Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The missing piece: a sociological autopsy of firearm suicide in the United States.

Social, economic, violence, political, and gun access predictors of suicide and gun suicide were examined via sociological autopsy. The model predicting suicide rates overall had the best results, χ(2) (9, N=50)=5.279 (CMIN, the goodness of fit statistic that represents the minimum discrepancy between the unrestricted sample covariance matrix and the restricted covariance matrix) p=. 809, [the goodness of fit statistic that represents the minimum discrepancy between the unrestricted sample covariance matrix and the restricted covariance matrix] indicating an excellent fit of the data and theoretical model. The model explained 76% of the variance in state suicide rates and was a significantly better predictor than one could expect by chance, F(6,43)=22.889, p<. 001). All path coefficients were significant predictors of suicide with the exception of violence climate, which was not included. This study contributes to the theoretical knowledge by adding a comprehensive framework of analysis and model useful for prevention.
Regional Inequality and Internal Conflict

Abstract This paper studies the influence of regional inequality within countries on internal conflicts. Regional inequalities are measured by the population-weighted coefficient of variation of regional GDP per capita. As the main innovation, I use a panel dataset of country-level regional inequalities, which covers 56 countries (835 subnational regions) between 1980 and 2009. I also consider a broader cross section dataset for the year 2005, which covers 110 countries (1569 subnational regions). Conflict is measured by the incidence of civil war (UCDP/PRIO data) and a risk measure of internal conflict (war, terrorism and riots) provided by the PRS Group’s International Country Risk Guide. Logit estimations are employed as well as OLS fixed effects panel regressions. I find that regional inequalities increase the risk of internal conflict.
Evolución de las disparidades espaciales en América Latina. 1950-2008

Resumen. Los estudios sobre disparidades en el nivel de renta entre los paises de America Latina han arrojado resultados contradictorios que hacen dificil evaluar la eficacia de las politicas de desarrollo economico y social en la region. En el presente articulo se realiza un analisis de convergencia sigma entre los paises de America Latina utilizando la familia de indices de entropia generalizada y sus propiedades de descomposicion por grupos de poblacion, con el fin de determinar no solo la dinamica de la desigualdad en el nivel de ingresos en la region, sino tambien cuales son los paises y las agrupaciones economicas responsables del mismo. Palabras clave. Disparidades en renta per capita entre paises, convergencia sigma, indices de entropia generalizada, descomposiciones aditivas intra-grupos, inter-grupos. Clasificacion JEL. E25 F43 O11 O47 O54.
Graph Contexts for Retrieving Deformable Non-rigid 3D Shapes

Deformable non-rigid 3D shape retrieval plays an important role in various applications. Although there are many related works, their precision and robustness are not ideal. In this paper, we develop a novel retrieval method by using graph contexts, which consists of three steps. Initially, we evaluate the performance of spectral distances for deformable shape representation, which has not been studied in detail before. Then, we create a weighted L2 distance for similarity measurement based on the spectra of Laplace-Beltrami operator. Finally, a new local graph diffusion method is introduced to reduce the mismatch error in feature space and the time cost of diffusion has reduced a lot simultaneously. Our experiment results on SHREC'11 Non-rigid dataset have reached the best reported retrieval performance (MAP: 99.9%).
An Assessment of Surface Properties and Moisture Uptake of Nonwoven Fabrics from Ginning By-products

