Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Design Study of the Integration of Email and Role Management for University Students

In order to accommodate the increasing diversity of email users, applications have evolved in both functionality and user interface. In this study, we attempt to determine whether email user interfaces can be improved to serve a specific target population: college students. We present our results from college campus surveys that examine email usage patterns and subjective experiences among college students. From our survey feedback and related research, we conclude that email overload and feature intimidation are the greatest hindrances to email communication on campus. To address these problems, we propose employing role management to organize messages calendar and contacts in an email program for students, using school, work and family roles. We describe a prototype and user reactions. Our conclusion is that role management, integrated into email software, may help college students manage their email more effectively.
Designing Joyful And Meaningful New School Mathematics Using Indonesian Realistic Mathematics Education

A new issue in education in Indonesia is the change of curriculum in 2013. This paper presents what are the changes in content, media, method, and evaluation of mathematics subject at the school levels. As informed by the minister of education and culture in the national newspaper, the changes in the primary school mathematics will connect and integrate with science. This might increase the understanding of students in both the concept of mathematics and the application of mathematics in their daily lives that is also related to science. Hence, mathematics teachers need a way to design meaningful learning materials to integrate the two subjects. It is called thematic-integrated approach or one intertwined among strands or subjects. This article will discuss these both approaches. The former is mentioned in the new curriculum while the latter is one of five characteristics of Indonesian Realistic Mathematics Education (PMRI). Then the current development of PMRI after 12 years of implementation and dissemination in Indonesia will be discussed. During this discussion it will reveal how to design and implement joyful and meaningful mathematics learning materials by using the Indonesia context or culture. Keywords: Realistic Mathematics Education, PMRI, joyful and meaningful school mathematics
Comparison of Topic Identification methods for Arabic Language

In this paper we present two well-known methods for topic identification. The first one is a TFIDF classifier approach, and the second one is a based machine learning approach which is called Support Vector Machines (SVM). In our knowledge, we do not know several works on Arabic topic identification. So that we decide to investigate in this article. The corpus we used is extracted from the daily Arabic newspaper it Akhbar Al Khaleej, it includes 5120 news articles corresponding to 2.855. 069 words covering four topics : sport, local news, international news and economy. According to our experiments, the results are encouraging both for SVM and TFIDF classifier, however we have noticed the superiority of the SVM classifier and its high capability to distinguish topics.
Adaptive Algorithms for Estimating and Suppressing Narrow-Band Interference in PN Spread-Spectrum Systems

Results of an investigation of algorithms for estimating and suppressing narrow-band interference in pseudonoise (PN) spread-spectrum digital communication systems are presented. Techniques for determining the coefficients of a linear, interference suppression filter are described, which are based on linear prediction and conventional spectral analysis methods. Numerical results are presented on the characteristics of the linear filter and on its effectiveness in suppressing the interference. The error rate performance of a receiver that employs the interference suppression filter followed by a PN correlator is determined based on the assumption that the combined noise and residual interference at the output of the PN correlator is Gaussian distributed. Performance results obtained by Monte Carlo simulation are also presented and compared with theoretical results.
Physical activity and risk of multiple sclerosis: A Mendelian randomization study

Multiple evidence from epidemiological studies has suggested association between physical activity and risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the conclusion was still controversial between studies, and whether the association was causal or confounded is elusive. To evaluate the role of physical activity with different intensities in the risk of MS, we first estimated their genetic correlation, and then conducted two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses based on summary statistics from previous large genome-wide association studies. A significant genetic correlation was identified between moderate physical activity and the risk of MS (genetic correlation: -0.15, SE=0.05, P=2.9E-03). Meanwhile, higher moderate physical activity was significantly associated with a reduced risk of MS (OR:0.87, 95% CI:0.80-0.96, P=3.45E-03). Such association was further verified using summary statistics from another study on overall physical activity (OR:0.36, 95% CI:0.17-0.76, P=6.82E-03). The results were robust under all sensitivity analyses. Current results suggested moderate physical activity could reduce the risk of MS. These findings help better understand the role of physical activity in MS, and provide some lifestyle recommendations for individuals susceptible to MS.
Pedagogical Agents in Virtual Reality Environments: Do Multimedia Principles Still Apply?

