Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Politeness In E-mails Of Arab Students In Malaysia

This study analyzes the politeness strategies found in Arab postgraduate students’ e-mails to their supervisors during their period of study at Malaysian universities. Many studies have revealed that language ability, social adjustment and culture shock are the most challenging issues that are frequently encountered by the international students. Arab students who are studying in Malaysia, likewise, encounter challenges as they experience different cultures in their new environment, and in their efforts at learning English in an academic environment. Politeness tends to have various implications in cross-cultural communication. This research used quantitative and qualitative approaches to analyze eighteen e-mails that were sent by six Arab postgraduate students to their supervisors. The politeness strategies were analyzed according to Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory, and the degrees of directness were categorized according to Cross Cultural Speech Act Realization Pattern (CCSARP) Blum-Kulka and Olshtain (1984) coding scheme. The findings show that Arab students used various politeness strategies, including the use of positive and negative politeness strategies. They tended to be more direct in their requests via e-mail when communicating in English. No student used the indirect strategy. This study provides an insight into the Arab students’ politeness strategies that would help to avoid misunderstanding, and misinterpretation of their e-mails, as well as to improve student’s pragmatic awareness in writing e-mails in English.
Impact of rapid sea-ice reduction in the Arctic Ocean on the rate of ocean acidification

Abstract. The largest pH decline and widespread undersaturation with respect to aragonite in this century due to uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the Arctic Ocean have been projected. The reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic Ocean have been caused by the melting of sea ice as well as by an increase in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Therefore, future projections of pH and aragonite saturation in the Arctic Ocean will be affected by how rapidly the reduction in sea ice occurs. The observed recent Arctic sea-ice loss has been more rapid than projected by many of the climate models that contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report. In this study, the impact of sea-ice reduction rate on projected pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic surface waters was investigated. Reductions in pH and aragonite saturation were calculated from the outputs of two versions of an Earth system model with different sea-ice reduction rates under similar CO2 emission scenarios. The newer model version projects that Arctic summer ice-free condition will be achieved by the year 2040, and the older version predicts ice-free condition by 2090. The Arctic surface water was projected to be undersaturated with respect to aragonite in the annual mean when atmospheric CO2 concentration reaches 513 (606) ppm in year 2046 (2056) in new (old) version. At an atmospheric CO2 concentration of 520 ppm, the maximum differences in pH and aragonite saturation state between the two versions were 0.1 and 0.21 respectively. The analysis showed that the decreases in pH and aragonite saturation state due to rapid sea-ice reduction were caused by increases in both CO2 uptake and freshwater input. Thus, the reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic surface waters are significantly affected by the difference in future projections for sea-ice reduction rate. Our results suggest that the future reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state could be significantly faster than previously projected if the sea-ice reduction in the Arctic Ocean keeps its present pace.
Tylose Formation and Changes in Phenolic Compounds of Grape Roots Infected with "Phaeomoniella chlamydospora" and "Phaeoacremonium" Species.

The role of phenolic compounds in strengthening resistance of grapevine to young grapevine decline was analysed. The formation of tyloses has also been associated with this disease. A microscopic study showed that tyloses originated in parenchyma cells associated with the xylem and from there invaded the xylem lumen. As tyloses formed, there were changes in the cell wall, associated with the accumulation of crystalline structures. The cells surrounding the blocked xylem contained more polyphenolic compounds than the cells of intact xylem. Changes in the level and composition of polyphenolic compounds occurred in relation to the severity of infection. Tannin concentrations also increased with increasing numbers of xylem vessels containing tyloses. Root extracts added to fungal culture media inhibited mycelial growth of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum and Pm. inflatipes. Inhibition was greater with extracts from roots with tyloses, and was also correlated with polyphenol content. Extracts of the leaves, stems and berries of vines treated with Brotomax, which increases the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds, inhibited mycelial growth of the fungi compared to untreated control plants.
Supporters, Followers, Fans, and Flaneurs

World football (or soccer) has undergone an intensive hypercommodification over the past decade or so. This article examines the impact of this process on forms of spectator identification with top professional football clubs. Drawing upon previous analyses by Taylor and Critcher (on football) and the theories of Bryan Turner (on body culture), the article advances four ideal types of spectator identity: supporters, followers, fans, and flâneurs. The broad trend in sports identification is away from the supporter model (with its hot, traditional identification with local clubs) and toward the more detached, cool, consumer-orientated identification of the flâneur.
Distributed population based incremental learning

