Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unions and Non-Standard Work: Union Representation and Wage Premiums across Non-Standard Work Arrangements in Canada, 1997–2014

The authors examine the association between unionization and non-standard work in terms of coverage and wages. They use data from the master files of Canada’s Labour Force Survey (LFS) between 1997–98 and 2013–14 to define and measure non-standard work and to provide a continuum of vulnerability across work arrangements. The estimated probability of being employed in some form of non-permanent job increased 2.9 percentage points from 1997 to 2014. During that same period, the estimated probability of being in a non-full-time, non-permanent job—another way of capturing non-standard work—increased 2.5 percentage points. Although estimated union wage premiums declined rather precipitously for all groups, the union wage advantage remained highest among non-standard workers. Further, the authors find the union wage premium is largest for the most vulnerable of non-standard workers. In terms of estimates that look across the earnings distribution, the union wage premium among non-standard workers is larger for workers higher up the earnings profile.
DrivingStereo: A Large-Scale Dataset for Stereo Matching in Autonomous Driving Scenarios

Great progress has been made on estimating disparity maps from stereo images. However, with the limited stereo data available in the existing datasets and unstable ranging precision of current stereo methods, industry-level stereo matching in autonomous driving remains challenging. In this paper, we construct a novel large-scale stereo dataset named DrivingStereo. It contains over 180k images covering a diverse set of driving scenarios, which is hundreds of times larger than the KITTI Stereo dataset. High-quality labels of disparity are produced by a model-guided filtering strategy from multi-frame LiDAR points. For better evaluations, we present two new metrics for stereo matching in the driving scenes, i.e. a distance-aware metric and a semantic-aware metric. Extensive experiments show that compared with the models trained on FlyingThings3D or Cityscapes, the models trained on our DrivingStereo achieve higher generalization accuracy in real-world driving scenes, while the proposed metrics better evaluate the stereo methods on all-range distances and across different classes. Our dataset and code are available at https://drivingstereo-dataset.github. io.
Comparing the Teaching Efficacy of Two Video Modeling Programs Delivered in a Group Format in Special Education Classrooms to Improve Expressive Language

The current study evaluated the effectiveness of two video modeling programs, one using discrete video modeling and another using standard video modeling, to teach expressive vocabulary words to individuals with autism and other disorders. The researchers collected data across four classrooms in a school district in Inglewood, California, in a double-blind study across three weeks. During Week 1, baseline data were collected across two sets of targets presented in each video modeling program. During Week 2, the instructors showed the standard video modeling program to half of the classrooms, while instructors for the other half of the classes showed the discrete video modeling program. During Week 3, the instructors switched the video modeling programs with the two groups to compare the language acquisition outcomes. The researchers collected data on all targets at the end of each week’s viewings. Comparing the two programs using chi-square tests of independence, the research showed a significant increase in expressive words with the discrete video modeling program.
Cost-Effectiveness of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Background Medical costs associated with cardiovascular disease are increasing considerably worldwide; therefore, an efficacious, cost-effective therapy which allows the effective use of medical resources is vital. There have been few economic evaluations of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), especially meta-analyses of medical cost versus patient outcome. Methods The target population in this meta-analysis included convalescent and comprehensive CR patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), the status most commonly observed postmyocardial infarction (MI). Here, we evaluated medical costs, quality-adjusted life year (QALY), cost-effectiveness, mortality, and life year (LY). Regarding cost-effectiveness analysis, we analyzed medical costs per QALY, medical costs per LY, and the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR). We then examined the differences in effects for the 2 treatment arms (CR vs. usual care (UC)) using the risk ratio (RR) and standardized mean difference (SMD). Results We reviewed 59 studies and identified 5 studies that matched our selection criteria. In total, 122,485 patients were included in the analysis. Meta-analysis results revealed that the CR arm significantly improved QALY (SMD: −1.78; 95% confidence interval (CI): −2.69, −0.87) compared with UC. Although medical costs tended to be higher in the CR arm compared to the UC arm (SMD: 0.02; 95% CI: −0.08, 0.13), cost/QALY was significantly improved in the CR arm compared with the UC arm (SMD: −0.31; 95% CI: −0.53, −0.09). The ICURs for the studies (4 RCTs and 1 model analysis) were as follows: −48,327.6 USD/QALY; −5,193.8 USD/QALY (dominant, CR is cheaper and more effective than UC); and 4,048.0 USD/QALY, 17,209.4 USD/QALY, and 26,888.7 USD/QALY (<50,000 USD/QALY, CR is costlier but more effective than UC), respectively. Therefore, there were 2 dominant and 3 effective results. Conclusions While there are some limitations, primarily regarding data sources, our results suggest that CR is potentially cost-effective.
Joint Power and Bandwidth Allocation for Energy-Efficient Heterogeneous Cellular Networks

