Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Going global: professional mobility and concerns for LGBT workers

The world of work has regularized the practice of people moving from one country to another to accept job assignments. Travel and relocation are stress-laden endeavours. For LGBT people, the risks can be more complicated than they are for heterosexuals. This article explores particular challenges that LGBT people face when they travel and relocate for business, both domestically and internationally. The article is contextualized with a literature review on sexual minorities and workplace issues, and uses auto-ethnographic stories of three of the authors’ lived experiences as sexual minorities relocating for professional reasons in order to examine issues related to LGBT relocation. These issues include legal, social, cultural and familial considerations. Implications and suggestions for human resource developers are presented, which include acquiring awareness around the psychological and physiological reactions to new and diverse ecologies, or ‘eco-shocks’.
An International Review of Sponsorship Research

Abstract Corporate sponsorship of sports, arts, and cultural events has increased dramatically over the past decade. Still, academic research on sponsorship as a promotional tool has been sparse. The authors offer a cross-disciplinary review of research conducted on sponsorship worldwide. Five research streams—nature of sponsorship, managerial aspects of sponsorship, measurement of sponsorship effects, strategic use of sponsorship, and legal/ethical considerations in sponsorship—are examined and critically assessed. On the basis of that analysis, theoretical frameworks are provided to guide future research.
A randomised cross-over cohort study of exposure to emissions from a road tunnel ventilation stack

Background and objective Road tunnels are increasingly important components of urban infrastructure. However, knowledge of their health impact on surrounding communities is limited. Our objective was to estimate the short-term respiratory health effects of exposure to emissions from a road tunnel ventilation stack. Methods We conducted a randomised cross-over cohort study in 36 volunteers who underwent three exposure scenarios in 2006 before the road tunnel opened, and in 2007 (n=27) and 2008 (n=20) after the tunnel opened. Exposure downwind of the stack was compared to upwind of the stack and to a distant heavily trafficked location adjacent to a main road. Spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and symptom scores were measured repeatedly during each 2 h exposure session. Results Downwind locations were associated with increased reports of ‘dry nose’ (score difference 0.36; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.63) compared with the control location (2006 vs 2007/2008), but not with impaired lung function, increased airway inflammation or other symptoms. The heavily trafficked location was associated with significantly increased eNO (ratio=1.09; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.14), eye (score difference 0.05; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.10) and chest (score difference 0.21; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.33) symptoms compared to the stack locations. Conclusions There was no consistent evidence of adverse respiratory effects from short-term exposures downwind of the tunnel ventilation stack, except for dry nose symptoms. However, the findings of increased airway inflammation and symptoms in subjects after only 2 h exposure at the heavily trafficked location, are suggestive of detrimental effects of short-term exposures to traffic-related air pollution.
Assessing social cognitive skills in aggressive children from a developmental perspective: the social cognitive skills test

The development and psychometric evaluation of the Social Cognitive Skills Test (SCST) for (aggressive) children is described. The SCST is based on the structural developmental approach of social cognition by Selman and Byrne (1974) and consists of six short stories with corresponding pictures. Each story measures eight social cognitive skills. The SCST takes into account the developmental level of the (aggressive) child and his/her social information processing deficits. Three studies were conducted to explore the psychometric qualities of the SCST. Study 1 (n = 47) supported the notion that (a) the SCST discriminates between aggressive and non-aggressive children, and that (b) there is a descending trend in SCST-scores as social cognitive skills increase in complexity. Study 2 (n = 115) confirmed the findings of Study 1 and further revealed (a) no differences in the scores on the SCST between reactive and proactive aggressive children, and (b) a positive association between chronological age and social cognitive level of the aggressive and non-aggressive children. Finally, Study 3 (n = 48) confirmed the previous findings and found that aggressive children have difficulty verbalizing their thoughts, feelings and intentions and show a lack in non-verbal social understanding. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient target activity detection based on recurrent neural networks

This paper addresses the problem of Target Activity Detection (TAD) for binaural listening devices. TAD denotes the problem of robustly detecting the activity of a target speaker in a harsh acoustic environment, which comprises interfering speakers and noise ('cocktail party scenario'). In previous work, it has been shown that employing a Feed-forward Neural Network (FNN) for detecting the target speaker activity is a promising approach to combine the advantage of different TAD features (used as network inputs). In this contribution, we exploit a larger context window for TAD and compare the performance of FNNs and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) with an explicit focus on small network topologies as desirable for embedded acoustic signal processing systems. More specifically, the investigations include a comparison between three different types of RNNs, namely plain RNNs, Long Short-Term Memories, and Gated Recurrent Units. The results indicate that all versions of RNNs outperform FNNs for the task of TAD.
Biodata phenomenology: Recruiters' perceptions and use of biographical information in resume screening.

