Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning Strategies Used by Urban and Rural School Students in Mathematics

The paper attempts to find out the difference in preferred learning strategies in mathematics between urban and rural school students in Nepal. The study was conducted in 1394 grade IX students through multistage sampling procedure throughout the country. Among them, 987 students were from urban schools, and 407 students were from rural schools. The researcher adopted mix method-sequential explanatory design. The study was based on taxonomy of learning strategies developed by Pintrich, Smith and McKeachie (1989). The tools for the data collection were Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), observation and interview. The study shows that there is significant difference in preferred learning strategies of urban and rural school students. There was a significant difference in the use of mathematics learning strategies between urban and rural school students. Elaboration and organization strategies were more often used by rural students than urban school students whereas peer learning, elaboration, help seeking and effort management strategies were more often used by urban school students. However, students from both of the locations mostly used peer learning and elaboration learning strategies.
Improvisational comedy and product design ideation making non-obvious connections between seemingly unrelated things

: It is believed that both wit and product design innovation involve making non-obvious connections between seemingly unrelated things. In a study involving 84 participants taking a cartoon caption test and a nominal product brainstorming test, we found that improvisational comedians on average produced 20% more product ideas and 25% more creative product ideas than professional product designers. Individual quantity of product ideas was highly correlated (r 2 =.82) with that individual’s product creativity scores, and individual quantity of cartoon captions was highly correlated (r 2 =.64) with that individual’s caption humor scores. It was also found that the few individuals that were highly fluent in prolific creative product ideation were also highly fluent in prolific humorous cartoon caption production. The majority of these prolific generators had improvisational comedy training. Many of the games used in introductory improvisation comedy classes are designed to train people in making prolific non-obvious connections between seemingly unrelated things. A workshop was developed composed of these association-based games with the goal of helping designers be more prolific, and thus creative, idea generators. A group of 11 subjects who participated in this workshop increased their idea output on average by 37% in a subsequent product brainstorming session.
When to Talk, When to Chat: Student Interactions in Live Virtual Classrooms

This study explores students' choices of verbal and text interaction in a synchronous Live Virtual Classroom (LVC) environment that mixed onsite and online learners. Data were collected from analysis of recorded LVC sessions and post-course interviews with students in two different offerings of a graduate instructional design course that used Adobe Connect as a live virtual classroom. Students could choose whether to participate onsite in a computer classroom or "live" online using Connect. Over the course of both semesters students increasingly chose to participate online and, overall, students chose to participate online (57%) more than onsite (43%). However, some students—especially international students—preferred to participate onsite even though it was less convenient and also meant that they were more likely to be "called on" for verbal responses. Analysis of LVC recordings and post-course interviews showed that text interaction in which students asked questions or made comments in the LVC chat box during the instructor's lectures was a preferred mode of interaction for students when they were participating both online and onsite. The emergent pedagogical strategy of integrated text interaction during lecture suggests a benefit of synchronous online learning.
Exploring the Relationship between Organizational Culture, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour

This study examined the interaction between organizational culture, organizational citizenship behaviours and job satisfaction. While organizational culture plays an important role in affecting performance indirectly, other variables mediate and moderate the relationship. This study was based on a sample of 127 Egyptian participants undertaking an MBA course. Results showed positive significant correlations between four types of organizational culture, job satisfaction and citizenship behaviour individually. Job satisfaction mediated the relationship between culture and citizenship behaviour. However, the mediation effect was weak. Further discussion, implications and research limitations are discussed.
Sentiment Classification with Polarity Shifting Detection

Sentiment classification is now a hot research issue in the community of natural language processing and the bag-of-words based machine learning approach is the state-of-the-art for this task. However, one important phenomenon, called polarity shifting, remains unsolved in the bag-of-words model, which sometimes makes the machine learning approach fails. In this study, we aim to perform sentiment classification with full consideration of the polarity shifting phenomenon. First, we extract some detection rules for detecting polarity shifting of sentimental words from a corpus which consists of polarity-shifted sentences. Then, we use the detection rules to detect the polarity-shifted words in the testing data. Third, a novel term counting-based classifier is designed by fully considering those polarity-shifted words. Evaluation shows that the novel term counting-based classifier significantly improves the performance of sentiment analysis across five domains. Furthermore, when this classifier is combined with a machine-learning based classifier, the combined classifier yields better performance than either of them.
A lottery improves performance on a low-stakes test for males but not females

Abstract The purpose of this study was to address the effectiveness of autonomy support and a lottery-based reward in enhancing test performance and test-taking motivation on a low-stakes test. Two hundred and forty-six university students were randomly assigned to three groups – lottery, autonomy support and control – and took a mathematics test. Students in the autonomy support and lottery group reported putting forth more test-taking effort than students in the control group. Males who were offered a chance at winning the financial reward scored almost 10 points higher on the exam compared to females. Results showed no significant difference in test scores for female students among groups, suggesting that neither intervention had an impact on females.
Imaging Co-Seismic Fault Zone Deformation from Air Photos : the Kickapoo Stepover along the Surface Ruptures of the 1992 Landers Earthquake

