Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A revision of Hofstede’s model of national culture: old evidence and new data from 56 countries

Purpose Hofstede’s model of national culture has enjoyed enormous popularity but rests partly on faith. It has never been fully replicated and its predictive properties have been challenged. The purpose of this paper is to provide a test of the model’s coherence and utility. Design/methodology/approach Analyses of secondary data, including the World Values Survey, and a new survey across 56 countries represented by nearly 53,000 probabilistically selected respondents. Findings Improved operationalizations of individualism-collectivism (IDV-COLL) suggest it is a robust dimension of national culture. A modern IDV-COLL index supersedes Hofstede’s 50 year-old original one. Power distance (PD) seems to be a logical facet of IDV-COLL, rather than an independent dimension. Uncertainty avoidance (UA) lacks internal reliability. Approval of restrictive societal rules and laws is a facet of COLL and is not associated with national anxiety or neuroticism. UA is not a predictor of any of its presumed main correlates: importance of job security, preference for a safe job, trust, racism and xenophobia, subjective well-being, innovation, and economic freedom. The dimension of masculinity-femininity (MAS-FEM) lacks coherence. MAS and FEM job goals and broader values are correlated positively, not negatively, and are not related to the MAS-FEM index. MAS-FEM is not a predictor of any of its presumed main correlates: achievement and competition orientation, help and compassion, preference for a workplace with likeable people, work orientation, religiousness, gender egalitarianism, foreign aid. After a radical reconceptualization and a new operationalization, the so-called “fifth dimension” (CWD or long-term orientation) becomes more coherent and useful. The new version, called flexibility-monumentalism (FLX-MON), explains the cultural differences between East Asian Confucian societies at one extreme and Latin America plus Africa at the other, and is the best predictor of national differences in educational achievement. Research limitations/implications Differences between subsidiaries of a multinational company, such as IBM around 1970, are not necessarily a good source of knowledge about broad cultural differences. A model of national culture must be validated across a large number of countries from all continents and its predictions should withstand various plausible controls. Much of Hofstede’s model (UA, MAS-FEM) fails this test while the remaining part (IDV-COLL, PD, LTO) needs a serious revision. Practical implications Consultancies and business schools still teach Hofstede’s model uncritically. They need to be aware of its deficiencies. Originality/value As UA and MAS-FEM are apparently misleading artifacts of Hofstede’s IBM data set, a thorough revision of Hofstede’s model is proposed, reducing it to two dimensions: IDV-COLL and FLX-MON.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Review Nr2b Subunit in the Prefrontal Cortex: a Double-edged Sword for Working Memory Function and Psychiatric Disorders

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a brain region featured with working memory function. The exact mechanism of how working memory operates within the PFC circuitry is unknown, but persistent neuronal firing recorded from prefrontal neurons during a working memory task is proposed to be the neural correlate of this mnemonic encoding. The PFC appears to be specialized for sustaining persistent firing, with N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, especially slow-decay NR2B subunits, playing an essential role in the maintenance of sustained activity and normal working memory function. However, the NR2B subunit serves as a double-edged sword for PFC function. Because of its slow kinetics, NR2B endows the PFC with not only " neural psychic " properties, but also susceptibilities for neuroexcitotoxicity and psychiatric disorders. This review aims to clarify the interplay among working memory, the PFC, and NMDA receptors; demonstrate the importance of NR2B in the maintenance of persistent activity; understand the risks and vulnerabilities of how NR2B is related to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders; identify gaps that currently exist in our understanding of these processes; and provide insights regarding future directions that may clarify these issues. We conclude that the PFC is a specialized brain region with distinct delayed maturation, unique neuronal circuitry, and characteristic NMDA receptor function. The unique properties and development of NMDA receptors, especially enrichment of NR2B subunits, endow the PFC with not only the capability to generate sustained activity for working memory, but also serves as a major vulnerability to environmental insults and risk factors for psychiatric disorders.
Constant Observation for Older Adults in Acute Care: A Mixed Methods Study

