Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trajectories of Educational Aspirations Through High School and Beyond: A Gendered Phenomenon?

Growth curve modeling was utilized to examine change in the educational aspirations of adolescents from early high school through to three years beyond high school, as a function of gender and other adolescent characteristics. Significant gender effects were found for level of education aspired to, rate of growth, and degree of acceleration: boys’ aspirations were lower in early high school, accelerated at a faster pace to peak above girls’ aspirations by the end of high school, and dropped more steeply so that, by the post-high school period, educational aspirations were equivalent across genders. Gender also interacted with Grade 9 achievement in determining educational trajectories. Finally, the perception that one faces barriers in educational attainment was found to significantly influence rate of growth and acceleration, indicating that change in aspirations over time differs between people who see barriers to their education and people who do not, independently of gender. Implications of these results for promoting students’ educational aspirations are discussed. Keywords: Gender, high school, educational aspirations
Agonist-Antagonist Pouch Motors: Bidirectional Soft Actuators Enhanced by Thermally Responsive Peltier Elements

In this study, we introduce a novel Mylar-based pouch motor design that leverages the reversible actuation capabilities of Peltier junctions to enable agonist-antagonist muscle mimicry in soft robotics. Addressing the limitations of traditional silicone-based materials, such as leakage and phase-change fluid degradation, our pouch motors filled with Novec 7000 provide a durable and leak-proof solution for geometric modeling. The integration of flexible Peltier junctions offers a significant advantage over conventional Joule heating methods by allowing active and reversible heating and cooling cycles. This innovation not only enhances the reliability and longevity of soft robotic applications but also broadens the scope of design possibilities, including the development of agonist-antagonist artificial muscles, grippers with can manipulate through flexion and extension, and an anchor-slip style simple crawler design. Our findings indicate that this approach could lead to more efficient, versatile, and durable robotic systems, marking a significant advancement in the field of soft robotics.
MATADOR: Automated System-on-Chip Tsetlin Machine Design Generation for Edge Applications

System-on-Chip Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (SoC-FPGAs) offer significant throughput gains for machine learning (ML) edge inference applications via the design of co-processor accelerator systems. However, the design effort for training and translating ML models into SoC-FPGA solutions can be substantial and requires specialist knowledge aware trade-offs between model performance, power consumption, latency and resource utilization. Contrary to other ML algorithms, Tsetlin Machine (TM) performs classification by forming logic proposition between boolean actions from the Tsetlin Automata (the learning elements) and boolean input features. A trained TM model, usually, exhibits high sparsity and considerable overlapping of these logic propositions both within and among the classes. The model, thus, can be translated to RTL-level design using a miniscule number of AND and NOT gates. This paper presents MATADOR, an automated boolean-to-silicon tool with GUI interface capable of implementing optimized accelerator design of the TM model onto SoC-FPGA for inference at the edge. It offers automation of the full development pipeline: model training, system level design generation, design verification and deployment. It makes use of the logic sharing that ensues from propositional overlap and creates a compact design by effectively utilizing the TM model's sparsity. MATADOR accelerator designs are shown to be up to 13.4x faster, up to 7x more resource frugal and up to 2x more power efficient when compared to the state-of-the-art Quantized and Binary Deep Neural Network implementations.
Turning back to Turkey – Or Turning the Back on Germany?

