Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Connection between State Funding and International Sporting Success: The Case of Croatia

Abstract The aim of this paper is to determine the types and intensity of connection between the amount of state funding for various programmes in sport invested by Croatian Olympic Committee from 2001 until 2016 and international sporting success of Croatian athletes. A connection between 12 independent variables (funds invested in 33 summer Olympic sports (24 individual and 9 team sports) broken down in 8 specific programmes, as well as the number of athletes and coaches in different programmes) and international sporting success was tested using regression analysis. The results show statistically significant logarithm connection between success and total funds invested (ACR=0.160, R2=0.319, p=0.001). Additionally, three variables showed linear, eight logarithm and one quadratic type of connection. Applying different regression models contributes to better understanding of connection between the amount and direction of investments in high performance sport and result of those investments in the form of achieved international sporting success.
Relationship between Cultural Origin of Multinational Companies and Employing Expatriates in Foreign Subsidiaries in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract In the present study, we examine the question of whether the cultural characteristics of the country of the parent company are related to the posting practices of the parent company. According to our hypothesis, the management culture of the sending (parent) company influences the employment of foreign expats in local subsidiaries. In this research we use interviews and multivariate statistical analysis of survey data from five CEE countries, an important but relatively less examined region for global HR mobility. We found a significant relationship between cultural differences and expatriate assignment practices of MNCs. However, based on the strength of the relationship, we can conclude that in addition to management culture, other influencing factors typically influence posting decisions. Our results support Hofstede’s suggestion about the cultural dependence of management methods from a specific, management of expatriates, perspective.
Gaia-like astrometry and gravitational waves

This paper discusses the effects of gravitational waves on high-accuracy astrometric observations such as those delivered by Gaia. Depending on the frequency of gravitational waves, two regimes for the influence of gravitational waves on astrometric data are identified: the regime when the effects of gravitational waves directly influence the derived proper motions of astrometric sources and the regime when those effects mostly appear in the residuals of the standard astrometric solution. The paper is focused on the second regime while the known results for the first regime are briefly summarized. The deflection of light due to a plane gravitational wave is then discussed. Starting from a model for the deflection we derive the corresponding partial derivatives and summarize some ideas for the search strategy of such signals in high-accuracy astrometric data. In order to reduce the dimensionality of the parameter space the use of vector spherical harmonics is suggested and explained. The explicit formulas for the VSH expansion of the astrometric signal of a plain gravitational wave are derived. Finally, potential sensitivity of Gaia astrometric data is discussed. Potential astrophysical sources of gravitational waves that can be interesting for astrometric detection are identified.
Composition of Early Planetary Atmospheres II: Coupled Dust and Chemical Evolution in Protoplanetary Disks

We present the next step in a series of papers devoted to connecting the composition of the atmospheres of forming planets with the chemistry of their natal evolving protoplanetary disks. The model presented here computes the coupled chemical and dust evolution of the disk and the formation of three planets per disk model. Our three canonical planet traps produce a Jupiter near 1 AU, a Hot Jupiter and a Super-Earth. We study the dependency of the final orbital radius, mass, and atmospheric chemistry of planets forming in disk models with initial disk masses that vary by 0.02 $M_\odot$ above and below our fiducial model ($M_{disk,0} = 0.1 ~M_\odot$). We compute C/O and C/N for the atmospheres formed in our 3 models and find that C/O$_{\rm planet}\sim$ C/O$_{\rm disk}$, which does not vary strongly between different planets formed in our model. The nitrogen content of atmospheres can vary in planets that grow in different disk models. These differences are related to the formation history of the planet, the time and location that the planet accretes its atmosphere, and are encoded in the bulk abundance of NH$_3$. These results suggest that future observations of atmospheric NH$_3$ and an estimation of the planetary C/O and C/N can inform the formation history of particular planetary systems.
Modulated and unmodulated travelling azimuthal waves on the toroidal vortices in a spherical Couette system

