Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Motherhood on Wages and Wage Growth: Evidence for Australia

Labour market theory provides several reasons why mothers are likely to earn lower hourly wages than non-mothers. However, the size of any motherhood penalty is an empirical matter and the evidence for Australia is limited. This paper examines the effect of motherhood on Australian women’s wages and wage growth using a series of panel-data models which control for other relevant factors, both observed and unobserved. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, an unexplained motherhood wage penalty of around four per cent for one child, and eight per cent for two or more children, is found. Further analysis suggests that the wage penalty emerges over time through reduced wage growth, rather than through an immediate wage decline after the birth of a child. This reduction in wage growth is consistent with discrimination but also with a reduction in mothers’ work effort.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Ageist and Sexist Double Jeopardy Portrayals in Children's Picture Books

Bandura's Social Learning Theory purports that early exposure to this social information may have an impact on children's schema development (e.g., Bandura, 2001), which may influence how children and later adults think about what it means to age and get older (e.g., what it means to be an aging woman in society). By extension, if the portrayal of aging women characters in picture books contains both ageist and sexist attitudes, then the concern is that learned double jeopardy social schemas may influence both children's and the broader society's reactions to this aging sub-population (Chappell & Havens, 1980) and personal self-efficacy toward aging (Bandura, 2011). For the purpose of the current research, a possible double jeopardy portrayal was examined for older women characters in children's picture books. Using a stratified random sampling of 90 children's picture books, results found that older book characters were depicted in only about one-third of the sampled books, and older women portrayals were generally more negative (e.g., “hag”). The current study analyzed the biased aging portrayals in children's picture books, and found evidence for double jeopardy (e.g., both ageist and sexist attitudes combined) in how aging women characters were presented in both text and imagery. Implications toward future research and education interventions that convey more positive messages about aging and being a woman aging in society will be discussed.
InfiniteDB: a pc-cluster based parallel massive database management system

This paper describes a PC-cluster based parallel DBMS, InfiniteDB, developed by the authors. InfiniteDB aims at efficiently storing and processing of massive databases in response to the rapidly growing in database size and the need of high performance analyzing of massive databases. It supports the parallelisms of intra-query, inter-query, intra-operation, inter-operation and pipelining. It provides effective strategies for processing massive databases including the multiple data declustering methods, the declustering-aware algorithms for the execution of relational operations and other database operations, and the adaptive query optimization method. It also provides the functions of parallel data warehousing and data mining, the coordinator-wrapper mechanism to support the integration of heterogeneous information resources on the Internet, and the fault tolerant and resilient infrastructures. It has been used in many applications and has proved quite effective for storing and processing massive databases in practice.
Teosinte glume architecture 1: A Genetic Locus Controlling a Key Step in Maize Evolution

Teosinte, the probable progenitor of maize, has kernels that are encased in hardened fruitcases, which interfere with the use of the kernels as food. Although the components of the fruitcase are present in maize, their development is disrupted so that the kernels are not encased as in teosinte but exposed on the ear. The change from encased to exposed kernels represents a key step in maize evolution. The locus that largely controls this morphological difference between maize and teosinte, teosinte glume architecture 1, is described and genetically mapped.
Regulation of Jak Kinases by Intracellular Leptin Receptor Sequences*

Leptin signals the status of body energy stores via the leptin receptor (LR), a member of the Type I cytokine receptor family. Type I cytokine receptors mediate intracellular signaling via the activation of associated Jak family tyrosine kinases. Although their COOH-terminal sequences vary, alternatively spliced LR isoforms (LRa–LRd) share common NH2-terminal sequences, including the first 29 intracellular amino acids. The so-called long form LR (LRb) activates Jak-dependent signaling and is required for the physiologic actions of leptin. In this study, we have analyzed Jak activation by intracellular LR sequences under the control of the extracellular erythropoeitin (Epo) (Epo receptor/LRb chimeras). We show that Jak2 is the requisite Jak kinase for signaling by the LRb intracellular domain and confirm the requirement for the Box 1 motif for Jak2 activation. A minimal LRb intracellular domain for Jak2 activation includes intracellular amino acids 31–48. Although the sequence requirements for intracellular amino acids 37–48 are flexible, intracellular amino acids 31–36 of LRb play a critical role in Jak2 activation and contain a loose homology motif found in other Jak2-activating cytokine receptors. The failure of short form sequences to function in Jak2 activation reflects the absence of this motif.
Modelling the Evolutionary Dynamics of Viruses within Their Hosts: A Case Study Using High-Throughput Sequencing

