Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Institutional mergers and access: The case of North-West University

Abstract This article examines how faculty and administrators of the newly merged institution, North-West University, understand issues of access and seek to foster an environment that enhances their achievement, given considerable reservations that are often associated with any organisational change process. In light of the reality that the merger between the two institutions – one historically white (advantaged), the pre-merger Potchefstroom University, and the other the historically black (disadvantaged), the pre-merger University of North West – is an involuntary arrangement ordered by the Minister of Education, how would the faculty and administrators of the newly merged organisation manage their competing, and in some cases conflicting, objectives to create a new institution whose mission aligns with national equity objectives? The perspectives illuminated by the participants in this study highlight the persistent tension between the historical values of these institutions and the national vision to attain access and equity. These tensions are evident in the three core themes that emerged from this study: 1) language and its impact on the culture of the post-merger institution; 2) the continuing impact of race in hiring decisions; and 3) access issues for students. While the government mandated this amalgamation in an effort to create an equitable, accessible post-merger university, three years into the merger process core elements of the pre-merger Potchefstroom University and University of North West (UNW) campuses are still firmly rooted. For all practical purposes, these are two campuses that share little beyond their common institutional name acquired after the merger and a common institutional executive administration team.
Critical Measurement Issues in Learning Disabilities

For many years (Chalfant & Scheffelin, 1969), but particularly since the passage of Public Law 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975), the diagnosis and evaluation of learning disabilities has presented major problems. The central one has been the problem of arriving at a workable definition of learning disability (LD). Education and psychology, the primary fields concerned with learning disabilities are low consensus fields, dealing with human behavior and theoretical constructs (of which LD is one). Much controversy has always existed regarding just what constitutes a learning disability. The rules and regulations for implementation of PL 94-142 provide a definition for use by multidisciplinary teams in deciding upon a diagnosis of LD. This definition states that a determination of LD:
Rethinking feedback practices in higher education: a peer review perspective

Peer review is a reciprocal process whereby students produce feedback reviews on the work of peers and receive feedback reviews from peers on their own work. Prior research has primarily examined the learning benefits that result from the receipt of feedback reviews, with few studies specifically exploring the merits of producing feedback reviews or the learning mechanisms that this activates. Using accounts of their experiences of peer review, this study illuminates students’ perceptions of the different learning benefits resulting from feedback receipt and feedback production, and, importantly, it provides insight into the cognitive processes that are activated when students construct feedback reviews. The findings show that producing feedback reviews engages students in multiple acts of evaluative judgement, both about the work of peers, and, through a reflective process, about their own work; that it involves them in both invoking and applying criteria to explain those judgements; and that it shifts control of feedback processes into students’ hands, a shift that can reduce their need for external feedback. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. It is argued that the capacity to produce quality feedback is a fundamental graduate skill, and, as such, it should receive much greater attention in higher education curricula.
Syntactic features and reanalysis in near-native processing

In order to investigate second language (L2) processing at ultimate attainment, 20 first language (L1) English and 20 L1 Dutch advanced to near-native speakers of German as well as 20 native Germans were tested in two experiments on subject-object ambiguities in German. The results from a self-paced reading task and a speeded acceptability judgement task show that the lower-proficient advanced learners in this study display the same processing preferences as natives in reading accuracy yet fail to demonstrate differential response latencies associated with native syntactic reanalysis. By contrast, near-native speakers of either L1 converge on incremental native reanalysis patterns. Together, the findings highlight the role of proficiency for processing the target language since it is only at near-native levels of proficiency that non-natives converge on native-like parsing. The results support the view that endstate non-native processing and native processing are qualitatively identical.
Primi speech recognition based on deep neural network

In order to improve the performance of Primi speech recognition system, a novel method based on deep neural network has been proposed. The deep neural network has two distinct characteristics, one is a high-capacity, and the other is a highly complex network structure. On the Kaldi platform, the neural network, containing four hidden layers, which used to deal with the Primi speech recognition. The results of Test 1 showed that: the Word Error Rate in Primi speech recognition was reduced by 47.9%, 4.2% and 1.7% respectively using the deep neural network with four tanh hidden layers compared to that using the mono-phone model based on GMM-HMM, optimized-tri-phone model based on GMM-HMM and optimized-SGMM model. So, the deep neural network could not only complete large vocabulary speech recognition, but also implemented its recognition rate significantly higher than the traditional HMM.
Genetic and Adverse Health Outcome Associations with Treatment Resistant Hypertension in GenHAT

