Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Preferences Under Heterogeneous Environmental Risk

We study risk preferences and their determinants for commercial cattle farmers in Namibia who are subject to high and heterogeneous precipitation risk, using data from questionnaire and field experiments, simulated data for on-farm precipitation risk and data on famers’ previous place of residence. We find that the relationship between risk preferences and precipitation risk is contingent on early-life experience with this risk. We also find that adult farmers self-select themselves onto farms according to their risk preferences. Results are not confounded by background risks or liquidity constraint.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Jacob Lorhard's ontology: A 17th century hypertext on the reality and temporality of the world of intelligibles

Jacob Lorhard published his ontology in 1606. In this work the term ontologia ‘ontology’ was used for the first time ever. In this paper, it is argued that Lorhard’s ontology provides a useful key to the understanding of the early 17-century world view in Protestant Europe. Among other things, Lorhard’s ontology reflects how the relations between scientific investigation and religious belief were seen. It is also argued that several of the conceptual choices which Lorhard made in order to establish his ontology may still be relevant for modern makers of ontological systems. In particular, Lorhard’s considerations on the notions of reality and time deserve modern reflections. Also his assumption of the educational value of diagrammatical ontology deserves a modern discussion. Along with this paper an online hypertext version of Lorhard’s ontology has been presented in order to create a useful tool for historical research in early 17-century thought and in order to illustrate the problems, which characterized the early attempt at establishing a diagrammatical approach to ontology. Note: References with just a page number (e.g. [p.17]) refer to the English translation of Lorhard’s Ontology [7]
Citation for Published Item: Publisher's Copyright Statement: Use Policy Tms Can Reveal Contrasting Functions of the Dorsal and Ventral Visual Processing Streams

The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. Abstract: In order to investigate the functional specificity of the dorsal and ventral visual processing steams we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to briefly disrupt one or the other while subjects performed three tasks, involving discrimination of colour or shape or relative position. TMS was delivered over right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) or right lateral occipital (LO) cortex, regions known to have visuo-spatial and object processing properties respectively. LO but not PPC stimulation had a significant effect on reaction time when subjects were asked to make a discrimination of relative shape. PPC stimulation had a significant effect when subjects were asked to discriminate relative position of the same shapes. Stimulation of LO also lengthened reaction times on the position task. There were no effects of stimulation at either site on colour discrimination. Results are discussed within the framework of how the dorsal stream and ventral stream are dissociated following their damage in neurological patients and possible ways in which they may interact in the normal brain.
Detecting Faint Compact Sources Using Local Features and a Boosting Approach

Several techniques have been proposed so far in order to perform faint compact source detection in wide field interferometric radio images. However, all these methods can easily miss some detections or obtain a high number of false positive detections due to the low intensity of the sources, the noise ratio, and the interferometric patterns present in the images. In this paper we present a novel strategy to tackle this problem. Our approach is based on using local features extracted from a bank of filters in order to provide a description of different types of faint source structures. We then perform a training step in order to automatically learn and select the most salient features, which are used in a Boosting classifier to perform the detection. The validity of our method is demonstrated using 19 real images that compose a radio mosaic. The comparison with two well-known state of the art methods shows that our approach is able to obtain more source detections, reducing also the number of false positives.
Salivary, gingival crevicular fluid and serum levels of ghrelin and chemerin in patients with periodontitis and overweight

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Nutrition and body weight are modifying factors for periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to quantify two molecules (ghrelin and chemerin), released in association with food intake and obesity, in periodontally healthy and diseased individuals with respect to different body mass categories. MATERIAL AND METHODS The two main groups (patients with chronic periodontitis and periodontally healthy/gingivitis volunteers) were subdivided into groups of subjects with normal weight [body mass index (BMI) <25] and groups of overweight/obese subjects (BMI ≥25). Subgingival bacteria were analysed and the levels of acylated and total ghrelin, chemerin and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were assessed in saliva, gingival crevicular fluid and serum. RESULTS The amount of Treponema denticola present subgingivally was significantly higher in the groups of patients with chronic periodontitis as well as in periodontally healthy/gingivitis individuals with BMI ≥25 than in periodontally healthy/gingivitis individuals with BMI <25. The amount of total ghrelin in gingival crevicular fluid differed significantly between the groups, with the lowest levels found in the group of patients with chronic periodontitis and BMI ≥25. The levels of chemerin in gingival crevicular fluid were significantly higher in each chronic periodontitis group than in periodontally healthy/gingivitis individuals with BMI <25. However, the level of IL-1β in the gingival crevicular fluid was most differentiating between the groups, with the highest levels found in the group of patients with chronic periodontitis and BMI <25 and the lowest levels in periodontally healthy/gingivitis individuals with BMI <25. No significant differences between any groups were seen for chemerin or for acylated ghrelin in the stimulated whole saliva, or for acylated and total ghrelin in peripheral blood serum. The BMI correlated with the serum level of chemerin. CONCLUSION Low ghrelin and high chemerin levels in the gingival crevicular fluid might be linked to periodontal disease and overweight/obesity. However, unlike IL-1β, the levels of chemerin and ghrelin in gingival crevicular fluid are not reliable indicators of periodontal destruction.
Measurement and evaluation of the effect of vibration on fruits in transit—Review

