Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ice properties of single‐layer stratocumulus during the Mixed‐Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment: 1. Observations

[1] During the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program's Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment (M-PACE) in fall 2004, the University of North Dakota Citation measured 53 profiles within single-layer stratus clouds by executing spiral ascents and descents over Barrow and Oliktok Point, Alaska, and by flying ramped ascents and descents between. Cloud phase was identified from an algorithm that uses voltage change from the Rosemount ice detector, the size distribution (SD) shape measured by the Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP), and manual identification of particles imaged by the Cloud Particle Imager, the two-dimensional cloud probe (2DC) and the high-volume precipitation sampler (HVPS). Size and mass distribution functions were derived using data from the FSSP, one-dimensional cloud probe, 2DC and HVPS in conjunction with total water content (TWC) measured by the Counterflow Virtual Impactor. With clouds defined as locations where TWC > 0.001 g m−3, there were a total of 513 30-s averaged SDs in single-layer clouds, of which 71% were in mixed-phase parcels, 23% in ice-phase and 6% in liquid-phase. The mixed-phase parcels were dominated by contributions from liquid drops, with the liquid mass fraction fl having averages and standard deviations of 0.89 ± 0.18 with 75% of cases having fl > 0.9. For these single-layer clouds, fl increased with normalized cloud altitude zn, defined as linearly increasing from 0 at cloud base to 1 at cloud top with fl averaging 0.96 ± 0.13 near zn = 1 and 0.70 ± 0.30 near zn = 0. The effective radius of water droplets rew increased with zn, from an average of 6.9 ± 1.8 μm near zn = 0 to 11.4 ± 2.4 μm near zn = 1, whereas the effective radius of ice crystals rei (25.2 ± 3.9 μm) was nearly independent of zn. The averaged cloud droplet number concentration and concentrations of ice crystals with maximum dimensions greater than 53 μm were 43.6 ± 30.5 × 103 L−1 and 2.8 ± 6.9 L−1, respectively, and nearly independent of zn. In contrast to past measurements in mixed-phase clouds combined from many geographical locations where fl increased with temperature, fl decreased from −12° to −3°C as clouds typically consisted of a liquid topped layer with precipitating ice below.
Creep Behavior of Basalt and Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Basalt fibers enjoy the best potential to be turned into a serious contender in fiber composite market due to its good mechanical properties and favorable costs. The creep behavior of basalt fiber reinforced epoxy (BFRE) and glass fiber reinforced epoxy (GFRE) composites was studied through tensile testing at a high temperature. To study the effect of reinforcing epoxy, the micro glass powder (MGP) was added at various volume percentage into the epoxy resin in BFRE composites. The initial strain for all the specimens were evaluated and compared with each other. No creep rupture failures were observed in short- term (less than 10000 seconds) high temperature (T= 150 and 200 °C) tensile creep tests at the loads up to 15% of the ultimate tensile strength of the specimen. It was also found that the creep resistance of BFRE was higher than that of GFRE and the materials are generally behaved as non-linear for all stresses and temperatures. Adding MGP decreased the initial strain of BFRE, but had no significant effect on the overall life time of BFRE.
An examination of the present and future selves of adolescents: Investigating possible selves and self-esteem in relation to gender and attachment

Gender differences in self-esteem and possible selves have long been documented, in particular girls have been reported to have lower self-esteem and generate more interpersonally oriented possible selves than boys during adolescence. To explore these findings the current study wanted to look at gender differences and relationship factors i.e. attachment, in regards to possible selves. The study investigated the possible selves generated by 52 adolescents aged 13-16 years, as well as measuring their self-esteem and attachment patterns. As predicted the results supported previous findings on gender differences, with the addition of finding attachment differences. In particular insecure participants had lower self-esteem and rated hoped-for selves as less likely to occur. As expected these attachment differences were more prevalent in girls.
Analysing the relationship between reading fluency and reading competence in Secondary Education

