Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Case Study of the Life Experiences of High School Graduates/General Education Development (GED) Recipients in Texas Who Experienced Homelessness During Their Public School Education

A Case Study of the Life Experiences of High School Graduates/General Education Development (GED) Recipients in Texas Who Experienced Homelessness During Their Public School Education. (May 2011) Ruth Ann Reider, B. A. , Sam Houston State University; M.Ed., Stephen F. Austin University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Patricia Larke The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP, 2007) recently reported that there were 1.3 million homeless children living in the United States. The voices of homeless children and youth are often silent, as the literature generally reflects their experiences only indirectly, as related by care givers or social service providers. In contrast, this study provides firsthand accounts of the difficulties encountered by children and youth who struggle to complete their educations while being homeless. This qualitative case study examines the personal and educational experiences of seven adults who had been homeless as children or youth and who graduated from high school or earned their General Education Development (GED) equivalents. Two research questions framing this study were: 1. What do the voices of adults who received a high school diploma or GED tell us about their life experiences as a homeless student? 2. What do the voices of adults who received a high school diploma or GED tell us about their educational experiences as a homeless student?
The effect of a large-scale fishing restriction on angling harvest: a case study of grayling Thymallus thymallus in the Czech Republic

In Central Europe, European grayling Thymallus thymallus is an endangered and vanishing fish species with high recreational angling value. For that reason, in January 2016, the minimum legal angling size for grayling was increased from 30 to 40 cm in the Czech Republic. This study evaluated if the increase in minimum angling size had any effect on grayling harvest. Data from 229 fishing sites covering the years 2011–2017 were used in this study. The data originated from individual angling logbooks, collected in the regions of Prague and Central Bohemia, Czech Republic. Over the 7 yr, anglers visited the studied fishing sites 3.6 million times and harvested 105 000 salmonids. Grayling made up only 0.5% of the overall salmonid harvest. The fishing restriction caused a decrease in grayling harvest per visit. It also decreased the contribution of grayling to the overall harvest as well as the number of fishing sites where anglers successfully harvested graylings. Fish stocking was constant during the study period. Increased minimum angling size led to increased average body weight of harvested fish. In conclusion, the increase in minimum angling size significantly affected fish harvest and composition.
On stress-dependent elastic moduli and wave speeds

On the basis of the general non-linear theory of a hyperelastic material with initial stress, initially without consideration of the origin of the initial stress, we determine explicit expressions for the stress-dependent tensor of incremental elastic moduli. In considering three special cases of initial stress within the general framework, namely hydrostatic stress, uniaxial stress and planar shear stress, we then elucidate in general form the dependence of various elastic moduli on the initial stress. In each case, the effect of initial stress on the wave speed of homogeneous plane waves is studied and it is shown how various special theories from the earlier literature fit within the general framework. We then consider the situation in which the initial stress is a pre-stress associated with a finite deformation and, in particular, we discuss the specialization to the second-order theory of elasticity and highlight connections between several classical approaches to the topic, again with special reference to the influence of higher-order terms on the speed of homogeneous plane waves. Some discrepancies arising in the earlier literature are noted.
FPGA Based Motor Control System Using PID Controller and Sigma-Delta ADC

: I n industrial robotic applications, motors play an important role to move the joints for pick and place, tool positioning, etc. For the accurate movements of joints, the speed of the motor should be controlled. The existing techniques for controlling the motor are not accurate and form steady state error and oscillations at the output. Hence PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) controller based motor control system with a Sigma-Delta Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) at the feedback section can be used to rectify this problem. A Sigma-Delta ADC consists of a feedback that helps in the accurate conversion from analog to digital signal. This system can be implemented on FPGA, which offers the advantages such as high performance and concurrent computing. Each module is simulated and synthesized using the Xilinx ISE Design Suite 14.2 and ISim Simulator.
Creativity as a Route to Attitude Change: Can the Creative Process Augment the Effectiveness of a Persuasive Message?

