Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
English as a Foreign Language Learners’ Anxiety and Interlocutors’ Status and Familiarity: An Idiodynamic Perspective

: Foreign language learning anxiety has been the target of many studies in the field of applied linguistics, but, with the dynamics turn in the field, attempts have been recently made to uncover the dynamics of anxiety English as a foreign language (EFL) learners go through, especially within the moments of their conversational interactions. Within these interactions, dynamics of anxiety might emerge in different patterns under the influence of the status of the participants’ interlocutors and their familiarity with them. This study explores the dynamics of EFL learners’ anxiety while interacting with different interlocutors from an idiodynamic perspective. The participants of this case study were two female freshman students, taking a speaking and listening university course, who were interviewed by four interlocutors with different status and level of familiarity. Following an idiodynamic method, they self-rated their anxiety fluctuations under the influence of each interlocutor throughout each conversation followed by stimulated recall interviews regarding the explanations of the changes in their anxiety during the conversations. The results showed both change and stability in the participants’ anxiety under the influence of the interlocutors’ familiarity with the participants and their status as well their verbal and nonverbal feedback. The explanation of these changes based on the main properties of complex dynamic system theory is discussed.
The XMM-Newton HBS28 sample: Studying the obscuration in hard X-ray selected AGNs ,

This paper presents the analysis of a statistically complete sample of 28 serendipitous X-ray sources selected in 82 pointed XMM-Newton fields down to a count-rate of 0.002 counts s(-1) (4.5-7.5 keV energy band). This is the first sample selected in this energy range to have complete spectroscopic identifications and redshift determinations for all the objects. Apart from one Galactic source (an interacting binary), all the objects are AGNs. Their optical and X-ray properties (derived from the spectral analysis of the XMM-EPIC data) are compared together. The good correlation between the optical spectral type and the X-ray absorption properties supports the AGN unified model. Only one object that does not fit the relation between optical and X-ray absorption is found, namely a Seyfert 1.9 with no evidence of obscuration in the X-ray band (N-H 10(22) cm(-2)), corresponding to a surface density of 0.7 deg(-2) at the flux limit the sample (4-7 x 10(-14) erg s(-1) cm(-2) in the 4.5-7.5 keV energy band). Among these obscured objects, two sources show a large (intrinsic) luminosity (L[2-10 keV] > 10(44) erg s(-1)) and are thus classified as type 2 QSO. Finally, we have compared the fraction of X-ray absorbed AGNs (26%) with that predicted by the current XRB synthesis models at the flux limit of the survey. We find that the models significantly (similar to90% confidence level) over predict the fraction of absorbed AGNs thus confirming also in this hard energy band (4.5-7.5 keV) similar results recently obtained in the 2-10 keV band.
The number, luminosity and mass density of spiral galaxies as a function of surface brightness

I give analytic expressions for the relative number, luminosity, and mass density of disc galaxies as a function of surface brightness. These surface brightness distributions are asymmetric, with long tails to lower surface brightnesses. This asymmetry induces systematic errors in most determinations of the galaxy luminosity function. Galaxies of low surface brightness exist in large numbers, but the additional contribution to the integrated luminosity density is modest, probably 10 -- 30%.
Mindfulness-Oriented Meditation for Primary School Children: Effects on Attention and Psychological Well-Being

Mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly being used as methods to promote psychological well-being of clinical and non-clinical adult populations. Much less is known, however, on the feasibility of these forms of mental training on healthy primary school students. Here, we tested the effects of a mindfulness-meditation training on a group of 16 healthy children within 7–8 years of age from an Italian primary school. An active control condition focused on emotion awareness was employed on a group of 15 age-matched healthy children from the same school. Both programs were delivered by the same instructors three times per week, for 8 total weeks. The same main teacher of the two classes did not participate in the trainings but she completed questionnaires aimed at giving comprehensive pre-post training evaluations of behavior, social, emotion, and attention regulation skills in the children. A children’s self-report measure of mood and depressive symptoms was also used. From the teacher’s reports we found a specific positive effect of the mindfulness-meditation training in reducing attention problems and also positive effects of both trainings in reducing children’s internalizing problems. However, subjectively, no child in either group reported less depressive symptoms after the trainings. The findings were interpreted as suggestive of a positive effect of mindfulness-meditation on several children’s psychological well-being dimensions and were also discussed in light of the discrepancy between teacher and children’s reports. More generally, the results were held to speak in favor of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for healthy primary school children.
Chromosome Evolution and Genome Miniaturization in Minifish

