Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Global Multidimensional Optimization

Abstract This paper introduces a new variant of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, designed for global optimization of multidimensional functions. The goal of this variant, called ImPSO, is to improve the exploration and exploitation abilities of the algorithm by introducing a new operation in the iterative search process. The use of this operation is governed by a stochastic rule that ensures either the exploration of new regions of the search space or the exploitation of good intermediate solutions. The proposed method is inspired by collaborative human learning and uses as a starting point a basic PSO variant with constriction factor and velocity clamping. Simulation results that show the ability of ImPSO to locate the global optima of multidimensional functions are presented for 10 well-know benchmark functions from CEC-2013 and CEC-2005. These results are compared with the PSO variant used as starting point, three other PSO variants, one of which is based on human learning strategies, and three alternative evolutionary computing methods.
Developing Computational Models for the Biomechanical Assessment of Thoracolumbar Spine Surgeries

of a dissertation at the University of Miami. Dissertation supervised by Dr. Francesco Travascio. No. of pages in text. (112) Low back pain and spinal disorders represent a major clinical apprehension as the population ages. With more than 1.4 million annual spine procedures, operative management is exerting a significant healthcare burden in the United States. Despite the new technologies and the advent of minimally invasive surgeries (MIS), the optimal surgical treatment for many spine pathologies is still controversial. Hence, revision surgeries, due to failure in attaining the surgical goals, have been very common. Comprehensive understanding of each patient condition is crucial in determining the best surgical treatment; however, the available tools used in diagnosis and specifying the treatment are still insufficient to provide such knowledge. Finite element modeling (FEM), an advanced computational method for structural stress analysis, was employed in orthopedic biomechanics applications since 1972 to evaluate the kinematics and kinetics of human tissues. With the advancement of the computational power and the ability to precisely reconstruct 3D models of the spine tissues, FEM is now a well-established tool for basic research in spine biomechanics. However, despite the exceptional capabilities of this method, it is yet not well exploited in patient diagnosis and in optimizing the surgical treatment.
Effects of selected joint parameters on tensile strength of steel bolt-nut connections in Cupressus funebris wood

The influences of various factors on the tensile strength loading caused by steel bolt-nut connections on Cupressus funebris wood components in directions perpendicular and parallel to the grain were studied. The focus was the interference fit parameter between the nut and the pre-drilling hole, the nut embedded depth, and the embedded nut diameter using the single factor method. The optimum parameters for bolt-nut connections with C. funebris wood components both perpendicular and parallel to the grain component structures were obtained via a single factor experiment and verified by simulation using ANSYS finite element analysis software. The experimental and simulation-based results revealed that the optimum parameters with maximum tensile strength for the bolt-nut connections with C. funebris wood components were an interference fit of -0.80 mm, a nut embedded depth of 25 mm, and an embedded nut diameter of 15.5 mm. Considering the needs of practical applications, the optimum interference fit parameter between the nut and pre-drilling hole was -0.80 mm, increasing the length of the nut within the allowable range of part size was beneficial, and it was not suitable to increase the diameter of the embedded nut to improve the part’s performance.
Sustained Feelings of Success and Agency: Keys to Literacy Motivation among Adolescents with Learning Disabilities

ABSTRACT This study explored prior experiences that shaped literacy motivation beliefs among adolescents with learning disabilities (LD). Data included student and teacher interviews, teacher response scales, and classroom observations. Two cycles of analysis, using directed content and thematic approaches, resulted in findings that indicate two types of experiences that were relevant to literacy motivation: a) ones of literacy success, and b) ones providing a sense of agency. Students demonstrated motivation to read, and to accept support, when beliefs in either area made positive contributions to self-perception. However, motivation for both activities was compromised when students faced challenges to positive self-perception. These findings highlight the particular challenges educators face in providing academic services to adolescents who, like their non-LD peers, are developmentally inclined to seek autonomy, and whose self-perceptions as readers and writers can be challenged by accepting supports. Implications could be incorporated into effective literacy interventions for adolescents with LD.
The Financial Strategy Process under the Influence of Cognitive Biases

The financial management of an organization is focused on the maximization the owners’ of richness. For this, one of the challenges presented is the administration of financing strategic decisions, which constitutes in defining the adequate proportion of the capital from debts and equity capital that the company should use. Thus, from the design of an optimum construction of the capital structure, the company may be capable of minimizing its capital costs, therefore contributing with the leveraging of its value. It is known that the cost of debts is less onerous than using own capital. However, Brazilian companies, systematically, use little debts to cover its investment decisions, thus maintaining low financial leveraging capacity and, consequently, weakening its competitive capacity, even presenting various theories suggesting a more equilibrated structure of the sources. Considering this, a discussion of the reason for this behavior from the managers was promoted. The explanation found for this fact is supported by the concepts of limited rationality, defended by behavioral finances. The arguments presented by behavioral finances are very enlightening and convincing in explaining the strategic decision making process used by the financial manager. Keywords: Financial behavior, Strategy, Cognitive.
Channel catfish use higher coordination to capture prey than to swallow

