Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Empowering Elementary Teachers in Restructuring Schools: Dimensions To Guide the Mission.

Teacher empowerment is a cornerstone of educational reform efforts. This study'measured dimensions of teacher empowerment with a census of the 3,677 teachers in 169 Ohio public elementary schools initiating self-designed state-funded restructuring. Mailed surveys examined six dimensions of teacher empowerment (decision-making, professional growth, status, self-efficacy, autonomy, and impact) . A total of 1,888 teachers (51 percent) in 108 elementary schools (64 percent) completed and returned the surveys. Teachers rated their overall empowerment 3.93 on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Dimensional ratings were status (4.17), professional growth (4.29), self-efficacy (4.21), decision making (3.50), impact (3.69), and autonomy (3.38). There were no statistically significant differences in rating of empowerment by race/ethnicity or academic degree held. The finding of no difference in teachers' ratings of empowerment "across years of teaching experience" indicates that programs to increase skills and knowledge should be implemented at both preservice and inservice levels. Differences in ratings by gender suggest that educating elementary school teachers may require gender-specific guidelines. (Contains 29 references.) (SM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Empowering Elementary Teachers Running head: EMPOWERING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS Empowering Elementary Teachers in Restructuring Schools: Dimensions to Guide the Mission Beverly M. Klecker Eastern Kentucky University William E. Loadman The Ohio State University Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association New Orleans, LA November 6, 1998
Multivoxel Patterns in Fusiform Face Area Differentiate Faces by Sex and Race

Although prior research suggests that fusiform gyrus represents the sex and race of faces, it remains unclear whether fusiform face area (FFA)–the portion of fusiform gyrus that is functionally-defined by its preferential response to faces–contains such representations. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate whether FFA represents faces by sex and race. Participants were scanned while they categorized the sex and race of unfamiliar Black men, Black women, White men, and White women. Multivariate pattern analysis revealed that multivoxel patterns in FFA–but not other face-selective brain regions, other category-selective brain regions, or early visual cortex–differentiated faces by sex and race. Specifically, patterns of voxel-based responses were more similar between individuals of the same sex than between men and women, and between individuals of the same race than between Black and White individuals. By showing that FFA represents the sex and race of faces, this research contributes to our emerging understanding of how the human brain perceives individuals from two fundamental social categories.
Association between household food insecurity and nutritional outcomes among children in Northeastern of Peninsular Malaysia

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between household food insecurity and nutritional status of children in low-income households. A cross sectional study involved a survey of households (n = 223) receiving the financial assistance. SUBJECTS/METHODS Eligible mothers that fulfilled the inclusion criteria such as non-pregnant, non-lactating mothers, aged 18 to 55 years with their youngest children aged 2 to 12 years, were purposively selected. The Radimer/Cornell hunger and food-insecurity instrument was administered and children's height and weight were measured. RESULTS About 16.1% of the households were food secure, while 83.9% experienced some kind of food insecurity. Out of food insecure category, 29.6% households were food insecure, 19.3% women were individual food insecure and 35.0% fell into the child hunger category. Education of the mother (P = 0.047), household size (P = 0.024), number of children (P = 0.024), number of children going to school (P = 0.048), total monthly income (P < 0.001), income per capital (P < 0.001), number of household members contributing to the income (P = 0.018) and food expenditure (P = 0.006) were significant risk factors for household food insecurity. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting in children were 61.0%, 61.4% and 30.6% respectively. Based on multinomial logistic regression, children in food-insecure households were 2.15 times more likely to be underweight and three times to be stunted than children in the food-secure households. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that household food insecurity is associated with the nutritional status of the children in the rural area of Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia.
H∞ observer design for uncertain discrete-time nonlinear delay systems: LMI optimization approach

In this paper, we present a robust H∞ observer for a class of nonlinear and uncertain time-delayed systems. To design the proposed observer, the time delay does not have to be exactly known. With knowledge about upper and lower bound of the delay term, we can design an H∞ observer that guarantees asymptotic stability of the estimation error dynamics and is robust against time-varying parametric uncertainties. We show that the described problem can be solved in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). In addition, the admissible Lipschitz constant of the system is maximized and the disturbance attenuation level is minimized through convex multi-objective optimization. Finally, the proposed observer is illustrated with an example.
Auditory and Visual Space Maps in the Cholinergic Nucleus Isthmi Pars Parvocellularis of the Barn Owl

