Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Establishment-Level Behavior of Vacancies and Hiring

The authors study vacancies, hires, and vacancy yields (success rate in generating hires) in the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, a large representative sample of U.S. employers. The authors also develop a simple framework that identifies the monthly flow of new vacancies and the job-filling rate for vacant positions, the employer counterpart to the job-finding rate for unemployed workers. The job-filling rate moves counter to employment at the aggregate level but rises steeply with employer growth rates in the cross section. It falls with employer size, rises with the worker turnover rate, and varies by a factor of four across major industry groups. The authors' analysis also indicates that more than 1 in 6 hires occur without benefit of a vacancy, as defined by JOLTS. These findings provide useful inputs for assessing, developing, and calibrating theoretical models of search, matching, and hiring in the labor market.
Ecology of Zoonotic Infectious Diseases in Bats: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

Bats are hosts to a range of zoonotic and potentially zoonotic pathogens. Human activities that increase exposure to bats will likely increase the opportunity for infections to spill over in the future. Ecological drivers of pathogen spillover and emergence in novel hosts, including humans, involve a complex mixture of processes, and understanding these complexities may aid in predicting spillover. In particular, only once the pathogen and host ecologies are known can the impacts of anthropogenic changes be fully appreciated. Cross‐disciplinary approaches are required to understand how host and pathogen ecology interact. Bats differ from other sylvatic disease reservoirs because of their unique and diverse lifestyles, including their ability to fly, often highly gregarious social structures, long lifespans and low fecundity rates. We highlight how these traits may affect infection dynamics and how both host and pathogen traits may interact to affect infection dynamics. We identify key questions relating to the ecology of infectious diseases in bats and propose that a combination of field and laboratory studies are needed to create data‐driven mechanistic models to elucidate those aspects of bat ecology that are most critical to the dynamics of emerging bat viruses. If commonalities can be found, then predicting the dynamics of newly emerging diseases may be possible. This modelling approach will be particularly important in scenarios when population surveillance data are unavailable and when it is unclear which aspects of host ecology are driving infection dynamics.
Global Patterns of Geographic Range Size in Birds

Large-scale patterns of spatial variation in species geographic range size are central to many fundamental questions in macroecology and conservation biology. However, the global nature of these patterns has remained contentious, since previous studies have been geographically restricted and/or based on small taxonomic groups. Here, using a database on the breeding distributions of birds, we report the first (to our knowledge) global maps of variation in species range sizes for an entire taxonomic class. We show that range area does not follow a simple latitudinal pattern. Instead, the smallest range areas are attained on islands, in mountainous areas, and largely in the southern hemisphere. In contrast, bird species richness peaks around the equator, and towards higher latitudes. Despite these profoundly different latitudinal patterns, spatially explicit models reveal a weak tendency for areas with high species richness to house species with significantly smaller median range area. Taken together, these results show that for birds many spatial patterns in range size described in geographically restricted analyses do not reflect global rules. It remains to be discovered whether global patterns in geographic range size are best interpreted in terms of geographical variation in species assemblage packing, or in the rates of speciation, extinction, and dispersal that ultimately underlie biodiversity.
Effects of a heart rate variability biofeedback intervention on athletes' psychological responses following injury

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV BFB) intervention on pain catastrophizing and the psychological response variables of injured athletes. HRV BFB effects on athletes' physiological indices including heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate, and respiration were also assessed. Participants were 28 athletes who had sustained a moderate to severe musculoskeletal sports injury, ranging in age from 18 to 36 years (Mage = 20.82, SD = 3.41). All participants were out of training and competition and engaged in a rehabilitation program. This investigation was experimental in nature with a randomized, single-blinded study design. Participants were randomized into one of three conditions: HRV BFB intervention, HRV BFB placebo, or control conditions. Assessments of psychological outcomes and physiological indices were assessed at Baseline, Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3. Compared to placebo or control groups, athletes who received the HRV BFB intervention reported significantly greater reductions in devastation (F(6, 75) = 5.84, p < . 001, η2 = . 32), isolation (F(5.53, 69.07) = 2.69, p = . 024, η2 = . 18), pain magnification, and resting respiration rate (F(6, 72) = 7.37, p < . 001, η2 = . 38); these athletes also reported significantly greater improvements in reorganization (F(6, 75) = 2.73, p = . 019, η2 = . 18) and low-frequency HRV (F(6, 72) = 2.72, p = . 019, η2 = . 19). The findings suggest that HRV BFB may hold potential to improve athletes' psychological responses and pain magnification after sustaining an injury and that it shows promise as a useful psychological intervention for injury rehabilitation.
Genetic differentiation of Mexican Holstein cattle and its relationship with Canadian and U.S. Holsteins

