Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Well the Ringgit-Yen Rate Fits the Non-linear Smooth Transition Autoregressive and Linear Autoregressive Models

This study compares the forecasting performance between Smooth Transition Autoregressive (STAR) non-linear model and the conventional linear Autoregressive (AR) time series model using the simple random walk (SRW) model as the standard reference model. To accomplish this objective, quarterly frequency exchange rate data, which is well known for its non-linear adjustment towards purchasing power parity equilibrium path is employed. The empirical results suggest that both the STAR and AR models exceed or match the performance of SRW model based mean absolute forecast error (MAFE) mean absolute percentage forecast error (MAPFE) and mean square forecast error (RMSFE). The results also show that the STAR model outperform the AR model, its linear competitor. This is consistent with the emerging line of research that emphasised the importance of allowing non-linearity in the adjustment of exchange rate toward its long run equilibrium.
Hardware-Efficient Systolization of DA-Based Calculation of Finite Digital Convolution

Novel one- and two-dimensional systolic structures are designed for computation of circular convolution using distributed arithmetic (DA). The proposed structures involve significantly less memory and less area-delay complexity compared with the existing DA-based structures for circular convolution. Besides, it is shown that the proposed systolic designs for circular convolution can be used for computation of linear convolution as well
Proposal of Data Triage Methods for Disaster Information Network System Based on Delay Tolerant Networking

After the East Japan Great Earthquake in 2011, a robust network communication has been one of significant subjects for the study of Disaster Information System. Then, DTN (Delay Tolerant Network) has been focused for the effective methods for such inoperable network circumstances. However, when DTN is applied for the local areas, there are some problems such as message delivery rate and latency because there are fewer roads, cars, and pedestrians than in urban areas. Therefore, we propose the Enhanced Media Coordinate System for DTN to the architecture in order to provide the Data Triage, Node Selection based on its Territory, and Dynamic FEC (Forward Error Correction). In this paper, the proposed Data Triage Methods that provide the data priority by the user policy and the application type is especially explained, and the results of the computational simulation by the GIS map of a Japanese coastal town is reported. Then, the results are discussed for the future studies of DTN for Disaster Information Network System in local areas.
A fast neural-based eye detection system

This paper presents a fast eye detection system which is based on an artificial neural network known as the shunting inhibitory convolutional neural network, or SICoNNet for short. With its two-dimensional network architecture and the use of convolution operators, the eye detection system processes an entire input image and generates the location map of the detected eyes at the output. The network consists of 479 trainable parameters which are adapted by a modified Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm in conjunction with a bootstrap procedure. Tested on 180 real images, with 186 faces, the accuracy of the eye detector reaches 96.8% with only 38 false detections.
Monetary Policy and Multiple Equilibria

In this paper, we characterize conditions under which interest rate feedback rules whereby the nominal interest rate is set as an increasing function of the inflation rate generate multiple equilibria. We show that these conditions depend not only on the fiscal regime (as emphasized in the fiscal theory of the price level) but also on the way in which money is assumed to enter preferences and technology. We analyze this issue in flexible and sticky price environments. We provide a number of examples in which, contrary to what is commonly believed, active monetary policy in combination with a fiscal policy that preserves government solvency gives rise to multiple equilibria and passive monetary policy renders the equilibrium unique.
The impact of mass media uses and gratifications on voters: case of Egypt 2012 presidential elections

I would like to express my thanks to my supervisors Dr. Ibrahim Hegazy and Professor Galal Zaki. I am grateful to their efforts throughout the preparation of this Thesis. While working under their supervision, I gained a lot from their professional and academic experience which was a significant addition to this study. I would like to thank them for their constant encouragement. A special thanks to Dr. Ibrahim Hegazy. Throughout the past two years, he gave me the opportunity to work with him as a Teacher Assistant. I learnt how to be devoted to my work and how to love what I do. His academic provision and professional experience guided me to finalize my Thesis. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Mervat Abu Auf, Chairperson of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department. Her acceptance to study this Thesis under the supervision of both departments, the Mass Communication and Journalism Department and the Business Department, had enriched this academic Thesis.
Comprehensive Design Space Exploration of Silicon Photonic Interconnects

