Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Noncognitive Skills and Student Success: Relevance, Assessment, and Strategies

Noncognitive skills are a rather popular topic in higher education today. Factors such as “grit,” “character,” and “growth mindset” are an increasing part of many student success efforts. This chapter will discuss several issues related to noncognitive factors, seeking to bridge the gap from research to practice. First, we will review various ways in which the noncognitive space has been defined. Second, we will review research supporting the relevance of noncognitive variables in higher education, including their espoused importance, empirical relationships with student outcomes, and finally, evidence that such factors can serve a somewhat compensatory role for many students. Third, we will provide an overview of methods of assessing noncognitive tools, particularly within a context of student retention and success. Finally, we will review common practices to implementing noncognitive factors in student success strategies, including holistic placement, enhanced student advising, and other interventions focused directly on the development of noncognitive skills.
Mariner-like transposases are widespread and diverse in flowering plants

Complete and partial sequences of mariner-like elements (MLEs) have been reported for hundreds of species of animals, but only two have been identified in plants. On the basis of these two plant MLEs and several related sequences identified by database searches, plant-specific degenerate primers were derived and used to amplify a conserved region of MLE transposase genes from a variety of plant genomes. Positive products were obtained for 6 dicots and 31 monocots of 54 plant species tested. Phylogenetic analysis of 68 distinct MLE transposase sequences from 25 grass species is consistent with vertical transmission and rapid diversification of multiple lineages of transposases. Surprisingly, the evolution of MLEs in grasses was accompanied by repeated and independent acquisition of introns in a localized region of the transposase gene.
Reproducible doxycycline-inducible transgene expression at specific loci generated by Cre-recombinase mediated cassette exchange

Comparative analysis of mutants using transfection is complicated by clones exhibiting variable levels of gene expression due to copy number differences and genomic position effects. Recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) can overcome these problems by introducing the target gene into pre-determined chromosomal loci, but recombination between the available recombinase targeting sites can reduce the efficiency of targeted integration. We developed a new LoxP site (designated L3), which when used with the original LoxP site (designated L2), allows highly efficient and directional replacement of chromosomal DNA with incoming DNA. A total of six independent LoxP integration sites introduced either by homologous recombination or retroviral delivery were analyzed; 70–80% of the clones analyzed in hamster and human cells were correct recombinants. We combined the RMCE strategy with a new, tightly regulated tetracycline induction system to produce a robust, highly reliable system for inducible transgene expression. We observed stable inducible expression for over 1 month, with uniform expression in the cell population and between clones derived from the same integration site. This system described should find significant applications for studies requiring high level and regulated transgene expression and for determining the effects of various stresses or oncogenic conditions in vivo and in vitro.
Psychotherapeutic Virtues and the Grammar of Faith

A new method for integrating secular psychotherapies into Christian practice, “the virtues approach,” is presented, which promises more fine-grained assessment of continuities and discontinuities between Christian theory and practice and secular theory and practice, and more hope of a richly and distinctively Christian psychotherapy. Albert Ellis’ therapy is examined as a test case. Three Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET) virtues–-equanimity, self-acceptance, and a sense of humor–-are compared grammatically (structurally) with their Christian counterparts, and suggestions are made about consequences for Christian RET.
Image matching based on oriented centroid SIFT operator

An algorithm based on oriented centroid for image matching is designed. The main contribution lies in providing a stable feature direction of pixels called oriented centroid which takes place of the main gradient direction of the traditional SIFT (Scale Invariant Feature Transform) algorithm. The computation cost required to calculate the oriented centroid based feature direction is much less than that required to estimated the main gradient direction, leading to the considerable improvement of the algorithm's real-time performance. Experimental results verify that the algorithm does not lose performance in terms of robustness and accuracy compared with the standard SIFT algorithm.
QoS Evaluation of Heterogeneous Networks: Application-based Approach

In this paper, an application-based QoS evaluation approach for heterogeneous networks is proposed.It is possible to expand the network capacity and coverage in a dynamic fashion by applying heterogeneous wireless network architecture. However, the Quality of Service (QoS) evaluation of this type of network architecture is very challenging due to the presence of different communication technologies. Different communication technologies have different characteristics and the applications that utilize them have unique QoS requirements. Although, the communication technologies have different performance measurement parameters, the applications using these radio access networks have the same QoS requirements. As a result, it would be easier to evaluate the QoS of the access networks and the overall network configuration based on the performance of applications running on them. Using such application-based QoS evaluation approach, the heterogeneous nature of the underlying networks and the diversity of their traffic can be adequately taken into account. Through simulation studies, we show that the application performance based assessment approach facilitates better QoS management and monitoring of heterogeneous network configurations.
When Dark Leadership Exacerbates the Effects of Restructuring

