Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Students’ perceptions of choice criteria in the selection of an Indonesian public university

The Indonesian higher-education landscape has evolved rapidly to become more market-oriented: institutions compete for student enrolments. Therefore, understanding students’ choice criteria for selecting a higher-education institution has become increasingly important. The purpose of this study was (1) to explore and determine the most relevant factors considered by Indonesian students when selecting an Indonesian public university in which to study; (2) to estimate the relative importance the students attach to the factors that influence them to select a public university and the various levels of each factor; (3) to determine whether there are groups of students for whom different factors are more important; and (4) to determine market-share predictions for real and ‘ideal’ student choice criteria in the selection of an Indonesian public university. Understanding both the factors that are most influential in selecting an institution and the prospective students’ methodology in their choice process is imperative, particularly for those involved in the recruitment process; therefore, this study makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge. A mixed-methods research design, with qualitative and quantitative phases, was employed in the current research. The qualitative study used an individual qualitative questionnaire and focus-group discussions using a same cohort of 48 first-year undergraduate students in five public universities in Java and Sumatra. Thematic analysis was employed to generate factors that were then used to construct a questionnaire for quantitative survey. The quantitative study employed a conjoint questionnaire on high-school leavers who were actively engaged in the decision to select either public autonomous or non-autonomous universities in Java, which resulted in a final sample size of 403 responses. The complicated trade-offs that students had to make in determining which attributes were important to them – and how important – were analysed using conjoint analysis. The research demonstrated that conjoint analysis identified and described consumer preferences in two models – aggregate and segmented – based on the importance values and the part-worth utilities obtained. A key finding of this study is that advice from family, friends, and/or teachers on students’ decision to choose a public university, along with job prospects, total expenses, campus atmosphere, reputation and proximity were considered as choice factors unique to the Indonesian highereducation context. Cluster analysis identified two homogeneous student segments: ‘social networks-based decision’ segment and ‘rational decision’ segment. The first segment places the highest importance on advice from family, friends and/or teachers, followed (in order) by job prospects, total expenses, proximity, campus atmosphere and reputation. In contrast, the second segment rated reputation as the most important, followed by job prospects and advice from family, friends and/or teachers, while proximity was the least…
Effect of C-Peptide on Diabetic Neuropathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Recent results indicate that proinsulin C-peptide, contrary to previous views, exerts important physiological effects and shows the characteristics of a bioactive peptide. Studies in type 1 diabetes, involving animal models as well as patients, demonstrate that C-peptide in replacement doses has the ability to improve peripheral nerve function and prevent or reverse the development of nerve structural abnormalities. Peripheral nerve function, as evaluated by determination of sensory nerve conduction velocity and quantitative sensory testing, is improved by C-peptide replacement in diabetes type 1 patients with early stage neuropathy. Similarly, autonomic nerve dysfunction is ameliorated following administration of C peptide for up to 3 months. As evaluated in animal models of type 1 diabetes, the improved nerve function is accompanied by reversal or prevention of nerve structural changes, and the mechanisms of action are related to the ability of C-peptide to correct diabetes-induced reductions in endoneurial blood flow and in Na+ K+-ATPase activity and modulation of neurotrophic factors. Combining the results demonstrates that C-peptide may be a possible new treatment of neuropathy in type 1 diabetes.
Information Precision, Noise, and the Cross-Section of Stock Returns

We derive a cross-sectional asset pricing measure from a noisy multi-asset rational expectations equilibrium model. The measure is based on the time-series covariance of an asset’s returns and security prices. Empirically, stocks with a measure one standard deviation above and below the average have returns that dier by 0.36% the following month (4.44% per annum) which is statistically signicant at the 1%-level. Results remain signicant after including variables such as stock market capitalization, book-to-market ratio, and the probability of information-based trading. Our measure can be understood as a proxy for information risk and/or supply uncertainty. We show the two explanations are theoretically intertwined.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE FLOW AROUND A SPHERE USING THE IMMERSED BOUNDARY METHOD

The numerical simulation of internal and external flows using the Immersed Boundary Methods allows the insertion of bodies by a force field added to the Navier-Stokes equations source term. The geometries are formed by a lagrangean mesh that overlaps, without interference, the eulerian mesh which the flow are been solved. This metodology permits, for instance, the complete independence of the lagrangean geometry, suitable for very complex flow simulation such as fluid-structure interaction. However, the evaluation of the lagrangean force field is not trivial, and several approaches are found in the literature. The Physical Virtual Model PVM, a methodology to obtain the lagrangean force field, has shown very competitive when compared against the traditional methods. In this work, an extension to the PVM to 3D domains is proposed and the classical flow around a sphere was chosen as a test case. The numerical code was written in Fortran 90 for an in-house Beowulf-class cluster with a MPI parallel library. The Navier-Stokes equations were implicit discretized by the Finite Volume Method in a spatial and temporal second order approximation. The results for flow field topologies and drag coefficients were compared against those in the literature, up to a Reynolds number of 1000.
National Culture and Cross-Country Differences in Trade Credit

