Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are EFL pre-service teachers’ judgment of teaching competence swayed by the belief that the EFL teacher is a L1 or LX user of English?

This quasi-experimental study investigates whether knowing that an English Foreign Language (EFL) teacher is a ‘native speaker’ (NS) or not may elicit implicit biases in judgements of teaching competence. Participants were 266 pre-service teachers studying in Graz (Austria) and Munchen (Germany). After watching the same identical 5-minute video of a teacher in front of a classroom, they were invited to rate her on four dimensions (language, teaching, assessment, communication) and asked whether they would love to have this person as an English teacher. Close to half of the participants were explicitly told that the teacher was a ‘NS’ and slightly over half that she was a ‘NNS’. No significant differences were found between both conditions. Multiple regression analyses showed that teaching skill was the strongest predictor of loving the teacher, followed by language skill. Analysis of feedback collected through an open question revealed that only a small minority of participants mentioned the words NS/NNS. These findings suggest that bias about ‘NS/NNS’ is minimal in this population. We conclude by pleading to retire the toxic terms ‘NS/NNS’ and to replace them with the ideologically neutral and more flexible dichotomy of first and foreign language (L1/LX) user (Dewaele 2018).
Functional genomic analysis of mucin secretion in airway epithelial cells

RAIFORD, KIMBERLY L. Functional Genomic Analysis of Mucin Secretion in Airway Epithelial Cells. (Under the direction of Dr. Kenneth B. Adler). Mucin secretion in the airways is an exocytotic event that can cause substantial problems when it is imbalanced. Disproportionately large levels of mucin secretion can lead to impaired mucociliary function, increased susceptibility to bacterial pathogens, enhanced of inflammatory responses due to increases in inflammatory mediators and enzymes that induce MUC gene expression, mucin synthesis, and goblet cell hyperplasia, and, in extreme cases, death. The process of regulated exocytosis in the airway epithelium is still poorly understood, eventhough the results of an aberrent process are potentially so deleterious. Previous studies from our lab demonstrated that Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase substrate protein (MARCKS) regulated mucin secretion in in vitro cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells and in mice in vivo. It is our hypothesis that MARCKS mediates the exocytotic release of mucin from preformed membrane-bound mucin granules by facilitating granule movement from the cytosol to the plasma membrane where the granule docks, fuses and secretes its contents into the airway lumen. In the studies reported here, we use proteomics to elucidate novel proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms of mucin secretion that are associated with the mucin granules in the secretory cells. These studies will greatly contribute to our understanding of proteins involved in regulated exocytosis, suggesting new therapeutic targets. In the first study, we elucidate some aspects of the regulated exocytosis mechanism whereby MARCKS, hCLCA1, and the chaperones cysteine string protein and heat shock proteins interact in a complex. We found that these proteins form a complex that is associated with the mucin granule in normal bronchial epithelial cells grown using the in vitro air-liquid interface culture system. We further elucidated novel proteins that also associate with the mucin granule, most of which are cytoskeletal related. The second study elucidates proteins associated with the mucin granules in unstimulated and stimulated conditions further expanding the study to include a diseased model, the cystic fibrosis cell line UNCN3T and the intestinal cell line HT29-18N2. We found that many of the proteins are conserved across these cell types, suggesting possible conservation in the regulated exocytosis machinery involved in mucin secretion. Overall, these studies elucidate potential players in the mechanism of mucin secretion. These data provide the first proteomic analysis of mucin granule membraneassociated proteins in airway epithelial cells. Functional Genomic Analysis of Mucin Secretion in Airway Epithelial Cells by Kimberly Lizell Raiford A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
A Study of Purchase Intention of Eco-friendly Products: A Cross-Cultural Investigation between Korea and China

This study sought to compare the purchase intention of eco-friendly products between Korean and Chinese consumers. For this purpose, it established a conceptual model in which environmental knowledge affects attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control toward eco-friendly products, which in turn are connected to the purchase intention of eco-friendly products. According to the analysis results, in both Korean and Chinese cases, consumers’ environmental knowledge had a positive effect on their attitude to eco-friendly products and subjective norms, and the variable that exerted the strongest influence on purchase intention was the subjective norm. On the other hand, this research found some differences in the results between the two countries: in the Korean case, the path from perceived behavioral control to purchase intention was not statistically supported, whereas in the Chinses case the path from environmental knowledge to perceived behavioral control was rejected. 1
An Empirical Analysis of Analysts' Capital Expenditure Forecasts: Evidence from Corporate Investment Efficiency*

