Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overuse of Discourse Markers in Turkish English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners’ Writings: The Case of ‘I Think’ and ‘in My Opinion’

Abstract This study tries to dwell on overuse of two discourse markers I thinkand in my opinionin Turkish EFL learners’ written productions. The data was collected from 161 Turkish EFL learners and a corpus of 58.046 words was compiled and it was compared with a native English corpus of 54.285. The focus of the comparison was the frequency of the phrases I thinkand in my opinion. A raw frequency calculation of the phrases revealed that the Turkish EFL learners actually used a considerable amount of them when compared with the written productions of native speakers of English. In the inferential analysis process, the variances of these phrases in the two corpora were calculated and since the calculations yielded statistically significant differences, a non-parametric test, Mann Whitney U-test, was employed. The results validated the obvious difference of the phrases in terms of frequency, which means that there is a plethora of the phrases of I think and in my opinion in Turkish EFL learners’ written productions.
Mutual Fund Performance Evaluation and Best Clienteles

This paper investigates investor disagreement and clientele effects in performance evaluation by developing a measure that considers the best potential clienteles of mutual funds. In an incomplete market under law-of-one-price (LOP) and no-good-deal conditions, we obtain an upper bound on admissible performance measures that identifies the most favorable alpha. Empirically, we find that a reasonable investor disagreement leads to generally positive performance for the best clienteles. Performance disagreement by investors can be significant enough to change the average evaluation of mutual funds from negative to positive, depending on the clienteles.
An approachment to group processes in female professional sport

Under consideration of the conceptual model of cohesion (Carron & Eys, 2012), this study examined how perceptions of ambiguity and role conflict can predict group cohesion and how it could influence transactive memory and collective efficacy in female sport teams. The participants were 225 professional female soccer players ( M = 22.20, SD = 4.61). Each individual belonged to one of 13 federate teams that participated in the First Division of the Spanish Women’s Soccer League. The structural equation model showed that members that perceived greater ambiguity and role conflict perceive less task cohesion with their teams. Additionally, individuals who feel more united with their team and are willing to work in a collaborative manner state that a greater transactive memory in regards to performing tasks and greater collective efficacy in realizing these tasks exist. The results suggest that the group leaders in female sports teams will have to make an effort to define the roles of each member of the team to improve the union and group work, because these factors are linked to the capacity of sharing knowledge among group members and the confidence in abilities when facing team work.
Film-making and Police-minority Relations: Slovenian Police and Roma in Shanghai Gypsy

After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Slovenia hosted the million-dollar production of a major motion picture, Shanghai Gypsy (2012), which focuses on Roma and criminal justice themes. Several current Slovenian police officers played the role of police while local Roma were ‘extras’ as Roma villagers. This research explored the meaning of cooperating on production of the film for participants from two groups formerly in conflict. The current study consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted approximately 18 months after the film was produced with a sample of participants. We hypothesized that the film participants were able to interact with each other in ways that opened up new modes of communication, improved interpersonal relationships, and aided mutual understanding. Participants indicated that the film was regarded as a powerful means of generating Roma cultural awareness. Both police and Roma tended to downplay the intensity of the original conflict, yet often offered stories and anecdotes that seemed to indicate that relations between the groups had indeed improved as a result of their participation in the film.
The Structure and Plasticity of the Proximal Axon of Hippocampal and Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

xii CHAPTER 1 Introduction. 1 I. The Multipolar Morphology and the Axon Initial Segment . 2 1. Neuronal Structure . 2 1.1. Morphological classification of neurons . 2 1.2. Neuronal subcellular domains . 2 2. Molecular Insights of Neuronal Polarity . 4 3. The Axon Initial Segment . 5 3.1. Molecular organization of the AIS . 6 3.2. The importance of the AIS to neuronal polarity . 8 3.3. AIS plasticity . 8 3.4. The importance of the AIS to human diseases. 9 II. The Pseudo-Unipolar Morphology and the Proximal Segment . 10 1. The Function of DRG Neurons . 10 2. Diversity among DRG Neurons . 11 2.1. Morphology of the Cell Body . 11 2.2. Fiber Conduction Velocity . 13 2.3. Sensory Modality . 13 2.4. Neurochemical Phenotype . 14
A Simple Multiple Variance-Ratio Test Based on Ranks

Using Chow and Denning's arguments applied to the individual hypothesis test methodology of Wright (2000) I propose a multiple variance-ratio test based on ranks to investigate the hypothesis of no serial coorelation. This rank joint test can be exact if data are i.i. d. Some Monte Carlo simulations show that its size distortions are small for observations obeying the martingale hypothesis while not being and i.i. d. process. Also, regarding size and power, it compares favorably with other popular tests.
The Relationship between Eighth Grade Elementary Students’ Operational and Measurable Prediction Skills and Mathematical Literacy

