Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electoral Rules and the Size of the Prize: How Political Institutions Shape Presidential Party Systems

This paper explores how political institutions besides electoral rules shape the presidential party system. Our focus is upon what we call the “size of the presidential prize”: the degree to which authority is concentrated in the presidency vis-a-vis the legislature (horizontal centralization) as well as in the national level of government vis-a-vis the subnational levels (vertical centralization). We find a significant but nonlinear relationship between the horizontal centralization of authority in the presidency, operationalized either as an index of presidential powers or as regime type, and the presidential party system, operationalized as the effective number of presidential candidates. Specifically, for moderately powerful presidents, increasing presidential powers leads to fewer presidential candidates; however, for either extremely weak or extremely powerful presidents, increasing presidential powers produces a larger number of candidates. Further, we find that the substantive effect of horizontal.
Parental decision-making in uptake of the MMR vaccination: a systematic review of qualitative literature.

BACKGROUND Controversy has surrounded MMR vaccination in the aftermath of Wakefield's 1998 paper suggesting links between MMR and the development of pervasive developmental disorder in children. The paper sparked off media debate and contributed to a lack of parental trust in health-care providers and reduction in MMR uptake. This review aims to identify and evaluate research on the subject, with a view to present the reasons behind, and influences on parental decision-making in relation to MMR. METHODS Systematic search strategy identified 14 relevant papers on which thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS Themes identified were categorized as follows: perceptions of risk; roles and responsibility; experience and knowledge. There were limited changes in parental decision-making factors over the time period despite an increase in uptake. Many studies fail to differentiate between accepters and rejecters, making it difficult to draw out clear conclusions. CONCLUSION Policymakers need to adapt information provided to address these concerns. Future research should focus more on distinguishing between accepters and rejecters to determine which factors can alter outcome.
A Service Configuration and Composition Design Pattern for autonomic computing systems using Service Oriented Architecture

Software methodologies to develop autonomic computing systems are not mature. As far as we know, there are no studies on composition of design patterns and pattern languages for autonomic computing domain. Static approach to configure services yields inflexible, often inefficient, applications and software architectures. Complex service request involving multiple tasks (operations) may fail due to unavailability of suitable Web services advertised in the registry. In this paper, we propose software architecture using our Service Configuration and Composition Design Patterns for dynamically configuring and composition of communication services by satisfying the Self-configuration and Self-composition characteristics of the autonomic computing systems where software designers and/or programmers can exploit to drive their work. In the proposed system the server will invoke, compose, configure, amend and manage the services based on user request using composition of Design Patterns and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) in the distributed environment at runtime. The proposed pattern is described using a java-like notation for the classes and interfaces. A simple UML class and Sequence diagrams are depicted.
Saltwater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers: A Primary Case Study along the Adriatic Coast Investigated within a Probabilistic Framework

Environmentally sensitive areas along coastlines may be adversely affected by saltwater intrusion (SI), a condition which can be worsened by extensive groundwater extraction. Given the uncertainty of problem parameters, the risk of contamination of the vegetation capture zone needs to be cast in a probabilistic framework. In order to exemplify real situations existing along the Adriatic coast of Emilia-Romagna, a case study involving a pinewood strip and a well field drawing freshwater from an unconfined coastal aquifer was examined. On the basis of a widely adopted sharp interface formulation, key hydrogeological problem parameters were modeled as random variables, and a global sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine their influence on the position of the interface. This analysis utilized an efficient model reduction technique based on Polynomial Chaos Expansion. The risk that saltwater intrusion affects coastal vegetation was then evaluated via a two-step procedure by computing the probability that (i) the leading edge of the saltwater wedge reaches the sensitive area in the horizontal plane, and (ii) the freshwater/saltwater interface reaches the capture zone. The influence of the design parameters of the well field on the overall probability of contamination was investigated, revealing the primary role of the pumping discharge in the examined configuration.
Thoracic [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake measured by positron emission tomography/computed tomography in pulmonary hypertension

