Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When Change Matters. Identifying Score Gains School Determinants in Mexico: An Intra-cohort Value-added Approach

Educational quality in Mexico is a recurrent topic in the country’s public agenda. For this reason, better information about its determinants is required to guide policy makers. This discussion is particularly relevant within the context of the educational reform proposed by the federal government. Existing research for Mexican students is limited because it does not take into account the change in scores, or it is constrained by regional analysis. The aim of the present research is to fill this gap in the literature by using longitudinal data to study the impact of school characteristics on educational achievement, building a model that takes into account changes in educational achievement through time. Because existing data does not allow the tracking of students through time or their linkage to individual teachers, this article uses intra-cohort data for students that participated in the national standardized test ENLACE for primary and secondary schools between 2007 and 2010. This paper addresses endogeneity problems using fixed effects models, HLM models and spatial techniques to associate school location with census data at the neighborhood level. This research provides elements to guide public policies focused on increasing student achievement. Results show that teachers’ attendance and punctuality, evaluation of teachers’ knowledge of curriculum and constant evaluation of student performance have a positive relationship to student achievement growth. Additionally, there is a persistent effect of the quality of school infrastructure, teaching materials and socioeconomic level of students. These results could be useful to provide more information for the current debate on educational reform.
The social construction of the mature student experience

Using a Social Constructionist lens, this study gathers fresh empirical data on the experience of a “Mature Student”, examining its multiple constructions, both objective and subjective, within the context of a Scottish Ancient university. For six centuries, Ancient universities have held expectations that incoming students will adjust to fit the autonomous institutional culture. However the expansion of Higher Education in 1992 has introduced changes in legislation and funding which have shifted the onus of that adjustment to the organisations themselves. This study is placed at the fundamental core of the tension between an institution struggling with the changing nature of its purpose and non-traditional students with changing expectations. Through analysis of daily journals and semi-structured interviews with 16 students and 12 staff, it explores the interpretations which both sets of actors take from student/institution interaction, and does so with respect to the student’s holistic life context rather than viewing only the learner role. Particular emphasis is placed on the losses and gains from the experience, including examination of what a degree symbolises in personal, fiscal and psychological terms. Based on a synthesis of literature reviews and empirical data, the study categorises the Mature students into three groups according to experiential themes within the student journey, drawing out theoretical and policy contributions from the process. Although mismatches are shown to exist between student and staff expectations of institutional purpose, a contemporary, and valid, role for the Ancient institution is outlined in terms of developing individual agency.
Unifying quantitative life-history theory and field endocrinology to assess prudent parenthood in a long-lived seabird

Question: Can field measurements of stress hormones help us to assess the prudent parent hypothesis in a long-lived seabird? Organism: Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla. Location: Duck and Gull Islands, Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA. Methods: We examined the statistical relationship between the stress hormone corticosterone and mortality in black-legged kittiwakes. We built a demographic model of the kittiwake life cycle to determine whether the mortality rates associated with persisting in a breeding attempt despite high corticosterone caused the birds to sacrifice more lifetime reproductive output than they gain from one year’s breeding. Results: The probability of apparent mortality increased with corticosterone, suggesting some birds incurred increased mortality risk for the sake of breeding. For Duck Island (low reproductive success), it appears birds sacrificed more lifetime reproductive success than a prudent parent would. On Gull Island, it appears most but possibly not all birds were behaving in ways consistent with theory, although definitive statements require larger samples of highly stressed birds.
An Increase in the Association of GluN2B Containing NMDA Receptors with Membrane Scaffolding Proteins Was Related to Memory Declines during Aging

The NMDA receptor is an important component of spatial working and reference memory. The receptor is a heterotetramer composed of a family of related subunits. The GluN2B subunit of the NMDA receptor appears to be essential for some forms of memory and is particularly vulnerable to change with age in both the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. GluN2B expression is particularly reduced in frontal cortex synaptic membranes. The current study examined the relationship between spatial cognition and protein–protein interactions of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in frontal cortex crude synaptosome from 3, 12, and 26-month-old C57BL/6 mice. Aged mice showed a significant decline in spatial reference memory and reversal learning from both young and middle-aged mice. Coimmunoprecipitation of GluN2B subunits revealed an age-related increase in the ratio of both postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) and the GluN2A subunit to the GluN2B subunit. Higher ratios of PSD-95/GluN2B and GAIP-interacting protein C-terminus (GIPC)/GluN2B were associated with poorer learning index scores across all ages. There was a significant correlation between GIPC/GluN2B and PSD-95/GluN2B ratios, but PSD-95/GluN2B and GluN2A/GluN2B ratios did not show a relationship. These results suggest that there were more triheteromeric (GluN2B/GluN2A/GluN1) NMDA receptors in older mice than in young adults, but this did not appear to impact spatial reference memory. Instead, an increased association of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors with synaptic scaffolding proteins in aged animals may have contributed to the age-related memory declines.
The building blocks of economic complexity

