Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shifting Goals in Introductory and Advanced Computer Science Courses: The Effects of Gender and Major

This Research Full Paper examines changes in computer science (CS) students' achievement goals. The types of goals students set impact other things such as self-regulation strategies and learning, and evidence indicates that the kinds of goals students set and pursue within a class shift during the course of that class. A $3 \times 2$ goal orientation framework was used to explore shifts in undergraduate CS students' goals. This study contributes to the research literature on changes in CS students' goals and extends previous work by using multiple analytic techniques to examine students in upper-level courses as well as factors that might be associated with changes in goals. Study 1 examined students in 100-level courses and Study 2 examined students in more advanced courses. The primary research questions addressed in both studies were (1) how do the goals of undergraduate CS students change during the semester? and (2) are changes in goals different for men and women or for CS majors and non-majors? Students self-reported the perceived importance of the various types of achievement goals at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester. Study 1 results indicated that on average, 100-level students' ratings of the importance of all types of goals except task/work avoidance goals changed across the semester. Individual-level analyses revealed that comparable proportions of students demonstrated increases and decreases in this type of goal, resulting in the lack of change at the group level. Some of the goal types differed according to major status, and only task approach goals showed any gender effects. Study 2 found that on average students in upper-level courses similarly demonstrated significant decreases in all approach goals and performance avoidance goals during the semester. Task/work avoidance goals again did not change significantly overall, but again comparable proportions of students demonstrated increases and decreases. Task/work avoidance goals also differed according to major status. For task approach goals, all interactions and main effects except the main effect of gender were significant. Non-major women had the lowest task approach goals and the most change, but CS-major women had the highest task approach goals and the least change. In both studies, performance avoidance goals had the greatest proportion of students demonstrating reliable change. The findings of these studies indicate that students' goals tend to become more maladaptive over time, might differ for majors and non-majors in lower-level courses, and the factors related to shifts in goals might be more complex in more advanced courses.
Compiling and Optimizing Real-world Programs for STRAIGHT ISA

The renaming unit of a superscalar processor is a very expensive module. It consumes large amounts of power and limits the front-end bandwidth. To overcome this problem, an instruction set architecture called STRAIGHT has been proposed. Owing to its unique manner of referencing operands, STRAIGHT does not cause false dependencies and allows out-of-order execution without register renaming. However, the compiler optimization techniques for STRAIGHT are still immature, and we found that the naive code generators currently available can generate inefficient code with additional instructions. In this paper, we propose two novel compiler optimization techniques and a novel calling convention for STRAIGHT to reduce the number of instructions. We compiled real-world programs with a compiler that implemented these techniques and measured their performance through simulation. The evaluation results show that the proposed methods reduced the number of executed instructions by 15% and improved the performance by 17%.
An empirical model for predicting energy consumption of manufacturing processes: a case of turning process

Optimizing the energy efficiency of processes has become a priority in the manufacturing sector; driven by soaring energy costs and the environmental impact caused by high energy consumption levels. The energy consumed by a machine tool performing a turning process consists of not only the energy required by the tool tip for material removal but also the energy used for auxiliary functions. Traditionally, the energy required for the cutting process is estimated based on cutting force prediction equations. However, this estimation is limited to the energy consumption of the tool tip. Thus, the aim of this paper is to develop a reliable method to predict the total energy consumption of a selected machine tool performing a turning operation. In order to compare the energy consumption under different cutting conditions, the specific energy consumption is defined as a functional unit: the energy consumed to remove 1 cm3 of material. An empirical model is obtained based on power measurements under various cutting conditions, and it is able to provide a reliable prediction of energy consumption for given process parameters. Additional investigations are conducted in order to understand and explain each coefficient in the energy consumption model.
Analysis of digitized waveforms using Shannon entropy

A novel symbol‐oriented, information‐theoretic approach to signal analysis is described based on application of Shannon entropy. It is shown that this can be a preferred alternate to conventional digital signal energy analysis by making an experimental comparison of scanned ultrasonic images formed from Shannon entropy, signal energy, and log signal energy measurements. In these images, which were made by c scanning a Plexiglas bar with drill‐hole ‘‘defects,’’ the Shannon entropy exhibits approximately two to three times the sensitivity of the two energy measures. However, the Shannon entropy analysis of waveforms suffers from a severe fundamental defect. It depends on the properties of the analog‐to‐digital converter (ADC) used to acquire the waveform as well as the properties of the waveform itself. As digitizer dynamic range is increased the Shannon entropy ultimately saturates at a level governed by the properties of the digitizer alone. This effect arises from the necessary limited bandwidth of a rea.
Perception of Charisma, Comfort, Micro and Macro Expressions in Computer Graphics Characters

