Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survival analysis of gastric cancer patients using Cox model: a five year study

Background: Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer and known as the second cause of death due to cancers worldwide. Adenocarcinoma is the most fatal cancer in Iran and a patient with this kind of cancer, has a lower lifetime than others. In this research, the survival of patients with gastric carcinoma who were registered at Taleghani Hospital, were studied. Methods: 291 patients with Gastric carcinoma who had received care, chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, at Taleghani Hospital in Tehran from 2002 to 2007 were studied as a historical cohort. Their survival rates and its relationship with 12 risk factors were assessed. Results: Of the 291 patients with Gastric carcinoma, 70.1 percent were men and others (29.9%) were women. The mean age of men was 62.26 years and of women was 59.32 years at the time of diagnosis. Most of patients (93.91%) were advanced stage and metastasis. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that age at diagnosis, tumor stage and histology type with survival time had significant relationships (p= 0.039 , p= 0.042 and p= 0.032 respectively). Conclusion: The five-year survival rate and median lifetime of gastric cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy are very low and seems that one of the important reasons for this situation is delayed diagnosis. The scheme of public education about the early warning signs of the disease and diagnosis and administration of periodic examinations is unavoidable.
A Model to Assess Efficiency in e-Training for Significant Learning (e-TSL)

This article presents an evaluation model to assess the efficiency of e-Training for Significant Learning (e-TSL). The model is useful for assessing student learning in virtual spaces. The process of model building is based on the Dembo learning teaching model, the systemic approach to evaluate virtual learning from Dr. Khan, and a cybernetic model to evaluate virtual learning environments. This model was built considering the theories of Computer Science and Education Science and its structure is composed of 6 dimensions, 32 characteristics, 84 variables and 153 indicators. The validation of the model was done internationally with participants from Europe, America, Australia, Asia and Africa achieving a total of 1,207 responses, for which the multilingual system (English-Spanish) SIDEC was built. Taking into account the collected responses and with a confidence level of 90%, the components of the e-TSL model were accepted. Keywords—Virtual Education, ICT, Significant Learning.
Privatization of Public Pensions in Germany: Who Gains and How Much? / Privatisierung der deutschen Rentenversicherung: Wer gewinnt und wieviel?

Summary This paper examines the distributional and efficiency effects of pension privatization in Germany. Starting from a benchmark that reflects the current unfunded pension system, a fully funded system is introduced. The accrued benefits of the old system are financed by alternative tax combinations as well as deficit increases. The quantitative analysis is based on an Auerbach-Kotlikoff type simulation model that distinguishes between five lifetime income classes within each age cohort. The simulations reveal a clear trade-off between the efficiency and equity aspects of alternative financing schemes. While consumption taxes are the most efficient financing instrument, they also undermine intra- and intergenerational equity. Phasing-out the unfunded system on the other hand not only dampens the income redistribution across and within generations, but also reduces the efficiency gains dramatically. Zusammenfassung Dieser Aufsatz untersucht die Verteilungs- und Effizienzwirkungen einer Privatisierung der Rentenversicherung in Deutschland. Ausgehend von einem Gleichgewicht mit umlagefinanziertem Rentensystem wird ein kapitalgedecktes System eingeführt. Die bestehenden Rentenansprüche werden durch alternative Steuer- und Verschuldungskombinationen finanziert. Die quantitative Untersuchung erfolgt im Rahmen eines Auerbach-Kotlikoff-Simulationsmodells, das innerhalb jeder Generation fünf verschiedene Einkommensklassen unterscheidet. Es zeigt sich ein deutlicher Trade-off zwischen den Verteilungs- und Effizienzwirkungen unterschiedlicher Finanzierungsarten. Konsumsteuern sind zwar das effizienteste Finanzierungsinstrument in diesem Modell, gleichzeitig ist damit jedoch auch die stärkste intra- und intergenerative Umverteilung verbunden. Ein gradueller Übergang zum Kapitaldeckungsverfahren impliziert zwar eine geringere Umverteilung, aber gleichzeitig auch geringere Effizienzgewinne.
Towards a Machine Learning Approach for Earnings Manipulation Detection

