Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Political use of twitter: the case of metropolitan mayor candidates in 2014 local elections in Turkey

Twitter, as a free and 140-character microblogging service, is used for many purposes, including political and administrative perspectives. While administrative use is mainly motivated by citizens-administrators interaction, including politically elected, political use is highly visible during election times, not necessarily confined to these times. In this study we focus on a 3-month period twitter use by mayoral candidates in Turkey, particularly at metropolitan cities starting from the first of January till end of the March 30, 2014 when local elections were held. Tweets are categorized as of six types (i.e. information and news sharing, location and activity sharing, personal messages, direct interaction with citizens, better public services, support mobilization) derived from literature. We aim to show, at local scales, how and for which purposes twitter is used at local elections other than that of political campaign. Our results reveal that candidates for metropolitan mayors use twitter for mainly location and activity sharing during elections times as expected. What is unexpected for the study results are tweets sent for better public services as the second most tweeted category.
Borders: Frontiers of Identity, Nation and State

Borders are where wars start, as Primo Levi once wrote. But they are also bridges - that is, sites for ongoing cultural exchange. Anyone studying how nations and states maintain distinct identities while adapting to new ideas and experiences knows that borders provide particularly revealing windows for the analysis of 'self' and 'other'. In representing invisible demarcations between nations and peoples who may have much or very little in common, borders exert a powerful influence and define how people think as well as what they do. Without borders, whether physical or symbolic, nationalism could not exist, nor could borders exist without nationalism. Surprisingly, there have been very few systematic or concerted efforts to review the experiences of nation and state at the local level of borders. Drawing on examples from the US and Mexico, Northern Ireland, Israel and Palestine, Spain and Morocco, as well as various parts of Southeast Asia and Africa, this timely book offers a comparative perspective on culture at state boundaries. The authors examine the role of the state, ethnicity, transnationalism, border symbols, rituals and identity in an effort to understand how nationalism informs attitudes and behaviour at local, national and international levels. Soldiers, customs agents, smugglers, tourists, athletes, shoppers, and prostitutes all provide telling insights into the power relations of everyday life and what these relations say about borders. This overview of the importance of borders to the construction of identity and culture will be an essential text for students and scholars in anthropology, sociology, political science, geography, nationalism and immigration studies.
Reducing High School Dropout: An Instrumental Case Study of Successful High School Dropout Prevention

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to understand the dramatic reduction in dropouts in a rural high school in central North Carolina. Dramatic reduction in dropouts is generally defined by having reduced the school’s dropout rate by at least 50% in less than three years. The theories guiding this study were social learning theory and the stage theory of organizational change. The research questions were as follows: (1) How did the high school drastically reduce the dropout rate? (2) What was the role of each key informant in reducing the dropout rate? The data collection processes included individual interviews, focus groups, document analysis, and a researcher’s journal. Data analysis consisted of coding, comparative analysis, and direct interpretations. The results of the study indicated that the school successfully reduced the dropout rate by forming flexible plans for at-risk students, building positive relationships between the staff and students, and utilizing the small environment.
Associations between STAT3 rs744166 Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Background Many studies have investigated the associations between the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the susceptibility to ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). However, the results remain inconsistent. This meta-analysis determined the risk of STAT3 rs744166 polymorphism-conferred UC and CD susceptibility. Materials and Methods Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, were searched for all eligible studies that evaluated the association between STAT3 rs744166 polymorphisms with UC and CD risk up to August 21, 2014. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models. Results Twelve studies containing 10298 patients with CD, 4244 patients with UC and 11191 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that the STAT3 rs744166 polymorphism was associated with CD and UC susceptibility (CD: GA+AA vs. GG, OR = 1.20, 95%CI, 1.11–1.30, I 2 = 0%, P unadjusted<0.00001, P Bonferroni<0.00005, P FDR<0.00001; UC: GA+AA vs. GG, OR = 1.21, 95%CI, 1.08–1.36, I 2 = 1%, P unadjusted = 0.001, P Bonferroni = 0.005, P FDR = 0.00125). In subgroup analyses by ethnicity, the significant association was found only among Caucasians. However, when grouped by age of onset, positive associations were found both among adults and children. In addition, when stratified by study design and genotyping methods, the risk of CD was significantly associated with the STAT3 rs744166 polymorphism in hospital-based and population-based groups and in SNP Array and SNPlex groups. For UC, significant associations were also found in population-based, PCR-RFLP and SNPlex groups. Moreover, these findings were sufficiently robust to withstand the Bonferroni correction and false discovery rate (FDR). Conclusion This meta-analysis indicates that carriers of the STAT3 rs744166 ‘A’ allele have a significantly greater risk of CD and UC, especially among Caucasians.
Schooling Investments and Aggregate Conditions: A Household-Survey-Based Approach for Latin America and the Caribbean

