Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
School Education and the Lack of Parent Information

Many Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries publish school rankings annually, based on the aggregated student performance of different schools in the (high-stakes) board examinations. The literature cites two reasons in favour of the public availability of information on school performance: first, the highly valued imperative of providing parents information that will enable them to make more informed school choices for their children, and, second, the idea that when parents are better informed, poorly performing schools are under greater pressure to be accountable for improving their quality in order to compete to attract students. Detractors fear that rankings reflect not only the schools’ quality but also the family backgrounds of their students. This article examines evidence for the claim that when school rankings are published, school quality increases. It also examines the ways in which countries ensure that school rankings reflect school quality and not the home backgrounds of their students. The article shows how school rankings based on subject performance can help principals diagnose the teaching of which subjects needs strengthening, and reveals how rankings can help parents choose from among all the schools in the neighbourhood of a city. The article also demonstrates that objective school rankings (based on exam results) and subjective school rankings (based on the perceptions of principals and parents of ‘academic reputation’) differ substantially, with a correlation coefficient of only around 0.6–0.7. This suggests that subjective ‘academic reputation’ rankings are not a good substitute for objective rankings, and that stakeholders are not well informed about the actual academic standards of schools, a situation that strengthens the case for the public provision of information about school results. The article argues for the need for a healthy debate in India about the efficacy and relevance of school rankings as a way of improving school accountability and raising standards.
How do Practitioners Perceive the Relevance of Requirements Engineering Research? An Ongoing Study

The relevance of Requirements Engineering (RE) research to practitioners is a prerequisite for problem-driven research in the area and key for a long-term dissemination of research results to everyday practice. To understand better how industry practitioners perceive the practical relevance of RE research, we have initiated the RE-Pract project, an international collaboration conducting an empirical study. This project opts for a replication of previous work done in two different domains and relies on survey research. To this end, we have designed a survey to be sent to several hundred industry practitioners at various companies around the world and ask them to rate their perceived practical relevance of the research described in a sample of 418 RE papers published between 2010 and 2015 at the RE, ICSE, FSE, ESEC/FSE, ESEM and REFSQ conferences. In this paper, we summarize our research protocol and present the current status of our study and the planned future steps
Pax2 is expressed in a subpopulation of Müller cells in the central chick retina

Müller cells in the chick retina are generally thought to be a homogeneous population. We show that the transcription factor Pax2 is expressed by Müller cells in the central chick retina and its expression was first observed at stage 32 (embryonic day [E] 7.5). Birth‐dating indicated that the majority of Pax2‐positive Müller cells are generated between stage 29 and 33 (E5.5–E8). At stage 42 (E16), several Müller cell markers, such as Sox2 and 2M6, had reached the peripheral retina, while the Pax2 labeling extended approximately half‐way. A similar pattern was maintained in the 6‐month‐old chicken. Neither the Pax2‐positive nor the Pax2‐negative Müller cells could be specifically associated to proliferative responses in the retina induced by growth factors or N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate. Pax2 was not detected in Müller cells in mouse, rat, guinea‐pig, rabbit, or pig retinas; but the zebrafish retina displayed a similar pattern of central Pax2‐expressing Müller cells. Developmental Dynamics 239:1858–1866, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Subjective Quality of Choice Technique: Qualitative Dimensions of Choice as a Self-Orientation Activity

This article is dedicated to the analysis of the main parameters of choice as a self-determination activity and to the elaboration of a special tool for their assessment. Our aim was to allocate process-related subjective indicators of the quality of concrete choices. We developed and validated a 16-item questionnaire called the Subjective quality of choice technique which measures four qualitative dimensions of choice: mindfulness, emotional valence, self-determination, and satisfaction with the outcome. This four-factor structure of choice parameters was relatively invariant in different real life situations of significant choices (local elections, university attendance, vocational orientation at high school, etc.). The Subjective quality of choice technique allows us to explicate the subjective picture of making personal choice as an intrinsically vs. extrinsically regulated process and to study its phenomenology.
Nitric Oxide Stimulates ACTH Secretion and the Transcription of the Genes Encoding for NGFI-B, Corticotropin-Releasing Factor, Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 1, and Vasopressin in the Hypothalamus of the Intact Rat