Greige (raw) cotton by-products resulting from cotton ginning and mill processes have long been bleached for use in absorbent nonwoven products. The potential to use greige cotton by-products as an economical source for absorbent nonwoven blends is explored. The nonwoven hydroentanglement of greige cotton lint with cot‐ ton gin motes and comber noils blends was analyzed for fiber surface polarity, swel‐ ling, and absorbance to assess properties with potential usefulness in absorbent nonwovens. The electrokinetic analysis of the fabric surface gives a composite picture of the relative hydrophilic/hydrophobic polarity absorbency and swelling properties. Nonwoven fabrics made with cleaned greige cotton lint separately blended with comber noils and ginning motes at 40:60 and 60:40 blend ratios demonstrated charge, swell, and percent moisture uptake profiles that are characteristic of the fabrics’ crys‐ talline/amorphous cellulosic content with some variance in swelling properties. How‐ ever, cellulose crystallite size varied. X-ray diffraction patterns of the three different cotton constituents displayed similar crystalline cellulose compositions. An electro‐ chemical double-layer analysis of charge based on a pH titration (ζplateau) was em‐ ployed to measure the relative fiber and fabric surface polarity which varied slightly between -21 and -29 mV. A relationship of fiber swelling (∆ζ) and percent moisture content is apparent when greige cotton lint and other fibers are blended. The blended nonwoven materials possess absorbent properties characterized by similar moisture uptake (7.1-9.5 %) and fiber polarity, but some variation in swelling is based on the by-product additive and its percent content. The crystallinity, electrokinetic, and wa‐ ter binding properties of the nonwoven by-product materials are discussed in the con‐ text of the molecular features water, cellulose, and greige cotton components that enhance potential uses as absorbent nonwoven end-use products.
Anthropometric data as predictors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea severity

Abstract The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome is a chronic disease characterized by episodes upper airway collapse, and has been associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity. Aim To correlate the neck, abdominal and pelvic circumference with the AHI and oxyhemoglobin saturation in OSA patients, and to correlate these values with disease severity. Materials and methods A prospective descriptive study of 82 patients evaluated complaints suggesting OSA, from July 2008 to March 2010. All patients underwent polysomnography, an ENT clinical exam, measures of the BMI, abdominal, pelvic, and cervical circumferences. The mean, standard deviations and Spearman's correlations were analyzed. Results The mean AHI in men was 39 events/hr; in women it was 21 events/hr in women. The mean neck circumference was 34.5 cm in women and 41.3 cm in men, the mean abdominal circumference was 94.3 cm in women and 101.5 cm in men, and the pelvic circumference was 105.7 cm in men and 108.7 cm in women. The neck circumference correlated more closely to the AHI in men (r=+0.389 p=0.001). The relationship between the abdominal circumference correlated more with AHI than with the BMI in men (AbC r=+0.358 p=0.003 BMI r=+0.321 p=0.009). Conclusion The neck circumference is the best anthropometric measurement of respiratory disorder severity compared to the AbC or the BMI.
Extension of the QuikSCAT Sea Ice Extent Data Set with OSCAT and ASCAT Data

Extension of the QuikSCAT Sea Ice Extent Data Set with OSCAT and ASCAT Data Jordan Curtis Hill Department of Electrical Engineering, BYU Master of Science Polar sea ice measurements are an important contribution to global climate models. Passive and active microwave remote sensing instruments are used to track global trends in polar sea ice growth and retreat from day to day. A scatterometer sea ice extent data set is valuable for comparison with other radiometer data sets and ground based measurements. This scatterometer sea ice record began with the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) and continued with the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) data set. The Ku-band Oceansat-2 scatterometer (OSCAT) is very similar to the Quick Scatterometer, which operated from 1999 to 2009. OSCAT continues the Ku-band scatterometer data record through 2014 with an overlap of eighteen days with QuikSCATs mission in 2009. This thesis discusses a particular climate application of the time series for sea ice extent observation. In this thesis, a QuikSCAT sea ice extent algorithm is modified for OSCAT. Gaps in OSCAT data are accounted for using a reverse time processing approach. The data gaps are filled in to support sea ice extent mapping. The data set is validated with overlapping data from QuikSCAT as well as the sea ice extent data set calculated from Special Sensor Microwave Imager data by the NASA Team algorithm. Data from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT), which operates at C-band, are processed using a Bayesian classification algorithm for a stand-alone C-band sea ice extent product to continue scatterometer sea ice extent observation past 2014. ASCAT azimuth dependence data is developed for use as a parameter in the ASCAT sea ice extent algorithm. Image dilation and erosion techniques are employed to smooth the sea ice edge and correct misclassifications. ASCAT sea ice extent data is validated to overlapping OSCAT data.
Extreme Rank Selections for Linkage Analysis of Quantitative Trait Loci Using Selected Sib‐Pairs

