Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From Scientific Apprentice to Multi‐skilled Knowledge Worker: changes in Ph.D education in the Nordic‐Baltic Area

There is no doubt that what is generally referred to as ‘Ph.D education’ has undergone dramatic changes in Europe in recent years. Whereas the Bologna Process, launched in 1999, originally had in mind to make it easier for undergraduate students to gain international experience and enhance their employability by facilitating mobility and transparency of higher education in Europe, the idea of a ‘third cycle’ of doctoral studies came relatively late in the discussion (2003). For some academic cultures, the idea of educating doctoral students was and still is perceived as a threat against academic freedom, originality and credibility. Other academic cultures have already long adopted Ph.D training schemes as an integrated part of training future scientists and knowledge workers. This article presents the result of a recent survey on Ph.D training in the Nordic-Baltic Area (Andreas Onnerfors: ‘Ph.D-training/PGT in the Nordic-Baltic Area’, Exploring the North: papers in Scandinavian Culture and Society 2006:1, Lund 2006) initiated by the Nordic research organisation NordForsk, which discusses new concepts of doctoral education and training in the five Nordic and the three Baltic countries as well as in Russia, Poland and three northern states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Whereas there is great correspondence in the performance of doctoral training and education in the Nordic countries and changes have been introduced permanently for about 30 years, Poland, Germany and Russia are battling with their academic traditions and the challenge of adapting their academic cultures to joint European standards. This concerns especially the phenomenon of two postgraduate degrees (the Ph.D and a further degree) and the view upon training elements in doctoral studies. After their independence, the three Baltic countries rapidly adapted their systems of higher education to the Nordic model.
Neighborhood Affluence or Long Commutes : Testing Why Employers Discriminate Against Applicants from Poor Neighborhoods Using an Audit Experiment

I use an audit study of the low-wage labor market in Washington, DC to test whether employers discriminate against applicants who live further from the job location. I find that fictional résumés randomly assigned to have addresses far from the job location receive 14% fewer callbacks than nearby addresses that are on average 2.6 miles closer. This effect is economically large; the measured distance penalty in callback rates equals 40% of the penalty experienced by applicants with stereotypically black names. On the other hand, evidence that employers respond to neighborhood affluence is mixed. The results have two major implications. First, previously documented discrimination against applicants from less affluent neighborhoods can mostly be accounted for by the fact that poor neighborhoods tend to be far from jobs. Second, the results provide evidence for one mechanism by which urban labor markets may exhibit spatial mismatch effects. Employer discrimination by commute distance will reduce economic prospects of everyone in a neighborhood, leading to concentrated poverty in locations far from jobs.
Calculative Cultural Expertise? Consultants and Politics in the UK Cultural Sector

An explosion in the production of cultural data reflects the increasing influence of calculative reason in the cultural sector, a situation criticised as the ‘instrumentalisation’ of culture. This article argues that this criticism concedes too much to the logics of calculation, and that power and political agency are being worked out in the sector in more complex ways in the wake of calculation than simply acquiescing to it. This is illustrated through an ethnographic account of the work of a new stratum of calculative cultural expertise that has emerged in the sector as calculation has become more important. These experts construct political agency through relational work that is concerned with both calculative and non-calculative matters, including the performance of objectivity, the mobilisation of various effects, and the construction of coalitions of actors.
Individual Growth Curves of Frequency of Sexual Intercourse Among Urban, Adolescent, African American Youth

Summary In the current study we examined individual growth curves of frequency of sexual intercourse among a sample of urban, low-income, African American youth at increased risk for subsequent HIV/AIDS exposure. Three waves of longitudinal data from the Collaborative HIV-Prevention AdolescentMental Health (CHAMP) project were utilized. Participant ages ranged from 9 to 12 years (M = 11 years) at the first interview wave and from 15 to 19 years (M = 18 years) at the final interview wave. As such, we were able to map out true developmental trajectories of sexual intercourse over a 10-year period of adolescence (spanning ages 9 to 19 years). Results indicate that the average study participant was sexually abstinent (in terms of intercourse) during the pre-teen years, reported a single episode of sexual intercourse between ages 14 and 15, and by age 19, reported between 3 and 10 episodes of sexual intercourse. Significant variability in the acceleration of growth rates (as captured by a quadratic random effect) was observed, suggesting that some youth accelerated more rapidly (in their sexual intercourse histories) than did others. Participant gender predicted trajectory starting points; boys reported higher rates of sexual intercourse at age 12. Frequency of baseline exposure to sexual possibility situations (i.e., being in mixed-sex company in a private place in the absence of adult supervision) predicted growth curve acceleration, suggesting preteenswith more exposure to sexual possibility situations accelerated more rapidly in their rates of sexual intercourse over time. Developmental implications of these data are discussed.
Unsupervised multilingual learning

