Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teacher Professional Development Organizations’ Interpretation of Educational Language Policy in California

Author(s): von Vacano, Claudia von Vacano | Advisor(s): Fuller, Bruce | Abstract: Strong networks of professional development organizations serving teachers of English learners in California may enhance civil society as these organizations can democratize the policy implementation process. However, little is known about how they interpret and attempt to implement the state’s language policy. This two-part study addresses this research gap by first examining California English Language Development and English Language Arts Standards and Framework, asking how California’s official language policy has changed over time, perhaps reflecting an ideological shift towards culturally relevant literacy practices for English learners as compared to previous education language policy. Second, this research explores structures that enable or hinder professional development organizations’ ability to critically interpret and implement these education language policies and whether these structures are changing over time. Through interviews with leaders of these organizations and leading policy makers, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of state infrastructure for professional development that is crucial at a time of divestment. Methodologically, few comparative policy studies utilize an entire corpora—a large set of policy texts—pushing the boundaries of content and text analysis. This empirical case study employs content and text analysis of policies, organizational documents, surveys, and interviews of teacher professional developers through critical policy lenses. Professional developers in this study interpreted and implemented California’s Standards and Framework in various ways: (a) some professional developers were part of the process of authoring the current set of Standards; (b) others partnered with the state and therefore used their agency to interpret and implement these policies in nuanced ways; and (c) a smaller set of organizations advocated for primary language and bilingual education among other practices. Although these organizations are doing rigorous and important work, the statewide infrastructure for professional development has been weakened during a period of divestment in professional development. This is resulting in the loss of comprehensive evaluation of this work and a loss of efficiency and economies of scale. Importantly, across all organizations there were reports of increased time spent on revenue generation, which diminished time spent on developing and implementing robust professional development programs. Recommendations include incentivizing a coalition or network across these organizations to strengthen each organization and the overall system of professional development.
Zener and avalanche breakdown in As-implanted, low-voltage Si n-p junctions

Implanted-diffused As layers in Si have been well-characterized, and have been used in fabricating low-voltage n-p junctions. It is shown that these As layers form linearly-graded junctions with a uniform B-doped background (p \simeq .006\Omega- cm). Further, the grade constant of the As profile at the junction is known sufficiently well as a function of As dose, diffusion time and temperature to allow quantitative use of existing tunneling and avalanche theories for the calculation of the reverse I-V curves. Calculated curves are presented which correlate As implant dose and diffusion with junction breakdown voltage, breakdown impedance and temperature coefficient of reverse voltage.
Instruments for Assessing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Review of the Literature

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and often dose-limiting side effect of chemotherapy that can result in disability and poorer quality of life. However, no standardized measurement for CIPN exists. Clinicians often base decisions for dose modification or discontinuation of a chemotherapeutic agent on patient report of subjective symptoms and physical examination. Objectives: This review is designed to identify valid and reliable assessment tools that measure or assess CIPN in adult patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL®, and Cochrane Library. Articles were included if their primary purpose was to evaluate the psychometric properties of scales to measure CIPN in adult patients with cancer receiving neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. Findings: The search yielded 143 results, with 16 articles meeting criteria for inclusion in the review. Seven unique scales and their reduced and modified versions were examined. The majority of the questionnaires were evaluated in a single tumor type, primarily with taxanes and platinum compounds. No consensus exists on the most appropriate patient selfreport scale for use in the general oncology population.
A Network-Layer QoE Model for YouTube Live in Wireless Networks

