Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional specialization in the lower and upper visual fields in humans: Its ecological origins and neurophysiological implications

Abstract Functional specialization in the lower and upper visual fields in humans is analyzed in relation to the origins of the primate visual system. Processing differences between the vertical hemifields are related to the distinction between near (peripersonal) and far (extrapersonal) space, which are biased toward the lower and upper visual fields, respectively. Nonlinear/global processing is required in the lower visual field in order to pergeive the optically degraded and diplopic images in near vision, whereas objects in far vision are searched for and recognized primarily using linear/local perceptual mechanisms. The functional differences between near and far visual space are correlated with their disproportionate representations in the dorsal and ventral divisions of visual association cortex, respectively, and in the magnocellular and parvocellular pathways that project to them. Advances in far visual capabilities and forelimb manipulatory skills may have led to a significant enhancement of these functional specializations.
Exercise modifies α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid receptor expression in striatopallidal neurons in the 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine‐lesioned mouse

The α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic‐acid‐type glutamate receptor (AMPAR) plays a critical role in modulating experience‐dependent neuroplasticity, and alterations in AMPAR expression may underlie synaptic dysfunction and disease pathophysiology. Using the 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of dopamine (DA) depletion, our previous work showed exercise increases total GluA2 subunit expression and the contribution of GluA2‐containing channels in MPTP mice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether exercise‐dependent changes in AMPAR expression after MPTP are specific to the striatopallidal (D2R) or striatonigral (D1R) medium spiny neuron (MSN) striatal projection pathways. Drd2‐eGFP‐BAC transgenic mice were used to delineate differences in AMPAR expression between striatal D2R‐MSNs and D1R‐MSNs. Striatal AMPAR expression was assessed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, Western immunoblotting (WB) of preparations enriched for postsynaptic density (PSD), and alterations in the current–voltage relationship of MSNs. We found DA depletion results in the emergence of GluA2‐lacking AMPARs selectively in striatopallidal D2R‐MSNs and that exercise reverses this effect in MPTP mice. Exercise‐induced changes in AMPAR channels observed after DA depletion were associated with alterations in GluA1 and GluA2 subunit expression in postsynaptic protein, D2R‐MSN cell surface expression, and restoration of corticostriatal plasticity. Mechanisms regulating experience‐dependent changes in AMPAR expression may provide innovative therapeutic targets to increase the efficacy of treatments for basal ganglia disorders, including Parkinson's disease. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Discontinuous college enrollment: associations with substance use and mental health.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the prospective relationship of substance use and mental health problems with risk of discontinuous enrollment in college. METHODS Participants were 1,145 students at a large public university who were interviewed annually for four years beginning at college entry in 2004 (year 1). Discontinuous enrollment was defined as a gap in enrollment of one or more semesters during the first two years (early discontinuity) or the second two years (late discontinuity) versus continuous enrollment throughout all four years. Explanatory variables measured in year 1 were scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, childhood conduct problems, cannabis use, number of illicit drugs used, and alcohol consumption. In years 3 and 4, participants reported lifetime history of clinically diagnosed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, and anxiety, including age at diagnosis. Multinomial logistic regression models were developed to evaluate the association between the independent variables and discontinuous enrollment while holding constant background characteristics. RESULTS Higher BDI scores predicted early discontinuity but not late discontinuity, whereas cannabis and alcohol use predicted only late discontinuity. Receiving a depression diagnosis during college was associated with both early and late discontinuity. Self-reported precollege diagnoses were not related to discontinuous enrollment once background characteristics were taken into account. CONCLUSIONS Students who experience depressive symptoms or seek treatment for depression during college might be at risk of interruptions in their college enrollment. Cannabis use and heavy drinking appear to add to this risk. Students entering college with preexisting psychiatric diagnoses are not necessarily at risk of enrollment interruptions.
Selection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains Tolerant to Lead and Cadmium Toxicity

