Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Circle Of Life: A Large-Scale Study of The IoT Malware Lifecycle

Our current defenses against IoT malware may not be adequate to remediate an IoT malware attack similar to the Mirai botnet. This work seeks to investigate this matter by systematically and empirically studying the lifecycle of IoT malware and comparing it with traditional malware that target desktop and mobile platforms. We present a large-scale measurement of more than 166K Linux-based IoT malware samples collected over a year. We compare our results with prior works by systematizing desktop and mobile malware studies into a novel framework and answering key questions about defense readiness. Based on our findings, we deduce that the required technology to defend against IoT malware is available, but we conclude that there are insufficient efforts in place to deal with a large-scale IoT malware infection breakout.
Signal Processing: Image Communication

The paper presents a new algorithm for the image inpainting problem. The algorithm uses a recently designed versatile library of quasi-analytic complex-valued wavelet packets (qWPs) which originate from polynomial splines of arbitrary orders. Tensor products of 1D qWPs provide a diversity of 2D qWPs oriented in multiple directions. For example, a set of the fourth-level qWPs comprises 62 different directions. The properties of these qWPs such as refined frequency resolution, directionality of waveforms with unlimited number of orientations, (anti-)symmetry of waveforms and windowed oscillating structure of waveforms with a variety of frequencies, make them efficient in image processing applications, in particular, in dealing with the inpainting problem addressed in the paper. The obtained results for this problem are quite competitive with the best state-of-the-art algorithms. The inpainting is implemented by an iterative scheme, which expands the Split Bregman Iteration (SBI) procedure by supplying it with an adaptive variable soft thresholding based on the Bivariate Shrinkage algorithm. In the inpainting experiments, performance comparison between the qWP-based methods and the state-of-the-art algorithms is presented.
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 10:3

■ Damage to the prefrontal cortex disrupts the performance of self-ordered sequencing tasks, although the precise mechanisms by which this effect occurs is unclear. Active working memory, inhibitory control, and the ability to generate and perform a sequence of responses are all putative cognitive abilities that may be responsible for the impaired performance that results from disruption of prefrontal processing. In addition, the neurochemical substrates underlying prefrontal cognitive function are not well understood, although active working memory appears to depend upon an intact mesocortical dopamine system. The present experiments were therefore designed to evaluate explicitly the contribution of each of these abilities to successful performance of a novel spatial self-ordered sequencing task and to examine the contribution of the prefrontal cortex and its dopamine innervation to each ability in turn. Excitotoxic lesions of the prefrontal cortex of the common marmoset profoundly impaired the performance of the self-ordered sequencing task and induced robust perseverative responding. Task manipulations that precluded perseveration ameliorated the effect of this lesion and revealed that the ability to generate and perform sequences of responses was unaffected by excitotoxic damage to prefrontal cortex. In contrast, large dopamine and noradrenaline depletions within the same areas of prefrontal cortex had no effect on any aspect of the self-ordered task but did impair the acquisition of an active working memory task, spatial delayed response, to the same degree as the excitotoxic lesion. These results demonstrate that a lesion of the ascending monoamine projections to the prefrontal cortex is not always synonymous with a lesion of the prefrontal cortex itself and thereby challenge existing concepts concerning the neuromodulation of prefrontal cognitive
Contextual factors associated with smoking among Brazilian adolescents

Background Very few studies have examined the role of school, household and family contexts in youth smoking in middle-income countries. Methods This work describes smoking exposure among 59 992 high school students who took part in the Brazilian Survey of School Health and investigates contextual factors associated with regular smoking, deﬁned as smoking cigarettes at least once in the past 30 days. The explaining variables were grouped into: socio-demographic characteristics , school context , household context and family rapport . Variables independently associated with smoking in each context were identiﬁed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results 53% of the total sample were girls, 89% were aged 13 e 15 years. 24% had already experimented with cigarettes, 50% before the age of 12 years. The prevalence of regular smoking was 6.3% (95% CI 5.87 to 6.74), with no sex variation. Smoking was not associated with either the mother’s education or the index of household assets. In the multivariable analysis, studying at a private school, the possibility of purchasing cigarettes at school and skipping of classes without parents’ consent increased the chances of smoking. In the household context, living with both parents was negatively associated with smoking, while having smoking parents and exposure to other people’s smoking was positively related to smoking. In the family context, parental unawareness of what the adolescent was doing increased smoking, but having meals with the mother one or more days per week and parents’ negative reactions to adolescent smoking reduced the chances of smoking. Conclusion The results reinforce the role of school, household and family contexts in youth smoking behaviours and will help improve public health policies aimed at preventing smoking and health promotion in adolescents.
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND COMPANY PERFORMANCE OF HOSPITALITY FIRMS IN RIVERS STATE

