Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is fairness in the eye of the beholder? An impartial spectator analysis of justice

AbstractA popular sentiment is that fairness is inexorably subjective and incapable of being determined by objective standards. This study, on the other hand, seeks to establish evidence on unbiased justice and to propose and demonstrate a general approach for measuring impartial views empirically. Most normative justice theories associate impartiality with limited information and consensus. In both the normative and positive literature, information is usually seen as the raw material for self-serving bias and disagreement. In contrast, this paper proposes a type of impartiality that is associated with a high level of information and that results in consensus. The crucial distinction is the emphasis here on the views of impartial spectators, rather than implicated stakeholders. I describe the quasi-spectator method, i.e., an empirical means to approximate the views of impartial spectators. Results of a questionnaire provide evidence on quasi-spectator views and support this approach as a means to elicit moral preferences. By establishing a relationship between consensus and impartiality, this paper helps lay an empirical foundation for welfare analysis, social choice theory and practical policy applications. “There is no objective standard of ‘fairness. ’ ‘Fairness’ is strictly in the eye of the beholder. To a producer or seller, a ‘fair’ price is a high price. To the buyer or consumer, a ‘fair’ price is a low price. How is the conflict to be adjudicated? ” – Milton Friedman, Newsweek, July 4, 1977.
Conjunctival Melanoma in Chinese Patients: Local Recurrence, Metastasis, Mortality, and Comparisons With Caucasian Patients.

Purpose To evaluate the prognosis in Chinese patients with conjunctival melanoma and determine its predictors. Further, to explore the racial differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes between Chinese and Caucasian patients. Methods This cohort study included 57 eyes of 57 consecutive patients with pathologically verified conjunctival melanoma between 1996 and 2016. Medical records were reviewed for factors associated with the local recurrence, metastasis, and tumor-related mortality. All eligible patients were followed up for these three outcome measures. The demographic data, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were compared between Chinese and Caucasian patients. Results The mean follow-up period was 52.2 ± 49.4 months. Among the total 57 patients, 29 (51%) patients experienced local recurrence. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year recurrence rate was 31.0%, 59.7%, and 66.4%, respectively. Treatment complications detected in the follow-up included dry eye (32, 56.1%), irregular eyelid margin (25, 43.9%), eyelid retraction (18, 31.6%), blepharoptosis (9, 15.8%), mixed pigmentation of the tarsus reconstructed by mucosal membrane graft, corneal opacities (6, 10.5%), and symblepharon (2, 3.5%). Twenty (35%) patients developed metastasis. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year metastasis rate was 16.7%, 38.7%, and 50.9%, respectively. Fourteen (25%) patients died of conjunctival melanoma, with a median survival time of 24 months. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year tumor-related mortality was 3.8%, 30.5%, and 37.4%, respectively. Tumor hemorrhage is an independent risk factor for tumor-related death (hazard ratio [HR]: 18.81, P = 0.01) and metastasis (HR: 4.57, P = 0.02). Significant differences were noted between Chinese and Caucasians patients from America, Germany, and England in demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. Compared to Caucasians, Chinese patients tended to have more male cases (P < 0.01) and to be younger (P = 0.03). At initial presentation, more Chinese patients had de novo tumor origin (P < 0.01), epithelioid cell type (P < 0.01), nonbulbar tumor location (P < 0.01), greater basal diameter (P = 0.04), multifocal tumor (P < 0.01), feeder vessels (P < 0.01), eyelid (P < 0.01) and orbit involvement (P < 0.01), and advanced T stages (P < 0.01). Over a similar follow-up period with Caucasians patients (52.2 vs. 52 months, P = 0.97), a significantly larger proportion of Chinese patients exhibited eyelid invasion (P = 0.04) and orbital invasion (P < 0.01) at follow-up, local recurrence (P < 0.01), metastasis (P < 0.01), and tumor-related death (P < 0.01). Conclusions Conjunctival melanoma is a rare malignancy with great potential for mortality in Chinese. Special attention should be paid to patients with tumor hemorrhage. Compared to Caucasians, Chinese patients exhibit more aggressive clinical signs with compromised prognosis.
Central obesity and not age increases skeletal muscle lipids, without influencing lean body mass and strength.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To measure skeletal muscle lipid infiltration, its association with insulin resistance (IR) lean mass and function, in Chilean men differing in age and body composition. Our hypothesis was that muscle lipid accumulation would be higher among older and heavier individuals and this would deteriorate insulin sensitivity (IS) and decrease muscle mass and function, both features of the ageing process. METHODS Healthy men (38 < 55 and 18 > 65 years), underwent anthropometric measurements, body composition assessment through radiologic densitometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy at the tibialis anterioris muscle to measure intra (IMCL) and extramyocellular lipids (EMCL), quadriceps and handgrip strength, 12 minute walking distance and serum biochemistry (haemoglobin, lipoproteins, creatinine, ultrasensitive C Reactive Protein, fasting and post glucose insulin and glucose concentrations, to assess IS). Physical activity was estimated by actigraphy. RESULTS 23 men were eutrophic, 26 were overweight and 7 were obese and mostly sedentary, independent of age. Both IMCL and EMCL were higher in overweight/ obese men. Abdominal fat was negatively associated with IS and positively correlated with muscle lipid accretion (both IMCL and EMCL), but not with age. As expected, older individuals had lower muscle mass and strength, but not more adipose tissue nor intramyocellular lipids, yet were more glucose intolerant. CONCLUSIONS central obesity was associated with IMCL and EMCL infiltration and IR. This type of lipid accretion was not related with ageing nor age-related sarcopenia. Older individuals were more glucose intolerant, which was explained by a decrease of insulin secretion more than adiposity-related IR.
Verticillium longisporum infection induces organ-specific glucosinolate degradation in Arabidopsis thaliana

