Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adolescent Risk Behaviors and Religion: Findings from a National Adolescent Risk Behaviors and Religion: Findings from a National Study Study

Abstract Too few studies have assessed the relationship between youth risk behaviors and religiosity using measures which captured the varied extent to which youth are engaged in religion. This study applied three measures of religiosity and risk behaviors. In addition, this study ascertained information about youths’ participation in religious activities from a parent or caretaker. Based on a national random sample of 2,004 teens (ages 11-18), this study indicates that youth perceive religion as important, are active in religious worship and activities, and further shows that perceived importance of religion as well as participation in religious activities are associated with decreased risk behaviors. Looking at ten risk behaviors, religiosity variables were consistently associated with reduced risk behaviors in the areas of: smoking, alcohol use, truancy, sexual activity, marijuana use, and depression. In the case of these six risk variables, religiosity variables were significantly associated with reduced risk behaviors when controlling for family background variables and self esteem. The study highlights the importance of further understanding the relationship between religious variables, background variables, self esteem, and youth risk behaviors. Abstract Too few studies have assessed the relationship between youth risk behaviors and religiosity using measures which captured the varied extent to which youth are engaged in religion. This study applied three measures of religiosity and risk behaviors. In addition, this study ascertained information about youths’ participation in religious activities from a parent or caretaker. Based on a national random sample of 2,004 teens (ages 11-18), this study indicates that youth perceive religion as important, are active in religious worship and activities, and further shows that perceived importance of religion as well as participation in religious activities are associated with decreased risk behaviors. Looking at ten risk behaviors, religiosity variables were consistently associated with reduced risk behaviors in the areas of: smoking, alcohol use, truancy, sexual activity, marijuana use, and depression. In the case of these six risk variables, religiosity variables were significantly associated with reduced risk behaviors when controlling for family background variables and self esteem. The study highlights the importance of further understanding the relationship between religious variables, background variables, self esteem, and youth risk behaviors.
Efficient Hybrid Virtual Room Acoustic Modelling

This thesis investigates approaches to virtual room acoustic modelling and auralisation in order to a develop hybrid modelling solution that is capable of efficient and accurate simulation of enclosed sound propagation. Emphasis is placed on the advantages and disadvantages of state of the art numerical and geometric acoustic modelling methods. Numerical methods have been shown to preserve important sound wave characteristics such as diffraction and room modes, and are considered more accurate for low frequency acoustic modelling than geometric techniques which fail to preserve such wave effects. However, the implementation of numerical acoustic models inherently requires large computational effort compared to more efficient geometric techniques such as ray-tracing. This is particularly problematic for simulations of large-scale 3D acoustic environments and for high spatio-temporal sampling rates. A novel acoustic modelling solution is presented, which seeks to circumvent the disadvantageous computational requirements of 3D numerical models while producing a suitable approximation to low frequency sound behaviour. This modelling technique incorporates multiple planar cross-sectional 2D Finite Difference schemes that are utilised in combination to synthesise low frequency wave propagation throughout the target acoustic field. In this way a subset of prominent low frequency sound wave characteristics may be emulated with low computational cost compared to 3D numerical schemes. These low-frequency results can then be combined with the high-frequency output from efficient geometric simulations to create a hybrid model providing accurate broadband results at a relatively low computational cost. Investigation of room impulse response rendering for a series of theoretic and real spaces demonstrates advantages of this new hybrid acoustic modelling technique over purely ray-based methods in terms of low frequency accuracy, and over 3D numerical methods in terms of computational efficiency. Conclusions are drawn from objective measurements obtained from simulation results of the virtual models produced. Results demonstrate the applicability of the novel hybrid approach to the enhancement of purely ray-based room impulse response rendering by which a more realistic representation of low frequency wave phenomena may be simulated in an efficient manner, improving the theoretical accuracy of objective and audible results. This study contributes towards research and design of high-speed, interactive virtual acoustic simulations appropriate for industrial and creative virtual reality applications.
Simulation of Energy Development Scenarios in Latvia on Regional Level

