Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Chinese Men and Women

Limited studies have examined the association between sodium (Na) and potassium (K) levels and the risk of atherosclerosis. This study examined whether higher Na and Na/K levels and low K levels were independent risk factors for atherosclerosis. This community-based cross-sectional study included 3290 subjects (1067 men and 2223 women) 40 to 75 years of age in Guangzhou, China, between 2011 and 2013. Urinary excretion of Na and K were measured from the first morning void, and creatinine-adjusted values were used. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid common artery and the carotid bifurcation was measured with high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Dietary K and Na intake and other covariates were obtained by face-to-face interviews. A significant positive association was seen between urinary Na excretion and carotid atherosclerosis after adjustment for age, sex, and other lifestyle covariates. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the highest (vs. lowest) quartile of urinary Na were 1.32 (1.04–1.66) for carotid plaques, 1.48 (1.18–1.87) for increased common carotid artery IMT, and 1.55 (1.23–1.96) for increased carotid bifurcation IMT (all p-trend < 0.01). A similar positive association was observed between urinary Na/K levels and carotid plaque and increased IMT, and between dietary Na intake and increased bifurcation IMT. Regarding potassium data, we only found a significantly lower presence of carotid plaque (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.57–0.91) for quartile 2 (vs. 1) of urinary K. Our findings suggest that higher levels of urinary excretion Na and Na/K are significantly associated with greater presence of carotid atherosclerosis in Chinese adults.
GaN Microwave DC–DC Converters

This paper presents the design and characterization of dc-dc converters operating at microwave frequencies. The converters are based on GaN transistor class-E power amplifiers (PAs) and rectifiers. Three topologies are presented, which are: 1) a PA and synchronous rectifier, requiring two RF inputs; 2) a PA and self-synchronous rectifier with a single RF input; and 3) a power oscillator with a self-synchronous rectifier with no required RF inputs. The synchronous 1.2-GHz class- E2 converter reaches a maximum efficiency of 72% at 4.6 W. By replacing the RF input at the rectifier gate with a specific termination, a self-synchronous circuit demonstrates 75% efficiency at 4.6 W, with a maximum output power of 13 W at 58% efficiency. In the third topology, the PA is replaced by a power oscillator by providing correct feedback for class-E operation, resulting in a circuit requiring no RF inputs. This oscillating self-synchronous dc-dc converter is demonstrated at 900 MHz with an efficiency of 79% at 28 V and 12.8-W output power. Self-synchronous class-E transistor rectifier operation is analyzed theoretically in the time domain and validated with harmonic-balance simulations using an improved nonlinear model for a GaN HEMT. The simplified theoretical analysis provides a useful starting point for high-efficiency self-synchronous power rectifier design, which can, in turn, be extended to high-efficiency oscillating power inverter design.
The Effect of the Season of Birth and Fluctuating asymmetry on Second andFourth Digit Lengths and Digit Ratio (2D:4D) in Nigerians

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and season of birth season are factors that reflect and affect ontogenetic qualities and future development of an organism. The present study was conducted to investigate the degree FA and the effect of season of birth on second and fourth digits lengths and ratio (2D:4D). In this study 1451 subjects (males n= 779 and females n= 672) with mean age 20.64 ± 6.94 and 18.73 ± 6.29. Subjects date of birth, and finger lengths were obtained for the determination of season of birth and calculation FA and 2D:4D ratio. Significant difference was observed in FA with males expressing higher degree of FA in second digit (P=0.001) and fourth digit (P<0.001) but there was no significant difference in the FA of 2D:4D ratio. For season of birth no differences exist in second and fourth digit lengths and 2D:4D ratio of males, but in female significant difference was noticed in right 2D:4D ratio (P=0.02). But when males and females were considered significant differences were obtained in all the parameters studied. This study has revealed that FA is more express in males than females and that season of birth according to Nigeria’s weather pattern did not show the effect expected as seen in four weather seasons (autumn, fall, spring and winter).
Synchrony-Breaking Bifurcation at a Simple Real Eigenvalue for Regular Networks 1: 1-Dimensional Cells