We investigated the effect of the intracerebroventricular injection of the nitric oxide (NO) donor 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1) on the release of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and the neuronal response of hypothalamic neurons responsible for this release. Rats that were administered SIN-1 showed significant elevations in plasma ACTH levels, a response that was virtually abolished by antibodies against corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and significantly blunted by vasopressin (VP) antiserum. SIN-1 also upregulated heteronuclear (hn) transcripts for CRF and VP and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for the immediate early gene NGFI-B and for CRF receptor type 1 (CRF-R1) in the parvocellular portion of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. Blockade of prostaglandin synthesis with ibuprofen did not alter the ACTH or the PVN response to SIN-1. The central nucleus of the amygdala and the supraoptic nucleus, regions that are involved in autonomic adjustments to altered cardiovascular activity, also responded to SIN-1 with elevated NGFI-B mRNA levels. However, the only change in mean arterial blood pressure caused by this NO donor was a transient and modest increase. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that in the intact rat NO stimulates the activity of PVN neurons that control the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It must be noted, however, that our results do not allow us to determine whether this effect was direct or mediated through PVN afferents. This study should help resolve the controversy generated by the use of isolated brain tissues to investigate the net effect of NO on hypothalamic peptide production.
An Approach to Exception Handling for Service-Oriented Systems

This paper sets out key issues of exception handling that relate to identifying, analyzing and dealing with an exception in service-oriented systems. Then required concepts, basic structures and algorithms for the Ml-Eh are discussed. The new concepts include the super-space of exception definitions, the meta-definition mode, and components in an exception message. The main characteristics of the Ml-Eh are a uniform definition mode, dynamical extensibility, and abilities of configurable analyses and encapsulations, and a message-level combination. Finally, implementation and evaluation of the mechanism is given
Tissue transglutaminase expression and activity in normal and glaucomatous human trabecular meshwork cells and tissues.

PURPOSE Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in the world. A major risk factor for glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure due to increased resistance of aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular meshwork (TM). In the glaucomatous TM, there is increased accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) material due to a disruption of the normal balance between ECM deposition and degradation. Tissue transglutaminase (TGM2) belongs to a family of calcium-dependent enzymes that catalyze the posttranslational modification of the ECM by cross-linking proteins, thus making these proteins resistant to enzymatic and physical degradation. It is possible that the increase in ECM proteins in the glaucomatous TM is due to increased cross-linking activity of TGM2. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in expression and activity of TGM2 between normal and glaucoma TM cells and tissues. METHODS Normal (n = 3 NTM) and glaucomatous (n = 3 GTM) human TM cell lines were grown until confluent. Western immunoblot analysis of cell lysates was used to compare TGM2 protein levels in NTM and GTM cells. TGM2 enzyme activity between NTM and GTM cells was studied by using a biotin cadaverine assay. In addition, immunohistochemistry of three normal and three glaucomatous TM tissues was used to evaluate the in vivo expression of TGM2, fibronectin (FN) and epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl) lysine (GGEL) proteins. RESULTS Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of TGM2 protein in both NTM and GTM cells. There was an increase in TGM2 protein in GTM cells compared with NTM cells, and GTM cells also had increased in TGM2 enzyme activity compared with NTM cells. Immunohistochemical results demonstrated increased expression of TGM2 and FN in GTM tissues. FN and GGEL proteins were colocalized in GTM tissues, indicating significant cross-linking of FN by TGM2. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that both NTM and GTM cells express TGM2. In addition, TGM2 protein levels and enzyme activities were elevated in GTM cells. There was also an increase in colocalization of FN and GGEL protein in GTM tissues. These results indicate that TGM2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma by cross-linking ECM proteins such as FN and thus making the ECM more resistant to degradation.
Stochastically stable robust observer for uncertain chaotic systems with system and measurement noises

This paper presents a new chaos synchronization scheme based on the proposed stochastic adaptive sliding mode observer. The observer overcomes the drive system model uncertainties and unknown parameters to recover the drive system chaotic states form a scalar noisy coupling signal. Using the appropriate adaptation low the unknown parameters of the drive system are estimated and used to boost the state estimations. In addition, drive system state noise, channel noise, and measurement noise, are considered and the system and observer are modeled via stochastic differential equations. Stochastic stability of the drive-response system is proved through several theorems. These theorems guarantee that the mean values of the state estimation errors converge to zero as time goes to infinity. In the observer the adaptive sliding mode gains are always nonsingular even when the estimation error goes to zero. Presented numerical simulations confirm the effectiveness of the proposed observer and chaos synchronization scheme.
Surviving respiratory insufficiency with intensive care support in a pretreated, extensively metastasized patient with an EML4-ALK translocation.