This paper reviews a set of studies that examined what students learn in various virtual reality environments (VREs) designed to promote an understanding of environmental science. The goal of the reported studies was to provide an update to the classic distinction between the role of media versus method in promoting learning (Clark, 1999). Media was varied by comparing how students learn from an instructional game delivered via a desktop display (D), head mounted display without walking (H), and head mounted display with walking (W). The instructional method was varied by comparing how students learn when words are presented as on-screen text (T), narration (N), or both(NT). (Contains 20 references.) (Author) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
Approaches to learning design: past the head and the hands to the HEART of the matter

Digital technologies have been used increasingly in open, distance, and flexible learning to both facilitate learning and depict learning designs. While the portable nature of a learning design once captured in digital form appears to offer limitless possibilities for sharing and reuse, dissemination initiatives have failed to thrive. This may be due in part to a view of learning design as a product rather than as a contextualised process driven by individual pedagogical beliefs. We have developed a support strategy for the learning design process, called HEART (HEaring And Realising Teaching‐voice). HEART aims to enhance educators’ learning design awareness and capability by eliciting and depicting the pedagogical beliefs underpinning a course or learning design. We describe the conceptual framework for the HEART strategy, design and development of a prototype, early results of the first trial with a small user group, and implications for future research.
Multi-Label Text Categorization Using a Probabilistic Neural Network

Techniques for categorization and clustering, range from support vector machines, neural networks to Bayesian in- ference and algebraic methods. The k-Nearest Neighbor Algo- rithm (kNN) is a popular example of the latter class of these al- gorithms. Recently, slightly modified versions of support vector machines, kNN and decision trees have been proposed to deal better with multi-label classification problems. In this paper, we also proposed a new version of a Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN) to tackle these kind of problems. This PNN was pro- posed aiming at executing automatic classification of economic activities, which is the focus of this article. Nevertheless, we compared the PNN algorithm against other classifiers. In addi- tion to economic activities database, we applied our algorithm to some other databases found in the literature. In general, our approach surpassed the other algorithms in many metrics typ- ically well known in the literature for the multi-label categ oriza-
The SIFT algorithm for fundamental frequency estimation

In this paper a new method for estimating F 0 , the fundamental frequency of voiced speech versus time, is presented. The algorithm is based upon a simplified version of a general technique for fundamental frequency extraction using digital inverse filtering. It is demonstrated that the simplified inverse filter tracking algorithm (hereafter referred to as the SIFT algorithm) encompasses the desirable properties of both autocorrelation and cepstral pitch analysis techniques. In addition, the SIFT algorithm is composed of only a relatively small number of elementary arithmetic operations. In machine language, SIFT should run in several times real time while with special-purpose hardware it could easily be realized in real time.
A new symbol synchronizer with reduced timing jitter for QAM systems

A new and simple symbol synchronizer for QAM systems with reduced timing jitter is proposed. In the symbol synchronization loop, the timing error detection algorithm proposed by Gardner (1986) is used and a first order PLL is used for tracking optimal sampling instants. In a common first order PLL used in a symbol synchronizer, the loop filter gain is a constant, while in the reduced timing jitter symbol synchronizer, the loop filter gain is adaptively changed so that the timing jitter is greatly decreased. The scheme is also suitable for the case where burst transmissions take place. Furthermore, the mechanism of changing the loop filter gain is quite simple. The paper describes the new scheme and gives simulation results when the scheme is applied to a 16 QAM system. The simulation results show that the timing jitter is much smaller than when a constant loop filter gain is used.
Low-cost, high-performance CNN simulator implemented in FPGA

Recently, we proposed a concept of a non-microprocessor based cellular neural network (CNN) simulator. An 8-bit FPGA based prototype of a 256/spl times/512 cell simulator is now fully operational and yields quite encouraging results. A 30 MHz implementation in fact outperforms 200 MHz Pentium based PC simulation. As some interesting solutions have been incorporated in the simulator design, this paper focuses on some aspects of implementation of the simulator. Furthermore, several points where further optimisation of processes is possible at low cost have been discovered.
Radar backscatter from boreal forest in winter

The Helsinki University of Technology Scatterometer (HUTSCAT) was used to collect airborne data on radar backscatter from a variety of forest types and land-use categories in the Sodankyla test site, northern Finland. HUTSCAT operates at C- and X-band, VV, HH-H, VH, and HV polarization. Four incidence angles were used: 23, 30, 37, and 45 degrees off nadir. HUTSCAT measures the backscatter as a function of distance, thus allowing separation between contributions from the tree canopy and the ground. Measurements were conducted under dry snow, wet snow, and snow-free conditions. Backscatter contributions from the snow/ground and the trees, and the capability of various channels to produce forest canopy information is discussed.
Resource management simulation using multi-agent approach and semantic constraints

