Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A meta-analysis of the effects of various science teaching strategies on achievement

This study is a meta-analysis of the question “What are the effects on achievement of different teaching techniques? ” Twelve categories of teaching techniques were specified. Among these are questioning, wait-time, testing, focusing, manipulative, presentation approach, inquiry or discovery, audio-visual, and teacher direction. A coding form was then developed to allow for the uniform examination and recording of 76 variables from each study. One or more effect sizes were calculated and coded for each study. Over 300 microfilmed dissertations covering the past 30 years were examined. Some 2000 ERIC science abstracts were reviewed and suitable studies obtained. Finally, journal articles were reviewed. A total of 400 effect sizes representing 160 studies were produced. The main effect size overall was 0.34. Thus, for all samples considered the experimental science teaching techniques on the average resulted in one-third of a standard deviation improvement over traditional techniques. Mean effect sizes also were calculated for each technique. More than 20 other variables such as class size, community type, and science subject area were cross-tabulated with effect size.
Milliarcsecond polarization structure of the superluminal quasar 3C 273

A 2 x 10 marcsec-resolution determination is presented for the total intensity and linear polarization structures of the superluminal quasar 3C 273 at 5 GHz. Substantial polarized flux was detected from several superluminal components of the jet, whose fractional polarization increased symmetrically with distance from the core; the most distant component is highly polarized and exhibits a highly ordered magnetic field. Within a few marcsec of the core, the inferred magnetic field orientation varies rapidly with position along the jet. The primarily longitudinal magnetic field orientation is concluded to become established within 20 marcsec of the core. A highly disorganized magnetic field is the most plausible explanation for the low degree of polarization in the innermost regions of the jet. 48 refs.
Linking Library Use to Student Engagement

Abstract Library deans are expected to demonstrate their library contributes to student success, especially in a time of scarce resources. This article describes one such effort to link student success to students’ use of the library. Student success is, in a large part, the result of student engagement, of which academic and social engagement are two prominent components. For the purposes of empirical research, academic and social engagement are suitable proxies for determining how various university programs and services, including libraries, contribute to student engagement and, thereby to student success. However, in the library and information science literature, very little qualitative research is available about the contribution of library space to student engagement. To fill this gap, a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study, using semi-structured, in-depth interviews, was conducted at a medium-size public university in Southwest Florida to collect and analyze data on student perceptions of the relationship between their academic and social engagement and the way they used academic library spaces. Study participants agreed that using library spaces contributed to their ability to study independently and to interact with their peers on group projects and assignments, depending on the types of spaces available. This study has implications for academic library administrators who must demonstrate the value of library services and resources, including library space, to university administrators who are focused on student retention and success. By using the interview protocol from this study, library administrators will be able to collect valuable data that may be used to persuade university administrators when requesting funding to renovate existing library spaces, to build new library spaces, or to advocate to retain existing spaces.
Practical application of graphene enhanced concrete

Incorporation of graphene nano-particles in concrete can improve mechanical properties and as a result has received growing attention in the research community. Despite the promise revealed in laboratory trials, there remain significant obstacles to widespread adoption of graphene in concrete at a construction level scale. This briefing paper gives an overview of the key outcomes from a recent experimental campaign and accompanying field trials where pioneering use of graphene enhanced concrete (GEC) has been successfully deployed at scale.
Height Estimation Methods for Filling Gaps in Gridded DTM

Digital terrain models (DTMs) describing the relief of the terrain constitute a central component of mapping and geographic information systems, in general, and photogrammetric mapping, in particular. In practice, the limitations of photogrammetric measurement methods for collecting the relief information cause discontinuities and gaps in the database. The possibility of automatically completing and correcting the missing information by calculation, without requiring additional measuring, offers an inexpensive, rapid, and attractive alternative. This paper presents an analysis based on practical experiments of the capabilities and limitations of various methods of filling the gaps in gridded relief databases. Also presented are effects of different relief types and grids of varying densities on the accuracy obtained in automatically filling the gaps in gridded DTM databases. The recommended estimation method is based on a weighted average of one-dimensional (1D) third-order polynomials assembled around the required point in two prime directions. The proposed method is much faster than other common methods such as 2D polynomials or kriging, yet it is just as accurate. This method can therefore be employed in the course of using various applications, in real time, with no need for editing and preliminary changes of the relief data in the database.
The inﬂuence of temperature and composition on the crystal properties of Al 1 − x B x N semiconducting ternary alloys

