julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Effective Policy Implementation in China’s Local State
2014-01-17

Effective policy implementation is a core component of the Chinese political system’s adaptability and stability. A thorough investigation of local implementation mechanisms, however, is often hindered by an almost exclusive concentration on implementation efficiency. This article introduces a new analytical framework and suggests focusing on the interactions between the different administrative tiers—counties, townships, and villages—to understand local policy implementation in terms of procedural and outcome effectiveness. It argues that the triangle of central policy design, institutional constraints, and strategic agency of local implementers explains cases of effective policy implementation that can be observed throughout China. By way of studying the “Building of a New Socialist Countryside” in four cases, this article shows how effective policy implementation can be the result of what students of local governance have so far rather treated as obstructive factors, namely performance and cadre evaluation, financial scarcity, limited public participation, and the focus on models.
On the Origin and Evolutionary History of NANOG
2014-01-17

Though pluripotency is well characterized in mammals, many questions remain to be resolved regarding its evolutionary history. A necessary prerequisite for addressing this issue is to determine the phylogenetic distributions and orthology relationships of the transcription factor families sustaining or modulating this property. In mammals, the NANOG homeodomain transcription factor is one of the core players in the pluripotency network. However, its evolutionary history has not been thoroughly studied, hindering the interpretation of comparative studies. To date, the NANOG family was thought to be monogenic, with numerous pseudogenes described in mammals, including a tandem duplicate in Hominidae. By examining a wide-array of craniate genomes, we provide evidence that the NANOG family arose at the latest in the most recent common ancestor of osteichthyans and that NANOG genes are frequently found as tandem duplicates in sarcopterygians and as a single gene in actinopterygians. Their phylogenetic distribution is thus reminiscent of that recently shown for Class V POU paralogues, another key family of pluripotency-controlling factors. However, while a single ancestral duplication has been reported for the Class V POU family, we suggest that multiple independent duplication events took place during evolution of the NANOG family. These multiple duplications could have contributed to create a layer of complexity in the control of cell competence and pluripotency, which could explain the discrepancies relative to the functional evolution of this important gene family. Further, our analysis does not support the hypothesis that loss of NANOG and emergence of the preformation mode of primordial germ cell specification are causally linked. Our study therefore argues for the need of further functional comparisons between NANOG paralogues, notably regarding the novel duplicates identified in sauropsids and non-eutherian mammals.
Reentrant condensation, liquid–liquid phase separation and crystallization in protein solutions induced by multivalent metal ions
2014-01-18

Abstract We briefly summarize the recent progress in tuning protein interactions as well as phase behavior in protein solutions using multivalent metal ions. We focus on the influence of control parameters and the mechanism of reentrant condensation, the metastable liquid–liquid phase separation and classical vs. non-classical pathways of protein crystallization.
Stable water isotope patterns in a climate change hotspot: the isotope hydrology framework of Corsica (western Mediterranean)
2014-01-20

The Mediterranean is regarded as a region of intense climate change. To better understand future climate change, this area has been the target of several palaeoclimate studies which also studied stable isotope proxies that are directly linked to the stable isotope composition of water, such as tree rings, tooth enamel or speleothems. For such work, it is also essential to establish an isotope hydrology framework of the region of interest. Surface waters from streams and lakes as well as groundwater from springs on the island of Corsica were sampled between 2003 and 2009 for their oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions. Isotope values from lake waters were enriched in heavier isotopes and define a local evaporation line (LEL). On the other hand, stream and spring waters reflect the isotope composition of local precipitation in the catchment. The intersection of the LEL and the linear fit of the spring and stream waters reflect the mean isotope composition of the annual precipitation (δP) with values of-8.6(± 0.2) ‰ for δ(18)O and-58(± 2) ‰ for δ(2)H. This value is also a good indicator of the average isotope composition of the local groundwater in the island. Surface water samples reflect the altitude isotope effect with a value of-0.17(± 0.02) ‰ per 100 m elevation for oxygen isotopes. At Vizzavona Pass in central Corsica, water samples from two catchments within a lateral distance of only a few hundred metres showed unexpected but systematic differences in their stable isotope composition. At this specific location, the direction of exposure seems to be an important factor. The differences were likely caused by isotopic enrichment during recharge in warm weather conditions in south-exposed valley flanks compared to the opposite, north-exposed valley flanks.
Masses and widths of scalar–isoscalar multi-channel resonances from data analysis
2014-01-20

