Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unpacking Perceptual and Contextual Influences on Task-Based Instruction: A Framework of Teacher Beliefs and Practice.

Task-based language teaching (TBLT) is one of the contemporary approaches which attracts a vast amount of research in the past decades. Research on the dissemination of TBLT, however, has provided abundant evidence of hindering factors in various educational contexts, especially in Asian cultures. Two major groups of factors were reported. One is directly associated with the teachers, namely their language proficiency, understanding of TBLT, and beliefs about language pedagogy. The other group involves the social, cultural, and educational forces which indirectly militate against the teachers’ implementation, including assessment policy, large mixed-ability classes, social accountability, and instructional time constraint. This situation reflects an existing gap between what second language acquisition research has to say and classroom realities, in which the teacher plays a crucial bridging role. The current paper draws on studies on TBLT published within two to three recent decades to argue that teachers’ belief is a key mediator of their practice which interacts with their classroom experiences and contextual factors. Based on this position, the paper attempts to depict a conceptual framework that captures the interaction to provide PASAA Vol. 59 January June 2020 | 155 implications for future research and work on EFL teachers’ education and development.
Extraction and structural analysis of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide with low molecular weight and its lipid‐lowering effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the prevalent and typical chronic liver diseases. In this study, we extracted a novel Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) with low molecular weight (MW) of 3.2 kDa through optimized “one‐step” purification process. The major monosaccharide components of ASP were mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galactose, arabinose, and xylose with weight ratio of 0.23:0.17:14.41:0.39:1.68:0.87, respectively. Herein, “small” ASP could serve as an effective therapeutic option for NAFLD both in free fatty acid‐induced L02 models and in high‐fat diet‐induced mice models. Results revealed that low MW ASP dose‐dependently decreased TG, TC in vitro and TG, TC, ALT, HDL‐C, and LDL‐C in vivo. Oil Red O‐positive area and Nile red fluorescence intensity decreased in ASP treatment groups both in vitro and in vivo which suggested ASP could reduce lipid accumulation and fatty regeneration. Hematoxylin–eosin staining results shown a decrease in hepatocytes ballooning indicating that ASP could ameliorate liver lipid degeneration. Briefly, a novel polysaccharide with low MW was successfully obtained which can prospectively act as NAFLD therapy.
Cardiac response to stimulation and stress in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Previous descriptions of the direction (tachycardia versus bradycardia), magnitude, and duration of the cardiac stimulation/stress response of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) have been contradictory. Superficial EKG leads were used to quantify heart rate while presenting a graded series of stimuli to a cohort of 5 sub-adult alligators. Only tachycardic responses were recorded. Stress (manual restraint and transport) induced a nearly 3-fold increase over the resting heart rate (∼17 bpm), which decreased only 7 bpm over 40 minutes in a stimulus-free environment. Lower-level stimulation (i.e., exposure to room light) produced a significantly smaller response than did higher-level stimulation (i.e., physical contact), both responses were transitory, lasting approximately 120 s.
Noninvasive monitoring of follicle development, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) by ultrasonography

This is the first paper to describe ovarian changes associated with follicular growth, ovulation, and corpus luteum (CL) formation as monitored by ultrasonography in a multiovular primate, the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus). Examinations were carried out transabdominally on unsedated females using a 10 MHz probe. Cycles were monitored by plasma progesterone and controlled by administration of prostaglandin F2α (PGF). The reliability of ultrasound was validated by comparing findings with direct observation of the ovaries at laparotomy. In eight females, 25 follicles were counted, of which 92% were depicted correctly by ultrasound. Of 14 CLs in five females, number and position were confirmed at laparotomy for 78%. Ultrasound examinations of ovaries throughout the follicular and luteal phase were performed in eight cycles and related to plasma profiles of luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone. One of these cycles was anovulatory. In the remaining seven cycles, 19 follicles were considered ovulatory follicles since they were seen on consecutive days and found again as CLs. Growth of individual follicles was monitored by measurements of follicle diameter from day 7 onward. Disappearance of follicles or changes in echogenicity were noted between days 9 and 11, preventing further measurements. Mean follicle size increased from 2.1 mm (range 1.6 mm–2.7 mm) on day 7 to 3.2 mm (range 2.7 mm–4.0 mm) on the day last seen. With one exception, the day follicles were last seen by ultrasound was consistent with the day of the preovulatory LH surge (day 9–11). The postovulatory rise in progesterone occurred 1–2 days later (day 11–13). These findings suggest that the day of ovulation as observed by ultrasound was characterized by either disappearance of follicles or increased follicular echogenicity. In conclusion, ultrasonography provides a reliable, noninvasive method for examinations of the ovarian cycle in the marmoset monkey. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cordaixylon dumusum n.sp. (Cordaitales). I. Vegetative Structures