Structural parameters, energy band gaps, electronic charge density, phonon modes and transport properties of Al 1 − x B x N ternary alloys in the hypothetical zinc-blende structure are investigated using ﬁrst-principles total-energy calculations. The authors’ results show that by adding more B atoms into AlN, the material under focus becomes less compressible, less ionic and its energy band gap still ( (cid:2) -X) indirect for all alloy compositions x of interest exhibiting a bowing parameter of 1.24 eV. The calculated phonon density of states indicates soft modes for B contents in the interval 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 suggesting thus non-dynamical stability of the ground-state phase in this composition range. The temperature dependence of structural and transport properties is examined and discussed. The thermal conductivity of cubic BN at 300 K is recorded as 0.862 kW / m · K showing a very good accord with the experimental values reported in the literature.
The influence of light microclimate on the lipid profile and associated transcripts of photosynthetically active grape berry seeds

Lipids and oils determine the quality and industrial value of grape seeds. Studies with legume seeds demonstrated the influence of light on lipid metabolism and its association with seed photosynthesis. Grape berry seeds are photosynthetically active till mature stage, but mostly during the green stage and veraison. The objective of this work was to compare the lipid profiles of seeds from white grape berries (cv. Alvarinho) growing at two contrasting light microclimates in the canopy (low and high light, LL and HL respectively), previously reported to have distinct photosynthetic competences. Berries were collected at three developmental stages (green, veraison and mature) and from both microclimates, and the seeds were analyzed for their lipid profiles in an untargeted manner using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LCMS). The seed lipid profiles differed greatly among berry developmental stages, and to a lesser extend between microclimates. The LL microclimate coincided with a higher relative levels of fatty acids specifically at mature stage, while the HL microclimate led to an up-regulation of ceramides at green stage and of triacylglycerols and glycerophospholipids at mature stage. The seed transcript levels of four key genes (VvACCase1, VvΔ9FAD, VvFAD6 and VvLOXO) involved in fatty acid metabolism were analyzed using real-time qPCR. The lipoxygenase gene (VvLOXO) was down- and up-regulated by HL, as compared to LL, in seeds at green and veraison stages, respectively. These results suggest that seed photosynthesis may play distinct roles during seed growth and development, possibly by fueling different lipid pathways: at green stage mainly towards the accumulation of membrane-bound lipid species that are essential for cell growth and maintenance of the photosynthetic machinery itself; and at veraison and mature stages mainly towards storage lipids that contribute to the final quality of the grape seeds.
Preservation of thalamic neuronal function may be a prerequisite for pain perception in diabetic neuropathy: A magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Introduction In this study, we used proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to determine the neuronal function in the thalamus and primary somatosensory (S1) cortex in different subgroups of DPN, including subclinical- and painful-DPN. Method One-hundred and ten people with type 1 diabetes [20 without DPN (no-DPN); 30 with subclinical-DPN; 30 with painful-DPN; and 30 with painless-DPN] and 20 healthy volunteers, all of whom were right-handed men, were recruited and underwent detailed clinical and neurophysiological assessments. Participants underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 1.5 Tesla with two 1H-MRS spectra obtained from 8 ml cubic volume voxels: one placed within left thalamus to encompass the ventro-posterior lateral sub-nucleus and another within the S1 cortex. Results In the thalamus, participants with painless-DPN had a significantly lower NAA:Cr ratio [1.55 + 0.22 (mean ± SD)] compared to all other groups [HV (1.80 ± 0.23), no-DPN (1.85 ± 0.20), sub-clinical DPN (1.79 ± 0.23), painful-DPN (1.75 ± 0.19), ANOVA p < 0.001]. There were no significant group differences in S1 cortical neurometabolites. Conclusion In this largest cerebral MRS study in DPN, thalamic neuronal dysfunction was found in advanced painless-DPN with preservation of function in subclinical- and painful-DPN. Furthermore, there was a preservation of neuronal function within the S1 cortex in all subgroups of DPN. Therefore, there may be a proximo-distal gradient to central nervous system alterations in painless-DPN, with thalamic neuronal dysfunction occurring only in established DPN. Moreover, these results further highlight the manifestation of cerebral alterations between painful- and painless-DPN whereby preservation of thalamic function may be a prerequisite for neuropathic pain in DPN.
Asprosin in health and disease, a new glucose sensor with central and peripheral metabolic effects

