Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonrecursive models of labor force participation, fertility behavior and sex role attitudes.

A negative relationship has been established between female labor force participation and fertility but there has been considerable controversy over the direction and causes of this relationship. 2 causal models of the actual fertility and work behavior of a national sample of married women aged 30 in 1970 are examined using the 2-stage least-squares technique to disentangle reciprocal effects. A 2-variable feedback loop incorporating only fertility and labor force participation and a 3-variable model which adds sex role attitudes to the endogenous variables are included. Much of the work-fertility relationship can be accounted for by controlling background variables such as education and marital duration yet a negative effect from fertility to labor force participation remains. Adding sex role attitudes to the model as a potential source and consequence of fertility and work behavior slightly reduces the size of this effect. In sum the results seem to indicate that the worker and mother roles were to some extent incompatible for these young married women. For this cohort at least the childbearing and rearing role appears to have taken precedence. Work behavior was influenced by the number of children the women had during their 20s; childbearing was not influenced by their work. (AUTHORS MODIFIED)
Systematic meta-analysis of individual selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications and congenital malformations

Context: It has been suggested that the commonly prescribed class of antidepressants selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with birth defects. However, the teratogenic effect of individual SSRIs has not been previously compared using meta-analysis. Objective: To determine the strength of the association between individual SSRIs and major, minor, and cardiac malformation among infants born to women taking these medications. Data sources: Electronic search of CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO, and ISI Web of Science using the search terms (SSRI OR antidepressant) AND (obstetric outcome OR malformation OR birth outcome OR teratogen), supplemented by manual searching of published references and requests of primary researchers for unpublished data. Study selection: There were 115 studies identified by electronic search and reviewed in full text, which yielded 16 papers reporting 36 data samples for major malformations, nine papers reporting 26 data samples for cardiac malformations, and four papers reporting seven data samples for minor malformations. Data synthesis: Fluoxetine (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.30) and paroxetine (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11–1.49) were associated with increased risk of major malformations. Paroxetine was associated with increased risk of cardiac malformations (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.12–1.86). Sertraline and citalopram were not significantly associated with congenital malformation. Between-sample heterogeneity was low and a range of methodological considerations had no significant impact on effect size. There was little evidence of publication bias. Conclusions: Fluoxetine and paroxetine should be avoided in the first trimester and among those at risk of an unplanned pregnancy.
Can We Predict How Earthworm Effects on Plant Growth Vary with Soil Properties

Earthworms are usually assumed to enhance plant growth through different mechanisms which are now clearly identified. It is however difficult to determine their relative importance, and to predict a priori the strength and direction of the effects of a given earthworm species on a given plant. Soil properties are likely to be very influential in determining plant responses to earthworm activities. They are likely to change the relative strength of the various mechanisms involved in plant-earthworm interactions. In this paper, we review the different rationales used to explain changes in earthworm effect due to soil type. Then, we systematically discuss the effect of main soil characteristics (soil texture, OM, and nutrient contents) on the different mechanisms allowing earthworm to influence plant growth. Finally, we identify the main shortcomings in our knowledge and point out the new experimental and meta-analytical approaches that need to be developed. An example of such a meta-analysis is given and means to go further are suggested. The result highlights a strong positive effect size in sandy soil and a weakly negative effect in clayey soil.
Neonatal Oral Tolerance a

The gastrointestinal tract of the human newborn is rapidly exposed to a wide range of bacterial, occasionally viral, and food-related antigens. The human diet consists of a multiplicity of complex animal and plant antigens, all of which are non-self antigens and, as such, potentially immunogenic. Exposure of the newborn to these antigens occurs through direct oral administration or indirectly during breast-feeding through mother's milk. The ensuing immune responses of the developing gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) in the neonate have to be seen in the context of highly complex interactions between physiological functions of the mucosa and immunological interactions, which in the majority of adult rodents leads to oral tolerance (a state of specific immunological hyporesponsiveness after prior oral (mucosal) exposure). Tolerance to self and foreign antigens is acquired and maintained by thymic and peripheral events. Oral tolerance to food antigens is the paradigm for peripheral tolerance induction and is controlled by several, not mutually exclusive, immunological principles. The existence of oral tolerance is well described in laboratory rodents,'+ other From the clinical point of view, food-sensitive diseases, such as food-induced enteropathies, and immediate'. '' and delayed responses to foods9. ". '* are a feature of infancy. ". l3 Despite this fact, very little is known, that is, which variables are important for the induction or failure of oral tolerance in the neonatal period. Contrary to the commonly held view that neonatal administration of antigen is particularly prone to tolerance induction (by intravenous injection of antigens or oral administration of antigen in the neonatal period is more likely to sensitize. These observations are in keeping with the results of studies in human infants where early postnatal milk exposure, especially in children from an allergic family background, has been associated with clinical reactions (e.g., milk protein sensitive enteropathy, atopic eczema) to milk in later life (reviewed in refs. 17-19). Extrapolation from results obtained in animal studies to humans and human conditions can only be made with extreme caution. Despite these caveats, evidence obtained from laboratory rodents has greatly enhanced our understanding of human immune responses, especially in those conditions where such studies would be ethically unacceptable. and humans. *
Functions of Code Switching in Schoolchildren's Conversations