Probabilistic model building genetic algorithms (PMBGA) are powerful search techniques that are used successfully to solve hard computational problems. We exploit the natural bridge island concept in the Parallel PMBGA context. Bridge Island is an island that all the best elements arriving from evolving islands have to pass before its migration to other islands occurs. Some ways of best elements selection to migrate and also some ways of merging information between the migrating element and the receiver element will be tested. The main objective is to compare the relative performance between distributed PBIL and isolated PBIL. The parallel models that will be used are the master-slave topology, island model and coarse-grained.
Model-based Estimation of State of Charge of Lithium Cells

Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries have been used extensively in mobile electronic devices and lately the focus has been shifted to more demanding applications like Hybrid and Electric vehicles. In these applications a battery pack may consist of hundreds of individual cells delivering the required electrical energy and power. As battery sizes and usage increase, we need new battery control and management strategies to improve the performance, safety, reliability and to improve the lifetime of the battery pack. The State of Charge (SoC) of each individual cell is one of the most important parameters for control. Roughly speaking it indicates how much energy is stored in the cell. It is represented from 0% to 100% describing the available energy left as a percentage of full capacity. Internally each cell can be viewed as a dynamic system governed by diffusive mass transport processes leading to a parabolic partial differential equation (PDE) system. The SoC can be viewed as an internal state of this system. The goal here is to estimate this state considering the cell as a SISO system with dis/charge current as the input and terminal voltage as the measurable output. In the case of mobile electronic devices, the low magnitude almost constant dis/charge current does not excite all the dynamics inside the cell and thus a simplified electric equivalent model with 2-3 states or a black box approach yield satisfactory results. However electric traction applications combined with regenerative braking, excite the cells at high frequency with high magnitude transient peaks of both discharge and charge currents. Since the cell is inherently an infinite dimensional PDE system, it responds at a wide range of time scales and thus simplified electric equivalent models or black box models do not provide satisfactory estimates of SoC. While discretization of PDEs and online solution of the resulting set of ordinary differential equations can result into an accurate SoC estimate, it is highly computationally expensive, slow and possibly non-convergent due to implicit relationships and thus prohibiting its real-time implementation. On the other hand, model order reduction techniques can be used on this high order discretized model but in this case, to incorporate non-linearities becomes difficult and again the SoC estimates are poor. Here we present an innovative technique wherein the order of the discretized model is kept high but it is considered as a spatially distributed string interconnected system. Each element after discretization is modeled as an explicit non-linear state space model of comparatively lower order. These elements are string interconnected to form the high order cell model. An efficient state-estimation algorithm is Master of Science Thesis Nimitt Bhatt
Longitudinal epigenetic variation of DNA methyltransferase genes associated with vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

, Abstract BACKGROUND— Epigenetic differences exist between trauma-exposed individuals with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear whether these epigenetic differences preexist, or arise following, trauma and PTSD onset. METHODS— In pre- and post-trauma samples from a subset of Detroit Neighborhood Health Study participants, DNA methylation (DNAm) was measured at DNMT1 , DNMT3A , DNMT3B , and DNMT3L . Pre-trauma DNAm differences and changes in DNAm from pre- to post-trauma were assessed between and within PTSD cases (n=30) and age-, gender-, and trauma exposure-matched controls (n=30). Pre-trauma DNAm was tested for association with post-trauma symptom severity (PTSS) change. Potential functional consequences of DNAm differences were explored via bioinformatic search for putative transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). RESULTS— DNMT1 DNAm increased following trauma in PTSD cases (p=0.001), but not controls (p=0.067). DNMT3A and DNMT3B DNAm increased following trauma in both cases (DNMT3A: p=0.009; DNMT3B: p<0.001) p<0.001). In cases only, pre-trauma DNAm was lower at a DNMT3B CpG site that overlaps with a TFBS involved in epigenetic regulation (p=0.001); lower pre-trauma DNMT3B DNAm at this site was predictive of worsening of PTSS post-trauma (p=0.034). Some effects were attenuated following correction for multiple hypothesis testing. CONCLUSIONS— DNAm among trauma-exposed individuals shows both longitudinal changes and preexisting epigenetic states that differentiate individuals who are resilient vs. susceptible to PTSD. These distinctive DNAm differences within DNMT loci may contribute to genome-wide epigenetic profiles of PTSD. assess potential consequences of examined DNAm we then perform a bioinformatic search for the presence of putative transcription factor binding sites(Weaver al. , 2004). Results from this work suggest that PTSD-relevant DNAm differences in DNMT loci may exist both prior to and following trauma, with implications for future targeted interventions.
FLOW REGIME RECOGNITION IN TWO-PHASE THERMOSYPHON LOOPS USING PRESSURE PULSE ANALYSES