YouTube Live is one of the most popular services on the Internet, enabling easy streaming of a live video with the acceptable video quality. Thus, understanding user perception of this service is of the utmost importance for network operators. As in other video streaming services, YouTube Live traffic is affected by delays and interruptions due to unfavorable network conditions, which translate into unacceptable initial reproduction times, image freezes, or abrupt changes in image quality. Detecting these events is key to ensure an adequate quality of experience (QoE). Unfortunately, data encryption makes it very difficult for operators to monitor the QoE from packet-level data collected in network interfaces. In this paper, an analytical model to estimate the QoE for encrypted YouTube Live service from packet-level data collected in the interfaces of a wireless network is presented. The inputs to the model are TCP/IP metrics, from which four service key performance indicators (S-KPIs) are estimated: initial video play start time, video interruption duration, video interruption frequency, and image quality. The model is developed with an experimental platform consisting of a live streaming server, a terminal agent, a radio access network (e.g., Wi-Fi access point), a network-level emulator, a probe software, and a man-in-the-middle proxy. Model assessment is carried out by comparing the S-KPI estimates with measurements from the terminal agent under different network conditions introduced by the network emulator.
Algorithms and Frameworks for Graph Analytics at Scale

Algorithms and Frameworks for Graph Analytics at Scale Fuad Jamour Graph queries typically involve retrieving entities with certain properties and connectivity patterns. One popular property is betweenness centrality, which is a quantitative measure of importance used in many applications such as identifying influential users in social networks. Solving graph queries that involve retrieving important entities with user-defined connectivity patterns in large graphs requires efficient computation of betweenness centrality and efficient graph query engines. The first part of this thesis studies the betweenness centrality problem, while the second part presents a framework for building efficient graph query engines. Computing betweenness centrality entails computing all-pairs shortest paths; thus, exact computation is costly. The performance of existing approximation algorithms is not well understood due to the lack of an established benchmark. Since graphs in many applications are inherently evolving, several incremental algorithms were proposed. However, they cannot scale to large graphs: they either require excessive memory or perform unnecessary computations rendering them prohibitively slow. Existing graph query engines rely on exhaustive indices for accelerating query evaluation. The time and memory required to build these indices can be prohibitively high for large graphs. This thesis attempts to solve the aforementioned limitations in the graph analytics literature as follows. First, we present a benchmark for evaluating betweenness centrality approximation algorithms. Our benchmark includes ground-truth data for large graphs in addition to a systematic evaluation methodology. This benchmark is the first attempt 5 to standardize evaluating betweenness centrality approximation algorithms and it is currently being used by several research groups working on approximate betweenness in large graphs. Then, we present a linear-space parallel incremental algorithm for updating betweenness centrality in large evolving graphs. Our algorithm uses biconnected components decomposition to localize processing graph updates, and it performs incremental computation even within affected components. Our algorithm is up to an order of magnitude faster than the state-of-the-art parallel incremental algorithm. Finally, we present a framework for building low memory footprint graph query engines. Our framework avoids building exhaustive indices and uses highly optimized matrix algebra operations instead. Our framework loads datasets, and evaluates data-intensive queries up to an order of magnitude faster than existing engines.
Performance Evaluation of In-Band Full-Duplex System Using One-Time-Slot Two-Way Relay

In-band full-duplex (IFD) two-way relay (TWR) system becomes one among the major concern for maximizing system capacity in wireless network, where one relay node and two source nodes using analog network coding (ANC) are deployed. This paper compares one-time-slot ANC (1TA) TWR, in which each node operates in IFD mode, with two-time-slot ANC (2TA) TWR, where each node is in in-band half-duplex mode. In addition, achievable sum rate of the 1TA-TWR is derived with adverse factors such as direct link interference as well as self-interference (SI), which is induced by IFD signaling. This paper proposes an iterative optimal power allocation (OPA) method to maximize the derived end-to-end sum rate, which is based on Lagrangian and Newton–Raphson algorithm under total power constraint. Numerical results elucidate the efficiency of the 1TA-TWR over the 2TA-TWR as the following: the 1TA-TWR based on the OPA becomes more and more viable than the 2TA-TWR based on existing OPA, as the relay node goes into the center of two source nodes, the link channel gain of mutual source nodes increases, and the SI channel gain approaches noise floor level.
Simplified support vector machine method for QRS wave detection

