Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive diagnostic model of best choice: a study of reading comprehension

Abstract The present study compared the performance of six cognitive diagnostic models (CDMs) to explore inter skill relationship in a reading comprehension test. To this end, item responses of about 21,642 test-takers to a high-stakes reading comprehension test were analyzed. The models were compared in terms of model fit at both test and item levels, classification consistency and accuracy, and proportion of skill mastery profiles. The results showed that the G-DINA performed the best and the C-RUM, NC-RUM, and ACDM showed the closest affinity to the G-DINA. In terms of some criteria, the DINA showed comparable performance to the G-DINA. The test-level results were corroborated by the item-level model comparison, where DINA, DINO, and ACDM variously fit some of the items. The results of the study suggested that relationships among the subskills of reading comprehension might be a combination of compensatory and non-compensatory. Therefore, it is suggested that the choice of the CDM be carried out at item level rather than test level.
Existence of Sparsely Supported Correlated Equilibria

AbstractWe show that every N-player K1 × . × KN game possesses a correlated equilibrium with at least $$\prod_{i=1}^{N} K_i -1 - \sum_{i=1}^{N} K_i (K_i -1)$$ zero entries. In particular, the largest N-player K × . × K games with unique fully supported correlated equilibrium are two-player games.
The Relationship between the Symptom of the Gingiva and the Quality of Life for Transportation Business Workers

Results: First, general characteristics include Sex, age, level of education, income, types of business, and working hours. Male participants were 441 and accounted for 90.6%. In age, 50s and 40s was 43.9% and 26.5%, respectively. In terms of level of education, 50.1% graduated from a high school and 39.8% graduated from a university. A total of 55.9% of the participants were on median income class, and 33.0% were on low income class. A total of 191 participants accounting for 39.2% were involved in a small size of passenger transportation, and 149 participants accounting for 30.6% were in a large size of the same industry. In working hours, 259 participants (53.2%) worked 9 to 12 hours and 173 participants (35.5%) worked 7 to 8 hours. Second, in self-gingival, over 60s was highest, and high school graduates were highest in level of education. In types of business, workers in a large size passenger transportation industry were highest. In contrast, workers involved in railroad industry had the lowest figure. Third, the result of how self-gingival has influence on quality of life was statistically meaningful in all factors except for psychological factor. That is, high incidence of self-gingival symptoms meant low quality of life.
Factors That Negatively Affect the Prognosis of Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia in District Hospital in Tanzania

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is still the most important cause of death in countries with scarce resources. All children (33 months ± 35 DS) discharged from the Pediatric Unit of Itigi Hospital, Tanzania, with a diagnosis of CAP from August 2014 to April 2015 were enrolled. Clinical data were gathered. Dried blood spot (DBS) samples for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for bacterial detection were collected in all 100 children included. Twenty-four percent of patients were identified with severe CAP and 11% died. Surprisingly, 54% of patients were admitted with a wrong diagnosis, which increased complications, the need for antibiotics and chest X-rays, and the length of hospitalization. Comorbidity, found in 32% of children, significantly increased severity, complications, deaths, need for chest X-rays, and oxygen therapy. Malnourished children (29%) required more antibiotics. Microbiologically, Streptococcus pneumonia (S. p.), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. a.) were the bacteria more frequently isolated. Seventy-five percent of patients had mono-infection. Etiology was not correlated with severity, complications, deaths, oxygen demand, or duration of hospitalization. Our study highlights that difficult diagnoses and comorbidities negatively affect clinical evolution. S. p. and Hib still play a large role; thus, implementation of current vaccine strategies is needed. DBS is a simple and efficient diagnostic method for bacterial identification in countries with scarce resources.
Training perceptual-cognitive skills in sports using technology

Abstract Ballistically reactive sports performances such as blocking a soccer or hockey shot-on-goal, returning a tennis serve, and hitting a pitched baseball or bowled cricket ball depend upon anticipating an opponent’s action. Sport science researchers have found that expert performers in many sports use superior perceptual-cognitive skills to recognize patterns in opponents’ actions, thereby priming rapid response selection and motor execution. Researchers have developed technologies and methods for measuring perceptual-cognitive skills that can also be used to improve these skills. After decades of research, technologies are now appearing as viable training products that coaches and sport psychologists can use with athletes. This article describes technologies such as visual occlusion, virtual reality, and 3D multiple object tracking for training perceptual-cognitive sport skills.
A New Texture Feature for Improved Food Recognition Accuracy in a Mobile Phone Based Dietary Assessment System

