Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation

Our science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce is crucial to America’s innovative capacity and global competitiveness. Yet women are vastly underrepresented in STEM jobs and among STEM degree holders despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce and half of the college-educated workforce. That leaves an untapped opportunity to expand STEM employment in the United States, even as there is wide agreement that the nation must do more to improve its competitiveness.Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 percent of STEM jobs. This has been the case throughout the past decade, even as college-educated women have increased their share of the overall workforce.Women with STEM jobs earned 33 percent more than comparable women in non-STEM jobs – considerably higher than the STEM premium for men. As a result, the gender wage gap is smaller in STEM jobs than in non-STEM jobs.Women hold a disproportionately low share of STEM undergraduate degrees, particularly in engineering.Women with a STEM degree are less likely than their male counterparts to work in a STEM occupation; they are more likely to work in education or healthcare.There are many possible factors contributing to the discrepancy of women and men in STEM jobs, including: a lack of female role models, gender stereotyping, and less family-friendly flexibility in the STEM fields. Regardless of the causes, the findings of this report provide evidence of a need to encourage and support women in STEM.
THE EFFECTS OF NET TRANSFERS ON LOW INCOMES AMONG NON-ELDERLY FAMILIES

I . Conceptual and methodological issues . A . Definition of poverty and low income . B . The income concept . C . Adjustment of incomes for family size and definition of the reference population . D . 1 . Head-count ratios. low-income gap and low-income distribution . 2 . The measurement of low incomes and poverty .
CFTR Modulators: Shedding Light on Precision Medicine for Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening monogenic disease aﬄicting Caucasian people. It affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, glandular and reproductive systems. The major cause of morbidity and mortality in CF is the respiratory disorder caused by a vicious cycle of obstruction of the airways, inflammation and infection that leads to epithelial damage, tissue remodeling and end-stage lung disease. Over the past decades, life expectancy of CF patients has increased due to early diagnosis and improved treatments; however, these patients still present limited quality of life. Many attempts have been made to rescue CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression, function and stability, thereby overcoming the molecular basis of CF. Gene and protein variances caused by CFTR mutants lead to different CF phenotypes, which then require different treatments to quell the patients’ debilitating symptoms. In order to seek better approaches to treat CF patients and maximize therapeutic effects, CFTR mutants have been stratified into six groups (although several of these mutations present pleiotropic defects). The research with CFTR modulators (read-through agents, correctors, potentiators, stabilizers and amplifiers) has achieved remarkable progress, and these drugs are translating into pharmaceuticals and personalized treatments for CF patients. This review summarizes the main molecular and clinical features of CF, emphasizes the latest clinical trials using CFTR modulators, sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying these new and emerging treatments, and discusses the major breakthroughs and challenges to treating all CF patients.
Extracellular Vesicles in Prostate Cancer: New Future Clinical Strategies?

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer—excluding skin tumors—in men older than 50 years of age. Over time, the ability to diagnose PCa has improved considerably, mainly due to the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the clinical routine. However, it is important to take into account that although PSA is a highly organ-specific marker, it is not cancer-specific. This shortcoming suggests the need to find new and more specific molecular markers. Several emerging PCa biomarkers have been evaluated or are being assessed for their potential use. There is increasing interest in the prospective use of extracellular vesicles as specific markers; it is well known that the content of vesicles is dependent on their cellular origin and is strongly related to the stimulus that triggers the release of the vesicles. Consequently, the identification of a disease-specific molecule (protein, lipid or RNA) associated with vesicles could facilitate their use as novel biological markers. The present review describes several in vitro studies that demonstrate the role of vesicles in PCa progression and several in vivo studies that highlight the potential use of vesicles as PCa biomarkers.
Doing the Best We Can With What We Have: Multi-Label Balancing With Selective Learning for Attribute Prediction

