Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serious Game for Medical Imaging in Fully Immersive Virtual Reality

Fully immersive virtual reality systems allow the implementation of new immersive user interfaces and data visualization applications that offer effective ways to interact with multidimensional neuroimaging data. Learning to interpret 3D medical imaging scans can be an intimidating experience for students given the large range of pathologies to visualize and the relative placement(s) and location(s) of areas of interest, a process which is further complicated by interacting with, manipulating, and navigating through images across several possible views. Gamification and Serious Games (SG) have proved to have instructional benefits for teaching and learning. The adoption and use of virtual reality in education is growing, driven by the availability of more powerful and affordable virtual reality (VR) headsets, allowing novel ways to interact with and explore teaching material. This paper explores the use of VR to teach the fundamentals of medical imaging interpretation and the opportunities available in using immersive 3D visualizations to understand the spatial relationships between parts of the body, key organs, and their constituent parts. An integrated immersive learning environment is presented which orientates and guides the student through this process and assesses their subsequent level of understanding. The use of gamification in this context to increase student engagement and retention is discussed.
Performance Analysis of Lung Cancer Classification using Multiple Feature Extraction with SVM and KNN Classifiers

All over the world for individual’s death lung malignancy is considered as typical reason. Image processing utilization has increased stage by stage. With tremendous images volume in general radiologist predictions to discover lung malignancy may not be perfect. This paper concentrates at texture feature extraction and classification of lung CT image as normal or affected. Different phases involved are preprocessing, segmentation, feature extraction and classifier. Preprocessing is done using median filter followed by Watershed segmentation. Watershed segmentation is culled for choosing the required region of interest, and then the performance analysis of lung cancer classification is done using multiple features such as GLCM, LBP and HOG and various classifier to choose the best suitable combination of features and classifier for improved classification results. The results and methodology represents further improvements in precision in lung malignancy identification and with enhanced exactness in classification outcomes.
Improved Computerized Ionospheric Tomography Based on the Spaceborne SAR, ionosonde and GPS data

In order to improve the accuracy of computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) based on the GPS, this paper presents a data fusion method. Due to the significant influence of initial value on CIT, a combination of data from ionosonde and the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) is adopted. A more precise electron density profile can then be obtained and used for new initial value. Simulation results in this paper show that compared with traditional method, the combination scheme in this paper can obviously improve the accuracy of the ionospheric reconstruction.
Effect of Embedding Prompts on Learning Performance and Metacognitive Monitoring

Instructional videos are widely-used resources in online learning. To enhance the effectiveness of instructional videos, prompts can be provided to learners and support their learning processes. According to the Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive (ICAP) framework, the present study compared the effect of summary and self-explanation prompts on the metacognitive monitoring process and learning performance. In Study 1, 156 participants were randomly assigned to summary prompt, self-explanation prompt, and control conditions. Results showed that the summary prompt helped learners to perform better on retention test, but no effect was found on transfer test. Study 2 further explored the effects of these two prompts on the metacognitive monitoring process. Fifty participants were randomly assigned to summary prompt, self-explanation prompt, or control groups. Results indicated that both prompts helped participants to achieve greater scores on retention test and make more accurate calibration on transfer than participants in the control condition. These results suggested that the ICAP framework has the potential to generalize to the video learning context. Additional research is needed to investigate whether these effects can be replicated.
Learning Medical Risk Scores for Pediatric Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a common childhood disease, the management of which still lacks consolidated international criteria. In clinical practice, heuristic scoring systems are often used to assess the urgency of patients with suspected appendicitis. Previous work on machine learning for appendicitis has focused on conventional classification models, such as logistic regression and tree-based ensembles. In this study, we investigate the use of risk supersparse linear integer models (risk SLIM) for learning data-driven risk scores to predict the diagnosis, management, and complications in pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis on a dataset consisting of 430 children from a tertiary care hospital. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach and compare the performance of learnt risk scores to previous analyses with random forests. Risk SLIM is able to detect medically meaningful features and outperforms the traditional appendicitis scores, while at the same time is better suited for the clinical setting than tree-based ensembles.
The Cloud-Based Textbook: From Choice to Advantage

A common feature of professional learning in different disciplines is that the skills and knowledge are acquired through students' understanding, memory, and practice. This paper examines the impact of the cloud-based textbooks on students' learning achievements and finds that the use of cloud-based textbooks can affect and improve some students' academic achievements significantly. At a university in China, our team conducted a study of offering free cloud-based textbook for a class of 160 students in 8 weeks. It was found that more than 50% of students were open to using cloud-based textbook. In the final exam, students who used cloud textbooks scored significantly higher on total scores and difficult questions than those who did not. The result also showed that the cloud-based textbook's satisfaction rate reached 73%. The research team also found that female students have a higher percentage of in-depth reading after choosing to use cloud-based textbooks than male students. Based on these evidences, a plug-in containing a simple quiz game and card reward mechanism is recommended as supplementary content that affects the positive impact of students' interest in electronic textbooks.
Inconsistent eating time is associated with obesity: A prospective study