Journal of Thoracic Oncology • Volume 8, Number 1, January 2013 A never-smoking 26-year-old woman presented at an outpatient clinic in February 2011 with cough, back pain, and weight loss. A computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a mass in the left lung, multiple bone, liver, and adrenal gland metastases. A liver biopsy revealed an adenocarcinoma originating from the lung (thyroid transcription factor-1 positive, EGFR and K-RAS wild type). She was treated with cisplatin and pemetrexed, with stable disease after two cycles. Treatment continued with two cycles carboplatin and paclitaxel with again stable disease. In the period from March till June she was radiated two times for symptomatic bone metastases. Next, she received erlotinib for 2 months, until progression occurred with a new metastasis in her right eye. In September, 1 month later, she gradually developed a paresis in both legs because of vertebral metastases that was treated with a single fraction of 8 Gy radiation. In October 2011, the tumor was tested positive for echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocation by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Crizotinib 250 mg twice daily was started. After 3 days of treatment, she deteriorated and developed respiratory failure because of a right-sided pneumonia and pulmonary embolism on top of her massive tumor deposition throughout her body. She was transferred to the intensive care unit for noninvasive ventilation, antibiotics, and low-molecular heparin, in addition to crizotinib. Two days later, she reported sight in her previously blind right eye. Within a week, she was discharged to our regular ward and home in the next week. After 6 weeks, she returned to our outpatient clinic in a good condition. Her preexisting paresis remained stable. CT showed a partial response (55% tumor decrease, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1, Fig. 1B). At 12 and 18 weeks, further clinical improvement was observed and with positron emission tomography/CT imaging a near-complete response (>90% tumor decrease) was noticed (Fig. 1C). At 6 months fluorodeoxyglucose uptake increased slightly in a few liver metastases, with a continuing partial response on CT (Fig. 1D). The patient is still receiving crizotinib at 47 weeks.
Teaching Organisation Theory in Public Administration: Towards Administrative Practice Standards

A major challenge for teachers of organisation theory and behaviour is the fact that some students appear to think that theory is just theory. For example, some comments by students reflect their view that theory exists on its own with no connection to the real world. Comments like "that's just theory" and "in the real world" suggest that some students may discern theory and practice as separate entities. Historically, organisation theory (OT) research has suggested numerous perspectives on the value of theory to practising administrators. In the OT classes in which this author is involved, students often have difficulty appreciating the possibility that most personal behaviour is in some way based on a foundation of personal theory and values. This is so even though one may not be aware of the theoretical basis for that behaviour. Consequently, what students perceive to be theory for theory's sake may be no more than a recognition of the gap between theory and practice. To the extent that preferred behaviour does not match the theoretical ought to be, the theory/practice gap will always exist. This paper identifies praxis relative to professional decision-making in organisations as one substantive OT content area in which future research on administrative behaviour is likely to be of interest to practitioners and academics alike. The paper suggests that an heuristic such as the organisational diagnostician model (ODM) is one way for practitioners to reduce the gap between theory and practice. The paper concludes with pedagogically relevant questions about the implications of the ODM for administrative practice standards. In the context of this paper, praxis refers to the extension of knowledge to practice and focuses on problems associated with a definition of learning that require a change in behaviour to demonstrate one's knowledge of a theoretical concept. Thus, this paper proposes a decision-making model which may be of help to students who want to improve their decision-making ability and may also be of value for instructors seeking one more way to teach OT students about decision-making. Examining a theoretical issue such as decision-making relative to praxis extends the proposal suggested by Sanders (1994) in an initial
Manpower options in a small labour-importing state: the influence of ethnic composition on Kuwait's development.

Trends in the ethnic composition of the Kuwaiti labor force during recent years are discussed, and the effects on the country's development are assessed. The focus is on the likely shift since the Gulf War toward importing cheaper Asian labor. "The purpose of this paper is to assess whether this is a realistic alternative towards reducing the overall cost of the expatriate labour force. Which areas of the economy would be most promising in this regard? What are the economic costs? The implicit assumption throughout the analysis.is that the country will quickly restore its economy to the structure existing at the time of the invasion. " (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA)
A 2D Cell Stay Time and Movement Direction-based Reservation Scheme for WLAN Clusters with Active and Passive Advanced Reservations

QoS guarantee is a very important issue in wireless communications, when mobile nodes move among different coverage areas. This paper presents a novel 2D reservation scheme for WLAN environments. A general prediction technique based both on the analysis of Cell Stay Time (CST) and on the direction probabilities of hand-in and hand-out events of mobile nodes from wireless cells is outlined. In particular, a threshold-based algorithm is presented, trying to take into account the mobility behavior of mobile users, through the analysis of a directional probabilities matrix. An integrated architecture able to make active and passive reservations has been employed as a possible application of the proposed approach. Many simulations have been carried out and a performance analysis has been performed, finding a good tradeoff between bandwidth utilization and prediction error.
The Cochlear Implant: Historical Aspects and Future Prospects