For centuries, scholars have explored the deep links among human languages. In this thesis, we present a class of probabilistic models that exploit these links as a form of naturally occurring supervision. These models allow us to substantially improve performance for core text processing tasks, such as morphological segmentation, part-of-speech tagging, and syntactic parsing. Besides these traditional NLP tasks, we also present a multilingual model for lost language decipherment. We test this model on the ancient Ugaritic language. Our results show that we can automatically uncover much of the historical relationship between Ugaritic and Biblical Hebrew, a known related language. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Design and learnability of vortex whistles for managing chronic lung function via smartphones

Spirometry is the gold standard for managing and diagnosing obstructive lung diseases. Clinical spirometers, however, are expensive and have limited portability. Vortex whistles have shown promise as a potential substitute for clinical spirometers. While vortex whistles are low-cost and are highly portable, only a subset of common spirometry measurements can be measured reliably. Moreover, no research studies have evaluated characteristics of human interaction with vortex whistles, such as maneuver learnability and mental effort. We present a modified 3D-printed vortex whistle design that enables estimation of spirometry measures not previously attainable with traditional vortex whistles. We evaluate the whistle using a pulmonary waveform generator (a commercial standard) and map parameters of the whistle construction to spirometry test endpoints. Through a human subjects trial we evaluate how to personalize whistle parameters for different subjects and assess cognitive workload while using a vortex whistle. We show that, with personalization, vortex whistles are as effective as clinical spirometers for identifying moderate airway obstruction and require similar cognitive load to use.
Text line segmentation for gray scale historical document images

In this paper we present a new approach for text line segmentation that works directly on gray-scale document images. Our algorithm constructs distance transform directly on the gray-scale images, which is used to compute two types of seams: medial seams and separating seams. A medial seam is a chain of pixels that crosses the text area of a text line and a separating seam is a path that passes between two consecutive rows. The medial seam determines a text line and the separating seams define the upper and lower boundaries of the text line. The medial and separating seams propagate according to energy maps, which are defined based on the constructed distance transform. We have performed various experimental results on different datasets and received encouraging results.
A machine learning approach for indonesian question answering system

Our research is to investigate a machine learning approach in order to build an Indonesian Question Answering System. Based on our experiments result on the question classification task, we choose to use SVM as the machine learning algorithm. Similar with ordinary QA systems, we divide our system into three subcomponents: question classifier, passage retriever and answer finder. The SVM algorithm is employed in the question classifier and answer finder modules. To overcome the language resource poorness problem of Indonesian language, we introduce a bi-gram frequency attribute extracted from a downloaded newspaper corpus. The comparison among attribute combination is shown in our question classifier experiment. The t-test shows that the question shallow parser result attribute joined with bi-gram frequency attribute gives significant improvement compared to the baseline (bag of words). Our question classifier achieves 96% accuracy. We also compare some attribute combinations in the answer finder module. We find that the join attribute between the expected answer type (EAT) and the attributes of the question classifier gives higher MRR score than using only the EAT attribute or only the attribute of the question classifiers. Our QA system achieves MRR (Mean Reciprocal Rank) of 0.52 for exact answers.
Robust control of wind energy conversion systems

A robust control algorithm for wind turbines subjected to a wide range of wind variation, grid disturbance and parameter uncertainties is presented. The algorithm utilizes fuzzy systems based on “Takagi-Sugeno” (TS) fuzzy models to approximate nonlinear systems. TS fuzzy systems are classified into three families based on the input matrices and a robust controller synthesis procedure is given for each family. This algorithm combines the merits of: (i) the capability for dealing with non-linear uncertain systems; (ii) the powerful Linear Matrix Equalities (LME) approach to obtain control gains. The control scheme is tested for different real profiles of wind speed pattern and provides satisfactory results.
Risk Assessment of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Using Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy and CT Volumetry

