Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adjusting Special Education Aid for Severity: The Case of Census-Based Funding in California.

This paper summarizes results of a legislatively mandated study of the incidence of students with "severe and/or high cost" disabilities across California within the context of the new census-based funding approach (which distributes funds based on the overall census of school-aged children rather than a count of children receiving special education services). The study found that students with "severe and/or high cost" disabilities are not randomly distributed across school districts, thereby requiring development of an appropriate funding adjustment. A "severity service multiplier" was developed to allocate supplemental severity funding to some localities based on the characteristics and quantities of services received by their special education students. This approach was adopted by the California legislature and is now used as a severity adjustment to special education funding. The section following the introductory section considers the challenge of defining students with "severe and/or high cost" disabilities, two models for making this concept operational, analysis of the randomness of distributions of these students, and calculation of the severity service adjustment. A concluding section discusses the approach used and implications for other states. An appendix provides details on deriving special education cost estimates per student. (Contains 14 references.) (DB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Adjusting Special Education Aid for Severity: The Case of Census-Based Funding in California Thomas B. Parrish, Michael Gerber, Daniel Kaleba, and Leslie Brock July 2000 111 The Center for Special Education Finance is part of the John C. Flanagan Research Center at the American Institutes for Research, Palo Alto, California. The Center for Special Education Finance is supported through a contract with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (ED99 -CO0091). Points of view or opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily represent the official agency position of the U.S. Department of Education or our network of advisors and professional organizations.
Adapting model-based testing to agile context

This study concentrates on model-based testing in agile software developing context. Model-based testing is a software testing technique in which tests are generated from a model. Test can be executed separately later or in motion during the generation. Special focus is placed on examining the adaptability of model-based testing to agile software developing context. The purposes of this study were to find guidelines for model-based testing tool selection and to evaluate most suitable tool in agile context in case study. First was performed literature survey, where found criteria for model-based testing tools selection. Based on literature survey, was analyzed available tools carefully. Based on literature review and evaluation was made a collection of guidelines for tool selection and selected one tool for case study. The case study aims to evaluate model-based testing suitability for agile developing project. This case study had two purposes: the first goal was to present model-based testing usage in agile process, and the second goal was to evaluate model-based testing suitability in agile context. Based on empirical findings, it was concluded that model-based testing can be performed in agile process.
Relation of Epicardial Fat Thickness with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness (EFT) with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods and Results. A total of 139 patients with T2DM (mean age 54.3 ± 9.2 and 49.6% male) and 40 age and sex-matched control subjects were evaluated. Echocardiographic EFT and ultrasonographic CIMT were measured in all subjects. Patients with T2DM had significantly increased EFT and CIMT than those of the controls (6.0 ± 1.5 mm versus 4.42 ± 1.0 mm, P < 0.001 and 0.76 ± 0.17 mm versus 0.57 ± 0.14 mm, P < 0.001, resp.). EFT was correlated with CIMT, waist circumference, BMI, age, duration of T2DM, HbA1c in the type 2 diabetic patients. Linear regression analysis showed that CIMT (β = 3.52, t = 3.72, P < 0.001) and waist circumference (β = 0.36, t = 2.26, P = 0.03) were found to be independent predictors of EFT. A cutoff high risk EFT value of 6.3 mm showed a sensitivity and specificity of 72.5% and 71.7%, respectively, for the prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusion. We found that echocardiographic EFT was significantly higher in patients with T2DM. Our study also showed that EFT was strongly correlated with waist circumference and CIMT as being independent of sex.
Fighting at the Spigot: The Story of a Failing Public Water Cooperative

Abstract. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET) is a self-regulated, public cooperative that imports the majority of Southern California's water. MET delivers this water to its 26 member agencies through MET infrastructure. MET's members--through its Board of Directors--decide the price of water and allocation of infrastructure costs by majority vote. Although MET's self-regulated cooperative status was an efficient organizational form in the past, changing circumstances (reduced supply, increased demand)have made it less so. The response of MET and its member agencies--conflict over decisions and enactment of policies supported by the median-voter--does not deliver economic or political efficiency. MET could use internal auction markets to allocate water and costs more efficiently and equitably.
On the pathogens of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) in the Western Carpathians

