Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the reliability of the borderline regression method as a standard setting procedure for objective structured clinical examination

Background: One of the methods used for standard setting is the borderline regression method (BRM). This study aims to assess the reliability of BRM when the pass-fail standard in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) was calculated by averaging the BRM standards obtained for each station separately. Materials and Methods: In nine stations of the OSCE with direct observation the examiners gave each student a checklist score and a global score. Using a linear regression model for each station, we calculated the checklist score cut-off on the regression equation for the global scale cut-off set at 2. The OSCE pass-fail standard was defined as the average of all station's standard. To determine the reliability, the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated. The R2 coefficient and the inter-grade discrimination were calculated to assess the quality of OSCE. Results: The mean total test score was 60.78. The OSCE pass-fail standard and its RMSE were 47.37 and 0.55, respectively. The R2 coefficients ranged from 0.44 to 0.79. The inter-grade discrimination score varied greatly among stations. Conclusion: The RMSE of the standard was very small indicating that BRM is a reliable method of setting standard for OSCE, which has the advantage of providing data for quality assurance.
The SU(2) sector in AdS/CFT

In the large N limit of 𝒩 = 4 Super Yang‐Mills, the mixing under dilatations of the SU(2) sector, single trace operators composed of L complex scalar fields of two types, is closed to all orders in perturbation theory. By relying on the AdS/CFT correspondence, and by examining the currents for semiclassical strings, we present evidence which implies that there are small mixings that contradict the closure of the SU(2) sector in the strong coupling limit. These mixings first appear to second order in the λ/L2 expansion.
A tunable collective communication framework on a cluster of SMPS

In this paper we investigate a tunable MPI collective communications library on a cluster of SMPs. Most tunable collective communications libraries select optimal algorithms for inter-node communication on a given platform. We add another layer of intra-node communications composed by several tunable shared memory operations. We explore the advantages of our approach, and discuss when to use our approach, when to switch to another approach on the shared memory layer. Experimental results indicate that collective communications designed by such an approach with proper tuning can outperform vendor implementations.
Tail Risk Concerns Everywhere

We show that the beta with respect to an index of global ex ante tail risk concerns (𝔾ℝ𝕀𝕏), which we construct using out-of-the-money options on multiple global assets, negatively drives cross-sectional return variations across asset classes, including international equity indices, foreign currencies, and government bond futures. The pricing power of 𝔾ℝ𝕀𝕏 becomes stronger when more asset-class-level tail risk concerns are incorporated in the index construction. 𝔾ℝ𝕀𝕏 also dominates asset-class-level tail risk concerns in pricing assets within each asset class. These evidences imply that the pricing effect of tail risk concerns works predominantly as a global channel. The 𝔾ℝ𝕀𝕏 pricing effect is distinct from that of tail risk factors based on historical realizations, consistent with the interpretation that tail risk concerns likely reflect investors’ ex ante subjective belief about tail risk. This paper was accepted by Neng Wang, finance.
Komitmen Organisasi, Kepuasan Kerja dan Turnover Intentions Auditor Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan Republik Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of organizational commitment on turnover intentions BPK auditor and the influence of job satisfaction on turnover intentions BPK auditor. This study uses convenience sampling. The sample of this study are auditors of the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK RI) in the head office and the representative office. Survey method for this study is by distributing questionare. The numbers of questionnaires used in this study are 151 questionnaires. This study uses multiple linear regression analysis to test the classical assumption that includes data normality test, heteroscedasticity, and multicollinearity test using the program Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). The results indicated that affective organizational commitment and continuance organizational commitment do not significantly affect on turnover intentions, while the normative organizational commitment has a negative affect on turnover intentions. Meanwhile, job satisfaction has a positive effect on turnover intentions.
Critical Issues in the Emotional Wellbeing of Students with Disabilities.

Mental health difficulties in students with special educational needs present a significant barrier to their learning. These difficulties often go unrecognised for prolonged periods of time. Recent prevalence studies suggest an alarmingly high rate of mental health difficulties in this population. Depending on the complexity of their needs, average figures range from between 40% to 60%, with the presence of the intellectual disability in itself, being a risk factor of immense significance. Ongoing clinical and research evidence points to the need for specific interventions at the earliest possible onset, based on sound objective assessment and diagnostic frameworks. Our challenge in the 21st century is to continue to develop our “early warning systems”, and to rigorously explore, engage and evaluate the range of possible therapeutic interventions available to these young students. A further challenge is to develop appropriate preventative strategies, in an attempt to alleviate the consequences of the entire range of mental health difficulties.
PARENTS’ AND TEACHERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

