Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of personal and epistemological beliefs on performance in a college developmental mathematics class

This study explored the effects of personal epistemological beliefs about mathematics and beliefs about the ability to do well in mathematics on achievement in a college-level, developmental mathematics class. The influences of gender, age, and ethnicity on these beliefs as they relate to mathematics achievement were also explored. The Mathematics Belief Scales (MBS) was adapted from the Indiana Mathematics Belief Scales and Self-Description Questionnaire III to measure beliefs about the time it takes to solve mathematics problems, the importance of conceptual understanding in mathematics, the procedural emphasis in mathematics, the usefulness of mathematics, and self-concept about mathematics. MBS was administered to 159 participants enrolled in Intermediate Algebra over two semesters at an urban, state-supported mid-western university and two small private mid-western universities. Responses to the surveys and scores on the final exams for the Intermediate Algebra courses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Pearson product-moment correlations, analysis of variance techniques, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results indicated that students generally held nonavailing beliefs about mathematics and mathematics self-concept. Students typically believed that mathematical problems should be solved within ten minutes. Students generally did not believe that math problems can be solved with logic and reason instead of learned math rules. Over 40% of the students did not believe that mathematics beyond basic mathematics was useful to everyday life. Students were also generally not confident in their ability to solve mathematics problems. Additionally, men’s self-concept was significantly higher than women’s selfconcept. Adult learners’ self-concept was also significantly higher than traditional age students’ self-concept. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the importance of understanding mathematical concepts positively influenced final exam scores for men more so than women and self-concept positively influenced final exam scores for women more so than men. These results indicate a need for academic experiences at the collegelevel that will challenge students’ current belief system and provide an environment that is supportive and conducive to building individual self-confidence. THE EFFECT OF PERSONAL AND EPISTEMOLOGICAL BELIEFS ON PERFORMANCE IN A COLLEGE DEVELOPMENTAL MATHEMATICS CLASS
Competitive Prediction Under Additive Noise

In this correspondence, we consider sequential prediction of a real-valued individual signal from its past noisy samples, under square error loss. We refrain from making any stochastic assumptions on the generation of the underlying desired signal and try to achieve uniformly good performance for any deterministic and arbitrary individual signal. We investigate this problem in a competitive framework, where we construct algorithms that perform as well as the best algorithm in a competing class of algorithms for each desired signal. Here, the best algorithm in the competition class can be tuned to the underlying desired clean signal even before processing any of the data. Three different frameworks under additive noise are considered: the class of a finite number of algorithms; the class of all p th order linear predictors (for some fixed order p); and finally the class of all switching pth order linear predictors.
The COSIMA prototype for multi-objective bargaining

Multi-objective bargaining is a challenging business model for B2C or B2B Internet applications. Our visual bargaining agent COSIMA builds on cooperative database technology like Preference SQL or Preference XPATH, which can efficiently implement \linebreak[4] multi-dimensional search engines with a Pareto-optimality semantics to find best alternative offers. COSIMA is a smart avatar with dynamically generated speech output. We have implemented several well-known bargaining strategies for a sample e-shop, where the customer can bargain on more attributes than just the price. The life-like appearance of COSIMA is supported by randomizing her bargaining tactics and by expressing visual emotions during bargaining. She can also learn and adapt dynamically to various bargaining preferences of the customers. The COSIMA prototype is carefully engineered by means of component-ware and IT-standards including SQL, XML and Java. This makes it scalable even to very large e-shop databases. Measurements show that this advanced user interface of COSIMA requires only a small overhead of a few seconds, including the bidding process. Thus real-time performance using state-of-the art software components and hardware is feasible. A preliminary user feedback has been very encouraging. COSIMA gave her debut to a large professional audience at the computer fair CeBIT 2002.
Immune Response of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets with Different Levels of Mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana Linn . ) Rind Powder

The general objective of the study is to determine the immune response of feeding diets with different levels of mangosteen rind powder to broiler chickens. Specifically, it aimed (1) to determine the immune responses of broiler chickens on the total white blood cell count, heterophil count and lymphocyte count, including the presence of basophils, eosinophils and monocytes and (2) to determine the immune effects of the different levels of mangosteen rind powder on the bursa of Fabricius and spleen through histological examination. The study was conducted in a Completely Randomzed Design. A total of eighty (80) day old chicks were randomly distributed into five (5) different treatments. The five (5) treatments used include the control wherein no mangosteen rind powder or no commercial antioxidant is incorporated in the diet, commercial antioxidant incorporated in the diet, 33 g of mangosteen rind powder/ kg of feed, 66 g of mangosteen rind powder/ kg of feed and 100 g of mangosteen rind powder/ kg of feed. For study 1 and 2, formulated diets of corn-soya based was used incorporated with different levels of mangosteen rind powder were used. The inclusion of 66 g and 100 g of mangosteen rind powder per kg of feed in the diet of broiler chickens increased the total white blood cell count, heterophil count, lymphocyte concentration in the bursa of Fabricius and the spleen lymphatic node formation. Results show that mangosteen rind powder at 66 g/kg of feed and 100 g/ kg of feed enhances the immune system of broiler chickens.
Role of the Enterocyte in Fructose-Induced Hypertriglyceridaemia

