Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Saudi Students' Willingness to Communicate and Success in Learning English as a Foreign Language

Background: Willingness is an important factor that is instrumental in carrying out an activity successfully. Learning a foreign language is useful for having a meaningful and effective way of communication with different members of a society. This paper examines willingness among Saudi students towards learning English as a second language. It will also explore some of the difficulties that are faced by students learning English. Method: The paper used mixed methodological approach i.e. qualitative (literature) and quantitative data (survey). A survey was conducted where questionnaires were used for gathering information related to the research topic. There were 658 participants who belonged to the educational institutions of Saudi Arabia. Results: 50 % of the participants showed that they had a willingness to learn English as a second language. It was also examined that students were willing to learn and communicate in English with individuals in their groups that had English as a native language. Findings: It was revealed that there are several factors such as motivation level, social and cultural factors that affects students' willingness to learn and communicate in English. Conclusion: Therefore, this study concludes that Students in Saudi Arabia are willing to learn and communicate in English as their second language. Moreover, the paper suggests some recommendations for overcoming EFL students’ willingness to communicate in English.
Team 1 : Modeling Interactive Learning

This paper attempts to replicate the research of Marchiori and Warglien (Marchiori & Warglien, 2008). We create a neural network and, using the novel regret based learning rule proposed by the authors, simulate a variety of games in the network. We record the evolution of the network output, which is intended to mimic interactive learning in humans. We intend to add value to their research by creating a method by which parameters can be judiciously chosen, and add variations to the games and learning rules, which may model interactive learning in humans more accurately than the model proposed in the original paper.
Consumption and portfolio rules whit stochastic hyperbolic discounting

We extend the classic Merton (1969, 1971) problem that investigates the joint consumption-savings and portfolio-selection problem under capital risk by assuming sophisticated but time-inconsistent agents. We introduce stochastic hyperbolic preferences as in Harris and Laibson (2013) and find closed-form solutions for Merton's optimal consumption and portfolio selection problem in continuous time. We find that the portfolio rule remains identical to the time-consistent solution with power utility and no borrowing constraints. However,the marginal propensity to consume out of wealth is unambiguously greater than the time-consistent, exponential case and,importantly, it is also more responsive to changes in risk. These results suggest that hyperbolic discounting with sophisticated agents offers promise for contributing to explaining important aspects of asset market data.
Solution to a collisionless shallow-angle magnetic presheath with kinetic ions

Using a kinetic model for the ions and adiabatic electrons, we solve a steady state, electron-repelling magnetic presheath in which a uniform magnetic field makes a small angle α ≪ 1 (in radians) with the wall. The presheath characteristic thickness is the typical ion gyroradius ρ i . The Debye length λ D and the collisional mean free path of an ion λmfp satisfy the ordering λD ≪ ρi ≪ α λmfp, so a quasineutral and collisionless model is used. We assume that the electrostatic potential is a function only of distance from the wall, and it varies over the scale ρi. Using the expansion in α ≪ 1, we derive an analytical expression for the ion density that only depends on the ion distribution function at the entrance of the magnetic presheath and the electrostatic potential profile. Importantly, we have added the crucial contribution of the orbits in the region near the wall. By imposing the quasineutrality equation, we derive a condition that the ion distribution function must satisfy at the magnetic presheath entrance—the kinetic equivalent of the Chodura condition. Using an ion distribution function at the entrance of the magnetic presheath that satisfies the kinetic Chodura condition, we find numerical solutions for the self-consistent electrostatic potential, ion density and flow across the magnetic presheath for several values of α. Our numerical results also include the distribution of ion velocities at the Debye sheath entrance. We find that at small values of α there are substantially fewer ions travelling with a large normal component of the velocity into the wall.
Sources of particulate matter in the northeastern United States in summer: 2. Evolution of chemical and microphysical properties

[1] Measurements of aerosol particle size distributions and composition and of trace and reactive gas mixing ratios were made on the NOAA WP-3D aircraft downwind of mixed urban/industrial sources in the northeastern United States (U.S.). These measurements were made in noncloudy air during July and August 2004, under conditions where cloud processing was not likely to play an important role in oxidation chemistry. Under these conditions, particulate sulfate was found to be produced with an exponential time constant of ∼3.5 d from the gas-phase oxidation of SO2, which was ubiquitous but inhomogeneously distributed in the pollution plumes. When submicron particle mass concentrations exceeded 15 μg m−3, sulfate and associated ammonium dominated the composition; at lower mass concentrations particulate organic matter (OM) dominated. Since most of the urban plumes sampled contained substantial SO2 from nearby industrial sources, the apportionment of aerosol mass between OM and sulfate compounds under noncloudy conditions was governed largely by the differences between the oxidation timescales of SO2 and those of precursor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) relative to their transport time. These differences in oxidation timescales may explain much of the variability in previously published OM/sulfate ratios for this region. These observations indicate that even with higher-than-expected secondary OM formation, in the northeastern U.S. the potential inorganic particulate mass from SO2 emissions significantly exceeds the potential secondary OM from anthropogenic VOC emissions.
Inflation Stabilization and Welfare