Uncovering how natural selection and genetic drift shape the evolutionary dynamics of virus populations within their hosts can pave the way to a better understanding of virus emergence. Mathematical models already play a leading role in these studies and are intended to predict future emergences. Here, using high-throughput sequencing, we analyzed the within-host population dynamics of four Potato virus Y (PVY) variants differing at most by two substitutions involved in pathogenicity properties. Model selection procedures were used to compare experimental results to six hypotheses regarding competitiveness and intensity of genetic drift experienced by viruses during host plant colonization. Results indicated that the frequencies of variants were well described using Lotka-Volterra models where the competition coefficients βij exerted by variant j on variant i are equal to their fitness ratio, rj/ri. Statistical inference allowed the estimation of the effect of each mutation on fitness, revealing slight (s = −0.45%) and high (s = −13.2%) fitness costs and a negative epistasis between them. Results also indicated that only 1 to 4 infectious units initiated the population of one apical leaf. The between-host variances of the variant frequencies were described using Dirichlet-multinomial distributions whose scale parameters, closely related to the fixation index F ST, were shown to vary with time. The genetic differentiation of virus populations among plants increased from 0 to 10 days post-inoculation and then decreased until 35 days. Overall, this study showed that mathematical models can accurately describe both selection and genetic drift processes shaping the evolutionary dynamics of viruses within their hosts.
A case for runtime code generation

We de ne runtime code generation (RTCG) as dynamically adding code to the instruction stream of an executing program. It has been in use since the 1940s, but fell from favor because changing hardware and software technologies made it less pro tabile and its ad-hoc implementation made it nonportable. In this paper we argue for it's return. We base our arguments on ongoing changes in hardware technology, software technology, and workloads. Each of these changes brings about circumstances in which dynamically optimized code can execute fast enough to pay for the runtime overhead of creating it. We support our analysis with concrete examples. We compare static-code and RTCG implementations of several applications and show that RTCG leads to performance improvements.
Expressive Completeness of Duration Calculus

This paper compares the expressive power of first-order monadic logic of order, a fundamental formalism in mathematical logic and the theory of computation, with that of the propositional version of duration calculus (PDC), a formalism for the specification of real-time systems. Our results show that the propositional duration calculus is expressively complete for first-order monadic logic of order. Our semantics for PDC conservatively extends the standard semantics to all positive (including infinite) length intervals. Hence, in view of the expressive completeness, liveness properties can be specified in PDC. This observation refutes a widely believed misconception that the duration calculus cannot specify liveness properties.
Regulation of the Cell Expansion Gene RHD3 during Arabidopsis Development1

The RHD3 (ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE3) gene encodes a putative GTP-binding protein required for appropriate cell enlargement in Arabidopsis. To obtain insight into the mechanisms of RHD3 regulation, we conducted a molecular genetic dissection of RHD3 gene expression and function. Gene fusion and complementation studies show that the RHD3 gene is highly expressed throughout Arabidopsis development and is controlled by two major regulatory regions. One regulatory region is located between −1,500 and −600 bp upstream of the RHD3 gene and is required for vascular tissue expression. The other region is intragenically located and includes the 558-bp first intron, which is responsible for high-level expression of RHD3 throughout the plant. The presence and location of this intron is essential for gene function because constructs lacking this intron or constructs with the intron in an abnormal position are unable to functionally complement therhd3 mutations. We also analyzed the role of otherRHD genes and the plant hormones auxin and ethylene inRHD3 regulation, and we determined that these act downstream or independently from the RHD3 pathway. This study shows that multiple levels of regulation are employed to ensure the appropriate expression of RHD3 throughout Arabidopsis development.
State of charge estimation based on a realtime battery model and iterative smooth variable structure filter

This paper proposes a novel real-time model-based state of charge (SOC) estimation method for lithium-ion batteries. The proposed method includes: 1) an electrical circuit battery model incorporating the hysteresis effect, 2) a fast upper-triangular and D-diagonal recursive least square (FUDRLS)-based online parameter identification algorithm for the electrical battery model, and 3) an iterated smooth variable structure filter (ISVSF) for SOC estimation. The proposed method enables an accurate and robust condition monitoring for lithium-ion batteries. Due to its low complexity, the proposed method is suitable for the real-time embedded battery management system (BMS) application. Simulation and experiment are performed to validate the proposed method for a polymer lithium-ion cell.
Interference Cancellation using a Single Snapshot

