference object for calibrating the applied indentation force based on Hooke’s law, F = kz, where k is the stiffness of the reference object and z is the displacement of the flexure under force F. This study discusses two independent experimental approaches to determine the stiffness of the flexure. In both cases, the stiffness was calculated from the measured flexure displacement while known forces are applied. In the first method, the displacement is measured using a built-in fiber-based interferometer while reference masses of 100 mg and 200 mg are placed on the flexure. A stiffness of is determined with this method. The second method uses a commercial indenter to apply a cyclic force of 100 mN magnitude on the flexure while recording the displacement of the indenter probe. Experiments using a 5 μm and a 50 μm conospherical tip estimate the stiffness to be , and respectively.Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, instruments are identified in this paper to foster understanding. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

Salmonella enterica relies on carbon metabolism to adapt to agricultural environments.

Salmonella enterica, a foodborne and human pathogen, is a constant threat to human health. Agricultural environments, for example, soil and plants, can be ecological niches and vectors for Salmonella transmission. Salmonella persistence in such environments increases the risk for consumers. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the mechanisms used by Salmonella to adapt to agricultural environments. We assessed the adaptation strategy of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain 14028s to agricultural-relevant situations by analyzing the abundance of intermediates in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid pathway in tested environments (diluvial sand soil suspension and leaf-based media from tomato and lettuce), as well as in bacterial cells grown in such conditions. By reanalyzing the transcriptome data of Salmonella grown in those environments and using an independent RT-qPCR approach for verification, several genes were identified as important for persistence in root or leaf tissues, including the pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit E1 encoding gene aceE. In vivo persistence assay in tomato leaves confirmed the crucial role of aceE. A mutant in another tomato leaf persistence-related gene, aceB, encoding malate synthase A, displayed opposite persistence features. By comparing the metabolites and gene expression of the wild-type strain and its aceB mutant, fumarate accumulation was discovered as a potential way to replenish the effects of the aceB mutation. Our research interprets the mechanism of S. enterica adaptation to agriculture by adapting its carbon metabolism to the carbon sources available in the environment. These insights may assist in the development of strategies aimed at diminishing Salmonella persistence in food production systems.

Co-treatment of diamond-wire-saw silicon kerf and spent automotive catalysts for simultaneous recovery of PGMs, REEs, Zr, and high-purity Si

Spent automotive catalysts (SACs) and diamond-wire-saw silicon kerf (DWSSK) are classified as hazardous wastes. Currently, the two wastes are treated separately using unrelated approaches. More than two independent approaches are required to recover platinum group metals (PGMs), Zr and rare earth elements (REEs) from SACs, and recover Si from DWSSK, which is time-consuming and laborious. In this study, a new approach was proposed to co-treat the two wastes based on the concept of using waste treats waste: using DWSSK (∼89.85 wt% Si) as a new metal collector to extract PGMs, REEs, and Zr simultaneously from SACs to obtain a Si-VM alloy (VM: valuable metal); meanwhile, using the carrier of SACs to form molten slag to eliminate the main impurity, O, from DWSSK. The largest recovery ratios of Pd, Rh, Zr, Ce, La, and Nd from SACs were 99.50 ± 0.10%, 99.14 ± 0.14 %, 96.19 ± 0.76%, 67.18 ± 4.57%, 61.24 ± 4.93% and 47.65 ± 7.27%, respectively, and the largest removal ratio of O from DWSSK was 99.96%. After smelting, the Si-VM alloy was separated into high-purity Si and VM-containing acid solutions via acid leaching. The leaching ratios of Pd, Rh, Ce, La, Nd, and Zr were 99.78%, 98.15%, 99.93%, ∼100%, 99.76% and 99.98%, respectively. The purity of Si was upgraded from 89.85 wt% (in DWSSK) to 99.98 wt% after acid leaching. The new approach proposed in this study is considered more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than the regular approaches that treat the two wastes separately.

Localized keyhole pore prediction during laser powder bed fusion via multimodal process monitoring and X-ray radiography

Systematic fault detection and control during laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) has been a long-standing objective for system manufacturers and researchers in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. This manuscript investigates a data fusion approach for detection of keyhole porosity formation during laser irradiation of Ti-6Al-4V substrates by concurrent recording of thermally induced optical emission measured using both off-axis and coaxial photodiode sensors, and acoustic emission. Subsurface defect formation was monitored via high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging at 20,000 frames per second, enabling temporal registration of keyhole pore formation events to the monitoring signals at a resolution of 50 µs. We developed data fusion machine learning (ML) models for localized prediction of keyhole pore formation at various time scales ranging from 0.5 ms to 2 ms. The signal segments were featurized using two independent approaches: (1) power spectral density (PSD) and (2) highly comparative time series analysis (HCTSA) framework. The extracted features from different sensor modalities were fused together to construct a multimodal feature space and sequential feature selection was used to determine the most informative features for training the ML models. The predictive performance was evaluated for three classifying algorithms: Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB). As a result, pore formation events were predicted with up to 0.95 F1-score, 1.0 recall and 0.94 accuracy. The most heavily weighted features indicate that model performance is chiefly governed by the acoustic monitoring signal, with a secondary contribution from the optical emission sensors.

