Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feasibility study for the assessment of cardio-respiratory coupling in newborn infants

Cardio Respiratory Coupling (CRC) plays a key role during infant development. Nonetheless, mechanisms underlying it are still mostly unexplained and tools to assess it are often inadequate to understand its functioning. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of CRC activity detection and quantification analyzing ECG and respiration of newborn healthy subjects. Cross-spectral analysis (coherence) and a novel application of a nonlinear method (Bivariate Phase Rectified Signal Averaging) were applied on 10 minutes recording from 4 subjects. Our preliminary results show that these methods can provide significant information about the occurrence and the strength of CRC, opening interesting perspectives in the evaluation of cardiorespiratory pathologies in newborn infants. In particular, the observed dynamic behavior appears stable and centered around one single frequency in Quiet Sleep, while being more variable and less consistent in Active Sleep.
SEEKING RENTS BY SETTING RENTS: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF RENT SEEKING*

In recent years, there has been a large number of papers on the subject of rent seeking. Most such works on rent seeking have taken the rent as exogenously determined by regulators. Regulators, howeve r, may also be expected (and indeed have been shown) to be rent seeke rs and hence the determination of the rent itself should be endogeniz ed to reflect the fact that the rent setters are, themselves, rent se ekers. In this paper, the authors do this by presenting an analysis o f the interaction of regulators, firms, and consumers within a rent-s eeking framework where all three groups are assumed to be self-motiva ted. The analysis is carried out under alternative assumptions regard ing the nature of the market and the reaction functions of the partic ipants. Policy implications are drawn where appropriate. Copyright 1987 by Royal Economic Society.
No association between the neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism and Alzheimer Disease.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). To examine the role of the neuronal NOS (nNOS) gene in AD, patients (n = 139) and control subjects (n = 101) were genotyped for the nNOS dinucleotide polymorphism. No association was demonstrated for AD and this particular nNOS polymorphism.
Flt-3 Ligand and Sequential FL/Interleukin-2 in Patients With Metastatic Renal Carcinoma: Clinical and Biologic Activity

Flt3 (fms-like tyrosine kinase 3) ligand, a cytokine that stimulates increases in the number of dendritic cells (DC) in vivo, has been shown to have antitumor activity in murine models via an immune-mediated mechanism. Therefore, we examined the clinical activity of this cytokine in patients with an immunologic-responsive cancer, metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Flt3 ligand (25 &mgr;g/kg subcutaneous) was administered daily for the first 14 days of a 28-day cycle. Although the treatment was well tolerated and was confirmed to induce expansion of lineage (Lin)−/HLA-DR+/CD11c+ myeloid DC and Lin−/HLA-DR+/CD123+ plasmacytoid DC, no clinical activity was observed. Reasoning that DC expanded by Flt3 ligand might potentiate the clinical activity of low-dose interleukin-2, a second study was conducted of sequential administration of 25 &mgr;g/kg of Flt3 ligand daily for 7 days was followed by 11 x 106 IU of subcutaneous interleukin-2 for 4 consecutive days × 4 weeks. In this study, increased numbers of circulating DC were again observed, which was followed by increased numbers of activated T cells, confirming a biologic effect of each cytokine. However, toxicity and clinical efficacy were similar to what has been seen with low-dose interleukin-2 alone, with two minor responses observed. These results demonstrate that Flt3 ligand, although capable of inducing expansion of circulating myeloid and plasmacytoid DC in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, lacks significant clinical activity at the doses and schedules examined.
Wage Differentials in Sri Lanka: The case of a post-conflict country with a free education policy

This study analyses wage differentials in Sri Lanka by the individuals’ educational attainment. The wage returns to education are estimated by using a combination of the techniques of ordinary least-square, two-stage least-square, sample-selection, and quantile regression on micro-data of the Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey-2013. Therefore, the estimates provided by this study are representative of the entire country and corrected for both the endogeniety and the sample-selection biases. The study concludes that education generates a positive impact on private earning. The results show that one additional year of schooling increases hourly wage rate by 9% approximately. Also, according to the results, the primary and secondary education reduces income inequality among people whereas the bachelor’s-degree University education is a contributor to the income inequality. Further, the results relating to the additional controls reveal that the male, urban, and the public sector employees earn relatively higher wage returns.
Detecting nanoparticulate silver using single‐particle inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry

