Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Doctor” or “darling”? Decoding the communication partner from ECoG of the anterior temporal lobe during non-experimental, real-life social interaction

Human brain processes underlying real-life social interaction in everyday situations have been difficult to study and have, until now, remained largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether electrocorticography (ECoG) recorded for pre-neurosurgical diagnostics during the daily hospital life of epilepsy patients could provide a way to elucidate the neural correlates of non-experimental social interaction. We identified time periods in which patients were involved in conversations with either their respective life partners (Condition 1; C1) or attending physicians (Condition 2; C2). These two conditions can be expected to differentially involve subfunctions of social interaction which have been associated with activity in the anterior temporal lobe (ATL), including the temporal pole (TP). Therefore, we specifically focused on ECoG recordings from this brain region and investigated spectral power modulations in the alpha (8–12 Hz) and theta (3–5 Hz) frequency ranges, which have been previously assumed to play an important role in the processing of social interaction. We hypothesized that brain activity in this region might be sensitive to differences in the two interaction situations and tested whether these differences can be detected by single-trial decoding. Condition-specific effects in both theta and alpha bands were observed: the left and right TP exclusively showed increased power in C1 compared to C2, whereas more posterior parts of the ATL exhibited similar (C1 > C2) and also contrary (C2 > C1) effects. Single-trial decoding accuracies for classification of these effects were highly above chance. Our findings demonstrate that it is possible to study the neural correlates of human social interaction in non-experimental conditions. Decoding the identity of the communication partner and adjusting the speech output accordingly may be useful in the emerging field of brain-machine interfacing for restoration of expressive speech.
A New High-Resolution CO Map of the Inner 2.′5 of M51. I. Streaming Motions and Spiral Structure

The Owens Valley millimeter array has been used to map the CO 1-0 emission in the inner 2. ′5 of the grand-design spiral galaxy M51 at 2''-3'' resolution. These new images reveal the molecular spiral arms with unprecedented clarity; the emission in the two major arms (northeast and southwest) originates from supermassive cloud complexes, giant molecular associations (GMAs), which are for the first time resolved both along and perpendicular to the arms. The overall morphology of the CO emission is symmetric in reflection about the nucleus, with major complexes occurring opposite each other in the two major arms. On the other hand, the CO line flux in the area of the southwest arm closest to the nucleus is approximately twice as bright as that from the analogous location in the northeast arm. Streaming motions can be studied in detail and appear with great clarity along the major and minor axes of M51. The streaming velocities are very large, 60-150 km s-1. Our maps offer, for the first time, sufficient resolution to resolve the structure in the molecular streaming motions. Both the radial and tangential velocity components show steep gradients, in qualitative accordance with predictions of the density-wave models of Roberts & Stewart. Our data thus support the presence of galactic shocks in the arms of M51. In general, velocity gradients across arms are higher by a factor of 2-10 than previously found. They vary in steepness along the spiral arms, becoming particularly steep in between GMAs. The steep gradients cause conditions of strong reverse shear in several regions in the arms, and thus the notion that shear is generally reduced by streaming motions in spiral arms will have to be modified. Of the three GMAs studied on the southwest arm, only one shows reduced shear. We find an unusual structure, an expansion in the northeast molecular arm at 25'' radius (1.2 kpc) southeast of the center. This broadening occurs right after the end of the northeast arm at the inner Lindblad resonance (ILR). Multiple-peak spectra, velocity twists, and structures with apparently high velocity dispersion are associated with this feature. Bifurcations in the molecular spiral arm structure, at a radius of ≈3.3 kpc (73''), may be evidence of a secondary compression of the gas caused by, and occurring near, the 4/1 ultraharmonic resonance. Several molecular spurs protrude from the main spiral arms, in particular on the western side of the map. Inside the radius of the ILR, we detect narrow (≈5'') molecular spiral arms, possibly related to the K-band arms found in the same region. We find evidence of noncircular motions in the inner 20'' of M51. The magnitude of these deviations is 20-30 km s-1, and they are consistent with gas on elliptical orbits in a bar.
Short-term contracts in Italy: who is the winner?