Peculiarities of obtaining parameters for broad multi-channel resonances from\\ndata are discussed analyzing the experimental data on processes\\n in the channel in a\\nmodel-independent approach based on analyticity and unitarity and using an\\nuniformization procedure. We show that it is possible to obtain a good\\ndescription of the scattering data from the threshold to 1.89 GeV with\\nparameters of resonances cited in the PDG tables as preferred. However, in this\\ncase, first, representation of the background is unsatisfactory;\\nsecond, the data on the coupled process are not well\\ndescribed even qualitatively above 1.15 GeV when using the resonance parameters\\nfrom the only scattering analysis. The combined analysis of these\\ncoupled processes is needed, which is carried out satisfactorily. Then both\\nabove-indicated flaws, related to the analysis of solely the\\n -scattering, are cured. The most remarkable change of parameters with\\nrespect to the values of only scattering analysis appears for the mass\\nof the which is now in some accordance with the Weinberg prediction\\non the basis of mended symmetry and with an analysis using the large- \\nconsistency conditions between the unitarization and resonance saturation. The\\nobtained -scattering length in case when we restrict to the\\nanalysis of the scattering or consider so-called A-solution (with a\\nlower mass and width of meson) agrees well with prediction of chiral\\nperturbation theory (ChPT) and with data extracted at CERN by the NA48/2\\nCollaboration from the analysis of the decay and by the DIRAC\\nCollaboration from the measurement of the lifetime.\\n
Impact of objective response and overall survival in patients with inoperable or metastatic gastric and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer: Landmark analysis of 10-year data from first-line clinical trials.
2014-01-20

57 Background: The aim of the study is to determine whether the achievement of an objective response to 1 st line chemotherapy is prognostic of patient’s outcome in gastric/EGJ adenocarcinoma. Methods: Individual patient (pts) data from prospective 1 st line trials conducted by a single study group were used. Response data, pts’ characteristics, type of chemotherapy and overall survival (OS) data were analyzed. Responses were evaluated according to WHO criteria in all trials and landmark analysis conducted. Results: Response rates were complete (CR) in 3.1%, partial (PR) in 37.7%, stable disease (SD) in 33.8% and progressive disease (PD) in 15.4% pts (9.9% were not evaluable). Overall response rate (OR= CR + PR) was 40.8%. Median OS in pts with CR vs. PR vs. SD vs. PD were 28.9 vs. 14.8 vs. 10.8 vs. 5.2 months, respectively; p= 2.6 x 10 -42 . OR also strongly predicted OS (16.7 vs. 8.6 months in pts with vs. no OR; p= 9.0 x 10 -14 ). Landmark studies were established with landmarks set on 2 and 4 months. Median OS at landmark point 2 months in pts with CR vs. PR vs. SD vs. PD were 17.3 vs. 14.5 vs. 11.1 vs. 5.4 months, respectively; p= 3,7 x 10 -12 . Pts with OR vs. no OR had a median OS of 14.7 vs. 10.9 months, p= 0.0001. Median OS at landmark point 4 months in pts with CR vs. PR vs. SD vs. PD were 23.9 vs. 14.8 vs. 11.8 vs. 7.7 months, respectively; p= 1.2 x 10 -10 . Pts with OR vs. no OR had a median OS of 16.1 vs. 11.1 months, p= 7.0 x 10 -6 . OR remained the strongest predictor of OS in the multivariate analysis (p= 6.3 x 10 -7 ) followed by the presence of non-regional LN as the only site of metastasis (p= 8.2 x 10 -5 ) and ECOG (p= 0.002). Conclusions: The achievement of an objective response is the strongest predictor of survival in pts with gastric and EGJ cancer and could serve as surrogate marker if validated.
Diet of upper paleolithic modern humans: Evidence from microwear texture analysis
2014-01-21