Attributes are human describable features, which have been used successfully for face, object, and activity recognition. Facial attributes are intuitive descriptions of faces and have proven to be very useful in face recognition and verification. Despite their usefulness, to date there is only one large-scale facial attribute dataset, CelebA. Impressive results have been achieved on this dataset, but it exhibits a variety of very significant biases. As CelebA contains mostly frontal idealized images of celebrities, it is difficult to generalize a model trained on this data for use on another dataset (of non celebrities). A typical approach to dealing with imbalanced data involves sampling the data in order to balance the positive and negative labels, however, with a multi-label problem this becomes a non-trivial task. By sampling to balance one label, we affect the distribution of other labels in the data. To address this problem, we introduce a novel Selective Learning method for deep networks which adaptively balances the data in each batch according to the desired distribution for each label. The bias in CelebA can be corrected for in this way, allowing the network to learn a more robust attribute model. We argue that without this multi-label balancing, the network cannot learn to accurately predict attributes that are poorly represented in CelebA. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on the problem of facial attribute prediction on CelebA, LFWA, and the new University of Maryland Attribute Evaluation Dataset (UMD-AED), outperforming the state-of-the-art on each dataset.
Measuring Food Security in Africa: Conceptual, Empirical, and Policy Issues

The definition of food security has broadened since the term first came to prominence at the 1975 World Food Conference. Discussions of food security in the midand late 1970s were strongly influenced by the shortfall in world food production and run-up in prices early in that decade. Initially, food security meant avoiding transitory shortfalls in the aggregate supply of food. By the early 1980s, however, the world food supply situation had evolved markedly. The famines striking Africa took place in a world awash in grain. Clearly, inadequate levels of global food supply were not the cause of hunger. Sen's work focused attention on the lack of access by households and individuals to food because of low incomes (entitlements) as a cause of food insecurity, and other research has shown that for most of the hungry in the world, this lack of access is chronic, not transitory. Thus, the conceptual understanding of food insecurity has gradually evolved over the past fifteen years to include not only transitory problems of inadequate supply at the national level but also chronic problems of inadequate access and unequal distribution at the household level. D spite a broader understanding of the complexity of food insecurity, policy makers must still look for easily measured indicators to design programs to reach the food insecure. Often, these indicators are measures of regional or national food supply or its correlates (such as rainfall), as current information on household or individual entitlements to food is usually lacking. S me policy makers may think of supply shortfalls or the lack of domestic food self-suffi-
Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren

Significance Green spaces have a range of health benefits, but little is known in relation to cognitive development in children. This study, based on comprehensive characterization of outdoor surrounding greenness (at home, school, and during commuting) and repeated computerized cognitive tests in schoolchildren, found an improvement in cognitive development associated with surrounding greenness, particularly with greenness at schools. This association was partly mediated by reductions in air pollution. Our findings provide policymakers with evidence for feasible and achievable targeted interventions such as improving green spaces at schools to attain improvements in mental capital at population level. Exposure to green space has been associated with better physical and mental health. Although this exposure could also influence cognitive development in children, available epidemiological evidence on such an impact is scarce. This study aimed to assess the association between exposure to green space and measures of cognitive development in primary schoolchildren. This study was based on 2,593 schoolchildren in the second to fourth grades (7–10 y) of 36 primary schools in Barcelona, Spain (2012–2013). Cognitive development was assessed as 12-mo change in developmental trajectory of working memory, superior working memory, and inattentiveness by using four repeated (every 3 mo) computerized cognitive tests for each outcome. We assessed exposure to green space by characterizing outdoor surrounding greenness at home and school and during commuting by using high-resolution (5 m × 5 m) satellite data on greenness (normalized difference vegetation index). Multilevel modeling was used to estimate the associations between green spaces and cognitive development. We observed an enhanced 12-mo progress in working memory and superior working memory and a greater 12-mo reduction in inattentiveness associated with greenness within and surrounding school boundaries and with total surrounding greenness index (including greenness surrounding home, commuting route, and school). Adding a traffic-related air pollutant (elemental carbon) to models explained 20–65% of our estimated associations between school greenness and 12-mo cognitive development. Our study showed a beneficial association between exposure to green space and cognitive development among schoolchildren that was partly mediated by reduction in exposure to air pollution.
Condition, reproduction and survival of barn swallows from Chernobyl

Summary 1. We investigated the relationship between radiation arising from the fall-out due to the explosion of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl, Ukraine, and body condition, rate of reproduction and survival in a migratory passerine bird, the barn swallow Hirundo rustica L. , by comparing a contaminated region and a control region (Kanev) during 6 years between 1991 and 2004. 2. The fraction of nonreproducing adults was on average 23% in Chernobyl compared with close to zero in Kanev and other European populations. 3. Body condition as estimated from body mass was similar in Chernobyl and Kanev. Although laying date did not differ significantly between the two regions, clutch was reduced by 7%, brood size by 14% and hatching success by 5% in the Chernobyl region relative to the control area. 4. Annual adult survival, estimated from mark‐recapture analyses, was on average 28% in the Chernobyl region, but 40% in Kanev. 5. The relationships were generally confirmed in rank correlation analyses between response variables and ambient radiation levels in different colonies. 6. The overall findings are consistent with the hypothesis that radioactive contamination in the Chernobyl region has significant negative impact on rates of reproduction and survival of the barn swallow. We hypothesize that these effects are mediated by antioxidants and/or mutations.
The Effects of Curcumin on Alpha Amylase in Diabetics Rats

