Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forming a clearer image of the ideal L2 self: the L2 Motivational Self System and learner autonomy in a Japanese EFL context

Research on the L2 Motivational Self System has drawn considerable attention in Second Language Acquisition. Previous studies have discussed the system itself, its basic concepts and their relationships to such affective variables as anxiety in various L2 learning contexts. The findings of these studies suggest that (1) having a clearer image of one's ideal L2 self might facilitate motivated L2 learning behaviour, (2) affective variables can promote or hinder learners' will to envision their ideal L2 selves, and (3) the system has both theoretical and pedagogical implications for L2 learner autonomy. The present survey study aimed to validate the system among Japanese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in two groups, whose learning contexts made it respectively easier and harder to formulate a clear image of an ideal L2 self. Survey data were analysed using multiple-group structural equation modelling. Results showed that the proposed model fitted both groups, but the relationships among variables in the model were different according to the group. The study also illustrated the dynamic interplay of affective variables (e.g. anxiety, self-efficacy) and the basic tenets of the system thereby providing us with useful insights into L2 learner autonomy.
Determining Signal Source Integrity Using a Semi-supervised Pattern Classification System

- This paper focuses on a unique signal classification problem that employs digital signal processing techniques to first, separate 57 audio signals into two signal-type categories (A and B) and second, to further classify the integrity of the category A signal sources. Short-Time Fourier Transform and central tendency analyses are employed to distinguish between the signals within the categories. FFT Welch Method and Kohonen ’s Self-Organizing Maps are then employed to determine the integrity level of the sources associated with the signals in category A. The overall results show 91.2% accuracy in classifying the signals into categories A and B. Additionally, the system was able to achieve 100% classification when distinguishing between the poor and (somewhat) good signal source integrity. The hybrid classification system proposed in this paper has direct application to real world problems where both signal isolation and the associated integrity of the signal source need to be determined.
Finance and Inequality: Exploring Pro-Poor Investment Channels in Africa

Hitherto very few studies on the inequality-finance(investment) nexus have focused on the African continent owing to lack of relevant data. This paper integrates previously missing investment and financial components in the assessment of how finance affects pro-poor investment channels. Findings reveal, but for the case of foreign investment, financial development dynamics of depth, efficiency, activity and size have an equalizing effect on income distribution through private, public and domestic investment channels. As a policy implication investment-targeted financial reforms that aim to curb poverty should take account of the disequalizing income-effect of foreign investment in undeveloped countries.
Galileo evidence for rapid interchange transport in the Io torus

Anomalous plasma signatures were detected by the Galileo particles and fields instruments during the initial transit through the Io torus. These unusual events are characterized by abrupt changes in the magnetic field, enhanced levels of broadband low frequency electromagnetic waves and a pronounced change in both the flux and pitch angle anisotropy of energetic particles. Here we present a coordinated study of one of the events which occurred near 6.03RJ just after 17:34 UT on December 7, 1995. The available data are consistent with the concept of rapid inward transport, and this is interpreted as the first evidence for the predicted interchange motions in the region exterior to the orbit of Io. Theoretical arguments indicate that the interchanging flux tube is characterized by substantially reduced plasma density, a spatial scale comparable to 10³ km, and an inward radial velocity comparable to 10² km/s.
Effect of Morinda citrifolia in growth, production and immunomodulatory properties in livestock and poultry: a review

Morinda citrifolia L. is commonly known as Noni and has been found to have wide range of medicinal properties. It is usually found in the coastal region in many countries including Andaman and Nicobar Islands and belongs to the family Rubiaceae. This small evergreen tree is widely grown and well adapted to the tropics and can grow in fertile, acidic, alkaline and saline affected soils. It tolerates high soil salinity and brackish water stagnation. All the components of this plant have high demand in case of alternative medicines and herbal medicines. Due to its high demand and as a source of revenue generation the detail study on its nutritional benefits and therapeutic values are essential for its commercial exploitation. More than 200 nutraceutical compounds have been identified from the plant. Morinda citrifolia is reported to have broad spectrum biological activities such as antimicrobial, immunomodualtory, antioxidant wound healing etc. Apart from the in-vitro scientific validation of the activities and in-vivo trial in some lab animal model, the plant has been used for livestock and poultry health and production. A lot of reviews have been written on the different uses of Noni, however, scientific review on the use of this plant on the growth, production, immunomodulator and other pharmacological activities of M. citrifolia in livestock and poultry has not been compiled. Therefore this review discusses the compilation of the work done on the use of M. citrifolia in livestock and poultry. Jai Sunder*, Tamilvannan Sujatha and Anandamoy Kundu
Asia Rising: A Sectoral Perspective

