Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erzielen Studierende ohne Abitur geringeren Studienerfolg? Befunde einer quantitativen Fallstudie / Do Students without a General Qualification for University Entrance Show Lower Academic Performance? Findings from a Quantitative Case Study

Zusammenfassung Im Jahr 2009 sind die deutschen Hochschulen für beruflich qualifizierte Bewerber ohne schulische Hochschulzugangsberechtigung geöffnet worden. Inwiefern unterscheiden sich diese Studierenden hinsichtlich des Studienerfolgs von traditionellen Studierenden mit Abitur? Auf der Basis von Überlegungen zu Kompetenzunterschieden aufgrund verschiedener Bildungsverläufe, zur kulturellen Schließung des akademischen Feldes für Personen mit niedrigerer sozialer Herkunft und zu unterschiedlichen Lebensumständen bilden wir Hypothesen zu Leistungsunterschieden. Diese überprüfen wir anhand von Prüfungsleistungsdaten von bis zu 1.142 Bachelor-Studierenden eines Fachbereichs einer deutschen Universität. Die Analysen zeigen, dass nicht-traditionelle Studierende im Vergleich zu Personen mit Abitur im ersten Studienjahr 8,4 Prozentpunkte weniger Lehrveranstaltungen erfolgreich absolvieren, eine um 19,9 Prozentpunkte geringere Wahrscheinlichkeit aufweisen, das Studium innerhalb von mindestens neun Semestern zu beenden und ein um durchschnittlich 0,15 Notenpunkte schlechteres Endergebnis erzielen. Summary Since 2009, German universities have been open to vocationally qualified applicants without the school-leaving qualification traditionally required for university entrance (“Abitur”). This paper investigates the extent to which these nontraditional students differ in regard to academic performance from traditional students who have attained the “Abitur”. Hypotheses about differences in performance are derived from three assumptions: competence differences due to different educational backgrounds, cultural closure of the academic field to students of lower socio-economic origin, and differences in students’ living conditions.We used data from up to 1,142 undergraduate students in one department at a German university to test our hypotheses. The analyses show that non-traditional first-year students pass a lower proportion of their courses (by 8.4 percentage points), have a lower probability of graduating within nine semesters (down 19.9 percentage points), and receive poorer final grades than persons with general university entrance qualifications (0.15 grade points lower).
An Experiment On Incremental Analysis Using Robust Parsing Techniques

The results of an experiment are presented in which an approach for robust parsing has been applied incrementally. They confirm that due to the robust nature of the underlying technology an arbitrary prefix of a sentence can be analysed into an intermediate structural description which is able to direct the further analysis with a high degree of reliability. Most notably, this result can be achieved without adapting the grammar or the parsing algorithms to the case of incremental processing. The resulting incremental parsing procedure is significantly faster if compared to a non-incremental best-first search. Additionally it turns out that longer sentences benefit most from this acceleration.
Interactive spatial multimedia for communication of art in the physical museum space

This paper discusses the application of three spatial multimedia techniques for communication of art in the physical museum space. In contrast to the widespread use of computers in cultural heritage and natural science museums, it is generally a challenge to introduce technology in art museums without disturbing the art works. This has usually been limited to individual audio guides. In our case we strive to achieve holistic and social experiences with seamless transitions between art experience and communication related to the artworks. To reach a holistic experience with minimal disturbance of the artworks we apply three spatial multimedia techniques where the only interaction device needed is the human body. The three techniques are: 1) spatially bounded audio; 2) floor-based multimedia; 3) multimedia interior. The paper describes the application of these techniques for communication of information in a Mariko Mori exhibition. The multimedia installations and their implementation are described. It is argued that the utilization of the spatial multimedia techniques support holistic and social art experience. The multimedia installations were in function for a three and a half month exhibition period and they were approved on beforehand by the artist to be in concordance with the artworks.
Fysioterapeuttiopiskelijoiden käsityksiä ja kokemuksia hyvästä opettajuudesta ja oppimista edistävästä opetustyöskentelystä ammattikorkeakoulussa