Recently, support vector machine (SVM) has been applied to ECG wave detection fields successfully, based on its salient properties that other learning method do not provide. One drawback for SVM is that the time taken for classifying a new pattern is proportional to the number of support vectors, so if that number is large, classification speed is slow, which will impair the detection speed of QRS wave. To overcome the problem, a novel QRS wave detection model relying on simplified SVM is presented in this paper, which can improve classification speed greatly by compressing the number of support vectors. As a result, the real-time response capability of QRS wave detection has been improved, significantly.
Handover control parameters optimisation in LTE networks

In the past few years, the demand for data traffic has increased explosively, in order to meet such a demand in traffic volume, small cell networks have been introduced. With the wide adoption of small cells, the densification of small cell deployment has become an unavoidable trend. However, such density in small cell deployment brings various problems for the network operators, among which the handover issue is one of the most critical. In order to tackle the handover problem in heterogeneous networks (HetNets), this thesis was mainly concerned with the system-level handover control parameters optimisation.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Interests of Plasmatic Neuroglobin during Stroke in Adult at the Acute Phase

Introduction: Neuroglobin (Ngb) owes its name to its preferred location in the nervous system. Its plasma concentration increases during cerebral ischemia. However, the interest of its dosage in the diagnosis and the prognosis of the strokes in the adult is not defined. Objectives: To determine if plasmatic Ngb can be used as a diagnostic biomarker and prognostic for stroke in adults at the acute phase. Population and Methods: This was a prospective study in 69 people, including 39 suspected stroke (Cerebral ischemia or CI, Intracerebral hemorrhage or ICH) and 30 healthy volunteers (controls). The plasma concentration of Ngb (CmNgb in ng/ml) of the patients was determined at admission day (d1), at the third day (d3) and seventh day (d7). CmNgbtaken at d1 was compared between patients and controls. Its evolution over time, as well as its relation with the clinical parameters, including the Glasgow coma scale and the short-term mortality in stroke subjects was analyzed by the Mann and Whitney tests and the Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05). Results: At d1, the CmNgb of all types of stroke was 3.140 ± 2.700 ng/ml, and did not differ significantly from controls (0.303 ± 0.114 ng/ml, p = 0.070). On the other hand, it was higher in CI victims (5.800 ± 0.720 ng/ml) than in ICH (1.750 ± 0,090 ng/ml) (p = 0.030). It then decreased on d3 in CI victims (2.600 ± 0.112 ng/ml) and ICH (0.420 ± 0.211 ng/ml), returning to normal on d7 (0.420 ± 0.200 ng/ml for CI’s, p = 0.001, and 0.360 ± 0.300 ng/ml for ICH, p = 0.002). There was a relationship between CmNgb, delay of occurrence of the first symptoms of the stroke (3.140 ± 2.700 ng/ml before the 6th hour, and 0.643 ± 0.244 ng/ml after the 6th hour (p = 0.003) and the volume of the hematoma (p = 0.0027). None relationship existed between CmNgb, Glasgow coma scale (p = 0.427) and short-term mortality (CmNgb = 3.95 ng/ml in survivors versus 2.65 ng/ml in deceased p = 0.060). Conclusion: This study shows that the plasma concentration of Neuroglobin is high during stroke in humans in the acute phase. This elevation follows triphasic kinetics and appears to be more important during infarction than hemorrhage. These results suggest that CmNgb can be used as a diagnostic marker for stroke in adult at the acute phase, by differentiating ischemia from hemorrhage. However, this work needs to be confirmed on a larger sample of patients.
Serum cystatin C as an early marker of Acute Kidney Injury in elderly patients after surgery for femur fracture. An observational study