A convergent parallel mixed methods design study, guided by a conceptual framework focusing on factors influencing constant observation practices, was conducted to describe constant observational practices in two hospitals. Quantitative data, collected through questionnaires and chart review, focused on the characteristics of the nurse, observer, unit and patient as well as the nurses’ perceptions of constant observation use and the quality of communication and coordination of care with observers. Qualitative data, collected through nonparticipant observation of nurse-observer dyads and interviews with these dyads and managers, focused on describing constant observation practices including benefits of this intervention. Patients receiving constant observation had multiple risk factors, such as the presence of responsive behaviours and risk for falls. On both units, nurses had a positive perception of constant observation use, particularly to prevent falls and the removal of treatment equipment. Nurses also had a positive impression of the quality of communication and coordination of care with the observers; important for good constant observation outcomes to occur. Thematic
High-Density Lipoprotein Modulates Glucose Metabolism in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background— Low plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk and aspects of the metabolic syndrome. We hypothesized that HDL modulates glucose metabolism via elevation of plasma insulin and through activation of the key metabolic regulatory enzyme, AMP-activated protein kinase, in skeletal muscle. Methods and Results— Thirteen patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus received both intravenous reconstituted HDL (rHDL: 80 mg/kg over 4 hours) and placebo on separate days in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. A greater fall in plasma glucose from baseline occurred during rHDL than during placebo (at 4 hours rHDL=−2.6±0.4; placebo=−2.1±0.3mmol/L; P=0.018). rHDL increased plasma insulin (at 4 hours rHDL=3.4±10.0; placebo= −19.2±7.4 pmol/L; P=0.034) and also the homeostasis model assessment &bgr;-cell function index (at 4 hours rHDL=18.9±5.9; placebo=8.6±4.4%; P=0.025). Acetyl-CoA carboxylase &bgr; phosphorylation in skeletal muscle biopsies was increased by 1.7±0.3-fold after rHDL, indicating activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. Both HDL and apolipoprotein AI increased glucose uptake (by 177±12% and 144±18%, respectively; P<0.05 for both) in primary human skeletal muscle cell cultures established from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=5). The mechanism is demonstrated to include stimulation of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 with subsequent activation of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase and the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. Conclusions— rHDL reduced plasma glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by increasing plasma insulin and activating AMP-activated protein kinase in skeletal muscle. These findings suggest a role for HDL-raising therapies beyond atherosclerosis to address type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Echocardiography in the evaluation of athletes

Echocardiography is currently a widely available imaging technique that can provide useful data in the field of sports cardiology particularly in two areas: pre-participation screening and analysis of the cardiac adaptation induced by exercise. The application of pre-participation screening and especially, the type and number of used diagnostic tests remains controversial. Echocardiography has shown though, higher sensitivity and specificity as compared to the ECG, following a protocol adapted to athletes focused on ruling out the causes of sudden death and the most common disorders in this population. It is still a subject of controversy the actual cost of adding it, but depending on the type of sport, echocardiography might be cost-effective if added in the first line of examination. Regarding the evaluation of cardiac adaptation to training in athletes, echocardiography has proved to be useful in the differential diagnosis of diseases that can cause sudden death, analysing both the left ventricle (hypertrophy cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricle non compaction) and the right ventricle (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy). The aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge and the clinical practical implications of it on the field of echocardiography when applied in sport cardiology areas.
The Evolving Accretion Disc in the Black Hole X-ray Transient XTE J1859+226 ⋆

ABSTRACT We present HST, RXTE, and UKIRT observations of the broad band spectra of theblack hole X-ray transient XTE J1859+226 during the decline from its 1999–2000outburst. Our UV spectra deﬁne the 2175˚A interstellar absorption feature very welland based on its strength we estimate E(B − V) = 0.58 ± 0.12. Hence we dereddenour spectra and follow the evolution of the spectral energy distribution on the declinefrom outburst. We ﬁnd that the UV and optical data, and the X-ray thermal com-ponent when detectable, can be ﬁt with a simple blackbody model of an accretiondisc heated by internal viscosity and X-ray irradiation, and extending to close to thelast stable orbit around the black hole, although the actual inner radius cannot bewell constrained. During the decline we see the disc apparently evolving from a modelwith the edge dominated by irradiative heating towards one where viscous heatingis dominant everywhere. The outer disc radius also appears to decrease during thedecline; we interpret this as evidence of a cooling wave moving inwards and discuss itsimplications for the disc instability model. Based on the normalisation of our spectralﬁts we estimate a likely distance range of 4.6–8.0kpc, although a value outside of thisrange cannot securely be ruled out.Key words: accretion, accretion discs – binaries: close – stars: individual: XTEJ1859+226
On the scalability of ad hoc routing protocols

