Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is Over Practice Necessary? - Improving Learning Efficiency with the Cognitive Tutor through Educational Data Mining

This study examined the effectiveness of an educational data mining method --Learning Factors Analysis (LFA) --on improving the learning efficiency in the Cognitive Tutor curriculum. LFA uses a statistical model to predict how students perform in each practice of a knowledge component (KC), and identifies over-practiced or under-practiced KCs. By using the LFA findings on the Cognitive Tutor geometry curriculum, we optimized the curriculum with the goal of improving student learning efficiency. With a control group design, we analyzed the learning performance and the learning time of high school students participating in the Optimized Cognitive Tutor geometry curriculum. Results were compared to students participating in the traditional Cognitive Tutor geometry curriculum. Analyses indicated that students in the optimized condition saved a significant amount of time in the optimized curriculum units, compared with the time spent by the control group. There was no significant difference in the learning performance of the two groups in either an immediate post test or a two-week-later retention test. Findings support the use of this data mining technique to improve learning efficiency with other computer-tutor-based curricula.
A Systematic Approach to a Quantified Security RiskAnalysis for Vehicular IT Systems

Strong IT security measures are often mandatory to enforce vehicular business models, liability, legal issues, warranty issues, and in particular to ensure the dependability of many of the next generation vehicular safety systems [An03, Br04, Wo09]. The automotive security protection measures, which will become actually implemented, should be determined by a well-founded costs benefit analysis, which prevents undersized, but also oversized security solutions. Consequently, we need a reliable taxonomy to be able to balance the costs and the complexity added for realizing a vehicular security measure against the potential damage caused by a potential security breach of the particular vehicular IT system. By applying a well-founded security risk analysis, which systematically evaluates the “difficulty” for realizing a certain security attack and the damage caused by this attack, we would have a qualified taxonomy to make well-founded decisions about the security protection measures effectively required. A meaningful security risk analysis thus particularly enables the realization of so-called economic security solutions that means that the total cost of a successful attack shall exceed the potential economic gain and shall be proportional to the potential damage, respectively. Finally yet importantly, a meaningful risk analysis would act as the underlying “security business model” to argue and prove for the necessity and necessary strength of appropriate IT security measures. Abstract: By now, security engineering is an accepted challenge in the development of most vehicular IT systems. However, even though many vehicular security threats and effective protection measures are known in general, automotive engineers have difficulties to realize efficient security solutions such that the costs for certain protection measures are appropriate to the actual security threats in order to avoid “underprotection” as well as “over-protection”, which both are unacceptable particularly in the automotive domain.
Contagion in Financial Networks

The recent financial crisis has prompted much new research on the interconnectedness of the modern financial system and the extent to which it contributes to systemic fragility. Network connections diversify firms' risk exposures, but they also create channels through which shocks can spread by contagion. We review the extensive literature on this issue, with the focus on how network structure interacts with other key variables such as leverage, size, common exposures, and short-term funding. We discuss various metrics that have been proposed for evaluating the susceptibility of the system to contagion and suggest directions for future research.
Reputation Measurement and Malicious Feedback Rating Prevention in Web Service Recommendation Systems

Web service recommendation systems can help service users to locate the right service from the large number of available web services. Avoiding recommending dishonest or unsatisfactory services is a fundamental research problem in the design of web service recommendation systems. Reputation of web services is a widely-employed metric that determines whether the service should be recommended to a user. The service reputation score is usually calculated using feedback ratings provided by users. Although the reputation measurement of web service has been studied in the recent literature, existing malicious and subjective user feedback ratings often lead to a bias that degrades the performance of the service recommendation system. In this paper, we propose a novel reputation measurement approach for web service recommendations. We first detect malicious feedback ratings by adopting the cumulative sum control chart, and then we reduce the effect of subjective user feedback preferences employing the Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Moreover, in order to defend malicious feedback ratings, we propose a malicious feedback rating prevention scheme employing Bloom filtering to enhance the recommendation performance. Extensive experiments are conducted by employing a real feedback rating data set with 1.5 million web service invocation records. The experimental results show that our proposed measurement approach can reduce the deviation of the reputation measurement and enhance the success ratio of the web service recommendation.
Modified Karnaugh map for quantum Boolean circuits construction

Karnaugh map is an efficient method of minimization for conventional logic design. Unfortunately, it is usually used for 3 or 4 variables, at most 6 variables. In this paper, we modify the Karnaugh map and propose a set of reduction rules for quantum Boolean circuit optimization. By applying these rules, we can efficiently simplify a quantum Boolean circuit that has an arbitrary number of input variables. In terms of the space consumption, we use only one auxiliary qubit as the output qubit, and keep all the input qubits unchanged.
Reduction of conjugal transfer efficiency by three restriction activities of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

