Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Parental Welfare Work Requirements Good for Disadvantaged Children? Evidence from Age-of-Youngest-Child Exemptions

This paper assesses the impact of welfare reform’s parental work requirements on low-income children’s cognitive and social-emotional development. The identification strategy exploits an important feature of the work requirement rules—namely, age-of youngest- child exemptions—as a source of quasi-experimental variation in first-year maternal employment. The 1996 welfare reform law empowered states to exempt adult recipients from the work requirements until the youngest child reaches a certain age. This led to substantial variation in the amount of time that mothers can remain home with a newborn child. I use this variation to estimate the impact of work-requirement induced increases in maternal employment. Using a sample of infants from the Birth cohort of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, the reduced form and instrumental variables estimates reveal sizable negative effects of maternal employment. An auxiliary analysis of mechanisms finds that working mothers experience an increase in depressive symptoms, and are less likely to breastfeed and read to their children. In addition, such children are exposed to nonparental child care arrangements at a younger age, and they spend more time in these settings throughout the first year of life.
A novel long intergenic noncoding RNA indispensable for the cleavage of mouse two‐cell embryos

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are transcriptionally active in cleavage stage embryos, yet their functions are unknown. ERV sequences are present in the majority of long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) in mouse and humans, playing key roles in many cellular processes and diseases. Here, we identify LincGET as a nuclear lincRNA that is GLN‐, MERVL‐, and ERVK‐associated and essential for mouse embryonic development beyond the two‐cell stage. LincGET is expressed in late two‐ to four‐cell mouse embryos. Its depletion leads to developmental arrest at the late G2 phase of the two‐cell stage and to MAPK signaling pathway inhibition. LincGET forms an RNA–protein complex with hnRNP U, FUBP1, and ILF2, promoting the cis‐regulatory activity of long terminal repeats (LTRs) in GLN, MERVL, and ERVK (GLKLTRs), and inhibiting RNA alternative splicing, partially by downregulating hnRNP U, FUBP1, and ILF2 protein levels. Hnrnpu or Ilf2 mRNA injection at the pronuclear stage also decreases the preimplantation developmental rate, and Fubp1 mRNA injection at the pronuclear stage causes a block at the two‐cell stage. Thus, as the first functional ERV‐associated lincRNA, LincGET provides clues for ERV functions in cleavage stage embryonic development.
Impact of back bias on ultra-thin body and BOX (UTBB) devices

We present a detailed study of back bias (V<inf>bb</inf>) impact on UTBB devices with a gate length (L<inf>G</inf>) of 25nm and BOX thicknesses (TBOX) of 25nm and 10nm, respectively. It is reported for the first time that the Vt is modulated by V<inf>bb</inf> across a wide temperature range, from −40°C to 125°C. The device electrostatics and reliability, under various V<inf>bb</inf> are investigated. The short channel effect (SCE) is well maintained across the bias points. NFET GIDL and HCI both improve when negative bias is applied. The V<inf>bb</inf> effect on ring oscillators' (ROs) performance, based on 100nm contacted gate pitch (CPP), and on a 0. 08µm<sup>2</sup> 6-T SRAM, based on 80nm CPP, are reported for the first time. Clear RO performance/leakage tradeoff and SRAM static noise margin (SNM) modulation by V<inf>bb</inf> are observed. SNM of 206mV is achieved at Vdd=0.9V.
Cognitive Associations of Bimanual Haptico-Visual Recognition in Preschoolers

We have investigated the relation between haptico-visual recognition of objects and cognitive tasks in two large samples of preschoolers (n = 534; n = 750). Children aged 6 years completed a cross-modal task in which they have first to haptically explore an object and second to visually recognize it; they also performed phonological, verbal semantic, and visual tasks. For two consecutive years, bimanual haptico-visual recognition was significantly correlated to performance at all the cognitive tasks. The meaning of this relationship is discussed. The study supports the view that haptico-visual recognition tasks should be used as screening tools for early identification of children at risk of learning difficulties.
Visual system scaling in teleost fish