The environmental prevalence of engineered nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticulate silver (AgNP), is expected to increase substantially. The ubiquitous use of commercial products containing AgNP may result in their release to the environment, and the potential for ecological effects is unknown. Detecting engineered nanomaterials is one of the greatest challenges in quantifying their risks. Thus, it is imperative to develop techniques capable of measuring and characterizing exposures, while dealing with the innate difficulties of nanomaterial detection in environmental samples, such as low‐engineered nanomaterial concentrations, aggregation, and complex matrices. Here the authors demonstrate the use of inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, operated in a single‐particle counting mode (SP‐ICP‐MS), to detect and quantify AgNP. In the present study, two AgNP products were measured by SP‐ICP‐MS, including one of precisely manufactured size and shape, as well as a commercial AgNP‐containing health food product. Serial dilutions, filtration, and acidification were applied to confirm that the method detected particles. Differentiation of dissolved and particulate silver (Ag) is a feature of the technique. Analysis of two wastewater samples demonstrated the applicability of SP‐ICP‐MS at nanograms per liter Ag concentrations. In this pilot study, AgNP was found at 100 to 200 ng/L in the presence of 50 to 500 ng/L dissolved Ag. The method provides the analytical capability to monitor Ag and other metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in fate, transport, stability, and toxicity studies using a commonly available laboratory instrument. Rapid throughput and element specificity are additional benefits of SP‐ICP‐MS as a measurement tool for metal and metal oxide engineered nanoparticles. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:115–121. © 2011 SETAC
A sensitive method for the sulfur isotope analysis of dimethyl sulfide and dimethylsulfoniopropionate in seawater.

RATIONALE Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is the major volatile sulfur species emitted to the atmosphere from the oceans. The sulfur isotope ratio ((34)S/(32)S) of DMS may offer a way to calculate the contribution of marine DMS to global sulfur cycling. The S-isotopic analysis of DMS is difficult due to its low concentrations in natural seawater and high chemical reactivity. Here we present a sensitive, precise and accurate method for determining the S-isotopic composition of natural DMS and its precursor, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), in seawater. METHODS The method was based on a purge of DMS from aqueous solutions or natural seawater to a cryogenic trap and subsequent separation of DMS by gas chromatography. The separated DMS was then transferred from the gas chromatograph to a multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (GC/MC-ICPMS system) for measurement of (34)S/(32)S ratios. Correction for mass bias was accomplished using standard-sample bracketing with peaks of SF6 as a reference gas. RESULTS Results obtained from synthetic DMS and DMSP dissolved in artificial seawater show >98% recovery of DMS and very good precision (0.1 to 0.3‰), accuracy and linearity (0.2‰) for the 26-179 picomoles (pmol) of DMS or DMSP injected. The system was tested with natural seawater from Eilat (Red Sea, Israel) and similar precision and accuracy for both DMS and DMSP were obtained. The δ(34)S values of DMS and DMSP from Eilat seawater were 19.2 ± 0.2‰ and 19.7 ± 0.2‰, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The coupling of a purge-and-trap system with a GC/MC-ICPMS system was shown to be a sensitive, accurate and robust approach for the S-isotope analysis of nanomolar (nM) concentrations of DMS and DMSP from aqueous solutions and natural seawater.
The variational attitude estimator in the presence of bias in angular velocity measurements

Estimation of rigid body attitude motion is a long-standing problem of interest in several applications. This problem is challenging primarily because rigid body motion is described by nonlinear dynamics and the state space is nonlinear. The extended Kalman filter and its several variants have remained the standard and most commonly used schemes for attitude estimation over the last several decades. These schemes are obtained as approximate solutions to the nonlinear optimal filtering problem. However, these approximate or near optimal solutions may not give stable estimation schemes in general. The variational attitude estimator was introduced recently to fill this gap in stable estimation of arbitrary rigid body attitude motion in the presence of uncertainties in initial state and unknown measurement noise. This estimator is obtained by applying the Lagrange-d'Alembert principle of variational mechanics to a Lagrangian constructed from residuals between measurements and state estimates with a dissipation term that is linear in the angular velocity measurement residual. In this work, the variational attitude estimator is generalized to include angular velocity measurements that have a constant bias in addition to measurement noise. The state estimates converge to true states almost globally over the state space. Further, the bias estimates converge to the true bias once the state estimates converge to the true states.
Circulating endothelial progenitor cells are inversely correlated with in-stent restenosis in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes treated with EPC-capture stents (JACK-EPC trial).

