Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teacher Perceptions of Post No Child Left Behind Elementary Teacher and Student Test Anxiety

The purpose of this pilot and main study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of the post No Child Left Behind (NCLB) elementary classroom, the perceived changes, and the implications for teachers’ feelings of empowerment and student test anxiety. Previous investigators have agreed that the teacher’s voice has been missing, but needed in test anxiety research. By engaging veteran teachers who had experience both before and after the enactment of NCLB in reflective conversation about their experiences, valuable information was gained concerning whether or not teachers felt empowered to perform their duties and what impact they perceived that high stakes standardized testing has had on both teacher anxiety and student test anxiety. This information could be used to inform educational practice and decision making. Triangulation of data sources included narrative data collected through face-to-face interviews with the teachers, the writing of field notes, interview process notes, and reflective journal entries from both the pilot and main studies. Three clear themes emerged that fit the division of the data by the research questions: change in the teachers’ experiences, change in teaching vocabulary, and change in the students’ experiences. These themes emerged through a process of categorical-content perspective analysis for coding the data and sorting it into themes. The Hermeneutic narrative analysis approach was used to analyze and identify the meaning of these related experiences and stories. The context of the pilot and main studies was elementary schools in a rural school system in the Southeastern United States. The participants were eleven elementary teachers from grades three through five with experience before and after NCLB enactment who taught core academic subjects. Member checks of the interview transcripts and data analysis enhanced the credibility of these reports. The analysis revealed both positive and negative perceptions of the changes in the classroom experience of these elementary teachers, their feelings of empowerment, and the impact of the changes on the test anxiety of their students. Participants across the pilot and main studies indicated that increased stress, pressure, frustration, and professional struggles have had a negative impact on teacher anxiety, teacher efficacy beliefs, and student test anxiety.
Automatic Web Service Composition Based on Uncertainty Execution Effects

By arranging multiple existing web services into workflows to create value-added services, automatic web service composition has received much attention in service-oriented computing. A large number of methods have been proposed for it although most of them are merely based on the matching of input-output parameters of services. Besides these parameters, some other elements can affect the execution of services and their composition, such as the preconditions and service execution results. In particular, the execution effects of some services are often uncertain because of the complex and dynamically changing application environments in the real world, and this can cause the emergence of nondeterministic choices in the workflows of composite services. However, the previous methods for automatic service composition mainly rely on sequential structures, which make them difficult to take into account uncertain effects during service composition. In this paper, Graphplan is employed and extended to tackle this problem. In order to model services with uncertain effects, we first extend the original form of Graphplan. Then, we propose a novel approach that can introduce branch structures into composite solutions to cope with such uncertainty in the service composition process. Extensive experiments are performed to evaluate and analyze the proposed methodology.
The social mediation of political rumors: Examining the dynamics in social media and belief in political rumors

Using survey data of social media users in South Korea, this study investigates the dynamics of political rumors in online social networks. Findings of this study reveal the significant connection between the users’ reliance on social media as a source for news and their beliefs in political rumors. Taking a step further, this study underscores the need to understand how users process misinformation they receive through online social networks. Drawing attention to the role of network characteristics in the construction of beliefs around political rumors, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of the conditions under which rumors and misinformation can be regarded as more believable.
Metabolomics Network Characterization of Resuscitation after Normocapnic Hypoxia in a Newborn Piglet Model Supports the Hypothesis That Room Air Is Better

Perinatal asphyxia is attributed to hypoxia and/or ischemia around the time of birth and may lead to multiorgan dysfunction. Aim of this research article is to investigate whether different metabolomic profiles occurred according to oxygen concentration administered at resuscitation. In order to perform the experiment, forty newborn piglets were subjected to normocapnic hypoxia and reoxygenation and were randomly allocated in 4 groups resuscitated with different oxygen concentrations, 18%, 21%, 40%, and 100%, respectively. Urine metabolic profiles at baseline and at hypoxia were analysed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and metabolites were also identified by multivariate statistical analysis. Metabolic pathways associations were also built up by ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). Bioinformatics analysis of metabolites characterized the effect of metabolism in the 4 groups; it showed that the 21% of oxygen is the most “physiological” and appropriate concentration to be used for resuscitation. Our data indicate that resuscitation with 21% of oxygen seems to be optimal in terms of survival, rapidity of resuscitation, and metabolic profile in the present animal model. These findings need to be confirmed with metabolomics in human and, if so, the knowledge of the perinatal asphyxia condition may significantly improve.
Computing the speed of convergence of ergodic averages and pseudorandom points in computable dynamical systems

