Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Student Perceptions of Assessment for Workplace Learning and Summative Decisions Using Frequent Mini-CEXs

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Introduction: Direct observation assessments that provide both formative feedback and data for summative decisions can be difficult to achieve. The mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) is a widely used tool of direct observation that provides opportunities for feedback. We introduced a direct observation system with frequent mini-CEXs to increase clerkship student learning opportunities and to improve competency-based summative decisions. However, students may express resistance to assessments for learning with any summative impact as they may perceive the assessments as purely a series of summative evaluations. Aims: We explored how frequent low-stakes mini-CEXs affect clerkship students’ perception of learning and to understand student perceptions of these assessments supporting their end-of-rotation summative clinical performance evaluations. Methods: This qualitative study used a purposive sampling strategy of focus groups with students who completed multiple mini-CEXs during their four-week neurology clerkship at one of three sites. All eleven students chose to participate. Eight students completed eight mini-CEXs, two students completed seven, and one student completed four. Investigator triangulation was used with interpretation comparisons that included independent content analysis. The emerging themes were discussed and final theme consensus was reached. Results: Three major themes arose: perceived effects of frequent mini-CEXs for clerkship student learning by facilitating multiple opportunities for guided practice under low assessment anxiety; the importance of consistent, effective faculty feedback and engagement to maximize mini-CEXs for learning; and support for summative impact of frequent, mainly formative, low stakes mini-CEXs. Conclusions: Students perceived that frequent mini-CEXs are mainly formative assessments for learning while having summative impact. However, variable perceived faculty affinity and engagement with the mini-CEX are important considerations to maximize the assessments for learning. These findings support a shift towards workplace-based assessment programs for learning that promote frequent direct observation and feedback, while also improving the trustworthiness of summative decisions.
Effects of geometric distortions, Gaussian blur, and contrast negation on recognition of familiar faces

ABSTRACT It is assumed that “configural processing” is important for recognizing people whom we know. Studies have shown better discrimination of relational changes between facial features when faces are presented upright than upside down and when presented as photographic negatives. However, studies have also demonstrated tolerance for complex changes to facial configuration of familiar faces when images are geometrically distorted. In two experiments, we explored effects of linear stretching, Gaussian blur, and contrast negation on recognition of familiar or unfamiliar faces (Experiment 1) and familiar or unfamiliar company brand logos (Experiment 2). Only contrast negation severely impaired recognition of familiar faces but not unfamiliar faces or company brand logos. Effects of contrast negation were additional to linear stretching, whereas linear stretching independently had no impact on recognition. These findings highlight an important deficit in the recognition of familiar faces caused by contrast negation.
Children Becoming More Intelligent: Can the Flynn Effect be Generalized to Other Child Intelligence Tests?

In this article, time effects on intelligence test scores have been investigated. In particular, we examined whether the “Flynn effect” is manifest in children from the middle and higher IQ distribution range, measured with a child intelligence test based on information processing principles—the Leiden Diagnostic Test. The test was administered to two independent groups of children—one tested recently, another tested 25 years ago. Analyses of the test scores showed that over time, children's IQ scores increased at least 15 points for those in the higher SES group and 8 points for those in the middle SES group. In a two-factor solution, scores on the Spatial-Analytic factor increased more than scores on the Verbal factor. Inspection of the three-factor solution showed that gains on the Spatial-Analytic factor were about . 9 SD, on the Memory factor . 8 SD, and on the Verbal factor . 6 SD. The finding that performance or fluid abilities, measuring on-the-spot problem-solving, are more susceptible to change over time than crystallized abilities, measuring the results of learning in the past, is consistent with our hypothesis. However, the finding that aspects of children's memory are also susceptible to change over time was unexpected. It is hypothesized that the working memory system may have become more efficient over time because more information has tobe absorbedatamuch younger age, and coping with a stimulating environment may require a more efficient memory system.
symmetry breaking and exceptional points for a class of inhomogeneous complex potentials

We study a three-parameter family of -symmetric Hamiltonians, related via the ODE/IM correspondence to the Perk–Schultz models. We show that real eigenvalues merge and become complex at quadratic and cubic exceptional points, and explore the corresponding Jordan block structures by exploiting the quasi-exact solvability of a subset of the models. The mapping of the phase diagram is completed using a combination of numerical, analytical and perturbative approaches. Among other things this reveals some novel properties of the Bender–Dunne polynomials, and gives new insight into a phase transition to infinitely many complex eigenvalues that was first observed by Bender and Boettcher. A new exactly solvable limit, the inhomogeneous complex square well, is also identified.
Ensuring Security to the Compressed Sensing Data Using a Steganographic Approach

