Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How teachers’ practices and students’ attitudes towards technology affect mathematics achievement: results and insights from PISA 2012

Abstract The present work seeks to deepen the impact of factors linked to the characteristics of teaching practices and students’ attitudes towards the use of technology on their performance in mathematics in the process of teaching-learning in the Spanish context. In this sense, this study is a secondary analysis of the PISA 2012 data. Therefore, it is an ex post facto design. Regarding the attitudes and the contextual variables, the results do coincide with the accumulated evidence. However, once these contextual effects have been controlled for, the negative relationship found between the pedagogic strategies used by the teachers and the mathematics score cannot but convey perplexity, since the results relative to student-oriented, formative assessment and teacher-directed instruction are clearly contradictory to the solid previous evidence. The data do not allow us to explain this paradoxical result. We dare to point to a conjecture that we find plausible. All these complex variables are informed through questionnaires responded to by students and require a great degree of inference in the answers. Future studies must consider the complexity of the measured variables as well as the students’ perception and understanding of them.
A Large Hadron Electron Collider at CERN: Report on the Physics and Design Concepts for Machine and Detector

This document provides a brief overview of the recently published report on the design of the Large Hadron Electron Collider (LHeC), which comprises its physics programme, accelerator physics, technology and main detector concepts. The LHeC exploits and develops challenging, though principally existing, accelerator and detector technologies. This summary is complemented by brief illustrations of some of the highlights of the physics programme, which relies on a vastly extended kinematic range, luminosity and unprecedented precision in deep inelastic scattering. Illustrations are provided regarding high precision QCD, new physics (Higgs, SUSY) and electron-ion physics. The LHeC is designed to run synchronously with the LHC in the twenties and to achieve an integrated luminosity of O(100)\,fb$^{-1}$. It will become the cleanest high resolution microscope of mankind and will substantially extend as well as complement the investigation of the physics of the TeV energy scale, which has been enabled by the LHC.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND RH OLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF AVOCADO OILS Caracterização físico-química e reológica de óleos de abacate

Avocado oil is rich in bioactive compounds, which can improve human health by acting as an antioxidant. It may be extracted from different varieties of avocado, such as Margarida and Hass varieties, each of them with particular characteristics. Aiming to evaluate the differences between them, avocado fruits and pulps from these were analyzed according to their physicochemical characteristics. After extracted, the oils had their bioactive characteristics studied and rheological behavior determined through a rotational rheometer. They were then compared to commercial avocado oil. The fruits of Margarida variety had greater size, higher weight (664.51 g), and higher pulp yield (72.19%) than Hass variety, which showed higher lipid content (65.29 g/100 g dry basis). The commercial oil showed less primary oxidative degradation, whereas Margarida variety had a lower level of secondary degradation products as well as a higher content of bioactive compounds, such as phytosterols (999.60 mg/kg) and tocopherols (36.73 mg/kg). The rheological behaviors of both oils were appropriately described through Newton model, with R2 > 0.999 for all temperatures. By an Arrhenius type equation, it was verified that Hass’s rheological parameters are more influenced by temperature than Margarida and commercial oil, presenting activation energy of 33.6 kJ/mol.
VALIDASI METODE DALAM PENENTUAN KADAR ETANOL PADA ARAK MENGGUNAKAN KROMATOGRAFI GAS DETEKTOR IONISASI NYALA

