Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Classroom Assessment Practices : A Case of Selected Ghanaian and Japanese Mathematics Lessons

This was a case study that examined and compared the classroom assessment practices of teachers of some selected Ghanaian and Japanese primary school mathematics lessons based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) assessment standards. The objective was to determine whether there were any differences and/or similarities in assessment practices between the two nations and how they measured up to the NCTM standards. It involved the use of a thirty-seven-item evaluation sheet, developed based on the NCTM standards to assess eleven video lessons. Three conveniently sampled Ghanaian lessons and eight Japanese lessons, four of which were conveniently sampled and the other four were already available specially recorded lessons used for inservice training in Japan. Both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained and analyzed item by item and section by section. The sectional analysis of the means and standard deviations values of the ratings of the two raters revealed that both categories of Japanese lessons showed more evidence of the tying of assessment to curriculum, integration of assessment and instruction, and effective blending and use of formal and informal assessment strategies than the Ghanaian lessons. However, the Ghanaian lessons promoted and were more sensitive to equity in assessment than the Japanese normal lessons. One-way analysis of variance and subsequently Tukey test yielded corroborative results. The means for the three categories were statistically significantly different from one another. The conclusion was drawn that, though there were a few similarities, there were also substantial differences, qualitatively and quantitatively, in the classroom assessment practices of teachers of the two nations.
Software Defined Networks-on-Chip for multi/many-core systems: A performance evaluation

By means of a management framework and programmable routing tables, Software Defined Network (SDN) architectures offer network's adaptability to today's computer systems. In Networks-on-Chip (NoC) based systems, management methods have been implemented as specific solutions unable to be reused in further designs. A Software Defined NoC (SDNoC) architecture will permit on-the-fly re/configuration and reduce Non-Recurring Engineering costs. In this paper, performance evaluations of a SDNoC through flit-accurate SystemC models are presented. We measure the average values of the configuration time (CT), global delay and throughput for various routing algorithms and packet injection rates.
Phylogenetic Analyses of Basal Angiosperms Based on Nine Plastid, Mitochondrial, and Nuclear Genes

DNA sequences of nine genes (plastid: atpB, matK, and rbcL; mitochondrial: atp1, matR, mtSSU, and mtLSU; nuclear: 18S and 26S rDNAs) from 100 species of basal angiosperms and gymnosperms were analyzed using parsimony, Bayesian, and maximum likelihood methods. All of these analyses support the following consensus of relationships among basal angiosperms. First, Amborella, Nymphaeaceae, and Austrobaileyales are strongly supported as a basal grade in the angiosperm phylogeny, with either Amborella or Amborella and Nymphaeales as sister to all other angiosperms. An examination of nucleotide substitution patterns of all nine genes ruled out any possibility of analytical artifacts because of RNA editing and GC‐content bias in placing these taxa at the base of the angiosperm phylogeny. Second, Magnoliales are sister to Laurales and Piperales are sister to Canellales. These four orders together constitute the magnoliid clade. Finally, the relationships among Ceratophyllum, Chloranthaceae, monocots, magnoliids, and eudicots are resolved in different ways in various analyses, mostly with low support. Our study indicates caution in total evidence approaches in that some of the genes employed (e.g., mtSSU, mtLSU, and nuclear 26S rDNA) added signal that conflicted with the other genes in resolving certain parts of the phylogenetic tree.
Development of a New Measure of Men's Objectification of Women: Factor Structure Test Retest Validity

Objectification involves treating individuals on the basis oftheir external rather than internal features. This study focused on the continued construction and development of an individual difference measure of men's objectification of women. Our measure was meant to quantify and define the idea of objectification. The first part of this study (Zolot, 2003), completed last year, created the initial item pool of 66 items and a four­ factor structure for our measure. In this study we refined our measure based on previous factor analysis and added new items in order to extend and clarify these factors and test ideas about sexual objectification. We investigated the reliability ofboth the 41 items in our measure and the reliability of our measure over time with a sample of college-aged men. Through this we have produced a 22 item measure with an internal consistency of 0.92 and a test-rest reliability correlation ofr (35) = 0.88,p < 0.01, and a condensed 12 item measure with an internal consistency of 0.86 and a test-rest reliability correlation of r (35) = 0.88,p < 0.01. Factor analysis ~n both ofthese forms has given us three subscales of objectification: internalized sexual objectification, disempathy and commenting about women's bodies, and insulting unattractive women. A proposed test of construct validity is also discussed.
Comparison of outbreak and nonoutbreak Acinetobacter baumannii strains by genotypic and phenotypic methods

