Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Politics and Preschool: The Political Economy of Investment in Pre-Primary Education

What drives governments with similar revenues to publicly provide very different amounts of goods for which private substitutes are available? Key examples are education and health care. This paper compares spending by Brazilian municipalities on pre-primary education -- a good that is also provided privately -- with spending on public infrastructure like parks and roads, which lacks private substitutes. Panel data from 1995-2008 reveal how the distribution of income affects public investment. Revenue is endogenous to investment outcomes, and the analysis addresses this problem by exploiting a 1998, nationwide education finance reform and several revisions to the policy. The author constructs a variable that captures exogenous variation in revenue generated by nonlinearities of the law to instrument for observed revenue. Municipalities with higher median income and more inequality are less likely to allocate revenue to education or to expand pre-primary enrollment. They are more likely to allocate revenue to public infrastructure. There is suggestive evidence that this occurs for two reasons, hypothesized in two separate literatures. In rich and unequal municipalities, fewer total people support public education spending (the collective choice channel), and also, any given poor person wanting public education has less influence over policymakers there (the political power channel).
Facial Expression Recognition using Convolutional Neural Networks: State of the Art

The ability to recognize facial expressions automatically enables novel applications in human-computer interaction and other areas. Consequently, there has been active research in this field, with several recent works utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for feature extraction and inference. These works differ significantly in terms of CNN architectures and other factors. Based on the reported results alone, the performance impact of these factors is unclear. In this paper, we review the state of the art in image-based facial expression recognition using CNNs and highlight algorithmic differences and their performance impact. On this basis, we identify existing bottlenecks and consequently directions for advancing this research field. Furthermore, we demonstrate that overcoming one of these bottlenecks - the comparatively basic architectures of the CNNs utilized in this field - leads to a substantial performance increase. By forming an ensemble of modern deep CNNs, we obtain a FER2013 test accuracy of 75.2%, outperforming previous works without requiring auxiliary training data or face registration.
Pregnancy and birth outcomes of women with intellectual disability in Sweden: a national register study

Objective. To investigate the antenatal health and demographic factors as well as pregnancy and delivery outcomes in women with intellectual disability (ID) in Sweden. Design. A population‐based register study. Setting. The National Patient Register (NPR) linked to the Medical Birth Register (MBR). Sample. Women with ID classified as International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 8–10 who gave birth in 1999–2007 (n = 326), identified from the NPR linked to the MBR, were compared with all first‐time, singleton mothers without ID or any other psychiatric diagnoses during this period in Sweden (n = 340 624). Methods. Population‐based data were extracted from the NPR and the MBR. Main outcome measures. Health and socio‐demography at first antenatal visit, mode of delivery, pain relief during labor, preterm birth and discharge from hospital. Results. A higher proportion of women with ID were teenagers (18.4 vs. 3.3%), obese (20.1 vs. 8.6%) and single (36.6 vs. 6.2%) compared with women without ID, and women with ID smoked more often (27.9 vs. 7.9%). Women with ID had more often a preterm birth (12.2 vs. 6.1%), a cesarean section (CS) (24.5 vs. 17.7%) and used less nitrous oxide as pain relief during labor (59.5 vs. 75.8%). Women with ID had a higher risk for preterm birth [odds ratio (OR) 1.68], CS (OR1.55), non‐use of nitrous oxide (OR 1.89) and discharge from hospital to a place other than home (OR 2.24). Conclusion. Pregnant women with ID should be considered a risk group suggesting that better tailored pre‐ and intrapartum care and support are needed for these women.
Accumulation and Distribution of Dry Matter and Nutrients in Aigeiros Poplar Plantations