Background Paedocypris is a newly established genus of fish in Southeast Asia. Paedocypris is characterized by several unique features, including a tiny adult size (thus named miniature fish or minifish), fragmentary habitats of acidic peat blackwater swamps, an unusual reproduction mode and truncated development. These peculiarities lend themselves excellent for studying chromosome evolution and rapid speciation in vertebrates but also make them highly controversial for the phylogenetic position. Methodology and Principal Findings We have established an organ procedure to prepare chromosome spreads from tiny organs of minifish and performed a cytogenetic study on two species of the genus Paedocypris, namely P. carbunculus (Pc) and P. sp. “Singkep” (Ps). We found 30 and 34 chromosomes in diploid cells of Pc and Ps, respectively, which are unusual in teleost fishes. The diploid metaphase has 5 pairs of metacentrics and 7 pairs of subtelocentrics in Pc compared to 3 pairs of metacentrics and 11 pairs of subtelocentrics in Ps, whereas the haploid metaphase contains 5 metacentrics and 7 subtelocentrics in Pc compared to 3 metacentrics and 11 subtelocentrics Ps. Chromosome behavior in first meiosis revealed the presence of a chromosomal ring consisting of 2 metacentrics in Pc, suggesting that centric fusion rather than fission was responsible for the karyotypic evolution from Ps to Pc. Flow cytometry revealed that Pc had a 45% nuclear staining intensity relative to medaka whose genome is 700 Mb in size and contains 0.81 pg DNA. The Pc genome should have 315 Mb in length and 0.36 pg of DNA, which represent one of the smallest values in vertebrates, suggesting genome miniaturization in this organism. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that gross chromosome rearrangements and genome miniaturization have accompanied the evolution of Paedocypris fishes. Our data also place Paedocypris outside currently described taxa of the Cypriniformes.
A diatribe on expanding space

Some comments are made on the usefulness or otherwise of the concept of `expanding space' in cosmology. These notes are an expanded version of material first published in 2001 but not previously available online except at www.roe. ac.uk/japwww. Since that personal webpage has been referred to in published work, it seems sensible to give these notes a more permanent home.
Entropy-Driven One-Step Formation of Phi29 pRNA 3WJ from Three RNA Fragments

The emerging field of RNA nanotechnology necessitates creation of functional RNA nanoparticles but has been limited by particle instability. It has been shown that the three-way junction of bacteriophage phi29 motor pRNA has unusual stability and can self-assemble from three fragments with high efficiency. It is generally believed that RNA and DNA folding is energy landscape-dependent, and the folding of RNA is driven by enthalpy. Here we examine the thermodynamic characteristics of the 3WJ components as 2′-fluoro RNA, DNA, and RNA. It was seen that the three fragments existed either in 3WJ complex or as monomers, with the intermediate of dimers almost undetectable. It seems that the three fragments can lead to the formation of the 3WJ complex efficiently within a rapid time. A low dissociation constant (apparent KD) of 11.4 nM was determined for RNA, inclusion of 2′-F pyrimidines strengthened the KD to 4.5 nM, and substitution of DNA weakened it to 47.7 nM. The ΔG°37, were −36, −28, and −15 kcal/mol for 3WJ2′-F, 3WJRNA, and 3WJDNA, respectively. It is found that the formation of the three-component complex was governed by entropy, instead of enthalpy, as usually found in RNA complexes.
The impact of social-psychological factors in the life satisfaction of the rural black elderly /

