Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A superintendent's responses to public school choice: an inductive multicase study of school choice policies in Massachusetts.

This qualitative case study interviewed four public school superintendents to explore their experiences and decision-making in the face of competition from charter schools and interdistrict school choice. Legislation in Massachusetts in the early 1990’s provided parents the option to send their children to a charter school or another public school district outside of the family’s hometown. The study focused upon the leaders of four of the ten public school districts on Cape Cod between the years of 2005 and 2010. During this time, Cape school districts were losing students to charter schools and to neighboring districts through inter-district school choice. These enrollment losses were further magnified by a demographic decline in the school-aged population. All of the districts in this study tried to retain their resident students while actively recruiting choice students from other districts; some districts were more successful at maintaining and even augmenting enrollment than others. There were clear winners and losers in this melee of school choice competition. The district experiencing the least competitive pressure did not appear to innovate in the face of competition, whereas, the other three districts appeared to respond to the market dynamics and improved their program in hopes of retaining and recruiting more students. Each of the superintendents reported some benefits from school choice competition, but there was a darker side to this competition, including a diminished sense of community and disproportional loss of involved parents in some districts and a lack of collaboration amongst the region’s school districts.
UOFC-AINet: A Fuzzy Immune Network for Unsupervised Optimal Clustering

Inspired by biological immunity mechanism, a novel immune network model named as UOFC-AINet was proposed to specifically perform unsupervised optimal fuzzy clustering. The bottom layer of UOFC-AINet generated optimal centroids of clusters with given cluster number and network parameters, which were controlled by the top layer of UOFC- AINet. Unlike aiNet immune network for data analysis, each antibody in the UOFC-AINet immune network was encoded by a possible solution and optimal antibodies in the network were evolved according to objective function of fuzzy clustering. Based on the clone, mutation, network suppression and influx of new cells, the UOFC-AINet network is capable of maintaining local optima solutions, exploring the global optima and dynamically set number of clusters and parameters of the immune network. The algorithm was described theoretically and compared with similar approaches experimentally. The results of experiments were evaluated with validity measures and visualized by PCA and fuzzy Sammon mapping.
In Utero and Childhood Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Exposures and Neurodevelopment in the CHAMACOS Study

background: California children’s exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs) are among the highest worldwide. PBDEs are known endocrine disruptors and neurotoxicants in animals. Objective: Here we investigate the relation of in utero and child PBDE exposure to neurobehavioral development among participants in CHAMACOS (Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas), a California birth cohort. Methods: We measured PBDEs in maternal prenatal and child serum samples and examined the association of PBDE concentrations with children’s attention, motor functioning, and cognition at 5 (n = 310) and 7 years of age (n = 323). Results: Maternal prenatal PBDE concentrations were associated with impaired attention as measured by a continuous performance task at 5 years and maternal report at 5 and 7 years of age, with poorer fine motor coordination—particularly in the nondominant—at both age points, and with decrements in Verbal and Full-Scale IQ at 7 years. PBDE concentrations in children 7 years of age were significantly or marginally associated with concurrent teacher reports of attention problems and decrements in Processing Speed, Perceptual Reasoning, Verbal Comprehension, and Full-Scale IQ. These associations were not altered by adjustment for birth weight, gestational age, or maternal thyroid hormone levels. Conclusions: Both prenatal and childhood PBDE exposures were associated with poorer attention, fine motor coordination, and cognition in the CHAMACOS cohort of school-age children. This study, the largest to date, contributes to growing evidence suggesting that PBDEs have adverse impacts on child neurobehavioral development.
Population fragmentation and inter-ecosystem movements of grizzly bears in western Canada and the northern United States