Patterns of accumulation of dry matter and nutrients through 20 years in Aigeiros poplar plantations are strongly influenced by mode of plantation culture. Accumulation of both dry matter and nutrients in closely spaced thinned plantations is linear through age 12 to 14, after which accumulation declines and then stabilizes. In contrast, dry matter and nutrient accumulation in the widely spaced unthinned plantations accelerates through age 10 and is linear throughout the remaining 10 years. At 20 years the dry matter production of the close and widely spaced plantations is 21 and 36 percent greater, respectively, than natural stands. The stems of the widely spaced unthinned plantations contain greater quantities of all nutrients at harvesting than the other cultural systems, thus causing greater nutrient drain. Black poplar plantations have twice the nutrient requirements of loblolly pine plantations through age 16. Debarking on the site is suggested to conserve nutrients. Intensive management of poplar stands has resulted in shortened rotations , increased tree utilization, use of a site for one species or even for a single clone, reduced competition-particularly during establishment and early development-and modification of soil-site properties (Switzer and Nelson 1973, Bunn and Will 1973). How these intensive management practices influence the continued productivity of black poplar sites is uncertain, but basic information about stand nutrition is necessary. This paper reports accumulation and distribution of dry matter (biomass) and nutrients in natural poplar stands and in plantations managed under two spacing-thinning regimes. METHODS bata were available from both natural stands and plantation. of PopUlbS deltoides Bartr. in the Lower MiSSissippi RiVer Valley (United States) and from plantations of Euramericana hybrids from the Po RiVer Valley (1taly).
Assessing the Scientific Research Productivity of a Brazilian Healthcare Institution: A Case Study at the Heart Institute of São Paulo, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: The present study was motivated by the need to systematically assess the research productivity of the Heart Institute (InCor), Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To explore methodology for the assessment of institutional scientific research productivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bibliometric indicators based on searches for author affiliation of original scientific articles or reviews published in journals indexed in the databases Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS and SciELO from January 2000 to December 2003 were used in this study. The retrieved records were analyzed according to the index parameters of the journals and modes of access. The number of citations was used to calculate the institutional impact factor. RESULTS: Out of 1253 records retrieved from the five databases, 604 original articles and reviews were analyzed; of these, 246 (41%) articles were published in national journals and 221 (90%) of those were in journals with free online access through SciELO or their own websites. Of the 358 articles published in international journals, 333 (93%) had controlled online access and 223 (67%) were available through the Capes Portal of Journals. The average impact of each article for InCor was 2.224 in the period studied. CONCLUSION: A simple and practical methodology to evaluate the scientific production of health research institutions includes searches in the LILACS database for national journals and in MEDLINE and the Web of Science for international journals. The institutional impact factor of articles indexed in the Web of Science may serve as a measure by which to assess and review the scientific productivity of a research institution.
Taxonomic re-evaluation of species in Talaromyces section Islandici, using a polyphasic approach

The taxonomy of Talaromyces rugulosus, T. wortmannii and closely related species, classified in Talaromyces sect. Islandici, is reviewed in this paper. The species of Talaromyces sect. Islandici have restricted growth on MEA and CYA, generally have yellow mycelia and produce rugulosin and/or skyrin. They are important in biotechnology (e.g. T. rugulosus, T. wortmannii) and in medicine (e.g. T. piceus, T. radicus). The taxonomy of sect. Islandici was resolved using a combination of morphological, extrolite and phylogenetic data, using the Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition (GCPSR) concept, with special focus on the T. rugulosus and T. wortmannii species complexes. In this paper, we synonymise T. variabilis, Penicillium concavorugulosum and T. sublevisporus with T. wortmannii, and introduce four new species as T. acaricola, T. crassus, T. infraolivaceus and T. subaurantiacus. Finally, we provide a synoptic table for the identification of the 19 species classified in the section.
On the Physical Origin of O VI Absorption-Line Systems

We present a unified analysis of the O VI absorption lines seen in the disk and halo of the Milky Way, high-velocity clouds, the Magellanic Clouds, starburst galaxies, and the intergalactic medium. We show that these disparate systems define a simple relationship between the O VI column density and absorption-line width that is independent of the oxygen abundance over the range O/H ~ 10% to twice solar. We show that this relation is exactly that predicted theoretically as a radiatively cooling flow of hot gas passes through the coronal temperature regime—independent of its density or metallicity (for O/H ≳ 0.1 solar). Since most of the intergalactic O VI clouds obey this relation, we infer that they cannot have metallicities less than a few percent solar. In order to be able to cool radiatively in less than a Hubble time, the intergalactic clouds must be smaller than ~1 Mpc in size. The implied global heating rate of the warm/hot intergalactic medium is consistent with available sources. We show that the cooling column densities for the O IV, O V, Ne V, and Ne VI ions are comparable to those seen in O VI. This is also true for the Li-like ions Ne VIII, Mg X, and Si XII (if the gas is cooling from T ≳ 106 K). All these ions have strong resonance lines in the extreme-ultraviolet spectral range and would be accessible to Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer at z ≳ 0.2-0.8. We also show that the Li-like ions can be used to probe radiatively cooling gas at temperatures 1 order of magnitude higher than where their ionic fraction peaks. We calculate that the H-like (He-like) O, Ne, Mg, Si, and S ions have cooling columns of ~1017 (a few times 1016) cm-2. The properties of the O VII, O VIII, and Ne IX X-ray absorption lines toward PKS 2155-304 may be consistent with a scenario of radiatively cooling gas in the Galactic disk or halo.
Cardiorespiratory interactions during periodic breathing in awake chronic heart failure patients.