This study investigated the possibility that engagement in the creative process can augment the effectiveness of a persuasive message. Non-academic Internet use was used as the attitude change stimulus. The persuasive message was delivered via video, and the creative activity involved making a collage online. The creativity of the collages was later judged by a panel of experts following the Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT). To the researcher’s knowledge, no previous studies have attempted to investigate the creative and attitude change processes in combination. However, these two processes have important similarities in that both attitude change and creative outcomes are very much dependent on motivation, ability and effort, and both processes involve the formation of new connections and mechanisms of evaluation. Study results indicated that engagement in a creative process can, in fact, augment the effectiveness of a persuasive message. The argument is made that the mechanism behind this facilitative process is largely affective. An unexpected consequence of this study was the discovery that the vast majority of participants exhibited unusually problematic levels of Internet use. These findings are also discussed.
Kidney Clamp by Using Intestinal Forceps during Nephron SparingSurgery

We experienced a case of renal cell carcinoma in congenital solitary kidney of an 80-year old male with a status post bypass grafts of coronary arteries and advanced heart failure. Incidentally we identified a left renal cell carcinoma 60mm in diameter, and an aneurysm of left renal artery. According to the R.E. N.A. L. Nephrometry Score, the tumor had 2-2-3-2 and total 9 points. Preoprerative e-GFR was 62.1 ml/min. He underwent open nephron sparing surgery by using intestinal forceps for kidney clamp instead of vascular clamp. Following an uneventful postoperative course, e-GFR became 45.6 ml/min. No recurrence was observed at 25 months after surgery. Even though laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is the gold standard for small renal mass, open procedure is still a mainstay for imperative cases.
Structural Peculiarities of Social Mental Abilities of Future Teachers.

The problem of social intelligence of researchers has attracted attention in recent years. Social intelligence is one of the most important characteristics of teachers. The aim of this research was to study features of structure of social intelligence of future teachers. The respondents in this study were selected 360 students of pedagogical specialties from Kyzylorda State University. The following tools are used in the work: methods of investigation of social intellect by J.P. Guilford and M.O. Sullivan. Results of theoretical and experimental studies have revealed general and specific features of social intelligence of future teachers. The results of research indicated that normative-role values accepted in society are significant for respondents; the students are guided by these values in situations of interpersonal interactions. Dynamics of parameters of social intelligence of respondents was performed. Gender features of social intelligence of future teachers were established. Differences which were related with professional specialization were not found.
Multidimensional free‐energy calculations using the weighted histogram analysis method

The recently formulated weighted histogram analysis method (WHAM)1 is an extension of Ferrenberg and Swendsen's multiple histogram technique for free‐energy and potential of mean force calculations. As an illustration of the method, we have calculated the two‐dimensional potential of mean force surface of the dihedrals gamma and chi in deoxyadenosine with Monte Carlo simulations using the all‐atom and united‐atom representation of the AMBER force fields. This also demonstrates one of the major advantages of WHAM over umbrella sampling techniques. The method also provides an analysis of the statistical accuracy of the potential of mean force as well as a guide to the most efficient use of additional simulations to minimize errors. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Unemployment and the Rate of Change of Money Earnings in the United States, 1900-1958

In a recent article Professor Phillips put forward the hypothesis that the rate of change of money wage rates can be explained by the level of unemployment and the rate of change of unemployment, except in or immediately after periods of rapidly rising prices. ' The relation between unemployment and the rate of change of wage rates, according to Phillips, is likely to be non-linear. Also, at the same level of unemployment, wage levels will rise faster when unemployment is declining than when it is increasing. Working on the United Kingdom data, Phillips argued that there was statistical evidence to support the hypothesis. Dr. Lipsey, in a later article, has reconsidered Phillips' work in greater detail.2 Unlike Phillips, Lipsey introduces changes in the cost of living as an additional explanatory variable. Lipsey concluded that the three variables between themselves appear adequately to account for the variations in the rate of change of money wages in the United Kingdom, although their relative explanatory power had changed as between 1862-1913 and 1917-1957. The purpose of this article is to test a similar hypothesis for the United States for the period from 1900 to 1958.3 The available data on wages, however, relate to labour earnings rather than to wage rates. This study, therefore, examines the relation between unemployment and the rate of change of hourly earnings in the periods 1900-1932, 1933-1948 and 1948-1958.4
Sap flow in response to rainfall pulses for two shrub species in the semiarid Chinese Loess Plateau

Abstract Rainfall pulses can significantly drive the evolution of the structure and function of semiarid ecosystems, and understanding the mechanisms that underlie the response of semiarid plants to rainfall is the key to understanding the responses of semi–arid ecosystems to global climatic change. We measured sap flow in the branches and stems of shrubs (Caragana korshinskii Kom. and Hippophae rhamnoides Linn.) using sap flow gauges, and studied the response of sap flow density to rainfall pulses using the “threshold–delay” model in the Chinese Loess Plateau. The results showed that the sap flow began about 1 h earlier, and increased twofold after rainfall, compared to its pre-rainfall value. The sap flow increased significantly with increasing rainfall classes, then gradually decreased. The response of sap flow was different among rainfall, species, position (branch and stem) during the pulse period, and the interactive effects also differed significantly (P < 0.0001). The response pattern followed the threshold–delay model, with lower rainfall thresholds of 5.2, 5.5 mm and 0.7, 0.8 mm of stem and branch for C. korshinskii and H. rhamnoides, demonstrating the importance of small rainfall events for plant growth and survival in semi–arid regions.
International Journal of Management Sciences and Business Research, Mar-2015 ISSN (2226-8235) Vol-4, Issue 3