Dietary fructose has been linked to an increased post-prandial triglyceride (TG) level; which is an established independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although much research has focused on the effects of fructose consumption on liver-derived very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL); emerging evidence also suggests that fructose may raise post-prandial TG levels by affecting the metabolism of enterocytes of the small intestine. Enterocytes have become well recognised for their ability to transiently store lipids following a meal and to thus control post-prandial TG levels according to the rate of chylomicron (CM) lipoprotein synthesis and secretion. The influence of fructose consumption on several aspects of enterocyte lipid metabolism are discussed; including de novo lipogenesis; apolipoprotein B48 and CM-TG production; based on the findings of animal and human isotopic tracer studies. Methodological issues affecting the interpretation of fructose studies conducted to date are highlighted; including the accurate separation of CM and VLDL. Although the available evidence to date is limited; disruption of enterocyte lipid metabolism may make a meaningful contribution to the hypertriglyceridaemia often associated with fructose consumption.
Genetic Diversity of Staphylocoagulase Genes (coa): Insight into the Evolution of Variable Chromosomal Virulence Factors in Staphylococcus aureus

Background The production of staphylocoagulase (SC) causing the plasma coagulation is one of the important characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus. Although SCs have been classified into 10 serotypes based on the differences in the antigenicity, genetic bases for their diversities and relatedness to chromosome types are poorly understood. Methodology/Principal Findings We compared the nucleotide sequences of 105 SC genes (coa), 59 of which were determined in this study. D1 regions, which contain prothrombin-activating and -binding domains and are presumed to be the binding site of each type-specific antiserum, were classified into twelve clusters having more than 90% nucleotide identities, resulting to create two novel SC types, XI and XII, in addition to extant 10 types. Nine of the twelve SC types were further subdivided into subtypes based on the differences of the D2 or the central regions. The phylogenetical relations of the D1 regions did not correlate exactly with either one of agr types and multilocus sequence types (STs). In addition, genetic analysis showed that recombination events have occurred in and around coa. So far tested, STs of 126 S. aureus strains correspond to the combination of SC type and agr type except for the cases of CC1 and CC8, which contained two and three different SC types, respectively. Conclusion The data suggested that the evolution of coa was not monophyletic in the species. Chromosomal recombination had occurred at coa and agr loci, resulting in the carriage of the combinations of allotypically different important virulence determinants in staphylococcal chromosome.
Comment on “Can We Name Earth’s Species Before They Go Extinct?”

Costello et al. (Review, 25 January 2013, p. 413) challenged the common view that many species are disappearing before being described. We suggest that their conclusion is overly optimistic because of a limited selection and interpretation of available evidence that tends to overestimate rates of species description and underestimate the number of species on Earth and their current extinction rate.
Psychological Variables of Sport Participation and Involvement among Student-Athletes of Tertiary Institutions in South-West, Nigeria

This study was conducted to investigate the psychological variables motivating sport participation and involvement among student-athletes of tertiary institutions in southwest Nigeria. One thousand three hundred and fifty (N-1350) studentathletes were randomly selected in all sports from nine tertiary institutions in south-west Nigeria. These tertiary institutions include University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State University, University of Ibadan, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal University of Technology Akungba, University of Ilorin, and Kwara State University. The descriptive survey research method was adopted while a self developed validated Likert type questionnaire named Sport Participation Scale (SPS) was used to elicit opinion from respondents. The test-retest reliability value obtained for the instrument, using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient was 0.96. Out of the one thousand three hundred and fifty (N-1350) questionnaire administered, only one thousand two hundred and five (N-1286) were correctly filled, coded and analysed using inferential statistics of Chi-Square (X2) while all the tested hypotheses were set at. 05 alpha level. Based on the findings of this study, the result revealed that several psychological factors influence student athletes to continue participation in sport one which includes love for the game, famous athletes as role model and family support. However, the analysis further revealed that the stipends the student-athletes get from their universities have no influence on their participation and involvement in sport. Keywords—Family support, peer, role model, sport participation, student-athletes.
Understanding the Influence of Team Climate on IT Use