We study synchrony-breaking local steady-state bifurcation in networks of dynamical systems when the critical eigenvalue is real and simple, using singularity theory to transform the bifurcation into normal form. In a general dynamical system, a generic steady-state local bifurcation from a trivial state is transcritical. In the presence of symmetry, a pitchfork is also possible generically. Network structure introduces constraints that may change the generic behavior. We consider regular networks, in which all cells have the same type and all arrows have the same type, and every cell receives inputs from the same number of arrows. A characterization of all smooth admissible maps permits a singularity-theoretic analysis based on Liapunov–Schmidt reduction. Assuming that the cells have 1-dimensional internal dynamics, we give conditions on the critical eigenvectors of the linearization and its transpose that determine when a generic bifurcation is transcritical, pitchfork, or more degenerate. We prove that for all regular n-cell networks, such bifurcations are generically n-determined. In the path-connected case, this is improved to (n− 1)-determined. In bidirectional networks, generic bifurcation is transcritical or pitchfork, but the role of symmetry is minor. In the general case, degenerate cases can occur: the network must have at least 4 cells (5 in the path-connected case). We give examples of networks for which generic bifurcations are degenerate, including a 6-cell network with a normal form that is determined only at degree 6 and a pathconnected 5-cell network with a normal form that is determined only at degree 4.
Local Government Sick-Leave Practices: An Exploratory Study

The purpose of this study was to examine paid sick leave (PSL) practices among large municipal governments in the United States. Results of a national survey suggest that over 90% of these governments offer PSL. Few reported making any post-recession changes, and in fact, most governments continue to allow employees to rollover unused sick leave from year to year, cash out unused sick leave upon termination, and/or include unused sick leave in pension calculations despite the sometimes significant cost of such policies. Documentation is required in 70% of governments, but formal auditing of PSL occurs in less than one third of responding governments. Type of government, employee classification (e.g., public safety vs. general staff), collective bargaining, and whether the government requires public hearings for public employee benefit changes were significant factors in determining certain PSL practices.
Two E2F Elements Regulate the Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Promoter Differently during Leaf Development Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.006403.

E2F transcription factors regulate genes expressed at the G1/S boundary of the cell division cycle in higher eukaryotes. Although animal E2F proteins and their target promoters have been studied extensively, little is known about how these factors regulate plant promoters. An earlier study identified two E2F consensus binding sites in the promoter of a Nicotiana benthamiana gene encoding proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and showed that the proximal element (E2F2) is required for the full repression of PCNA expression in mature leaves. In this study, we examined the distal element (E2F1) and how it interacts with the E2F2 site to regulate the PCNA promoter. Gel shift assays using plant nuclear extracts or purified Arabidopsis E2F and DP proteins showed that different complexes bind to the two E2F sites. Mutation of the E2F1 site or both sites differentially altered PCNA promoter function in transgenic plants. As reported previously for the E2F2 mutation, the E2F1 and E2F1+2 mutations partially relieved the repression of the PCNA promoter in mature leaves. In young tissues, the E2F1 mutation resulted in a threefold reduction in PCNA promoter activity, whereas the E2F1+2 mutation had no detectable effect. The activity of E2F1+2 mutants was indistinguishable from that of E2F2 mutants. These results demonstrate that both E2F elements contribute to the repression of the PCNA promoter in mature leaves, whereas the E2F1 site counters the repression activity of the E2F2 element in young leaves.
Torus Palatinus and Torus Mandibularis in a Thai population