Population fragmentation compromises population viability, reduces a species ability to respond to climate change, and ultimately may reduce biodiversity. We studied the current state and potential causes of fragmentation in grizzly bears over approximately 1,000,000 km 2 of western Canada, the northern United States (US), and southeast Alaska. We compiled much of our data from projects undertaken with a variety of research objectives including population estimation and trend, landscape fragmentation, habitat selection, vital rates, and response to human development. Our primary analytical techniques stemmed from genetic analysis of 3,134 bears, supplemented with radiotelemetry data from 792 bears. We used 15 locus microsatellite data coupled with measures of genetic distance, isolation-by-distance (IBD) analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), linear multiple regression, multi-factorial correspondence analysis (to identify population divisions or fractures with no a priori assumption of group membership), and population-assignment methods to detect individual migrants between immediately adjacent areas. These data corroborated observations of inter-area movements from our telemetry database. In northern areas, we found a spatial genetic pattern of IBD, although there was evidence of natural fragmentation from the rugged heavily glaciated coast mountains of British Columbia (BC) and the Yukon. These results contrasted with the spatial pattern of fragmentation in more southern parts of their distribution. Near the Canada-US border area, we found extensive fragmentation that corresponded to settled mountain valleys and major highways. Genetic distances across developed valleys were elevated relative to those across undeveloped valleys in central and northern BC. In disturbed areas, most inter-area movements detected were made by male bears, with few female migrants identified. North-south movements within mountain ranges (Mts) and across BC Highway 3 were more common than east-west movements across settled mountain valleys separating Mts. Our results suggest that relatively distinct subpopulations exist in this region, including the Cabinet, Selkirk South, and the decades- isolated Yellowstone populations. Current movement rates do not appear sufficient to consider the subpopulations we identify along the Canada-US border as 1 inter-breeding unit. Although we detected enough male movement to mediate gene flow, the current low rate of female movement detected among areas is insufficient to provide a demographic rescue effect between areas in the immediate future (0-15 yr). In Alberta, we found fragmentation corresponded to major east-west highways (Highways 3, 11, 16, and 43) and most inter-area movements were made by males. Gene flow and movement rates between Alberta and BC were highest across the Continental Divide
Design Principles of Columnar Organization in Visual Cortex

Visual space is represented by cortical cells in an orderly manner. Only little variation in the cell behavior is found with changing depth below the cortical surface, that is, all cells in a column with axis perpendicular to the cortical plane have approximately the same properties (Hubel and Wiesel 1962, 1963, 1968). Therefore, the multiple features of the visual space (e.g., position in visual space, preferred orientation, and orientation tuning strength) are mapped on a two-dimensional space, the cortical plane. Such a dimension reduction leads to complex maps (Durbin and Mitchison 1990) that so far have evaded an intuitive understanding. Analyzing optical imaging data (Blasdel 1992a, b; Blasdel and Salama 1986; Grinvald et al. 1986) using a theoretical approach we will show that the most salient features of these maps can be understood from a few basic design principles: local correlation, modularity, isotropy, and homogeneity. These principles can be defined in a mathematically exact sense in the Fourier domain by a rather simple annulus-like spectral structure. Many of the models that have been developed to explain the mapping of the preferred orientations (Cooper et al. 1979; Legendy 1978; Linsker 1986a, b; Miller 1992; Nass and Cooper 1975; Obermayer et al. 1990, 1992; Soodak 1987; Swindale 1982, 1985, 1992; von der Malsburg 1973; von der Malsburg and Cowan 1982) are quite successful in generating maps that are close to experimental maps. We suggest that this success is due to these principles, which are common properties of the models and of biological maps.
The Boston keratoprosthesis provides a wide depth of focus

To measure the through‐focus curve for eyes implanted with a type 1 Boston keratoprosthesis (KPro) and compare it to that of pseudophakic controls with fixed pupil sizes. The results should assist in evaluating postoperative visual quality after surgery. They should also help to determine the necessary KPro inventories in terms of refractive power steps.
Simulation-based capacity estimates for local broadcast transmissions

The periodic transmission of status updates by all vehicles in a vehicular network represents a service primitive that forms the basis for a lot of envisioned applications, in particular safety related ones. Due to the limited resources that a wireless communication system like IEEE 802.11p is capable to provide, the question raises how much data each node may provide to the system such that the information can still be delivered with the quality of service required by the applications. In this work, local broadcasts capacity is introduced together with straight-forward upper and lower bounds, and estimated by extensive detailed simulations. We show that the ratio of simulation-based capacity estimates and the upper bound is similar for a wide range of system configurations and that the communication system may only be used up to 22% of its upper capacity bound such that service requirements can still be fulfilled.
The influence of advertisements and religious factors on condom use intentions among married male Muslims in Pakistan