We have investigated the modulated and unmodulated travelling azimuthal waves appearing on the toroidal Taylor–Görtler (TG) vortices in a fluid contained between two concentric spheres with the inner sphere rotating. For smaller-clearance cases, toroidal TG vortices appear at the equator, just as in the flow between two concentric cylinders with the inner cylinder rotating. When the Reynolds number of the flow increases quasi-statically, spiral TG vortices appear in addition to toroidal TG vortices, and no modulation occurs, even if the Reynolds number further increases quasi-statically. However, when the Reynolds number is increased from zero to a particular value with a specific acceleration of the inner sphere, modulated wavy toroidal TG vortices appear. We found that the necessary condition for occurrence of modulation is the prevention of spiral TG vortices. Using simultaneous flow-visualization and spectral techniques, and measuring the fluctuation of sinks and sources of vortex boundaries, we obtained the frequency f1 of travelling azimuthal waves passing a fixed point in the laboratory and the modulation frequencies f2 and f′2 of these waves, as determined by an observer in the laboratory and an observer fixed in a reference frame that rotates in phase with the travelling azimuthal waves, respectively. The relationship among the characteristic frequencies, f1, f2 and f′2, obtained by modal analysis and the experimental results, is (f′2 + kf1/m)/f2 = − 1, where k and m are a modulation parameter and the wavenumber of travelling azimuthal waves, respectively.
TRANSFORMATIONS OF WLENER INTEGRALS UNDER A GENERAL CLASS OF LINEAR TRANSFORMATIONS

Introduction. Let C be the space of all real-valued functions x(t) continuous in O^t^l, and vanishing at / = 0. Wiener has defined a measure over the space C and in terms of this measure he has defined an average or integral over C which is intimately related among other things to the theory of the Brownian motion [l, 2](l). The present authors have recently investigated certain aspects of the Wiener integral [3, 4] and have obtained for instance in [4] a result which shows how the integral is transformed under translations. In the present paper we determine how the integral transforms under a certain class of linear homogeneous transformations. This result is also combined with the earlier result on translations to yield a transformation formula for the nonhomogeneous transformation—-translation plus linear homogeneous transformation. By applying the transformation formula to the special i ¡near transformation
Phase diagram of the triangular-lattice Potts antiferromagnet

We study the phase diagram of the triangular-lattice Q-state Potts model in the real (Q,v)-plane, where v=eJ−1 is the temperature variable. Our first goal is to provide an obviously missing feature of this diagram: the position of the antiferromagnetic critical curve. This curve turns out to possess a bifurcation point with two branches emerging from it, entailing important consequences for the global phase diagram. We have obtained accurate numerical estimates for the position of this curve by combining the transfer-matrix approach for strip graphs with toroidal boundary conditions and the recent method of critical polynomials. The second goal of this work is to study the corresponding Ap−1 RSOS model on the torus, for integer p=4,5,…,8. We clarify its relation to the corresponding Potts model, in particular concerning the role of boundary conditions. For certain values of p, we identify several new critical points and regimes for the RSOS model and we initiate the study of the flows between the corresponding field theories.
Theory of polariton parametric interactions in semiconductor microcavities

We review some fascinating aspects of the nonlinear optical properties of semiconductor microcavities in the strong exciton–photon coupling regime. Our theoretical discussion is mainly focused on the angle-resolved experiments with resonant optical excitation. Within a model of interacting bosons, we describe the stimulated parametric amplification, luminescence as well as the existence of peculiar collective excitations due to the anomalous coupling between polaritons.
Identifying Direct Collapse Black Hole Seeds through Their Small Host Galaxies

Observations of high-redshift quasars indicate that supermassive black holes (SMBHs) with masses greater than ∼109 M⊙ were assembled within the first billion years after the Big Bang. It is unclear how such massive black holes (BHs) formed so early. One possible explanation is that these SMBHs were seeded by “heavy” direct collapse black holes (DCBHs) with masses of MBH ≈ 105 M⊙, but observations have not yet confirmed or refuted this scenario. In this Letter, we utilize a cosmological N-body simulation to demonstrate that before they grow roughly an order of magnitude in mass, DCBHs will have BH mass to halo mass ratios that are much higher than expected for BH remnants of Population III (Pop III) stars that have grown to the same mass (∼106 M⊙). We also show that when Tvir ≈ 104 K halos (the potential sites of DCBH formation) merge with much larger nearby halos (Mh > 1010 M⊙), they almost always orbit their larger host halos with a separation of a few kpc, which is sufficient to be spatially resolved with future X-ray and infrared telescopes. Thus, we propose that a future X-ray mission such as Lynx, combined with infrared observations, will be able to distinguish high-redshift DCBHs from smaller BH seeds due to the unusually high BH mass to stellar mass ratios of the faintest observed quasars, with inferred BH masses below ∼106 M⊙.
Soft-x-ray spectroscopy measurements of the p-like density of states of B in MgB 2 and evidence for surface boron oxides on exposed surfaces

Soft-x-ray absorption and fluorescence measurements are reported for the K edge of B in MgB{sub 2}. The measurements confirm a high density of B p{sub xy}({sigma}) states at the Fermi edge and extending to approximately 0.9 eV above the edge. A strong resonance is observed in elastic scattering through a core exciton derived from out-of-plane p{sub z}({pi}{sup *}) states. Another strong resonance, observed in both elastic and inelastic spectra, is identified as a product of surface boron oxides.
Rings on strings in excitable media

