Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indonesian Teachers' Use of the Internet for Learning

The increasing permeation of the Internet into daily lives gives cause to study the role of the Internet in classrooms. The beliefs of teachers about the Internet are a twenty-first century phenomenon that impacts the teaching and learning process of Indonesian students in the classroom. Consequently, it is necessary to know the views of teachers about, and practices with, the Internet. Though Indonesian teachers view the Internet as useful for both personal and professional uses, pedagogical awareness for uses by and with students in the classroom appear limited. There is evidence that an increased understanding of the potential of the Internet for students to construct knowledge and benefit from the capabilities of the Web 2.0 environment is needed. ; ;
Imbalanced Malware Images Classification: a CNN based Approach

Deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can be applied to malware binary detection through images classification. The performance, however, is degraded due to the imbalance of malware families (classes). To mitigate this issue, we propose a simple yet effective weighted softmax loss which can be employed as the final layer of deep CNNs. The original softmax loss is weighted, and the weight value can be determined according to class size. A scaling parameter is also included in computing the weight. Proper selection of this parameter has been studied and an empirical option is given. The weighted loss aims at alleviating the impact of data imbalance in an end-to-end learning fashion. To validate the efficacy, we deploy the proposed weighted loss in a pre-trained deep CNN model and fine-tune it to achieve promising results on malware images classification. Extensive experiments also indicate that the new loss function can fit other typical CNNs with an improved classification performance.
An overview of BIM uptake in Asian developing countries

BIM is increasingly in demand within the construction industry internationally in recent years. The application of the technology reconciles several problems within the project teams such as delays, rework, miscommunication, and other related to inefficiencies that affect project success. While it is actively employed by the majority of the developed countries, however, BIM is not as advanced in most developing countries. Therefore, this paper reviews BIM uptake in some of the Asian developing countries and examines the extent to which it is implemented in these regions. Prevalent challenges were considered with recommendations towards addressing the issues of low level of BIM adoption that distinguishes the developing from the developed countries. This paper will provide some insights of how BIM is evolving within those countries considering the drivers and barriers in adopting the technology and how this is likely to change in the near future.
GATA Transcription Factors in Hematologic Disease

GATA family transcription factors play essential roles in broad developmental settings. GATA-1, one of the hematopoietically expressed members, is required for normal erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation. Over the past few years, mutations in the gene encoding GATA-1 have been linked to several human hematologie disorders, including X-linked dyserythropoietic anemia and thrombocytopenia, X-linked thrombocytopenia and β-thalassemia, and Down syndrome acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. This review summarizes the role of GATA-1 during normal hematopoiesis and discusses how disease-associated mutations may affect its function.
Genome-wide identification and predictive modeling of polyadenylation sites in eukaryotes

Polyadenylation [poly(A)] is a vital step in post-transcriptional processing of pre-mRNA. Alternative polyadenylation is a widespread mechanism of regulating gene expression in eukaryotes. Defining poly(A) sites contributes to the annotation of transcripts' ends and the study of gene regulatory mechanisms. Here, we survey methods for collecting poly(A) sites using high-throughput sequencing technologies and summarize the general processes for genome-wide poly(A) site identifications. We also compare the performances of various poly(A) site prediction models and discuss the relationship between poly(A) site identification from sequencing projects and predictive modeling. Moreover, we attempt to address some potential problems in current researches and propose future directions related to polyadenylation research.
Played and Designed Sociality in a Massive Multiplayer Online Game

This empirical study focuses on online collaboration and social interaction in temporary group formations. A case study of a massive multiplayer online game World of Warcraft explores these issues. Within this context little attention has been paid to temporary collaboration groups. The phenomenon is analyzed using interaction data complemented with interview data, forum data and consideration of game design. We found two main types of interaction, sociable and instrumental, but investment in the social situation was exceedingly little. We conclude that the low levels of social interaction observed are the result of a game design that makes the cost of social play high and restricts the available space for players to act within the designed architecture of the game, thus limiting the possibilities for played sociality. The connection between designed and played sociality is crucial for understanding online collaboration as it shapes online social worlds and therefore users’ experiences within this social context.
Do Social Interactions Communicate or Garble Information? Evidence from Equity Analysts

