Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Important Is Weight Symmetry in Backpropagation?

Gradient backpropagation (BP) requires symmetric feedforward and feedback connections — the same weights must be used for forward and backward passes. This "weight transport problem'' (Grossberg 1987) is thought to be one of the main reasons to doubt BP's biologically plausibility. Using 15 different classification datasets, we systematically investigate to what extent BP really depends on weight symmetry. In a study that turned out to be surprisingly similar in spirit to Lillicrap et al.'s demonstration (Lillicrap et al. 2014) but orthogonal in its results, our experiments indicate that: (1) the magnitudes of feedback weights do not matter to performance (2) the signs of feedback weights do matter — the more concordant signs between feedforward and their corresponding feedback connections, the better (3) with feedback weights having random magnitudes and 100% concordant signs, we were able to achieve the same or even better performance than SGD. (4) some normalizations/stabilizations are indispensable for such asymmetric BP to work, namely Batch Normalization (BN) (Ioffe and Szegedy 2015) and/or a "Batch Manhattan'' (BM) update rule.
The 16th Annual Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes toward the Public Schools.

For the ninth consecutive year, the Kappan is privileged to publish the full report of an attitude survey conducted by the Gallup Poll. The first report in the 10-year series was published in full by the Institute for Development of Educational Activities (IIIDIEIAI). A com pilation of the first 10 polls will be available later this fall as a Phi Delta Kappa paperback, The Gallup Polls of At titudes Toward Education, 1969-1978. Reprints of indi vidual polls may also be obtained from Phi Delta Kappa. The Gallup education polls are an established source of reliable information concerning trends in opinion about significant school questions. For school officials, the polls are valuable in at least two important ways. They alert decision makers to overall public reaction to a variety of school programs and policies. And they serve as a national benchmark against which local at titudes may be measured. George Gallup is now at work on a book intended to explain in detail how local attitudes toward the schools may be measured. It will be published by Phi Delta Kap pa soon; look for an announcement. Meanwhile, if local poll directors wish to employ the same questions asked in the Gallup education surveys, they are welcome to do so. The questions are not copyrighted. Moreover, no limitations are placed upon the use of information con tained in this report, beyond customary credit to source and observance of the usual canons of accuracy and completeness of quotation. The Charles F. Kettering Foundation, through its af filiate, IIIDIEIAI, is now financing the education poll, while Phi Delta Kappa has been authorized to publish it in full before distribution to other media. We are grateful to B. Frank Brown and Samuel G. Sava of IIIDIEIAI and Kettering for their strong support of the project. SME
Defining structural abnormalities of the hip joint at risk of degeneration

The purpose of this review is to explore the mounting evidence that primary osteoarthritis is secondary to childhood disorders such as dysplasia and/or to subtle morphologic and structural to subtle morphologic and structural abnormalities of the proximal femur and/or acetabulum that were previously unrecognized or underestimated. These structural deformities lead to early impingement through range of motion and subsequent joint degeneration. The review also presents a brief synopsis of the genetic components that influence structural morphology of the hip joint and the impact of genetic pathways on OA development. If subtle deformities can be shown to be effective predictors of OA in the general population, it may be possible to identify hips that are at risk before they progress to end-stage OA. Furthermore, if these early risk factors are modifiable, it may be possible to implement preventative measures before the requirement of total hip arthroplasty.
Youths’ Perceptions of Corporal Punishment, Parental Acceptance, and Psychological Adjustment in a Turkish Metropolis

