Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ScholarWorks @ UVM ScholarWorks @ UVM

1. Abstract As social media increases in popularity, its ability to create culturally meaningful tools grows as well. One of the most promising tools is categorization software, which analyzes the linguistic data in social media posts to make predictions. It does with the help of corpus linguistics, a form of analysis designed to pick out the most frequent and/or significant words in a dataset. This study focuses on software intended to detect threats. While this technology has the potential to flag threatening language used by groups or individuals, the text search strategies it currently uses often result in a high number of false positives, making it too unreliable for effective use. The software is most effective at marking whether or not a specific word is present in a tweet, not determining whether or not this word is actually being used in a threatening way (e.g. "I'm planning on killing him" vs. "this silence is killing me"). Discourse analysis, which looks at the role context plays in language, could minimize these errors by helping researchers refine the software in a manner that more closely matches how people actually use language. The goal of this project, then, is to investigate ways of combining corpus linguistics and discourse analysis with a Twitter database to improve threat analysis.
Collaborative Virtual Environment to Facilitate Game Design Evaluation with Children with ASC

ABSTRACT Involvement of children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) in the design of new educational technology is becoming more prevalent. Despite potential barriers due to communication and ideation difficulties for children with ASC, adapted participatory design methods can successfully facilitate their direct involvement. Nonetheless, methods requiring face-to-face communication can still be difficult for children with ASC and research suggests that technology mediation could facilitate their contribution. This study explores the use of collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) as a medium through which students evaluated existing computer games and offered suggestions for game development. CVEs in which the users were represented by (a) avatars and (b) video-pods were compared to a face-to-face condition. Twelve typically developing (aged 8–9 years), 12 higher ability ASC (12–14) and 4 lower ability ASC children (12–14) participated. All student groups preferred the video-pod CVE and students with ASC were generally better able to contribute effectively through this medium than face-to-face.
The Effects of Procedural Justice on Cooperation and Compliance among Inmates in a Work Release Program

Abstract Order is critical to the safe and efficient management of correctional institutions. Procedural justice theory suggests that the fair and rightful exercise of authority by correctional staff can promote order by stimulating within inmates a sense of obligation to obey authority. Triggering this sense of obligation is thought to encourage voluntary cooperation and compliance without relying on formal sanctions. Using data from a 2006 survey of 213 adult male inmates in a Chicago transition facility (a minimum security prison), we test the effects of procedural justice and other factors on cooperation and compliance. The results reveal that inmates’ perceptions of procedural justice have a mix of direct and indirect effects on their cooperation and compliance. Our findings clarify the role of procedural justice and other factors in maintaining order within correctional settings. Supplementary analyses clarify the effects of anger on cooperation and compliance and provide fruitful avenues for future research.
Reading Prosody Development: Automatic Assessment for a Longitudinal Study

We discuss here the benefit of an automatic assessment technique, recently proposed for multidimensional scoring of children readings. The objective of this research is to monitor the development of reading prosody in a longitudinal study. We recorded 57 children in grade 2, then during their grade 3 while reading the same text. First year recordings were assessed subjectively and used to train the automatic tool. The second year recordings were also assessed both subjectively and automatically. We compare here the results given by the automatic vs. subjective assessment and have a look at the progress of the assessed reading skills of the children : expressivity, phrasing, smoothness and rate.
Comparing the Negative Emotions, Body Image, Sexual Schemas and Sexual Function in Women with Breast Cancer and Healthy Women

1 MA in Clinical Psychology, Shahed University, Tehran. Tehran, Persian Gulf highway, Faculty of Humanities, department of Clinical Psychology,: E-mail: f_sorouri8@yahoo.com 2 PHD of Clinical Psychology, Associate Professor of Shahed University, Tehran. Abstract Aim: The aim of this research was the comparison between negative emotions, body image, sexual schemas and sexual function in women with breast cancer after mastectomy and healthy women. Method: The study included 105 married women diagnosed with breast cancer. After enrolment the participants filled the following questionnaires: Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS-21), Questionnaire of cognitive schema activation in sexual context (QCSASC), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). After the two groups were matched in age and education, these questionnaires were administered to the control group of 100 healthy women. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used in data analysis. Results: Results indicate a significant difference between the total score of sexual dysfunction (p<0.002), body image (p<0.001), sexual schema (p<0.001) between the breast cancer group and healthy group. The two groups did not have a significant difference in negative emotions. Conclusion: The results of the current study are similar to the previous studies and can be useful for prevention of mood disorders and sexual dysfunction associated with breast cancer, in order to improve psychological treatment of women with breast cancer.
The Role of Sports Participation in Hemispheric Dominance: Assessment by Electrodermal Activity Signals