For Adam Smith, wealth was related to the division of labor. As people and firms specialize in different activities, economic efficiency increases, suggesting that development is associated with an increase in the number of individual activities and with the complexity that emerges from the interactions between them. Here we develop a view of economic growth and development that gives a central role to the complexity of a country's economy by interpreting trade data as a bipartite network in which countries are connected to the products they export, and show that it is possible to quantify the complexity of a country's economy by characterizing the structure of this network. Furthermore, we show that the measures of complexity we derive are correlated with a country's level of income, and that deviations from this relationship are predictive of future growth. This suggests that countries tend to converge to the level of income dictated by the complexity of their productive structures, indicating that development efforts should focus on generating the conditions that would allow complexity to emerge to generate sustained growth and prosperity.
Angiogenesis in the human corpus luteum: changes in expression of angiopoietins in the corpus luteum throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy.

CONTEXT Blood vessel stabilization is regulated by angiopoietins and important for angiogenesis in the corpus luteum. OBJECTIVE To study angiogenesis and blood vessel stabilization in the human corpus luteum, changes in expression of angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, and their specific receptor, Tie-2, together with the number of blood vessels and pericytes were examined in the corpus luteum throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. DESIGN The number of blood vessels and pericytes was determined by immunohistochemistry for CD34 and alpha-smooth muscle actin, respectively. Ang and Tie-2 expression were examined by immunohistochemistry or RT-PCR. RESULTS The number of blood vessels increased during the early luteal phase, whereas the number of pericytes was small in the early luteal phase and increased in the midluteal phase, suggesting that angiogenesis is undergoing during the early luteal phase and blood vessels are stabilized in the midluteal phase. Blood vessels and pericytes decreased in number during the late luteal phase. The increased number of both blood vessels and pericytes seen in the corpus luteum of early pregnancy suggests that angiogenesis is undergoing accompanied by blood vessel stabilization. Ang-2 expression with low Ang-1 expression was found during the early luteal phase. Thereafter, increasing Ang-1 expression during the midluteal phase, declining Ang-1 expression with continued Ang-2 expression during the late luteal phase, and relatively high Ang-1 expression in early pregnancy were observed. CONCLUSIONS The change in Ang expression is closely associated with angiogenesis, blood vessel stabilization, and blood vessel regression during the divergent phases of luteal formation, luteal regression, and luteal rescue by pregnancy.
Measuring the Ex-Ante Social Cost of Aggregate Volatility

Ex-ante cost of aggregate fluctuations consist of all individual and social cost expanded by optimizing agents aiming to prevent or reduce fluctuations of consumption. These are measured by the cost of resources used to attain the level of consumption volatility currently observed. This paper proposes that the ex-ante component of cost is important and large. The unifying principle in measuring these cost arises from the fact that agents utilize resources for reserves used for self insurance against uninsurable aggregate fluctuations. Firms accumulate excess capacity in response to fluctuations in demand; our financial sector uses substantial resources to mitigate the effect of market fluctuations and to permit aggregate risk sharing. We estimate that the order of magnitude of the ex-ante social cost of aggregate fluctuations exceeds 5% of GNP. Our formulation suggests that stabilization policy mitigates the effects of aggregate volatility by offering important insurance services. This complements the traditional view of stabilization policy as one designed to bolster the economy’s output so that it attains its potential by providing adequate demand. The insurance perspective of stabilization policy, which we offer here, suggests that without public policy each agent selects optimal private resources to be used for self insurance against aggregate volatility. Stabilization policy is then a public good which enables individual agents to reduce the private cost of self insurance.
The Effect of Status on Voluntary Contribution