This study examined the relationship between strategic planning and company performance of hospitality firms in Rivers State, Nigeria. The research design adopted was Cross sectional comprising eight (8) hospitality firms in Rivers State Nigeria. The selected participants of the study were operating at managerial levels in their respective firms.In the bid to develop this work has an invaluable piece, secondary data were collected from relevant and reliable sources relating to strategic planning, and company performance of hospitality firms. The existing facts in the literatures set the tune for the primary study conducted as field survey, were sixty eight (68) copies of questionnaire were gathered and analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient statistical tool. It determined the relationship existing between the variables,and the obtained p-value, were used to test the hypotheses formulated. Findings revealed significant relationship between the dimensions of strategic planning namely;strategic formality, time horizon, strategic control, and strategic implementation. It was then concluded that practices directed at boosting strategic thinking significantly contribute to better company performance for firms studied. This gave rise to our recommendations for hospitalityfirms in an environment beclouded with unprecedented changes, to adopt strategic managerial practices that will encourage more employee participation in strategic planning for hospitality sector wide
Flow reversal in millimetric annular DBD plasma actuator

A four-species plasma-fluid model is used to investigate the previously unexplained reversal of flow direction that occurs when the diameter of millimetric annular dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuators reduces. We found that the transformation from a strong outward jet to a weak inward one is induced by disproportionate reduction of the negative radial electrohydrodynamic forcing component during the positive sub-cycle. This change of forcing is due to the increased curvature of the electric field lines, which leads to a higher rate of dielectric charging and thus an increasingly intermittent discharge structure. The flow reversal also depends on the thickness of the electrode and the ambient oxygen content via similar discharging mechanisms. This study indicates that a thinner electrode or higher oxygen fraction is favorable when using DBD plasma actuators in milli/microscale flow control problems since it maintains the strong outward jet at smaller diameter and with higher efficiency.
Phytochemical analysis and antifungi activity of methanol extract of Acalypha hispida Burm. F. flower against to Candida albicans (Y116)

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans. One of the plants that has potential as an antifungal activity is Acalypha hispida. The objectives of this research determined the phytochemical analysis and antifungal activity of A. hispida flower methanolic extract on the growth of C. albicans using the disc diffusion method. Identification of compounds using thin layer chromatography (TLC). This study consisted of six treatments, namely control using ketoconazole and concentrations of A. hispida methanol extract of 0, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 g/mL. The results showed that all concentrations of A. hispida methanolic extract had antifungal properties against the growth of C. albicans. The concentration of 1.0 g/mL showed the best inhibition against C. albicans. The methanol extract of A. hispida flowers contains alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids and phenols.
Scaffolding Based Learning: Strategies For Developing Reflective Thinking Skills (A Case Study On Random Variable Material in Mathematics Statistics Courses)

Scaffolding is a learning model by providing assistance based on student difficulties. The purpose of this study is to describe the application of scaffolding-based learning to support students’ reflective thinking skills in mathematics statistics courses. Research subjects were 43 5th semester students of mathematics education study programs. This type of research is a qualitative descriptive study with three research procedures carried out, namely: 1) a preliminary study, 2) planning, and 3) implementation. The instruments used were lecturer activity observation sheets and student activity observation sheets. The results showed that the components of scaffolding-based learning can be used to support students’ reflective thinking skills in this case in learning mathematics statistics. Explaining and reviewing play a role in shaping pre-reflective situations, restructuring in shaping reflective situations, and developing conceptual thinking play a role in shaping post-reflective situations.
Enhancing Conceptual Understanding and Critical Thinking Skills Pre-service of Physics Using Mechanics Multi Representation ( MMR )

Physics learning based on multiple representations is to association dual or more representations as a method of learning progress that utilized to enhance pre-service teachers’ responses after implementing multi representation-based mechanics lectures. In mechanics subject, pre-service physics teachers’ have trouble and misconception on some concept such as; gravity and central force (GCF), dynamics system particle (DSP), rigid object rotation (ROR), three-dimensional rigid object rotation (TROR). This study aims to find out that using multiple representations (MR) can enhance conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills (CTS) skills for physics teacher candidates. MR-based modules content and pre-service teachers’ worksheets (PTW) with the CTS was utilized to enhance conceptual understanding. Descriptive quantitative and qualitative research methods are carried out to get an evident description of the implementation of MMR to improve conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills. The results found that the level of understanding of MR-based concepts increased for an average N-gain of 0.44% while for the implementation of CTS an average value of 44.9% with quite good criteria. The preservice teachers’ responses to learning of multi-representation-based mechanics are positive. This research is the first study to map a mechanics conceptual understanding and mechanics critical thinking skills based on multiple representations. The results of this research found new discoveries, that all pre-service teachers’ have the ability to understand concepts MR-based and using PTW MR-based can enhance the critical thinking skills of pre-service teachers.
SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND TOURISM PUBLIC POLICY: THE BRAZILIAN TOURISM REGIONALIZATION PROGRAM

