Does food insecurity at home affect non-cognitive performance at school? A longitudinal analysis of elementary student classroom behavior

This paper estimates models of the transitional effects of food insecurity experiences on children's non-cognitive performance in school classrooms using a panel of 4710 elementary students enrolled in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade (1999-2003). In addition to an extensive set of child and household-level characteristics, we use information on U.S. counties to control for potential confounding effects of the local economic and noneconomic environment on children's household transitions between states of food insecurity and food security. The time horizon of our analysis affords insight into factors underlying children's formation of non-cognitive skills and the efficiency of classroom-based educational production in elementary school. Overall, we find significant negative developmental effects for children with food insecurity at home; and that children experiencing an early transition from food insecurity in 1st grade to food security in 3rd grade have even larger impairments that persist through 5th grade.     

Intent-based diversification of web search results: metrics and algorithms

We study the problem of web search result diversification in the case where intent based relevance scores are available. A diversified search result will hopefully satisfy the information need of user-L.s who may have different intents. In this context, we first analyze the properties of an intent-based metric, ERR-IA, to measure relevance and diversity altogether. We argue that this is a better metric than some previously proposed intent aware metrics and show that it has a better correlation with abandonment rate. We then propose an algorithm to rerank web search results based on optimizing an objective function corresponding to this metric and evaluate it on shopping related queries.     

数字图像处理课程教学方法研究

本文针对数字图像处理课程章节多、算法复杂、学科跨度大、知识体系庞大的特点,提出了基于内容关联性的课时规划方法、基于权重的算法学习法、基于期望目标的仿真软件选择法以及关键问题多角度诠释的方法来提升教学及学习效果。实践表明,这些教学方法的实施对数字图像处理课程教学具有良好的效果和积极的现实意义。     

基于Pro/Engineer机构运动分析在机械原理课程中的运用

机械原理课程具有理论性强、概念抽象、涉及的基础理论和知识面广、系统性强等特点,在机械原理课程的学习中,引入Pro/Engineer软件进行机构仿真能够让学生牢固地掌握好机械原理这门课程。本文首先介绍在机械原理课程中引入三维CAE运动仿真的重要性,其次简介Pro/Engineer Mechanism模块的主要功能和机构运动学的工作流程,最后介绍在教学中如何运用Mechanism模块建立连杆机构的装配模型、进行仿真运动分析和获得运动轨迹和包络图等相关数据。实践证明,在机械原理教学中引入Pro/Engineer Mechanism模块进行机构运动学分析不仅能够帮助教师改善课堂教学效果和激发学生的学习兴趣,而且在优化机构、提升机构运行可靠性方面都有着十分重要的应用价值。     

Applications of clustering to information system design

Given the difficulty of designing and creating information systems of many components and interconnections, it is commonplace to find these tasks accomplished by means of a partition into subsystems. Later the distinct subsystems are made to interface with one another and an overall system is achieved. The purpose of the present paper is to point out the availability of methods for effecting the partition in optimal or approximately optimal ways. Clustering algorithms for the specific case of information systems are obtained and exemplified.     

Finding related sentence pairs in MEDLINE

We explore the feasibility of automatically identifying sentences in different MEDLINE abstracts that are related in meaning. We compared traditional vector space models with machine learning methods for detecting relatedness, and found that machine learning was superior. The Huber method, a variant of Support Vector Machines which minimizes the modified Huber loss function, achieves 73% precision when the score cutoff is set high enough to identify about one related sentence per abstract on average. We illustrate how an abstract viewed in PubMed might be modified to present the related sentences found in other abstracts by this automatic procedure.     

Quality, Evolution, and Positional Change of University Students’ Argumentation Patterns About Organic Agriculture During an Argument–Critique–Argument Experience

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality, evolution, and position of university students’ argumentation about organic agriculture over a 4-week argument–critique–argument e-learning experience embedded in a first year university biology course. The participants (N??=??43) were classified into three groups based on their epistemological views. Data collected from individual arguments, group deliberations, and individual critiques were coded and analyzed to establish the quality and evolution of argumentation. Results indicated significant improvement in the quality of their justifications between the first and second arguments. Post-hoc comparison of epistemological groups indicated that the more constructivist-oriented students had a greater significant evolution of their justifications than the more empiricist-oriented students, but there was no significant main effect for epistemological orientation. Qualitative analysis of the intervening critiques indicated that some students incorporated or used other students’ arguments or counter-arguments to change their position or to enhance the justification of their original position on organic agriculture, while others appeared to be locked into a confirmation-bias stance and search for evidence that supported their original position and disregarded contradictory evidence.     

Identifying the required knowledge elements for the effective detection,investigation, and prosecution of high technology crime: The perspective of academe

This is a selective bibliography of 89 references on recruitment of minority students and faculty for graduate and professional schools and programs. Education, social sciences, and law literature were scanned for the years 1981 to 1991. Resources on recruitment in graduate and professional education are included, as well as a few relevant references of somewhat broader scope on diversity in higher education. This bibliography is divided into two parts: Part 1 is on student recruitment, Part 2 on faculty recruitment. Each part is subdivided into three sections—general literature, strategies and programs, and literature pertaining to particular fields of study or professions.     

IMPACT OF FULL-TIME VERSUS PART-TIME INSTRUCTOR STATUS ON COLLEGE STUDENT RETENTION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SEQUENTIAL COURSES

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the relation between full - time or part - time instructor status and college student retention and academic performance in sequential courses . Results indicate that for either developmental or regular courses, college students who take the first course in a sequence from a part - time instructor , and who take the second course in the sequence from a full - time instructor seem underprepared for the second course. By contrast to students experiencing other instructor status combinations (part - time / part - time , full - time / part - time , or full - time / full - time), these students are significantly less likely to either complete or achieve a grade of "C" or better in the second course. Sequential course instructor status, therefore, seems to be a predictor of college student success. Implications for practice pertaining to further research, college students, and institutions are discussed.