Adipose tissue malfunction leads to altered adipokine secretion which might consequently contribute to an array of metabolic diseases spectrum including obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disorders. Asprosin is a novel diabetogenic adipokine classified as a caudamin hormone protein. This adipokine is released from white adipose tissue during fasting and elicits glucogenic and orexigenic effects. Although white adipose tissue is the dominant source for this multitask adipokine, other tissues also may produce asprosin such as salivary glands, pancreatic B-cells, and cartilage. Significantly, plasma asprosin levels link to glucose metabolism, lipid profile, insulin resistance (IR), and β-cell function. Indeed, asprosin exhibits a potent role in the metabolic process, induces hepatic glucose production, and influences appetite behavior. Clinical and preclinical research showed dysregulated levels of circulating asprosin in several metabolic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD), and several types of cancer. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the asprosin role in the etiology and pathophysiological manifestations of these conditions. Asprosin could be a promising candidate for both novel pharmacological treatment strategies and diagnostic tools, although developing a better understanding of its function and signaling pathways is still needed.
How do word valence and classes influence lexical processing? Evidence from virtual reality emotional contexts

The current study examines the influence of word class (i.e., noun vs. adjective) and valence (i.e., positive vs. negative vs. neutral) on the processing of emotional words under different virtual reality (VR) emotional contexts. To this end, 115 participants performed a modified affect labeling task after experiencing different VR scenarios. Their galvanic skin responses were also examined to further gauge the different effects of VR contexts. The results demonstrated significant main effect for word valence, indicating more processing of positive words relative to neutral words which are processed more than negative words. The results also demonstrated significant main effect for word class, indicating more processing of nouns in contrast to adjectives. Additionally, the results indicated that both positive and negative VR contexts could stimulate participants to select more positive words though negatively valenced words were processed more under negative VR context relative to positive VR context. However, the amplitude of galvanic skin responses in positive VR was lower than that in negative VR. The results were interpreted in line with the situation-consistency effects, the mood-consistency effects, the specific nature of VR context, and the different features of different word classes in terms of concreteness, imageability, arousal, and valence.
Impact of body composition analysis on male sexual function: A metabolic age study

Introduction Metabolic Age (MetAge) and body composition analysis may reflect an individual’s metabolic status, which is believed to influence male sexual and gonadal functions. Although erectile dysfunction (ED) and hypogonadism are increasingly prevalent with age, they are also detected among younger men. This study aims to assess the impact of MetAge and body composition on male sexual and gonadal status overall, and particularly in men younger than 40 years of age. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 90 male healthcare workers, between the ages of 18-55, randomly selected based on their corporation numbers. In addition to Bioelectric Impedance Analysis, subjects were requested to fill the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-5) and to provide an early morning serum testosterone (T) sample. Results The mean participants’ age was 39.4 ± 9.4 years, MetAge was 45.54 ± 10.35 years, serum T level was 13.68 ± 4.49 nmol/L and BMI was 28.8 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Significant negative correlations were obtained between serum T, MetAge, body weight and fat composition. Significant negative correlations between the IIEF-5 score, MetAge, and fat composition, were only reported in subjects <40 years of age. Significantly lower T levels (p=0.002), significantly older MetAge (p=0.034), and higher BMI (p=0.044) and degree of obesity (p=0.042) were observed in participants <40 years with erectile dysfunction (ED) compared to their counterparts without ED. Discussion MetAge and body composition parameters significantly impact the androgenic state. ED in men <40 years is associated with lower T levels, older MetAge and higher BMI and degree of obesity.
The Chinese automobile industry’s research and development capability and innovative performance

The Report of China’s Automobile Industry Development 2016 points out that China’s automobile industry faces increasingly fierce competition from global peers, and domestic automobile manufacturers shall continuously improve independent innovation and industry innovative performance. Automobile manufacturers’ participation in distributed innovation and their research & development (R&D) capability play a key role in the growth of innovative performances of China’s automobile industry. With development of China’s automobile industry as the background, this study presents a theoretical framework of correlation of distributed innovation embedment, R&D capability and innovative performances of China’s automobile industry from the microscopic perspective of single industry. Several hypotheses were proposed and then verified by empirical method. Specifically, 117 effective questionnaires were collected through non-probability sampling and analyzed quantitatively, followed by hypothesis test. The results clarify the working principles of the three dimensions of distributed innovation embedment influencing innovative performances of China’s automobile industry and improvement of R&D capability of enterprises by distributed innovation. This study provides references to improvements of innovative performances of China’s automobile industry.
Hydrothermal formation of fibrous mineral structures: The role on strength and mode of failure