Cordaitean remains are a prominent component of the vegetation at an Upper Pennsylvanian coal-ball locality in eastern Ohio and form the basis for reconstructing both endarch and mesarch cordaitean plants. The plant with endarch xylem maturation has small stems that produce abundant adventitious roots, spatulate leaves, and Cordaianthus-type cones. It is reconstructed as a small shrub and assigned to Cordaixylon Grand'Eury as C. dumusum n.sp. Structure and variation in the stems, leaves, and roots are described. Primary vascular architecture of the stems forms a sympodial system identical with that of extant conifers with helical phyllotaxis. Leaves range from needle-like with a single vein to spatulate with numerous veins and are borne in heteroblastic series. On some stems, there is a rapid transition from the needle-like leaves at the base to spatulate forms at more distal levels. On other small stems, needle-like leaves are produced throughout. Leaves are borne in a helical fashion, and trace divergence indicates that they approach 3/8, 5/13, and 8/21 arrangements, the larger stems having the more complex fractions. Branching is axillary, and root-trace xylem diverges at the nodes between the levels where leaf traces and branch traces emerge. Cordaixylon dumusum is the first cordaitean plant to be characterized from Upper Pennsylvanian deposits and the only cordaitean thus far reconstructed in full.
A Comprehensive Study of the Parameters Impacting the Fuel Economy of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are one of the most promising solutions that can improve the fuel economy and reduce emissions. The fuel consumption of PHEVs is affected by various factors. This article identifies four primary factors with significant impact on the PHEV fuel consumption. In this paper, after a brief discussion of different types of the PHEV configurations, the energy management strategies for PHEVs are classified and reviewed in detail. Moreover, the impact of driving conditions, including traffic congestion, road profile, driving distance, weather conditions, and charging behavior, on the PHEV fuel economy are comprehensively analyzed. The data regarding the trip can be obtained utilizing intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies. Finally, commonly used energy storage devices in PHEVs are presented and their advantages and disadvantages are highlighted.
The Influence of a University Homeschool Physical Education Program on Fundamental Motor Skills and Self-Confidence

Individuals are both more likely to participate in sports, exercise, and physical activity when they are skilled. Therefore, motor skills and skilled movement should be viewed as prerequisites to a physically active lifestyle. Children and adolescents who have achieved fundamental motor competence are also believed to perceive themselves as being competent although there is inconsistency in the results so far reported in the literature. Despite the unprecedented growth home homeschool education, studies have not examined the development of motor competency of homeschool students or its relationship to confidence. The current investigation examined the influence fundamental motor skill development and self-confidence of students enrolled in a university homeschool physical education program. Results from the pre-test (M = 13.92, SD = 2.8) and post-test (M = 20.75, SD = 3.5) fundamental motor skill observations indicate that the homeschool program led to an improvement in overall skill, t(52) = 12.05, p< . 001 (E.S. = 1.06). Dependent-samples t -test produced significant results from pre to post for research participants [t (1,52) = 27.26 , p<. 05, E.S. = 1.10], who improved their self-efficacy over the course of the study [baseline M self-efficacy = 71.92, SD= 16.52, endline M self-efficacy = 88.87, SD =15.34]. This study showed that a university homeschool physical education program can lead to improvements in the developmental of fundamental motor skills and self-confidence.
Developing a Competitive and Sustainable Destination of the Future: Clusters and Predictors of Successful National-Level Destination Governance across Destination Life-Cycle