This paper undertakes a cross-country analysis of productivity growth at both the aggregate and sectoral level. It finds that Asia's remarkable output growth over the past 40 years reflected both high investment, and rapid productivity increases. These factors were in turn supported by the region's relatively strong institutional and policy environment, which encouraged resource shifts from low- to high-productivity sectors. Looking ahead, sustaining rapid growth requires meeting a number of key challenges: (i) implementing reforms to boost productivity in the increasingly important, but currently lagging, service sectors; (ii) providing policy support for continuing the shift of resources from agriculture to industry and services; (iii) strengthening policy frameworks in late-developing countries.
Technical Note: Friction Factor Diagrams for Pipe Flow

This technical note describes diagrams of friction factor for pipe flow that have been prepared using, mainly, the equations that Lewis Moody used to prepare his famous diagram in 1944. The preparation of the new diagrams was prompted by the need for vector graphics versions that could be used for teaching purposes and that could be distributed freely to students and others under a Creative Commons AttributionShare-Alike license. Using a structure very similar to that of Moody’s diagram, variants with the Darcy friction factor and the Fanning friction factor have been prepared. In addition, variants have been prepared that include not only monotonic roughness curves, but also inflectional roughness curves.
Dance-based Exercise Therapy for People with Arthritis: An Update and Commentary

Arthritis, a broad term used to describe more than 100 different health conditions that result in considerable physical disability, is very challenging to treat effectively, regardless of disease type. This brief review revisits the research base concerning the use of dance-based therapeutic exercises as a possible adjunct for ameliorating arthritis. The goal was to provide an overview of the potential of this form of therapy for arthritis patients as well as health professionals working with this population.
Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization The price of discovering your needs online (cid:2)

Web users, even when not actively looking for a product, are continuously targeted by offers that potentially ﬁt their interests. Does this kind of targeting always promote transactions with high social value? We consider a model in which a two-sided platform is visited by sellers seeking to promote their products and by users with state-contingent preferences about those products. Depending on its targeting ability, the platform could be able to target users by tailored advertising banners. We show that persuasion is stronger when targeting ability is maximal, fueling purchases that rational individuals may regret due to the persuasive nature of banners. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
L-band scintillations and calibrated total electron content gradients over Brazil during the last solar maximum

This work presents a contribution to the understanding of the ionospheric triggering of L-band scintillation in the region over Sao Paulo state in Brazil, under high solar activity. In particular, a climatological analysis of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data acquired in 2012 is presented to highlight the relationship between intensity and variability of the total electron content (TEC) gradients and the occurrence of ionospheric scintillation. The analysis is based on the GNSS data acquired by a dense distribution of receivers and exploits the integration of a dedicated TEC calibration technique into the Ground Based Scintillation Climatology (GBSC), previously developed at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia. Such integration enables representing the local ionospheric features through climatological maps of calibrated TEC and TEC gradients and of amplitude scintillation occurrence. The disentanglement of the contribution to the TEC variations due to zonal and meridional gradients conveys insight into the relation between the scintillation occurrence and the morphology of the TEC variability. The importance of the information provided by the TEC gradients variability and the role of the meridional TEC gradients in driving scintillation are critically described.
Molecular Phylogeny of the fIaA Short Variable Region Among Campylobacterjejuni Isolates Collected During an Annual Evaluation of Poultry Flocks in the Southeastern United States

Production and processing samples were collected from eight commercial poultry flocks in the southeastern United States and examined for the presence of Cam py/obacter spp. In an effort to determine relatedness, recovered isolates were typed using JlaA short variable region (SVR) DNA sequence analysis. Six of the eight production flocks tested were Canlpiflobact'r positive. In general, multiple CanipilobacterflaA SVR types were present within a flock. Additionally, types found within a flock were also recovered from the final processed carcass. However, in two cases, the population of CnmpiilobacterflaA SVR types on the processed carcass differed from those recovered from the production samples. Comparison of subtypes among flocks reared on different farms and during different seasons revealed that subtypes of Campylobacter spp. persisted throughout the year and in different locations. Environmental samples from seven of the eight farms tested were also Camptilobacter positive. In one flock, a drag swab of the rearing facility was Cam pijiobacter spp. positive while the flock and the final product were both negative. For the remaining sampling periods, environmental samples were positive for Cam pylobacter spp. concomitant with recovery of Cam pylobacter spp. from the chickens. In the remaining six flocks, the majority of environmental isolates recovered possessed J7aA SVR types identical to isolates recovered from the birds, while in only one case, a recovered environmental isolate possessed a faA SVR type that was not related to isolates obtained from the flock. Interpretation of these data suggest that the external environment and the poultry production environment share common subtypes of Cam pylobacter spp. and that these subtypes can contribute to contamination of the final commercial product.
Elemental analyses and source apportionment of PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 aerosols from Nigerian urban cities