The Mexican Holstein (HO) industry has imported Canadian and US (CAN + USA) HO germplasm for use in two different production systems, the conventional (Conv) and the low income (Lowi) system. The objective of this work was to study the genetic composition and differentiation of the Mexican HO cattle, considering the production system in which they perform and their relationship with the Canadian and US HO populations. The analysis included information from 149, 303, and 173 unrelated or with unknown pedigree HO animals from the Conv, Lowi, and CAN + USA populations, respectively. Canadian and US Jersey (JE) and Brown Swiss (BS) genotypes (162 and 86, respectively) were used to determine if Mexican HOs were hybridized with either of these breeds. After quality control filtering, a total of 6,617 out of 6,836 single nucleotide polymorphism markers were used. To describe the genetic diversity across the populations, principal component (PC), admixture composition, and linkage disequilibrium (LD; r(2) ) analyses were performed. Through the PC analysis, HO × JE and HO × BS crossbreeding was detected in the Lowi system. The Conv system appeared to be in between Lowi and CAN + USA populations. Admixture analysis differentiated between the genetic composition of the Conv and Lowi systems, and five ancestry groups associated to sire's country of origin were identified. The minimum distance between markers to estimate a useful LD was found to be 54.5 kb for the Mexican HO populations. At this average distance, the persistence of phase across autosomes of Conv and Lowi systems was 0.94, for Conv and CAN + USA was 0.92 and for the Lowi and CAN + USA was 0.91. Results supported the flow of germplasm among populations being Conv a source for Lowi, and dependent on migration from CAN + USA. Mexican HO cattle in Conv and Lowi populations share common ancestry with CAN + USA but have different genetic signatures.
Inhibition of Both HIV-1 Reverse Transcription and Gene Expression by a Cyclic Peptide that Binds the Tat-Transactivating Response Element (TAR) RNA

The RNA response element TAR plays a critical role in HIV replication by providing a binding site for the recruitment of the viral transactivator protein Tat. Using a structure-guided approach, we have developed a series of conformationally-constrained cyclic peptides that act as structural mimics of the Tat RNA binding region and block Tat-TAR interactions at nanomolar concentrations in vitro. Here we show that these compounds block Tat-dependent transcription in cell-free systems and in cell-based reporter assays. The compounds are also cell permeable, have low toxicity, and inhibit replication of diverse HIV-1 strains, including both CXCR4-tropic and CCR5-tropic primary HIV-1 isolates of the divergent subtypes A, B, C, D and CRF01_AE. In human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the cyclic peptidomimetic L50 exhibited an IC50 ∼250 nM. Surprisingly, inhibition of LTR-driven HIV-1 transcription could not account for the full antiviral activity. Timed drug-addition experiments revealed that L-50 has a bi-phasic inhibition curve with the first phase occurring after HIV-1 entry into the host cell and during the initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription. The second phase coincides with inhibition of HIV-1 transcription. Reconstituted reverse transcription assays confirm that HIV-1 (−) strand strong stop DNA synthesis is blocked by L50-TAR RNA interactions in-vitro. These findings are consistent with genetic evidence that TAR plays critical roles both during reverse transcription and during HIV gene expression. Our results suggest that antiviral drugs targeting TAR RNA might be highly effective due to a dual inhibitory mechanism.
Guided navigation of virtual environments

This paper presents a new methodology for navigating virtual environments called “The River Analogy. ” This analogy provides a new way of thinking about the user's relationship to the virtual environment; guiding the user's continuous and direct input within both space and time allowing a more narrative presentation. The paper then presents the details of how this analogy was applied to a VR experience that is now part of the permanent collection at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
Synthetic phased arrays for intraluminal imaging of coronary arteries

A 64-element, high efficiency, ceramic piezoelectric array transducer operating at 20 MHz has been constructed for ultrasonic intraluminal imaging. The array is mounted on the surface of a 1.2 mm diameter catheter appropriate for coronary artery applications. Integrated into the catheter tip is a custom analog chip set permitting complete data capture from the array. That is, on each firing any combination of array elements can be selected independently as transmitter or receiver. Using data acquired in this way, a complete phased array aperture (i.e., independent transmit and receive apertures) can be synthesized. Reconstruction hardware based on a custom application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) has been designed and built to produce real-time images. Beam forming coefficients are derived using an optimal filtering approach accounting for the circular geometry of the array. Simulated and measured beam patterns for this system are compared. In addition, images of coronary anatomy acquired with the real-time system are displayed demonstrating the marked image quality improvement compared to previous synthetic aperture intraluminal systems.
Diabetes and cognitive function in a middle-aged cohort