An adequate level of reading competence is essential to exercise fundamental rights in the hyperconnected information society of the 21st century. Reading fluency is one of the components that influences reading comprehension. This article explores the relationship between reading fluency and reading competence, and it also provides a reliable instrument for measuring it at the secondary level. The investigation is descriptive-correlational. The sample consisted of 382 Secondary School students, to whom two instruments were applied: CoLeP, based on the texts released from PISA and the Reading Fluency Scale adapted for the secondary level. The results establish a positive, yet weak, relationship between fluency and reading competence. The relationship is not unidirectional. On the other hand, it is considered that reading fluency is an essential component in itself, independently of its level of relationship with comprehension and, therefore, should be considered in teaching processes, even at the secondary level. Resumen Un nivel adecuado de competencia lectora es esencial para ejercer los derechos fundamentales en la sociedad de la información hiperconectada del siglo XXI. La fluidez lectora es uno de los componentes que influye en la comprensión lectora. En este artículo se explora la relación entre la fluidez lectora y la competencia lectora, además de que aporta un instrumento confiable para su medición en el nivel secundario. La investigación es descriptiva–correlacional. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 382 estudiantes de cuarto de Educación Secundaria, a los que se les aplicaron dos instrumentos: CoLeP, basado en los textos liberados de PISA y la Escala de Fluidez Lectora adaptada para el nivel secundario. Los resultados establecen una relación positiva, aunque débil, entre la fluidez y la competencia lectora. La relación no es unidireccional. Por otro lado, se considera que la fluidez lectora es un componente esencial por sí misma, independientemente de su nivel de relación con la comprensión y, por tanto, debe considerarse en los procesos de enseñanza, aún en el nivel secundario. This research was financed by the National Institute for Training of Teachers (INAFOCAM) and the Ministry of Education (MINERD) from the Dominican Republic. Ocnos (2018), 17 (1): 21-31 DOI 10.18239/ocnos_2018. 17.1. 1278 Amiama-Espaillat, C. , & Mayor-Ruiz, C. Analysing the relationship between reading fluency and reading competence in Secondary Education
Genome-wide Linkage Study for Plasma HDL Cholesterol Level in an Isolated Population of Mongolia

Abstract High-density lipoprotein (HDL) whose primary role is to transport cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver, is associated with the incidence of coronary heart di-sease. We analyzed HDL cholesterol levels in a genet-ically isolated population of extended Mongolian fami-lies. A total of 1002 individuals (54.5% women) from 95 families were enrolled. After genotyping by use of 1000 microsatellite markers, we performed a genome-wide linkage search with variance component analysis. The estimated heritability of HDL cholesterol was 0.45, re-vealing that HDL cholesterol was under significant ge-netic influence. We found peak evidence of linkage (LOD score=1.88) for HDL cholesterol level on chromosome 6 (nearest marker D6S1660) and potential evidences for linkage on chromosomes 1, 12 and 19 with the LOD scores of 1.32, 1.44 and 1.14, respectively. These re-sults should pave the way for the discovery of the rele-vant genes by fine mapping and association analysis.Keywords: chromosome, genome-wide linkage search, heritability, HDL cholesterol
The Effect of Exchange Rate Movements on Heterogeneous Plants: A Quantile Regression Analysis

In this paper, we examine how the effect of movements in the real exchange rate on manufacturing plants depends on the plant’s placement within the productivity distribution. Appreciations of the local currency expose domestic plants to more competition from abroad as export opportunities shrink and import competition intensifies. As a result, smaller less productive plants are forced from the market, which truncates the lower end of the productivity distribution. For surviving plants, appreciations can lead to a reduction in plant size, which, in the presence of scale economies, can lower productivity. We examine these mechanisms using quantile regression, which allows for the study of the conditional distribution of industry productivity. Using plant-level data that covers the entire Canadian manufacturing sector from 1984 to 1997, we find that many industries exhibit a downward sloping quantile regression curve, meaning that movements in the exchange rate do, indeed, have distributional effects on productivity.
Research as Design: Developing Creative Confidence in Doctoral Students through Design Thinking

This paper explores the benefits of design thinking training to enhance doctoral student problemsolving ability, creative confidence, and emotional well-being. Our team adapted the design thinking curriculum taught by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design to the challenges of developing and carrying out original research, and has taught thirteen workshops to over 240 graduate students, research staff, and faculty over two years. Using a design-based research framework, we reflect on our observation of the workshops, student debriefs, and a prepost survey of participants to assess the value of design thinking for doctoral education. We find that participants felt the workshops enhanced creativity, productivity, and confidence, participants appreciated applying the mindsets of a bias toward action and embracing experimentation to their research, participants learned to be mindful of their research process, and participants valued the emotionally supportive, nonjudgmental atmosphere cultivated in the workshops. The research suggests (1) that creative problem solving methods can be adopted by doctoral students and (2) that there is a demand for graduate training to more explicitly treat students’ intellectual needs in tandem with their emotional needs to create happy, productive researchers.
Classification of plant-pathogenic mycoplasma-like organisms using restriction-site analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA

Summary: A method has been developed to amplify the 16S rRNA gene of plant-pathogenic mycoplasma-like organisms (MLOs) from infected plant material using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The procedure is dependent on the presence of a BclI restriction site in the 16S rDNA of chloroplasts but not in that of the MLOs. This difference permits the specific amplification of the 16S rDNA of the MLOs from BclI-digested total DNA from infected plants using primers from conserved regions of this gene. In this study 16S rDNA was obtained from 52 MLO isolates from herbaceous dicots and monocots as well as woody plants. Digestion of the 16S rRNA genes using AluI endonuclease revealed seven restriction patterns, which were used to group the isolates examined. Group I, which is also characterized by the presence of two KpnI sites, consisted of 31 isolates, most of which are from herbaceous dicots. Isolates assigned to groups II to VI were mostly from woody plants, while the isolates of group VII were from monocots or obtained from a leafhopper. The restriction patterns varied little within groups; however, four group I isolates and one group IV isolate differed slightly from the typical patterns of these groups as a result of a deletion or a slight shift of one restriction site. The groupings uncovered by AluI restriction were also obtained by digesting the 16S rDNA with RsaI endonuclease. However, some atypical patterns were observed within group V isolates. The groups described on the basis of restriction digest data were supported by sequence analysis. With one exception, the 16S rDNA of isolates within the same group exhibited 97·8 to 99·5% homology while those of different groups showed 89·6 to 92·0% homology.
Effects Of Different Forms Of Zinc On The Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Broiler Chicks

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary organic and inorganic zinc on performance and carcass characteristics of ROSS 308 broiler chicks. A total of 420 one-day old broilers were randomly allotted to 2 groups with 6-replicates of 35-chicks each. First group fed standard corn-soybean diet supplemented with organic Zn (Vevomin Zn 13 % DSM - at 50% of the broiler strain recommendations) and second group inorganic Zinc sulphate (at 100% of the broiler strain recommendations). Body weight, feed conversion and carcass traits were evaluated. At the end of the experiment, 48 birds (6 males and 6 females from each group) were slaughtered for determination of carcass traits. Body weight at 42 days, dressed broiler carcasses and individual meat cuts were not significantly (P<0.05) influenced by feeding different forms of zinc in the diet. Chicks fed standard corn-soybean diet supplemented with organic Zn had higher body weights. Significant difference was found only at 35 days of age. Supplementation with organic Zn reduced the feed conversion ratio significantly (P<0.05) only in starter and grower period. The results from these trials indicate that feeding standard corn-soybean diet supplemented with organic Zn may better promote the body weight and feed conversion of broiler chicks. Carcass characteristics were not influenced by feeding different forms of zinc in the diet.
‘You are what you research’: researcher partisanship and the sociology of the ‘underdog’

This article contributes to debates regarding the issue of researcher partisanship and bias within social research and situates it within the current trend towards reflexivity. The discussion draws upon the researcher’s experiences of conducting fieldwork with the ‘boy racer’ culture and societal groups affected by their behaviour. In this instance, the researcher unintentionally sided with the ‘underdogs’ – the ‘boy racers’. Hence, it is argued that value neutrality is an impossible goal, particularly in research of a political nature. Social researchers will inevitably ‘take sides’ whether or not they are willing to admit so. The discussion also touches upon the prevalence of media culture in ethnographic research and the dilemmas faced when making our research public at key moments.
Comparative analysis of aluminium surface roughness in end-milling under dry and minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) conditions

In this study an experimental investigation of effects of cutting parameters on surface roughness during end milling of aluminium 6061 under dry condition and minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) condition were carried out. Spindle speed ( N ), feed rate ( f ), axial depth of cut ( a ) and radial depth of cut ( r ) were cutting parameters chosen as input variables in the investigation of the surface roughness quality. The experimental design adopted for this study was the central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology. Thirty samples were run in a CNC milling machine for each condition and the surface roughness measured using Mitutoyo surface tester. A comparison showing the effects of cutting parameters on the surface roughness for dry and MQL conditions in end-milling of aluminium were evaluated. Surface roughness values for MQL condition were lower with up to 20% reduction when compared to dry conditions. MQL cutting condition was found to be better and more reliable because it is environmentally friendly and gives better surface finish. With the obtained optimum input parameters for surface roughness, production operations will be enhanced.
Relationship marketing: the influence of consumer involvement on perceived service benefits

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to empirically examine the influence of consumer involvement on perceived relational benefits across service types.Design/methodology/approach – Based on Bowen's service typology, responses from patrons of fast‐food restaurants and hairdressers/stylists were used to assess the influence of consumer involvement on relationship marketing, specifically perceived service benefits and response behaviors.Findings – Results indicate that highly involved consumers perceive greater relational benefits when engaged in a high contact, customized service (i.e. hairdressers/stylists) versus a more standardized, moderate contact service (i.e. fast‐food restaurant). Research limitations/implications – Care should be taken when generalizing these findings to other service settings as this study only addressed two service types. Thus, an opportunity for future research could add moderate contact, non‐personalized services to determine if there are significant differences between the.
Chemical inhibition of bacterial colonization by the red alga Bonnemaisonia hamifera