We examine whether the information conveyed in a relatively new analyst research output — capital expenditure (capex) forecasts — affects corporate investment efficiency. We find that firms with analyst capex forecasts exhibit higher investment efficiency. This effect is stronger when the forecasts are issued by analysts with higher ability or greater industry knowledge. Moreover, the effect of capex forecasts on investment efficiency varies with the signals they convey about future growth opportunities — positive-growth signals are more effective in reducing underinvestment, while negative-growth signals are more effective in reducing overinvestment. Cross-sectional tests suggest that these effects operate at least in part through both a financing channel and a monitoring channel. Taken together, our results suggest that analysts’ capex forecasts convey useful information about firms’ growth opportunities to managers and investors, which can facilitate efficient investment.
An epidemic of tomato leaf curl disease in Jammu

Field surveys were conducted in the autumn of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 in the rain-fed tomato growing belt of Akhnoor of Jammu and leaf curl incidence ranging between 80.00 to 98.00 per cent was recorded in different villages. The symptoms of the disease included curling of leaf lamina and stunting of infected plants, even yellowing in severe cases. The disease was successfully transmitted through graft and whitefly transmission but not by sap inoculation. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of geminate particles in leaf dip preparations. Lantana spp. , Hibiscus spp. , Ageratum spp. , Carica spp. , Malvastrum spp. and Euphorbia spp. in and around tomato growing fields of Akhnoor were observed as alternate perennial hosts of whitefly in off-season. These alternate hosts probably act as year-round virus and/or whitefly reservoirs. On the basis of mode of transmission, symptomatology, host range studies, the virus was identified as whitefly transmitted geminivirus naturally occurring in tomato hitherto not reported from Jammu and Kashmir. Among six dates of transplanting from 10 th August to 25 th of October, maximum yield (65.20 q ha -1 ) was observed in 1 st September transplanted crops, which has lowest monetary loss of Rs. 1.04 lakh ha -l .
Is The Oil Price a Determinant of Employment in Oil Intensive Romanian Communities?

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the resilience of oil intensive Romanian communities to oil price fluctuations. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology employed is based on identifying the communities with the most extensive oil extraction activities using GIS (Geographic Information System) software. We then apply a random effects panel regression model to check the significance of the oil price as a predictor of employment. Finding: Results indicate that the effect of oil price fluctuations is limited, with employment in the identified communities following the national trend. Research limitations/implications: Unfortunately, our study is hindered by data availability issues and a short time series. Nevertheless, conclusions are backed by the country’s characteristics - a diversified economy, integration with refining operations, and the presence of related manufacturing and services activities. Originality/value: The study adds to the existing literature by focusing on a mature region with a long history of hydrocarbon extraction activities. We argue that the study of local communities in mature regions is of great importance in the context of the ongoing energy transition, particularly of those located within the European Union.
Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis Var. Kurstaki against Sorghum Stem Borer, Chilo parellus (Swinhoe)

The experiment was conducted to test efficacy of Bacillus thuringlensis products in comparison with recommended conventional insecticide against sorghum stem borer, Chilo parellus (Swinhoe) at Sorghum Research Unit, Dr. P. D. K. V. , Akola. The result revealed significant superiority of Bacillus thurillgiellsis and endosulfan treatments at one to three sprays than untreated control in case of leaf injury. In case of peduncle damage, application of two sprays of Bacillus thuringlensis (@ 1 kg/ha) on 25 th and 35 th , day was on par with three sprays of both endosufan and Bacillus tirurillgiellsis. Similarly on the basis of grain yield, three sprays of Bt recorded maximum grain yield and it was significantly higher than untreated control and also the treatment viz. one spray of Bacillus thuringlensis or endosulfan.
Complete chloroplast genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis of Celosia cristata ‘Xiaguang’

Abstract Celosia cristata is an important economic plant with ornamental, ecological, and medicinal functions. The complete chloroplast genome of C. cristata ‘Xiaguang’ was sequenced and analyzed in this study using Illumina and PacBio sequencing. The chloroplast genome is 153,472 bp in length with a quadripartite structure containing a pair of inverted repeat regions of 25,408 bp (IRa and IRb) separated by a large single-copy region (LSC) of 84,975 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 17,681 bp. The C. cristata ‘Xiaguang’ chloroplast genome encodes 117 genes, comprising 73 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The A + T content of the whole chloroplast genome is 63.3%, whereas the LSC, SSC, and IR region are 65.5%, 69.4%, and 57.4%, respectively.
Comparison of the Ca2 +  currents induced by expression of three cloned α1 subunits, α1G, α1H and α1I, of low‐voltage‐activated T‐type Ca2 +  channels