Co-seismic deformation of the ground can be measured from aerial views taken before and after an earthquake. As a test example we chose the area of the Kickapoo-Landers stepover along the 1992 Landers earthquake zone, using air photos in a scale of 1:40,000 scanned at 0.4 m in resolution. A pair of photos acquired after the earthquake is used to assess the accuracy and evaluate various sources of noise. Optical distortions, deformation of films, scanning errors or errors on viewing parameters can yield metric bias at spatial frequencies lower than 1km-1. Offset field at shorter wavelength is more reliable and mainly affected by temporal decorrelation. This factor and resulting uncertainty on offsets are assessed from correlation score. Surface relative displacements are measured with independent measurements every about 15 m and an uncertainty typically below 10cm (rms). The offset field reveals most of the surface ruptures mapped in the field, and the fault slip is measured with accuracy of about 7cm (rms) and independent measurement every 200 m from stacked profiles. Slip distribution compare well with field measurements at the kilometric scale but reveal local metric discrepancies suggesting that deformation is generally, though not systematically, localized on the major fault zone measured in the field. This type of data can provide useful insight on fault zone’s mechanical properties. Our measurements indicate that elastic co-seismic strain in the near fault zone can be as large as 0.5 10 -3 , while anelastic yielding was attained for strain in excess of about 1-2 10 -3 .
Discovery of 1323 s pulsations from RX J0103.6-7201: The longest period X-ray pulsar in the SMC

XMM-Newton archival observations of the Be/X-ray binary candidate RX J0103.6-7201 revealed pulsations with a period of ∼1323 s. This makes RXJ0103.6-7201 the X-ray pulsar with the longest period known in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). More than 150 X-ray observations of RXJ0103.6-7201 by ROSAT, Chandra and XMM-Newton show flux variations by a factor of 50 on time scales of days to years. Using the accurate positions obtained from ACIS-I images, the optical counterpart is identified as a V = 14.6 mag emission line star. EPIC spectra of RXJ0103.6-7201 above I keV are consistent with an absorbed power-law with column density between (6-9) x 10 21 cm -2 , except during one observation when an extraordinary high value of 1.1 x 10 23 cm -2 was measured which strongly attenuated the power-law emission below 3 keV. A soft excess between 0.5 and 1.0 keV is evident in the spectra which becomes best visible in the highly absorbed spectrum. The soft component can be reproduced by a thermal plasma emission model with its luminosity strongly correlated with the total intrinsic source luminosity. Including results from three other SMC Be/X-ray binaries extends the linear correlation over three orders of magnitude in source intensity, strongly suggesting that the same mechanism is responsible for the generation of the soft emission.
Experimental determination of the phase function and degree of linear polarization of El Chichón and Pinatubo volcanic ashes

[1] We present measurements of the phase function and degree of linear polarization for unpolarized incident light as a function of the scattering angle for El Chichon and Pinatubo volcanic ashes at 633 nm. The results are combined and compared with those for Pinatubo at 442 nm and Lokon volcanic ash at 442 and 633 nm [Volten et al., 2001]. The three samples of volcanic ashes consist of micron sized, irregularly shaped particles in random orientation. The results are presented in the form of figures and tables for all three samples. Similarities and differences between the results for the three samples are discussed. The measured phase functions and angular distributions of the polarization can be used to evaluate models used to calculate scattering properties of volcanic ash particles, to constrain scattering properties of volcanic ashes used in radiative transfer calculations, and to retrieve characteristics of (clouds of) volcanic ash particles in the atmosphere from remote sensing data.
From Cyber to Hybrid

Hybrid spaces arise when virtual communities (chats, multiuser domains, and massively multi-player online role-playing games), previously enacted in what was conceptualized as cyberspace, migrate to physical spaces because of the use of mobile technologies as interfaces. Mobile interfaces such as cell phones allow users to be constantly connected to the Internet while walking through urban spaces. This article defines hybrid spaces in the light of three major shifts in the interaction between mobile technology and spaces. First, it investigates how the use of mobile technologies as connection interfaces blurs the traditional borders between physical and digital spaces. Second, it argues that the shift from static to mobile interfaces brings social networks into physical spaces. Finally, it explores how urban spaces are reconfigured when they become hybrid spaces. For this purpose, hybrid spaces are conceptualized according to three distinct but overlapping trends: hybrid spaces as connected spaces, as mobile spaces, and as social spaces.
Cluster analysis of WIBS single-particle bioaerosol data