Huigang Liang East Carolina University huigang.liang@gmail.com Yajiong Xue East Carolina University yajiong.xue@gmail.com Weiling Ke Clarkson University wke@clarkson.edu This article contributes to the technology acceptance literature by providing an enriched understanding about how team climate for innovation affects end users’ IT use. Empirical data collected from 103 physicians shows that team climate significantly affects the use of a computerized physician order entry system through the mediation of performance expectancy and facilitating conditions. Team climate also affects users’ subjective norm, yet subjective norm is not found to have a significant impact on IT use. Our findings confirm the importance of users’ proximal social network in voluntary settings, demonstrating that team climate influences IT use behaviors by changing users’ cognitive perceptions rather than their normative beliefs. Keyword: team climate for innovation, social influence, internalization, proximal social network, physician, IT use Vol. 11 Issue 8 pp. 414-432 August 2010 Understanding the Influence of Team Climate on IT Use* * Michael Wade was the accepting senior editor. This was submitted on June 12, 2009 and went through two revisions. Kwok Kee Wei City University of Hong Kong fbweikk@cityu.edu. hk
Love at the cultural crossroads: Intimacy and commitment in Chinese Canadian relationships

The role of culture in romantic relationships has largely been investigated by examining variation between groups, rather than within groups. This study took a within-group approach to examine the influence of Canadian and Chinese cultural identification on gender role egalitarianism, intimacy, and commitment in 60 Chinese Canadian dating couples. Results revealed that men's identification with mainstream Canadian culture was associated with their own and with their partner's greater intimacy, at least in part because of their greater egalitarianism. Conversely, women's identification with mainstream Canadian culture was associated with their partners' lower intimacy. Finally, women's identification with Chinese heritage culture was associated with their greater commitment, and some evidence suggested that this was because of their greater gender role traditionalism.
Boundary-Layer Meteorology : an international journal of physical and biological processes in the atmospheric boundary layer

The performance of an atmospheric single-column model (SCM) is studied systematically for stably-stratified conditions. To this end, 11years (2005–2015) of daily SCM simulations were compared to observations from the Cabauw observatory, The Netherlands. Each individual clear-sky night was classified in terms of the ambient geostrophic wind speed with a 1 m s−1 bin-width. Nights with overcast conditions were filtered out by selecting only those nights with an average net radiation of less than − 30 W m−2. A similar procedure was applied to the observational dataset. A comparison of observed and modelled ensembleaveraged profiles of wind speed and potential temperature and time series of turbulent fluxes showed that the model represents the dynamics of the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) at Cabauw very well for a broad range of mechanical forcing conditions. No obvious difference in model performance was found between near-neutral and strongly-stratified conditions. Furthermore, observed NBL regime transitions are represented in a natural way. The reference model version performs much better than a model version that applies excessive vertical mixing as is done in several (global) operational models. Model sensitivity runs showed that for weak-wind conditions the inversion strength depends much more on details of the landatmosphere coupling than on the turbulent mixing. The presented results indicate that in principle the physical parametrizations of large-scale atmospheric models are sufficiently equipped for modelling stably-stratified conditions for a wide range of forcing conditions.
Interference temperature: a metric for dynamic spectrum utilization

Interference temperature has been proposed by the FCC as a metric for interference analysis. The purpose of the metric is to demystify and remove the subjective context that has been the basis of interference analysis within the regulatory agencies. The development of an interference metric is critical if more intensive, dynamic use of the spectrum is desired. There has been very little specified as to the origins, use, and challenges of an interference metric. This paper provides an introductory analysis of the interference temperature metric. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human replication protein A unfolds telomeric G-quadruplexes

G-quadruplex structures inhibit telomerase activity and must be disrupted for telomere elongation during S phase. It has been suggested that the replication protein A (RPA) could unwind and maintain single-stranded DNA in a state amenable to the binding of telomeric components. We show here that under near-physiological in vitro conditions, human RPA is able to bind and unfold G-quadruplex structures formed from a 21mer human telomeric sequence. Analyses by native gel electrophoresis, cross-linking and fluorescence resonance energy transfer indicate the formation of both 1:1 and 2:1 complexes in which G-quadruplexes are unfolded. In addition, quadruplex opening by hRPA is much faster than observed with the complementary DNA, demonstrating that this protein efficiently unfolds G-quartets. A two-step mechanism accounting for the binding of hRPA to G-quadruplexes is proposed. These data point to the involvement of hRPA in regulation of telomere maintenance.
Konrad-zuse-zentrum F ¨ Ur Informationstechnik Berlin How to Cut a Cake Almost Fairly How to Cut a Cake Almost Fairly