Studying the mechanisms that control the rheology of rocks and geomaterials is crucial as much for predicting geological processes as for functionalizing geomaterials. That requires the understanding of how structural arrangements at the micro and nano scale control the physical and mechanical properties at the macroscopic scale. This is an area of rock physics still in its infancy. In this paper, we focus the attention on the formation of cementitious phases made of micro- and nano-scale fibrous structures, and the controls of the arrangement of these phases on mechanical properties. We use hydrothermal synthesis, and the properties of hydrothermal water, to promote the growth of fibrous mineral phases having nano-size diameter and length of a few microns, creating disordered and entangled mats of fibrous bundles as those found in natural samples. We draw inferences from structural microscopy to inform a statistical model that establishes an interdependence between structural parameters of fibrous structures and bulk mechanical response. Structural parameters include number and length of fibers, spatial orientation, and fraction of fibrous threads bearing the load. Mechanical properties include strength and mode of failure. Results show that as the fibrous microstructure evolves from ordered and aligned to disordered and entangled, the mechanical response of the fibrous composite transitions from a brittle to ductile behavior. Furthermore, the disordered and entangled microstructure exhibits lower strength at failure though strength increases as the number of fibers within the microstructure increases. Finally, the longer the entangled fiber, the larger the strain that the matrix can accommodate. The value of this study lies in further understanding fault healing through hydrothermal fluids and how the physical properties of fibrous microstructures resulting from it control brittle-ductile transitions, and possibly, slow slip events along subduction zones.
Sociocultural–psychological predictors influencing parents' decision-making regarding HPV vaccination for their adolescent daughters in mainland China: An extended TPB model

Introduction Enhancing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake rates to protect women's health is an important public health issue worldwide. China has taken a series of measures in recent years to promote HPV vaccination among school-aged girls, but the vaccine uptake rate remains low. Investigating the factors influencing vaccination-related decision-making of adolescent girls' parents is key to solving the problem. This study aimed to examine the influence of sociocultural-psychological predictors, including exposure to HPV-related stories (positive/negative), affective reactions (pride/regret), injunctive norms on the Internet and perceived moral obligation, on parents' HPV vaccination-related decision-making for girls aged 13–15 years in mainland China. Methods A cross-sectional online survey using quota sampling was conducted in February 2022. Four hundred and five valid and qualified questionnaires were obtained. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was performed by SmartPLS 3 (i) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measurement models of 11 constructs, and (ii) to test the effect relationships of the sociocultural–psychological predictors on parents' intention to vaccinate their daughters. Results The study findings showed that parental decision-making regarding HPV vaccination was influenced by sociocultural and psychological factors. At the level of individual psychological factors, exposure to positive stories was significantly associated with perceived vaccine effectiveness (β = 0.331, t = 8.448, p < 0.001), which strongly predicted the attitude toward vaccination (β = 0.521, t = 8.133, p < 0.001); anticipated pride had more positive influence on vaccination-related decision-making (β = 0.156, t = 2.176, p < 0.05) than anticipated regret. In terms of social influence, injunctive norms on the Internet had a significantly positive influence on vaccination intention (β = 0.127, t = 2.382, p < 0.05), similar to descriptive norms (β = 0.135, t = 3.358, p < 0.01). Perceived moral obligation at the cultural level was the strongest predictor of parental decision-making regarding HPV vaccination (β = 0.193, t = 2.139, p < 0.05). Discussion This study is the first in mainland China to systematically examine the sociocultural-psychological predictors of parents' decision-making to vaccinate their 13–15-year-old daughters against HPV. A new extended TPB model with a sociocultural-psychological approach was developed. This model can support the investigation of factors affecting HPV vaccine uptake rates in the mainland Chinese population and similar populations and help to understand the differences in vaccination-related decision-making between Eastern and Western cultures. Furthermore, the study provided some suggestions for HPV vaccination communication campaigns targeting adolescent girls' parents.