Thirty-one Acinetobacter baumannii strains, comprising 14 strains from 14 outbreaks in different northwestern European cities and 17 sporadic strains, were compared by investigating various properties of the strains including biotype, antibiogram, cell envelope protein electrophoretic profile, ribotype pattern, and the band pattern generated by a novel genomic fingerprinting method, named AFLP, which is based on the selective amplification of restriction fragments. Results showed that 12 strains from unrelated outbreaks were linked together in two clusters according to their similarities by these typing methods, whereas sporadic strains were more heterogeneous. Outbreak strains appeared to be markedly more resistant to antibiotics than nonoutbreak strains. The uniformity of typing characters in two sets of outbreak strains suggests that strains in each cluster have a common clonal origin.
Experimental vs. modeled water use in mature Norway spruce (Picea abies) exposed to elevated CO2

Rising levels of atmospheric CO2 have often been reported to reduce plant water use. Such behavior is also predicted by standard equations relating photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and atmospheric CO2 concentration, which form the core of dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs). Here, we provide first results from a free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiment with naturally growing, mature (35 m) Picea abies (L.) (Norway spruce) and compare them to simulations by the DGVM LPJ-GUESS. We monitored sap flow, stem water deficit, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, and soil moisture in five 35–40 m tall CO2-treated (550 ppm) trees over two seasons. Using LPJ-GUESS, we simulated this experiment using climate data from a nearby weather station. While the model predicted a stable reduction of transpiration of between 9% and 18% (at concentrations of 550–700 ppm atmospheric CO2), the combined evidence from various methods characterizing water use in our experimental trees suggest no changes in response to future CO2 concentrations. The discrepancy between the modeled and the experimental results may be a scaling issue: while dynamic vegetation models correctly predict leaf-level responses, they may not sufficiently account for the processes involved at the canopy and ecosystem scale, which could offset the first-order stomatal response.
A critical view of educational research in China over 20 years: A content analysis of the journal of Educational Research

This study is aimed at exploring trends of educational research in China as reflected in 3922 articles published in the journal of Educational Research (Jiao Yu Yan Jiu) (ER) from 1994-2014. A content analysis was used to discover the features and trends of educational research and to examine the influence and international development of the journal in terms of sub-disciplines, key topics, research methodologies, age-related educational levels, authors’ backgrounds and references. The findings identify important research orientations, major research fields, key research concepts, neglected areas in educational research and the relation between educational research and practice and policy-making. The results suggested that indigenization and politicization of educational research was highlighted whilst internationalization was neglected. Discussions and implications of the findings are also considered.
HER2 Testing: How to Reach a High Concordance Rate Between Immunohistochemistry and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

Background The concordance rate between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is still a major clinical concern. We describe a new criteria evaluating HER2 IHC. Materials and Methods We expanded the equivocal category to include the American Society of Clinical Oncology and College of American Pathologists equivocal category and cases with 3+ between 30% to 90% of tumor cells and 2+ in ≥1% of tumor cells. Then, we prospectively evaluated 106 cases with FISH. Results There were 2 categories that were not required to be tested by FISH based on American Society of Clinical Oncology and College of American Pathologists criteria. The first category, cases with 2+staining between ≥1% and <10%. In this category, there were 15 cases, 2 (13.3%) had HER2 amplification by FISH. The second category, cases with 3+ staining between 30% and 90%. In this category, there were 16 cases, 5 (31.3%) were not amplified and 1 (6.3%) was borderline. Conclusions Expanding the equivocal category could increase the concordance rate between IHC and FISH with minimal additional cost.
The role of family systems in severe and recurrent psychiatric disorders: A developmental psychopathology view

Family systems theory has been highly influential in the study of recurrent psychiatric disorders. This review examines two interrelated domains: research on expressed emotion (EE) attitudes among relatives (criticism, hostility, or emotionally overinvolvement) and relapses of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and randomized trials of family intervention in these populations. The literature is discussed in terms of contemporary systems theory and concepts from developmental psychopathology research. Several conclusions are drawn: (a) levels of EE are correlated with caregivers' attributions regarding the controllability of patients' behaviors; (b) EE attitudes are associated with bidirectional, mutually influential cycles of interaction between relatives and patients; and (c) family psychoeducational therapy, when combined with pharmacotherapy, is associated with lower rates of relapse in schizophrenia and bipolar illness. Underlying disturbances in family systems may emerge in response to illness symptoms in a family member, but also have recursive effects on the developmental course of the illness once manifest. The nature and stability of these recursive effects will depend on dynamic processes in the patient, the relative, and their relationship. Future research should elucidate mediating and moderating variables in the pathways from EE to patients' outcomes, and the conditions under which family treatments bring about favorable outcomes of psychiatric disorder.Preparation of this article was supported by Grant MH62555 from the National Institute of Mental Health and a Distinguished Investigator Award from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression. The author thanks Martha Tompson for her conceptual input.
Quantitative Image Quality and Histogram-Based Evaluations of an Iterative Reconstruction Algorithm at Low-to-Ultralow Radiation Dose Levels: A Phantom Study in Chest CT

