Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain Tumor Detection on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Images Using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)

Brain cancer is one of the most malignant types of cancer. Several computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems have been created to help clinicians analyze MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) images and find brain tumors. In general, CAD systems use conventional methods to classify images, in which the results are very dependent on the quality of object segmentation in the image. Meanwhile, tumor objects have different shapes, colors, and sizes, so the difficulty level of segmentation is quite high. On the other hand, currently, deep learning algorithms have been developed which are generally able to provide high accuracy results. Therefore, in this study, a tumor detection method on brain MRI images based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is proposed. CNN method is one of the deep learning algorithms that combine the processes of segmentation, feature extraction, and classification into one. The system performs this task totally on its own through a training phase. However, the performance of the CNN method highly depends on the sufficient amount of training data, which usually can't be fulfilled in the case of medical data. Therefore, we proposed a CNN architecture developed from Inception V3in which the training process utilizes the transfer learning method to overcome the small amount of training set. The experimental result shows that the proposed model gives high performance on a small-size dataset with accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score of 84%, 91%, 76%, and 83%, respectively. Moreover, InceptionV3 gives high efficiency compared to the other non-lightweight network architecture, such as ResNet50V2, InceptionResNetV2, and VGG16.
Linguistic Needs of Non-Native Students of Arabic Language at Saudi Universities

Arabic language is taught to several students. Some of them are learning Arabic as a foreign language. Therefore, it is important to design programs that fit their needs. This study aimed at analyzing the learning needs of students of Arabic as a foreign language in Saudi Universities. The participants of this study include 150 students from four countries (i.e., Malaysia, Thailand, China, and Indonesia). The students were selected from three different disciplines (i.e., Arabic Language, Islamic Finance, and Usuluddin). The study used a questionnaire adapted from previous studies on this topic. The questionnaire contains 49 items: 26 items ask about the difficulties in learning Arabic language, and 23 items ask about the students’ needs in learning Arabic language. The results of this study revealed different difficulties in learning Arabic language. The students also reported their need to improve their proficiency in Arabic language. The students mentioned difficulties and needs related to productive skills such as writing and speaking. They also reported difficulties and needs to receptive skills but with more focus on the academic context. Based on the results of this study, some recommendations for future research have been provided. This study has a theoretical and a practical significance. The study provides a review of the difficulties students of Arabic as a foreign language face and their nature. The study also provided a review of the literature conducted on similar topics. The results of the study will benefit teachers, educators, and curriculum designers. The results also will help in understanding the needs of learners before designing teaching materials, which will help in increasing the students’ academic achievement and reducing the challenges they face.
Non-Gaussian Features of Transmitted Flux of QSOs' Lyα Absorption: Intermittent Exponent

Recently, it has been found that the field traced by QSOs' Lyα forests is intermittent on small scales. Intermittent behavior is essential for understanding the statistics and dynamics of cosmic gravitational clustering in the nonlinear regime. The most effective method of describing intermittency uses the structure functions and the intermittent exponent, which measure the scale and order dependencies of the ratio between the higher order and second-order moments of the field. These properties can be used not only to confirm the non-Gaussianity of fields but also to detect the type of non-Gaussianity. In this paper, we calculate the structure function and intermittent exponent of (1) Keck data, which consists of 28 high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio QSO Lyα absorption spectra, and (2) Lyα forest simulation samples produced via the pseudohydrodynamic scheme for the low-density cold dark matter model and warm dark matter (WDM) model with particle mass mW = 300, 600, 800, and 1000 eV. Aside from the WDM model with mW = 300 eV, the simulation samples are in agreement with observations in the context of the power spectrum. We find, however, that the intermittent behavior of all the simulation samples is substantially inconsistent, both quantitatively and qualitatively, with the Keck data. Specifically, (1) the structure functions of the simulation samples are significantly larger than that of Keck data on scales k ≥ 0.1 km-1 s; (2) the intermittent exponents of the simulation samples are more negative than that of Keck data on all redshifts considered; and (3) the order dependence of the structure functions of simulation samples is closer to the intermittency of hierarchical clustering on all scales, while the Keck data are closer to a lognormal field on small scales. These differences are independent of noise and show that the intermittent evolution modeled by the pseudohydrodynamic simulation is substantially different from observations, even though they are in good agreement with each other in terms of second- and lower order statistics. This result also shows that "weakly" clustered samples, such as the high-resolution Lyα absorption spectrum, are effective in testing dynamical models of structure formation if their intermittent features are considered.
Trading ﬁrms in the Spanish services sector

