Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Empirical validation of the modeling assumptions about Signal Strength and Error Rates under a Fading Wireless Channel

The uncertainty of the wireless channel in realistic wireless networks inhibits the effectiveness of the of the higher level protocols and models to predict the effect of channel. Measurement based models and protocols overcome this hurdle by measuring the essential lower level parameters and use these empirical data as an input for decision making at the higher layers. Received signal strength and error rates are two such measured parameters that are extensively used for capturing the effect of randomness in the wireless channel. Statistical characterization of the empirical data not only helps to understand the randomness of their behavior but also benefit the measurement based applications that base their judgment on the observed values. In this paper, we analyze the empirical values of received signal strength and error rates from IEEE 802.11 indoor wireless network. We methodically classify the links based on their behavior, analyze their statistical distribution and independence properties, and study the effect of fading for varying packet sizes and standard modulation schemes. While classifying links into discrete categories has been proposed before, the statistical properties of each category and the mechanism to recognize the category of the link remains uncertain. In this paper we show that while all links do not exhibit a general statistical behavior, the statistical behavior of each category can be generalized. Each category has different behavior in terms of statistical distribution, memory and the temporal variation of the parameters. We observe that the error rates of strong and weak links are more stable and predictable, while the effect of fading introduces significant volatality in an average quality link.
Impact of Population Substructure on Trend Tests for Genetic Case–Control Association Studies

Summary Hidden population substructure in case–control data has the potential to distort the performance of Cochran–Armitage trend tests (CATTs) for genetic associations. Three possible scenarios that may arise are investigated here: (i) heterogeneity of genotype frequencies across unidentified subpopulations (PSI), (ii) heterogeneity of genotype frequencies and disease risk across unidentified subpopulations (PSII), and (iii) cryptic correlations within unidentified subpopulations. A unified approach is presented for deriving the bias and variance distortion under the three scenarios for any CATT in a general family. Using these analytical formulas, we evaluate the excess type I errors of the CATTs numerically in the presence of population substructure. Our results provide insight into the properties of some proposed corrections for bias and variance distortion and show why they may not fully correct for the effects of population substructure.
The Theory of Mass Society

A specter is haunting sociologists. It is the specter of &dquo;mass society. &dquo; This phantasm is not of the sociologist’s own making. The conception of mass society, that had its origin in the Roman historians’ idea of the tumultuous populace and its greatest literary expression in Coriolanus, is largely a product of the nineteenth century. In this epoch, it is a product of the reaction against the French Revolutions which ran from 1789, through 1830 and 1848, to 1871. Jakob Burckhardt and Friedrich Nietzsche, fearful of the inflammability of the mob in the presence of a heated demagogue-that demagogue was Louis Napoleon--came to envisage modern society, particularly modern democratic society, as tending toward an inert and formless mass, lying in brutish torpor most of the time and occasionally aroused to plebiscitary acclamation by a &dquo;great simplifier. &dquo; Tocqueville’s critique of the absolutist
Child-rearing in Bi-Cultural Settings: A Culture-Ecological Approach

North WestEuropean countries have experienced massive immigration from developing countries since World War II. These immigrant populations differ in several respects from the mainstream society. They generally have a low socio-economic status in society and they frequently are culturally different. Many immigrant children grow up in bi-cultural settings. In this article a theoretical model for studying child-rearing in bi-cultural settings will be presented. The model combines Bronfenbrenner's socio- ecological approach, which has mostly been used for research in mono-cultural settings, with Harkness and Super's framework of the developmental niche, which has often been used for cross-cultural comparisons. These models have not so far been applied systematically in studies of child-rearing in bi-cultural settings. The article concludes with a particular case of migration: the Hindustanis who migrated from India to Surinam about a century ago, and then to the Netherlands in the 1970s.
PartitionFinder 2: New Methods for Selecting Partitioned Models of Evolution for Molecular and Morphological Phylogenetic Analyses.