We study the dynamics and interaction of coaxial vortex rings in the FitzHugh–Nagumo excitable medium. We find that threading vortex rings with a vortex string results in significant qualitative differences in their evolution and interaction. In particular, threading prevents the annihilation of rings in a head-on collision, allows generic ring overtaking, and can even reverse the direction of motion of a ring. We identify that an important mechanism for producing this new behaviour is that threaded vortex rings interact indirectly via induced twisting of the threading vortex string.
Voltage-gated sodium channel activity mediates sea urchin larval skeletal patterning through spatial regulation of Wnt5 expression

Defining pattern formation mechanisms during embryonic development is important for understanding the etiology of birth defects and to inform tissue engineering approaches. In this study, we used tricaine, a voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) inhibitor, to show that VGSC activity is required for normal skeletal patterning in Lytechinus variegatus sea urchin larvae. We demonstrate that tricaine-mediated patterning defects are rescued by an anesthetic-insensitive version of the VGSC LvScn5a. Expression of this channel is enriched in the ventrolateral ectoderm where it spatially overlaps with posterolaterally expressed Wnt5. We show that VGSC activity is required to spatially restrict Wnt5 expression to this ectodermal region that is adjacent and instructive to clusters of primary mesenchymal cells that initiate secretion of the larval skeleton as triradiates. Tricaine-mediated Wnt5 spatial expansion correlates with the formation of ectopic PMC clusters and triradiates. These defects are rescued by Wnt5 knock down, indicating that the spatial expansion Wnt5 is responsible for the patterning defects induced by VGSC inhibition. These results demonstrate a novel connection between bioelectrical status and the spatial control of patterning cue expression during embryonic pattern formation. Summary statement Inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels perturbs Wnt5-mediated patterning of the sea urchin larval skeleton
Neural noise is associated with age-related neural dedifferentiation

Age-related neural dedifferentiation – reductions in the selectivity and precision of neural representations – contributes to cognitive aging and is thought to result from age increases in neural noise. This research has primarily used fMRI to examine age-related reductions in neural selectivity for different categories of visual stimuli. The present experiment used EEG to examine the link between neural noise and age-related neural dedifferentiation indexed by the scene-selective (P200) and face-selective (N170) ERP components. Young and older adults viewed images of scenes, objects, and faces during a 1-back task. Whereas both the P200 and N170 showed age-related slowing of peak latency, only the P200 showed age-related reductions in amplitude that were independent of visual and contrast acuity. We also examined the relationship between the ERP peak measures and an index of neural noise, namely the 1/f exponent of the frequency power spectrum. For the P200 amplitude, higher levels of neural noise were associated with smaller P200 amplitudes in young, but not older adults. In contrast, there was an age-invariant relationship between neural noise and N170 amplitude in the left hemisphere with higher levels of neural noise being associated reduced N170 amplitudes. While the present findings provide novel empirical evidence broadly consistent with predictions from computational models of neural dedifferentiation, the results also highlight potential limitations of the computational model that necessitate revision. The results also suggest that, at least for the P200, maintaining levels of neural noise similar to young adults might preserve levels of neural selectivity. Significance Statement A prominent theory of cognitive aging proposes that age-related cognitive decline results from increases in neural noise that reduce the selectivity of neural representations. We examined this predicted link between neural selectivity and neural noise with ERP components that show selectivity for scenes (P200) and faces (N170) and the 1/f aperiodic exponent measure of neural noise. The amplitude for the scene-selective, but not face-selective, ERP component was reduced in older adults, with both components showing age-related slowing. Critically, older adults with higher levels of neural noise showed lower levels of neural selectivity for scenes, but not faces. While these results provide some evidence supporting computational models of neural dedifferentiation, they also highlight important limitations of the model that require revision.
Oral Bioavailability and Metabolism of Hydroxytyrosol from Food Supplements