A major part of morbidity and mortality after liver resections is caused by inadequate remnant liver function leading to liver failure. It is therefore important to develop accurate diagnostic tools that can predict the risk of liver resection–related morbidity and mortality. In this study, preoperative hepatobiliary scintigraphy of the future remnant liver and CT volumetric measurement of the future remnant liver were performed on patients who were to undergo liver resection. The accuracy of risk assessment for postoperative morbidity, liver failure, and mortality was evaluated. Methods: Forty-six patients who were scheduled for liver resection because of hepatobiliary tumors, including 17 patients with parenchymal disease (37%) and 13 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (28%), were assessed preoperatively. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy was performed by drawing regions of interest around the future remnant to calculate 99mTc-mebrofenin uptake in it. CT volumetry was used to measure the volume of the total liver, the tumors, and the future remnant. Receiver-operating-characteristic analysis was performed to assess cutoff values for risk assessment of morbidity, liver failure, and mortality. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine factors related to morbidity and mortality. Results: Morbidity and mortality rates were 61% and 11%, respectively. Liver failure occurred in 6 patients (13%). Significantly decreased uptake in the future remnant was found in patients in whom liver failure and liver failure–related mortality developed (P = 0.003 and 0.02, respectively). The volume of the future remnant was not significantly associated with any of the outcome parameters. In receiver-operating-characteristic analysis, uptake cutoff values for liver failure and liver failure–related mortality were 2.5%/min/body surface area and 2.2%/min/body surface area, respectively. In multivariate analysis, uptake was the only significant factor associated with liver failure. Conclusion: Preoperative measurement of 99mTc-mebrofenin uptake in the future remnant liver on hepatobiliary scintigraphy proved more valuable than measurement of the volume of the future remnant on CT in assessing the risk of liver failure and liver failure–related mortality after partial liver resection.
Leadership, cross‐cultural contact, socio‐economic status, and formal operational reasoning about moral dilemmas among Mexican non‐literate adults and high school students

Kohlberg proposed that various cultural, social and educational factors may influence moral reasoning. As far as the authors know, participants in previous studies of moral reasoning have been, largely, educated persons, irrespective of their culture. Two studies on moral reasoning were conducted in a Mexican–United States border city. The first study found that even some unschooled, non‐literate adults reason at a high stage (formal operations, Moral 3/4). Exposure to different cultural and organizational contexts, in addition to assumption of leadership roles, was associated with such reasoning. Likewise, the second study found that high school students who were identified as leaders, especially those with cross‐cultural contact and those who were of high socio‐economic status, reasoned at higher stages than those who were not. Overall, stage of reasoning increased with age.
A. functional MRI technique combining principles of echo‐shifting with a train of observations (PRESTO)

We present a fast MRI technique sensitized to microscopic susceptibility effects. The method combines elements of echo‐shifted gradient‐recalled MR imaging (TE > TR) with the acquisition of multiple k‐space lines within a single TR‐period. The sequence results in a much reduced imaging time as compared with conventional gradient‐echo MRI methods. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated for susceptibility bolus tracking in the cat brain using an imaging time of 153 ms. The relative cerebral blood volume maps created with this method are comparable with those obtained with conventional methods.
Prospective assessment of the risk of obstructive sleep apnea in patients attending a tertiary health facility in Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction The impact of Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in worsening outcomes is profound, especially in the presence of comorbid conditions. This study aimed to describe the proportion of patients at a high risk of OSA in our practice setting. Methods The STOP BANG questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness scale were used to assess for OSA risk and excessive daytime sleepiness respectively. Hospitalized patients and out-patients were recruited. Intergroup differences in continuous variables were compared using the analysis of variance. The proportion of patients with high risk of OSA and excessive daytime sleepiness was presented as frequencies and group differences compared with the Pearson χ2 test. Independent risk predictors for OSA were assessed in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 1100 patients (53.4% females) participated in the study. Three hundred and ninety nine (36.3%) had a high risk of OSA, and 268 (24.4%) had excessive daytime sleepiness. Of the participants with high OSA risk, 138 (34.6%) had excessive daytime sleepiness compared to 130 (18.5%) of those with low OSA risk (p). Conclusion A significant proportion of patients attending our tertiary care center are at high risk of OSA.
So Worried I Don't Know What To Be: Anxiety is Associated With Increased Career Indecision and Reduced Career Certainty

Abstract There is a relationship between career indecision and anxiety, however the relative contributions of state and trait anxiety are unclear in the literature. 110 first-year university students completed the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Career Decision Scale (CDS) to measure anxiety and career indecision. Regression analyses revealed that state and trait anxiety made independent contributions to career indecision and that state anxiety is a much stronger predictor of career certainty than is trait anxiety. Although anxiety significantly predicted career decidedness, participants did not indicate that anxiety impacted on their career decidedness in response to open-ended questions. As such, counselling clients may not be consciously aware that anxiety impacts on their career decidedness. It is recommended that counsellors create a relaxed environment to ease clients' career decision making.
Can performance-feedback accuracy be improved? Effects of rater priming and rating-scale format on rating accuracy.