This paper focuses on the strength of combining cryptography and steganography methods to enhance the security of communication over an open channel. Here the data to be send are secured by using the compressive sensing method and the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) based embedding method. The data is encrypted using the compressive measurements of the data and the resultant data is embedded in the cover object using the SVD based water mark embedding algorithm. This approach helps to send the secret data after hiding in a cover image. The compressive sensing method helps to compress and encrypt the data in a single step. The proposed system provides more security to the compressed data. This scheme significantly reduces the attacks. This method is very useful to hide the secret images. The results demonstrate that the proposed system is highly efficient and robust.
Dissipative shocks behind bacteria gliding

Gliding is a means of locomotion on rigid substrates used by a number of bacteria, including myxobacteria and cyanobacteria. One of the hypotheses advanced to explain this motility mechanism hinges on the role played by the slime filaments continuously extruded from gliding bacteria. This paper solves, in full, a non-linear mechanical theory that treats as dissipative shocks both the point where the extruded slime filament comes into contact with the substrate, called the filament’s foot, and the pore on the bacterium outer surface from where the filament is ejected. I prove that kinematic compatibility for shock propagation requires that the bacterium uniform gliding velocity (relative to the substrate) and the slime ejecting velocity (relative to the bacterium) must be equal, a coincidence that seems to have already been observed.
Student perception on group work and group assignments in classroom teaching: The case of Bule Hora university second year biology students, South Ethiopia: An action research

Group learning has become a common practice in schools and tertiary institutions. It provides more comfortable and supportive learning environment than solitary work. It fosters critical thinking skills, develops individual accountability, increases levels of reasoning and positive interdependence, improves problem-solving strategies and internalizes content knowledge. But many factors influence the group relation, such as members’ perceptions, attitudes and willingness to cooperate and contribute as a team. Therefore, this study was conducted on students’ perceptions and attitudes towards the usefulness of group work mainly, and how the students evaluate factors that may affect their participation specifically. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Bule Hora University from February to June, 2015. Quantitative research approaches had been applied; using semi-structured face-to-face interviews and focus group discussion with Biology students and Instructors. Of the total number of 47 students who participated in the study, 25 (53%) of the students’ responded that they prefer group work than other types of assessment while few of them 4 (8.51%) replied that they disagree with group work use. The results indicated that students had misconception on objectives of group work and they perceived group work as a means of getting pass mark than seeing it as a means of learning cooperatively through activity. Key words: Group work, biology, students’ perception, Bule Hora, Ethiopia.
HIV monoinfection is associated with increased aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, a surrogate marker for hepatic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND Although liver disease commonly causes morbidity and mortality among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, data are limited on its prevalence in HIV monoinfection. We used the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) as a surrogate marker of hepatic fibrosis to characterize liver disease in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. METHODS Men were categorized based on their HIV and viral hepatitis status: uninfected (n = 1170), HIV monoinfected (n = 509), viral hepatitis monoinfected (n = 74), and HIV-viral hepatitis coinfected (n = 66). RESULTS The median APRI in the HIV-monoinfected group was similar to that in the hepatitis-monoinfected group (0.42 vs 0.43; P > .05), higher than in the uninfected group (0.42 vs 0.27; P < .001) but lower than in the coinfected group (0.42 vs 1.0; P < .001). On multivariable analysis, HIV infection (1.39-fold increase [FI]; P < .001), viral hepatitis infection (1.52-FI; P < .001), and the interaction between HIV and viral hepatitis infections were independently associated with a higher APRI (1.57-FI; P < .001). Among the HIV-infected men, viral hepatitis coinfection (2.34-FI; P < .001), HIV RNA ≥100 000 copies/mL (1.26-FI; P = .007), and CD4 count ≤200 cells/mL (1.23-FI; P = .022) were independently associated with a higher APRI. CONCLUSIONS HIV and viral hepatitis are independently associated with an increased APRI. Further studies are needed to understand the biological basis for the association between HIV and liver disease.
Analysis and Evaluation of Liberal (Free-Choice) Multiple-Choice Tests

