Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Pragmatic Bases of the ‘Variation’ between –A and –Zero in the Accusative in Contemporary Ukrainian

The present study raises the problem of Accusative case marking for masculine inanimate nouns in contemporary Ukrainian. Constructions of the type napysaty lyst-Ř and napysaty lyst-a ‘to write a letter’, with the unmarked zero ending in the former and the marked -a ending in the latter, constitute the focus of the investigation. The assumption, common in Ukrainian scholarship that the two variants exist in the language as ‘optional’, ‘synonymous’, parallel, or as ‘stylistic variants’ is challenged. The major objective is to provide a systematic synchronic description and analysis of each case marking under investigation and to demonstrate that each construction is not a sole variant of another, and has its own domain of function and usage, as well as to show that the existence and functioning of these constructions depends on internal language mechanisms. The analysis considers Transitivity, pragmatic and discourse variables and their ties with case marking in Ukrainian. A multi dimensional model, the Prototypical Discourse Situation Model, is proposed. This model is based on the premises of Hopper and Thompson’s Transitivity Hypothesis (1980), Yokoyama’s Transactional Discourse Model (1986), and Zaitseva’s Theory of Utterance (1994, 1995). The model proves to be crucial in providing answers to questions as to the choice and function of the constructions under investigation. The Transitivity domain of the model strongly supports the power of Hopper and Thompson’s (1980) Transitivity Hypothesis, extending the hypothesis beyond the direct object properties with respect to the overt morphosyntactic manifestation of the level of utterance Transitivity. The components of Transitivity relevant for the accusative marking are: object Individuation and affectedness, punctuality, volitionality, and the number of arguments. Pragmatic and discourse domains are brought into the analysis in order to resolve such questions as why two paired case markings are not interchangeable in the same context, what precludes their free variation, and how the choice of a particular construction codes a particular message conveyed by the speaker in a given discourse situation. The pragmatic domain of the model incorporates the notions of the Prototypical Discourse Situation, the speaker’s conceptualization of an event with respect to the hearer’s knowledge, and the status of the speaker’s and the hearer’s shared knowledge. The discourse dimension encompasses the study of text/discourse structure, and notions of discourse topic and discourse saliency. The proposed model proves to be essential not only in explaining choices, but also in portraying patterns in which specifi c case marking occurs. The study argues that to capture the generalizations underlying the ‘doublet’ phenomena, the grammar of Ukrainian must recognize that not every set of variants in the language may be referred to as a grammatical or stylistic doublet.
Dissolvable Polymeric Microneedles for Insulin Delivery.

DISANTO, ROCCO. Dissolvable Polymeric Microneedles for Insulin Delivery. (Under the direction of Dr. Zhen Gu). Introduction: Microneedles are needles that are typically less than one millimeter in length. Arrays of microneedles are small enough to be inserted into the body painlessly because they are only capable of penetrating the superficial dermal layers of the skin; thus leaving the underlying nerve cells unstimulated and undamaged. The reported microneedles are made of polymers which dissolve in situ; and as the polymers dissolve, they release their encapsulated drug payloads into cells or surrounding interstitial fluid. Microneedles represent an attractive alternative to hypodermic needles for many types of drug administration, as their use is painless and eliminates dangerous needle waste. People with diabetes must regularly check their blood sugar levels and periodically inject insulin in order to maintain normoglycemia. The damaging health complications associated with hyperglycemia include blurred vision, fatigue, and cardiac damage. Insulin is generally self-administered via subcutaneous injection, which is a routine and painful chore for diabetics. Objectives: The objective of this research is to develop insulin containing dissolvable polymer microneedles that can replace frequent and painful insulin injections. Methods: Master arrays of microneedles were initially fabricated via an SU-8 photolithography process, and negative molds of these needle arrays were formed by casting the arrays in silicone rubber (PDMS). The negative PDMS molds were subsequently used to form additional arrays of dissolving polymer microneedles by desiccating a solution of hyaluronic acid (HA) and human insulin or glucose-responsive insulin-containing nanoparticles into them. The resulting needles underwent microscopic analysis, and their drug delivery efficacy was assessed via a mouse model. Key findings/conclusions to date: The needle arrays show suitable geometry and mechanical strength for skin insertion. The needles are also capable of releasing their drug cargo in aqueous environments. Current studies have demonstrated that the insulin containing dissolvable polymeric microneedles are capable of reducing blood glucose concentrations of Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mice (C57BL/6J). © Copyright 2014 by Rocco Michael DiSanto All Rights Reserved Dissolvable Polymeric Microneedles for Insulin Delivery by Rocco Michael DiSanto A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Biomedical Engineering Raleigh, North Carolina 2014
Empirical study on influence mechanism of employeesÃ¢ÂÂ creative behave in microblogging marketing