Table olives and olive oils are the main dietary sources of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a natural antioxidant compound that has emerged as a potential aid in protection against cardiovascular risk. Bioavailability studies with olive oils showed that HT is bioavailable from its free form and from conjugated forms like oleuropein and its aglycone. Still, its low dietary intake, poor bioavailability, and high inter-individual variability after absorption through the gastrointestinal tract hamper its full benefits. In a randomized, controlled, blind, cross-over study, we investigated the impact of HT metabolism and bioavailability by comparing two olive-derived watery supplements containing different doses of HT (30.58 and 61.48 mg of HT/dosage, respectively); additionally, HT-fortified olive oil was used in the control group. To this aim, plasma and urine samples were evaluated in 12 healthy volunteers following the intake of a single dose of the supplements or fortified olive oil. Blood and urine samples were collected at baseline and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, and 12 hours after intake. HT and its metabolites were analyzed by UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic results showed that dietary HT administered through the food supplements is bioavailable and biovailability increases with the administered dose. After intake, homovanillic acid, HT-3-O-sulfate, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid are the main metabolites found both in plasma and urine. The maximum concentrations in plasma peaked 30 minutes after intake. Being the bioavailability of a compound a fundamental prerequisite for its effect, these results promise a good potential of both food supplements for the protection against oxidative stress and the consequent cardiovascular risk.
Seeing Black Holes: From the Computer to the Telescope

Astronomical observations are about to deliver the very first telescopic image of the massive black hole lurking at the Galactic Center. The mass of data collected in one night by the Event Horizon Telescope network, exceeding everything that has ever been done in any scientific field, should provide a recomposed image in 2018. All this, forty years after the first numerical simulations performed by the present author.
Measuring the non-selective effects of motor inhibition using isometric force recordings

Inhibition is a key cognitive control mechanism. When rapidly exerted, inhibitory control has broad, non-selective motor effects, typically demonstrated using cortico-spinal excitability measurements (CSE) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). For example, during rapid action-stopping, CSE is suppressed at both stopped and task-unrelated muscles. While such TMS-based CSE measurements provide crucial insights into the fronto-basal ganglia circuitry underlying non-selective inhibition, they have several downsides. TMS is contraindicated in many populations (e.g., epilepsy, deep-brain stimulation patients), has limited temporal resolution, produces distracting auditory and haptic stimulation, is difficult to combine with other imaging methods, and necessitates expensive, immobile equipment. Here, we attempted to measure the non-selective motor effects of inhibitory control using a method unaffected by these shortcomings. 30 participants exerted isometric force on a hand-held force transducer while performing a foot-response stop-signal task. Indeed, when foot movements were stopped, force output at the task-irrelevant hand was suppressed as well. Moreover, this non-selective reduction of isometric force was highly correlated with stop-signal performance and showed frequency dynamics similar to established inhibitory signatures typically found in neural and muscle recordings. Together, we demonstrate that isometric force recordings capture the non-selective effects of motor inhibition, enabling many applications that are impossible with TMS.
Steroidogenesis and androgen/estrogen signaling pathways are altered in in vitro matured testicular tissues of mice

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can have gonadotoxic effects. In order to preserve and restore the fertility of prepubertal patients with biopsies are frozen and could theoretically be later matured in vitro to produce spermatozoa for assisted reproductive technology. A complete in vitro spermatogenesis has been obtained from prepubertal testicular tissue in the mouse model, although the sperm yield was low. Since steroid hormones play an essential role in spermatogenesis, it appears necessary to ensure that their synthesis and mechanisms of action are not altered in in vitro cultured tissues. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate steroidogenesis as well as androgen and estrogen signaling during in vitro maturation of mouse prepubertal testicular tissues. Histological, RT-qPCR, Western blot analyses, measurements of cholesterol, steroid levels aromatase activity were performed on or in vitro
Compensation and conversation in autism: atypical connectivity supports typical behavior

Background It is well-established that individuals with autism show atypical functional brain connectivity. However, the role this plays in behavior, especially in naturalistic social settings, has remained unclear. Some atypical patterns may reflect core deficits, while others may instead compensate for deficits and promote adaptive behavior. Distinguishing these possibilities requires measuring the ‘typicality’ of spontaneous behavior and determining which connectivity patterns correlate with it. Methods Thirty-nine male participants (19 autism, 20 typically-developed) engaged in 115 spontaneous conversations with an experimenter during fMRI scanning (Jasmin, et al., 2019, Brain). A classifier algorithm was trained to distinguish participants by diagnosis based on 81 semantic, affective and linguistic dimensions derived from their use of language. The algorithm’s certainty that a participant was in either the autism or typical group was used as a measure of task performance and compared with functional connectivity levels. Results The algorithm accurately classified participants (74%, P = .002), and its scores correlated with clinician-observed autism signs (ADOS) (rs = .56, P = .03). In support of a compensatory role, greater functional connectivity, most prominently between left-hemisphere social communication regions and right inferior frontal cortex, correlated with more typical language behaviour, only for the autism group (rs = .56, P = .01). Conclusion We report a simple and highly generalizable method for quantifying behavioral performance and neural compensation during complex spontaneous social behavior, without the need for an a priori benchmark. The findings suggest that functional connectivity increases in autism during communication reflect a neural compensation strategy.