This study investigates the literature on the topic of the risk that accompanies evolutionary dynamics, both within companies and credit institutions, and puts particular focus on the risk of uncertainty and unknown risk, analyzed according to the paradigm of Viable Systems Approach. The aim is to investigate the capitalization and solvency of Italian banks, both large and small. This is a topic that has become much more relevant in recent times: it is now essential that the banking system be solid and responsive, in order to ensure sustainable growth for all stakeholders.
Development and psychometric evaluation of the Swedish propensity to achieve healthy lifestyle scale in patients with hypertension

PURPOSE To develop and validate a Swedish questionnaire to measure propensity for behaviour change regarding food habits, physical activity and weight reduction in patients with hypertension. DESIGN Cross-sectional design. METHODS A total of 270 consecutive patients with hypertension diagnosed at four primary care centres in Sweden were included. The 6-item Swedish version of the Propensity to Achieve Healthy Lifestyle Scale (PAHLS) was developed to measure propensity for behaviour change regarding food habits, physical activity and weight reduction. The PAHLS (i.e., including three items for preparedness and three items for capacity) was developed by three multiprofessional researchers inspired by the transtheoretical model of behaviour change in collaboration with clinically active nurses. Data were collected by questionnaires on food habits (i.e., the Food Frequency Questionnaire), physical activity (the International Physical Activity Questionnaire), propensity for a healthy lifestyle (the PHLQ), as well as during a clinical examination. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), as well as Rasch analysis, were used. RESULTS Of the 270 patients (50% women), 27% scored low levels of physical activity on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and 34% of the patients were obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 ). The EFA (explaining 54% of the variance) showed unidimensionality for the PAHLS that was supported by both CFA and Rasch analyses. No floor and 1.9% ceiling effects were found. Multiple group CFA (an extension of structural equation modelling) showed that the PAHLS operated equivalently across both male and female patients. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.83) and composite reliability (0.89) were good. CONCLUSION The initial testing of PAHLS provided good validity and reliability scores to measure propensity for behaviour change in patients with hypertension. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The PAHLS can be used by nurses as a tool to simplify shared decision-making in relation to behavioural changes.
How blebs and pseudopods cooperate during chemotaxis

Significance We show that blebs—pressure-driven extensions of the plasma membrane—preferentially form in concave regions of the plasma membrane of migrating Dictyostelium cells and propose that the underlying physical reason is due to membrane tension, which provides an outward force at concavities. Blebs can transform into pseudopods by continued actin polymerization and pseudopods can trigger blebs on their flanks. Thus the two forms of protrusion can cooperate during chemotaxis. Two motors can drive extension of the leading edge of motile cells: actin polymerization and myosin-driven contraction of the cortex, producing fluid pressure and the formation of blebs. Dictyostelium cells can move with both blebs and actin-driven pseudopods at the same time, and blebs, like pseudopods, can be orientated by chemotactic gradients. Here we ask how bleb sites are selected and how the two forms of projection cooperate. We show that membrane curvature is an important, yet overlooked, factor. Dictyostelium cells were observed moving under agarose, which efficiently induces blebbing, and the dynamics of membrane deformations were analyzed. Blebs preferentially originate from negatively curved regions, generated on the flanks of either extending pseudopods or blebs themselves. This is true of cells at different developmental stages, chemotaxing to either folate or cyclic AMP and moving with both blebs and pseudopods or with blebs only. A physical model of blebbing suggests that detachment of the cell membrane is facilitated in concave areas of the cell, where membrane tension produces an outward directed force, as opposed to pulling inward in convex regions. Our findings assign a role to membrane tension in spatially coupling blebs and pseudopods, thus contributing to clustering protrusions to the cell front.
Quantifying Configuration-Sampling Error in Langevin Simulations of Complex Molecular Systems