Manuscript type: Research paper.Research aim: This paper aims to enhance Earnings ManipulationDetection (EMD) by applying the Bayesian Naive Classifier (BNC),a supervised machine learning approach which evaluates andcompares the manual auditors’ method with a widely appliedmathematical model (Beneish model). Design/ Methodology/ Approach: The data set consists of financialstatements of 53 companies over years 2006 to 2009. Three data setswere created: training data set using financial statements from 2006 to2007, and two test data sets made up of financial statements from 2008to 2009. The Beneish model and the manual auditors’ method are usedto test for EMD accuracy as well as to evaluate results. In the processof testing and comparing the two methods, a new layer of supervisedmachine learning technique namely the BNC is introduced.Research findings: The analysis of results for the EMD shows thatthe Beneish model outperforms the manual auditors’ method. Theresults also reveal a higher classification rate (86.84 per cent) whenusing the Beneish model as compared to the manual auditors’method (60.53 per cent). This difference indicates that the manualauditors’ method is less effective in detecting earnings manipulation.Theoretical contribution/ Originality: The main contribution ofthis research is the introduction of the supervised machine learning approach as a new layer in the framework of EMD. This approachcan be used to broaden the scope for auditors, forensic accountants,tax controllers, and other manipulation detectors who are involvedin the auditing procedures.Practitioner/ Policy implication: The results of this study will helpregulators and practitioners to re-define their overall strategicdecision-making in detecting accounting manipulations.Research limitation: This study devised a framework for EMD usingthe Beneish model and machine learning approach for companiesoperating in wholesale liquid fuel industry. Further studies needto be conducted to examine the application of such methods inother industries. In addition, future studies may need to assess thepotential of other manipulation detection models which could beapplied together with different machine learning tools.Keywords: Beneish M-Score, Earnings Manipulation, MachineLearning, Supervised ClassificationJEL Classification: C1, M4
Modeling reactive geochemical transport of concentrated aqueous solutions

Aqueous solutions with ionic strength larger than 1 M are usually considered concentrated aqueous solutions. These solutions can be found in some natural systems and are also industrially produced and released into accessible natural environments, and as such, they pose a big environmental problem. Concentrated aqueous solutions have unique thermodynamic and physical properties. They are usually strongly acidic or strongly alkaline, with the ionic strength possibly reaching 30 M or higher. Chemical components in such solutions are incompletely dissociated. The thermodynamic activities of both ionic and molecular species in these solutions are determined by the ionic interactions. In geological media the problem is further complicated by the interactions between the solutions and sediments and rocks. The chemical composition of concentrated aqueous solutions when migrating through the geological media may be drastically altered by these strong fluid‐rock interactions. To effectively model reactive transport of concentrated aqueous solutions, we must take into account the ionic interactions. For this purpose we substantially extended an existing reactive transport code, BIO‐CORE2D©, by incorporating a Pitzer ion interaction model to calculate the ionic activity. In the present paper, the model and two test cases of the model are briefly introduced. We also simulate a laboratory column experiment in which the leakage of highly alkaline waste fluid stored at Hanford (a U.S. Department of Energy site, located in Washington State) was studied. Our simulation captures the measured pH evolution and indicates that all the reactions controlling the pH evolution, including cation exchanges and mineral dissolution/precipitation, are coupled.
Why were there three? – Determinants of the presence of an intimate partner during face-to-face interviews