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether national culture explains previously observed cross-country variation in trade credit. Previous work suggests that national culture may close the gap between behavioral finance and “Law and Finance” in corporate finance. National culture influences on human values and is therefore expected to drive individual behavior. If we presume that people in charge of the company, represent the values of the nation in the country the company operates, we can predict the relationship between the financial decision making of the company and the national culture. Using firm level data from 35 European countries, religion and cultural factors from Hofstede and Schwartz, we provide new evidence on the determinants of the cross country variance in trade credit.Our results indicate that religion and national culture are associated with trade credit. We find that the levels of the trade credit are higher in the Catholic countries than in the Protestant ones. We also find that Hofstede’s cultural dimensions power distance and uncertainty avoidance are positively related to trade credit while individualism is negatively related to accounts receivable. Schwartz cultural orientation intellectual autonomy is negatively related to trade credit and conservatism is positively associated with accounts payable. Overall, our findings indicate that religion and the national culture are important determinants of trade credit management.
Bacteriological Profile and Drug Resistance Patterns of Blood Culture Isolates in a Tertiary Care Nephrourology Teaching Institute

Blood stream infections can lead to life threatening sepsis and require rapid antimicrobial treatment. The organisms implicated in these infections vary with the geographical alteration. Infections caused by MDR organisms are more likely to increase the risk of death in these patients. The present study was aimed to study the profile of organisms causing bacteremia and understand antibiotic resistance patterns in our hospital. 1440 blood samples collected over a year from clinically suspected cases of bacteremia were studied. The isolates were identified by standard biochemical tests and antimicrobial resistance patterns were determined by CLSI guidelines. Positive blood cultures were obtained in 9.2% of cases of which Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 58.3% of cases with staph aureus predominance; gram negative bacteria accounted for 40.2% with enterobactereciea predominence; and 1.5% were fungal isolates. The most sensitive drugs for Gram-positive isolates were vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin, linezolid, and tigecycline and for Gram-negative were carbapenems, colistin, aminoglycosides, and tigecycline. The prevalence of MRSA and vancomycin resistance was 70.6% and 21.6%, respectively. ESBL prevalence was 39.6%. Overall low positive rates of blood culture were observed.
Cinguloparietal atrophy distinguishes Alzheimer disease from semantic dementia.

BACKGROUND Progressive brain atrophy is associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and other dementias. Regional differences in brain atrophy may reflect clinical features of disease. OBJECTIVE To identify regions of cerebral atrophy that are associated with AD vs other dementias. SETTING University hospital dementia clinic. PARTICIPANTS Eleven patients with AD and 11 with semantic dementia (SD), matched for age, sex, education, and degree of overall cognitive impairment and 15 normal controls. METHODS Voxel-based morphometry was used to compare patterns of gray matter loss, measured on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images, between patients with AD or SD, a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and controls. Statistically significant differences in regional gray matter concentration, after multiple-comparisons correction, between groups of subjects were identified. RESULTS Patients with AD were more impaired than those with SD on tests of visuospatial function and on simple calculations. Consistent with these neuropsychological deficits, the most significant area of atrophy in the AD group was the left parietal cortex vs controls (z = 5.0; P =.04). Compared with SD, AD was associated with more atrophy in the left parietal lobe (z = 5.6; P =.04) and bilaterally in the posterior cingulate/precuneus (z = 5.1; P =.04). A discriminant function analysis demonstrated that the degree of atrophy of right posterior cingulate, left parietal lobe, right amygdala, and right anterior temporal lobe structures correctly classified 96% of the patients. CONCLUSION Alzheimer disease is associated with a specific pattern of cortical atrophy compared with SD.
Multiple Trafficking Signals Regulate Kainate Receptor KA2 Subunit Surface Expression

The kainate receptor subunit KA2 does not form functional homomeric channels despite its structural similarity to the functional glutamate receptor 5-7subunits and high agonist binding affinity in in vitro assays. In this study, we first demonstrate that homomeric KA2 receptors fail to reach the plasma membrane and then identify the molecular mechanisms preventing surface expression. Specifically, we show that KA2 subunits form homooligomeric receptors that are confined to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We then demonstrate that, in both heterologous expression systems and primary neurons, the intracellular retention of KA2 is not caused by subunit misfolding but, rather, is mediated through discrete protein trafficking signals, including an arginine-rich ER retention/retrieval motif and a di-leucine endocytic sequence in the C terminus of the KA2 subunit. Disruption of these motifs results in ER exit and surface expression of KA2 homomeric receptors that remain nonfunctional. Furthermore, our data suggest that the ER retention/retrieval signal in KA2 is sterically shielded during heteromeric assembly, allowing delivery of functional heteromeric receptors to the plasma membrane. Taken together, our results illustrate novel regulatory mechanisms that control the intracellular trafficking and surface expression of kainate receptors.
PAID I TRANSFER LEARNING THROUGH GREEDY SUBSET SELECTION Ilja Kuzborskij Francesco Orabona