It has already been indicated that parents have a significant impact on their children’s learning of a foreign language (among others,Desforges and Abouchaar, 2003, Gardner, 1985; Lindgren M MihaljevicDjigunovic, 2009; and Xuesong, 2006). The main aim of the present study was to research and compare parents’ and teachers’ attitudes towards children learning a foreign language in the first three years of formal education (ages 6–8). Within the scope of the study, we investigated some further issues, including children’s attitudes to foreign language learning, materials used in teaching a foreign language to children and similar. The study included the main stakeholders in early foreign language learning: parents, teachers and pupils. The data were collected from a sample of 150 parents whose children attended preschools and 263 parents whose children had just finished Year 3 of primary education (age 8) in Slovenia (a total of 413 parents); 104 teachers who teach English to children in the lower grades of primary school; 58 primary school children (age 6–8) who already had experience in early foreign language learning and 62 primary school pupils (age 6–8) who did not yet have such experience. Questionnaires were administered to all of the participants in the study (i.e., parents, teachers and primary school pupils). The findings from the study confirm that parents believe that foreign language learning is important. This is especially true of parents who have themselves learnt several foreign languages over a longer period of time. However, the methodology of teaching children is still not sufficiently creative, which suggests that more teacher training in teaching foreign languages to young children is needed. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy betweenparents’ and teachers’ expectations regardingthe level of foreign language proficiency achieved by children, indicating that in the future more will need to be done in educating parents about the nature of foreign language learning among children and the achievements that can be realistically expected. Keywords: young learners, foreign language learning, parent and teacher attitudes
Neuronal Loss in the Rostral Ventromedial Medulla in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

Cell death has been reported in the CNS in models of neuropathic pain (Sugimoto et al., 1990; Whiteside and Munglani, 2001; Scholz et al., 2005; Fuccio et al., 2009). In our present study, we examined the effects of spinal nerve ligation (SNL) on the number of neurons in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), a brainstem region involved in modulation of nociception. In rats receiving SNL, we found that the number of RVM neurons decreased by 23% in the side ipsilateral to the surgery. The loss of RVM neurons was also associated with a bilateral increase in the number of glia as well as bilateral activation of both astrocytes and microglia. Administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), which reportedly inhibits apoptosis, significantly reduced the loss of neurons, the increase in glia, and the mechanical hypersensitivity induced by SNL. Among RVM neurons, we found that serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) neurons decreased by 35% ipsilateral to SNL. Consistent with these findings, the density of 5-HT-immunoreactive varicosities in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord was 15–30% lower, ipsilateral to SNL. To test the function of the remaining 5-HT neurons, we administered the 5-HT neurotoxin, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT). Interestingly, after 5,7-DHT, mechanical withdrawal thresholds increased significantly. We conclude that nerve injury induces death of antinociceptive RVM neurons that can be reduced or abolished by TUDCA. We propose that the loss of RVM neurons shifts the balance of descending control from pain inhibition to pain facilitation.
Use of trajectory models for automatic accent classification

Thispaperdescribesaproposedautomaticlanguageaccentiden-tiﬁcationsystembasedonphonemeclasstrajectorymodels. Ourfocusistopreservediscriminantinformationofthespectralevo-lutionthatbelongtoeachaccent.Here,wedescribetwoclas-siﬁcationschemesbasedonstochastictrajectorymodels;super-visedandunsupervisedclassiﬁcation. Forsupervisedclassiﬁca-tion,weassumetextofspokenwordsareknownandintegrate this into the classiﬁcation scheme. Unsupervised classiﬁcation uses a Multi-Trajectory Template, which represents the global temporal evolution of each accent. No prior text knowledge of the input speech is required for the unsupervised scheme. We also conduct human-perceptual accent classiﬁcation experiments for comparison automatic system performance. The experiments are conducted on 3 foreign accents (Chinese,Thai,and Turkish)withnativeAmericanEnglish. Ourexperimentalevalu-ation shows that supervised classiﬁcation outperforms unsupervised classiﬁcation by 11.5%. In general, supervised classiﬁcation performance increases to 80% correct accent discrimination as we increase the phoneme sequence to 11 accent-sensitive phonemes.
Reinforcement Learning–Based Energy Management Strategy for a Hybrid Electric Tracked Vehicle

This paper presents a reinforcement learning (RL)–based energy management strategy for a hybrid electric tracked vehicle. A control-oriented model of the powertrain and vehicle dynamics is first established. According to the sample information of the experimental driving schedule, statistical characteristics at various velocities are determined by extracting the transition probability matrix of the power request. Two RL-based algorithms, namely Q -learning and Dyna algorithms, are applied to generate optimal control solutions. The two algorithms are simulated on the same driving schedule, and the simulation results are compared to clarify the merits and demerits of these algorithms. Although the Q -learning algorithm is faster (3 h) than the Dyna algorithm (7 h), its fuel consumption is 1.7% higher than that of the Dyna algorithm. Furthermore, the Dyna algorithm registers approximately the same fuel consumption as the dynamic programming–based global optimal solution. The computational cost of the Dyna algorithm is substantially lower than that of the stochastic dynamic programming.
The Exeter femoral stem continues to migrate during its first decade after implantation

