Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unraveling a Web of Change: A Case Study of Factors Affecting the Self-Initiated Changes of One Sixth Grade Language Arts Teacher.

A year-long naturalistic case study investigated teacher-initiated change efforts in language arts by examining the experiences and influences of a single sixth-grade teacher. The teacher was observed in multiple contexts (both in and out of her school), interacting with varying groups of individuals, not all of which were located within the district boundaries. Data included field notes with interpretive comments; audiotapes of class lessons and discussions; reflective pieces written by the teacher; classroom, school, and district documents; interviews with the focus teacher and other stakeholders (peers, administrators, parents, and children); and population data on the school and diitrict. Results indicated that (1) the teacher never truly acted alone in either planning or implementation of her language arts changes; (2) teacher-initiated change efforts were non-linear due to the social nature of planning and implementing initiatives; (3) epistemological beliefs were dependent upon the results of experimentation with new methods and materials; (4) change in this context was a complex web of experiences and influences, not all of which were acknowledged by the teacher; (5) the self-initiated change efforts of the teacher were socially constructed; and (6) all stakeholders and information sources did not carry the same weight in the teacher's decision making and change planning. Findings suggest that change is a social process involving an interactive body of people, events, and feedback resulting from experiences. (Contains 12 references.) (RS) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Unraveling a Web of Change: A Case Study of Factors PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND Affecting the Self-Initiated Changes of One Sixth Grade DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL Language Arts Teacher HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES; INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
SPIDER BIODIVERSITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND THE FOLIAGE ORIENTATION OF HEDGES

The relationship between the structure of spider communities and an index of hedge ecological quality (based on an analysis of vegetation architecture using vegetation diversity and foliage cover) was investigated. The comparison deals with six hedges each of low, medium and high ecological value. The species richness and species composition of dominant spiders was the same for hedges of different quality. Thus it is concluded that these two simple parameters cannot reflect the diversity of the hedge foliage. Indicating species of the differences between ecological quality of two hedges could be required among the groups of species absent from one type of hedge. However, the foliage orientation of the hedges may induce substitution of spider species; thus special attention must be paid to the foliage orientation when comparing the spider communities inhabiting the hedges.
Assessing the accuracy of self-reporting HIV testing behaviour in Houston/Harris County, Texas

Introduction: In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began directly estimating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence based upon the Serologic Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion (STARHS) and individuals’ testing and treatment history, collected as part of the HIV Incidence Surveillance (HIS) system. The algorithm relies largely upon individuals’ self-reported testing history. The primary objective of this study is to describe the methodology and procedures used to assess the similarities between self-reported and medical record data on HIV status and the dates of first positive and last negative tests. Material and methods: The testing history from the individuals is used in combination with the latest laboratory assay tests to obtain a direct population-based estimate of HIV incidence. Understanding how accurate the self-report testing information is will help in estimating HIV incidence. Partnerships were made with the medical clinics and Counselling and Testing facilities, and the participants were recruited from the patients attending these facilities. Participants were interviewed to ascertain the self-report of HIV test, HIV status, the date and location of the most recent HIV-negative test and the first HIV-positive test. Medical record abstraction was done after participants’ authorisation to compare the accuracy of self-report testing data. Results: The participants’ response rate was 83.7%, and the most common reason of not participating was lack of interest in the study. Data analysis is reported by CDC and Houston Health Department in a separate article. Conclusions: The methodology and procedures adopted in this study can be adopted, replicated, and improved in future studies exploring self-report accuracy. HIV AIDS Rev 2019; 18, 1: 50-56 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/hivar.2019. 84201
Observation of first and second baroclinic mode Yanai waves in the ocean

The structure and propagation of oceanic Yanai waves (also known as mixed Rossby–gravity waves) are investigated by analysis of satellite‐derived sea‐surface‐height (SSH) data. Significant spectral peaks along the dispersion curves of first and second baroclinic mode Yanai waves are identified by the wavenumber–frequency spectral analysis of SSH for the period 10–17 days. The spatial structure and propagation of these modes are described by an analysis of SSH time series filtered in the frequency–wavenumber domain that includes strong signals along the dispersion curves but excludes those of 17‐day tropical instability waves. The difference in meridional structure between the first and second baroclinic modes, which is consistent with theory, is evident. The slow eastward propagation of first and second baroclinic mode Yanai wave packets, which is consistent with the group velocity derived from theory, is also isolated from the SSH data. Year‐to‐year variability of Yanai wave activity is compared with that of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), showing a moderate correlation with ENSO Modoki. © Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Object oriented classification of high resolution data for inventory of horticultural crops