It is well known that linkage analysis using simple random sib‐pairs has relatively low power for detecting quantitative trait loci with small genetic effects. The power can be substantially increased by using samples selected based on their trait values. Usually, samples that are obtained by truncation selection consist of random samples from a truncated trait distribution. In this article we propose an alternative method using extreme ranks for linkage analysis with selected sib‐pairs. This approach approximates the truncation selection. With similar screening sizes and the same sample size of selected sib‐pairs, the extreme rank selection and truncation method have similar power performance, both of which are substantially more powerful than when using random sib‐pairs. Simulation results on the comparison of powers between the truncation selection and the extreme rank selection and/or random selection for linkage analysis are reported.
EFECTOS DE ACTIVIDADES FONOLÓGICAS EN EL VOCABULARIO, LAS HABILIDADES PSICOLINGÜÍSTICAS Y LOS PROCESOS LECTORES DE NIÑOS DE PRIMER GRADO

La adquisicion de la lectoescritura involucra diversos procesos que pueden estimularse en contextos cotidianos, como el hogar, y que tambien pueden ser favorecidos por la instruccion escolar. Se trabajo con un grupo de ninos de primer grado de educacion primaria en el contexto escolar durante seis meses, realizando actividades que favorecieran el procesamiento fonologico con el objetivo de observar su impacto en la conciencia fonologica, sus habilidades psicolinguisticas, su vocabulario y sus habilidades lectoras. Los resultados de la t de Student revelan, de manera general, que tales actividades beneficiaron la conciencia fonologica, el vocabulario y algunas de las habilidades psicolinguisticas. Posteriormente, se identificaron los ninos que al final del ciclo escolar habian adquirido la lectoescritura y los que no. Los resultados de la U de Mann-Whitney y de la rho de Spearman sugieren que, a diferencia del vocabulario y las habilidades psicolinguisticas, el nivel de la conciencia fonologica con el cual los ninos inician la instruccion lectora, pudo ser un elemento importante para tal logro. Tambien se revela que los ninos no lectores tienen un desempeno mas bajo en la ejecucion de tareas que involucran el canal auditivo, que en las del canal visual.
In Vitro Evaluation of Bacopa monniera Extract and Individual Constituents on Human Recombinant Monoamine Oxidase Enzymes

Bacopa monniera is a traditional Ayurvedic medicinal plant that has been used worldwide for its nootropic action. Chemically standardized extract of B. monniera is now available as over the counter herbal remedy to enhance memory in children and adults. Considering the nootropic action of B. monniera, we evaluated the effect of clinically available B. monniera extract and six of B. monniera constituents (bacoside A3, bacopaside I, bacopaside II, bacosaponin C, bacosine, and bacoside A mixture) on recombinant human monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes. The effect of B. monniera extract and individual constituents on human recombinant MAO‐A and MAO‐B enzymes was evaluated using MAO‐GloTM assay kit (Promega Corporation, USA), following the instruction manual. IC50 and mode of inhibition were measured for MAO enzymes. Bacopaside I and bacoside A mixture inhibited the MAO‐A and MAO‐B enzymes. Bacopaside I exhibited mixed mode of inhibition with IC50 and Ki values of 17.08 ± 1.64 and 42.5 ± 3.53 µg/mL, respectively, for MAO‐A enzyme. Bacopaside I is the major constituent of B. monniera, which inhibited the MAO‐A enzyme selectively. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparing Policies in Markov Decision Processes: Mandl's Lemma Revisited

A general framework is developed for comparing the long-run average cost of a Markov stationary policy with that of another related policy. The underlying methodology constitutes an extension of some ideas of Mandl to randomized policies, and to Polish state and action spaces. Sufficient conditions for the applicability of the methodology are given. These conditions, which are easy to verify, have a natural probabilistic interpretation in terms of the "stability" of the chain and of the convergence of the control values. The usefulness of the general framework proposed here is illustrated on several applications. Standard results on the convergence of adaptive policies are readily recovered under conditions which are more transparent than the ones existing in the literature, and the convergence of randomized policies is handled as a special case. Finally, a novel application to "probing controls" is outlined.
The first record of Late Jurassic crossognathiform fishes from Europe and their phylogenetic importance for teleostean phylogeny