This paper presents the reproduction of a research focused on the perception of micro and macro expressions of a character generated by Computer Graphics (CG), firstly described in 2014. Our main goal is to investigate whether the perceptual analysis of CG characters in 2014 is similar to people's perception in 2021. We also performed other analyses, such as the impact of familiarity with CG technologies, gender, age and education on the perception of micro and macro expressions, by subjects. In addition to the perceptual analysis of micro and macro expressions, we also evaluate the perceived comfort and charisma in relation to the presented CG characters.
ISO 9000 as an entry key to TQM: the case of Greek industry

Observes that the development and use of quality assurance systems became wider with the use of ISO 9000 International Standards. The standards have become very popular and have stimulated the interest of many companies in their effort to enhance their competitive advantage. Examines ISO 9000 Standards’ contribution to Greek companies’ competitiveness, by analysing the internal and external benefits of their application, as well as the problems and difficulties that Greek companies experienced during their development. Summarizes common reasons for the possible failure of an ISO 9000 implementation and, finally, examines the ISO 9000 standards’ relation to the ultimate target of total quality management.
A Model Visualization-based Approach for Insight into Waveforms and Spectra Learned by CNNs

Recent years have shown a growth in the application of deep learning architectures such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), to electrophysiology analysis. However, using neural networks with raw time-series data makes explainability a significant challenge. Multiple explainability approaches have been developed for insight into the spectral features learned by CNNs from EEG. However, across electrophysiology modalities, and even within EEG, there are many unique waveforms of clinical relevance. Existing methods that provide insight into waveforms learned by CNNs are of questionable utility. In this study, we present a novel model visualization-based approach that analyzes the filters in the first convolutional layer of the network. To our knowledge, this is the first method focused on extracting explainable information from EEG waveforms learned by CNNs while also providing insight into the learned spectral features. We demonstrate the viability of our approach within the context of automated sleep stage classification, a well-characterized domain that can help validate our approach. We identify 3 subgroups of filters with distinct spectral properties, determine the relative importance of each group of filters, and identify several unique waveforms learned by the classifier that were vital to the classifier performance. Our approach represents a significant step forward in explainability for electrophysiology classifiers, which we also hope will be useful for providing insights in future studies. Clinical Relevance Our approach can assist with the development and validation of clinical time-series classifiers.
Modeling and predicting the overlap of B- and T-cell receptor repertoires in healthy and SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals

Adaptive immunity’s success relies on the extraordinary diversity of protein receptors on B and T cell membranes. Despite this diversity, the existence of public receptors shared by many individuals gives hope for developing population wide vaccines and therapeutics. Yet many of these public receptors are shared by chance. We present a statistical approach, defined in terms of a probabilistic V(D)J recombination model enhanced by a selection factor, that describes repertoire diversity and predicts with high accuracy the spectrum of repertoire overlap in healthy individuals. The model underestimates sharing between repertoires of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, suggesting strong antigen-driven convergent selection. We exploit this discrepancy to identify COVID-associated receptors, which we validate against datasets of receptors with known viral specificity. We study their properties in terms of sequence features and network organization, and use them to design an accurate diagnosis tool for predicting SARS-CoV-2 status from repertoire data.
Structure of a TRAPPII-Rab11 activation intermediate reveals GTPase substrate selection mechanisms

Rab1 and Rab11 are essential regulators of the eukaryotic secretory and endocytic recycling pathways. The TRAPP complexes activate these GTPases via nucleotide exchange using a shared set of core subunits. The basal specificity of the TRAPP core is towards Rab1, yet the TRAPPII complex is specific for Rab11. A steric gating mechanism has been proposed to explain TRAPPII counterselection against Rab1. Here we present cryoEM structures of the 22-subunit TRAPPII complex from budding yeast, including a TRAPPII-Rab11 nucleotide exchange intermediate. The Trs130 subunit provides a “leg” that positions the active site distal to the membrane surface, and this leg is required for steric gating. The related TRAPPIII complex is unable to activate Rab11 due to a repulsive interaction, which TRAPPII surmounts using the Trs120 subunit as a “lid” to enclose the active site. TRAPPII also adopts an open conformation enabling Rab11 to access and exit from the active site chamber.
Fatigue-Transfer Functions: How Do They Compare?