The species Verticillium represents a group of highly destructive fungal pathogens, responsible for vascular wilt in a number of crops. The host response to infection by Verticillium longisporum at the level of secondary plant metabolites has not been well explored. Natural variation in the glucosinolate (GLS) composition of four Arabidopsis thaliana accessions was characterized: the accessions Bur-0 and Hi-0 accumulated alkenyl GLS, while 3-hydroxypropyl GLS predominated in Kn-0 and Ler-0. With respect to GLS degradation products, Hi-0 and Kn-0 generated mainly isothiocyanates, whereas Bur-0 released epithionitriles and Ler-0 nitriles. An analysis of the effect on the composition of both GLS and its breakdown products in the leaf and root following the plants’ exposure to V. longisporum revealed a number of organ- and accession-specific alterations. In the less disease susceptible accessions Bur-0 and Ler-0, colonization depressed the accumulation of GLS in the rosette leaves but accentuated it in the roots. In contrast, in the root, the level of GLS breakdown products in three of the four accessions fell, suggestive of their conjugation or binding to a fungal target molecule(s). The plant-pathogen interaction influenced both the organ- and accession-specific formation of GLS degradation products.
The role of visual attention in action priming

It has been demonstrated that the task-irrelevant left–right orientation of an object is capable of facilitating left–right-hand responses when the object is orientated towards the responding hand. We investigated the role of attention in this orientation effect. Experiment 1 showed that object orientation facilitates responses of the hand that is compatible with the object's orientation, despite the entire object being irrelevant. However, when a task-relevant fixation point was displayed over the prime object in Experiment 2, the effect was not observed. Together Experiments 1 and 2 suggest that the orientation information of viewed objects primes the action selection processes even when the object is irrelevant, but only when attention is not allocated to a competing stimulus during the prime presentation. Experiment 3 suggested that the elimination of the effect in Experiment 2 could not be attributed to the elimination of an attentional shift to the graspable part of the prime. Finally, Experiment 4 showed that object orientation can evoke an abstract response code, influencing the selection of finger responses.
Comparison of Sensor Selection Mechanisms for an ERP-Based Brain-Computer Interface