This paper derives loss functions for analyses of optimal monetary policy that are grounded in the welfare of private agents, in the case of explicit optimizing models of private-sector behavior in which the real effects of monetary policy result from nominal price rigidity. A quadratic approximation to the utility-based welfare criterion is developed that allows comparison between this criterion and the ad hoc quadratic loss functions typically assumed in the literature on monetary policy evaluation. It is shown that the goal of inflation stabilization, generally presumed to be an important (and perhaps the preeminent) goal of monetary policy, can in fact be justified in such a framework, insofar as variable inflation results in real distortions when prices are not adjusted throughout the economy in a perfectly synchronized fashion. The exact sense in which inflation variability matters for welfare, however, depends upon the details of price-setting behavior. Conditions are described under which optimal policy involves complete stabilization of the price level. It is shown that this may be optimal even in the presence of "supply shocks" of several possible sorts (including technology shocks and exogenous variation in preferences regarding labor supply), and even in the presence of distortions that imply that the optimal output gap is positive (and despite existence of a non-vertical long-run Phillips curve). At the same time, a variety of reasons are discussed why complete price-level stabilization is not optimal in more complicated (and probably more realistic) settings.
Identification of Vector Ticks Naturally Infected by Theileria Ovis Using PCR Method in Lorestan Province, West of Iran

The subclinical Theileriosis in sheep flocks of Lorestan province west of Iranis common in warm seasons and is transmitted by hard ticks. The present study was conducted in order to identify vector ticks via PCR method in this region. Among five different regions and during the April-July period of 2012, 265 cases of hard ticks were collected from the ear and the body surface of anemic and feverish sheep, and 150 blood smears were taken from their ear veins. DNA samples were extracted from salivary glands of the collected ticks and PCR test was done using a pair of specific primers in order to amplify the 520 bp DNA fragment of SSu rRNA gene of T. ovis. The microscopic examination of blood smears demonstrated that 19 samples (12.66%) were infected by Piroplasmic forms of Theileria species. The PCR revealed that 37 cases of 152 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (24.34%) were positive for T. ovis genum including 21 (30.88%) female and 16 (19.04%) male ticks while the other ticks were not infected by this parasite. From 265 tick samples, R. sanguineus and Haemaphysalis punctata had the highest (57.35%) and the lowest (3/01%) frequencies, respectively. Two of the PCR products were sequenced. The resulting sequences and the Nocleotid sequence of T.ovis gene of Mazandaran were identical. Since R. sanguineus was the only tick infected by T.ovis, it seems that it is the primary vector of this parasite in the sheep in Lorestan. 
A Note on the “One Case per Stagger Position” Character of Common Multiple-Baseline Intervention Designs

ABSTRACT Purpose: To overcome the constraint of common multiple-baseline designs that only one case per stagger position is permitted. Methods: Three alternative strategies for assigning more than one case to each stagger position are examined. Results: The three recommended strategies achieve the objective while maintaining the study’s internal and statistical-conclusion validities. Conclusions: ExPRT, a freely available Excel-based randomization-test package, can be used to assist in both the design and statistical analysis associated with each of the strategies.
14 Days Repeat Oral Dose Toxicity of Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan in Rats

Abstract － In order to investigate the preliminary repeat oral dose toxicity and to determine the highest dosage for further 4-week repeated dose toxicity test, Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan (LMF) has been showed various pharmacological effects, was orally administered to female and male rats, once a day for 14 days at dose levels of 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 0 (vehicle control) mg/kg (body weights) in a volume of 10 ml/kg. The mortality and changes on the body weights, clinical signs, hematology, serum biochemistry and gross observations were monitored with organ weight and histopathology of principle organs. As the results of 14-day repeated oral treatment of LMF, no LMF treatment related mortalities were detected up to 2,000 mg/kg in both male and female rats, respectively. In addition, no noticeable changes on the body weight and clinical signs were detected except for significant decreases on the body weights and gains restricted to male 2,000 mg/kg treated groups as compared with male vehicle control. No meaningful changes on the organ weights, hematological, serum biochemistrical, gross and histopathological findings were observed. Therefore the highest dosage in the 4-week repeated dose toxicity test is suggested as 2,000 mg/kg in both female and male rats, respectively.Keywords: Low molecular weight fucoidan, 14 days repeated oral dose toxicity, Rat, Histopathology, Hematology, Serum biochemistry
In Vitro Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Diprenylated Isoflavonoids from Erythrina Senegalensis (Fabaceae)