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is prevalent in hospitalized patients, primarily in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. AKI is associated with increased morbimortality, and patients would benefit from a very early diagnosis that would allow implementation of specific therapeutic or additional prophylactic measures. The present study evaluated serum cystatin C as an early predictor of AKI in elderly patients during the postoperative period. Methods: Fifty-nine patients, aged 60 years or older undergoing correction of femur fracture under spinal anaesthesia, were prospectively evaluated up to 48 hours after surgery. Serum cystatin C was measured immediately after surgery and four (early marker) and 24 hours after surgery. The diagnosis of AKI was based on creatinine values up to 48 hours after surgery (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, KDIGO), and the impact of serum cystatin C on the diagnosis of AKI was evaluated four hours after surgery.
Intermediation and Vertical Integration in the Market for Surgeons

Health care markets are increasingly dominated by large, highly-integrated systems. Understanding the impact of this integration on market outcomes is central to designing good antitrust and regulatory policy. Integration presents a central efficiency trade-off: It may improve the productive efficiency of care through coordination between primary care providers (PCPs) and specialists, but it may also reduce allocative efficiency by allowing systems to distort PCPs’ care recommendations through encouragement to steer patient referrals towards affiliated specialists. We study how these forces shape referrals to orthopedic joint surgeons in Massachusetts. We find that both are present, but that internal referrals are primarily driven by anticompetitive steering rather than efficiencies, and removing steering incentives would reduce internal referrals by over half. Counterintuitively, dis-integrating health systems would increase expected costs by 5%. We find that this is explained by the absence of referral cost-sensitivity. In the status quo, the only forces that improve allocative efficiency are the steering efforts of low-cost systems. We study insurers’ attempts to enhance competition through the use of “global budget” capitation contracts, which force PCPs to bear a share of the cost of their referrals. We find that the introduction of capitation contracts do introduce cost-sensitivity and shift referrals towards orthopedists who are 36% less expensive. Nonetheless, these incentives would need to have 42% stronger effects to offset the efficiency losses of dis-integration. ∗Zarek Brot-Goldberg is deeply grateful to his dissertation committee—Ben Handel, Kei Kawai, and Jon Kolstad—for their invaluable guidance and encouragement. We additionally thank Natalie Bachas, Giovanni Compiani, Keith Ericson, Joe Farrell, Kim Geissler, Jen Gong, Sean Higgins, Jonathan Holmes, Abigail Jacobs, Jennifer Kwok, Jon Schellenberg, Yotam Shem-Tov, Mark Shepard, Avner Shlain, Katalin Springel, Toby Stuart, Ashley Swanson, Tiffany Tsai, Boris Vabson, and seminar participants at UC Berkeley (IO and Haas EAP) for helpful comments. All errors are our own.
Novel techniques to suppress the common mode EMI noise caused by transformer parasitic capacitances in DC-DC converters

This paper proposes novel EMI suppression techniques for dc-dc converters. For low-voltage, high-current applications, windings are paralleled and interleaved. Although low conduction loss and low leakage inductance can be achieved, the winding capacitances are considerably increased, thereby deteriorating the converter's EMI and soft switching performance. To solve these problems, a novel balanced choke concept is proposed, as well as other techniques. The advantages of the proposed concepts and strategies are verified and demonstrated on a 1kW, 1MHz, 400V/12V LLC resonant converter prototype. More than 52dB noise attenuation and 75% winding capacitances reduction are achieved. Hence, EMI and soft switching performance are significantly improved.
The 1-Year Results of Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection in Patients with Chronic Unilateral Radicular Pain: The Relation to MRI Findings and Clinical Features

