Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Compact Model for Organic Field-Effect Transistors With Improved Output Asymptotic Behaviors

Here, we propose an advanced compact analytical current-voltage model for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), which can be incorporated into SPICE-type circuit simulators. We improved the output saturation behavior by introducing a new asymptotic function that also enables more precise low-voltage current and conductance fitting. A new expression for the subthreshold current was suggested to cover all operation regimes of OFETs. All model parameters were extracted by a systematic method, and the comparison of the modeled current with the experimental data on pentacene-based OFETs confirmed the validity of the model over a wide operation range.
Incentivizing schooling for learning :

We evaluate a primary school scholarship program in Cambodia with two different targeting mechanisms, one based on poverty level and the other on baseline test scores (“merit”). Both targeting mechanisms increased enrollment and attendance. However, only the merit-based targeting induced positive effects on test scores. We show that the asymmetry of response is unlikely to have been driven by differences between recipients’ characteristics. We explore evidence for the channels by which the framing of the scholarships might have led to different impacts. The results suggest that in order to balance equity and efficiency a two-step targeting approach might be preferable: first, target low-income individuals, and then, among them, target based on merit. JEL classification codes: I21; I24; I28; O10
A 3D conformal S-MRTD formulation for electromagnetic scattering problems containing curved perfectly conducting objects

The Multiresolution Time-Domain (MRTD) technique, applied to electromagnetic problems, demonstrates highly linear numerical dispersion properties [1]. The method can be used with coarse grids to reduce computation cost, while maintaining accuracy. Despite this great potential of MRTD, there are challenges in the efficient implementation of complex media and boundary conditions. Some techniques have been suggested to enhance the MRTD treatment of these conditions [2, 3, 4].
Life history and resource acquisition: Photosynthetic traits in selected accessions of three perennial cereal species compared with annual wheat and rye.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Few previous studies have considered how plant age affects photosynthetic physiology in herbaceous perennials or how photosynthetic capacity in annual cereals compares to perennial relatives. Newly developed perennial cereals offer novel systems for addressing these questions. Our study makes a novel contribution by considering how life history differences affect photosynthetic physiology. METHODS In two linked field studies, we evaluated effects of life history and plant age on photosynthetic rates (A), and related biochemical, morphological, and water-relations traits, comparing 1- and 2-yr-old cohorts of perennial wheat, intermediate wheatgrass, and perennial rye to close annual relatives (wheat and rye). KEY RESULTS Photosynthetic rates (A) were 10-50% higher in perennial cereals compared to annuals. In wheatgrass, elevated A was associated with higher carboxylation (VC), triose phosphate utilization (TPU) and electron transport rates (J), and higher leaf soluble protein and chlorophyll. Younger wheatgrass plants maintained higher A, TPU, J, and VC than older plants did. Perennial wheat and rye differed from annual relatives in some but not all of these parameters. Differences in stomatal limitation were not involved, while differences in stomatal conductance (gs) became evident under drier conditions. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that some perennial cereal species can maintain higher midseason A than their annual crop relatives. These changes are not fully explainable by increased access to soil water and may reflect trade-offs between allocation to reproduction and to resource acquisition. We also found evidence for age-related changes in photosynthetic physiology in a herbaceous perennial plant.
Support for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games

The purposes of this research were (a) to explore and describe the relationships relative to the evaluation of the work of the organizers, expected legacy, and support for hosting the 2014 World Cup (WC) and the 2016 Olympic Games (OG); and (b) to compare Brazilians’ support for these two events. Social exchange theory (Blau & Scott, 1962) supported three structural models. Results indicated that Brazilians college students (n = 914) do not strongly support the country’s hosting of either the 2014 WC or the 2016 OG. They also do not believe the organizers adequately prepared the country to host the events, and, subsequently, do not have high positive legacy expectations. Mediated models indicated that higher perceptions of the work of the organizersin preparation for the sport mega-events predicted more positive legacy expectations of these events, and subsequently, larger intentions to support the events. Significant indirect effects indicated that a fully mediated model might be useful to describe relationships among intentions of support, expected legacy, and evaluations of the work of the organizers in preparing to host sport mega-events. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Fears and Related Anxieties Across Three Age Groups of Mexican American and White Children With Disabilities