The primary objective of this work was to investigate which of several fatigue-transfer functions predict the failure of mixtures and expected fatigue life most accurately. A second objective was to study existing fatigue models and how they relate to mixture volumetrics. This work was done by employing layered elastic analysis to obtain stresses and strains in the pavement under monthly temperature variations. The calculated tensile strains were then used in the fatigue-transfer functions to predict the fatigue life of the pavement. The mix and distress data were obtained from the WesTrack project. In general, all fatigue-model predictions were poor to fair; even the locally calibrated models (WesTrack) yielded at best 57% accuracy in predicting failing or surviving mixtures. The Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) model predicted failures with 72% accuracy; the Asphalt Institute model, 39%; Medani and Molenaar's model, 31%; and the Shell models, 28% accuracy. The SHRP and Asphalt Institute models used suggested field shift factors (FSFs). The fatigue models studied were originally developed for predicting crack initiation in the laboratory. In using these models to predict fatigue life in actual pavements, crack propagation is usually addressed through an empirically determined FSF. An attempt was made to calibrate and recalibrate the fatigue-transfer models using the WesTrack data. This analysis indicates that there is a trade-off in predicting failing or surviving mixtures correctly and the accuracy of the predicting fatigue life compared with the applied traffic loading. Because the nonfailed mixtures were trafficked with only 5 million traffic repetitions, the error associated with the fatigue-life predictions was unknown. Therefore, the overall improvement of the model accuracy through this calibration process cannot be assessed. For several reasons, this study recommends using the Asphalt Institute fatigue-transfer equation in layered elastic analysis to evaluate the fatigue-cracking potential of asphalt mixtures.
From the Cult of Waste to the Trash Heap of History: The Politics of Waste in Socialist and Postsocialist Hungary

Acknowledgments 1. Was State Socialism Wasteful? 2. Toward a Social Theory of Waste Part 1. Discipline and Recycle (19481974) 3. Metallic Socialism 4. The Primitive Accumulation of Waste in Metallic Socialism Part 2. Reform and Reduce (19751984) 5. The Efficiency Model 6. The Limits of Efficiency Part 3. Privatize and Incinerate (1985present) 7. The Chemical Model 8. "Building a Castle out of Shit": The Wastelands of the New Europe 9. Conclusion Notes Sources and References Index
The Impact of COVID-19 on Sleep Quality in People Living With Disabilities

Background: Research exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep in people with disabilities has been scarce. This study provides a preliminary assessment of sleep in people with disabilities, across two timepoints during the pandemic, with a focus on those with visual impairment (VI). Methods: Two online surveys were conducted between April 2020 and March 2021 to explore sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A convenience sample of 602 participants completed the first survey and 160 completed the follow-up survey. Results: Across both timepoints, participants with disabilities reported significantly poorer global sleep quality and higher levels of sleep disturbance, use of sleep medication and daytime dysfunction than those with no disabilities. Participants with VI reported significantly higher levels of sleep disturbance and use of sleep medication at both timepoints, poorer global sleep quality, sleep duration and latency at time 1, and daytime dysfunction at time 2, than those with no disabilities. Global sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and self-rated sleep quality deteriorated significantly in participants with no disabilities, but daytime dysfunction increased in all three groups. Disability and state anxiety were significant predictors of sleep quality across both surveys. Conclusion: While sleep was consistently poorer in people with disabilities such as VI, it appears that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a greater impact on sleep in people with no disabilities. State anxiety and, to a lesser extent, disability, were significant predictors of sleep across both surveys, suggesting the need to address anxiety in interventions targeted toward improving sleep.
DNA Origami-Templated Bimetallic Nanostar Assemblies for Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Dopamine

The abundance of hotspots tuned via precise arrangement of coupled plasmonic nanostructures highly boost the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal enhancements, expanding their potential applicability to a diverse range of applications. Herein, nanoscale assembly of Ag coated Au nanostars in dimer and trimer configurations with tunable nanogap was achieved using programmable DNA origami technique. The resulting assemblies were then utilized for SERS-based ultra-sensitive detection of an important neurotransmitter, dopamine. The trimer assemblies were able to detect dopamine with picomolar sensitivity, and the assembled dimer structures achieved SERS sensitivity as low as 1 fM with a limit of detection of 0.225 fM. Overall, such coupled nanoarchitectures with superior plasmon tunability are promising to explore new avenues in biomedical diagnostic applications.
Emerging Role of PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Chronic Liver Diseases