The efficiency of conjugal transfer of plasmids from Escherichia coli to the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 was quantitated as a function of the number of restriction sites for the restriction enzymes carried by the recipient. In addition to the previously recognized isoschizomers of AvaI and AvaII, PCC 7120 was found to possess an isoschizomer of AvaIII. Plasmids modified in E. coli with methylases that protect in vitro against restriction by the three enzymes were transferred with high efficiency, nearly independent of the number of restriction sites on the plasmid. Plasmids left unprotected against one of the three restriction enzymes were transferred with lower efficiencies. For low numbers of sites, the efficiency of conjugal transfer decreased as an exponential function of the number of unprotected sites. The methods presented may be used to increase the efficiency of conjugal transfer into restriction-competent bacteria.
Lagrangian perturbation theory of non-relativistic rotating superfluid stars

We develop a Lagrangian perturbation framework for rotating non-relativistic superfluid neutron stars. This leads to the first generalization of classic work on the stability properties of rotating stars to models that account for the presence of potentially weakly coupled superfluid components. Our analysis is based on the standard two-fluid model expected to be relevant for the conditions that prevail in the outer core of mature neutron stars. We discuss the implications of our results for dynamic and secular instabilities of a simple neutron star model in which the two fluids are allowed to assume different (uniform) rotation rates.
Network Oscillations in Rod-Degenerated Mouse Retinas

In the mammalian retina, excitatory and inhibitory circuitries enable retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to signal the occurrence of visual features to higher brain areas. This functionality disappears in certain diseases of retinal degeneration because of the progressive loss of photoreceptors. Recent work in a mouse model of retinal degeneration (rd1) found that, although some intraretinal circuitry is preserved and RGCs maintain characteristic physiological properties, they exhibit increased and aberrant rhythmic activity. Here, extracellular recordings were made to assess the degree of aberrant activity in adult rd1 retinas and to investigate the mechanism underlying such behavior. A multi-transistor array with thousands of densely packed sensors allowed for simultaneous recordings of spiking activity in populations of RGCs and of local field potentials (LFPs). The majority of identified RGCs displayed rhythmic (7–10 Hz) but asynchronous activity. The spiking activity correlated with the LFPs, which reflect an average synchronized excitatory input to the RGCs. LFPs initiated from random positions and propagated across the retina. They disappeared when ionotrophic glutamate receptors or electrical synapses were blocked. They persisted in the presence of other pharmacological blockers, including TTX and inhibitory receptor antagonists. Our results suggest that excitation—transmitted laterally through a network of electrically coupled interneurons—leads to large-scale retinal network oscillations, reflected in the rhythmic spiking of most rd1 RGCs. This result may explain forms of photopsias reported by blind patients, while the mechanism involved should be considered in future treatment strategies targeting the disease of retinitis pigmentosa.
Development of a 60 Hz Power Standard Using SNS Programmable Josephson Voltage Standards

We are implementing a new standard for 60 Hz power measurements based on precision sinusoidal reference voltages from two independent programmable Josephson voltage standards (PJVS): one for voltage and one for current. The National Institute of Standards and Technology PJVS systems use series arrays of Josephson junctions to produce accurate quantum-based DC voltages. Using stepwise-approximation synthesis, the PJVS systems produce sinewaves with precisely calculable RMS voltage and spectral content. We present measurements and calculations that elucidate the sources of error in the RMS voltage that are intrinsic to the digital-synthesis technique and that are due to the finite rise times and transients that occur when switching between the discrete voltages. Our goal is to reduce all error sources and uncertainty contributions from the PJVS synthesized waveforms to a few parts in 10 7 so that the overall uncertainty in the AC-power standard is a few parts in 106
An Investigation of Out-of-Class Language Activities of Tertiary-Level EFL Learners

The area of language teaching and learning is constantly changing due to emerging educational, technological and social trends or innovations all around the world, so there is no universally correct way to learn a language for everyone. That’s why it is not possible for a classroom context to address everyone’s needs sufficiently during the class hour, so learners must carry on their learning beyond the classroom as well. The present study seeks to explore language activities that EFL learners are engaged outside the class in order to support their language learning process and their attitude towards out-of-class language learning. A total of 109 students who had different proficiency levels and who were studying at the School of Foreign Languages, Pamukkale University participated in the study. Data was collected through a questionnaire. The results of the analysis revealed that learners were mostly engaged in listening and watching activities which were considered as the most helpful activities as well. While no significant differences with respect to gender were found in learners’ out-of-class language learning attitudes, the type of language education (compulsory or elective) and language proficiency level were determined to be effective. In conclusion, it can be recommended that out-of-class language activities carried out most frequently and considered most helpful by learners are incorporated into curriculums of language teaching institutions.
High 15-F2t-Isoprostane Levels in Patients with a Previous History of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: The Effects of Supplementary Antioxidant Therapy