Abstract We present a new model of liberal (also known as free-choice) multiple-choice tests in which a candidate’s test score is represented as a function of two other variables: their inclination to eliminate perceived distracters; and the accuracy with which they are able to do this. We propose a number of theoretical relationships between these three variables that appear to support the notion that good students ought to be better judges of their level of knowledge — and hence better able to benefit through the expression of partial knowledge — than weak students, as previous empirical studies have found. However, the results of our own small empirical study were not in line with our expectations. This work has given us a better understanding of the test format, but we now doubt whether it does in fact provide the benefits that have previously been claimed.
Numerical evaluation of subsampling effects on image reconstruction in compressed sensing microscopy

When undergoing reconstruction through a compressed sensing scheme, real microscopic images are affected by various artifacts that lead to detail loss. Here, we discuss how the sampling strategy and the subsampling rate affect the compressed sensing reconstruction, and how they should be determined according to a targeted accuracy level of the reconstruction. We investigate the relevance and limits of theoretical results through several numerical reconstructions of test images. We discuss the quantitative and qualitative artifacts that affect the reconstructed signal when reducing the number of measurements in the Fourier domain. We conclude by extending our results to real microscopic images.
Anomaly detection in dynamic networks: a survey

Anomaly detection is an important problem with multiple applications, and thus has been studied for decades in various research domains. In the past decade there has been a growing interest in anomaly detection in data represented as networks, or graphs, largely because of their robust expressiveness and their natural ability to represent complex relationships. Originally, techniques focused on anomaly detection in static graphs, which do not change and are capable of representing only a single snapshot of data. As real‐world networks are constantly changing, there has been a shift in focus to dynamic graphs, which evolve over time.
Influence of energy balance on the somatotrophic axis and matrix metalloproteinase expression in the endometrium of the postpartum dairy cow

Postpartum dairy cows enter a period of negative energy balance (NEB) associated with low circulating IGF1, during which the uterus must undergo extensive repair following calving. This study investigated the effects of NEB on expression of IGF family members and related genes in the involuting uterus. Cows were allocated to two treatments using differential feeding and milking regimes to produce mild NEB or severe NEB (SNEB). Uterine endometrial samples collected 2 weeks post partum were analysed by quantitative PCR. The expression of IGF-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) mRNA increased in the endometrium of SNEB cows, with trends towards increased IGFBP1 and reduced IGFBP6 expression. There were no significant differences between treatments in mRNA expression of IGF1, IGF2 or of any hormone receptor studied, but significant correlations across all cows in the expression levels of groups of receptors suggested common regulatory mechanisms: type 1 IGF receptor (IGF1R), IGF2R and insulin receptor (INSR); GHR with ESR1; and ESR2 with NR3C1. The expression of IGF1R and INSR also positively correlated with the circulating urea concentration. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important in tissue remodelling and can affect IGF signalling via interaction with IGFBPs. The expression levels of MMP1, MMP3, MMP9 and MMP13 mRNAs all showed major upregulation in the endometrium of cows in SNEB and all except MMP9 were highly correlated with expression of IGFBP4. Alpha(2)-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) and PDK4, two genes implicated in insulin resistance, were also highly expressed in SNEB. These results suggest that cows in SNEB experience alterations to the IGF and insulin signalling pathways in the postpartum endometrium. This may affect the rate of tissue repair with a possible negative impact on subsequent fertility.
Combining Word Embeddings and Feature Embeddings for Fine-grained Relation Extraction

Compositional embedding models build a representation for a linguistic structure based on its component word embeddings. While recent work has combined these word embeddings with hand crafted features for improved performance, it was restricted to a small number of features due to model complexity, thus limiting its applicability. We propose a new model that conjoins features and word embeddings while maintaing a small number of parameters by learning feature embeddings jointly with the parameters of a compositional model. The result is a method that can scale to more features and more labels, while avoiding overfitting. We demonstrate that our model attains state-of-the-art results on ACE and ERE fine-grained relation extraction.
Contradictory tendencies in the political culture of Croatian youth: unexpected anomalies or an expected answer to the social crisis?

ABSTRACT A successful democratic consolidation of post-socialist societies depends, among other things, on their citizens’ political culture, younger generations included. Moreover, youth civic engagement today and in the future is a guarantee of the continuity and development of democracy, which means that scientists need to gain insight into young people’s political culture. In this paper we look at political values, institutional trust and participation as relevant components of the civic political culture. The analysis is based on quantitative data collected in the empirical studies of Croatian youth, carried out between 1999 and 2013. Based on longitudinal study results, a downward trend is identified regarding selected political culture indicators: acceptance of liberal-democratic values, trust in social and political institutions, interest in politics and party preference. However, there is a simultaneous increase in participation in various types of organizations, especially political parties. The interpretation of established tendencies is placed in a broader context of an inherited democratic deficit, economic recession and social crisis. Current trends are both indicators and consequences of young people’s inadequate political socialization as well as weaknesses of political institutions and various actors during the transition and consolidation period.
Annuity choices and income drawdown: evidence from the decumulation phase of defined contribution pensions in England*