Summary This contribution analyzes whether remigration intentions and actual remigration to their homeland on the part of Turkish migrants to Germany have evolved over time, and if so, why. To do so, event-history analysis is applied to data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). Findings reveal an increase in remigration intentions as well as rates of return for first generation migrants after the turn of the millennium. Before that, both such intentions and rates of actual return had declined, mostly as a consequence of integration in Germany. Those migrants who plan to return have a stronger emotional attachment to Turkey than those who plan to stay. However, the two groups differ neither with respect to their educational levels nor in terms of their perceptions of discrimination. There are similar findings with respect to the small though slightly increasing group of immigrants who actually returned to Turkey. It is thus argued that rising remigration intentions and actual remigration among first-generation migrants are unrelated to their integration into German society and are probably triggered by social change in their country of origin. Zusammenfassung Der Beitrag der Frage nach, wie sich die Remigrationsabsichten und das Remigrationsverhalten türkischstämmiger Einwanderer in Deutschland im Zeitverlauf verändert haben, und wertet dazu alle Erhebungswellen des sozio-ökonomischen Panels (SOEP) ereignisdatenanalytisch aus. Die Befunde zeigen, dass Remigrationsabsichten und -raten türkischstämmiger Einwanderer seit der Jahrtausendwende angestiegen sind, nachdem sie zuvor vor allem in Folge zunehmender Integration abgenommen hatten. Diejenigen Einwanderer, die ihre Remigration planen, haben eine stärkere emotionale Bindung an die Türkei als diejenigen, die dauerhaft in Deutschland bleiben wollen. Beide Gruppen unterscheiden sich weder im Hinblick auf ihr Bildungsniveau noch im Ausmaß ihrer Wahrnehmungen von Diskriminierung in Deutschland. Ähnliches gilt für die kleine, aber leicht wachsende Gruppe tatsächlicher Remigranten. Daraus wird geschlossen, dass die Remigrationsabsichten und -raten der Einwanderer der ersten Generation unabhängig von Integrationsprozessen angestiegen und vermutlich eher dem sozialenWandel in der Türkei geschuldet sind.
Efficient Algorithms for Complexes of Persistence Modules with Applications

We extend the persistence algorithm, viewed as an algorithm computing the homology of a complex of free persistence or graded modules, to complexes of modules that are not free. We replace persistence modules by their presentations and develop an efficient algorithm to compute the homology of a complex of presentations. To deal with inputs that are not given in terms of presentations, we give an efficient algorithm to compute a presentation of a morphism of persistence modules. This allows us to compute persistent (co)homology of instances giving rise to complexes of non-free modules. Our methods lead to a new efficient algorithm for computing the persistent homology of simplicial towers and they enable efficient algorithms to compute the persistent homology of cosheaves over simplicial towers and cohomology of persistent sheaves on simplicial complexes. We also show that we can compute the cohomology of persistent sheaves over arbitrary finite posets by reducing the computation to a computation over simplicial complexes.
Exploring the Possibilities of Split Testing on Motion-Based Games

Split testing is a popular practise to compare and evaluate design elements of web-sites. In this report, it is explored how split testing can be employed to test features of motion-based online games. This is done by applying theory taken from split testing of common web-pages and translating it to work with games. A pilot test is conducted on the newly developed game Phaseformer to evaluate two interaction techniques. With only 105 test participants, the results from the pilot test show with high statistical power that one variant provides the player with a higher level of control over the game than the other.
Guidelines on the Risk and Time to Frostbite during Exposure to Cold Winds

Abstract : The objective of the present study was to define the risk and the time required to develop frostnip on the face during exposure to cold winds. Twelve subjects (6 males and 6 females) were exposed to sixteen 45 min tests where the wind intensity varied between 0, 16 and 32 km/h. The tests were conducted at 0, -10, -20, -30, -40 and 50 C (only 0 km/h wind was present at -50 C). During the tests, the subjects were dressed for thermal comfort, and rested seated while facing the wind with their bare face fully exposed to the cold wind. Each test was terminated when the elapsed time reached 45 min, or when frostnip developed. The results show that no frostnip was observed at 0 C and -10 C for any wind intensity. The frequency of frostnip development increases inversely with temperature, while the time to develop frostnip increases with temperature. At -20 C, 17 and 58% of the subjects developed frostnip for the 16 and 32 km/h wind conditions, while at 30 and -40 C, all the subjects developed frostnip at those conditions. For the no wind conditions, 0, 11, 22, and 60% of the subjects developed frostnip for the 20, -30, -40 and -50 C conditions, respectively. The time to develop frostnip decreased from 20 min at -20 C for the 16 and 32 km/h wind conditions to 14, 4, 2.5 and 1.5 min for the -30 C and 16 km/h, -30 C and 32 km/h, -40 C and 16 km/h, and -40 C and 32 km/h condition, respectively. It was concluded from these results that the risk of frostbite and times to develop frostbite estimated from Siple and Passel are based on conditions that are too severe and need revision to include more mild conditions. A new guideline based on the new Wind Chill Index is proposed to protect the general population against the development of freezing injuries, particularly on the face.
Advanced functional MRI