AbstractPositron emission tomography (PET) visualizes increased cellular [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) uptake. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is conceived of a proliferative disease of the lung vessels. Increased glucose uptake can be quantified as pulmonary [18F]FDG uptake via PET imaging. Because the angioproliferative mechanisms in PH are still in need of further description, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging can elucidate these pathophysiologic mechanisms in different etiologies of PH.Patients (n = 109) with end-stage pulmonary disease being evaluated for lung transplant were included in this observational study. Mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) of predefined regions of interest in lung parenchyma (LP), left (LV), and right ventricle (RV) of the heart, and SUVmax in pulmonary artery (PA) were determined and normalized to liver uptake. These SUV ratios (SUVRs) were compared with results from right heart catheterization (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP], pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR]), and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. Group comparisons were performed and Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated.The [18F]FDG uptake ratios in LP, RV, RV/LV, and PA, but not in LV, were found to be significantly higher in both patients with mPAP ≥25 mm Hg (P = 0.013, P = 0.006, P = 0.049, P = 0.002, P = 0.68, respectively) and with PVR ≥480 dyn·s/cm5 (P < 0.001, P = 0.045, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.26, respectively). The [18F]FDG uptake in these regions positively correlated also with mPAP, PVR, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. The SUVR of PA positively correlated with the SUVR of LP and RV (r = 0.55, r = 0.42, respectively). Pulmonary and cardiac [18F]FDG uptake in PET imaging positively correlated with the presence and severity of PH in patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. Increased glucose metabolism in the central PAs seems to play a certain role in terms of severity of PH. These results suggest that [18F]FDG-PET imaging can help understand the pathophysiology of PH as a proliferative pulmonary disease.
Se p 20 08 ON THE MACHIAN ORIGIN OF INERTIA

Abstract We examine Sciama’s inertia theory: we generalise it, by combining rotation and expansion in one unique model, we find the angular speed of the Universe, and we stress that the theory is zero-total-energy valued. We compare with other theories of the same null energy background. We determine the numerical value of a constant which appears in the Machian inertial force expression devised by Graneau and Graneau[2], by introducing the above angular speed. We point out that this last theory is not restricted to Newtonian physics as those authors stated but is, in fact, compatible with other cosmological and gravitational theories. An argument by Berry[7] is shown in order to ”derive” Brans-Dicke relation in the present context.
Future Directions for Monitoring Treatment Response in Colorectal Cancer

Treatment of advanced colon and rectal cancer has significantly evolved with the introduction of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy so much that, along with more effective chemotherapy regimens, surgery has been considered unnecessary among some institutions for select patients. The tumor response to these treatments has also improved and ultimately has been shown to have a direct effect on prognosis. Yet, the best way to monitor that response, whether clinically, radiologically, or with laboratory findings, remains controversial. The authors' aim is to briefly review the options available and, more importantly, examine emerging and future options to assist in monitoring treatment response in cases of locally advanced rectal cancer and metastatic colon cancer.
Ethnic Differences in Pain Tolerance: Clinical Implications in a Chronic Pain Population

Objective Although numerous studies have independently examined ethnic differences in clinical and experimental pain, few have investigated differences in both sensitivity to controlled noxious stimuli and clinical pain reports in the same sample. The present experiment examined the effects of ethnicity (African American vs. white) on experimental pain tolerance and adjustment to chronic pain. Methods Three hundred thirty-seven (68 African American and 269 white) patients with chronic pain referred to a multidisciplinary treatment center participated in the study. In addition to completing a number of standardized questionnaires assessing adjustment to chronic pain, participants underwent a submaximal effort tourniquet procedure. This experimental pain procedure yields a measure of tolerance for a controlled noxious stimulus (ie, arm ischemia). Results African American subjects reported higher levels of clinical pain as well as greater pain-related disability than white participants. In addition, substantial group differences were observed for ischemic pain tolerance, with African Americans demonstrating less tolerance than whites. Correlational analyses revealed a small but significant inverse relationship between ischemic pain tolerance and the reported severity of chronic pain. Conclusions Collectively these findings support previous research revealing ethnic differences in responses to both clinical and experimental pain. Moreover, the present results suggest that enhanced sensitivity to noxious stimuli on the part of African Americans may be associated with ethnic differences in reported clinical pain, although the magnitude of ethnic differences was much greater for ischemic pain tolerance than for clinical pain measures.
Effects of Reduced Summer Precipitation on Productivity and Forage Quality of Floodplain Meadows at the Elbe and the Rhine River

Background Floodplain meadows along rivers are semi-natural habitats and depend on regular land use. When used non-intensively, they offer suitable habitats for many plant species including rare ones. Floodplains are hydrologically dynamic ecosystems with both periods of flooding and of dry conditions. In German floodplains, dry periods may increase due to reduced summer precipitation as projected by climate change scenarios. Against this background, the question arises, how the forage quantity and quality of these meadows might change in future. Methods We report results of two field trials that investigated effects of experimentally reduced summer precipitation on hay quantity and quality of floodplain meadows at the Rhine River (2011-2012) and at two Elbe tributaries (2009-2011). We measured annual yield, the amount of hay biomass, and contents of crude protein, crude fibre, energy, fructan, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Results The annual yield decreased under precipitation reduction at the Rhine River. This was due to reduced productivity in the second cut hay at the Rhine River in which, interestingly, the contents of nitrogen and crude protein increased. The first cut at the Rhine River was unaffected by the treatments. At the Elbe tributaries, the annual yield and the hay quantity and quality of both cuts were only marginally affected by the treatments. Conclusion We conclude that the yield of floodplain meadows may become less reliable in future since the annual yield decreased under precipitation reduction at the Rhine River. However, the first and agriculturally more important cut was almost unaffected by the precipitation reduction, which is probably due to sufficient soil moisture from winter/spring. As long as future water levels of the rivers will not decrease during spring, at least the use of the hay from the first cut of floodplain meadows appears reliable under climate change.
Understanding the Behavior and Hedging of Segregated Funds Offering the Reset Feature