A pseudorandom point in an ergodic dynamical system over a computable metric space is a point which is computable but its dynamics has the same statistical behavior as a typical point of the system. It was proved in [Avigad et al. 2010, Local stability of ergodic averages] that in a system whose dynamics is computable the ergodic averages of computable observables converge effectively. We give an alternative, simpler proof of this result. This implies that if also the invariant measure is computable then the pseudorandom points are a set which is dense (hence nonempty) on the support of the invariant measure.
Experimental validation of a method for removing the capacitive leakage artifact from electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy measurements

Often when performing electrical bioimpedance (EBI) spectroscopy measurements, the obtained EBI data present a hook-like deviation, which is most noticeable at high frequencies in the impedance plane. The deviation is due to a capacitive leakage effect caused by the presence of stray capacitances. In addition to the data deviation being remarkably noticeable at high frequencies in the phase and the reactance spectra, the measured EBI is also altered in the resistance and the modulus. If this EBI data deviation is not properly removed, it interferes with subsequent data analysis processes, especially with Cole model-based analyses. In other words, to perform any accurate analysis of the EBI spectroscopy data, the hook deviation must be properly removed. Td compensation is a method used to compensate the hook deviation present in EBI data; it consists of multiplying the obtained spectrum, Zmeas(ω), by a complex exponential in the form of exp(–jωTd). Although the method is well known and accepted, Td compensation cannot entirely correct the hook-like deviation; moreover, it lacks solid scientific grounds. In this work, the Td compensation method is revisited, and it is shown that it should not be used to correct the effect of a capacitive leakage; furthermore, a more developed approach for correcting the hook deviation caused by the capacitive leakage is proposed. The method includes a novel correcting expression and a process for selecting the proper values of expressions that are complex and frequency dependent. The correctness of the novel method is validated with the experimental data obtained from measurements from three different EBI applications. The obtained results confirm the sufficiency and feasibility of the correcting method.
Categorical Abstract Algebraic Logic: More on Protoalgebraicity

Protoalgebraic logics are characterized by the monotonicity of the Leibniz operator on their theory lattices and are at the lower end of the Leibniz hierarchy of abstract algebraic logic. They have been shown to be the most primitive among those logics with a strong enough algebraic character to be amenable to algebraic study techniques. Protoalgebraic π -institutions were introduced recently as an analog of protoalgebraic sentential logics with the goal of extending the Leibniz hierarchy from the sentential framework to the π -institution framework. Many properties of protoalgebraic logics, studied in the sentential logic framework by Blok and Pigozzi, Czelakowski, and Font and Jansana, among others, have already been adapted in previous work by the author to the categorical level. This work aims at further advancing that study by exploring in this new level some more properties of protoalgebraic sentential logics.
Floor decompositions of tropical curves : the planar case

In a previous paper, we announced a formula to compute Gromov-Witten and Welschinger invariants of some toric varieties, in terms of combinatorial objects called floor diagrams. We give here detailed proofs in the tropical geometry framework, in the case when the ambient variety is a complex surface, and give some examples of computations using floor diagrams. The focusing on dimension 2 is motivated by the special combinatoric of floor diagrams compared to arbitrary dimension. We treat a general toric surface case in this dimension: the curve is given by an arbitrary lattice polygon and include computation of Welschinger invariants with pairs of conjugate points. See also cite{FM} for combinatorial treatment of floor diagrams in the projective case.
Fetal Deaths and Proximity to Hazardous Waste Sites in Washington State