The resource management in a dynamic environment is a really complex problem. If semantic constraints are taken into account the complexity increases significantly. The problem definition of resource management using semantic constraints in the subject domain is demonstrated by means of an example of manufacturing scheduling. The application of multiagent approach is suggested and examined to solve the resource management problem. Experiments simulate two types of calculations of the resource allocation problem in manufacturing scheduling: the multi-agent approach and the sequential calculations. The experiments have demonstrated the effectiveness of multi-agent approach to solve the above defined problem.
Procedure for automatic recognition of analogue and digital modulations

A global procedure for recognition of analogue and digital modulation types, utilising the decision-theoretic approach, is developed. It involves two main steps: a reliable classification of the signal according to its amplitude and phase information contents; and a classification of the signal according to the modulation type. Computer simulations for different types of band-limited modulated signals corrupted with band-limited Gaussian noise sequences have been carried out. It is found that the threshold SNR for correct signal classification is about 10 dB.
Threaded Discussions in the Online and Hybrid Learning Format: An Examination of their Effectiveness from the Students' Perspective

With more and more institutions of higher education offering approximately 30% of their courses in the online format, there is an ongoing effort to improve the delivery and quality of course instruction. This study focused on one aspect of online course design in particular namely, threaded discussions. Nominal and ordinal data were gathered through a researcher -item survey. Efforts w ere made to draw comparisons between instructional effectiveness and student appreciation of threaded discussions in both the Fully Online and the Hybrid format. Results indicate that students generally enjoy engaging in the required threaded discussions b ut are somewhat neutral about their effectiveness and usefulness. When given the option between a written assignment or a threaded discussion, students showed a clear preference for threaded discussions. The study results also indicate a for the use of threaded discussions in the fully online format as opposed to the hybrid format; however, when students are confronted the option of with taking a course in to -face format or an online or hybrid format, a definite preference was shown for the traditional course format.
Linear Predictors for Real-time Object Tracking and Detection

The thesis is focused on fast visual object tracking and detection methods. We use the linear regression to learn a predictor, which forms a mapping from the image data directly to the tracking parameters. We improve this popular and widely used concept by learning specific regression functions, which approximate non-linear regression functions and run extremely fast during tracking. Our method allows to estimate even a complex non-rigid object deformation from the image data much faster than in real-time. We apply our method on various problems including real-time object detection. We also show, how to use the learnable tracker for instant object tracking. Shrinkage of the learning time to minimum is necessary, therefore only a few training samples may be used. The tracker is incrementally learned during the tracking procedure in order to improve its robustness. A method is proposed for automatic selection of only the useful training samples for incremental learning. Next we demonstrate, that the predictor learned to track one image patch is also able to track many other image patches. We show how to use the learned predictor for fast detection of these trackable patches. Thanks to the efficiency of the proposed non-linear regression functions we may combine any sequential decision process (e.g. object detector) with our tracker to run in cooperation in real-time. The regression functions are jointly learned with a state of the art sliding window object detector on the same set of features collected from training data. The combination of both methods significantly improves the detection rates, thanks to the ability to align the detection window on deformed object instances. Since the combined detector is able to localize the object position and deformation from its close neighborhood, we speed up the detection process by a search space reduction.
Modeling individual variation in prosody: the case of Clitic Left-Dislocations in Spanish

This paper offers new perspectives on how the phenomenon of variation in linguistic data can be integrated into formal grammatical theory. Drawing from data on the prosodic phrasing of sentences with embedded clitic left-dislocations in Spanish, a version of the Stochastic Optimality Theory is proposed which accounts for the attested inter-speaker variation in the data. The main idea of the proposal is that the degree of constraint overlap is not fixed for the entire population. Rather, each speaker exhibits a different degree of overlap, while the underlying constraint hierarchy is invariant. The proposed theoretical account differs from previous studies in two crucial ways. First, it deals with prosodic phrasing (while most studies have been conducted on segmental or syntactic issues). Second, it is not limited to variation within a population, but also accounts for inter-speaker variation.
An Empirical Evaluation of Effort Prediction Models Based on Functional Size Measures