ABSTRACT Evidence regarding the effects of dark leadership is growing but still underrepresented in comparison to studies on positive leadership styles. Particularly, little is known about contextual conditions in which leadership behaviour is directly related to a corresponding negative impact on individuals. Hence, the objective of this contribution is to analyse in how far dark leadership (in this case: abusive supervision) influences the impact of change measures on employees’ well-being and attitudinal individual outcomes. Drawing on Conservation of Resources theory, we hypothesize that facing restructuring measures increases job insecurity, and impairs job-related attitudes (i.e. job satisfaction) and well-being (i.e. work-related irritation) and that this association is aggravated by abusive supervision. Based on longitudinal data acquired from 673 employees working in the finance sector in Germany, we show that after controlling for the outcomes at T1 restructuring experiences and abusive supervision as well as their interactions are related unfavourably to job-related attitudes, strain and job insecurity perceptions. It is discussed that restructuring alters the work situation of employees, and that abusive supervision further lowers the individuals’ resources to deal with the organizational change.
Cultural Values Differentially Moderate the Benefits of Basic Education on Two Types of National Innovation Outputs

The present study contributes to innovation research by distinguishing between national innovation in the knowledge and technology domain (knowledge and technology output) versus that in the creative industries (creative output), and examining how these two types of innovation would benefit from high-quality basic education in different cultural contexts. We argue that because creative output requires symbolic knowledge (i.e., negotiation of new meanings), it would benefit from a national context that has not only high-quality basic education but also favorable cultural values (low self-protective values or high self-expansion values). By contrast, knowledge and technology output requires analytic and synthetic knowledge mainly and thus would benefit from high-quality basic education regardless of cultural values. To test these ideas, we performed regression analyses using three archival datasets (the Programme for International Student Assessment [PISA], the Schwartz Value Survey, and the Global Innovation Index) of 32 nations. The results in general supported our predictions such that a high level of self-protective values dampens the positive relationship between quality of basic education and creative output only, but not knowledge and technology output. Implications of these findings were discussed.
Graded Betti numbers of Cohen–Macaulay modules and the multiplicity conjecture

We give conjectures on the possible graded Betti numbers of Cohen–Macaulay modules up to multiplication by positive rational numbers. The idea is that the Betti diagrams should be non‐negative linear combinations of pure diagrams. The conjectures are verified in the cases where the structure of resolutions is known, that is: for modules of codimension two, for Gorenstein algebras of codimension three and for complete intersections. The motivation for proposing the conjectures comes from the Multiplicity conjecture of Herzog, Huneke and Srinivasan.
The Impact of Debt Financing on Investment

Using a panel data set of Chinese manufacturing listed companies, this paper investigates the impact of debt financing on investment of companies. It is found that debt has a significantly negative effect on investment in the whole samples. In order to distinguish the influence mechanism of debt financing on investment, the paper divides the whole sample into two sub-groups according to growth opportunity and CFO. In the high growth opportunity low CFO group debt has a significantly negative effect on investment but in the low growth opportunity high CFO group it doesn’t have. That is to say debt doesn’t inhibit the inefficiency of investment in China.
Emerging Molecular Pathways Governing Dietary Regulation of Neural Stem Cells during Aging

Aging alters cellular and molecular processes, including those of stem cells biology. In particular, changes in neural stem cells (NSCs) are linked to cognitive decline associated with aging. Recently, the systemic environment has been shown to alter both NSCs regulation and age-related cognitive decline. Interestingly, a well-documented and naturally occurring way of altering the composition of the systemic environment is through diet and nutrition. Furthermore, it is well established that the presence of specific nutrients as well as the overall increase or reduction of calorie intake can modulate conserved molecular pathways and respectively reduce or increase lifespan. In this review, we examine these pathways in relation to their function on NSCs and cognitive aging. We highlight the importance of the Sirtuin, mTOR and Insulin/Insulin like growth factor-1 pathways as well as the significant role played by epigenetics in the dietary regulation of NSCs and the need for further research to exploit nutrition as a mode of intervention to regulate NSCs aging.
Macrophage responses to hypoxia: relevance to disease mechanisms

Macrophages are ubiquitous in the stromal compartment of tissues under normal physiological conditions and the number of these cells increases markedly with the onset and progression of many pathological states. The mechanisms underlying this response are well described in such conditions as wound healing and malignant tumors, where tissue‐specific signals enhance the extravasation of blood monocytes and their subsequent differentiation into macrophages. Recent evidence suggests that macrophages may also be stimulated by microenvironmental factors present in diseased tissues to perform distinct, tissue‐specific activities. One such factor, hypoxia (low oxygen tension), results from insufficient vascular perfusion of a given tissue. Various studies have shown that experimental hypoxia alters the morphology, expression of cell surface markers, viability, phagocytosis, metabolic activity, and release of cytokines by macrophages. Here we review the evidence for these macrophage responses to hypoxia, the involvement of co‐stimuli, and their implications for the role of macrophages in various disease processes. Because the intracellular mechanisms mediating the effects of hypoxia on gene expression in other cell types have been characterized recently, we discuss their possible involvement in the effects of hypoxia on gene expression in macrophages. J. Leukoc. Biol. 66: 889–900; 1999.
A comparative study of single-phase power factor correctors: Modeling, steady-state analysis, tracking ability and design criteria