Arak merupakan hasil destilasi dari nira kelapa. Arak banyak di produksi di Kecamatan Sidemen, Karangsem Bali. Produksi arak dilakukan secara tradisional sehingga belum diketahui dengan jelas kadar etanol yang ada dalam arak tersebut. Metode kromatografi dapat digunakan sebagai metode dalam menentukan kadar etanol dalam arak. Metode kromatografi dapat digunakan apabila telah dilakukan validasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melakukan validasi metode kromatografi gas dengan detektor ionisasi nyala untuk menentukan kadar etanol dalam arak. Kondisi kromatografi yang dipilih yaitu suhu injektor 250oC, suhu detektor 300oC, dengan split rasio 20. Suhu awal kolom 500oC ditahan dua menit pada suhu tersebut, ditingkatkan secara bertahap sebesar 10oC/menit sampai suhu mencapai 220oC dan ditahan selama lima menit. Laju alir dari kolom yang terpilih adalah 0,7 mL/menit. Laju alir gas helium 40 mL/menit, laju alir nitrogen 50 mL/ menit dan laju udara sebagai pengoksida 450 mL/menit. Senyawa standars yang digunakan dalam melakukan validasi yaitu metanol, etanol dan butanol. Standar internal yang digunakan yaitu butanol. Hasil validasi metode kromatografi gas yang diperoleh yaitu nilai resolusi Rs > 1,5 dan koefisien korelasi metanol 0,9998; etanol 0,9998 dan asam asetat 0,9855. Batas deteksi dari masing – masing standar yaitu metanol 0,1059 ng; etanol 0,1688 ng. Nilai ketelitian ditentukan dari koefisien variasi dari masing – masing standar yaitu metanol 0,7%; etanol 1,8%. Sedangkan nilai ketepatan yaitu metanol 3,54%; etanol 3,53%.
PERSONAL COMPUTER-BASED DIGITAL PETROPHYSICS

ABSTRACT. In the present work, we describe our experience with digital petrophysics, enhancing our choices for performing the related tasks. The focus is on the use of ordinary personal computers. To our best knowledge, some of the information and hints we give cannot be found in the literature and we hope they may be useful to researchers that intend to work on the development of this new emerging technology. We have used micro-scale X-ray computed tomography to image the rock samples and, in that sense, we address here the issue of the corresponding image acquisition and reconstruction parameters adjustment. In addition, we discuss the imaging resolution selection and illustrate the issue of the representative volume choice with the aid of two examples. The examples corroborate the notion that it is much more challenging to define a representative volume for carbonate samples than for sandstone samples. We also discuss the image segmentation and describe in details the Finite Element computational implementation we developed to perform the numerical simulations for estimating the effective Young modulus from segmented microstructural images. We indicate the respective computational costs and show that our implementation is able to handle comfortably images of 300×300×300 voxels. We use a commercially available Finite Volume software to estimate the effective absolute directional permeability. Keywords : rock physics, micro-scale X-ray computed tomography, multi-scale homogenization, effective elastic moduli, representative volume. RESUMO. No presente trabalho descrevemos nossa experiencia com Petrofisica Digital, dando enfase as nossas escolhas para a realizacao das tarefas relacionadas. O foco e no uso de computadores pessoais e, salvo melhor juizo, algumas das informacoes e dados que apresentamos nao podem ser achados na literatura. Nos adquirimos as imagens digitais de amostras de rochas com o auxilio de microtomografia computadorizada por raio-X e, nesse sentido, discutimos aqui o ajuste dos parâmetros de aquisicao e reconstrucao de imagens. Alem disso, nos discutimos a questao da selecao do volume representativo e sua relacao com o tamanho e resolucao da imagem digital, mostrando dois exemplos ilustrativos. Os exemplos corroboram a nocao de que e muito mais dificil definir um volume representativo tratavel para carbonatos do que para arenitos. Nos tambem discutimos a segmentacao de imagens no contexto da Petrofisica Digital e descrevemos em detalhes o codigo de Elementos Finitos por nos desenvolvido para estimar o modulo de Young efetivo de amostras de rochas a partir de suas imagens microtomograficas, indicando o respectivo custo computacional. Nos mostramos que nossas escolhas levaram a uma implementacao computacional capaz de lidar confortavelmente com imagens de ate 300×300×300 voxels. Por fim, descrevemos o uso do pacote comercial de Volumes Finitos para estimar a permeabilidade absoluta efetiva das amostras de rocha. Palavras-chave : fisica de rochas, microtomografia computadorizada por raio-X, homogeneizacao multiescala, modulo de Young efetivo, volume representativo.
Aufbau und Charakterisierung des Hochenergie Rasterionenmikroskops SNAKE