This study aims at evaluating hemispheric differences between active sportsmen (n=17) and sedentary control subjects (n=21) using Electrodermal Activity (EDA), which is a physiologic measure of emotional sweating. Following the denoising of the acquired EDA records, feature extraction functions were utilized for each record to generate a feature vector, containing 14 parameters per record. Statistical significances of the differences and similarities between feature vectors were determined by unpaired t-test (p 0.95). Findings from this study show that the agreement of hemispheric dominance test with hand preference is significantly lower for active sportsmen in comparison to control group. This implies that participation in sport activity may play a facilitative role in a more equally weighted development of both hemispheres by somewhat decreasing the hemispheric lateralization.
Adding a Dimension: Time as a Factor in the Generalizability of Predictive Relationships

Abstract : An analysis of trends in predictive validity coefficients across time and repeated performance assessments shows highly significant and consistent trends in validities as a function of time and/or interpolated practice. Commonly used ability measures show decreasing predictive validities for the prediction of temporally more remote performance assessments. Within study corrections for differential restrictions of range and attenuation due to unreliability across the different performance assessments increased the negative slopes of the regressions of predictive validity on time or ordinal position of performance assessment. The median validity decrement from initial to final performance assessment, corrected for differential range restriction, attenuation, and within study sampling fluctuations was -. 29. The mean of the trimmed distribution of corrected validity decrements, after eliminating the two most extreme cases, was -. 45. The average within study correlation between predictive validity and time or ordinal position of performance assessment was 0.80. A similar analysis of stability coefficients of time period-by-time period or trial-by-trial performance assessment correlations revealed very similar albeit slightly more consistent findings. Theoretical explanations stressing the dynamic nature of human abilities, the changing nature of abilities required for task performance, and social competition factors are discussed as reasons for the predictive validity decrements.
A low temperature-rise and facile manipulation method for single micro objects at the air-substrate interface

Controlled pickup and release of micro objects in non-aqueous environment has large potential applications in lab-on-chip systems, biotechnology, biomedicine, and micro device fabrication, but this kind of manipulation has been scarcely reported. In this paper, a low temperature-rise and facile strategy is proposed to pick up and release single micro objects in air on a substrate. Chlorella cells, pollens, glass fibers, micro copper wires and graphene sheets at the air-substrate interface can be successfully picked up by the Van der Waals force between a stationary micro manipulation probe (MMP) and captured sample, and transported through an arbitrary 3D path in air to a desired position on the substrate by moving the device. The captured sample can be controllably released by ultrasonically exciting the MMP. The effects of working parameters such as the distance between the MMP’s tip and substrate, and cross-sectional shape and size of the vibration transmission rod and MMP on the release position deviation, are investigated and design guidelines for the manipulation device are proposed. Measured temperature rise at the MMP’s tip in contact with the captured sample, is lower than 0.4 °C, which makes it competitive in the manipulation of heat sensitive samples such as biological cells.
Conversational Functions for Knowledge Building: a Study of an Online Course at University

Interactions in online courses have been studied by analyzing Conversational Functions used by participants. Cacciamani, Perrucci Khanlari (2016) developed a coding scheme, named CF4KB, consisting of four Global Conversational Functions (GCF), each articulated in two Specific Conversational Functions (SCF). The aims of the present study were to explore: 1) What are the more frequently SCF used by the participants, both at the beginning and at the end of an online course, and if there are differences between the beginning and the end of the course in terms of SCF used; 2) If there is any specific pattern of SCF used at the beginning and at the end of the course and if there are any persistences in using the same SCF. For these aims, 152 messages posted in Knowledge Forum online environment by 24 university students (19 F and 5 M) were considered. The messages have been segmented into units of meaning and the 1451 resulting segments have been coded by two independent judges who applied the CF4KB. The analysis of frequencies evidenced the more frequently used SCF, at the beginning and the end of the course. Comparing SCF frequencies between the beginning and the end of the course, differences were detected. Results showed also different patterns in the use of the SCF at the beginning and at the end of the course. In addition, the persistence of one SCF was found. Implication of these results for the analysis of the interactions in online courses are discussed.
Information Engineering Methodologies and Organizational Change: An Exploratory Study