This paper investigates the problem of energy efficiency maximization (EEM) for the small cells that coexist with a macro cell in an underlay heterogeneous cellular network, where a macro base station and a number of small base stations transmit signals to a macro user and small users through their shared spectrum. We propose a joint power and bandwidth allocation (JPBA) scheme for the sake of maximizing the energy efficiency (EE) of small cells under the constraint of a guaranteed quality-of-service requirement for the macro cell. Considering that our formulated EEM-based JPBA (EEM-JPBA) problem is non-convex, we convert the original fractional problem into an equivalent subtractive form by adopting the Dinkelbach’s method, which is addressed through the augmented Lagrange multiplier approach. Moreover, a new two-tier iterative algorithm is presented to obtain the optimal solution of our EEM-JPBA scheme. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed two-tier iterative algorithm can quickly converge to the optimal EE solution. In addition, it is shown that the proposed EEM-JPBA scheme significantly outperforms the conventional power and bandwidth allocation methods in terms of their EE performance.
A new framework for complexity analysis in international development projects – Results from a Delphi study

The main objective of this paper is to develop a framework for characterising project complexity in International Development (ID) projects. Contemporary challenges in ID projects have led to their growth in their complexity, which in recent years has driven researches in recent years to publish numerous papers that deal with this topic, demonstrating its importance in current project management research. Nevertheless, existing literature lacks in generally accepted framework that considers specifics of project complexity in ID projects. Thus, new framework was developed, based on a two-round Delphi survey, building upon existing TOE (technology-organisation-environment) framework with new empirical insights given from the experts in the field of ID projects. The main contribution of the paper is the validation of existing TOE complexity factors, in the context of International Development projects. Additionally, eight new complexity factors were proposed by the experts, and it was concluded that Environmental complexity had the biggest impact on International Development projects. From a managerial perspective, proposed complexity framework can be used for making a complexity footprint, which could indicate the critical areas of the project where complexity could be expected. In addition, the model represents a novel theoretical lens for assessing complexity in ID projects. 2019 CPE, University of Maribor. All rights reserved.
Does Love Money Affect Vocational Behavior? Empirical Evidence from Italian Entrepreneurs

The present paper aims to investigate the relevance that love money – i.e. financial resources provided by family, friends, and fools – can have on vocational behavior, standing for personal goals that are occupational in nature. In particular, the relationship between the above-cited financial resources and “core goals” (i.e. the survival of entrepreneurial firms) is tested by leveraging on second-hand data about Italian entrepreneurs retrieved from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor – GEM website and referring to the years 2012-2014 and by applying estimated Logit models. Achieved results show that financial resources provided by fools do not affect the survival of entrepreneurial firms. On the contrary, financial resources provided by family and friends do it. Noticeably, the impact of financial resources provided by family or by friends varies in terms of intensity and according to entrepreneurial profiles, in particular to gender and age. After highlighting the main limitations of this paper, some hints for further research are proposed in the last part of the paper.
Studies of Basic Electronic Properties of CdTe-Based Solar Cells and Their Evolution During Processing and Stress: Final Technical Report, 16 October 2001 - 31 August 2005

This report describes basic issues behind CdTe/CdS cell performance and stability, such as the nature and electronic properties of impurities and defects that control the majority carrier concentration, mechanisms of dopant compensation, recombination processes, their nature and properties, migration and transformation of defects under various processing, stress, and operating conditions. We believe that a better basic understanding of the specific influence of grain boundaries, especially for fine-grain materials such as those making up CdTe-based cells, is now one of the most important issues we must address. We need to clarify the role of grain boundaries in forming the film electronic properties, as well as those of the p-n junction.
Dynamic assessment and academic writing: evidence of learning transfer?

