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Ray tracing is a computer graphics technique used to produce realistic visuals by physically simulating the behavior of light. Although this technique can be described straightforwardly, fully comprehending it might be challenging. It is typically taught in the classroom using the 2-D formats, such as paper or a blackboard. We propose using immersive environments for incrementing the understanding of ray tracing. We focus on improving the knowledge of the technique in experienced users, particularly Master of Computer Science students minoring in a computer-graphics-related area. We argue that exploring the ray tracing process in an immersive visualization environment can further improve the understanding of ray tracing acquired using conventional means. With that objective, this study starts by presenting RayTracerVR, a virtual reality prototype tool for learning the mechanisms of ray tracing. This tool can be used to visually explore and interact with the different aspects of the technique. It allows users to observe the progression of the rays throughout the sequential stages of the ray tracing process and analyze its corresponding computer pseudocode. The study includes user evaluation where RayTracerVR is employed to assess improvements in ray tracing understanding. The prototype's usability is also assessed. The findings indicate that using the ray tracing immersive learning environment results in a supplemental increase in understanding in users who have previously learned ray tracing using conventional means.

Recent trends of migration have contributed to the growing number of Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) in our K-12 classrooms in the United States and worldwide. Simultaneously, the visibility of SLIFE in academic publications from around the world (i.e., Custodio & O'Loughlin, 2017; DeCapua et al., 2020; Pentón Herrera, 2022) contributes to a general understanding of best practices on what this population needs and how teachers can best help them. In this article, we rely on recent and relevant available publications, as well as personal experiences, to recommend essential "social-emotional" and "academic" considerations that teachers and stakeholders should know to support SLIFE effectively. The social-emotional considerations shared include social and emotional needs, cultural dissonance, connections to programming and services, and interpersonal relationships. The academic considerations shared are programming, first language (L1) literacy instruction, appropriate scaffolding, oscillating target language (L2) literacy instruction, and authentic learning beyond the school walls.

Carmen Suárez Guerra (1879-1949) se configura como un caso de singular interés en el panorama artístico español de comienzos del siglo XX. Además de lograr el éxito en una disciplina creativa marcadamente masculinizada, el esmalte a fuego sobre metales, consiguió superar algunos de los principales obstáculos que limitaban el reconocimiento profesional de las artistas. Más allá de importantes galardones –Medalla de Oro en la icónica Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes de París (1925); segunda mujer premiada con Primera Medalla en la Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes (1922)–, la artista obtuvo un triunfo mucho más difícil de conquistar: que la crítica de arte renunciara a los tradicionales discursos sexistas y considerara «su sentir artístico igual a los grandes maestros de la actualidad». Este trabajo examina, a partir de fuentes documentales inéditas, la trayectoria de Carmen Suárez, y, en particular, la influencia que ejerció sobre la crítica y la prensa en pro de la erradicación de los estereotipos machistas y a favor de la valoración de las creadoras en el sistema artístico.

A qualidade dos grãos e sementes de milho armazenados pode ser afetada pela ação de insetos pragas, como Sitophilus zeamais (Mots. 1855, Coleoptera: Curculionidae), um dos maiores causadores de perdas quantitativas e qualitativas. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de extratos vegetais e terra de diatomácea no controle de S. zeamais em sementes de milho armazenadas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, composto de cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições. Para compor os tratamentos, foram utilizadas sementes de milho infestadas e tratadas com terra de diatomácea e extratos vegetais em pó de crambe e nim e, como controle, sementes infestadas e não infestadas, sem tratamento. As sementes foram armazenadas por 30 dias em recipientes plásticos de 500 mL, contendo 100 gramas de milho e tratadas com 5,26 gramas (5%) dos pós vegetais e terra de diatomácea, homogeneizados por 3 minutos. Foram avaliados a mortalidade dos insetos, o índice de infestação e a repelência. Os resultados mostraram que a terra de diatomácea resultou na completa mortalidade de S. zeamais após 30 dias de armazenamento. O extrato de crambe demonstrou eficácia na repelência durante 24 horas. A terra de diatomácea também reduziu significativamente a sobrevivência de S. zeamais ao longo do período de armazenamento, evitando a infestação nas sementes tratadas. Tanto o extrato de crambe quanto a terra de diatomácea apresentaram propriedades repelentes contra S. zeamais após 24 horas de exposição.

Context The botanical species Bauhinia guianensis Aublet (Leguminosae-Cercidoideae) is traditionally used in the Amazon for medicinal purposes.Objective The acute toxicity of the hydroethanolic extracts from B. guianensis leaves and stems (HELBg and HESBg) was evaluated in zebrafish (Danio rerio), with emphasis on the embryonic developmental stage and adult alterations.Materials and methods Extracts were analyzed on LC-DAD-MS/MS. Zebrafish eggs were inoculated individually with concentrations of HELBg and HESBg (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.5 µg/mL), observed for 96 h. Adult zebrafish were treated with a single oral dose (100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) of HELBg and HESBg, observed for 48 h.Results HELBg and HESBg analysis detected 55 compounds. Both extracts exhibited toxicity, including embryo coagulation at higher doses of HELBg and absence of heartbeats in embryos at all doses of HESBg. Behavioral variations were observed; tissue alterations in adult zebrafish were found at the highest doses, primarily in the liver, intestine, and kidneys because of HELBg and HESBg effects. The LD50 of HESBg was 1717 mg/kg, while HELBg exceeded the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg.Conclusions The study on acute toxicity of B. guianensis extracts exhibits significant toxic potential, emphasizing effects on embryonic and adult zebrafish. The results suggest relative safety of the species preparations, encouraging further clinical trials on potential biological activities.