Up to now the development scenarios of Latvian energy and fuel balance were mainly designed for the national level. However in the regional level there are significant differences both in energy consumption and fuel resources used. For the simulation and comparison of different energy development scenarios, MESAP (Modular Energy System Analysis and Planning) software, allowing making calculations at national and regional level without changing the structure of the model, was used. To perform a detailed regional modelling, Latvia was split in 6 regions, each having a separate forecasted electricity, thermal energy and fuel final consumption. For the regional modelling, similar RES structure to overall Latvian energy balance development options simulation was used. Three development scenarios in the regional level have been simulated: base scenario (I), scenario of maximal use of renewable energy resources and domestic energy resources (II) and maximum production of electrical energy and fuel diversification scenario (III). The choice of scenarios can be substantiated with a necessity to promote usage of renewable energy resources, as well as with decrease of electricity imports proportion in the energy balance of Latvia. The simulation results show, that the increasing demand of energy can be covered in several ways – by continuing to import power, maximally using the renewable and local energy resources, as well as using coal and biomass mix for the production of electricity.
Simulating the phenology, growth and yield of aromatic rice cultivars using CERES-Rice model under different environments

Field experiment were conducted during kharif seasons of 2007 and 2008 on silty loam soils of Nawagam under middle Gujarat Agroclimatic zone. Four aromatic cultivars of rice were transplanted on three dates to validate the CERES-Rice v.3. 5 model. Highly positive significant association was found between simulated and observed days to heading (r = 0.95**). The model overestimated biomass production under estimated test weight and LAI. The performance of the model in simulating grains per square meter was poor. The grain yield was simulated in close agreement with the field observed grain yield.
Reconceptualisation of information technology flexibility for supply chain management : a multidimensional approach

Information technology (IT) flexibility is an important aspect of today’s dynamic business environment. However, earlier research on this topic has not included the following: 1) a multidimensional structure that corresponds to diverse activities for supply chain management (SCM), 2) an informative explanation of how and by what means IT flexibility affects firm performance and 3) guidance to prioritise the flexibility dimensions to gain a competitive advantage. To fill these gaps, this study identified three dimensions of IT flexibility, namely transactional, operational and strategic flexibility, taking a systematic approach. Moreover, by combining dynamic capability (DC) and relational view (RV) theory, this study theorised a research model that links IT flexibility and firm performance. Process integration capability (PIC) was incorporated into the model as a mediator to provide a SCM research context. From the results of a partial least squares structured equation modelling (PLS SEM)analysis of 128 questionnaires from supply chain practitioners, this study validated the three IT flexibility dimensions and their hierarchical relationship. Moreover, it identified that transactional and operational flexibilities affect firm performance indirectly via PIC,while strategic flexibility directly affects firm performance. The model’s PLS SEM result was extended to an importance - performance analysis (IPA) matrix. By taking the importance and performance of each flexibility dimension as generic measurement criteria, this study prioritised the IT flexibility dimensions. Moreover, applying the same research model and methods to a specific focal firm offered a strategic way to allocate firm resources to the three IT flexibility dimensions. The theoretical contributions of this study are as follows: 1) the attainment of a multidimensional structure of IT flexibility, 2) identification of IT flexibility’s influencing mechanism on firm performance, 3) composition of DC and RV to provide a perspective on the explicit roles of IT flexibility and 4) a clear structure of the IT flexibility analysis framework within a context of SCM. Its practical contribution is the prioritisation IT flexibility dimensions, which will support firms in achieving the full potential of IT flexibility for SCM.
L_ Inference for shape parameter estimation

In this thesis, we propose a method to robustly estimate the parameters that controls the mapping of a shape (model shape) onto another (target shape). The shapes of interest are contours in the 2D space, surfaces in the 3D space and point clouds (either in 2D and 3D spaces). We propose to model the shapes using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs) and estimate the transformation parameters by minimising a cost function based on the Euclidean (L2) distance between the target and model GMMs. This strategy allows us to avoid the need for the computation of one to one point correspondences that are required by state of the art approaches making them sensitive to both outliers and the choice of the starting guess in the algorithm used for optimisation. Shapes are well represented by GMMs when careful consideration is given to the design of the covariance matrices. Compared to isotropic covariance matrices, we show how shape matching with L2 can be made more robust and accurate by using well chosen non isotropic ones. Our framework offers a novel extension to L2 based cost functions by allowing prior information about the parameters to be included. Our approach is therefore fully Bayesian. This Bayesian-L2 framework is tested successfully for estimating the affine transformation between data sets, for fitting morphable models and fitting ellipses. Finally we show how to extend this framework to shapes defined in higher dimensional feature spaces in addition to the spatial domain.
An analysis of student and faculty attitudes to intensive teaching

The Graduate School of Management at Macquarie University has been offering post-graduate courses by an intensive (five day), or ‘block’ format, and also by a more traditional weekly format for over ten years. The format is so successful that it has been copied by most business schools in Australia for their local and/or offshore programs. However block teaching has received very little attention in the academic literature. This paper reviews the research findings on intensive teaching, analyses student and staff reactions to block teaching, and identifies perceived advantages and disadvantages of the format. Implications for block scheduling and for actions to address perceived disadvantages of the block method are addressed.
Highly efficient achromatic subdiffraction focusing lens in the near field with large numerical aperture