We examine the effects of social interaction among equity analysts on the transmission of geographic-specific information and the quality of analysts’ forecasts. We focus on interactions among local peers, defined as analysts who work in the same brokerage office (officemates) who cover different firms in the same area. We find that analysts with local peers produce more accurate earnings forecasts and generate stronger stock market responses. Their forecasts are less optimistically biased and less affected by area-specific errors in the consensus forecasts. We also find that geographic momentum in stock returns is weaker when firms are followed by analysts with local peers, and that analysts are more likely to initiate coverage of firms with more local peers. Our findings suggest that social interactions among analysts transmit useful geographic-specific information.
A Test Of The Validity Of The CAPM In Pakistani Equity Market

We investigate the validity of the Sharpe-Lintner (traditional) capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and the higher moments CAPM using a sample 34 companies listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) over sample period January 2004 to March 2007. The end of month stock prices of all the 34 firms and the end of month values of the KSE100 index are utilized to obtain monthly stock returns and market returns respectively. We used the standard two-step procedure to test the validity of the CAPM. Our results suggest no statistically significant support for both the traditional and the higher moments CAPM. We, however, found that the intercept term mostly remained to be significant in the tests of both the Sharpe-Lintner CAPM and the higher moments CAPM. We found positive risk premiums for both covariance and coskewness in the higher moments CAPM. Positive risk premium for covariance and/or coskewness is in line with the theory of the CAPM. The cokurtosis risk was found to be statistically insignificant. Further the introduction of high moments in the CAPM improved the results. This shows that investors are positively rewarded for coskewness risk in the KSE
Effects Of Different Dimensions Of Corporate Social Responsibility On Hypermarket Retailers: The Spanish Case

The evolution of hypermarket retailers in recent years has been quite dynamic and they are trying to adjust their store formats in response to changing demographics and stronger competition. This means that hypermarkets are increasingly valued by consumers, compared to other commercial formats, which triggers the gradual disappearance of traditional markets but this doesn’t look like enough. In this context Corporate social responsibility (CSR) appears to be a subject of increasing interest amongst academics and practitioners because this policy benefits the economy, society and environment based on the idea that companies have wider responsibilities beyond commerce. This is not a new concept but when other strategies aren’t getting hoped results perhaps it’s possible to build loyalty with clients through this way for creating and sustain long-lasting relationships and repeat business. The purpose of this study was to disaggregate CSR into four dimensions based on hypermarket customer perception: (1) legal, (2) philanthropic, (3) economic, (4) environmental dimensions, and examine how each dimension would affect satisfaction and loyalty in hypermarkets. The findings can provide managers with insights into which dimensions of CSR activities would improve to increase loyalty and the important of CSR in hypermarket customer.
THE SPITZER DEEP, WIDE-FIELD SURVEY

The Spitzer Deep, Wide-Field Survey (SDWFS) is a four-epoch infrared survey of 10 deg2 in the Boötes field of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey using the IRAC instrument on the Spitzer Space Telescope. SDWFS, a Spitzer Cycle 4 Legacy project, occupies a unique position in the area-depth survey space defined by other Spitzer surveys. The four epochs that make up SDWFS permit—for the first time—the selection of infrared-variable and high proper motion objects over a wide field on timescales of years. Because of its large survey volume, SDWFS is sensitive to galaxies out to z ∼ 3 with relatively little impact from cosmic variance for all but the richest systems. The SDWFS data sets will thus be especially useful for characterizing galaxy evolution beyond z ∼ 1.5. This paper explains the SDWFS observing strategy and data processing, presents the SDWFS mosaics and source catalogs, and discusses some early scientific findings. The publicly released, full-depth catalogs contain 6.78, 5.23, 1.20, and 0.96 × 105 distinct sources detected to the average 5σ, 4″-diameter, aperture-corrected limits of 19.77, 18.83, 16.50, and 15.82 Vega mag at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 μm, respectively. The SDWFS number counts and color–color distribution are consistent with other, earlier Spitzer surveys. At the 6 minute integration time of the SDWFS IRAC imaging, >50% of isolated Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty cm radio sources and >80% of on-axis XBoötes sources are detected out to 8.0 μm. Finally, we present the four highest proper motion IRAC-selected sources identified from the multi-epoch imaging, two of which are likely field brown dwarfs of mid-T spectral class.
Effects of Nasal Surgery on Sleep Quality in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome with Nasal Obstruction