Schooling is a major factor in economic development. There is extensive empirical literature on what determines schooling attainment. But most of this literature uses micro data to explore connections between schooling attainment and family background and experiences, local markets, local schools and other community characteristics. These studies generally have not linked schooling attainment closely to changes in aggregate economic conditions. This paper uses a new high quality data set for 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries to assess the effects of macro conditions on schooling attainment. Household survey data are used to construct a quasi panel with information on attainment for birth cohorts born between 1930 and 1970, which is merged with country-specific aggregate data. We use the data to document schooling progress in Latin America and estimate multivariate relations for schooling attainment by birth cohorts as related to sets of variables for macroeconomic stability, factor endowments, demographic developments, institutions and culture and religion. These estimates are used to decompose the change in schooling progress by decade, and to explore the causes of the slowdown in schooling accumulation in the region since the 1980s debt crisis.
Cloaked by cyber space: A legal response to the risks of cyber stalking in Malaysia

Cyber stalking generally involves unwarranted, repeated and threatening conduct of the offender via the Internet or social media platforms, which causes fear, distress or alarm to the victim. A qualitative study on the perception of cyber stalking and the adequacy of the anti-stalking law to regulate such crime in Malaysia is somewhat scarce. Hence, this paper seeks to examine cyber stalking risks and the sufficiency of laws to govern such crime and the legal protection afforded to victims. This paper adopts a qualitative methodology, where the data is obtained from eighteen semi-structured interviews conducted with various stakeholders, including the regulators and enforcement officers. Secondary data involves cyber legislation, the Penal Code, and online sources. The findings suggest that cyber stalking risks are often manufactured by the victims, which lead to individual responsibility towards managing and mitigating such risks. The findings have significant implications for lawmakers to either enact specific laws on cyber stalking or amend the Penal Code to include such crime. ________________________________________________________________________
The effect of emotional affect in L2 lexical learning

espanolEstudios anteriores han revelado que las palabras con contenido emocional tienen un efecto facilitador para la memoria de los hablantes tanto de primera como de segunda lengua. Este estudio investiga como el cariz emocional de una historia, activado a traves de senales audiovisuales, afecta la adquisicion de elementos lexicos nuevos en hablantes de espanol como segunda lengua. Los resultados de una tarea de Asignacion de Imagen y una de Nombramiento sugieren que loscontextos emocionales positivos tienen un efecto facilitador para el reconocimiento y posterior evocacion de los elementos meta en comparacion con contextos emocionales neutros y negativos. Para la pedagogia de L2, estos resultados sugieren que la adquisicion y retencion lexica se puede mejorar a traves de la incorporacion de materiales didacticos con un componente emocional positivo. EnglishPrevious studies have found a facilitative memory effect for emotional content words in both L1 and L2 speakers. The present study investigates how emotional affect, activated through visual and auditory cues, effects L2 Spanish speakers’ acquisition of novel lexical items. Data from Picture Matching and Naming tasks suggest that positive emotional context has a facilitative effect on learners’ recognition and recall of target items when compared to the emotionally neutral or negative contexts. The implication of these results in L2 pedagogy suggests that lexical acquisition and retention can be enhanced by the incorporation of course materials with a positive emotional drive.
Differences in virulence between two Candida albicans strains in experimental keratitis.