This study advances the research and methodological approach to measuring and understanding national-level destination competitiveness, sustainability and governance, by creating a model that could be of use for both developing and developed destinations. The study gives a detailed overview of the research field of measuring destination competitiveness and sustainability. It also identifies major predictors of destination competitiveness and sustainability and thereby presents destination researchers and practitioners with a useful list of priority areas, both from a global perspective and from the perspective of other similar destinations. Finally, the study identifies two major types of destination governance with implications for research, policy and practice across the destination life-cycle. The research deals with the analysis of the secondary data from the World Economic Forum Travel and Tourism Index (WEF T&T). Major types of destination governance and predictors of belonging to either one of the types, as well as inside cluster predictors have been extracted through a two-step cluster analysis. The results support the notion that a meaningful model of national-level destination governance needs to take into account different development levels of different destinations. The main limitation of the study is its typology creation approach, as it inevitably leads to simplifications.
Respostas fenológicas de cultivares brasileiras de trigo à vernalização e ao fotoperíodo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes combinacoes de vernalizacao e fotoperiodo no desenvolvimento de cinco cultivares brasileiras de trigo. O experimento foi realizado em Passo Fundo, RS, em tres epocas de semeadura: 23/6, 25/7 e 27/8 de 2003. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subsubdivididas e quatro repeticoes. Os tratamentos consistiram de: tres regimes fotoperiodicos - fotoperiodo natural (FN), fotoperiodo estendido em quatro horas (FE 4) e fotoperiodo estendido ate completar vinte horas de luz (FE 20) - locados na parcela principal; dois regimes de vernalizacao - nao vernalizado (NV) e vernalizado com 30 dias (V) -, na subparcela; e cinco cultivares de trigo - BRS 179, BRS 194, BRS 207, BRS Figueira e BRS Umbu, avaliadas nas subsubparcelas. Houve interacao entre fotoperiodo e cultivar (semeadura em 23/6), e todas as cultivares tiveram o ciclo reduzido com o aumento do fotoperiodo, enquanto nas plantas com epocas de semeadura 25/7 e 27/8, houve interacao entre fotoperiodo e cultivar e entre vernalizacao e cultivar. Essas variaveis aceleraram o ciclo de desenvolvimento da cultura e interferiram na duracao dos subperiodos importantes para a formacao dos componentes do rendimento de graos.
Pattern of gill innervation in two teleosts, the perch and the trout

The distribution of the branchial nerves in the gills of the perch (Perca fluviatilis) and the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was studied. Two nerve branches supply each gill arch: the first arch receives a posttrematic branch from the glossopharyngeal nerve and a pretrematic branch from the vagus. The second, third, and fourth arches receive a posttrematic and a pretrematic branch from the vagus. Within each arch the posttrematic branch runs on the anterior side and innervates the filaments of the anterior hemibranch. The pretrematic branch runs on the posterior side and innervates the filaments of the posterior hemibranch. In addition, the posttrematic branches innervate the striated muscles and carry the sympathetic fibers for both hemibranchs. The taste buds and gill rakers are supplied by internal branches of both the pretrematic and posttrematic nerves.
Seasonal movements and home ranges of white-tailed deer in the Adirondacks