Teleost fish grow continuously throughout their lifespan, and this growth includes visual system components: eyes, optic nerves, and brain. As fish grow, the optic nerve lengthens and neural signals must travel increasing distances from the eye to the optic tectum along thousands of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons. Larger fish have better vision that enhances their ability to capture prey, but they are faced with the potential computational problem of changes in the relative timing of visual information arriving at the brain. Optic nerve conduction delays depend on RGC axon conduction velocities, and velocity is primarily determined by axon diameters. If axon diameters do not increase in proportion to body length, then absolute and relative conduction delays will vary with fish size. We have measured optic nerve lengths and axon diameter distributions in different sized zebrafish (Danio rerio) and goldfish (Carassius auratus) and find that, as both species of fish grow, axon diameters increase to reduce average conduction delays by about half and to keep relative delays constant. This invariance of relative conduction delays simplifies computational problems faced by the optic tectum. J. Comp. Neurol. , 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sex differences, sex ratios and sex roles

Sexual selection theory predicts that sex roles will be determined by the operational sex ratio (OSR), the sex ratio among individuals searching for mates at any given time. There are two predictions: (i) the sex which is in ‘excess’ will be the more competitive sex with respect to access to mates; and (ii) the sex of which there is a ‘shortage’ will be the more choosy with respect to potential partners. We examine the second prediction and find that current OSR theory does not consider an important factor which affects mate choice. This factor is sex differences in variation in mate quality. Hence, we develop a new model of mate choice which shows that the parameter which should be optimized during mate choice is the trade-off between reproductive rate and mate quality. If mate choice is too lax, reproductive rate may be high but partners will be of low quality. If mate choice is too stringent, partners will be of high quality but reproductive rate will be low because such partners will be rare. Stringency of mate choice is, therefore, a facet of OSR theory. Indeed, our model shows that OSR theory can be used to integrate the effect of sex differences in both mating rate and variation in mate quality to predict the direction of mate choice. Our model suggests that: (i) mate choice is only selected when individuals of the opposite sex vary in their quality as mates; (ii) if the extent of variation in mate quality is equal within each sex, the sex with the lower potential mating rate will be the more choosy sex; but (iii) if there is sufficiently greater variation in mate quality among the sex with the lower potential reproductive rate, the sex with the higher potential mating rate will be the more choosy sex. Additionally, this approach demonstrates that competition and choice need not necessarily be opposite sex roles, as is commonly assumed. This is because subtly different forms of the OSR are used to predict competitive and choosy behaviour, respectively.
A first approach on fault detection and isolation for cardiovascular anomalies detection

In this paper, we use an extended version of the cardiovascular system's state space model presented by [1] and propose a fault detection and isolation methodology to study the problem of detecting cardiovascular anomalies that can originate from variations in physiological parameters and deviations in the performance of the heart's mitral and aortic valves. An observer-based approach is discussed as the basis of the method. The approach contemplates a bank of Extended Kalman Filters to achieve joint estimation of the model's states and parameters and to detect malfunctions in the valves' performance.
Rapid reduction in blood flow to the rat ventral prostate gland after castration: Preliminary evidence that androgens influence prostate size by regulating blood flow to the prostate gland and prostatic endothelial cell survival

Androgenic steroids regulate the development and size of the mammalian prostate gland. The mechanism(s) for this growth control might involve a direct effect on prostate cell proliferation and survival as well as more complex effects on the tissue environment supporting nourishment and oxygenation. In this study, we evaluated an animal model of androgen action on the prostate, the rat ventral prostate gland, to determine whether acute androgen withdrawal, by means of castration, might alter the primary blood flow to the prostate gland and for the effects of castration on prostatic endothelial cell viability.
BER analysis of OOK and DPSK schemes in gamma-gamma turbulence channel with PIN and APD photodetector