Im Rahmen der Arbeit wurde am Munchner Tandembeschleuniger das Hochenergie Rasterionenmikroskop SNAKE (Supraleitendes Nanoskop fur Angewandte Kernphysikalische Experimente) aufgebaut und charakterisiert. Die speziell dafur entwickelte supraleitende Multipollinse kann Protonen- und Schwerionenstrahlen mit einem Masse-Energieprodukt bis 160 MeV×u auf Mikrometergrose und kleiner fokussieren. SNAKE ist ein vielseitiges Werkzeug fur Materialanalyse und -modifikation. Einen Schwerpunkt bildet dabei eine quantitative dreidimensionale Wasserstoffanalytik.
Biomining: A Biological Approach to Recycling Elemental Components from End-Of-Life Electronics

Author(s): Urbina, Jesica | Advisor(s): Rothschild, Lynn J; Saltikov, Chad | Abstract: End-of-life electronics waste (e-waste) containing toxic and valuable materials is a rapidly progressing human health and environmental issue. The glass and metals in e-waste components can be reused or recycled; however, developed countries tend to not recycle due to high labor costs and strict environmental regulation. Instead, e-waste accumulates in landfills or is exported to developing countries where valuable metals such as copper and gold are extracted using primitive techniques (i.e., open air incineration, acid treatment). Biotechnology however, shows promise as an emergent technology that would allow for an efficient approach to metal extraction at ambient temperatures and under non-toxic conditions. Our initial studies focus on the specificity of metal-binding proteins for a target metal. Since the chemistry and role of copper in biological systems is relatively well-characterized, we are using it as a proxy to elucidate metal and protein interactions with various metals in e-waste. This is an initial proof-of-concept study that focuses on Cu-binding; however, the overall objective of this research is to have engineered proteins that selectively bind many metals from e-waste and this would allow for the separation of the metals from a solution, at ambient temperatures and under non-toxic conditions.
THE COMPARISON OF INCOME DISTRIBUTIONS FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN POLAND USING SEMIPARAMETRIC REWEIGHTING APPROACH

Abstract In this paper, we compare the income distributions for women and men in Poland. The gender wage gap can only be partially explained by different men’s and women’s characteristics. The unexplained part of the gap is usually attributed to the wage discrimination. The objective of the study is to extend the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition procedure for the pay gap along the whole income distribution. To describe differences between two distributions of incomes we use a semiparametric reweighting approach (DiNardo, Fortin, Lemieux, 1996). The reweighting factor is computed for each observation by estimating a logit model for probabilities of belonging to men’s or women’s group. Then, we estimate probability density functions, including the counterfactual density function, using kernel density methods. This allows us to decompose the inequalities into the explained and unexplained components. The analysis is based on the EU-SILC data for Poland in 2014.
A Broadband Technique for a Decoupling Network in a Compact Antenna Array in a MIMO System

Decoupling networks (DNs) have frequently been used to obtain high isolation performance between coupled antennas in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems due to their advantage of spatial e-ciency, which is particularly important for mobile devices. However, conventional DNs sufier from narrowband limitations. In this paper, a broadband decoupling technique is proposed that broadens the isolation bandwidth using a parallel resonant point. A 1.95GHz MIMO antenna system with 460MHz of bandwidth (fractional bandwidth, FBW = 23:6%) is designed and measured using the scattering parameters. The isolation is found to be better than i15dB, while the re∞ection coe-cient is better than i6dB. Furthermore, the antenna e-ciency and envelope correlation coe-cient (ECC) are evaluated in a reverberation chamber.
Lite-CNN: A High-Performance Architecture to Execute CNNs in Low Density FPGAs

Due to the computational complexity of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), high performance platforms are generally considered for their execution. However, CNNs are very useful in embedded systems and its execution right next to the source of data has many advantages, like avoiding the need for data communication. In this paper, we propose an architecture for CNN inference (Lite-CNN) that can achieve high performance in low density FPGAs. Lite-CNN adopts a fixed-point representation for both neurons and weights, which was already shown to be sufficient for most CNNs. Also, with a simple and known dot product reorganization, the number of multiplications is reduced to half. We show implementation results for 8 bit fixed-point in a ZYNQ7020 and extrapolate for other larger FPGAs. Lite-CNN achieves 410 GOPs in a ZYNQ7020.
Restaurant branding matters: A quantitative report on how brand image can moderate relationship

