Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of a Copy, Cover, Compare Practice Procedure in Spelling with Four Second-Grade Students: Generalization to Weekly In Classroom Tests

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a copy, cover, and compare strategy to practice weekly core spelling words with four 2^(nd) grade students. Each of the participants had difficulty in spelling, and three students were judged to be at-risk for school failure, while one student labeled was enrolled in a special education resource room. A multiple baseline design across participants was employed. In this study, the copy, cover, compare spelling practice strategy resulted in improved scores for daily and end of the week spelling tests. The results also suggested that the copy, cover, compare strategy can be a functional and effective procedure to teach spelling words to students-at risk as well as to a student with learning disabilities. The benefits of employing copy, cover, and compare were also discussed.
Image Holistic Scene Understanding Based on Global Contextual Features and Bayesian Topic Model

Image holistic scene understanding based on global contextual features and Bayesian topic model is proposed. The model integrates three basic subtasks: the scene classification, image annotation and semantic segmentation. The model takes full advantage of global feature information in two aspects. On the one side, the performance of image scene classification and image annotation are boosted by incorporating image global contextual features; On the other side, the performance of image semantic segmentation is also boosted by new superpixel region segmentation method and new superpixel regions and patch feature representation. 1) For image scene classification and image annotation: (1) We improve the feature engineering methods by using the PHOW proposed by Vedaldi [1]; (2) Furthermore, global contextual features are learned by semantic features. 2) For semantic segmentation: (1) We improve the super-pixel segmentation method by using UCM in the literature [2]; (2)We proposed new feature representation for super-pixel region and patches by incorporating DSIFT, texton filter banks, RGB color, HOG, LBP and location features. The experiments testify that model performance has raised on all three sub-tasks.
Closest Strings, Primer Design, and Motif Search

Spurious Motifs.Our algorithm finds all positions in the strings that meet the specified requirements and will report no positions that do not; this is its advantage in contrast to algorithms in [5] and [3]. However, it clearly cannot exclude to find spurious motifs, e.g., random motifs in artificially generated data that have not been implanted. Note that not all combinations of L and d values are reasonable; if d is chosen too large compared to L, we can expect spurious randommotifs [3], e.g., with 20 random sequences of length 600, one can expect at least one (15, 5)-motif.
Principles and Applications of Multi-touch Interaction

Many everyday activities rely on our hands' ability to deftly control the physical attributes of objects. Most graphical interfaces only use the hand's position as input, ignoring a rich array of other hand parameters such as orientation or finger configuration. This dissertation examines how multi-touch input lets us make better use of our manual dexterity. We study the human factors governing multi-touch interaction, with special emphasis on finger coordination. Continuous multi-touch methods are emerging as a valuable form of high-degree-of-freedom input, yet few guidelines exist to aid the de signer of multi-touch interfaces. The results of our studies reveal the roles played by the visual structure and the control structure of tasks in determining the effectiveness of mappings between users' hands and fingers and the parameters they control in a software system. They increase our understanding of multi-touch interaction and its relationship to related methods such as bimanual interaction. We also presents a number of novel interaction techniques that illustrate the benefits of multi-touch interaction. These techniques let users work faster and more fluently than do traditional single-point interaction methods. We describe a perfor mance animation technique that lets users easily express ideas about motion and sequence while forgoing the extensive training and effort required for traditional animation. We also discuss a family of techniques that use multiple finger contacts to control digital instruments for manipulating graphical objects. These instruments allow for parallel control of multiple parameters (such as position and orientation) and reduce the need for separate interaction modes by unifying operations (such as grouping and moving objects).
Tortella tortulosa (Hedw.) Limpr. Özütlerinin Antimikrobiyal Aktivitesi

Bu calismada, Tortella tortulosa (Hedw.) Limpr. ozutlerinin antimikrobiyal etkisinin gozlenmesi amaclanmaktadir. Calismada sekiz farkli cozucu (kloroform, benzen, dietil eter, etil alkol, metil alkol, etil asetat, sdH2O ve 0.5M Tris-HCl tamponu (pH: 8.0)) kullanilarak ozutler elde edilmis ve bunlarin in vitro antimikrobiyal etkileri disk difuzyon testi kullanilarak denenmistir. Disk difuzyon testi ile elde edilen sonuclar; minimum inhibisyon konsantrasyonu, minimum bakterisidal konsantrasyonu ve minimum fungisidal konsantrasyonu testleri ile desteklenmistir. Calismada ayrica sekiz adet referans antibiyotik pozitif kontrol olarak kullanilmistir. Sonuc olarak, elde edilen ozutlerin Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Candida albicans ATCC 95071, Shigella flexneri (klinik izole) ve Trichophyton rubrum (klinik izole) suslarina karsi etkili oldugu gozlenmistir
Investigating perceptions of student engagement in class practices of Vietnamese learners of academic English