Interplay Between Seismic and Aseismic Deformation on the Central Range Fault During the 2013 Mw 6.3 Ruisui Earthquake (Taiwan)

AbstractThe 2013 Ruisui earthquake represents the first unequivocal evidence of the activity of the Central Range fault (CRF) in central Longitudinal Valley, Taiwan. Using a joint Bayesian finite‐fault source inversion of Global Navigation Satellite System and strain time series, we infer that coseismic rupture occurred between 4 and 19 km depth with maximum slip of 0.5 m located near the hypocenter. We then apply a variational Bayesian independent component analysis approach to displacement signals to infer a 3‐months long afterslip located in the near‐source region. This observation represents the first evidence of aseismic slip on the CRF. Combining geodetic and seismological analysis with simulations based on rate‐and‐state friction mechanics, we analyze the interplay between seismic and aseismic deformation during the earthquake sequence. We observe that afterslip is the dominant postseismic deformation mechanism, with &gt;95% of the moment being released aseismically in the postseismic phase and also likely represents the driving force controlling aftershock productivity. Finally, we infer the presence of a shallow velocity strengthening zone (∼0–4 km depth) associated with spatially heterogeneous slip during the postseismic phase with maximum slip of 0.18 m located above the zone of maximum coseismic deformation.

Safety of influenza vaccination during pregnancy: a systematic review

ObjectiveWe conducted a systematic review to evaluate associations between influenza vaccination during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes and maternal non-obstetric serious adverse events (SAEs), taking into consideration confounding and temporal...

The Microbiome of olive mill wastes

Olive mill wastes (OMWs) pose a significant environmental threat due to their high-strength organic nature, which can harm soil and water quality and have adverse effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This review paper aims to present an updated understanding of the microbial communities found in OMWs over the past two decades, employing both culture-dependent and independent approaches. Through a comprehensive survey of 16S rRNA gene sequences from various olive mill waste environments, researchers have identified the prevalence of Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. The alarming detection of fecal bacteria and human pathogens in OMWs raises considerable concern and calls for further investigation. Although previous research has primarily focused on using known bacterial and fungal species from different environments for olive mill waste degradation, the untapped biotechnological potential of native microbiota demands greater exploration for the bioremediation of OMWs and the eradication of plant and human pathogens.

Становлення та розвиток систематизованого аналізу фінансової звітності

The article is devoted to the study of methodological approaches to the formation and development of a systematic analysis of financial statements. A retrospective review of the evolution of the formation of a methodology for consistently economic, financial and financial and economic analysis of the production activities of economic entities was carried out. Relevant characteristics are presented, features in modern methods of application of each type of analysis are determined. Six relatively independent approaches to the formation and development of a systematic financial and economic analysis are considered. The results of the presented analysis create the basis for making rational management decisions as part of the implementation of a controlling tool, through which information and analytical support is carried out for the optimal use of opportunities, an objective assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the enterprise, avoiding possible bankruptcy.

I'm in Tales MOOC on Tangible User Interfaces and the UDL Model: A Case Study Design.

This paper presents the design and implementation of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) developed on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles within the I'm in Tales Erasmus Project, focused on Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) and their potential in enhancing storytelling for inclusive education. The MOOC aims to equip educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement TUIs in educational settings, promoting their understanding of TUIs as tools for creating accessible and engaging storytelling experiences for all learners. The course follows a self-paced and independent learning approach, incorporating active, contextual, social, and reflective learning methods. Preliminary evaluation results are discussed, and further evaluation methods are planned to assess the MOOC's impact on educators' understanding of TUIs and their potential for inclusive education. The use case presented illustrates the practical application of TUIs in universally designed learning experiences. The study concludes that the MOOC provides a valuable resource for educators and learners interested in TUIs and their role in enhancing inclusive education.

Turbulent boundary layer profiles in airflow over young wind waves in co- and counter-wind water current

Understanding the air velocity profile over random and three-dimensional wind-waves is crucial for evaluating momentum and energy transfer between air and water. Unfortunately, determining accurate air velocity profiles in field conditions is nearly impossible. It is well accepted, though, that the airflow above water waves has a logarithmic profile usually expressed in terms of the effective roughness parameter. However, this parameter cannot be evaluated directly from the wave measurements at the water surface. For young wind waves, it was recently shown that the airflow over the waves maintains wall similarity. In this case, the airflow vertical velocity distribution can be described by the Nikuradse fully rough logarithmic profile, using the root mean square value of the water surface elevation as the equivalent sand grain roughness height. The existence of mean current in water in either co- or counter-wind direction may significantly modify the wave field, the vertical wind-velocity profile and thus the momentum and energy transfer from air to water. The effect of the water current on the spatially developing boundary layer over young wind waves and the wall similarity is examined. Combined laboratory measurements at several fetches of finely resolved mean air velocity profile above the water surface and of the characteristics of the wind-wave field are performed at multiple wind-forcing and mean water current conditions. The shear stress at the air–water interface estimated using two independent approaches is weakly dependent on current, while the resultant wave field differs significantly.