Depuis 20 ans, les hauts revenus augmentent en Suisse. Le centile le plus riche des contribuables dispose de plus de 10% du revenu total. Meme la crise financiere internationale de 2008-2009 n'a pu interrompre la tendance mondiale d’augmentation des hauts revenus. Celle-ci est particulierement marquee chez les super-riches, le top 0,01% ou les 450 contribuables les plus riches. Alors que la part du revenu du premier decile le plus riche, et aussi du premier centile le plus riche, est restee relativement stable a long terme, le top 0,01% des plus riches a connu une nette hausse de ses revenus. Peu d'etudes ont ete effectuees sur la duree pendant laquelle les plus hauts revenus restaient au sommet. Si la mobilite des revenus avait augmente, alors la hausse des inegalites serait a relativiser. Le present article montre, a l'aide de donnees de l'AVS, que la mobilite des revenus a augmente pendant les annees 1980, mais est restee stable depuis le milieu des annees 1990. La hausse observee des inegalites n'a donc pas ete compensee par une plus grande mobilite des revenus. Les personnes nees a l'etranger representent environ un tiers du premier centile. Les femmes, en revanche, sont fortement sous-representees dans le premier centile avec moins de 10%.
THE MACROECONOMIC DRIVERS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN MALAWI

This paper examines the main macroeconomic drivers of economic growth in Malawi. The drivers are identified by examining the various development plans and reforms that Malawi implemented during the period 1970-2011. The examination concludes that the main macroeconomic drivers of economic growth in Malawi during this period were the accumulation of physical capital, human capital development, international trade, inflation and the real exchange rate. The examination also shows that country-specific development policies and institutions are important in identifying and influencing the macroeconomic factors of growth. Although Malawi has been able to identify the factors that would contribute to sustainable economic growth in its development policies, these factors were influenced by a number of structural challenges, such as low investment rates, inadequate investment in human capital, balance-of-payment problems, macroeconomic instability, and frequent policy reversals in the implementation of macroeconomic reforms.
Digital Commons at Oberlin Digital Commons at Oberlin

We present a generative method to grow triangular meshes with organically-shaped features. Through the application of simpliﬁed forces, millions of particles develop into complex 3D forms in silico . These forms interact with external environments in a variety of ways, allowing for the integration of the proposed technique with pre-existing 3D objects and scenes. Large simulation sizes were computationally achieved through the massively parallel capabilities of modern Graphics Processing Units (GPUs)
Identifying characteristics of pairs of questions that students answer similarly

We discover pairs of questions (items) that students answer in a dependent manner by applying Fisher's Exact Test to a sample of 1080 students answering 257 items in the MOOC 8MReVx. To eliminate false positives arising from the large range of student abilities, we divided students into groups of similar ability by: 1) similar percentage correct on first try (CFT) of all available problems, 2) similar percentage CFT of problems attempted, and 3) similar skills determined by Item Response Theory. All three methods dramatically reduce the number of false dependencies in a similar fashion. Importantly, using 5 groups 70% (vs. 5% without groups) of dependent pairs of items have identical ratings in all four categories of the Taxonomy of Introductory Physics Problems, [1] 70% (vs. 23%) are of the same pedagogical type, 45% (vs. <1%) are items in the same problem, and 100% (vs. 12%) reside in the same course Chapter. PACS:01.40. Fk,01.40. Ha
Sensor Network based Adaptable System Architecture for Emergency Situations

A novel wireless sensor network architecture designed for gathering and managing onsite dynamic information in emergency situations is presented. The system can operate in two different states-normal and emergency, where switching between states occurs according to perception from the environment. The main functionalities of the system include perceiving, processing and sharing the gathered information within a wireless sensor network which is deployed in a multi-story indoor environment. Algorithms for sensor localization, network self-configuration as well as data filtering and prediction are studied in the characterized emergency environment. The proposed architecture will act to reduce risk in rescue operations following an emergency as well as generating early warnings of possible emergencies. 
Evaluating Tourism Service Quality Provided to the European Tourist “Applied on the British tourist"