Abstract We provide new empirical evidence on the importance of defined contribution pension wealth in England, and the nature of annuitization decisions taken by older adults who retire with such sources of wealth. Other things equal, financial literacy, and numeracy in particular, are important factors governing individuals’ choices over whether to shop around for an annuity as opposed to taking the ‘path of least resistance’ option and purchasing from their original pension fund provider. This has important policy and welfare implications given that buying an annuity on the open market has significant financial benefits for most people. In the context of the increasing reliance on private provision for retirement, the importance of individuals having the financial literacy to successfully navigate complex financial decisions late in life should not be underestimated.
Invited commentary on GETUG-AFU 16

I am grateful to accept the invitation to provide this commentary on the recently published article entitled “Salvage radiotherapy with or without short-term hormone therapy for rising prostate-specific antigen concentration after radical prostatectomy (GETUG-AFU 16): a randomized, multicenter, open-label phase 3 trial” (1). This important trial adds to the salvage radiotherapy literature which historically has been largely populated with retrospective analyses. The GETUG-AFU 16 trial observed improved progression-free survival when 6 months of goserelin was added to radiotherapy. In this short note I will provide a critical appraisal of the GETUG study, briefly describe another trial of salvage radiotherapy and androgen suppression (RTOG/NRG Oncology 96-01) and at the end describe how I incorporate the findings of each of these studies into my practice.
Clinical Implications and Recommendations Arising from EMDR Research Findings

ABSTRACT Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment approach found to be efficacious for trauma-related disorders. This article provides an overview of the EMDR treatment process and briefly describes treatment components. It reviews the current research investigating EMDR treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and research investigating the role of eye movements. The practical clinical implications arising from the findings are discussed. These include factors related to treatment provision, such as treatment fidelity, length of treatment, homework, and the use of eye movements. Also highlighted are client-related factors such as population, type of trauma, multiple traumas, symptom severity, comorbid disorders, and complex PTSD. Where possible, recommendations are made for clinical practice and comparisons are made with other types of treatments.
Difference in Generality Between Item Pairs Mediates Effect of Difference in Items’ Lengths on Inter-Item Correlation Size

In this study, the author examined potential mediators of the negative relationship between the absolute difference in items’ lengths and their inter-item correlation size. Fifty-two randomly ordered items from five personality scales were administered to 622 university students, and 46 respondents from a survey website rated the items’ readability, clarity, and generality. Based on prior research, the author hypothesized that the difference in mean ratings of item pairs’ generality, but not readability or clarity, would mediate the negative relationship between the difference in the item pairs’ lengths and their inter-item correlation size. In pairs of items, difference in item length was negatively correlated with inter-item correlation size. However, only difference in ratings of generality, not readability or clarity, was associated with correlation size, and as predicted, it mediated the relationship between item length and correlation size. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Pitfalls in Testing for Cointegration between Inequality and the Real Income

Frank (2009) constructed a comprehensive panel of state-level income inequality measures using individual tax filing data from the Internal Revenue Service. Employing an array of cointegration exercises for the data, he reported a positive long-run relationship between income inequality and the real income per capita in the US. This paper questions the validity of his findings. First, we suggest a mis-specification problem in his approach regarding the order of integration in the inequality index, which shows evidence of nonstationarity only for the post-1980 data. Second, we demonstrate that his findings are not reliable because the panel cointegration test he uses requires cross-section independence, which is inappropriate for the US state-level data. Employing panel tests that allow cross-section dependence, we find no evidence of cointegration between inequality and the real income.
Prior Disambiguation of Word Tensors for Constructing Sentence Vectors

Recent work has shown that compositionaldistributional models using element-wise operations on contextual word vectors benefit from the introduction of a prior disambiguation step. The purpose of this paper is to generalise these ideas to tensor-based models, where relational words such as verbs and adjectives are represented by linear maps (higher order tensors) acting on a number of arguments (vectors). We propose disambiguation algorithms for a number of tensor-based models, which we then test on a variety of tasks. The results show that disambiguation can provide better compositional representation even for the case of tensor-based models. Furthermore, we confirm previous findings regarding the positive effect of disambiguation on vector mixture models, and we compare the effectiveness of the two approaches.