Expression of rat α1G, human α1H and rat α1I subunits of voltage‐activated Ca2 + channels in HEK‐293 cells yields robust Ca2 + inward currents with 1.25 mm Ca2 + as the charge carrier. Both similarities and marked differences are found between their biophysical properties. Currents induced by expression of α1G show the fastest activation and inactivation kinetics. The α1H and α1I currents activate and inactivate up to 1.5‐ and 5‐fold slower, respectively. No differences in the voltage dependence of steady state inactivation are detected. Currents induced by expression of α1G and α1H deactivate with time constants of up to 6 ms at a test potential of − 80 mV, but currents induced by α1I deactivate about three‐fold faster. Recovery from short‐term inactivation is more than three‐fold slower for currents induced by α1H and α1I in comparison to α1G. In contrast to these characteristics, reactivation after long‐term inactivation was fastest for currents arising from expression of α1I and slowest in cells expressing α1H calcium channels. The calcium inward current induced by expression of α1I is increased by positive prepulses while currents induced by α1H and α1G show little ( < 5%) or no facilitation. The data thus provide a characteristic fingerprint of each channel's activity, which may allow correlation of the α1G, α1H and α1I induced currents with their in vivo counterparts.
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Phytoplankton from Ropar Wetland (Ramsar Site) Punjab, India

Wetlands are considered as important ecosystems on this earth because they provide refuge and food to variety of aquatic biodiversity. Spatial heterogeneity of the phytoplankton community and seasonal diversity has been observed. Sampling of phytoplankton was carried out from the Ropar wetland, of Punjab, India between October 2015 to September 2017 at four representative sites (S1, S2, S3 and S4). Correlation of physico-chemical variables with phytoplankton density was recorded by using Pearson Correlation analysis and seasonal variation as well as a high influence of these physico-chemical parameters was observed on phytoplankton productivity. It has been observed that when temperature and amount of nutrients were higher, the density of phytoplankton was higher. The phytoplankton diversity showed higher sensitivity in the water, the dissolved oxygen and free CO2 showed significant negative correlation with all the physio-chemical parameters at all the sites. A total of 28 phytoplankton genera belonging to Bacillariophyceae (14 genera) Chlorophyceae (9 genera), Cyanophyceae (4 genera) and Dinophyceae (1 genus) were recorded from four sampling sites. Bacillariophyceae dominated both in diversity and percentage composition while Dinophyceae had shown least expression. Phytoplankton population showed high diversity in the summer and low in monsoon period. Various diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson’s diversity index and Pielou evenness index) were used to found the seasonal variation of phytoplankton. The Shannon- Wiener diversity index was most useful in indicating the trophic status of the water as well as the pollution status, which in this case, depicted a moderate level of pollution in this wetland.
Novel fuzzy clustering-based bias field correction technique for brain magnetic resonance images

Bias field correction is an essential pre-processing requirement for brain tissue segmentation task. Authentic brain tissue regions are highly useful for classification and detection of abnormalities. A poor resolution magnetic resonance (MR) image is produced with irregularities in structure, abnormalities in the intensity distribution and noise during the acquisition procedure. The existing bias field correction methods do not consider the spatial information. Further, the problem of equidistant pixels while clustering is not addressed. These problems lead to poor segmentation accuracy. To solve these problems, the authors suggest a novel biased fuzzy clustering technique for the problem on hand. The basic idea is to incorporate the spatial information by altering the membership matrix of standard fuzzy C-means clustering to lower the effect of noise and intensity inhomogeneity. It also helps in improving the segmentation accuracies of the tissue regions by assigning the equidistant pixels to a single cluster. The suggested technique is validated with different modalities of brain MR images. Various evaluation indices are computed followed by the statistical analysis to justify the superiority of the suggested technique in comparison to the state-of-the-art methods.
BURDEN OF MULTI - DRUG RESISTANT, EXTENSIVELY -DRUG RESISTANT AND PAN - DRUG RESISTANT SUPERBUGS ISOLATED FROM VARIOUS INDOOR MICROBIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS AT TERTIARY CARE CENTERS RAWALPINDI