The authors compared levels and types of fears and anxieties in a sample of Mexican American children and adolescents with disabilities to a group of White children and adolescents with similar disabilities. Students (N = 238), parents, and teachers completed the Fear Survey Schedule for Children-Revised (T. H. Ollendick, 1983) and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (C. R. Reynolds & B. O. Richmond, 1997). Levels of fear and anxiety were similar for both groups of students and were similarly underestimated by teachers. The groups of students differed in terms of their specific fears and the degree to which their parents recognized their children's fears (Mexican American parents were less accurate at rating their children's fears). Mexican American girls aged 7-10 and 11-13 years and White girls aged 14-18 years reported the highest scores; White boys aged 14-18 years reported the lowest scores.
A simulation benchmark for selection of the PWM algorithms for a multilevel PWM matrix converter

This paper considers the conventional three-phase matrix converter operated with PWM techniques making use of all possible commutation vectors. The output phase voltage can see multiple voltage levels - hence the multilevel matrix converter name. The hardware set-up to achieve the matrix converter operation can be built of three 3-phase Current-Source Inverter modules. Harmonic analysis of different SV-PWM techniques for AC/AC matrix converter is performed with a multi-million FFT within MATLAB so that a resolution below 1Hz is possible. The conventional SV-PWM based on a superposition of rectifier and inverter operation is compared with a technique based on all 27 available switching vectors. While coefficients like Total Harmonic Distortion of the input current or Harmonic Current Factor for the output voltage yield better for a method considering all available switching vectors, this is also introducing low-frequency harmonics.
In-plane and out-of-plane magnetoresistance in La2-xSrxCuO4 single crystals.

The magnetoresistance of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ single crystals has been studied extensively over a wide composition range (0.07\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}0.28) using current parallel (in plane) and perpendicular (out of plane) to the ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ plane. In the underdoped superconducting phase (x\ensuremath{\sim}0.10), the in-plane magnetoconductivity above ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ is well described as fluctuation conductivity but only with the Aslamasov-Larkin term. The negligibly small Maki-Thompson contribution is suggestive of anisotropic Cooper pairing. We find a pronounced negative and isotropic out-of-plane magnetoresistance at low temperatures in this composition range. In the optimally doped to the overdoped superconducting phases (0.15\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}0.20), a substantial normal-state component is observed in the in-plane magnetoresistance. The classical Kohler's rule appears to break down for the normal-state magnetoresistance, which supports the involvement of two distinct scattering rates ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}_{\mathrm{tr}}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}_{\mathit{H}}$. In the out-of-plane magnetoresistance, we find an unconventional scaling \ensuremath{\Delta}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{c}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\propto}(H/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{a}}$${)}^{2}$ for H\ensuremath{\perp}J and (H/T${)}^{2}$ for H\ensuremath{\parallel}J. In contrast to these anomalous behaviors, we find that Kohler's rule holds for both the in-plane and the out-of-plane transverse magnetoresistance in the overdoped normal metal region, implying a conventional anisotropic three-dimensional transport. These findings provide further evidence for the unconventional normal-state transport in the samples which exhibit high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superconductivity. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Impacts of 20th century aerosol emissions on the South Asian monsoon in the CMIP5 models

Abstract. Comparison of single-forcing varieties of 20th century historical experiments in a subset of models from the Fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) reveals that South Asian summer monsoon rainfall increases towards the present day in Greenhouse Gas (GHG)-only experiments with respect to pre-industrial levels, while it decreases in anthropogenic aerosol-only experiments. Comparison of these single-forcing experiments with the all-forcings historical experiment suggests aerosol emissions have dominated South Asian monsoon rainfall trends in recent decades, especially during the 1950s to 1970s. The variations in South Asian monsoon rainfall in these experiments follows approximately the time evolution of inter-hemispheric temperature gradient over the same period, suggesting a contribution from the large-scale background state relating to the asymmetric distribution of aerosol emissions about the equator. By examining the 24 available all-forcings historical experiments, we show that models including aerosol indirect effects dominate the negative rainfall trend. Indeed, models including only the direct radiative effect of aerosol show an increase in monsoon rainfall, consistent with the dominance of increasing greenhouse gas emissions and planetary warming on monsoon rainfall in those models. For South Asia, reduced rainfall in the models with indirect effects is related to decreased evaporation at the land surface rather than from anomalies in horizontal moisture flux, suggesting the impact of indirect effects on local aerosol emissions. This is confirmed by examination of aerosol loading and cloud droplet number trends over the South Asia region. Thus, while remote aerosols and their asymmetric distribution about the equator play a role in setting the inter-hemispheric temperature distribution on which the South Asian monsoon, as one of the global monsoons, operates, the addition of indirect aerosol effects acting on very local aerosol emissions also plays a role in declining monsoon rainfall. The disparity between the response of monsoon rainfall to increasing aerosol emissions in models containing direct aerosol effects only and those also containing indirect effects needs to be urgently investigated since the suggested future decline in Asian anthropogenic aerosol emissions inherent to the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) used for future climate projection may turn out to be optimistic. In addition, both groups of models show declining rainfall over China, also relating to local aerosol mechanisms. We hypothesize that aerosol emissions over China are large enough, in the CMIP5 models, to cause declining monsoon rainfall even in the absence of indirect aerosol effects. The same is not true for India.
GRN and MAPT Mutations in 2 Frontotemporal Dementia Research Centers in Brazil