Poor diet is one of the key determinants of an individual's risk of developing chronic diseases. Assessing what people eat is fundamental to establishing the link between diet and disease. Food records are considered the best approach for assessing energy intake however paper-based food recording is cumbersome and often inaccurate. Researchers have begun to explore how mobile devices can be used to reduce the burden of recording nutritional intake. The integrated camera in a mobile phone can be used for capturing images of food consumed. These images are then processed to automatically identify the food items for record keeping purposes. In such systems, the accurate classification of food items in these images is vital to the success of such a system. In this paper we will present a new method for generating texture features from food images and demonstrate that this new feature provides greater food classification accuracy for a mobile phone based dietary assessment system.
A method for the registration of attributed range images

Registration of range images requires the identification of common portions of surfaces between which a distance minimization is performed. This paper proposes a framework for the use of dense attributes of range image elements as a matching constraint in the registration. These attributes are chosen to be invariant to rigid transformations, so that their value is similar in different views of the same surface portion. Attributes can be derived from the geometry information in the range image, such as surface curvature, or be obtained from associated intensity measurements. The method is based on the Iterative Closest Compatible Point algorithm augmented with a random sampling scheme that uses the distribution of attributes as a guide for point selection. Distance minimization is performed only between pairs of points considered compatible on the basis of their attributes. The performance of the method is illustrated on a rotationally symmetric object with color patterns.
The Expression Profile of Complement Components in Podocytes

Podocytes are critical for maintaining the glomerular filtration barrier and are injured in many renal diseases, especially proteinuric kidney diseases. Recently, reports suggested that podocytes are among the renal cells that synthesize complement components that mediate glomerular diseases. Nevertheless, the profile and extent of complement component expression in podocytes remain unclear. This study examined the expression profile of complement in podocytes under physiological conditions and in abnormal podocytes induced by multiple stimuli. In total, 23/32 complement component components were detected in podocyte by conventional RT-PCR. Both primary cultured podocytes and immortalized podocytes expressed the complement factors C1q, C1r, C2, C3, C7, MASP, CFI, DAF, CD59, C4bp, CD46, Protein S, CR2, C1qR, C3aR, C5aR, and Crry (17/32), whereas C4, CFB, CFD, C5, C6, C8, C9, MBL1, and MBL2 (9/32) complement factors were not expressed. C3, Crry, and C1q-binding protein were detected by tandem mass spectrometry. Podocyte complement gene expression was affected by several factors (puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN), angiotensin II (Ang II), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)). Representative complement components were detected using fluorescence confocal microscopy. In conclusion, primary podocytes express various complement components at the mRNA and protein levels. The complement gene expressions were affected by several podocyte injury factors.
Fuzzy Logic Classification of S-Band Polarimetric Radar Echoes to Identify Three-Body Scattering and Improve Data Quality

AbstractThe three-body scatter signature (TBSS) is a radar artifact that appears downrange from a high-radar-reflectivity core in a thunderstorm as a result of the presence of hailstones. It is useful to identify the TBSS artifact for quality control of radar data used in numerical weather prediction and quantitative precipitation estimation. Therefore, it is advantageous to develop a method to automatically identify TBSS in radar data for the above applications and to help identify hailstones within thunderstorms. In this study, a fuzzy logic classification algorithm for TBSS identification is developed. Polarimetric radar data collected by the experimental S-band Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) in Norman, Oklahoma (KOUN), are used to develop trapezoidal membership functions for the TBSS class of radar echo within a hydrometeor classification algorithm (HCA). Nearly 3000 radar gates are removed from 50 TBSSs to develop the membership functions from the data statistics. Five variables ar.
Chemical and spectrophotometric evolution of low surface brightness galaxies

Based on the results of recent surveys, we have constructed a relatively homogeneous set of observational data concerning the chemical and photometric properties of low surface brightness galaxies (LSBs). We have compared the properties of this data set with the predictions of models of the chemical and spectrophotometric evolution of LSBs. The basic idea behind the models, i.e. that LSBs are similar to ‘classical’ high surface brightness spirals except for a larger angular momentum, is found to be consistent with the results of their comparison with these data. However, some observed properties of the LSBs (e.g. their colours, and specifically the existence of red LSBs), as well as the large scatter in these properties, cannot be reproduced by the simplest models with smoothly evolving star formation rates over time. We argue that the addition of bursts and/or truncations in the star formation rate histories can alleviate this discrepancy.
A Rosier Reality: Incongruency in Stated and Revealed Ingroup Preferences among Young Asian American Speed Daters