Abstract Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has been widely used to study the responses of the somatosensory cortex, motor cortex and associated neuronal activity in the human cerebral cortex. fMRI is a non-invasive and indirect method for mapping brain activity through measurement of the hemodynamic responses associated with electrical neuronal activity and the neural activity leads directly to changes in blood flow, blood volume and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption. Non-invasive neuroimaging technologies such as functional MRI have both advantages, such as good spatial resolution, and disadvantages, such as poor temporal resolution. Some of the disadvantages have been alleviated by incorporating other techniques such as optical spectroscopy or electroencephalography (EEG) which are also non-invasive. All these techniques are sensitive to the vascular response of neuronal activity but in addition we are now investigating the existence of a weak direct electromagnetic effect with advanced fMRI. This neuronal current effect which gives rise to main magnetic field modulation should provide additional information for studying nerve characteristics. In this thesis, methods for fMRI mapping of responses from phantoms, the median nerve, the visual system, the motor sensory cortex and the thalamus are optimised and subsequently quantified. The experimental results strongly support the main hypothesis of the thesis and suggest that the generated magnetic field due to ionic current can be detected by present generation MRI using specific experimental designs and stimulation paradigms. Overall our results show that ionic currents in subjects can generate percentage signal changes in MRI up to 0.1± 0.01% corresponding to mean magnetic axonal fields of 0.7± 0.1nT with a Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of 3:1. The responses of the median nerve, motor sensory cortex and thalamus were detected using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and the visual cortex using strobe light stimulation in the range of frequencies 2.1 Hz to 4.1 Hz. All these measurements were acquired at 1.5T. Fast fMRI experiments using TENS and finger tapping were also acquired simultaneously. In addition, real and imaginary finger tapping experiments were performed in the motor sensory cortex at 3T. Our results imply that axonal fields that are generated due to action potentials can generate effects on MRI sensitive enough to directly detect neuronal activity using advanced fMRI, although sensitivity is still not fully adequate for clinical use.
Skill Acquisition and Use for a Dynamically-Balancing Soccer Robot

Dynamically-balancing robots have recently been made available by Segway LLC, in the form of the Segway RMP (Robot Mobility Platform). We have addressed the challenge of using these RMP robots to play soccer, building up upon our extensive previous work in this multi-robot research domain. In this paper, we make three contributions. First, we present a new domain, called Segway Soccer, for investigating the coordination of dynamically formed, mixed human-robot teams within the realm of a team task that requires real-time decision making and response. Segway Soccer is a game of soccer between two teams consisting of both Segway riding humans and Segway RMPs. We believe Segway Soccer is the first game involving both humans and robots in cooperative roles and with similar capabilities. In conjunction with this new domain, we present our work towards developing a soccer playing robot using the RMP platform with vision as its primary sensor. Our third contribution is that of skill acquisition from a human teacher, where the learned skill is then used seamlessly during robot execution as part of its control hierarchy. Skill acquisition and use addresses the challenge or rapidly developing the low-level actions that are environment dependent and are not transferable across robots.
Photoplethysmographic Pulse Wave Velocity Measurement is Not Enough Sensitive and Specific Compared to Conventional Ultrasonographic Technique

Measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) is generally accepted as the simplest non-invasive, reproducible method for assessing large artery stiffness. However, it is quite time consuming and, because of this, not used in general practice. We compared Doppler ultrasound carotid-femoral PWV measurements to the simpler and easier stiffness index (SI) measured photoplethysmographically in 337 drug-treated hypertensive patients (189 men and 148 women) aged 32-88 years. The value of carotid-femoral (C-F) PWV >12.0 m/s corresponded to >9.82 m/s by the SI. SI measured photoplethysmographically correlated significantly (r=0.164, p=0.024) with the C-F PWV in males, but not females (r=-0.073, p=0.377) nor the whole study population (r=0.098, p=0.074). The sensitivity of the SI result was 54.4 % and its specificity 56.2 % compared to C-F PWV. The positive predictive value of SI was 27.6 % and the negative predictive value 80.1 % compared to C-F PWV. Although there was a significant correlation between the golden standard (C-F PWV) and SI measured photoplethysmographically in males, the correlation was weak and thus the photoplethysmographically measured SI was not sufficiently sensitive and specific enough to separate patients with high (>12.0 m/s) pulse wave velocity measured by Doppler ultrasound, and its positive and negative predictive values were poor, Our results suggest that PWV measured photoplethysmographically, although simple and fast, does not detect the same patients with high pulse wave velocity as Doppler ultrasound.
Improved discrete particle swarm optimization using Bee Algorithm and multi-parent crossover method (Case study: Allocation problem and benchmark functions)

Compared to other techniques, particle swarm optimization is more frequently utilized because of its ease of use and low variability. However, it is complicated to find the best possible solution in the search space in large-scale optimization problems. Moreover, changing algorithm variables does not influence algorithm convergence much. The PSO algorithm can be combined with other algorithms. It can use their advantages and operators to solve this problem. Therefore, this paper proposes the onlooker multi-parent crossover discrete particle swarm optimization (OMPCDPSO). To improve the efficiency of the DPSO algorithm, we utilized multi-parent crossover on the best solutions. We performed an independent and intensive neighborhood search using the onlooker bees of the bee algorithm. The algorithm uses onlooker bees and crossover. They do local search (exploitation) and global search (exploration). Each of these searches is among the best solutions (employed bees). The proposed algorithm was tested on the allocation problem, which is an NP-hard optimization problem. Also, we used two types of simulated data. They were used to test the scalability and complexity of the better algorithm. Also, fourteen 2D test functions and thirteen 30D test functions were used. They also used twenty IEEE CEC2005 benchmark functions to test the efficiency of OMPCDPSO. Also, to test OMPCDPSO's performance, we compared it to four new binary optimization algorithms and three classic ones. The results show that the OMPCDPSO version had high capability. It performed better than other algorithms. The developed algorithm in this research (OMCDPSO) in 36 test functions out of 47 (76.60%) is better than other algorithms. The Onlooker bees and multi-parent operators significantly impact the algorithm's performance.
Quality-time analysis of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms

A quality-time analysis of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) based on schema theorem and building blocks hypothesis is developed. A bicriteria OneMax problem, a hypothesis of niche and species, and a definition of dissimilar schemata are introduced for the analysis. In this paper, the convergence time, the first and last hitting time models are constructed for analyzing the performance of MOEAs. Population sizing model is constructed for determining appropriate population sizes. The models are verified using the bicriteria OneMax problem. The theoretical results indicate how the convergence time and population size of a MOEA scale up with the problem size, the dissimilarity of Pareto-optimal solutions, and the number of Pareto-optimal solutions of a multi-objective optimization problem.
The wavy Mutation Maps to the Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate 3-Kinase 2 (IP3K2) Gene of Drosophila and Interacts with IP3R to Affect Wing Development