Background:Mutations in GRN (progranulin) and MAPT (microtubule-associated protein tau) are among the most frequent causes of monogenic frontotemporal dementia (FTD), but data on the frequency of these mutations in regions such as Latin America are still lacking. Objective:We aimed to investigate the frequencies of GRN and MAPT mutations in FTD cohorts from 2 Brazilian dementia research centers, the University of Sao Paulo and the Federal University of Minas Gerais medical schools. Methods:We included 76 probands diagnosed with behavioral-variant FTD (n=55), semantic-variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) (n=11), or nonfluent-variant PPA (n=10). Twenty-five percent of the cohort had at least 1 relative affected with FTD. Results:Mutations in GRN were identified in 7 probands, and in MAPT, in 2 probands. We identified 3 novel GRN mutations (p.Q130X, p.317Afs*12, and p.K259Afs*23) in patients diagnosed with nonfluent-variant PPA or behavioral-variant FTD. Plasma progranulin levels were measured and a cutoff value of 70 ng/mL was found, with 100% sensitivity and specificity to detect null GRN mutations. Conclusions:The frequency of GRN mutations was 9.6% and that of MAPT mutations was 7.1%. Among familial cases of FTD, the frequency of GRN mutations was 31.5% and that of MAPT mutations was 10.5%.
Virucidal Efficacy of Glutaraldehyde against Enteroviruses Is Related to the Location of Lysine Residues in Exposed Structures of the VP1 Capsid Protein

ABSTRACT Glutaraldehyde (GTA) is a potent virucidal disinfectant whose exact mode of action against enteroviruses is not understood. Earlier reports showed that GTA reacts preferentially with the VP1 capsid protein of echovirus 25 and poliovirus 1 and that GTA has affinity for exposed lysine residues on proteins. To investigate further the inactivation of enteroviruses by GTA, seven strains were selected on the basis of differences in their overall number and the positions of lysine residues in the amino acid sequences of the VP1 polypeptide. Inactivation kinetics experiments were performed with 0.10% GTA. The viruses grouped into three clusters and exhibited significantly different levels of sensitivity to GTA. The results were analyzed in the light of current knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of enteroviruses and the viral life cycle. The differences observed in sensitivity to GTA were related to the number of lysine residues and their locations in the VP1 protein. The overall findings suggest that the BC and DE loops, which cluster at the fivefold axis of symmetry and are the most exposed on the outer surface of the virions, are primary reactive sites for GTA.
Diminished visceral adipose tissue in cancer cachexia

To estimate the relationship between the visceral adipose tissue (AT) area and cancer cachexia, 13 cachectic patients (7 males, 6 females; age 65.2 ± 11.0 years; body mass index 20.8 ± 4.1 kg/m2) were examined by computed tomography (CT) scanning. Cachectic cancer patients who had a 10% decrease of body weight and died within 6 months because of gastrointestinal carcinoma had a significantly smaller visceral AT area than control subjects (mean ± sd: 43.9 ± 42.2 cm2 vs. 93.4 ± 56.0 cm2, P < 0.05, P=0.014). Otherwise, there were no significant differences between the visceral AT areas of cachectic cancer patients and those of cancer patients with resectable tumors treated by curative operation (mean ± sd: 68.8 ± 57.7 cm2) (NS, P=0.206). There was, however, a tendency for cachectic cancer patients to have a smaller visceral AT area than those with resectable tumors. This result suggests that the visceral AT area is not preserved in the cachectic state associated with cancer. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isoxuprine and Premature Labour

Although we have no exact knowledge of what initiates labour, there is an increasing amount of information on the physiology of uterine action at both the cellular level and in terms of neuromuscular activity. In the latter connection it is claimed (though essentially a theoretical concept), that adrenergic agents will have varying effects on a target organ with sympathetic innervation depending on (a) whether a or /3 receptors predominate in that target organ, and (b) whether the adrenergic agent is adrenalin, (which produces its effect on both a and p receptors), or noradrenalin (which has an affinity for a receptors only), or isopropyl-noradrenalin which has a particular affinity for p receptors.
Clinical trial remuneration: the patients' perspective.