Background: One of the therapeutic approaches to lower postprandial blood glucose is to inhibition breakdown of starch by inhibiting carbohydrate hydrolysis enzymes. Alpha-amylase catalyzes the hydrolysis of -(1, 4)-D-glycosidic linkages of starch and other glucose polymers. Inhibitors of this enzyme could be used in the treatment of diabetes. Objectives: Based on this purpose we examined the eect of curcumin on alpha amylase and its IC50 and Ki. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 60 rats were divided into two major groups, normal and diabetic, and each was subsequently divided into five subgroups. One of them as control group that received grape seed oil and four of them as experimental groups that received curcumin at 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg (each group include six rats). Blood glucose levels were measured every three days. Serum insulin levels were measured three times, in the first day, middle and end of the experimental period. The activity of serum alpha amylase was measured in the end of experimental period. Results: The results showed that curcumin is a competitive inhibitor for alpha amylase with IC50 = 51.32 M and Ki = 20.17 M. In both diabetic and normal groups in all doses nearly dose dependent manner reduced blood glucose and insulin levels. In both diabetic and normal groups decreased levels of serum alpha amylase activity. Conclusions: It may be concluded that curcumin is a potent inhibitor of alpha amylase and has beneficial eects in the treatment of
The Rationality of Preference Construction (and the Irrationality of Rational Choice)

Economists typically assume that preferences are fixed - that people know what they like and how much they like it relative to all other things, and that this rank-ordering is stable over time. But this assumption has never been accepted by any other discipline. Economists are increasingly having difficulty arguing that the assumption is true enough to generate useful predictions and explanations. Indeed, law and economics scholars increasingly acknowledge that preferences are constructed, and that the law itself can help construct preferences. Still, fixed preferences are often treated as a normative ideal: Even if people don't have fixed preferences, they should. Behavioral law and economics scholars offer approaches to deal with this normative shortcoming. My article argues that preference construction, properly understood, is not normatively undesirable. Having fixed preferences means having a complete and stable rank ordering of what we want that dictates our choices. But we often do not have such an ordering, and rationally so. My article argues instead for an alternative process-based, account of preference construction. Rather than having a complete rank ordering, we have ways of making choices. We construct narratives, using evaluative criteria against a backdrop of wants, desires and inclinations, some of which we rank order and some of which we do not. The evaluative criteria embed a consideration of transaction costs: critically, where a decision is not very consequential, a formulaic decision rule that permits a ready choice among roughly comparable alternatives may serve our purposes better than a more considered alternative-by-alternative assessment. Our wants, desires and inclinations are for both traditional objects of choice and higher order values and desires; they are both previously constructed and constructed and elicited in the choice-making process. My article makes the case for such an account's potential explanatory power, as well as its tractability.
Hematologic complications of cancer chemotherapy.

HE POSSIBILITY of cure or prolonged remission for many hematologic and solid neoplasms has increased greatly owing mainly to new and improved chemotherapeutic agents and various combination programs for these agents. Since most agents are not tumor specific, normal cells that are in active division and replication can be severely affected by these drugs. The organ most consistently and frequently affected by cancer chemotherapeutic agents is the bone marrow. ’ In many situations, the suppression of the stem cells in the marrow or the interference with the active proliferation of a particular cell line is predictable, depending on the chemotherapeutic agent being utilized. It is such depression that guides the physician in determining the dosage and mode of administration of a particular agent or combination of agents. The bone marrow is the organ that contains the precursor populations (stem cells) for all major blood components, namely, erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. In regard to the depression of bone marrow elements by chemotherapeutic agents, the kinetics of the particular cell line affected by a given drug determine the severity of the depression of that cell line.2,3 For example, the depression of red cells, giving rise to anemia, occurs much slower, regardless of the agent involved, than drug induced neutropenia because of the tremendous difference in the half-lives of these two cell lines, When one compares the half-life of the red cell (approximately 120 days) with the half-life of platelets (5 to 7 days) and with the half-life of granulocytes (6 hr), it becomes obvious why the latter two are more frequently involved in earlier suppression by chemotherapy. If a particular agent predominantly affects the stem cells rather than cells in cell cycle, then all cell lines will be suppressed. Very few classes of cancer chemotherapeutic agents, however, selectively depress the stem cell. ’ Examples of these agents are the general group of nitrosoureas (carmustine or lomustine). Other classes of agents, namely, the cell-cycle agents that are not specifically phase-selective (such as the anthracyclines and certain alkylators; i.e., busulfan),
Multisampling Maximum Power Point Tracker (MS-MPPT) to Compensate Irradiance and Temperature Changes