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence, size, shape, and location of torus palatinus (TP) and torus mandibularis (TM), and to investigate their sex- and age-related differences in a Thai population. One thousand two hundred subjects were examined for the presence of both tori at the Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University. The prevalence for TP and TM in the subjects was 58.1% and 31.9%, respectively. TP were significantly more common in females than in males (67.3% versus 48.8%; p<0.001). TP were frequently found in small and medium sizes, spindle-shaped and often located at the combined premolar to molar and molar areas. The prevalence of TM was higher in males than in females (34.8% versus 29.0%; p=0.030). TM occurred most commonly in small size, bilateral multiple form, and was often located at the canine to premolar area. There was a significant correlation between the prevalence of both tori and age (p<0.001 for TP and p=0.004 for TM). The prevalence of both tori in this Thai population were comparable to the Mongoloids and other Asian populations. Statistically significant differences in the prevalence and size of tori in regard to sex and age were also found.
Using Systems Thinking to Leverage Technology for School Improvement

Abstract This paper offers lessons learned about what it takes to successfully leverage technology for school improvement based on a cross-case analysis of eight award-winning secondary schools/districts around the United States. The researchers analyzed data from 150 interviews, 30 focus groups, and more than 300 hours of observation in 150 classrooms, plus extensive document analysis, to reveal numerous lessons learned across the eight sites. Findings from this study indicated that eight factors must be addressed (nearly) simultaneously when technology is used as a lever for school reform: vision, distributed leadership, technology planning and support, school culture, professional development, curriculum and instructional practices, funding, and partnerships. Implications for current and future practice include important lessons for university and district-based technology specialists, educational researchers, and school and district leaders about taking a systems approach when considering technology among these factors needed for comprehensive school reform efforts to be sustained.
Our morals really depends on our language: The foreign language effect within participants

Recent research has suggested that using a foreign lan uage to present hypothetical moral dilemmas increases th rate of utilitarian judgments about those dilemmas (e.g., G reene et al, 2001) and decreases incoherency between judgments i n framing effect tasks (e.g., Tversky & Kahneman, 198 1; see Costa, Foucart, Arnon, Aparici, & Apesteguia, 2014; Costa, Foucart, Hayakawa, Aparici, Apesteguia, Heafner, & Keysar, 2014; Keysar, Hayakawa, & An, 2012). However, exist ing research has mainly investigated this effect using betweenparticipants designs (i.e., different participants i the foreign and native language conditions). Such designs are u nable to exclude non-equivalent conditions as a confounding variable. In contrast, this study examined the foreign langua ge effect using a within-subjects design (i.e., all participa nts responded to moral dilemmas (Greene et al, 2001) and framing effect tasks (Tversky & Kahneman, 1981) in both their nati ve and foreign languages. The “foreign language effect” wa s replicated, excluding semantic non-equivalence betw e n language conditions as a potential confound. This r e ult supports the hypothesis that the foreign language e ffect is independent of meaning.
Jupiter and Super-Earth embedded in a gaseous disc

In this paper we investigate the evolution of a pair of interacting planets - a Jupiter mass planet and a Super-Earth with the mass 5.5 M� - orbiting a Solar type star and embedded in a gaseous protoplanetary disc. We focus on the effects of type I and II orbital migrations, caused by the planet-disc interaction, leading to the Super-Earth capture in first order mean motion resonances by the Jupiter. The stability of the resulting resonant system in which the Super-Earth is on the internal orbit relatively to the Jupiter has been studied numerically by means of full 2D hydrodynamical simulations. Our main motivation is to determine the Super-Earth behaviour in the presence of the gas giant in the system. It has been found that the Jupiter captures the Super-Earth into the interior 3:2 or 4:3 mean motion resonances and the stability of such configurations depends on the initial planet positions and eccentricity evolution. If the initial separation of planet orbits is larger or close to that required for the exact resonance than the final outcome is the migration of the pair of planets with the rate similar to that of the gas giant at least for time of our simulations. Otherwise we observe a scattering of the Super-Earth from the disc. The evolution of planets immersed in the gaseous disc has been compared with their behaviour in the case of the classical three-body problem when the disc is absent.
An Effect of Imageability on the Production of Phonological Errors in Auditory Repetition

