Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Socioeconomic Status upon Adolescent Identity Formation: The Mediating Role of Family Characteristics

ABSTRACT Building upon the Family Stress Model, the present study investigated the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) upon adolescent identity formation (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) and the mediating role of family characteristics (i.e., family rituals, knowledge of family history, and identification with the family). Participants were 256 secondary school students (Mage = 16.81 SD = 1.10). Data were collected by means of self-report scales. A hypothetical model regarding the mediating role of family functioning between SES and identity development was examined. The findings indicated that SES had an indirect impact on the identity formation processes via family characteristics. Three distinct indirect pathways were identified. First, SES had a positive indirect effect on commitment mediated by the affective and symbolic significance of family rituals. Second, SES had a positive indirect effect upon in-depth exploration through family history knowledge. Third, SES had a negative indirect effect on reconsideration of commitment through identification with family. Overall, this study suggests low SES might prevent identity exploration and commitment through less balanced family characteristics.
TiFe Precipitation Behavior and its Effect on Strengthening in Solution Heat-Treated Ti-5Al-3.5Fe During Isothermal Aging

We investigated the TiFe precipitation behavior of solution heat-treated Ti-5Al-3.5Fe during isothermal aging, quantified the effect of precipitation on strengthening by evaluating the hardness, and compared it to the effect of Ti3Al precipitation in Ti-6Al-4V. TiFe precipitates formed both at grain boundaries (GBs) and within the grain matrices. Phase transformation from the β to α phase also occurred during isothermal aging; this transformation generated lamellar interphase boundaries between the transformed α phase and remaining β phase in prior β grains. These interphase boundaries enabled the formation of in-grain TiFe precipitates by acting as a nucleation site. GB precipitation did not require prior β → α phase transformation to generate nucleation sites (i.e., interphase boundaries), so TiFe precipitation could occur immediately upon isothermal aging. Thus, GB precipitation proceeded more quickly than in-grain precipitation; as a result, precipitates were larger and more spherical at the GBs than in grains. The strengthening behavior exhibited by TiFe precipitation differed obviously from that caused by Ti3Al precipitation in Ti-6Al-4V because of its differing precipitation kinetics and related microstructural evolution.
Comparison of hemodynamic effect between the spinal anesthesia and saddle block during transurethral resection of the prostate

Background: The best technique for transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is regional anesthesia. The hypotension is the major complication following spinal anesthesia. The hemodynamic changes is less with saddle block than spinal block. Aim and Objective: To compare hemodynamic effect between the spinal block and saddle block in TURP. Patients and methods: 50 patients between 50-70 years old ASA I – II prepared for TURP, divided randomly in two groups 25 pt. in each group. Group A received spinal 10 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine (2 ml of 0.5%), were group B received saddle block 10 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine (2 ml of 0.5%). The blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate measured and recorded subsequently. The hypotension treated by 100 mcg bolus of phenylephrine. Results: In our study there was statically significant difference (p < 0.05) between group A which received spinal anesthesia and group B which received saddle block in hemodynamic effect. In which the incidence of hypotension and vasopressor requirement more in group A. Conclusion: Under saddle block the TURP can safely performed with low risk of hypotension and less requirement of vasopressor.
Aesthetic experience and imagination in early elementary school science – a growth of ‘Science–Art–Language–Game’

ABSTRACT The purpose is to contribute knowledge to the field regarding the role of aesthetic experience when young students participate in intertwined science–art activities in science class. More precisely, we scrutinise how science suggestions are shaped in students’ processes of imagination when exploring animal’s ecology. Data corpus comprises audio recordings, photographs, drawings and field notes. The school is located in Sweden and the participating students were between 6 and 7 years old (Swedish grade 1). Seven students and their teacher participated in the study. The dialogues were analysed by means of a practical epistemology analysis (PEA), based on Dewey and the later Wittgenstein. In addition, the analytical term pictorial relation is launched to analyse the visual language exposed in students’ drawings. The results reveal that throughout the process, the young students in transaction with the contextual features, imagined suggestions and solutions to science-related issues. Facts and fiction, sense and nonsense blended when new solutions of pleasurable hiding-places for prey were aesthetically and imaginatively explored and designed. In addition, the students owned the problem throughout and developed agency, which resulted in novel science–art outcomes and the students’ communicative repertoire was extended when involved in intertwined dialogues and art activities.
Exploring the role of fungal endophytes in the sudden death syndrome of the invasive shrub Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata in Australia