The aim of this study was to select the best strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae able to resist lead and cadmium. Ten strains were screened on the basis of their resistance at different concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 ppm for Pb and 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 ppm for Cd. The properties of baker's yeast quality were decreased by the increase of Pb or Cd in growth medium. The slope values of yield, total viable cells and gassing power of produced baker's yeast were investigated as an indicator of metal resistant. In addition, concentrations of Pb and Cd in produced baker's yeast were determined. The strain of S. cerevisiae FH-620 had the highest resistance against Pb and Cd and had the minimum levels of both two investigated metals in produced baker's yeast. Keywords—Cadmium, lead, S. cerevisiae, tolerant.
Consolidate IoT Edge Computing with Lightweight Virtualization

Lightweight virtualization (LV) technologies have refashioned the world of software development by introducing flexibility and new ways of managing and distributing software. Edge computing complements today's powerful centralized data centers with a large number of distributed nodes that provide virtualization close to the data source and end users. This emerging paradigm offers ubiquitous processing capabilities on a wide range of heterogeneous hardware characterized by different processing power and energy availability. The scope of this article is to present an in-depth analysis on the requirements of edge computing from the perspective of three selected use cases that are particularly interesting for harnessing the power of the Internet of Things. We discuss and compare the applicability of two LV technologies, containers and unikernels, as platforms for enabling the scalability, security, and manageability required by such pervasive applications that soon may be part of our everyday lives. To inspire further research, we identify open problems and highlight future directions to serve as a road map for both industry and academia.
Principals’ evidence-based practice – findings from German schools

Purpose – In Germany, principals’ working environments are data-rich for school improvement purposes in a rather low-stakes test-regime. An effective use of externally as well as internally generated data, also known as data wise leadership, is considered to be a key competence of successful principals. The purpose of this paper is to describe data use practices in German schools, especially focussing on schools facing challenging circumstances. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on findings from two projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. A standardized questionnaire study was conducted to measure the usage of available data for school improvement quantitatively. The perceived usefulness, the reflection upon, and the use of information sources by principals were measured. Moreover, semi-structured interviews with school leaders from schools in deprived areas were conducted, transcribed and analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis. Findings – The resul.
Exploring the Drivers of Purchase Intent and Consumer Satisfaction of Chicken Eggs Using Principal Component Analysis and the Kano Model

Twenty egg product attributes considered important by consumers (n = 400) were identified and their contribution to the satisfaction of quality requirements and purchase intent was examined using principal component analysis and the Kano model. Consumers considered freshness, absence of cracks, sale price and label stating “packing/best-before-date” as key attributes affecting purchase intent. Five principal components (PC1–PC5) were extracted, altogether explaining 57.43% of the total variance. Based on the PC loadings, the following groups emerged: PC1 (intrinsic quality), PC2 (aesthetic value), PC3 (extrinsic quality), PC4 (expediency) and PC5 (wholesomeness and safety). From the Kano analysis, eight variables (freshness, shell cleanness, absence of cracks, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)-certified farm eggs, label stating “packing/best-before-date”, egg grade, secure packaging and availability) corresponding mostly to PC3, PC4 and PC5 were categorized as “must-be attributes,” with dissatisfaction coefficients ranging from 0.87 (freshness) to 0.38 (egg grade). Sale price and egg size were classified as one-dimensional and attractive attributes, respectively. Practical Applications The Kano model is an efficient tool to prioritize product development efforts to prevent consumer dissatisfaction while increasing satisfaction. In this study, principal component analysis and the Kano model were utilized to understand the relationships between egg quality variables driving purchase intent and their impact on consumer satisfaction. Findings from this investigation present egg processors and retailers with valuable insights for successful differentiation from the competition and to increase profits, by identifying the essential product attributes with the most potential to delight consumers.
Autoimmunity to DNA and Nucleosomes in Binary Tetracycline-Regulated Polyomavirus T-Ag Transgenic Mice1