Recruiters' phenomenological perceptions of biodata in resumes were examined along with their use of biodata for making applicant screening decisions. The thesis was that biodata were interpreted as indicating abilities and other attributes. Three complementary studies were conducted with 344 recruiters from 28 companies. Study 1 survey results indicated recruiters judged biodata to reflect both ability (language, math, physical) and other (interpersonal, leadership, motivation) attributes. Both types of attributes were judged with high interrecruiter reliability, and attributes judged to be reflected depended partly on the job considered. Study 2 experimental results indicated that recruiters rated resumes more attractive to the degree that biodata in the resumes reflected attributes required by the jobs. Study 3 protocol analysis results confirmed that recruiters considered these attributes with substantial frequency
Time-space tradeoffs in the counting hierarchy

Extends the lower-bound techniques of L. Fortnow (2000) to the unbounded-error probabilistic model. A key step in the argument is a generalization of V.A. Nepomnjas/spl caron/c/spl caron/ii/spl breve/'s (1970) theorem from the Boolean setting to the arithmetic setting. This generalization is made possible due to the recent discovery of logspace-uniform TC/sup 0/ circuits for iterated multiplication (A. Chiu et al., 2000). As an example of the sort of lower bounds that we obtain, we show that MAJ-MAJSAT is not contained in PrTiSp(n/sup 1+o(1)/, n/sup /spl epsiv//) for any /spl epsiv/<1. We also extend one of Fortnow's lower bounds, from showing that S~A~T~ does not have uniform NC/sup 1/ circuits of size n/sup 1+o(1)/, to a similar result for SAC/sup 1/ circuits.
A Dual Function for Adenosine 5′‐Triphosphate in the Regulation of Vascular Tone: Excitatory Cotransmitter with Noradrenaline from Perivascular Nerves and Locally Released Inhibitory Intravascular Agent

A dual function for adenosine 5′-triphosphate in the regulation of vascular tone is considered. Adenosine 5′-triphosphate can cause vasodilation, acting via P2-purinoceptors located on vascular endothelial cells to release an endothelium-derived relaxing factor which diffuses to the vascular smooth muscle and induces vasodilation. The main source of intraluminal adenosine 5′-triphosphate is likely to be endothelial cells, and its release can be measured during pathophysiological conditions such as ischemia and hypoxia, in amounts likely to be sufficient to activate endothelial P2-purinoceptors. Adenosine 5′-triphosphate can also be released during intravascular platelet aggregation and from intact and damaged vascular smooth muscle cells, and so may play a role in the complex physiological mechanisms controlling local vascular tone under normoxic conditions and during vessel injury. Evidence is also presented for adenosine 5′-triphosphate acting as an excitatory cotransmitter with noradrenaline from sympathetic perivas-cular nerves, to cause vasoconstriction via excitatory P2-purinoceptors located on vascular smooth muscle. The postjunctional mechanical and electrical responses of a number of blood vessels following perivascular nerve stimulation contain a component that is resistant to blockade of the ad adrenoceptor. This nonadrenergic response is mimicked by adenosine 5′-triphosphate and can be blocked by selective desensitization of the P2-purinoceptor by α,β-methylene adenosine 5′-triphosphate. Vesicular storage of adenosine 5′-triphosphate and its release from sympathetic perivascular nerves has also been demonstrated. The functional significance of adenosine 5′-triphosphate acting intraluminally as a vasodilator and extraluminally as a vasoconstrictor neuronal agent in the control of vascular tone is discussed.
Paraquat: model for oxidant-initiated toxicity.

Paraquat, a quaternary ammonium bipyridyl herbicide, produces degenerative lesions in the lung after systemic administration to man and animals. The pulmonary toxicity of paraquat resembles in several ways the toxicity of several other lung toxins, including oxygen, nitrofurantoin and bleomycin. Although a definitive mechanism of toxicity of paraquat has not been delineated, a cyclic single electron reduction/oxidation of the parent molecule is a critical mechanistic event. The redox cycling of paraquat has two potentially important consequences relevant to the development of toxicity: generation of "activated oxygen" (e.g., superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical) which is highly reactive to cellular macromolecules; and/or oxidation of reducing equivalents (e.g., NADPH, reduced glutathione) necessary for normal cell function. Paraquat-induced pulmonary toxicity, therefore, is a potentially useful model for evaluation of oxidant mechanisms of toxicity. Furthermore, characterization of the consequences of intracellular redox cycling of xenobiotics will no doubt provide basic information regarding the role of this phenomena in the development of chemical toxicity.
Direct absorbed dose to water determination based on water calorimetry in scanning proton beam delivery.