FSO communication is the line of sight communication mainly considered as next generation high speed wireless communication technology because of its numerous advantages over RF communication like for instance; high data rate in the order of Gbps, large bandwidth, unlicensed spectrum accessibility as well as good secrecy against the eavesdroppers. There are number of modulation schemes that could be applied to optical channels. In this paper, we present a comparative analysis of two modulation schemes i.e. OOK and DPSK in terms of BER for Gamma-Gamma atmospheric model in the presence of PIN and APD photodetector used alternatively. For both the schemes, set-up with APD photodetector shows better performance as PIN photodetector in the said atmospheric channel. The above simulation is performed under Optiwave system environment.
On the predictive power of university curricula

In this study we analyzed the curricula of 65 university students to investigate the impact of activities progression on student performances. Clustering curricula based on activity order and type we discovered a significant incidence on performance, validating the predictive power of curricula. Nevertheless, we discovered that the characterization of clusters is mainly due to non mandatory activities, selected by a student to personalize his curriculum, while activity order is very less relevant. This observation rejects the idea that activities progression has impact on performance, resulting rather as a consequence of student choices.
Cis and trans requirements for stable episomal maintenance of the BPV‐1 replicator.

Papillomavirus genomes are maintained as multicopy nuclear plasmids in transformed cells. To address the mechanisms by which the viral DNA is stably propagated in the transformed cells, we have constructed a cell line CH04.15 expressing constitutively the viral proteins E1 and E2, that are required for initiation of viral DNA replication. We show that these viral proteins are necessary and sufficient for stable extrachromosomal replication. Using the cell line CH04.15, we have shown that the bovine papillomavirus‐1 (BPV‐1) minimal origin of replication (MO) is absolutely necessary, but is not sufficient for stable extrachromosomal replication of viral plasmids. By deletion and insertion analysis, we identified an additional element (minichromosome maintenance element, MME) in the upstream regulatory region of BPV‐1 which assures stable replication of the MO‐containing plasmids. This element is composed of multiple binding sites for the transcription activator E2. MME appears to function in the absence of replication but requires E1 and E2 proteins for activity. In contrast to, for example, Epstein‐Barr virus oriP, stably maintained BPV‐1 plasmids are not subject to once‐per‐cell cycle replication as determined by density labelling experiments. These results indicate that papillomavirus episomal replicators replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA of their hosts.
Preoperative assessment of deep myometrial and cervical invasion in endometrial carcinoma: Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and gross visual inspection

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of deep myometrial invasion and cervical extension by endometrial carcinoma. We also aimed to compare MRI results to surgical staging of endometrial carcinoma. Forty women with a histologic diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma underwent a preoperative pelvic MRI. In 33 cases intraoperative gross visual inspection (GVI) of the surgical specimen was also evaluated. The results obtained were compared with the histologic diagnosis. Pathologic evaluation of the myometrium determined that superficial invasion was present in 25 patients and deep invasion in 15. The uterine cervix was found to be involved in 12 cases. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of MRI and GVI were 93%/91%, 80%/77%, and 100%/100%, respectively, in detecting deep myometrial invasion and 80%/79%, 33%/36% and 100%/100%, respectively, in determining cervical invasion. When the Kappa statistical measurement was applied, the results from each technique, MRI and GVI, showed an agreement on the evaluation of myometrial and cervical invasion by endometrial carcinoma. In conclusion, MRI, in this series, was demonstrated to be a reliable method for preoperative endometrial carcinoma “imagiological staging”. The high accuracy achieved by MRI and GVI suggests that they may be used interchangeably.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis in the Elderly: Is it Safe?