Obesity is characterized by an accumulation of redundant body fat linked to metabolic dysregulation and low-grade systemic inflammation. Lifestyle choices are imperative determining factors of obesity. The contemporary lifestyle is associated with behaviors that disrupt circadian rhythms, impacting metabolic homeostasis. Our animal and human studies suggest that circadian phenotypes could be related to the risk of metabolic dysregulation and obesity. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of inconsistent eating habits on body weight in adults. Individuals who presented for colon cancer screening were enrolled. Subjects received structured questionnaires to capture 7-day eating and sleeping times in a week prospectively. Bodyweight and height were extracted from medical records, and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Inconsistent eating times were defined as an average difference of >2 hours between the largest meal on weekdays and weekends. Forty-nine of the 61 (80.3 %) individuals enrolled in the study completed the questionnaires. The mean age and standard deviation (SD) were 60.8 (7.9), and 27 (55.1 %) were male. Subjects with inconsistent eating times had a significantly higher BMI (33.8 ± 3.6 SD, n = 9) than subjects who did not (27.5 ± 6.5 SD, n = 40; p = 0.001). The highest BMI was observed in subjects who ate inconsistently and late (35.8 ± 4.6 SD). In this cross-sectional study, time of eating habits was associated with BMI. Controlled cohort studies are needed to determine the potential link between eating time and the risk of obesity in the long term.
Effect of packing conditions and materials properties on loose packing fraction of rigid particles: a theoretical and experimental review

This paper focuses on the effect of packing conditions and materials properties on loose packing fraction of particles from theoretical and experimental perspectives. First, the difference in loose packing of particles was measured in different conditions. In the second part, we obtained the main factor that dominated the loose packing fraction in different particle scales. We concluded that kinetics energy induced by the gravitational potential energy almost has no influence on the loose packing fraction for particles smaller than a few millimeters. On the contrary, the wall effect became more and more evident with the increase of particle size. Particle morphology and PSD significantly affect the loose packing of particles above the sub-millimeter size. Moreover, for micron-sized particles, the Van der Waals force was shown to dominate all other colloidal interactions, and the ratio between Van der Waals force and effective gravity determined the loose packing fraction of fine powders.
Lost and found: an exploration of the professional identity of primary teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on a small-scale study to explore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Irish primary teachers’ evolving identities. Design/methodology/approach Using a narrative methodological approach, the study was underpinned by Kelchtermans’ (2009) interpretive framework. Five Irish primary teachers participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. The teachers’ narratives focused on what it meant to “be” a teacher during the pandemic, their overall experience of teaching and learning, their motivation during (and beyond) this time, lessons learned and their future perspectives. Findings The paper found that teachers’ identities shifted and evolved over the course of the pandemic, as they initially struggled to make sense of the significant challenges. However, the emergent self-image, as illustrated here, is characterised by commitment, altruistic motivation and personal and professional growth. The study also demonstrated a reconstruction of teachers’ identities, in line with reconfigured relationships with parents, a renewed commitment to space and time in teaching and learning and an attendance to pupil voice. Originality/value There is little specific research on how teachers’ identities have been redefined over the course of the pandemic. This admittedly small-scale study offers insights on how teachers viewed themselves during the pandemic, what it means to be a teacher at this tumultuous time and gives voice to the hard-learned lessons they take with them into a post-Covid era.
Statistical Analysis of APXS‐Derived Chemistry of the Clay‐Bearing Glen Torridon Region and Mount Sharp Group, Gale Crater, Mars

