Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Color Tuning of Nanofibers by Periodic Organic–Organic Hetero-Epitaxy

We report on the epitaxial growth of periodic para-hexaphenyl (p-6P)/α-sexi-thiophene (6T) multilayer heterostructures on top of p-6P nanotemplates. By the chosen approach, 6T molecules are forced to align parallel to the p-6P template molecules, which yields highly polarized photoluminescence (PL)-emission of both species. The PL spectra show that the fabricated multilayer structures provide optical emission from two different 6T phases, interfacial 6T molecules, and 3-dimensional crystallites. By a periodical deposition of 6T monolayers and p-6P spacers it is demonstrated that the strongly polarized spectral contribution of interfacial 6T can be precisely controlled and amplified. By analyzing the PL emission of both 6T phases as a function of p-6P spacer thickness (Δdp–6P) we have determined a critical value of Δdp–6P ≈ 2.73 nm where interfacial 6T runs into saturation and the surplus of 6T starts to cluster in 3-dimensional crystallites. These results are further substantiated by UPS and XRD measurements. Moreover, it is demonstrated by morphological investigations, provided by scanning force microscopy and fluorescence microscopy, that periodical deposition of 6T and p-6P leads to a significant improvement of homogeneity in PL-emission and morphology of nanofibers. Photoluminescence excitation experiments in combination with time-resolved photoluminescence demonstrate that the spectral emission of the organic multilayer nanofibers is dominated by a resonant energy transfer from p-6P host- to 6T guest-molecules. The sensitization time of the 6T emission in the 6T/p-6P multilayer structures depends on the p-6P spacer thickness, and can be explained by well separated layers of host–guest molecules obtained by organic–organic heteroepitaxy. The spectral emission and consequently the fluorescent color of the nanofibers can be efficiently tuned from the blue via white to the yellow-green spectral range.
Association between Arsenic Exposure and Diabetes Mellitus in Cambodia

Whereas studies in Taiwan found associations between arsenic exposure from drinking water and diabetes mellitus (DM), studies in other countries yielded inconsistent results, and diet might be a confounder. We conducted a study in Cambodia, where people have non-Western style diet, to evaluate the association. We measured well water and urine samples and examined skin signs of arsenicosis to assess arsenic exposure and used questionnaires to collect data on potential risk factors. We performed a fingertip blood glucose test followed by measurement of hemoglobin A1c to assess DM. The 43-male and 99-female participants had an average age of 40.4 years. We found that participants with skin signs of arsenicosis had a higher level of arsenic in the drinking water (1101.1 versus 972.2 μg/L, P = 0.02). Drinking water with arsenic levels above the median (907.25 μg/L) was associated with a nearly twofold increase in the risk of DM (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5–5.8), so was having skin sings of arsenicosis (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 0.5–5.6). The ORs did not reach statistical significance most likely because of the small case number. Therefore, further studies with larger study populations are needed to confirm our findings.
The Spatial Dimensions of Electrically Coupled Networks of Interneurons in the Neocortex

Inhibitory interneurons of the neocortex are electrically coupled to cells of the same type through gap junctions. We studied the spatial organization of two types of interneurons in the rat somatosensory cortex: fast-spiking (FS) parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV+) cells, and low threshold-spiking (LTS) somatostatin-immunoreactive (SS+) cells. Paired recordings in layer 4 demonstrated that both the probability of coupling and the coupling coefficient drop steeply with intersomatic distance, reaching zero beyond 200 μm. The dendritic arbors of FS and LTS cells were reconstructed from electrophysiologically characterized, biocytin-filled cells; the two cell types had only minor differences in the number and span of their dendrites. However, there was a markedly higher density of PV+ cells than SS+ cells. PV+ cells were densest in layer 4, while SS+ cell density peaked in the subgranular layers. From these data we estimate that there is measurable electrical coupling (directly or indirectly via intermediary cells) between each interneuron and 20–50 others. The large number of electrical synapses implies that each interneuron participates in a large, continuous syncytium. To evaluate the functional significance of these findings, we examined several simple architectures of coupled networks analytically. We present a mathematical method to estimate the average summated coupling conductance that each cell receives from all of its neighbors, and the average leak conductance of individual cells, and we suggest that these have the same order of magnitude. These quantitative results have important implications for the effects of electrical coupling on the dynamic behavior of interneuron networks.
Openness and Financial Development in Central and Eastern European Countries