A novel framework is presented for the study of scalability in ad hoc networks. Using this framework, the first asymptotic analysis is provided with respect to network size, mobility, and traffic for each fundamental class of ad hoc routing algorithms. Protocols studied include the following: plain flooding (PF), standard link state (SLS), dynamic source routing (DSR), hierarchical link state (HierLS), zone routing protocol (ZRP), and hazy sighted link state (HSLS). It is shown that PF and ZRP scale better with mobility, SIJS and ZRP scale better with respect to traffic, and HSLS scales better with respect to network size. The analysis provides deeper understanding of the limits and trade-offs inherent in mobile ad hoc network routing. Our analysis is complemented with a simulation experiment comparing HSLS and HierLS. An important contribution of this paper is that HSLS is an scalable, easy-to-implement, alternative to hierarchical approaches for large ad hoc networks.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals significant decline in the contents of N-acetylaspartylglutamate in the hippocampus of aged healthy subjects

Introduction To characterize the contents of choline (Cho), creatine (Cr) and N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAA) in the hippocampus of healthy volunteers, we investigated the contents and their correlationship with age, gender and laterality. Material and methods Volunteers were grouped into a young, a middle and an old age. The Cho, Cr and NAA contents were determined with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and the correlationship was analyzed with Pearson correlation Results The concentration of NAA in the bilateral hippocampi was markedly lower in the old than in the young and the middle (LSD test, all p < 0.025). Furthermore, NAA/Cr in the bilateral hippocampi head (left: 1.10 ±0.40 vs. 1.54 ±0.49 or 1.43 ±0.49; right: 1.04 ±0.42 vs. 1.35 ±0.40 or 1.30 ±0.42), region 1 of the bilateral hippocampal body (left: 1.24 ±0.53 vs. 1.58 ±0.58 or 1.35 ±0.44; right: 1.30 ±0.43 vs. 1.54 ±0.51 or 1.35 ±0.51) and region 2 of the left hippocampal body (1.21 ±0.32 vs. 1.46 ±0.36 or 1.36 ±0.44) and the left hippocampal tail (1.11 ±0.40 vs. 1.36 ±0.47 or 1.15 ±0.32) was significantly higher in the old than in the young and the middle, respectively (all p < 0.026). The NAA content in the bilateral hippocampal head, body and tail negatively correlated with age. Moreover, the NAA, Cho and Cr contents in the hippocampal body and the tail were higher in the right than the left. Conclusions The NAA content of the hippocampal head, body and tail were significantly decreased in the old compared with younger persons, and it negatively correlates with age. The NAA, Cho and Cr contents exhibit laterality in the hippocampal body and tail.
Title : “ Testing for the effects of Trade Liberalisation in Brazil : Evidence from Cross-section panel of Manufacturing Industries ”

Introduction International trade and industrialisation have been central concerns in the debate on development theory and policy for many years. International Finance Institutions, such as World Bank and IMF introduced, during the 80s, strong revisions of their lending mechanisms by adding the known conditinalities, which included the trade liberalisation policies particularly concerning LDCs. Many studies on trade impacts into LDCs economies carried out in the seventies, like the ones by (Balassa, 1971) and (Krueger, 1984). The evaluation of LDCs policies was also aiming to face oil crises in the70s and debt crisis in the 80s, which have had strong influenced in the Brazilian economy. At the beginning Brazil believed to be amongst the luckiest, when the economy boosted in the so-called " Brazilian miracle " , with two digit growth rates in some years. But when persistent external indebtedness revealed itself inconsistent with the country' surplus generation in the late 70s and 80s, it collapsed due to lack of resources to repay the debt. The government at the beginning of the 80s reinforced the ISI policies that were in place from the introduction of the Second National Development Plan (II PND) in 1974. the main import restrictions were non-tariff barriers and foreign exchange controls, which were introduced to reduce the foreign deficit with some success, since the current account that was on deficit of 8% of the GDP in 1982 achieved small surplus in 1984 (Franco & Fritch, 1994). Inflation rose sharply and became persistent when combined with international debt, high interest rates and less international trade, which made particularly difficult to reach the minimum levels of foreign exchange needed to face indebtedness. Only when debt crisis was in the way to a solution, the country was able to introduce new trade policy together with other reforms, required by the agreement to solve the debt problem. International trade theory has stated for many years now that lowering tariffs and other trade barriers may increase competition in the domestic market, which increases pressure for modernisation, cost and prices reducing and improving product quality. Another consequence of such reforms, however, is that the access to imported goods and technology, although being cost-cutting stimuli could results in increasing profits, due to the international prices being less than the domestic ones and new technology and modernisation also encourage better resource allocation, by the possibility of importing final and intermediate goods. 1 The aim of …
The Potential Impact of Climate Change on Soil Properties and Processes and Corresponding Influence on Food Security