When animals move they must coordinate motion among multiple parts of the musculoskeletal system. Different behaviours exhibit different patterns of coordination, however, it remains unclear what general principles determine the coordination pattern for a particular behaviour. One hypothesis is that speed determines coordination patterns as a result of differences in voluntary versus involuntary control. An alternative hypothesis is that the nature of the behavioural task determines patterns of coordination. Suction-feeding fishes have highly kinetic skulls and must coordinate the motions of over a dozen skeletal elements to draw fluid and prey into the mouth. We used a dataset of intracranial motions at five cranial joints in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), collected using X-ray reconstruction of moving morphology, to test whether speed or task best explained patterns of coordination. We found that motions were significantly more coordinated (by 20–29%) during prey capture than during prey transport, supporting the hypothesis that the nature of the task determines coordination patterns. We found no significant difference in coordination between low- and high-speed motions. We speculate that capture is more coordinated to create a single fluid flow into the mouth while transport is less coordinated so that the cranial elements can independently generate multiple flows to reposition prey. Our results demonstrate the benefits of both higher and lower coordination in animal behaviours and the potential of motion analysis to elucidate motor tasks.
Riding the Swaption Curve

We conduct an empirical analysis of the term structure in the volatility risk premium in the fixed income market by constructing long-short combinations of two at-the-money straddles for the four major swaption markets (USD, JPY, EUR and GBP). Our findings are consistent with a concave, upward-sloping maturity structure for all markets, with the largest negative premium for the shortest term maturity. The fact that both delta–vega and delta–gamma neutral straddle combinations earn positive returns that seem uncorrelated suggests that the term structure is affected by both jump risk and volatility risk. The results seem robust for macroeconomic announcements and the specific model choice to estimate the risk exposures for hedging.
THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL CAPITAL ON OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE: RESEARCH IN BANKING SECTOR IN ERBIL

Social capital as a field of study has grown with many contributions from different fields. Yet, the gap within the literature regarding different contexts has inspired researchers to look for further explanations about social capital and its dimensions. Therefore, this paper aims to provide insight into the impact of social capital as a specific factor to develop commercial banks’ operational performance in Erbil City, Iraq. To achieve this, a quantitative research is carried out, findings pointing to positive significant relationships between the dimensions of social capital as relational, structural and cognitive capital and operational performance development. Additionally, according to results, social capital plays a vital role in commercial banks’ stability and development of operational performance.
The Impact of Stricter Merger Control on Bank Mergers and Acquisitions. Too-Big-To-Fail and Competition

The effect of regulations on the banking sector is a key question for financial intermediation. This paper provides evidence that merger control regulation, although not directly targeted at the banking sector, has substantial economic effects on bank mergers. Based on an extensive sample of European countries, we show that target announcement premia increased by up to 16 percentage points for mergers involving control shifts after changes in merger legislation, consistent with a market expectation of increased profitability. These effects go hand-in-hand with a reduction in the propensity for mergers to create banks that are too-big-to-fail in their country.
Reduction of Mutual Coupling between Closely Spaced Microstrip Antennas Arrays Using Electromagnetic Band-gap (2D-EBG) Structures

Reducing mutual coupling is a key research area in design of compact microstrip antennas arrays. To minimize the overall size of the antennas arrays, the distance between them must be very small, as a result a strong mutual coupling is appears. Periodic structures can help to design a low profile of antennas arrays and enable to improve their performances by the suppression of surface waves propagation in a given frequency range. This paper proposes a novel configuration of mushroom-like electromagnetic band-gap (2D-EBG) structure created by microstrip technology placed between two antennas arrays to reduce the mutual coupling more than -33.24dB. When 13×2 EBG structures are used, the mutual coupling reduces to -59.36dB at the operation frequency 5.8GHz of the antennas arrays. A 26.12dB mutual coupling reduction is achieved, which proves that the surface wave is suppressed. The proposed configuration is designed, optimized, and miniaturized by using electromagnetic software CST Microwave Studio. The measured results show that there is a good agreement with the computed results.
Diferencias por sexo en el nivel de Autoeficacia percibida en una muestra de estudiantes de la Provincia de Concepción ¿Qué papel juegan los roles de género en la educación?