Power Factor Correction (PFC) circuits are widely used in single-phase rectifiers in order to emulate a pure resistive behavior. Several PFC topologies were introduced in the last thirty years, depending on the required source-load characteristics and system performance. This paper is dedicated to the comparative study of the most popular PFC converters, with an emphasis on their major features, their benefits and limitations in terms of performance. More specifically, the averaged model of each topology is presented, on the basis of which steady-state characteristics, current tracking ability and design criteria are elaborated and analyzed.
Effects of Kaurane Diterpene Derivatives on Germination and Growth of Lactuca sativa Seedlings

Kaurenoic and grandiflorenic acid, isolated from Wedelia paludosa (Asteraceae), some derivatives from these acids (alcohols, esters, amides, lactones, oximes) and other naturally occurring kaurane diterpenes were tested for their action on the growth of radical and shoot of Lactuca sativa. Gibberellic acid, GA3, a commercially available phytohormone, belonging to the same class of diterpenes, was also tested. Some of the tested substances showed a remarkable activity either in the inhibition or in stimulation of L. sativa growth. The activity, in some cases, was even higher than that of GA3.
Speech recognition system based on short-term cepstral parameters, feature reduction method and Artificial Neural Networks

The acoustic analysis can provide great results in the identification of voice disorders as a complementary tool to other medical techniques. This paper scrutinizes the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), their first and second derivatives. A full comparative study is established in order to demonstrate that short-term cepstral parameters could be useful to conclude an efficient system for detecting voice impairments. In this context, a projection based Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) is investigated to improve the discriminatory ability of the proposed system. In addition, every feature combination is classified by Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Moreover, the system performance is evaluated in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision and Area Under Curve (AUC). Finally, our findings demonstrate that the optimized combination of the original MFCC features with their first and second derivatives provides the best performances with an accuracy rate of 87.82% and AUC of 87.96%.
Evaluation of ECMWF ERA-40 temperature and wind in the lower tropical stratosphere since 1988 from past long-duration balloon measurements

The temperature and wind of the ECMWF ERA-40 reanalysis in the tropical lower stratosphere during the period 1988–2001 has been evaluated by comparison with independent in situ measurements of 21 IR Montgolfier and superpressure long-duration balloon flights performed by CNES from Pretoria (26° S) in South Africa in 1988–1989, Latacunga (1° S) in Ecuador in 1991–1998 and Bauru (22° S) in Brazil in 2000–2001. The ERA-40 temperature displays a bias varying progressively from +1.16 K in 1988–1989, to +0.26 K in 1994–1996 and −0.46 K after 1998, the latter being fully consistent with recent evaluations of ECMWF operational analysis from radio occultation and in situ long-duration balloon observations. The amplitude of the bias and its evolution are very similar to the results of a previous evaluation from radiosondes in 1991–2003, suggesting that the origin of the drift of ERA-40 might be mainly due to errors in the series of satellite measurements of MSU, replaced by AMSU in 1998, assimilated in the model. The ERA-40 zonal wind speed in the lower stratosphere appears slightly overestimated by 0.7–1.0 m/s on average in both the tropics and equatorial region, that is by 5–10% compared to the average 10–20 m/s wind speed. This bias, fully consistent with a recent evaluation of ECMWF operational analysis in 2004, is found constant during the whole 1988–2001 period, suggesting a shortfall in the variabililty of ERA-40 horizontal winds in the lower stratosphere in the tropics and the equatorial region. Finally calculated trajectories using ERA-40, frequently used for analysing field observations, are found in error compared to that of the balloons by ±500 km after 5 days and ±1000 km after 10 days.
Document Recognition System with Layout Structure Generator

1. Abstract A document input system, with character recognition technique, is used for converting printed matter, such as books and magazines, into code-format information. In order to improve this document input system's performance, an appropriate document structure analysis technique is indispen~able(''~'). When storing data from general printed documents into a database, it is necessary to represent the document structure. Therefore, a document layout structure generation method is especially important(*)(6). For this purpose, the authors have developed a document image structure analysis method to generate a layout structure, as well as to detect such document elements as characters, pictures and figures. This method was developed on a personal computer. Its usability is described in this paper.
Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Congenital Heart Disease