Abstract This study examined the code-switching patterns in the speech of immigrant Spanish-speaking children. Seven- and 10-year-old boys and girls from bilingual classrooms were each paired with a mutually selected friend, and their speech was collected in two contexts: while the children waited for an expected science experiment and when they worked together to follow an instruction worksheet about hands-on magnetic materials. This study presents data on the discourse characteristics of children's code switching, and the functions that Spanish and English have according to context. In addition, the data are described in relation to children's language competence and preference. The study found that code switching occurred both within and across turns. The older children's switches were more frequent and were deployed for a wider variety of functions than the younger children's. The results challenge the negative view that code switching by children who are learning two languages is due to lack of proficiency, and instead support the view that it is used as a strategy to extend their communicative competence during peer interaction.
Female-biased sex ratios and the proportion of cryptic male morphs of migrant juvenile Ruffs (Philomachus pugnax) in Finland

Biases in sex ratio may affect the viability of populations, and may arise for different rea-sons, such as biased primary ratio and differential juvenile or adult mortality of sexes. Global populations of Ruffs are thought to be strongly female biased. To determine the demographic origin of this sex bias, we report the sex ratios among juvenile Ruffs on their southward migration in Finland during 1985–2006. We also quantify the proportion of cryptic, female-like 'faeder'males at this demographic stage, and examine migration tim-ing by sex. We found a strong female bias in juvenile populations; across the study years, 34% of individuals were males. Female juveniles migrated earlier than male juveniles. Faeder males made up ca. 1% of juvenile populations, similar to estimates from mixed-age populations elsewhere. These results, combined with previous studies, confirm the strong female bias and the low frequency of 'faeders'at the juvenile stage of the Ruff. The sex bias might thus demographically originate from sex-allocation strategies by females at the egg stage. Given the genetic determination of the status of faeders, their proportion among juveniles provides the first estimate of the morphs' proportional reproductive suc-cess.
BALLOON-BORNE SUBMILLIMETER POLARIMETRY OF THE VELA C MOLECULAR CLOUD: SYSTEMATIC DEPENDENCE OF POLARIZATION FRACTION ON COLUMN DENSITY AND LOCAL POLARIZATION-ANGLE DISPERSION

We present results for Vela C obtained during the 2012 flight of the Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope for Polarimetry. We mapped polarized intensity across almost the entire extent of this giant molecular cloud, in bands centered at 250, 350, and 500 μm. In this initial paper, we show our 500 μm data smoothed to a resolution of 2. ′5 (approximately 0.5 pc). We show that the mean level of the fractional polarization p and most of its spatial variations can be accounted for using an empirical three-parameter power-law fit, , where N is the hydrogen column density and S is the polarization-angle dispersion on 0.5 pc scales. The decrease of p with increasing S is expected because changes in the magnetic field direction within the cloud volume sampled by each measurement will lead to cancellation of polarization signals. The decrease of p with increasing N might be caused by the same effect, if magnetic field disorder increases for high column density sightlines. Alternatively, the intrinsic polarization efficiency of the dust grain population might be lower for material along higher density sightlines. We find no significant correlation between N and S. Comparison of observed submillimeter polarization maps with synthetic polarization maps derived from numerical simulations provides a promising method for testing star formation theories. Realistic simulations should allow for the possibility of variable intrinsic polarization efficiency. The measured levels of correlation among p, N, and S provide points of comparison between observations and simulations.
Sporulation in mycobacteria

Mycobacteria owe their success as pathogens to their ability to persist for long periods within host cells in asymptomatic, latent forms before they opportunistically switch to the virulent state. The molecular mechanisms underlying the transition into dormancy and emergence from it are not clear. Here we show that old cultures of Mycobacterium marinum contained spores that, upon exposure to fresh medium, germinated into vegetative cells and reappeared again in stationary phase via endospore formation. They showed many of the usual characteristics of well-known endospores. Homologues of well-known sporulation genes of Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces coelicolor were detected in mycobacteria genomes, some of which were verified to be transcribed during appropriate life-cycle stages. We also provide data indicating that it is likely that old Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin cultures form spores. Together, our data show sporulation as a lifestyle adapted by mycobacteria under stress and tempt us to suggest this as a possible mechanism for dormancy and/or persistent infection. If so, this might lead to new prophylactic strategies.
Dynamics of EEG slow wave activity during physiological sleep and after administration of benzodiazepine hypnotics.