Background Due to its collarless, double-tapered polished design, the Exeter femoral stem is known to migrate distally in the first 5 years after implantation. However, its long-term migration pattern has not been investigated. Patients and methods 39 consecutive patients (41 total hip arthroplasties) received a cemented Exeter stem and had prospective clinical and RSA follow-up. Patients were evaluated postoperatively at 6, 12, 26, and 52 weeks, and annually thereafter. Short-term results have been reported. In this study, the mean length of follow-up was 9.4 years (SD 3.2 years). No patients were lost to follow-up. 15 patients died during follow-up. Results No stems were revised. In 4 stems, fractures of the cement mantle were noted within the first 3 postoperative years. In 3 stems, this resulted in a complete circumferential cement mantle discontinuity. For the 37 well-performing stems, continuous but small migration was measured between 2 and 12 years of follow-up. Continued subsidence of 0.08 mm/year (95% CI: 0.05–0.12, p < 0.001) was seen in combination with continued rotation in retroversion of 0.07°/year (95% CI: 0.02–0.12, p = 0.01). At 10 years of follow-up, mean subsidence was 2.1 (SD 1.2) mm and mean retroversion was 1.8° (SD 2.0). Two-thirds of this occurred during the first 2 postoperative years. In the 3 stems with a complete circumferential cement fracture, a sudden and disproportionately high increase in subsidence was measured in the time period of occurrence. Interpretation The Exeter femoral stem continues to migrate during the first decade after implantation. Absolute stability is not required for good long-term survival if this is compatible with the design of the implant.
The UV Continuum of Quasars: Models and SDSS Spectral Slopes

We measure long (2200-4000 Å) and short (1450-2200 Å) wavelength spectral slopes α (Fν ∝ να) for quasar spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The long- and short-wavelength slopes are computed from 3646 and 2706 quasars with redshifts in the z = 0.76-1.26 and 1.67-2.07 ranges, respectively. We calculate mean slopes after binning the data by monochromatic luminosity at 2200 Å and virial mass estimates based on measurements of the Mg II line width and 3000 Å continuum luminosity. We find little evidence for mass-dependent variations in the mean slopes, but a significant luminosity-dependent trend in the near-UV spectral slopes is observed with larger (bluer) slopes at higher luminosities. The far-UV slopes show no clear variation with luminosity and are generally lower (redder) than the near-UV slopes at comparable luminosities, suggesting a slightly concave quasar continuum shape. We compare these results with Monte Carlo distributions of slopes computed from models of thin accretion disks, accounting for uncertainties in the mass estimates. The model slopes produce mass-dependent trends which are larger than observed, although this conclusion is sensitive to the assumed uncertainties in the mass estimates. The model slopes are also generally bluer than observed, and we argue that reddening by dust intrinsic to the source or host galaxy may account for much of the discrepancy.
Spectrum of the linearized operator for the Ginzburg-Landau equation

We study the spectrum of the linearized operator for the GinzburgLandau equation about a symmetric vortex solution with degree one. We show thatthesmallest eigenvalueof thelinearized operator hasmultiplicitytwo,andthenwedescribeitsbehaviorasasmallparameterapproaches zero. We also nd a positive lower bound for all the other eigenvalues, and nd estimates of the rst eigenfunction. Then using these results, we give partial results on the dynamics of vortices in the nonlinear heat and
Three-micron spectra of AGB stars and supergiants in nearby galaxies