Abstract Great numbers of countries have made the limitations loose on the transnational goods, services and capital flows and begun to follow a policy of export-oriented growth. Total value of global financial asset flows exceeded the value of global trade over time and financial markets have experienced considerable expansions in almost every country. This paper investigates the interaction between openness and financial development in 9 Central and Eastern European countries during 1996-2014 period employing cointegration test of Westerlund and Edgerton (2007) and causality test of Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012). We reached that openness affected financial sector development positively in the long term. Furthermore, there was one-way causality from financial openness to financial sector development.
Solving Norm Form Equations Via Lattice Basis Reduction

The author uses irrationality and linear independence measures for certain algebraic numbers to derive explicit upper bounds for the solutions of related norm form equations. The Lenstra-Lenstra-Lovász lattice basis reduction algorithm is then utilized to show that the integer solutions to NK/Q(x 4 √ N4 − 1 + y 4 √ N4 + 1 + z) = ±1 (where K = Q( 4 √ N4 − 1, 4 √ N4 + 1)) are given by (x, y, z) = (0, 0,±1), (±1, 0,±N) and (0,±1,±N), for 5 ≤ N ≤ 100.
Optimal Delegation

How should a principal delegate a task to an agent? This paper studies the choice of an agent's discretion as a contracting problem. We show that the agent's freedom of action can be used as an e®ective incentive device: the agent's initiative is determined by the discretion he has in decision making. Due to this incentive e®ect the relationship between the severity of the con°ict of principal's and agent's interests and the agent's optimal discretion in decision making is potentially non-monotonic: it may be optimal to curtail a subordinate's authority over decision making even if there are no con°icting interests concerning that decision. Our theory provides a rationale for commonly observed phenomena such as "demanding clear statements" from advisors or "imposing an innovation bias" on an organizational structure.
Association between Serum Levels of Interleukin-6 and Stage of Laryngeal Cancer

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the severity and extent of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx based on stage of tumor progression and histological grade. Materials and Methods: All patients with a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer who underwent laryngoscopy and biopsy while hospitalized in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz were enrolled. Tumor stage was calculated based on the TNM system, and divided into early (stage 1,2) or advanced stage (stage 3,4). In addition, patients were divided into low-grade (well differentiated) or high-grade (moderate and poorly differentiated) groups based on pathology reports from biopsy specimens. Several healthy volunteers were also enrolled as the control group. After collecting the blood samples, quantitative serum levels of IL-6 were measured (pmol/L) using IL-6 kits (Bender MedSystem, Germany). Results for quantitative variables are presented as mean and standard deviation and qualitative variables as percentages. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson’s chi square tests were used for statistical analyses. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS version 13. Results: Thirty-eight patients (82.6%) were male and eight patients (17.4%) were female. IL-6 serum level was 28.8±4.7 pmol/L in the patient group and 2.64±2.88 pmol/L in the control group (P=0.0001). The serum level of IL-6 was 7.27 ± 5.31 pmol/L in early-stage patients and 54.43 ± 6.06 pmol/L in advanced-stage patients (P<0.0001). IL-6 levels increased significantly with increasing N (according to TNM) (P=0.002). Levels of IL-6 in patients with metastasis were significantly higher than in the group without metastasis (P=0.024). Moreover, IL-6 levels increased significantly with increasing local tumor spread (T) (P<0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that IL-6 is a gender-independent factor, serum levels of which are higher in patients with laryngeal SCC than in normal subjects. The results of this study also show that serum levels of this cytokine increase significantly with progression of this malignancy.
Associations of Short Sleep and Shift Work Status with Hypertension among Black and White Americans

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether short sleepers (<6 hrs) who worked the non-day-shift were at greater likelihood of reporting hypertension and if these associations varied by individuals' ethnicity. Methods. Analysis was based on the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). A total of 59,199 American adults provided valid data for the present analyses (mean age = 46.2 ± 17.7 years; 51.5% were female). Respondents provided work schedule and estimated habitual sleep durations as well as self-report of chronic conditions. Results. Of the sample, 30.8% reported a diagnosis of hypertension, 79.1% reported daytime shift work, 11.0% reported rotating shift work, and 4.0% reported night shift work. Logistic regression analysis showed that shift work was significantly associated with hypertension among Blacks [OR = 1.35, CI: 1.06–1.72. P < 0.05], but not among Whites [OR = 1.01, CI: 0.85–1.20, NS]. Black shift workers sleeping less than 6 hours had significantly increased odds of reporting hypertension [OR = 1.81, CI: 1.29–2.54, P < 0.01], while their White counterparts did not [OR = 1.17, CI: 0.90–1.52, NS]. Conclusions. Findings suggest that Black Americans working the non-day-shift especially with short sleep duration have increased odds of reporting hypertension.
Extended family childcare arrangements in a context of AIDS: collapse or adaptation?