The mechanism(s) responsible for autoimmunity to DNA and nucleosomes in SLE is largely unknown. We have demonstrated that nucleosome-polyomavirus T-Ag complexes, formed in context of productive polyomavirus infection, activate dsDNA-specific B cells and nucleosome-specific CD4+ T cells. To investigate whether de novo expressed T-Ag is able to terminate nucleosome-specific T cell tolerance and to maintain anti-dsDNA Ab production in nonautoimmune mice, we developed two binary transgenic mouse variants in which expression of SV40 large T-Ag is controlled by tetracycline, MUP tTA/T-Ag (tet-off), and CMV rtTA/T-Ag (tet-on) mice. Data demonstrate that MUP tTA/T-Ag mice, but not CMV rtTA/T-Ag mice, are tightly controlling T-Ag expression. In MUP tTA/T-Ag transgenic mice, postnatal T-Ag expression activated CD8+ T cells but not DNA-specific B cells, while immunization with T-Ag and nucleosome-T-Ag-complexes before T-Ag expression resulted in elevated and remarkably stable titers of anti-T-Ag and anti-dsDNA Abs and activation of T-Ag-specific CD4+ T cells. Immunization of nonexpressing MUP tTA/T-Ag mice resulted in transient anti-T-Ag and anti-dsDNA Abs. This system reveals that a de novo expressed DNA-binding quasi-autoantigen maintain anti-dsDNA Abs and CD4+ T cell activation once initiated by immunization, demonstrating direct impact of a single in vivo expressed molecule on sustained autoimmunity to DNA and nucleosomes.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Three-Factor Structure of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire and Chapman Schizotypy Scales

We examined the factor structure of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ; Raine, 1991), using confirmatory factor analysis in 3 experiments, with an aim to better understand the construct of schizotypy. In Experiment 1 we tested the fit of 2-, 3-, and 4-factor models on SPQ data from a normal sample. The paranoid 4-factor model fit the data best but not adequately. Based on the strong basis for the Raine 3-factor model we attempted to improve the fit of the 3-factor model by making 3 modifications to the Raine model. These modifications produced a well-fitting model. In Experiment 2 the good fit of this modified 2-factor model to SPQ scores was replicated in an independent normal sample. In Experiment 3, the modified 3-factor model was successfully extended to include the 3 Chapman schizotypy scales. Together these 3 experiments indicate that the 3-factor model of the SPQ, albeit with some slight modifications, is a good model for schizotypy structure that is not restricted to 1 measure of schizotypal personality traits.
Dual black holes in merger remnants – I. Linking accretion to dynamics

We study the orbital evolution and accretion history of massive black hole (MBH) pairs in rotationally supported circumnuclear discs up to the point where MBHs form binary systems. Our simulations have high resolution in mass and space which, for the first time, makes it feasible to follow the orbital decay of a MBH either counter- or corotating with respect to the circumnuclear disc. We show that a moving MBH on an initially counter-rotating orbit experiences an ‘orbital angular momentum flip’ due to the gas-dynamical friction, i.e. it starts to corotate with the disc before a MBH binary forms. We stress that this effect can only be captured in very high resolution simulations. Given the extremely large number of gas particles used, the dynamical range is sufficiently large to resolve the Bondi–Hoyle–Lyttleton radii of individual MBHs. As a consequence, we are able to link the accretion processes to the orbital evolution of the MBH pairs. We predict that the accretion rate is significantly suppressed and extremely variable when the MBH is moving on a retrograde orbit. It is only after the orbital angular momentum flip has taken place that the secondary rapidly ‘lights up’ at which point both MBHs can accrete near the Eddington rate for a few Myr. The separation of the double nucleus is expected to be around 10 pc at this stage. We show that the accretion rate can be highly variable also when the MBH is corotating with the disc (albeit to a lesser extent) provided that its orbit is eccentric. Our results have significant consequences for the expected number of observable double active galactic nuclei at separations of 100 pc.
A High Diversity in Chitinolytic and Chitosanolytic Species and Enzymes and Their Oligomeric Products Exist in Soil with a History of Chitin and Chitosan Exposure