Pathogens that attack invasive plants can positively affect the integrity and functioning of ecosystems. Stem-tip dieback and extensive wilting followed by sudden death have been observed in Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata (bitou bush), one of Australia’s worst invasive shrubs. Metabarcoding and culturing methods were used to investigate if fungi are implicated in this syndrome. Metabarcoding results revealed significantly different endophytic fungal communities within healthy and diseased bitou bush, and co-located native plants. There was no difference in fungal communities between soil sampled in the root zone of healthy and diseased bitou bush at the same site. Two Diaporthe sp. operational taxonomic units (OTUs), dominant at sites with extensive wilting, explained 30% of the similarity between diseased bitou bush across all sites. Two other OTUs, Austropleospora osteospermi and Coprinellus sp. , explained 20 and 40% of the similarity between diseased plants, respectively, and were only dominant at sites with dead or stunted, partially defoliated but not wilted bitou bush. A Penicillium sp. OTU explained 90% of the similarity between healthy bitou bush. Various Diaporthe spp. dominated isolations from diseased bitou bush. Manipulative experiments confirmed Diaporthe spp. pathogenicity on bitou bush excised and in-situ stems. In another experiment, Diaporthe masirevicii infected flowers and from there colonized stems endophytically, but wilting and sudden death of bitou bush did not occur within the experimental timeframe. Our study provides circumstantial evidence that bitou bush sudden death syndrome is the result of a shift in the composition of its endophytic fungal community, from mutualist to pathogenic species.
Measuring Cognitive Load: Are There More Valid Alternatives to Likert Rating Scales?

Cognitive load researchers have used varying subjective techniques based on rating scales to quantify experienced cognitive load. Although it is generally assumed that subjects can introspect on their cognitive processes and have no difficulty in assigning numerical values to the imposed cognitive load, little is known about how visual characteristics of the rating scales influence the validity of the cognitive load measure. In this study we look at validity of four subjective rating scales (within groups) differing in visual appearance by participants rating perceived difficulty and invested mental effort in response to working on simple and complex weekday problems. We used two numerical scales (the nine-point Likert scale most often used in Cognitive load theory research and a Visual Analogue Scale ranging between 0–100%) and two pictorial scales (a scale consisting of emoticons ranging from a relaxed blue-colored face to a stressed red-colored face and an “embodied” scale picturing nine depicted weights from 1–9 kg). Results suggest that numerical scales better reflect cognitive processes underlying complex problem solving while pictorial scales Underlying simple problem solving. This study adds to the discussion on the challenges to quantify cognitive load through various measurement methods and whether subtleties in measurements could influence research findings.
The Code of Pangolins

More than two decades ago, Lévi-Strauss argued that bovine spongiform encephalopathy was the result of forced cannibalism among cattle. He pointed out that not only the consumption of cattle organs by cattle but also the eating of beef by humans is a kind of cannibalism among animals. His argument highlighted the negative aspects of connection and assimilation in the act of eating. Today, several anthropological responses have been evoked to address the social, (bio)political, and economic problems caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Although this article is part of that wider corpus, it focuses not on the novel aspects of the phenomenon but on relatively familiar aspects using “classic” anthropological ideas such as substance code, dividual personhood, and taboo. By comparing the circulation of viruses within and beyond species boundaries with the circulation of substance codes observed in South Asian societies, I point out the imaginariness not of dividual personhood but of our existence as individuals. These examinations raise the significance of the anthropological understanding of people’s practices regarding boundary making and unmaking between the human and the wild to consider the problem of zoonoses originating from wild animals.
Heritage Education as a Vehicle for the Formation of Citizens: Analysis of Current Educational Legislation / Poučavanje o kulturnoj baštini kao sredstvo obrazovanja građana: analiza aktualnoga obrazovnog zakonodavstva

Â This paper presents the results obtained in an investigation of the role of heritage in current education regulations as a vehicle for the formation of citizens. The analysis was conducted on the Spanish state education regulations and their implementation in the Autonomous Region of Andalusia corresponding to the stages of pre-primary and primary education. A qualitative, descriptive-interpretative method was used. It was based on document analyses. To this end, a system of categories was prepared, organized into a subcategories, variables, and descriptors. From the results, there stands out the need to continue working on incorporating heritage into the formation of global citizens. For this, it is essential to build an integrated curriculum structured on the basis of "relevant socio-environmental problems". Â Keywords: curriculum studies; global citizenship education; heritage typology; pre-primary education; primary education. Â ---Â U ovom se radu prikazuju rezultati istraživanja o ulozi kulturne baštine u obrazovanju građana u sklopu aktualnoga obrazovnog zakonodavstva. Provedena je analiza državnih obrazovnih propisa u Španjolskoj i njihove provedbe u Autonomnoj zajednici Andaluziji, u predprimarnom i primarnom obrazovanju. Korištena je kvalitativna, deskriptivno-interpretativna metoda, a istraživanje je temeljeno na analizi dokumenata. U skladu s tim, pripremljen je niz kategorija podijeljenih u podkategorije, varijable i deskriptore. U rezultatima se ističe potreba nastavka rada na uključivanju kulturne baštine u globalno građansko obrazovanje, za što je neophodno izraditi integrirani kurikul koji se temelji na â€žrelevantnim socio-ekološkim problemimaâ€œ. Ključne riječi: globalno građansko obrazovanje; istraživanje kurikula; predprimarno obrazovanje; primarno obrazovanje; tipologija baštine.
The Impact of Exchange Rate Futures Fluctuations on Macroeconomy: Evidence from Ten Trading Market