Abstract Families are subjected to a number of social, economic, political and demographic challenges. In recent years, the AIDS epidemic has constituted a major challenge for already poor families due to its wide reaching social, economic and health consequences. The devastating consequence of HIV and AIDS is being seen through the prolonged illness and death of family members of prime working age which impacts on family livelihoods and the ability to provide for and protect its members. This paper forms part of a review – commissioned by the Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS – of qualitative studies of how families in southern Africa have changed, and are changing, as a result of the impact of HIV and AIDS. This paper presents results of how extended family childcare arrangements are changing as a result of the AIDS epidemic. In a southern African context, family denotes a wider array of relations than biological parents and their children – with children growing up amongst a multitude of relations sharing responsibility for their care and upbringing (Chirwa, 2002; Verhoef, 2005). Recently, there has been growing interest in the capacity of the extended family to care for the increasing number of children whose parents have died. However, literature on the role of the extended family in caring for orphaned children remains contradictory. One approach – the social rupture thesis (Chirwa, 2002) – suggests that the extended family network is collapsing under the strain of AIDS. On the other hand, families are portrayed as resilient and dynamic entities which are adapting their systems of childcare in response to the epidemic (Kuo,2007). In line with Abebe and Aase (2007) and Adams, Cekan, and Sauerborn (1998), this paper proposes a continuum of survival rather than a polarisation of extended family childcare arrangements.
Modelling and Forecasting Short-Term Interest Rate Volatility: A Semiparametric Approach

This paper employs a semiparametric procedure to estimate the di⁄usion process of short-term interest rates. The Monte Carlo study shows that the semiparametric approach produces more accurate volatility estimates than models that accommodate asymmetry, levels e⁄ect and serial dependence in the conditional variance. Moreover, the semiparametric approach yields robust volatility estimates even if the short rate drift function and the underlying innovation distribution are misspeci(cid:133)ed. Empirical investigation with the U.S. three-month Treasury bill rates suggests that the semiparametric procedure produces superior in-sample and out-of-sample forecast of short rate changes volatility compared with the widely used single-factor di⁄usion models. This forecast improvement has implications for pricing interest rate derivatives.
Repulsion from Chemical Cues in Bufo marinus ( Cane Toad ) Tadpoles

Predator-prey relationships have been studied relentlessly throughout all different taxa and systems. Larval anurans use the mode of chemosensory to detect and avoid predation. By exposing Bufo marinus tadpoles to a variety of natural chemicals (crushed conspecific larvae and metamorphs, and crushed annelid prey) a strong repulsion was demonstrated. Avoidance of the treatments verified that Bufo marinus tadpoles are sensitive to changes in the chemical make-up of their environment that could be caused by a predator in close proximity.
Genotype over-diagnosis in amygdala responsiveness: affective processing in social anxiety disorder.

BACKGROUND Although the amygdala is thought to be a crucial brain region for negative affect, neuroimaging studies do not always show enhanced amygdala response to aversive stimuli in patients with anxiety disorders. Serotonin (5-HT)-related genotypes may contribute to interindividual variability in amygdala responsiveness. The short (s) allele of the 5-HT transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the T variant of the G-703T polymorphism in the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) gene have previously been associated with amygdala hyperresponsivity to negative faces in healthy controls. We investigated the influence of these polymorphisms on amygdala responsiveness to angry faces in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) compared with healthy controls. METHODS We used positron emission tomography with oxygen 15-labelled water to assess regional cerebral blood flow in 34 patients with SAD and 18 controls who viewed photographs of angry and neutral faces presented in counterbalanced order. We genotyped all participants with respect to the 5-HTTLPR and TPH2 polymorphisms. RESULTS Patients with SAD and controls had increased left amygdala activation in response to angry compared with neutral faces. Genotype but not diagnosis explained a significant portion of the variance in amygdala responsiveness, the response being more pronounced in carriers of s and/or T alleles. LIMITATIONS Our analyses were limited owing to the small sample and the fact that we were unable to match participants on genotype before enrollment. In addition, other imaging techniques not used in our study may have revealed additional effects of emotional stimuli. CONCLUSION Amygdala responsiveness to angry faces was more strongly related to serotonergic polymorphisms than to diagnosis of SAD. Emotion activation studies comparing amygdala excitability in patient and control groups could benefit from taking variation in 5-HT-related genes into account.
Assessing software review meetings: A controlled experimental study using CSRS