A fin de conseguir el Desarrollo Sostenible, las Naciones Unidas han propuesto 17 objetivos a lograr para el ano 2030, entre ellos, la Igualdad de Genero. Es importante diferenciar los conceptos Sexo y Genero, entendiendo el primero como las caracteristicas fisicas y biologicas de las personas, que permiten diferenciar entre Machos, Intersexuales y Hembras, mientras que el genero es utilizado en linguistica para determinar su una persona es femenina o masculina. Este estudio forma parte de una investigacion mas amplia y tiene por objetivo identificar diferencias por sexo en la percepcion de autoeficacia sobre las inteligencias multiples planteadas por Gardner, en 488 estudiantes desde quinto basico a cuarto ano de ensenanza media de la provincia de Concepcion. Se aplico el Inventario de Autoeficacia para Inteligencias Multiples Revisado (IAMI-R), con cambios en su escala de valoracion y en algunos items. Se analizaron las diferencias de medias entre las dimensiones, para lo cual se empleo una t de Student para muestras independientes. Los hombres reportan puntajes mas altos en las dimensiones Logico-Matematico y Cinestesico-Corporal, mientras que las mujeres reportan puntajes mas altos en las dimensiones Naturalista, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal y Linguistica. Concluyendose, a la luz de estos resultados, la importancia de brindar oportunidades de desarrollo de forma igualitaria en hombres y mujeres, dotando de experiencias educativas que fortalezcan la percepcion de autoeficacia de los/as estudiantes sin hacer diferencias discriminatorias segun el sexo.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS FOR PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORTHOGRAPHIC AND PHONOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE IN SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS OF INDIC LANGUAGES

In three experiments, I test whether the application of particular instructional principles improves the teaching of the orthographic and phonological systems of Indic languages to second language learners. In Experiment 1, I developed a mobile game that teaches 4th grade children Hindi decoding skills, with an emphasis on complex akshara. There were two versions of the game that varied in terms of stimuli spacing (narrow and wide). I found that the game improved participants’ akshara recognition and their ability to read and spell words that contain complex akshara. Both versions of the game yielded equivalent levels of improvement, but participants played the narrow spacing version faster. Analysis of the game data revealed interesting patterns of common mistakes. Children struggled with akshara that were non-linear and opaque. When spelling words, children struggled when the complex akshara crossed a syllabic boundary and they often made phonological errors. In Experiment 2, I examined whether motor encoding and testing benefit orthographic learning. I found that motor encoding benefits orthographic learning when tasks require pure orthographic knowledge or the production of an orthographic form when given a phonological form. Testing does not benefit beginning learners. In Experiment 3, I tested whether pedagogical differences or individual differences affect the learning of non-native phonemic contrasts. I found that learning of the difficult dental/retroflex contrast can be improved by increasing the voice onset times of the dental sounds. Both English phonological skills and rise time discrimination positively predict learning the non-native contrasts. Furthermore, pairing phonemes with English transliterations impairs discrimination learning, likely because of interference from the English pronunciation. Orthographic support helps people remember which phonemes are in words. Therefore, the use of akshara can benefit second language learners because the graphs are not already associated with phonological referents and the graphs help people remember which phonemes are in vocabulary words. When considered together, these three experiments suggest that multisensory encoding and reducing interference benefit second language learners.
Entrepreneurial Affect and Emotions in Entrepreneurship Education Impact Research: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda

In this research article, we systematically review literature on entrepreneurial affect and emotions in entrepreneurship education (EE) impact studies. In view of the increasing usage of entrepreneurial affect in the EE literature and the multiplicity of its facets, the main aim of this article is to create a definitional framework of affect. Based on the criteria of scientific standard and relevance for EE, we critically select 46 literature sources published from 1984 to 2017 and conduct a citation analysis of their impact. We then systemize and classify these sources using co-citation analyses as well as conduct a critical review of content similarities. As a result, we identify five main groups of the literature sources: (a) Affect in entrepreneurship research, (b) Affect in EE impact research, (c) Affect-cognition relationship, (d) Affect-conation relationship, and (e) Conceptual contributions. Our critical review of the literature sources further leads to the creation of the definitional framework of affect. The framework facilitates deeper understanding of affect and advocates terminological precision. It may, therefore, serve other EE researchers in conducting impact studies. In this vein, we formulate propositions for further research by combining the affect infusion model with the theory of planned behavior.
Association of sleep quality and internet addiction among the medical students

