Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Widening Educational Disparities Outside of School: A longitudinal study of parental involvement and early elementary schoolchildren's learning time in Japan

This study attempts to further our understanding of social-class-based differences of school-aged children's effort levels by shedding light on the beginning of the inequality. Using four waves (from 1st to 4th grade students) of the Longitudinal Survey of Babies in the 21st Century collected in Japan, this study investigates how the effort gap emerges and widens in the first four years of compulsory education. The results of hierarchical linear model (HLM) growth curve analyses indicate that college-educated parents demonstrate "concerted cultivation" (Lareau 2003, 2011). Parental education background, a proxy of social class, relates to the usage of shadow education (i.e., cram schools and long distance learning), the length of a child's time spent on television viewing/video gaming, and the degree of parents' involvement in the child's learning at home. Findings of a hybrid fixed effects model show that these social-class-related parenting practices are associated with the levels and changes in children's learning time.
Looking Inside the (Drop) Box

Dropbox is a cloud based file storage service used by more than 100 million users. In spite of its widespread popularity, we believe that Dropbox as a platform hasn't been analyzed extensively enough from a security standpoint. Also, the previous work on the security analysis of Dropbox has been heavily censored. Moreover, the existing Python bytecode reversing techniques are not enough for reversing hardened applications like Dropbox. This paper presents new and generic techniques, to reverse engineer frozen Python applications, which are not limited to just the Dropbox world. We describe a method to bypass Dropbox's two factor authentication and hijack Dropbox accounts. Additionally, generic techniques to intercept SSL data using code injection techniques and monkey patching are presented. We believe that our biggest contribution is to open up the Dropbox platform to further security analysis and research. Dropbox will / should no longer be a black box. Finally, we describe the design and implementation of an open-source version of Dropbox client (and yes, it runs on ARM too).
Automatic Activation of Individual Differences: A Test of the Gatekeeper Model in the Domain of Spontaneous Helping

The influence of stable individual differences on behaviour need not solely rely upon deliberative processes but can also be exerted through automatic associative processes. In this contribution, three studies that illustrate the role of individual differences in automaticity are presented in the domain of helping behaviour. The first study provides evidence both for a double dissociation and for an additive pattern of implicit and explicit measures in predicting relevant altruistic behaviours. The subsequent two studies show that when the concept of altruism is subliminally primed, individual differences in implicit attitudes significantly predict behaviour. The results are in line with the gatekeeper model, and their implications are discussed focusing on the key role of individual differences in modulating automaticity effects. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization and modeling of electrical stresses on digital integrated circuits power integrity and conducted emission

Recent studies have shown that integrated circuit aging modifies electromagnetic emission significantly. The proposed paper aims at evaluating the impact of aging on the power integrity and the conducted emission of digital integrated circuits, clarifying the origin of electromagnetic emission evolution and proposing a methodology to predict this evolution. On-chip measurements of power supply voltage bounces in a CMOS 90 nm technology test chip and conducted emission measurements are combined with electric stress to characterize the influence of aging. Simulations based on ICEM modeling modified by an empirical coefficient to model the evolution of the emission induced by device aging is proposed and tested.
Righting Reflex Predicts Long-Term Histological and Behavioral Outcomes in a Closed Head Model of Traumatic Brain Injury

Blunt impact produces a heterogeneous brain injury in people and in animal models of traumatic brain injury. We report that a single closed head impact to adult C57/BL6 mice produced two injury syndromes (CHI-1 and CHI-2). CHI-1 mice spontaneously reinitiated breathing after injury while CHI-2 mice had prolonged apnea and regained breathing only after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and supplementation of 100% O2. The CHI-1 group significantly regained righting reflex more rapidly than the CHI-2 group. At 7 days post-injury, CHI-1, but not CHI-2 mice, acquired but had no long-term retention of an active place avoidance task. The behavioral deficits of CHI-1 and CHI-2 mice were retained one-month after the injury. CHI-1 mice had loss of hippocampal neurons and localized white matter injury at one month after injury. CHI-2 had a larger loss of hippocampal neurons and more widespread loss of myelin and axons. High-speed videos made during the injury were followed by assessment of breathing and righting reflex. These videos show that CHI-2 mice experienced a larger vertical g-force than CHI-1 mice. Time to regain righting reflex in CHI-2 mice significantly correlated with vertical g-force. Thus, physiological responses occurring immediately after injury can be valuable surrogate markers of subsequent behavioral and histological deficits.
Activity-Dependent Metaplasticity of Inhibitory and Excitatory Synaptic Transmission in the Lamprey Spinal Cord Locomotor Network