Software development effort estimation is among the most interesting issues for project managers, since reliable estimates are at the base of good planning and project control. Several different techniques have been proposed for effort estimation, and practitioners need evidence, based on which they can choose accurate estimation methods. The work reported here aims at evaluating the accuracy of software development effort estimates that can be obtained via popular techniques, such as those using regression models and those based on analogy. The functional size and the development effort of twenty software development projects were measured, and the resulting dataset was used to derive effort estimation models and evaluate their accuracy. Our data analysis shows that estimation based on the closest analogues provides better results for most models, but very bad estimates in a few cases. To mitigate this behavior, the correction of regression toward the mean proved effective. According to the results of our analysis, it is advisable that regression to the mean correction is used when the estimates are based on closest analogues. Once corrected, the accuracy of analogy-based estimation is not substantially different from the accuracy of regression based models. KeywordsFunctional size measurement; function points; effort estimation; Regression Toward the Mean; Least Median of
Creating A New Automotive Exterior Design Approach Model: The Relationship Between Form And Body Color Qualities

This study creates a New Automotive Exterior Design Approach Model. Form and body color qualities are objectified (quantified) in order to grasp unspoken subjective customer impressions (preferences). Related cause-and-effect relationships are then clarified. This is done with the help of statistics, which are used to identify the main elements that younger buyers are looking for in automotive body colors. Next, a survey is conducted using painted panels to find out what color elements generate subjective customer impressions. Line-of-sight analysis and 3D-CAD software are used to assign numerical values to form and color, while research-oriented CAD models and biometric devices are used to quantify the impact that form and color have on subjective customer impressions. The insights gained from this are then used to understand the relationship between survey data assessing subjective impressions and qualities of form and body color. The resulting knowledge is then applied to optimally match form and body color in a way that customers find attractive. The desired results are obtained.
Arts and Leisure Participation Among IT Users

A major concern about new technologies like IT is how much they might displace time on media and other daily activities. Three highly-publicized early studies of the initial impact of IT indicated it was reducing time on both social life and mass media use. However, data from a number of high-quality national surveys since then—from the Pew Center, the General Social Survey (GSS), the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) and the American Time Use Survey (ATUS)—have not replicated these results, in some cases finding increased social life and media use (especially reading) among IT users. The present article examines data from two separate national surveys (the GSS 2002 and the SPPA 2008), Even though the two studies asked different IT questions and examined different arts activities over different periods of Internet diffusion, progressively higher arts participation was found among Internet users, before and after education and other predictors of arts activity were controlled. The SPPA data also show that users and heavier IT users were also more active in a variety of other free time activities like attending movies, volunteering and sports. IT use here then becomes a away of extending or enhancing live attendance rather than displacing it. However, the results also raise questions about whether these correlations result from a “response set” of respondents overestimating their activity participation.
Building Better Digital Badges

Background. Digital badges are used in games and simulations for purposes such as incentivizing learning, identifying progress, increasing time on task, and credentialing. Designing effective badges is complicated by psychological factors mediating the processes of recognizing, orienting toward, and acquiring badges. Aim. This article analyzes digital badges through mechanics and psychology. This approach involves understanding the underlying logics of badges as well as the experiential nature of badges-in-use. The proposed model provides additional insight about badges and recommends design strategies to complement existing scholarship. Procedure. This article examines an existing model of completion logic for digital badges. This model is expanded upon by pairing these formal mechanics with relevant psychological theory, summarizing key principles that pertain to how people interact with badges. It then considers three dimensions of badges-in-use—social, cognitive, and affective—reviewing examples and analyzing the relationship of badging to debriefing. Outcome. Understanding the relationships between formal completion logics and the psychological experience of badging allows designers to better design, deploy, and critique badging systems, leading to more effective implementations within simulation and gaming contexts. A design matrix and a series of design recommendations for badging are derived from the presented perspectives.
Theorizing Women's Studies Gender Studies and Masculinity: The Politics of Naming

This paper theorizes the relationship between women's studies and gender studies and will explore the increasing use of the category 'gender' to analyse sexual divisions and the related growth of gender studies courses. It will also examine the creation of 'men's studies' courses and an increasing emphasis on the deconstruction of masculinity within social theory. A number of questions are raised around these shifts and changes. Should we welcome them because they broaden the scope of theoretical enquiry, encompassing both female and male experience, and further the institutionalization of gender issues within the academy? Or should we be critical of such developments because they may lead to a narrower political and theoretical agenda in terms of analyses of women's experience?