Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Holistic Model to Infer Mathematics Performance: The Interrelated Impact of Student, Family and School Context Variables

The present study aims at exploring predictors influencing mathematics performance. In particular, the study focuses on internal students' characteristics (gender, age, metacognitive experience, mathematics self-efficacy) and external contextual factors (GDP of school location, parents' educational level, teachers' educational level, and teacher beliefs). A sample of 1749 students and 91 teachers from Chinese primary schools were involved in the study. Path analysis was used to test the direct and indirect relations between the predictors and mathematics performance. Results reveal that a large proportion of mathematics performance can be directly predicted from students' metacognitive experiences. In addition, other student characteristics and contextual variables influence mathematics performance in direct or indirect ways.
Memory Footprint Reduction for Power-Efficient Realization of 2-D Finite Impulse Response Filters

We have analyzed memory footprint and combinational complexity to arrive at a systematic design strategy to derive area-delay-power-efficient architectures for two-dimensional (2-D) finite impulse response (FIR) filter. We have presented novel block-based structures for separable and non-separable filters with less memory footprint by memory sharing and memory-reuse along with appropriate scheduling of computations and design of storage architecture. The proposed structures involve L times less storage per output (SPO), and nearly L times less energy consumption per output (EPO) compared with the existing structures, where L is the input block-size. They involve L times more arithmetic resources than the best of the corresponding existing structures, and produce L times more throughput with less memory band-width (MBW) than others. We have also proposed separate generic structures for separable and non-separable filter-banks, and a unified structure of filter-bank constituting symmetric and general filters. The proposed unified structure for 6 parallel filters involves nearly 3.6L times more multipliers, 3L times more adders, (N2-N+2) less registers than similar existing unified structure, and computes 6L times more filter outputs per cycle with 6L times less MBW than the existing design, where N is FIR filter size in each dimension. ASIC synthesis result shows that for filter size (4 × 4), input-block size L=4, and image-size (512 × 512), proposed block-based non-separable and generic non-separable structures, respectively, involve 5.95 times and 11.25 times less area-delay-product (ADP), and 5.81 times and 15.63 times less EPO than the corresponding existing structures. The proposed unified structure involves 4.64 times less ADP and 9.78 times less EPO than the corresponding existing structure.
The Role of Long Polar Fimbriae in Escherichia coli O104:H4 Adhesion and Colonization

A renewed interest in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains was sparked due to the appearance of an outbreak in 2011, causing 3,816 diarrheal cases and some deaths in Europe. The causative strain was classified as enteroaggregative E. coli of serotype O104:H4 that had acquired Shiga toxin genes. The ability of STEC O104:H4 to cause disease relies greatly on the bacteria’s capacity to colonize, persist, and produce Shiga toxin. However, not much is known about the colonization factors of this strain. Because long polar fimbriae (lpf) lpf1 and lpf2 operons encode important colonization factors in other STEC isolates and E. coli O104:H4 possesses both loci, we hypothesized that Lpf is required for adhesion and colonization. In this study, isogenic lpfA1 and lpfA2 major fimbrial subunit mutants were constructed. To determine their role in O104:H4’s virulence, we assessed their ability to adhere to non-polarized and polarized intestinal epithelial cells. The ΔlpfA1 showed decreased adherence in both cell systems, while the ΔlpfA2 only showed a decrease in adherence to polarized Caco-2 cells. We also tested the O104:H4 mutants’ ability to form biofilm and found that the ΔlpfA1 was unable to form a stable biofilm. In an in vivo murine model of intestinal colonization, the ΔlpfA1 had a reduced ability to colonize the cecum and large intestine, consistent with the in vitro data. Further, we tested the lpfA1 mutants’ ability to compete against the wild type. We found that in the in vitro and in vivo models, the presence of the wild type O104:H4 facilitates increased adherence of the ΔlpfA1 to levels exceeding that of the wild type. Overall, our data demonstrated that Lpf1 is one of the factors responsible for O104:H4 intestinal adhesion and colonization.
Exploring Large Feature Spaces with Hierarchical Multiple Kernel Learning

For supervised and unsupervised learning, positive definite kernels allow to use large and potentially infinite dimensional feature spaces with a computational cost that only depends on the number of observations. This is usually done through the penalization of predictor functions by Euclidean or Hilbertian norms. In this paper, we explore penalizing by sparsity-inducing norms such as the l1-norm or the block l1-norm. We assume that the kernel decomposes into a large sum of individual basis kernels which can be embedded in a directed acyclic graph; we show that it is then possible to perform kernel selection through a hierarchical multiple kernel learning framework, in polynomial time in the number of selected kernels. This framework is naturally applied to non linear variable selection; our extensive simulations on synthetic datasets and datasets from the UCI repository show that efficiently exploring the large feature space through sparsity-inducing norms leads to state-of-the-art predictive performance.
Osteoporosis Amongst Jordanians: Effect of Pharmacist- Directed Brochure Education on People’s Knowledge