Despite government measures to control birth rate in Pakistan and spreading awareness about family planning through advertisements, Pakistani population growth rate is still high. In Pakistan, advertisements of contraceptives are cursed because advertisements are labeled as indecent, immoral, anti-cultural and anti-religion. For instance, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned advertisements of “Josh condom” because of the complaints and pressure of the Pakistani people as they argued that the advertisements disregard to their religious values. However, facts revealed that Josh condom sale recorded a sharp increase after the ban of the advertisements. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of condom advertisements on attitude toward advertisements of condoms (AtAc) and behavioral intentions of Pakistani married male Muslims to use condoms (BI). Religious factors namely religious beliefs (RB), religious leaders (RL), religiosity (REL) and subjective norms (SN) were also incorporated into the study because of their relevancy in an advertising context. The mediating role of AtAc and the moderating role of REL was also the focus of the study. Data were collected from the Pakistani married male Muslims using a cross-sectional study design. The study adopted snowball sampling and gathered data from 213 respondents through the personally-administered method. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the study hypotheses. Findings of the study show that PF, RB, SN, and AtAc are important factors in influencing condom use intentions of Pakistani married male Muslims. Results also revealed that AtAc significantly mediates between the relationship of PF and BI and religiosity significantly moderates between the relationship of PF, RL, and BI. Conclusively, this research has added valuable contributions, both practically and theoretically in the advertising field. It also contributed to the Theory of Planned Behavior by adding variables which are significant in determining the behavioral intention. It is also beneficial for those who want to advertise products especially controversial products in Pakistani media
Nasal Chemosensory-Stimulation Evoked Activity Patterns in the Rat Trigeminal Ganglion Visualized by In Vivo Voltage-Sensitive Dye Imaging

Mammalian nasal chemosensation is predominantly mediated by two independent neuronal pathways, the olfactory and the trigeminal system. Within the early olfactory system, spatiotemporal responses of the olfactory bulb to various odorants have been mapped in great detail. In contrast, far less is known about the representation of volatile chemical stimuli at an early stage in the trigeminal system, the trigeminal ganglion (TG), which contains neurons directly projecting to the nasal cavity. We have established an in vivo preparation that allows high-resolution imaging of neuronal population activity from a large region of the rat TG using voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs). Application of different chemical stimuli to the nasal cavity elicited distinct, stimulus-category specific, spatiotemporal activation patterns that comprised activated as well as suppressed areas. Thus, our results provide the first direct insights into the spatial representation of nasal chemosensory information within the trigeminal ganglion imaged at high temporal resolution.
Across time , across the body Transversal temporal gestures

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Solving OSCAR regularization problems by proximal splitting algorithms

The OSCAR (octagonal selection and clustering algorithm for regression) regularizer consists of a ‘1 norm plus a pair-wise ‘1 norm (responsible for its grouping behavior) and was proposed to encourage group sparsity in scenarios where the groups are a priori unknown. The OSCAR regularizer has a nontrivial proximity operator, which limits its applicability. We reformulate this regularizer as a weighted sorted ‘1 norm, and propose its grouping proximity operator (GPO) and approximate proximity operator (APO), thus making state-of-the-art proximal splitting algorithms (PSAs) available to solve inverse problems with OSCAR regularization. The GPO is in fact the APO followed by additional grouping and averaging operations, which are costly in time and storage, explaining the reason why algorithms with APO are much faster than that with GPO. The convergences of PSAs with GPO are guaranteed since GPO is an exact proximity operator. Although convergence of PSAs with APO is may not be guaranteed, we have experimentally found that APO behaves similarly to GPO when the regularization parameter of the pair-wise ‘1 norm is set to an appropriately small value. Experiments on recovery of group-sparse signals (with unknown groups) show that PSAs with APO are very fast and accurate.
An Information Model for Genome Map Representation and Assembly

In this paper, we focus on some of the scientiic data management problems faced by the Human Genome Project. In particular, we describe the design of an information model for the physical contig map assembly task. First, we present an object-oriented data schema that captures genomic data and their relationships required for this task, including the raw experimental data and the derived data gotten through analysis. Our genome object representation eeciently supports the maintenance of unordered, partially ordered, and completely ordered sets of data based on an overlap reene-ment hierarchy of interval relationships. We describe operators we have developed to automate analysis steps currently performed manually by the scientists. Examples are operators for inverting local orientation frames, for combining information in diierent frames into another more informative one, and for inferring additional overlap information using transitivity rules. In conclusion , we provide a walk-through example that demonstrates how our approach can be used to eeectively support some of the experiments currently performed by the scientists at the Michigan Human Genome Center. The authors are grateful to acknowledge partial nancial support from the NIH under grant NIH #P30HG00209-03.
CMIFed: a transportable hypermedia authoring system