AIM Aim of the study was to evaluate the association between circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and angiographic outcomes after implantation of GenousTM stent in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (ACS) (NSTE-ACS) undergoing urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS Sixty patients treated with EPC-capture stent (N.=30) or bare metal stents (BMS) (N.=30) receiving 80 mg atorvastatin and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) for 12 months. Restenosis was assessed after 6 months by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and major acute coronary events (MACE) evaluated after 6 and 12 months. INCLUSION CRITERIA de novo lesion >70% in native vessel, diameter 2.5-4 mm, lesion length <30 mm. EXCLUSION CRITERIA diabetes, previous revascularization, significant left main stenosis, chronic total occlusions (CTO) and multivessel disease. RESULTS Majority of patients in EPC-capture stent and BMS groups presented with NSTEMI (73.3% and 70%, respectively). Mean stent length was 20.1±8 and 19.9±10 mm, diameter 3±0.97 and 3.1±0.88 mm in respective groups. The binary restenosis was significantly lower in GenousTM (13 vs. 26.6%, P=0.04). Risk of MACE after 6 and 12 months were comparable in both groups. There was no stent thrombosis. Numbers of circulating EPCs were significantly approximately 2-fold higher during the ACS than after 6 months. Mobilization of EPCs during acute ischemia was significantly lower in patients who developed restenosis after 6 months (3 vs. 4.5 cells/μL, P=0.002) and it was negatively correlated with late-loss after 6 months (R=-0.42; P<0.03). CONCLUSION Use of GenousTM stents in NSTE-ACS is associated with lower restenosis rate than BMS at 6 months. There was no ST through 1 year. The number of circulating EPCs is inversely correlated with in-stent late loss (LL).
An aggregate import demand function for Bangladesh: a cointegration approach

This paper investigates the existence of a long-run aggregate merchandise import demand function for Bangladesh during the period 1974 - 94. The cointegration and error correction modelling approaches have been applied. Empirical results suggest that there exists a unique long-run or equilibrium relationship among real quantitities of imports, real import prices, real GDP and real foreign exchange reserves. The dynamic behaviour of import demand has been investigated by estimating two types of error correction models, in which the error correction terms have been found significant. In model I, real import prices and real GDP (lagged one year) and in model II, real import prices, real GDP (lagged one year), real imports (lagged one quarter) and a dummy variable capturing the effects of import liberalization policies have all emerged as important determinants of import demand function. The error correction models have also been found to be robust as they satisfy almost all relevant diagnostic tests.
Defining witchcraft-related crime in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

In the South African context, criminal acts that are associated with beliefs in witchcraft have illustrated the complexities that emerge in the relationship between crime and culture. Witchcraft beliefs continue to play an important role in the lives of many African communities. However, when these beliefs manifest themselves in the harming of others, either through perceived supernatural means or through violence perpetrated against alleged witches, issues of crime add another dimension to the social and cultural context of African communities. In the north-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa, crimes associated with witchcraft beliefs have occurred relatively frequently, yet the South African Police Service (SAPS) in these areas has been ineffective in addressing these crimes. In this article it is argued that a clear definition of witchcraft-related crimes is needed to assist in dealing with these cases. Such a definition should be holistic, meaning that local perceptions of witchcraft as a crime should be taken into account, along with violence and other more obvious criminal acts. The article is based on a critical engagement with anthropological and other relevant literature, including the author’s own doctoral research study of witchcraft-related crime in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Key words: Witchcraft-related crime, Eastern Cape Province, Mpondoland, South Africa.
The XMM Cluster Survey: X-ray analysis methodology

The XMM Cluster Survey (XCS) is a serendipitous search for galaxy clusters using all publicly available data in the XMM-Newton Science Archive. Its main aims are to measure cosmological parameters and trace the evolution of X-ray scaling relations. In this paper we describe the data processing methodology applied to the 5776 XMM observations used to construct the current XCS source catalogue. A total of 3675 > 4σ cluster candidates with >50 background-subtracted X-ray counts are extracted from a total non-overlapping area suitable for cluster searching of 410 deg2. Of these, 993 candidates are detected with >300 background-subtracted X-ray photon counts, and we demonstrate that robust temperature measurements can be obtained down to this count limit. We describe in detail the automated pipelines used to perform the spectral and surface brightness fitting for these candidates, as well as to estimate redshifts from the X-ray data alone. A total of 587 (122) X-ray temperatures to a typical accuracy of <40 (<10) per cent have been measured to date. We also present the methodology adopted for determining the selection function of the survey, and show that the extended source detection algorithm is robust to a range of cluster morphologies by inserting mock clusters derived from hydrodynamical simulations into real XMMimages. These tests show that the simple isothermal β-profiles is sufficient to capture the essential details of the cluster population detected in the archival XMM observations. The redshift follow-up of the XCS cluster sample is presented in a companion paper, together with a first data release of 503 optically confirmed clusters.
Analysis of signal processing in vestibular circuits with a novel light‐emitting diodes‐based fluorescence microscope