Purpose : To assess osteoporosis knowledge among Jordanian people and to evaluate the effect of a pharmacist-directed brochure on the knowledge. Methods : This study was an interventional study conducted in two major cities of Jordan. The baseline knowledge of participants about osteoporosis (KOS) was evaluated by a validated, back-translated questionnaire. Thereafter, participants received a pharmacist-directed brochure education about osteoporosis, and then their knowledge was assessed using the same questionnaire. Results : Of the 395 people visiting community pharmacies in Jordan that were enrolled into the study, their age ranged from 18 to > 60 years old and 70.4 % were female. More than 60 % of the participants had good baseline knowledge about osteoporosis (median KOS > 50 %). Gender, education and smoking status significantly affected baseline knowledge. The pharmacist-directed brochure significantly improved KOS score (78 % vs. 56 %, p < 0.001). Conclusion : Current knowledge of Jordanians about osteoporosis is moderate, especially females. However, majority of Jordanians believe that they need more education about osteoporosis. The educational brochure significantly improved knowledge in various important aspects. Comprehensive educational programs, which cover more areas of osteoporosis knowledge, and that should not necessarily depend only on written material, is therefore recommended. Keywords : Osteoporosis, Patient education, Pharmacists, Disease management
Practitioners' Perspectives on Security in Agile Development

Agile methods are widely employed to develop high-quality software, but theoretical analyses argue that agile methods are inadequate for security-critical projects. However, most agile-developed software today needs to satisfy baseline security requirements, so that we need to focus on how to achieve this this level for typical agile projects. In this paper, we provide insights from the practitioner's perspective on security in agile development and report on exploratory, qualitative findings from interviews. Our findings extend the theoretical prior work and suggest to focus on adequate customer involvement, developer security awareness and expertise, and continuously improving the development process for security.
The quantitative genetics of disgust sensitivity.

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 16(1) of Emotion (see record 2015-57029-001). In the article, the name of author Joshua M. Tybur was misspelled as Joshua M. Tyber. All versions of this article have been corrected. ] Response sensitivity to common disgust elicitors varies considerably among individuals. The sources of these individual differences are largely unknown. In the current study, we use a large sample of female identical and nonidentical twins (N = 1,041 individuals) and their siblings (N = 170) to estimate the proportion of variation due to genetic effects, the shared environment, and other (residual) sources across multiple domains of disgust sensitivity. We also investigate the genetic and environmental influences on the covariation between the different disgust domains. Twin modeling revealed that approximately half of the variation in pathogen, sexual, and moral disgust is due to genetic effects. An independent pathways twin model also revealed that sexual and pathogen disgust sensitivity were influenced by unique sources of genetic variation, while also being significantly affected by a general genetic factor underlying all 3 disgust domains. Moral disgust sensitivity, in contrast, did not exhibit domain-specific genetic variation. These findings are discussed in light of contemporary evolutionary approaches to disgust sensitivity.
Identifying Key Users in Online Social Networks: A PageRank Based Approach

Online social networks evolved into a global mainstream medium that generates an increasing social and economic impact. However, many online social networks face the question how to leverage on their fast growing popularity to achieve sustainable revenues. In that context, particularly more effective advertising strategies and sophisticated customer loyalty programs to foster users' retention are needed. Thereby, key users in terms of users' connectivity and communication activity play a decisive role. However, quantitative approaches for the identification of key users in online social networks merging concepts and findings from research on users' connectivity and communication activity are missing. Based on the design science research paradigm, we therefore propose a novel PageRank based approach bringing together both research streams. To demonstrate its practical applicability, we use a publicly available dataset of Facebook.com. Finally, we evaluate our novel PageRank based approach in comparison to existing approaches, which could alternatively be used.
Factors associated with vaginal delivery in hypertensive and normotensive pregnant women submitted to labor induction with misoprostol: a cohort study