This study explored relations among corporal punishment, perceived parental acceptance, and the psychological adjustment of 427 Turkish youths between the ages of 10 to 18. Participants responded in school to the child versions of the Physical Punishment Questionnaire, Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire, Personality Assessment Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that youths’ perceptions of both maternal and paternal acceptance made independent and significant contributions to variations in youths’ self-reported psychological adjustment. Regression analyses also showed that neither maternal nor paternal punishment by themselves made significant contributions to variations in youths’ adjustment when the influence of perceived maternal and paternal acceptance was controlled. Thus, we concluded that apparent relations between parental punishment and youths’ psychological adjustment were almost completely mediated by youths’ perceptions of parental acceptance. Neither youths’ gender nor age was associated with either perceived parental acceptance or punishment.
Gamete competence assessment by polarizing optics in assisted reproduction.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was first to give an overview of the historical development of polarization microscopy, second to describe the various applications of this technique in assisted reproduction techniques (ART) and third to discuss the potential benefit of polarization microscopy as a predictor for IVF success. METHODS The history of polarization microscopy was undertaken by performing a backward search in the scientific literature using Google and internet sites of several Societies for Microscopy and Cell Biology. Studies of polarization microscopy in ART were identified by using a systematic literature search in PubMed and Scopus. RESULTS A total of 62 articles were identified by the direct search and further relevant articles were found by screening the cited literature in these articles. The topics relevant for assisted reproduction were spindle and zona imaging in combination with IVF success, meiotic cell cycle progression, pharmaceutical studies and cryopreservation. A separate topic was the use of sperm birefringence in ART. CONCLUSIONS The majority of studies are observational studies and were not performed in a randomized manner and there is no direct comparison of techniques using other gamete selection markers. Despite this, most studies show that polarization microscopy may help us to further increase our knowledge on gametes and meiosis. Whether certain applications such as spindle or zona imaging may lead to an increase in IVF success is unclear at present. Publications on the use of polarization microscopy on sperm are still very limited.
S100A8 enhances osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro through activation of Toll-like receptor 4: implications for bone destruction in murine antigen-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Rheumatoid arthritis, which is associated with elevated levels of S100A8 and S100A9, is characterized by severe bone erosions caused by enhanced osteoclast formation and activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of S100A8 and S100A9 in osteoclastic bone destruction in murine antigen-induced arthritis (AIA). METHODS Bone destruction was analyzed in the arthritic knee joints of S100A9-deficient mice in which S100A8 protein expression was also lacking, and in wild-type (WT) controls. Osteoclast precursors from S100A9-deficient and WT mice were differentiated into osteoclasts in vitro. Additionally, precursors were stimulated with S100A8, S100A9, or S100A8/A9 during osteoclastogenesis. Receptor involvement was investigated using an anti-receptor for advanced glycation end products (anti-RAGE)-blocking antibody, soluble RAGE, or Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4)-deficient osteoclast precursors. The formation of osteoclasts and actin rings, the regulation of osteoclast markers, and bone resorption were analyzed. RESULTS Bone erosions and cathepsin K staining were significantly suppressed in S100A9-deficient mice after AIA induction. However, osteoclast precursors from S100A9-deficient mice developed normally into functional osteoclasts, which excludes a role for intrinsic S100A8/A9. In contrast to the results observed with S100A9 and S100A8/A9, the addition of S100A8 during osteoclastogenesis resulted in stimulation of osteoclast formation in conjunction with enhanced actin ring formation and increased bone resorption. Analysis of the putative receptor for S100A8 in osteoclastogenesis revealed that osteoclast differentiation and function could not be inhibited by blocking RAGE, whereas the increase in osteoclast numbers and enhanced bone resorption were completely abrogated using TLR-4-deficient osteoclast precursors. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that S100A8 stimulated osteoclast formation and activity and suggest that both S100A8 and TLR-4 are important factors in mediating osteoclastic bone destruction in experimental arthritis.
Relationships among School Children's Internet Addiction, Family Environment and School Adjustment

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree of school children's internet addiction and to explicit the relationship among the internet addiction, family environment and school adjustment. Method: The subjects of the study were 640 students from 5th and 6th year children of five elementary schools in G city. The data were analyzed by SAS program with frequency, percentage, means, standard deviation, χ² -test, ANOVA and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Result: In the degree of the internet addiction were 10.0％ of addiction group, 58.0％ of intermediate group, and 32.0％ of nonaddiction group. There were significant differences in family environment score(F=25.09, p=.0001) and school adjustment score(F=34.46, p=.0001) regarding internet addiction degree. The relationship among internet addiction score, family environment score and school adjustment score revealed a significant inverse correlation(r=-0.32, p=.0001, r=-0.35, p=.0001). And the relationship between family environment score and school adjustment score revealed a significant correlation(r=0.52, p=.0001). Conclusion: The degree of school children's internet addiction has been found to be very high and correlated to the family environment and school adjustment. Therefore, programs should be developed in order to improve this situation.
A Seamless Control Methodology for a Grid Connected and Isolated PV-Diesel Microgrid

In this paper, a seamless control methodology has been proposed for a photo voltaic (PV)-diesel generator (DG) microgrid to operate both in the grid connected and islanded mode. It does not require any islanding detection mechanism, to change the control philosophy from the grid connected mode to the islanded mode. A second order sliding mode control has been used to control the voltage source converter of the PV source whose set points have been generated by PI controllers. The maximum power point tracking algorithm for the PV system has been augmented with an auxiliary signal obtained using the electrical power output of the DG to reduce the output power of the PV system for economical operation of the DG unit. The DG unit is regulated with the frequency of the microgrid while the inverter used in the PV system regulates the voltage at the point of common coupling. Similarly, if the DG is uncontrollable due to any reason, the PV system is further added with an auxiliary signal based on the frequency deviation to maintain frequency stability. Simulation of the system has been carried out in MATLAB/SIMULINK with different levels of insolation and load to verify the proposed control scheme.
Prescribing knowledge in the light of undergraduate clinical pharmacology and therapeutics teaching in India: views of first-year postgraduate students