Abstract PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 aerodynamic diameters (x ≤ 2.5 μm) and (2.5 ≥ x ≤ 10 μm) fractions in six Nigerian urban cities (Aba, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri and Port-Harcourt), were monitored using “Gent” stacked filter unit sampler in order to assess elemental concentrations and to perform source apportionment. Twenty-three elements; (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr and Pb) were analysed with Ion beam analysis (IBA) based proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. In addition, enrichment factors (EF) and pollution indices (PI) calculations were performed on the elemental concentration data. Results indicated that the elemental concentration varied across the receptor sites with some elements higher than World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values. PM2.5–10 ranged from 9 to 45,243 ng m−3 (Aba), 1 to 281 ng m−3 (Abuja), 5 to 3,936 ng m−3 (Kano), 6 to 3,872 ng m−3 (Lagos), 6 to 19,106 ng m−3 (Maiduguri) and 4 to 7,962 ng m−3 (Port Harcourt) while PM2.5 ranged from 3 to 7,089 ng m−3 (Aba), 1 to 139 ng m−3, 2 to 480 ng m−3, 1 to 153 ng m−3, 1 to 427 ng m−3 and 1 to 1,051 ng m−3 (Port Harcourt). Principal Component Analysis resolved three (soil dust 50%; sea spray 22% and industrial 15%) and four components (soil dust 42%; biomass burning 24%; petroleum products combustion (15%) and industrial emission 5%) as PM2.5–10 and PM2.5 sources, respectively.
Determination of the complex refractive index and optical bandgap of CH3NH3PbI3 thin films

We report the complex refractive index of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite thin films obtained by means of variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and transmittance/reflectance spectrophotometry in the wavelength range of 190 nm to 2500 nm. The film thickness and roughness layer thickness are determined by minimizing a global unbiased estimator in the region where the spectrophotometry and ellipsometry spectra overlap. We then determine the optical bandgap and Urbach energy from the absorption coefficient, by means of a fundamental absorption model based on band fluctuations in direct semiconductors. This model merges both the Urbach tail and the absorption edge regions in a single equation. In this way, we increase the fitting region and extend the conventional ( α ℏ ω ) 2-plot method to obtain accurate bandgap values.
A Model for Contact Binary EP Andromedae

Abstract This paper presents the first comprehensive study of the EP And system, a contact binary. In this work the solution of the standard V light curve was obtained using the phoebe program (version 0.3c). Absolute parameters of the stellar components were then determined, enabling us to discuss the structure and evolutionary status of the close binary EP And. The times of minima data (‘O–C curve’) were analyzed. It was found that a third body with a period of 41.20 yr and mass 0.15 M⊙ is orbiting around the system. Also a modulating period of an 11.72-yr cycle along with a relative period increase of = 1.79 × 10−7 were obtained, which were attributed to the magnetic activity cycle and mass transfer with rate = 9.98 × 10−8 yr−1 between the components, respectively.
Clustering in Dynamic Causal Networks as a Measure of Systemic Risk on the Euro Zone

In this paper, we analyze the dynamic relationships between ten stock exchanges of the euro zone using Granger causal networks. Using returns for which we allow the variance to follow a Markov-Switching GARCH or a Changing-Point GARCH, we first show that over different periods, the topology of the network is highly unstable. In particular, over very recent years, dynamic relationships vanish. Then, expanding on this idea, we analyze patterns of information transmission. Using rolling windows to analyze the topologies of the network in terms of clustering, we show that the nodes' state changes continually, and that the system exhibits a high degree of flickering in information transmission. During periods of flickering, the system also exhibits desynchronization in the information transmission process. These periods do precede tipping points or phase transitions on the market, especially before the global financial crisis, and can thus be used as early warnings of phase transitions. To our knowledge, this is the first time that flickering clusters are identified on financial markets, and that flickering is related to phase transitions.
Being Young, Male and Muslim in Luton