Objective: To determine the factors associated with vaginal delivery in hypertensive and normotensive pregnant women submitted to induction of labor with misoprostol. Methods: A cohort study. Results: The factors associated with vaginal delivery in both normotensive and hypertensive women were, respectively, Bishop score ≥4 (OR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.06–3.29; p = 0.03) and (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.25–4.28; p = 0.008) and parity ≥1 (OR = 4.36; 95% CI: 2.16–8.80; p < 0.0001) and (OR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.36–5.04; p = 0.004). Conclusion: The factors associated with vaginal delivery were Bishop score ≥4 and parity ≥1 irrespective of whether or not the women were hypertensive.
Reassessing the prehistoric ceramics of the Late Neolithic and Transitional Chalcolithic periods in the Central Plateau of Iran:Archaeometric Characterisation, Typological Classification and Stylistic Phylogenetic analyses

This thesis introduce new approaches into the understanding of chronology and cultural-technological development of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlements within the Central Plateau of Iran through the study of the evolution of ceramic craft specialisation between ca. 5700-4800 BC by analysing newly excavated pottery from the different three areas of this region: the Tehran, Qazvin and Kashan plains. Despite having been investigated for almost 90 years, the prehistoric ceramics of the Central Iranian Plateau have mainly been studied in a basic manner, based on the study of colour and decoration of pottery as the criteria to identify, characterise, and compare the various pottery types of the region with little attention to technology and production. In the present thesis a multidisciplinary research method has been adopted by utilising scientific analysis technics such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) as well as typological classification and more advanced methods such as phylogenetic analyses in studying and characterisation the pottery. Based on the results of scientific analyses as well as the archaeological data this research will provide valuable information on the course of evolution and the origin of the changes observed in ceramic technology, and will determine the level of specialisation and standardisation in the pottery-making, as well as the mode of production in these prehistoric sites. Through comparison of the pottery characteristics from different sites of the same tradition it will also assess the similarity of sources of raw materials and the techniques of shaping and firing the pottery. Utilising the valuable information gathered by the aforementioned methods this thesis represents a more comprehensive and reliable information concerning the economic and cultural connections and interactions of the prehistoric communities living in this region in the Late Neolithic and the Transitional Chalcolithic periods.
On the Organisation of SMEs and Economic Growth in the USA and Japan

The total number of firms, out of which around at least 95 to 99 per cent (or even more) are SMEs approximates the degree of competition that exists in each country and within each sector of a national economy. A historical examination of the American and Japanese firm evolutions, which shows a divergence in industrial organisation between the companies in the USA and Japan provides a qualitative evidence to this role of competition. Also, the same historical trip reveals the close relationship, which prevails between the degree of competition as represented by the total number of firms and the speed of economic growth. The cross section regression model developed in this paper quantitatively confirms this relationship. Furthermore, it is suggested that the historical divergence between the American and Japanese firm evolutions is due to some precise factors such as relative abundance of resources, and other historical circumstances. Consequently, there is not a unique path of optimum growth, since what is good for the USA might not be good for Japan and vice versa. For instance, for the USA, the 'big business' type has always prevailed during the last 120 years, whereas for Japan, the smaller focal type of firms together with some huge conglomerates dominated the Japanese economy. The cross country regression model not only confirms the importance of organisational differences but also supports the endogenous type of economic growth.
The expression pattern of MUC1 glycoforms and other biomarkers of endometrial receptivity in fertile and infertile women

Changes in the surface epithelium of the endometrium, characterized in part by alterations in cell‐surface molecules, sex steroid receptors and the appearance of pinopodes, coincide with the window of endometrial receptivity in the menstrual cycle. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of hematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning and transmission microscopy, and MUC1 glycoform, sex steroid receptor, and interleukin receptor (type 1) expression as biomarkers of endometrial receptivity using carefully characterized clinical fertile and infertile groups of women. Using a combination of immunohistochemistry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) called scanning immunoelectron microscopy (SIM), we confirmed that MUC1 mucin was not associated with the endometrial pinopodes, which have been linked with embryo adhesion. We also showed that failure of embryo implantation was associated with an abnormal endometrial expression of MUC1 mucin, and retention of nuclear progesterone receptor (PR) particularly in epithelial cells. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SEM in isolation and immunohistochemistry for interleukin receptor were not shown to be useful markers. Progesterone‐dependent regulation of MUC1 appears to be an important factor in determining endometrial receptivity. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dynamic grid support in low voltage grids — fault ride-through and reactive power/voltage support during grid disturbances