Several studies have identified inconsistencies between “stated” interpersonal attitudes and those “revealed” after an interaction. The authors used the speed-dating paradigm to examine stated and revealed attitudes in ingroup preferences among Asian American subgroups (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Filipino Americans). Young single Asian Americans (n = 198) reported preferences for dating different ethnicities and went on speed dates, after which they could offer second dates to their partners. As expected, all four ethnic subgroups showed clear ingroup biases in stated preferences. Ingroup bias in revealed preferences (measured through date offers and ratings of partners’ mate desirability), however, were minimal. At the individual level, stated ingroup preferences did not significantly predict revealed ingroup preferences. In summary, among young Asian Americans, ingroup preferences may not hold in an interactive scenario. The findings suggest that in the presence of personal cues provided through a brief interaction, people may be less prone to make judgments on the basis of ethnicity, even when consequences extend beyond the laboratory. Furthermore, mechanisms for selecting a partner may differ in “hot” (affective) versus “cold” (cognitive) states.
Beyond the Numbers: An Examination of Diverse Interactions in Law School

A concerted effort has been devoted to diversifying law schools. However, the focus has been almost exclusively on increasing the structural diversity of the student body rather than increasing diverse interactions. This study investigates the types of activities and experiences in law school that relate with more frequent diverse interactions. Findings illustrate several other factors, in addition to structural diversity, are related with more frequent diverse interactions. These factors include perceptions of a supportive and friendly law school environment, interactions with faculty members, positive relationships with other students, pro bono work, and being a member of a student organization.
Inconsistent Condom Use among Public Primary Care Patients with Tuberculosis in South Africa

The high rate of HIV infections among tuberculosis (TB) patients in South Africa calls for urgent HIV reduction interventions in this subpopulation. While correct and consistent condom use is one of the effective means of HIV prevention among sexually active people, there is insufficient research on condom use among TB patients in South Africa. The aim of this paper was to determine the prevalence of inconsistent condom use among public primary care TB patients and its associated factors using a sample of 4900 TB patients from a cross-sectional survey in three health districts in South Africa. Results indicated that when asked about their consistency of condom use in the past 3 months, 63.5% of the participants reported that they did not always use condoms. In the multivariable analysis, being married (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.25–2.20) or cohabitating or separated, divorced, or widowed (OR = 3.67; 1.85–7.29), lower educational level (OR = 0.66; 0.46–0.94), greater poverty (OR = 1.60; 1.25–2.20), not having HIV status disclosed (OR = 0.34; 0.25–0.48), sexual partner on antiretroviral treatment (OR = 0.38; 0.23–0.60), and partner alcohol use before sex (OR = 1.56; 1.30–1.90) were significantly associated with inconsistent condom use in the past 3 months. The low proportion of consistent condom use among TB patients needs to be improved.
Neurocognitive mechanisms of d-cycloserine augmented single-session exposure therapy for anxiety

Drugs targeting the N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) system and learning rates have been proposed as potential adjunct treatments to boost the success of exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. However, the effects of the NMDA partial agonist d-cycloserine on psychological treatment have been mixed. We investigated potential neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the clinical effects of d-cycloserine-augmented exposure, to inform the optimal combination of this and similar agents with psychological treatment. Unmedicated patients with panic disorder were randomised to single-dose d-cycloserine (250mg; N=17) or matching placebo (N=16) 2hrs before one session of exposure therapy. Neurocognitive markers were assessed one day after treatment, including reaction-time based threat bias for fearful faces and amygdala response to threat. Clinical symptom severity was measured using self-report and clinician-rated scales the day before and after treatment, and at 1- and 6-months follow-up. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. One day after treatment, threat bias for fearful faces and amygdala threat response were attenuated in the drug compared to the placebo group. Lower amygdala magnitude predicted greater clinical improvement during follow-up across groups. D-cycloserine led to greater clinical recovery at 1-month follow-up (d-cycloserine 71% versus placebo 25%). D-cycloserine-augmented single-session exposure therapy reduces amygdala threat response, and this effect predicts later clinical response. These findings highlight a neurocognitive mechanism by which d-cycloserine may exert its augmentative effects on psychological treatment and bring forward a marker that may help understand and facilitate future development of adjunct treatments with CBT for anxiety disorders. (D-cycloserine Augmented CBT for Panic Disorder; clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01680107)
Does Corporate Social Responsibility Lead to Superior Financial Performance? A Regression Discontinuity Approach