Fundraisers often start their campaigns by soliciting the wealthier, more recognized and respected individuals in a community. We examine whether an explanation for such a solicitation ordering may be that people prefer to associate with those of higher social ranking than themselves. Using a simple linear example we demonstrate that concerns for status may give rise to an optimal solicitation ordering similar to that used by fundraisers. Aggregate contributions and earnings are larger when high-status donors are solicited before rather than after those of low status. To investigate this comparative static experimentally we induce a status differential in the laboratory and reverse the contribution order between high- and low-status participants. We find that low-status followers are likely to mimic contributions by high-status leaders and this encourages high status leaders to contribute. Contributions are therefore larger when individuals of high status contribute before, rather than after, those of low status.
Unpacking the black box: Estimating the high school-level effects of undermatching among underrepresented students

Recent studies have revealed how large shares of college-ready students undermatch, or enroll in colleges with less competitive admissions processes than they are eligible to attend. Undermatch sits at the nexus of both college access and completion agendas, as undermatching to a less selective institution results in a decreased likelihood of graduating from college. Latino, low-income, and potential first generation college graduates are more likely to undermatch than their nonunderrepresented peers. Many underrepresented students rely on their high schools to help navigate the college choice process, yet we have a limited understanding of how high school characteristics can inhibit or promote the likelihood of undermatch. This study used ELS:2002 data to model within the HGLM framework the likelihood of undermatch. In order to explain the observed variations in undermatch at the high school-level, I measured high school-level predictors in two distinct ways: confirmatory factor analysis to identify individual high school-level measures of college-promoting resources and norms; as well as latent class analysis to create a typology of high school contexts. Findings suggest that students who attend high schools with above average, rather than average, college-promoting resources and norms are less likely to undermatch at the time of application and enrollment, after controlling for student-, school-, and state-level characteristics. Net of other variables, students who were not high income and whose parents did not have a bachelor's degree were more likely to undermatch than their peers. Smaller shares of Black, Latino, low-income, and first-generation students were eligible to attend selective institutions, larger shares undermatched by qualification level, and larger shares were in low-resourced high schools. Policy implications and directions for future research are discussed. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Education First Advisor Laura W. Perna
Final Results From The State Of Ohio Ethanol-Fueled Light-Duty Fleet Deployment Project

The state of Ohio established a project to demonstrate the use of ethanol flexible-fuel vehicles (FFV) in their fleet operations. This study includes ten FFVs and three gasoline vehicles operated by five state agencies. The two-year project included data collection on vehicle maintenance and fueling, cost of operation, and fleet management comments. The project also included emissions testing of two ethanol FFVs and two standard gasoline vehicles.
A Deviation Measurement for Coordinated Exchange Rate Policies in East Asia

The monetary authorities in East Asian countries have been strengthening their regional monetary cooperation since the Asian Currency Crisis in 1997. In this paper, we propose a deviation measurement for coordinated exchange rate policies in East Asia to enhance the monetary authorities' surveillance process for their regional monetary cooperation. We estimate an AMU (Asian Monetary Unit) as a weighted average of East Asian currencies according to the method to calculate the ECU used under the EMS before introducing the euro into some EU countries. We consider four types of AMU, which are based on trade volume, nominal GDP, GDP measured at PPP, and international reserves. After choosing both the AMUs based on GDP measured at PPP weight and trade weight from a viewpoint of stability of the AMU value in terms of a currency basket composed of the US dollar and the euro, we calculate the deviation indicators from the benchmark rates for each of the East Asian currencies. We compare both nominal and real deviation indicators by taking into account inflation rate differentials. The real deviation indicator should be adequate for surveillance over effects of exchange rate policy on real economy while the nominal one can be frequently watched in real time.
Microbiological monitoring of mineral water commercialized in Brazil

The quality of mineral water commercialized in Brazil regarding the microbial content was analyzed and the results were compared with the standards established by the current legislation. Results demonstrated there was no bacterial contamination, but several types of fungi were found. Therefore, bottled mineral water could be considered a possible route for the transmission of filamentous fungi and yeasts.
Cycles and paths in semicomplete multipartite digraphs, theorems, and algorithms: a survey

A digraph obtained by replacing each edge of a complete m-partite graph by an arc or a pair of mutually opposite arcs with the same end vertices is called a semicomplete m-partite digraph. We describe results (theorems and algorithms) on directed walks in semicomplete m- partite digraphs including some recent results concerning tournaments.
Distributed random set theoretic soft-hard data fusion: Target tracking application

