Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in Average Sodium Content of Prepacked Foods in Slovenia during 2011–2015

A voluntary gradual reduction in the salt content of processed foods was proposed Slovenia in 2010. Our objective was to determine the sodium content of prepacked foods in 2015 and to compare these results with data from 2011. Labelled sodium content and 12-month sales data were collected for prepacked foods (N = 5759) from major food stores in Slovenia. The average and sales-weighted sodium content, as well as the share in total sodium sales (STSS) were calculated for different food category levels, particularly focusing on processed meat and derivatives (STSS: 13.1%; 904 mg Na/100 g), bread (9.1%; 546 mg), cheese (5.1%; 524 mg), and ready-to-eat meals (2.2%; 510 mg). Reduced sale-weighted sodium content was observed in cheese (57%), a neutral trend was observed in processed meat and derivatives (99%) and bread (100%), and an increase in sodium content was found in ready meals (112%). Similar trends were observed for average sodium levels, but the difference was significant only in the case of ready meals. No statistically significant changes were observed for the matched products, although about one-third of the matched products had been reformulated by lowering the sodium level by more than 3.8%. Additional efforts are needed to ensure salt reduction in processed foods in Slovenia. Such efforts should combine closer collaboration with the food industry, additional consumer education, and setting specific sodium content targets (limits) for key food categories.
Actigraphic Monitoring of the Activity-Rest Behavior of Preterm and Full-Term Infants at 20 Months of Age

Differences in the activity-rest behavior of preterm and full-term infants provide an important contribution to the analysis of the ontogeny of circadian rhythms. In this study, we recorded the activity-rest behavior of 17 preterm and 8 full-term infants at the approximate age of 20 months over an average of 10 days by means of actigraphic monitoring (Actiwatch®, Cambridge Neurotechnology Ltd.). At the same time, the parents of the infants kept a daily diary. The activity-rest rhythm, the nighttime sleep duration, the daytime rest duration, as well as the sleep quality of the infants were analyzed. Preterm and full-term infants at the age of 20 months show a circadian rhythm with a period length between 23 h 32 min (23:32 h) and 24 h 23 min (24:23 h). It can be concluded that the preterm and full-term infants all reached a vital developmental step by showing the dominant circadian rhythm in the spectrum. The daytime rest duration of preterm infants is significantly shorter than that of full-term infants. The sleep quality of preterm infants is significantly lower than that of full-term infants, which means that the preterm infants have a larger percentage of less restful nighttime sleep. In other studies preterm infants show an over-proportional frequency of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For this reason, future analyses should reveal whether or not actigraphic monitoring is a suitable means for an early identification of activity-rest behavior in children who may develop ADHD.
Effective electrical resistance due to current-induced heat flow in thermoelectric generators

In this work, the operation of thermoelectric generators is analyzed within the framework of a circuital model. It is found that electric current-induced modification of the difference temperature gives rise to an effective electrical resistance. This effective resistance depends on thermal conductivities and has to be taken into account in the parameter extraction procedure.
On the problem of spurious patterns in neural associative memory models

The problem of spurious patterns in neural associative memory models is discussed. Some suggestions to solve this problem from the literature are reviewed and their inadequacies are pointed out. A solution based on the notion of neural self-interaction with a suitably chosen magnitude is presented for the Hebbian learning rule. For an optimal learning rule based on linear programming, asymmetric dilution of synaptic connections is presented as another solution to the problem of spurious patterns. With varying percentages of asymmetric dilution it is demonstrated numerically that this optimal learning rule leads to near total suppression of spurious patterns. For practical usage of neural associative memory networks a combination of the two solutions with the optimal learning rule is recommended to be the best proposition.
Central Role of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-induced Caspase-3 Activation*

Stress of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is associated with many neurodegenerative conditions, can lead to the elimination of affected cells by apoptosis through only partially understood mechanisms. Thapsigargin, which causes ER stress by inhibiting the ER Ca2+-ATPase, was found to not only activate the apoptosis effector caspase-3 but also to cause a large and prolonged increase in the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β). Activation of GSK3β was obligatory for thapsigargin-induced activation of caspase-3, because inhibition of GSK3β by expression of dominant-negative GSK3β or by the GSK3β inhibitor lithium blocked caspase-3 activation. Thapsigargin treatment activated GSK3β by inducing dephosphorylation of phospho-Ser-9 of GSK3β, a phosphorylation that normally maintains GSK3β inactivated. Caspase-3 activation induced by thapsigargin was blocked by increasing the phosphorylation of Ser-9-GSK3β with insulin-like growth factor-1 or with the phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid and calyculin A, but the calcineurin inhibitors FK506 and cyclosporin A were ineffective. Insulin-like growth factor-1, okadaic acid, calyculin A, and lithium also protected cells from two other inducers of ER stress, tunicamycin and brefeldin A. Thus, ER stress activates GSK3β through dephosphorylation of phospho-Ser-9, a prerequisite for caspase-3 activation, and this process is amenable to pharmacological intervention.
Estimation of Resource-Specific Technological Change in a Production Function

