Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A longitudinal investigation of content, resources, and instructional approaches in a basal reading series within a research and policy context

Basals have played an important role in classroom instruction for almost 200 years. Historically, basal programs have been influenced by both important research and policy reports. This study analyzed one publishing company’s basal program across seven editions in order to trace the interaction of research, policy, and publication. Teacher’s editions for the first level of first grade from 1996 to 2014 were analyzed for the following: (a) research and policy context, (b) features of teacher’s editions, (c) student readers: selection level and word level, (d) instructional approaches for phonemic awareness, phonics, and spelling, (e) vocabulary selection and instructional approaches, (f) instructional approaches for comprehension, (g) supplemental resources. The analyses revealed (a) a gap between research and uptake by the publisher, (b) direct influence of policy, and (c) influence of authorship. Implications of this investigation related to (a)teacher agency and specialized knowledge, (b) resources for evaluating basal resources, and(c)responsibilities of basal publishers are also discussed.
Labour Migration Within India: Motivations and Social Networks

Large-scale interstate labour migration within India is facilitated by the freedom of movement for citizens within this huge nation state. However, such internal labour migration within India remains largely unstudied and offers huge scope for gaining significant new knowledge. Focusing particularly on migrant construction workers from West Bengal moving to Kerala, this article specifically examines the motivations of these migrants and the role of social networks in the development of such migration streams. A field survey in Kerala indicates that Kerala’s Gulf connection and rapid demographic transition have resulted in significant reduction of local supplies of labour, thus attracting more migrants from other states in India due to better job opportunities, higher wages and good payment systems. Networks within migrant groups, especially friends’ contacts, are found to be the strongest factor in supporting this migration process.
Graduates’ Voices: The Link Between University Graduates’ Study and Job Experiences in East Africa

Studies on what programmes graduates studied while at the University, and how this ties in with employment; “Graduate tracer studies”, have now spread worldwide. Such studies help inform and revitalize university programmes thus; they improve quality of higher education and learning since they provide important feedback results for use. In addition, this paper argues that graduate tracer studies also help to analyse how competencies acquired by the graduates during their university study relate to their jobs, and how such can help in understanding of the relevance of university programmes to the job market. Basically, we attempt to answer if and how university training produces competencies applied at work, or if there is a mismatch between training and work? The paper is discussed within the context of two connecting variables; study outcomes at university and the job situation . The paper answers two research questions thus; how is the graduates’ transition to the labour market? and, what competencies are utilised by graduates at work? From a graduate tracer study conducted at Moi University and results analysed from 10 graduate tracer studies done in East Africa, we argue that graduates offer feedback that universities can intrinsically use to improve study programmes including curricula, service and administration, but they importantly, provide results that link study to work environments. There is a strong relationship between the field of study undertaken by graduates and their work. Graduates from Moi University and from East African Universities reported robust competencies acquired from their studies that are important for work. The paper concludes that graduates obtain from university studies, essential competencies that are relevant for work on the job market. The paper informs the East African higher education landscape about how graduate tracer study results are useful, and in specific terms, how universities in the region are training graduates for relevant competencies they use on the job market. Key w ords: Graduate Tracer Studies, UNITRACE, Competencies, Employment and Work. DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-18-12 Publication date :June 30 th 2019
Revisiting the Tinto's Theoretical Dropout Model

In the context of university higher education at undergraduate level, the model of student-institution integration, proposed by Tinto & Cullen and later refined in some of its parts, has often been used to explain the process of dropout/persevere, and even to anticipate such events. This paper approaches the evolution of the Tinto's model since its proposal and reports an analysis of versions of the model found in the literature. The conducted analysis was directed with focus on how to make the model operational, in a way that it could be implemented by universities as an academic computational support system for predicting dropouts. Aiming at its future computational implementation, the analysis approaches the model in relation to its lack of precise definitions of some concepts employed, the loose specification of both, variables and processes involved and questions the extreme importance given to the social integration aspect experienced by students, for explaining dropout.
Three-Dimensional Virtual Environment and NPC: A Perspective about Intelligent Agents Ubiquitous