Objectives The study aimed to review the prescribing knowledge of first-year postgraduate doctors in a medical college in India, using the principles of good prescribing, to suggest strategies to improve rational prescribing, and to recommend what curriculum planners can do to accomplish this objective. Methods Fifty first-year postgraduate doctors were asked to fill in a structured questionnaire that sought information regarding their undergraduate training in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, prescribing habits, and commonly consulted drug information sources. Also, the questionnaire assessed any perceived deficiencies in their undergraduate clinical pharmacology teaching and sought feedback regarding improvement in the teaching. Results Eighty-eight percent of residents said that they were taught prescription writing in undergraduate pharmacology teaching; 48% of residents rated their prescribing knowledge at graduation as average, 28% good, 4% excellent, 14% poor, and 4% very poor; 58% felt that their undergraduate training did not prepare them to prescribe safely, and 62% felt that their training did not prepare them to prescribe rationally. Fifty-eight percent of residents felt that they had some specific problems with writing a prescription during their internship training, while 92% thought that undergraduate teaching should be improved. Their suggestions for improving teaching methods were recorded. Conclusions This study concludes that efforts are needed to develop a curriculum that encompasses important aspects of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics along with incorporation of the useful suggestions given by the residents.
Aberth's method for the parallel iterative finding of polynomial zeros

Aberth's method for the iterative finding of polynomial zeros using simultaneous interacting guesses is seen to be the systematic use of Newton's method under Parallel Anticipatory Implicit Deflation (PAID), changing the single polynomial problem into that for a system of rational functions. It offers the prospect of parallel execution, discourages coincident convergences, and subjects all iterates to the same algorithm, without the uneven roundoff error accumulation due to deflation typical in serial iterative methods. Yet it converges slowly to multiple zeros, and consumes far more total computing power than serial methods. Factors hindering convergence include problem symmetry and clustering of iterates, alleviated by asymmetric initial guesses and an immediate updating strategy, as seen through the speedup in the experimental APL program PAIDAX.
Melphalan 200 mg/m(2) versus melphalan 100 mg/m(2) in newly diagnosed myeloma patients: a prospective, multicenter phase 3 study.

High-dose (200 mg/m(2), MEL200) and intermediate-dose melphalan (100 mg/m(2), MEL100) showed significant activity in myeloma. In a phase 3 study, 298 patients were randomly assigned to receive 2 autologous transplantations after conditioning with MEL200 or MEL100. Ninety-six of 149 (64%) completed MEL200 and 103 of 149 (69%) MEL100. Best response to MEL200 was: complete remission 22 of 149 (15%); partial remission 95 of 149 (64%), for an overall response rate of 79%. Best response to MEL100 was: complete remission 12 of 149 (8%); partial remission 95 of 149 (64%), for an overall response rate of 72%. Overall survival did not differ (P = .13); median progression-free survival (31.4 vs 26.2 months, P = .01), median time to progression (34.4 vs 27.0 months, P = .014) were longer in the MEL200. Treatment-related mortality was 3.1% in the MEL200 and 2.9% in the MEL100 group. Severe neutropenia and infections were marginally superior, whereas severe thrombocytopenia, mucositis, gastrointestinal adverse events, and the overall occurrence of at least 1 nonhematologic grade 3 or 4 adverse event were significantly higher in the MEL200 cohort. We conclude that MEL200 leads to longer remission duration and should be considered the standard conditioning regimen for autologous transplantation. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT00950768.
Peningkatan kemampuan spasial dan komunikasi matematis siswa SMP melalui pembelajaran berbasis masalah

This research aimed at to know: (1) Are there differences in spatial abilities increase student who received problem-based learning compared with students who received conventional learning, (2) Are there differences in mathematical communication skills enhancement students who received problem-based learning compared with students who received conventional learning, (3) Is there any interaction between early mathematics learning with students ability to increase spatial ability, (4) Is there an interaction between early mathematics learning with the ability to increase students mathematical communication skills, (5) How does the process of problem solving students in solving problems in problem-based learning and conventional learning. This study is a quasi-experimental study. The study population was all students of SMPN 13 Medan school year 2012/2013. Randomly selected students of class VIII SMP 13 Medan as a research subject is class VIII-1 and VIII-2. Treatment given experimental class problem-based learning and classroom control treated conventional learning. The instruments used are: tests of spatial ability and communication skills math test has been declared eligible validatas and reliability. The research findings showed that: (1) t arithmetic & gt; ttable = 10.1 & gt; 2.019 then there are differences spatial ability math students in each of learning, (2) tarithmetic & gt; ttable = 8.06 & gt; 2.019 then there are differences communication ability students each of learning, (3) There is no interaction between learning with prior knowledge mathematics students to increase spatial ability, (4) There is no interaction between early mathematics learning with students ability to increase mathematical communication skills, (5) students problem-solving process to solve problems in problem-based learning is better than conventional learning. Based on the research findings, it is recommended as follows: teachers, researchers should first review the learning model used, subject matter, media, LAS before the start of the lesson. Learning using problem-based learning in mathematics learning that emphasizes spatial ability and communication skills can be used as an alternative for implementing innovative math learning teaching material particularly in the wake geometry of space in class VIII.
Body size and metabolism