This paper presents a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method that compensates fast, though smooth, irradiance (or temperature) changes. The proposed method belongs to the family of perturb and observe (P&O) methods as the photovoltaic (PV) voltage is intentionally perturbed to induce changes on the PV power. In consequence, the slope of the $pv$-characteristic curve can be detected, which reveals the MPP position. The perturbation is usually an increment with varying direction, which is used to update the next PV voltage reference. However, changes on irradiance (or temperature) may also cause changes on the PV power, which mix with the algorithm's intentional increment effect on the PV power. This combination of effects confuses the slope detection, which may entail a wrong decision on the next increment direction, and a considerable deviation from the MPP. The scheme presented here proposes the use of more samplings and an associated combination of increments directions before taking a decision. This additional information is used to separate the effect of irradiance (or temperature) changes from the algorithm's intentional perturbation effect. Thus, the proposed multisampling MPPT can provide effective MPP tracking despite of irradiance (or temperature) changes. The proposed scheme is experimentally tested and compared to the conventional P&O under irradiance changes.
Three lenses of evidence-based policy

This article discusses recent trends to incorporate the results of systematic research (or ‘evidence’) into policy development, program evaluation and program improvement. This process is consistent with the New Public Management (NPM) emphasis on efficiency and effectiveness. Analysis of evidence helps to answer the questions ‘what works? and ‘what happens if we change these settings? ’ Secondly, some of the well known challenges and limitations for ‘evidence-based’ policy are outlined. Policy decisions emerge from politics, judgement and debate, rather than being deduced from empirical analysis. Policy debate and analysis involves an interplay between facts, norms and desired actions, in which ‘evidence’ is diverse and contestable. Thirdly, the article outlines a distinction between technical and negotiated approaches to problem-solving. The latter is a prominent feature of policy domains rich in ‘network’ approaches, partnering and community engagement. Networks and partnerships bring to the negotiation table a diversity of stakeholder ‘evidence’, ie, relevant information, interpretations and priorities. Finally, it is suggested that three types of evidence/perspective are especially relevant in the modern era ‐ systematic (‘scientific’) research, program management experience (‘practice’), and political judgement. What works for program clients is intrinsically connected to what works for managers and for political leaders. Thus, the practical craft of policy development and adjustment involves ‘weaving’ strands of information and values as seen through the lens of these three key stakeholder groups. There is not one evidence-base but several bases. These disparate bodies of knowledge become multiple sets of evidence that inform and influence policy rather than determine it.
Ion transport by the isolated frog cornea

The in vitro preparation of the frog cornea, R. catesbeiana, bathed by modified bicarbonate Ringer's solution and ivith 0.5 cm. of hydrostatic pressure difference at the aqueous side, developed a spontaneous transcorneal potential difference of approximately -22 mv. with the tear side negative relative to the aqueous. The short circuit current required to bring the potential difference to zero was 410 nEq. cm. -* (11 na cmr 2 ). The resistance was 2 K& cm. 2 Simultaneous ee Na and S6 Cl unidirectional fluxes were measured with the isolated cornea short circuited. The mean unidirectional sodium fluxes were approximately equal and no significant net transport was demonstrated. The difference between the mean unidirectional chloride fluxes was a net transport of 480 nEq. cm. - 2 hour- 1 from the aqueous to the tear side. The difference was statistically indistinguishable from the short circuit current. These findings are in agreement with previous studies of the isolated frog cornea. Further analysis of the unidirectional fluxes of chloride as reversible and irreversible processes relative to the membrane conductance revealed that the chloride fluxes may have a significant component of exchange diffusion.