Treatment resistant hypertension (TRH) is defined as uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) despite the use of ≥3 antihypertensive medication classes or controlled HTN while treated with ≥4 antihypertensive medication classes. Risk factors for TRH include increasing age, diminished kidney function, higher body mass index, diabetes, and African American (AA) race. Importantly, previous studies suggest a genetic role in TRH, although the genetics of TRH are largely understudied. With 2203 treatment resistant cases and 2354 treatment responsive controls (36% AA) from the Genetics of Hypertension Associated Treatment Study (GenHAT), we assessed the association of 78 candidate gene polymorphisms with TRH status using logistic regression. After stratifying by race and adjusting for potential confounders, there were 2 genetic variants in the AGT gene (rs699, rs5051) statistically significantly associated with TRH among white participants. The Met allele of rs699 and the G allele of rs5051 were positively associated with TRH: OR = 1.27 (1.12–1.44), P = 0.0001, and OR = 1.36 (1.20–1.53), P < 0.0001, respectively. There was no similar association among AA participants (race interaction P = 0.0004 for rs699 and P = 0.0001 for rs5051). This research contributes to our understanding of the genetic basis of TRH, and further genetic studies of TRH may help reach the goal of better clinical outcomes for hypertensive patients.
The study of multi-intelligence evaluation on the application of vocational aptitude – an example on manufacturing

Multi-Intelligence Aptitude" includes linguistic, logical mathematics, space extensity, limbs mobility, musical sen- sitivity, public relation, introspection and nature observation. The 8 intelligence are complementary to each other, the strong intelligence could awake the weak intelligence and the relation between multi-intelligence aptitude and personal interest and working capability are so close that they could be used as an important reference index for selecting and culturing human re- source. Based on the above viewpoint we will use the multi-intelligence aptitude to design the questionnaire and analyze the data by the 6-sigma methodology to develop a new talent selection model. Firstly we distributed the questionnaire to the qualified engineers and analyzed the interaction between the static and dynamic characteristics; and then survey the job applicant with the same questionnaire and draw out the "Radar chart" and "Performance Control chart" of qualified engineer and job applicant, respectively. Then after calculation we have the "similarity" and "differentiation" data of their multi-intelligence aptitude; and furthermore to find the job applicant that has higher similarity of multi-intelligence aptitude with the qualified engineer and have more relation of the intelligence needed for the job. The analysis model proposed in this article in addition to be used for selecting job applicant, it could provide to student as an important aptitude reference index of aptitude in job seeking.
Automated Fair Paper Reviewer Assignment for Conference Management System

Common practice observed in a conference for judging the submitted papers is peer review. The most important task which is involved in peer review is assigning the submitted papers to reviewers with good domain knowledge. In this paper, we have used maximum topic coverage while assigning paper to reviewer and degree of freshness of reviewer. This results in a solution to the paper reviewer assignment problem with relaxed paper demand constraint and reviewer workload constraint. The problem goes into NP-Hard if the constraints mentioned above are not relaxed. We have tried to relax those constraints and bring our problem down to NP. The use of expertise degree can be seen in this paper, this helps us in finding the most relevant expert of a particular domain.
Directed Consultation, the SEALS Model, and Teachers’ Classroom Management

Directed consultation is presented as a professional development framework to guide and support teachers in the implementation of evidence-based interventions that involve contextual and process-oriented approaches designed to be incorporated into daily classroom management. This approach consists of four components: pre-intervention observations and interviews with school professionals, professional development workshops, online training modules, and team- and individual-level implementation meetings. In the current study, directed consultation was used to train sixth-grade teachers to use the Supporting Early Adolescent Learning and Social Support (SEALS) program, a multicomponent intervention model, to promote productive and supportive classroom contexts during the transition to middle school. The current report involved classroom observations in 14 schools (7 interventions, 7 controls) as part of a broader cluster-randomized control trial. A total of 144 classrooms were observed in late fall of the sixth grade during ongoing professional development training activities and again in the spring at the completion of the SEALS training. As compared with control classrooms, teachers in intervention classrooms used more positive feedback and less negative feedback and redirection. Furthermore, teachers in intervention classrooms provided more effective use of classroom structure, feedback to students, behavior management, communication with students, groups and social dynamics, and motivation strategies. Results are discussed in terms of implications for professional development activities aimed at enhancing classroom management.
Evaluation of audio source separation models using hypothesis-driven non-parametric statistical methods