Physiotherapy students’ conceptions and experiences of good teachership and learning promoting teachings methods at University of Applied Sciences Nina Marttinen Master’s Thesis in Physiotherapy University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences/Department of Health Sciences Spring 2009 68 pages, 7 appendices This study is a part of a larger project concerned about the teacher’s profession in the field of health sciences and the work of teachers in Finnish occupational health education. This study attempted to describe the teachers’ profession and work from students’ perspective. The aim was to answer two research questions: (1) what builds up a good teachership and (2) what is learning promoting teaching like? By answering these questions the objective was to enter the on going discussion on teachers’ profession and work at Universities of Applied Sciences and to provide supportive knowledge to teachers for teaching and pedagogical decision making. The study was qualitative and phenomenographic by nature. The research subjects consisted of 13 physiotherapy students from the University of Applied Sciences in Lahti. All students were in the graduation phase of their studies. The research data was gathered by theme interviews, which were organized in three small groups (two five persons group and one three persons group) and carried out in the students own faculty. The data was analyzed by using the method of content analysis. Abductive thinking was applied while making interpretations. Content analysis of the data revealed four categories concerning students’ conceptions and experiences of good teachership and teaching methods that promote learning. These included personal features in the work of a teacher, expertise on the subject in question, relationship with students and pedagogical working. Teachers’ pedagogical work and its learning promoting features the students described in general by teachers way to give feedback and set learning tasks and also separately in the context of a classroom and open learning environments. The results of the study indicated that a good teacher works alone and in this way individually promotes student learning. Students described him or her primarily as a person who has the know-how and practical expertise, who is caring towards students and who is also a personal personality. He or she promotes students learning best by assuming pedagogical responsibility, being authoritative and by guiding students gradually towards more studentcentred learning. The results can be considered as challenging teachers to maintain their practical skills and to keep up the development of practical work. The results also challenge the teachers to be genuinely committed to their work and teaching tasks and to develop their skills in guiding students individually. On the whole, the study emphasizes the significance of students’ needs and views while pedagogy in the Universities of Applied Sciences develops.
Predicting Margin of Victory in NFL Games: Machine Learning vs. the Las Vegas Line

In this study we describe eorts to use machine learning to out-perform the expert Las Vegas line-makers at predicting the outcome of NFL football games. The statistical model we employ for inference is the Gaussian process, a powerful tool for supervised learning applications. With predictions for the margin of victory and associated condence intervals from the Gaussian process model, we propose a simple framework which recommends a bet on a given game when it is deemed statistically favorable. The training dataset we consider in this study includes a wide variety of oensive and defensive NFL statistics from about 2,000 games between 2000 and 2009. We also explore the impact of including additional novel features previously unstudied: the temperature dierence between competing team’s cities and a team’s computed strength according to [10]. We show that our predictions for margin of victory result in an error just 2% higher than that of the Las Vegas line and that we can successfully pick the game winner over 64% of the time. The bet-recommendation scheme we propose is shown to provide a win rate just under 51% but falls short of the mark of 52:4% needed to break even in the NFL gambling system.
Depression and health-related quality of life in people with coronary heart disease: a systematic review

Background: Depression affects 20% of people with coronary heart disease (CHD) and predicts worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but in primary studies the strength of this reported relationship has been inconsistent. Aims and methods: We conducted a systematic review to investigate the extent to which depression independently predicts subsequent physical HRQoL. We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE) to identify prospective cohort studies that included CHD patients, focused on depression and subsequent physical HRQoL using standardised measures. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality. Results: We identified 11 independent studies, of which nine showed a significant association between depression and subsequent physical HRQoL. There was no systematic methodological difference between those studies that did and did not show a significant association; in particular the results did not appear to be affected by the way depression or physical HRQoL was measured. Five of the 11 studies were of moderate to high methodological quality and controlled for both HRQoL and the severity of CHD at baseline. Four studies showed a significant association between depression and HRQoL. Conclusions: Depression predicts subsequent physical HRQoL and this association was not attributable to confounding effects of baseline HRQoL or the severity of the CHD. Identification of depressed CHD patients may improve targeting of resources at people at increased risk of worse physical HRQoL. Treating depression may improve subsequent physical HRQoL, though this needs to be established in future randomised controlled trials.
A 60-GHz, 14% tuning range, multi-band VCO with a single variable inductor

This paper presents the design of a 60-GHz, 14% tuning range VCO with a single variable inductor (VID). By employing the proposed frequency tuning scheme, wide-tuning range as well as multi-band operations are achieved without sacrificing its operating frequency. Fabricated in a 90-nm CMOS process, the VCO is capable of covering frequency range from 53.1 to 61.3 GHz. The measured phase noise from a 61.3-GHz carrier is about -118.75 dBc/Hz at 10-MHz offset, and the output power is -6.6 dBm. The VCO core dissipates 8.7 mW from a 0.7-V supply. Chip size is 0.28 times 0.36 mm2.
MANAGING VULNERABILITY

The notion that journalists can develop emotional problems after being exposed to violent or traumatic events has only recently become part of the dialogue about sound newsroom management. This study, based on a national survey of 400 US news people, examines issues related to journalists' coverage of tragic events. It also explores their views about management attitudes toward news workers who are experiencing profound emotional reactions after covering violent or traumatic events. It finds that when journalists see managers as empathetic on these matters, job satisfaction and perceived morale are higher, and journalists also are more likely to remain committed to their careers.
The Integration of Muslim Minorities in the Netherlands

