Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A social-emotional pathway to promoting math self-concept: the moderating role of sex

Abstract Guided by the school climate and social-emotional learning literature, this study explored math self-concept in relation to student-teacher relationships and students’ sense of school belonging while accounting for sex differences. Participants included two random subsamples (Ns = 532; 558) of 15-year-old Canadian students who participated in the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Results indicated that while student-teacher relationships were positively associated with math self-concept among boys, sense of school belonging was positively associated with math self-concept among girls. Moderated mediation analyses indicated that the indirect association between student-teacher relationships and math self-concept via the sense of school belonging was significant only among girls; the total effects model was only significant among boys. These findings were evidenced in both subsamples. Findings suggest the importance to not only enhance student-teacher relationships and students’ sense of school belonging, but also to recognize how intervention efforts might vary depending on students’ sex.
Selecting Representative Data Sets

A training set is a special set of labeled data providing known information that is used in the supervised learning to build a classification or regression model. We can imagine each training instance as a feature vector together with an appropriate output value (label, class identifier). A supervised learning algorithm deduces a classification or regression function from the given training set. The deduced classification or regression function should predict an appropriate output value for any input vector. The goal of the training phase is to estimate parameters of a model to predict output values with a good predictive performance in real use of the model.
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF BACTERIAL SYMBIONT OF SOFT CORAL Lobophytum sp. AGAINST MDR BACTERIA Escherichia coli and Staphyllococcus aureus

The improper and uncontrolled uses of antibiotics againts pathogenic bacteria have resulted in the occurrence of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) strains. There is now an urgency to find alternative antibiotics to combat the MDR strains especially Escherichia coli and Staphyllococcus aureus. Soft coral associated microorganisms are among the most interesting and promising marine natural product sources which produce polyketide and non ribosomal peptide products with various biological activities. In this study, marine bacteria were isolated from soft coral Lobophytum sp. collected from North Java Sea, and were screened for antibacterial activity against MDR strains. One out of 13 bacterial isolates were succesfully screened and were found to be active against both MDR strains, in which isolate LBTGA2 was active against resistant strains E. coli and against resistant S. aureus, respectively. The active isolate also amplified PKS (Polyketide Synthases) gene fragments necessary for the biosynthesis of polyketides. The molecular identification based on partial 16S DNA nukleotide sequences indicates that the active isolate was closely related to Paenibacillus campinasensis.
Non-native habitat as home for non-native species: comparison of communities associated with invasive tubeworm and native oyster reefs

Introduction vectors for marine non-native species, such as oyster culture and boat foul- ing, often select for organisms dependent on hard substrates during some or all life stages. In soft- sediment estuaries, hard substrate is a limited resource, which can increase with the introduction of hard habitat-creating non-native species. Positive interactions between non-native, habitat-creating species and non-native species utilizing such habitats could be a mechanism for enhanced invasion success. Most previous studies on aquatic invasive habitat-creating species have demonstrated posi- tive responses in associated communities, but few have directly addressed responses of other non- native species. We explored the association of native and non-native species with invasive habitat- creating species by comparing communities associated with non-native, reef-building tubeworms Ficopomatus enigmaticus and native oysters Ostrea conchaphila in Elkhorn Slough, a central Califor- nia estuary. Non-native habitat supported greater densities of associated organisms—primarily highly abundant non-native amphipods (e.g. Monocorophium insidiosum, Melita nitida), tanaid (Sinelebus sp.), and tube-dwelling polychaetes (Polydora spp.). Detritivores were the most common trophic group, making up disproportionately more of the community associated with F. enigmaticus than was the case in the O. conchaphila community. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed that native species' community structure varied significantly among sites, but not between biogenic habi- tats. In contrast, non-natives varied with biogenic habitat type, but not with site. Thus, reefs of the invasive tubeworm F. enigmaticus interact positively with other non-native species.
Latent feet in prosodic phonology

Lee, Yongsung. 2008. Latent feet in prosodic phonology. Studies in Phonetics, Phonology and Morphology 14.3. 445-463. Not all foot-heads are stressed. Latent feet are the feet that do not have phonetic stress, though they have head elements. They surfaces when the constraint, FTHD=STRESS, is violated by being dominated by other related constraints such as PWD-PROM or NOCLASH. This interaction explains the absence of secondary stresses in Cairene Arabic, which crucially refers to maximally parsed foot structure for locating the primary stress. In Tiberian Hebrew, we see that secondary stresses show up on a selective basis. Secondary stress is assigned to the foot-heads which are not in the clash environments. The latent foot proposal, an OT extension of stressless feet, offers simpler and more consistent analysis of the lack of secondary stresses in Cairene Arabic and the selective presence of secondary stress in Tiberian Hebrew than previous related proposals. Further the same proposal can explain the selective absence of secondary stress in English. (Pusan University of Foreign Studies)
Mobility and space use of moose in relation to spatial and temporal exposure to wolves