The nucleus isthmi pars parvocellularis (Ipc) is a midbrain cholinergic nucleus that shares reciprocal, topographic connections with the optic tectum (OT). Ipc neurons project to spatially restricted columns in the OT, contacting essentially all OT layers in a given column. Previous research characterizes the Ipc as a visual processor. We found that, in the barn owl, the Ipc responds to auditory as well as to visual stimuli. Auditory responses were tuned broadly for frequency, but sharply for spatial cues. We measured the tuning of Ipc units to binaural sound localization cues, including interaural timing differences (ITDs) and interaural level differences (ILDs). Units in the Ipc were tuned to specific values of both ITD and ILD and were organized systematically according to their ITD and ILD tuning, forming a map of space. The auditory space map aligned with the visual space map in the Ipc. These results demonstrate that the Ipc encodes the spatial location of objects, independent of stimulus modality. These findings, combined with the precise pattern of projections from the Ipc to the OT, suggest that the role of the Ipc is to regulate the sensitivity of OT neurons in a space-specific manner.
Efficient Stubborn Sets: Generalized Algorithms and Selection Strategies

Strong stubborn sets have recently been analyzed and successfully applied as a pruning technique for planning as heuristic search. Strong stubborn sets are defined declaratively as constraints over operator sets. We show how these constraints can be relaxed to offer more freedom in choosing stubborn sets while maintaining the correctness and optimality of the approach. In general, many operator sets satisfy the definition of stubborn sets. We study different strategies for selecting among these possibilities and show that existing approaches can be considerably improved by rather simple strategies, eliminating most of the overhead of the previous state of the art.
Medium scale prototype of a regenerative braking system and voltage stabilizer

This paper presents a medium scale prototype of a system to store the excess energy present in a DC electrical system, based on Ultra-capacitors and driven by a DC-to-DC converter. The prototype is first intended for research and pedagogic proposes, and second as a voltage stabilization system in Medellin's Metropolitan Train System where it is being implemented. This allows students and researchers to perform experiments regarding regenerative braking, power line compensation and high-current DC-DC electronics. It is based in previous work with simulations and a small prototype developed for the student in the Electrical and Electronics Laboratory in the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana.
Estimating Cannibalization Rates for Pioneering Innovations

To evaluate the success of a new product, managers need to determine how much of its new demand is due to cannibalizing the firm's other products, rather than drawing from competition or generating primary demand. We introduce a time-varying vector error-correction model to decompose the base sales of a new product into its constituent sources. The model allows managers to estimate cannibalization effects and calculate the new product's net demand, which may be considerably less than its total demand. We apply our methodology to the introduction of the Lexus RX300 using detailed car transaction data. This case is especially interesting because the Lexus RX300 was the first crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV), implying that its demand could come from both the luxury SUV and the luxury sedan categories. Because Lexus was active in both categories, there was a double cannibalization potential. We show how the contribution of the different demand sources varies over time and discuss the managerial implications for both the focal brand and its competitors.
On Order-Generic Queries

We consider relational databases organized over an ordered domain with some additional relations---a typical example is the ordered domain of rational numbers together with the ternary relation $+$ of addition. In the focus of our study are the first order queries that are invariant under order-preserving ``permutations''''---such queries are called order-generic. In fact, we consider two formalizations of this notion: ``generic'''', and ``locally generic'''', queries. For several domains order-generic queries fail to express more than pure order queries, for example, every order-generic query over rational numbers with $+$ can be rewritten without $+$. Our goal is to find general conditions on the domain that allow for such a simplification of order-generic queries. An important difference of this paper from a recent series of related papers (see, for example,~\cite{PBG95,BDLW95}) is that we generalize all notions to the case of finitely representable database states---as opposed to finite states---and develop a general lifting technique that, essentially, allows us to extend any result of the kind we are interested in, from finite to finitely-representable states, and thus all the results in this paper are proved for the general case of {\em constraint databases. } On the simplification of order-generic queries, we offer two types of results. The results of the first type address {\em equivalence\/} of order-generic queries that use the additional predicates (extended queries) to pure order queries. Here we establish the necessary and sufficient condition for an extended query to be equivalent to a pure order query, in terms of behavior of this extended query over the ultra-product of this domain by a non-principal ultra-filter over $\omega$. This characterization relies upon the Continuum Hypothesis, and is used as instrumental in establishing equivalence of generic, as well as locally generic, extended queries to pure order queries for several classes of domains, including in particular the so-called $o$-minimal domains, integers with $+$, and such. Although, by Shoenfield''s Absoluteness Theorem, the Continuum Hypothesis can be eliminated from these latter results, the fact remains, no translation algorithm can be extracted from arguments of this type. That is why we also offer {\em effective algorithms\/} of translating extended to pure order queries for divisible ordered Abelian groups. Such groups---including real or rational numbers with $+$---are all $o$-minimal.
Measuring Performance Excellence: Key Performance Indicators for Institutions Accepted into the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP)