The paper presents a comprehensive physical layer design and modeling platform for silicon photonic interconnects. The platform is based on explicit closed-form expressions for optical power penalties, derived for both signal-dependent and signal-independent noise contexts. Our models agree well with reported experimental measurements. We show how the modeling approach is used for the design space exploration of silicon photonic links and can be leveraged to optimize the wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) capacity, evaluate the scalability, and study the sensitivity of the system to key device parameters. We apply the methodology to the design of microring-based silicon photonic links, including an evaluation of the impairments associated with cascaded ring modulators, as well as the spectral distortion and crosstalk effects of demultiplexer ring arrays for nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) ON-OFF keying (OOK) modulated WDM signals. We show that the total capacity of a chip-to-chip microring-based WDM silicon photonic link designed with recently reported interconnect device parameters can approach 2 Tb/s realized with NRZ-OOK data modulation and 45 wavelengths each modulated at 45 Gb/s.
Cultural Adaptation of the Portuguese Version of the “Sniffin’ Sticks” Smell Test: Reliability, Validity, and Normative Data

The cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Sniffin`Sticks test for the Portuguese population is described. Over 270 people participated in four experiments. In Experiment 1, 67 participants rated the familiarity of presented odors and seven descriptors of the original test were adapted to a Portuguese context. In Experiment 2, the Portuguese version of Sniffin`Sticks test was administered to 203 healthy participants. Older age, male gender and active smoking status were confirmed as confounding factors. The third experiment showed the validity of the Portuguese version of Sniffin`Sticks test in discriminating healthy controls from patients with olfactory dysfunction. In Experiment 4, the test-retest reliability for both the composite score (r71 = 0.86) and the identification test (r71 = 0.62) was established (p<0.001). Normative data for the Portuguese version of Sniffin`Sticks test is provided, showing good validity and reliability and effectively distinguishing patients from healthy controls with high sensitivity and specificity. The Portuguese version of Sniffin`Sticks test identification test is a clinically suitable screening tool in routine outpatient Portuguese settings.
Pursuing Informative Projection on Grassmann Manifold

Inspired by the underlying relationship between classification capability and the mutual information, in this paper, we first establish a quantitative model to describe the information transmission process from feature extraction to final classification and identify the critical channel in this propagation path, and then propose a Maximum Effective Information Criteria for pursuing the optimal subspace in the sense of preserving maximum information that can be conveyed to final decision. Considering the orthogonality and rotation invariance properties of the solution space, we present a Conjugate Gradient method constrained on a Grassmann manifold to exploit the geometric traits of the solution space for enhancing the efficiency of optimization. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate that the framework integrating the Maximum Effective Information Criteria and Grassmann manifold-based optimization method significantly improves the classification performance.
On the Evaluation of Adaptive Machine Translation for Human Post-Editing

We investigate adaptive machine translation (MT) as a way to reduce human workload and enhance user experience when professional translators operate in real-life conditions. A crucial aspect in our analysis is how to ensure a reliable assessment of MT technologies aimed to support human post-editing. We pay particular attention to two evaluation aspects: i) the design of a sound experimental protocol to reduce the risk of collecting biased measurements, and ii) the use of robust statistical testing methods (linear mixed-effects models) to reduce the risk of under/over-estimating the observed variations. Our adaptive MT technology is integrated in a web-based full-fledged computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool. We report on a post-editing field test that involved 16 professional translators working on two translation directions (English-Italian and English-French), with texts coming from two linguistic domains (legal, information technology). Our contrastive experiments compare user post-editing effort with static vs. adaptive MT in an end-to-end scenario where the system is evaluated as a whole. Our results evidence that adaptive MT leads to an overall reduction in post-editing effort (HTER) up to 10.6% (p <; 0.05). A follow-up manual evaluation of the MT outputs and their corresponding post-edits confirms that the gain in HTER corresponds to higher quality of the adaptive MT system and does not come at the expense of the final human translation quality. Indeed, adaptive MT shows to return better suggestions than static MT (p <; 0.01), and the resulting post-edits do not significantly differ in the two conditions.
INITIATIVE-DEPENDENT FEATURES OF HUMAN-COMPUTER DIALOGS IN A TASK-ASSISTANCE DOMAIN

