Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Employment Rates of Asian Immigrant Groups: An Analysis of Intragroup and Intergroup Differences

Self-employment rates and related business activities of four groups of recent adult Asian immigrants (Koreans, Chinese, Asian Indians, and Vietnamese) are empirically examined with the 1990 census data. As expected, both intra- and intergroup differences in self-employment rates are observed among the four groups. Korean immigrants are sharply different from other Asian immigrant groups in their rate of self-employment and pattern of intragroup differences in self-employment rates. As a whole, for non-Korean Asian immigrant groups, intragroup differences in self-employment rates can be explained by the interactive model and by the related issue of immigrants’ labor market disadvantage in the United States. To some extent, the interactive model also offers a useful framework to explain Korean immigrants’ rate of self-employment. But the pattern of their intragroup difference is better explained by the linkage between their businesses and their home country economies reflecting the international dimension of immigrant small business entrepreneurship. Implications of the findings of intra- and intergroup differences observed among the four groups are discussed.
The diving physiology of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). II. Biomechanics and changes in buoyancy at depth.

During diving, marine mammals must balance the conservation of limited oxygen reserves with the metabolic costs of swimming exercise. As a result, energetically efficient modes of locomotion provide an advantage during periods of submergence and will presumably increase in importance as the animals perform progressively longer dives. To determine the effect of a limited oxygen supply on locomotor performance, we compared the kinematics and behavior of swimming and diving bottlenose dolphins. Adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were trained to swim horizontally near the water surface or submerged at 5 m and to dive to depths ranging from 12 to 112 m. Swimming kinematics (preferred swimming mode, stroke frequency and duration of glides) were monitored using submersible video cameras (Sony Hi-8) held by SCUBA divers or attached to a pack on the dorsal fin of the animal. Drag and buoyant forces were calculated from patterns of deceleration for horizontally swimming and vertically diving animals. The results showed that dolphins used a variety of swimming gaits that correlated with acceleration. The percentage of time spent gliding during the descent phase of dives increased with depth. Glide distances ranged from 7.1+/-1.9 m for 16 m dives to 43.6+/-7.0 m (means +/- s.e.m.) for 100 m dives. These gliding patterns were attributed to changes in buoyancy associated with lung compression at depth. By incorporating prolonged glide periods, the bottlenose dolphin realized a theoretical 10-21 % energetic savings in the cost of a 100 m dive in comparison with dives based on neutral buoyancy models. Thus, modifying locomotor patterns to account for physical changes with depth appears to be one mechanism that enables diving mammals with limited oxygen stores to extend the duration of a dive.
Does membrane trafficking play a role in regulating the sodium/hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 in the proximal tubule?

Purpose of reviewThe proximal tubule sodium/hydrogen exchanger continuously reabsorbs the bulk of the filtered sodium, controlling salt delivery to the distal nephron which is critical for tubuloglomerular feedback autoregulation and for fine control of salt excretion in the distal nephron. This review focuses on recent studies of the mechanisms of regulation of sodium transport in the proximal tubule, and addresses whether results from studies in proximal tubule cell lines are applicable to the proximal tubule in situ. Recent findingsRecent in-vivo studies provided evidence that sodium/hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 can move into and out of the apical microvilli accompanied by parallel changes in renal sodium transport: the exchanger is retracted from the microvilli in response to hypertension, parathyroid hormone or dopamine treatment and moved into the microvilli in response to sympathetic nervous system stimulation, puromycin aminonucleoside induced nephritic syndrome, and insulin treatment. Studies in cultured opossum kidney proximal tubule cells provided evidence for clathrin coated vesicle mediated, dynamin dependent, cytoskeleton dependent internalization of sodium/hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 from the surface to an endosomal pool in response to dopamine or parathyroid hormone. In the intact proximal tubule there is evidence for a two-step internalization process: (1) from villi to the intermicrovillar cleft region and (2) to a higher density membrane pool that may be either below the microvilli or deep in intermicrovillar clefts. Recent studies have described a significant inactive pool of the exchanger in the intermicrovillar region in vivo that may serve as a storage and recruitable pool. SummaryThe molecular mechanisms responsible for increasing or decreasing sodium transport in the proximal tubule appear to include redistribution of sodium/hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 to or from the microvillar region. Detailed studies in cultured proximal tubule cell lines provide evidence for endocytosis and exocytosis of the exchanger dependent on cytoskeleton and clathrin coated vesicles. In vivo, the apical membrane is differentiated into discrete villar and intermicrovillar membrane domains and the intermicrovillar domain, not observed in cultured cells, may serve as a recruitable storage pool for sodium/hydrogen exchanger isoform 3.
Effects of estrogen and progesterone on serum and pituitary prolactin levels in ovariectomized rats.