Paired intracellular recordings have been used to examine the activity-dependent plasticity and neuromodulator-induced metaplasticity of synaptic inputs from identified inhibitory and excitatory interneurons in the lamprey spinal cord. Trains of spikes at 5–20 Hz were used to mimic the frequency of spiking that occurs in network interneurons during NMDA or brainstem-evoked locomotor activity. Inputs from inhibitory and excitatory interneurons exhibited similar activity-dependent changes, with synaptic depression developing during the spike train. The level of depression reached was greater with lower stimulation frequencies. Significant activity-dependent depression of inputs from excitatory interneurons and inhibitory crossed caudal interneurons, which are central elements in the patterning of network activity, usually developed between the fifth and tenth spikes in the train. Because these interneurons typically fire bursts of up to five spikes during locomotor activity, this activity-dependent plasticity will presumably not contribute to the patterning of network activity. However, in the presence of the neuromodulators substance P and 5-HT, significant activity-dependent metaplasticity of these inputs developed over the first five spikes in the train. Substance P induced significant activity-dependent depression of inhibitory but potentiation of excitatory interneuron inputs, whereas 5-HT induced significant activity-dependent potentiation of both inhibitory and excitatory interneuron inputs. Because these metaplastic effects are consistent with the substance P and 5-HT-induced modulation of the network output, activity-dependent metaplasticity could be a potential mechanism underlying the coordination and modulation of rhythmic network activity.
Which Stage of Mouse Embryos Is More Appropriate for Vitrification?

Background Vitrification has been shown as one of the most effective methods of cryopreservation for mammalian embryos. However, there is no consensus which stage of embryonic development is the most appropriate for vitrification with subsequent maximal development after thawing. This study was carried out to explore and compare the effect(s) of vitrification on mouse 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, morula and blastocyst stage embryos and subsequent blast formation and hatching after thawing. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, 2-cell embryos were obtained from the oviducts of super ovulated female NMRI mice. Some embryos were randomly selected and vitrified through a two-step media protocol and cryotop. Other embryos were cultured to assess their development. During the ensuing days, some of these cultured embryos were vitrified at 4-cell, 8-cell, morula and blastocyst stages. After 10 to 14 days, the embryos were thawed to assess their survival and also cultured to determine the rate of blastocyst formation and hatching. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests. Results There was no significant difference in the survival rates of vitrified embryos at 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, morula and blastocyst stages after thawing (P>0.05). The blastocyst formation rate of vitrified 8-cell embryos was significantly higher than that of 2-cell embryos (P<0.05). The hatching rate of vitrified 4-cell, 8-cell and blastocysts were significantly higher than that of 2-cell embryos (P<0.05). Conclusion Vitrification is suitable for cryopreservation of all stages of mouse embryonic development. However, the best tolerance for vitrification was observed at 4and 8-cell stages of development. Accordingly, the development of vitrified embryos to blastocysts, following thawing, was most efficacious for 4 and 8-cell embryos. Compared to mouse 2-cell embryos, embryos vitrified as blastocysts had the highest rate of hatching.
Measuring problem video game playing in adolescents.

AIMS Some researchers suggest that for some people, video game playing is an addictive behaviour similar to substance dependence. Our aim was to design and validate a scale to measure the problems associated with the apparently addictive use of all types of video games and video game systems, because there is no instrument at the present time that can be used for this purpose. DESIGN We reviewed the DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence and for pathological gambling, as well as the literature on the addictions in order to design a short scale (PVP; problem video game playing) that is quick and easy to apply. PARTICIPANTS The scale was administered to 223 Spanish adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years. The study was carried out in Granada and Algeciras, Spain. FINDINGS Psychometric analyses show that the PVP seems to be unidimensional and has acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) at 0.69. The pattern of associations between the scale scores and alternative measures of problem play supports its construct validity (higher total scores in the scale were associated with higher frequency of play, mean and longest times per session, self and parents' perception of playing to excess, and scores in the Severity of Dependence Scale). CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm that the excessive use of video games is associated with a number of problems which resemble a dependence syndrome, and the PVP appears as a useful instrument for the measurement of such problems.
Arabidopsis Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases MKK1 and MKK2 Have Overlapping Functions in Defense Signaling Mediated by MEKK1, MPK4, and MKS11[W]

The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) MKK1 and MKK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases have been implicated in biotic and abiotic stress responses as part of a signaling cascade including MEKK1 and MPK4. Here, the double loss-of-function mutant (mkk1/2) of MKK1 and MKK2 is shown to have marked phenotypes in development and disease resistance similar to those of the single mekk1 and mpk4 mutants. Because mkk1 or mkk2 single mutants appear wild type, basal levels of MPK4 activity are not impaired in them, and MKK1 and MKK2 are in part functionally redundant in unchallenged plants. These findings are confirmed and extended by biochemical and molecular analyses implicating the kinases in jasmonate- and salicylate-dependent defense responses, mediated in part via the MPK4 substrate MKS1. In addition, transcriptome analyses delineate overlapping and specific effects of the kinases on global gene expression patterns demonstrating both redundant and unique functions for MKK1 and MKK2.
Characteristics of information systems and business informatics study programs