Technological change plays a critical role in economic growth. Prevailing approaches to estimation of total technological change are associated with total factor productivity (TFP) based on a Cobb-Douglas (CD) production function. To estimate resource-specific technological change, previous studies typically assume an alternative specific functional form other than a CD function such as a transcendental logarithmic (translog) or a Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) function. In this article, we argue that under certain conditions, a resource-specific technological change can be estimated from observed resource intensity/productivity data over time, irrespective of which functional form is adopted. We also illustrate that if the estimated technological change is applied to a CD production function, the estimated resource elasticities can differ considerably from that estimated by the prevailing TFP approach. In our case of a panel data for 40 regions 1995-2009, our approach shows that a CD function is plausible across regions compared to the TFP approach.
A Micropower Low-Noise Neural Recording Front-End Circuit for Epileptic Seizure Detection

This paper describes a micropower low-noise neural front-end circuit capable of recording epileptic fast ripples (FR). The front-end circuit consisting of a preamplifier followed by a 6th-order bandpass filter is designed for signal sensing in a future epileptic deep brain stimulator. A current-splitting technique is combined with an output-branch current scaling technique in a folded-cascode amplifier structure to improve the noise and power tradeoff in the preamplifier. In measurements, the preamplifier exhibits 39.4 dB DC gain, 0.36 Hz to 1.3 kHz of -3 dB bandwidth, and 3.07 μVrms total input-referred noise while consuming 2.4 μW from a 2.8 V power supply provided by an on-chip regulator circuit. A noise efficiency factor (NEF) of 3.09 is achieved with minimal power consumption and is one of the lowest published to date. The 6th-order follow-the-leader feedback elliptic bandpass filter passes FR signals and provides -110 dB/decade attenuation to out-of-band frequency components. In measurements, the entire front-end circuit achieves a mid-band gain of 38.5 dB, a bandwidth from 250 to 486 Hz, and a total input-referred noise of 2.48 μVrms while consuming 4.5 μW from the 2.8 V power supply. The front-end NEF achieved is 7.6. To the authors' knowledge, the proposed epileptic seizure- detection system is the first to achieve the FR-recording functionality. The chip is fabricated in a standard 0.6 μm CMOS process. Die size is 0.45 mm2.
A network planning perspective for grid integration of renewable distributed generation in South Africa

With the drive for cleaner energy, Independent Power Producers (IPP's) are tasked in finding suitable potential land sites that meet their renewable project needs and that prove to be technically feasible to integrate into the nearest distribution electrical infrastructure. With the South African utility, Eskom, adapting generic planning guidelines for grid integration of generators, the network planning assessment becomes complex with multi-machine grid integration. The voltage stability effects of the Eskom Distribution network to which these generating plants connect to, are analysed. Solar density maps provide an indication of proposed MW output in a particular area. These maps are used to identify the maximum connecting distributed generation (DG) to the electrical grid in feasible geographic areas. This paper documents research objectives which quantify network planning criteria that the utility and planning engineer may use in determining the successful integration of multiple machine DG units to the network grid. Four objectives were identified. Two of the four objectives are summarized in this paper as they were covered in detail in previous papers. Two new objectives consist of establishing voltage stability criteria using synchronous machine technology and locating feasible land sites using photovoltaic technology and are discussed further in this paper.
Pecking Order of Mixed Ownership:The Logic of Market

Spurred on by policy change and survival needs,developing mixed ownership and attracting nonstate capital have become the target and direction of reform of state-owned enterprises.Using a sample of stateowned enterprises of 2001—2013,and based on the proportion of three different types of shareholders including state,foreign and private,this paper decomposes mixed ownership into diversity of property rights,degree of property integration and mixed balance degree,and then studies their impacts on corporate performance.We find that simple mixed equity cannot improve performance,but when institutional environment is good,diversity of property rights can improve company performance,and performance has an inverted "U-shaped" relationship with degree of property integration.And when the non-stateowned shareholding ratio reached 30%-40%,their value effect is most significant.As to the mixed balance degree,in the state-owned enterprises,the balance effect of foreign equity is better than private equity.
Educational inequalities in mortality of patients with atrial fibrillation in Norway