The dynamics of EEG slow wave activity during sleep were investigated in two subjects recorded for 14 consecutive nights, and in 14 subjects recorded for one night after placebo administration. In addition, records were obtained after a single bedtime dose of the benzodiazepine hypnotics flurazepam (30 mg), flunitrazepam (2 mg), triazolam (0.5 mg) and midazolam (15 mg). Mean slow wave activity (i.e. spectral power density in the 0.75-4.5 Hz band) invariably declined from the first to the third nonREM sleep episode. Within episodes, slow wave activity showed initially a gradual buildup over a period of offroximately 35 min, and in the end a rapid decline. Both the rise rates and fall rates decreased over the first three nonREM sleep episodes. The benzodiazepines typically attenuated mean slow wave activity within episodes as well as the rise and fall rates. For three compounds, residual effects were demonstrated in the drug-free post-drug night. We conclude that a homeostatically regulated sleep process determines the buildup rate of slow wave activity within nonREM sleep episodes.
Altered Monoaminergic Systems and Depressive-like Behavior in Congenic Prion Protein Knock-out Mice

Beckman et al. (1) reported altered monoaminergic systems and depressive-like behaviors in a line of mice lacking the cellular prion protein PrPC (congenic B10.129-PrnpEdbg/Edbg mice). These mice were derived from gene-targeted 129/Ola embryonic stem cells and were subsequently crossed to C57BL/10SnJ mice. Consequently, the genomic region of B10.129-PrnpEdbg/Edbg mice flanking the targeted Prnp locus contains a stretch of up to 47.4 Mb isogenic to 129/Ola (2). In this region, any genes polymorphic between the 129/Ola and C57BL/10SnJ strains will display 129/Ola allelotypes (2). This genetic anomaly represents a systematic confounder when congenic knock-out mice are compared with wild-type mice of the back-crossing strain, even when using littermates from heterozygous breedings (2). This phenomenon, intrinsic to all congenic knock-out mice, is known as the flanking gene problem.
Mood- and restraint-based antecedents to binge episodes in bulimia nervosa: possible influences of the serotonin system

Background. In bulimic syndromes, binge episodes are thought to be caused by dietary restraint and negative moods. However, as central serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine: 5-HT) mechanisms regulate appetite and mood, the 5-HT system could be implicated in diet- and mood-based binge antecedents. Method. We used hand-held computers to obtain repeated ‘online’ measurements of eating behaviors, moods, and self-concepts in 21 women with bulimic syndromes, and modeled 5-HT system activity with a measure of platelet [3H]paroxetine-binding density. Results. Mood and self-concept ratings were found to be worse before binge episodes (than at other moments), and cognitive restraint was increased. After binges, mood and self-concept deteriorated further, and thoughts of dieting became more intense. Intriguingly, lower paroxetine-binding density predicted poorer mood and self-concept before a binge, larger post-binge decrements in mood and self-concept, and larger post-binge increases in dietary restraint. Conclusions. Paroxetine binding thus seemed to reflect processes that impacted upon mood-related antecedents to binge episodes, and consequences implicating mood and dietary restraint.
Quality of experience-based routing in multi-service wireless mesh networks

We develop an optimization framework for Quality of Experience (QoE)-based routing in multi-service Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs). The framework takes into account the heterogeneous requirements of different services delivered over a WMN, such that the overall end-user QoE is maximized under given resource constraints. We propose a novel QoE-aware double reinforcement learning strategy for dynamically computing the most efficient routes to deliver the flows of each service type. Comprehensive NS-2-based simulations demonstrate the substantial performance gains that our approach enables over conventional routing techniques such as AODV, with significant improvement over video quality.
Unsupervised classification of multifrequency and fully polarimetric SAR images based on the H/A/Alpha-Wishart classifier

Introduces a new classification scheme for dual frequency polarimetric SAR data sets. A (6/spl times/6) polarimetric coherency matrix is defined to simultaneously take into account the full polarimetric information from both images. This matrix is composed of the two coherency matrices and their cross-correlation. A decomposition theorem is applied to both images to obtain 64 initial clusters based on their scattering characteristics. The data sets are then classified by an iterative algorithm based on a complex Wishart density function of the 6/spl times/6 matrix. A class number reduction technique is then applied on the 64 resulting clusters to improve the efficiency of the interpretation and representation of each class. An alternative technique is also proposed which introduces the polarimetric cross-correlation information to refine the results of classification to a small number of clusters using the conditional probability of the cross-correlation matrix. These classification schemes are applied to full polarimetric P, L, and C-band SAR images of the Nezer Forest, France, acquired by the NASA/JPL AIRSAR sensor in 1989.
Low-income Homeownership: American Dream or Delusion?