The use of intelligent agents aware of the individual characteristics and context of students, allow to offer a suitable support to the real requirements. Allied to this, the implementation of these agents in the three-dimensional virtual environments, tend to transcend the existing potential in the interactions with the learning objects it contains and also to expand the alternatives of building the students’ knowledge. Throughout this chapter it will be presented the development of intelligent agent called ELAI, by using the NPC strategy on the virtual world platform OpenSimulator. The ELAI provides support for teaching Computer Networking (CN), being sensitive to the context of learners to their level of expertise. In order to maximize the flexibility of interactions between the student, through the student’s avatar and the NPC, an interconnection with a chatterbot was established, whose knowledge base was increased by files in AIML inherent to the topic of CN.
A Dynamic k-Nearest Neighbor Method for WLAN-Based Positioning Systems

ABSTRACT The static k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) method for localization has limitations in accuracy due to the fixed k value in the algorithm. To address this problem, and achieve better accuracy, we propose a new dynamic k-Nearest Neighbor (Dk-NN) method in which the optimal k value changes based on the topologies and distances of its nearest neighbors. The proposed method has been validated using the WLAN-fingerprint data sets collected at COEX, one of the largest convention centers in Seoul, Korea. The proposed method significantly reduced both the mean error distances and the standard deviations of location estimations, leading to a significant improvement in accuracy by ~ 23% compared to the cluster filtered k-NN (CFK) method, and ~ 17% compared to the k-NN (k = 1) method.
Disrupting the dominant narrative: Beginning English teachers’ use of young adult literature and culturally responsive pedagogy.

1 Abstract: In this multiple case study that uses narrative research methodology, two beginning English teachers’ stories, their use of young adult literature, and their dialogic interactions with university mentors are examined through a lens of culturally responsive pedagogy. This study is focused on how teachers’ stories indicate the difficulties they have incorporating culturally relevant young adult literature into their secondary English classes, how they establish connections between the texts, their students’ lived experiences, and their own lived experiences, and why they struggle with the application of culturally responsive pedagogy. Findings indicate that beginning teachers’ stories (a) express uncertainty regarding the place of young adult literature in their curricula and seek guidance from mentors; (b) demonstrate difficulties meeting students’ needs, which include connecting with characters and plots that “resonate” with their life experiences; (c) struggle with the dominant narrative of a standardized curriculum that perpetuates teaching the same texts to everyone; moreover, they do not feel empowered to challenge the dominant narrative; (d) struggle with obtaining culturally relevant resources that meet all students’ needs; and (e) recognize, that after exposure to young adult literature in university coursework and secondary teaching, they feel empowered to bring young adult literature into their curricula.
Evaluation of the Linear Box-Spline Filter from Trilinear Texture Samples: A Feasibility Study

The efﬁcient and high quality rendering of complex road networks—given as vector data—and high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) poses a signiﬁcant problem in 3D geographic information systems. As in paper maps, a cartographic representation of roads with rounded caps and accentuated clearly distinguishable colors is desirable. On the other hand, advances in the technology of remote sensing have led to an explosion of the size and resolution of DEMs, making the integration of cartographic roads very challenging. In this work we investigate techniques for integrating such roads into a terrain renderer capable of handling high-resolution data sets. We evaluate the suitability of existing methods for draping vector data onto DEMs, and we adapt two methods for the rendering of cartographic roads by adding analytically computed rounded caps at the ends of road segments. We compare both approaches with respect to performance and quality, and we outline application areas in which either approach is preferable.
From Criminalized Patients to Risk-Exposed Agents: Reconceptualizing Carceral Involvement among Individuals with Psychiatric Diagnoses

ABSTRACT Individuals with serious mental disorder diagnoses (SMD) are overrepresented in U.S. jails and prisons, returning to custody more often and more quickly than those without these diagnoses. This paper examines the strengths and limitations of existing theoretical interpretations of justice involvement among those with SMD. Further, the paper presents results from in-depth interviews (n = 23) in an effort to direct an alternative theoretical path. Findings indicate people with SMD are not simply subject to the whims of their psychopathology. Instead, they are risk-exposed agents whose arrests are related to early institutionalization, interpersonal conflict, and life circumstances punctuated by socioeconomic marginality. Such findings suggest longitudinal and multi-level theoretical orientations are most appropriate for understanding carceral involvement among individuals with SMD.
Pattern-Based Schema Mapping and Query Answering in Peer-to-Peer XML Data Integration System