Objective: To compare cognitive performance in those with diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and normoglycemia in a middle-aged cohort. Methods: The authors analyzed data from a prospective occupational cohort study begun in 1985–1988 (baseline). Diabetes was classified from oral glucose tolerance tests that were performed in 1992–1993 (phase 3) and 1997–1999 (phase 5) and self reported diagnosis of diabetes from questionnaire at baseline, 1989 (phase 2), phase 3, 1995 (phase 4), and phase 5 of the study. A battery of cognitive tests (memory, Alice Heim 4 [AH 4], Mill Hill vocabulary test, phonemic fluency, and categorical fluency) were measured at phase 5 in 4,020 men and 1,627 women with a mean age of 56 and free of symptoms of stroke. Results: At phase 5, a total of 208 (5%) men and 101 (6%) women had diabetes while 405 (10%) men and 192 (12%) women had impaired glucose tolerance. Those with diabetes were at increased risk of poor performance in AH 4 compared to those without (men: OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.77 to 3.38; women: OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.09 to 3.08). These effects were independent of age, social position, vascular problems, and health-related behaviors. Impaired glucose tolerance was not related to any measure of cognition. Conclusions: Type 2 diabetes is associated with poor performance in some aspects of cognition in middle-aged men and women.
Shoulder Joint and Muscle Characteristics in the Recreational Weight Training Population

Kolber, MJ, Beekhuizen, KS, Cheng, MS, and Hellman, MA. Shoulder joint and muscle characteristics in the recreational weight training population. J Strength Cond Res 23(1): 148-157, 2009-Shoulder disorders attributed to weight training are well documented in the literature; however, a paucity of evidence-based research exists to describe risk factors inherent to participation. Shoulder joint and muscle characteristics in the recreational weight training (RWT) population were investigated to determine specific risk-related adaptations that may occur from participation. Ninety participants, men between the ages of 19 and 47 (mean age 28.9), including 60 individuals who participated in upper-extremity RWT and 30 controls with no record of RWT participation, were recruited. Active range of motion (AROM), posterior shoulder tightness (PST), body weight-adjusted strength values, and agonist/antagonist strength ratios were compared between the RWT participants and the control group. Statistical analysis identified significant differences (p < 0.001) between the groups when analyzing shoulder mobility. The RWT participants had decreased mobility when compared with the control group for all AROM measurements except external rotation, which was greater. Strength ratios were significantly greater in the RWT group when compared with the control group (p ≤ 0.001), implying agonist/antagonist muscle imbalances. The findings of this investigation suggest that RWT participants are predisposed to strength and mobility imbalances as a result of training. The imbalances identified have been associated with shoulder disorders in the general and athletic population; thus, these imbalances may place RWT participants at risk for injury. Common training patterns are biased toward large muscle groups such as the pectorals and deltoids but neglect muscles responsible for stabilization such as the external rotators and lower trapezius. Exercise selection that mitigates strength and mobility imbalances may serve to prevent injury in this population. Clinicians and strength and conditioning professionals should consider the biomechanical stresses and adaptations associated with RWT when prescribing upper-extremity exercises.
Nonlinear Least-Squares Approach to Frequency Estimation and Detection for Sinusoidal Signals with Arbitrary Envelope

Abstract In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the frequency of a sinusoidal signal whose amplitude could be either constant or time-varying. We present a nonlinear least-squares (NLS) approach when the envelope is time-varying. It is shown that the NLS criterion can be explicitly minimized with respect to the signal amplitude and envelope values, leaving out a periodogram-like function whose peak location gives the frequency estimate. This result is a significant generalization of a similar result on the NLS frequency estimation for a sinusoidal signal with constant amplitude. A statistical analysis shows that the NLS frequency estimator is asymptotically statistically efficient. The problem of detecting amplitude time variations is next addressed. A statistical test is formulated, based on the statistics of the difference between two frequency estimates. The test is computationally efficient and yields as a by-product consistent frequency estimates under either hypothesis (i.e., constant or time-varying amplitude). Numerical examples are included to show the performance both in terms of estimation and detection.
At Odds: Gambling and Canadians, 1919-1969