According to the IPCC, global temperatures are expected to increase between 1.1 and 6.4 °C during the 21st century and precipitation patterns will be altered. Soils are intricately linked to the atmospheric/climate system through the carbon, nitrogen, and hydrologic cycles. Because of this, altered climate will have an effect on soil processes and properties. Recent studies indicate at least some soils may become net sources of atmospheric C, lowering soil organic matter levels. Soil erosion by wind and water is also likely to increase. However, there are many things we need to know more about. How climate change will affect the N cycle and, in turn, how that will affect C storage in soils is a major research need, as is a better understanding of how erosion processes will be influenced by changes in climate. The response of plants to elevated atmospheric CO 2 given limitations in nutrients like N and P, and how that will influence soil organic matter levels, is another critical research need. How soil organic matter levels react to changes in the C and N cycles will influence the ability of soils to support crop growth, which has significant ramifications for food security. Therefore, further study of soil-climate interactions in a changing world is critical to addressing future food security concerns.
Transformation of marriage patterns in Thailand.

Data from the microdata samples of the 1970 1980 and 1990 Thailand Census were used to examine the social and spatial patterns of celibacy and the determinants of social changes in celibacy. There have been substantial changes in Thai marriages patterns since the 1970s. The patterns have changed to delayed marriage and increased proportions never married through the ages of the 30s and the 40s. The proportions remaining unmarried into their 40s is higher among women and has a marked effect on fertility patterns life styles and living arrangements. Some of the changes are attributed to increased education and employment among women. Some of the changes are also attributed to a marriage squeeze which favors men marrying below their social status. Other changes have occurred within social and economic groups not likely to experience change such as women with low and moderate education whose proportions unmarried increased over the decades. The increased celibacy among men is not attributed to the marriage squeeze because there are changes in all social groups. This examination revealed that there are unexplained changes in increased celibacy that are independent of population composition. In 1970 the proportion unmarried was 8% among women aged 30-34 years 5% among women aged 35-39 years and 4% among women aged 40-44 years. In 1990 these proportions increased to 14 10 and 7% respectively. For men the proportion unmarried in 1990 was 16.4% for ages 30-34 years 8.5% for ages 35-39 years and 4.3% for ages 40-44 years. The percentage of women marrying in ages 30-34 years was about 30% in 1970 and 40% by 1990. For men the proportion never married by cohort declined by almost 66% intercensally. Educational composition changes for women were used to explain the intercensal changes among the women never married. For men changes were affected most by occupation and work status changes. The Chi Square analysis of changes indicated that for men the probabilities of remaining unmarried varies within regions over time. For example men in Bangkok were less likely to be celibate in 1990 compared to the northern region. The fit of the model improved with the addition of the interaction between religion and year. Only Muslim women experienced increased levels of celibacy over time.
Correlation between the Severity and Type of Acne Lesions with Serum Zinc Levels in Patients with Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is the most common cutaneous disorder affecting adolescents and young adults. Some studies have reported an association between serum zinc levels and acne vulgaris. We aimed to evaluate the serum zinc level in patients with acne vulgaris and compare it with healthy controls. One hundred patients with acne vulgaris and 100 healthy controls were referred to our clinic. Acne severity was classified according to Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure serum zinc levels. Mean serum level of zinc in acne patients and controls was 81.31 ± 17.63 μg/dl and 82.63 ± 17.49 μg/dl, respectively. Although the mean serum zinc level was lower in acne group, it was not statistically significant (P = 0.598). There was a correlation between serum zinc levels with severity and type of acne lesions. The results of our study suggest that zinc levels may be related to the severity and type of acne lesions in patients with acne vulgaris. Relative decrease of serum zinc level in acne patients suggests a role for zinc in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.
A survey on the Johnson Lindenstrauss transform : methods , extensions and applications

the survey structure is quite good, and it’s pretty well written. I think that in order to decide what to do with it, we need to decide what the target audience is. Maybe the right model is as a survey reference for theory grad students wanting to learn about this ? Under that model, I think what’s missing is a little more discussion of the techniques used. I think up until Achlioptas, you do a pretty good job of outlining the key ideas. The Ailon chazelle result though is a completely new way of looking at the problem, and deserves a more indepth explanation (maybe it could be an AFLB presentation to warm up ? ) Similarly, maybe with some help from Matousek’s book, we could spell out the original JL proof in terms of the isoperimetric method ? how detailed this needs to be is not clear to me. Also, the coverage is a little uneven, especially towards the end, when dealing with the recent papers (Indyk/Naor etc). It might help to have a final table saying ”what spaces does JL hold for”. An important omission is the fact that l1 doesn’t have dimensionality reduction like l2. this is a pape due to Charikar and Brinkman,and there are followup bounds as well. It will be a reasonable amount of work; Honestly, I can’t say for sure whether it’s