The development of data fusion systems capable of incorporating soft human-generated data into the fusion process is an emerging trend in the fusion community, motivated mainly by asymmetric warfare situations where the observational opportunities for traditional hard sensors are restricted. This paper describes an extension of our prototype soft/hard data fusion system, based on the random set theory, from centralized into a fully distributed computational framework. A fully distributed data fusion algorithm relies only on information exchange between local sensor nodes and hence promises enhanced scalability, reliability, and robustness in contrast to the conventional centralized fusion approach. We propose a novel approach for distributed estimation of average soft data using the consensus propagation algorithm. The distributed estimation of aggregated hard data is accomplished through an average consensus filter. Based on the proposed approach, we describe a single-target tracking system capable of processing soft and hard data. The preliminary experiments demonstrate the efficiency of the consensus propagation based approach for distributed aggregation of soft data, as well as the advantages of incorporating soft data into the distributed data fusion process.
A Tribute , an Old Challenge Revisited , and an Amplification

I still prefer to consider myself a young academic turk. Nonetheless, the graying hair and beard that confront me in the mirror each morning—both easily discernible without eyeglasses—suggest otherwise. Rather than bemoan my journey to decrepitude, I choose to embrace my self-declared elder-statesman status by exploiting the one accommodation typically extended to senior academicians: to comment on their discipline from a blatantly personal perspective. Thus, I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this text honoring Shelby.
Investigation of osteosarcoma genomics and its impact on targeted therapy: an international collaboration to conquer human osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a genetically unstable malignancy that most frequently occurs in children and young adults. The lack of progress in managing this devastating disease in the clinic has prompted international researchers to collaborate to profile key genomic alterations that define osteosarcoma. A team of researchers and clinicians from China, Finland, and the United States investigated human osteosarcoma by integrating transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), high-density genome-wide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Sanger sequencing, cell culture, and molecular biological approaches. Systematic analysis of genetic/genomic alterations and further functional studies have led to several important findings, including novel rearrangement hotspots, osteosarcoma-specific LRP1-SNRNP25 and KCNMB4-CCND3 fusion genes, VEGF and Wnt signaling pathway alterations, deletion of the WWOX gene, and amplification of the APEX1 and RUNX2 genes. Importantly, these genetic events associate significantly with pathogenesis, prognosis, progression, and therapeutic activity in osteosarcoma, suggesting their potential impact on improved managements of human osteosarcoma. This international initiative provides opportunities for developing new treatment modalities to conquer osteosarcoma.
LPG: A Planner Based on Local Search for Planning Graphs with Action Costs

A corner bracket for use in mounting and locating a mounting bracket for a window covering including an inverted L-shaped mounting plate having a plurality of preformed slots and holes for receiving the mounting bracket in a predetermined location and at least one perpendicular laterally extending flange for abutment with a support surface adjacent a window opening for locating the mounting plate in the corner of the window opening.
Comparison of Topographic Correction Methods

A comparison of topographic correction methods is conducted for Landsat-5 TM, Landsat-7 ETM+, and SPOT-5 imagery from different geographic areas and seasons. Three successful and known methods are compared: the semi-empirical C correction, the Gamma correction depending on the incidence and exitance angles, and a modified Minnaert approach. In the majority of cases the modified Minnaert approach performed best, but no method is superior in all cases.
Educational Outcomes and Intergenerational Mobility of Second Generation Migrants from the Middle East to the United States : a Comparative Study

One of the key issues in the immigration debate is the extent to which second generation immigrants (native born, but to immigrant parents) are able to assimilate in terms of education and income. Many of these studies have focused on the di culties and educational achievement gap faced by 2nd generation immigrants from the Middle East (MENA) living in Europe. My studies consider 2nd generation immigrants from the MENA living in the United States. These two groups originate in the same place, but could not be more di erent in terms of their educational outcomes. Whereas 2nd generation MENA migrants in Europe tend to have less education than their native peers, MENA migrants in the US have higher levels of education and are more likely to have undergraduate and graduate degrees. In this study I estimate several models examining the determinants of education. I nd that for the overall US population, parents' education, parents' income, and residence in an ethnic enclave all have positive e ects on educational achievement. The impact of parents' education and income is no di erent for MENA migrants, suggesting that the education premium accruing to this group is likely to persist. However, any advantage of living in an ethnic enclave appears to disappear for MENA migrants, suggesting that these enclaves are failing to live up to their potential as incubators of immigrant human capital.