Objective In patients with chronic radicular pain, we aimed to evaluate subgroup differences in 1-yr response to transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Design In this longitudinal cohort study of 100 subjects, 170 transforaminal epidural steroid injections were performed for 1 yr. The sample was stratified by type of disc herniation (protrusion n = 57, extrusion n = 27), by location of disc herniation (central/subarticular n = 60, foraminal n = 24), by grade of nerve root compression (low-grade compression n = 61, high-grade subarticular nerve compression n = 14, high-grade foraminal nerve compression n = 25), and by positive Slump test (n = 67). Treatment response was evaluated by visual analogue scale leg pain and self-reported disability (Oswestry Disability Index). Logistic regression was used to analyze the predictive value of baseline characteristics including the stratified subgroups. Results High-grade subarticular nerve compression predicted the 1-yr improvement in both visual analogue scale leg pain (P = 0.046) and Oswestry Disability Index (P = 0.027). Low age (P < 0.001), short duration of leg pain (P = 0.015), and central/subarticular disc herniation (P = 0.017) predicted improvement in Oswestry Disability Index. Conclusions In patients treated with one or several transforaminal epidural steroid injections due to chronic lumbar radicular pain, clinical findings failed to predict the 1-yr treatment response. Low age, short duration of leg pain, central/subarticular disc herniation, and high-grade subarticular nerve compression predicted a favorable 1-yr response to transforaminal epidural steroid injection.
An Examination of UV-Induced Bystander Effects and the Repair of a UV-Damaged Reporter Gene in Human Cells

We have used a non-replicating recombinant adenovirus, AdCA11lacZ, which expresses the ~-galactosidase (~-gal) reporter gene under the control of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early (HCMV-IE) promoter, to examine host cell reactivation (HCR) of a UVC-damaged reporter gene in human fibroblasts. Since ~-gal expression in mammalian cells is expected to occur following transcription of a lesion-free lacZ reporter gene, the removal of UV-induced DNA lesions and subsequent ~gal expression is a measure of the DNA repair capacity of the infected cell. In the present work, we have examined HCR and UV-enhanced HCR of the UV-damaged reporter construct, AdCA11lacZ, in normal and nucleotide excision repair (NER) deficient fibroblasts. Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) group C and E fibroblasts are deficient in the global genome pathway (GGR) of NER, while Cockayne syndrome (CS) fibroblasts are deficient in the transcription-coupled repair pathway (TCR) of NER and XP group A fibroblasts are deficient in both TCR and GGR. HCR of the UV-damaged reporter gene activity was significantly reduced in XP-A, XP-C, XP-E and CS-B cell strains relative to that in normal human fibroblasts, indicating that both TCR and GGR contribute to expression of the UV-damaged reporter gene in human cells. Pre-treatment of human fibroblasts with UVC (12 J/m) immediately prior to infection results in enhanced HCR of the UV-damaged reporter gene. UV-enhanced HCR of the UV-damaged reporter gene was detected in normal fibroblasts at 12 hr post-infection and in CS-B, XP-C and XP-E fibroblasts, but not XP-A fibroblasts at 24 and 40 hr post-infection. These results indicate that both TCR and GGR are UV-inducible in human cells.
Vegetative Development and Productivity of the Watermelon under Different Irrigation Depths in the Northwest Region of Espírito Santo

Brazil is one of the main producers of watermelon crops (Citrullus lanatus), which present great water requirement and offer in their irrigated cultivation, when well managed, the possibility of productive gains and fruit quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity and the vegetative development of the plant and the watermelon fruits of the ‘Top Gun’ cultivar submitted to different irrigation depths in the Northwestern region of Espírito Santo. The experiment was carried out in the horticulture sector of the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo-Campus Itapina, from September 30, 2017 to December 15, 2017. A completely randomized design was used consisting of six treatments corresponding to 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, 150% and 175% of the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) calculated daily, with four repetitions of each treatment. The length of the branches of all the selected plants and the longitudinal and transverse lengths of their fruits were evaluated weekly. In the last analysis, the fruit weight was also collected and the productivity was estimated. Development and differentiated production responses were verified with the different depths applied. Water replacements corresponding to the 125% ETo leaf gave the best vegetative and productive development of the watermelon ‘Top Gun’ cultivar, cultivated in the northwestern region of Espírito Santo.