This study examines the effect of shareholder proposals related to corporate social responsibility CSR on financial performance. Specifically, I focus on CSR proposals that pass or fail by a small margin of votes. The passage of such "close call" proposals is akin to a random assignment of CSR to companies and hence provides a quasi-experiment to study the effect of CSR on performance. I find that the adoption of close call CSR proposals leads to positive announcement returns and superior accounting performance, implying that these proposals are value enhancing. When I examine the channels through which companies benefit from CSR, I find that labor productivity and sales growth increase after the vote. Finally, I document that close call CSR proposals differ from non-close proposals along several dimensions. Accordingly, although my results imply that adopting close call CSR proposals is beneficial to companies, they do not necessarily imply that CSR proposals are beneficial in general. Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi. org/10.1287/mnsc.2014. 2038 . This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Testing and inspecting reusable product line components: first empirical results

In recent years, product line development has increasingly received attention in industry as it enables software-developing organizations to reduce both cost and time of developing and maintaining increasingly complex systems as well as to address the demands for individually customized products. Successful product line development requires high quality of reusable artifacts in order to achieve the promised benefits. The unique issues of quality assurance in the context of systematic reuse, however, have not been quantitatively investigated so far. This paper describes a first empirical study comparing the two defect detection techniques, code inspections and functional testing, in the context of product line development. The primary goal of the study was to initially investigate the defect finding potential of the techniques on reusable software components with common and variant features. The major findings of the study are that the two techniques identified different types of defects on variants of a reusable component. Inspections are on average 66.39% more effective and need on average 36.84% less effort to detect a defect We found that both the testing and inspection techniques applied in the experiment were ineffective in identifying variant-specific defects. Overall, the results indicate that the standard quality assurance techniques seem to be insufficient to address special characteristics of reusable components.
Some Simple Economics of Crowdfunding

It is not surprising that the financing of early-stage creative projects and ventures is typically geographically localized since these types of funding decisions are usually predicated on personal relationships and due diligence requiring face-to-face interactions in response to high levels of risk, uncertainty, and information asymmetry. So, to economists, the recent rise of crowdfunding—raising capital from many people through an online platform—which offers little opportunity for careful due diligence and involves not only friends and family but also many strangers from near and far, is initially startling. On the eve of launching equity-based crowdfunding, a new market for early-stage finance in the United States, we provide a preliminary exploration of its underlying economics. We highlight the extent to which economic theory, in particular transaction costs, reputation, and market design, can explain the rise of nonequity crowdfunding and offer a framework for speculating on how equity-based crowdfunding may unfold. We conclude by articulating open questions related to how crowdfunding may affect social welfare and the rate and direction of innovation.
Towards Automatic Topical Classification of LOD Datasets

The datasets that are part of the Linking Open Data cloud diagramm (LOD cloud) are classified into the following topical categories: media, government, publications, life sciences, geographic, social networking, user-generated content, and cross-domain. The topical categories were manually assigned to the datasets. In this paper, we investigate to which extent the topical classification of new LOD datasets can be automated using machine learning techniques and the existing annotations as supervision. We conducted experiments with different classification techniques and different feature sets. The best classification technique/feature set combination reaches an accuracy of 81.62% on the task of assigning one out of the eight classes to a given LOD dataset. A deeper inspection of the classification errors reveals problems with the manual classification of datasets in the current LOD cloud.
A conserved 3′ extension in unusual group II introns is important for efficient second-step splicing

The B.c.I4 group II intron from Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987 harbors an unusual 3′ extension. Here, we report the discovery of four additional group II introns with a similar 3′ extension in Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki 4D1 that splice at analogous positions 53/56 nt downstream of domain VI in vivo. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the introns are only 47–61% identical to each other. Strikingly, they do not form a single evolutionary lineage even though they belong to the same Bacterial B class. The extension of these introns is predicted to form a conserved two-stem–loop structure. Mutational analysis in vitro showed that the smaller stem S1 is not critical for self-splicing, whereas the larger stem S2 is important for efficient exon ligation and lariat release in presence of the extension. This study clearly demonstrates that previously reported B.c.I4 is not a single example of a specialized intron, but forms a new functional class with an unusual mode that ensures proper positioning of the 3′ splice site.
Mode Locking in a Periodically Forced "ghostbursting" Neuron Model

We study a minimal integrate-and-fire based model of a "ghostbursting" neuron under periodic stimulation. These neurons are involved in sensory processing in weakly electric fish. There exist regions in parameter space in which the model neuron is mode-locked to the stimulation. We analyse this locked behavior and examine the bifurcations that define the boundaries of these regions. Due to the discontinuous nature of the flow, some of these bifurcations are nonsmooth. This exact analysis is in excellent agreement with numerical simulations, and can be used to understand the response of such a model neuron to biologically realistic input.