In the context of higher education, many higher order skills and knowledge are expected to be transferable by lecturers. Sustaining these skills and knowledge is therefore central to learning and disciplinary writing development. English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses can contribute to this purpose as they aim to enable Higher Education students to participate in their chosen academic communities as fully as possible. Despite learning transfer being a key purpose in ESP, research in this area is still limited (Cheng, 2007). In this context, this paper reports on a small-scale study investigating the transfer of academic writing skills and conceptual knowledge among undergraduate business studies students. The data are derived from a larger study (Shrestha, 2011) conducted at a British university. One assignment text each was collected from four students who studied an ESP course for business studies. While three students had received interactive feedback on their previous two assignments, following a Vygotsky-inspired dynamic assessment (DA) approach, one student was provided with traditional tutor feedback. DA blends instruction with assessment by targeting and further developing students’ potential abilities (Poehner, 2011) whereas traditional tutor feedback is less interactive and hence, may not sufficiently target learners’ potential abilities. The student texts were analysed by drawing on Vygotskian sociocultural theory of learning (Vygotsky, 1978), and genre theory (Martin & Rose, 2007) based on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004). The findings suggest that the transfer of academic writing skills and conceptual knowledge occurred more in the texts of the students that underwent dynamic assessment than that of the student who followed a traditional assessment approach for their first two assignments. Implications of this for ESP instruction and assessment design will be presented.
An investigation of channel estimation and equalization techniques for moderately rapid fading HF-channels

Two basic schemes of channel estimation/prediction and decision-feedback equalization (DFE) for moderately rapid fading dispersive HF-channels are investigated. Simulation results show that non-adaptive adjustment of DFE coefficients by direct calculation from the estimated channel impulse response has the potential of being significantly more robust channel time variations than a DFE employing adaptive coefficient tracking. Receiver performance is now limited by the quality of the channel estimate rather than the equalizer's adaptive algorithm. An optimized state-of-the-art adaptive estimator/predictor featuring individual adaptation of channel coefficients is shown to recover part of the potential performance gain. <<ETX>>
Extended Functionalism from a Behavioral Perspective

Mental (or psychological) phenomena (those we refer to by means of terms from so-called folk psychology; e.g., intentions, fears, reasoning processes) are often thought of as confined to the insides of the body. The extended mind view, like behavioral approaches, challenges this assumption, by claiming that some mental phenomena comprise external ingredients. Yet, unlike behavioral approaches, the extended mind view (e.g., as in Clark & Chalmers’ seminal paper) holds that these phenomena often, or depending on the category of mental phenomena always, happen inside the body altogether (which is acknowledged by certain behavioral approaches) and as non-behavioral causes of behaviors (an idea in general rejected by behavioral approaches). This paper highlights what I think are shortcomings of the extended mind view, with a focus upon the functionalist version thereof–extended functionalism. I suggest that this approach misses some major features of psychological concepts, and that it overlooks some behaviors as constituents of mental phenomena. The paper also suggests that a behavioral alternative, based upon contributions by Ryle and Skinner, among others, retains the qualities of extended functionalism while warding off its shortcomings.
Investigating multi-dimensional perfectionism and the quality of life in students completing a Bachelor of Education degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland

Perfectionism has been identified as a pervasive trait that can be found in a wide range of people. Growing research support suggests that this trait, which used to be considered one-dimensional, has multi-dimensional (i.e., negative and positive) aspects. According to Slaney, Rice, Mobley, Trippi, and Ashby (2001), setting high standards and having high orderliness qualities are the defining positive aspects of perfectionism. Discrepancy, the difference perceived between the high standards that a person sets and the actual performance that the person perceives him or herself displaying, is the defining negative aspect of perfectionism. -- This thesis studied the prevalence of multi-dimensional perfectionism in undergraduate education students and sought to determine how perfectionism related to their perceived quality of life and their GPA performance. Subjects (75 undergraduate education students) completed the Almost Perfect Scale - Revised (APS-R) questionnaire (developed in 1997 by Slaney, Mobley, Trippi, Ashby, & Johnson) and as predicted by the instrument developers, three groups were identified, namely, adaptive perfectionists, maladaptive perfectionists and non-perfectionists. -- Subjects also completed a brief World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), developed by the World Health Organization, to assess their perceived quality of life based on the two weeks prior to the administration of the questionnaire. It was found that the maladaptive perfectionists, as compared to adaptive perfectionists, on average, had a significantly lower perceived quality of life in three of the quality of life domains assessed, namely the Physical Health Domain, the Psychological Health Domain, and the Social Relationships Domain. It was also discovered that the Discrepancy Subscale of the APS-R had a weak negative correlation to the Physical Health Domain, the Psychological Health Domain, and the Social Relationships Domain. No other significant differences were found in perceived quality of life for any of the other multi-dimensional group comparisons and no relationships were found between the type of perfectionism displayed and the GP A scores achieved. -- The implications of these findings for both counsellors and classroom teachers are discussed and suggestions for future research are offered.
Impact of Chemical Environment on Compaction Creep of Quartz Sand and Possible Geomechanical Applications