Abstract. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was performed on single-particle multi-spatial data sets comprising optical diameter, asymmetry and three different fluorescence measurements, gathered using two dual Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensors (WIBSs). The technique is demonstrated on measurements of various fluorescent and non-fluorescent polystyrene latex spheres (PSL) before being applied to two separate contemporaneous ambient WIBS data sets recorded in a forest site in Colorado, USA, as part of the BEACHON-RoMBAS project. Cluster analysis results between both data sets are consistent. Clusters are tentatively interpreted by comparison of concentration time series and cluster average measurement values to the published literature (of which there is a paucity) to represent the following: non-fluorescent accumulation mode aerosol; bacterial agglomerates; and fungal spores. To our knowledge, this is the first time cluster analysis has been applied to long-term online primary biological aerosol particle (PBAP) measurements. The novel application of this clustering technique provides a means for routinely reducing WIBS data to discrete concentration time series which are more easily interpretable, without the need for any a priori assumptions concerning the expected aerosol types. It can reduce the level of subjectivity compared to the more standard analysis approaches, which are typically performed by simple inspection of various ensemble data products. It also has the advantage of potentially resolving less populous or subtly different particle types. This technique is likely to become more robust in the future as fluorescence-based aerosol instrumentation measurement precision, dynamic range and the number of available metrics are improved.
Dynamic Reweighting of Three Modalities for Sensor Fusion

We simultaneously perturbed visual, vestibular and proprioceptive modalities to understand how sensory feedback is re-weighted so that overall feedback remains suited to stabilizing upright stance. Ten healthy young subjects received an 80 Hz vibratory stimulus to their bilateral Achilles tendons (stimulus turns on-off at 0.28 Hz), a ±1 mA binaural monopolar galvanic vestibular stimulus at 0.36 Hz, and a visual stimulus at 0.2 Hz during standing. The visual stimulus was presented at different amplitudes (0.2, 0.8 deg rotation about ankle axis) to measure: the change in gain (weighting) to vision, an intramodal effect; and a change in gain to vibration and galvanic vestibular stimulation, both intermodal effects. The results showed a clear intramodal visual effect, indicating a de-emphasis on vision when the amplitude of visual stimulus increased. At the same time, an intermodal visual-proprioceptive reweighting effect was observed with the addition of vibration, which is thought to change proprioceptive inputs at the ankles, forcing the nervous system to rely more on vision and vestibular modalities. Similar intermodal effects for visual-vestibular reweighting were observed, suggesting that vestibular information is not a “fixed” reference, but is dynamically adjusted in the sensor fusion process. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that the interplay between the three primary modalities for postural control has been clearly delineated, illustrating a central process that fuses these modalities for accurate estimates of self-motion.
Adaptive bipartite tracking control of leader-follower systems on coopetition networks

In this paper, a bipartite tracking problem is considered for a group of autonomous agents on a coopetition network, which is modeled by a signed graph. The leader and the followers are subjected to unknown disturbances, which are represented by linearly parameterized models. The agent dynamics is described by a double integrator. The relative position measurements and the relative velocity measurements are utilized as the new state variables to yield a new distributed system. An adaptive tracking control for each follower is designed by virtue of the two relative measurements. Moreover, the convergence of the bipartite tracking error and the parameter estimation are analyzed even when no more global information about the bounds of the unknown disturbances is available to all the followers.
Why Does FDI Go Where it Goes? New Evidence from the Transition Economies

This Paper examines the importance of agglomeration economies and institutions vis-a-vis initial conditions and factor endowments in explaining the locational choice of foreign investors. Using a unique panel data set for 25 transition economies between 1990-98, we find that the main determinants are institutions, agglomeration and trade openness. We find important differences between the Eastern European and Baltic countries, on the one hand, and the former Soviet Union countries on the other: in the latter group, natural resources and infrastructure matter, while agglomeration matters only for the former group.
Band description of knots and Vassiliev invariants

In the 1990s, Habiro defined Ck-move of oriented links for each natural number k [5]. A Ck-move is a kind of local move of oriented links, and two oriented knots have the same Vassiliev invariants of order [les ] k−1 if and only if they are transformed into each other by Ck-moves. Thus he has succeeded in deducing a geometric conclusion from an algebraic condition. However, this theorem appears only in his recent paper [6], in which he develops his original clasper theory and obtains the theorem as a consequence of clasper theory. We note that the ‘if’ part of the theorem is also shown in [4], [9], [10] and [16], and in [13] Stanford gives another characterization of knots with the same Vassiliev invariants of order [les ] k−1.
Sub-sampled Newton Methods with Non-uniform Sampling