PURPOSE To study the differences in disease caused by two wild-type strains of Candida albicans in a model of contact lens-facilitated keratitis in rabbits. METHODS Two strains, SC5314 and VE175, were examined. Standardized inocula were placed on the debrided corneal surface of one eye in Dutch belted rabbits and covered with a contact lens. A temporary tarsorrhaphy was opened after 24 hours with removal of the contact lens. Six days later, corneas were photographed and animals killed. Corneas were bisected with one half for quantitative isolate recovery and the other for stromal penetration by hyphae. RESULTS Strain SC5314 was significantly more virulent. The mean hyphal penetration into the cornea was 24.4% +/- 8.5% of the corneal thickness, and in three of six corneas hyphae penetrated through the entire cornea. In contrast, for VE175, the mean hyphal penetration was 2.6% +/- 1.2%. The difference between these two strains was statistically significant (P = 0.0297). Hyphae did not penetrate into the deep layers of the cornea in any of the six rabbits infected with VE175. The grading of clinical disease was consistent with histology, in that strain SC5314 caused more severe infection than VE175 and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.0048). There was no difference in isolate recovery. CONCLUSIONS Wild-type strains of C. albicans can differ significantly in virulence as measured by depth of fungal invasion into corneas and clinical evaluation of infection. Further characterization of the intrinsic genetic differences between such strains may help identify factors responsible for fungal virulence.
Relationship between emotional intelligence and commitment to change among senior administrative and diplomatic service (ADS) officers in Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and commitment to change among senior Administrative and Diplomatic Service (ADS) officers attached to the federal government ministries in Putrajaya/Kuala Lumpur. The data were collected in a form of questionnaire where a total of 360 senior officers participated in this research. The measurements used comprised the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) by Wong and Law (2002) and Commitment to Change by Herscovitch and Meyer (2002). The result of multiple regression analysis showed that one dimension of emotional intelligence namely self-emotion appraisal has a positive relationship with all dimensions of commitment to change. Whereas, all dimensions of emotional intelligence were found to have a positive relationship with one dimension of commitment to change namely the affective commitment to change. Thus, it was noted in this study that the emotional intelligence was found as an important factor in enhancing the level of commitment to change among senior ADS officers. This finding would serve as an indicator to the high-level management of civil service to take into account the element of emotional intelligence especially in upskilling ADS officers’ emotional intelligence competencies.
Preparation of Nanocellulose Reinforced Chitosan Films, Cross-Linked by Adipic Acid

Adipic acid, an abundant and nontoxic compound, was used to dissolve and cross-link chitosan. After the preparation of chitosan films through casting technique, the in situ amidation reaction was performed at 80–100 °C as verified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The reaction was accompanied by the release of water which was employed to investigate the reaction kinetics. Accordingly, the reaction rate followed the first-order model and Arrhenius equation, and the activation energy was calculated to be 18 kJ/mol. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the chitosan films were comprehensively studied. First, optimal curing conditions (84 °C, 93 min) were introduced through a central composite design. In order to evaluate the effects of adipic acid, the mechanical properties of physically cross-linked (uncured), chemically cross-linked (cured), and uncross-linked (prepared by acetic acid) films were compared. The use of adipic acid improved the tensile strength of uncured and chemically cross-linked films more than 60% and 113%, respectively. Finally, the effect of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) on the mechanical performance of cured films, in the presence of glycerol as a plasticizer, was investigated. The plasticized chitosan films reinforced by 5 wt % CNFs showed superior properties as a promising material for the development of chitosan-based biomaterials.
Affective Tutoring Systems: Enhancing e-Learning with the Emotional Awareness of a Human Tutor

This paper introduces the field of affective computing, and the benefits that can be realized by enhancing e-learning applications with the ability to detect and respond to emotions experienced by the learner. Affective computing has potential benefits for all areas of computing where the computer replaces or mediates face to face communication. The particular relevance of affective computing to e-learning, due to the complex interplay between emotions and the learning process, is considered along with the need for new theories of learning that incorporate affect. Some of the potential means for inferring users' affective state are also reviewed. These can be broadly categorized into methods that involve the user's input, and methods that acquire the information independent of any user input. This latter category is of particular interest as these approaches have the potential for more natural and unobtrusive implementation, and it includes techniques such as analysis of vocal patterns, facial expressions or physiological state. The paper concludes with a review of prominent affective tutoring systems and promotes future directions for e-learning that capitalize on the strengths of affective computing.
A Well-Verified, Multiproxy Reconstruction of the Winter North Atlantic Oscillation Index since a.d. 1400*

Abstract A new, well-verified, multiproxy reconstruction of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index is described that can be used to examine the variability of the NAO prior to twentieth century greenhouse forcing. It covers the period a.d. 1400–1979 and successfully verifies against independent estimates of the winter NAO index from European instrumental and noninstrumental data as far back as 1500. The best validation occurs at interannual timescales and the weakest at multidecadal periods. This result is a significant improvement over previous proxy-based estimates, which often failed to verify prior to 1850, and is related to the use of an extended reconstruction model calibration period that reduced an apparent bias in selected proxies associated with the impact of anomalous twentieth century winter NAO variability on climate teleconnections over North Atlantic sector land areas. Although twentieth century NAO variability is somewhat unusual, comparable periods of persistent positive-phase .
Nurses Challenges of Supporting Hospitalized Patients Regarding Sexual-Health Issues