Abstract Service quality (SERVQUAL) has received a considerable attention in the last 50 years. While Service quality are well documented in the literature review, fewer studies have been investigates the relationship of Service quality with customer satisfaction and behaviour intention, and particularly in tourism. The aim of this paper is to examine the causal direct and indirect impact of service quality on customer satisfaction and behaviour intention. A total of 390 usable responses were obtained with a response rate of 71%. Structural equation modelling was used to analysis the current research data. The structural equation modelling results indicate that all the employed dimension to measure service quality (tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy) have direct influence on customer satisfaction and indirect impact on behaviour intention through customer satisfaction. These results help to clarify the mixed findings in the literature concerning the pattern of the causal relationship between service quality with customer satisfaction and behaviour intention. Finally, conclusions and limitations are outlined.
Investigation of Multiple CSs inside a Resolution Cell by means of PolInSAR

Recently, the coherent scatterers (CSs) technique has been introduced in order to detect scatterers with a deterministic point-like scattering behavior in SAR images. Although the majority of the detected CSs show the typical properties of point-like scatterers, e.g., high amplitude, high interferometric coherence and low polarimetric entropy, some CSs present medium or even high polarimetric entropy. In this paper we study such cases by investigating the possibility that more than one Cs are present insides the resolution cell. We exploit not only the interferometric coherence but also the sublook coherence as a function of polarization states using the PolInSAR formalism and experimental data. For the case that the presence of more than one CS inside the resolution cell is found, the separation of CSs is implemented using a interferometric coherence model. In this work, airborne experimental datasets acquired at L-band by E-SAR system of the German Aerospace Center over the city of Munich in Germany are used.
IMPLEMENTATION OF SWITCHING CONTROLLER FOR THE INTERNET ROUTER

The greedy scheduling (GS) algorithm is a scalable maximal matching algorithm. This algorithm was conceptually proposed and well received since it provides non-blocking in an Internet router with input buffers and a cross-bar, unlike other existing implementations. In this paper, I implent a new design of the GS algorithm, and determine its exact behaviour, performance and QoS that it provides. I design and measure the performance of their implementations in terms of their scalability and speed. It will be shown that multiple scheduler modules of a terabit Internet router can be implemented on a low-cost fieldprogrammable gate-array (FPGA) device, and that the processing can be performed within the desired time slot duration. The scheduler modules designed on one low-cost Altera FPGA may control router with hundreds of ports. The output selection time remains below 60 ns in high-capacity Internet routers.
Integrating Health and Social Care Systems in England - A Case of Better Care?

In 2013, the UK Government announced a major £3.8 billion healthcare initiative, the Better Care Fund. This funding was intended to be used within local health and care systems to drive closer integration, create new service efficiencies, support technological innovation and most importantly, improve outcomes for patients and people with care and support needs. The research described in this paper uses the lens of systems integration to investigate how health and social care delivery, through the Better Care initiative, is currently being transformed in a major UK city. An action research approach is being used to determine the key issues and challenges that need to be addressed if new models of integrated health and social care are to be successful. Early findings indicate that an integration approach, informed by systems integration models and theory, can facilitate a better understanding of the potential challenges for integrating health and social care information systems.
Use of Ultra-Wideband Sensor Networks to Detect Safety Violations in Real Time

Safety is the highest priority for most construction professionals. However, enforcing the safety requirements and self-regulation of construction jobsites can be difficult. Often, one safety manager is responsible for multiple jobsites and must split their time appropriately depending on the type of work and size of job. This, coupled with large jobsites, makes consistent monitoring of safe working practices a challenge. This paper summarizes a preliminary study that examines the feasibility of utilizing Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) sensors for continuous monitoring of safety violations on a construction job site by placing UWB sensors on personal protective equipment (PPE) and common jobsite equipment. Laboratory experiments were conducted to test the feasibility of current system capabilities by developing a prototype system utilizing known algorithms for sensor localization with an application of relational parameters to test the systems capability of correctly identifying safe and unsafe working conditions. These preliminary experiments revealed the limitations of the current body of knowledge. This paper discusses the concept of continuous monitoring and the identified benefits that UWB sensor networks may be able to provide for construction safety monitoring. The preliminary prototype development and experiments are also discussed with an explanation of the identified limitations. Lastly, future research steps on how to overcome the identified limitations is discussed.
Relationship between hygroscopicity and cloud condensation nuclei activity for urban aerosols in Tokyo