The Glen Torridon stratigraphic sequence marks the transition from the low energy lacustrine‐dominated Murray formation (Mf) (Jura member: Jm) to the more diverse Carolyn Shoemaker formation (CSf) (Knockfarril Hill member: Knockfarril Hill; Glasgow member: Glasgow). This transition defines a change in depositional setting. Alpha Particle X‐ray Spectrometer (APXS) results and statistical analysis reveal that the bulk primary geochemistry of Mf targets are broadly in family with CSf targets, but with subtle compositional and diagenetic trends with increasing elevation. APXS results reveal significant compositional differences between Jura_GT and the stratigraphically equivalent Jura on Vera Rubin ridge (Jura_VRR). The data define two geochemical facies (high‐K or high‐Mg), with a strong bimodal grain distribution in Jura_GT and Knockfarril Hill. The contact between Knockfarril Hill and Glasgow is marked by abrupt sedimentological changes but a similar composition for both. Away from the contact, the Knockfarril Hill and Glasgow plot discretely, suggesting a zone of common alteration at the transition and/or a gradual transition in provenance with increasing elevation in the Glasgow member. APXS results point to a complex history of diagenesis within Glen Torridon, with increasing diagenesis close to the Basal Siccar Point unconformity on the Greenheugh pediment, and with proximity to the beginning of the clay sulfate transition. Elemental mobility is evident in localized enrichments or depletions in Ca, S, Mn, P, Zn, Ni. The highly altered Hutton interval, in contact with the unconformity on Tower butte, is also identified on Western Butte, indicating that the “interval” was once laterally extensive.
Structural and phonological cues for gender assignment in monolingual and bilingual children acquiring German. Experiments with real and nonce words

In this study, we investigate gender marking on German real and nonce words by monolingual children as well as German-Russian children, who grow up in Germany as heritage speakers of Russian. We ask whether the children use phonological and/or structural cues to assign nominal gender or rely on their lexical knowledge. To this end, we designed three experiments. Experiment 1 tests gender assignment on real nouns; Experiment 2 tests gender assignment to nonce nouns, and Experiment 3 tests nonce nouns, contrasting phonological and structural (agreement) cues. Results show that children are less successful when assigning gender to nonce nouns as compared to real nouns, and that they are less sensitive to phonological cues than to syntactic cues. Bilingual children show similar patterns are monolingual children but different default strategies. For the bilingual children, we discuss the possibility of cue transfer from Russian to German.
The awareness of the students about the concepts in the production distribution and consumption learning field in the social studies course curriculum

In our world where unlimited human needs are tried to be met with limited resources, the effort to use resources in the most effective way is the reason for the existence of economics. The aim of this research is to examine the awareness of the concepts and topics that are planned to be taught to the 4th grade students’ social studies curriculum and to make some suggestions. The study group of the research consists of 99 students studying in two primary schools in the Atakum district center of Samsun province in the 2020-2021 academic year. In the research, one of the purposeful sampling methods was used as a measurement tool. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the majority of the students have sufficient awareness of the concepts of need, benefit, goods, production, consumption, savings and waste, but their awareness of the concepts of budget, cost, economic activity, balancing the budget is not sufficient. It has been revealed that the students are aware of the production activities in their regions, but they are little aware of the production stages, the contribution of production to the economy, the growing conditions of the products and the difficulties in growing the products, and the income from the products. In addition, it was understood that the majority of the students had a good level of awareness about conscious consumer, thrift, expiry date, receipt and invoice, but low awareness of TSE, CE and ISO as well as what to do after shopping. On the other hand, it was determined that the majority of the students had a low level of awareness about the income-expenditure status of the family, but had a good level of awareness about the contribution to the family economy. In addition, the majority of the students stated that they contributed to the country's economy by not wasting and not acting extravagantly.
Determining the relevance of HLA/KIR matching/mismatching on kidney and liver transplantation rejection: A meta-analysis

Batuan B, Cajayon CJ, Castro BA, Austria ML, Co DN, Ebreo SK, Clemente B, Tiongco RE. 2021. Determining the relevance of HLA/KIR matching/mismatching on kidney and liver transplantation rejection: A meta-analysis. Nusantara Bioscience 13: 211-218. The kidney and liver are solid organs commonly transplanted nowadays. However, there are cases wherein graft rejection occurs due to foreign Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) proteins. Furthermore, the function of Natural Killer (NK) cells and their receptors in solid organ transplantation is not yet fully elucidated. This study aims to determine the relevance of matching HLA/Killer cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) with kidney and liver transplantation outcomes. Articles were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria provided, which garnered eight definitive studies. Next, data were tabulated using a standardized extraction form. A meta-analysis was conducted to formulate conclusions regarding significance of HLA/KIR matching and mismatching in kidney and liver transplantations. Fixedand random-effects models were utilized to compute and establish 95% CI and pooled ORs wherein a pvalue of less than 0.05 is considered significant. A combination of Chi-square based Q test and I2 statistics were used to identify heterogeneity, which was resolved with a funnel plot. In this meta-analysis, only the HLA-Bw4/KIR3DL1 combination was found significant to lower the risk of allograft rejection (OR=0.73; PA=0.009; PH=0.42). Other combinations which include HLA-C1 and KIR2DL2/3, HLA-C1 and KIR2DS2/3, HLA-C2 and KIR2DL1/DS2, and HLA-Bw4/KIR3DS1 were found to be insignificant; hence, these do not influence the allograft rejections. In conclusion, the role of HLA/KIR combinations on solid organ transplantation rejection is only significant in HLA-Bw4/KIR3DL1 interaction which is correlated with decreased odds of allograft rejection. Factors including KIR allele variations, insufficient data and journals related to the topic, and unestablished association of HLA/KIR in other organ transplantations affected the results of this meta-analysis; thus, these are recommended to be considered in future studies.
Effects of the membrane-covered technology and superphosphate on the compost quality and nitrogen-containing gas emissions during aerobic composting