Objective To describe the quantitative image quality and histogram-based evaluation of an iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithm in chest computed tomography (CT) scans at low-to-ultralow CT radiation dose levels. Materials and Methods In an adult anthropomorphic phantom, chest CT scans were performed with 128-section dual-source CT at 70, 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp, and the reference (3.4 mGy in volume CT Dose Index [CTDIvol]), 30%-, 60%-, and 90%-reduced radiation dose levels (2.4, 1.4, and 0.3 mGy). The CT images were reconstructed by using filtered back projection (FBP) algorithms and IR algorithm with strengths 1, 3, and 5. Image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were statistically compared between different dose levels, tube voltages, and reconstruction algorithms. Moreover, histograms of subtraction images before and after standardization in x- and y-axes were visually compared. Results Compared with FBP images, IR images with strengths 1, 3, and 5 demonstrated image noise reduction up to 49.1%, SNR increase up to 100.7%, and CNR increase up to 67.3%. Noteworthy image quality degradations on IR images including a 184.9% increase in image noise, 63.0% decrease in SNR, and 51.3% decrease in CNR, and were shown between 60% and 90% reduced levels of radiation dose (p < 0.0001). Subtraction histograms between FBP and IR images showed progressively increased dispersion with increased IR strength and increased dose reduction. After standardization, the histograms appeared deviated and ragged between FBP images and IR images with strength 3 or 5, but almost normally-distributed between FBP images and IR images with strength 1. Conclusion The IR algorithm may be used to save radiation doses without substantial image quality degradation in chest CT scanning of the adult anthropomorphic phantom, down to approximately 1.4 mGy in CTDIvol (60% reduced dose).
Building bridges: Perspectives on partnership and collaboration from the US forest service tribal relations program

American Indian tribes have inherent rights to national forestland and resources codified in treaties, the US Constitution, statutes, Presidential Executive Orders, and case law. These rights require a government-togovernment relationship between each tribe and the US Forest Service (USFS), which recognizes federal trust responsibilities and tribal sovereignty. This is implemented through government-to-government consultation. Along with consultation, the USFS seeks to create opportunities to work in partnership with tribes to support natural resource management for mutual benefit. The purpose of this article is to explore partnership building and collaboration between the USFS and American Indian tribes in the context of the USFS tribal relations program. The article outlines successful practices and barriers for building partnerships between federally recognized tribes and the USFS. Qualitative research methods were used to analyze 26 semistructured interviews with USFS employees with tribal relations duties to understand their perspectives on building partnerships and fulfilling the government trust responsibility with American Indian tribes.
Cohort profile: the EPIC-NL study.

A major scientific challenge for the next few decades is to understand the interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors in the aetiology of chronic diseases. The most promising approach to discover these interactions requires a combined effort of epidemiology and molecular genetics and large sample sizes for sufficient power. Already in the early 90s, the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) was initiated in 10 European countries to create a large cohort to study the aetiology of chronic diseases. The Netherlands has contributed two cohort studies to EPIC: the Prospect cohort of 17 357 women of the Julius Center in Utrecht, and the Monitoring Project on Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases (MORGEN) cohort of 22 654 men and women of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in Bilthoven. In the design phase, both cohorts collaborated closely to obtain maximal synergy in the design of the questionnaires and to follow identical protocols in the collection of biological samples. Because of the efficiency gain in maintaining the cohort infrastructure and in conducting scientific analyses, the Julius Center and the RIVM decided to combine efforts to maintain and expand the cohorts and biobanks by merging them into one EPICNetherlands (EPIC-NL) study.
Fabrication of 10 nm diameter hydrocarbon nanopores

The addition of carbon to samples, during transmission electron microscope imaging, presents a barrier to accurate analysis; the controlled deposition of hydrocarbons by a focused electron beam can be a useful technique for local nanometer-scale sculpting of material. Here we use hydrocarbon deposition to form nanopores from larger focused ion beam holes in silicon nitride membranes. Using this method, we close 100–200 nm diameter holes to diameters of 10 nm and below, with deposition rates of 0.6 nm/min. I-V characteristics of electrolytic flow through these nanopores agree quantitatively with a one dimensional model at all examined salt concentrations.
Iterative optimization for the data center