In this study, I analyze the characteristics of trading firms in the Spanish service sector. I reveal that half of the service firms in Spain operate only in their local markets, whereas one-third of the examined service firms trade with non-local areas of Spain, and fewer than 20% of Spanish service firms trade with other nations. Similar to those in the manufacturing sector, trading firms in the service sector exhibit premia relative to non-traders with respect to size, labor productivity and average wages. Larger premia are observed for firms that trade with more distant markets and for firms that participate in bidirectional trade. Service firms that trade with non-local areas of Spain also exhibit similar premia relative to firms that trade only in their regional markets. I demonstrate that compared with non-trading firms, firms that engage in trade with foreign countries are more productive even before they have commenced their trading activities. However, I do not find that the initiation of trade with foreign nations by trading firms is followed by improvements in the productivity of these firms relative to non-trading firms. empresas que comienzan a comerciar con países extranjeros ya eran más productivas antes de comenzar a comerciar con estos países. Sin embargo, los resultados no reflejan que la productividad crezca más entre las empresas que han comenzado a comerciar con relación a las empresas que no comercian.
Thermal equation of state of tantalum

We have investigated the thermal equation of state of bcc tantalum from first principles using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) and mixed-basis pseudopotential methods for pressures up to 300 GPa and temperatures up to 10000 K. The equation of state at zero temperature was computed using LAPW. For finite temperatures, mixed basis pseudopotential computations were performed for 54 atom supercells. The vibrational contributions were obtained by computing the partition function using the particle in a cell model, and the finite-temperature electronic-free energy was obtained from the LAPW band structures. We discuss the behavior of thermal equation of state parameters such as the Gruneisen parameter {gamma}, the thermal expansivity {alpha}, and the Anderson-Gruneisen parameter {delta}{sub T} as functions of pressure and temperature. The calculated Hugoniot shows excellent agreement with shock-wave experiments. An electronic topological transition was found at approximately 200 GPa.
Understanding and Practices of Intercultural Communicative Competence Elements Perceived by English Pre-service Teachers’

English teaching in the 21st century needs to address learners’ successful engagement with a global milieu in intercultural settings, which remains challenging for many EFL teachers worldwide. It was evidenced by a number of studies showing that EFL teachers are not well-prepared to integrate intercultural teaching in EFL classrooms. It becomes crucial to find out the possible causes of their unpreparedness to integrate intercultural teaching in EFL lessons. This study was carried out to record Indonesian EFL pre-service teachers’ perceived understandings of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and their practice in implementing the ICC elements during their teaching practicum program. It employed a survey using an electronic questionnaire consisting of 31 items. The study involved 106 participants consisting of both the alumni and the undergraduate students of ELT program from six different universities in Indonesia. The results from the questionnaire were then complemented with the results of the telephone interview obtained from selected participants. The findings showed that the participants demonstrated excellent understanding of ICC elements; yet, they did not frequently implement ICC-related teaching activities in EFL teaching. The minimal integration of intercultural teaching was possibly due to some external factors such as restricted time, curriculum, and students’ different proficiency.
Competitive ability of bean Phaseolus vulgaris cultivars with Urochloa plantaginea

The objective of this work was to evaluate the competitive ability of carioca bean cultivars BRS FC104, BRS FC402, IAC Imperador, IAC Milênio, IPR Tangará, and SCS Riqueza in the presence of Alexandergrass ( Urochloa plantaginea ) in different proportions of plants in association. The experiments were carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design with four replications. The treatments were arranged according to the proportions of beans and Alexandergrass plants: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 or 40:00, 30:10, 20:20, 10:30, and 0:40 plants per pot. The competitiveness of the species was analyzed using diagrams applied to replacement experiments and also through relative competitiveness indices. At 30 days after crop emergence, leaf area (LA), height (HP), diameter (DP), and shoot dry mass (SM) of the plant shoots were measured, as well as variables related to the physiology of the species. There was competition among carioca bean cultivars in the presence of Alexandergrass regardless of the proportion of plants, causing decreases in DP, LA and SM. Basically, there is competition for the same environmental resources between beans and Alexandergrass.
The correlation of leukocyte-specific protein 1 (LSP1) rs3817198(T>C) polymorphism with breast cancer: A meta-analysis