Abstract Segregated funds have become an extremely popular Canadian investment vehicle. These instruments provide long-term maturity guarantees and often include complex option features. One controversial aspect is the reset feature, which provides the ability to lock in market gains. Recently, regulators have announced that firms offering these products will be subject to new capital requirements. This paper discusses the effects of volatility, interest rates, investor optimality, and product design on the cost of providing a segregated fund guarantee. For each scenario, the authors provide the appropriate management expense ratio (MER) that should be charged and demonstrate the current liability using a given fixed MER. The paper also investigates intuitive reasons that cause the reset feature to require such a dramatic increase in the hedging costs. Finally, an approximate method for handling the reset feature is presented that can be computed very efficiently, provided the correct proportional fee is charged.
Structural Segmentation of Multitrack Audio

Structural segmentation of musical audio signals is one of many active areas of Music Information Retrieval (MIR) research. One aspect of this important topic which has so far received little attention though is the potential advantage to be gained by utilizing multitrack audio. This paper gives an overview of current segmentation techniques, and demonstrates that by applying a particular segmentation algorithm to multitrack data, rather than the usual case of fully mixed audio, we achieve a significant and quantifiable increase in accuracy when locating segment boundaries. Additionally, we provide details of a structurally annotated multitrack test set available for use by other researchers.
Changing Patterns of Global Trade

Changing Patterns of Global Trade outlines the factors underlying important shifts in global trade that have occurred in recent decades. The emergence of global supply chains and their increasing role in trade patterns allowed emerging market economies to boost their inputs in high-technology exports and is associated with increased trade interconnectedness.The analysis points to one important trend taking place over the last decade: the emergence of China as a major systemically important trading hub, reflecting not only the size of trade but also the increase in number of its significant trading partners.
Influence of Saline Fluids on the Electrical Conductivity of Olivine Aggregates at High Temperature and High Pressure and Its Geological Implications

The electrical conductivities of hydrous olivine (Ol) aggregates and Ol–H2O, Ol–NaCl–H2O (salinity: 1–21 wt%; fluid fraction: 5.1–20.7 vol%), Ol–KCl–H2O (salinity: 5 wt%; fluid fraction: 10.9–14.0 vol%) and Ol–CaCl2–H2O systems (salinity: 5 wt%; fluid fraction: 10.7–13.7 vol%) were measured at 2.0–3.0 GPa and 773–1073 K using a multi-anvil apparatus. The electrical conductivity of saline fluid-bearing olivine aggregates slightly increases with increasing pressure and temperature, and the electrical conductivities of both hydrous and saline fluid-bearing samples are well described by an Arrhenius relation. The dihedral angle of the saline fluids is approximately 50° in the Ol–NaCl–H2O system with 5 wt% NaCl and 5.1 vol% fluids, which implies that the fluids were interconnected along grain boundaries under the test conditions. The electrical conductivities of the Ol–NaCl–H2O system with 5 wt% NaCl and 5.1 vol% fluids are ∼two to four orders of magnitude higher than those of hydrous olivine aggregates. The salinity and fluid fraction moderately enhance the sample electrical conductivities owing to the interconnectivity of the saline fluids. The activation enthalpies of the electrical conductivities for the Ol–NaCl–H2O systems range from 0.07 to 0.36 eV, and Na+, Cl−, H+, OH−, and soluble ions from olivine are proposed to be the main charge carriers. For a fixed salinity and fluid fraction, the electrical conductivities of the Ol–NaCl–H2O system resemble the Ol–KCl–H2O system but are slightly higher than that of the Ol–CaCl2–H2O system. The Ol–NaCl–H2O system with a salinity of ∼5 wt% NaCl and fluid fraction larger than 1.8 vol% can be employed to reasonably explain the origin of the high-conductivity anomalies observed in mantle wedges.
An Algebraic Characterization of the Affine Canonical Basis