PURPOSE The aim of this manuscript is to describe the direct measurement of absolute absorbed dose to water in a scanned proton radiotherapy beam using a water calorimeter primary standard. METHODS The McGill water calorimeter, which has been validated in photon and electron beams as well as in HDR 192Ir brachytherapy, was used to measure the absorbed dose to water in double scattering and scanning proton irradiations. The measurements were made at the Massachusetts General Hospital proton radiotherapy facility. The correction factors in water calorimetry were numerically calculated and various parameters affecting their magnitude and uncertainty were studied. The absorbed dose to water was compared to that obtained using an Exradin T1 Chamber based on the IAEA TRS-398 protocol. RESULTS The overall 1-sigma uncertainty on absorbed dose to water amounts to 0.4% and 0.6% in scattered and scanned proton water calorimetry, respectively. This compares to an overall uncertainty of 1.9% for currently accepted IAEA TRS-398 reference absorbed dose measurement protocol. The absorbed dose from water calorimetry agrees with the results from TRS-398 well to within 1-sigma uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates that a primary absorbed dose standard based on water calorimetry is feasible in scattered and scanned proton beams.
Common genetic contributions to alcohol and cannabis use and dependence symptomatology.

BACKGROUND Despite mounting evidence that use of and dependence on alcohol and cannabis are influenced by heritable factors, the extent to which heritable influences on these phenotypes overlap across the 2 substances has only rarely been explored. In the current study, we quantified cross-substance overlap in sources of variance and estimated the degree to which within-substance associations between use and dependence measures are attributable to common genetic and environmental factors for alcohol and cannabis. METHODS The sample was comprised of 6,257 individuals (2,761 complete twin pairs and 735 singletons) from the Australian Twin Registry, aged 24 to 36 years. Alcohol and cannabis use histories were collected via telephone diagnostic interviews and used to derive an alcohol consumption factor, a frequency measure for cannabis use, and DSM-IV alcohol and cannabis dependence symptom counts. Standard genetic analyses were conducted to produce a quadrivariate model that provided estimates of overlap in genetic and environmental influences across the 4 phenotypes. RESULTS Over 60% of variance in alcohol consumption, cannabis use, and cannabis dependence symptoms, and just under 50% of variance in alcohol dependence (AD) symptoms were attributable to genetic sources. Shared environmental factors did not contribute significantly to the 4 phenotypes. Nearly complete overlap in heritable influences was observed for within-substance measures of use and dependence symptoms. Genetic correlations across substances were 0.68 and 0.62 for use and dependence symptoms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Common heritable influences were evident for alcohol and cannabis use and for AD and cannabis dependence symptomatology, but findings indicate that substance-specific influences account for the majority of the genetic variance in the cannabis use and dependence phenotypes. By contrast, the substantial correlations between alcohol use and AD symptoms and between cannabis use and cannabis dependence symptoms suggest that measures of heaviness of use capture much of the same genetic liability to alcohol- and cannabis-related problems as dependence symptomatology.
Finescale Vertical Structure of a Cold Front as Revealed by an Airborne Doppler Radar

Abstract In the afternoon of 24 May 2002, a well-defined and frontogenetic cold front moved through the Texas panhandle. Detailed observations from a series of platforms were collected near the triple point between this cold front and a dryline boundary. This paper primarily uses reflectivity and Doppler velocity data from an airborne 95-GHz radar, as well as flight-level thermodynamic data, to describe the vertical structure of the cold front as it intersected with the dryline. The prefrontal convective boundary layer was weakly capped, weakly sheared, and about 2.5 times deeper than the cold-frontal density current. The radar data depict the cold front as a fine example of an atmospheric density current at unprecedented detail (∼40 m). The echo structure and dual-Doppler-inferred airflow in the vertical plane reveal typical features such as a nose, a head, a rear-inflow current, and a broad current of rising prefrontal air that feeds the accelerating front-to-rear current over the head. The 2D cross-fro.
Buoyancy of the continental upper mantle