This chapter addresses the problem of data integration in a P2P environment, where each peer stores schema of its local data, mappings between the schemas, and some schema constraints. The goal of the integration is to answer queries formulated against a chosen peer. The answer must consist of data stored in the queried peer as well as data of its direct and indirect partners. The chapter focuses on defining and using mappings, schema constraints, query propagation across the P2P system, and query answering in such scenario. Schemas, mappings, constraints (functional dependencies) and queries are all expressed using a unified approach based on tree-pattern formulas. The chapter discusses how functional dependencies can be exploited to increase information content of answers (by discovering missing values) and to control merging operations and propagation strategies. The chapter proposes algorithms for translating high-level specifications of mappings and queries into XQuery programs, and it shows how the discussed method has been implemented in SixP2P (or 6P2P) system.
Scrutinising the Preferences in Literature Approaches and Activities: From the Lenses of ESL Teachers

Literature learning is associated with language and linguistics. It serves as a means to develop language proficiency and becomes the avenue to express appreciation for cultural knowledge. However, the teaching of literature may not succeed if unsuitable approaches are employed. Therefore, it requires suitable activities to be conducted in a lesson which this study aims to examine. By employing questionnaire and interviews as the research instruments, 271 English as Second Language (ESL) teachers were involved in this study. This study discovered that using simple terms in giving explanation approach was highly preferred by the respondents besides conducting a comprehension questions activity. Further results were discussed in the paper. The interview responses consolidated the findings. To summarise, teachers should design more creative and appealing activities that suit the approaches employed as a platform to inculcate students’ interest in literature lessons. Keyword: Literature learning; approaches; literature activities; English language; teachers
Robust Detection of Region-Duplication Forgery in Digital Image

Region duplication forgery,in which a part of a digital image is copied and then pasted to another portion of the same image in order to conceal an important object in the scene,is one of the common image forgery techniques.This paper describes an efficient and robust algorithm for detecting and localizing this type of malicious tampering.The algorithm first divides an image into small overlapped blocks and then compares the similarity of these blocks,finally identifies possible duplicated regions using the main shift vector.The experimental results show that above method is more robust comparing with other existing algorithms and can successfully detect this type of tampering for images that have been subjected to various forms of post region duplication image processing,including,blurring,noise contamination,severe lossy compression,and a mixture of these processing operations.
Unpacking productive coaching interactions: identifying coaching approaches that support instructional uptake

ABSTRACT This multiple-case study utilised inductive and deductive analyses of interactions of five coach-teacher dyads at two university-based literacy clinics to investigate procedural knowledge – what coaches say and do – to guide teachers toward greater instructional expertise. Using theories of situated cognition and positioning and framed within social constructivism, we examined videos of coaching and tutoring and identified predominant coaching interaction discourse and three facilitative coaching approaches associated with teachers’ uptake of instructional ideas: (1) joint problem identification; (2) redirection and reinterpretation; (3) ‘flipped’ IRE framework. We conclude by arguing how coaches’ talk creates agentive space for teachers to initiate intentional instruction.
Attentional biases for alcohol-Stroop test in patients with alcohol dependence

Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Health Sciences, Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS), Rohtak, Haryana, India, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Health Sciences, Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS), Rohtak, Haryana, India, Department of Clinical Psychology, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurugram, Haryana, India, Department of Clinical Psychology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Health Sciences, Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS), Rohtak, Haryana, India
India & South Asia: Geopolitics, regional trade and economic growth spillovers

ABSTRACT The South Asian countries formed the regional trade bloc namely South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) with the aim to promote regional economic cooperation through multilateral engagements. India which comes to be the largest economy in the SAARC has posted impressive economic growth in the last decades. As of now India stands major contributor to the exports and imports to/from South Asia, having trade surplus with all other countries from the region. In this backdrop, this paper presents the facts on India’s role in the economic development of South Asia region while testing the potential spillovers of India’s trade and economic growth. We utilize Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bound test procedure for short and long run causal relations during the period 1990–2016, hence raising the quality of statistical inference. The results highlight that the economic growth and regional trade of India are found significant short and long run spillovers on the economic growth of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. The results are highly insightful for policy implication which raises the attention towards the greater degree of trade openness for balanced economic development in the region. India can act as engine of growth, and thus requires to play key role in pushing forward the SAARC objectives through political and diplomatic engagements.
Factors Influencing Nurses’ Intention to Leave their Profession in the Midst of the Economic Crisis in Greece