Microblogging has become an important online marketing tool for companies. The marketing performance in microblogging platform depends greatly on the employees’ creative behave. In this paper, we aim to explore the influence factors of employees’ creative behave in microblogging marketing. Considering the social cognition and motivation theory, we propose a theoretical model to verify the influence mechanism of employees’ creative behave by introducing two intermediary variables such as creative self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. Structural equation model is employed to test the theoretical hypotheses by using the data from sample survey. The empirical results indicate that team support not only directly affects employees’ creative behavior, but also indirectly affect employees’ creative behavior via creative self-efficacy and the intrinsic motivation, task complexity indirectly affect employees’ creative behavior via creative self-efficacy. Meanwhile, creative self-efficacy also directly affects intrinsic motivation. The research conclusion reveals the internal mechanism of improving the employees’ creativity, and has theoretical guidance and practical significance for promoting the microblogging marketing performance.
Linking fluvial bed sediment transport across scales

We present a new random walk model for bed load sediment transport that explains the scale‐dependency generally observed in transport rates and captures the transient anomalous dispersion often seen in rivers. Particles alternate between mobile and resting phases, with a tempered stable probability distribution for both particle step length and resting time. Tempered fractional mobile‐immobile differential equations model the ensemble average of particle dynamics. The model is tested against data from three sediment dispersion experiments. Using tempering in both space and time, the new model is able to capture the full range of observed ensemble particle dynamics. The random walk model illuminates the physical meaning of all transport parameters in the mobile‐immobile equations and explains transitions between observed super‐diffusive, sub‐diffusive, and regular diffusive ensemble particle dynamics. By explicitly predicting the effects of spatial and temporal averaging on particle dynamics, this method can be used to link observations of fluvial sediment dynamics across scales. This approach is also generally applicable to a wide variety of geophysical and ecological dynamics, such as ecological dispersal, pathogen transmission in rivers, nutrient export from watersheds, and large‐scale geomorphodynamics associated with infrequent phenomena such as avalanches and turbidity currents.
Variation in the Bout Structure of Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottus) Singing

The highly variable singing of the northern mockingbird ( Mimus polyglottus) is distinguishable from that of other sympatric mimids by its organization into bouts: the bird’s tendency to repeat an element several times before proceeding to another. To determine the degree to which this bout structure is a common feature of mockingbird song, 10 samples of singing from widely different populations and circumstances were examined including examples from coastal and central New England, central North Carolina, and the Florida peninsula and examples of day and night and spring and summer song. Measures included note parameters (peak frequency, internote interval, and note duration) and bout parameters (songs per bout and mean values of note parameters). All samples were found to be organized in bouts, but the degree of differentiation of the bouts (i.e., the degree to which the boundaries between bouts were emphasized by the contrast between their songs) varied both within and between samples. Bout differentiation was not maximized: songs of bouts sung in close temporal proximity were more similar than average, and the performance overall seemed to consist of runs of high and low values of note and/or bout parameters. Whether these variations in the bout structure reflect changes in the state of the singer or in his circumstances or serve to enhance the overall effectiveness of his performance remains to be determined. Mimidae Mockingbird Communication Song variation Song structure
Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the world's coral reefs

Sea temperatures in many tropical regions have increased by almost 1 degrees C over the past 100 years, and are currently increasing at similar to 1-2 degrees C per century. Coral bleaching occurs when the thermal tolerance of corals and their photosynthetic symbionts (zooxanthellae) is exceeded. Mass coral bleaching has occurred in association with episodes of elevated sea temperatures over the past 20 years and involves the loss of the zooxanthellae following chronic photoinhibition. Mass bleaching has resulted in significant losses of live coral in many parts of the world. This paper considers the biochemical, physiological and ecological perspectives of coral bleaching. It also uses the outputs of four runs from three models of global climate change which simulate changes in sea temperature and hence how the frequency and intensity of bleaching events will change over the next 100 years. The results suggest that the thermal tolerances of reef-building corals are likely to be exceeded every year within the next few decades. Events as severe as the 1998 event, the worst on record, are likely to become commonplace within 20 years. Most information suggests that the capacity for acclimation by corals has already been exceeded, and that adaptation will be too slow to avert a decline in the quality of the world's reefs. The rapidity of the changes that are predicted indicates a major problem for tropical marine ecosystems and suggests that unrestrained warming cannot occur without the loss and degradation of coral reefs on a global scale.
Technological entrepreneurship applied to Green Spaces and Ecotourism