This paper presents information about the dialog structure of actual human-computer dialog obtained from the analysis of 141 dialogs collected during experimental interaction with a variable initiative spoken natural language dialog system organized around the paradigm of the Missing Axiom Theory for language use. The reported results indicate there are diierences in user behavior and dialog structure as a function of the computer's level of initiative. These results provide evidence that a practical spoken natural language dialog system must be capable of varying its level of initiative in order to facilitate eeective interaction with users of varying levels of expertise and experience. It is generally acknowledged that developing a successful computational model of interactive natural language (NL) dialog requires extensive analysis of sample dialogs. Much analysis of human-human interactions has been done. Important recent work includes Walker and Whittaker, 1990 on mixed initiative in dialog, and Oviatt and Cohen, 1991 on the comparison of interactive and non-interactive spoken modalities. However , there are limitations to this analysis. As noted by Fraser and Gilbert, 1991, \Although it is certainly better to rely on analyses of human-human interactions than to rely on intuitions alone, the fact remains that human-human interactions are not the same as human-computer interactions and it would be surprising if they followed precisely the same rules. " Further support for the study of actual human-computer dialog is provided in Oviatt and Cohen, 1991: \. to model discourse accurately for interactive systems further research clearly will be needed on the extent to which human-computer speech diiers from that between humans. At present, there is no well developed model of human-machine communication . " The dilemma of researchers is nicely summarized by Fraser and Gilbert, \The designer is caught in a vicious circle|it is necessary to know the characteristics of dialogues between people and automata in order to be able to build the system, but it is impossible to know what such dialogues would be like until such a system has been built. " Fortunately, at least one system, The Circuit Fix-It Shop, has been built and tested in 141 dialogs totaling 2840 user utterances Smith and Hipp, 1994. This system was constructed to test the eeectiveness of a speciic theory for providing an integrated model of dialog processing, the Missing Axiom Theory. This paper rst overviews how the theory facilitates integrated dialog processing and then presents some analytical results on the diierences …
Staged Mucosal Advancement Flap versus Staged Fibrin Sealant in the Treatment of Complex Perianal Fistulas

Background. In this prospective randomised study, the staged mucosal advancement flap is compared with staged fibrin sealant application in the treatment of perianal fistulas. Methods. All patients with high complex cryptoglandular fistulas were randomised to closure of the internal opening by a mucosal advancement flap (MF) or injection with fibrin sealant (FS) after treatment with setons. Recurrence rate and incontinence disorders were explored. Results. The MF group (5 females and 10 males) with a median age of 51 years and a median followup of 52 months. The FS group (4 females and 11 males) with a median age of 45 years and a median followup of 49 months. Three (20%) patients of the MF group had a recurrent fistula compared to 9 (60%) of the FS group (P = 0.03). No new continence disorders developed. Conclusion. Staged FS injection has a much lower success rate compared to MF.
Skills: Onward through the Fog.

The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) was asked to examine the demands of the workplace and determine whether young people are capable of meeting these demands. Six panels were established to examine all manners of jobs from manufacturing to government employment and conduct in-depth interviews with workers in a wide range of jobs. After its investigation, SCANS reported to the Secretary of Labor, and also in an open letter addressed to parents, employers, and educators, that more than half of high school graduates leave school without the knowledge or foundation required to find and hold a good job. Further, SCANS recommended that (1) all American high school students develop a set of competencies and foundation skills; (2) the qualities of high performance that characterize America's most competitive companies must become the standard for all companies, be they large or small, local or global; and (3) the nation's schools be transformed into high-performance organizations in their own right. The report identifies five competencies and a three-part foundation of skills required in the workplace, and includes a description of the methodology and survey instrument used. Contains 13 references. (EMH) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************
Guru sebagai fasilitator dan efektivitas belajar siswa

This paper specifically examines the role of teacher as a facilitator, assumed to be one of the factors influencing the effectiveness of student learning. Data that were collected through survey method using close-ended questionnaires and documents of student learning outcomes of 136 students at one state vocational high school in Bandung as respondents were analyzed with simple regression. The results of data analysis show that the role of teacher as a facilitator had an influence on the effectiveness of student learning. This research is expected to contribute to the field of education research some considerations of the role of teacher as a facilitator as one of the factors influencing the effectiveness of student learning.ABSTRAKTulisan ini mengkaji secara khusus tentang peran guru sebagai fasilitator yang diduga menjadi salah satu variabel yang berpengaruh terhadap efektivitas belajar siswa. Berdasarkan hasil analisis data dengan menggunakan regresi sederhana dimana data yang dikumpulkan melalui metode survey dengan menggunakan angket jawaban tertutup dan nilai hasil belajar siswa sebanyak 136 orang siswa pada salah satu Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Negeri di Kota Bandung sebagai responden. Hasil analisis data tersebut menunjukkan bahwa peran guru sebagai fasilitator mempunyai pengaruh terhadap efektivitas belajar siswa. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat memberikan pengkajian pendidikan untuk dapat mempertimbangkan peran guru sebagai fasilitator sebagai salah satu faktor pengaruh efektivitas belajar siswa.
Sick Women, Sad Girls, and Selfie Theory: Autotheory as Contemporary Feminist Practice