Serum and anterior pituitary (AP) prolactin levels from mature ovariectomized rats were assayed after injection with daily doses of 0.1–500 ng estradiol benzoate (EB) or 0.5–10 mg progesterone for 6 days. Doses of 0.1, 1 or 5 μg EB increased serum prolactin concentration 2-, 3- and 10-fold, respectively, over ovariectomized controls, and doses of 10–500 μg EB evoked smaller increases in serum and AP prolactin levels. AP prolactin concentration and content were increased 3- to 4-fold. Doses of 0.5, 1 or 4 mg progesterone partially inhibited the increase in serum prolactin levels evoked by 1 μg EB, but only the inhibition by 4 mg progesterone was significant. A daily dose of 4 mg progesterone injected alone appeared to have no effect on serum and AP prolactin levels, but a 10 mg dose significantly increased prolactin secretion. These results indicate that low doses of estrogen are more effective than high doses for increasing AP and serum prolactin levels, and provide no evidence that large doses of estroge.
Feature space interpretation of SVMs with indefinite kernels

Kernel methods are becoming increasingly popular for various kinds of machine learning tasks, the most famous being the support vector machine (SVM) for classification. The SVM is well understood when using conditionally positive definite (cpd) kernel functions. However, in practice, non-cpd kernels arise and demand application in SVM. The procedure of "plugging" these indefinite kernels in SVM often yields good empirical classification results. However, they are hard to interpret due to missing geometrical and theoretical understanding. In this paper, we provide a step toward the comprehension of SVM classifiers in these situations. We give a geometric interpretation of SVM with indefinite kernel functions. We show that such SVM are optimal hyperplane classifiers not by margin maximization, but by minimization of distances between convex hulls in pseudo-Euclidean spaces. By this, we obtain a sound framework and motivation for indefinite SVM. This interpretation is the basis for further theoretical analysis, e.g., investigating uniqueness, and for the derivation of practical guidelines like characterizing the suitability of indefinite SVM.
Brachyury is required for elongation and vasculogenesis in the murine allantois

Mouse conceptuses homozygous for mutations in brachyury (T) exhibit a short, misshapen allantois that fails to fuse with the chorion. Ultimately, mutant embryos die during mid-gestation. In the 60 years since this discovery, the role of T in allantoic development has remained obscure. T protein was recently identified in several new sites during mouse gastrulation, including the core of the allantois, where its function is not known. Here, using molecular, genetic and classical techniques of embryology, we have investigated the role of T in allantoic development. Conceptuses homozygous for the TCurtailed (TC) mutation (TC/TC) exhibited allantoic dysmorphogenesis shortly after the allantoic bud formed. Diminution in allantoic cell number and proliferation was followed by cell death within the core. Fetal liver kinase (Flk1)-positive angioblasts were significantly decreased in TC/TC allantoises and did not coalesce into endothelial tubules, possibly as a result of the absence of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (Pecam1), whose spatiotemporal relationship to Flk1 suggested a role in patterning the umbilical vasculature. Remarkably, microsurgical perturbation of the wild-type allantoic core phenocopied the TC/TC vascularization defect, providing further support that an intact core is essential for vascularization. Last, abnormalities were observed in the TC/TC heart and yolk sac, recently reported sites of T localization. Our findings reveal that T is required to maintain the allantoic core, which is essential for allantoic elongation and vascular patterning. In addition, morphological defects in other extraembryonic and embryonic vascular organs suggest a global role for T in vascularization of the conceptus.
Abnormal Eeg Patterns in Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenic Patients

This study was conducted in order to compare the EEG patterns of schizophrenics who do not respond to typical neuroleptics with those who do respond under typical neuroleptic medication and a group of controls. Absolute (AP) and relative power (RP), and inter- and intrahemispheric correlations were calculated. Nonresistant schizophrenics showed lower delta RP, higher alpha 1 AP and RP and higher correlation between prefrontal areas than the resistant ones and controls. Resistant schizophrenics showed lower alpha2 RP, lower betal and beta2 in temporal but higher beta2 AP and RP in occipital derivations, and higher intrahemispheric correlation between Fp2 and F4 and lower between F8 and T4 than the nonresistant and controls. The resistants also showed a higher antero-posterior betal and beta2 index than the controls. We concluded that the EEG pattern showed by the nonresistants may be associated with their good neuroleptic response that was not present in the resistant schizophrenics.
Gender Differences in Computer Attitudes, Literacy, Locus of Control and Commitment

AbstractThis study explored differences in computer attitudes, computer literacy, computer locus of control and commitment to computers between males and females. Three hundred and eighty-three education students at the University of Toronto completed a survey about computer attitudes (affective and cognitive), computer literacy (experience, basic skills, awareness, application software, programming), locus of control (specific to the use of computers), and commitment to computers (actual use, interest, promotion). Males and females did not differ in either their affective or cognitive attitudes toward computers. Males had significantly higher scores on all subscales of computer literacy and commitment to computers. Males also showed more internal locus of control with respect to computers. It is recommended that increased effort be made to impart computer literacy skills to female student teachers.
Do Some Forms of Financial Flows Help Protect from Sudden Stops?