Due to factors such as the permanent presence of nearly 400,000 Muslims in the Netherlands (3% of the total population), the interest of broader societal circles in Islam has been evoked. The government strives to integrate these minorities into the “multicultural” society. In spite of the Dutch “pillarization system” and the fact that the constitution grants freedom of religion, several structural barriers inherent to the groups concerned, as well as to Dutch society, impede this integration process. Due to these obstacles, the emergence of a “Dutch Islam,” as well as of important fundamentalist groups among Muslims in the Netherlands, are not to be expected in the future. Furthermore, the accomplished changes in the Dutch regulations and guidelines in favor of Muslims indicate a disbalance between the pace of integration in the juridical sphere on the one hand and in the socioeconomic sphere on the other. The flexibility in the juridical sphere is mainly due to the pillarization system, while socioeconomic integration of Muslims in Dutch society is impeded by the existing prejudice and discrimination.
Background invariant static hand gesture recognition based on Hidden Markov Models

This paper addresses the problem of Static Hand Gesture Recognition (SHGR) and proposes a fast yet simple solution based on Discrete Hidden Markov Models (DHMMs) that use features extracted from the hand contours. In addition to previous work, the use of depth information ensures robustness to the overall system, making it background invariant. Experiments carried on a challenging noisy dataset reveal the superior discriminating as well as generalizing abilities of statistical models, when compared to state-of-the-art methods.
Evolution of an RNP assembly system: A minimal SMN complex facilitates formation of UsnRNPs in Drosophila melanogaster

In vertebrates, assembly of spliceosomal uridine-rich small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (UsnRNPs) is mediated by the SMN complex, a macromolecular entity composed of the proteins SMN and Gemins 2–8. Here we have studied the evolution of this machinery using complete genome assemblies of multiple model organisms. The SMN complex has gained complexity in evolution by a blockwise addition of Gemins onto an ancestral core complex composed of SMN and Gemin2. In contrast to this overall evolutionary trend to more complexity in metazoans, orthologs of most Gemins are missing in dipterans. In accordance with these bioinformatic data a previously undescribed biochemical purification strategy elucidated that the dipteran Drosophila melanogaster contains an SMN complex of remarkable simplicity. Surprisingly, this minimal complex not only mediates the assembly reaction in a manner very similar to its vertebrate counterpart, but also prevents misassembly onto nontarget RNAs. Our data suggest that only a minority of Gemins are required for the assembly reaction per se, whereas others may serve additional functions in the context of UsnRNP biogenesis. The evolution of the SMN complex is an interesting example of how the simplification of a biochemical process contributes to genome compaction.
Ethnographic Research among Elites in the Kingdom of Tonga: Some Methodological Considerations

There is a paucity of ethnographic research on elites. This paper gives an account of elite research in a complex, but small-scale, nation-state, the Kingdom of Tonga of western Polynesia. It raises issues concerning the application of a standard ethnographic approach to elite research but makes no attempt to review existing theories about upper classes and elites. The paper does describe and define the characteristics of the social structural domains from which old and new strategic elites have been recruited and which provide the informal and semiprivate contexts of their formal and public activities.
A high throughput experimental approach to identify miRNA targets in human cells

The study of human microRNAs is seriously hampered by the lack of proper tools allowing genome-wide identification of miRNA targets. We performed Ribonucleoprotein ImmunoPrecipitation—gene Chip (RIP-Chip) using antibodies against wild-type human Ago2 in untreated Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cell lines. Ten to thirty percent of the gene transcripts from the genome were enriched in the Ago2-IP fraction of untreated cells, representing the HL miRNA-targetome. In silico analysis indicated that ∼40% of these gene transcripts represent targets of the abundantly co-expressed miRNAs. To identify targets of miR-17/20/93/106, RIP-Chip with anti-miR-17/20/93/106 treated cells was performed and 1189 gene transcripts were identified. These genes were analyzed for miR-17/20/93/106 target sites in the 5′-UTRs, coding regions and 3′-UTRs. Fifty-one percent of them had miR-17/20/93/106 target sites in the 3′-UTR while 19% of them were predicted miR-17/20/93/106 targets by TargetScan. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed targeting of miR-17/20/93/106 to the 3′-UTRs of 8 out of 10 genes. In conclusion, we report a method which can establish the miRNA-targetome in untreated human cells and identify miRNA specific targets in a high throughput manner. This approach is applicable to identify miRNA targets in any human tissue sample or purified cell population in an unbiased and physiologically relevant manner.
Exposure of BALB/c Mice to Diesel Engine Exhaust Origin Secondary Organic Aerosol (DE-SOA) during the Developmental Stages Impairs the Social Behavior in Adult Life of the Males