Mechanical vibration is a prominent cause of produce damage in many postharvest fruit supply chains. Knowledge on the causes, occurrence, and mechanistic relationship of vibration to produce damage is important for systematic development of remedial actions. This review identifies and discusses the critical factors of vibration, their implications for fruit quality, and possible improvements to addressing the issue of fruit quality deterioration. Frequently reported mechanical damage types caused by vibration on fruits are scuffing, fruit rub, and skin bruising. A wide range of factors can significantly affect the vibration intensity and thus resultant mechanical damage. Critical frequencies of vibration in the range of 0 to 10 Hz, attributed to peak energy levels in the power spectrum, cause substantial damage in fruits. Greater vertical acceleration and transmission of vibration to the higher tiers in a stacked column of packages result in increased mechanical damage. Fruit packages stacked in the rear positions of trucks are also affected more by vibration. Produce transported in leaf spring trucks has a higher risk of damage when compared with air‐ride suspension trucks. Additionally increased road roughness, vehicle speed, and duration of exposure to vibration proliferate fruit damage. The effects of different inner packing methods and different package types on mechanical damage are less frequently investigated. More accurate characterization of mechanical damage caused by vibration and shocks and its reproduction by enhanced simulation methods will contribute to optimizing damage prevention mechanisms and further improving the quality of fruits in transit within the postharvest supply chain.
Growth factors and hormones pro‐peptides: the unexpected adventures of the BDNF prodomain

Most growth factors and hormones are synthesized as pre‐pro‐proteins which are processed to the biologically active mature protein. The pre‐ and prodomains are cleaved from the precursor protein in the secretory pathway or, in some cases, extracellularly. The canonical functions of these prodomains are to assist in folding and stabilization of the mature domain, to direct intra and extracellular localization, to facilitate storage, and to regulate bioavailability of their mature counterpart. Recently, exciting evidence has revealed that prodomains of certain growth factors, after cleaved from the precursor pro‐protein, can act as independent active signaling molecules. In this review, we discuss the various classical functions of prodomains, and the biological consequences of these pro‐peptides acting as ligands. We will focus our attention on the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor prodomain (pBDNF), which has been recently described as a novel secreted ligand influencing neuronal morphology and physiology.
RULE-BASED ENERGY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR HYBRID VEHICLE DRIVETRAINS: A FUNDAMENTAL APPROACH IN REDUCING COMPUTATION TIME

Abstract The hybrid vehicle control problem at the highest level is termed the Energy Management Strategy (EMS). This paper presents a new, and simple Rule-Based (RB) EMS, whereby maximum power level of the electric machine during pure electric driving is the control design variable. This maximum power level determines the overall power -, and efficiency specifications of the electric machine. A RB EMS consist of a selection of driving modes. The RB EMS is compared with the strategy based on Dynamic Programming (DP), which is inherently optimal for a given cycle. The RB method proposed in this paper requires 3000 times less computation time with the same accuracy (±1%) as DP. The RB strategy in this paper is a semi-empirical EMS with which the generic component specifications for the secondary power source (battery, power electronics, electric machine), primary power source (engine) and transmission technology can be obtained. Provided these generic specifications, a technology designer can quickly specify the hybrid technologies. In this way, control, optimization and component design are merged in a single framework.
Cytokine-Mediated Inflammatory Reaction Following Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion Associated With Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2: A Case Study

Study Design. Case study with unique laboratory analysis. Objective. To present a potentially serious adverse event that may occur in unique individuals when using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) to augment fusion in posterior cervical spine surgery. Summary of Background Data. The use of rhBMP-2 to augment posterior cervical decompression and fusion has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration but has been advocated as safe to use by case series studies and multiple authors. Methods. A 66-year-old patient with myelopathy underwent posterior cervical decompression and fusion, using rhBMP-2 as a bone graft substitute. The patient had complete resolution of symptoms after surgery until day 6, when she experienced increasing pain and weakness. T2 magnetic resonance images revealed a high intensity fluid collection compressing the cervical cord posteriorly. Emergent decompression was performed and the patient improved until postoperative day 12 when the same clinical scenario occurred. Symptoms again improved with surgical debridement. The clear, nonsanguineous fluid was sent for a quantitative cytokine panel each time. The case is reviewed with specific reference to the evolving literature regarding rhBMP-2 use in the spine, and the findings of seroma analysis. Results. The fluid analysis of the seroma fluid at the time of both debridements showed impressive elevations in inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-6 and IL-8. Conclusion. Acute inflammatory reactions to rhBMP-2 can occur in the posterior cervical spine and can lead to significant morbidity. Host factors, BMP-2 dosage, and carrier factors all likely play a role in these complex reactions and must be considered every time an “off label” usage of rhBMP-2 is considered. More study is clearly indicated.
Dispersive Limit of the Euler-Poisson System in Higher Dimensions