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand (L)1, the immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of various diseases including chronic liver diseases (CLDs) such as hepatitis, liver injury and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The role of PD-1/PD-L1 has been widely inspected in the treatment of viral hepatitis and HCC. PD-1 is known to play a crucial role in inhibiting immunological responses and stimulates self-tolerance by regulating the T-cell activity. Further, it promotes apoptosis of antigen-specific T-cells while preventing apoptosis of Treg cells. PD-L1 is a trans-membrane protein which is recognized as a co-inhibitory factor of immunological responses. Both, PD-1 and PD-L1 function together to downregulate the proliferation of PD-1 positive cells, suppress the expression of cytokines and stimulate apoptosis. Owing to the importance of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling, this review aims to summarize the potential of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in CLDs along with toxicities associated with them. We have enlisted some of the important roles of PD-1/PD-L1 in CLDs, the clinically approved products and the pipelines of drugs under clinical evaluation.
Cognitive Models of Limb Embodiment in Structurally Varying Bodies: A Theoretical Perspective

Using the seminal rubber hand illusion and related paradigms, the last two decades unveiled the multisensory mechanisms underlying the sense of limb embodiment, that is, the cognitive integration of an artificial limb into one's body representation. Since also individuals with amputations can be induced to embody an artificial limb by multimodal sensory stimulation, it can be assumed that the involved computational mechanisms are universal and independent of the perceiver's physical integrity. This is anything but trivial, since experimentally induced embodiment has been related to the embodiment of prostheses in limb amputees, representing a crucial rehabilitative goal with clinical implications. However, until now there is no unified theoretical framework to explain limb embodiment in structurally varying bodies. In the present work, we suggest extensions of the existing Bayesian models on limb embodiment in normally-limbed persons in order to apply them to the specific situation in limb amputees lacking the limb as physical effector. We propose that adjusted weighting of included parameters of a unified modeling framework, rather than qualitatively different model structures for normally-limbed and amputated individuals, is capable of explaining embodiment in structurally varying bodies. Differences in the spatial representation of the close environment (peripersonal space) and the limb (phantom limb awareness) as well as sensorimotor learning processes associated with limb loss and the use of prostheses might be crucial modulators for embodiment of artificial limbs in individuals with limb amputation. We will discuss implications of our extended Bayesian model for basic research and clinical contexts.
Coherent multichannel reception of binary modulated signals with dependent Rician fading

A novel technique to calculate the BER of a q-branch coherent receiver for an antipodal binary-modulated transmitted signal is described. When the amplitude fading on each branch is Rician and independent, the BER is calculated through simplification of a (q + 1)-dimensional integral down to a one-dimensional integral, which is readily amenable to numerical evaluation. For systems where the Rician fading on the branches is dependent, it is shown that the problem can be transformed to an independent-fading problem using the technique of ‘spatial whitening’. The authors apply the results to construct diversity contours for the analysis of dependent Rician-faded channel data.
Smart Sirens—Civil Protection in Rural Areas

Germany carried out a nationwide “Alert Day” in 2020 to test its civil alarm systems. The test revealed some problems. Heterogeneous development structures and topography can be limiting factors for sound propagation. In consequence, sirens could be heard inadequately, depending on their location. Furthermore, the reason of warning remains unknown to the public. In terms of civil protection, warnings with the code of behavior by general available media is desired. Smart sirens can transmit additional spoken information and be installed on already-existing streetlights. In this study, we analyze how smart sirens could lead to an improved civil protection. Exemplarily, a detailed analysis is made for a different structured rural area, Dansenberg in Germany, whereas the influence of local conditions on the sound propagation is considered. We analyzed with the software CadnaA—a software for calculation, assessment and prediction of environmental sound—how the location and number of smart sirens can be optimized in order to produce a full coverage of the study area. We modeled the coverage in different scenarios and compared four scenarios: (a) current situation with two E57 type sirens; (b) replacing the existing sirens with two high-performance sirens; (c) one high-performance siren at the more central point; and (d) optimized network of smart sirens of the type Telegrafia Bono. The aim was to achieve a full coverage with a minimum of warning sirens. We could show that the current situation with two E57 type sirens fails to reach out to the whole population whereas the optimized network of smart sirens results in a better coverage. Therefore, a reconsideration of the existing warning system of civil protection with smart sirens could result in a better coverage and improved information of warning.