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with acute cholecystitis aged 75 years and older. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on the 1216 cholecystectomies performed in our department from 2000 to 2005. A total of 225 patients underwent attempted LC for acute cholecystitis, of whom 42 were more than 75 years old and 183 younger. Results There was no difference in mean duration of symptoms before admission and length of hospital stay before surgery (3.8 d in elderly vs. 3.1 in younger patients, and 2.8 vs. 2.3 d, respectively). In all, 21% of the elderly patients had American Society of Anesthesiologists score III and IV. Mean operative time and conversion rate to open surgery were similar in both groups. Postoperative stay was longer in elderly (3.9 vs. 2.8). The postoperative complications rate and mortality were significantly higher in the elderly group (31% vs. 15%, and 4.8% vs. 0.5%, respectively). Conclusions LC in elderly patients suffering from acute cholecystitis is feasible and effective. It is associated with a higher rate of morbidity unrelated to the surgical site and mortality in elderly compared with younger patients. Stronger selection of elderly patients for surgery is needed.
Detection and Classification of Single and Combined Power Quality Disturbances Using Neural Networks

The detection and classification of power quality (PQ) disturbances have become a pressing concern due to the increasing number of disturbing loads connected to the power line and the susceptibility of certain loads to the presence of these disturbances; moreover, they can appear simultaneously since, in any real power system, there are multiple sources of different disturbances. In this paper, a new dual neural-network-based methodology to detect and classify single and combined PQ disturbances is proposed, consisting, on the one hand, of an adaptive linear network for harmonic and interharmonic estimation that allows computing the root-mean-square voltage and total harmonic distortion indices. With these indices, it is possible to detect and classify sags, swells, outages, and harmonics-interharmonics. On the other hand, a feedforward neural network for pattern recognition using the horizontal and vertical histograms of a specific voltage waveform can classify spikes, notching, flicker, and oscillatory transients. The combination of the aforementioned neural networks allows the detection and classification of all the aforementioned disturbances even when they appear simultaneously. An experiment under real operating conditions is carried out in order to test the proposed methodology.
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA): ringmaster of the genome

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein is one of the central molecules responsible for decisions of life and death of the cell. The PCNA gene is induced by p53, while PCNA protein interacts with p53-controlled proteins Gadd45, MyD118, CR6 and, most importantly, p21, in the process of deciding cell fate. If PCNA protein is present in abundance in the cell in the absence of p53, DNA replication occurs. On the other hand, if PCNA protein levels are high in the cell in the presence of p53, DNA repair takes place. If PCNA is rendered non-functional or is absent or present in low quantities in the cell, apoptosis occurs. The evolution from prokaryotes to eukaryotes involved a change of function of PCNA from a 'simple' sliding clamp protein of the DNA polymerase complex to an executive molecule controlling critical cellular decision pathways. The evolution of multicellular organisms led to the development of multicellular processes such as differentiation, senescence and apoptosis. PCNA, already an essential molecule in the life of single cellular organisms, then became a protein critical for the survival of multicellular organisms.
Psychological and sexual functioning in women with vulvar vestibulitis

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare psychological and sexual functioning in women with vestibulitis with healthy controls. It was hypothesized that women with vestibulitis would experience greater psychological stress and sexual dissatisfaction than controls. Study design: Fifty-two women with vestibulitis recruited from a vulvovaginal disease clinic and 46 healthy controls recruited from an outpatient gynecology clinic completed five standardized measures of psychological and sexual functioning. Multivariate analyses of variance and covariance were used to examine group differences. Results: Women with vestibulitis reported significantly higher scores than controls on the measures of depression (p ≤ 0.001), psychological distress (p ≤ 0.001) and sexual depression (p ≤ 0.001). They reported significantly lower scores on the measures of sexual satisfaction (p ≤ 0.001), sexual behavior (p ≤ 0.001) and sexual self-esteem (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the importance of addressing psychological distress and sexual dissatisfaction in women with vestibulitis.
The study on effect of random maintenance quality of components on composite power system reliability