2. When an image on the film is obliterated w ith a round black mark, it is an indication o f either blurred copy because o f movement during exposure, duplicate copy, or copyrighted materials that should not have been filmed. For blurred pages, a good image o f the page can be found in the adjacent frame. I f copyrighted materials were deleted, a target note w ill appear listing the pages in the adjacent frame.
Reducing the Disruptive Behavior of Junior High School Students: A Classroom Self-Management Procedure

The effectiveness of self-management procedures in reducing the disruptive and off-task behaviors of students in a special education resource classroom was assessed. Four junior high-aged students, three of whom were classified as behaviorally disordered and one as learning disabled, participated in the study. Results indicated that self-evaluation procedures implemented in the resource room reduced students' off-task and disruptive behaviors. Data collected concurrently in students' regular education classes showed little or no generalization of treatment gains from the resource room. Recommendations are offered for facilitating the generalization of the self-management skills.
Lower bounds for matrix product, in bounded depth circuits with arbitrary gates

We prove super-linear lower bounds for the number of edges in constant depth circuits with <italic>n</italic> inputs and up to <italic>n</italic> outputs. Our lower bounds are proved for all types of constant depth circuits, e.g., constant depth arithmetic circuits and constant depth Boolean circuits with arbitrary gates. The bounds apply for several explicit functions, and, most importantly, for matrix product. In particular, we obtain the following results: We show that the number of edges in any constant depth arithmetic circuit for <bold>matrix product</bold> (over any field is super-linear in <italic>m^2</italic> (where <italic>m \times m</italic> is the size of each matrix). That is, the lower bound is super-linear in the number of input variables. Moreover, if the circuit is bilinear the result applies also for the case where the circuit gets for free any product of two linear functions. We show that the number of edges in any constant depth arithmetic circuit for the trace of the product of 3 matrices (over fields with characteristic~0) is super-linear in <italic>m^2</italic>. (Note that the trace is a <bold>single-output</bold> function). </par We give explicit examples for <italic>n</italic> Boolean functions <italic>f_1,\dots,f_ </italic>, such that any constant depth <bold.Boolean circuit with arbitrary gates</bold> for <italic>f_1,. ,f_n</italic> has a super-linear number of edges. The lower bound is proved also for <bold>circuits with arbitrary gates over any finite field</bold>. The bound applies for matrix product over finite fields as well as for several other explicit functions.
Playing Demands of Sevens Rugby during the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens Tournament

Sevens rugby is an expanding sport with over 30 nations participating in the IRB Sevens Series and the 2005 Sevens World Cup. This study aims i) to provide an outline of the playing demands of Sevens rugby and ii) to determine whether there are any tactical differences in the teams that reached the semi-finals vs. the quarterfinalists. Recordings of the matches (n = 47) played during the 2005 World Cup were analysed. Mean playing play time was 7min 18s ± 27s. Mean time accumulated during point scoring movements per match was 97.8 ± 26.1s group, 75.8 ± 10.9s quarterfinalists and 119.8 ± 13.0s semi-finalists; this difference was significant (P=0.05). In summary the ball was in play for 52% of match time and each team had possession for 28% of match time. There was a significant increase in the amount of time required for point scoring movements (20.8 ± 2.3s) compared to turnover movements (12.8 ± 2.3s). For a team to reach the semi-finals or finals of the 2005 Sevens Rugby World Cup Tournament, they had to be able to maintain possession for periods of between 30 and 60 seconds and convert over 30% of those possessions into point scoring movements.
Dectin-1 Polymorphism: A Genetic Disease Specifier in Autism Spectrum Disorders?