In this paper, we consider the dispersive limit of the Euler--Poisson system for ion-acoustic waves. We establish that under the Gardner--Morikawa type transformations, the solutions of the Euler--Poisson system converge globally to the Kadomtsev--Petviashvili II (KP-II) equation in $\Bbb R^2$ and the Zakharov--Kuznetsov equation (ZKE) in $\Bbb R^3$ for well-prepared initial data, under different scalings. This justifies rigorously the KP-II limit and the ZKE limit of the Euler--Poisson equation.
Systematic procedure for the classification of proven and potential teratogens for use in research.

BACKGROUND Although there is strong evidence that some medications are teratogenic, the current lists of teratogens to be used in research are outdated. The objective of this study was to develop an updatable and systematic procedure to the classification of medications proven and potentially teratogenic in the first trimester of pregnancy, for use in research. METHODS We developed a two-step procedure for teratogen classification. Step 1 includes classifying the medications from Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: a Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk (9th ed.) into two provisional lists: (1) teratogenic medications, and (2) potentially teratogenic medications. We also searched other references to add other medications. In Step 2, the Teratology Information System (TERIS) database was searched, and the medication was classified as teratogenic or potentially teratogenic according to a newly developed scheme. Expert consensus was used if a medication was not recorded in TERIS. RESULTS A total of 114 medications were identified in Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: a Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk, with 57 medications in each provisional list. Seventy-eight medications were identified in other sources. A total of 135 medications were included in Step 2; the TERIS scheme classified 23 medications, and 112 medications required expert opinion. The two experts agreed on 78.6% of the medications (kappa = 0.63). We identified 91 teratogenic and 81 potentially teratogenic medications. CONCLUSION Using reliable references, we established a systematic procedure to the classification of medications with evidence of or potential teratogenic risk. These exhaustive lists will be useful in teratology research and related fields.
Sustained NMDA receptor activation by spreading depolarizations can initiate excitotoxic injury in metabolically compromised neurons

• Spreading depolarization (SD) is a profound neuronal and glial depolarization implicated in the progression of acute brain injury. • In metabolically compromised tissue, SD can trigger irrecoverable injury; however, the underlying cellular mechanisms are not well established. • We investigated consequences of SD in hippocampal brain slices, using a combination of electrophysiological and single‐cell imaging methods. • We characterized a brief period of prolonged NMDA receptor (NMDAR) activation after SD onset, which appeared to underlie extended Ca2+ elevations in dendrites. • Prolonged NMDAR activation was sufficient to cause injury after SD in metabolically compromised neurons, and therefore may contribute to deleterious consequences of SD in pathological conditions.
A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of 3 Doses of Paliperidone Palmitate in Adults With Acutely Exacerbated Schizophrenia

This study assessed the efficacy and the safety of a dosing regimen that was revised from earlier studies for the investigational injectable atypical antipsychotic paliperidone palmitate (approved in the USA, August 2009) for adult patients with acutely exacerbated schizophrenia. The patients (N = 652) were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to paliperidone palmitate at 25, 100, or 150 mg eq. or placebo in this 13-week double-blind study. The patients received an injection of paliperidone palmitate at 150 mg eq. or placebo in the deltoid muscle on day 1 and the assigned fixed dose or placebo in the deltoid or muscle on day 8 and then once monthly (days 36 and 64). No oral supplementation was used. Target plasma levels were achieved by day 8 in all paliperidone palmitate groups. The mean change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score from baseline to end point improved significantly (P ≤ 0.034) in all the paliperidone palmitate dose-groups versus placebo. Paliperidone palmitate treatment with this revised dosing regimen led to the achievement of rapid and consistent therapeutically effective plasma levels that were maintained by once-monthly dosing in either the deltoid or gluteal muscle. Common treatment-emergent adverse events (≥2% of patients in any of the treatment groups) that occurred more frequently in the total paliperidone palmitate group versus the placebo group (with ≥1% difference) were injection-site pain (7.6% vs 3.7%), dizziness (2.5% vs 1.2%), sedation (2.3% vs 0.6%), pain in the extremity (1.6% vs 0.0%), and myalgia (1.0% vs 0.0%). The paliperidone palmitate treatment was efficacious and generally tolerated across the dose range (25, 100, or 150 mg eq.) in adult patients with acutely exacerbated schizophrenia.Abbreviations: BMI - body mass index, CGI-S - Clinical Global Impression-Severity, EPS - extrapyramidal symptoms, ER - extended release, ITT - intent-to-treat, LAI - long-acting injectable, PANSS - Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PK - pharmacokinetic, PSP - Personal and Social Performance Scale, TEAE - treatment-emergent adverse events, VAS - Visual Analogue Scale
Morphologies and stellar populations of galaxies in the core of Abell 2218