Given growing interest in accountability and outcomes, the North Central Association's Higher Learning Commission developed a new path for accreditation, the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). The goal is to infuse continuous improvement and quality in the culture of higher education, and to blend traditional accreditation with the philosophy and techniques of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. Yet, little is known about the key performance indicators (KPI) that colleges and universities are using to improve their quality and continuous improvement processes. To this end, my research involved a content analysis of the Systems Portfolios submitted for accreditation by 34 purposefully selected four-year institutions accepted into AQIP. The purpose was to identify the KPI that these four-year colleges and universities use to evaluate and measure their organizational performance. After the KPI were identified, my study evaluated the similarities and differences of like institutions within Carnegie classifications. In total, 2,139 KPI were identified across the 34 institutions, and a reduction process combining similar KPI resulted in 251 individual measures placed into 24 categories. Findings reveal that the most frequently used KPI include: a specialized student survey, such as the National Survey for Student Engagement (used by 94% of institutions), overall retention (91%), employee satisfaction (85%), and graduation rate (79%). The least frequently used KPI include adult learner measures (15%), completion rate (9%), diversity measures (9%), and tuition as compared to peers (6%). Findings also revealed similarities and differences in high frequency KPI between institutional types. When comparing my results to the few previous research studies and against measures currently used by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, little consistency is visible. Yet my results reveal that certain indicators do appear to be measureable across a number of institutional types, and recommendations are offered for a minimal common set of 10 internal indicators meant to aid institutions in their continuous improvement efforts, and five external indicators that demonstrate the results of such improvement efforts.
Grassmann integral representation for spanning hyperforests

Given a hypergraph G, we introduce a Grassmann algebra over the vertex set and show that a class of Grassmann integrals permits an expansion in terms of spanning hyperforests. Special cases provide the generating functions for rooted and unrooted spanning (hyper)forests and spanning (hyper)trees. All these results are generalizations of Kirchhoff's matrix-tree theorem. Furthermore, we show that the class of integrals describing unrooted spanning (hyper)forests is induced by a theory with an underlying OSP(1|2) supersymmetry.
Colonization process of olive tissues by Verticillium dahliae and its in planta interaction with the biocontrol root endophyte Pseudomonas fluorescens PICF7

The colonization process of Olea europaea by the defoliating pathotype of Verticillium dahliae, and the in planta interaction with the endophytic, biocontrol strain Pseudomonas fluorescens PICF7 were determined. Differential fluorescent protein tagging was used for the simultaneous visualization of P. fluorescens PICF7 and V. dahliae in olive tissues. Olive plants were bacterized with PICF7 and then transferred to V. dahliae‐infested soil. Monitoring olive colonization events by V. dahliae and its interaction with PICF7 was conducted using a non‐gnotobiotic system, confocal laser scanner microscopy and tissue vibratoming sections. A yellow fluorescently tagged V. dahliae derivative (VDAT‐36I) was obtained by Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated transformation. Isolate VDAT‐36I quickly colonized olive root surface, successfully invaded root cortex and vascular tissues via macro‐ and micro‐breakages, and progressed to the aerial parts of the plant through xylem vessel cells. Strain PICF7 used root hairs as preferred penetration site, and once established on/in root tissues, hindered pathogen colonization. For the first time using this approach, the entire colonization process of a woody plant by V. dahliae is reported. Early and localized root surface and root endophytic colonization by P. fluorescens PICF7 is needed to impair full progress of verticillium wilt epidemics in olive.
Analysing Models for Software Debugging

This paper extends our previous work on the representation and analysis of Java programs for diagnosis in a new direction by providing a description and analysis of the issues arising from handling object references in dependency-based models of Java programs. We empirically compare dependencybased models with a value-based model using a set of example programs in terms of required user interaction (questions put to the user) and examine and incorporate specific interesting error categories. Apart from being based on experience with an actual implementation of the various models, the model extensions and analysis deal with aliasing, an issue that the programming language community has been examining for a long time, and that is also crucial to object-orientedness.
Variation of the fine-structure constant from the de Sitter invariant special relativity

We discuss the variation of the fine-structure constant, α. There are obvious discrepancies among the results of α-variation from recent Quasi-stellar observation experiments and from the Oklo uranium mine analysis. We use dS Sitter invariant Special Relativity (𝒮ℛc,R) and Dirac large number hypothesis to discuss this puzzle, and present a possible solution to the disagreement. By means of the observational data and the discussions presented in this paper, we estimate the radius of the Universe in 𝒮ℛc,R which is about ∼2√5×1011l.y.
Fiscal policy in open economy: estimates for the euro area∗