The cochlear implant (CI) is the first effective treatment for deafness and severe losses in hearing. As such, the CI is now widely regarded as one of the great advances in modern medicine. This article reviews the key events and discoveries that led up to the current CI systems, and we review and present some among the many possibilities for further improvements in device design and performance. The past achievements include: (1) development of reliable devices that can be used over the lifetime of a patient; (2) development of arrays of implanted electrodes that can stimulate more than one site in the cochlea; and (3) progressive and large improvements in sound processing strategies for CIs. In addition, cooperation between research organizations and companies greatly accelerated the widespread availability and use of safe and effective devices. Possibilities for the future include: (1) use of otoprotective drugs; (2) further improvements in electrode designs and placements; (3) further improvements in sound processing strategies; (4) use of stem cells to replace lost sensory hair cells and neural structures in the cochlea; (5) gene therapy; (6) further reductions in the trauma caused by insertions of electrodes and other manipulations during implant surgeries; and (7) optical rather electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. Each of these possibilities is the subject of active research. Although great progress has been made to date in the development of the CI, including the first substantial restoration of a human sense, much more progress seems likely and certainly would not be a surprise. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Visual Acuity with Reversed-Contrast Charts: I. Theoretical and Psychophysical Investigations

When the contrast polarity of a visual acuity chart is reversed by using bright letters on a dark background instead of dark on light, the shape and height of the resolution feature in the retinal image is identical but inverted compared with the normal situation. However, the contrast is different in the two cases because the background light level, which is a dividing factor when contrast is calculated, is much less when only the letters are bright. To the extent that contrast is a limiting factor in visual acuity, reversed-contrast acuity would be expected to be better, and proportionally more so in eyes where light scatter and aberrations widen and flatten the point-spread function. In a careful psychophysical study of Landolt C resolution, the minimum angle of resolution was found to be significantly smaller for white letters on a dark background than for the traditional dark on bright situation.
The growth of phonemic and lexical patterns in infant language

This study is based on a record of my daughter Joan's speech from her eleventh to her thirty-sixth month. ' It will deal chiefly with phonemic and lexical matters. For, apart from other reasons which will be discussed below, the morphological and syntactical development in the language of English-speaking children has been well described in numerous works, while only two authors have hitherto been concerned, implicitly or explicitly, with problems of phonemics in infant language,2 and as regards vocabulary patterns, it is impossible to glean any information from the customary alphabetical word lists.3 In a multitude of books on infant language it has been established that the acquisition of language properly speaking is preceded by a period, called 'babillage' (by H. Delacroix), 'Lallperiode' (by K. Bfihler), or babbling stage, during which the speech organs are developed and incessantly exercised. Even the most outlandish sounds, i.e. speech sounds which the child has certainly never heard, may be produced and perfectly articulated during this time. An American child may pronounce velar spirants, voiceless nasals, retroflex sibilants, etc. During the early stages a uvular r is quite common.4 Joan was particularly addicted (3d to 8th) to velar g-sounds and to voiceless palatal spirants.5 At the end of this stage, i.e. with the first appearance of phonemes, the ability to produce a multitude of speech sounds seems to vanish overnight. " However,
Design of slotted waveguide antenna array at W band

In this paper, a slotted waveguide antenna array at W band is proposed. The design procedure of the radiating element parameter extracting and the synthesis of planar array are introduced. A 9 × 9 slotted waveguide antenna array is designed and simulated. The results show that the Gain of the antenna is about 26.3dBi and the bandwidth is about 2.1GHz.
Control of Platoons of Nonholonomic Vehicles Using Redundant Manipulator Analogs

In this work we consider methods for control of platoons of cooperating nonholonomic vehicles using techniques based on redundant manipulator control. The class of tricycle-like robots is chosen, as it possesses significant limitations and represents a vast class of real vehicles with application beyond the basic differential drive. The method presented accounts for limitations on both steering and speed. The efficacy of the technique is shown through simulation studies.
A Multi-agent based model for urban demand-responsive transport system intelligent control

This research presents a multi-agent based urban demand responsive transport (DRT) system intelligent control model, which adopts a practical multi-agents planning approach for urban DRT services control that satisfies the main constraints: minimize total slack time, travel time, waiting time, clientpsilas special requests, and using minimum number of vehicle. In this paper, we propose an agent based multi-layer distributed hybrid planning model for the real-time problem which can solve this question. In the proposed method, an agent for each vehicle finds a set of routes by its local search, and selects a route by cooperation with other agents in its planning domain. By computational experiments, we examine the effectiveness of the proposed method.