Pathogens of spruce bark beetle Ips typographus were compared at eleven sites in Slovakia (the Western Carpathians). Seven different pathogen species were recorded: protozoan species Chytridiopsis typographi, Gregarina typographi, Malamoeba scolyti, nematodes of the genus Neoparasitylenchus and one unidentified nematode species. Presence of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana was also observed as well as parasitization by hymenopteran parasitoids. High infection rate of G. typographi and the nematode Neoparasitylenchus was detected in almost all sites and lethal impact of M. scolyti by massive infections was observed. The beetles from seven sites were screened for endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia, however, with no positive result.
Do High School Teachers Really Matter

Unlike in elementary schools, high school teacher effects may be confounded with unobserved track-level treatments (such as the AVID program) that are correlated with individual teachers. I present a strategy that exploits detailed course-taking information to credibly estimate the effects of 9th grade Algebra and English teachers on test scores. I document substantial bias due to track-specific treatments and I show that traditional tests for the existence of teacher effects are flawed. After accounting for bias, I find sizable algebra teacher effects and little evidence of English teacher effects. I find little evidence of teacher spillovers across subjects. C. Kirabo Jackson Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy 2040 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60208 and NBER kirabo-jackson@northwestern.edu
Rumination, Mood and Cognitive Performance

Rumination, DEFINED AS REPETITIVE, RECURRENT AND UNCONTROLLABLE THINKING, has been implicated in cognitive impairments, particularly dysexecutive function, in people with depressed mood, what is now critical is an examination of the link between rumination and cognitive impairment independent of mood. Rumination’s direct relationship to basic cognitive functions may help explain the stability of rumination, and how it predicts future episodes of depressed mood. Two experiments examined how trait and experimentally induced rumination, and negative mood relate to attention and inhibition at varying levels of cognitive load in non-depressed participants. Study 1 found trait rumination significantly predicted errors of attention when cognitive load was low or high, but not at a medium level. Trait rumination also interacted with frequency of task unrelated thoughts to predict performance. Negative mood significantly predicted errors of inhibition also when the cognitive load was low or high. Study 2 expanded on the first by including two additional measures of executive function. Results were replicated for the first study and showed a ruminative thought style predicted inhibition, reaction time and set shifting in the additional measures.
Do Peers Matter? Resistance to Peer Influence as a Mediator between Self-Esteem and Procrastination among Undergraduates

This study examined the relationship between self-esteem and procrastination and the mediating role of resistance to peer influence (RPI) on this relationship among undergraduates. One hundred and ninety-nine Chinese undergraduate students completed the measures of procrastination, RPI, and self-esteem. Structural Equation Modeling analyses indicated that self-esteem was negatively related to procrastination, and RPI acted as a mediator of this relationship. The results suggest that the peer may be a key to understanding procrastination among undergraduates. Implications for future research and limitations of the current study are discussed.
Eosinophil-associated processes underlie differences in clinical presentation of loiasis between temporary residents and those indigenous to Loa-endemic areas.

BACKGROUND Loa loa has emerged as an important public health problem due to the occurrence of immune-mediated severe posttreatment reactions following ivermectin distribution. Also thought to be immune-mediated are the dramatic differences seen in clinical presentation between infected temporary residents (TR) and individuals native to endemic regions (END). METHODS All patients diagnosed with loiasis at the National Institutes of Health between 1976 and 2012 were included. Patients enrolled in the study underwent a baseline clinical and laboratory evaluation and had serum collected and stored. Stored pretreatment serum was used to measure filaria-specific antibody responses, eosinophil-related cytokines, and eosinophil granule proteins. RESULTS Loa loa infection in TR was characterized by the presence of Calabar swelling (in 82% of subjects), markedly elevated eosinophil counts, and increased filaria-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels; these findings were thought to reflect an unmodulated immune response. In contrast, END showed strong evidence for immune tolerance to the parasite, with high levels of circulating microfilariae, few clinical symptoms, and diminished filaria-specific IgG. The striking elevation in eosinophil counts among the TR group was accompanied by increased eosinophil granule protein levels (associated with eosinophil activation and degranulation) as well as elevated levels of eosinophil-associated cytokines. CONCLUSIONS These data support the hypothesis that differing eosinophil-associated responses to the parasite may be responsible for the marked differences in clinical presentations between TR and END populations with loiasis.
Effect of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on electromyographyic activity of quadriceps in untrained healthy females