High resolution satellite images are associated with large variance and thus, per pixel classifiers often result in poor accuracy especially in delineation of horticultural crops. In this context, object oriented techniques are powerful and promising methods for classification. In the present study, a semi-automatic object oriented feature extraction model has been used for delineation of horticultural fruit and plantation crops using Erdas Objective Imagine. Multi-resolution data from Resourcesat LISS-IV and Cartosat-1 have been used as source data in the feature extraction model. Spectral and textural information along with NDVI were used as inputs for generation of Spectral Feature Probability (SFP) layers using sample training pixels. The SFP layers were then converted into raster objects using threshold and clump function resulting in pixel probability layer. A set of raster and vector operators was employed in the subsequent steps for generating thematic layer in the vector format. This semi-automatic feature extraction model was employed for classification of major fruit and plantations crops viz., mango, banana, citrus, coffee and coconut grown under different agro-climatic conditions. In general, the classification accuracy of about 75–80 per cent was achieved for these crops using object based classification alone and the same was further improved using minimal visual editing of misclassified areas. A comparison of on-screen visual interpretation with object oriented approach showed good agreement. It was observed that old and mature plantations were classified more accurately while young and recently planted ones (3 years or less) showed poor classification accuracy due to mixed spectral signature, wider spacing and poor stands of plantations. The results indicated the potential use of object oriented approach for classification of high resolution data for delineation of horticultural fruit and plantation crops. The present methodology is applicable at local levels and future development is focused on up-scaling the methodology for generation of fruit and plantation crop maps at regional and national level which is important for creation of database for overall horticultural crop development.
COMOVEMENTS OF STOCK MARKETS IN VISEGRAD COUNTRIES IN YEARS 2004-2017

: In this paper comovements of stock markets in the Visegrad countries in years 2004-2017 are analysed. Parameters of the VEC-GARCH-BEKK model are estimated. Results of the empirical study indicate that stock returns in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary were sensitive to stock returns of DAX. Moreover, investors analysed performance of stock markets in the whole group of Visegrad countries, when deciding to buy or sell stocks from one market (in Warsaw, Prague or Budapest). Results of the analysis of the shocks’ transmission mechanism and the volatility transmission mechanism indicate that especially shocks coming from the German stock market strongly affected volatilities of the rates of return in the Visegrad countries.
Estimating CO2 sources and sinks from atmospheric mixing ratio measurements using a global inversion of atmospheric transport

This report describes algorithmic details used to estimate the spatio-temporal distribution of CO2 sources/sinks from atmospheric concentration measurements. The algorithm extents that used in Rödenbeck et al. (2003) in the following ways: Higher time resolution. The inversion uses individual mixing ratio measurements (rather than monthly mean concentrations): Either individual flask pair averages, or hourly values from continuous analyzers. Correspondingly, also the time resolution of fluxes was increased (to daily flux values). In order to combine weekly and hourly data, a data density weighting is applied. Generalized process-oriented flux model. All the a-priori information is supplied in the form of a statistical linear ‘flux model’. Using this formulation, it is more easy to specify a-priori constraints based on direct process understanding in a flexible and transparent way. At the same time, the prominence of a-priori constraints can be reduced to a minimum. The ‘flux model’ indirectly determines a-priori correlations (both spatial and temporal), a spatio/temporal weighting, and an overall scaling. Iterative solution. Because of the higher time resolution, the number of knowns and unknowns is increased to a level that the minimization cannot be done via the analytical matrix expressions. Therefore, an iterative algorithm is used to find the cost function minimum, even though the problem is still linear. As additional advantage, more flexibility is gained, because atmospheric transport is simulated ‘on-line’ (rather than being fixed as soon as transport basis functions have been pre-computed), such that choices like data selection can easily be changed. As disadvantage, each run takes considerable amounts of CPU time. A-posteriori (co)variances can be calculated for a number of selected scalar quantities. Besides the general description of the mathematical algorithm, specific implementation details and results for the case of CO2 are presented.
Bacterial Persister, a Formidable Challenge in Therapeutics

Antibiotics are effective compounds in combating bacterial infections. However, with the widespread usage of antibiotics, two severe challenges were emerged to public health: bacterial drug resistance and tolerance. The formation of persisters often results in chronic and recurrent infections leading to more suffering and burden for patients. In comparison with studies of bacterial drug resistance, the nature of persisters and the mechanisms of their drug tolerance have remained more elusive.
A reinforcement learning approach to scheduling dual-armed cluster tools with time variations