Background. Phase I of this study was aimed at comparing the profiles of oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with history of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), previously treated with surgery, to the healthy subjects. Phase II aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementary antioxidant therapy on the levels of biomarkers in the case group. Materials and Methods. In Phase I, oxidative stress biomarkers were measured in blood samples obtained from 24 healthy subjects and 60 patients with history of NMSC previously treated with surgery. In Phase II, the 60 patients with history of NMSC were randomized into two subgroups, one receiving placebo (n = 34) and the other (n = 26) receiving vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc supplementation for 8 weeks, followed by reevaluation of biomarkers. Results. In Phase I, patients with history of NMSC showed increased plasma concentrations of all biomarkers, but only 15-F2t-isoprostane was significantly higher than in the healthy subjects. Risk of NMSC increased by 4% for each additional 1 pg/mL increase in 15-F2t-isoprostane. In Phase II, supplementation did not significantly reduce levels of oxidative stress biomarkers. Conclusion. Patients with history of NMSC had significantly high 15-F2t-isoprostane plasma levels; supplementation did not result in significant reduction of oxidative stress biomarkers. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT02248584).
Psychosocial and Biological Markers of Daily Lives of Midlife Parents of Children with Disabilities∗

Using daily telephone interviews, 82 midlife parents (mean age = 57.4) of children with disabilities (mean age = 29.9) were compared with a closely matched sample of unaffected parents (N = 82) to elucidate the daily experience of nonnormative parenting. In addition, salivary cortisol samples were obtained to examine whether parents of children with disabilities had dysregulated diurnal rhythms and the extent to which the amount of time spent with children was associated with divergent patterns of cortisol expression. We found that parents of children with disabilities had similar patterns of daily time use and similar likelihood of positive daily events as the comparison group, but they had elevated levels of stress, negative affect, and physical symptoms, all reported on a daily basis. In addition, their diurnal rhythm of cortisol expression differed significantly from the comparison group, a pattern that was strongest for parents of children with disabilities on days when they spent more time with their children.
TAMES: A Truthful Auction Mechanism for heterogeneous spectrum allocation

Spectrums are heterogeneous, especially from the aspect of their central frequency. According to signal propagation properties, low-frequency spectrum generally has lower path loss, thus longer transmission range, compared with high-frequency spectrum. Cellular operators with different targeted cell size will have different preferences for spectrums with different frequencies. Furthermore, the transmission range also affects the interference relationships among transmitters. Transmitters who can reuse the same high-frequency spectrum may interfere with each other when reusing the low-frequency spectrum, so it is difficult to decide how to construct the interference graph to exploit spectrum reusability among transmitters. Auction is considered as an efficient way for spectrum allocation. However, most of the previous works only considered homogenous spectrum auction, failing to address the problem of spectrum heterogeneity. In this paper, we propose TAMES, a Truthful Auction Mechanism for hEterogeneous Spectrum allocation, which allows buyers to freely express their different preferences towards different spectrums. Frequency-specific interference graphs are constructed to determine buyer groups. The proposed heterogeneous spectrum auction is theoretically proved to be truthful and individual rational. The simulation results verifies that the proposed auction mechanism outperforms other auction mechanisms with homogenous bid or homogenous interference graph. The proposed auction mechanism is able to yield higher buyers' satisfaction, seller's revenue and spectrum utilization.
Differential Contribution of Frontal and Temporal Cortices to Auditory Change Detection: fMRI and ERP Results

The present study addresses the functional role of the temporal and frontal lobes in auditory change detection. Prior event-related potential (ERP) research suggested that the mismatch negativity (MMN) reflects the involvement of a temporofrontal network subserving auditory change detection processes and the initiation of an involuntary attention switch. In the present study participants were presented with repetitive spectrally rich sounds. Infrequent changes of either small (10% change), medium (30% change), or large (100% change) magnitude were embedded in the stimulus train. ERPs and fMRI measures were obtained in the same subjects in subsequent sessions. Significant hemodynamic activation in the superior temporal gyri (STG) bilaterally and the opercular part of the right inferior frontal gyrus was observed for large and medium deviants only. ERPs showed that small deviants elicited MMN when presented in silence but not when presented with recorded MR background noise, indicating that small deviants were hardly detected under fMRI conditions. The MR signal change in temporal lobe regions was larger for large than for medium deviants. For the right fronto-opercular cortex the opposite pattern was observed. The strength of the temporal activation correlated with the amplitude of the change-related ERP at around 110 ms from stimulus onset while the frontal activation correlated with the change-related ERP at around 150 ms. These results suggest that the right fronto-opercular cortex is part of the neural network generating the MMN. Three alternative explanations of these findings are discussed.
Cross-Sectional Investigation of HEMS Activities in Europe: A Feasibility Study