Over the last 25 years socially-based SLA research has increasingly focused on contextual factors that constitute the local learning environments of learners of English as a second language in attempting to better comprehend the socially embedded nature of learning outcomes. These scholars have largely postulated language learning not only as the acquisition of linguistic knowledge in the abstract but rather as fundamentally constituted by participation in social praxis as situated within local sociocultural and institutional contexts. The emergence of „the social‟ in SLA research is especially significant to academic contexts in which learners belonging to diverse cultural and literacy traditions typically struggle to identify with target literacy practices of their academic communities. Drawing on a sociocultural approach and the community of practice construct, this thesis takes a qualitative approach. Through the analysis of teacher and student focus group data, this thesis sets out to illustrate learner and teacher articulations surrounding what constitutes learner engagement in an academic English program at an international university in Vietnam. The data collected in this study suggests that the focal learners perceived higher levels of learner engagement in learning contexts in which collaborative, dialogic activity was extensively integrated in the acquisition of target academic literacy practices. While the focal teacher articulations surrounding student engagement also took into account the importance of such collaborative class activity, the teachers did not attribute the same level of importance to it that the focal students did. This study concludes that teachers should extensively use activity frameworks within class that encourage group work in the learning of target academic literacy practices, especially academic reading and writing practices. Even where target practices will ultimately be elaborated and assessed on an individual basis, this study illustrates that collaborative dialogic frameworks seemed to provide students with opportunities to pool linguistic, content, and skills-related resources, thus allowing students to overcome learning difficulties associated with academic literacy practices. Ultimately, such activity frameworks appeared to mediate higher levels of student engagement within class activities, which students linked to more effective and enjoyable learning of academic English. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Statistical modeling of human response times for task modeling in hci

Current modeling tools in HCI provide point estimates of response times and task completion times for evaluating interfaces. What is generally neglected is how user performance varies around these point estimates. A more solid statistical foundation for task performance parameters is needed. This research forges a path in this direction by examining the characteristics of two common GOMS operators, keystrokes and selection with the mouse. In two experimental tasks, response times were measured as users pressed a key or pointed and clicked with a mouse, while interacting with a graphical user interface. Findings show that response time is a skewed distribution that can be modeled by a Lognormal distribution. The shape parameter for this Lognormal distribution can be estimated at σ=0.3 and is applicable to both mouse and keyboard performance in experimental as well as applied tasks. The Lognormal model reasonably accounts for mouse and keyboard responses, especially in highly practiced tasks. The finding that an estimated Lognormal shape parameter value can be used to predict variability around mean response times for the mouse and keyboard data is important and will prove a useful parameter in predicting range estimates for mean response times. Results suggest that current methods in HCI should look to augment duration estimates for task operators with a theoretical model distribution like the Lognormal to obtain more reliable range estimates, confidence limits, and boundaries in user performance. The contributions of this research should lead to more sound and informed decisions about machine interface design and evaluation.
Active Flatness Control of Membrane Structures Using Fuzzy Logic Integrated Genetic Algorithm

Membrane structures are attracting attention as excellent candidates for lightweight large space structures, which can be utilized to improve the performance and reduce the cost of space exploration and earth observation missions. Membrane structures can be stowed to a small volume during launch and function as large structures after deployed. Membrane structures to be used in large synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites will have flatness issue subject to thermal disturbance in the space environment. Active shape control is a vital technology in maintaining flatness of membrane structures, therefore to ensure functionality of the antenna, in the time-varying environment. In this research, multiple shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators around the boundary of a rectangular membrane are used to apply tension forces to membrane structures to compensate for wrinkle effects. The dynamics of membrane structures is nonlinear and computationally expensive, hence unfeasible to be used in real-time active flatness control. As a parallel direct searching method, genetic algorithm (GA) is used search optimal tension force combination on a high dimensional nonlinear surface. Due to large number of tension forces to search, robust and mature convergence is more difficult to attain. In order to increase responsiveness and convergence of genetic algorithm, adaptive regulation of genetic algorithm parameter is important. Rather than heuristic adaptive rules, fuzzy logic integrated genetic algorithm (FLIGA) is proposed and designed in this paper. Fuzzy logic rules are incorporated in an adaptive genetic algorithm to regulate control parameters, such as mutation rate and crossover rate. Through numerical and experimental validation, it is demonstrated that FLIGA can expedite its search process and prevent premature convergence.
Effect of hermetic-storage on milling characteristics of six different varieties of paddy.