A major barrier for a broad applicability of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) based on electroencephalography (EEG) is the large number of EEG sensor electrodes typically used. The necessity for this results from the fact that the relevant information for the BCI is often spread over the scalp in complex patterns that differ depending on subjects and application scenarios. Recently, a number of methods have been proposed to determine an individual optimal sensor selection. These methods have, however, rarely been compared against each other or against any type of baseline. In this paper, we review several selection approaches and propose one additional selection criterion based on the evaluation of the performance of a BCI system using a reduced set of sensors. We evaluate the methods in the context of a passive BCI system that is designed to detect a P300 event-related potential and compare the performance of the methods against randomly generated sensor constellations. For a realistic estimation of the reduced system's performance we transfer sensor constellations found on one experimental session to a different session for evaluation. We identified notable (and unanticipated) differences among the methods and could demonstrate that the best method in our setup is able to reduce the required number of sensors considerably. Though our application focuses on EEG data, all presented algorithms and evaluation schemes can be transferred to any binary classification task on sensor arrays.
Electrochemical corrosion assessment of RaCe and Mtwo rotary nickle-titanium instruments after clinical use and sterilization

Aim: The aim of the present study was to electrochemically evaluate corrosion resistance of RaCe and Mtwo files after repeated sterilization and preparation procedures. Study Design: A total of 450 rotary files were used. In the working groups, 72 files from each file type were distributed into 4 groups. RaCe and Mtwo files were used to prepare one root canal of the mesial root of extracted human mandibular first molars. The procedure was repeated to prepare 2 to 8 canals. The following irrigation solutions were used: group 1, RaCe files with 2.5% NaOCl; group 2, RaCe files with normal saline; group 3, Mtwo files with 2.5% NaOCl; and group 4, Mtwo files with normal saline in the manner described. In autoclave groups, 72 files from each file type were evenly distributed into 2 groups. Files were used for a cycle of sterilization without the use of files for root canal preparation. Nine new unused files from each file type were used as controls. Then the instruments were sent for corrosion assessment. Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used for independent and dependent groups, respectively. Results: Statistical analysis indicated that there were significant differences in corrosion resistance of files associated with working and autoclave groups between RaCe and Mtwo file types (p<0.001). Conclusions: Corrosion resistance of #25, #30, and #35 Mtwo files is significantly higher than that in RaCe files with similar sizes. Key words:Corrosion, NiTi instruments, autoclave, RaCe, Mtwo.
A Novel Mechanism of Bacterial Toxin Transfer within Host Blood Cell-Derived Microvesicles

Shiga toxin (Stx) is the main virulence factor of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, which are non-invasive strains that can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), associated with renal failure and death. Although bacteremia does not occur, bacterial virulence factors gain access to the circulation and are thereafter presumed to cause target organ damage. Stx was previously shown to circulate bound to blood cells but the mechanism by which it would potentially transfer to target organ cells has not been elucidated. Here we show that blood cell-derived microvesicles, shed during HUS, contain Stx and are found within patient renal cortical cells. The finding was reproduced in mice infected with Stx-producing Escherichia coli exhibiting Stx-containing blood cell-derived microvesicles in the circulation that reached the kidney where they were transferred into glomerular and peritubular capillary endothelial cells and further through their basement membranes followed by podocytes and tubular epithelial cells, respectively. In vitro studies demonstrated that blood cell-derived microvesicles containing Stx undergo endocytosis in glomerular endothelial cells leading to cell death secondary to inhibited protein synthesis. This study demonstrates a novel virulence mechanism whereby bacterial toxin is transferred within host blood cell-derived microvesicles in which it may evade the host immune system.
Ballooning deformity (mucoid degeneration) of atrioventricular valves.