While Langevin integrators are popular in the study of equilibrium properties of complex systems, it is challenging to estimate the timestep-induced discretization error: the degree to which the sampled phase-space or configuration-space probability density departs from the desired target density due to the use of a finite integration timestep. In [1], Sivak et al. introduced a convenient approach to approximating a natural measure of error between the sampled density and the target equilibrium density, the KL divergence, in phase space, but did not specifically address the issue of configuration-space properties, which are much more commonly of interest in molecular simulations. Here, we introduce a variant of this near-equilibrium estimator capable of measuring the error in the configuration-space marginal density, validating it against a complex but exact nested Monte Carlo estimator to show that it reproduces the KL divergence with high fidelity. To illustrate its utility, we employ this new near-equilibrium estimator to assess a claim that a recently proposed Langevin integrator introduces extremely small configuration-space density errors up to the stability limit at no extra computational expense. Finally, we show how this approach to quantifying sampling bias can be applied to a wide variety of stochastic integrators by following a straightforward procedure to compute the appropriate shadow work, and describe how it can be extended to quantify the error in arbitrary marginal or conditional distributions of interest.
Cultural assemblages show nested structure in humans and chimpanzees but not orangutans

Significance The evolution of culture is well-documented in the human archeological and fossil records, but equivalent data are absent for nonhuman primates. Here, we use modern variation to learn about processes of temporal evolution by measuring nestedness across human and great ape “cultural repertoires. ” Cultural assemblages are nested if cultures with a small repertoire of traits tend to comprise a proper subset of traits present in more complex cultures. We find a significant degree of nestedness in human and chimpanzee cultural repertoires, but not for orangutans. Our findings are consistent with a sequential “layering” of culture in humans and chimpanzees only, suggesting that the traits required for sequential cultural evolution first appeared in the last common ancestor of these species. The evolution of hominin culture is well-documented in the archeological and fossil record, but such a record is largely absent for nonhuman primates. An alternative approach to studying cultural evolution is to examine patterns of modern cultural variation. In this article we measure nestedness across human and great ape “cultural repertoires” to gain insight into the accumulation and maintenance of putative cultural diversity in these species. Cultural assemblages are nested if cultures with a small repertoire of traits tend to comprise a proper subset of those traits present in more complex cultures. This nesting will occur if some traits are sequentially gained or lost, which may be because of the differential dispersal or extinction of traits. Here we apply statistical tools from ecology to examine the degree of nestedness in four datasets documenting the presence or absence of specific cultural traits across indigenous human populations in North America and New Guinea. We then compare the human data to patterns observed for putative cultural traits in chimpanzee and orangutan populations. In both humans and chimpanzees, cultural diversity is highly nonrandom, showing significant nested structure for all of the datasets examined. We find no evidence for nestedness in the orangutan cultural data. These findings are consistent with a sequential “layering” of cultural diversity in humans and chimpanzees, but not orangutans. Such an interpretation implies that the traits required for sequential cultural evolution first appeared in the last common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans.
Enhanced Furfural Yields from Xylose Dehydration in the γ-Valerolactone/Water Solvent System at Elevated Temperatures.

High yields of furfural (>90 %) were achieved from xylose dehydration in a sustainable solvent system composed of γ-valerolactone (GVL), a biomass derived solvent, and water. It is identified that high reaction temperatures (e.g., 498 K) are required to achieve high furfural yield. Additionally, it is shown that the furfural yield at these temperatures is independent of the initial xylose concentration, and high furfural yield is obtained for industrially relevant xylose concentrations (10 wt %). A reaction kinetics model is developed to describe the experimental data obtained with solvent system composed of 80 wt % GVL and 20 wt % water across the range of reaction conditions studied (473-523 K, 1-10 mm acid catalyst, 66-660 mm xylose concentration). The kinetic model demonstrates that furfural loss owing to bimolecular condensation of xylose and furfural is minimized at elevated temperature, whereas carbon loss owing to xylose degradation increases with increasing temperature. Accordingly, the optimal temperature range for xylose dehydration to furfural in the GVL/H2 O solvent system is identified to be from 480 to 500 K. Under these reaction conditions, furfural yield of 93 % is achieved at 97 % xylan conversion from lignocellulosic biomass (maple wood).
Agent Augmented Game Development

Computer Science students are not only interested in playing games but also highly motivated to learn how games are developed. This paper proposes a novel agent augmented game development framework in a 3D virtualized environment that allows students to become the players, the situated learners and the designers, who create games/stories in an immersive 3D environment, simultaneously. Unlike most of existing games in which agents are designed to play some roles or to execute specific tasks, we augment the whole game world as an interactive multi-agent system. The agent intractability and autonomy enhance the user interactions and enable the dynamic story creation in a situated learning/playing environment. The proposed approach significantly increases the interests of students in learning to design the game from playing. An interactive game for science learning in secondary schools is presented to illustrate our approach. The proposed game framework as well as the 3D virtualized game environment has been successfully used in a number of capstone projects in recent two years. Students enjoyed learning and designing games through playing.