We present a study of the stellar populations and morphologies of galaxies in the core of the galaxy cluster Abell 2218. Integral field spectroscopy (IFS) observations were performed using PMAS in the PPAK mode covering a field of view of similar to 74 x 64 arcsec(2) centred on the core of the cluster, in order to obtain spectroscopy of an unbiased flux-limited sample of cluster galaxies. 43 objects were detected in the IFS data, 31 of them with enough signal-to-noise ratio to derive the redshift, all of them brighter than I < 21.5 mag. 28 are at the redshift of the cluster (17 with previously unknown redshift). Individual spectra of the cluster members were extracted and compared with single stellar population models to derive the luminosity-weighted ages and metallicities. In addition, deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/ACS F475W-, F555W-, F625W- and F850LP-band images centred on the cluster core were obtained from the HST archive (z(lim) similar to 28 mag). A detailed morphological analysis of all the galaxies within the field of view of these images down to z(lim) < 22.5 mag was performed classifying them as late-type, intermediate and early-type, on the basis of their Sersic indices. The literature was scanned to look for spectroscopically confirmed cluster members located within the field of view of the ACS image. The final sample of 59 galaxies comprises our reported sample of 28 galaxies in the core, and 31 additional galaxies in the outer regions. In addition, multiband broad-band photometry was extracted from the literature for all objects. The morphologically segregated colour-magnitude diagram shows that the early-type galaxies cover the range of brighter and redder colours (the so-called 'red sequence'). A large fraction of spiral galaxies (similar to 50 per cent) is found, most of them fainter than the limit of previous studies. They cover a wide range in colours, from blue colours typical of Butcher-Oemler galaxies to red colours similar to those of early-type galaxies. This result indicates that early-type galaxies are more massive and have older stellar populations, while late-type galaxies are less massive and have a wider range of stellar populations. The distribution of luminosity-weighted ages as a function of metallicities and luminosity-weighted masses, and the distribution of Sersic indices as a function of the luminosity-weighted masses confirm these results. They in fact agree with a proposed two-step scenario for the evolution of galaxies in clusters, where the star formation is quenched first in the infalling spirals, after which a morphological transformation follows that requires larger time-scales. This scenario naturally explains the population faint late-type galaxies with old stellar populations observed in this cluster. In addition, an extremely blue merging galaxy system is found at the core, with the nominal redshift of the cluster.
Poly-Tobacco Use among High School Students

Although cigarette use by adolescents is declining, emerging tobacco products are becoming increasingly popular and youth may use more than one type of tobacco product. The purposes of this study were: (1) to assess patterns of poly-tobacco use among a representative sample of high school students and (2) to determine how beliefs correlate with poly-tobacco use. Data came from the 2013 North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 4092). SAS logistic regression survey procedures were used to account for the complex survey design and sampling weights. Among all high school students in NC in 2013, 29.7% reported current any tobacco use, with 19.1% reporting current poly-tobacco use, and 10.6% reporting current use of only one product. Among poly-tobacco users, 59.3% reported that one of the products they currently used was cigarettes. Positive tobacco product beliefs were found to be significantly associated with poly-tobacco use. Communication campaigns, policy efforts, and future research are needed for prevention, regulation, and control of poly-tobacco use among adolescents, which represents a significant public health problem.
Complexity of Computing Optimal Stackelberg Strategies in Security Resource Allocation Games

Recently, algorithms for computing game-theoretic solutions have been deployed in real-world security applications, such as the placement of checkpoints and canine units at Los Angeles International Airport. These algorithms assume that the defender (security personnel) can commit to a mixed strategy, a so-called Stackelberg model. As pointed out by Kiekintveld et al. (2009), in these applications, generally, multiple resources need to be assigned to multiple targets, resulting in an exponential number of pure strategies for the defender. In this paper, we study how to compute optimal Stackelberg strategies in such games, showing that this can be done in polynomial time in some cases, and is NP-hard in others.