There is a debate on whether some forms of financial flows offer better crisis protection than others. Using a large panel of advanced, emerging, and developing countries during 1970-2003, this paper analyzes the behavior of various types of flows: foreign direct investment (FDI), portfolio equity investment, portfolio debt investment, other flows to the official sector, other flows to banks, and other flows to the non-bank private sector. Differences across types of flows are limited with respect to volatility, persistence, cross-country comovement, and correlation with growth at home or in the world economy. However, consistent with conventional wisdom, FDI is found to be the least volatile form of financial flows when taking into account the average size of net or gross flows. The differences are striking during sudden stops in financial flows (defined as drops in total net financial inflows by more than 5 percentage points of GDP compared with the previous year): in such episodes, FDI is remarkably stable; portfolio equity also seems to play a limited role; portfolio debt experiences a reversal, though it recovers relatively quickly; and other flows (including bank loans and trade credit) experience severe drops and remain depressed for a few years.
Gender and social competence as predictors of social interaction in a limited resource situation

The Movie-Box paradigm has been used to study the strategies children use to access limited resources. In this approach, one or more children are required to operate a Movie-Box (e.g., press a switch, pull a string to reveal the screen) so that a peer can view a movie (e.g., cartoon). The task involves cooperation and competition. The present dissertation examined the influence of group composition (i.e., samevs.mixed-sex) and social competence on the strategies used by unfamiliar children to view cartoons displayed in a Movie-Box. One hundred and fifty-six Grade 1 children were assigned to groups of four. Groups were mixed- or same-sex, and included high or low social competence children. Each group was observed for 10 minutes using a Movie-Box arrangement that allowed for only one child to view the cartoon at any single time, but required that two other children help by operating the equipment. Four studies were conducted. Girls in same-sex groups had more viewing time than boys in same-sex groups. However, girls in mixed-sex groups appeared to be at a disadvantage because they gained less viewing time than boys. Boys used a greater number and range of strategies than girls. Boys' strategies were also more self-assertive and agonistic. More low social competence children used the push strategy than high competence children. The strategies children used to enter the viewing position were more indirect than those used to maintain the viewing position. Children who gained the most viewing time in each group showed less helping behaviour than those with low viewing time. They used a greater quantity of strategies and were more demanding than low viewing children. Children who gained more than the average amount of viewing time, but helped less than average, used more selfassertive strategies than those who viewed and helped more than average. Girls in same-sex groups were more likely to help and view more than average. Overall, the results suggest that cooperation and competition is influenced by gender and group composition. Theoretical and implied implications are discussed.
Influence of Body Condition on Influenza A Virus Infection in Mallard Ducks: Experimental Infection Data

Migrating waterfowl are implicated in the global spread of influenza A viruses (IAVs), and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are considered a particularly important IAV reservoir. Prevalence of IAV infection in waterfowl peaks during autumn pre-migration staging and then declines as birds reach wintering areas. Migration is energetically costly and birds often experience declines in body condition that may suppress immune function. We assessed how body condition affects susceptibility to infection, viral shedding and antibody production in wild-caught and captive-bred juvenile mallards challenged with low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) H5N9. Wild mallards (n = 30) were separated into three experimental groups; each manipulated through food availability to a different condition level (−20%, −10%, and normal ±5% original body condition), and captive-bred mallards (n = 10) were maintained at normal condition. We found that wild mallards in normal condition were more susceptible to LPAIV infection, shed higher peak viral loads and shed viral RNA more frequently compared to birds in poor condition. Antibody production did not differ according to condition. We found that wild mallards did not differ from captive-bred mallards in viral intensity and duration of infection, but they did exhibit lower antibody titers and greater variation in viral load. Our findings suggest that reduced body condition negatively influences waterfowl host competence to LPAIV infection. This observation is contradictory to the recently proposed condition-dependent hypothesis, according to which birds in reduced condition would be more susceptible to IAV infection. The mechanisms responsible for reducing host competency among birds in poor condition remain unknown. Our research indicates body condition may influence the maintenance and spread of LPAIV by migrating waterfowl.
Fibromialgia: Discapacidad funcional, autoestima y perfil de personalidad