Abstract does not appear. First page follows. The statement that the basal metabolism of animals differing in size is nearly proportional to their respective body surfaces, is called the surface law. Benedict has shown that this law is already over ninety years old, Robiquet and Tillaye having formulated it quite clearly in 1839. The history of the surface law is given in the paper of (Harris and Benedict (1919)). We may here only briefly mention the different ways in which it has been found. The early writers derived the law from theoretical considerations on a rather small experimental basis, as did Bergmann, who in 1847 had already written a book on the subject. Respiration trials were carried out by Regnault and Reiset, and Rameaux based the surface law on measurements of the amount of air respired per minute by two thousand human beings of different sizes. (Rubner (1883)) demonstrated the law in accurate respiration trials on dogs and Richet rediscovered it empirically on rabbits. The latter writes (p. 223): “C’est apree coup seulement que je me suis avise que la donnee surface etait plus interessante que la donnee poids. ” Although (Armsby, Fries, and Braman (1918), p. 55) found the surface law confirmed to a rather striking degree, this law is not at all so clear today as it appeared to its early discoverers. (Carman and Mitchell (1926), p. 380) state the situation very well: “In spite of the theoretical weakness of the surface law, the computation of basal metabolism to the unit of the body surface seems at present the most satisfactory method available of equalizing experimental results for differences in the size of experimental animals. ”
"Why Didn't They Teach Us Any of This before?": Youth Appraisal of Turkish Provision in Victoria.

This article examines youth assessment of the quality and success of languages provision. The discussion draws on data collected from students and graduates of Victoria's 16 secondary Turkish programs in large-scale surveys (n=858) and follow-up interviews (n=177). Surveys revealed that upper secondary Turkish classrooms serve predominantly Australian-born Turkish students. Nine out of ten respondents rated their English language and literacy skills considerably higher than Turkish despite regular Turkish exposure beyond school, an average of four years of Turkish study, and a positive orientation toward Turkish maintenance in Australia. Thematic interview analyses indicated that informants found classes beneficial in expanding contexts and purposes of Turkish use, improving Turkish fluency and understanding, broadening cultural knowledge, deepening communication with family, creating a sense of belonging to the larger Turkish community, and helping students prepare for the comprehensive language exam. Across all sites, student motivation and learning were adversely affected by increasingly heterogeneous class composition and a lack of a cohesive Turkish-as-a-second-language curriculum. Youth recommendations included redesigning the curriculum to teach Turkish language and literacy skills systematically, emphasizing literacy development throughout the program, parallel teaching of Turkish and English writing styles, enhancing professional development, improving school outreach, and establishing prerequisites to prolong student participation.
Morphological and chromosomal variation in Fallopia section Reynoutria (Polygonaceae) in Korea

We have examined morphological and chromosomal variation inFallopia sect.Reynoutria in Korea to clarify their taxonomic identities and to determine whether their morphological variability is associated with ploidy levels. Principal components analysis (PCA) of individuals from 21 populations, using major distinguishing characters, revealed the presence of four major entiries of sect.Reynoutria in Korea; these includeF. sachalinensis, F. japonica var.japonica, F. forbesii, and the Nonsan population consisting of presumed hybrids. Based on morphology, it is hypothesized that the Nonsan population was probably derived from multiple hybridization events involving the three named taxa. The results also indicate thatF. forbesii is distinct fromF. japonica var.japonica. Polyploidy is more prevalent in sect.Reynoutria than has been previously recognized.Fallopia sachalinensis in Korea occurs as dodecaploids with 2n=132; our count is the first dodecaploid count for the species, and represents the highest chromosome number known in the genus.Fallopia japonica var.japonica occurs as tetraploids (2n=44), hexaploids (2n=66), and octoploids (2n=88), whileF. forbesii occurs as hexaploids (2n=66) and octoploids (2n=88); our counts appear to be the first reported chromosome numbers forF. forbesii. Morphological analysis indicates that there is no apparent correlation between the ploidy levels in these taxa and the morphological characters that we have considered in this study except that the tetraploids ofF. japonica var.japonica tend to have somewhat thicker leaves.