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) regulates a host of biological processes from egg activation to cell death. When IP3-specific receptors (IP3Rs) bind to IP3, they release calcium from the ER into the cytoplasm, triggering a variety of cell type- and developmental stage-specific responses. Alternatively, inositol polyphosphate kinases can phosphorylate IP3; this limits IP3R activation by reducing IP3 levels, and also generates new signaling molecules altogether. These divergent pathways draw from the same IP3 pool yet cause very different cellular responses. Therefore, controlling the relative rates of IP3R activation vs. phosphorylation of IP3 is essential for proper cell functioning. Establishing a model system that sensitively reports the net output of IP3 signaling is crucial for identifying the controlling genes. Here we report that mutant alleles of wavy (wy), a classic locus of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, map to IP3 3-kinase 2 (IP3K2), a member of the inositol polyphosphate kinase gene family. Mutations in wy disrupt wing structure in a highly specific pattern. RNAi experiments using GAL4 and GAL80ts indicated that IP3K2 function is required in the wing discs of early pupae for normal wing development. Gradations in the severity of the wy phenotype provide high-resolution readouts of IP3K2 function and of overall IP3 signaling, giving this system strong potential as a model for further study of the IP3 signaling network. In proof of concept, a dominant modifier screen revealed that mutations in IP3R strongly suppress the wy phenotype, suggesting that the wy phenotype results from reduced IP4 levels, and/or excessive IP3R signaling.
Auditory Abilities After Cochlear Implantation in Adults With Unilateral Deafness: A Pilot Study

Objective This pilot study examined speech recognition, localization, temporal and spectral discrimination, and subjective reports of cochlear implant (CI) recipients with unilateral deafness. Study Design Three adult male participants with short-term unilateral deafness (<5 yr) participated. All had sudden onset of severe-to-profound hearing loss in 1 ear, which then received a CI, and normal or near normal hearing in the other ear. Speech recognition in quiet and noise, localization, discrimination of temporal and spectral cues, and a subjective questionnaire were obtained over several days. Listening conditions were CI, normal hearing (NH) ear, and bilaterally (CI and NH). Results All participants had open-set speech recognition and excellent audibility (250–6,000 Hz) with the CI. Localization improved bilaterally compared with the NH ear alone. Word recognition in noise was significantly better bilaterally than with the NH ear for 2 participants. Sentence recognition in various noise conditions did not show significant bilateral improvement; however, the CI did not hinder performance in noise even when noise was toward the CI side. The addition of the CI improved temporal difference discrimination for 2 participants and spectral difference discrimination for all participants. Participants wore the CI full time, and subjective reports were positive. Conclusion Overall, the CI recipients with unilateral deafness obtained open-set speech recognition, improved localization, improved word recognition in noise, and improved perception of their ability to hear in everyday life. A larger study is warranted to further quantify the benefits and limitations of cochlear implantation in individuals with unilateral deafness.
Iterative Intercarrier Interference Mitigation for Pilot-Aided OFDM Channel Estimation Based on Channel Linearizations

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) became a popular transmission approach since it suppresses intersymbol interference (ISI) due to large channel delays. However, intercarrier interference (ICI) for high mobility receivers yields corrupted channel estimates for pilot-aided OFDM channel estimation. Thus, this paper presents a novel time-variant channel estimation approach to mitigate this system impairment. We linearize the time-variant channel and determine the expansion point by channel estimates corresponding to the current OFDM symbol, and we get the unknown channel slopes by an iterative data and channel estimation. Our algorithm combines a least squares or a minimum norm channel slope estimation and the detection of the channel paths. It sets any channel path power equal zero once the corresponding power estimate is smaller than a given threshold. Our algorithm exploits the large channel correlations between the cyclic prefix and the successive OFDM symbol optimally. These maximum correlations reason the superiority of ICI mitigation with cyclic prefixes compared to channel slope estimation with adjacent OFDM symbols, which needs at least twice the number of pilot symbols. Additionally, our iterative ICI mitigation reduces noise impairments.