Objectives: (1) To document the opinions of trial participants regarding patient remuneration; (2) To investigate what amount of money would represent undue inducement. Design: Patients attending TREAD Research, located within Tygerberg Hospital, Parow, Western Cape, South Africa between January 2005 and May 2006 were approached to participate in the study. Consenting patients were given a validated questionnaire to complete in their home language. All questionnaires were anonymous. Subjects: 250 consecutive patients completed the questionnaire. Patients provided basic demographic data and were asked various questions regarding subject remuneration and for what purpose they used their trial remuneration money. Outcome measures: Opinions of trial participants regarding patient remuneration. Results: 66.5% of respondents were unemployed. The median (lower and upper quartile) monthly family income was R1 800 (R740 and R5 200). 74.1% felt that trial participants should receive payment at their clinic visits, yet 93.6% indicated that they would still participate if they received no payment. R150 would not tempt 90.0% of participants to withhold information about their true state of health in order to take part in a study. 72.9% responded that payment should be received to pay for travel expenses, 13.9% as an incentive to participate and 13.1% for time spent. Conclusions: Blanket compensation for clinical trial participation is contentious. These results suggest that trial remuneration should be an individualised amount based on reimbursing patients for transport expenses and their time. Key words: clinical trials, undue inducement, patient remuneration
Animal Models for Asthma: Controversial Aspects and Unsolved Problems

The incidence of asthma in children and adults is continuously increasing in the developed countries. Its pathophysiology is still not yet clarified in sufficient detail. Despite a large number of animal models for asthma (mainly rodents), these only partly mimic the situation in humans. Some examples of limitations of using the mouse as an animal model for asthma will be discussed and directions of future research outlined.
Phylogenetic analysis of social behavior evolution in [Zetoborinae + Blaberinae + Gyninae + Diplopterinae] cockroaches: an update with the study of endemic radiations from the Atlantic forest

We updated the phylogenetic analysis of the evolution of habitat choice and social habits in the cockroach group of [Zetoborinae + Blaberinae + Gyninae + Diplopterinae] (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae) elaborated by Grandcolas (1998b). The original phylogenetic matrix was updated with new data obtained in the Brazilian Atlantic forest for the genera Parasphaeria and Zetobora (Zetoborinae), Monastria, Petasodes (Blaberinae) and Pycnoscelus (Pycnoscelinae) (one outgroup). These new data did not change the tree topology but showed that the fauna of the Atlantic forest has a complex evolutionary origin with several different radiations, one of which is local, and behavioral convergences or originalities.
Analysis of SERPING1 and its association with age‐related macular degeneration

Purpose The genetics of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis is a growing area of interest. In the last year a new potential association locus has been reported; SERPING1, a C1 inhibitor of the compliment pathway. We present our own assessment of the SERPING1 AMD-risk locus. Methods Patients with exudative AMD (n=94) and age-matched controls (n=95) were selected for study. All subjects were genotyped for the SERPING1 polymorphism identified as a new risk locus for AMD; rs2511989, IVS6-865 g>a. Genotyping was determined by direct sequencing. Statistical analysis was attained using SPSS v15 (SPSS Inc.). Results Carriage of the G allele was raised in AMD group vs. controls (61.2% vs. 57.6%), but was not statistically significant (p=0.48). No significant associations were seen in genotype carriage between AMD and control groups (e.g. GG genotype, 40.4% vs. 30.4%, p=0.22). Conclusion No significant associations were seen between SERPING1 and AMD in this study. Only two published analyses have examined this potential association, and these studies produced conflicting results. While it appears SERPING1 mRNA is produced in the eye, the functional effects of the rs2511989 locus have yet to be determined. More work is needed to identify the biological role, if any, SERPING1 plays in the development of AMD.
Zoonoses of house pets other than dogs, cats and birds

In addition to dogs, cats and birds, which are the most frequent house pets, rabbits, rodents, fish and turtles are also vertebrate species that commonly share the home environment. Lizards, snakes and ferrets are less common pets. These species can transmit numerous diseases, especially to children who are more likely to be in close contact with them. The author presents a general review of zoonoses and potential zoonoses transmitted by rabbits, rodents and cold blooded vertebrates. Zoonoses transmitted by ferrets, a more recent popular house pet, are also considered. Although most zoonoses contracted from pets are relatively rare events, clinicians should be aware of any animal exposure, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Because of the diversity and the large size of the pet population, exposure to animals should be systematically ascertained when examining a patient.