The purpose of the study was to compare the level of functional impairment, pain and exhaustion, selfconcept-self-esteem, and major personality dimensions in people with and without fibromyalgia (FM). The study was carried out with 190 participants, 140 affected with FM and 50 not affected, between 28 and 75 years of age (M = 52.16, SD = 9.18), 10 males and 180 females. Four assessment instruments were administered to assess the target variables: impact of fibromyalgia, self-concept, self-esteem and personality. The results provided evidence that people with FM, compared with people who are not affected by this disease, have a significantly higher level of functional impairment, pain, and exhaustion, a lower level of self-esteem, a higher capacity of cooperativeness-empathy, scrupulousness, and a lower level of emotional control and emotional stability. In the remaining personality traits (energy, agreeableness, conscientiousness, mental openness), there were no significant differences. In addition, in people with FM, no signs of bias or tendency to present an unfavorable image, emphasize difficulties, or display “illness behavior” were found.
Computing the quartet distance between evolutionary trees

The comparison of evolutionary trees is a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology. Different evolutionary hypotheses (or conflicting phylogenies) arise when different phylogenetic reconstruction methods are applied to the same data set, or when a single method is applied to different data sets (e.g. different genes). Several similarity metrics between evolutionary trees are currently in use [2]. In this paper, we study the quartet metric, which is based on common subtrees induced by four leaves. This metric has several attractive properties, though its use has been limited by the time required to compute the distance [7]. In this paper, we address this problem by describing an O(n 2) algorithm that computes the quartet distance between two evolutionary trees. Two general approaches are currently ill use to resolve conflicting phylogenies. One method is to select a consensus tree (or trees) that best represents the information provided by each tree. The maximum agreement subtree (MAST) is an instance of this approach. A substantial amount of effort has been devoted to efficient algorithms for finding the MAST of two or many evolutionary trees, see [8] for a summary of results. A more quantitative approach is to define a similarity metric between trees to assess the stability of a solution by measuring the degree of similarity among the trees. The distributions of various tree similarity metrics are well-studied [7] and are very useful in testing statistical hypotheses. An evolutionary tree represents the direction of evolution by the location of its root, the rate of evolutionary by its edge lengths and the history of speciation events by its branching pattern or topology. Biologists are often interested in the distance between
Remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients: a safe, time-saving, and cost-effective means for follow-up

Aims The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate whether internet-based remote monitoring offers a safe, practical, and cost-effective alternative to the in-office follow-up visits of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Methods and results Forty-one patients (62 ± 10 years, range 41–76, 83% male) with previously implanted ICD were followed for 9 months. One-hundred and nineteen scheduled and 18 unscheduled data transmissions were performed. There were no device-related adverse events. Over 90% of the patients found the system easy to use. Physicians reported the system as being ‘very easy’ or ‘easy’ to use and found the data comparable to traditional device interrogation in 99% of the cases. They were able to address all unscheduled data transmissions remotely. Compared with the in-office visits, remote monitoring required less time from patients (6.9 ± 5.0 vs. 182 ± 148 min, P < 0.001) and physicians (8.4 ± 4.5 vs. 25.8 ± 17.0 min, P < 0.001) to complete the follow-up. Substitution of two routine in-office visits during the study by remote monitoring reduced the overall cost of routine ICD follow-up by 524€ per patient (41%). Conclusion Remote monitoring offers a safe, feasible, time-saving, and cost-effective solution to ICD follow-up.
Most Supermassive Black Holes Must Be Rapidly Rotating

We use the integrated spectrum of the X-ray background and quasars' spectral energy distribution to derive the contribution of quasars to the energy output of the universe. We find a lower limit for the energy from accretion onto black holes of 7% of the total luminosity of the universe and probably more, with 15% quite possible. Comparing these values with the masses of black holes in the center of nearby galaxies, we show that the accretion process must be, on average, very efficient: at least 15% of the accreted mass must be transformed into radiated energy. This further implies that most supermassive black holes are rotating rapidly.
Domain-Specific Codesign for Embedded Security

Systems with multiple design domains require codesign of application domains. Dedicated hardware processors implement the application domains and software integrates them. The authors use ThumbPod, a prototype embedded security application, for remote identification applications such as intelligent keys or electronic payments. The device combines security, biometrics, and networking domains. Additional software support consists of a dynamic application download using the Java application manager. Sun's K virtual machine offers an infrastructure for secure code download and execution. The virtual machine also integrates the cryptoprocessor through a native interface.