Issues of governance, collaboration, and participation are at the forefront of much tourism public management on finding new alternatives to tourism destinations development. This paper aims to diagnose the performance of social participation in the Brazilian Tourism Regionalization Program from 2004 to 2020. This research has a qualitative approach with data collected through bibliographic and documentary research covering 2004 to 2020. The data collected were analyzed according to categories defined by the literature. We analyzed eleven Tourism Regionalization Program documents and 13 specific published articles on tourism governance instances in the Tourism Regionalization Program. As a result, we observe that social participation went from a fundamental issue in 2004 to a prerequisite for integrating a tourist region in 2020. And they are now suppressed by the targeting of protagonism for the private sector. The results of this research advance the theoretical discussions regarding social participation in Brazilian tourism's regionalization. The synthesis of the analyses and discussions promoted the need to rethink organizing tourism governance in the Brazilian case to meet the demand for social participation and the regional development of tourism.
Do Share Repurchases Facilitate Movement Towards Target Capital Structure? International Evidence

We use a new international setting to test and strengthen the identification of “target leverage hypothesis” in the payout policy literature. We conduct a quasi-natural experiment induced by staggered share repurchase legalization in 17 economies and analyze its influences on leverage dynamics. Under-leveraged firms before legalization are more likely to buy back shares immediately after the law change, controlling for other repurchasing motives. Post-legalization repurchases also facilitate firms’ movement towards target leverage, especially for under-leveraged firms. This facilitating effect is stronger under less repurchasing restriction, higher dividend tax penalty, and lower financial constraint.
Evaluation of Tax Administration Efficiency: Data Envelope Analysis (DEA)

Tax administration is essential for every country. Only with collected taxes, governments able to provide public services to citizens (taxpayers) and to implement welfare programs. Therefore, comprehensive performance measurement of tax administration is an important element of the overall assessment of the tax system in every country. The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) is already addressing this issue in its annual African Tax Outlook (ATO) publication by using three indicators (the tax-to-GDP ratio, tax-to-Total tax revenue ratio, and changes in nominal revenue collected) in terms of revenue collected across five types of taxes (VAT, PIT, CIT, customs duties, and the excise duties). This study complements the analysis of tax administration’s efficiency by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA).
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Recent Trade Policy Developments in Asia and the Pacific: Detailed Results

[The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) presents strong potential to mold regional trade and investment patterns well into the future and to influence the direction of global economic cooperation at a challenging time. This paper provides detailed estimates on the effects of the RCEP on income, trade, economic structure, factor returns, and employment using a computable general equilibrium model. The results identify especially important areas to participating countries and provide priorities for updating and exploring the implications of the agreement, particularly as it deepens in scope and expands membership. The results suggest that the RCEP agreement could generate the global income gains that will be almost twice as big as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP). RCEP effects on the region’s trade will also significantly deepen regional production networks. At the sectoral level, exports and imports of non-durable and durable manufactures will experience the most growth. The CPTPP and RCEP will especially strengthen the region’s manufacturing supply chains, raising productivity and increasing wages and employment. enter Abstract Body]
Opioids and Organs: How Overdoses Affect the Supply and Demand for Organ Transplants

As the incidence of fatal drug overdose has quadrupled in the U.S. in the past two decades, patients awaiting organ transplants may be unintended beneficiaries. We use Vital Statistics mortality data, merged with data on the universe of transplant candidates and recipients in the U.S. from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, to study the extent to which the growth in opioid-related deaths affects the supply of deceased organ donors and transplants. Using two separate identification strategies, we find that opioid-related deaths led to more than 22,000 organ transplants in the U.S. between 2008 and 2018. Although we detect little evidence of demand responses to opioid-induced organ supply shocks, we find that transplant centers are increasingly recovering organs from overdose victims for transplant, with the association between opioid-related deaths and organ donors more than doubling between 2008 and 2018. We also present evidence that transplant candidates appear to be more willing to use organs from those who died of opioid-related causes when organ shortages are relatively severe.
High-Frequency Technical Analysis and Systemic Risk Indicators