In the cake cutting problem, n ≥ 2 players want to cut a cake into n pieces so that every player gets a " fair " share of the cake by his own measure. We describe a protocol with n − 1 cuts in which each player can enforce to get a share of at least 1/(2n−2). Moreover we show that no protocol with n−1 cuts can guarantee a better fraction.
Good Reasons Sell: Reason - Based Choice Among Group and Individual Investors in the Stock Market

In this paper, we compare the investment decisions of groups (stock clubs) and individuals. Both individuals and clubs are more likely to purchase stocks that are associated with good reasons (e.g., a company that is featured on a list of most-admired companies). However, stock clubs favor such stocks more than individuals, despite the fact that such reasons do not improve performance. We describe why social dynamics may make good reasons more important for groups than individuals.
A population-based study of the risk of recurrence of birth defects.

BACKGROUND Certain birth defects are known to recur in families, but most estimates of the risk of recurrence have come from clinic-based studies. In this study we estimated the risk of recurrent birth defects using a population-based registry. METHODS The study was based on the records of the first and second infants delivered by 371,933 women from 1967 through 1989. The records are maintained by the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. For the 9192 women whose first infant had a birth defect, we determined the relative risk of similar and dissimilar defects in the second infant. The reference population was women whose first infant had no defect. RESULTS Among first infants, 2.5 percent had a birth defect. The mothers of affected first infants were 2.4 times as likely as other women to have second infants with any registered defect. This increased risk was due primarily to an increased (7.6 times higher) risk of the same defect in the second infant as in the first (95 percent confidence interval, 6.5 to 8.8) and secondarily to a slightly increased (1.5 times higher) risk of a different defect in the second infant (95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 1.7). Among the women who lived in the same municipality during both pregnancies, the relative risk of having a second infant with the same defect was 11.6, as compared with 5.1 among the women who moved to another municipality after the birth of their first infant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Among women whose first infant has a birth defect, the risk of the same defect in the second infant is substantially increased and the risk of a different defect in the second infant is slightly increased. Environment plays a strong part in repeated defects.
Improving “Email Speech Acts” Analysis via N-gram Selection

In email conversational analysis, it is often useful to trace the the intents behind each message exchange. In this paper, we consider classification of email messages as to whether or not they contain certain intents or email-acts, such as "propose a meeting" or "commit to a task". We demonstrate that exploiting the contextual information in the messages can noticeably improve email-act classification. More specifically, we describe a combination of n-gram sequence features with careful message preprocessing that is highly effective for this task. Compared to a previous study (Cohen et al., 2004), this representation reduces the classification error rates by 26.4% on average. Finally, we introduce Ciranda: a new open source toolkit for email speech act prediction.
Name-based geographical routing/forwarding support for location-based IoT services

Internet of Things (IoT) devices deployed everywhere are expected as potential data sources for various location-based services. This paper designs an anonymous geographical routing/forwarding mechanism to support location-based IoT services, where users collect data pieces from IoT devices by specifying their locations rather than their names/addresses. A key idea of the routing/forwarding mechanism is enabling users to collect location-dependent data without locations of users' interest being leaked.
Comparison between Alzheimer's Disease and Subcortical Vascular Dementia: Attentional Cortex Study in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and the Stroop test were used to assess attentional cortex activation in patients with Alzheimer's disease, subcortical vascular dementia, and normal control subjects. Patients with Alzheimer's disease and subcortical vascular dementia demonstrated similar locations of cortical activation, including the bilateral middle and inferior frontal gyri, anterior cingulate and inferior parietal lobule in response to Stroop colour word stimuli. This activation was distinctly decreased in patients with dementia compared with normal control subjects. Different regions of the brain were activated in patients with Alzheimer's disease and subcortical vascular dementia compared with normal controls. fMRI is a useful tool for the study of dementia in humans and has some potential diagnostic value. Further studies with larger numbers of participants are required.
Education, Signaling and Mismatch

We assess the importance education as a signal of workers skills and the eÂ¤ects of poor signaling quality on labor market outcomes. We do so by merging a frictional labor market model with a signaling setup where there is a privately observed idiosyncratic component in the cost of education. Given that highly skilled workers cannot correctly signal their abilities, their wages will be lower and they will not be matched to the "right" vacancies, or may be unemployed. Skilled workers will then have lower incentives to move to high productivity markets. Furthermore, fewer vacancies will be created in labor markets where skills matter, and incentives for workers to invest in education will be lower. Overall, an economy where education is a noisier signal generates lower educational attainment, higher unemployment and lower productivity. In addition, we provide evidence suggesting that education plays a poor signaling role in Latin American countries. We then calibrate our model using Peruvian data, and through a quantitative exercise we show that this mechanism could be relevant to explain the relatively bad performance of labor markets in Latin American countries.