Short-term contracts have been used extensively in the Italian labor market in the last ten years. This article analyzes a new Italian panel data set, WHIP, and the Bank of Italy labor force survey, SHIW, to understand the effects of the introduction of this new typology of contracts. The goal of this paper is to investigate whether the objectives of the reforms have been accomplished and to identify the winners (the people benefiting the most) and the losers (the ones who are carrying the consequences of a less protected labor market) of this pivotal reform
The Distribution of Income in Pakistan 1966-67

1. The relationship between income distribution and economic growth has been subjected to scholarly scrutiny for a long time. In the, more recent phase, Kuznets and a number of successors have established certain patterns from their international explorations in economic empiricisms.1 The result that has attracted most attention is that, as a rule, developed countries have economic structures which contain lesser income concentration ; but at the early stages of development income concentration increases with economic growth. 2. Not unnaturally, students of developing economies have concen trated on this aspect when they have analysed the relationship. More recently, the heightened perception of inequities has added an edge to their concern. 3. The need for studying income distribution in Pakistan is acute. The heady acclaim for its growth performance having faded, the Pakistan economy faces today far more challenging demands than it has tackled in the past. Too poor yet to let up on economic growth, it can no longer afford to put oS the income distribution objective to some affluent future. That distribution is an urgent concern seems to have been accepted by the governments in recent years; indeed, it is the foremost objective of the present government. 4. It is unfortunate, in this context, that Pakistan is singularly ill equipped to confront the distributional issue in so far as the availability of information on income distribution is concerned. Most of the attention in this regard has been directed at regional inequities. A limited number of studies pertaining to size distribution are available.2
Assessing Children's Anxiety Using the Modified Short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Talking Mats: A Pilot Study

Background. Preoperative anxiety complicates treatment and requires assessment by nurses in children. Children, with or without disability, are helped when pictures are used to support communication. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the reliability and validity of the modified short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) using a modified Talking Mats method in children undergoing day surgeries. Method. A modified short STAI with pictorial support along the lines of the Talking Mats method was pre- and postoperatively administered to 42 typically developing children aged three to nine years. The parents assessed the children's anxiety, simultaneously and independently, by scoring the short STAI by proxy. Results. The modified short STAI showed moderate internal consistency and good construct validity in the age group seven to nine years. Conclusions. The results of this study support the use of the instrument for self-reports in children aged seven to nine years. Future research will explore the possibilities of also using this instrument for children with cognitive and communicative difficulties.
Fournier's gangrene: review of 120 patients and predictors of mortality.

BACKGROUND Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a devastating and potentially fatal disease requiring prompt and aggressive debridement. In this study, it was aimed to assess the predictors of mortality in a large cohort. METHODS Prospectively maintained data of patients with FG were analyzed. Demographic data, duration of symptoms, Uludag Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index (UFGSI) scores, co-morbidities [particularly diabetes mellitus (DM)], etiologies, number of debridement, stoma requirements, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, and morbidity and mortality rates were reviewed. Multivariate analysis was performed in order to determine factors affecting mortality. RESULTS 120 patients (81 males) were included in the study. Median age was 58 (22-85) years. UFGSI score was median 9 (1-30). DM was present in 69 (57.5%) patients. Etiology of FG was perianal in fifty-nine, urogenital in 52, and skin in 9 patients. Median debridement count was 3 (1-12). Thirty-one patients required stoma. Forty-eight patients were admitted to intensive care unit and 25 patients required mechanical ventilation. Overall mortality rate was 20.8%. Multivariate analysis revealed UFGSI as the only predictor of mortality (p=0.001). Mortality rate was 13.64 times higher for patients with a UFGSI score of 9 or higher. CONCLUSION Fournier's gangrene is a mortal disease requiring emergency surgery. UFGSI is an efficient predictor of mortality for patients with FG.
Comparison of free and total forms of serum human kallikrein 2 and prostate-specific antigen for prediction of locally advanced and recurrent prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND We evaluated the association of total and free forms of serum human kallikrein 2 (hK2) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) with prostate cancers of unfavorable prognosis. METHODS We retrospectively measured total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), and total hK2 (thK2) in preoperative serum samples from 867 men [and assessed free hK2 (fhK2) measured in 577 of these men] treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Associations between biomarker concentrations and extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and biochemical recurrence (BCR) were evaluated. A subset of patients with PSA < or =10 microg/L, the group most commonly seen in clinical practice in the US, was analyzed. RESULTS thK2 was the strongest predictor of extracapsular extension and seminal vesicle invasion (areas under the ROC curve [AUC], 0.662 and 0.719, respectively), followed by tPSA (AUC, 0.654 and 0.663). All biomarkers were significant predictors of BCR. hK2 forms, but not PSA forms, remained highly significant for predicting BCR in the low-PSA group. Combining tPSA, fPSA, and thK2 in a multivariable model improved prediction compared with any biomarker used individually (AUC, 0.711, 0.755, and 0.752 for this combination predicting extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and BCR, respectively; P <0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS Increased concentrations of hK2 in the blood are significantly associated with unfavorable features of prostate cancer, and thK2 is predictive of locally advanced and recurrent cancer in patients with PSA < or =10 microg/L. Independent of tPSA and fPSA, hK2 predicts unfavorable prognosis.
Socioeconomic inequalities in use of contraception in Colombia: DHS 1986-2010