This study aimed to investigate relationship between eighth grade elementary students’ operational and measurable prediction skills and their mathematical literacy. Mathematical literacy is a very broad term but in the present study it was narrowed with students’ daily life issues and used for regarding students’ mathematics usage in their daily life according to their levels. In the study, quantitative methodology to investigate the levels of the students’ prediction skills and mathematical literacy and qualitative methodology to determine the students’ strategies in the prediction question were chosen. The participants of the study were chosen with a stratified sampling random strategy from a medium-scaled city of East Anatolian Region of Turkey in the academic year 2011–2012. The participants were 221 eighth grade students from 20 national elementary schools. As data collection tools, a “Measurable and Operational Prediction Skill Test” including ten questions for the prediction skill and “Mathematical Literacy Test” including 20 questions were used. The findings showed that there was a significant relationship between measurable and operational prediction skills. Also it was observed that the students having high score of measurable and operational prediction skills became more successful in the mathematical literacy test. The gender did not have any significant impact on these variables.
A New Terrain Classification Framework Using Proprioceptive Sensors for Mobile Robots

Mobile robots that operate in real-world environments interact with the surroundings to generate complex acoustics and vibration signals, which carry rich information about the terrain. This paper presents a new terrain classification framework that utilizes both acoustics and vibration signals resulting from the robot-terrain interaction. As an alternative to handcrafted domain-specific feature extraction, a two-stage feature selection method combining ReliefF and mRMR algorithms was developed to select optimal feature subsets that carry more discriminative information. As different data sources can provide complementary information, a multiclassifier combination method was proposed by considering a priori knowledge and fusing predictions from five data sources: one acoustic data source and four vibration data sources. In this study, four conceptually different classifiers were employed to perform the classification, each with a different number of optimal features. Signals were collected using a tracked robot moving at three different speeds on six different terrains. The new framework successfully improved classification performance of different classifiers using the newly developed optimal feature subsets. The greater improvement was observed for robot traversing at lower speeds.
Determinants of Financing Pattern and Access to Formal -Informal Credit: The Case of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Viet Nam

We investigate factors from firm side that determine their financing pattern for new investment projects and their decision to choose formal, informal credit, or both. For financing pattern of new investment project, we use Random-effect model while Unordered-Multinomial Logistic is used to estimate probability of choosing any of four choices to access to finance, say, formal credit, informal credit, both of them, or none of them. Our analysis is based on a panel of around 2200 small and medium sized enterprises with 7900 observations extracted from the “Survey of small and medium scale manufacturing enterprises in Viet Nam” in 2005, 2007, and 2009.
Fuzzy sets and their applications

A big number of ordinary and global measures and indicators are defined, if we are taking into account information quantity viewed as a subjective concept (influenced by the observer). This is made by considering a great number of influencing factors, which could more precise in measuring the information quantity. The paper ends with some proposals regarded to management applications of new indicators and their adjusting to the actual circumstances met in practice.
BTN1A1 , FABP3 and TG genes polymorphism in East Anatolian red cattle breed and South Anatolian red cattle breed

The aim of the study was to determine butyrophilin, thyroglobulin and fatty acid binding protein genes in East Anatolian Red cattle breed and South Anatolian Red cattle breed. In the study, unrelated 50 South Anatolian red and 50 East Anatolian red cattle were used. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood using standart salt-out protocol. The polymerase chain reaction technique was used for gene amplification. Allele and genotype distribution and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was calculated by using PopGene32 software program. For BTN1A1 gene, A allele frequency was higher in East Anatolian red (EAR) and South Anatolian red (SAR) cattles. In TG gene, T allele frequency was higher in SAR breed but this frequency was lower in EAR cattle breed. For FABP3 gene, G allele frequency was lower in SAR breed but it was higher in EAR breed. The presented results should be confirmed in future investigations, taking into consideration all possible genotype at different loci and using other restriction enzymes for recognizing the variants. Keywords : BTN1A1, TG, FABP3, cattle, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment lenght polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(20), pp. 2802-2807
Jupiter Formed with More Tar than Ice