Background The in utero period is one of increased susceptibility to environmental effects. The effects of prenatal exposure to environmental toxicants on various adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal death, are not well understood. Objective We examined the risk of fetal death in relation to maternal residential proximity to hazardous waste sites. Methods We conducted a population-based case–control study using Washington State vital records for 1987–2001. Cases were women with fetal deaths at ≥ 20 weeks (n = 7,054). Ten controls per case were randomly selected from live births. Locations of 939 hazardous waste sites were identified from the Department of Ecology registry. We measured distance from maternal residence at delivery to the nearest hazardous waste site, and calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The risk of fetal death for women residing ≤ 0.5 miles, relative to > 5 miles, from a hazardous waste site was not increased (adjusted OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.90–1.25). No associations were observed for any proximity categories ≤ 5 miles from sites with contaminated air, soil, water, solvents, or metals; however, fetal death risk increased among women residing ≤ 1 mile from pesticide-containing sites (OR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13–1.46). Conclusion These results do not suggest that fetal death is associated with residential proximity to hazardous waste sites overall; however, close proximity to pesticide-containing sites may increase the risk of fetal death.
Why do people seek help? An evaluation of treatment barriers and help-seeking in anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are common, and effective treatments exist; however, many people with anxiety disorders do not access these treatments. The current study aimed to examine treatment barriers specific to anxiety disorders, to examine how demographic variables influence treatment barriers for anxiety disorders in an Australian population, and to examine the utility of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting help-seeking behaviour in relation to anxiety disorders. A convenience sample of 243 first year psychology students and other interested individuals aged over 18 completed online questionnaires examining predictors of help-seeking behaviour. An independent samples t-test revealed that 18-25 year olds experience significantly more treatment barriers than those over 25. In addition, a standard multiple regression analysis determined that 51% of the variance in help-seeking intention can be accounted for by the HBM, with gender and perceived treatment benefits making significant contributions to the model. Results demonstrate that age may be an important variable to consider when designing health promotion campaigns to reduce barriers for people with anxiety disorders. Furthermore, it was evident that HBM factors can predict help-seeking behaviour for anxiety disorders, and that increasing perceived benefits of treatment may be an effective strategy for increasing appropriate help-seeking.
Development of high frequency and wide bandwidth Johnson noise thermometry

We develop a high frequency, wide bandwidth radiometer operating at room temperature, which augments the traditional technique of Johnson noise thermometry for nanoscale thermal transport studies. Employing low noise amplifiers and an analog multiplier operating at 2 GHz, auto- and cross-correlated Johnson noise measurements are performed in the temperature range of 3 to 300 K, achieving a sensitivity of 5.5 mK (110 ppm) in 1 s of integration time. This setup allows us to measure the thermal conductance of a boron nitride encapsulated monolayer graphene device over a wide temperature range. Our data show a high power law (T ∼ 4) deviation from the Wiedemann-Franz law above T ∼ 100 K.
A Presence Measure for Virtual Reality and Telepresence based on Multimodal Conflicts

A measure to rate the quality of individual presence for VR and telepresence systems is introduced based on the perception of bimodal information. Experiments were conducted with a visual-haptic human system interface driven by a virtual reality to validate the new presence measure. The quantitative results were obtained by magnitude estimation of the conflict perceived. It was shown that the new measure could be used as a reliable indicator of how presence is affected by bimodal conflicts. Keywords--Presence definition, presence measurement, visual-haptic telepresence, psychophysics.
Antecedents, Processes and Consequences of Web Assurance Seals: A Meta-Analysis Approach

Web assurance seals (WASS) not only address consumer concerns about security and privacy but also promote trustworthiness in electronic-commerce websites. Although literature shows that scholars in the areas of information systems and accounting have studied the effect of diverse factors on WASS performance mostly in the context of business-to-customer e-commerce, the results of these factors are sometimes contradictory. Therefore, this study aims to develop a comprehensive framework of WASS. By conducting a meta-analytic review on the related literature, this study identifies and categorizes different factors that affect WASS performance and then proposes an integrated framework that contains key antecedents, mediators, moderators, and consequences of web assurance seals. This study also provides statistical results about the effectiveness of WASS to provide a thorough understanding of the behaviour of online shoppers. Furthermore, this study offers an opportunity to identify some missing links in the WASS area and discuss valuable implications for both academics and practitioners.
Does B Cell Receptor Signaling in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Cells Differ from That in Other B Cell Types?

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is an incurable malignancy of mature B cells. CLL is important clinically in Western countries because of its commonality and because of the significant morbidity and mortality associated with the progressive form of this incurable disease. The B cell receptor (BCR) expressed on the malignant cells in CLL contributes to disease pathogenesis by providing signals for survival and proliferation, and the signal transduction pathway initiated by engagement of this receptor is now the target of several therapeutic strategies. The purpose of this review is to outline current understanding of the BCR signal cascade in normal B cells and then question whether this understanding applies to CLL cells. In particular, this review studies the phenomenon of anergy in CLL cells, and whether certain adaptations allow the cells to overcome anergy and allow full BCR signaling to take place. Finally, this review analyzes how BCR signals can be therapeutically targeted for the treatment of CLL.
Assisting struggling teachers effectively

In this research, we examine strategies school principals have used to assist struggling teachers. In an open-ended questionnaire designed for this study, we asked 219 school principals to describe a successful intervention they held. The results show that principals prefer supportive assistance to organizational changes (such as moving the teacher to another class). They rarely used confrontational approaches. A content analysis of the strategies that enabled successful intervention identified four conditions: (a) principals’ willingness to intervene; (b) intensive use of measures and resources; (c) the teacher’s willingness to make changes; and (d) the need for flexibility in managing the intervention. The findings indicate the need to train principals to assist struggling teachers more effectively and to encourage them to become more assertive. This requires a professional development program for teachers and principals, guidance in classroom management, as well as organizational, financial, and human support.
Endothelial Proliferation and Increased Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability in the Basal Ganglia in a Rat Model of 3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl-l-Alanine-Induced Dyskinesia

