Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of a Training Package Based on Self-Regulation Strategies, Academic Engagement, and Self-Handicapping on Procrastination in High School Students

Background & Objectives: Procrastination has many different dimensions. Academic procrastination is among the most common problems at various levels of education, as a set of behavioral problems that numerous factors could reduce it. One of the most significant variables in explaining the cause of procrastination is self–regulation. The current study aimed to assess an educational package developed based on self– regulation strategies, academic engagement, and self–handicapping and explore its effect on high school students' procrastination. Methods: This was a quasi–experimental study with a pretest–posttest and a control group design. The statistical population of the study consisted of all 10– and 11–grade students in Sardasht, Iran in the academic year of 2018–2019. Accordingly, 60 study subjects were randomly assigned in the experimental and control groups, each consisting of 30 individuals. The study participants were selected using a purposive sampling method. A designed training package based on self–regulation strategies, academic engagement, and self–handicapping was provided to the experimental group in ten 90–minute sessions. The required data were collected at pretest and posttest phases using the Tuckman Procrastination Scale (Tuckman, 1991). The scale’s reliability was established by a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.86. Descriptive statistics indices, including mean and standard deviation, were used for the statistical analysis of the descriptive data. One–way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Independent Samples t–test were used for running inferential statistics evaluations. Results: The obtained quantitative data revealed a significant difference between the control and experimental groups; thus, the provided training package presented a significant effect on the procrastination of investigated high school students (p<0.001). The results of Independent Samples t–test and one–way ANOVA suggested no significant relationship between age, household size, and economic status, and academic procrastination (p=0.624, p=0.784, p=0.802, respectively). The mean (SD) pretest scores of procrastination in the experimental and control groups were equal to 48.89(4.31) and 45.65(5.77), respectively. However, the posttest mean (SD) scores of the experimental and control groups were calculated as 27.89(3.50) and 44.68(6.10), respectively. These data indicate that compared to the controls, the procrastination scores of the students in the experimental group have changed after receiving the training. Conclusion: Based on the current study findings, the presented training package based on self–regulation strategies, academic engagement, and self–handicapping could improve procrastination among the investigated high school students.
Leveraging Watermarks to Improve Performance of Streaming Systems

Modern stream processing engines (SPEs) process large volumes of events propagated at high velocity through multiple queries. By continuously receiving watermarks, which are marker events injected into the stream to signify that no further events are expected beyond a designated timestamp, SPEs can infer stream progress to correctly process window operators. While stream progress is useful information for query execution, it is only utilized to ensure input completion. We argue that to improve performance, stream progress should be leveraged in the design of SPE subsystems. In this thesis, we demonstrate the significant advantages of leveraging stream progress to solve two important SPE problems: query scheduling, and query sample processing. First, existing SPE schedulers generally aim to minimize query output latency by minimizing, in turn, the mean propagation delay of events in query pipelines. However, for queries containing commonly used blocking operators such as windows, we show that a superior approach would be to prioritize the queries based on stream progress. Through the design and development of Klink, we leverage stream progress to unblock window operators and to rapidly propagate the events to output operators. Secondly, sample query processing limits input to only a subset of events such that the sample is statistically representative of the input while ensuring output accuracy guarantees. However, output latency can be significantly increased because relevant watermarks can suffer from large ingestion delay due to long or bursty network latencies. Window computations that account for stragglers can add significant latency while providing inconsequential accuracy improvement. We propose Aion, an algorithm that utilizes sampling to provide approximate answers with low latency by minimizing the effect of stragglers through leveraging control over stream progress. We integrate Klink and Aion into the popular open-source SPE Apache Flink. We demonstrate that Klink delivers hefty performance gains on benchmark workloads, reducing mean and tail query latencies by up to 60% over existing scheduling policies. Similarly, using different benchmark workloads, we demonstrate that Aion reduces stream output latency by up to 85% while providing 95% accuracy guarantees.
A study of the structure and bonding of small aluminum oxide clusters by photoelectron spectroscopy: AlxOy− (x=1–2, y=1–5)

The structure and bonding of aluminum oxide clusters, AlxOy (x=1–2, y=1–5), are studied with anion photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and are compared with preliminary ab initio calculations. The spectra were obtained at four detachment photon energies: 2.33, 3.49, 4.66, and 6.42 eV. The 6.42 eV spectrum for AlO− reveals the X 2Σ+ ground state and two excited states of AlO. The 6.42 eV spectrum for AlO2− also shows three states for AlO2: X 2Πg ground state and the A 2Πu and B 2Σg+ excited states. The spectra for Al2Oy− clusters show vibrationally resolved ground states which come from Al sp-type orbitals and also high binding energy excited states, which are mainly of oxygen 2p character. Al2O2, which has a D2h rhombus structure, has an electron affinity (EA) of 1.88 eV and its singlet–triplet excitation energy is measured to be 0.49 eV. Much higher EAs are measured for the larger Al2Oy clusters. The PES spectra of Al2O3−, Al2O4−, and Al2O5− show very similar electronic and vibrational structure. Furthermor.
Utilization of cotton byproducts in cattle finishing diets: Impacts on performance, carcass traits, and ruminal degradability of diet components