Attachment and growth are 2 major processes in bacterial colonization of surfaces in the sea. By inhibiting either or both of these processes, marine macroorganisms may defend themselves against bacterial infection and fouling. We tested crude extracts from 5 red seaweed species for their ability to inhibit bacterial growth and attachment. For this we used 11 strains of bacteria, represent- ing 5 different taxonomic groups. The effects on growth and attachment were tested by a standard disc-diffusion assay and by incorporating crude extracts into phytagel blocks that served as a surface for bacterial attachment. Extracts from one of the tested algae, Bonnemaisonia hamifera, were partic- ularly active and inhibited growth of 9 bacteria at concentrations volumetrically equivalent to whole algal tissue, or lower. The other 4 algal extracts had weak growth-inhibiting effects on only a few bacterial strains. None of the algal extracts exhibited broad-spectrum effects against bacterial attach- ment, but 4 of 5 algal extracts had some strain-specific effects. Surface extracts of B. hamifera tested on bacteria showed that metabolites are naturally present at sufficiently high concentrations in order to inhibit bacterial growth on the surface of the seaweed. In situ quantification of bacteria on B. ham- ifera also showed that this alga had significantly fewer bacteria on its surface compared to a co- existing alga. These findings suggest that B. hamifera naturally reduces its epibacterial abundance by production of broad-spectrum growth-inhibiting secondary metabolites. This is one of a few examples where ecologically relevant effects of algal metabolites on bacterial colonization have been shown.
Star-forming complexes and the spiral structure of our Galaxy

We have carried out a multiwavelength study of the plane of our Galaxy in order to establish a star-forming-complex catalogue which is as complete as possible. Features observed include H, H109, CO, the radio continuum and absorption lines. For each complex we have determined the position, the systemic velocity, the kinematic distance and, when possible, the stellar distance and the corresponding uncertainties. All of these parameters were determined as homogeneously as possible, in particular all the stellar distances have been (re)calculated with the same calibration and the kinematic distances with the same mean Galactic rotation curve. Through the complexes with stellar distance determination, a rotation curve has been fitted. It is in good agreement with the one of Brand & Blitz (1993). We also investigated the residual velocities relative to the circular rotation model. We find that departures exist over large areas of the arms, with dierent values from one arm to another. From our data and in good agreement with previous studies, the Galactic warp is observed. It does not seem correlated with the departures from circular rotation. Finally, as segment-like features are noted from the complexes' distribution, we tried to find if they are indicative of a larger underlying structure. Then, we attempted to interpret the complexes' distribution in terms of spiral structure by fitting models with two, three and four logarithmic spiral arms. The four-arm model seems more appropriate to represent the grand design of our Galaxy. In this model the Norma arm and the external arm appear as being the two extremities of a single arm called the Norma-Cygnus arm. The new data and fitted model confirm the four-segment model of Georgelin & Georgelin (1976), clarifying the arms' design and extension and doubling their known length.
Examining the Characteristics and Content of Instructor Discussion Interaction upon Student Outcomes in an Online Course.

Teaching presence facilitates students’ social and cognitive presence in online courses. Instructor interaction in discussion forums, a widely adopted instructional strategy, establishes teaching presence but research on the optimal frequency and content of instructor interaction in discussion is underdeveloped. This research evaluated 1625 instructor posts in 36 graduate-level courses in education to determine their impact on students’ perceptions of the quality of the instructor and course, students’ perceptions of their learning, and students’ actual achievement. Findings suggest the frequency of instructor interaction in discussion has no effect on student outcomes, but posts that are instructional improve students’ perceptions of their learning, and posts that are conversational improve students’ perceptions of instructor and course quality, and their actual academic achievement. Implications for instructors and policymakers are addressed.
Lower Tithonian Microconchiate Simoceratins from Eastern Mexico: Taxonomy, Biostratigraphy, and Palaeobiogeography

The precise record of simoceratins sampled bed-by-bed is first reported from Mexico (Mazatepec area in Puebla, central-eastern Mexico), as well as the existence of lappeted peristomes in these ammonites. Both Pseudovolanoceras aesinense and the subspecies Pseudovolanoceras aesinense chignahuapense are shown to occur among Mexican simoceratins. The European species and the Mexican subspecies share the same stratigraphic range in the studied sections, yet they differ in ephebic sculpture. Ecological adaptation to neritic seas corresponding to eastern Mexico areas is interpreted, forcing phenotypic deviation with geographic significance, i.e., subspeciation. The new subspecies would indicate stratigraphic horizons within the Semiformiceras semiforme/Haploceras verruciferum Chronozone in the Mediterranean Tethys. A revision of contemporaneous simoceratins in the Americas is founded on a comparative analysis with respect to the European species P. aesinense.