Abstract In autotheory as contemporary feminist practice, artists, writers, philosophers, activists, curators, and critics use the autobiographical, first person, and related practices of self-imaging (Jones, Self/Image 134) to process, perform, enact, iterate, subvert, instantiate, and wrestle with the hegemonic discourses of “theory” and philosophy. The term “autotheory” circulates specifically in relation to third wave and fourth wave feminist texts, such as American writer Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts and American filmmaker and art writer Chris Kraus's I Love Dick even as the act of theorizing from the first person is well-established within the genealogies of feminism; as a post-1960s practice it takes on a particularly conceptual and performative valence. This article serves as a historicization of what we are referring to in the present as “autotheory,” with auto theoretical antecedents having been referred to as “critical memoir,” “theoretical fiction” (Hawkins 263), “life-thinking” (Samatar), and “fiction theory” (Brossard). I turn my attention to “Sick Woman Theory” and “Sad Girl Theory” as twenty-first century examples of auto theoretical feminist practices that span out across social media. I consider how these post-internet practices of making space for sickness and sadness in auto theoretical ways can be understood in relation to the imperatives of intersectionality and the complications of neoliberalism in the present.
Human Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease (APE1) Is Acetylated at DNA Damage Sites in Chromatin, and Acetylation Modulates Its DNA Repair Activity

ABSTRACT Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites, the most frequently formed DNA lesions in the genome, inhibit transcription and block replication. The primary enzyme that repairs AP sites in mammalian cells is the AP endonuclease (APE1), which functions through the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Although the mechanism by which APE1 repairs AP sites in vitro has been extensively investigated, it is largely unknown how APE1 repairs AP sites in cells. Here, we show that APE1 is acetylated (AcAPE1) after binding to the AP sites in chromatin and that AcAPE1 is exclusively present on chromatin throughout the cell cycle. Positive charges of acetylable lysine residues in the N-terminal domain of APE1 are essential for chromatin association. Acetylation-mediated neutralization of the positive charges of the lysine residues in the N-terminal domain of APE1 induces a conformational change; this in turn enhances the AP endonuclease activity of APE1. In the absence of APE1 acetylation, cells accumulated AP sites in the genome and showed higher sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. Thus, mammalian cells, unlike Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Escherichia coli cells, require acetylation of APE1 for the efficient repair of AP sites and base damage in the genome. Our study reveals that APE1 acetylation is an integral part of the BER pathway for maintaining genomic integrity.
Contesting Market-Based Conservation: Payments for Ecosystem Services as a Surface of Engagement for Rural Social Movements in Mexico

The Mexican national Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs, which provide financial incentives for rural landholders to conserve forest, were originally designed under the logic of market-based conservation. Based on a multi-sited, multi-scalar ethnography of Mexico's PES programs, this article examines the process through which a national rural social movement was able to redefine the market-based narrative of PES, the historical and political context that provided this window of opportunity, and the ways in which the movement's engagement led to a hybridization of the policy itself. The involvement of the rural social movement introduced a very different conception of PES – as a recognition by Mexico's federal state and urban society of the value of campesino (peasant) environmental stewardship and the economic support needed to allow these stewards to remain on the land. The direct involvement of movement members in the redesign of the programs had a significant impact on their conformation that reflected this vision of revaluing the rural: the inclusion of agroforests and sustainably managed timber lands; requirements for self-defined forest management plans; provision of dedicated funding for technical assistance; and the training of local extensionists. In mapping the evolution of the Mexican national PES programs we can begin to see how, in this particular place and time, rural social movements employed PES as “useful surfaces of engagement” (Escobar 1999: 13) for contesting the market-based notions of the federal state, international lending institutions and conservation non-governmental organizations. I position this analysis in the context of the global project of “grabbing green” and as an example of the frictions that can inhibit and even partially reverse the logic of the seemingly inexorable rise of market-based conservation policy and projects.
N=2 Supersymmetric U(1) Gauge Theory in Noncommutative Harmonic Superspace

We study N=2 supersymmetric U(1) gauge theory in the noncommutative harmonic superspace with nonanticommutative fermionic coordinates. We examine the gauge transformation which preserves the Wess-Zumino gauge by harmonic expansions of component fields. The gauge transformation is shown to depend on the deformation parameters and the anti-holomorphic scalar field. We compute the action explicitly up to the third order in component fields and discuss the field redefinitions so that the component fields transform canonically.
Method for Determination of Diclofenac in Human Plasma and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study in Turkey

has been developed for determination of diclofenac in human plasma. The method was validated on Ace C18 column using UV detection. The mobile phase consisted of 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7) containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid–acetonitrile (65:35, v/v). Calibration curve was linear between the concentration range of 75–4000 ng/mL. Intraand inter-day precision values for diclofenac in plasma were less than 3.6, and accuracy (relative error) was better than 5.3%. The limits of detection and quantification of diclofenac were 25 and 75 ng/mL, respectively. Also, this assay was applied to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of diclofenac in healthy Turkish volunteers who had been given 50 mg diclofenac.