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate muscle damage indicators and electromyography activities of quadriceps muscles at 25° of hip flexion in untrained healthy females after an eccentric exercise induced muscle fiber damage. Methods: A total of 14 healthy females participated in this pre-experimental study. The subjects performed maximal eccentric quadriceps contractions at 25˚ of hip flexion. Maximum voluntary extensor isometric and concentric moments, angle of maximum moment for concentric contractions, perceived pain intensity, and pain pressure threshold were examined before, immediately, 48 hours, 120 hours and 14 days after eccentric exercise. Additionally, electromyography of three parts of quadriceps muscle, knee flexion range of motion and thigh circumference were measured before and after eccentric exercise. Results: Significant reductions in maximum isometric moment and maximum concentric moment were observed at angular velocity of 60˚ per sec immediately after eccentric exercise (p<0.05). Both maximum isometric moment and maximum concentric moment recovered to the baseline 48 hours after eccentric exercise. Increased pain intensity and decreased knee joint range of motion manifested 48 hours after eccentric exercise. Pain pressure threshold for the quadriceps was higher 14 days after exercise as compared to 48 and 120 hours (p<0.05). No significant changes observed in electromyography and thigh circumference (p>0.05). Conclusion: Eccentric exercise performed at 25˚ of hip flexion resulted in muscle fiber injuries within the quadriceps muscle. However, electromyography of quadriceps muscle was not significantly different than the baseline. The result indicates that hip joint position may modify the effect of eccentric exercise on muscle activation.
Gait controllability for legged robots

We present a general method for determining controllability of a class of kinematic legged robots. The method is general in that it is independent of the robot's morphology; in particular, it does not depend upon the number of legs. Our method is based on an extension of a nonlinear controllability test for smooth systems to the legged case, where the relevant mechanics are not smooth. Our extension is based on the realization that legged robot configuration spaces are stratified. The result is illustrated with a simple example.
Discourse Constraints for Document Compression

Sentence compression holds promise for many applications ranging from summarization to subtitle generation. The task is typically performed on isolated sentences without taking the surrounding context into account, even though most applications would operate over entire documents. In this article we present a discourse-informed model which is capable of producing document compressions that are coherent and informative. Our model is inspired by theories of local coherence and formulated within the framework of integer linear programming. Experimental results show significant improvements over a state-of-the-art discourse agnostic approach.
Effects of Indoor Air Pollutants on Atopic Dermatitis

The increasing prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with variations in indoor environments. In Korea, many inner walls of homes are covered with wallpaper: such walls emit indoor air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde. This randomized, double-blind study investigated the effects of wallpaper on indoor air quality and AD. Thirty-one children (aged three to eight years) with moderate AD were assigned to environmentally-friendly (EF) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wallpaper groups. Indoor air concentrations of VOCs, natural VOCs (NVOCs), formaldehyde, and total suspended bacteria were measured before and two (W2) and eight weeks (W8) after wallpapering. Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) evaluations and blood tests were performed during the same period. The EF wallpaper and PVC wallpaper groups showed similar trends in the changes in total VOCs (TVOC) and formaldehyde content in the indoor air. However, the EF wallpaper group showed more improvement on the SCORAD at W2 and W8 than the PVC wallpaper group. The SCORAD index was positively correlated with several indoor air pollutants. Further, the SCORAD index and NVOC % were negatively correlated. Improved SCORAD index and effects of wallpapering on indoor air quality improvements occurred within a short period of time in both groups. We believe that NVOCs in indoor air after EF wallpapering have a beneficial effect on health.
Las Vegas randomized algorithms in distributed consensus problems

We consider distributed consensus problems from the viewpoint of probabilistic algorithms. In particular, we provide an overview on some specific problems where randomization is critical in achieving consensus among multiple agents. Further, we show that the randomized algorithms which are used in this setting are the so-called Las Vegas randomized algorithms (e.g. [24]). This class is different from that of Monte Carlo type, which has been recently successfully employed for various computationally difficult problems in systems and control. The objective of this paper is therefore to show the link between various distributed consensus problems and randomized algorithms for systems and control.
Triggering of tsunamigenic aftershocks from large strike‐slip earthquakes: Analysis of the November 2000 New Ireland earthquake sequence