Objectives. To gather information on helicopter emergency medical services (HEMSs) activities across Europe. Methods. Cross-sectional data-collection on daily (15 November 2013) activities of a sample of European HEMSs. A web-based questionnaire with both open and closed questions was used, developed by experts of the European Prehospital Research Alliance (EUPHOREA). Results. We invited 143 bases from 11 countries; 85 (60%) reported base characteristics only and 73 (51%) sample-day data too. The variety of base characteristics was enormous; that is, the target population ranged from 94.000 to 4.500. 000. Of 158 requested primary missions, 62 (0.82 per base) resulted in landing. Cardiac aetiology (36%) and trauma (36%) prevailed, mostly of life-threatening severity (43%, 0.64 per mission). Had HEMS been not dispatched, patients would have been attended by another physician in 67% of cases, by paramedics in 24%, and by nurses in 9%. On-board physicians estimated to have caused a major decrease of death risk in 47% of missions, possible decrease in 22%, minor benefit in 17%, no benefit in 11%, and damage in 3%. Earlier treatment and faster transport to hospital were the main reasons for benefit. The most frequent therapeutic procedure was drug administration (78% of missions); endotracheal intubation occurred in 25% of missions and was an option hardly offered by ground crews. Conclusions. The study proved feasible, establishing an embryonic network of European HEMS. The participation rate was low and limits the generalizability of the results. Fortunately, because of its cross-sectional characteristics and the handy availability of the web platform, the study is easily repeatable with an enhanced network.
Theorizing international inequalities in communication and media studies. A field theory approach

In this paper we theoretically interpret empirical results regarding academic habits in communication and media studies. The theoretical framework used is Bourdieu’s frame theory throughout the analysis. The purpose of this effort is twofold. First, we argue that the Bourdieusian theory is an adequate theoretical frame for explaining existing data on academic performance and especially on international inequalities in communication and media studies. Second, we will make attempt towards a synthetized theoretical exposition of field theory by connecting main concepts and demonstrate dynamical interactions between them.
Direct evidence for coastal iodine particles from Laminaria macroalgae – linkage to emissions of molecular iodine

Renewal of ultrafine aerosols in the marine boundary layer may lead to repopulation of the marine distribution and ultimately determine the concentration of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Thus the formation of nanometre-scale particles can lead to enhanced scattering of incoming radiation and a net cooling of the atmosphere. The recent demonstration of the chamber formation of new particles from the photolytic production of condensable iodine-containing compounds from diiodomethane (CH2I2), (O'Dowd et al., 2002; Kolb, 2002; Jimenez et al., 2003a; Burkholder and Ravishankara, 2003), provides an additional mechanism to the gas-to-particle conversion of sulphuric acid formed in the photo-oxidation of dimethylsulphide for marine aerosol repopulation. CH2I2 is emitted from seaweeds (Carpenter et al., 1999, 2000) and has been suggested as an initiator of particle formation. We demonstrate here for the first time that ultrafine iodine-containing particles are produced by intertidal macroalgae exposed to ambient levels of ozone. The particle composition is very similar both to those formed in the chamber photo-oxidation of diiodomethane and in the oxidation of molecular iodine by ozone. The particles formed in all three systems are similarly aspherical. When small, those formed in the molecular iodine system swell only moderately when exposed to increased humidity environments, and swell progressively less with increasing size; this behaviour occurs whether they are formed in dry or humid environments, in contrast to those in the CH2I2 system. Direct coastal boundary layer observations of molecular iodine, ultrafine particle production and iodocarbons are reported. Using a newly measured molecular iodine photolysis rate, it is shown that, if atomic iodine is involved in the observed particle bursts, it is of the order of at least 1000 times more likely to result from molecular iodine photolysis than diiodomethane photolysis. A hypothesis for molecular iodine release from intertidal macroalgae is presented and the potential importance of macroalgal iodine particles in their contribution to CCN and global radiative forcing are discussed.