This paper is a critical analysis of recent US policy to promote low-income homeownership. It examines the ideology and assumptions buttressing this policy, evidence on the effects of low-income homeownership and the viability of homeownership as a strategy for low-income families. Evidence suggests that the prospect for sustained growth in low-income homeownership may be limited. Research does not provide uniform support for it as a tool for asset accumulation, neighbourhood economic development or other social and political goals. Alleged effects of homeownership may be artefacts of self-selection and the conflation of homeownership with unobserved characteristics coincident with buying homes. What homeownership does and why are not well understood because of difficulties disentangling what homeownership means. The elevation of low-income homeownership to its current status has deflected political attention away from alternative policies for affordable housing.
Outcome of Patients With Cardiac Diseases Admitted to Coronary Care Units: A Report From Lazio, Italy

BackgroundCoronary care units (CCUs) currently treat a variety of diseases, but little is known about the effectiveness of CCUs on heart conditions other than acute myocardial infarction. ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to evaluate the association between direct admission to CCUs and the risk of inhospital death in patients with heart disease, to investigate factors affecting direct admission to a CCU, and to assess the effect of CCU admission on the use of invasive procedures in patients with arrhythmias. Research DesignWe conducted a retrospective analysis of discharge-abstract data from Lazio, Italy, hospitals. We used logistic regression, propensity score, and instrumental variable analysis to compare inhospital risk of death between patients admitted to CCUs and to ordinary wards in 13 different groups of heart disease. We used linear regression to study the association between the rate of CCU admission and the relative risk of death. ResultsThe study included 181,049 heart disease admissions, of which 8620 were admitted to CCUs (4.8%). Risk of death was significantly lower in patients admitted directly to CCUs for “acute myocardial infarction” (odds ratio [OR], 0.57), “acute ischemic heart disease” (OR, 0.55), and “other arrhythmias” (OR, 0.56). Mortality ORs were inversely related to the rate of CCU admission. CCU patients with arrhythmias received more invasive procedures (OR, 2.70) than non-CCU patients. ConclusionDirect admission to a CCU is associated with a decrease in mortality for patients with “acute myocardial infarction,” “acute heart ischemia,” and “other arrhythmias. ” Patients most likely to benefit from CCU care are preferentially admitted to CCUs. CCUs make larger use of invasive procedures than ordinary wards.
Acute Treatment Response and Its Predictors in Patients With First-Episode Psychosis in Iran

Objective: The aim of this paper was to investigate the acute treatment response and its predictors in a sample of patients with first-episode psychosis admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Iran. Method: A total of 163 patients with first-episode psychosis were treated with antipsychotics and other medications as prescribed by their treating psychiatrists. Sociodemographic and premorbid data at baseline and clinical data at both baseline and discharge (6±1 weeks after admission) were collected. Results: Patients showed a response rate of 71.4% for negative symptoms, 91.5% for positive symptoms and 67.5% for functioning. Those having a positive family history and less severe negative symptoms at baseline were less likely to respond in terms of negative symptoms. Higher premorbid and lower baseline functioning as well as acute onset were associated with the treatment response. Conclusions: Acute treatment response of first-episode psychosis in a clinical sample of a developing country seems to be higher than that of developed countries. However, predictors of response are comparable.
Effects of dietary oleic, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids on blood pressure, serum lipids, lipoproteins and the formation of eicosanoid precursors in patients with mild essential hypertension.

Forty-four male in-patients with mild essential hypertension were randomly allocated to three groups and put on diets supplemented with 60 ml/day of olive (n = 15), sunflowerseed (n = 15) or linseed oils (n = 14), respectively, for two weeks within a blind study. In the group receiving sunflowerseed oil an increase of linoleic acid in serum lipids could be observed, whereas arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids appeared unchanged in serum triglycerides and even significantly lower in cholesterol esters. The subjects ingesting the linseed oil-rich diet showed an increase of alpha-linolenic acid in serum lipids, whereas arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids remained unchanged in serum triglycerides. In cholesterol esters, however, arachidonic acid was significantly decreased and eicosapentaenoic acid appeared increased only to a low level of significance. In the group put on the olive oil-rich regimen only a significant fall of linoleic acid was obvious in serum triglycerides. The results might indicate a defective desaturation and elongation of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids and, consequently, a slow formation of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids in patients with mild essential hypertension, which should be considered in dietary studies. After the sunflowerseed oil-rich diet a significant decrease of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the LDL/high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio was found. Systolic blood pressure during a psychophysiological stress test and urinary sodium excretion appeared significantly lower after the linoleic acid-rich diet. After the linseed oil-rich diet, in addition to total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, serum triglycerides and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity were significantly depressed. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)