We applied spectral techniques to the analysis of cardiorespiratory signals [instantaneous lung volume (ILV), instantaneous tidal volume (ITV), arterial O(2) saturation (Sa(O(2))) at the ear, heart rate (HR), systolic (SAP), and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure] during nonapneic periodic breathing (PB) in 29 awake chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and estimated the timing relationships between respiratory and slow cardiovascular (<0.04 Hz) oscillations. Our aim was 1) to elucidate major mechanisms involved in cardiorespiratory interactions during PB and 2) to test the hypothesis of a central vasomotor origin of PB. All cardiovascular signals were characterized by a dominant (>/=84% of total power) oscillation at the frequency of PB (mean +/- SE: 0.022 +/- 0.0008 Hz), highly coherent (>/=0.89), and delayed with respect to ITV (ITV-HR, 2.4 +/- 0.72 s; ITV-SAP, 6.7 +/- 0.65 s; ITV-DAP, 3.2 +/- 0.61 s; P < 0.01). Sa(O(2)) was highly coherent with (coherence function = 0.96 +/- 0. 009) and almost opposite in phase to ITV. These findings demonstrate the existence of a generalized cardiorespiratory rhythm led by the ventilatory oscillation and suggest that 1) the cyclic increase in inspiratory drive and cardiopulmonary reflexes and 2) mechanical effects of PB-induced changes in intrathoracic pressure are the more likely sources of the HR and blood pressure oscillations, respectively. The timing relationship between ITV and blood pressure signals excludes the possibility that PB represents the effect of a central vasomotor rhythm.
Preservation theorems for countable support forcing iterations

A major theme of [12] is preservation theorems for iterated forcing. These are theorems of the form “if 〈Pξ : ξ ≤ κ〉 is a countable support forcing iteration based on 〈Q̇ξ : ξ < κ〉 and each Q̇ξ has property such-and-such then Pκ has property thus-and-so. ” The archetypal preservation theorem is the Fundamental Theorem of Proper Forcing [12, chapter III], which states that if each Q̇ξ is proper in V [GPξ ] then Pκ is proper. Typically, the property enjoyed by Pκ ensures that either ω1 is not collapsed, or that no new reals are added. In this paper we introduce two preservation theorems, one for not collapsing ω1 and one for not adding reals, which include many of the
Vascular risk factors and diabetic neuropathy.

BACKGROUND Other than glycemic control, there are no treatments for diabetic neuropathy. Thus, identifying potentially modifiable risk factors for neuropathy is crucial. We studied risk factors for the development of distal symmetric neuropathy in 1172 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus from 31 centers participating in the European Diabetes (EURODIAB) Prospective Complications Study. METHODS Neuropathy was assessed at baseline (1989 to 1991) and at follow-up (1997 to 1999), with a mean (+/-SD) follow-up of 7.3+/-0.6 years. A standardized protocol included clinical evaluation, quantitative sensory testing, and autonomic-function tests. Serum lipids and lipoproteins, glycosylated hemoglobin, and the urinary albumin excretion rate were measured in a central laboratory. RESULTS At follow-up, neuropathy had developed in 276 of 1172 patients without neuropathy at baseline (23.5 percent). The cumulative incidence of neuropathy was related to the glycosylated hemoglobin value and the duration of diabetes. After adjustment for these factors, we found that higher levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, a higher body-mass index, higher von Willebrand factor levels and urinary albumin excretion rate, hypertension, and smoking were all significantly associated with the cumulative incidence of neuropathy. After adjustment for other risk factors and diabetic complications, we found that duration of diabetes, current glycosylated hemoglobin value, change in glycosylated hemoglobin value during the follow-up period, body-mass index, and smoking remained independently associated with the incidence of neuropathy. Cardiovascular disease at baseline was associated with double the risk of neuropathy, independent of cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS This prospective study indicates that, apart from glycemic control, the incidence of neuropathy is associated with potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including a raised triglyceride level, body-mass index, smoking, and hypertension.
Suppression of Excessive Histone Deacetylases Activity in Diabetic Hearts Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Mitochondria Apoptosis Pathway

Background. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a pivotal role in signaling modification and gene transcriptional regulation that are essential for cardiovascular pathophysiology. Diabetic hearts with higher HDACs activity were more vulnerable to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury compared with nondiabetic hearts. We are curious about whether suppression of excessive HDACs activity in diabetic heart protects against MI/R injury. Methods. Diabetic rats were subjected to 45 min of ischemia, followed by 3 h of reperfusion. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to high glucose for 24 h, followed by 4 h of hypoxia and 2 h of reoxygenation (H/R). Results. Both MI/R injury and diabetes mellitus elevated myocardium HDACs activity. MI/R induced apoptotic cell death was significantly decreased in diabetic rats treated with HDACs inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA). TSA administration markedly moderated dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, protected the integrity of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), and decreased cell apoptosis. Notably, cotreatment with Akt inhibitor partly or absolutely inhibited the protective effect of TSA in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, TSA administration activated Akt/Foxo3a pathway, leading to Foxo3a cytoplasm translocation and attenuation proapoptosis protein Bim expression. Conclusions. Both diabetes mellitus and MI/R injury increased cardiac HDACs activity. Suppression of HDACs activity triggered protective effects against MI/R and H/R injury under hyperglycemia conditions through Akt-modulated mitochondrial apoptotic pathways via Foxo3a/Bim.
The Design of Corporate Debt Structure and Bankruptcy