PartitionFinder 2 is a program for automatically selecting best-fit partitioning schemes and models of evolution for phylogenetic analyses. PartitionFinder 2 is substantially faster and more efficient than version 1, and incorporates many new methods and features. These include the ability to analyze morphological datasets, new methods to analyze genome-scale datasets, new output formats to facilitate interoperability with downstream software, and many new models of molecular evolution. PartitionFinder 2 is freely available under an open source license and works on Windows, OSX, and Linux operating systems. It can be downloaded from www.robertlanfear. com/partitionfinder. The source code is available at https://github.com/brettc/partitionfinder.
Ventilatory Threshold in Various Groups of Highly Trained Athletes

The ventilatory threshold (VT) was determined on a treadmill in highly trained male marathon, male and female long-distance, young male long-distance, adult male and female and young female middle-distance runners, modern pentathlonists, adult canoeists of both sexes, young male canoeists and football players, and on a bicycle ergometer in table tennis players, water slalom paddlers, young female canoeists rowers, and ice hockey players. Young female canoeists were also examined on the paddling ergometer and rowers on the rowing ergometer. VT expressed in %VO2 max was higher the longer the duration of racing performance (in marathoners 86.7%). %VO2 max at the VT level depends on the type of load and is higher the better the organism is adapted to a load. In young female canoeists and rowers examined on the bicycle ergometer, we found the VT level at 74.2% and 74.6% of %VO2 max, respectively. In the case of specific loading, we recorded 84.8% and 85.0% of %VO2 max, respectively, in the same athletes. In the case of nonspecific loading highly trained individuals may have low VT values close to the level characteristic for normal subjects. In relatively equally trained young and adult athletes we did not find significant differences in %VO2 max at the VT level (for long-distance runners, 85.2% and 85.3%, respectively, in female middle-distance runners, 82.8% and 82.7%, respectively, and in canoeists 81.3% and 78.9% of %VO2 max, respectively). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
THE CHOICE OF IPO VERSUS TAKEOVER : PRIVATE INVESTORS AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE *

We study the effect of private investor contractual governance on the likelihood of an entrepreneurial firm going public versus being acquired. On one hand, we may expect that the use of strong investor control contracts improves entrepreneurial firm governance and increases the probability of going public. On the other hand, we may expect that founding entrepreneurs generally prefer to maintain their position as CEO, and that the use of strong investor control contracts, which enables actual or constructive replacement of the founding entrepreneur as CEO, increases the probability of a takeover. These competing propositions are tested with a new sample of detailed European IPO and takeover transactions. The empirics indicate takeovers are more likely with strong private investor control contracts. Consistent with recent developments in the literature on capital structure and signaling, that data also indicate IPOs are more likely with private investor common equity contracts.
Classroom 2000: Enhancing Classroom Interaction and Review

The classroom is a site for rich CSCW activities. We are interested in prototyping future computing environments that will enhance the classroom experience and empower both student and teacher. In this paper, we describe the Classroom 2000 project at Georgia Tech, which is integrating pen-based technology, audio services and the WorldWide Web to support the capture of in-class activity for later review and to enhance group interactions. We describe the prototype classroom system and the results of an experiment using this technology in a lecture-based course.
Epidemics and Mortality in Early Modern Japan

Ann Jannetta suggests that Japan's geography and isolation from major world trade routes provided a cordon sanitaire that prevented the worst diseases of the early modern world from penetrating the country before the mid-nineteenth century. Her argument is based on the medical literature on epidemic diseases, on previously unknown evidence in Buddhist temple registers, and on rich documentary evidence from contemporary observers in Japan.Originally published in 1987.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
The Competencies of an English Teacher: Beginning Student Teachers’ Perceptions

This paper presents the results of a survey conducted with first year Education students at a Queensland university on the levels of competency in literacies expected for teachers in schools. Eight aspects were chosen to be examined to discover the skill levels students thought to be essential for effective teaching and to compare these with their estimation of their own skill level; spelling and grammar competency rated the highest, ICT/computing and visual aspects the lowest for teachers. Students rated their own spelling competency at the highest level and knowledge of genre the lowest. They were asked how they intended to develop their competency skill whilst undergoing teacher training; the written comments were analysed phenomenographically exposing students' conceptions of skill development as occurring through discrete and concrete experiences and processes of study, learning, and practise. There is no acknowledgement of the influence of the contextual knowledge in which competencies are founded.
Technological Networks and the Spread of Computer Viruses

Malicious computer software in the form of viruses and worms continues to plague modern information networks. What strategies are on the horizon for controlling the digital pestilence? In their Perspective, [ Balthrop et al . ][1] survey the structure of computer networks and analyze their epidemiological characteristics. The most effective strategy may turn out to be a form of speed limit in which the rate of new network connections is controlled. A throttling mechanism of this sort would slow the spread of computer infections while leaving normal network traffic unhampered. [1]: http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/304/5670/527
Psychometric properties and convergent and predictive validity of an executive function test battery for two-year-olds