In this paper, we show that a single snapshot using a uniform linear array can be applied to interferences cancellation problems in spatial array signal processing. In this context, the antenna weight vector is calculated using a projection matrix constructed from a single snapshot instead of using the eigen-decomposition of the sample covariance matrix. The benefits of this method are two-fold; it reduces the computational cost required by the eigen-decomposition and the number of snapshots. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method through simulations of different scenarios including coherent and uncorrelated interferences
Personality, risky health behaviour, and perceived susceptibility to health risks

We examined the relations between personality (Five‐Factor Model), risky health behaviours, and perceptions of susceptibility to health risks among 683 university students. The hypothesis was that personality would affect perceptions of susceptibility to health risks in two ways: directly, irrespective of risky health behaviours, and indirectly, through the effects of personality on risky health behaviours. The students were surveyed about smoking, being drunk, drunk driving, risky sexual behaviour, and perceptions of susceptibility to related health risks. In path‐analytical models we found the expected direct and indirect effects. The personality dimensions of Agreeableness and Conscientiousness had negative direct effects on perceptions of susceptibility as well as negative indirect effects through risky health behaviours. Neuroticism was the only personality dimension to show positive direct effects on perceptions of susceptibility as well as negative indirect effects. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
X-rays from the radio-quiet quasar PG 1407+265: relativistic jet or accretion disc emission?

We present two XMM-Newton observations of the luminous (L x > 10 46 erg s -1 ), radio-quiet quasar PG 1407+265, separated by 11 months. The data indicate two distinct states: a highly variable, bright state (first epoch); and a quiescent, low-flux one (second epoch). During the low-flux state the spectrum is consistent with a single, unabsorbed power law. However, during the brighter state a highly variable, steep component is statistically required. Contemporaneous ultraviolet data from the Optical Monitor allow an estimate of the optical-to-X-ray spectral index (α ox ), which appears typical of radio-quiet quasars during the low-flux state, but extremely flat during the high-flux state. The XMM-Newton data can be described as originating from a combination of jet and accretion disc processes, in which the (relativistic) X-ray jet only works intermittently. The scenario could help to describe some of the complexities seen in the broad-band spectral energy distribution of PG 1407+265, such as weak high-ionization emission lines, strong Fe II, unbeamed continuum and the weak radio emission relative to the optical.
COMPLETE AND SCALABLE MULTI-ROBOT PLANNING IN TUNNEL ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract This paper addresses the challenging problem of finding collision-free trajectories for many robots moving to individual goals within a common environment. Most popular algorithms for multi-robot planning manage the complexity of the problem by planning trajectories for robots sequentially; such decoupled methods may fail to find a solution even if one exists. In contrast, this paper describes a multi-phase approach to the planning problem that guarantees a solution by creating and maintaining obstacle-free paths through the environment as required for each robot to reach its goal. Using a topological graph and spanning tree representation of a tunnel or corridor environment, the multi-phase planner is capable of planning trajectories for up to r = L – 1 robots, where the spanning tree includes L leaves. Monte Carlo simulations in a large environment with varying number of robots demonstrate that the algorithm can solve planning problems requiring complex coordination of many robots that cannot be solved with a decoupled approach, and is scalable with complexity linear in the number of robots.
A screen in Escherichia coli for nucleoside analogs that target human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase: coexpression of HIV reverse transcriptase and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase substitutes for temperature-sensitive DNA polymerase I (Pol Its) in Escherichia coli, providing a screen for anti-HIV reverse transcriptase nucleoside analogs in bacteria. Since phosphorylation of nucleosides in E. coli is limited to thymidine and its derivatives, we coexpressed herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase, an enzyme that phosphorylates a wide variety of nucleoside analogs, together with HIV reverse transcriptase. Coexpression of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase and HIV reverse transcriptase rendered Pol Its cells sensitive to dideoxycytidine. Studies with different nucleoside analogs indicate that this bacterial screening system is able to select and identify nucleoside analogs that specifically target HIV reverse transcriptase.
Aggressor Games: Of Violent Video Games and Aggression among Higher-income Group Schoolchildren in Malaysia

Violent video games have been linked to being one of the causes for increased aggressive behaviour and juvenile crimes in many developed and developing societies. This exploratory study investigates the effects of high income and gender on playing violent video games in Malaysia, and how it results in poor academic performance amongst secondary school children. This is a case study for other middle income nations in Southeast Asia, which also have strong Eastern cultural and religious beliefs. Contrary to earlier findings, the results indicated that boys from higher income backgrounds had a higher propensity for playing violent video games than adolescents from lower income backgrounds. The same effect though, is not manifested on adolescent girls. Nevertheless, playing violent video games was positively related to trait aggressive and negatively to academic performance in both the sexes. Our findings shed new light on socio-economic and demographic factors influencing violent video gaming, offering insights to both policy-makers and theoreticians in researching gaming effects.
Factors associated with the effective inclusion of primary-aged pupils with Down's syndrome