In a predator-prey system, prey species may adapt to the presence of predators with behavioral changes such as increased vigilance, shifting habitats or changes in their mobility. Across North America, moose (Alces alces) have shown to adapt to their re-colonizing predators, the wolves (Canis lupus) but such anti-predator behavioral responses have not yet been found in Scandinavian moose. The more than a century long absence of wolves in Scandinavia and the current re-colonization since the 1980s provide unique conditions to further detail our knowledge of their effect on moose. I analyzed travel speed, linearity of movement and seasonal home range size of GPS collared female moose within the same moose population but with spatial (inside- / outside wolf territories) and temporal (before- / after the re-establishment of wolves) differences in the exposure to wolves. Differences in seasonal home range size of female moose in the study area correlated with exposure to wolves, as home ranges tended to be larger in areas of the wolf territory with a more frequent presence of wolves. Travel speed and linearity of movement were mostly affected by seasonal changes and differences in reproductive status. Travel speed was highest during the calving (May – Jul.) and postcalving (Aug. – Oct.) seasons, and was generally lower for females with calves than females without calves in all seasons. Related to presence of wolves, a generally suppressed travel speed was observed inside the wolf territory compared to outside, but an elevated mobility was seen in certain, more intensively used areas of the territory. The linearity of movement was mostly affected by reproduction, as more concentrated movement was observed at females with calves at heel, during the calving season. Overall, the results supported that mobility of female moose was more strongly influenced by external factors and reproductive status, than by the return of their long absent natural predators. This can be due to a combination of several factors including e.g. lower wolf densities, higher moose:wolf ratios and more intensive hunting harvest of the moose population than observed in North America.
ON THE RELATIVE VALUE OF MULTIPLE‐CHOICE, CONSTRUCTED‐RESPONSE, AND EXAMINEE‐SELECTED ITEMS ON TWO ACHIEVEMENT TESTS1

Using analyses based on fitting item response models to data from the College Board's Advanced Placement exams in Chemistry and United States History, we found that the constructed-response portion of the tests yielded little information over and above that provided by the multiple-choice sections. These tests also allow examinees to select subsets of the constructed-response items; we found that scoring on the basis of the selections themselves provided almost as much information as did scoring on the basis of the answers. Finally, we found that the chemistry test was too difficult for its primary goal, but that this could be at least partially corrected by taking into account information in the wrong answers to the multiple-choice items.
Transient Electromagnetic Fields in a Cavity with Dispersive Double Negative Medium

Electromagnetic flelds in a cavity fllled with double negative dispersive medium and bounded by a closed perfectly conducting surface is studied in the Time Domain. The sought electromagnetic flelds are found in a closed form by using decomposition over cavity modes and solving in TD the difierential equations for the time varying mode amplitudes. Some features of frequency response of such an electromagnetic system are presented. Waveforms of electromagnetic flelds excited by a wideband pulse are considered.
Genetically Modified Crops: A Pre-Introductory Assessment of Farmer Readiness, Its Determinants and Extent of Support in India

Abstract India has become the focal point of biggest debates on GM Crops and their Risk benefit analysis. The present study reveals extent of farmer readiness and support for Genetically Modified crops and biotechnology applications in Indian agriculture. A set of new indices developed could reveal farmers’ readiness towards GM Crops, willingness to pay for GM seeds, to trial in time, to invest additionally and to substitute available area. 5 factors namely Biotechnology awareness, innovativeness, extension participation and cosmopoliteness were found to determine farmer readiness towards GM crops. A model was developed for predicting GM readiness which explained up to 78.4 per cent variation. A set of 14 biotechnology applications were rated for their farmer acceptability. Farmer support for ongoing GM research was found highest for crops requiring lesser chemical fertilizers followed by crops requiring less water for growth, crops having longer shelf life periods, drought tolerant crops and saline tolerant crops. The findings will serve researchers, industry and Government in developing biotech communication strategies, pricing, production and timing of market entry as well as development of GM crops based on farmer needs in future.
Risk Managing Long-Dated Smile Risk with SABR Formula

In this paper, we show that the sensitivities to the SABR parameters can be materially wrong then the SABR formula is used, in particular for long expiries and in high volatility environments. For example, we obtain positive sensitivities to the spot-vol correlation parameter for low strike options, which is the opposite of what we expect from the SABR model. We discuss possible solutions.
Investigation and Structural Analysis of Innate Immune Sensor PKR Activation by the Clostridia Bolteae Twister Ribozyme