Introduction In autism spectrum disorders (ASD), complex gene-environment interactions contribute to disease onset and progress. Given that gastro-intestinal dysfunctions are common in ASD, we postulated involvement of microbial dysbiosis in ASD and investigated, under a case-control design, the influence of DNA polymorphisms in the CLEC7A gene that encodes a pivotal fungal sensor, Dectin-1. Material and methods DNAs from 478 ASD patients and 351 healthy controls (HC) were analyzed for the CLEC7A rs16910631G/A and rs2078178 A/G single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Differences in the distribution of allele, genotype and haplotype by Chi-square testing and nonparametric analysis by Kruskal-Wallis/Mann–Whitney tests, where appropriate, were performed. The free statistical package R.2. 13 software was used for the statistical analysis. Results We found that the CLEC7A rs2078178 G allele and GG genotype were more prevalent in HC as compared to ASD but failed to reach statistical significance for the latter (pc = 0.01, 0.06 respectively). However, after phenotype-based stratification, the CLEC7A rs2078178 G allele and GG genotype were found to be significantly more frequent in the Asperger group as compared to other ASD subsets (pc = 0.02, 0.01), a finding reinforced by haplotype analysis (rs2078178/rs16910631 G-G/G-G) (pc = 0.002). Further, intellectual quotient (IQ)-based stratification of ASD patients revealed that IQ values increase linearly along the CLEC7A rs2078178 AA, AG and GG genotypes (p = 0.05) and in a recessive manner (GG vs. AA+AG p = 0.02), further confirmed by haplotype distribution (CLEC7A rs2078178-16910631; A-G/A-G, A-G/G-G and G-G/G-G, p = 0.02, G-G/G-G vs. others, p = 0.01). Conclusion Our data suggest that the genetic diversity of CLEC7A gene influences the ASD phenotype by behaving as a disease specifier and imply that the genetic control of innate immune response could determine the ASD phenotype.
Realistic Internet traffic simulation through mixture modeling and a case study

Internet background traffic modeling and simulation is the main challenge when constructing a test environment for network intrusion detection experiments. However, a realistic simulation of network traffic through analytical models is difficult, because the classic distributions are usually ineffective when applied to traffic-related random variables. A modeling and simulation approach using heavy-tailed mixture distributions is introduced in this paper. In the case study, this approach is used to build analytical models for random variables of several major Internet applications (FTP, HTTP, SMTP, POP3, SSH) of a campus network. Several statistical features of an NS2 simulation are compared against those of the traffic traces being simulated. The comparison indicates that the simulation is statistically similar to the real traffic.
Introducing The Spatial Qualification Problem and Its Qualitative Model

Spatial qualification problem is the impossibility of knowing an agent’s presence at a particular place at a certain time to be involved in an action or be participant in an event. The problem of spatially qualifying an intelligent agent requires commonsense reasoning which is qualitatively represented in qualitative spatial reasoning, a sub-field of knowledge representation and reasoning. In this paper, we present an overview of the spatial qualification problem and the qualitative formalism for reasoning with the problem. Existing spatial and temporal calculi for reasoning were combined and reused in the definition and axiomatization of basic concepts in the formalism. Quantified Modal Logic was seen to be suitable for the qualitative reasoning about these spatial concepts. The resulting spatial qualification logic (Alibi Logic) would be applicable in domains that require investigation of the problem of spatial qualification.
Diet quality in older age: the influence of childhood and adult socio-economic circumstances

Socio-economic gradients in diet quality are well established. However, the influence of material socio-economic conditions particularly in childhood, and the use of multiple disaggregated socio-economic measures on diet quality have been little studied in the elderly. In the present study, we examined childhood and adult socio-economic measures, and social relationships, as determinants of diet quality cross-sectionally in 4252 older British men (aged 60–79 years). A FFQ provided data on daily fruit and vegetable consumption and the Elderly Dietary Index (EDI), with higher scores indicating better diet quality. Adult and childhood socio-economic measures included occupation/father's occupation, education and household amenities, which combined to create composite scores. Social relationships included social contact, living arrangements and marital status. Both childhood and adult socio-economic factors were independently associated with diet quality. Compared with non-manual social class, men of childhood manual social class were less likely to consume fruit and vegetables daily (OR 0·80, 95 % CI 0·66, 0·97), as were men of adult manual social class (OR 0·65, 95 % CI 0·54, 0·79), and less likely to be in the top EDI quartile (OR 0·73, 95 % CI 0·61, 0·88), similar to men of adult manual social class (OR 0·66, 95 % CI 0·55, 0·79). Diet quality decreased with increasing adverse adult socio-economic scores; however, the association with adverse childhood socio-economic scores diminished with adult social class adjustment. A combined adverse childhood and adulthood socio-economic score was associated with poor diet quality. Diet quality was most favourable in married men and those not living alone, but was not associated with social contact. Diet quality in older men is influenced by childhood and adulthood socio-economic factors, marital status and living arrangements.
Kinematics of the ionized gas in the Local Group irregular galaxy IC 1613