Background: The side effects of Internet overuse have been emerging progressively causing the emergence of a problem that is defined as internet addiction or problematic internet use. It also disrupts the sleep wake cycle so adversely affecting quality of sleep. This study is a preliminary step toward understanding the effect of internet addiction on sleep quality among medical college students in India.Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, single-centred, and self-assessable. Questionnaire based study administrated among 525 consenting medical students. The participants were assessed by proforma containing demographic details, variables related with internet use, questionnaires of IAT (Internet Addiction Test for Internet Use) and PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for Sleep quality. Statistical data were analysed by Graph Pad InStat version 3.06 using Chi–square test and Mann-Whitney test.Results: There were 9.3% of all participants were considered problematic internet users with frequency of internet addiction 0.9%. Participants with problematic internet use are likely to have poor sleep quality (p<0.0001). 23.8% of all participants had poor sleep quality and 76.2% of the students had good quality of sleep. Participants with poor quality of sleep were having high IAT scores in comparison to participants with good quality of sleep. Severity of poor sleep quality is positively correlated with internet addiction (r2=0.233, p<0.0001). Conclusions: Participants with problematic internet use were more likely to have poor quality of sleep and vice a versa.
Age group differences in political activism in Malaysia

ABSTRACT There is a dearth of studies on age-related patterns of political activism in Malaysia, specifically on young people’s patterns of political participation relative to their elders, and in relation to the rich literature that has developed in Western democracies. By analysing survey data from Wave 6 (2010–2014) of the World Values Surveys (WVS), this study aims to investigate the differences in political engagement between younger and older people in Malaysia, including new repertoires outside the mainstream politics, by addressing the question of whether young Malaysians are more active in political activities compared to older groups. The findings conform to the expected patterns in the literature that young people are less likely to participate in conventional political activities than their respective elders. However, we find no significant differences for unconventional political participation. The study further shows that demographic indicators such as the levels of education, gender and ethnic group belonging do not appear to be linked to the age gap between youth and their elders in political activism. As such, the study provides evidence that young people in Malaysia are less likely to be politically active than their elders and that this is not clearly attributable to the socio-demographic factors analysed.
Intention to Use Voluntary Disclosure Information on Social Media for Investment Decisions: Analysis Using Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness

This study analyzes investor behavior when using voluntary disclosure information posted on social media pages in their investment decision-making. To measure the relationship between belief constructs and behavioral intention, the technology acceptance model was used. To this end, two belief constructs were employed: 1) perceived ease of use and 2) perceived usefulness. These constructs were applied to the intention to use voluntary disclosure information posted on social media pages in the investment decision-making process. The study examined 150 employees as respondents, using structural equation modeling for hypothesis testing. The findings showed that investors in Indonesia viewed voluntary disclosure information posted on social media pages as affecting their intention to use such information in the process of investment decision-making. Both perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness affected the aforementioned intention. The study also found that perceived ease of use had both a direct and an indirect effect through perceived usefulness.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE REPEAT CONTRIBUTIONOF CASH WAQFIN ISLAMIC PHILANTHROPY

Cash waqfis an Islamic tool in the Islamic Economic System. Cash waqf inculcates the culture of giving through Islamicphilanthropy. Cash waqfmust be used as a socio-economic development mechanism to create and develop a third sector that is not profit-motivated and distinct from private and public sectors. Awareness of cash waqf contributionand theobligation to donate are crucial amongMalaysians. Waqfinstitutions have seriously promotedwaqf financing instruments to enhance awareness and participation in society. However, awareness toward cash waqfin Malaysia lags behind that in Indonesia and Middle Eastern countries. this study examines the internal determinants of donors‟ (waqif) intention to participate in giving cash waqfamong Muslims in Malaysia. This studyis conducted using a quantitative approach based on constructed questionnaires to identify patterns of factors that influencecash waqfcontribution. Structural equation modelling technique is applied in the analysis. Findings show several internal factors, such as religious obligation, benevolence, familiarity with waqfinstitutions, and access to cash waqf, thathave strongrelationship with donors‟ intention to repeat contribution of cash waqfin the future. Waqfinstitutionsshould encourage people to donate cash waqfin Malaysia. However, mostof the respondents do not trust waqfinstitution. Trust is a significant internal factor in the intention to repeat contribution of cash waqf. Thus, waqfinstitutions should build good reputation and integrity to attract big contributors among Muslims in Malaysia and increase the level of intention among donors (waqif). Waqf institutions should consider these factors in planning their strategies to ensure adequate waqf funds that could accommodate further development for the benefit of the ummah. Keywords:internal factors, cash waqf, Islamic social finance, repeat cash waqf contribution,structural equation modelling (SEM)