Movements and home ranges of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were studied for 8 years in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Deer were box-trapped on their winter or summer ranges, and 105 radio-collared animals and 266 marked with ear streamer-collar combinations were released. Movements from summer to winter range were associated with snow depths of about 38 cm. Seasonal home-range size among sexes did not differ (P > 0.05), and females had a larger (P 0.05). Most 1½-2½-year-old males made dispersal movements. Adult bucks showed a shift in their center of activity in autumn. Nine social groups of deer identified from 366 marked animals had different movement patterns and exhibited range fidelity and exclusiveness (between groups). Seasonal movements and home ranges of deer were influenced by timber harvesting on both summer and winter range. Individual summer home-range selection was influenced primarily by social factors and not habitat type. Management of winter habitat not being used by deer may be cost-ineffective unless fidelity to a specific range can be altered. Intensive herd management may require cooperation of several landowners, and management practices should be directed at a specific deer population to be most effective.
Sôbre a cópula e a constituicäo do aparelho genital de Succinea meridionalis Orbigny, 1846: (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Succineidae)

Neste trabalho e feita a descricao anatomica e histologica do aparelho genital de Succiena meridionalis Orbigy, 1846, considerando-se tambem a concha, mandibula, radula e câmara paleal. As variacoes da concha, radula e "talon", bem como a intensidade de pigmentacao de diversas estruturas tambem sao discutidas. Alem destes aspectos, sao relatados alguns dados biologicos da especie e disposicao anatomica do aparelho copulador por ocasiao do ato sexual. Como caracteres importantes para diagnose desta especie, dentro do genero, consideramos: 1 - Conchas geralmente translucidas e frageis, como comprimento, nos adultos, variando de 6,0 a 13,1 mm e numero de espiras compreendida entre 2 1/6 e 3 1/6. 2 - Ovotestis constituido por numerosos foliculo reunidos num so grupo. 3 - Canal coletor do ovotestis unido a vesicula seminal subterminalmente. 4 - Vagina curta e mais dilatada na porcao proximal, podendo formar um ângulo reto ou agudo com o oviduto. 5 - Bainha muscular do penis envolvendo a porcao distal do falus e sendo atravessada subrterminalmente pelo canal deferente. 6 - Porcao proximal do falus bem dilatada, tendo dobrada contra si o epifalus. 7 - Presenca de uma papila na comunicacao do epifalus com a porcao proximal do falus e que se projeta para a luz deste ultimo. 8 - Insercao terminal do musculo retrtor no epifalus.
Outcome of rapid deployment aortic valves: long-term experience after 700 implants.

Background The Edwards Intuity Valve System is a bioprosthesis with a balloon-expandable stent frame which enables rapid-deployment (RD). We aimed to analyze our single-center long-term experience with a follow-up until 9 years after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with this bioprosthesis. Methods Between May 2010 and May 2019, 700 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis or combined aortic valve disease, implanted with a RD valve at our institution, were included in a prospective database. Median follow-up was 19 months and the total accumulated follow-up was 2,140 patient-years. Pre-operative characteristics, operative parameters, survival rates, valve-related adverse events and valve hemodynamics were assessed. Results Mean age was 74±8 years, 45% female. Concomitant procedures were performed in 339 (48.4%) patients. In case of isolated AVR (361/700), a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach was conducted in 283 patients (78.4%). Cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) and cross-clamp times for isolated AVR were 107.7±28.2 and 73.8±21.3 minutes for MIS approaches and 92.8±28.8 and 57.5±20.6 minutes for full sternotomy (P<0.001), respectively. Mean gradients at discharge, 1, 3 and 5 years were 13±5, 11±4, 12±5 and 13±8 mmHg. New early pacemaker implantation was required in 8.9% of patients. Re-intervention or re-operation with valve explantation for structural degeneration, non-structural dysfunction or endocarditis, occurred in 21 cases (3%). Thirty-day mortality was 0.7% (5/700) and overall survival at 1, 3 and 5 years was 98%, 91% and 76%. Conclusions We report excellent long-term results in this updated single center experience for RD aortic valves regarding durability, safety and hemodynamic performance.
Effect of the End Groups and the Solvent on the Gelation of the Hybrid Materials from Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Oligo Phenylene Vinylene (OPV)