A lab-scale experiment was conducted to assess effects of the membrane-covered technology and superphosphate on the compost quality and emissions of nitrogen-containing gases during aerobic composting. The results showed that the membrane-covered technology increased the temperature of the compost pile and accelerated degradation of organic matter. The membrane-covered (T1) sample attained a germination index (GI) of 50% and 80%, approximately 2 and 9 d earlier, respectively, relative to the control (CK) sample. However, the application of superphosphate might have an adverse effect on the GI value. The NH3 and N2O emissions during the aerobic composting were decreased by 25.8% and 13.1%, respectively, for the T1 sample compared to the CK sample, while these were reduced correspondingly by 21.3% and 27.2% for the superphosphate addition (T2) sample. Compared with the superphosphate addition, the membrane-covered approach reduced the NH3 emission but not the N2O emission. Thus, the membrane-covered aerobic composting is a potential technology for the adequate utilization of organic waste as a resource.
Effect of Profitability, Leverage, Size, Capital Intensity, and Inventory Intensity toward Tax Aggressiveness

The goal of this research is to find out the effect of profitability, leverage, size, capital intensity, and inventory intensity towards tax aggressiveness. Quantitative approach has been used in this research and applied the multiple linear regression analysis. Tax aggressiveness is measured by Effective Tax Rate (ETR). Population in this study was manufacture, and property, building, real estate companies listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for the year of 2019 – 2020. Purposive sampling used as sampling technique and 135 samples were acquired. Data for this research is analysed using descriptive statistics, classical assumption test, multiple linear regression, hypothesis test, and coefficient of determination with the help of SPSS version 26. According to the finding of the research, profitability, leverage, size, and capital intensity partially has no effect on tax aggressiveness, while inventory intensity has an effect on tax aggressiveness. All the factors affect tax aggressiveness and contribute 11.6%.
Analysis of Solar Hemispheric Chromosphere Properties using the Kodaikanal Observatory Ca–K Index

The Kodaikanal Observatory has provided long-term synoptic observations of chromospheric activities in the Ca ii K line (393.34 nm) since 1907. This article investigates temporal and periodic variations of the hemispheric Ca–K-index time series in the low-latitude zone (±40°), utilizing the recently digitized photographic plates of Ca–K images from the Kodaikanal Observatory for the period of 1907–1980. We find that the temporal evolution of the Ca–K index differs from one hemisphere to another, with the solar cycle peaking at different times in the opposite hemisphere, except for cycles 14, 15, and 21, when the phase difference between the two hemispheres was not significant. The monthly averaged data show a higher activity in the northern hemisphere during solar cycles 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20, and in the southern hemisphere during cycles 14, 17, and 21. We notice an exponentially decaying distribution for each hemisphere’s Ca–K index and the whole solar disk. We explored different midterm periodicities of the measured Ca–K index using the wavelet technique, including Rieger-type and quasi-biennial oscillations on different timescales present in the time series. We find a clear manifestation of the Waldmeier effect (stronger cycles rise faster than the weaker ones) in both the hemispheres separately and the whole disk in the data. Finally, we have found the presence of the Gnevyshev gap (time interval between two cycle maxmima) in both the hemispheric data during cycles 15 to 20. Possible interpretations of our findings are discussed with the help of existing theoretical models and observations.
Monotonic Alpha-divergence Minimisation for Variational Inference

In this paper, we introduce a novel family of iterative algorithms which carry out $\alpha$-divergence minimisation in a Variational Inference context. They do so by ensuring a systematic decrease at each step in the $\alpha$-divergence between the variational and the posterior distributions. In its most general form, the variational distribution is a mixture model and our framework allows us to simultaneously optimise the weights and components parameters of this mixture model. Our approach permits us to build on various methods previously proposed for $\alpha$-divergence minimisation such as Gradient or Power Descent schemes and we also shed a new light on an integrated Expectation Maximization algorithm. Lastly, we provide empirical evidence that our methodology yields improved results on several multimodal target distributions and on a real data example.