Faults in medium and high voltage grids lead to voltage sags in the low voltage level. Due to the voltage dip, distributed generators disconnect from the low voltage grid. Depending on the amount of disconnected generation, system stability could be compromised. With a dynamic grid support, distributed generators remain connected to the grid during faults, also called fault ride-through. Moreover, the feed in of reactive power supports the voltage during the fault. According to the present state of the art, no requirements exist for a dynamic grid support in low voltage grids. However, with a high penetration of distributed generation these requirements might change in the future. This paper investigates the dynamic grid support in low voltage grids. The impact of a dynamic grid support on a distribution grid is studied with IEEE/CIGRE benchmark models for low and medium voltage grids. Models of inverters, directly-coupled synchronous and induction generators are implemented. Furthermore, a present and a future protection system with fault ride-through capability are added to the grid models. The inverters are equipped with a reactive current controller to give a voltage support during faults. To determine the effect of a dynamic grid support, faults in high and medium voltage grids with and without dynamic grid support are simulated and evaluated. The results have shown that the effect of the voltage boost through dynamic grid support in order to recover the voltage is marginal. However, with a high penetration level of distributed generators the voltage boost increases and the impact of faults can be further limited. This investigation has demonstrated the potential of dynamic grid support in low voltage grids to avoid the loss of a large amount of power and to improve the voltage recovery.
Asp, the Art and Science of Practice: What Employers Demand from Applicants for Mba-level Supply Chain Jobs and the Coverage of Supply Chain Topics in Mba Courses Data Collection of Job Ads

We analyzed the text of 704 online advertisements of supply chain management jobs for MBA graduates. The content analysis of these job advertisements provided us with a list of supply chain topics, such as inventory management and supply management, and general skills, such as communication and leadership; it also showed the proportion of advertisements requesting these skills. We measured the relative coverage of the same supply chain topics in MBA-level supply chain electives and operations management core courses in 21 of the top 50 business schools in the United States by analyzing the course descriptions and the cases used in these courses. This enabled us to compare the relative importance of supply chain topics to employers on the " demand " side with the relative importance of supply chain electives in MBA curricula on the " supply " side in these schools. Our analysis indicated that the supply usually matches demand; however, there may be an undersupply of practice-or process-oriented topics, such as forecasting, procurement, supplier and vendor management, and contracts and negotiation. In addition, there may be an oversupply of conceptual and strategy-oriented topics, such as product design, supply chain design, and emerging information technology and management information. W e analyzed the text of 704 MBA-level supply chain job advertisements (ads) to determine the skills that employers of MBA graduates want (from these graduates) in terms of both knowledge of specific supply chain topics and broad skills. Using statistical content analysis on the counts of relevant words and phrases that were present in these ads, we established the proportion of job ads requiring various supply chain topics (Johnson and Pyke 2000) and various skills (Sodhi and Son 2008). Our results indicated that these employers demand knowledge of the following in decreasing order: sourcing and supplier management, inventory and forecasting, information and electronic mediated environments, marketing and channel restructuring, transportation and logistics, metrics and performance, and service and after-sales support. Likewise, in decreasing order, they also require communication, leadership, project management, and team-related and general analytical skills. By analyzing online course descriptions and case study descriptions, we also explored the extent to which 21 business schools listed in the top 50 MBA programs in the United States (Appendix 5) cover these topics in their supply chain electives and operations management core courses. Our exploratory comparison of the proportion of job ads requiring each supply chain topic (demand) to the proportional …
Heterodimerization with Jun Family Members Regulates c-Fos Nucleocytoplasmic Traffic*

c-Fos proto-oncoprotein forms AP-1 transcription complexes with heterodimerization partners such as c-Jun, JunB, and JunD. Thereby, it controls essential cell functions and exerts tumorigenic actions. The dynamics of c-Fos intracellular distribution is poorly understood. Hence, we have combined genetic, cell biology, and microscopic approaches to investigate this issue. In addition to a previously characterized basic nuclear localization signal (NLS) located within the central DNA-binding domain, we identified a second NLS within the c-Fos N-terminal region. This NLS is non-classic and its activity depends on transportin 1 in vivo. Under conditions of prominent nuclear localization, c-Fos can undergo nucleocytoplasmic shuttling through an active Crm-1 exportin-independent mechanism. Dimerization with the Jun proteins inhibits c-Fos nuclear exit. The strongest effect is observed with c-Jun probably in accordance with the relative stabilities of the different c-Fos:Jun dimers. Retrotransport inhibition is not caused by binding of dimers to DNA and, therefore, is not induced by indirect effects linked to activation of c-Fos target genes. Monomeric, but not dimeric, Jun proteins also shuttle actively. Thus, our work unveils a novel regulation operating on AP-1 by demonstrating that dimerization is crucial, not only for active transcription complex formation, but also for keeping them in the compartment where they exert their transcriptional function.