Optical visualization of neural network activity is limited by imaging system‐dependent technical tradeoffs. To overcome these constraints, we have developed a powerful low‐cost and flexible imaging system with high spectral variability and unique spatio‐temporal precision for simultaneous optical recording and manipulation of neural activity of large cell groups. The system comprises eight high‐power light‐emitting diodes, a camera with a large metal‐oxide‐semiconductor sensor and a high numerical aperture water‐dipping objective. It allows fast and precise control of excitation and simultaneous low noise imaging at high resolution. Adjustable apertures generated two independent areas of variable size and position for simultaneous optical activation and image capture. The experimental applicability of this system was explored in semi‐isolated preparations of larval axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) with intact inner ear organs and central nervous circuits. Cyclic galvanic stimulation of semicircular canals together with glutamate‐ and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐uncaging caused a corresponding modulation of Ca2+ transients in central vestibular neurons. These experiments revealed specific cellular properties as well as synaptic interactions between excitatory and inhibitory inputs, responsible for spatio‐temporal‐specific sensory signal processing. Location‐specific GABA‐uncaging revealed a potent inhibitory shunt of vestibular nerve afferent input in the predominating population of tonic vestibular neurons, indicating a considerable impact of local and commissural inhibitory circuits on the processing of head/body motion‐related signals. The discovery of these previously unknown properties of vestibular computations demonstrates the merits of our novel microscope system for experimental applications in the field of neurobiology.
Satellite Remote Sensing for Estimating Productivities of Land and Water

Satellite remote sensing offers the capability of objectively measuring spatiotemporalland surface parametersthat can provide information critical to irrigation performance studies. This study demonstrates the use of satellite remote sensing to identify the spatially distributed patterns of wheat yield and crop evapotranspirationfor the Bhakra command area (1.2 million ha), in the Haryana State of north-west India. For the first time, satellite remote sensing has been used to obtain estimates of productivity per unit of water consumed by crop evapotranspiration,a key indicator of the performance of irrigated agriculture. It is shown that areas with the highest grain yield correspond to the areas having the highest evapotranspiration.Consequently, the spatial variations in crop production per unit evapotranspiration are less (cv = 0.10) than spatial variations in productivity of land (cv = 0.17). Whereas head- and tail-end differences in three major branch canals were found for productivity of land, this t.
A demonstration of how to do a meta-analysis that combines single-case designs with between-groups experiments: The effects of choice making on challenging behaviors performed by people with disabilities

ABSTRACT Objective: This paper demonstrates how to conduct a meta-analysis that includes both between-group and single-case design (SCD) studies. The example studies whether choice-making interventions decrease challenging behaviors performed by people with disabilities. Methods: We used a between-case d-statistic to conduct a meta-analysis of 15 between-group and SCD studies of 70 people with a disability, who received a choice intervention or control. We used robust variance estimation to adjust for dependencies caused by multiple effect sizes per study, and conducted moderator, sensitivity, influence, and publication bias analyses. Results: The random-effects average was d = 1.02 (standard error of 0.168), so the 95% confidence interval (CI) suggests choice-making reduces challenging behaviors by 0.65 to 1.38 standard deviations. Studies that provided choice training produced a significantly larger intervention effect. Conclusion: Choice-making reduces challenging behaviors performed by people with disabilities.
Reversal of reproductive deficiency in the hpg male mouse by neonatal androgenization.

Some aspects of reproductive function in the GnRH-deficient hypogonadal (hpg) mutant mouse can be restored by transplanting normal fetal brain tissue containing GnRH cells into the central nervous system of adult hpg mice. However, hpg males showing physiological response to the graft fail to display sexual behavior and are infertile. We hypothesized that the reproductive deficit of these males is due to insufficient perinatal exposure to testicular androgens as a consequence of the GnRH deficiency. To test this hypothesis we androgenized hpg males by giving them neonatal injections of testosterone propionate (TP). Controls consisted of hpg males not androgenized neonatally and of normal males. All three groups received a TP implant in adulthood, and their copulatory behavior and reproductive capability were recorded. In addition, other hpg males, not androgenized neonatally, received fetal brain transplants containing GnRH neurons and were also tested for copulatory behavior and reproductive capability before and after receiving a TP implant. Three of 8 neonatally androgenized hpg males expressed the full repertoire of male sexual behavior, including intromission and ejaculation, and sired several litters. Three of 7 control hpg males that were not androgenized neonatally but received TP implants in adulthood also displayed mounting and intromission, but there was no evidence of ejaculation, and these males failed to impregnate normal females. Of the 8 hpg males that responded to a fetal transplant with testicular growth, only 1 displayed mounting behavior. However, when given a TP implant, 4 of 8 hpg males with grafts displayed mounting and intromissions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)