ABSTRACT This research empirically analyzes the impact of foreign exchange futures volatility on macroeconomic variables by using data of ten trading markets from 2011 to 2020.1 Our findings illustrate that the volatility of foreign exchange futures significantly affects various macroeconomic indicators. In particular, as the volatility of foreign exchange futures increases, it reduces government budget revenue, increases the inflation rate, and has a positive impact on net exports and total reserves. Moreover, this research conducted robustness tests by replacing independent variables and conducting a sub-sample regression to ensure the reliability of the regression results.
A Review of Virtual Reality Studies on Autonomous Vehicle–Pedestrian Interaction

An increasing number of studies employ virtual reality (VR) to evaluate interactions between autonomous vehicles (AVs) and pedestrians. VR simulators are valued for their cost-effectiveness, flexibility in developing various traffic scenarios, safe conduct of user studies, and acceptable ecological validity. Reviewing the literature between 2010 and 2020, we found 31 empirical studies using VR as a testing apparatus for both implicit and explicit communication. By performing a systematic analysis, we identified current coverage of critical use cases, obtained a comprehensive account of factors influencing pedestrian behavior in simulated traffic scenarios, and assessed evaluation measures. Based on the findings, we present a set of recommendations for implementing VR pedestrian simulators and propose directions for future research.
Shock Mach Number Estimates Using Incomplete Measurements

The Mach number is one of the most important parameters of collisionless shocks. The accuracy of its observational determination is compromised by several complications. Incomplete measurements of plasma parameters significantly contribute to the uncertainty, along with the errors of the normal determination. A set of CLUSTER observed shocks is analyzed using several methods for finding the shock normal and to circumvent the shortcomings of the plasma data. A relation between the maximum magnetic compression and the Alfvénic Mach number is established. It is proposed as a proxy for the Mach number estimate when measurements are incomplete.
Model-Based Range Prediction for Electric Cars and Trucks under Real-World Conditions

The further development of electric mobility requires major scientific efforts to obtain reliable data for vehicle and drive development. Practical experience has repeatedly shown that vehicle data sheets do not contain realistic consumption and range figures. Since the fear of low range is a significant obstacle to the acceptance of electric mobility, a reliable database can provide developers with additional insights and create confidence among vehicle users. This study presents a detailed, yet easy-to-implement and modular physical model for both passenger and commercial battery electric vehicles. The model takes consumption-relevant parameters, such as seasonal influences, terrain character, and driving behavior, into account. Without any a posteriori parameter adjustments, an excellent agreement with known field data and other experimental observations is achieved. This validation conveys much credibility to model predictions regarding the real-world impact on energy consumption and cruising range in standardized driving cycles. Some of the conclusions, almost impossible to obtain experimentally, are that winter conditions and a hilly terrain each reduce the range by 7–9%, and aggressive driving reduces the range by up to 20%. The quantitative results also reveal the important contributions of recuperation and rolling resistance towards the overall energy budget.
How Do Parents Evaluate and Select Schools? Evidence From a Survey Experiment

As parents are increasingly given flexibility to enroll their children in a school of their choice, understanding parents’ preferences for school qualities is essential. Using a randomized survey experiment, this study adds to the existing literature by assessing parents’ preferences in a controlled environment, where they can be isolated from information asymmetries and constraints. Results suggest that achievement matters to parents but status matters more when evaluating quality and growth matters more when choosing between schools. Additionally, student demographics affect both parents’ perception of school quality and their likelihood of selecting into a school. This article has important implications for the theory and practice of accountability as it offers new insights on parents’ latent preferences for school qualities.
Impacts of social media Use on the Academic Performance of Students of Private Tertiary institutions in Ghana: The Valley View University Perspective