Abstract. The Late Jurassic Bavarichthys incognitus, n. gen. n. sp. from Ettling, Bavaria, is described. The new species represents the oldest record of a crossognathiform in Europe and together with Chongichthys from the Oxfordian of South America stands at the basal levels of a clade including crossognathids and pachyrhizodontoids. In addition, the new fish represents the first record of a crossognathiform in the Solnhofen Limestones. The new genus is characterized by numerous features such as the presence of infraorbitals 1–3 independent and 4 + 5 fused; two supramaxillary bones present; supramaxilla 2 considerably shorter than supramaxilla 1 and lacking an antero-dorsal process; well-developed series of epineural, epicentral and epipleural intermuscular bones; parhypural and hypurals 1 and 2 partially fused to each other; a series of epaxial basal fulcra; and a few, elongate fringing fulcra associated with the dorsal leading margin of caudal fin. doi: 10.1002/mmng.201000005
Cosmological baryon and lepton number in the presence of electroweak fermion-number violation.

In the presence of rapid fermion-number violation due to nonperturbative electroweak effects certain relations between the baryon number of the Universe and the lepton numbers of the Universe are predicted. In some cases the electron-neutrino asymmetry is exactly specified in terms of the baryon asymmetry. Without introducing new particles\char22{}beyond the usual quarks and leptons\char22{}it is necessary that the Universe possess a nonzero value of $B\ensuremath{-}L$ prior to the epoch of fermion-number violation if baryon and lepton asymmetries are to survive. Contrary to intuition, even though electroweak processes violate $B+L$, a nonzero value of $B+L$ persists after the epoch of rapid fermion-number violation. If the standard model is extended to include lepton-number violation, for example, through Majorana neutrino masses, then electroweak processes will reduce the baryon number to zero even in the presence of an initial $B\ensuremath{-}L$ unless $20{M}_{L}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}\sqrt{{T}_{B\ensuremath{-}L}{m}_{\mathrm{Pl}}}$ where ${M}_{L}$ sets the scale of lepton-number violation and ${T}_{B\ensuremath{-}L}$ is the temperature at which a $B\ensuremath{-}L$ asymmetry is produced. In some models this implies that neutrinos must be so light that they cannot contribute appreciably to the mass density of the Universe.
Families across cultures: A 30-nation psychological study

Contemporary trends such as increased one-parent families, high divorce rates, second marriages and homosexual partnerships have all contributed to variations in the traditional family structure. But to what degree has the function of the family changed and how have these changes affected family roles in cultures throughout the world? This book attempts to answer these questions through a psychological study of families in thirty nations, carefully selected to present a diverse cultural mix. The study utilises both cross-cultural and indigenous perspectives to analyse variables including family networks, family roles, emotional bonds, personality traits, self-construal, and ‘family portraits’ in which the authors address common core themes of the family as they apply to their native countries. From the introductory history of the study of the family to the concluding indigenous psychological analysis of the family, this book is a unique source for students and researchers in psychology, sociology and anthropology.
‘Down with French vaudevilles!’ The Catholic film movement's resistance and boycott of French cinema in the 1930s

Abstract At the end of the 1920s and in the 1930s, a strong Catholic film movement emerged in (Western) Europe, mainly targeting ‘morally dangerous’ films. Besides Hollywood films many popular French pictures featured in this black list. Especially after the introduction of the severe production codes in 1934 in the United States, many French ‘vaudevilles’ were attacked and boycotted. This article revisits this (under-researched) key period in the history of the European Catholic film action, focusing mainly upon the Belgian case. Referring to many now forgotten popular French films, the article conceptualizes the public resistance and boycott of these films from moral or media panic theories.
Cell Nuclei Spin in the Absence of Lamin B1*

Mutations of the nuclear lamins cause a wide range of human diseases, including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. Defects in A-type lamins reduce nuclear structural integrity and affect transcriptional regulation, but few data exist on the biological role of B-type lamins. To assess the functional importance of lamin B1, we examined nuclear dynamics in fibroblasts from Lmnb1Δ/Δ and wild-type littermate embryos by time-lapse videomicroscopy. Here, we report that Lmnb1Δ/Δ cells displayed striking nuclear rotation, with ∼90% of Lmnb1Δ/Δ nuclei rotating at least 90° during an 8-h period. The rotation involved the nuclear interior as well as the nuclear envelope. The rotation of nuclei required an intact cytoskeletal network and was eliminated by expressing lamin B1 in cells. Nuclear rotation could also be abolished by expressing larger nesprin isoforms with long spectrin repeats. These findings demonstrate that lamin B1 serves a fundamental role within the nuclear envelope: anchoring the nucleus to the cytoskeleton.
Exploring Heart and Soul: Effects of Religiosity/Spirituality and Gender on Blood Pressure and Cortisol Stress Responses