3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine (l-DOPA)-induced dyskinesia is associated with molecular and synaptic plasticity in the basal ganglia, but the occurrence of structural remodeling through cell genesis has not been explored. In this study, rats with 6-hydroxydopamine lesions received injections of the thymidine analog 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) concomitantly with l-DOPA for 2 weeks. A large number of BrdU-positive cells were found in the striatum and its output structures (globus pallidus, entopeduncular nucleus, and substantia nigra pars reticulata) in l-DOPA-treated rats that had developed dyskinesia. The vast majority (60–80%) of the newborn cells stained positively for endothelial markers. This endothelial proliferation was associated with an upregulation of immature endothelial markers (nestin) and a downregulation of endothelial barrier antigen on blood vessel walls. In addition, dyskinetic rats exhibited a significant increase in total blood vessel length and a visible extravasation of serum albumin in the two structures in which endothelial proliferation was most pronounced (substantia nigra pars reticulata and entopeduncular nucleus). The present study provides the first evidence of angiogenesis and blood–brain barrier dysfunction in an experimental model of l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. These microvascular changes are likely to affect the kinetics of l-DOPA entry into the brain, favoring the occurrence of motor complications.
Knowledge Beliefs and Problem-solving Capabilities among South African School Principals

Abstract A common thread in contemporary research on principal leadership refers to the ways in which principals go about solving complex problems. Research evidence implies that for effective problem-solving to take place, principals should also be aware of their own epistemological beliefs or knowledge assumptions. This concept leads to a model in which the respective link with a principal’s ability to solve a complex problem is determined by his or her epistemological beliefs. Research done so far on principals’ capabilities with regard to complex problem-solving has very seldom linked this construct with the construct of knowledge assumptions. The purpose of this current study, based on a qualitative exploratory study among a group of school principals in the Gauteng province of South Africa, was to examine the relationship between the two constructs of epistemological beliefs and the quality of thinking during problem-solving activities when participants first thought about a complex and uncertain (ill-structured) problem. An epistemological questionnaire, using a five-point Likert scale, was used as research instrument. Although the results showed that there was not a notable and systematic connection between epistemological beliefs and complex problem-solving among participants, the study provided substantial justification for looking at epistemological beliefs in the study of problem-solving capabilities among school principals world-wide.
Evaluating the Due Process and Crime Control Perspectives Using Rasch Measurement Analysis

Background: The biases jurors possess may influence everything from the interpretation of case evidence to impressions of the defendant to, ultimately, verdict and recognition of this has led to a number of juror attitude scales attempting to tap into important biases. A common ideology discussed in legal research is that individuals attitudes toward the law and the legal system differ along a continuum moving from due process (a concern for the preservation of individual rights) to crime control (a focus on swift and harsh punishment for those who break the law) although an agreed upon assessment of these perspectives has yet to be created. Purpose: The current research addresses due process and crime control perspectives and uses the ideology as a source for a new measure of juror bias: The General Attitudes toward the Legal System (GALS) scale. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: The GALS scale was constructed based on existing theory and administered to nearly 700 undergraduate psychology students at a large Midwestern university. The psychometric properties of the instrument were then evaluated to determine instrument quality. Data Collection and Analysis: The Rasch Rating Scale Model (RRSM) was used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the GALS. Evaluation focused on six characteristics of the instrument: dimensionality, reliability, rating scale quality, item quality, item hierarchy, and measure quality. Findings: Results indicate the GALS is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring juror bias. Keywords: juror decision making; juror bias; scale development; instrument validation; psychometric evaluation
Window decoding of Braided Convolutional Codes

We consider a window decoding scheme for Braided Convolutional Codes (BCCs) based on the BCJR algorithm. We describe the principle of this decoding scheme and show that BCCs with window decoding exhibit excellent performance. The tradeoff between performance and decoding latency is examined and, to reduce decoding complexity, both uniform and nonuniform message passing schedules within the decoding window are considered. Finally, puncturing is employed to obtain rate-compatible code rates of 1/2 and 2/3 starting from a rate 1/3 example mother code. Simulation results show that, with nonuniform message passing and puncturing, near capacity performance can be maintained throughout the rate range considered with reasonable decoding complexity and no visible error floors.