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the intention of nurses working in a Greek public general hospital to leave either the nursing profession or the hospital they work for and to identify the factors correlated to this intention. Materials and methods: It is a quantitative cross-sectional study with a sample of 245 nurses (response rate 94.6%) working in the clinical departments of the General Hospital of Kavala (n=420 beds). The survey was conducted between June and July 2016. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions, filled out by the participants. The data analysis was conducted using the SPSS v 21.0 statistical package. The significance level was set to 0.05. Results: Two-third of the study population (154 out of 232 nurses) stated their intention to leave the nursing profession and most of them quite soon, due to poor salary (60%), absence of work incentives (70%) and lack of skills development and career improvement opportunities (60%). However, about 50% of the participants reported that they didn’t want to leave the hospital they were working for. Correlation analysis indicated that young age, reduced job satisfaction, years of working experience and improved level of education were positively correlated with nurses’ intention to leave their profession (p<0.05). Conclusions: As with most hospitals in the world, the issue of nurses’ intention to leave is increasing in Greece as well, especially during the years of the economic crisis. Effective practices for maintaining human resources, wage adjustments, education and distribution of benefits in a fair manner are needed in order to prevent the phenomenon ensure better healthcare services and patient safety conditions and enable the healthcare system to respond effectively to the negative consequences of the economic crisis.
The problem with ‘dots’: questioning the role of rationality in the online environment

Regulatory theorists often use the ‘dot’ as a metaphor to help conceptualise their models of a given environment. Lessig famously used the ‘pathetic dot’ in his classic, ‘Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace’ and Murray’s ‘Regulation of Cyberspace’ used interconnected dots to help describe networked communitarianism and to discuss the effectiveness and implementation of symbiotic regulation. However in both models, the dot is seen as a rational actor. The rational ‘dot’ is presumed to have a complete set of preferences and the ability to gather all the necessary information in order to make an informed decision that optimally reflects their choices and preferences. However, research from psychology and, increasingly, economics has shown that humans are often prone to making errors in judgements. The paper argues that using the metaphor of dots to describe how rational actors behave in the digital environment is problematic. Actors deploy heuristics when making judgements, resulting in systematic errors and biases, often compromising the assumptions of the regulator. Accordingly, the way actors behave in the online environment is not rational at all; thus, models built on rationality start from a false premise.
Piecewise Smooth Surfaces with Features

The creation, manipulation and display of piecewise smooth surfaces has been a fundamental topic in computer graphics since its inception. The applications range from highest-quality surfaces for manufacturing in CAD to believable animations of virtual creatures in special effects, to virtual worlds rendered in real-time in computer games. Our focus is on improving the a) mathematical representation and b) automatic construction of such surfaces from finely sampled meshes in the presence of features. Features can be areas of higher geometric detail in an otherwise smooth area of the mesh or sharp creases that contrast with the overall smooth appearance of an object. In the first part, we build on techniques that define piecewise smooth surfaces to improve their quality in the presence of features. We present a crease technique suitable for real-time applications that increases the perceived visual detail of objects while maintaining a compact representation and efficient evaluation. We then introduce a new subdivision scheme that allows the use of T-junctions for better local refinement. It thus reduces the need for extraordinary vertices, which can cause surface artifacts especially on animated objects. In the second part, we consider the problem of building the control meshes of piecewise smooth surfaces so that the resulting surface closely approximates an existing data set (such as a 3D range scan), particularly in the presence of features. To this end, we introduce a simple modification that can be applied to a wide range of parameterization techniques to obtain an anisotropic parameterization. We show that a resulting quadrangulation can indeed better approximate the original surface.
Monitoring and coordination for essentiality of money

Abstract For money to be essential, environments have been considered in which there is imperfect monitoring of past actions and in which it is difficult to coordinate among economic agents. This paper provides an environment in which there is no monitoring of past actions while coordination is difficult. In this environment, we show that the first best allocation is achieved without money, and hence, money is not essential. The implication is that, for money to be essential, no monitoring is not enough but coordination must also be free.
Lending Standards and Output Growth

While some credit booms are followed by economic underperformance, many are not. Can lending standards help separate good credit booms from bad credit booms contemporaneously? To observe lending standards internationally, I use information from primary debt capital markets. I construct the high-yield (HY) share of bond issuance for a panel of 38 countries. The HY share is procyclical, suggesting that lending standards in bond markets are extrapolative. Credit booms with deteriorating lending standards (rising HY share) are followed by lower GDP growth in the subsequent three to four years. Such booms deserve attention from policy makers. JEL Classification: E32, E44, G12