Abstract Objectives: We explored the educational gradient in mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Design: We prospectively followed patients hospitalized with AF as primary discharge diagnosis in the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway 2008-2012 project. The average length of follow-up was 2.4 years. Mortality by educational level was assessed by Cox proportional hazard models. Population attributable fractions (PAF) were calculated. Analyses stratified by age (≤75 and >75 years of age), and adjusted for age, gender, medical intervention, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Results: Of 42,138 AF patients, 16% died by end of 2012. Among younger patients, those with low education (≤10 years) had a HR of 2.3 (95% confidence interval 2.0, 2.6) for all-cause mortality relative to those with any college or university education. Similar results were observed for cardiovascular mortality. Disparities in mortality were greater among younger than older patients. A PAF of 35.9% (95% confidence interval 27.9, 43.1) was observed for an educational level of high school/vocational school or less versus higher education in younger patients. Conclusions: Increasing educational level associated with better prognosis suggesting underlying education-related behavioral and medical determinants of mortality. A considerable proportion of mortality within 5 years following hospital discharge could be prevented.
DNA Crossover Motifs Associated with Epigenetic Modifications Delineate Open Chromatin Regions in Arabidopsis[OPEN]

Meiotic crossover in Arabidopsis is shaped by the combination of three major sequence motifs surrounded by a distinctive epigenetic landscape. The rate of crossover, the reciprocal exchanges of homologous chromosomal segments, is not uniform along chromosomes differing between male and female meiocytes. To better understand the factors regulating this variable landscape, we performed a detailed genetic and epigenetic analysis of 737 crossover events in Arabidopsis thaliana. Crossovers were more frequent than expected in promoters. Three DNA motifs enriched in crossover regions and less abundant in crossover-poor pericentric regions were identified. One of these motifs, the CCN repeat, was previously unknown in plants. The A-rich motif was preferentially associated with promoters, while the CCN repeat and the CTT repeat motifs were preferentially associated with genes. Analysis of epigenetic modifications around the motifs showed, in most cases, a specific epigenetic architecture. For example, we show that there is a peak of nucleosome occupancy and of H3K4me3 around the CCN and CTT repeat motifs while nucleosome occupancy was lowest around the A-rich motif. Cytosine methylation levels showed a gradual decrease within ∼2 kb of the three motifs, being lowest at sites where crossover occurred. This landscape was conserved in the decreased DNA methylation1 mutant. In summary, the crossover motifs are associated with epigenetic landscapes corresponding to open chromatin and contributing to the nonuniformity of crossovers in Arabidopsis.
Controlled self-formation of nanofibers and nanomembranes in polymers induced by laser direct writing

Tightly focused femtosecond laser beam can initiate multiphoton absorption and result in ultralocalized (within the femtoliter volume) chemical crosslinking of the liquid or gel state photopolymer. Translating the sample or changing the position of the focus beam enables pin-point photo-patterning of true three-dimensional micro/nanostructures with sub-diffraction spatial resolution [1]. However, further increase of resolution is of high importance for this direct laser writing technique to produce features with spatial dimensions less than &#60; 100 nm in order to enter the realm of nanotechnology. As the laser multiphoton polymerization technique enables to the reproducibly achievable feature dimensions of tens of nanometers consisting of tens of initial monomer molecules, the effect of non-local polymerization arises, which is usually treated as a limiting factor. This non-local polymerization greatile depends on specific laser excitation conditions, material properties, development, as well as dimensions and geometry of the structure itself. Non-local growth of the polymer chains away from the exposed areas leads to loss of resolution and structure definition [2]. This is commonly interpreted as an underdevelopment artifact, since it prevents from achieving ultra fine features separated with a thin gap in between. If there are rigid supports of densely polymerized regions nearby, non-locally growing polymer chain gets entangled one end in one support and the other end in the other. This way a suspended self-formed nanofiber or nanomembrane can originate. On the other hand, control of non-local polymerization opens a way for achieving higher resolution, which is not reachable using direct laser writing approach. In our experimental work, we present results of self-formed nanofibers and nanomembranes in acrylate based photosensitive material AKRE (tris(2-hydroxy ethyl) isocyanurate triacrylate) with &#60; 100 nm diameter or thickness, respectively. Other widely used materials, such as Ormocomp (Micro Resist), PEG-DA-258 (Sigma-Aldrich) and SCR-500 (Japan Synthetic Rubber Company) were also tested for the comparison.
The beliefs of nurses who were involved in a whistleblowing event.