Summary The 40% hydroethanolic stem bark extract (HE40) from Erythrina senegalensis was subjected to purification by repeated column chromatographies. Three diprenylated isoflavonoids were isolated and identified as 2,3-dihydro-2’-hydroxyosajin (1), osajin (2) and 6,8-diprenylgenistein (3). These compounds were tested for hepatoprotective activities against in vitro CCl4-induced hepatitis in rat liver slices. The following four model systems were used to measure the antioxidant activity of these three isoflavones: 2,4-dinitrophenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, sCarotene-Linoleic Acid Model System (s-CLAMS), Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay and microsomal lipid peroxidation. The obtained hepatoprotective percentages of compounds (1) (2) (3) were respectively 71.8±1.45, 67.54±3.56 and 69.41±2.56. By comparison to compound (2) and (3), compound (1) showed significant antioxidant effect with EC50 values of 41.28±1.2, 31.27± 2.14, 19.17±1.2 and 15.99±0.49 µg/ml respectively for the radical-scavenging action, inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation, s-CLAMS and FRAP assays. The hepatoprotective activity of silymarin used as reference compound was lower than the activities of isolated compounds. The results obtained provide promising baseline information for the potential use of this crude extract as well as some of the isolated compounds for their hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. It is also worth noting that these results validate, by in vitro tests, the therapeutic use of the plant in traditional medicine.
Evaluation of antiplasmodial potential of C-2 and C-8 modified quinolines: in vitro and in silico study.

BACKGROUND Malaria remains a common life-threatening infectious disease across the globe due to the development of resistance by Plasmodium parasite against most antimalarial drugs. The situation demands new and effective drug candidates against Plasmodium. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to design, synthesize and test novel quinoline based molecules against the malaria parasite. METHOD C-2 and C-8 modified quinoline analogs obtained via C-H bond functionalization approach were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of growth of P. falciparum grown in human red blood cells using SYBR Green microtiter plate based screening. Computational molecular docking studies were carried out with top fourteen molecules using Autodoc software. RESULT The biological evaluation results revealed good activity of quinoline-8-acrylate 3f (IC50 14.2 µM), 2-quinoline-α-hydroxypropionates 4b (IC50 6.5 µM), 4j (IC50 5.5 µM) and 4g (IC50 9.5 µM), and against chloroquine sensitive pf 3D7 strain. Top fourteen molecules were screened also against chloroquine resistant Pf INDO strain and the observed resistant indices were found to lie between 1 and 7.58. Computational molecular docking studies indicated a unique mode of binding of these quinolines to Falcipain 2 and heme moiety, indicating these to be probable targets of their antiplasmodial action. CONCLUSION An important finding of our work is the fact that unlike chloroquine which shows a resistance Index of 15, the resistance indices for the most promising molecules studied by us were about one indicating equal potency against drug sensitive and resistant strains of malaria parasite.
Analysis of The Perception of Users of Empathic Games in Discussion Forums and Their Relation to Death

Empathic games present, among other characteristics, the use of narratives about strong themes, which invite users to reflect and identify themselves with scenes and images from the narrated world. Among other themes, death and human frailty are recurrent. We herein analyze users' perceptions of the empathic game The Dragon Cancer in order to identify useful aspects to conceive and evaluate empathic games. Our research is based on netnography, by means of manual qualitative and quantitative analyses of users' comments in forums in Steam's page. We analyzed comments where users expressed their opinions about technical issues of the game, as well as how it addressed themes such as death and mortality. Our results are useful for the production and evaluation of empathic games.
The two opposing impacts of heritage making on local communities: residents’ perceptions: a Portuguese case

This article examines the impact associated with the making of heritage and tourism at a destination. Special attention is paid to the residents’ perceptions of the impact. The examination is focused on the rural village of Sortelha, in Portugal, where, in recent decades, a state-led programme was implemented in order to renovate the historic buildings and built fabric and to generate benefits for the local community. Based on ethnographic materials collected in 2003, 2009 and 2013, the study demonstrates that the making of heritage may give rise to two opposing impacts simultaneously – increased social cohesion and place pride, on the one hand, and envy and competition (and, hence, social atomisation), on the other hand – and that residents are entirely cognisant of the tension between the two. The study has the potential to contribute to both the theoretical and the applied literature on heritage making.
Validating Presence by Relying on Recollection: Human Experience and Performance in the Mixed Reality System XIM