The dependence of stellar molecular bands on the metallicity is studied using infrared L-band spectra of AGB stars (both carbon-rich and oxygen-rich) and M-type supergiants in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC) and in the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy. The spectra cover SiO bands for oxygen-rich stars, and acetylene (C2H2), CH and HCN bands for carbon-rich AGB stars. The equivalent width of acetylene is found to be high even at low metallicity. The high C2H2 abundance can be explained with a high carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio for lower metallicity carbon stars. In contrast, the HCN equivalent width is low: fewer than half of the extra-galactic carbon stars show the 3.5 µm HCN band, and only a few LMC stars show high HCN equivalent width. HCN abundances are limited by both nitrogen and carbon elemental abundances. The amount of synthesized nitrogen depends on the initial mass, and stars with high luminosity (i.e. high initial mass) could have a high HCN abundance. CH bands are found in both the extra-galactic and Galactic carbon stars. One SMC post-AGB star, SMC-S2, shows the 3.3 µm PAH band. This first detection of a PAH band from an SMC post-AGB star confirms PAHs can form in these low-metallicity stars. None of the oxygen-rich LMC stars show SiO bands, except one possible detection in a low quality spectrum. The limits on the equivalent widths of the SiO bands are below the expectation of up to 30 A for LMC metallicity. Several possible explanations are discussed, mostly based on the effect of pulsation and circumstellar dust. The observations imply that LMC and SMC carbon stars could reach mass-loss rates as high as their Galactic counterparts, because there are more carbon atoms available and more carbonaceous dust can be formed. On the other hand, the lack of SiO suggests less dust and lower mass-loss rates in low-metallicity oxygen-rich stars. The effect on the ISM dust enrichment is discussed.
Do Sophisticated Investors Understand Accounting Quality ? Evidence from Bank Loans

An emerging body of evidence suggests that participants in the equity market and the corporate bond market misprice the information contained in financial statements. In contrast, financial intermediation literature suggests that banks can resolve information frictions by their superior ability to screen and monitor borrowers. We examine if the conjectured superiority of banks is reflected in pricing of accounting quality at the time of loan initiations. We measure accounting quality using abnormal operating accruals, i.e.: the difference between a firm’s earnings and cash flows controlled for industry and normal level of activity. We find strong evidence that banks respond to the lower accounting quality of the borrower by charging a higher price (higher loan spread of 2940 basis points) and stricter non price contract terms (shorter maturity and greater likelihood of requiring collateral). The results remain robust after controlling for a variety of proxies for loan default risk. Preliminary analysis also suggests that our results are consistent with the interpretation that limited information is a source of risk. Overall, our study provides direct evidence in support of the ability of sophisticated investors, commercial banks in our study, to process financial information which is in contrast to the evidence on mispricing of accruals by equity and corporate bond investors.
A Preliminary Evaluation of Lyophilized Gelatin Sponges, Enhanced with Platelet-Rich Plasma, Hydroxyapatite and Chitin Whiskers for Bone Regeneration

The purpose of this study was to perform a number of preliminary in vitro evaluations on an array of modified gelatin gel sponge scaffolds for use in a bone graft application. The gelatin gels were modified through the addition of a number of components which each possess unique properties conducive to the creation and regeneration of bone: a preparation rich in growth factors (PRGF, a bioactive, lyophilized form of platelet-rich plasma), hydroxyapatite, and chitin whiskers. Platelet-rich plasma therapy is an emerging practice that has proven effective in a number of clinical applications, including enhancing bone repair through improved deposition of new bony matrix and angiogenesis. As such, the inclusion of PRGF in our gelatin scaffolds was intended to significantly enhance scaffold bioactivity, while the addition of hydroxyapatite and chitin whiskers were anticipated to increase scaffold strength. Additionally, the gelatin sponges, which readily dissolve in aqueous solutions, were subjected to 1-Ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) cross-linking, either during or post-gelation, to control their rate of degradation. Scaffolds were evaluated in vitro with respect to compressive strength, mass loss/degradation, protein release, and cellular interaction, with results demonstrating the potential of the gelatin gel sponge scaffold for use in the regeneration of bone.
The place of translation in Language Teaching

For a long time the pivotal point of foreign language teaching, translation has been banned from the language classroom for quite a while. Moreover, it has been a frequent object of ridicule by those eager to demonstrate their uncompromising allegiance to modern ways. Nevertheless, it has displayed a remarkable resilience (whether this was necessitated by hard facts of real life, or is the result of the resistance to changes is another matter which deserves to be studied on its own). Translation was abandoned as an option in ESL situations, but not in the state education in many countries. It seems now that the general attitude towards translation has begun to change: those who discuss it in their studies argue that translation is a legitimate pedagogical tool especially in an EFL environment, and claim that it deserves to be rehabilitated (Widdowson 1978:18, Harmer 1991:62, Ellis 1992:46, Bowen, Marks 1994:93; Ur 1996:40). However, they provide little methodological guidance as to how to translate translation into pedagogical practice. The literature on translation deals either with translation theories or translatior’s training and contains only part of relevant information. Only a small number of works are devoted to translation as an aid to teaching and learning (Duff 1989, Atkinson 1993, Edge 1986, Ulrych 1986, Nadstroga 1988, Urgese 1989, Eadie 1999). The aim of this paper is to draw attention to this void and consider the hows and whys of incorporating translation in regular courses in the light of insights contributed by SLA research, language theories and new psychological perspectives on language learning.