In this paper, we describein detail theperformance on avariety of tests of language processing of a patient (PS) who shows a strong effect of imageability in auditory repetition. Unlike deep dysphasic patients (e.g. Franklin, Howard, & Patterson, 1994, 1995; Valdois, Carbonnel, David, Rousset, & Pellat, 1995), who also show effects of imageability, PS does not make semantic errors in auditory repetition. Instead, he makes a preponderance of phonological errors on words of low imageability when repeating words aloud. PS also makes phonological errors on a wide range of tasks that involve spoken word production including picture naming, which suggests that he has suffered damage to the lexical-semantic route at the level of the representations in the phonological output lexicon. Results from tests of nonword repetition suggests that PS has also suffered damage to the nonlexical repetition route. We argue that the critical difference between PS and patients who make semantic errors is that PS’s nonword repetition impairment appears to be somewhat less severe than that found in deep dysphasia. Although they are both impaired, it appears that the lexical and nonlexical routes can work together to improve PS’s repetition performance and prevent semantic errors, consistent with Hillis and Caramazza’s (1991) summation hypothesis. When the semantic route is unavailable, as appears to be the case for many words of low imageability, then PS’s repetition performance depends entirely on the nonlexical route, resulting in a large number of phonological errors.
An Australian model for labour supply and welfare participation in two-adult households

In this paper, a simultaneous discrete choice model for welfare participation and labour supply of two-adult households is estimated. It is assumed that in addition to the indirect effect of welfare participation on utility, welfare participation also has a direct effect. The resulting net effect is unknown and may depend on personal characteristics. To account for the direct effect of welfare participation on utility, a parameter to measure the disutility associated with welfare participation is included in the utility function. This model allows for the fact that not all eligible people are participating in welfare. The results indicate that there is evidence of a significant disutility associated with welfare participation. From simulations, it is found that a change in the benefit withdrawal rate or the maximum benefit level does not seem to have a large effect on the labour supply of either adult.
Vaginal Microbiota of Healthy Pregnant Mexican Women is Constituted by Four Lactobacillus Species and Several Vaginosis-Associated Bacteria

Objective. To identify the microbiota communities in the vaginal tracts of healthy Mexican women across the pregnancy. Methods. Vaginal swabs were obtained during the prenatal visit of women from all trimesters (n = 64) of healthy pregnant women of Mexico City. DNA was isolated from each sample, and PCR-DGGE and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments were used to identify the bacterial communities. Results. 21 different microorganisms were identified in the vaginal samples. Lactobacillus genus was present in 98% of women studied. Four lactobacilli species were identified in vaginal samples. L. acidophilus was the predominant (78%) followed by L. iners (54%), L. gasseri (20%), and L. delbrueckii (6%). 17 different microorganisms related to bacterial vaginosis conditions were identified. Ureaplasma urealyticum was the predominant (21%) followed by BVAB1 (17%) and Gemella bergeriae (7.8%). Conclusions. Lactobacillus genus predominates in the vaginal samples of Mexican pregnant women associated with different microorganisms related to bacterial vaginosis conditions.
Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity: The Relationship to Rate-Based Learning for Models with Weight Dynamics Determined by a Stable Fixed Point

Experimental evidence indicates that synaptic modification depends on the timing relationship between the presynaptic inputs and the output spikes that they generate. In this letter, results are presented for models of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) whose weight dynamics is determined by a stable fixed point. Four classes of STDP are identified on the basis of the time extent of their input-output interactions. The effect on the potentiation of synapses with different rates of input is investigated to elucidate the relationship of STDP with classical studies of long-term potentiation and depression and rate-based Hebbian learning. The selective potentiation of higher-rate synaptic inputs is found only for models where the time extent of the input-output interactions is input restricted (i.e., restricted to time domains delimited by adjacent synaptic inputs) and that have a time-asymmetric learning window with a longer time constant for depression than for potentiation. The analysis provides an account of learning dynamics determined by an input-selective stable fixed point. The effect of suppressive interspike interactions on STDP is also analyzed and shown to modify the synaptic dynamics.
Contributing to Public Goods as Individuals versus Group Representatives: Evidence of Gender Differences