Increased cotton production in the Southwestern U.S. has increased the availability of cotton byproducts for use in cattle diets. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the inclusion of cotton byproducts in feedlot finishing diets on the performance, carcass traits, fecal characteristics, and plasma metabolites of steers. Crossbred beef steers (n = 64; BW = 318 ± 12.3 kg) were assigned to 1 of 2 experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design (8 pens/treatment; 4 steers/pen). Treatments included a control (CON) diet which included prairie hay, Sweet Bran, rolled corn, and a corn steep and molasses based liquid fat supplement and a cotton byproduct (CTN) diet which included cotton gin trash, whole cottonseed, rolled corn, and water. Both diets contained urea and dry supplement. Over the entire feeding period, dry matter
Heuristic Approach for Content Based Recommendation System Based on Feature Weighting and LSH

This dissertation was written as a part of the MSc in Data Science at the International Hellenic University. The aim of this research is to design an efficient content-based product recommendation system in the field of e-commerce. A heuristic content-based approach that incorporates feature weighting and locality-sensitive hashing (LSH) is proposed. The recommender system uses the TF-IDF method and incorporates a functionality of tuning the importance of product features in order to adjust its logic to the requirements and needs of different e-commerce sites. The problem of efficiently producing recommendations, without compromising similarity, is addressed by approximating product similarities via the LSH technique. The system is implemented and evaluated based on two datasets that include real e-commerce data. Specifically, product details and customer actions from two e-commerce sites are used in order to conduct various scenarios and tests. The results and the evaluation of the proposed methodology show that the recommendations can improve the user experience and increase the product sales. Finally, it turns out that the system incorporates recommendation diversity which can be adjusted by tuning the appropriate feature weights. Beleveslis Dimosthenis
Efficient Grafting of Hyperbranched Polyglycerol from Hydroxyl-Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes by Surface-Initiated Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization

Biocompatible hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG) has been covalently grafted from the surfaces of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by the "grafting from" method based on in situ anionic ring-opening polymerization. The macroinitiator of hydroxyl-functionalized MWNTs (MWNT-OH) with hydroxyl density of 1.39 mmol per gram of nanotubes was prepared by one-pot nitrene chemistry in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) at 160 °C for 12 h. The amount of HPG grafted from MWNTs can be readily adjusted in a wide range up to 90.8wt. -% by tuning the feed ratio of glycidol to MWNT-OH. The resulting HPG-grafted MWNTs (MWNT-g-HPG) nanohybrids were characterized by TGA, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopy, HRTEM, and SEM. The as-prepared nanohybrids show good dispersibility in polar solvents such as water, DMF, DMSO, and methanol. On the basis of numerous functional hydroxyl groups of the HPG grown on MWNTs, fluorescent molecules of rhodamine 6B were conjugated to the surface of MWNT-g-HPG by N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) coupling, affording fluorescent MWNTs. The multifunctional MWNT-g-HPG nanohybrids promise potential applications in drug delivery, cell imaging and bioprobing.
Assessment of the Functional Status of Patients with Ischaemic Stroke Receiving Thrombolytic Treatment

Introduction. Intravenous thrombolysis is a gold standard in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. It causes reperfusion in the region of ischaemia and as a result it has a positive effect on functional outcomes of patients. The sooner this treatment is introduced the higher efficacy can be expected. Aim. The study objective was to assess the functional status of patients with ischaemic stroke, undergoing thrombolytic treatment and the incidence of thrombolysis complications. Material and Methods. Retrospective studies were conducted on a group of 109 patients hospitalised due to ischaemic cerebral stroke and qualified for thrombolytic treatment. The functional status was assessed with the use of the modified Rankin Scale and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scales on admission and discharge day. The study group included 55 males and 54 females (respectively: 50.5% and 49.5% of the total study population). The subject age was between 32 and 96 years, with the mean age of 69.8. Results. The average time between the onset of symptoms and initiation of thrombolytic treatment was 182 minutes. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at the moment of qualification for treatment was 10.11 points, and the Rankin Scale was 2.88 points. On the day of discharge, the values were 5.81 and 2.05, respectively. A statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvement in the functional status was observed in the group of patients who had no intra cerebral haemorrhage after thrombolysis. The most common complication of thrombolytic treatment was haemorrhagic transformation of the ischaemic stroke focus — 27 cases (24.77%). Death occurred in 9 subjects (8.26% of total), including 6 cases in males (10.91% of males) and was related to haemorrhagic transformation of the ischaemic stroke focus (p = 0.000). Conclusions. The implemented treatment of stroke resulted in improvement of the functional status. The most frequent complication was haemorrhagic conversion of stroke. (JNNN 2020;9(1):12–19) Key Words: stroke, thrombolysis, functional status
Determination of Propham and Chlorpropham in Postharvest‐Treated Potatoes by Liquid Chromatography with Peroxyoxalate Chemiluminescence Detection