Creating multimedia presentations can be a complex and time-consuming process. We believe that a key to reducing the authoring burden is the use of structure-based authoring tools [1], [2]. These allow the explicit manipulation of the structure of a presentation rather than the implicit manipulation of this structure via, for example, a time-line. The CMIF authoring system supports the composition of hypermedia presentations from existing media data objects. CMIF (CWI Multimedia Interchange Format) is a systemindependent representation for hypermedia presentations; CMIFed (CMIF editor) is the main tool for creating CMIF presentations [3]. CMIF presentations can contain text, images, video and audio. These are referred to as (media) data objects. The data objects are generally kept in separate files, which may use a number of standard formats (e.g. GIF, TIFF and JPEG images are all acceptable). The author can impose structure by placing data objects in a tree. Rough synchronization (presenting data objects in parallel) is obtained by marking a tree node as parallel. Fine synchronization (the specification of precise delays) can be added in the form of specific synchronization constraints. Interactivity is added to a presentation by creating hyperIinks, which can be attached to stretches of text or areas of images. The author has considerable freedom in the effect of activating a hyperlink — it may replace all or part of the current context or initiate an activity in a different context (a context can be thought of as part of the screen [4]). It is also possible to run external programs or scripts. CMIF defines (logical) “channels” to capture the essence of resources — a channel represents a particular screen area or another resource such as an audio channel. A media data object must be bound to a channel in order to be displayed or otherwise presented to the end user. The channel specifies default values for a variety of media-specific attributes such as fonts and colors. Thus, when a presentation style is changed in a channel, this change is propagated throughout the whole presentation. Channels form the key to the transportability of presentations created with CMIFed — essentially, when a presentation has channels objects. to be mapped to a new environment, ‘only the have to be mapped, not all individual media data In the video we show the basics of structure editing using the two main editing views of CMIFed: the Hierarchy View and the Channel View. The third main view, the Player, is also shown.
XML query-answering support system using association mining technique

The enormous amount of internet causes huge amount of data to be stored and processed which contains structured and semi structured formats. Due to extreme size of semi structured document, results of a particular query may be vast which leads to retrieving interpretable knowledge a tedious process. The query-answering system makes it achievable to make queries and retrieve results for XML documents and reduce processing of tremendous size data. This query-answering system uses XQuery, language for querying XML document. In this project, we propose a method for retrieving the results for the queries made by the users on the XML document. The original XML document is translated to Tree-based association rules (TAR) files which were formed by frequent patterns on the original document. TAR files provide intensional information on the structure and content of XML document. Also to propose a method for dynamically updating the TAR files when the dataset changes.
Using the Reality Interview improves the accuracy of the Criteria‐Based Content Analysis and Reality Monitoring

Active interviewing approaches can exploit the verbal differences between truthtellers and liars, thus improving detecting deception. One such method is the Reality Interview (RI) aimed to facilitate recall from truthtellers, while increasing the difficulty for liars. This study investigated whether the RI could improve the diagnostic accuracy of the Reality Monitoring and the Criteria-Based Content Analysis. Liars and truthtellers were either asked to freely recall an event or interviewed with the RI. As hypothesized, the RI improved the discriminability of Reality Monitoring and Criteria-Based Content Analysis over Free Recall. Honest responses were longer, and the RI increased the word count difference between honest and false statements. However, after correcting for word count, results were no longer significant, showing its importance for deception detection. Nonetheless, the RI increased verbal differences between truthtellers and liars, demonstrating that using the RI with verbal credibility assessment tools is a powerful combination for investigative interviewing.
Modifying the Scale-free Clustering Method

The aim of this study is to computationally classify, without supervision, the data points of a dataset containing real-life measurements pre-classified into two classes. The classification is done using two methods: the k-means method as a reference, and a modified version of previously presented method using a minimum spanning tree with a scale-free structure. The construction of a scale-free minimum spanning tree (SFMST) and its usage in clustering are presented, and the results of the modified SFMST clustering method are compared with the results obtained using the k-means method
On the Capability of Analysis Techniques in Requirements Engineering

Requirement Engineering methods recommend that particular techniques be used to analyse specific user needs. The capability of these techniques for easing understanding of and representing the user need is questionable, as most of these techniques are oriented to specific development approaches, that is, they are characterized by their orientation to specific ways of developing software. In order to study the development orientation of the different analysis techniques, a framework has been defined that groups the techniques used in the different analysis methods. These techniques have been evaluated according to five criteria: Amplitude, Computational bonds, Procedure of use, Design selection and Design derivation. The result of the evaluation shows that many of the analysis techniques are oriented to a specific software development approach in some degree. As conclusion, none of the technique types provides an adequate basis for supporting the analysis phase.