Induced seismicity and surface subsidence are adverse effects of natural gas and geothermal energy production that may present barriers to their use as low‐carbon alternatives to coal and oil. The driving force for these unwanted effects is compaction of the reservoir, which can potentially be mitigated by injecting (pressurized) fluids that restore the pore pressure and chemically inhibit compaction. We conducted uniaxial compaction experiments on quartz sand aggregates to investigate the effect of pore fluid chemistry on time‐dependent compaction (creep). In addition to a low‐vacuum (dry) environment, supercritical fluids (N2, CO2, and wet CO2), simple aqueous solutions (three HCl solutions and a NaOH solution), and complex aqueous solutions with additives (AlCl3, AMP, and washing detergent) were employed. N2, CO2, and fluids containing scaling inhibitor (AMP), as well as wastewater (detergent solution) are generally considered for injection. Compaction creep was enhanced in fluid‐saturated environments compared to dry. Wet CO2 caused more creep with faster strain rates than the relatively dry CO2 and N2 environments. Experiments conducted with simple aqueous solutions exhibited a clear pH dependency. The complex aqueous solutions enhanced creep compared to their simple solution counterpart with similar pH. Based on acoustic emission data and microstructural analyses, we inferred that compaction creep was controlled by subcritical crack growth, aided by water, hydroxyl ions, and additives. If microcracking also controls compaction in reservoir sandstones, these results indicate that injection of supercritical fluids or acidic solutions may mitigate reservoir compaction.
Gender bias in natural language processing: BioCorpus-5, a preliminary multilingual Gender-Balanced Corpus of in-domain wikipedia biographies

In natural language processing and the blind application of machine learning reflect social biases and stereotypes in training data. In this project, we develop a corpus for future analysis applications of this bias. The corpus uses the data extracted by a tool called Wiki-Tailor which helps to obtain multilingual biographies from Wikipedia. The extracted multilingual corpus of biographies based on actors, linguists and physicists is analyzed, and it is balanced in gender in five languages: Spanish, Catalan, French, English and German. For that purpose, it is necessary to create a semi-automatic software divided into two parts. On the one hand, a manual alignment of the text of each biography is carried out in order to obtain five text files for each author where the information of each line is parallel for each language. On the other hand, each file is formatted in each language parallelized in xml. The xml data enters each author's information (identifier, language, genre, etc.) and is presented in a single text file to make the system simpler and more useful to process. Finally, statistics are obtained from the corpus created so it can be used in future automatic natural language processing or machine learning applications which require multilingual parallel corpus either at the level of sentence or document.
Replication or Innovation? Structuration in Policy Implementation

Why does a program, policy, or management approach implemented with success in one jurisdiction or organization fail to achieve similar results in another context? There is a large body of literature in public affairs and related fields that wrestle with this question. Scholars place varying emphasis on the constraints of the institutional system relative to humans’ agency in bringing about successful outcomes, and there is a tendency to generate lists of factors that enable or impede successful implementation. In this article, we present an alternative theoretical approach grounded in structuration processes. We turn to recent empirical scholarship and theory to re-examine what is known about structural elements that influence the implementation process: rules, routines, culture, and resources. This literature emphasizes that the work of these mechanisms is fundamentally shaped by endogenous factors within a system, fueled by the agency of actors within the setting. This is a more robust way to understand how microdynamics shape meso conditions in organizations and networks. Rather than understanding the implementation puzzle as how to replicate effective ideas, this frame suggests more attention to how to support innovation and learning is warranted.
Spectral Reconstruction From Dispersive Blur: A Novel Light Efficient Spectral Imager

Developing high light efficiency imaging techniques to retrieve high dimensional optical signal is a long-term goal in computational photography. Multispectral imaging, which captures images of different wavelengths and boosting the abilities for revealing scene properties, has developed rapidly in the last few decades. From scanning method to snapshot imaging, the limit of light collection efficiency is kept being pushed which enables wider applications especially under the light-starved scenes. In this work, we propose a novel multispectral imaging technique, that could capture the multispectral images with a high light efficiency. Through investigating the dispersive blur caused by spectral dispersers and introducing the difference of blur (DoB) constraints, we propose a basic theory for capturing multispectral information from a single dispersive-blurred image and an additional spectrum of an arbitrary point in the scene. Based on the theory, we design a prototype system and develop an optimization algorithm to realize snapshot multispectral imaging. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified on both the synthetic data and real captured images.