Over the last decade there is an intensive discussion within the Information Systems (IS) and Informatics community about the characteristics and identity of the discipline. Simultaneously with the discussion, there is an ongoing debate on essential skills and capabilities of IS and Busi- ness Informatics graduates as well as the profile of IS programs. With this paper we recognize the need for different IS perspectives resulting in diverse study profiles. We developed a framework for structuring information systems study programs and characterized some of the differences in study programs. The results from this study are based on a survey and workshops with domain exerts, both from academia and practice. The descriptive results from the survey are presented, and show the diversity of study programs, both on master and bachelor level. As an example for an IS profile we summarize a reference structure for Business Informatics study programs, which aims to provide guidance for curriculum development and to stimulate further debate on IS curriculum development.
Social Marketing: A Framework for Paving the Pathway of Legal Assistance Programme

This study focuses on the different factors influencing social marketing programme implementation of legal assistance in Indonesia. The variables being examined are variables in theory of planned behaviour (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control) and additional variables influencing attitude and intention (perceived costs, perceived needs, perceived risks, perceived benefits). The study utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research method. The first stage of this study is a qualitative research consisting of interviews with advocates and keypersons of legal assistance service providers (lembaga bantuan hukum). On the second stage, a cross-sectional quantitative study will be conducted involving the targeted audiences of legal assistance programme in Indonesia. The findings of the first stage of this study reveal some variables posited to influence intention of the targeted audiences to use legal assistance programme. The second stage of the study is expected to provide more insights on the variables influencing intention to use legal assistance programme.
Moving Back to the Future: Use of Organ Care System Lung for Lobectomy Before Lobar Lung Transplantation

Background Lung transplantation remains the gold standard treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease. Lobar lung transplantation allows for transplantation of size-mismatch donor lungs in small recipients; however, donor lung volume reduction represents a challenging surgical technique. In this paper we present our initial experience with bilateral lobectomy in donor lungs before lobar lung transplantation using normothermic perfusion on the Organ Care System (OCS) Lung. Material/Methods Specifics of the surgical technique for donor lung instrumentation on the OCS, lobar dissection on the OCS, and right and left donor lobectomies are presented in detail. Results Potential advantages of the use of the OCS for lobectomy for lobar lung transplantation are described in this section. Donor lung volume reduction utilizing OCS appeared to be easier and safer compared to the conventional cold storage technique, due to continuous perfusion of the lungs with blood and well-distended vessels that offer the feel of live lobectomy. Moreover, the OCS represents a platform for donor organ assessment and optimization of its function before transplantation. Conclusions Donor lung volume reduction was safe and feasible utilizing the OCS, which could be a useful tool for volume reduction in cases of size mismatch. Further research is needed to evaluate early and long-term results after lobar lung transplantation using the OCS in clinical studies.
Work Ethic, Employment Contracts, and Firm Value

We analyze how the work ethic of managers impacts a firm's employment contracts, riskiness, growth potential, and organizational structure. Flat contracts are optimal for diligent managers because they reduce risk-sharing costs, but they attract egoistic agents who shirk and unskilled agents who add no value. Stable, bureaucratic firms with low growth potential are more likely to gain value from managerial diligence. Firms that hire from a virtuous pool of agents are more conservative in their investments and have a horizontal corporate structure. Our theory also yields several testable implications that distinguish it from standard agency models. Copyright (c) 2009 the American Finance Association.
A Preliminary Investigation of the Importance of Site Accessibility Factors for Disabled Tourists

Disabled people may be a significant market segment for the tourism industry. However, many tourism sites are not well suited to serve disabled tourists. This article offers a method for evaluating the importance of accessibility factors for disabled tourists at tourist sites. It also comments on the differences by which nondisabled or disabled tourists evaluate a tourism site. Some limited empirical evidence is provided to demonstrate how to measure the importance of accessibility factors among disabled tourists.
Authentication Scheme for Flexible Charging and Discharging of Mobile Vehicles in the V2G Networks