This paper investigates the moderating effect of brand image on relationship quality in the chain restaurant industry. The sample of this study was attained from a single local chain restaurant in Peninsular Malaysia. Survey questionnaires were disseminated to respondents using a stratified random sampling method in 16 selected kopitiam outlets. Findings from the 316 customers were examined using the SPSS statistics application and a partial least square technique. The findings provide strong evidence of the moderating effect of brand image on the relationship between patron dining experience (PDE) and relationship quality, where relationship quality in turn affects customer loyalty. Never the less, the findings highlighted the importance for service firms, specifically within the chain restaurant industry to look into ways to increase the brand image of the restaurants in order to foster the relationship building approaches with the customers. This study expanded the study on relationship quality by providing empirical evidence on the moderating effect of brand image towards the formation of relationship quality. Received: July, 2018 1st Revision: October, 2018 Accepted: November, 2018 DOI: 10.14254/20718330.2018/11-4/19 Journal of International Studies S ci en ti fi c P a pe rs © Foundation of International Studies, 2018 © CSR, 2018 Lo Ying Tuan, Ahmad Jusoh, Abbas Mardani, Dalia Streimikiene Restaurant branding matters: A quantitative report on how brand image can moderate . 271
A Collaborative Framework for FPGA-based CNN Design Modeling and Optimization

Convolutional neural network (CNN) has presented a great success in numerous areas and has sparked an increasing interest in accelerating CNN using hardware like FPGAs. However, efficient FPGA design for CNN applications requires a long development time and a strong background in hardware details. Consequently, an easy-to-use yet powerful auto CNN design optimization framework is required. In this work, we propose a collaborative framework to model and optimize the OpenCL based FPGA design for CNN applications according to the device resource limitation and the CNN specification. Our framework mainly consists of LoopTree, a novel data structure we propose to capture the structure of OpenCL based CNN design; a LoopTree based coarse-grained model, which will estimate the performance of the CNN design at the module level; and a source code based fine-grained model, which will estimate the CNN design performance in a cycle-accurate manner. Efficient designs can be achieved by collaborating the two models in a search and refined manner. A variety of OpenCL based designs have been implemented on board to verify our framework. The results show that our coarse-grained model and fine-grained model have an average estimation error of 10.2% and 4.7% which are much lower than prevalent operation statistics based estimation calculated by the predefined formula for specific loop schedules.
Electrochemical Investigation of Paracetamol at Poly(Glycine) ModifiedCarbon Paste Electrode: A Voltametric Study

The carbon paste electrode was modified by electropolymerisation of 1 mM Glycine in 0.2 M Acetate buffer solution (ABS) at pH-5. The voltammetric response of Paracetamol (PA) at Poly(Glycine) Modified carbon paste electrode (MCPE) shows excellent electrocatalytic activity when compared to bare carbon paste electrode (BCPE) at sweep rate of 100 mV/s-1. From the study of scan rate variation the electrode process was found to be diffusion controlled. The concentration effect of paracetamol was studied. The simulations determination of PA, DA and AA in their sample mixture was analyzed by using both cyclic voltammetric and differential pulse voltammetric techniques.
DISTINGUISHING RAGA-SPECIFIC INTONATION OF PHRASES WITH AUDIO ANALYSIS

The identity of a raga in a performance is exposed through the occurrence of characteristic melodic phrases or “catch phrases” of the raga. While a phrase is represented as a simple sequence of notes in written notation, the interpretation of the notation by a performer invokes his knowledge of raga grammar and thus the characteristic continuous pitch movement that represents the particular phrase intonation. A performer’s skill is closely linked with his ability to render creatively and unambiguously the distinctive aspects of a raga including its phrases or melodic motifs. Similarly, listeners identify the raga by the characteristic melodic shape of the phrase. We present a study to validate implicit musical knowledge that raga-characteristic phrases are relatively invariant across concerts and artistes by means of a time series similarity measure applied to melodic pitch contours extracted from audio recordings of Hindustani classical vocal concerts. The measure, which can discriminate phrases, even with the same svara sequence, corresponding to different ragas, has applications in music retrieval. Further, it has potential in the objective evaluation of raga phrases rendered by a music learner.
Prevalence of excess weight and associated factors in adolescents of private schools of an Amazonic urban area , Brazil