Background: Multiple studies have investigated the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in leukocyte-specific protein 1 (LSP1) with susceptibility to breast cancer (BC) and have yielded inconsistent conclusions, particularly rs3817198(T > C). Consequently, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate this relationship more comprehensively. Methods: Four databases were utilized to locate eligible publications: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. This meta-analysis included 14 studies, including 22 reports of 33194 cases and 36661 controls. The relationship of rs3817198 polymorphism with breast cancer was estimated using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The LSP1 co-expression network was constructed by STRING, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using DAVIDE. Download TCGA breast cancer mRNA-seq data and analyze the relationship between LSP1 expression and breast cancer chemotherapy sensitivity. Results: The results indicated that rs3817198(T > C) was positively correlated to with breast malignancy (dominant model: OR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.06–1.17; recessive model: OR = 1.10, 95%CI = 1.04–1.15; heterozygous model: OR = 1.09, 95%CI = 1.04–1.15; homozygous model: OR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.09–1.28; additive model: OR = 1.09, 95%CI = 1.05–1.13), among Caucasians and Asians. However, rs3817198(T > C) may reduce the risk of breast carcinoma in Africans. Rs3817198(T > C) might result in breast carcinoma in individuals with BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants and can contribute to estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinoma. The expression of LSP1 was inversely correlated with the IC50 of doxorubicin (P = 8.91e–15, Cor = −0.23), 5-fluorouracil (P = 1.18e–22, Cor = −0.29), and cisplatin (P = 1.35e–42, Cor = −0.40). Conclusion: Our study identified that LSP1 rs3817198 polymorphism might result in breast malignancy, particularly among Caucasians and Asians, but lower breast cancer susceptibility in African populations. The expression of LSP1 was negatively correlated with the IC50 of doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin.
Integrated Monetary and Financial Policies for Small Open Economies

Many small open economies deploy foreign exchange intervention, capital controls, and macroprudential regulation along with monetary policy to cope with shocks. We develop a model that characterizes the optimal joint use of these policies. Our framework incorporates nominal rigidities with producer and dominant currency pricing, pecuniary externalities due to domestic and external borrowing constraints, and shallow foreign exchange markets. We nd that: (1) Prudential capital controls to address pecuniary externalities are larger under DCP than PCP; (2) Capital controls and FX intervention enhance monetary autonomy aer foreign appetite shocks if FX markets are shallow; (3) Countries with shallow FX markets and currency mismatches face a policy conundrum: while a ban on open FX positions reduces the need for prudential capital controls to address pecuniary externalities, it increases the vulnerability to foreign appetite shocks and can make the economy dependent on FX intervention. 4) Exchange rate exibility helps relax domestic currency borrowing constraints but may tighten borrowing constraints in FX. ∗Preliminary and incomplete. Please do not circulate. is paper was prepared as background for the Integrated Policy Framework (IPF) at the IMF. anks to Tobias Adrian, Tam Bayoumi, Javier Bianchi, Marcos Chamon, Mitali Das, Chris Erceg, Emmanuel Farhi, Olivier Jeanne, Sebnem Kalemli-Ozcan, Jesper Linde, Maeo Maggiori, Enrique Mendoza, Pau Rabanal, Ludwig Straub, and the broader IPF team at the IMF for their comments, in particular to David Lipton for launching the work on the IPF and Giovanni Dell’Ariccia for insightful discussions. e views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF, its Executive Board, or management.
Effects on neuromodulation, acupuncture, and aerobic exercises on migraine and tension-type headache outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Headache disorders are common diseases that cause a social burden. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of various non-pharmacological treatments to address or prevent acute headaches, including neuromodulation, acupuncture, and aerobic exercises in patients with episodic migraine and tension-type headache (TTH). Methods: We performed a systematic search of the electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG MEDICINE ONLINE, and Chinese Medical Journal database using Stata/SE 14.0 to obtain weighted mean differences (WMDs). The outcomes included monthly headache days, headache intensity, headache duration, days per month of acute medication use, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Results: Of 872 identified articles, 27 were included in the meta-analysis. Neuromodulation was associated with reduced headache days (WMD: −1.274, 95% CI [−1.914, −0.634], P < .001), duration (WMD: −2.2, 95% CI [−3.32, −0.107], P < .001) and medication consumption (WMD: −1.808, 95% CI [−2.546, −1.071], P < .001) in cases of migraine. Acupuncture was associated with the alleviation of headache days (WMD: −0.677, 95% CI [−0.932, −0.422], P < .001) and intensity (WMD: −0.893, 95% CI [−1.573, −0.212], P = .01) in cases of migraine and acute medication use (WMD: −3.29, 95% CI [−4.86, −1.72], P < .001) in cases of TTH. Aerobic exercise was associated with reduced headache duration (WMD: −5.1, 95% CI [−8.97, −1.22], P = .01) in cases of TTH. The risk of bias for included articles was moderate. Conclusions: There is low- and moderate-quality evidence that neuromodulation, acupuncture, and aerobic exercises are associated with attenuated headache symptoms in patients with episodic migraine or TTH. However, high-quality studies are needed to draw more detailed conclusions.
Atrial Fibrillation and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment among COVID-19 Patients Using Different Scores