A fundamental issue in presence research is how we can quantify “presence”. A standard approach has been to use questionnaires and self-report measures. However, it has been well established that human’s capabilities to access and externalize their internal states is limited. Hence, we have investigated the question whether more objective measures can be devised that can corroborate subjective self-reports. In particular we have developed an objective and quantitative recollection task that assess the ability of human subjects to recollect the factual structure and organization of a mixed reality experience in a human accessible mixed reality space, the eXperience Induction Machine (XIM). In this experience – referred to as “Autodemo” – a virtual guide explains the key elements and properties of XIM. To evaluate the users' experience and the amount of factual information retained about the Autodemo, we used the ITC-SOPI questionnaire and a recall test design for the Autodemo. We found a positive correlation between one of the four ITC-SOPI factors and recall performance, and a positive correlation between subject’s activity and recollection performance. Our results show that we can assess correlates of presence by focusing on other dependent measures such as those related to memory and performance. Additionally, our work shows how virtual and mixed reality systems provide new ways to address fundamental questions in psychology and cognitive science.
Resolving differences in observed impacts of invasive lionfish and clarifying advice to managers

23 Hackerott et al. (2017) report that Indo-Pacific lionfish “had no apparent effect on native 24 prey communities” (p. 9) on continuous reef-sites of the Belizean Barrier Reef (BBR). 25 Based on a lack of observational evidence, they challenge existing evidence for the 26 effects of predation by lionfish on native prey community structure and assert that 27 previous experimentally measured effects are inflated by “unnaturally high lionfish 28 densities” (p. 10). Managers may mistakenly interpret these conclusions as evidence 29 that invasive lionfish are of little concern and that active management of lionfish should 30 not be a conservation priority. We find the arguments presented in Hackerott et al. 31 (2017) unconvincing and potentially misleading. Here, we seek to re-evaluate their 32 conclusions in the context of the body of work on the lionfish invasion, and clarify advice 33 to marine resource managers in the invaded range. Specifically, we argue that (1) the 34 low lionfish densities observed in Hackerott et al. (2017) are not predicted to cause 35 observable lionfish effects—so the results offer no countervailing evidence; (2) the study 36 design is ill-suited to identify lionfish-induced changes in prey abundance, were they to 37 occur; (3) the analytical methods employed (correlation between lionfish and prey 38 densities) do not represent a BACI design nor offer a reliable test of predatory effects; 39 and (4) the authors minimize potentially important regional management activities that 40 could affect lionfish population densities and mischaracterize the body of lionfish 41 research that has come before. Scientists should rigorously challenge popular scientific 42 narratives. However, the foundation of such challenges must be carefully designed 43 experiments, sound methodology, and conservative interpretation of one’s findings. 44
Identifying Human-Object Interactions in Motionless Images by Modeling the Mutual Context of Objects and Human Poses

The two most challenging problem in computer vision is to detect an object in clutter view and estimate articulated human body from 2D images. While the difficulty occurs during the activities which involves human objects interaction, since the related items tend to be very small or moderately visible and the human body parts are often self occluded. We examine that the human pose and the object are share joint background to each other, i.e. if we recognize one, make easy to recognize the other. In this paper, we proposed the mutual context model for jointly modeling object and poses of human body in the human object interaction activity. In this method, recognition of object provide the strong prior for better human pose estimation, this human pose estimation enhance the efficiency of detecting the objects that interrelate with the human.
Evaluate the Prediction of Wave Parameters Using Parametric Methods in the South Coast of the Mediterranean Sea

The wave parameters are the important factor in the offshore and near-shore activities. The choice of the appropriate parametric method for wave parameters calculation has a significant impact on the design of maritime structures (such as; fixed offshore platform, marine terminal jetty, harbor, . etc.) from the cost point of view. Several parametric methods have been used to predict wave parameters that have been based on data from certain areas of the sea. These methods are still used in many Coastal areas such as the coast of Egypt. Therefore, evaluating the performance of these methods based on the measured data of the coast of Egypt is very important because of many recent discoveries of oil and gas. In this study, P-M, SPM and CEM methods were used to predict the 3 hourly significant wave height (Hs) and significant wave period (Ts). The data used in evaluation are significant wave heights (Hs), significant wave periods (Ts), wind speed (u) and fetch length (F). This data measured in the offshore area of Alexandria and Port Said located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This study aims to find optimal parametric method that we can used safely in the prediction of wave parameters of this region. The results indicated that the P-M method with some modification in the significant wave period equation gave the best results in the prediction of wave parameters than other methods.
ROS Assays for Detecting Biological Superoxide

| Superoxide is produced from various endogenous and exogenous sources and has been shown to play an important role in diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes. Thus, detection and measurement of this ubiquitous reactive oxygen species (ROS) are instrumental in understanding its role in biology and medicine. This ROS protocol article describes two well-established assays for detecting superoxide, namely, superoxide dismutase-inhibitable ferricytochrome c reduction and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry in conjunction with 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO)-spin trapping. The article provides a step-by-step, recipe-type protocol for each of the two assays and discusses their advantages and limitations.