MECHANIZATION DEVICES FOR HANDLING BRANCHES IN MODERN ORCHARDS

In most parts of China, pruned branches in orchards are still treated manually. In order to reduce the intensity and labor cost, this paper provides a mechanical solution for branches collection, which mainly includes the gathering device, picking device, and smashing device. A simulation platform with a human-computer interaction was developed in Matlab. It can set optimization goals based on human practical experience and optimize the main influencing parameters, and both the gathering device and the picking device achieve the design simulation on this platform. Furthermore, this method helps to quickly obtain the data of key components in the core device. Firstly, the shape of the Slide-way shell of the gathering device can be obtained quickly through different gathering ranges. Secondly, a group of angle and motion trajectory of the picking device with lower height was obtained from the simulation design. Furthermore, the performance of the improved picking device under four different laying conditions was tested. The results showed that, under R=38-42 r/min and V=0.80-0.95 m/s, the success rate of the picking device was 94.2%, 92.5%, 61.0% and 30.8%, respectively. The field test demonstrated that there are no significant differences between the simulated test results and practice test results.

Examining the Relationship between Critical Thinking Skills and Argumentative Writing Skills in Moroccan Preparatory Classes of Higher Engineering Schools (CPGE)

This research was conducted to investigate the relationship between two variables: critical thinking skills and argumentative writing skills in Moroccan Preparatory Classes of Higher Engineering Schools (Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles) ( CPGE), Omar Ibn Khattab Meknes . The participants were the 2nd year Maths and Physics (MP) students in CPGE, Omar Ibn Al Khattab Meknes. 60 students participated in the study from a total number of 120 students. The research adopted the correlation design to measure the degree of association between two variables using the statistical procedure of correlation analysis. In this regard, a critical thinking test (AssessmentDay Practice Test Experts, 2018) was administered to test students’ critical thinking skills. Then, the students were asked to write an argumentative essay about social networking and creativity. To analyse the collected data, the study resorted to SPSS software (Statistical Package for the Social Science, version 23). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to investigate the significant relationship between critical thinking skills and argumentative writing. The result of the research displayed that the correlation coefficient is 0. 941, which means that the two tests are positively correlated and the correlation is very significant. The result of such correlation displayed clearly that critical thinking and argumentative writing have a positive relation.

Analysis of rope load sharing on multi-rope friction winders

Ensuring that all the head ropes on a multi-rope friction winder share the load equally has been a design and maintenance issue since they were first developed. Accurate machining of the rope grooves is necessary to meet this objective. Early analysis of the change of rope loads for ropes in grooves that are mismatched in depth treated the grooves as rigid. Groove depth tolerances deduced from this analysis are stringent and difficult to achieve in practice. Test work indicated that the inherent flexibility of groove lining materials alleviates the load-sharing problem. However, no analysis of rope load changes due to mismatched flexible grooves has been published. In this paper we develop new equations for the rope load variation for flexible grooves. By allowing flexibility to reduce to zero, the corresponding rigid rope groove equations are obtained. New criteria for tolerable groove depth variations are developed from this analysis, which depend on the flexibility of the groove lining material.

Using an Online Numeracy Practice Test to Support Education Students for the Numeracy Component of the LANTITE

In Australia, teacher education students must pass the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) to meet accreditation requirements. Although this has been mandated since 2016, there are currently few resources available for students to use in preparation for the test. To help students prepare for the numeracy component of the LANTITE, we developed an online Numeracy Practice Test (NPT) through the institution’s learning management system. This study assessed the learning analytics from the NPT between students who subsequently passed the numeracy component of the LANTITE with those that failed. Our results show that students who passed performed significantly better in the NPT, had fewer attempts, spent less time on the NPT, and accessed it closer to the date of the LANTITE, which demonstrate students’ ability to self-assess the level of support required.