The achromatic subdiffraction lens with large numerical aperture (NA) is of significant importance in optical imaging, photolithography, spectroscopy, and nanophotonics. However, most of the previous research on subdiffraction lenses has been restricted by limited bandwidth and efficiency as well as severe chromatic aberrations. In this paper, a semicircular gradient index lens (sGRIN) with a modified refractive index profile originated from a Maxwell fish-eye lens is put forward to achieve highly efficient (above 81%) achromatic (4 – 20 GHz) subdiffraction focusing at the focusing line (around 0 . 28 λ ) with large NA of 1.3 and broadband diffraction-limited far-field radiation (4 – 16 GHz) theoretically, which overcomes the drawbacks of previous works. The presented lens is designed by gradient dielectric metamaterials. Evanescent waves ignited at the lens/air interface and transforma-tion of electromagnetic (EM) waves with high spatial frequency in sGRIN to EM waves with low spatial frequency in air are responsible for subdiffraction focusing and diffraction-limited far-field radiation, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate the excellent performance of achromatic subdiffraction focusing and diffrac-tion-limited far-field radiation. The presented lens has great potential to be applied in subdiffraction imaging systems.
The Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials need to demonstrate minimum clinically important differences

: Summary Deciding on the smallest change in an outcome that constitutes a clinically meaningful treatment effect, i.e. the minimum clinically important difference (MCID), is fundamental to interpreting clinical trial outcomes, making clinical decisions, and designing studies with sufficient statistical power to detect any such effect. There is no consensus on MCIDs for outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) trials, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s consideration of aducanumab clinical trials data has exposed the uncertainty of the clinical meaning of statistically significant but small improvements. Although MCIDs for outcomes, including Clinical Dementia Rating – Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in AD have been reported, the FDA guidelines, drafted in 1989 to facilitate regulatory approval of “substantially effective” antidementia drugs, do not specify quantified minimum differences. While it is important that regulatory requirements encourage drug development and approval, without MCIDs, sponsors are motivated to power trials to detect statistical significance for only small and potentially inconsequential effects on clinical outcomes. MCIDs benefit patients, family, caregivers and healthcare systems and should be incorporated into clinical trials and AD drug development guidance.
Low expression of miR-27b in serum exosomes of non-small cell lung cancer facilitates its progression by affecting EGFR

Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignant tumor. Serum exosomal miR-27b is related to tumor diagnosis. We explored the roles of serum exosomal miR-27b in NSCLC. NSCLC patients were assigned to NSCLC-early/terminal groups, with healthy subjects as controls. miR-27b expression was assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and its diagnostic efficiency was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The correlation between serum exosomal miR-27b expression and tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen 125 (CA125), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cytokeratin 19-soluble fragment (CYFRA21-1) was analyzed using the Pearson analysis. The downstream target genes were predicted. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) level was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlations of miR-27b expression with serum EGFR level and CA125, CEA, and CYFRA21-1 levels were analyzed using the Pearson analysis. Serum exosomal miR-27b was diminished in NSCLC and was further decreased in the NSCLS-terminal group. The sensitivity of miR-27b < 0.8150 for NSCLC diagnosis was 76.64%, and the specificity was 83.33%. Serum exosomal miR-27b was negatively correlated with CA125, CEA, and CYFRA21-1. miR-27b targeted EGFR. Serum EGFR was raised in NSCLC and was further elevated in the NSCLS-terminal group. miR-27b expression was negatively correlated with EGFR level. EGFR level was positively correlated with CA125, CEA, and CYFRA21-1 levels. Collectively, low expression of miR-27b assisted NSCLC diagnosis, and miR-27b exerted effects on NSCLC through EGFR.
The Importance of Posture and Body Composition for The Stability and Selected Motor Abilities of Professional Handball Players