[1] As described by the Kohler theory, the hygroscopicity of atmospheric aerosol particles is a key factor regulating their cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity. Here we investigated the relationship between hygroscopicity and CCN activity for urban aerosol particles using a hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA) coupled in series to a CCN counter. The HTDMA-CCNC system was operated near the center of the Tokyo metropolitan area from 10 to 17 November 2004. For aerosol particles whose dry mobility diameters were 30–200 nm, the ratios of CCN to condensation nuclei (CN) at 0.22–1.3% supersaturation were obtained as a function of particle hygroscopicity at 83 and 89% RH. More-hygroscopic particles were found to be more CCN active than less-hygroscopic particles of the same size, indicating that hygroscopicity is a critical factor regulating CCN activity. The chemical compositions of particles were simultaneously measured using an aerosol mass spectrometer. They were found to relate closely to CCN activity as well as to the hygroscopicity. The measured CCN–hygroscopicity relationships were compared to those predicted by Kohler theory. The results suggest that CCN activity is possibly perturbed by changes in surface tension due to organics, dissolution/dissociation of water-soluble organics under supersaturation conditions, or different nonideality of organics from inorganic salts. These factors associated with organics are potentially important for CCN activity and thus microphysical cloud processes in the atmosphere.
STRATEGIES FOR DETECTING POOR COUPLING IN AN OBS EXPERIMENT

Strategies for Detecting Poor Coupling in an OBS Experiment. (August 2003) Fitrix Primantoro Putro, B.S., Institute of Technology of Bandung Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Luc T. Ikelle We present a method for detecting and correcting poor coupling in an Ocean Bottom Seismic (OBS) experiment. The basic idea of our method is that the normal component (with respect to the seafloor) of particle velocity is continuous at the watersolid interface. A comparison of the normal component of particle velocity just above and below the seafloor allows us to assess poor coupling. In other words, our method for detecting poor coupling consists of analyzing vertical particle velocities measured just above and below the seafloor. The normal component of particle velocity above the water is measured using either a vertical receiver array or a vertical source array (dipole source), whereas the normal component of particle velocity below the water is directly measured in this OBS experiment. In general, the quantities recorded in the OBS experiment are vertical and horizontal components of particle velocity, but continuity of the boundary is based on the normal component of particle velocity being oriented perpendicularly to the seafloor. For a flat seafloor, the vertical component of particle velocity values just above and below the seafloor must be almost equal according to the continuity condition at the
Chinese secondary physics teachers’ beliefs and instructional decisions in relation to inquiry-based teaching

This paper reports five Chinese secondary physics teachers’ beliefs and instructional decisions in relation to inquiry-based teaching (IBT). It is part of a larger study intended to explore Chinese secondary physics teachers’ beliefs and the ways in which their beliefs influence their classroom practices in the context of the current Chinese science curricular reforms around inquiry-based teaching. The study employed in-depth semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, informal conversations and field notes to explore teachers’ beliefs and instructional practices. The data analysis reveals that a range of beliefs the five teachers held – about the nature of science and physics, teaching and learning, and inquiry-based teaching – exerted a compound influence on teachers’ instructional decisions.Their perceptions of ‘what counts’ as effective teaching seemed to be the predominant influence. Furthermore, these beliefs and their influence on teachers’ instructional decisions should be understood within the current Chinese teaching context within which these teachers were working. They were teaching a reformed, inquiry-based curriculum while lacking a complementary assessment system, they were pressed for time, and they were under high pressure to prepare students for the College Entrance Examination.