Background: In 2005 Colombia adopted the national Millennium Development Goal (MDG5) target of 75% modern contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) by 2015. Important gains have been achieved with respect to living conditions, education and health indicators in recent decades but inequalities within the country remain to be addressed. Methods: The aim was to analyse socioeconomic inequalities in women’s ‘current non-use of contraception’ using the six Colombian Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). A multidimensional approach to socioeconomic position was implemented. Absolute and relative socioeconomic inequalities were analysed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and Relative Index of Inequality (RII). The interplay between level of education and Public capital with respect to contraceptive non-use was examined. Individual and contextual effects were investigated using a multilevel approach. Results: National prevalence in current non-use of contraception between 1986 and 2010 decreased from32.6% to 22.9%. Nationally, absolute inequalities narrowed but relative inequalities did not decline. Women with less than primary education had not met the CPR target in 2010 in urban (30.9%) and rural (41.4%) areas respectively. Absolute inequalities narrowed in urban areas but relative inequalities persisted in urban and rural areas. Gradients in contraceptive non-use with respect to household wealth were stronger among women in rural than in urban areas. The impact of level of education on contraceptive non-use was relatively weak among women in households and within communities with high Public capital compared to low Public capital. Municipality ethnic composition had an effect on women’s contraceptive non-use over and above individual and community characteristics. Conclusion: Colombia reached the national CPR target ahead of time. However, the persistent socioeconomic gradients in non-use of contraception by household wealth and education indicate the need to go beyond country averages and individual level determinants to monitor urban and rural socioeconomic inequalities and contextual effects on women’s contraceptive behaviour.
Ownership-Control Discrepancy and Firm Value: Evidence from France

The purpose of this study is to provide an empirical analysis of the relationship between ownership structure of French firms and their value. Using data for 510 French publicly traded firms, the current study provides evidence in support of the entrenchment hypothesis. The results show that large controlling shareholders maintaining grip on control while holding only small fraction of cash flow rights are inclined to expropriate minority shareholders, which in turn detrimentally affects the firm's valuation. The evidence also indicates that pyramiding is the main device set to unduly entrench the large controlling shareholder. Additional analysis reveals that the identity of the second largest controlling shareholder matters. Sharing control with a family constrains the largest controlling shareholder to steer clear of self-serving behavior. However sharing control with a widely held firm or with a financial institution fosters this self-serving behavior.
A Near-State PWM Method With Reduced Switching Losses and Reduced Common-Mode Voltage for Three-Phase Voltage Source Inverters

The near-state pulsewidth modulation (NSPWM) method, which reduces the common-mode voltage/current, is proposed for three-phase pulsewidth modulation (PWM) inverter drives. The method is described, its optimal voltage vectors are found, and the sequence that these vectors are applied is determined. Its voltage linearity and DC bus and AC output PWM current ripple characteristics are studied. Its output line-to-line voltage pattern is carefully studied with regard to switching transients that may cause overvoltages at the motor terminals, particularly for long-cable applications. The NSPWM method is thoroughly investigated, and its performance is compared to conventional PWM methods. Theory, simulations, and experiments show that NSPWM exhibits superior common-mode performance and satisfactory input/output PWM ripple performance characteristics. It is also illustrated that even though the method has bipolar line-to-line output voltage pulses, due to the sufficient zero-voltage time intervals for the switching transients to settle, these pulses do not cause additional overvoltages at the motor terminals compared to the conventional methods. The method is feasible for motor drives, particularly for operation in the high modulation index range, where its overall performance exceeds the performances of the state-of-the-art PWM methods.
Indirect Effects of Threat on the Contact–Prejudice Relationship: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examines propositions derived from Intergroup Threat Theory (ITT; Stephan, Ybarra, & Morrison, 2009) regarding the role of symbolic and realistic threats on the relationship between contact and prejudice. Specifically, analyses examined whether threat has an indirect effect on the contact–prejudice relationship (aka mediation). Thirty-nine papers comprising 54 samples and over 25,000 participants provided 347 effects for analysis. Supporting ITT predictions, results clearly demonstrated the presence of an indirect effect. Tests of several moderators, including type of contact measure, type of threat, dimension of prejudice, and target of bias suggest that indirect effects are largely consistent across each domain of comparison. Findings are consistent with ITT’s propositions that contact influences threat and feelings of threat lead to prejudice.
Phylogenetic shifts of bacterioplankton community composition along the Pearl Estuary: the potential impact of hypoxia and nutrients