Audio source separation models are typically evaluated using objective separation quality measures, but rigorous statistical methods have yet to be applied to the problem of model comparison. As a result, it can be difficult to establish whether or not reliable progress is being made during the development of new models. In this paper, we provide a hypothesis-driven statistical analysis of the results of the recent source separation SiSEC challenge involving twelve competing models tested on separation of voice and accompaniment from fifty pieces of “professionally produced” contemporary music. Using non-parametric statistics, we establish reliable evidence for meaningful conclusions about the performance of the various models.
From Theory to Practice: Two Ecosystemic Approaches and Their Applications to Understanding School Bullying

School professionals, particularly school counsellors and school psychologists, require detailed knowledge of many important factors that contribute to the personal, academic, and vocational development of the students in their charge (e.g., psychosocial development, curricula developments, local community developments and initiatives, national and international policy developments). The amount of detail and knowledge required by school counsellors/psychologists is bewildering, even before consideration of the individual differences in those who require their help. A framework can provide school professionals with a parsimonious approach to organising, synthesising and understanding all the information that needs to be considered in relation to a child within a particular environment. The current article reviews and comments upon the usefulness of two such theoretical frameworks--Bronfenbrenner's ecological model (1979, 1989) and Spiel, Reimann, Wagner, and Schober's (2008) Bildung-Psychology approach--to an exploration and understanding of a common issue; namely, bully/victim problems among school pupils. It is argued that such ecological/systemic approaches could usefully inform the design and evaluation of future efforts to address school bullying and violence. By extension, we propose that the simplicity of such models is of great value to the school professional who seeks a framework that can guide them in their work. Language: en
Transcriptional and mutational analyses of the rpoN operon in Caulobacter crescentus

The alternative sigma factor sigma54 is required for the biogenesis of both the flagellum and the stalk in Caulobacter crescentus. The DNA sequence downstream of the sigma54 gene (rpoN) has been determined, revealing three open reading frames (ORFs) encoding peptides of 203, 208, and 159 amino acids. ORF208 and ORF159 are homologous to ORFs found downstream of rpoN in other microorganisms. The organization of this region in C. crescentus is similar to that in other bacteria, with the exception of an additional ORF, ORF203, immediately downstream from rpoN. There is a single temporally regulated promoter that drives the expression of both rpoN and ORF203. Promoter probe analysis indicates the presence of another promoter downstream from ORF203 which exhibits a temporal control that is different from that of the rpoN promoter. Mutational analysis was used to address the function of the proteins encoded by these three downstream ORFs. The mutations have no effect on the transcription of previously known sigma54-dependent flagellar promoters except for a slight effect of an ORF159 mutation on transcription of fljK.
An Assessment of the Educational Choices of Emerging Adults from a Small Mennonite Denomination and their Later Church and Service Involvement

This study was designed to provide Rosedale Bible College, a Conservative Mennonite Conference school in Ohio, with critical information to increase its understanding of the educational choices of emerging adults from its sponsoring denomination and the way those choices correlate with church involvement and volunteerism later in life. The study also offers a glimpse into the educational and religious context of these young adults and the denomination they were part of as youth. A 16-question survey was distributed to 1,068 individuals ages 26-32 who attended one of the denomination’s churches when in high school. The survey queried respondents on personal data, educational choices, church involvement, and volunteerism. A total of 240 valid surveys were received, including 47 respondents who had attended the denomination’s college. Through cross tabulation and testing for statistical significance, the research found that attendance at the denomination’s college was moderately related to greater regular church attendance compared to those who did not attend the college. In addition, attendance at the college was moderately related to a lower likelihood of regular civic volunteerism. Research also found a strong relationship between a secular education and a lower likelihood of regular church attendance later in life, compared to those who participated in formal religious educational experiences as young people.
Imaginative Suggestibility and Hypnotizability

More than a half-century of research aimed at identifying the predictors of hypnotic responding has been described as investigations of “hypnotizability. ” Most of that research, however, has disregarded the well-established findings that (a) people respond to suggestion without being hypnotized almost as much as they do following a hypnotic induction, and (b) nonhypnotic and hypnotic suggestibility are highly correlated. More recent studies have provided the first empirical data on predictors of individual differences in response to the induction of hypnosis. These studies indicate that individual differences in hypnotic suggestibility can be accounted for completely by nonhypnotic suggestibility, expectancy, motivation, and reaction time. Because the amount of variance accounted for is as great as the reliability of the hypnotic-suggestibility scale, and because nonhypnotic suggestibility has been controlled, no additional variables are necessary to account for hypnotic suggestibility.
Verifying Reasoner Correctness - A Justication Based Method