In the past three years several reports have drawn attention to a type of mitral incompetence associated with a peculiar deformity of the mitral valve. This is characterized by an increase in area of the affected leaflets which become voluminous and prolapse into the atrium in systole. Various names or descriptions have been applied to the condition, based either on pathological findings (described as myxomatous transformation or floppy valve syndrome by Read, Thal, and Wendt, 1965, and Read and Thal, 1966; and as billowing sail deformity by Oka and Angrist, 1961) or on cine-angiographic appearances (described as ballooning of posterior leaflet by Linhart and Taylor, 1966, and Behar, Whalen, and McIntosh, 1967; as prolapse of posterior leaflet by Criley et al., 1966, and Stannard et al., 1967; as aneurysmal protrusion and billowing of posterior leaflet by Barlow et al., 1968, and Barlow and Bosman, 1966). It appears identical to the two cases described in 1958 by Fernex and Fernex as mucoid degeneration. Most of these reports have been from centres in the U.S.A. and South Africa, but necropsy observations suggest that similar cases are not uncommon in this country.
Fatigue Crack Growth in Several 7050T7451 Aluminium Alloy Thick Section Plates with Aircraft Manufacturer's and Laboratory Surface Finishes Representing Some Regions of the F/A-18 Structure

Abstract : This is the third in a series of papers that examine material factors likely to influence the fatigue life of F/A-18 structures. Work leading up to these papers has highlighted a number of concerns about the fatigue variability of the 7050 aluminium alloy thick section plate and the effect that the surface condition of finished components has on service fatigue crack initiation and life. This report examines a series of fatigue test specimens that were cut from three different 7050 plates, including two aircraft manufacturers' plates. Following the tests, quantitative fractography was used to produce crack growth curves for each fatigue specimen, allowing a detailed interpretation of the crack growth to be made, including a measure of the severity of the flaws from which the main fatigue cracks initiated. Comparisons between previously tested 7050 plate, and the three plates tested here were made, with the finding that the crack growth rates and the flaws from which the cracking initiated were very similar to those previously examined. (45 tables, 48 figures, 24 refs.)
Quantum Transport in Networks and Photosynthetic Complexes at the Steady State

Recently, several works have analysed the efficiency of photosynthetic complexes in a transient scenario and how that efficiency is affected by environmental noise. Here, following a quantum master equation approach, we study the energy and excitation transport in fully connected networks both in general and in the particular case of the Fenna–Matthew–Olson complex. The analysis is carried out for the steady state of the system where the excitation energy is constantly “flowing” through the system. Steady state transport scenarios are particularly relevant if the evolution of the quantum system is not conditioned on the arrival of individual excitations. By adding dephasing to the system, we analyse the possibility of noise-enhancement of the quantum transport.
Sparse Hebbian Learning is efficient with egalitarian homeostasis

Following the work of \citet{Olshausen98}, a number of unsupervised learning algorithms were proposed for receptive field formation in the primary visual cortex (V1). We describe here the theoretical formulation of a novel and simple algorithm aiming at achieving the shortest representation in an over-complete dictionary of unknown features using the L$_0$ norm, a "hard" NP-complete problem. Inspired by parallel computing solutions with spiking events, we propose here a solution based on correlation-based inhibition with a tuned egalitarian homeostasis. We present results of the simulation of this dynamical neural network with natural images and compare it to the {\sc SparseNet} solution. This algorithm exhibited similarly the formation of edge-like components as is observed in the input layer of V1 and to assess the quality of the different sets of filters, we additionally compared their relative efficiencies and show that our sub-optimal solution to the hard problem performs better than the optimal solution to the relaxed problem. We also show that homeostasis, by tuning the competition and cooperation, may yield solutions of different qualities which coding efficiency drastically depended on the goal assigned to the model by the cost function. This model provides a bridge between the non-linearity of the neural response and optimal use of distributed probabilistic representations of information. It is suggesting the importance of the role of interactions within neural assemblies \citep{Hebb49} to efficiently build representations in the neural code.
[Factors on internet game addiction among adolescents].