Chitin is one of the most abundant biomolecules on earth, and its partially de-N-acetylated counterpart, chitosan, is one of the most promising biotechnological resources due to its diversity in structure and function. Recently, chitin and chitosan modifying enzymes (CCMEs) have gained increasing interest as tools to engineer chitosans with specific functions and reliable performance in biotechnological and biomedical applications. In a search for novel CCME, we isolated chitinolytic and chitosanolytic microorganisms from soils with more than ten-years history of chitin and chitosan exposure and screened them for chitinase and chitosanase isoenzymes as well as for their patterns of oligomeric products by incubating their secretomes with chitosan polymers. Of the 60 bacterial strains isolated, only eight were chitinolytic and/or chitosanolytic, while 20 out of 25 fungal isolates were chitinolytic and/or chitosanolytic. The bacterial isolates produced rather similar patterns of chitinolytic and chitosanolytic enzymes, while the fungal isolates produced a much broader range of different isoenzymes. Furthermore, diverse mixtures of oligosaccharides were formed when chitosan polymers were incubated with the secretomes of select fungal species. Our study indicates that soils with a history of chitin and chitosan exposure are a good source of novel CCME for chitosan bioengineering.
Thick-Strained-Si/SiGe CMOS Technology With Selective-Epitaxial-Si Shallow-Trench Isolation

We developed a new bulk strained Si/SiGe CMOS technology free from any Ge-related problems, which has a 90- to 110-nm strained Si layer thicker than the limit at which misfit dislocations occur and a new shallow-trench isolation (STI) structure that has a selective-epitaxial-Si (SES) layer to cover up the SiGe trench surface. This technology has advantages in process compatibility with Si CMOS because it allows rough treatment of cap Si surface cleaning or sacrificial oxidation. The thick-strained Si exactly causes misfit dislocations at the interface of Si/SiGe, but no degradation of the internal strain was observed. The dislocation depth is deep enough to reduce the leakage current between source and drain. SES-STI has advantages in low junction leakage current and manufacturing compatibility with Si-CMOS process. The fabricated thick-strained-Si/SiGe 0.18-mum CMOS shows the same performance enhancement factor as the usual thin (< 20 nm) strained Si/SiGe. SES-STI reduced the junction leakage current by 1.5-2 decades from the conventional STI without epitaxial Si layer. Hot carrier lifetime is the same or rather longer than control Si, which means that the quality of the gate oxide on thick-strained Si is not inferior to that of control Si.
The role of collectivism orientation in differential normative mechanisms: A cross‐national study of anti‐smoking public service announcement effectiveness

The purpose of this study is to explicate the complexities of the mechanism through which norm messages achieve their intended goals, and to examine how the normative mechanism differs according to the collectivism orientation of two culturally distinct countries. To analyze data collected from 464 US and Korean college students, it uses the O-S-O-R approach, which represents four elements of the communication process – (pre) Orientation-Stimuli-(post) Orientation-Response. Multi-group path analysis yields three major findings. First, collectivism orientation is significantly related to injunctive norm perception (INP) only among Korean respondents. Second, descriptive norm perceptions (DNP) and INP as post-orientations lead to behavioural intention through different mechanisms. That is, INP leads to behavioural intention directly regardless of types of norm messages and country, but indirectly through issue importance only in the IN message condition among the US. participants. By contrast, DNP leads to behavioural intention only directly, except for the DN message condition among the US participants in which there is no such significant relationship. Third, the normative mechanism was more rigorous and consistent among Koreans than Americans.
Effects of Diets High in Walnuts and Flax Oil on Hemodynamic Responses to Stress and Vascular Endothelial Function