Abstract The role of the end-groups of three oligophenylene vinylene (OPV) and the solvents on the hybrid materials from poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) and the OPV are examined. The gelation of the three organogel OPVs and of the hybrid materials in bromobenzene and benzyl alcohol was characterized. The morphology, as well as the thermodynamic properties, of these OPV and hybrid materials showed that they depended mostly on the solvent and very little on the different end-groups located on the OPV backbones.
Finite Element Analysis of Ball Burnishing on Ball-End Milled Surfaces Considering Their Original Topology and Residual Stress

Ball burnishing is a superfinishing operation whose objective is the enhancement of surface integrity of previously machined surfaces, hence its appropriateness to complement chip removal processes at the end of a production line. As a complex process involving plastic deformation, friction and three-dimensional interaction between solids, numerical solutions and finite element models have typically included a considerable amount of simplifications that represent the process partially. The aim of this paper is to develop a 3D numerical finite element model of the ball burnishing process including in the target workpiece real surface integrity descriptors resulting from a ball-end milled AISI 1038 surface. Specifically, its periodical topological features are used to generate the surface geometry and the residual stress tensor measured on a real workpiece is embedded in the target surface. Secondly, different models varying the effect of the coefficient of friction and the direction of application of burnishing passes with regards to the original milling direction are calculated. Results show that the resulting topology and residual stresses are independent of the burnishing direction. However, it is evident that the model outputs are highly influenced by the value of the coefficient of friction. A value of 0.15 should be implemented in order to obtain representative results through finite element models.
Rotational dynamics of transfer ribonucleic acid: effect of ionic strength and concentration.

: We have investigated the influence of ionic strength and nucleic acid concentration on the rotational Brownian motion of Escherichia coli tRNA1Val by studying the decay of the fluorescence polarization anisotropy (FPA) of intercalated ethidium on a nanosecond time scale. The rotational relaxation time tau R remains essentially constant as the ionic strength is varied from 2 to 100 mM at a tRNA concentration of 54 mg/mL. tau R also remains practically unchanged as the tRNA concentration is varied from 0.3 to 54 mg/mL at an ionic strength of 130 mM. Present hydrodynamic theories generally predict a more pronounced concentration dependence for rotational diffusion than we observe. This disagreement may result from a nonrandom distribution of the tRNA molecules in solution due to electrostatic interactions. By combining independent data from time-resolved nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) cross-relaxation experiments and FPA experiments on the same tRNA, we are able to estimate the interproton spacing for the guanine N1-H and the uracil N3-H of the GU-50 base pair in E. coli tRNA1Val. This distance is 0.272 nm.
Loyalty program effectiveness: Theoretical reviews and practical proofs

Article history: Received November 28, 2019 Received in revised format January 30, 2020 Accepted February 11 2020 Available online February 12 2020 Loyalty programs are widely used by organizations as a structured customer relationship management (CRM) tool to build and extend customer-supplier relationship. Although a large number of benefits are offered through them to both companies and consumers, loyalty programs face a set of planning and implementation pitfalls. Scholars or practitioners rarely discuss such pitfalls. Thus, this paper intends to add further values to the current literature by exploring/investigating the main loyalty scheme pitfalls, both theoretically and practically. The study explores a set of loyalty program planning problems and some of the execution’s drawbacks, including clear aim need, loyalty program design, budgeting and experienced employee involvement. In addition to loyalty programs benefits and rewards offered, loyalty programs target customer selection problems using loyalty program promotional tools. For the study, 161 managers and employees who were involved in loyalty program planning and execution were surveyed. Smart-PLS was used to test the developed model and hypotheses. The study found that all studied loyalty program elements identified affected their planning and implementation. However, some of these elements where seen important to be considered when planning loyalty schemes, such schemes’ benefits and rewards offered were still not planned properly and did not meet customer needs or even expectations and, in most cases, the loyalty programs’ aims were not clear to all their stakeholders. The paper also provides additional discussion about additional issues of loyalty schemes planning and execution problems and proposes a set of solutions and recommendations, which might highlight some of the future venues with this regard. 2020 by the authors; license Growing Science, Canada ©