The significance of salinity in shaping bacterial communities dwelling in estuarine areas has been well documented. However, the influences of other environmental factors such as dissolved oxygen and nutrients in determining distribution patterns of both individual taxa and bacterial communities inhabited local estuarine regions remain elusive. Here, bacterioplankton community structures of surface and bottom waters from eight sites along the Pearl Estuary were characterized with 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. The results showed significant differences of bacterioplankton community between freshwater and saltwater sites, and further between surface and bottom waters of saltwater sites. Synechococcus dominated the surface water of saltwater sites while Oceanospirillales, SAR11 and SAR406 were prevalent in the bottom water. Betaproteobacteria was abundant in freshwater sites, with no significant difference between water layers. Occurrence of phylogenetic shifts in taxa affiliated to the same clade was also detected. Dissolved oxygen explained most of the bacterial community variation in the redundancy analysis targeting only freshwater sites, whereas nutrients and salinity explained most of the variation across all samples in the Pearl Estuary. Methylophilales (mainly PE2 clade) was positively correlated to dissolved oxygen, whereas Rhodocyclales (mainly R.12up clade) was negatively correlated. Moreover, high nutrient inputs to the freshwater area of the Pearl Estuary have shifted the bacterial communities toward copiotrophic groups, such as Sphingomonadales. The present study demonstrated that the overall nutrients and freshwater hypoxia play important roles in determining bacterioplankton compositions and provided insights into the potential ecological roles of specific taxa in estuarine environments.
Acoustic and Categorical Dissimilarity of Musical Timbre: Evidence from Asymmetries Between Acoustic and Chimeric Sounds

This paper investigates the role of acoustic and categorical information in timbre dissimilarity ratings. Using a Gammatone-filterbank-based sound transformation, we created tones that were rated as less familiar than recorded tones from orchestral instruments and that were harder to associate with an unambiguous sound source (Experiment 1). A subset of transformed tones, a set of orchestral recordings, and a mixed set were then rated on pairwise dissimilarity (Experiment 2A). We observed that recorded instrument timbres clustered into subsets that distinguished timbres according to acoustic and categorical properties. For the subset of cross-category comparisons in the mixed set, we observed asymmetries in the distribution of ratings, as well as a stark decay of inter-rater agreement. These effects were replicated in a more robust within-subjects design (Experiment 2B) and cannot be explained by acoustic factors alone. We finally introduced a novel model of timbre dissimilarity based on partial least-squares regression that compared the contributions of both acoustic and categorical timbre descriptors. The best model fit (R2 = 0.88) was achieved when both types of descriptors were taken into account. These findings are interpreted as evidence for an interplay of acoustic and categorical information in timbre dissimilarity perception.
Hall-MHD modeling of near-Earth magnetotail current sheet thinning and evolution

The formation of thin current sheets is a common feature of the late substorm growth phase in the magnetotail of the Earth. The location and the structure of the evolving thin current sheet determine the onset and the dynamic phase of magnetic substorms. To determine the formation and further evolution of thin current sheets in the near-Earth magnetotail, we employ a two-fluid model of electrons and ions, the Hall-MHD. We start from a two-dimensional tail-equilibrium model and apply a plasma inflow from the lobes to simulate the presubstorm loading process of the tail. Our results confirm recent 2.5-dimensional particle and hybrid simulations which have shown thin current sheet formation, with the majority of the new current supported by the electrons. The Hall-MHD simulations are extended to a current sheet thinning model with three-dimensional driving conditions and different magnetic field boundary conditions. We investigated the changes to the tail magnetic and current structure brought about by the cross-tail magnetic field components generated by Hall electric fields. For all these cases, the additional current is carried by the electrons, with very small effects of magnetic field and driving boundary conditions.
Homicide Trends in the United States: 2000 Update

Homicide rates recently declined to levels last seen in the late 1960's. The Nation's homicide rate was 4.6 per 100,000 population in 1950. It doubled from the mid-1960's to the late 1970's. In 1980 it peaked at 10.2 and fell to 7.9 in 1985. It rose again in the late 1980's and early 1990's to another peak of 9.8 in 1991. After 1991 the homicide rate declined sharply. In recent years the decline has slowed. The Nation's murder rate was 5.5 in 2000 compared to 5.7 in 1999.