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of nasal surgery on nasal resistance, sleep apnea, and sleep quality in adult male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). A prospective study was performed in OSAS patients who underwent isolated nasal surgery in a tertiary referral center. Methods During the 3-year study period, 49 OSAS patients suffering from symptomatic nasal obstruction/impaired nasal breathing underwent the standard polysomnography before and after surgery. Polysomnography along with measures of nasal resistance and daytime sleepiness (the Epworth sleepiness scale [ESS] scores) were reviewed also. Results Surgery decreased the nasal resistance (0.55 ± 0.37 Pa/cm3 per second versus 0.17 ± 0.19 Pa/cm3 per second; p < 0.001) and ESS scores (11.7 ± 4.1 versus 3.3 ± 1.3; p < 0.001), without changes in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI; 44.6 ± 22.5 versus 42.5 ± 22.0). Surgery increased nadir oxygen saturation (76.2 ± 10.9% versus 78.8 ± 8.1%; p < 0.01), shortened apnea–hypopnea duration (averaged/maximum; 33.5 ± 7.3/61.1 ± 46.0 versus 28.8 ± 7.4/47.3 ± 36.1 second; p < 0.05/p < 0.01), and improved sleep quality. Conclusion The results suggest that nasal surgery is useful for lowering nasal resistance, ameliorating sleep-disordered breathing, and improving sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in OSAS.
Comparative feasibility analysis of the Sales and Purchase market of new-building and second-hand crude carriers

The newbuilding and second-hand markets of crude carriers are the most significant markets in shipping. Their activities are affected by various factors and shipowners have to decide whether to buy newbuilding or second-hand vessels. These decisions are based on the examination of the current market’s situation and are usually subject to alterations. Modelling the factors, that affect the newbuilding and second-hand prices will help us conclude to the best option, according to the results. This thesis focuses on the research of the factors that affect the newbuilding and second-hand prices for VLCC-ULCC, Suezmax and Aframax tankers. Our study begins with the introduction to the topic and a brief analysis of the shipping industry follows. An academic literature review of relevant studies is demonstrated, which help us define the appropriate variables for our models. On the remainder, we choose the variables according to the available data in time series and construct the models for newbuilding and second-hand prices. Our models are being tested for stationarity and cointegration with the Augmented Dickey Fuller and the Johansen Cointegration tests respectively. All variables are stationary to their first differences and cointegration equations exist. Least squares regression method is being applied, and the statistically significant variables of every vessel type on both markets are being demonstrated. We test for the best ARMA model, and ARCH tests are applied in order to define whether or not there is ARCH effect in our models. If they depict ARCH effect, we estimate the ARCH, GARCH and E-GARCH models and conclude that newbuilding prices for VLCC-ULCC and Suezmax tankers, as well as second-hand prices for VLCC-ULCC crude carriers are vulnerable to external shocks and previous asymmetric effects. A comparison based on their lowest AIC is done and the conclusion is that E-GARCH is the most suitable model in all three cases. For these categories we estimate the VAR model, and the significant variables of previous periods that affect the dependent variables of every model are being defined. For the rest categories that do not illustrate ARCH effect, VEC model is estimated. Short run and long run causality arises from our variables to newbuilding prices for Aframax tankers and second-hand prices for Suezmax and Aframax crude carriers. However, according to the diagnostic tests, the VEC model for second-hand prices of Suezmax tankers is not valid. This analysis can be used from shipowners and investors as a good tool in order to decide whether they want to invest in newbuilding or second-hand crude carriers. In addition, buyers of second-hand ships can forecast the second-hand prices of the crude tankers and detect the appropriate time to buy the vessels.
Effect of Luminance Level on Contrast Sensitivity in Myopia

ABSTRACT High myopia results in stretching of the retina. We expected this stretching to impair visual function. Accordingly, we tested static and dynamic spatial contrast sensitivity and temporal modulation sensitivity at photopic, mesopic, and scotopic luminance levels. None of these functions differed significantly for high myopes (6 to 10 D) relative to age‐matched normals. We conclude that retinal stretching need not induce visual deficits.
Occupation and malignant lymphoma: a population based case control study in Germany