ABSTRACT This article presents the results of the occlusal molar microwear texture analysis of 32 adult Upper Paleolithic modern humans from a total of 21 European sites dating to marine isotope stages 3 and 2. The occlusal molar microwear textures of these specimens were analyzed with the aim of examining the effects of the climatic, as well as the cultural, changes on the diets of the Upper Paleolithic modern humans. The results of this analysis do not reveal any environmentally driven dietary shifts for the Upper Paleolithic hominins indicating that the climatic and their associated paleoecological changes did not force these humans to significantly alter their diets in order to survive. However, the microwear texture analysis does detect culturally related changes in the Upper Paleolithic humans' diets. Specifically, significant differences in diet were found between the earlier Upper Paleolithic individuals, i.e., those belonging to the Aurignacian and Gravettian contexts, and the later Magdalenian ones, such that the diet of the latter group was more varied and included more abrasive foods compared with those of the former. Am J Phys Anthropol 153:570–581, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Training ophthalmologists for developing economies: an African-German partnership
2014-01-21

Globally, 32.4 million people (95% CI 29.4 to 36.5 million people; 60% women) were blind in 2010, and 191 million people (95% CI 174 to 230 million people; 57% women) had moderate or severe visual impairment (MSVI). 1 The most common cause of blindness is cataract, which contributes to about 48% of all blindness in the world.3][4] The three pillars of VISION 2020 are: (1) disease control; (2) human resource development for eye care at all levels; and (3) provision of infrastructure and appropriate technology.
Public Discourse with Advertising Function
2014-01-21

Our concern in this paper is to analyse public discourse from the point of view of “functional perspective” on speech in Eugenio Coseriu’s sense, considering language as a phenomenon that must be explained in finalistic terms. With its distinction of three functional levels of language (universal, historical and individual) and departing from the knowledge of the speaker and the activity of speech, Coseriu’s framework offers very adequate instruments for understanding what we can generally call public discourse (as well as other types of discourse). The aim of the present work is to show how we can describe the finality of a text taking into account different types of textual functions involved within discourse. We will focus on political and advertising discourses, two of the most dominant types within public discourse nowadays, and we will concentrate on examples from Romanian.
Temporal Windows in Visual Processing: “Prestimulus Brain State” and “Poststimulus Phase Reset” Segregate Visual Transients on Different Temporal Scales
2014-01-22

Dynamic vision requires both stability of the current perceptual representation and sensitivity to the accumulation of sensory evidence over time. Here we study the electrophysiological signatures of this intricate balance between temporal segregation and integration in vision. Within a forward masking paradigm with short and long stimulus onset asynchronies (SOA), we manipulated the temporal overlap of the visual persistence of two successive transients. Human observers enumerated the items presented in the second target display as a measure of the informational capacity read-out from this partly temporally integrated visual percept. We observed higher β-power immediately before mask display onset in incorrect trials, in which enumeration failed due to stronger integration of mask and target visual information. This effect was timescale specific, distinguishing between segregation and integration of visual transients that were distant in time (long SOA). Conversely, for short SOA trials, mask onset evoked a stronger visual response when mask and targets were correctly segregated in time. Examination of the target-related response profile revealed the importance of an evoked α-phase reset for the segregation of those rapid visual transients. Investigating this precise mapping of the temporal relationships of visual signals onto electrophysiological responses highlights how the stream of visual information is carved up into discrete temporal windows that mediate between segregated and integrated percepts. Fragmenting the stream of visual information provides a means to stabilize perceptual events within one instant in time.
CALCULATING THE HABITABLE ZONES OF MULTIPLE STAR SYSTEMS WITH A NEW INTERACTIVE WEB SITE
2014-01-22