Performance appraisal information is often used for employee feedback and development. Research has found that assessments that are global (i.e., based on broad aspects of performance) and comparative (i.e., explicit interratee comparisons) may be most accurate in terms of Cronbach's (1955) differential accuracy, a type of accuracy that is directly relevant to the provision of feedback. Unfortunately, a global-comparative assessment may not give recipients the most useful diagnostic feedback. In this experiment, an innovative rater-priming manipulation was developed and tested on a sample of 109 participants. The priming manipulation had the effect of improving differential accuracy and providing diagnostic feedback. A 2nd independent variable involving 2 different Behavioral Observation Scale formats also was investigated. Explanations of findings, limitations of this experiment, directions for future research, and implications for performance appraisal practice are discussed.
Sequential Validation of Blood-Based Protein Biomarker Candidates for Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer.

BACKGROUND CA19-9, which is currently in clinical use as a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) biomarker, has limited performance in detecting early-stage disease. We and others have identified protein biomarker candidates that have the potential to complement CA19-9. We have carried out sequential validations starting with 17 protein biomarker candidates to determine which markers and marker combination would improve detection of early-stage disease compared with CA19-9 alone. METHODS Candidate biomarkers were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based sequential validation using independent multiple sample cohorts consisting of PDAC cases (n = 187), benign pancreatic disease (n = 93), and healthy controls (n = 169). A biomarker panel for early-stage PDAC was developed based on a logistic regression model. All statistical tests for the results presented below were one-sided. RESULTS Six out of the 17 biomarker candidates and CA19-9 were validated in a sample set consisting of 75 PDAC patients, 27 healthy subjects, and 19 chronic pancreatitis patients. A second independent set of 73 early-stage PDAC patients, 60 healthy subjects, and 74 benign pancreatic disease patients (combined validation set) yielded a model that consisted of TIMP1, LRG1, and CA19-9. Additional blinded testing of the model was done using an independent set of plasma samples from 39 resectable PDAC patients and 82 matched healthy subjects (test set). The model yielded areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.949 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.917 to 0.981) and 0.887 (95% CI = 0.817 to 0.957) with sensitivities of 0.849 and 0.667 at 95% specificity in discriminating early-stage PDAC vs healthy subjects in the combined validation and test sets, respectively. The performance of the biomarker panel was statistically significantly improved compared with CA19-9 alone (P < .001, combined validation set; P = .008, test set). CONCLUSION The addition of TIMP1 and LRG1 immunoassays to CA19-9 statistically significantly improves the detection of early-stage PDAC.
Author Identification Using Multi-headed Recurrent Neural Networks

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are very good at modelling the flow of text, but typically need to be trained on a far larger corpus than is available for the PAN 2015 Author Identification task. This paper describes a novel approach where the output layer of a character-level RNN language model is split into several independent predictive sub-models, each representing an author, while the recurrent layer is shared by all. This allows the recurrent layer to model the language as a whole without over-fitting, while the outputs select aspects of the underlying model that reflect their author's style. The method proves competitive, ranking first in two of the four languages.
The social support inventory (SSI): a brief scale to assess perceived adequacy of social support

The development of a brief measure to assess satisfaction with obtained social support using Simultaneous Components Analysis (SCA) is described. In the first study the component structure of the Social Support Questionnaire (Van Sonderen, 1991) was determined in a sample of men (n = 401) and women (n = 496) that were drawn from the general population, Five components could be distinguished that were similar in both samples. The obtained solution was replicated, using confirmatory factor analyses in two samples of men and women respectively that were similar to the two samples used in the exploratory analysis, without significant loss of explained variance. In the second study, a sample of married women (n = 668) from the general population filled in the Social Support Questionnaire twice: (1) with reference to their spouse and (2) with reference to others but their spouse. It appeared that the same component structure was applicable to different sources of social support. It was decided to drop one scale from the final questionnaire, because it referred to giving social support rather than receiving support. The questionnaire, the Social Support Inventory (SSI), comprises 20 descriptions of social support pertaining to Emotional Support, Informative Support, Social Companionship, or Instrumental Support. The internal consistencies of the subscales are satisfactory, with alpha values ranging from 0.70 to 0.86. Further, some support for the convergent and divergent validity of the SSI was found. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley &, Sons, Ltd.
Model-Driven Design of Audiovisual Indexing Processes for Search-Based Applications

As the Web becomes a platform for multimedia content fruition, audiovisual search assumes a central role in providing users with the content most adequate to their information needs. A key issue for enabling audiovisual search is extracting indexable knowledge from opaque media. Such a process is heavily constrained by scalability and performance issues and must be able to flexibly incorporate specialized components for educing selected features from media elements. This paper shows how the use of a model-driven approach can help designers specify multimedia indexing processes, verify properties of interest in such processes, and generate the code that orchestrates the components, so as to enable rapid prototyping of content analysis processes in presence of evolving requirements.