DL reasoners are complex pieces of software that work on even more complex input which makes manual verification difficult. A single ontology can have hundreds or thousands of classes and thus its classification involve an unsurveyable number of subsumption tests. We propose a new method for debugging classification across multiple reasoners which employs justifications generated from the set of entailments that reasoners disagree upon to determine the cause of the disagreement.
Parallel, self-organizing, hierarchical neural networks with continuous inputs and outputs

Parallel, self-organizing, hierarchical neural networks (PSHNN's) are multistage networks in which stages operate in parallel rather than in series during testing. Each stage can be any particular type of network. Previous PSHNN's assume quantized, say, binary outputs. A new type of PSHNN is discussed such that the outputs are allowed to be continuous-valued. The performance of the resulting networks is tested in the problem of predicting speech signal samples from past samples. Three types of networks in which the stages are learned by the delta rule, sequential least-squares, and the backpropagation (BP) algorithm, respectively, are described. In all cases studied, the new networks achieve better performance than linear prediction. A revised BP algorithm is discussed for learning input nonlinearities. When the BP algorithm is to be used, better performance is achieved when a single BP network is replaced by a PSHNN of equal complexity in which each stage is a BP network of smaller complexity than the single BP network.
Metabolomic Responses of Guard Cells and Mesophyll Cells to Bicarbonate

Anthropogenic CO2 presently at 400 ppm is expected to reach 550 ppm in 2050, an increment expected to affect plant growth and productivity. Paired stomatal guard cells (GCs) are the gate-way for water, CO2, and pathogen, while mesophyll cells (MCs) represent the bulk cell-type of green leaves mainly for photosynthesis. We used the two different cell types, i.e., GCs and MCs from canola (Brassica napus) to profile metabolomic changes upon increased CO2 through supplementation with bicarbonate (HCO3 -). Two metabolomics platforms enabled quantification of 268 metabolites in a time-course study to reveal short-term responses. The HCO3 - responsive metabolomes of the cell types differed in their responsiveness. The MCs demonstrated increased amino acids, phenylpropanoids, redox metabolites, auxins and cytokinins, all of which were decreased in GCs in response to HCO3 -. In addition, the GCs showed differential increases of primary C-metabolites, N-metabolites (e.g., purines and amino acids), and defense-responsive pathways (e.g., alkaloids, phenolics, and flavonoids) as compared to the MCs, indicating differential C/N homeostasis in the cell-types. The metabolomics results provide insights into plant responses and crop productivity under future climatic changes where elevated CO2 conditions are to take center-stage.
Experimental and Theoretical Modal Analysis of Full-Sized Wood Composite Panels Supported on Four Nodes

Key elastic properties of full-sized wood composite panels (WCPs) must be accurately determined not only for safety, but also serviceability demands. In this study, the modal parameters of full-sized WCPs supported on four nodes were analyzed for determining the modulus of elasticity (E) in both major and minor axes, as well as the in-plane shear modulus of panels by using a vibration testing method. The experimental modal analysis was conducted on three full-sized medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and three full-sized particleboard (PB) panels of three different thicknesses (12, 15, and 18 mm). The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the first nine modes of vibration were determined. Results from experimental modal testing were compared with the results of a theoretical modal analysis. A sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the sensitive modes for calculating E (major axis: Ex and minor axis: Ey) and the in-plane shear modulus (Gxy) of the panels. Mode shapes of the MDF and PB panels obtained from modal testing are in a good agreement with those from theoretical modal analyses. A strong linear relationship exists between the measured natural frequencies and the calculated frequencies. The frequencies of modes (2, 0), (0, 2), and (2, 1) under the four-node support condition were determined as the characteristic frequencies for calculation of Ex, Ey, and Gxy of full-sized WCPs. The results of this study indicate that the four-node support can be used in free vibration test to determine the elastic properties of full-sized WCPs.
On-line parametric histogram equalization techniques for noise robust embedded speech recognition

In this paper, two low-complexity histogram equalization algorithms are presented that significantly reduce the mismatch between training and testing conditions in HMM-based automatic speech recognizers. The proposed algorithms use Gaussian approximations for the initial and target distributions and perform a linear mapping between them. We show that even this simplified mapping can improve the noise robustness of ASR systems, while the associated computational load, memory requirements, and algorithmic delay are minimal. The proposed algorithms were evaluated in a multi-lingual speaker independent isolated word recognition task without and in combination with on-line MAP acoustic model adaptation. The best results obtained showed an approximate 25/20% relative error-rate reduction without/with acoustic model adaptation.