What is it like to be a young Muslim man in post-7/7 Britain, and what impact do wider political factors have on the multifaceted identities of young Muslim men? Drawn from the author’s ethnographic research of British-born Muslim men in the English town of Luton, Being Young, Male and Muslim in Luton explores the everyday lives of the young men and, in particular, how their identity as Muslims has shaped the way they interact with each other, the local community and the wider world. Through a study of religious values, the pressures of masculinity, the complexities of family and social life, and attitudes towards work and leisure, Ashraf Hoque argues that young Muslims in Luton are subverting what it means to be ‘British’ through consciously prioritising and re-articulating self-confessed ‘Muslim identities’ in novel and dynamic ways that suit their experiences as a post-colonial diaspora. Employing extensive participant observation and rich interview content, Hoque paints a detailed picture of young Muslims living in a town consistently associated in the popular media with terrorist activity and as a hotbed for radicalisation. He challenges widely held assumptions about cultural segregation, gender relations and personal liberty in Muslim communities, and gives voice to an emerging generation of Muslims who view Britain as their home and are very much invested in the long-term future of the country and their permanent place within it. This short and accessible book will be of interest to students seeking grounding in Islam and Muslim communities in diaspora, and scholars from an array of social science and humanities backgrounds including Anthropology, Sociology of Religion, Political Science, Urban Studies and Cultural Studies.
Experimental and theoretical study of dynamical hysteresis and scaling laws in the polarization switching of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We study experimentally the role of the bias current sweep rate in measurements of polarization switching PS of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. We find that the size of the hysteresis cycle of the PS for increasing and decreasing current follows a power-law relationship with the speed of the current ramp. A similar relation is found for the laser turn-on. Numerical calculations based on the spin-flip model are in good agreement with the observations. We also show that the PS points and the power-law exponents depend critically on the noise level included in the simulations.
Nonseparability of quotient spaces of function algebras on topological semigroups

Let S be a topological semigroup, C(S) the space of all bounded real-valued continuous functions on S. We define WUC(S) the subspace of C(S) consisting of all weakly uniformly continuous functions and WAP(S) the space of all weakly almost periodic functions in C(S). Among other results, for a large class of topological semigroups S, for which noncompact locally compact topological groups are a very special case, we prove that the quotient spaces WUC(S)/WAP(S) and, for nondiscrete S, C(S)/ WUC(S) are nonseparable. (The actual setting of these results is more general.) For locally compact topological groups, parts of our results answer affirmatively certain questions raised earlier by Ching Chou and E. E. Granirer. Introduction. Let S be a (Hausdorff jointly continuous) topological semigroup and m(S) the space of all bounded real-valued functions on S with the usual supnorm 11 11 s. For every functionf in m(S) and element x of S we define the functions xf and fx on S by xf(y) : f(xy) and fx(y) f(yx) for all y in S. In this paper we shall be concerned with the following closed subspaces of m(S): C(S) : = {f E m(S): f is continuous), LUC(S) := {f E C(S): the map x x f (x E S) is norm continuous), RUC(S) : = {f E C(S): the map x fx (x E S) is norm continuous), UC(S) := LUC(S) n RUC(S), LWUC(S) := {f E C(S): the map x x f (x E S) is weakly continuous), RWUC(S): = {f E C(S): the map x fx (x E S) is weakly continuous), WUC(S): = LWUC(S) n RWUC(S), WAP(S) := {f E C(S): the set {xf: x E S) is weakly relatively compact). These spaces of functions have appeared before in many publications (see e.g. [2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 13]). In particular for a locally compact topological group G we have that LUC(G) (or UC(G)) is the usual space of left uniformly (or uniformly, respectively) continuous functions on G (see e.g. [10]). Received by the editors October 17, 1980 and, in revised form, March 27, 1981. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 43A60, 43A15; Secondary 22A20.
The Allocation of Investment across Vintages of Technology

This paper proposes a new mechanism that explains continued investment in older-vintage technology, which rests on complementarity between long-lived and short-lived vintage-specific capital. The main result is a threshold condition that relates the rate of vintage-specific technological progress (ˆq) to two investment patterns: if ˆq is above the threshold, all investment is allocated to the newest-vintage technology; otherwise, firms direct part of their investment to older-vintage technologies. The evidence supports our model's empirically testable implications: as ˆq declines, investment is allocated more toward older-vintage technology; and equipment-price changes depend on capital's heterogeneous rates of depreciation.