Executive function (EF) is an important predictor of numerous developmental outcomes, such as academic achievement and behavioral adjustment. Although a plethora of measurement instruments exists to assess executive function in children, only few of these are suitable for toddlers, and even fewer have undergone psychometric evaluation. The present study evaluates the psychometric properties and validity of an assessment battery for measuring EF in two-year-olds. A sample of 2437 children were administered the assessment battery at a mean age of 2;4 years (SD = 0;3 years) in a large-scale field study. Measures of both hot EF (snack and gift delay tasks) and cool EF (six boxes, memory for location, and visual search task) were included. Confirmatory Factor Analyses showed that a two-factor hot and cool EF model fitted the data better than a one-factor model. Measurement invariance was supported across groups differing in age, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), home language, and test setting. Criterion and convergent validity were evaluated by examining relationships between EF and age, gender, SES, home language, and parent and teacher reports of children's attention and inhibitory control. Predictive validity of the test battery was investigated by regressing children's pre-academic skills and behavioral problems at age three on the latent hot and cool EF factors at age 2 years. The test battery showed satisfactory psychometric quality and criterion, convergent, and predictive validity. Whereas cool EF predicted both pre-academic skills and behavior problems 1 year later, hot EF predicted behavior problems only. These results show that EF can be assessed with psychometrically sound instruments in children as young as 2 years, and that EF tasks can be reliably applied in large scale field research. The current instruments offer new opportunities for investigating EF in early childhood, and for evaluating interventions targeted at improving EF from a young age.
Strategy Selection in Influence Diagrams using Imprecise Probabilities

This paper describes a new algorithm to solve the decision making problem in Influence Diagrams based on algorithms for credal networks. Decision nodes are associated to imprecise probability distributions and a reformulation is introduced that finds the global maximum strategy with respect to the expected utility. We work with Limited Memory Influence Diagrams, which generalize most Influence Diagram proposals and handle simultaneous decisions. Besides the global optimum method, we explore an anytime approximate solution with a guaranteed maximum error and show that imprecise probabilities are handled in a straightforward way. Complexity issues and experiments with random diagrams and an effects-based military planning problem are discussed.
Ancient Nursery Area for the Extinct Giant Shark Megalodon from the Miocene of Panama

Background As we know from modern species, nursery areas are essential shark habitats for vulnerable young. Nurseries are typically highly productive, shallow-water habitats that are characterized by the presence of juveniles and neonates. It has been suggested that in these areas, sharks can find ample food resources and protection from predators. Based on the fossil record, we know that the extinct Carcharocles megalodon was the biggest shark that ever lived. Previous proposed paleo-nursery areas for this species were based on the anecdotal presence of juvenile fossil teeth accompanied by fossil marine mammals. We now present the first definitive evidence of ancient nurseries for C. megalodon from the late Miocene of Panama, about 10 million years ago. Methodology/Principal Findings We collected and measured fossil shark teeth of C. megalodon, within the highly productive, shallow marine Gatun Formation from the Miocene of Panama. Surprisingly, and in contrast to other fossil accumulations, the majority of the teeth from Gatun are very small. Here we compare the tooth sizes from the Gatun with specimens from different, but analogous localities. In addition we calculate the total length of the individuals found in Gatun. These comparisons and estimates suggest that the small size of Gatun's C. megalodon is neither related to a small population of this species nor the tooth position within the jaw. Thus, the individuals from Gatun were mostly juveniles and neonates, with estimated body lengths between 2 and 10.5 meters. Conclusions/Significance We propose that the Miocene Gatun Formation represents the first documented paleo-nursery area for C. megalodon from the Neotropics, and one of the few recorded in the fossil record for an extinct selachian. We therefore show that sharks have used nursery areas at least for 10 millions of years as an adaptive strategy during their life histories.
Randomised trial of CPAP vs bilevel support in the treatment of obesity hypoventilation syndrome without severe nocturnal desaturation