CITATION: Dobson, R. T. & Ruppersberg, J. C. 2012. Flow regime recognition in two-phase thermosyphon loops using pressure pulse analyses. Frontiers in Heat Pipes, 3, 023002, doi:10.5098/fhp.v3. 2.3002.
Assessing the Value Relevance of Goodwill Impairment Considering Country-Specific Factors: Evidence from EU Listed Companies

The objective of this paper is to assess the value relevance of goodwill impairment losses with reference to the listed companies operating in the European Union area during the period from 2008 to 2011. We investigate whether the information of goodwill impairment is a relevant factor that influences the investment decisions of market operators, testing the statistical significance and the explanatory power of a multivariate regression model widely known in literature for estimating market stock prices of companies using balance sheet data, including goodwill impairment. To this end, we select two samples of companies: a first group of listed companies operating in United Kingdom from 2008 to 2011 that is similar to the one used in previous researches on the same topic; a second group of firms operating in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom that reported a goodwill impairment loss for the same period, to extend the analyses also to other economic contexts. Each sample is split into further subsamples differentiated in terms of country of domicile, reference year, industry sector and level of relative importance of goodwill impairments. We propose some changes to the original model, including a new explanatory variable aimed at considering also country-specific differences. The analyses of subsamples show that goodwill impairment is significant only for two years (2008 and 2009) and for French listed companies across all periods. Therefore, further investigation should help in understanding these differences that could be related to country-specific factors such as cultural, environmental and regulatory aspects.
Genetic analysis of ligand-receptor interactions in the TGF-beta superfamily during early embryonic development

During early development, cells differentiate and acquire specific fates according to their position in concentration gradients of morphogens. These substances often spread from a local region, termed an organizer, and exert different effects at distinct thresholds. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily comprises more than 30 factors that have previously been shown to induce specific cell-types and to act as morphogens. The work presented here identified critical roles for ligand-receptor interactions within the TGF-β superfamily during formation and functioning of organizing centers in the mouse
Toxicity of 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3 2H -isothiazolone Sea-Nine 211 to two marine teleostean fishes

Chronic toxicity of an antifouling biocide 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone (Sea-Nine 211) for a marine teleostean fish, red sea bream (Pagrus major) was estimated from the acute to chronic ratio (ACR) obtained from the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus). The mean 96-h median lethal concentration values of Sea-Nine 211 (based on the actual toxicant concentrations) for red sea bream and mummichog were 5.1 and 4.7 μg/L, respectively. Early life-stage toxicity (ELS) testing using mummichog embryos revealed that growth was the most susceptible endpoint, and the lowest and no-observed effect concentrations based on the actual toxicant concentrations were 2.8 and 1.1 μg/L, respectively. Thus, the maximum acceptable toxicant concentration was determined to be 1.8 μg/L. Using the calculated ACR value (4.7:1.8) for the mummichog, the chronic toxicity for red sea bream was predicted to be 2.0 μg/L. Considering the concentrations of Sea-Nine 211 currently detected in the coastal waters of Japan, we consider risk from using this biocide to the fish population to be low. In addition, SeaNine 211 exhibited acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting activity, but did not induce morphological abnormality in the ELS test. Accumulation of the toxicant in the body of mummichog may not be enough to cause morphological abnormality because of its rapid degradation.
Experimental investigation and numerical simulation of laser light propagation in strongly scattering media with structural and dynamic inhomogeneities

Light scattering diagnostics of turbid media containing both structural and dynamic inhomogeneities is currently of significant importance. One of the important directions in modern light scattering diagnostics is the development of methods for probing biological media with visibleand near-infrared radiation allowing for visualization of the biotissue structure. Optical methods for studying the biotissue structure and characterization of its optical properties are very promising and have been rapidly developing during the past decade. The present work is aimed at improving and discovering new potentials of currently existing methods of laser diagnostics of biological tissues containing both structural and dynamic inhomogeneities. In particular, the feasibilities of spatially resolved reflectometry and time-offlight techniques for the problem of noninvasive determination of glucose level in human blood and tissues were examined both numerically and experimentally. The relative sensitivities of these methods to changes in glucose level were estimated. Time-of-flight technique was found to be more sensitive. The possibilities of Doppler optical coherence tomography for imaging of dynamic inhomogeneities with high resolution were considered. This technique was applied for the first time for the imaging of complex autowave cellular motility and cytoplasm shuttle flow in the slime mold Physarum polycephalum. The effect of multiple scattering on the accuracy of the measured flow velocity profiles for the case of single flow and for the case of the flow embedded into the static medium with strong scattering was studied. It was shown that this effect causes significant distortion to the measured flow velocity profiles and it is necessary to take this into account while making quantitative measurements of flow velocities.
A Soft Switched DC-DC Boost Converter for Use in Grid Connected Inverters