Abstract Determination of propham and chlorpropham in postharvest‐treated potato samples were examined using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with chemiluminescence detection. After hydrolysis of the pesticides, aniline and 3‐chloroaniline metabolites were derivatized with dansyl chloride and the subsequent dansylated amines were injected into the chromatograph and detected by using an integrated chemiluminescence detection unit based on the bis(2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl) oxalate–hydrogen peroxide system. Conditions to obtain optimum derivatization and peroxyoxalate efficiencies were investigated. Dansylated metabolites were efficiently separated on a reversed‐phase C18 column eluted with 60% aqueous acetonitrile solution at 0.8 mL min−1 flow‐rate. The proposed method provided a very simple and sensitive procedure (limits of detection, 3.5 µg kg−1) to determine propham and chlorpropham in potato samples. The ensuing method is a useful choice for the determination of these pesticides as it provides limits of detection lower than those reported by existing chromatographic alternatives without the use of an additional pre‐concentration technique. Application was illustrated by the determination of these pesticides in potato samples after a treatment with a commercial formulation.
One-step room-temperature synthesis of Au@Pd core–shell nanoparticles with tunable structure using plant tannin as reductant and stabilizer

Bayberry tannin (BT), a natural plant polyphenol, is used for the one-step synthesis of Au@Pd core–shell nanoparticles (Au@Pd NPs) in aqueous solution at room temperature. Due to its mild and stepwise reduction ability, BT was able to preferentially reduce Au3+ to Au NPs when placed in contact with an Au3+/Pd2+ mixture, and subsequently, the formed Au NPs served as in situ seeds for the growth of a Pd shell, resulting in the formation of Au@Pd NPs. Importantly, it is feasible to adjust the morphology of the Pd shell by varying the Pd2+/Au3+ molar ratio. Au@Pd NPs with a spherical Pd shell were formed when the Pd2+/Au3+ molar ratio was 1/50, while Au@Pd NPs with cubic Pd shell predominated when the ratio was increased to 2/1. The core–shell structure of synthesized Au@Pd NPs was characterized by TEM, HAADF-STEM, EDS mapping, an EDS line scan, and EDS point scan. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested that the localization of BT molecules on the surface of the Au clusters was the crucial factor for the formation of Au@Pd NPs, since the BT molecules increased the surface negative charges of the Au NPs, favoring the attraction of Pd2+ over Au NPs and resulting in the formation of a Pd shell.
Effect of poly(ethylene oxide) molecular mass on miscibility and hydrogen bonding with lignin

Abstract The effect of the molecular mass of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) on lignin-PEO blends was studied using thermal analysis and FT-IR. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed miscible blends over the entire blend ratio. A negative deviation in T g from a simple weighted average was observed, indicating the existence of relatively weak favorable interactions between blend components. Analysis of the data revealed no difference in the magnitude or propensity of intermolecular interactions with increasing PEO molecular mass in the kraft lignin-PEO blends. By contrast, the fitting parameters obtained for organosolv lignin were substantially different; the higher molecular mass PEO had a higher propensity to form slightly stronger intermolecular inter-actions than the lower molecular mass PEO. Low molecular mass poly(ethylene glycol) dimethylether (M-PEG)-lignin blends had a much higher degree of crystallinity than the PEO blends, resulting in an increase in T g at high PEG content. FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding between lignin and PEO. However, the band shape of the νOH region of the M-PEG blends was slightly different from the PEO blends; some of the original lignin inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding was still present in the M-PEG-lignin blends.
The Effects of Family-Based Weight Loss Training on Weight-Affective Lifestyle and Irrational Food Beliefs in Overweight Women

Author Address 1. PhD Student, Department of Health Psychology, Khorramshahr-Persian Gulf International Unit, Islamic Azad University, Khorramshahr, Iran; 2. Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Ahwaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran; 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Dezful Unit, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran; 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Abadan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadan, Iran. *Corresponding author’s email: nmafrah@yahoo.com
The reactions of mass selected aluminum cluster ions, Al+n (n=4–25), with oxygen