Background: Untreated, obesity hypoventilation is associated with significant use of health care resources and high mortality. It remains unclear whether continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel ventilatory support (BVS) should be used as initial management. The aim of this study was to determine if one form of positive pressure is superior to the other in improving daytime respiratory failure. Methods: A prospective randomised study was performed in patients with obesity hypoventilation referred with respiratory failure. After exclusion of patients with persisting severe nocturnal hypoxaemia (Spo2 <80% for >10 min) or carbon dioxide retention (>10 mm Hg) despite optimal CPAP, the remaining patients were randomly assigned to receive either CPAP or BVS over a 3-month period. The primary outcome was change in daytime carbon dioxide level. Secondary outcome measures included daytime sleepiness, quality of life, compliance with treatment and psychomotor vigilance testing. Results: Thirty-six patients were randomised to either home CPAP (n = 18) or BVS (n = 18). The two groups did not differ significantly at baseline with regard to physiological or clinical characteristics. Following 3 months of treatment, daytime carbon dioxide levels decreased in both groups (CPAP 6 (8) mm Hg; BVS 7 (7) mm Hg) with no between-group differences. There was no difference in compliance between the two treatment groups (5.8 (2.4) h/night CPAP vs 6.1 (2.1) h/night BVS). Although both groups reported an improvement in daytime sleepiness, subjective sleep quality and psychomotor vigilance performance were better with BVS. Conclusions: Both CPAP and BVS appear to be equally effective in improving daytime hypercapnia in a subgroup of patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome without severe nocturnal hypoxaemia. Trial registration number: Australian Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN01205000096651.
Attitudes towards using animals in research and teaching: opinions from a selected group of female secondary school students

Abstract This research provides details about a group of young New Zealand women's awareness of, interest in and attitudes towards the use of animals in scientific research and teaching. These findings were compared to a similar survey of the New Zealand public. An adapted, anonymous questionnaire was used to gather data from 90 young women (14–15 years) from an urban secondary school. While nearly half expressed concern about animal use in research (43%), their awareness was not consistent with the reality of animal research in New Zealand, either in terms of its impact on animals or animal species used. They were unconcerned about the use of animals in teaching and associated such use with enhanced learning. Justification for the use of animals in research and teaching was shown to be complex and contextualized, with an instrumental qualifier being used to justify their opinions. Even though many students were unaware of the regulations surrounding animal use in research and teaching, they were mistrustful that these regulations were being followed by scientists. Instead, their trust was placed in the SPCA and in veterinarians.
Multilingual Entity Linking: Comparing English and Spanish

The Entity Linking (EL) task is concerned with linking entity mentions in a text collection with their corresponding knowledgebase entries. The majority of approaches have focused on EL over English text collections. However, some approaches propose language-independent or multilingual approaches to perform EL over texts in many languages. In this paper, our goal is to see how well EL systems perform outside of the primary language (often English). We first provide a survey of EL approaches that present evaluation over multiple languages. We then provide results of an initial study comparing selected entity linking APIs for equivalent documents and sentences in English and Spanish. Multilingual EL approaches fare best for Spanish, though all approaches still perform better for English text than the corresponding Spanish text. This indicates that there is an important gap between EL techniques for English in relation to Spanish (and possibly for many other languages) which has not been addressed yet. However, we leave investigation of the causes of this gap for future work, which could be due to many factors, for example, to differences in existing multilingual knowledge bases.
Psychometric Properties of the Anxiety Attitude and Belief Scale in an Asian Community Group

Background: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Anxiety Attitude and Belief Scale (AABS), a measure of attitudes and beliefs intended to index a psychological vulnerability to anxiety problems, in an Asian context. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis was performed on sample of 434 community participants from Singapore, who were predominantly ethnic Chinese. Results: A revised factor structure of the scale (AABS–A) comprising of three factors, namely Catastrophising, Vigilance/Avoidance, and Reasonable Anxiety–Related Beliefs, was found. Internal consistency was satisfactory for the total scale and the three factor scales derived. Concurrent and discriminate validity of the AABS–A were also good. Conclusion: Study results suggest that the AABS–A is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing anxiety–related attitudes and beliefs in Asian, in particular Singaporean, community samples.
An International Graduate Student’s ESL Learning Experience Beyond the Classroom

International graduate students are coming in ever-growing numbers to English-speaking countries. Educators have long believed that the successful English-learning experience of these students in their home countries will naturally lead to success in their academic studies and social life abroad. However, this may be not true. Using my English-learning experiences as a basis for research, in this article I explore the role of target-language improvement in adaptation to new environments. Based on a supportive sociocultural theory of second-language acquisition, the article provides recommendations for assisting international graduate students, especially those from East Asia, to enhance their academic performance and quality of life in Canada.