We have developed a comprehensive methodology and an interactive website for calculating the habitable zone (HZ) of multiple star systems. Using the concept of spectral weight factor, as introduced in our previous studies of the calculations of HZ in and around binary star systems, we calculate the contribution of each star (based on its spectral energy distribution) to the total flux received at the top of the atmosphere of an Earth-like planet, and use the models of the HZ of the Sun to determine the boundaries of the HZ in multiple star systems. Our interactive website for carrying out these calculations is publicly available at http://astro.twam.info/hz . We discuss the details of our methodology and present its application to some of the multiple star systems detected by the Kepler space telescope. We also present the instructions for using our interactive website, and demonstrate its capabilities by calculating the HZ for two interesting analytical solutions of the three-body problem.
Treatment of acute abdominal pain in the emergency room: A systematic review of the literature
2014-01-22

Abstract Appropriate pain therapy prior to diagnosis in patients with acute abdominal pain remains controversial. Several recent studies have demonstrated that pain therapy does not negatively influence either the diagnosis or subsequent treatment of these patients; however, current practice patterns continue to favour withholding pain medication prior to diagnosis and surgical treatment decision. A systematic review of P ub M ed, W eb‐of‐ S cience and T he‐ C ochrane‐ L ibrary from 1929 to 2011 was carried out using the key words of ‘acute’, ‘abdomen’, ‘pain’, ‘emergency’ as well as different pain drugs in use, revealed 84 papers. The results of the literature review were incorporated into six sections to describe management of acute abdominal pain: (1) Physiology of Pain; (2) Common Aetiologies of Abdominal Pain; (3) Pre‐diagnostic Analgesia; (4) Pain Therapy for Acute Abdominal Pain; (5) Analgesia for Acute Abdominal Pain in Special Patient Populations; and (6) Ethical and Medico‐legal Considerations in Current Analgesia Practices. A comprehensive algorithm for analgesia for acute abdominal pain in the general adult population was developed. A review of the literature of common aetiologies and management of acute abdominal pain in the general adult population and special patient populations seen in the emergency room revealed that intravenous administration of paracetamol, dipyrone or piritramide are currently the analgesics of choice in this clinical setting. Combinations of non‐opioids and opioids should be administered in patients with moderate, severe or extreme pain, adjusting the treatment on the basis of repeated pain assessment, which improves overall pain management.
Human‐facilitated metapopulation dynamics in an emerging pest species,Cimex lectularius
2014-01-22

Abstract The number and demographic history of colonists can have dramatic consequences for the way in which genetic diversity is distributed and maintained in a metapopulation. The bed bug ( C imex lectularius ) is a re‐emerging pest species whose close association with humans has led to frequent local extinction and colonization, that is, to metapopulation dynamics. Pest control limits the lifespan of subpopulations, causing frequent local extinctions, and human‐facilitated dispersal allows the colonization of empty patches. Founder events often result in drastic reductions in diversity and an increased influence of genetic drift. Coupled with restricted migration, this can lead to rapid population differentiation. We therefore predicted strong population structuring. Here, using 21 newly characterized microsatellite markers and approximate Bayesian computation ( ABC ), we investigate simplified versions of two classical models of metapopulation dynamics, in a coalescent framework, to estimate the number and genetic composition of founders in the common bed bug. We found very limited diversity within infestations but high degrees of structuring across the city of London, with extreme levels of genetic differentiation between infestations ( F ST = 0.59). ABC results suggest a common origin of all founders of a given subpopulation and that the numbers of colonists were low, implying that even a single mated female is enough to found a new infestation successfully. These patterns of colonization are close to the predictions of the propagule pool model, where all founders originate from the same parental infestation. These results show that aspects of metapopulation dynamics can be captured in simple models and provide insights that are valuable for the future targeted control of bed bug infestations.
Plasma Concentrations of the Vasoactive Peptide Fragments Mid-Regional Pro-Adrenomedullin, C-Terminal Pro-Endothelin 1 and Copeptin in Hemodialysis Patients: Associated Factors and Prediction of Mortality
2014-01-22