Purpose: This study aims to present a development project using technological tools that promote guided visits to green spaces, expanding users’ knowledge over different dimensions, from botanical to cultural. These tools mainly promote interaction and may have an impact in ecotourism. Design/methodology/approach : In order to develop this project there were designed the technologic tools contents, selected places able to provide those contents, performed market studies with inquiries for potential users and clients and conducted a product development analysis. Findings : In the development of the project there have been established many conclusions, mainly related to distinguishing clients from users, assessing general care for greens spaces and creating appealing tools containing features that interest people. Originality/value : The most valued distinctive characteristic is exactly the ambition of designing tools that interact with the users. In this way, these technologies go beyond the compiling of data for scientific knowledge, creating interactivity through their features such as routings. Keywords : plants; biodiversity; environment; ecotourism; sustainability; entrepreneurship.
Associations between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms andAcademic Self Concept

debilitating condition that affects approximately 2.5% of the adult population at some point in their lifetimes (American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2000). Characteristic features of OCD include anxiety-producing intrusive thoughts and repetitive anxiety-reducing rituals. The thoughts and rituals involved with OCD can span a wide array including irrational fears of germs accompanied by excessive-hand washing, overly critical moral judgment followed by excessive confession, and extreme doubting associated with constant checking (Valente, 2002). The diagnostic criteria for OCD include having both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are recurrent, inappropriate, persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that cause an extreme increase in anxiety. Compulsions are repetitive mental acts or overt behaviors that one performs to reduce the anxiety initially caused by the obsession (DSM–IV–TR [2000] text version). Compulsions serve to reduce the anxiety temporarily, but then catch the victim in a continual, vicious cycle that may interfere with daily functioning. Much of the research performed on the symptoms of OCD has consistently demonstrated that they can be divided into four or five different categories and has suggested that the symptoms of OCD may exist on a continuum of severity. For example, a study examining the relationship between obsessive beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms categorized symptoms into the following groups: contamination/washing, harm obsessions/checking, hoarding, symmetry, and ordering/unacceptable thoughts (Tolin, Woods, & Abramowitz, 2003). Mathews, Jang, Hami, and Stein (2004) examined the structure of obsessive symptoms in a nonclinical population. Four symptom clusters emerged including concerns about contamination (contamination factor); repeating behaviors or uncomfortable thoughts and doubts (doubts/repeating factor); checking behaviors, excessive attention to detail, honesty concerns, strict conscience, and strict routine (checking/detail factor); and taking a long time to MATTHEW BRENT FINDLEY
Multivariate characterisation of Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili cattle using the morphological traits.

Fourteen different morphological traits in 169 and 131 cattle of Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili, respectively were recorded and analyzed using a multivariate approach. The characters measured included heart girth, wither height, rump height, rump length, rump width, chest depth, body length, neck length, cannon circumference, ear length, ear width, head length, horn length and tail length. Breed significantly influenced all the traits investigated. Correlation coefficients among the body measurements ranged from 0.12 to 0.85 in Oulmes-Zaer and from -0.14 to 0.81 in Tidili cattle. In the varimax rotated principal component factor analysis, three factors were extracted, which explained about 65.1% and 55.4% of the total variation in Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili cattle, respectively. The communality ranged from 0.28 (horn length) to 0.82 (heart girth) in Oulmes-Zaer cattle and from 0.25 (horn length) to 0.79 (rump height) in Tidili cattle. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed that 9 out of 14 body measurements were found to have a potential discriminatory power. The canonical discriminant analysis showed that the squared Mahalanobis distance between breed means was significant, indicating that significant differences exist between Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili breeds. The raw canonical coefficients for the first canonical variable provided the greatest difference between the breed means (1.498 vs. -1.933). The second canonical variable did not provide any difference between means. The discriminant analysis showed that 98.2% and 100% of Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili animals, respectively were correctly classified. It was concluded that clear morphological differences existed between Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili cattle indicating that there were two distinct populations.
Estimates of Genetic Parameters and Genetic Trends for Production Traits of Inner Mongolian White Cashmere Goat