We consider the problem of finding the minimizer of a convex function $F: \mathbb R^d \rightarrow \mathbb R$ of the form $F(w) := \sum_{i=1}^n f_i(w) + R(w)$ where a low-rank factorization of $\nabla^2 f_i(w)$ is readily available. We consider the regime where $n \gg d$. As second-order methods prove to be effective in finding the minimizer to a high-precision, in this work, we propose randomized Newton-type algorithms that exploit \textit{non-uniform} sub-sampling of $\{\nabla^2 f_i(w)\}_{i=1}^{n}$, as well as inexact updates, as means to reduce the computational complexity. Two non-uniform sampling distributions based on {\it block norm squares} and {\it block partial leverage scores} are considered in order to capture important terms among $\{\nabla^2 f_i(w)\}_{i=1}^{n}$. We show that at each iteration non-uniformly sampling at most $\mathcal O(d \log d)$ terms from $\{\nabla^2 f_i(w)\}_{i=1}^{n}$ is sufficient to achieve a linear-quadratic convergence rate in $w$ when a suitable initial point is provided. In addition, we show that our algorithms achieve a lower computational complexity and exhibit more robustness and better dependence on problem specific quantities, such as the condition number, compared to similar existing methods, especially the ones based on uniform sampling. Finally, we empirically demonstrate that our methods are at least twice as fast as Newton's methods with ridge logistic regression on several real datasets.
Unconventional views to generation of greenhouse gases

The majority of the implemented measures lowering the amount of originating greenhouse gases derive particularly from the balances targeted into power industry, transportation or heavy industry. The article summarized date shoving that the dumping of communal biodegradace wastes related to catering in many aspects competes in the creation of grenhouses gates related with the car transportation or power industry.
The Association between Life Satisfaction and Self–Reported Health Status in Europe

Previous research has shown that life satisfaction (LS) and self–reported health status are strongly related to each other. However, it is not clear whether this association holds across different nations or whether certain country–level indicators significantly affect this association. The study was based on nationally representative samples of 32 countries from the first six rounds of the European Social Survey (N = 291 686). Results from hierarchical multilevel modelling indicated that there was a positive association between LS and self–reported health status across countries, but this association was slightly stronger in countries where governments spent less on the health care of their residents. Self–reported health ratings were also more strongly tied to LS judgements in countries where variability in LS ratings was larger. These results suggest that, especially in less wealthy European countries, policies should target reducing overall social inequality and the negative impact of governments’ underinvestment in health care on LS. Copyright © 2015 European Association of Personality Psychology
Deep Reinforcement Learning: An Overview

We give an overview of recent exciting achievements of deep reinforcement learning (RL). We discuss six core elements, six important mechanisms, and twelve applications. We start with background of machine learning, deep learning and reinforcement learning. Next we discuss core RL elements, including value function, in particular, Deep Q-Network (DQN), policy, reward, model, planning, and exploration. After that, we discuss important mechanisms for RL, including attention and memory, unsupervised learning, transfer learning, multi-agent RL, hierarchical RL, and learning to learn. Then we discuss various applications of RL, including games, in particular, AlphaGo, robotics, natural language processing, including dialogue systems, machine translation, and text generation, computer vision, neural architecture design, business management, finance, healthcare, Industry 4.0, smart grid, intelligent transportation systems, and computer systems. We mention topics not reviewed yet, and list a collection of RL resources. After presenting a brief summary, we close with discussions. Please see Deep Reinforcement Learning, arXiv:1810.06339, for a significant update.
Immigrant Inflows, Native Outflows, and the Local Labor Market Impacts of Higher Immigration

This article uses 1990 census data to study the effects of immigrant inflows on occupation‐specific labor market outcomes. I find that intercity mobility rates of natives and earlier immigrants are insensitive to immigrant inflows. However, occupation‐specific wages and employment rates are systematically lower in cities with higher relative supplies of workers in a given occupation. The results imply that immigrant inflows over the 1980s reduced wages and employment rates of low‐skilled natives in traditional gateway cities like Miami and Los Angeles by 1–3 percentage points.
Classical Neurotransmitters and Neuropeptides Involved in Schizophrenia： How to Improve the Therapeutic Effect of the Antipsychotic Drugs

: We describe the alterations of classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in schizophrenia. In this disease, susceptibility genes encode GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and glutamate hypofunction and dopamine hyperactivity. A neural network is developed in the mesolimbic system, the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. According to this neural network, dopamine and serotonin hyperactivity might be due to a reduced presynaptic inhibition through GABAergic and glutaminergic neurons. A survey of the therapeutic and adverse effects of commonly prescribed and of recently developed second-generation antipsychotic drugs is given. The interaction with other specific subreceptors of classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides is suggested to improve the antipsychotic effect. In the treatment of schizophrenia, pharmacotherapy should be combined with psychoeducation. Accordingly, a recurrence of psychotic symptoms could be prevented in a long-term treatment.