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmic complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Cardiovascular complications of this viral infection need to be identified with different means to detect adverse events early. This is particularly true for hospitalized COVID-19 patients who have severe illness. This review provides a comprehensive overview about the different scores used to predict atrial fibrillation as well as cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among COVID-19 patients. Abstract Since the advent of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 in December 2019, millions of people have been infected and succumbed to death because of this deadly virus. Cardiovascular complications such as thromboembolism and arrhythmia are predominant causes of morbidity and mortality. Different scores previously used for atrial fibrillation (AF) identification or prediction of its complications were investigated by physicians to understand whether those scores can predict in-hospital mortality or AF among patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndromecoronavirus-2 virus. Using such scores gives hope for early prediction of atrial arrhythmia and in-hospital mortality among coronavirus disease 2019–infected patients. We have discussed the mechanisms of AF and cardiovascular damage in coronavirus disease 2019 patients, different methods of AF prediction, and compared different scores for prediction of in-hospital mortality after this viral infection.
ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Fiscal Decentralization and Life Satisfaction in Chile Fiscal Decentralization and Life Satisfaction in Chile

This research hinges upon the relationship between fiscal decentralization (FD) and subjective well-being (SWB) in Chile. We merge data from two household surveys (2011 and 2013) in which a life satisfaction question was included, with municipal-level information. By using a FD proxy that measures the share of municipal unconditional grants on all revenues, we produce an instrumental variable to test in the context of an ordered logistic multilevel model. Our contribution is twofold. First, we find evidence that, on average, FD does affect SWB positively. Second, we find this effect to depend on the satisfaction group in which individuals belong. Evidence from this study indicates that the effect in question is non-linear and that only high SWB groups are clearly benefitted. Since this reflects different priorities across SWB groups, this paper’s evidence is a call for a more aggressive inter-municipal fiscal equalization scheme.
Argon, silicon and iron abundances in the damped Ly-alpha system I Zw 18

We show how the ratio of the abundances of Ar, Si and Fe as derived from FUSE absorption spectra of I Zw 18 are aected by large-scale stochastic velocity elds (mesoturbulence). 21-cm observations with high spatial resolution show the presence of velocity elds with large correlation lengths. FUSE observations were performed with a large entrance aperture which fully covered the galaxy. This means that the observed proles are averaged over the full body of I Zw 18. Taking this into account, we show that the observations are consistent with the abundance ratios (-chain/Fe) being similar to those derived from Galactic metal-poor stars. Using a mesoturbulent approach, we found that the observed proles can be reproduced well with (Fe/H) = 2:4 0:1, and (Si, Ar/Fe) =0 :7 0:1.
Stellar Populations and Kinematics of Red Galaxies at z > 2: Implications for the Formation of Massive Galaxies

We recently identified a substantial population of galaxies at z > 2 with comparatively red rest-frame optical colors. These distant red galaxies (DRGs) are efficiently selected by the simple observed color criterion Js - Ks > 2.3. In this paper we present near-infrared spectroscopy with Keck NIRSPEC of six DRGs with previously measured redshifts 2.4 < z < 3.2, two of which were known to host an active nucleus. We detect continuum emission and emission lines of all observed galaxies. Equivalent widths of Hα in the nonactive galaxies are 20-30 Å, smaller than measured for Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) and nearby luminous infrared galaxies and comparable to normal nearby galaxies. The modest equivalent widths imply that the galaxies either have a decreasing star formation rate or are very dusty. Fitting both the photometry and the Hα lines, we find continuum extinction AV = 1-2 mag, ages 1-2.5 Gyr, star formation rates 200-400 M☉ yr-1, and stellar masses (1-5) × 1011 M☉ for models with constant star formation rates. Models with a declining star formation lead to significantly lower extinction, star formation rates, and ages but similar stellar masses. From [N II]/Hα ratios we infer that the metallicities are high, 1-1.5 times solar. For four galaxies we can determine line widths from the optical emission lines. The widths are high, ranging from 130 to 240 km s-1, and by combining data for LBGs and DRGs, we find significant correlations between line width and rest-frame U - V color and between line width and stellar mass. The latter correlation has a similar slope and offset as the "baryonic Tully-Fisher relation" for nearby galaxies. From the line widths and effective radii we infer dynamical masses and mass-to-light (M/L) ratios. The median dynamical mass is ~2 × 1011 M☉, supporting the high stellar masses inferred from the photometry. We find that the median M/LV ≈ 0.8(M/L)☉, a factor of ~5 higher than measured for LBGs. We infer from our small sample that DRGs are dustier, more metal-rich, and more massive and have higher ages than z ≈ 3 LBGs of the same rest-frame V-band luminosity. Although their volume density is still uncertain, their high M/L ratios imply that they contribute significantly to the stellar mass density at z ≈ 2.5. As their stellar masses are comparable to those of early-type galaxies, they may have already assembled most of their final mass.
RADAR ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION STREAMERS OBSERVED 25 FEBRUARY 1954

Abstract A radar study of the streamers of 25 February 1954 at Cambridge, Mass. , indicates that horizontal bands of rain are produced by the action of wind shear on the precipitation particles. It is suggested that a “generating layer,” responsible for the streamer formation, consists of a cumuliform cloud configuration within which ice crystals grow rapidly both by sublimation and by riming.