Instituição: Universidade Federal do Acre (Ufac), Rio Branco, AC, Brasil 1Graduando em Medicina pela Ufac, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil 2Especialista em Treinamento Desportivo pela Unidade de Ensino Superior Vale do Iguaçu (Uniguaçu); Docente do Centro de Ciências da Saúde e Desporto da Ufac, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil 3Doutor em Saúde Pública pela Universidade de São Paulo (USP); Docente do Centro de Ciências da Saúde e Desporto da Ufac, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil 4Doutor em Saúde da Criança e Adolescente pela Unicamp; Docente do Centro de Ciências da Saúde e Desporto da Ufac; Rio Branco, AC, Brasil Endereço para correspondência: Edson dos Santos Farias Avenida Sete de Setembro, 1.516 – casa 25 – Conjunto Nova Esperança CEP 69900-000 – Rio Branco/AC E-mail: esfarias@bol.com. br
The Role of Motivation and Cognitive Engagement in Science Achievement.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of the motivational beliefs (self-efficacy and task-value) and cognitive engagement to seventh grade students’ science achievement. For the specified purpose, crosssectional correlational research design was used. The data were gathered from the seventh grade students of public middle schools by means of three data collection instruments namely, Background Characteristics Survey (BCS), Motivation and Cognitive Engagement Scale (MCES) and Science Achievement Test for 7th Grade (SAT). The MCES is a self-report instrument including the selected items from the Science Learning Inventory (SLIPart A) and from Turkish Version of Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) in order to measure students’ motivational beliefs (self-efficacy and task-value) and the level of their cognitive engagement. A total of 861 seventh grade students (398 girls and 456 boys) participated in the study. Multiple Linear Regression Analysis was used to analyze the data. Results revealed that motivational beliefs (i.e. self-efficacy and task value) positively and significantly contributed to the prediction of students’ science achievement and the self-efficacy appeared as the best predictor of the science achievement. Cognitive engagement failed to significantly predict students’ science achievement. Finally, bivariate relations among independent variables (self-efficacy, task-value and cognitive engagement) were examined through simple correlation analyses. The result indicated positive and significant correlations among self-efficacy, task-value and cognitive engagement variables.
Software-Defined Radio based Blind Hierarchical Modulation Detector via Second-OrderCyclostationary and Fourth-Order Cumulant

Qu, Yang. M.S.Egr. , Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering & Computer Science, 2013. Software-Defined Radio based Blind Hierarchical Modulation Detector via SecondOrder Cyclostationary and Fourth-Order Cumulant. Modulation detection is very important to many communication and electronic warfare applications. Recent developments in cognitive radio and dynamic spectrum access network have also brought much attention to modulation detection of unknown radio frequency (RF) signals. It is well known that using second-order cyclostationary features, e.g., spectral correlation function (SCF) and spectral coherent function (SOF), BPSK modulation can be easily distinguished from higher order modulations such as QPSK and QAM modulations. However, QPSK and higher order modulations exhibit similar second-order cyclostationary features, thus theses features cannot be employed to distinguish among higher order modulations. To classify higher order modulations, higher order cumulants have been proposed in the literature. In this thesis, we build a blind hierarchical modulation detector to successfully classify the modulations of the RF signals. Moreover, we use software-defined radio (SDR) to implement and demonstrate a practical blind modulation detector that can accurately distinguish among three popular modulations, i.e., BPSK, QPSK and 16-QAM. Specifically, second-order cyclostationary features using detailed SOF are applied to distinguish BPSK modulation from non-BPSK modulations (e.g., QPSK and 16-QAM modulations) at first level of the hierarchical modulation detector. Next, fourth-order cumulant feature is employed to the non-BPSK RF signals to further distinguish QPSK modulation and 16-QAM modulation. In the implementation, we use Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) hardware and GNU Radio software to realize the blind hierarchical modulation detector. Energy based signal detection is fist implemented to detect the existence of RF signals, and the hierarchical modulation detector then classifies the modulation of the detected RF signal. The SDR based blind hierarchical modulation detector does not require any prior information of iii the RF signal, and performs real-time accurate modulation detection. The performance of the proposed blind hierarchical modulation detector is analyzed under different conditions such as the number of samples and the number of symbols. Demonstrations in AWGN channel and realistic multi-path fading channel confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed SDR based blind hierarchical modulation detector.