Background— Pregnant women with congenital heart disease are at increased risk for cardiac and neonatal complications, yet risk factors for adverse outcomes are not fully defined. Methods and Results— Between January 1998 and September 2004, 90 pregnancies at age 27.7±6.1 years were followed in 53 women with congenital heart disease. Spontaneous abortions occurred in 11 pregnancies at 10.8±3.7 weeks, and 7 underwent elective pregnancy termination. There were no maternal deaths. Primary maternal cardiac events complicated 19.4% of ongoing pregnancies, with pulmonary edema in 16.7% and sustained arrhythmias in 2.8%. Univariate risk factors included prior history of heart failure (odds ratio [OR], 15.5), NYHA functional class ≥2 (OR, 5.4), and decreased subpulmonary ventricular ejection fraction (OR, 7.7). Independent predictors were decreased subpulmonary ventricular ejection fraction and/or severe pulmonary regurgitation (OR, 9.0) and smoking history (OR, 27.2). Adverse neonatal outcomes occurred in 27.8% of ongoing pregnancies and included preterm delivery (20.8%), small for gestational age (8.3%), respiratory distress syndrome (8.3%), intraventricular hemorrhage (1.4%), intrauterine fetal demise (2.8%), and neonatal death (1.4%). A subaortic ventricular outflow tract gradient >30 mm Hg independently predicted an adverse neonatal outcome (OR, 7.5). Cardiac risk assessment was improved by including decreased subpulmonary ventricular systolic function and/or severe pulmonary regurgitation (OR, 10.3) in a previously proposed risk index developed in pregnant women with acquired and congenital heart disease. Conclusions— Maternal cardiac and neonatal complication rates are considerable in pregnant women with congenital heart disease. Patients with impaired subpulmonary ventricular systolic function and/or severe pulmonary regurgitation are at increased risk for adverse cardiac outcomes.
Risk assessment for invasive species produces net bioeconomic benefits

International commerce in live organisms presents a policy challenge for trade globalization; sales of live organisms create wealth, but some nonindigenous species cause harm. To reduce damage, some countries have implemented species screening to limit the introduction of damaging species. Adoption of new risk assessment (RA) technologies has been slowed, however, by concerns that RA accuracy remains insufficient to produce positive net economic benefits. This concern arises because only a small proportion of all introduced species escape, spread, and cause harm (i.e., become invasive), so a RA will exclude many noninvasive species (which provide a net economic benefit) for every invasive species correctly identified. Here, we develop a simple cost:benefit bioeconomic framework to quantify the net benefits from applying species prescreening. Because invasive species are rarely eradicated, and their damages must therefore be borne for long periods, we have projected the value of RA over a suitable range of policy time horizons (10–500 years). We apply the model to the Australian plant quarantine program and show that this RA program produces positive net economic benefits over the range of reasonable assumptions. Because we use low estimates of the financial damage caused by invasive species and high estimates of the value of species in the ornamental trade, our results underestimate the net benefit of the Australian plant quarantine program. In addition, because plants have relatively low rates of invasion, applying screening protocols to animals would likely demonstrate even greater benefits.
Vibration exposure and biodynamic responses during whole-body vibration training.

PURPOSE Excessive, chronic whole-body vibration (WBV) has a number of negative side effects on the human body, including disorders of the skeletal, digestive, reproductive, visual, and vestibular systems. Whole-body vibration training (WBVT) is intentional exposure to WBV to increase leg muscle strength, bone mineral density, health-related quality of life, and decrease back pain. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate vibration exposure and biodynamic responses during typical WBVT regimens. METHODS Healthy men and women (N = 16) were recruited to perform slow, unloaded squats during WBVT (30 Hz; 4 mm(p-p)), during which knee flexion angle (KA), mechanical impedance, head acceleration (Ha(rms)), and estimated vibration dose value (eVDV) were measured. WBVT was repeated using two forms of vibration: 1) vertical forces to both feet simultaneously (VV), and 2) upward forces to only one foot at a time (RV). RESULTS Mechanical impedance varied inversely with KA during RV (effect size, eta(p)(2): 0.668, P < 0.01) and VV (eta(p)(2): 0.533, P < 0.05). Ha(rms) varied with KA (eta(p)(2): 0.686, P < 0.01) and is greater during VV than during RV at all KA (P < 0.01). The effect of KA on Ha(rms) is different for RV and VV (eta(p)(2): 0.567, P < 0.05). The eVDV associated with typical RV and VV training regimens (30 Hz, 4 mm(p-p), 10 min.d(-1)) exceeds the recommended daily vibration exposure as defined by ISO 2631-1 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS ISO standards indicate that 10 min.d(-1) WBVT is potentially harmful to the human body; the risk of adverse health effects may be lower during RV than VV and at half-squats rather than full-squats or upright stance. More research is needed to explore the long-term health hazards of WBVT.