Background: The approach to nursing should be characterized by a holistic view of the human being which includes sexual health. From a nursing perspective, it is therefore of most importance to have a dialogue about factors associated with sexual health also among hospitalized patients. However, to our knowledge there is a lack of qualitative studies regarding nurses attitudes about dialogue with patients about sexual health. Objective: To investigate nurses attitudes towards dialogue with hospitalized patients about sexual health. Methods: A qualitative method was used and interviews were conducted which then were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Eleven registered nurses were included, the inclusion criteria was: at least one year of experience as a nurse and working on a medical or surgical ward in a hospital in the southwest of Sweden. The participants were in the ages 25-65 and had worked as nurses between 2 and 30 years. Nine of the participants were women. The data were collected during 2011. Results: The nurses experiences of and reflections on dialogue with patients about sexual health were presented as a single main theme: Nurses challenges to support hospitalized patients with sexual health issues. This theme had three categories: Feeling uncomfortable, Feeling inadequate and Task-oriented care with related subcategories respectively. Conclusions: Nurses attitudes towards their dialogues about sexual health with hospitalized patients were less challenging if they were initiated by the patients or if the patients were men with medical causes related to sexual health. Lack of knowledge and support from colleagues became reasons why nurses felt inadequate about discussing sexual health with their patients.
Toward a More Accurate Measure of the Cost of Living

A digital speech interpolation (DSI) system advantageously utilizes speech inactivity time to reduce the bit rate by compressing digital characters from a plurality of trunks onto a lesser plurality of channels. A signaling arrangement is typically employed therein to signal a receiver as to the activity of a trunk. If the number of active trunks exceeds the number of channels, an overload may exist. Known arrangements for mitigating overload typically include apparatus responsive to an activity signal for truncating one or more bits from the digital characters and for transmitting the truncated characters. Unfortunately, quantization noise is increased and digital precision decreased in such arrangements. The hereindisclosed system includes an improved automatically adaptive arrangement for advantageously incorporating nearly instantaneous companding (NIC) and priority trunk rotation in a plurality of frames, called a multiframe. Thereby, a mitigation of overload as well as a lessening of quantization noise relative to known DSI arrangements is attained.
Concepts as Semantic Pointers: A Framework and Computational Model

The reconciliation of theories of concepts based on prototypes, exemplars, and theory-like structures is a longstanding problem in cognitive science. In response to this problem, researchers have recently tended to adopt either hybrid theories that combine various kinds of representational structure, or eliminative theories that replace concepts with a more finely grained taxonomy of mental representations. In this paper, we describe an alternative approach involving a single class of mental representations called "semantic pointers. " Semantic pointers are symbol-like representations that result from the compression and recursive binding of perceptual, lexical, and motor representations, effectively integrating traditional connectionist and symbolic approaches. We present a computational model using semantic pointers that replicates experimental data from categorization studies involving each prior paradigm. We argue that a framework involving semantic pointers can provide a unified account of conceptual phenomena, and we compare our framework to existing alternatives in accounting for the scope, content, recursive combination, and neural implementation of concepts.
Comments on Graviton Propagation in Light of GW150914

The observation of gravitational waves from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) event GW150914 may be used to constrain the possibility of Lorentz violation in graviton propagation, and the observation by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) of a transient source in apparent coincidence may be used to constrain the difference between the velocities of light and gravitational waves: cg − cγ < 10−17.
THE APPLICATION OF PROBLEM SOLVING APPROACH IN IMPROVING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MATHEMATICAL COMMUNICATION AND DISPOSITION SKILL

This article is derived from the research result entitled “The Application of Problem Solving Approach in Improving Junior High School Students’ Mathematical Communication and Disposition Skill”. The research is purposed to see and analyze if there are some improvements in mathematical communication and disposition skill achievement of the students who have been treated using problem solving approach compared to the students who are still treated using conventional approach. The population of the research is all students at a junior high school in Subang regency. Out of these students, 40 students of class VIII D were chosen randomly as the experiment class, and 41 students of class VIII C have also been randomly chosen as the control class. The data in this research have then been analyzed using parametric and non-parametric statistic. The result of this analysis has shown that the achievement of experiment class students’ mathematical communication and disposition skill is better than the achievement of the control class students. The experiment class students’ mathematical disposition is also better than those of the control class. Lastly, the result also shows that there is some kind of correlation between the mathematical communication and mathematical disposition on the level of medium.