We report evidence from a laboratory experiment comparing contributions in public good games played as individuals to contributions made as group representatives. We find that women alter their behaviour more than men. The change is in an out-group friendly direction: while men’s contributions are largely similar across the two treatments, women increase their contributions by 40% on average as group representatives. The results are consistent with empirical research from labour markets suggesting that female corporate leaders emphasize stakeholders beyond the shareholders to a larger extent than men, and they are in line with stereotypes commonly held regarding male and female leaders.
Virtual electrodes around anatomical structures and their roles in defibrillation

Background Virtual electrodes from structural/conductivity heterogeneities are known to elicit wavefront propagation, upon field-stimulation, and are thought to be important for defibrillation. In this work we investigate how the constitutive and geometrical parameters associated with such anatomical heterogeneities, represented by endo/epicardial surfaces and intramural surfaces in the form of blood-vessels, affect the virtual electrode patterns produced. Methods and results The steady-state bidomain model is used to obtain, using analytical and numerical methods, the virtual electrode patterns created around idealized endocardial trabeculations and blood-vessels. The virtual electrode pattern around blood-vessels is shown to be composed of two dominant effects; current traversing the vessel surface and conductivity heterogeneity from the fibre-architecture. The relative magnitudes of these two effects explain the swapping of the virtual electrode polarity observed, as a function of the vessel radius, and aid in the understanding of the virtual electrode patterns predicted by numerical bidomain modelling. The relatively high conductivity of blood, compared to myocardium, is shown to cause stronger depolarizations in the endocardial trabeculae grooves than the protrusions. Conclusions The results provide additional quantitative understanding of the virtual electrodes produced by small-scale ventricular anatomy, and highlight the importance of faithfully representing the physiology and the physics in the context of computational modelling of field stimulation.
DUST-CORRECTED STAR FORMATION RATES OF GALAXIES. I. COMBINATIONS OF Hα AND INFRARED TRACERS

We combine Hα emission-line and infrared (IR) continuum measurements of two samples of nearby galaxies to derive dust attenuation-corrected star formation rates (SFRs). We use a simple energy balance based method that has been applied previously to H ii regions in the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey, and extend the methodology to integrated measurements of galaxies. We find that our composite Hα + IR based SFRs are in excellent agreement with attenuation-corrected SFRs derived from integrated spectrophotometry, over the full range of SFRs (0.01–80 M☉ yr−1) and attenuations (0–2.5 mag) studied. We find that the combination of Hα and total IR luminosities provides the most robust SFR measurements, but combinations of Hα measurements with monochromatic luminosities at 24 μm and 8 μm perform nearly as well. The calibrations differ significantly from those obtained for H ii regions, with the difference attributable to a more evolved population of stars heating the dust. Our results are consistent with a significant component of diffuse dust (the “IR cirrus” component) that is heated by a non-star-forming population. The same methodology can be applied to [O ii]λ3727 emission-line measurements, and the radio continuum fluxes of galaxies can be applied in place of IR fluxes when the latter are not available. We assess the precision and systematic reliability of all of these composite methods.
Growth Effects of Regional Integration Agreements

During the 1990’s the world experienced a new wave of regional integration agreements (RIAs) that reached unprecedented proportions. In the presence of economies of scale or extent-of-the market effects RIAs may have positive growth effects. I introduce a new measure of regional integration by interacting country membership to a RIA and the partners’ share of world GDP, which allows capturing differentiated effects depending on the size of the partners. Results indicate that RIAs have exerted positive effects on growth. In addition, I find that North-North agreements have significant growth effects; South-South agreements have ambiguous effects depending on the size of the countries joining them, and that there is no clear answer for North-South agreements.