Information engineering is a set of tools, techniques, and methodologies used to transform an organization's strategic plan into an information systems architecture. Once a new information system architecture is in place, the flow of information is altered leading to organizational change. This study explores the use of information engineering methodologies at 45 organizations in different industries and the resulting organizational changes. The results of this study indicate that organizations that have exhibited greater organizational change (particularly in terms of business functions and processes) employ information engineering methodologies more.
State attachment variability across distressing situations in middle childhood

Contemporary research suggests that attachment has both a trait-like, stable component, and a state-like component that varies across contexts. In the current study, we assessed state attachment variability across comparably distressing situations in middle childhood. In two samples, children reported their expectations of maternal support in each situation. Additionally, we administered trait attachment and psychological well-being measures. Results indicated that, overall, children varied in their expectations across situations: more than half of the variance was explained by intra-individual differences across situations. Results revealed two components underlying variability: a Signal-and-Support component reflecting expectations of support-seeking and receiving, and a Back-on-Track component reflecting expectations of stress reduction and comfort. State attachment variability was related to individual differences in trait attachment: children who are more securely attached at the trait level, overall appear to vary less in their state attachment, likely due to their high mean state attachment scores across situations. When the mean state attachment scores are accounted for, more securely attached children seem to vary more, suggesting that their state attachment expectations are more sensitive to contextual fluctuations. Importantly, degree of state attachment variability explained psychological well-being over and above trait attachment.
Narrative reasoning and coherent alignment in field placement

ABSTRACT In social work, field placement is considered an essential component to prepare students for professional practice. A significant degree of disjunction between academic and practical learning also is asserted. The present study aims to explore how students develop their professional competence in field placement and relate their learning outcomes across the university setting and the field. Data from students’ learning contracts and placement reports and a focus-group interview are analysed. Concrete practical experiences and the complexity of problems in specific contexts seem to provide inputs on the development of students’ knowledge, skills and personal competence outside the university setting. Although the students were asked to account for these three dimensions separately, the findings demonstrate their ability to connect and integrate them in the narrative reasoning that characterises students’ reflections on their learning from placement. Moreover, our findings show that all three dimensions are developed in both the university setting and in field placement. Preparing students properly for placement training and calling for specific reports on learning outcomes allow access to meaningful connections that are created and developed between the university setting and field placement.
Powder X-ray Diffraction and Particle Size Analysis of the Consciousness Energy Healing Treated Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5)

Vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 ) is an inorganic compound, which is used for the chemical synthesis and other industrial applications. In this study, the impact of the Trivedi Effect ® -Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment on the physicochemical properties of V 2 O 5 powder was evaluated using powder X-ray diffraction and particle size distribution analytical techniques. V 2 O 5 powder sample was divided into two parts. One part of the sample received the Trivedi Effect ® -Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment remotely by a renowned Biofield Energy Healer, Gopal Nayak was termed as a Consciousness Energy Healing Treated V 2 O 5 sample, while the other part of the sample was called as a control sample. The PXRD peak intensities of the treated V 2 O 5 were significantly altered in the range from -14.29% to 54.05% compared to the control sample. Similarly, the crystallite sizes of the treated V 2 O 5 were significantly altered in the range from -13% to 111.48% compared to the control sample. However, the average crystallite size of the treated V 2 O 5 (585.74) was significantly increased by 18.08% compared with the control sample (496.04) The particle size values in the treated V 2 O 5 were significantly decreased by 28.27% (d 10 ), 13.6% (d 50 ), 7.7% (d 90 ), and 10.25% {D (4,3)} compared to the control sample. Thus, the specific surface area of treated V 2 O 5 powder (0.393m 2 /g) was significantly increased by 64.44% compared with the control sample (0.239m 2 /g). The results concluded that the Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment might have generated a new polymorphic form of V 2 O 5 which would improve the solubility, appearance due to larger crystallite/particle size and reduced surface area compared to the control sample. The treated V 2 O 5 would also be useful for the industrial applications, i.e., bolometers and microbolometer arrays for thermal imaging, for etc.
Afghan EFL Lecturers’ Perceptions of Code-Switching