We estimate a dynamic general equilibrium model of an open economy to measure the effects of alternative expansionary fiscal shocks on the trade balance in the euro area. We do find that expansionary fiscal shocks both those on the expenditure and revenue side induce a joint deterioration of the public sector balance and trade balance. The output multipliers are always below one, while the deterioration of the trade balance and the trade leakages are relatively small. The largest value of trade deficit is equal to -0.1 percent of output and is obtained conditionally to a public consumption or a consumption tax shocks. The deficit is generally driven by the increase in imports and decrease in exports, partially compensated by the improvement in the terms of trade. Only in the case of the expansionary labor tax shock, higher imports and the deterioration in the terms of trade are partially compensated by higher exports The monetary policy stance and the type of fiscal financing do not greatly affect the size of trade balance deterioration, even if they magnify the impact of fiscal shocks on gross imports and international relative prices. JEL codes: E32, E62, E63, F32, F41, H30
Online Stochastic Matching with Unequal Probabilities

The online stochastic matching problem is a variant of online bipartite matching in which edges are labeled with probabilities. A match will "succeed" with the probability along that edge; this models, for instance, the click of a user in search advertisement. The goal is to maximize the expected number of successful matches. This problem was introduced by Mehta and Panigrahi (FOCS 2012), who focused on the case where all probabilities in the graph are equal. They gave a 0.567-competitive algorithm for vanishing probabilities, relative to a natural benchmark, leaving the general case as an open question. This paper examines the general case where the probabilities may be unequal. We take a new algorithmic approach rather than generalizing that of Mehta and Panigrahi: Our algorithm maintains, at each time, the probability that each offline vertex has succeeded thus far, and chooses assignments so as to maximize marginal contributions to these probabilities. When the algorithm does not observe the realizations of the edges, this approach gives a 0.5-competitive algorithm, which achieves the known upper bound for such "non-adaptive" algorithms. We then modify this approach to be "semi-adaptive:" if the chosen target has already succeeded, choose the arrival's "second choice" instead (while still updating the probabilities non-adaptively). With one additional tweak to control the analysis, we show that this algorithm achieves a competitive ratio of 0.534 for the unequal, vanishing probabilities setting. A "fully-adaptive" version of this algorithm turns out to be identical to an algorithm proposed, but not analyzed, in Mehta and Panigrahi (2012); we do not manage to analyze it either since it introduces too many dependencies between the stochastic processes. Our semi-adaptive algorithm thus can be seen as allowing analysis of competitive ratio while still capturing the power of adaptivity.
Singlet oxygen quantum yields of potential porphyrin-based photosensitisers for photodynamic therapy

The singlet oxygen formation quantum yield ( Φ _Δ) for solutions of the di-cation, free-base and metallated forms of hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD), hematoporphyrin IX (Hp9) and a boronated protoporphyrin (BOPP) are reported using the method of direct detection of the characteristic phosphorescence following polychromatic excitation. Values of Φ _Δ for the free-base form of all the porphyrins and the di-cation forms of Hp9 and HpD are in the range of 0.44 to 0.85 in the solvents investigated. Incorporation of zinc ions into the macrocycle reduces Φ _Δ for all three porphyrins. BOPP facilitates the coordination of certain transition metals (Mn, Co and Cu) compared to Hp9 and HpD and results in a dramatic decrease in Φ _Δ. The experimental data suggest the introduction of low energy charge transfer states associated with the disruption of the planarity of the macrocyclic ring provides alternative non-radiative deactivation pathways. In BOPP, this non-planarity is augmented by the large closo -carborane peripheral substituent groups.
Beneficial Effects of Expressive Writing in the Elderly . ( Under the direction of

WEATHERBEE, SARAH ROSE. Beneficial Effects of Expressive Writing in the Elderly. (Under the direction of Jason C. Allaire, Ph.D.) The current investigation examined whether expressive writing produced gains in elders cognitive functioning. Given previous research, it was expected that expressive writing would reduce intrusive thoughts, which would lead to gains in cognitive performance. In the current study community dwelling elders (n = 61) with a mean age of 75 years (range = 61  94; SD = 7.70) were given a 2-hour pretest battery, which consisted of measures of basic cognitive ability, everyday cognition, and intrusive thinking. Following pretesting participants were randomly assigned to either the emotional expressive writing group or the non-emotional writing group where they were instructed to write for 20 minutes on five occasions over 10-days. Following the intervention all participants returned for post-testing, which occurred seven days after the writing period. Contrary to expectations, there was no evidence of a time by condition interaction for intrusive thinking. When cognitive change was examined a pretest to posttest gain was found for processing speed performance when collapsing across the two experimental groups. A similar pattern was also found for the measure of everyday cognitive functioning within the domain of memory. Discussion will focus on the fact that changes in cognitive performance may not necessarily be attributed entirely to the intervention; rather it could be mental exercise or mere practice effects.