This article integrates the problem of designing corporate bankruptcy rules into a theory of optimal debt structure. We show that, in an optimal contracting framework with imperfect renegotiation, having multiple creditors increases a firm's debt capacity while increasing its incentives to default strategically. The optimal debt contract gives creditors claims that are jointly inconsistent in case of default. Bankruptcy rules are therefore a necessary part of the overall financing contract, to make claims consistent and to prevent a value-reducing run for the assets of the firm. We characterize these rules, with predictions about the allocation of security rights, the right to trigger bankruptcy, and the symmetry of treatment of creditors in default. The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org. , Oxford University Press.
Improving Teacher Selection with Behavior-Based Interviewing.

Based on the premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future performance, this interview style uses specific questions based on candidates’ skills, background, and experience to determine if they can do the job. What many successful interviewers have found is that the way a person handled a specific situation in the past provides valid information about how that person will approach a similar situation in the future (Deems, 1994).
Co-phasing full-duplex relay link with non-ideal feedback information

We study a wireless full-duplex amplify-and-forward relay link where a destination receives superposition of relayed and direct signals. We propose a new relay protocol that performs co-phasing of the two paths. We analyze the performance of the relay link by calculating closed-form expressions for the average end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio assuming flat Nakagami-m fading channels and by simulating the outage capacity. In the analysis, the phase feedback information is considered non-ideal due to Nph bit quantization and bit error probability ¿. We show that full-duplex relaying can offer performance improvement over both direct transmission and half-duplex relaying even with few feedback bits and with a feedback channel of relatively low quality.
Community Structure Analysis of Gene Interaction Networks in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is an important pathology associated with the human skeletal muscle and has been studied extensively. Gene expression measurements on skeletal muscle of patients afflicted with DMD provides the opportunity to understand the underlying mechanisms that lead to the pathology. Community structure analysis is a useful computational technique for understanding and modeling genetic interaction networks. In this paper, we leverage this technique in combination with gene expression measurements from normal and DMD patient skeletal muscle tissue to study the structure of genetic interactions in the context of DMD. We define a novel framework for transforming a raw dataset of gene expression measurements into an interaction network, and subsequently apply algorithms for community structure analysis for the extraction of topological communities. The emergent communities are analyzed from a biological standpoint in terms of their constituent biological pathways, and an interpretation that draws correlations between functional and structural organization of the genetic interactions is presented. We also compare these communities and associated functions in pathology against those in normal human skeletal muscle. In particular, differential enhancements are observed in the following pathways between pathological and normal cases: Metabolic, Focal adhesion, Regulation of actin cytoskeleton and Cell adhesion, and implication of these mechanisms are supported by prior work. Furthermore, our study also includes a gene-level analysis to identify genes that are involved in the coupling between the pathways of interest. We believe that our results serve to highlight important distinguishing features in the structural/functional organization of constituent biological pathways, as it relates to normal and DMD cases, and provide the mechanistic basis for further biological investigations into specific pathways differently regulated between normal and DMD patients. These findings have the potential to serve as fertile ground for therapeutic applications involving targeted drug development for DMD.
Active noise cancellation in headphones by digital robust feedback control

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) may complement passive insulation of headphones by actively cancelling low frequency components of acoustical background noise. In systems with a single error microphone pointing towards the ear canal, a feedback controller performs the compensation task. We are focusing on fixed feedback controllers for broadband attenuation of arbitrary ambient noise. We use methods and optimization routines from control theory. In this discipline the key element is the so-called controller, which is in terms of signal processing a (digital) filter. The controller is designed by an optimization approach called the mixed-sensitivity H∞ synthesis, which requires an accurate estimate of the secondary path between the cancelling loudspeaker and the error microphone, and the knowledge of the secondary path uncertainties as well as a specification of the closed-loop sensitivity. The advantage of this method is the convenient formulation of performance and uncertainty requirements in the frequency domain. We describe the design process and evaluate the controller, which is realized in state space form, within a real-time system. The real-time measurements show a good match with the expected behavior. They furthermore confirm the feasibility of broadband attenuation by fixed i.e. time invariant feedback controllers in a digital system. The novelty of this contribution comprises of the specific design process of a discrete robust feedback controller for broadband noise reduction (roughly 250 Hz) and the digital real-time system implementation.