Abstract The aim of the research was to analyze body composition, body posture and postural stability of professional male handball players and to determine the differences between players with correct and incorrect body posture, considering power of the lower limbs and agility, speed, and change of direction deficit. The study comprised 16 professional handball players. Body composition analysis was performed using the method of electrical bioimpedance. Body posture was examined using the Diers formetric III 4D optoelectronic method. Postural stability was tested via the Biodex Balance System. Players performed the following fitness tests assessing lower limb muscle power (LP, HS, CMJ), linear speed (SLS 20 m), and COD speed (Zig-Zag test, COD deficit). Only 31.25% of players demonstrated body posture with correct physiological curvatures, while 68.75% showed changes in body asymmetry. The group with correct body posture performed better in SLS 20m than the group with incorrect posture, yet in the Zig-Zag agility test, the difference in the results was not significant and this affected the COD deficit, which was higher. The vast majority of participants demonstrated postural defects and incorrect physiological curvatures of the spine. The occurrence of scoliotic posture was also observed. The body deflection angles indicated that athletes’ postural stability was good. However, it is worth noting that the majority demonstrated a tendency towards asymmetrical body deflections to the right or to the left, backwards direction. One-sided sports specialization leads to disturbances in the statics of the body, therefore, it becomes necessary to include postural re-education exercises in training.
Exploration of Domain Relevance by Legal Professionals in Information Retrieval Systems

Abstract This paper, written by Gineke Wiggers, Suzan Verberne, Gerrit-Jan Zwenne and Wouter Van Loon, addresses the concept of ‘relevance’ in relation to legal information retrieval (IR). They investigate whether the conceptual framework of relevance in legal IR, as described by Van Opijnen and Santos in their paper published in 2017, can be confirmed in practice.1 The research is conducted with a user questionnaire in which users of a legal IR system had to choose which of two results they would like to see ranked higher for a query and were asked to provide a reason for their choice. To avoid questions with an obvious answer and extract as much information as possible about the reasoning process, the search results were chosen to differ on relevance factors from the literature, where one result scores high on one factor, and the other on another factor. The questionnaire had eleven pairs of search results. A total of 43 legal professionals participated consisting of 14 legal information specialists, 6 legal scholars and 23 legal practitioners. The results confirmed the existence of domain relevance as described in the theoretical framework by Van Opijnen and Santos as published in 2017.2 Based on the factors mentioned by the respondents, the authors of this paper concluded that document type, recency, level of depth, legal hierarchy, authority, usability and whether a document is annotated are factors of domain relevance that are largely independent of the task context. The authors also investigated whether different sub-groups of users of legal IR systems (legal information specialists who are searching for others, legal scholars and also for legal practitioners) differ in terms of the factors they consider in judging the relevance of legal documents outside of a task context. Using a PERMANOVA there was found to be no significant difference in the factors reported by these groups. At this moment there is no reason to treat these sub-groups differently in legal IR systems.
Synaptic plasticity in VLSI : a floating-gate approach

One of the major areas of research by neurobiologists is long term synaptic modification or plasticity of synapses. Synapses are the interconnections between neurons. Each synapse is associated with a weight quantity, which determines the amplitude of output excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) pulse from the respective synapse to the interconnected neuron. Neurons on the other hand are the basic computational unit. It integrates all the incoming current pulses from different synapses and fires a spike, if the integration reaches a threshold. Neurons and synapses are the major units of a biological neural network that are typically included in computational models; however, recently there has been an increasing focus on studying the role of astrocytes [1, 2] and may be a part of future large scale models. It is generally believed that the ability to learn and execute difficult tasks in human brain is mediated by synapses. Likewise in artificial spiking neural networks (SNNs), synapses play a major role in the ability to carry out signal processing, classification, computations etc. Basically synapses play a fundamental role in learning through activity dependent modification of their efficacies. The mathematical model under which synapses modify their weights are termed as synaptic plasticity rule. Recently a learning rule known as spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) that modifies weights based on the timing of presynaptic and postsynaptic spikes become very popular. The most commonly used rule posits weight change based on time difference be-
Rancangan Aplikasi Smart City Berbasis Mobile Untuk Meningkatkan Kulitas Layanan Publik Studi Kasus Pemkot Bogor

Bogor City is an urban city with a geographic location close to the state capital, has a growing community of various groups became the basis of good economic growth when applying the concept of smart city. Bogor city continues to grow and improve to meet the era of free competition towards the Asean Economic Community. Mobile based application is an application that is most appropriately used as a connecting device between the city of Bogor and the general public. Mobile based application can be accessed easily using smartphones general public that can be used to report information related to public services, to find out information and government policies and can also be accessed by governments and stakeholders in the government who can provide feedback directly to the public. Systems development method waterfall method Pressman (2010:39), which includes five phases, namely Communication, planning, modeling, construction, deployment. Analysis of pemanfaataan mobile-based applications can use big data. Analysis of big data captured includes data sets stored in large quantities (volume), the need to access large data sets quickly (Velocity), the format of the data that are more varied (Variety). The benefits of big data carried analias can do a lot of cost savings and budget, making decisions and new innovation, and measuring satisfaction and public services. Keyword: city, big data, kotabogor, mobile aplication