This study was conducted to evaluate the hermetic and common storage systems on the milling quality of six varieties of paddy, Bg 352, Bg 300, Bg 358, Bg 360, At 405 and At 306. Paddies were first solar dried to moisture content of 12±1% (wb) and then disinfested with chloroform before storage. The six varieties were stored in hermetic IRRIsuper bags and common poly-sack bags at an air temperate of 30±5 C and a relative humidity of 80±5%. After 41⁄2 months of storage, samples were tested for gas content, moisture content (MC), thousand grain mass (TGM), grain hardness, grain dimensions, whiteness (WH), milling parameters, and true density (DT) with their initial condition. Oxygen content dropped to 13.7% within 4 1⁄2 months and carbon dioxide rose to 2.4% in the hermetic IRRI-super bag. The results showed that MC of the poly-sack stored paddy (13-13.6%) significantly increased (p 0.05) was found in milling parameters and other properties among two storage methods. However, different quality parameters were observed according to the varietal differences under all test conditions. The results of this study suggest that hermetic storage of dried paddy has no adverse effect on milling yield, grain whiteness and other quality parameters up to 4 1⁄2 months of storage.
Female Science Advisors and the Stem Gender Gap

In an effort to reduce the gender gap in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), policymakers often propose providing women with close mentoring by female scientists. This is based on the idea that female scientists might act as role models and counteract negative gender stereotypes that are pervasive in science fields. However, as of yet, there is still no clear evidence on the role of mentor or advisor gender in reducing the STEM gender gap. We use rich administrative data from a private 4-year college to provide some of the first causal evidence on the impact of advisor gender on women's STEM degree attainment. We exploit a unique setting where students are randomly assigned to academic advisors--who are also faculty members--in their freshman year of college. A college advisor's main role is to provide students with one-on-one personalized mentoring regarding course and major selection. Students declare a major at the end of their freshman year, after having had the opportunity to repeatedly interact with their advisors. We find that being matched to a female rather than a male science advisor substantially narrows the gender gaps in STEM enrollment and graduation, with the strongest effects occurring among students who are highly skilled in math. In contrast, the gender of an advisor from a non-science department has no impact on students' major choice. Our results suggest that providing close mentoring or advising by female scientists can play an important role in promoting women's participation and persistence in STEM fields.
Ph ton Seroprevalence and some Associated risk factors with Toxoplasma gondii infection among human populations in Khartoum North , Sudan

Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease which primarily infects cats. It’s caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Annually30-50% of the human populations in the developed and developing countries are infected. Toxoplasmosis in healthy people is usually asymptomatic. However, it can cause serious pathological effects in congenital cases and immune-compromised individuals. Prevalence of the disease varies among different communities. Few studies were conducted in Sudan, among which is what was reported by AbdelHameed AA who found seroprevalence of 41.7%. Amir Elnahas reported relatively lower seroprevalence. This study was done to determine the seroprevalence of the disease among a suburban population in Khartoum north and to identify the risk factor associated with its transmission. In the suburban areas and some urban area of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan families rear domestic animals such as cats and dogs without paying any attention to the health of these animals like vaccination and checkup. Moreover there are considerable numbers of stray cats. These animals being in contact with people may transmit variety of zoonotic disease such as Toxoplasmosis. Deficient information are available regarding these disease prevalence, it therefore this research work was conducted to throw light of on this issue. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted during the period between March-June, 2015 at Samrab-umdirawa, Khartoum north. A total of 157 individuals from randomly selected houses were included in this study. From each participant 2-5ml of venous blood were collected into a plain container allowed to clot and after clot retraction centrifuged and the serum separated for testing. Each serum specimen was screened for anti Toxoplama gondii antibodies using latex agglutination test (Toxo-Latex diagnostic kits from Spinreact, S.A/S.A.U, Spain). Specimens reactive for anti-toxplasma antibodies were further tested by ELISA test for specific anti-toxoplasma antibodies
1 0 Ju l 2 01 9 Degenerate Turán densities of sparse hypergraphs