We study the binary transfer learning problem, focusing on how to select sources from a large pool and how to combine them to yield a good performance on a target task. In particular, we consider the transfer learning setting where one does not have direct access to the source data, but rather employs the source hypotheses trained from them. Building on the literature on the best subset selection problem, we propose an efficient algorithm that selects relevant source hypotheses and feature dimensions simultaneously. On three computer vision datasets we achieve state-of-the-art results, substantially outperforming transfer learning and popular feature selection baselines in a small-sample setting. Also, we theoretically prove that, under reasonable assumptions on the source hypotheses, our algorithm can learn effectively from few examples.
a-Ketoglutarate abrogates the nuclear localization of HIF-1a in aluminum-exposed hepatocytes

Aluminum (Al), a known environmental pollutant, has been linked to numerous pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease and anaemia. In this study, we show that a-ketoglutarate (KG) mitigates the Al-mediated nuclear accumulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) in cultured human hepatocytes (HepG2). The nuclear localization of HIF-1a appeared to be triggered by the Al-induced perturbation of prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2). This enzyme was markedly diminished in the Al-challenged hepatocytes. The fate of PHD2 and HIF-1a was intricately linked to the mitochondrial dysfunction observed during Al stress. BN-PAGE, immunoblot, and HPLC revealed that the loss of a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities were coupled to the accumulation of succinate. However, the treatment of the Alstressed cells with KG recovered the activity and expression of KGDH, SDH, and PHD2 with a concomitant decrease in the levels of HIF-1a in the nucleus. Taken together, these data indicate that the homeostasis of KG plays a pivotal role in aerobic and anaerobic respiration. 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Reactivation, Replay, and Preplay: How It Might All Fit Together

Sequential activation of neurons that occurs during “offline” states, such as sleep or awake rest, is correlated with neural sequences recorded during preceding exploration phases. This so-called reactivation, or replay, has been observed in a number of different brain regions such as the striatum, prefrontal cortex, primary visual cortex and, most prominently, the hippocampus. Reactivation largely co-occurs together with hippocampal sharp-waves/ripples, brief high-frequency bursts in the local field potential. Here, we first review the mounting evidence for the hypothesis that reactivation is the neural mechanism for memory consolidation during sleep. We then discuss recent results that suggest that offline sequential activity in the waking state might not be simple repetitions of previously experienced sequences. Some offline sequential activity occurs before animals are exposed to a novel environment for the first time, and some sequences activated offline correspond to trajectories never experienced by the animal. We propose a conceptual framework for the dynamics of offline sequential activity that can parsimoniously describe a broad spectrum of experimental results. These results point to a potentially broader role of offline sequential activity in cognitive functions such as maintenance of spatial representation, learning, or planning.
A novel algorithm for people detection in grey scale thermal images

In this paper, we explore a new algorithm to detect people with thermal cameras based on the standard Implicit Shape Model (ISM) technique. Our approach starts with the ISM to define the proposed centers of people locations. Then we utilize a novel method to detect people based on the density of the concentrated proposed centers by using an auto generated threshold mechanism. Our method is easy to implement and does not require complicated computations; thus resulting in a considerable increase in the speed performance and decrease in the cost of the required hardware on mobile platforms. We evaluated our system by testing it on three image sets for indoor and three for outdoor scenarios taken from four databases. Our system showed promising results in detecting people on images taken by different types of thermal cameras under difficult scenarios. This technique will be used as the vision system for a rescue assist mobile robot currently being built at Flinders University.
Simulation and Experiment of a Compact Wideband 90$^{\circ}$  Differential Phase Shifter