The innate immune system is the body’s first line of defense. This system uses a generalized mechanism to differentiate cellular RNA from pathogenic RNA like that of bacteria and viruses. The RNA-activated protein kinase, PKR, binds dsRNA and is a necessary sensor in the innate immune response. PKR is known to recognize long stretches of viral dsRNA and inhibit translation by autophosphorylation and subsequent phosphorylation of initiation factor eIF2α. Recently, PKR has been found to be activated by a wider range of pathogens, including certain bacteria. We studied the interaction between PKR and the self-cleaving, structurally compact C. bolteae twister ribozyme. This RNA is representative of small, structured RNAs that are typically found in bacteria. I found that as 3’ tail length of the RNA increases, PKR activation becomes more potent. Further, I find that in the presence of lowered Mg, similar to when bacterial RNA enters the human cell, activation of PKR by the short, compact ribozyme still occurs, albeit two-fold lower, supporting the hypothesis that PKR potentially is activated by this or similar RNAs in vivo. Following these findings, the interaction between PKR and the twister ribozyme was further characterized through PKR footprinting. While no obvious PKR footprint is observed, we show that following PKR addition, tertiary structure of the RNA remains intact, consistent with previous characterizations of PKR’s interactions with functional RNAs. This may indicate PKR is binding nonspecific helical regions of the RNA. My results represent a model system for similar RNAs in vivo and provide new insights into how PKR acts as an innate immune signaling protein for the presence of bacteria and suggest a reason for the apparent absence of protein-free riboswitches and ribozymes in the human genome.
The Role of Uterine Artery Doppler and Maternal Serum D-dimer Levels in Prediction of Preterm Labor

Objective: To determine the role of uterine artery Doppler findings and serum d-dimer levels in prediction of preterm labor in women hospitalised for threatening preterm labor. Methods: 15 (20.27%) and 59 (79.73%) of 74 pregnant women delivered before and after 37 completed weeks respectively. Ultrasonographic length of the cervix, Bishop scores and uterine artery RI values were not significantly different (p = 0.225; 0.59; 0.622 and 0.331) between both groups. Maternal serum d-Dimer geometric means were 1502.57 ng/ml and 1052.41 ng/ml in preterm and term delivery groups respectively. (p=0.023) 4 (%26.7) women in the preterm versus 2 (%3.4 ) in the term delivery group had bilateral diastolic notches. [p=0.013, RR:4.12 (1.88-9.01)]. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed bilateral diastolic notches in the uterine arteries as the only significant factor for prediction of preterm delivery with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 0.27; 0.97; 0.67 and 0.84 respectively.
Management Control Systems in Small Business Transfers — A Resource-Based View

This study investigates whether post-business transfer MCS development (PBTMCSD) is associated with post-business transfer success (PBTS) in small firms. The data for the study was collected in January 2012 as a web-based survey. The target group consisted of acquirers (both external buyers and family business successors) who had implemented a business transfer during 2006–2011 in Finland. A total of 178 questionnaires were sent out, and 67 responses were received. Regression analysis is used to investigate the relationship between PBTMCSD and PBTS. We utilize both resource-based view (RBV) and contingency theory. The results indicate that PBTMCSD has a positive and significant relation with PBTS. Our findings highlight the importance of PBTMCSD even in small companies in the context of business transfer. However, the relationship between PBTMCSD and PBTS performance was stronger for firms with five or more employees as well as firms with previous experience of business transfers.
Research in animal reproduction: Quo vadimus?

Population growth and trends in food consumption are expected to result in a net food deficit and widespread loss of food security across the globe within four decades. It is generally accepted that this crisis will have to be met by increased livestock production, using less land, less water and in an environmentally sustainable fashion. As animal reproduction and reproductive efficiency are the basis of livestock production, it is essential that technological advances be made to increase the animal-based food supply. Improvements are required in artificial insemination procedures, in embryo transfer and in transgenic animal production. Technology is evolving such that it may soon be possible to rapidly sequence genomes and transcriptomes to hasten genetic improvements, to produce gametes from stem cells, and to increase success rates in livestock transgenesis. The principal constraints at this time are on research funding and on the paucity of scientists with multidisciplinary skills. Given its livestock population, its biodiversity, and its burgeoning scientific expertise, Brazil is expected to be a major contributor to the resolution of food security problems in coming years.
Biomechanical features and the three-dimensional modelling of the bone stimulated by micro-ct -xray and by the finite element method