Aims: To identify occupations suspected to be associated with malignant lymphoma and to generate new hypotheses about occupational risks in a multicentre, population based case control study. Methods: Male and female patients with malignant lymphoma (n = 710) aged 18–80 years of age were prospectively recruited in six study regions in Germany. For each newly recruited lymphoma case, a sex, region, and age matched control was drawn from the population registers. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for major occupations and industries were calculated using conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted for smoking (in pack-years) and alcohol consumption. Patients with specific lymphoma subentities were additionally compared with the entire control group using unconditional logistic regression analysis. Results: The following economic/industrial sectors were positively associated with lymphoma: food products, beverages, tobacco; paper products, publishing and printing; and metals. Chemicals; real estate, renting, and business activities were negatively associated with lymphoma diagnosis. The authors observed an increased overall lymphoma risk among architects; maids; farmers; glass formers; and construction workers. Shoemaking and leather goods making was negatively associated with the lymphoma diagnosis (although based on small numbers). In the occupational group analysis of lymphoma subentities, Hodgkin’s lymphoma was significantly associated only with rubber and plastic products making; diffuse large B cell lymphoma risk was considerably increased among metal processors; follicular lymphoma showed highly significant risk increases for several occupational groups (medical, dental, and veterinary workers; sales workers; machinery fitters; and electrical fitters); and multiple myeloma showed a particularly pronounced risk increase for farmers as well as for agriculture and animal husbandry workers. Conclusions: The results partly confirm previously defined occupational risks. Occupational risk factors for follicular lymphomas might differ from the overall risk factors for malignant lymphoma.
Patterns of motor innervation in the pectoral muscle of adult Xenopus laevis: evidence for possible synaptic remodelling.

1. An anatomical and electrophysiological study was performed on the pectoral muscle of Xenopus laevis. 2. Silver‐impregnated preparations revealed immature endings, collateral and terminal sprouting and signs of synaptic regression. 3. Twenty percent of the fibres received a dual innervation from two different nerves. The synapses of 25% of these fibres are formed in close vicinity. 4. Some of the singly innervated and most of the dually innervated end‐plates generated only subthreshold electrical activity. Synaptic efficacy in dually innervated muscle fibres with closely spaced or distant endings was, on the average, one third and two thirds, respectively, of that obtained in singly innervated fibres. 5. Fibres with subthreshold electrical activity displayed normal ACh sensitivity. 6. The existence of non‐transmitting synapses, of dually innervated end‐plate sites and of morphological signs of the sprouting of new endings and the degeneration of old ones suggests that synaptic remodelling may occur in normal adult muscles.
AGLAIA system architecture for Glaucoma Diagnosis

— The AGLAIA (Automatic GLaucoma Diagnosis and Its Genetic Association Study through Medical Image InformAtics) system architecture is proposed to address the automatic diagnosis of Glaucoma. Instead of using single image feature, AGLAIA measures the characteristics of peripapillary and optic nerve head related to glaucomatous changes based on digital non-stereo retinal (fundus) images and combines those multiple measures of optic nerve damage into a single holistic system. Medical Image Informatics principle is innovatively used to analyze the patient’s genetic information and find the possible association between the image features and the glaucoma disease. Innovative medical image processing and understanding algorithms (including medical image segmentation, pattern recognition, filtering, statistical learning etc.) are applied for early detection and monitoring of glaucoma.
Volume growth and bounds for the essential spectrum for Dirichlet forms

We consider operators arising from regular Dirichlet forms with vanishing killing term. We give bounds for the bottom of the (essential) spectrum in terms of exponential volume growth with respect to an intrinsic metric. As special cases, we discuss operators on graphs. When the volume growth is measured in the natural graph distance (which is not an intrinsic metric), we discuss the threshold for positivity of the bottom of the spectrum and finiteness of the bottom of the essential spectrum of the (unbounded) graph Laplacian. This threshold is shown to lie at cubic polynomial growth.
The long-term perspective.

want to say something about the reason for governmental activity in the Ifield of health care and about the value commitment that underlies that activity. What ought we to think about the government's role? I suppose that is a question that political theorists should be able to answer, and there are many theorists more prepared than I am to give it a direct and unequivocal answer, and to tell you why governmental activity is right or why it is wrong. Nowadays quite a few would tell you very confidently that it is wrong for the state to use its coercive powers to provide health care for its citizens. I suggest a less direct answer, an approach rather than a detailed response, though I do have a response. I shall speak as if the question were, at least initially, how ought we to think about the government's role in health care? There is, it seems to me, no single universal principle to which we can appeal, no general rule applying to all governments and to all political communities throughout human history. There isn't one answer, one universally right way of taking care of sick human beings, using the state or not using the state to do that. We have to ask further questions about the place of health care in our social life, about beliefs and attitudes and everyday practices, about patterns of investment, not only of money, but of time, energy, concern and anxiety. And as soon as we attend to things like that we see how very different human societies have been with regard to their attitudes toward health, toward the medical profession, toward life and death themselves. In a nation composed entirely of Christian Scientists, to take an easy example, the question of governmental roles would never arise. And no injustice would be done by the studied indifference of public officials to health care. But we are a nation of secular scientists, amateur scientists, pseudoscientists, obsessed with illness and the treatment of illness, with doctors and hospitals and miracle drugs and the most advanced medical technology. In