This paper presents a soft-switching DC-DC boost converter, which can be utilized in renewable energy systems such as photovoltaic array, and wind turbine connections to infinite bus of a big power network, using grid connected inverters. In the proposed topology for the DC-DC boost converter, the main and the auxiliary power switches are turned on and turned off with zero voltage switching (ZVS) and zero current switching (ZCS), respectively. Furthermore, by applying soft-switching techniques to driving power switches, the power losses and stresses associated with commutation of power devices decrease significantly. The efficiency of the proposed soft-switched DC-DC converter at various output powers is compared with that of the traditional DC-DC converter and a few topologies proposed in recent literature. This comparison indicates that the proposed DC-DC boost converter is much more efficient around the rated power (1 kW). The power topology and the control strategy applied to the proposed soft-switched DC-DC boost converter, which is connected to a grid-tied inverter, are analyzed theoretically by simulation studies. Moreover, an experimental prototype is implemented to verify the theoretical analysis and the simulation studies.
Superior Antireflection Coating for a Silicon Cell with a Micronanohybrid Structure

The object of this paper is to develop a high antireflection silicon solar cell. A novel two-stage metal-assisted etching (MAE) method is proposed for the fabrication of an antireflective layer of a micronanohybrid structure array. The processing time for the etching on an N-type high-resistance (NH) silicon wafer can be controlled to around 5 min. The resulting micronanohybrid structure array can achieve an average reflectivity of 1.21% for a light spectrum of 200–1000 nm. A P-N junction on the fabricated micronanohybrid structure array is formed using a low-cost liquid diffusion source. A high antireflection silicon solar cell with an average efficiency of 13.1% can be achieved. Compared with a conventional pyramid structure solar cell, the shorted circuit current of the proposed solar cell is increased by 73%. The major advantage of the two-stage MAE process is that a high antireflective silicon substrate can be fabricated cost-effectively in a relatively short time. The proposed method is feasible for the mass production of low-cost solar cells.
Localization of Translation Initiation Factors to the Postsynaptic Sites

Local protein synthesis in neuronal dendrites is important for site-specific regulation of synaptic plasticity. In this study, we investigated whether translation initiation factors (eIFs) are present at the postsynaptic sites. High resolution confocal microscopy showed that the eIF4E and eIF4G (which bind the 5’-terminal mRNA cap), eIF5 (which is important during the 3’ direction scanning to find an initiation codon), eIF6 (which mediates upregulation of translation by external stimuli), and eIF5A (which mediate translation upregulation under adverse conditions) were localized to the postsynaptic sites. Immunoblot and detergent extraction experiments also indicated that these eIFs were present in the synapse in association with the postsynaptic density (PSD). Our data provide evidence for the strategic positioning of eIFs at the postsynaptic site for initiation of translation in diverse situations.
Filmmaking Production System with Rule-based Reasoning

This paper describes a software system designed to automate the production of digital movies with various visual effects like three-dimension animation, real image, and their composition. The production system can understand user’s input screenplay through a parser then automatically interprets it into a relevant motion picture under the direction of a virtual director in place of a human one. The virtual director achieves user’s intentions through knowledge-based approach by setting a scene, determining the corresponding shot types and shot sequence, and planning virtual camerawork dependent on the cinematic expertise stored in a domain knowledge base. We model the filmmaking knowledge and rule-based reasoning strategies in expert system language CLIPS. Video data is encoded in XML and tracked by the MPEG-7 standard.
Using CBA and CGE in Investment and Policy Evaluation: a Synthesis

Using CBA and CGE in Investment and Policy Evaluation: a Synthesis The traditional way of evaluating investments has been that of Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) however, in recent years there has been a growing use of Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models in investment evaluation. At one level, they have been regarded as different techniques, addressing different aspects of the evaluation problem. At a second level, the two can be complements, each providing an assessment of the investment. At the third level, they can be integrated into a general equilibrium evaluation of the investment. The current practice is at the first levelbut the view put forward here and we can go beyond this, and that they are best seen as complements, and potentially, integrated. By using both, it is possible to gain more accurate measures of how much better off the economy will be as a result of implementing the project. This paper analyses the different advantages and limitations of the two techniques. One issue which needs to be addressed if CGE models are to be used in assessing whether an economy is better off as a result of the project is that of welfare measurements. Some CGE models have a welfare measure, while others do nothowever welfare measures can be built into models. CBA has problems in handling what are essentially general equilibrium problems. By addressing the limitations of the two techniques it is possible to develop much more reliable measures of the net benefits of investments.