Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teach For America Corps Maintenance Practices and Long-term Educational Change

Teach For America (TFA), a non-profit organization that recruits top-performing recent college graduates and professionals into two-year teaching commitments in low-income urban and rural public school districts, remains a hot topic of research and debate in the education sector. With this dissertation, I explore how TFA is actively preparing its recruits (via its preand in-service support practices) for long-term investments in educational change, both inside the classroom and beyond. I do so via interviews with five TFA alumni (four identified by TFA and one by social media) who are no more than three years removed from the program and who taught in one of two cities in a southeastern state. The interpretive work was informed by my commitments to postcritical ethnography, which seeks to interrogate contexts of power, while at the same time taking seriously issues associated with positionality, reflexivity, objectivity, and representation. The participants shared that educational inequity, service, and career uncertainty/exploration were motivating factors in their decisions to apply to TFA, thus suggesting that TFA has been successful in its attempts to attract service-minded individuals who might not have had an early interest in education. Regarding their pre-service training, the participants all spoke about its intensity, and some described feeling that their training was inadequate. This preparation was supplemented by in-service support and training that was typically provided by TFA staff, alumni, and fellow TFA recruits (as opposed to school-based supports), thus revealing a distinct level of TFA-based insularity. Regarding their post-service activities, all the participants remain in education in some capacity, something that is actively encouraged and facilitated by TFA. However, their continued involvement in education is typically beyond the original placement schools, thus suggesting that TFA and the placement schools could do more to keep corps members teaching in their placement schools, although this
Building Interest Rate Curves and SABR Model Calibration

In this thesis, we first review the traditional pre-credit crunch approach that considers a single curve to consistently price all instruments. We review the theoretical pricing framework and introduce pricing formulas for plain vanilla interest rate derivatives. We then review the curve construction methodologies (bootstrapping and global methods) to build an interest rate curve using the instruments described previously as inputs. Second, we extend this work in the modern post-credit framework. Third, we review the calibration of the SABR model. Finally we present applications that use interest rate curves and SABR model: stripping implied volatilities, transforming the market observed smile (given quotes for standard tenors) to non-standard tenors (or inversely) and calibrating the market volatility smile coherently with the new market evidences.
SEQUENCING IN A NON-PERMUTATION FLOWSHOP WITH CONSTRAINED BUFFERS: APPLICABILITY OF GENETIC ALGORITH VERSUS CONSTRAINT LOGIC PROGRAMMING

Mixed model production lines consider more than one model being processed on the same production line in an arbitrary sequence. Nevertheless, the majority of publications in this area are limited to solutions which determine the job sequence before the jobs enter the line and maintains it without interchanging jobs until the end of the production line, which is known as permutation flowshop. This paper considers a nonpermutation flowshop. Resequencing is permitted where stations have access to intermediate or centralized resequencing buffers. The access to the buffers is restricted by the number of available buffer places and the physical size of the products. Two conceptually different approaches are presented in order to solve the problem. The first approach is a hybrid approach, using Constraint Logic Programming (CLP), whereas the second one is a Genetic Algorithm (GA). Improvements that come with the introduction of constrained resequencing buffers are highlighted. Characteristics such as the difference between the intermediate and the centralized case are analyzed, and the special case of semi dynamic demand is studied. Finally, recommendations are presented for the applicability of the hybrid approach, using CLP, versus the Genetic Algorithm.
Strategic Voting in Agenda-Controlled Committee Experiments

This paper reports results of committee voting experiments with a fixed agenda that specified a sequence of binary decisions. In this particular context, the agenda setter can control the ultimate committee decision if it is known whether voting behavior is myopic or strategic. Subjects initially voted in accordance with myopic voting rules; strategic behavior was more prevalent with experience. The use of the same induced preferences in successive meetings was more likely to induce strategic voting than the provision of public information concerning the numbers of voters of each preference type. Copyright 1989 by American Economic Association.
Will & Vision: How Latecomers Grow to Dominate Markets

This book is winner of the American Marketing Association Berry Prize for The Best Book in Marketing. One of the top 10 business books of 2001, - "Harvard Business Review". "Engaging stories, empirical analysis, and intelligent commentary make this an impressive book. "- excerpt from book review in "Harvard Business Review", September 2001. "Engaging stories, empirical analysis, and intelligent commentary make this an impressive book. " - "Harvard Business Review". Everybody knows that it's the market pioneers who have the best name recognition, the highest market share, and the most enduring market leadership.right? In order to test the truth of the perceived wisdom on being first to market, Gerard Tellis and Peter Golder carried out an in-depth historical analysis of various markets, as they evolved, over the past decade. Among other things, they found that, not only does being first not guarantee anything, but that the current trend of staking everything on getting there first all too often leads companies to embrace a disastrous strategy of rushing to market with incomplete, inferior, and flawed products. With the help of numerous fascinating case histories chronicling the success and failures at industry giants, including Xerox, Gillette, Microsoft, Matsushita, and Intel, Tellis and Golder explore the ways in which being first to market is often more a curse than a blessing. They isolate the 5 key principles that ensure enduring market leadership-vision of the mass market, managerial persistence, relentless innovation, financial commitment, and asset leverage.
Increased physical protection of soil carbon in the mineral soil of a poplar plantation after five years of free atmospheric CO 2 enrichment (FACE)