The cluster tool, which consists of multiple process chambers are widely used in the semiconductor industry. As the process of wafers becomes more sophisticated, the operation of cluster tools is also being improved. To effectively operate cluster tools, several rule-based schedules, such as the swap sequence have been developed. However, scheduling in time variance environment is not fully considered. In this paper, we propose a cluster tool modeling method, which can handle time variance in dual-armed cluster tool. Then, we present a reinforcement learning process based on the proposed cluster tool model to find new operational schedules in specific configurations. To measure the performance of the newly obtained schedule, makespan is compared under the new policy and the swap policy. The makespan reduced compared to the conventional swap policy, which implies that the reinforcement learning well learned the operation schedule in the time variance environment.
A Numerical Method Based On Element Free Galerkin Method For Lower Bound Limit Analysis

Summary A solution procedure for lower bound limit analysis is presented making use of the element free Galerkin (EFG) method rather than of the traditional numerical methods such as finite element method and boundary element method. A reduced basis technique is adopted to solve the mathematical programming iteratively in a sequence of reduced self-equilibrium stress subspaces with very low dimensions. Numerical example in this paper shows that it is feasible and efficient to solve the problems of limit analysis by using the EFG method.
Early Medieval Shellfish Exploitation in Northwest Europe: Investigations at the Sands of Forvie Shell Middens, Eastern Scotland, and the Role of Coastal Resources in the First Millennium AD

ABSTRACT Coastal shell middens represent a well-known element of the archaeological record of island and coastal regions across the world and shellfish have been an important resource for subsistence since the mid Holocene. However, the factors that influence shellfishing remain poorly understood and in many regions investigations into the role of shellfish gathering often have remained focused on prehistoric examples to the detriment of shell middens of later dates. This article reports on the emerging evidence for large-scale exploitation of shellfish during a hitherto understudied period for shell midden archaeology in northwest Europe: the first millennium AD. The article includes a review of a series of previously unknown large mussel-dominated middens in eastern Scotland, an outline of their chronology and character, including Bayesian modeling of dates, and a synthesis of the emerging evidence for shellfish gathering in northwest Europe during the first millennium AD. The research represents the first investigation of large-scale early Medieval middens in Britain and the first review of their international parallels and the important new information they can provide for the early Medieval economy.
Introduction to the SCALE-UP (Student-Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs) Project

The SCALE-UP Project has established a highly collaborative, hands-on, computer-rich, interactive learning environment for large-enrollment courses. Class time is spent primarily on hands-on activities, simulations, and interesting questions as well as hypothesis-driven labs. Students sit in three groups of three students at round tables. Instructors circulate and work with teams and individuals, engaging them in Socratic-like dialogues. Rigorous evaluations of learning have been conducted in parallel with the curriculum development effort. Our findings can be summarized as follows: Ability to solve problems is improved, conceptual understanding is increased, attitudes are improved, failure rates are drastically reduced (especially for women and minorities), and performance in follow up physics and engineering classes is positively impacted
Mining dosimetry data: Sun exposure behaviors in hereditary melanoma participants

UVR dosimetry data has been collected as part of the BRIGHT project. The context of the data is e xplained and various challenges with the data are described along with strategies for dealing with these challenges. Application of a Bayesian Network for mining the di sparate types of collected data, including the dosimetry da ta, is proposed.
Poverty and Economic Freedom: Evidence from Cross-Country Data

This paper explores the empirical relationship between poverty and economic freedom. In doing so, it estimates the levels of absolute poverty for a panel of over forty developing countries and then utilizes fixed effects and GMM-IV estimators to derive the empirical relationships. The principal empirical results that emerge from this exercise indicate that important indicators of economic freedom such as openness to trade and small size of the government are robustly associated with poverty reduction. Labor market flexibility, which reflects an important dimension of economic freedom, does not have a significant effect on poverty on average. However, there is some evidence that trade's beneficial impact on poverty has been smaller in economies with more regulated labor markets. Finally, civil liberties that encompass various types of important economic freedom such as poverty rights, rule of law, etc., also contribute significantly to poverty reduction. This result contrasts with that for political liberties, which have seemingly no impact on poverty reduction. All these suggest that economic freedom is as much important for economic growth as for poverty reduction.
The cavity under the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica

Abstract Ocean circulation under ice shelves and associated rates of melting and freezing are strongly influenced by the shape of the sub-ice-shelf cavity. We have refined an existing method and used additional in situ measurements to estimate the cavity shape under the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica. A finite-element hydrodynamic ocean-tide model was used to simulate the major tidal constituents for a range of different sub-Amery Ice Shelf cavity water-column thicknesses. The data are adjusted in the largely unsurveyed southern region of the ice-shelf cavity by comparing the complex error between simulated tides and in situ tides, derived from GPS observations. We show a significant improvement in the simulated tides, with a combined complex error of 1.8 cm, in comparison with past studies which show a complex error of ∼5.3 cm. Our bathymetry incorporates ice-draft data at the grounding line and seismic surveys, which have provided a considerable amount of new data. This technique has particular application when the water column beneath ice shelves is inaccessible and in situ GPS data are available.
Remote-sensing techniques for analysing landslide kinematics: a review

Surface displacement field of landslides is a key parameter to access to their geometries and mechanical properties. Surface displacements can be calculated using remote-sensing methods such as interferometry for radar data and image correlation for optical data. These methods have been elaborated this last decade and successfully applied on sensors (radar, cameras, terrestrial 3D laser scanner imaging) either attached to space or aerial platforms such as satellites, planes, and unmanned radio-controlled platforms (drones and helicopters) or settled at fixed positions emplaced in the front of landslides. This paper reviews the techniques of image analysis (interferometry and optical data correlation) to measure displacements and examines the performance of each type of platforms. Examples of applications of these techniques in French South Alps are shown. Depending on the landslide characteristics (exposure conditions, size, velocity) as well as the goal of the study (operational or scientific purpose), one or a combination of several techniques and data (characterized by several resolution, accuracy, covered surface, revisiting time) have to be used. Radar satellite data processed with differential interferometric or PS methods are mainly suitable for scientific purposes due to various application limitations in mountainous area. Optical satellite and aerial images can be used for scientific studies at fairly high resolution but are strongly dependant on atmospheric conditions. Platforms and sensors such as drone, fixed camera, fixed radar and Lidar have the advantage of high adaptability. They can be used to obtain very high resolution and precise 3D data (of centimetric accuracy) suitable for both scientific and operational purposes.
Wave Interaction with a Sea Dike using a VOF Finite Volume Method

This paper represents a solver for numerical simulation of breaking waves, developed at Ghent University using an implicit cellstaggered VOF finite volume approach. The mathematical model is based on unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes (NS) equations with a free surface. A flux-difference splitting approach with the MUSCL type (or the ENO scheme) and a central-difference scheme are applied for evaluation of the inviscid and viscous fluxes, respectively. A projection method is involved for coupling of the pressure and the velocity. A free surface is tracked with the VOF method, in which the approximate dynamic boundary conditions are implemented. In addition, second- and fourth-order artificial damping terms are introduced to the velocity normal to the cell face. A Sommerfeld radiation condition is implemented at the open boundary to dissipate the energy of outgoing waves. Moreover, cut-cell techniques are utilized for treatment of an arbitary geometry. The solver can capture many physical phenomena during the interaction of waves with a dike, when a wave run-up and overtopping over an impermeable sea dike are performed in a numerical wave tank.
Network Virtualization - An Overview

This paper introduces the basic approach of Network Virtualization, as well as Xen and OpenFlow as two opportunities to realize this approach. A virtual network is an autonomous, fully isolated network above an existing physical infrastructure. The goal of virtual networks is to run side-by-side to productive networks without a↵ecting them and consequently to enable new network innovations to be tested safely. Xen is a hypervisor running directly on the hardware and able to host a large number of guest systems. This paper presents the qualifications of Xen to act as a virtual router platform. OpenFlow itself is an open standard for network devices to enable the easy deployment of experimental networks over an existing infrastructure. The related FlowVisor project expands OpenFlow by the opportunity to create and administrate fully isolated virtual networks. These two approaches were chosen among others because of their advanced progress and relevancy to practice.
Thermal characteristics of streaming potential mediated flows of non-newtonian fluids with asymmetric boundary conditions and steric effect

Electrokinetic flows through narrow confinements have mostly been studied with symmetric boundary conditions on the walls even though in practice it is very common to have these walls made of different materials which in turn lead to different surface charge conditions on them. Such a dearth of studies is particularly acute in streaming potential flows which are naturally predisposed to strongly influence even simple pressure-driven flows in such narrow confinements. Further, the very nature of the fluid may, in general cases, be of non-Newtonian nature; this is especially true for biomedical assays. Motivated by this, we address a model problem of a streaming potential mediated flow of a power-law fluid through a slit channel having different boundary conditions. Additionally, as an important new contribution to this line of investigation, we study the thermal characteristics of such flow. Noting, pertinently, that the streaming potential effects are especially stronger for high values of the surface cha.