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk, although the mechanisms are incompletely understood. In a previous article, we showed significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and several markers of inflammation with increasing intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) from walnuts and flax. Objective: To examine effects of ALA on cardiovascular responses to acute stress, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, and blood concentrations of endothelin-1 and arginine-vasopressin (AVP). Design: Using a randomized, crossover study design, cardiovascular responses to acute stress were assessed in 20 hypercholesterolemic subjects, a subset of whom also underwent FMD testing (n = 12). Participants were fed an average American diet (AAD) and 2 experimental diets that varied in the amount of ALA and linoleic acid (LA) that they contained. The AAD provided 8.7% energy from PUFA (7.7% LA, 0.8% ALA). On the LA diet, saturated fat was reduced, and PUFA from walnuts and walnut oil provided 16.4% of energy (12.6% LA, 3.6% ALA). On the ALA diet, walnuts, walnut oil, and flax oil provided 17% energy from PUFA (10.5% LA, 6.5% ALA). Results: The ALA and LA diets significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure (−2 to −3 mm Hg) and total peripheral resistance (−4%), and this effect was evident at rest and during stress (main effect of diet, p < 0.02). FMD increased (+34%) on the diet containing additional ALA. AVP also increased by 20%, and endothelin-1 was unchanged. Conclusions: These results suggest novel mechanisms for the cardioprotective effects of walnuts and flax, and further work is needed to identify the bioactives responsible for these effects.
Inquiries in the economics of aging

For over a decade, the National Bureau of Economic Research has sponsored the Economics of Aging Program, under the direction of David A. Wise. The program addresses issues that affect the well-being of individuals as they age and a society that is composed increasingly of older people. Within the next twenty years, an unprecedented proportion of Americans will be over sixty-five. New research in the economics of aging is an essential element of understanding what the future holds for this aging population. Inquiries in the Economics of Aging presents both empirical papers that consider questions that are fundamental to public policy and more theoretical contributions that lay new groundwork for future research in the economics of aging. Inquiries in the Economics of Aging provides a timely overview of some of the most important questions facing researchers on aging and outlines new techniques and models that may help to answer these questions. This important volume will be of great interest to specialists and policy makers as it paves the way for future analysis.
Condition dependence of reproductive strategy and the benefits of polyandry in a viviparous lizard

Species in which males do not contribute to reproduction beyond the provision of sperm offer good opportunities to study the potential genetic benefits that females can obtain from polyandry. Here, we report the results of a study examining the relationships between polyandry and components of female fitness in the common lizard (Lacerta vivipara). We found that polyandrous females produce larger clutches than monandrous females. Polyandrous females also lose fewer offspring during the later stages of gestation and at birth, but we did not find any relationship between polyandry and physical characteristics of viable neonates. Our results were consistent with the predictions of the intrinsic male quality hypothesis, while inbreeding avoidance and genetic incompatibility avoidance might also explain some part of the variation observed in clutch size. Moreover, the benefits of polyandry appeared to depend on female characteristics, as revealed by an interaction between reproductive strategy and female length on reproductive success. Thus, all females did not benefit equally from mating with multiple males, which could explain why polyandry and monandry coexist.
Decentralized multi-cell beamforming with QoS guarantees via large system analysis

This work focuses on the power minimization problem while ensuring target rates in the downlink of a multi-cell multi-user MIMO system wherein L base stations (BSs) of N antennas serve in total K single-antenna user equipments. We assume that the transmit antennas at each BS are correlated and propose a decentralized solution to compute an approximation of the optimal beamforming vectors. The analysis is conducted in the asymptotic regime in which N and K grow large with a given ratio K/N. In particular, the proposed solution relies on the exchange of intercell interference terms whose large system approximations are computed at each BS using knowledge of local transmit correlation matrices and non-local pathlosses. Numerical results are used to evaluate the performance loss of the proposed solution compared to the optimal one and to investigate its accuracy in systems of finite size.