Free air CO 2 enrichment (FACE) experiments in aggrading forests and plantations have demonstrated significant increases in net primary production (NPP) and C storage in forest vegetation. The extra C uptake may also be stored in forest floor litter and in forest soil. After five years of FACE treatment at the EuroFACE short rotation poplar 5 plantation, the increase of total soil C% was larger under elevated than under ambient CO2. However, the fate of this additional C allocated belowground remains unclear. The stability of soil organic matter is controlled by the chemical structure of the organic matter and the existence of protection o ered by the soil matrix and minerals. Fresh litter entering the soil enhances microbial activity which induces the binding of 10 organic matter and soil particles into macro-aggregates. As the enclosed organic matter is decomposed, microbial and decomposition products become associated with mineral particles. This association results in the formation of micro-aggregates (within macro-aggregates) in which organic matter is stabilized and protected. FACE and Nfertilization treatment did not a ect the micro- and macro-aggregate weight, C or N frac15 tions obtained by wet sieving. However, Populus euramericana increased the microand small macro-aggregates weight and C fractions. The obtained macro-aggregates were broken up in order to isolate recently formed micro-aggregates within macroaggregates (iM-micro-aggregates). FACE increased the iM-micro-aggregate weight and C fractions. This study reveals that: 1) Species has an e ect on the formation of 20 macro-aggregates. The choice of species in a plantation or the e ect of global change on species diversity, may therefore a ect the stabilization and protection of soil C in aggregates. And 2) Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration increases the stabilization and protection of soil C in micro-aggregates formed within macro-aggregates. This mechanism increases the C sink of forest soils under increasing atmospheric CO 2 25
Resurgence of membranous nephropathy in African Americans in inner city Chicago

Background It is well established that the incidence of focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) increased from 1970–1990 to become the leading primary glomerular disease in patients of African descent. Methods To determine whether this trend has continued in the past years in Chicago, adult, native kidney biopsies from January 2001 to December 2011 at our hospital were reviewed and collected relevant clinical information in patients with a primary glomerular disease including FSGS, membranous nephropathy (MN), minimal change disease (MCD), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), and IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Results In the 204 patients analyzed, MN was the most prevalent (32.7%), followed by FSGS (29.7%), IgAN (15.8%), MCD (14.4%), and MPGN (4.5%). Patients with MN had the highest proteinuria (7.9 gms/d) and were significantly older, more edematous, hypoalbuminemic, and hypercholesterolemic than those with FSGS. In both African Americans and Hispanics, MN was the most prevalent primary glomerular lesion at 39.2% and 34% respectively. Conclusions Comparable in size to prior cohorts of African Americans and Hispanics, our report demonstrates a reversal in the incidence of FSGS and MN in both ethnic groups where MN is now more prevalent. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a reverse in the upward trend of the prevalence of FSGS in African Americans.
Price Rigidity in Brazil: Evidence from CPI Micro Data

In this paper, I investigate the patterns of price adjustments in Brazil. I derive the main stylized facts describing the behavior of price setters directly from a large data set of the CPI price quotes spanning approximately ten years until 2006. I find that on average prices remain unchanged for 2.7 to 3.8 months, exhibiting, however, a large degree of product and sector heterogeneity. Data on the frequency and sign of price changes show that there is a strong symmetry between price increase and decrease. Conversely, as expected under a positive inflation environment, the magnitude of positive price changes compensates this effect. I also provide some insights on the determinants of the patterns of price adjustment. The average duration of price spells decreased when the economy was hit by a confidence shock before 2002 presidential elections. The inflation rate of 5.9 % in 2000, jumped to 7.7% in 2001 and hiked to 12.6 % in 2002. Results suggest that substantial disturbances to average inflation imposed a high enough cost of not adjusting prices and triggered more frequent price reviews.
HIF Prolyl Hydroylase is an Important Element of Biological Information Network on Cell Engneering of the Follicular Growth and Development in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Follicular cell engineering plays an important role in biological engneering and is regulated by different sigaling. The diverse physiological and pathological processes of the ovary are regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, a transcription factor, regulated by HIF prolyl hydroylase (PHD) mediated degradation. For further understanding the regulation of HIF-1alpha signaling and the functions of PHDs in ovarian regulating network, the present study firstly developed ovarian follicle development model of postnatal female rats, and then investigated the expression and localization of three PHD is enzymes, PHD1, PHD2 and PHD3 in each ovary through immunohistochemistry. The present results showed that in the ovary all PHD enzymes expressed in a cell-specific manner and changed in a stage-specific manner in vivo. Further observation by real-time PCR found that PHD2 was mainly expressed isoenzyme in the ovary. Together, our present study indicated PHDs may be directly involved in the regulation of ovarian physiological functions through HIF-1alpha signaling, indicating PHD2 is an important element of biological information network on cell engneering of the follicular growth and development in mammals.
The impact of information technology on internal auditing