Este artículo analiza el contexto de la aprobación por la Asamblea Regional de Murcia, en abril de 2019, de un Proyecto de reforma del Estatuto murciano que profundizaba en el reforzamiento de la identidad murciana, y se refería al patrimonio lingüístico autóctono y a una mínima pero cierta idea de protección y reconocimiento de este. Sin embargo, en diciembre de 2021, los avatares de la política murciana han hecho que el texto embarrancara y que, al final, no prospere. Incluso la Mesa del Congreso de los Diputados ha acabado aceptando esa retirada, si bien se han interpuesto recursos de amparo y un recurso de inconstitucionalidad contra lo anterior, por lo que el tema estudiado podría tener nuevas derivadas. Por el valor del fondo material de lo propugnado en materia lingüística, se describen todos sus aspectos y se ponen en relación con las exigencias de la Constitución (arts. 3.2 y 3.3) y de la Carta Europea de las Lenguas Regionales o Minoritarias, en la Región de Murcia, pese a que, hoy por hoy, no se llevan a efecto.

The development of more efficient friction layers for triboelectric nanogenerators is a complex task, requiring a careful balance of various material properties such as morphology, surface roughness, dielectric constant, and surface potential. In this study, we thoroughly investigated the use of cellulose acetate modified with different concentrations of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to enhance energy harvesting for the TENG. The results indicate that the roughness degree is influenced by the homogeneous degree/aggregation level of doping agents in cellulose acetate membranes, leading to the best performance of open circuit voltage of 282.8 V, short-circuit current of 3.42 µA, and power density of 60 µW/cm2 for ZnO-doped cellulose acetate membranes.

Abstract Agricultural production assessments are crucial for formulating strategies for closing yield gaps and enhancing production efficiencies. While in situ crop yield measurements can provide valuable and accurate information, such approaches are costly and lack scalability for large-scale assessments. Therefore, crop modeling and remote sensing (RS) technologies are essential for assessing crop conditions and predicting yields at larger scales. In this study, we combined RS and a crop growth model to assess phenology, evapotranspiration (ET), and yield dynamics at grid and sub-county scales in Kenya. We synthesized RS information from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Water Productivity Open-access portal (WaPOR) to retrieve sowing date information for driving the model simulations. The findings showed that grid-scale management information and progressive crop growth could be accurately derived, reducing the model output uncertainties. Performance assessment of the modeled phenology yielded satisfactory accuracies at the sub-county scale during two representative seasons. The agreement between the simulated ET and yield was improved with the combined RS-crop model approach relative to the crop model only, demonstrating the value of additional large-scale RS information. The proposed approach supports crop yield estimation in data-scarce environments and provides valuable insights for agricultural resource management enabling countermeasures, especially when shortages are perceived in advance, thus enhancing agricultural production.

Abstract The development of supporting materials based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) impregnated with iron nanoparticles via a sustainable and green synthesis employing plant extract of Punica granatum L. leaves was carried out for the iron nanoparticle modification and the following impregnation into the carbon nanotubes composites (CNT-Fe) that were also coated with polypyrrole (CNT-Fe + PPy) for use as electrode for supercapacitor and triboelectric nanogenerators. The electrochemical characterization of the materials by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) assays revealed that the CNT-Fe + PPy gave rise to better performance due to the association of double-layer capacitance behavior of carbon derivative in association with the pseudocapacitance contribution of PPy resulting in an areal capacitance value 202 mF/ cm2 for the overall composite. In terms of the application of electrodes in triboelectric nanogenerators, the best performance for the composite of CNT-Fe + PPy was 60 V for output voltage and power density of 6 μW/cm2. The integrated system showed that the supercapacitors can be charged directly by the nanogenerator from 0 to 42 mV in 300 s. The successful green synthesis of iron nanoparticles on CNT and further PPy coating provides a feasible method for the design and synthesis of high-performance SCs and TENGs electrode materials. This work provides a systematic approach that moves the research front forward by generating data that underpins further research in self-powered electronic devices.

Generating continuous streamflow information through integrated climate-hydrology modeling at fine spatial scales of the order of a few kilometers is often challenged by computational costs associated with running high-resolution (HR) climate models. To address this challenge, the present study explores deep learning approaches to generate HR streamflow information from that at low resolution (LR), based on runoff generated by climate models. Two sets of daily streamflow simulations spanning 10 years (2011–2020), at LR (50 km) and HR (5 km), for the Ottawa River basin, Canada, are employed. The proposed deep learning model is trained using upscaled features derived from LR streamflow simulation for the 2011–2018 period as input and the corresponding HR streamflow simulation as the target; data for 2019 are used for validation. The model estimates for the year 2020, when compared with unseen HR data for the same year, suggest good performance, with differences in monthly mean values for different accumulation area categories in the −0.7–5% range and correlation coefficients for streamflow values for the same accumulation area categories in the 0.92–0.96 range. The developed framework can be ported to other watersheds for generating similar information, which is required in climate change adaptation studies. HIGHLIGHTS A physically consistent deep learning framework for generating high-resolution streamflow information from low-resolution streamflow sequences.; Enhancing the value of climate-hydrology integrated modeling outputs to support local-scale adaptation strategies.; An adaptable generalized framework that can be applied to other regions and climate-hydrology system outputs.;

En este comentario jurisprudencial se analiza la disputa contractual entre South West Terminal y Achter Land & Cattle, en la cual se discute la interpretación de un emoji de "pulgar hacia arriba" como confirmación de un contrato. El tribunal determinó que un emoji puede ser interpretado como una confirmación válida de un contrato, siempre y cuando exista un contexto claro y consistente que respalde esta interpretación.