This study conducts a high-frequency technical analysis of individual stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. We propose novel technical rules that derive the timing of trades according to traditional systemic risks—such as shock-propagation, quote-stuffing, and tail risks—measured by auto- and cross-correlations in order flows, quote-to-trade ratios, and CoVaRs. We demonstrate that both price-based technical strategies—commonly used in technical analysis such as moving average rules—and the newly proposed rules can exploit the significantly superior performance to the buy-and-hold rule when we trade volatile momentum or trend-reversal stocks of small-sized firms. Accordingly, this study improves stock price forecasts in high-frequency trading. Our results suggest that historic prices and systemic risk indicators assist in the risk management and portfolio choices of stock investors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the superior trading performance of individual stocks using a high-frequency technical analysis—even after considering data-snooping bias and transaction costs.
Cross-item Learning for Volatile Demand Forecasting: An Intervention with Predictive Analytics

Despite its importance to OM, demand forecasting has been perceived as a “problem-solving” exercise; most empirical work in the field has focused on explanatory models but neglected prediction problems that are part of empirical science. The present study, involving one of the leading electronics distributors in the world, aims to improve prediction accuracy under high demand volatility for procurement managers to make better inventory decisions. In response to requests for an integrated forecasting methodology, we undertook an iterative process based on three guiding principles — data pooling, theory-informed feature engineering, and ensemble-based machine learning. The resulting framework managed to improve forecast accuracy significantly and is applicable to a broad range of situations. We present reflections and insights derived abductively through engagement with managers in this problem situation. This “problem-driven” process corresponds to intervention as a research strategy that can foster theoretical and methodological innovations in OM. Our contribution goes beyond the development of the prediction framework as it elucidates ways OM researchers could leverage theoretical foundations to inform feature derivation and model construction. We posit that this work points to a way forward to the combination of OM principles with the emerging innovations in data science and artificial intelligence.
Range Utility Theory

We introduce range utility theory for decisions under risk. Two functions are implicated in the representation of preferences: a traditional utility function for wealth---or changes in wealth---and a range distortion function. The latter introduces a local deformation of the utility function on the range under consideration, possibly magnifying the sensitivity to intermediate outcomes. In a sense we make precise, range utility theory is an alternative way to extend the binary rank dependent model to more than two outcomes. It can account for the fourfold pattern, as well as for the preference reversal phenomenon. When the range is fixed, range utility is linear in probabilities. We illustrate this advantage in game theory applications.
Conservatism Gets Funded? A Field Experiment on the Role of Negative Information in Novel Project Evaluation

The evaluation and selection of novel projects lies at the heart of scientific and technological innovation, and yet there are persistent concerns about bias, such as conservatism. This paper investigates the role that the format of evaluation, specifically information sharing among expert evaluators, plays in generating conservative decisions. We executed two field experiments in two separate grant-funding opportunities at a leading research university, mobilizing 369 evaluators from seven universities to evaluate 97 projects, resulting in 761 proposal-evaluation pairs and more than $250,000 in awards. We exogenously varied the relative valence (positive and negative) of others’ scores and measured how exposures to higher and lower scores affect the focal evaluator’s propensity to change their initial score. We found causal evidence of a negativity bias, where evaluators lower their scores by more points after seeing scores more critical than their own rather than raise them after seeing more favorable scores. Qualitative coding of the evaluators’ justifications for score changes reveals that exposures to lower scores were associated with greater attention to uncovering weaknesses, whereas exposures to neutral or higher scores were associated with increased emphasis on nonevaluation criteria, such as confidence in one’s judgment. The greater power of negative information suggests that information sharing among expert evaluators can lead to more conservative allocation decisions that favor protecting against failure rather than maximizing success.
The Evolution of Labor Market Disparities Between Black, Hispanic, and White Men: 1968-2019

We describe how racial and ethnic disparities among prime-aged men have evolved over the last 50 years. We examine several outcomes including annual earnings, employment, measures of income, and home ownership status using data from the March CPS, the Census, and the ACS. Both Blacks and Hispanics have experienced a 20-25% earnings disadvantage relative to whites since 1980. In terms of employment, the gap has been increasing for Blacks but decreasing for Hispanics. These differences are reflected in income and home ownership status. The disparities in earnings are similar across education groups but the disparities in employment are driven primarily by workers who have not completed high school. Comparing Hispanic immigrants with natives reveals that while native Hispanics fare better than Blacks, many of the employment and earnings gains are attributable to Hispanic immigrants.