Acute gastroenteritis with a new coronavirus infection in Novosibirsk residents

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and clinical and laboratory features of acute gastroenteritis (OGE) in adult residents of Novosibirsk hospitalized with a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in 2020.Materials and methods. We examined 3581 patients aged 18 to 96 years with a diagnosis of “New coronavirus infection”, confirmed by the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the mucus from the oropharynx by PCR, hospitalized in the State Medical Institution NSO GICB No. 1 in 2020. Along with the generally accepted diagnostic methods, feces were examined by PCR in 50 patients with gastrointestinal syndrome to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA using a set of original specific primers.Results. Of the 3,581 hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19, 74% of cases were diagnosed with bilateral polysegmental pneumonia, and 26% of cases were diagnosed with acute respiratory infection. Manifestations of OGE were observed in 6.8% (n=243) of patients. In the group of 50 COVID-19 patients, in whom the disease began with symptoms of OGE, it came to the fore in the clinical picture of the disease in 20% of cases, and SARS-Co- V2 RNA in the feces was detected in 62% of patients.Conclusion The established frequency of OGE in COVID-19 in adults shows the need to develop and implement in clinical practice test systems (PCR of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces) for the diagnosis of the intestinal form of a new coronavirus infection.

Pemberdayaan Literasi Digital di Desa Waringin Kurung, Cimanggu Pandeglang

Digital literacy is used to find, analyze, create, and transmit information and communication technology information. Based on the experience of several countries, the use of information technology has become one of the drivers of economic development, especially in rural areas and can encourage regional development. The use of ICT is considered effective in reducing community migration from rural to urban areas and improving the quality of government services through e-governance. Waringin Kurung Village is one of the isolated villages with a neighborhood located in the southern part of Banten Province, directly adjacent to the Ujung Kulon National Park area. This community service aims to improve the ability of village officials in utilizing digital literacy for the efficiency of the village service system, encouraging the dissemination of village information and village information. The method of implementing digital literacy development consists of three stages: a practice test by socializing the use of electronic mail (email), and understanding test through pretest and post-test on the use of Microsoft word applications, and case studies and problem-solving about information strategies. We conclude that higher education communities should involve more in developing digital literacy in rural villages. It will help rural communities use technology for their village administration and enhance public information management through the website and other digital channels. Abstrak Literasi Digital digunakan untuk menemukan, menganalisis, membuat, dan mengirimkan informasi menggunakan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi, Berdasarkan pengalaman beberapa negara, pemanfaatan teknologi informasi telah menjadi salah satu penggerak pembangunan ekonomi khususnya di daerah pedesaan dan mampu mempercepat pembangunan daerah. pemanfaatan TIK dianggap efektif dalam mengurangi migrasi masyarakat dari desa ke kota dan meningkatkan kualitas pelayanan pemerintahan melalui e-governance. Desa Waringin Kurung merupakan salah satu desa terisolir dengan wilayah mayoritas dataran tinggi yang terletak dibagian selatan Provinsi Banten berdekatan langsung dengan wilayah Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon. Tujuan dalam pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah untuk meningkatkan kemampuan perangkat desa dalam memanfaatkan literasi digital guna efisiensi sistem pelayanan Desa, mempercepat penyampaian informasi desa, keterbukaan informasi Desa. Metode pelaksanaan kegiatan pengembangan literasi digital terdiri dari tiga tahapan diantaranya, tahap pertama adalah uji praktek dengan sosialisasi penggunaan surat elektronik (email), tahap kedua adalah uji pemahaman melalui pretest dan post test tentang penggunaan aplikasi Microsoft word, tahap ketiga adalah studi kasus dan pemecahan masalah tentang strategi mempercepat keterbukaan informasi. Hasil dan Simpulan kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat sangat penting dilakukan oleh perguruan tinggi guna membantu masyarakat desa dalam penggunaan teknologi informasi, terutama membantu desa dalam proses administrasi desa melalui pemanfaatan email dan microsoft word, kemudian menyampaikan informasi publik desa kepada masyarakat melalui website desa perihal profil desa, keterbukaan APBD desa, struktur perangkat desa, prosedur pengurusan dokumen, ketersediaan dokumen secara online hingga keterbukaan laporan kinerja Desa. Kata Kunci: pemberdayaan desa; literasi teknologi informasi; literasi digital; perangkat desa; waringinkurung

Persistent Miscalibration for Low and High Achievers despite Practice Test Feedback in an Introductory Biology Course

Students’ ability to accurately judge their knowledge is crucial for effective learning. However, students’ perception of their current knowledge is often misaligned with their actual performance.