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is a component of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and formed in the atmosphere by oxidation of volatile organic compounds. Recently, we have reported that inhalation exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DE) originated SOA (DE-SOA) affect novel object recognition ability and impair maternal behavior in adult mice. However, it is not clear whether early life exposure to SOA during the developmental stages affect social behavior in adult life or not. In the present study, to investigate the effects of early life exposure to DE-SOA during the gestational and lactation stages on the social behavior in the adult life, BALB/c mice were exposed to clean air (control), DE, DE-SOA and gas without any PM in the inhalation chambers from gestational day 14 to postnatal day 21 for 5 h a day and 5 days per week. Then adult mice were examined for changes in their social behavior at the age of 13 week by a sociability and social novelty preference, social interaction with a juvenile mouse and light-dark transition test, hypothalamic mRNA expression levels of social behavior-related genes, estrogen receptor-alpha and oxytocin receptor as well as of the oxidative stress marker gene, heme oxygenase (HO)-1 by real-time RT-PCR method. In addition, hypothalamic level of neuronal excitatory marker, glutamate was determined by ELISA method. We observed that sociability and social novelty preference as well as social interaction were remarkably impaired, expression levels of estrogen receptor-alpha, oxytocin receptor mRNAs were significantly decreased, expression levels of HO-1 mRNAs and glutamate levels were significantly increased in adult male mice exposed to DE-SOA compared to the control ones. Findings of this study indicate early life exposure of BALB/c mice to DE-SOA may affect their late-onset hypothalamic expression of social behavior related genes, trigger neurotoxicity and impair social behavior in the males.
Handover Scheme in LTE-based Networks with Hybrid Access Mode Femtocells

Femtocell networks that use Home evolved NodeB (HeNB) and existing networks for backhaul connectivity can fulfill the upcoming demand for high data rates in wireless communication systems as well as extend the coverage area. We consider some parameters for handovers, including interference, velocity, RSS and quality of service (QoS) level. We propose a new handover strategy between the femtocell and the macrocell for LTE (Long Term Evolution) -based networks in hybrid access mode. This strategy can avoid unnecessary handovers and can reduce handover failure. In this paper, we analyze three scenarios for handover decision strategy procedures: hand-in for Closed Subscriber Groups, hand-in for non-Closed Subscriber Groups, and hand-out.
Applications et services DTN pour flotte collaborative de drones. (Applications and DTN services for cooperative UAVs fleet)

Les travaux presentes dans cette these effectuee au LaBRI portent sur la mise en place d'une flotte de drones et le portage sur celle-ci d'applications collaboratives distribuees utilisant des communications asynchrones non sures. Ces applications sont formalisees grâce au modele de reetiquetage de graphes Asynchronous Dynamicity Aware Graph Relabeling System (ADAGRS) que nous proposons. Au dela des contributions theoriques, ces travaux ont debouche sur la mise en place du demonstrateur CARUS dans lequel cinq drones se partagent la surveillance d'une grille de 15 points d'incidents potentiels (au sol). Lorsqu'un drone detecte un incident, il s'en rapproche pour le traiter. Le reste de la flotte doit alors prendre en charge les points que ce drone ne traite plus.Les reorganisations necessaires de la flotte se font en totale autonomie vis-a-vis du sol et sous hypothese de perte eventuelle de drones et de messages.
Balancing Exploration and Exploitation through Structural Design: The Isolation of Subgroups and Organization Learning

The classic tradeoff between exploration and exploitation in organizational learning has attracted vigorous attention by researchers over the last two decades. Despite this attention, however, the question of how firms can better maintain the balance of exploration and exploitation remains unresolved. Drawing on a wide range of research on population and organization structure, we argue that an organization divided into semi-isolated subgroups may help strike this balance. We simulate such an organization, systematically varying the interaction pattern between individuals to explore how the degree of subgroup isolation and inter-group connectivity influences organizational learning. We also test this model with a range of contingency variables highlighted in the management research. We find that moderate levels of cross-group linking lead to the highest equilibrium performance by enabling superior ideas to diffuse across groups without reducing organizational diversity too quickly. This finding is remarkably resilient to a wide range of variance in factors such as problem complexity, environmental dynamism, and personnel turnover.
Driver behavior analysis through speech emotion understanding

Driver behavior is indeed one of the major factors contributing to high number of motor vehicle accidents. Due to the fact that human behavior is always influenced by emotion and emotion can be detected through speech, we attempt to find correlation between driver behavior state and speech emotion to analyze driver behavior. This understanding is important to facilitate the development of driver emotional indicator system that can act as some kind of warning system to prevent accidents. Experimental results show potential for driver behavior state detection particularly for sleepy state based on speech emotion recognition approach coupled with fundamental understanding of affection space model. These findings surged us to propose an alternative approach of speech emotion profiling that complement the research mainstream of driver behavior and speech emotion recognition.