Elemental abundances in Jupiter determined from Galileo probe measurements are compared to recently revised solar system abundances. When normalized to the abundance of sulfur, the most abundant refractory rock-forming element reliably determined in Jupiter's atmosphere by the Galileo probe, abundances of argon, krypton, and xenon are 1 times solar, the observed oxygen is depleted by a factor of 4, and carbon is enriched 1.7 times. The fairly uncertain nitrogen abundance ranges from 1 to 3 times solar. The oxygen abundance in Jupiter derived from the observed atmospheric water abundance is only a lower limit to the total planetary oxygen because oxygen is also bound to rock-forming elements such as magnesium or silicon sequestered deep in the planet. The sulfur abundance constrains the amount of rock-forming elements on Jupiter. Considering the amount of oxygen bound to silicate rock, the total oxygen abundance on Jupiter of 0.47 times solar system indicates an overall oxygen depletion by about a factor of 2. The hydrogen and helium abundances in the Jovian atmosphere are depleted (0.48 and 0.39 times solar system, respectively). These relative depletions may indicate the extent of hydrogen and helium partitioning from the molecular envelope into Jupiter's metallic layer. A formation scenario for Jupiter is proposed to explain the relative oxygen depletion and, at the same time, the relative carbon enrichment. In essence, the model assumes that at the time of Jupiter's formation, abundant carbonaceous matter was present near 5.2 AU rather than abundant water ice, increasing the surface mass density of solids in the solar nebula accretion disk. Carbonaceous matter, which has high sticking probabilities, was the agent that sped up accumulation of solid matter of proto-Jupiter. This led to runaway accretion of the planet. Major consequences of this scenario are that the water ice condensation front (the snow line) typically placed near 5.2 AU in solar nebula models must be replaced by a carbonaceous condensation/evaporation front (the "tar line") and that the snow line is located farther out in the solar nebula.
From 1 to 6: A Finer Analysis of Perturbed Branching Brownian Motion

The logarithmic correction for the order of the maximum for two‐speed branching Brownian motion changes discontinuously when approaching slopes σ12=σ22=1 , which corresponds to standard branching Brownian motion. In this article we study this transition more closely by choosing σ12=1±t−α and σ22=1∓t−α . We show that the logarithmic correction for the order of the maximum now smoothly interpolates between the correction in the i.i. d. case 122lnt,322lnt , and 622lnt when 0
Title Reflectance of Surfactant-Templated Mesoporous Silica Thin Films : Simulations Versus Experiments Permalink

In this study, cubic and hexagonal mesoporous amorphous silica thin films were synthesized using evaporation-induced self-assembly process followed by calcination leaving highly ordered spherical or cylindrical pores in a silica matrix. The films featured pores with diameter between 4 and 11 nm, lattice parameter from 7.8 to 24 nm, and porosity between 22% and 45%. All films were dehydrated prior to reflectance measurements except for one film which was fully hydrated. The present study compares the spectral reflectance measured experimentally between 400 and 900 nm with that computed numerically by solving threedimensional Maxwell’s equations in mesoporous silica thin films with the same morphology as those synthesized. The matrix was assumed to have the same optical properties as bulk fused silica. The pore optical properties were either those of air or liquid water whether the film was dehydrated or hydrated, respectively. Excellent agreement was found between experimental and numerical reflectance for both cubic and hexagonal mesoporous silica films. This study experimentally validates our simulation tool and offers the prospect of ab-initio design of nanocomposite materials with arbitrary optical properties without using effective medium approximation or mixing rules.
Integrated Flood Risk Analysis and Management Methodologies

Sixth Framework Programme for European Research and Technological Development (2002-2006) FLOODsite is an Integrated Project in the Global Change and Eco-systems Sub-Priority Start date March 2004, duration 5 Years Document Dissemination Level PU Public PU PP Restricted to other programme participants (including the Commission Services) RE Restricted to a group specified by the consortium (including the Commission Services) CO Confidential, only for members of the consortium (including the Commission Services)
CO Observations of the λ-Orionis Ring

Abstract We present results from a new 12CO (J =1→ 0) survey of theλ-Orionis region. The observations cover 110 square degrees uniformly on a Nyquist-sampled grid. We discover CO emission at levels far lower than possible in previous surveys, revealing a structure similar to that seen in IRAS 100μ maps. We derive a total molecular mass of 1·1×104 M☉. A possible explanation for the isolated and localised outbreak of star formation in the region is discussed.
On values of the Mahler measure in a quadratic field (solution of a problem of Dixon and Dubickas)

For an algebraic number α, let M(α) be the Mahler measure of α and let M = {M(α) | α ∈ Q}. No method is known to decide whether a given algebraic integer β is inM. Partial results have been obtained by Adler and Marcus [1], Boyd [2]–[4], Dubickas [6]–[8] and Dixon and Dubickas [5], but the problem has not been solved even for β of degree two. The following theorem, similar to, but not identical with Theorem 9 of [5], is an easy consequence of [7]. Theorem 1. A primitive real quadratic integer β is in M if and only if there exists a rational integer a such that β > a > |β′| and a |ββ′, where β′ is the conjugate of β. If the condition is satisfied , then β = M(β/a) and a = N(a, β), where N denotes the absolute norm. There remain to be considered quadratic integers that are not primitive. The following theorem deals with the simplest class of such numbers. Theorem 2. Let K be a quadratic field with discriminant ∆ > 0, β, β′ be conjugate primitive integers of K and p a prime. If (1) pβ ∈ M, then either there exists an integer r such that (2) pβ > r > p|β′| and r |ββ′, p r or (3) β ∈M and p splits in K.
An ordinal optimization theory-based algorithm for solving the optimal power flow problem with discrete control variables