Iterative optimization is a simple but powerful approach that searches for the best possible combination of compiler optimizations for a given workload. However, each program, if not each data set, potentially favors a different combination. As a result, iterative optimization is plagued by several practical issues that prevent it from being widely used in practice: a large number of runs are required for finding the best combination; the process can be data set dependent; and the exploration process incurs significant overhead that needs to be compensated for by performance benefits.Therefore, while iterative optimization has been shown to have significant performance potential, it is seldomly used in production compilers. In this paper, we propose Iterative Optimization for the Data Center (IODC): we show that servers and data centers offer a context in which all of the above hurdles can be overcome. The basic idea is to spawn different combinations across workers and recollect performance statistics at the master, which then evolves to the optimum combination of compiler optimizations. IODC carefully manages costs and benefits, and is transparent to the end user. We evaluate IODC using both MapReduce and throughput compute-intensive server applications. In order to reflect the large number of users interacting with the system, we gather a very large collection of data sets (at least 1000 and up to several million unique data sets per program), for a total storage of 10.7TB, and 568 days of CPU time. We report an average performance improvement of 1.48×, and up to 2.08×, for the MapReduce applications, and 1.14×, and up to 1.39×, for the throughput compute-intensive server applications.
Intergenerational appeal in advertising: impacts of brand–gender extension and brand history

An intergenerational (IG) appeal in an advertising campaign usually presents a nostalgic image with family portraits, emphasizing the traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation or harkening back to the ‘good old days’ between father and son, or mother and daughter. The IG appeal can effectively enhance a brand's image and induce that all-important consumer purchase. This paper takes gender differences (father/son or mother/daughter) into consideration while examining two moderators related to branding: (in)congruent brand–gender extension and brand history. Results indicate that a well-established brand history enhances the effects of the IG appeal. In addition, a congruent brand–gender extension increases the effects of the IG appeal. More interestingly, IG appeals can be effective in presenting a less established brand which has an incongruent brand–gender extension.
A simple method for measuring thickness of gingiva and labial bone of mandibular incisors.

OBJECTIVE Thin supporting tissues may cause gingival recessions and esthetic problems in the anterior area. The objectives of this study were to present a simple and reliable radiographic technique to measure thickness of alveolar bone labial to mandibular incisors, and to establish a possible correlation of bone thickness with its tissue biotype. METHOD AND MATERIALS A metal strip was placed over the gingiva of the mandibular incisor axis, and a perpendicular occlusal radiograph was taken of 51 patients. Patients in routine orthodontic practice before any orthodontic treatment was started were distributed into three groups according to their periodontal biotype (A1, thin with < 2 mm keratinized gingiva; A2, thin with > 2 mm; and B, thick with wide zone of keratinized gingiva), as described by Müller and Eger.1 Radiographs were scanned and thickness of gingival tissue and of bone at two levels (at the bone crest and at 3 mm below the bone crest) was measured to the nearest 0.1 mm. Measurements of soft tissue and bone thickness were compared and correlated. RESULTS Groups A2 and B showed a significant difference in bone thickness at the bone crest. Correlation of bone and gingival thickness was only found in gingival biotype B at 3 mm below the bone crest level only (R = 0.290; P < .001). No other correlation between bone and gingival thickness was observed in any group. CONCLUSIONS The radiographic technique proposed in this study is a simple and reliable method for calibrating the amount of buccal bone in the mandibular anterior area. It is a cheap and fast diagnostic tool that may help determine the amount of buccal bone and gingival thickness, and therefore avoid excessive radiation to patients. Groups A2 and B showed a significant difference in bone thickness at the bone crest. Although not significant, group A1 showed the lowest values of bone and gingival thickness, whereas group B showed the highest bone and gingival thickness. A clear correlation between thickness of bone and gingiva 3 mm below the cementoenamel junction was found in group B.
SAVI testbed: Control and management of converged virtual ICT resources

This paper introduces the SAVI testbed for control and management of converged virtual ICT resources. The SAVI testbed attempts to create an open applications marketplace that operates on converged virtual computing and networking infrastructures and supports experimentation with emerging Future Internet protocols and applications. In this paper we briefly review the Smart Applications on Virtual Infrastructure (SAVI) network and the Virtualized Application Networking Infrastructure (VANI) which are the basis for the SAVI testbed. We then present the architecture and design of the SAVI testbed. Finally, we report on the current status of development and share our experience with the SAVI testbed.
3D brain tumor segmentation scheme using K-mean clustering and connected component labeling algorithms

In the recent years human brain segmentation in three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has gained a lot of importance in the field of biomedical image processing since it is the main stage for the automatic brain disease diagnosis. In this paper, we propose an image segmentation scheme to segment 3D brain tumor from MRI images through the clustering process. The clustering is achieved using K-mean algorithm in conjunction with the connected component labeling algorithm to link the similar clustered objects in all 2D slices and then obtain 3D segmented tissue using the patch object rendering process.