A compact wideband 90° differential phase shifter is developed by modifying ports termination in the Abbosh phase-shifter configuration. This novel phase-shifter arrangement consists of a 3-dB directional coupler with the coupled and transmission ports terminated with reactive loads. The proper reactance is found at the input of the coupled line section in which the remaining ports are open circuited. Both coupled sections utilize a multilayer broadside coupling microstrip-slot-microstrip tight coupler. A theoretical model is presented to explain the performance of the proposed phase shifter and design procedure. Further, the phase shifter was designed and manufactured. Results of calculation and measurement show that the developed circuit provides a 90° differential phase shift with deviation less than ±4° across the 3-7-GHz frequency band.
Integrated analysis of overall survival in two randomised studies comparing 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin with or without trimetrexate in advanced colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND Two randomised studies were performed with trimetrexate (TMTX) as a biochemical modulator of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) in advanced colorectal cancer (ACC), one in Europe and one in the United States. Both studies were similarly designed to detect a statistically significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS). Overall survival (OS), however, was later adopted as the primary outcome measure for approvability of agents for first-line treatment of ACC. Therefore, an integrated analysis of survival data from the European and USA trials was performed to detect a clinically relevant difference in survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS The experimental arm was identical in both studies and consisted of TMTX 110 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) followed 24 h later by i.v. LV 200 mg/m2/5-FU 500 mg/m2 plus oral LV rescue. The 5-FU dose in the control arm was 600 mg/m2 in the European study and 500 mg/m2 in the USA study, and the USA study was placebo-controlled. Treatment was given weekly for 6 weeks every 8 weeks. RESULTS A total of 746 patients were analysed. Median OS was 13.0 months for 5-FU/LV and 14.6 months for TMTX/5-FU/LV (P = 0.15; Wilcoxon). Median PFS was 4.4 months and 5.4 months, respectively (P = 0.07; Wilcoxon). CONCLUSIONS The addition of TMTX to a weekly regimen of 5-FU/LV does not improve the outcome for patients with ACC.
A Proposed Molecular Mechanism of High-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Prevention and Treatment of Preeclampsia

A randomized prospective clinical study performed on a group of 74 pregnant women (43 presenting with severe preeclampsia) proved that urinary levels of 15-F2t-isoprostane were significantly higher in preeclamptic patients relative to the control (3.05 vs. 2.00 ng/mg creatinine). Surprisingly enough, plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in both study groups were below the clinical reference range with no significant difference between the groups. In vitro study performed on isolated placental mitochondria and placental cell line showed that suicidal self-oxidation of cytochrome P450scc may lead to structural disintegration of heme, potentially contributing to enhancement of oxidative stress phenomena in the course of preeclampsia. As placental cytochrome P450scc pleiotropic activity is implicated in the metabolism of free radical mediated arachidonic acid derivatives as well as multiple Vitamin D3 hydroxylations and progesterone synthesis, we propose that Vitamin D3 might act as a competitive inhibitor of placental cytochrome P450scc preventing the production of lipid peroxides or excess progesterone synthesis, both of which may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of preeclampsia. The proposed molecular mechanism is in accord with the preliminary clinical observations on the surprisingly high efficacy of high-dose Vitamin D3 supplementation in prevention and treatment of preeclampsia.
Crosscap states for orientifolds of euclidean AdS 3

Crosscap states for orientifolds of euclidean AdS3 are constructed. We show that our crosscap states describe the same orientifolds which were obtained by the classical analysis. The spectral density of open strings in the system with orientifold can be read from the Mobius strip amplitudes and it is compared to that of the open strings stretched between branes and their mirrors. We also compute the Klein bottle amplitudes.
Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia among Young Children with and without Diarrhea in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Background Although enteroparasites are common causes of diarrheal illness, few studies have been performed among children in Tanzania. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia among young children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and identify risk factors for infection. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed an unmatched case-control study among children < 2 years of age in Dar es Salaam, recruited from August 2010 to July 2011. Detection and identification of protozoans were done by PCR techniques on DNA from stool specimens from 701 cases of children admitted due to diarrhea at the three study hospitals, and 558 controls of children with no history of diarrhea during the last month prior to enrollment. The prevalence of C. parvum/hominis was 10.4% (84.7% C. hominis), and that of G. lamblia 4.6%. E. histolytica was not detected. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium was significantly higher in cases (16.3%) than in controls (3.1%; P < 0.001; OR = 6.2; 95% CI: 3.7–10.4). G. lamblia was significantly more prevalent in controls (6.1%) than in cases (3.4%; P = 0.027; OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1–3.1). Cryptosporidium infection was found more often in HIV-positive (24.2%) than in HIV-negative children (3.9%; P < 0.001; OR = 7.9; 95% CI: 3.1–20.5), and was also associated with rainfall (P < 0.001; OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.5–3.8). Among cases, stunted children had significantly higher risk of being infected with Cryptosporidium (P = 0.011; OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.2–3.8). G. lamblia infection was more prevalent in the cool season (P = 0.004; OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3–3.8), and more frequent among cases aged > 12 months (P = 0.003; OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.5–7.8). Among children aged 7–12 months, those who were breastfed had lower prevalence of G. lamblia infection than those who had been weaned (P = 0.012). Conclusions Cryptosporidium infection is common among young Tanzanian children with diarrhea, particularly those living with HIV, and infection is more frequent during the rainy season. G. lamblia is frequently implicated in asymptomatic infections, but rarely causes overt diarrheal illness, and its prevalence increases with age.