The reactions between aluminum cluster ions Al+n (n=4–25) with oxygen have been studied using a low energy ion beam apparatus at a center of mass collision energy of 1 eV. Some extraordinary reactions were observed. Oxygen very specifically cleaves the aluminum clusters, Al+n, resulting in Al+n−m cluster ions where m=4, 5 and for the larger clusters 10. Al+ is also an important product ion for clusters with n≤13. No oxygen containing product ions were observed. We suggest that addition of oxygen to the cluster raises the ionization potential and makes AlxO+ and AlxO+2 products energetically unfavorable, thus neutral oxide species are formed.
Re-Connecting Wetlands: How Agricultural Drainage Areas Can Improve Landscape Connectivity in Essex County

RE-CONNECTING WETLANDS: HOW AGRICULTURAL DRAINS CAN IMPROVE LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY IN ESSEX COUNTY Alanna Van Ommen University of Guelph, 2020 Advisor: Dr. Robert Corry The Essex County landscape faces pressures including agricultural development and urban expansion. Historically, wetlands have been threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and water quality degradation, causing a host of problems for wetland species. This study applies a geospatial landscape analysis and evaluation methodology to propose and assess the design of wetland habitat patterns in order to increase habitat quality and dispersal opportunities for wildlife. An analysis of Essex County’s Hillman Creek watershed was conducted using ArcGIS software, identifying locations suitable for supporting wetland restoration design and strengthening a wetland connectivity scheme for the watershed. The scheme was evaluated using network circuitry analysis, illustrating its functional connectivity, especially across southeastern parts of the watershed. Results show how a rigorous landscape analysis informs wetland restoration design at the watershed scale and improves a measure of functional connectivity. The research identifies potential for improving and estimating ecological connectivity through evidence-based landscape architecture.
A Novel Reactive Polymeric Micelle with Aldehyde Groups on Its Surface

It is reported that amphiphilic AB block copolymers form in selective solvents micellar structures. ' These nanospheric particles combine the advantages given by the hydrophobic core, which can act as a vehicle for medical drugs, and the unique properties of a hydrophilic ~ h e 1 1 . ~ ~ PEO chains attached to a surface or forming the corona of a nanospheric particle in an aqueous medium exhibit rapid chain motions and have a large excluded volume. The steric repulsion resulting from a loss of configurational entropy of the bound PEO upon the approach of a foreign particle and the low interfacial free energy contribute to the extraordinary properties of PEO-covered surface^. ^-'^ The small size, apparent thermodynamic stability, and exceptional biological features of polymeric micelles favor their application in the biomedical field.11-14 Recently, a facile and quantitative synthetic method for the formation of heterobifunctional poly(ethy1ene oxide) was reported.15J6 If one of the functional end groups in the heterobifunctional PEO can selectively initiate the polymerization of a hydrophobic monomer, a new heterobifunctional AB block copolymer can be created, retaining the other functional group (acetal group) a t the PEO chain end. As a core-forming segment, polylactide (PLA) was chosen for the following reasons: (1) The ring-opening reaction of a lactide can be initiated by the living chain end of potassium ethylene oxide without any side reaction. (ii) PLAS are biodegradable and nontoxic polymers, which are widely utilized as implant materials. This is an important prerequisite considering a future application of this system in the biomedical field. (iii) Nanoparticles, consisting of block copolymers of a-methoxypoly(ethy1ene oxide) and PLA are suited for drug de1i~ery.l~ Furthermore, the micelle formation and transformation of acetal into aldehyde groups on the micelle surface were discussed. An aldehyde group reacts rapidly with primary amino groups, forming a Schiff base, a chemical path which could be employed in the hture for conjugations with proteins. Experimental Section. Materials and Methods. Commercial tetrahydrofuran (THF), 3,3-diethoxypropanol, ethylene oxide (EO), and lactide were purified conventionally.l8 Potassium naphthalene was used as a THF solution.1g GPC measurements were carried out using a Shimadzu 6A liquid chromatograph equipped with a PEO-calibrated TSK gel column (G4000HXL, G3000HXL, G2500HXL) and an internal RI detector (RID-6A). THF containing 2% of triethylamine was used as eluent a t a flow rate of 1 mumin. 'H-NMR
The competitiveness of French protected designation of origin wines: a theoretical analysis of the role of proximity

The French model based upon the protected designation of origin (PDO) has been challenged since the beginning of the last decade by the one of ‘New World Wines'. Yet, not all PDO vineyards are equally affected, while some new world wines have in turn entered into crisis. We will consider the issue by comparing two French vineyards, Cahors and Chablis, according to the ‘economics of proximity' framework. We will first analyse the dynamics and strategies of the French wine industry according to the above-mentioned framework, detailing more precisely the terroir-based strategy. We will then apply it to our two case studies, in order to understand the challenges currently facing the French wine industry.