Vasopressin, endothelin and adrenomedullin are vasoactive peptides that regulate vascular tone and might play a role in hypertensive diseases. Recently, laboratory assays have been developed to measure stable fragments of vasopressin, endothelin and adrenomedullin. Little is known about their diagnostic and prognostic value in hemodialysis patients. In this study, we measured the plasma concentration of copeptin, mid-regional-pro-adrenomedullin (MR-pro-ADM) and C-terminal pro-endothelin 1 (CT-pro-ET1) in stable ambulatory hemodialysis patients (n = 239) and investigated their associations with clinical factors and mortality. In all patients enrolled, the plasma concentrations of copeptin, MR-pro-ADM and CT-pro-ET1 were largely elevated with a median concentration of 132 pmol/L (interquartile range [IQR] 78-192) for copeptin, 1.26 nmol/L (IQR 1.02-1.80) for MR-pro-ADM and 149 pmol/L (IQR 121-181) for CT-pro-ET1. The plasma concentrations of all vasoactive peptide fragments correlated with time on dialysis and plasma &amp;beta;2-microglobulin concentration and were negatively correlated to residual diuresis. The plasma concentration of MR-pro-ADM was a strong predictor of all-cause (univariate hazard ratio for a 10-fold increase 9.94 [3.14;32], p&amp;lt;0.0001) and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 34.87 [5.58;217], p = 0.0001) within a 3.8-year follow-up. The associations remained stable in models adjusted for dialysis specific factors and were attenuated in a full model adjusted for all prognostic factors. Plasma copeptin concentration was weakly associated with cardiovascular mortality (only in univariate analysis) and CT-pro-ET1 was not associated with mortality at all. In conclusion, vasoactive peptide fragments are elevated in hemodialysis patients because of accumulation and, most likely, increased release. Increased concentrations of MR-pro-ADM are predictive of mortality.
Concurrent stable and unstable cortical correlates of human wrist movements
2014-01-22

Abstract Cortical activity has been shown to correlate with different parameters of movement. However, the dynamic properties of cortico‐motor mappings still remain unexplored in humans. Here, we show that during the repetition of simple stereotyped wrist movements both stable and unstable correlates simultaneously emerge in human sensorimotor cortex. Using visual feedback of wrist movement target inferred online from MEG, we assessed the dynamics of the tuning properties of two neuronal signals: the MEG signal below 1.6 Hz and within the 4 to 6 Hz range. We found that both components are modulated by wrist movement allowing for closed‐loop inference of movement targets. Interestingly, while tuning of 4 to 6 Hz signals remained stable over time leading to stable inference of movement target using a static classifier, the tuning of cortical signals below 1.6 Hz significantly changed resulting in steadily decreasing inference accuracy. Our findings demonstrate that non‐invasive neuronal population signals in human sensorimotor cortex can reflect a stable correlate of voluntary movements. Hence, we provide first evidence for a stable control signal in non‐invasive human brain‐machine interface research. However, as not all neuronal signals initially tuned to movement were stable across days, a careful selection of features for real‐life applications seems to be mandatory. Hum Brain Mapp 35:3867–3879, 2014 . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .
Extension of solid immersion lens technology to super-resolution Raman microscopy
2014-01-22

Abstract Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) has developed during recent decades into a valuable tool to optically image the surface topology of materials with super-resolution. With aperture-based SNOM systems, the resolution scales with the size of the aperture, but also limits the sensitivity of the detection and thus the application for spectroscopic techniques like Raman SNOM. In this paper we report the extension of solid immersion lens (SIL) technology to Raman SNOM. The hemispherical SIL with a tip on the bottom acts as an apertureless dielectric nanoprobe for simultaneously acquiring topographic and spectroscopic information. The SIL is placed between the sample and the microscope objective of a confocal Raman microscope. The lateral resolution in the Raman mode is validated with a cross section of a semiconductor layer system and, at approximately 180 nm, is beyond the classical diffraction limit of Abbe.