This paper evaluates the role of information technology and how it affects internal audit process in the organization. The study also stresses on the global trend of adopting IT system (software/ hardware) in producing a more controlled environment in delivering the auditing process. It also constitutes on how IT affects internal control (control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication and monitoring) and provides guidelines and best practices in evaluating techniques available to effectively perform auditing tasks internally. It also addresses how technology, Information system (IS) and electronic data processing (EDP) have changed the way organizations conduct its business, promoting operational efficiency and aid decision-making. It also spotlights many aspects of IT risks and controls and highlights whether the right people are overseeing IT risks to the degree they should. It demonstrates the impact of technology convergence on the internal control mechanism of an enterprise. It emphasizes that the auditor also has a responsibility to assure that the governance level of management (the audit committee and board of directors) understand risks accepted by management and the liabilities potentially transferred to board members. Key words: Internal audit, audit tools, IT audit, continuous auditing.
Technology Acceptance Model and the Use Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL)

--The globalization of information technology has been an agent of changes in almost every aspect of our life especially in the way we learn. The current generation as referred to by Prensky (2001), “digital native”, has been fully influenced by the technology. This challenge created a pedagogic imbalance as the current learners becomes uncomfortable with the old traditional methods of teaching. As a result digital games were advocated. This research investigates the acceptance of DGBL among undergraduate students of Multimedia University of Malaysia. 171 questionnaires were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics which covered perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and attitudes towards use. The result indicated that, students with agreed and strongly agreed responses have higher mean and standard deviation. The research also verifies whether there exist any significant differences of the user demography (gender and age-group) and their attitude towards use. Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis H test were used for the analysis. The result showed that there were no statistically significant differences.
On the Distributional Effects of Reducing Capital Taxes

We investigate the welfare implications of changing the mix between capital and labor taxes for a model economy in which heterogeneous households face uninsurable labor income risk. The stochastic process for labor earnings we construct is consistent with empirical estimates of earnings risk, and also implies a distribution of asset holdings across households closely resembling that in the United States. We find that a vast majority of households prefers the status quo to eliminating capital taxes. This finding is interesting in light of the fact that this reform would be optimal if we abstracted from heterogeneity and assumed a representative agent. A second finding is that a utilitarian government prefers the current calibrated U.S. capital income tax rate (39.7 percent) to any increase or decrease in the capital tax rate.
Social-environmental entrepreneurs' communicative actions in communication networks

Entrepreneurs’ communicative plans and actions serve to attract resources to their venture, positioning them for strategic gains. However, there is little understanding of how entrepreneurs perceive, value, navigate, and manage their participation in communication networks. This research finds that entrepreneurs strategically use communication networks to find and engage complementary resources, social support, and human and financial capital. Importantly, entrepreneurs facilitate the development of new networks, around innovative solutions and approaches to social problems.
On the design of ultra wide band antenna based on fractal geometry

This paper presents ultra wide band circular fractal antenna. The antenna has been fed with coplanar waveguide (CPW) feed. This fractal antenna has been designed and fabricated on FR4 substrate εr = 4.3 and thickness h = 1.53 mm with initial diameter of solid circular disc 15 mm. The experimental result of circular fractal antenna exhibits the ultra wide band (UWB) characteristic from 3.295 GHz to 13.365 GHz corresponds 120.88 % impedance bandwidth. The first resonant frequency of fractal antenna shifted to 3.75 GHz in comparison to first resonant frequency 4.31 GHz of conventional simple circular disc monopole antenna. This indicates the size reduction of antenna. The measured radiation pattern of this fractal antenna is nearly omnidirectional in azimuth plane throughout the band. This type of antenna can be useful for UWB system and sensing applications.
Vessel size imaging