The canonical basis for quantized universal enveloping algebras associated to the finite--dimensional simple Lie algebras, was introduced by Lusztig. The principal technique is the explicit construction (via the braid group action) of a lattice over $\bz[q^{-1}]$. This allows the algebraic characterization of the canonical basis as a certain bar-invariant basis of $\cl$. Here we present a similar algebraic characterization of the affine canonical basis. Our construction is complicated by the need to introduce basis elements to span the ``imaginary'' subalgebra which is fixed by the affine braid group. Once the basis is found we construct a PBW-type basis whose $\bz[q^{-1}]$-span reduces to a ``crystal'' basis at $q=\infty,$ with the imaginary component given by the Schur functions.
Hoffmeister Series Ions Protect Diphtheria Toxoid from Structural Damages at Solvent/Water Interface

During the W1/O phase (in the W1/O/W2 process) of protein microencapsulation within poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA), hydrophobic interfaces are expanded where interfacial adsorption occurs followed by protein unfolding and aggregation. Spectroscopic and immunological techniques were used to ascertain the effects of the Hoffmeister series ions on Diphtheria toxoid (Dtxd) stability during the W1/O phase. A correlation was established between salts used in aqueous solutions and the changes in Dtxd solubility and conformation. The Dtxd α-helical content was quite stable thus leading to the conclusion that encapsulation was followed by protein aggregation, with minor exposition of hydrophobic residues and a small change at the S-S dihedral angle. Dtxd aggregation is 95% avoided by the chaotropic SCN-. This was used to prepare a stable Dtxd and immunologically recognized/PLGA formulation in the presence of 30 mM SNC-. The recovery increased by 10.42% or 23.2% when microencapsulation was within the -COOMe or -COOH (12kDa) PLGA, respectively. In conclusion, the aim of this work was achieved, which was to obtain the maximum of Dtxd stability after contact with CH2Cl2 to begin its PLGA microencapsulation within ideal conditions. This was a technological breakthrough because a simple solution like salt addition avoided heterologous proteins usage.
Predictive value of CMR criteria for LV functional improvement in patients with acute myocarditis.

AIM We assessed the value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) criteria ('Lake Louise Criteria') for predicting left ventricular (LV) functional improvement in patients with acute myocarditis. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 37 patients who referred for acute myocarditis during clinically acute myocarditis and after a 12-month follow-up. CMR sequences sensitive for oedema, hyperaemia, and irreversible injury were applied. Global and regional oedema were defined using published quantitative signal intensity (SI) cut-off values (area with an SI of >2 SD above visually normal myocardium). LV function was analysed using six long-axis views, with an increase of at least 5% of left ventricular ejection fraction considered as improvement. Out of a total of 37 patients, 29 met the CMR Lake Louise criteria (LL+) and eight did not (LL-). Baseline and 12-month ejection fraction (EF) were significantly lower in LL+ (53.2 ± 8 vs. 62.2 ± 5, P = 0.007 and 58.9 ± 4 vs. 62.9 ± 5, P = 0.045, respectively). At follow-up, EF increased in LL+ but remained unchanged within normal limits in LL- groups (delta EF: 5.7 ± 9.8 vs. 0.7 ± 2.0). The presence of global or regional myocardial oedema was strongly associated with an increase of EF ≥5%. In a multivariate analysis, the presence of global and/or regional oedema on admission was the only independent predictor of an increase of EF (P = 0.046). CONCLUSION In patients with clinically suspected acute myocarditis, the presence of positive CMR criteria is associated with LV function recovery. Myocardial oedema as defined by CMR was the strongest parameter, indicating that the observed increase of EF may be due to the recovery of reversibly injured (oedematous) myocardium.
Privatization, Restructuring, and Regulation of Network Utilities

Network utilities, such as electricity, telephones, and gas, are public utilities that require a fixed network to deliver their services. Because consumers have no choice of network, they risk exploitation by network owners. Once invested, however, a network's capital is sunk, and the bargaining advantage shifts from investor to consumer. The investor, fearing expropriation, may be reluctant to invest. The tension between consumer and investor can be side-stepped by state ownership. Alternatively, private ownership and consumers' political power can be reconciled through regulation. Either way, network utilities operate under terms set by the state. David Newbery argues that price-setting rules comprise only part of the policy agenda. Network utilities pose special problems of ownership and regulation. He discusses the history of ownership and regulation, privatization, and theories of regulation. Examining three network utilities in detail—telecoms, electricity, and gas—he contrasts the regulatory approaches of Britain and the United States. He also looks at liberalization in a variety of other countries. History shows that the mature forms of regulatory institutions are remarkably similar under both public and private ownership. This raises obvious questions such as: Will the forces that caused convergence to regulated vertical integration in the past reassert themselves? Can the benefits of competition be protected against the pressure to reintegrate? Will different utilities differ in their form and structure? A full understanding of the forces shaping regulatory institutions is necessary to answer these important questions.