This paper examined the impacts of social media use on the academic performance of students of private tertiary institutions in Ghana using the Valley View University, Oyibi Campus, Accra, as a case study. A cross-sectional survey design method was adopted for the study. The population of the students was two thousand, one hundred and seventy – two (2,172). Instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. A total of 388 copies of a questionnaire were administered to the students based on probability sampling technique, 362 copies of the questionnaire were filled correctly and thus, were used for the analysis. The quantitative data obtained from the questionnaire were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). The findings revealed that entertainment and relaxation, posting pictures, and chatting with friends were students' motivators. It was found that the frequent use of social media had negatively affected the academic performance of some students. The study recommended to University management to motivate students to use the various social media platforms for academic activities rather than non-academic activities. The study also recommended that students should be advised to reduce the number of hours spent on the social media platforms. Citation: Ameyaw, S. (2021). Impacts of social media Use on the Academic Performance of Students of Private Tertiary institutions in Ghana: The Valley View University Perspective. International Journal of Technology and Management Research (IJTMR), Vol. 6 (2): Pp.106-115. Received: January 13, 2021Accepted: September 1, 2021
Identification of a 9-gene signature related to stemness for prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma basing on weighted gene coexpression network analysis

Background Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are heterogeneous with self-renewal and differentiation ability. The mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) described the similarity between tumor cells and CSCs, which is positively associated with the poor prognosis of cancer patients. However, the key prognostic genes related to mRNAsi in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Methods In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data of 374 liver HCC (LIHC) and 50 normal liver tissue samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, with the corresponding clinical phenotypes. Differential expression of genes between tumor and normal tissues were analyzed. Modules correlated to mRNAsi and hub genes were identified using the weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) package. Then, the prognostic genes associated with mRNAsi were identified. The expressions of the prognostic genes in HCC tissues were achieved by the human protein atlas (HPA) database. Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the prognostic genes were performed. Finally, the correlations between hub genes and clinical characteristics, immune subtypes, and tumor microenvironment were analyzed. Results A total of 1146 downregulated genes and 5593 upregulated genes were identified in LIHC, compared with normal tissues. A 9-gene signature related to mRNAsi and HCC prognosis including PSMG3, SNRPD1, DTYMK, PIGU, NME1, TXNL4A, IPO4, PES1, and REXO4 was obtained and their expressions were confirmed by the HPA database. High expression of this signature indicates poor prognosis of HCC. Among them, DTYMK and NME1 enriched in pyrimidine metabolism, SNRPD1 and TXNL4A enriched in spliceosome and PIGU enriched in glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis pathways. PIGU was an independent prognostic factor of HCC, which was significantly associated with clinical characteristics. High expression of the 9-gene signature was negatively correlated with the stromal cell infiltration, and positively correlated with specific immune subtypes-related to angiogenesis, M1/M2 macrophage polarization, and M2 response. Conclusion A 9-gene signature related to mRNAsi and poor prognosis in HCC were identified, which can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC and functional mechanism exploration of CSCs in HCC.
Social work in the face of emerging technologies: A technological acceptance study in 13 countries

Significant technological advances have taken place in recent years, especially in ICT, which are rapidly transforming the different professions, including social work. We want to verify the degree of technological acceptance of social workers at the international level and how the relationship between professional practice and the use of new technological possibilities is established. For this purpose we applied a specialized questionnaire and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) scale, to 1144 social workers from 13 countries. A high degree of technological acceptance is detected; a clear identification between professional practice, the use of technological advances, and their connection with NASW standards.
Formulation of Organic Wastes as Growth Media for Cultivation of Earthworm Nutrient-Rich Eisenia foetida

Inadequate management of solid organic waste can lead to the spread of diseases and negatively affects the environment. Fermentation and vermicomposting of organic waste could have dual benefits by generating earthworm biomass for a source of animal feed protein, and, at the same time, turning the organic waste into readily used compost. This study investigated the effect of an organic waste source (as a sole source or blended with others) totaling 24 media for the cultivation of the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Eight media sources were applied, namely cow manure, horse manure, goat manure, broiler chicken manure, market organic waste, household organic waste, rice straw, and beef rumen content. E. foetida was cultivated for 40 days, then the number of cocoons, earthworms, and the total biomass weight were measured at the end of the cultivation. Results demonstrated that the media source affected E. foetida earthworm cultivation. The most effective media were those containing horse manure that led to the production of the highest earthworms and the highest biomass. The produced cocoons and earthworms were poorly correlated with an r-value of 0.26 and p-value of 0.21. Meanwhile, the number and weight of the earthworms correlated well with an r-value of 0.784 and p-value of <0.01. However, the average numbers and weights of the produced earthworms in the media containing horse manure, cow manure, goat manure, and non-blended organic waste were insignificant. Overall results suggest that blended organic wastes can undergo composting to produce nutrient-rich earthworm biomass while turning the solid organic waste into readily used compost.