Vessel size imaging is a new method that is based on simultaneous measurement of the changes ΔR2 and ΔR *2 in relaxation rate constants induced by the injection of an intravascular superparamagnetic contrast agent. Using the static dephasing approximation for ΔR *2 estimation and the slow‐diffusion approximation for ΔR2 estimation, it is shown that the ratio ΔR2/ΔR *2 can be expressed as a function of the susceptibility difference between vessels and brain tissue, the brain water diffusion coefficient, and a weighted mean of vessel sizes. Comparison of the results with 1) the Monte Carlo simulations used to quantify the relationship between tissue parameters and susceptibility contrast, 2) the experimental MRI data in the normal rat brain, and 3) the histologic data establishes the validity of this approach. This technique, which allows images of a weighted mean of the vessel size to be obtained, could be useful for in vivo studies of tumor vascularization. Magn Reson Med 45:397–408, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Supplemental vitamin A enhances the recovery from iron deficiency in rats with chronic vitamin A deficiency

Studies with anaemic children and pregnant women from areas where vitamin A deficiency is endemic have shown a beneficial effect on Fe status of supplemental vitamin A in addition to Fe supplementation. This suggests a relationship between vitamin Aand Fe status, which we attempted to mimic in rats with anaemia and chronic vitaminA deficiency. Male rats were fed on Fe-adequate diets (35 mg Fe/kg)containing different levels of vitamin A (1200,450,150,75 and 0 retinol equivalents (RE)/kg feed) until they were 5 weeks old. These diets wereidentical to the diets fed to their mothers. Then the young male rats were transferred to diets containing the same levels of vitamin A but no added Fe. After another 2 weeks the rats wererepleted with Fe (35 mg/kg feed) without or with vitamin A to a level of 1200 RE/kg feed. Increased vitamin A intake by the groups previously fed on diets with either 0 or 75 RE/kg produced a reduction in blood haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and erythrocyte count. In the group which had been fed on the diet without vitamin A, supplemental vitamin A raised mean cell volume, plasma Fe concentration and total Fe-binding capacity. Vitamin A supplementation during the period of Fe repletion produceda decrease in splenic and tibia Fe concentration, the effect being greater with increasing seventy of previous vitamin A deficiency. The paradoxical effect of supplemental vitamin A on haemoglobin, packed cell volume and erythrocyte count can be explained by a decrease in the degree of haemwoncentration. Thus, the positive effect of supplemental vitamin A seen in humans is also observed with rats under controlled experimental conditions. We speculate that supplemental vitamin A during Fe repletion contributes to optimum erythropoiesis and Fe mobilization when baseline vitamin A status is impaired
The economic and land use impacts of transformational transport investment

The purpose of this research, which was undertaken between July 2010 and June 2011, was to develop, test and recommend additional methodologies that could be used to quantify the economic productivity and land use impacts when assessing transformational or structural transport investments over time. Currently there is a knowledge gap in this area and the intention was to develop a more strategic approach to assist in gaining greater value for money from future transport investments. This research investigated how it might be possible to get a forward-looking view of the productivity and land use changes associated with transformational transport investments. In this view, the retrospective case study approach can be used to provide a predictive tool to assess land use and productivity effects of transformational transport investments. One key factor that enables this is that the tool is intended to be employed at the project inception phase. It is not designed to precisely quantify productivity effects in the same way that agglomeration effects are quantified in the Economic evaluation manual. Instead, it is intended to indicate potential directions of changes to land use and productivity, and through these indications, provide feedback that can be used to better align transport investment with desired land use and economic change, based on what has been observed to happen in similar locations where similar projects have been implemented.
Economic Growth and Institutional Reform in Modern Monarchies and Republics: A Historical Cross-Country Perspective 1820-2000

Conventional arguments suggest that republics ought to grow faster than monarchies and experience lower transitional costs following reforms. We employ a panel of 27 countries observed from 1820 to 2000 to estimate these differences. Results show no significant growth differences between the two regime types. Effects of incremental reforms do not differ between them, but those of large-scale reforms do. Specifically, we find a strong valley-of-tears effect of large reforms in republics, and monarchies benefit from such reforms in the ten-year perspective adopted here. We offer some tentative thoughts on the underlying mechanisms responsible for the results.
Herding in a Concentrated Market: A Question of Intent

While considerable evidence exists that institutions herd, the issue of why herding takes place remains unresolved. Using monthly holdings data for Portugal, we find clear evidence of herding and investigate whether such behaviour is intentional or spurious. By analysing herding under different market conditions, we conclude it is intentional. Month‐of‐the‐quarter analysis suggests reputational reasons drive behaviour. Results are consistent with herding interacting with window dressing to determine funds, buy and sell decisions. The findings are important in understanding market dynamics and fund managers’ behaviour and are of great significance to investors in managed funds.