For fixed integers r > k ≥ 2, e ≥ 3, let fr(n, er − (e − 1)k, e) be the maximum number of edges in an r-uniform hypergraph in which the union of any e distinct edges contains at least er − (e − 1)k + 1 vertices. A classical result of Brown, Erdős and Sós in 1973 showed that fr(n, er − (e − 1)k, e) = Θ(n). The degenerate Turán density is defined to be the limit (if it exists) π(r, k, e) := lim n→∞ fr(n, er − (e− 1)k, e) n . Extending a recent result of Glock for the special case of r = 3, k = 2, e = 3, we show that π(r, 2, 3) := lim n→∞ fr(n, 3r − 4, 3) n = 1 r − r − 1 for arbitrary fixed r ≥ 4. For the more general cases r > k ≥ 3, we show that 1 r − r ≤ lim inf n→∞ fr(n, 3r − 2k, 3) n ≤ lim sup n→∞ fr(n, 3r − 2k, 3) n ≤ 1 k! ( r k )
Selenium , tellurium and sulfur variations in basalts along the Reykjanes Ridge and extension over Iceland , from 50 ° N to 65 ° N Working

We report on the S, Se, and Te contents of basalts from the well-documented Reykjanes Ridge and extension over the SW-Iceland rift zone, along where the Iceland mantle plume appears to have dispersed and mixed with the surrounding depleted upper mantle. Most of the submarine basalts are from glassy rims, including 5 sub-glacial erupted Iceland basalts. We emphasize that our interpretation of these data is based primarily on the along-ridge spatial variations, considering that the nature of the large-scale sampling and sampling-intervals involved preclude determining local consanguineous basaltic melt evolutions. Sulfur variation along the ridge stays fairly constant (1000-1500 ppm range), until it drops drastically around 63°N coincident with the onset of degassing of H2O. Chlorine and bromine degassing also take place at shallow water depths of 250-500 m. The S variation is clearly controlled by its solubility, by sulfide-saturation from 50°N to 63°N, and as vapor/melt solubility further north and on Iceland. In contrast, Se and Te increase regularly from 50°N toward Iceland by a factor of 2-2.5 and 4-5, respectively, until degassing of S and other volatiles takes place. About 95% of S, 80% of Te and 67% of Se are lost by degassing north of 63°N. The increase in Se and Te from 50-63°N is clearly unrelated to low pressure, late stage, crystallization variation, as evident by the accompanying along-ridge variations in MgO, Ni and Cu from the same basalts. Two models might account for the Se and Te enrichments of the undegassed basalts. First, these variations could result from along-ridge dilution of the Iceland mantle plume, presumably enriched in Se and Te and Te/Se ratio relative to the depleted upper mantle (DUM), as previously inferred from Pb-Sr-Nd and He isotope variations of the same basalts. The positive correlations of Se, Te and Te/Se ratio of the undegassed MORB population with 3He/4He, as well as Cu with 3He/4He from 50°N-65°N, are both supportive of this explanation. Alternatively, increasing melting toward Iceland of a single sulfide-bearing primary upper mantle source (PUM) with BSE composition (i.e., 250 ppm S [714 ppm sulfide], 75 ppb Se and 12 ppb Te) can also broadly match the observed trends of increasing Se and Te and Te/Se ratio toward Iceland, providing the following conditions apply: 1) the degree of partial melting from 50-65°N increases from 7-19%, and 2) the Se and Te sulfide melt/silicate melt partition coefficients are in
Form 2 The elements of design form in Acheulian bifaces : modes , modalities , rules and language

Acheulian bifaces are multivariate objects, in which a set of variables were controlled by the manufacturers and users, constrained by basic needs and necessities. In any set of Acheulian bifaces, variation of shape and size is pronounced and obvious. Part of this is in simple variables such as length, which often approximate to a normal distribution. Other variation gives the appearance of internal structure within the set, such that if all variables were measured and plotted in multivariate space, there would be clusters of preferred forms, with gaps between them. Aware of such variety, archaeologists have usually dealt with it by segmenting the variation, according to arbitrary distinctions. Such “types” or “subtypes” have the advantage of uniformity across sites, but the disadvantage of being a projection from the modern mind. To explore natural variation, it is necessary to isolate the most important “true” variables, and from them to explore preferred design targets, bearing in (modern) mind that we have a limited idea of how tightly “bounded” these were in the ancient mind. This paper relies chiefly on East African material – Kilombe, Kariandusi – for its examples, coupled with some use of North African and European material, together relevant to the Middle East. Using results of cluster analyses and PCA (Principal Components Analysis), it explores the nature of variation, and argues that a limited series of “imperatives” best explains the way in which the makers of Acheulian bifaces arrived at working solutions to problems involving the handling of several variables.