It is increasingly common for pupils with Down's syndrome to be offered places in mainstream primary schools. However, there is still much to learn about the impact of these placements upon children and classrooms. Recently the Nuffield Foundation funded a two-year research project exploring the inclusion of primary-aged pupils with Down's syndrome. The research focused on the inclusion of 18 pupils with Down's syndrome who attended mainstream primary schools in six local education authorities (LEAs) in the north-west of England. The research team investigated the ways in which schools manage the inclusion of pupils with Down's syndrome and the factors that contribute to the success of mainstream placements. In this article, Sam Fox, Peter Farrell and Pauline Davis from the University of Manchester discuss some of the findings from the study. These concern the support in place for the child and the attitudes of staff, other pupils and the parents of peers towards the inclusion of the child with Down's syndrome. Evidence from the 18 case studies suggests that there is no single way to guarantee effective inclusion. The extent to which a child is effectively included in a mainstream class is likely to be influenced by a number of key factors, including the way in which the teaching assistant (TA) works with the class teacher. Inclusion is more likely to be successful when the class teacher takes a central role in the management of support and the organisation of a child's daily educational experiences.
Comparison of Leaf Sheath Transcriptome Profiles with Physiological Traits of Bread Wheat Cultivars under Salinity Stress

Salinity stress has significant negative effects on plant biomass production and crop yield. Salinity tolerance is controlled by complex systems of gene expression and ion transport. The relationship between specific features of mild salinity stress adaptation and gene expression was analyzed using four commercial varieties of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) that have different levels of salinity tolerance. The high-throughput phenotyping system in The Plant Accelerator at the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility revealed variation in shoot relative growth rate and salinity tolerance among the four cultivars. Comparative analysis of gene expression in the leaf sheaths identified genes whose functions are potentially linked to shoot biomass development and salinity tolerance. Early responses to mild salinity stress through changes in gene expression have an influence on the acquisition of stress tolerance and improvement in biomass accumulation during the early “osmotic” phase of salinity stress. In addition, results revealed transcript profiles for the wheat cultivars that were different from those of usual stress-inducible genes, but were related to those of plant growth. These findings suggest that, in the process of breeding, selection of specific traits with various salinity stress-inducible genes in commercial bread wheat has led to adaptation to mild salinity conditions.
Plane Fitting and Depth Variance Based Upsampling for Noisy Depth Map from 3D-ToF Cameras in Real-time

Recent advances of ToF depth sensor devices enables us to easily retrieve scene depth data with high frame rates. However, the resolution of the depth map captured from these devices is much lower than that of color images and the depth data suffers from the optical noise effects. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm that upsamples depth map captured by ToF depth cameras and reduces noise. The upsampling is carried out by applying plane based interpolation to the groups of points similar to planar structures and depth variance based joint bilateral upsampling to curved or bumpy surface points. For dividing the depth map into piecewise planar areas, we apply superpixel segmentation and graph component labeling. In order to distinguish planar areas and curved areas, we evaluate the reliability of detected plane structures. Compared with other state-of-the- art algorithms, our method is observed to produce an upsampled depth map that is smoothed and closer to the ground truth depth map both visually and numerically. Since the algorithm is parallelizable, it can work in real-time by utilizing highly parallel processing capabilities of modern commodity GPUs.
Poly(A)-independent regulation of maternal hunchback translation in the Drosophila embryo

Development of the Drosophila abdomen requires repression of maternal hunchback (hb) mRNA translation in the posterior of the embryo. This regulation involves at least four components: nanos response elements within the hb 3′ untranslated region and the activities of Pumilio (PUM), Nanos (NOS), and Brain tumor. To study this regulation, we have developed an RNA injection assay that faithfully recapitulates the regulation of the endogenous hb message. Previous studies have suggested that NOS and PUM can regulate translation by directing poly(A) removal. We have found that RNAs that lack a poly(A) tail and cannot be polyadenylated and RNAs that contain translational activating sequences in place of the poly(A) tail are still repressed in the posterior. These data demonstrate that the poly(A) tail is not required for regulation and suggest that NOS and PUM can regulate hb translation by two mechanisms: removal of the poly(A) tail and a poly(A)-independent pathway that directly affects translation.