Using a rich variety of historical sources, Suzanne Morton traces the history of gambling regulation in five Canadian provinces - Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and B.C. - from the First World War to the federal legalization in 1969. This regulatory legislation, designed to control gambling, ended a long period of paradox and pretence during which gambling was common, but still illegal. Morton skilfully shows the relationship between gambling and the wider social mores of the time, as evinced by labour, governance, and the regulation of 'vice. ' Her focus on the ways in which race, class, and gender structured the meaning of gambling underpins and illuminates the historical data she presents. She shows, for example, as "Old Canada" (the Protestant, Anglo-Celtic establishment) declined in influence, gambling took on a less deviant connotation - a process that continued as charity became secularized and gambling became a lucrative fundraising activity eventually linked to the welfare state. At Odds is the first Canadian historical examination of gambling, a complex topic which is still met by moral ambivalence, legal proscription, and volatile opinion. This highly original study will be of interest to the undergraduate history or social science student, but will also hold the attention of a more general reader.
Cerebral hemodynamics after exogenous surfactant administration for respiratory distress syndrome in piglet model

Abstract Objective: The rapid improvement of lung function after exogenous surfactant treatment for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) can affect the functions of several other systems, which includes cerebral blood flow volume (CBF). To evaluate the change in CBF after treatment with exogenous surfactant, we measured CBF in a newborn piglet model with RDS. Method: After the lung lavage with normal saline, ten animals under mechanical ventilation were administered either 120 mg/kg surfactant-TA (Surfacten®) or air placebo. Heart rate, blood pressure, dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), PaO2, PaCO2, and CBF were recorded before and every 15 min after surfactant treatment up to 120 min. Results: Cdyn was improved significantly at 45 min and later after treatment; that of the control group remained unchanged. PaO2 increased and PaCO2 decreased significantly after surfactant treatment in both groups. However, the improvement was significantly less in the control group. CBF significantly decreased by about 30% in the control group, and by about 50% in the treated group at 120 min, with a significant difference between groups. Almost 70% of the changes in CBF were attributable to changes in PaCO2 by multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: Treatment with exogenous surfactant improves lung compliance, and has little effect on CBF itself. The drop in levels of PaCO2 after treatment, however, had a strong relationship with decreases in CBF.
From Qualitative to Discrete Constraint Networks

In this paper, we present some preliminary results about the connections existing between qualitative and discrete constraint networks. We present a natural encoding of any qualitative network N into a discrete one P such that the constraints of N become the variables of P and the constraints of P are deﬁned by the weak composition table of the used qualitative algebra. We then introduce some properties about the (global) consistency of networks, circumscribing conditions under which the two models are equivalent. We also relate some domain ﬁltering consistencies (such as generalized arc consistency) of discrete networks encoding qualitative ones with ◦ -consistency, where ◦ denotes the weak composition of the qualitative calculus.
Gender Differences in Placebo Analgesia: Event-Related Potentials and Emotional Modulation

Objectives: To examine whether there are gender differences in event-related potential (ERP) responses to painful stimulation after administration of placebo medication; and to investigate whether placebo medication reduces anticipatory stress and if this reduction can explain the placebo analgesic response. Several experimental and clinical studies have shown that males report lower pain compared with females. There are, however, few reports of gender differences in placebo analgesia. Methods: All subjects (n = 33; 17 women) participated in both a natural history and a placebo condition. ERPs were evoked by heat pulses with a peak at 52°C. Results: The results showed that pain unpleasantness and the N2/P2 ERP components were reduced in the placebo condition compared with the natural history condition. Only men displayed placebo responses in pain report and in the P2 component. Anticipatory stress was reduced after placebo administration, and the reduction in anticipatory stress was significantly related to the placebo effect on pain. Regression analyses revealed that the interaction of gender by anticipatory stress was significantly related to the mean placebo response, with men responding with lower stress after placebo medication, and larger placebo responses. Conclusions: A placebo response on pain unpleasantness was observed in men only, and reduced stress after placebo administration was observed in males only. Thus, reduced stress may be a mechanism for placebo responses in pain. ERP = event-related potential; NRS = Numerical Rating Scale.
Sorted Random Matrix for Orthogonal Matching Pursuit

Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP) algorithm is widely applied to compressive sensing (CS) image signal recovery because of its low computation complexity and its ease of implementation. However, OMP usually needs more measurements than some other recovery algorithms in order to achieve equal-quality reconstructions. This article firstly illustrates the fundamental idea of OMP and the specific algorithm steps. And then, two limitations leading to the previous issue are addressed. Finally, a sorted random matrix is proposed to be used as a measurement matrix to improve those two limitations. The experimental results show the proposed measurement matrix is able to help OMP make a great progress on the quality of recovered approximations.