Due to uncertainties of weather conditions and restoration resources, maintenance quality of component in power system is also stochastic. In order to study how maintenance quality stochastic nature influences system reliability, a hazard rate relating function (HRRF) is proposed to describe the reliability relation of component before and after maintenance. The maintenance quality assumed to be uniformly distributed is described by HRRF parameters. An extended sequential Monte Carlo simulation method is also proposed to investigate the effect of the model on the system expected energy not supplied (EENS). The case studies are carried out on IEEE RTS79, and demonstrates that EENS is very sensitive to the maintenance quality when the component aging is prominent. It is also found that lognormal distribution is better to represent the energy not supplied distribution than Weibull distribution on the tested system.
Especificação dos Requisitos de um Sistema de Gerenciamento de Alarmes baseado na Recomendação de Ações

Resumo. Quando ocorrem falhas de equipamento em plantas industriais complexas, o sistema de automacao e controle gera uma grande quantidade de eventos e alarmes que podem confundir os operadores e induzi-los a tomar decisoes erradas – o tempo para tomada de decisao e muito curto e a quantidade de informacao gerada e muito grande, sendo impossivel que o operador consiga ler todas antes de tomar a decisao correta. Neste artigo e apresentada uma analise dos principais conceitos, tecnicas e ferramentas existentes para a construcao de Sistemas Informatizados de Gerenciamento de Alarmes (SIGA). Realiza-se tambem uma analise preliminar dos requisitos de um SIGA baseado na recomendacao de acoes, com o desenvolvimento dos modelos de conceitos e de objetivos, conforme metodologia MAAEM. Atraves desses modelos e especificado o conhecimento necessario para o desenvolvimento de um SIGA baseado na recomendacao de acoes.
Organizational Communication Research: Key Moments, Central Concerns, and Future Challenges

This chapter summarizes the state of theory and research in organizational communication. The authors highlight the central concerns and major challenges addressed by organizational communication researchers. They begin by isolating the central intellectual and practical currents, and then they identify defining and constituting concepts in organizational communication. The chapter concludes with the authors’ proposals of fruitful areas for future research.
Binocular vision in amblyopia: structure, suppression and plasticity

The amblyopic visual system was once considered to be structurally monocular. However, it now evident that the capacity for binocular vision is present in many observers with amblyopia. This has led to new techniques for quantifying suppression that have provided insights into the relationship between suppression and the monocular and binocular visual deficits experienced by amblyopes. Furthermore, new treatments are emerging that directly target suppressive interactions within the visual cortex and, on the basis of initial data, appear to improve both binocular and monocular visual function, even in adults with amblyopia. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of recent studies that have investigated the structure, measurement and treatment of binocular vision in observers with strabismic, anisometropic and mixed amblyopia.
Genetic ‘budget’ of viruses and the cost to the infected host: A theory on the relationship between the genetic capacity of viruses, immune evasion, persistence and disease

The nature of the pathogen–host relationship is recognized as being a dynamic coevolutionary process where the immune system has required ongoing adaptation and improvement to combat infection. Under survival pressure from sophisticated immune responses, adaptive processes for microbes, including viruses, have manifested as immune evasion strategies. This paper proposes a theory that virus immune evasion can be broadly classified into ‘acquisition’ or ‘erroneous replication’ strategies. Acquisition strategies are characteristic of large genome dsDNA viruses, which (i) replicate in the cell nucleus; (ii) have acquired host genes that can be used to directly manipulate responses to infection; (iii) are often latent for the lifetime of the host; and (iv) have little or no serious impact on health. Alternatively, erroneous replication strategies are characteristic of small genome RNA viruses, which are recognized as being the cause of many serious diseases in humans. It is proposed that this propensity for disease is due to the cytoplasmic site of replication and truncated temporal relationship with the host, which has limited or removed the evolutionary opportunity for RNA viruses to have acquired host genes. This has resulted in RNA viruses relying on error‐prone replication strategies which, while allowing survival and persistence, are more likely to lead to disease due to the lack of direct viral control over potentially host‐deleterious inflammatory and immune responses to infection.