Two different animal models, which differ in whether or not taking maternal genetic effect into account, for estimating genetic parameters of cashmere weight, live body weight, cashmere thickness, staple length, fiber diameter, and fiber length in Inner Mongolia White Cashmere Goat were compared via likelihood ratio test. The results indicate that maternal genetic effect has significant influence on live body weight and cashmere thickness, but no significant influence on the other traits. Using models suitable for each trait, both genetic parameters and trends were analyzed with the MTDFREML program. Heritability estimates from single trait models for cashmere weight, live body weight, cashmere thickness, staple length, fiber diameter and fiber length were found to be 0.30, 0.07, 0.21, 0.29, 0.28 and 0.21, respectively. Genetic correlation estimates from two-trait models between live body weight and all other traits (-0.06~0.07) was negligible, as were those between fiber diameter and all other traits (-0.01~0.03) except cashmere thickness (0.19). Cashmere weight and staple length had moderate to low genetic correlations with other traits (-0.24~0.39 and -0.24~0.34, respectively) except for live body weight and fiber diameter. Cashmere thickness had a strong genetic correlation with fiber length (0.81), and low genetic correlation with other traits (0.19~0.34) except live body weight. Genetic trend analysis suggests that selection for cashmere weight was very effective, which has led to the slow genetic progress of cashmere thickness and fiber length due to their genetic correlations with cashmere weight. The selection for live body weight was not effective, which was consistent with its low inheritability.
Guiding neutral particles endowed with a magnetic moment by an electromagnetic wave carrying orbital angular momentum: Quantum mechanics

The quantum mechanical states of the neutral particle endowed with a magnetic moment in the combination of electromagnetic vortex field together with the constant magnetic field are dealt with. It is shown that this system of fields is capable to capture the particle in the perpendicular direction and guide it along the propagating wave. The quantum evolution is subject to tunneling processes, which can destroy the delicate trapping mechanism. The probability of these processes show that it should be in principle possible to catch and guide the particle for the time of several microseconds. This time can be lengthened by the appropriate adjustments of the external magnetic field.
Bacterial Leakage Assessment for Different Types of Resin-Based Dental Restorations Applied Using Various Placement Methods

Introduction: Although composite resins have improved greatly since their introduction, microleakage is one of the most frequently encountered problems. This study compared the effects of different monomer systems and layering techniques on the bacterial leakage of Cl I composite resin restorations. Methods: Eighty-two sound human third molars were used. The teeth were randomly divided into six groups of 12 teeth each and two positive and negative control groups of five teeth. Class I cavities, measuring 4×4×2 mm, were prepared. The first three groups were filled with a silorane-based composite (Filtek P90) using three different methods of filling (bulk, incremental and snowplow) and the remaining three groups were filled with a methacrylate-based composite (Clearfil AP-X) using the same techniques. The specimens were stored for 24 hours at 37°C and then thermocycled up to 1000 cycles. The bacterial leakage of the specimens was assessed in a microbiological laboratory and statistical analyses of data were performed by Fisher’s exact and chi-squared tests (P 0.05). Conclusion: Leakage occurred similarly in both silorane- and methacrylate-based composite resins and three filling techniques.
"Ménage à trois" in a globalizing world: bargaining between firms, low-skilled and high-skilled workers

This paper extends the assessment of the impact of globalization on the bargaining power of employees by taking worker heterogeneity into account. In contrast with previous studies, two separate unions - representing low-skilled and high-skilled workers respectively - are considered. Using Belgian firm-level data, labour bargaining power and relative wage preference have been estimated by skill level. Subsequently regressing these estimates on a set of potential determinants, the bargaining power of low-skilled workers appears to fall with imports and offshoring, whereas the bargaining power of high-skilled workers remains unaffected. In addition, a significant effect of globalization is found on the relative preference of unions for wages over employment, indicating that the effect of globalization on the behaviour of labour unions is more encompassing than frequently assumed. A positive impact of R&D intensity on the bargaining power of low-skilled workers is the only effect related to technological change that is found to be statistically significant.
Chemical Modification and Foam Processing of Polylactide (PLA)

Polylactide (PLA) is known as one of the most promising biopolymers as it is derived from renewable feedstock and can be biodegraded. During the last two decades, it moved more and more into the focus of scientific research and industrial use. It is even considered as a suitable replacement for standard petroleum-based polymers, such as polystyrene (PS), which can be found in a wide range of applications—amongst others in foams for packaging and insulation applications—but cause strong environmental issues. PLA has comparable mechanical properties to PS. However, the lack of melt strength is often referred to as a drawback for most foaming processes. One way to overcome this issue is the incorporation of chemical modifiers which can induce chain extension, branching, or cross-linking. As such, a wide variety of substances were studied in the literature. This work should give an overview of the most commonly used chemical modifiers and their effects on rheological, thermal, and foaming behavior. Therefore, this review article summarizes the research conducted on neat and chemically modified PLA foamed with the conventional foaming methods (i.e., batch foaming, foam extrusion, foam injection molding, and bead foaming).