Navigating security and privacy challenges is one of the crucial requirements in the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) network. Since electric vehicles (EVs) need to provide their private information to aggregators/servers when charging/discharging at different charging stations, privacy of the vehicle owners can be compromised if the information is misused, traced, or revealed. In a wide V2G network, where vehicles can move outside of their home network to visiting networks, security and privacy become even more challenging due to untrusted entities in the visiting networks. Although some privacy-preserving solutions were proposed in the literature to tackle this problem, they do not protect against well-known security attacks and generate a huge overhead. Therefore, we propose a mutual authentication scheme to preserve privacy of the EV's information from aggregators/servers in the home as well as distributed visiting V2G networks. Our scheme, based on a bilinear pairing technique with an accumulator performing batch verification, yields higher system efficiency, defeats various security attacks, and maintains untraceability, forward privacy, and identity anonymity. A performance analysis shows that our scheme, in comparison with the existing solutions, significantly generates lower communication and computation overheads in the home and centralized V2G networks, and comparable overheads in the distributed visiting V2G networks.
THE ROLE OF TWO INTEREST RATES IN THE INTERTEMPORAL CURRENT ACCOUNT MODEL

We analyze the role of the lending-deposit interest rate spread in the dynamics of the current account in developing countries. For that purpose, we extend the standard perfect-foresight intertemporal model of the current account for the existence of the interest rate spread and simulate the convergence path of developing economies. This model helps explain why in many cases it is optimal for a fast-growing, low-income country to run a balanced current account.
Measurement of Periodical Contraction of Cultured Muscle Tube with Laser

Periodical contraction of a cultured muscle tube has been measured with laser in vitro. C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line) was cultured with High-glucose Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium on a dish to make muscle tubes. Differentiation from myoblasts to myotubes was induced with an additional horse serum. Repetitive contraction of the tube was generated by electric pulses lower than sixty volts of amplitude with one milli-second of width through the electrodes of platinum, and observed with a phase-contrast microscope. A laser beam of 632.8 nm wavelength was restricted to 0.096 mm diameter, and applied to the muscle tubes on the bottom of the culture dish. Fluctuating intensity of the transmitted laser beam through the periodically contracting muscle tubes was measured, and its spectrum was analyzed. The analyzed data show that the repetitive contraction is synchronized with stimulation of the periodical electric pulses between 0.2 s and 2 s.
Obscured High Mass X‐Ray Binaries and Supergiant Fast X‐ray Transients: Infrared Observations of INTEGRAL Sources

A new type of high‐energy binary system has been revealed by the INTEGRAL satellite. These sources are being unveiled by means of multi‐wavelength optical, near‐ and midinfrared observations. Among these sources, two distinct classes are appearing: the first one is constituted of intrinsically obscured high‐energy sources, of which IGR J16318‐4848 seems to be the most extreme example. The second one is populated by the so‐called supergiant fast X‐ray transients, with IGR J17544‐2619 being the archetype. We report here on multi‐wavelength optical to mid‐infrared observations of a sample constituted of 21 INTEGRAL sources. We show that in the case of the obscured sources our observations suggest the presence of absorbing material (dust and/or cold gas) enshrouding the whole binary system. We finally discuss the nature of these two different types of sources, in the context of high energy binary systems.
Saline Systems

A trehalose 6-phosphate synthase gene of the hemocytes of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: cloning, the expression, its enzyme activity and relationship to hemolymph trehalose levels Abstract Trehalose in ectoderms functions in energy metabolism and protection in extreme environmental conditions. We structurally characterized trehalose 6-phosphate synthase (TPS) from hemocytes of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. C. sapidus Hemo TPS (CasHemoTPS), like insect TPS, encodes both TPS and trehalose phosphate phosphatase domains. Trehalose seems to be a major sugar, as it shows higher levels than does glucose in hemocytes and hemolymph. Increases in HemoTPS expression, TPS enzyme activity in hemocytes, and hemolymph trehalose levels were determined 24 h after lipopolysaccharide challenge, suggesting that both TPS and TPP domains of CasHemoTPS are active and functional. The TPS gene has a wide tissue distribution in C. sapidus, suggesting multiple biosynthetic sites. A correlation between TPS activity in hemocytes and hemolymph trehalose levels was found during the molt cycle. The current study provides the first evidence of presence of trehalose in hemocytes and TPS in tissues of C. sapidus and implicates its functional role in energy metabolism and physiological adaptation.
Reform in a Differentiated-Product Industry: The Case of the Korean Cigarette Manufacturing Industry

This paper explores the ramifications of privatization and deregulation in a differentiated-product industry. The analysis focuses on the change in firmsâ€™ product portfolio and pricing policy. Using product-level data on the Korean cigarette manufacturing industry, which underwent major reform recently, a random-coefficient discrete choice model is estimated to approximate substitution patterns among cigarette products. The findings are as follows. First, in the post-reform period, new products are significantly less price-elastic than existing ones; however, no such relationship is found in the pre-reform period. Second, data in the pre-reform period is not consistent with firm-level profit maximization mainly due to the failure to internalize within-firm substitution. In the post-reform period, however, partial evidence supports the view that pricing of new products is compatible with firm-level profit maximization. Overall, the analysis suggests that firm efficiency improves in the post-reform period through the introduction of profitable products and the proper pricing of these products.