Objective: To estimate burden of multi drug resistant, extensively drug resistant and pan drug resistant superbugs isolated from various indoor microbiological specimen at tertiary care centers Rawalpindi. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology in Institute of Pathology, from Jul 2017 to Jun 2018. Methodology: A total of 6126 bacteria isolated from various indoor microbiological specimen were included in the study. All specimen were collected aseptically and bacterial cultures were processed as per standard microbiological practices. Bacterial isolates were identified by using VITEK 2 systems-Version 08.01 (bio Merieux, France). Results: Out of 6126 bacteria isolated 76% were multi drug resistant, 44% were extensively drug resistant and 1.2% were pan drug resistant. About 83% and 3.8% and 0% of bacteria isolated from pus/tissue, 67%, 58%, 0.8% of bacteria recovered from urine, 72%, 52% and 4.5% of bacteria isolated from respiratory samples and 83%, 42% and 3.4%bacteria isolated from blood were multidrug resistant, extensively drug resistant and pan drug resistant respectively. Conclusion: The burden of MDR, extensively drug resistant and pan drug resistant among bacteria isolated from various indoor microbiological specimen is disturbingly high and highlights a serious public health problem. Coordinated efforts to implement new policies, renew research efforts and investment into new antimicrobials are needed to manage drug resistant crises.
Uso de plantas medicinais na comunidade quilombola da Barra II - Bahia, Brasil

Brazil has more than 3.000 quilombolas communities but just a few ethnobotanical studies have been conducted with these groups witch means that we have litlle knowledge about their way oh life and relationship with flora around them, specially medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to conduct an ethnobotanical survey with members of Barra II quilombola community. Data was collected through semistructured interviews, direct observation and walk in the woods. Most informants (91%) indicated to prefer plants over synthetic drugs in primary health care. It were cited 148 species, belonging to 52 botanical families, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae being the most representatives. The most commonly used plant part is leaf (45%). Preparation method most frequently is decoction (45%). Most commonly form of use are tea (44%) and bath (11%). Plants are mainly used to treat diseases of the digestive (36.5%) and respiratory (32.4%) systems. Species with higher MUA were C. citratus (81,3), R. graveolens (50,0) and S. hilariana (50,0). The high use of baths may be related to African traditions. A rich diversity of medicinal plant species are used for treating different diseases in Barra II. These species belong to several botanical families, some of these families abundant in the region.
CARACTÉRISATION PHÉNOTYPIQUE ET PERFORMANCES DES VACHES LAITIÈRES DE TROIS RÉGIONS DE CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Two hundred forty (240) cows from 22 smallholder dairy farms of three regions (central, west central and south) of Cote d"Ivoire have been described using visual appreciation criteria and measurements; and their zootechnical perfor-mances have been measured. These parameters have been studied using discriminant analysis and multiple correspondence factor analysis followed by hierarchical cluster analysis. The cows distinguish themselves to the best by their format (heart girth, length of the animal, body weight) and their average milk production. They were classified into five (5) genetic types with the following percentages F1N"Damance (72.9%), N"Damance of blood degree non specified (74.0%), F1 Montbeliarde (53.6%), 5/8 Montbeliarde (50.0%) and 3/4 Montbeliarde (47.5%). The typology by the hierarchical cluster analysis permitted to separate them into three groups identifiable by two (2) phenotypes. The first phenotype is characterized by a heart girth and a height at withers of 153 to 205 cm (170.8±8.72) and of 118 to 143 cm (129.2±4.65) respectively, and a body weight between 330 and 702 kg (404.7±65.36) at 6 years of age. Their age at first calving ranged between 13 and 48 months and they produced 5.1±1.37 litres of milk on average per day with an average lactation length of 258±17 days. The second phenotype is characterized by a heart girth of 145.5 to 189 cm (162.0±8.18) and a height at withers of 115 to 131 cm (122.9±4.08) for a body weight varying between 228 and 551 kg (345.1±55.97) with an average age of 6 years. They produced between 1.5 and 8 litres of milk per day for a lactation length ranging from 118 to 439 days. The first phenotype combining large format with high dairy production remained the most favourable for dairy production in these regions of Cote d"Ivoire.
Analysis of an Isolation System with Vertical Spring-viscous Dampers in Horizontal and Vertical Ground Motion

This paper proposes a new vibration isolation mounting system, with spherical balls and vertical spring dampers, that provides seismic protection from horizontal and vertical ground excitation. To characterize the system, nonlinear governing equations are derived by considering the kinematics and interaction forces of the structures, and the dynamic characteristics of the design parameters are investigated by numerical analysis. The condition of contact stability for sustaining continuous friction of the isolation device is discussed, along with the design parameters. The vibration transfer characteristics are analyzed for the displacement transfer ratio obtained for the design parameters satisfying the sustainable contact condition, when the base is harmonically excited. The results confirm that the relative motion occurrence satisfies the conditional expression, and a jump in which the transfer ratio suddenly increases at a specific frequency is identified. Finally, design variables that are suitable for the horizontal and vertical acceleration of the El Centro earthquake are set, and a simulation confirms the vibration reduction effect in both the horizontal and vertical motions.