The current study investigated gender effects on the influence of self-reported religiosity and spirituality on cardiovascular and cortisol responses to a laboratory stressor among young adults. Participants with higher composite religiosity/spirituality scores, religiosity, levels of forgiveness and frequency of prayer showed lower cortisol responses. Greater composite religiosity/spirituality, religiosity, frequency of prayer and attendance at services were associated with lower blood pressure in males and elevated blood pressure in females. Findings suggest that spiritual and/or religious individuals may experience a protective effect against the neuroendocrine consequences of stress, though cardiovascular benefits may vary by gender. This work represents an important step in the convergence of multiple realms of research by linking physiological measures with indicators of individual belief systems.
Frost flower formation on sea ice and lake ice

Frost flowers are clusters of ice crystals found on freshly formed sea ice and occasionally on frozen lakes. They belong to a class of vapour‐related phenomena that includes freezing fog, hoar frost and dew. It has hitherto been supposed that they form by condensation from a supersaturated atmosphere or from water wicked up through porous sea ice. Here we show that they can form on solid, pure ice sublimating into an unsaturated atmosphere. We derive a general regime diagram showing the atmospheric conditions under which the different vapour‐related phenomena occur and confirm our predictions of frost‐flower formation with a series of laboratory experiments. Our results can be used in climate models to predict occurrence of frost flowers, which significantly enhance albedo and provide the substrate for chemical production of ozone‐depleting bromine monoxide, and in paleo‐climate reconstructions by relating observations of sea‐salt aerosols in ice cores to atmospheric conditions.
The Exosome Secretory Pathway Transports Amyloid Precursor Protein Carboxyl-terminal Fragments from the Cell into the Brain Extracellular Space*

Background: Exosomes isolated in vitro contain full-length amyloid-β precursor protein (flAPP) and APP metabolites. Results: Exosomes secreted in vivo in brains of wild-type and APP-overexpressing mice contain higher levels of APP C-terminal fragments (CTFs) relative to flAPP compared with brain tissue. Conclusion: Brain exosomes are enriched with APP CTFs. Significance: The exosome secretory pathway clears cellular APP CTFs, releasing the toxic fragments into the neuropil. In vitro studies have shown that neuronal cell cultures secrete exosomes containing amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) and the APP-processing products, C-terminal fragments (CTFs) and amyloid-β (Aβ). We investigated the secretion of full-length APP (flAPP) and APP CTFs via the exosome secretory pathway in vivo. To this end, we developed a novel protocol designed to isolate exosomes secreted into mouse brain extracellular space. Exosomes with typical morphology were isolated from freshly removed mouse brains and from frozen mouse and human brain tissues, demonstrating that exosomes can be isolated from post-mortem tissue frozen for long periods of time. flAPP, APP CTFs, and enzymes that cleave both flAPP and APP CTFs were identified in brain exosomes. Although higher levels of both flAPP and APP CTFs were observed in exosomes isolated from the brains of transgenic mice overexpressing human APP (Tg2576) compared with wild-type control mice, there was no difference in the number of secreted brain exosomes. These data indicate that the levels of flAPP and APP CTFs associated with exosomes mirror the cellular levels of flAPP and APP CTFs. Interestingly, exosomes isolated from the brains of both Tg2576 and wild-type mice are enriched with APP CTFs relative to flAPP. Thus, we hypothesize that the exosome secretory pathway plays a pleiotropic role in the brain: exosome secretion is beneficial to the cell, acting as a specific releasing system of neurotoxic APP CTFs and Aβ, but the secretion of exosomes enriched with APP CTFs, neurotoxic proteins that are also a source of secreted Aβ, is harmful to the brain.