The November 2000 New Ireland earthquake sequence started with a Mw = 8.0 left‐lateral main shock on 16 November and was followed by a series of aftershocks with primarily thrust mechanisms. The earthquake sequence was associated with a locally damaging tsunami on the islands of New Ireland and nearby New Britain, Bougainville, and Buka. Results from numerical tsunami‐propagation models of the main shock and two of the largest thrust aftershocks (Mw > 7.0) indicate that the largest tsunami was caused by an aftershock located near the southeastern termination of the main shock, off the southern tip of New Ireland (Aftershock 1). Numerical modeling and tide gauge records at regional and far‐field distances indicate that the main shock also generated tsunami waves. Large horizontal displacements associated with the main shock in regions of steep bathymetry accentuated tsunami generation for this event. Most of the damage on Bougainville and Buka Islands was caused by focusing and amplification of tsunami energy from a ridge wave between the source region and these islands. Modeling of changes in the Coulomb failure stress field caused by the main shock indicate that Aftershock 1 was likely triggered by static stress changes, provided the fault was on or synthetic to the New Britain interplate thrust as specified by the Harvard CMT mechanism. For other possible focal mechanisms of Aftershock 1 and the regional occurrence of thrust aftershocks in general, evidence for static stress change triggering is not as clear. Other triggering mechanisms such as changes in dynamic stress may also have been important. The 2000 New Ireland earthquake sequence provides evidence that tsunamis caused by thrust aftershocks can be triggered by large strike‐slip earthquakes. Similar tectonic regimes that include offshore accommodation structures near large strike‐slip faults are found in southern California, the Sea of Marmara, Turkey, along the Queen Charlotte fault in British Columbia, and near the Alpine fault of New Zealand. Results from this study and previous stress modeling studies suggest that the likelihood of local tsunamis in these regions may significantly increase after a great strike‐slip earthquake.
Revealing the Preferences of Social Financiers

Financiers of social entrepreneurs are typically characterized as having some form of prosocial or CSR related objective. While in some studies such objectives have been formulated on an analytically inconvenient level, other contributions are limited only to charity finance. In this paper we identify Fehr and Schmidt’s inequality aversion as an analytically tractable and most basic motivation of social financiers in general. Specifically, we show that the financiers’ decision structures and their observable behavior coincide with the experimental findings of Fehr and Schmidt (1999). Moreover, we derive behavioral implications for social entrepreneurs. Paradoxically, given that financiers do not prefer a self-consumption of the social service, they contribute more if the entrepreneur provides them nevertheless.
A Qualitative Exploration of Feelings of Incompetence Among Counselling Interns

This qualitative study drew from Thematic Analysis, inspired by Grounded Theory, to explore how counselling students completing their internship manage their feelings of incompetence. Four master’s level counselling students from three different masters counselling programs in Ontario, Canada were interviewed using a semi-structure interview protocol to gain an in-depth understanding of how they experienced and managed FOI during their internship. Twenty-nine subthemes emerged, which were further categorized into four over arching main themes: (1) experience of FOI, which included eight subthemes; (2) effects of FOI, which included eight subthemes; (3) management of FOI, which included six subthemes; and (4) seeking supports for FOI, which included eight subthemes. The FOI that counsellors-in-training experience can directly impact their clients and the implications of this study related to counselling pedagogy and supervision are discussed.
Comparison of spectral direct and diffuse solar irradiance measurements and calculations for cloud‐free conditions

Ground‐based spectral measurements of direct and diffuse solar irradiance from the Rotating Shadowband Spectroradiometer, taken in cloud‐free conditions in Oklahoma in the fall of 1997, are compared over the spectral range 10000–28500 cm−1 to corresponding calculations by an accurate multiple‐scattering radiative transfer model. For each case analyzed, the aerosol optical depths used in the calculation were determined by fitting an Angstrom relation based on the ratio of the direct‐beam measurements to a direct‐beam calculation with no aerosols present. Also used in the calculation was a spectrally‐independent aerosol single‐scattering albedo chosen to provide agreement with the diffuse measurements. The spectral agreement between the measurements and calculations for the direct and diffuse irradiances is very good, providing strong evidence that in this spectral range there are no unmodeled molecular absorbers of significance to the atmospheric energy balance. Especially notable is the correspondence between the observations and calculations for a case characterized by a large amount of water vapor in the direct‐beam path, directly contradicting the suggestion that water vapor absorbs more shortwave radiation than is represented in radiative transfer models.