Code switching is explained as switching between two languages at the same time while conversing in the same discourse. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of Afghan EFL lecturers toward code- switching. This study used a qualitative research approach in which the data was collected via semi-structured interviews with five EFL lecturers. The lecturers were interviewed to explore their perceptions and reasons for code switching, and the extent to which they practice code switching in their classrooms. The results revealed that the lecturers in the study had positive perceptions of code switching and believed it as a beneficial strategy in facilitating the learning process. However, they also conveyed that an excessive practice of code switching should be avoided. The study results also disclosed that the lecturers practiced code switching for various functions such as explaining difficult concepts (translation), explaining complex grammatical points, clarifications, and giving instructions. Finally, the paper provides recommendation for further research.
Pharmacy Students’ Lived Experiences of Academic Difficulty and Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure

Objective. To understand students’ lived experiences of academic difficulty in pharmacy school in relation to Tinto’s conceptual schema of student departure. Methods. A descriptive, single case study design was chosen to explore academic difficulty in pharmacy school, and the unit of analysis (case) in this study was the experience of academic difficulty. Four students who had experienced academic difficulty in pharmacy school were recruited to participate in the study. Data sources included admissions applications, transcripts, emails to the lead researcher, and semi-structured interviews. Prior to analysis, the researchers created a coding dictionary to operationalize codes for textual analysis. Intercoder agreement was established at 97% agreement. Research validity was supported by triangulation of data, multiple researchers, and member checking. Results. Three of the four students were retained because of the synergistic reinforcement of academic and social integration based upon Tinto’s schema. A fourth student was academically dismissed and departed the college, suggesting that too many social responsibilities in pharmacy college reduces time for academic integration, thereby diminishing the reciprocal potential between academic and social integration. Among the four students, seven main themes were identified: student background, goal of becoming a pharmacist, academic integration during pharmacy school, social integration during pharmacy school, retention and departure, roles and responsibilities during pharmacy school, and wellness. Conclusion. The results suggest that Tinto’s theory of student departure is applicable to students’ experiences of academic difficulty. These student stories suggest that early identification of student support needs may help pharmacy programs improve student retention.
The assessment of Mevlana Exchange Program: The case of Morocco

Mevlana Exchange Program is a program that helps to exchange students and academics between the Turkish universities and foreign higher education institutes in Turkey and other countries. The aim of this study is to determine the views and recommendations of exchange students Adiyaman University, who went to Morocco within the scope of Mevlana Exchange Program. This study has been designed to be a case study which is patterned on a basis of qualitative research. Within the research, the opinions of the participants were gathered with a ‘structured interview form’ which was developed by the researcher through taking expert’s opinion. The research is limited with the pieces of information that were provided by the students who went to Morocco. The vast majority of students who have gone to the country in question have expressed that they were not satisfied with the services, such as health, alimentation, sheltering and security and experienced huge problems. Keywords: Adiyaman University, higher education, Mevlana Exchange Programme.
Extending the Shelf Life of Persimmon "Diospyros kaki" by Edible Coating

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki J.) is a subtropical fruit with short postharvest life. The effect of pectin and guar gum based edible coatings was studied under certain conditions of plasticizer, antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Two concentrations of pectin (1 and 2%) and guar gum coatings (0.5and1%) were applied. Fruits were dipped in coating solutions for 1 minute, followed by air drying at room temperature and stored at 4±1 ̊C and 70 75 % RH for 30 days. Changes in shelf life, weight loss, firmness, TSS, pH, TTA, V.C, total phenol contents, PPO, BI, microbial growth and sensory properties were evaluated. The results showed that shelf life of fruit was significantly increased by edible coating treatments. Application of pectin and guar gum decreased weight loss, physical changes and retained more firmness, total antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds compared to the control (non-coated). All the treatments effectively reduced the populations of microbial growth. Significant differences were recorded in fruit between the two concentrations of pectin and guar gum coating. These results demonstrated that the coatings used in application extended the shelf life and maintain quality of harvested persimmon fruit. The sensory evaluation of coated persimmon fruit for colour, odour, taste, texture and overall acceptability confirmed the prementioned findings.