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to explore factors related to internet game addiction for adolescents. METHOD This study was a cross-sectional survey, and data was collected through self-report questionnaires. Data was analyzed using the SPSS program. RESULTS In logistic regression analysis, the risk of being addicted to internet games was 2.22 times higher in males than females. Adolescents with low and middle academic performance also had a higher risk(2.08 times and 2.54 times) to become addicted to internet games. For the location of the computer, the risk of becoming addicted to internet games were . 01 times lower in the living room or brother or sisters' room than in their own room. The risk of becoming addicted to internet games was 1.18 times higher in the higher usage time of internet games. The risk of becoming addicted to internet games was . 49 times lower in the more accepting and autonomic parents' rearing attitude and . 02 times lower in the high self-efficacy group than the low group. CONCLUSION The result of this study suggests that there are noticeable relationships between internet game addiction and gender, academic performance, location of computer, usage time of internet games, parents' rearing attitude, and self efficacy.
Med24 and Mdh2 are required for Drosophila larval salivary gland cell death

The steroid hormone ecdysone triggers the rapid destruction of larval tissues through transcriptional cascades that culminate in rpr and hid expression and caspase activation. Here, we show that mutations in Mdh2 and Med24 block caspase cleavage and larval salivary gland cell death. Mdh2 encodes a predicted malate dehydrogenase that localizes to mitochondria. Consistent with this proposed function, Mdh2 mutants have significantly lower levels of ATP and accumulate late‐stage citric acid cycle intermediates, suggesting that the cell death defects arise from a deficit in energy production. Med24 encodes a component of the Mediator transcriptional coactivator complex. Unexpectedly, however, expression of the key death regulator genes is normal in Med24 mutant salivary glands. This study identifies novel mechanisms for controlling the destruction of larval tissues during Drosophila metamorphosis and provides new directions for our understanding of steroid‐triggered programmed cell death. Developmental Dynamics 239:954–964, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of P2X4 and P2X7 receptor antagonism on the pressure diuresis relationship in rats

Reduced glomerular filtration, hypertension and renal microvascular injury are hallmarks of chronic kidney disease, which has a global prevalence of ~10%. We have shown previously that the Fischer (F344) rat has lower GFR than the Lewis rat, and is more susceptible to renal injury induced by hypertension. In the early stages this injury is limited to the pre-glomerular vasculature. We hypothesized that poor renal hemodynamic function and vulnerability to vascular injury are causally linked and genetically determined. In the present study, normotensive F344 rats had a blunted pressure diuresis relationship, compared with Lewis rats. A kidney microarray was then interrogated using the Endeavour enrichment tool to rank candidate genes for impaired blood pressure control. Two novel candidate genes, P2rx7 and P2rx4, were identified, having a 7− and 3− fold increased expression in F344 rats. Immunohistochemistry localized P2X4 and P2X7 receptor expression to the endothelium of the pre-glomerular vasculature. Expression of both receptors was also found in the renal tubule; however there was no difference in expression profile between strains. Brilliant Blue G (BBG), a relatively selective P2X7 antagonist suitable for use in vivo, was administered to both rat strains. In Lewis rats, BBG had no effect on blood pressure, but increased renal vascular resistance, consistent with inhibition of some basal vasodilatory tone. In F344 rats BBG caused a significant reduction in blood pressure and a decrease in renal vascular resistance, suggesting that P2X7 receptor activation may enhance vasoconstrictor tone in this rat strain. BBG also reduced the pressure diuresis threshold in F344 rats, but did not alter its slope. These preliminary findings suggest a physiological and potential pathophysiological role for P2X7 in controlling renal and/or systemic vascular function, which could in turn affect susceptibility to hypertension-related kidney damage.
Cellular trafficking and processing of the insulin receptor 1

The insulin receptor is a dynamic cellular macromolecule that moves through various compartments of the cell throughout its lifetime. This review addresses the processes involved in the synthetic assembly of the insulin receptor; the interaction of insulin with the receptor protein; the receptor‐mediated endocytosis of insulin; and the role of receptor tyrosine and serine phosphorylation in both endocytosis and recycling. This discussion is concluded by examining the data available on the intracellular inactivation and degradation of the receptor protein. Emphasis is given to the cellular regulation imposed at each of these steps in receptor processing, and how the use of pharmacologic and physiologic perturbants has afforded experimental insights into the mechanisms the cell utilizes in modulating the expression and functioning of the insulin receptor. —Knutson, V. P. Cellular trafficking and processing of the insulin receptor. FASEB J. 5: 2130–2138; 1991.