The thermal boundary layer beneath continental cratons extends into the Earth's mantle to depths of at least 200 km. It has been proposed that chemical depletion of the lithospheric mantle during partial melting offsets the effect of increased density from conductive cooling, resulting in neutral buoyancy with respect to the underlying asthenosphere. Mineral compositions of garnet peridotite xenoliths in the Kaapvaal craton give equilibration temperatures and pressures that define a continental conductive geotherm intersecting a mantle adiabat with a potential temperature of 1300°C at ∼60 kbar. We calculated normative densities for a “low‐temperature” garnet and spinel peridotite xenolith suite using Mg#. At their temperatures and pressures of equilibration, all the low‐temperature peridotites are positively buoyant with respect to the convecting mantle, which is inconsistent with the hypothesis of a neutrally buoyant thermal boundary layer. To account for the possibility that pressure, temperature, and mineral proportions may have varied over time, equilibrium solidus mineral assemblages for the low‐temperature xenoliths over a range of pressures and temperatures were generated by free energy minimization using the program Perplex (http://www.perplex.ethz.ch). The equilibrium solidus densities for xenolith compositions along a 40 mW/m2 conductive geotherm were compared with the density of pyrolite along a mantle adiabat with a potential temperature of 1300°C. These density calculations show that most of the xenoliths are positively buoyant with respect to asthenospheric mantle (“pyrolite”) at their temperatures and pressures of equilibration, confirming the results from the normative density calculations. Also, at the onset of the accretion of the Kaapvaal craton, when the thermal boundary layer was thinner and hotter than today, these Kaapvaal peridotites would have been positively buoyant with respect to the convecting mantle at shallower pressures. Therefore we propose that peridotite at the base of the Kaapvaal “plate,” in the mantle thermal boundary layer, was and is positively buoyant. Combined with evidence from the geoid and geomorphology, which suggests that cratons are isostatically compensated and neutrally buoyant, our results imply that there must be dense layers within cratonic crust or upper mantle that offset the positive buoyancy of depleted cratonic mantle peridotites.
Individual Risk Attitudes: New Evidence from a Large, Representative, Experimentally-Validated Survey

This paper presents new evidence on the distribution of risk attitudes in the population, using a novel set of survey questions and a representative sample of roughly 22,000 individuals living in Germany. Using a question that asks about willingness to take risks in general, on an 11-point scale, we find evidence of heterogeneity across individuals, and show that willingness to take risks is negatively related to age and being female, and positively related to height and parental education. We test the behavioral relevance of this survey measure by conducting a complementary field experiment, based on a representative sample of 450 subjects, and find that the general risk question is a good predictor of actual risk-taking behavior. We then use a more standard lottery question to measure risk preferences in our sample of 22,000, and find similar results regarding heterogeneity and determinants of risk preferences, compared to the general risk question. The lottery question also makes it possible to estimate the coefficient of relative risk aversion for each individual in the sample. Using five questions about willingness to take risks in specific domains - car driving, financial matters, sports and leisure, career, and health - the paper also studies the impact of context on risk attitudes, finding a strong but imperfect correlation across contexts. Using data on a collection of risky behaviors from different contexts, including traffic offences, portfolio choice, smoking, occupational choice, participation in sports, and migration, the paper compares the predictive power of all of the risk measures. Strikingly, the general risk question predicts all behaviors whereas the standard lottery measure does not. The best predictor for any specific behavior is typically the corresponding context-specific measure.
American City Planning Since 1890

This work examines the beginnings of urban planning, and traces its gradual emergence as a guiding influence at all levels of government. It includes detail drawn from numerous original documents and extensive interviews with pioneers of the profession. Political movements, the people, the institutions, civic crises and legislative struggles are all described and investigated. Originally published in 1971 and commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the American Institute of Planning, this is a reprint of the original text.
Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on antioxidative ability and performance of sows and nursing piglets.

The current study was carried out to determine the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) supplementation during late-gestation and lactation on antioxidative ability and performance of sows and their nursing piglets. A total of 160 multiparous sows were randomly allocated to four treatments with 40 replicates per treatment according to parity number and backfat (BF) thickness. Sows were fed 1 of 4 diets from day 85 of gestation to day 21 of lactation. Diets were control without LA; 400 ppm LA supplementation; 600 ppm LA supplementation; and 800 ppm LA supplementation. BF thickness of sows was determined on day 85 and 110 of gestation and days 1 and 21 of lactation. Piglet bodyweight was measured at birth, days 7, 14 and 21. Blood samples were obtained from the sows, and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the sows during lactation was recorded. There were no differences in BF thickness or ADFI among treatment groups. Dietary LA supplementation resulted in a decrease in blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.01) concentration at days 110 of gestation. Dietary 800 ppm LA increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (p < 0.05) and reduced maleic dialdehyde levels (p < 0.01) of sows compared with the control diet at days 21 of lactation. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation increased the birthweight and weaning weight of piglets (p < 0.01) compared with the control group. Weight gains of piglets from sows fed the 800 ppm LA diets were greater (p < 0.01) between days 7 and 14 compared with piglets from control sows. Weight gains of piglets from sows fed the LA-supplemented diets were greater between days 14 and 21 (p < 0.05) and between days 1 and 21 (p < 0.01) compared with piglets from control-fed sows. In conclusion, the results indicate that antioxidant LA was effective in enhancing antioxidant enzymes activity and improving the performance of sows and their nursing piglets.