BACKGROUND Nursing codes of ethics bind nurses to the role of patient advocate and compel them to take action when the rights or safety of a patient are jeopardized. Reporting misconduct is known as whistleblowing and studies indicate that there are personal and professional risks involved in blowing the whistle. AIM The aim of this study was to explore the beliefs of nurses who wrestled with this ethical dilemma. DESIGN A descriptive survey design was used to examine the beliefs of nurses in Western Australia who reported misconduct (whistleblowers) and of those who did not report misconduct (nonwhistleblowers). METHODS The instrument listed statements from current ethical codes, statements from traditional views on nursing and statements of beliefs related to the participant's whistleblowing experience. Respondents were asked to rate each item on a five-point Likert format which ranged from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Data were analysed using a Pearson's correlation matrix and one-way ANOVA. To further explore the data, a factor analysis was run with varimax rotation. RESULTS Results indicated that whistleblowers supported the beliefs inherent in patient advocacy, while nonwhistleblowers retained a belief in the traditional role of nursing. Participants who reported misconduct (whistleblowers) supported the belief that nurses were primarily responsible to the patient and should protect a patient from incompetent or unethical people. Participants who did not report misconduct (nonwhistleblowers) supported the belief that nurses are obligated to follow a physician's order at all times and that nurses are equally responsible to the patient, the physician and the employer. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that nurses may respond to ethical dilemmas based on different belief systems.
Respiratory impedance during weaning from mechanical ventilation in a mixed population of critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND Worsening of respiratory mechanics during a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) has been traditionally associated with weaning failure, although this finding is based on studies with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients only. The aim of our study was to assess the course of respiratory impedance non-invasively measured by forced oscillation technique (FOT) during a successful and failed SBT in a mixed population. METHODS Thirty-four weaning trials were reported in 29 consecutive mechanically ventilated patients with different causes of initiation of ventilation. During the SBT, the patient was breathing through a conventional T-piece connected to the tracheal tube. FOT (5 Hz, +/- 1 cm H(2)O, 30 s) was applied at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min. Respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) were computed from pressure and flow measurements. The frequency to tidal volume ratio f/V(t) was obtained from the flow signal. At the end of the trial, patients were divided into two groups: SBT success and failure. RESULTS Mixed model analysis showed no significant differences in Rrs and Xrs over the course of the SBT, or between the success (n=16) and the failure (n=18) groups. In contrast, f/V(t) was significantly (P<0.001) higher in the failure group. CONCLUSIONS Worsening of respiratory impedance measured by FOT is not a common finding during a failed SBT in a typically heterogeneous intensive care unit population of mechanically ventilated patients.
Postoperative Apnea, Bradycardia, and Oxygen Desaturation in Formerly Premature Infants: Prospective Comparison of Spinal and General Anesthesia

Eighteen formerly premature infants scheduled for inguinal herniorrhaphy and who were less than 51 wk postconceptional age were assigned to either the general anesthesia group (GA:atropine, halothane, and nitrous oxide) or the spinal anesthesia group (SA: hyperbaric tetracaine). Twelve-hour, three-channel continuous recordings of respiratory rate (chest wall impedance), electrocardiogram (ECG), and hemoglobin O2 saturation (Spo2) were obtained preoperatively and after surgery. These were analyzed for short (11-15 s) and long (>15 s) apnea spells, periodic breathing, and episodes of hemoglobin oxygen desaturation and bradycardia. Infants in the GA group had lower postoperative minimum Spo2 (68.7% +/- 11.4%) and minimum heart rate (79 bpm +/- 19) than infants in the SA group (80.7% +/- 9.2%, and 109 bpm +/- 30, respectively; P < 0.05) and had lower postoperative minimum Spo2 and minimum heart rate than they had preoperatively (79.0% +/- 13.7%, and 93 bpm +/- 31, respectively; P < 0.05); pre- and postoperative studies in the SA group did not differ. There were no differences in the incidence of postoperative central apnea. We conclude that spinal anesthesia reduces postoperative hemoglobin oxygen desaturation and bradycardia in formerly premature infants undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy. (Anesth Analg 1995;80:7-13)
Preference Reasoning in Matching Procedures: Application to the Admission Post-Baccalaureat Platform

Because preferences naturally arise and play an important role in many real-life decisions, they are at the backbone of various fields. In particular preferences are increasingly used in almost all matching procedures-based applications. In this work we highlight the benefit of using AI insights on preferences in a large scale application, namely the French Admission Post-Baccalaureat Platform (APB). Each year APB allocates hundreds of thousands first year applicants to universities. This is done automatically by matching applicants preferences to university seats. In practice, APB can be unable to distinguish between applicants which leads to the introduction of random selection. This has created frustration in the French public since randomness, even used as a last mean does not fare well with the republican egalitarian principle. In this work, we provide a solution to this problem. We take advantage of recent AI Preferences Theory results to show how to enhance APB in order to improve expressiveness of applicants preferences and reduce their exposure to random decisions.