We present H α and [Sii] observations for the Local Group irregular galaxy IC 1613 using the PUMA scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer. Our goal is to analyze the kinematics of the ionized gas in the complex sample of superbubbles located in the whole extension of our field (10´), which includes most of the optical emission of this galaxy, and to study the inter-relationship between young stellar associations and nebulae based on a previous study that we have made on the stellar associations of the central region of this galaxy. The ionized gas in this galaxy is distributed in classical Hii regions and in a series of superbubbles (also called giant shells) covering a large fraction of the optical extent of the galaxy. We present a catalog of kinematical properties of both the Hii regions of this galaxy and the superbubbles. We have also compared the kinematics of the ionized gas in Hii regions to search for possible dynamic differences between neutral and ionized gas.
Echocardiographic Predictors of Chronotropic Incompetence to Exercise in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Abstract Objective: Exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is most often attributed to diastolic dysfunction (DD); however, chronotropic incompetence (CI) could also play an important role. We intended to examine whether there are predictive echocardiographic parameters of DD for impaired chronotropic response to exercise. Methods and Results: Patients (n = 143) with unexplained dyspnea and/or exercise intolerance who fulfilled clinical and echocardiographic criteria of HFpEF presence underwent a symptom-limited exercise test using a treadmill (ETT) according to the Bruce protocol. CI was defined as an achieved heart rate reserve (HRR) of ≤ 80%. Comparison of the groups with (n = 98) and without CI (n = 45) did not show any statistically significant difference regarding demographic and clinical character-ristics except for use of beta blockers (BB) that were more frequently present (p = 0.012) in patients with CI in comparison with those without. Patients with CI had a higher mean E-wave velocity, E/A ratio, increased E/E‵ septal, lateral as well as average ratio and abnormal IVRT/TE-e‵ index all consistent with elevated LV filling pressures. E/E‵ average ratio > 15 was statistically insignificantly more frequently present in patients with CI. In addition, by multivariate stepwise regression analysis value of E‵ septal (β = 3.697, 95%CI 0.921–6.473, p = 0.009) along with use of BB, current smoking and basal heart rate appeared as statistically significant independent predictors of lower HRR %. Conclusion: Patients with HFpEF frequently have chronotropic incompetence to graded exercise which may partly be predicted with echocardiographic parameters that are consistent with elevated LV filling pressures.
Explaining Gender Gaps in English Composition and College Algebra in College: The Mediating Role of Psychosocial Factors

We examined the role of six psychosocial factors (PSFs) in explaining gender gaps in English Composition (n = 8,633) and College Algebra (n = 2,261) using data of first-year female (55%) and male students from 42 colleges. Using a multilevel model and controlling for prior achievement, we found that PSFs mediated between 3% and 41% of the gender gap in English Composition, but only one PSF (Academic Discipline), helped explain the gender gap in College Algebra. Gender gaps significantly narrowed when students were more motivated to turn in homework assignments in a timely and consistent manner, meet deadlines, and obtain satisfactory academic achievement. These findings may help stakeholders prepare students for success in these foundational college courses.
Effect of Bezel Presence and Width on Visual Search

We investigate how the presence and width of interior bezels impacts visual search performance across tiled displays. In spite of a potential benefit from structured segmentation, we do not find significant differences in visual search time, and note a small effect size of less than 0.5% for bezel width. However, we find participants are more accurate when searching for targets spanning a bezel. Based on these findings, we suggest two implications for the design of tiled displays: 1) that additional costs associated with thinner bezels may not provide significant return on investment; and 2) that bezels may act as visual anchors, and be useful for the placement of interface elements.