Biomechanics is a multidisciplinary field focused on the analysis of biological materials, i.e., cellular or tissue fragments. In general, little is known about the mechanics of the processes acting upon biological materials, since it should be noted that chemical, mechanical, remodelling and adhesional interactions exist at vivid tissues cellular level. In order to monitor, with the help of ultrasounds, the biomechanical behaviour of the 45-day-deposited callus after tibial ostectomy (oste(o)<New Latin from Greek osteon, bone + -ectomy < New Latin ectomia, to cut out) as compared with a normal bone, an algorithm was put forward to determine the biomechanical features of the bone in question. This algorithm is based on the method of the finite element. The bony model could be submitted to compression and shearing with the help of the VCAT programme packages, demonstrating the recovery of the bony tissue under the influence of ultrasounds in a percentage of 90% after 45 days since the ostectomy.
Reverse Transcriptase PCR detection of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) in cultured and wild shellfish from the Peninsular of Malaysia

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Outbreaks of hepatitis A have been linked to the consumption of both raw and cooked shellfish. These outbreaks could induce a public confidence problem over shellfish safety and may result in important economic losses for the seafood industry. The work presented in this study investigated the presence of HAV in shellfish from Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 365 of cultured and wild shellfish from 36 sampling locations located throughout Peninsular Malaysia were examined using a commercial nucleic acid extraction and reverse transcription -polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit. HAV was not detected in almost all of the shellfish samples examined. Only one cockle sample from Changkat, Seberang Perai was positive for HAV. The results suggest the absence of HAV or very low amount of HAV viral particles in most of the shellfish examined.
Securing Low Power DES Crypto-Chip against PA-FI Side Channel Attack

It has shown that balanced QDI asynchronous circuits possess considerable inherent countermeasure against side channel attacks. Due to the hardware redundancy of previous balanced-gate designs, there are many faults making a balanced-gate imbalanced without causing logical errors. This vulnerability increases the possibility of new attack based on the combination of fault and power attacks. In this paper, we present an asynchronous approach to implement a Data Encryption Standard (DSA) crypto-chip which is resistant to DPA-FI attack. Furthermore, by using asynchronous methodology and suggesting a restructuring on the conditional statements at the highlevel description of the DES circuit, results in a huge optimization in power consumption. This implementation shows a 1.8 times energy consumption improvement over the synchronous implementation using the same TSMC 0. 18µm technology
On the "Mysterious" Effectiveness of Mathematics in Science

This paper notes first that the effectiveness of mathematics in science appears to some writers to be "mysterious" or "unreasonable". Then reasons are given for thinking that science is, at root, the search for compression in the world. At more length, several reasons are given for believing that mathematics is, fundamentally, a set of techniques for information compression via the matching and unification of patterns (ICMUP), and their application. From there, it is argued that the effectiveness of mathematics in science is because it provides a means of achieving the compression of information which lies at the heart of science. The anthropic principle provides an explanation for why we find the world -- aspects of it at least -- to be compressible. ICMUP may be seen to be important in both science and mathematics, not only as a means of representing knowledge succinctly, but as a basis for scientific and mathematical inferences -- because of the intimate relation that is known to exist between information compression and concepts of prediction and probability. Since ICMUP is a key part of the "SP theory of intelligence", evidence presented in this paper strengthens the already-strong evidence for the SP theory as a unifying principle across artificial intelligence, mainstream computing, mathematics, human learning, perception, and cognition, and neuroscience. The evidence and ideas in this paper may provide the basis for a "new mathematics for science" with potential benefits and applications in science and science-related areas.
Antileishmanial and Trypanocidal Activities of Extracts and AporphineAlkaloids Isolated from Monodora Genus (Annonaceae)

Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are protozoan diseases caused respectively by the kinetoplastid protozoan Leishmania parasites transmitted by the female phlebotomine sandflies and Trypanosoma parasites transmitted by the tsetse fly. In the search for agents from tropical medicinal plants to treat these two neglected tropical diseases, serially extracted petroleum ether, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the leaves of Monodora crispata and Monodora brevipes, and eleven aporphines alkaloids isolated from the dried powdered leaves of the two plants were evaluated against Leishmania donovani promastigotes and Trypanosoma brucei brucei trypomastigotes. The extracts of both plants and the isolated compounds displayed varied levels of antiprotozoal activities. The oxoaporphine compounds, (+)-anolobine (7) and (+)-listeferine (8), exerted the most significant activity against L. donovani (IC50: 14.59 μM) and T. brucei brucei (LC100: 50.02 μM) respectively. This is the first report on the antiprotozoal activity of the isolated compounds. The results offer potential for further studies of the oxoaporphines for enhanced antiprotozoal activity.