The optimal power flow (OPF) problem with discrete control variables is an NP-hard problem in its exact formulation. To cope with the immense computational-difficulty of this problem, we propose an ordinal optimization theory-based algorithm to solve for a good enough solution with high probability. Aiming for hard optimization problems, the ordinal optimization theory, in contrast to heuristic methods, guarantee to provide a top n% solution among all with probability more than 0.95. The approach of our ordinal optimization theory-based algorithm consists of three stages. First, select heuristically a large set of candidate solutions. Then, use a simplified model to select a subset of most promising solutions. Finally, evaluate the candidate promising-solutions of the reduced subset using the exact model. We have demonstrated the computational efficiency of our algorithm and the quality of the obtained solution by comparing with the competing methods and the conventional approach through simulations.
Making Global Value Chains Work for Development

Economic, technological, and political shifts as well as changing business strategies have driven firms to unbundle production processes and disperse them across countries. Thanks to these changes, developing countries can now increase their participation in global value chains (GVCs) and thus become more competitive in agriculture, manufacturing and services. This is a paradigm shift from the 20th century when countries had to build the entire supply chain domestically to become competitive internationally. For policymakers, the focus is on boosting domestic value added and improving access to resources and technology while advancing development goals. However, participating in global value chains does not automatically improve living standards and social conditions in a country. This requires not only improving the quality and quantity of production factors and redressing market failures, but also engineering equitable distributions of opportunities and outcomes - including employment, wages, work conditions, economic rights, gender equality, economic security, and protecting the environment. The internationalization of production processes helps with very few of these development challenges. Following this perspective, Making Global Value Chains Work for Development offers a strategic framework, analytical tools, and policy options to address this challenge. The book conceptualizes GVCs and makes it easier for policymakers and practitioners to discuss them and their implications for development. It shows why GVCs require fresh thinking; it serves as a repository of analytical tools; and it proposes a strategic framework to guide policymakers in identifying the key objectives of GVC participation and in selecting suitable economic strategies to achieve them.
The Erdos discrepancy problem

We show that for any sequence $f: {\bf N} \to \{-1,+1\}$ taking values in $\{-1,+1\}$, the discrepancy $$ \sup_{n,d \in {\bf N}} \left|\sum_{j=1}^n f(jd)\right| $$ of $f$ is infinite. This answers a question of Erd\H{o}s. In fact the argument also applies to sequences $f$ taking values in the unit sphere of a real or complex Hilbert space. The argument uses three ingredients. The first is a Fourier-analytic reduction, obtained as part of the Polymath5 project on this problem, which reduces the problem to the case when $f$ is replaced by a (stochastic) completely multiplicative function ${\bf g}$. The second is a logarithmically averaged version of the Elliott conjecture, established recently by the author, which effectively reduces to the case when ${\bf g}$ usually pretends to be a modulated Dirichlet character. The final ingredient is (an extension of) a further argument obtained by the Polymath5 project which shows unbounded discrepancy in this case.
Colloquium: Graphene spectroscopy

Spectroscopic studies of electronic phenomena in graphene are reviewed. A variety of methods and techniques are surveyed, from quasiparticle spectroscopies (tunneling, photoemission) to methods probing density and current response (infrared optics, Raman) to scanning probe nanoscopy and ultrafast pump-probe experiments. Vast complimentary information derived from these investigations is shown to highlight unusual properties of Dirac quasiparticles and many-body interaction effects in the physics of graphene. © 2014 American Physical Society.
Relationship between learning in the engineering laboratory and student evaluations

BACKGROUND OR CONTEXT This study is built upon previous research that developed an instrument to measure the learning objectives of the laboratory across the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains with research that investigated student evaluations of sessional laboratory demonstrators, laboratory experiments and facilities. This research highlighted the importance of laboratory work in engineering education, and the need to improve our understanding of how learning occurs in the laboratory. PURPOSE OR GOAL Student evaluations are heavily used in higher education, and a greater understanding is needed on how these evaluations relate to learning. APPROACH An instrument used to measure learning in the laboratory called, Measuring the Learning Outcomes of Laboratory Work (MeLOLW), is modified and used as a self-assessment tool by students at the start and end of two engineering laboratory courses. The students perceived improvement in learning across the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domain is compared to student evaluations and to the laboratory exam. DISCUSSION The study found that the student evaluation of the laboratory experiments was influenced by the perceived learning gain in both the cognitive (analytical skills only) and psychomotor domains. No other significant relationship was found. RECOMMENDATIONS/IMPLICATIONS/CONCLUSION Student evaluations are very complex and this study showed the relationship and importance of developing laboratory experiments and assessments to enhance learning. More work is needed to understand this relationship in order to facilitate learning in the laboratory.