Software review is a fundamental component of the software quality assurance process, yet significant controversies exist concerning efficiency and effectiveness of various review methods. A central question surrounds the use of meetings: traditional review practice views them as essential, while more recent findings question their utility. We conducted a controlled experimental study to assess several measures of cost and effectiveness for a meeting and non-meeting-based review method. The experiment used CSRS, a computer mediated collaborative software review environment, and 24 three person groups. Some of the data we collected included: the numbers of defects discovered, the effort required, the presence of synergy in the meeting-based groups, the occurrence of false positives in the non-meetingbased groups, and qualitative questionnaire responses. This paper presents the motivation for this experiment, its design and implementation, our empirical findings, conclusions, and future directions.
THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG LEADERSHIP STYLES, ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION, AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of leadership styles and entrepreneurial orientation at small and medium enterprises as well as their effects on business performance. This study examines how leadership style can affect the development and implementation of entrepreneurial orientation in small and medium enterprises in Taiwan. It is also designed to examine the effects of leadership styles and entrepreneurial orientation on business performance. Significant conclusions from this study are that different leadership styles may affect business performance; that transformational leadership is significantly more correlated to the business performance than is transactional leadership and passive-avoidant leadership; that entrepreneurial orientation is positively related to performance; and that transformational leadership with higher entrepreneurial orientation can contribute to higher business performance.
The outer stellar halos of galaxies: how radial merger mass deposition, shells, and streams depend on infall-orbit configurations

Galaxy mergers are a fundamental part of galaxy evolution. To study the resulting mass distributions of different kinds of galaxy mergers, we present a simulation suite of 36 high-resolution isolated merger simulations, exploring a wide range of parameter space in terms of mass ratios (mu = 1:5, 1:10, 1:50, 1:100) and orbital parameters. We find that mini mergers deposit a higher fraction of their mass in the outer halo compared to minor mergers, while their contribution to the central mass distribution is highly dependent on the orbital impact parameter: for larger pericentric distances we find that the centre of the host galaxy is almost not contaminated by merger particles. We also find that the median of the resulting radial mass distribution for mini mergers differs significantly from the predictions of simple theoretical tidal-force models. Furthermore, we find that mini mergers can increase the size of the host disc significantly without changing the global shape of the galaxy, if the impact occurs in the disc plane, thus providing a possible explanation for extended low-surface brightness disks reported in observations. Finally, we find clear evidence that streams are a strong indication of nearly circular infall of a satellite (with large angular momentum), whereas the appearance of shells clearly points to (nearly) radial satellite infall.
Reaction rates and the noisy saddle-node bifurcation: Renormalization group for barrier crossing

Barrier crossing calculations in chemical reaction-rate theory typically assume that the barrier is large compared to the temperature. When the barrier vanishes, however, there is a qualitative change in behavior. Instead of crossing a barrier, particles slide down a sloping potential. We formulate a renormalization group description of this noisy saddle-node transition. We derive the universal scaling behavior and corrections to scaling for the mean escape time in overdamped systems with arbitrary barrier height. We also develop an accurate approximation to the full distribution of barrier escape times by approximating the eigenvalues of the Fokker-Plank operator as equally spaced. This lets us derive a family of distributions that captures the barrier crossing times for arbitrary barrier height. Our critical theory draws links between barrier crossing in chemistry, the renormalization group, and bifurcation theory.
When deep learning met code search

There have been multiple recent proposals on using deep neural networks for code search using natural language. Common across these proposals is the idea of embedding code and natural language queries into real vectors and then using vector distance to approximate semantic correlation between code and the query. Multiple approaches exist for learning these embeddings, including unsupervised techniques, which rely only on a corpus of code examples, and supervised techniques, which use an aligned corpus of paired code and natural language descriptions. The goal of this supervision is to produce embeddings that are more similar for a query and the corresponding desired code snippet. Clearly, there are choices in whether to use supervised techniques at all, and if one does, what sort of network and training to use for supervision. This paper is the first to evaluate these choices systematically. To this end, we assembled implementations of state-of-the-art techniques to run on a common platform, training and evaluation corpora. To explore the design space in network complexity, we also introduced a new design point that is a minimal supervision extension to an existing unsupervised technique. Our evaluation shows that: 1. adding supervision to an existing unsupervised technique can improve performance, though not necessarily by much; 2. simple networks for supervision can be more effective that more sophisticated sequence-based networks for code search; 3. while it is common to use docstrings to carry out supervision, there is a sizeable gap between the effectiveness of docstrings and a more query-appropriate supervision corpus.