Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance enhancement in the workplace: why and when healthy individuals should disclose their reliance on pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers

The use of pharmaceuticals cognitive enhancers (PCE) has been stirring growing interest, not only in the scientific domain but also in the popular media, and has probably had some increase recently in academic, professional and military quarters. So this phenomenon is deemed as a normal procedure aimed at improving the performance of an individual as well as the overall standards of an organization. Although the vast majority of countries have some kind of restrictions to reduce the wide non-medical usage of PCE, these can be overcome quite easily. In arguing for our explicit claim that, in many contexts, the use of cognitive enhancers should be disclosed—as a moral and socially relevant duty—we maintain that PCE present typical, or at least not rare, properties. The features are the following: (a) the enhancer has acute and/or chronic effects. In the first case, shortly after taking the drug the performance is significantly better than average; in the second case, there is a growing or lasting effect, which, however, is poised to diminish when one stops taking the drug; (b) those effects are significant (there is a difference in the outcome considered between taking and not taking the drug) and sometimes dramatic; and (c) a third feature, not directly related to enhancers as such, is their varying safety, availability, and legal permissibility, which might either induce people to take them or refrain them from doing so. We will consider the issue of fairness due to “unenhanced” people as well as the potentially dysfunctional social consequences of an undisclosed PCE use.
Distributions for MSSM Higgs boson+jet production at hadron colliders

We present pseudorapidity and transverse-momentum distributions for the cross section for the production of the lightest neutral Higgs boson in association with a high-p{sub T} hadronic jet, calculated in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. We discuss the theoretical predictions for the differential cross sections at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and the Fermilab Tevatron for the most common benchmark scenarios.
Gender, urban space, and the right to everyday life

ABSTRACT Gender remains a neglected focus for theory and practice in shaping cities. Given women’s continuing economic and social marginalization and the prevalence of violence against women, how can this be the case? Despite several decades of feminist scholarship, dominant perspectives within the “the right to the city” literature pay little attention to how “rights” are gendered. In contrast, feminist and queer scholarship concerned with everyday life and the multiple spatial tactics of marginalized city dwellers reveal a more complex urban arena in which rights are negotiated or practiced. This article suggests that a fuller recognition of the contested publics that coexist within the contemporary city and the gendered mediation of everyday experiences could enable planners and policy makers to undertake more inclusive forms of intervention in urban space.
Do alpha sampling rhythms of visual perception also code for temporal integration to a higher order percept

Studies on the role of intrinsic cortical oscillations in the organisation of visual perception suggest that cyclic inhibitory influences participate in the temporal coding of incoming sensory information. In terms of behavioural outcome, these inhibitory influences have been related to a cyclic variation in the perceptual fate of a simple near-threshold visual stimulus at a frequency which matches cortical alpha oscillations at around 10 Hz. In the current experiment we seek to demonstrate behavioural rhythms in visual perceptual performance, following cross-modal phase locking of visual cortical rhythms, for a two frame apparent motion stimulus. Our aim was to determine if performance in this more complex perceptual task – which necessitates sampling and integration of features for motion perception – shows a cyclic variation at a similar frequency to that previously demonstrated (~10 Hz) or shows another periodicity. To this end, we assessed oscillatory patterns in near-threshold visual discrimination performance in 20 participants (15 female) while they were viewing the apparent motion and control stimuli. Results show that there was a significant interaction in the perception of the apparent motion stimulus as motion, compared with a control random noise pattern over the time course of a trial (295 ms), which was due to a cyclic oscillatory trend at a frequency of 11Hz with motion perception, which was not the case for noise percepts. This is taken to suggest that the binding of successive static visual stimuli towards an integrated and meaningful percept of apparent motion is influenced in some manner by cortical oscillations in the alpha frequency. Whether this is likely to be an effect of periodicity in sampling or alternately of encoded temporal intraphasic information is considered.
The effect of feeding frequency on insulin and ghrelin responses in human subjects

Recent work shows that increased meal frequency reduces ghrelin responses in sheep. Human research suggests there is an interaction between insulin and ghrelin. The effect of meal frequency on this interaction is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of feeding frequency on insulin and ghrelin responses in human subjects. Five healthy male volunteers were recruited from the general population: age 24 (sem 2) years, body mass 75·7 (sem 3·2) kg and BMI 23·8 (sem 0·8) kg/m2. Volunteers underwent three 8-h feeding regimens: fasting (FAST); low-frequency (two) meal ingestion (LOFREQMEAL); high-frequency (twelve) meal ingestion (HIFREQMEAL). Meals were equi-energetic within trials, consisting of 64 % carbohydrate, 23 % fat and 13 % protein. Total energy intake was equal between feeding trials. Total area under the curve for serum insulin and plasma ghrelin responses did not differ between trials (P>0·05), although the hormonal response patterns to the two meal feeding regimens were different. An inverse relationship was found between serum insulin and plasma ghrelin during the FAST and LOFREQMEAL trials (P < 0·05); and, in the postprandial period, there was a time delay between insulin responses and successive ghrelin responses. This relationship was not observed during the HIFREQMEAL trial (P>0·05). This study provides further evidence that the postprandial fall in ghrelin might be due, at least partially, to the rise in insulin and that high-frequency feeding may disrupt this relationship.
Domain decomposition preconditioning for parallel PDE software

Domain decomposition methods have been applied to the solution of engineering problems for many years. Over the past two decades however the growth in the use of parallel computing platforms has ensured that interest in these methods, which offer the possibility of parallelism in a very natural manner, has become greater than ever. This interest has led to research that has yielded significant advances in both the theoretical understanding of the underlying mathematical structure behind domain decomposition methods and in the variety of domain decomposition algorithms that are available for use by the engineering community. In this paper we provide a brief overview of some of the main categories of domain decomposition algorithm and then focus on a particular variant of the overlapping Schwarz algorithm that is based upon the use of a hierarchy of finite element grids. Throughout the paper we consider domain decomposition methods as preconditioners for standard, Krylov subspace, iterative solvers however they may also be used directly as iterative methods in their own right. All of the theoretical results that are described apply equally in both cases.
Novel and Transient Populations of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone-Expressing Neurons in Developing Hippocampus Suggest Unique Functional Roles: A Quantitative Spatiotemporal Analysis

Robust physiological actions of the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) on hippocampal pyramidal neurons have been demonstrated, which may contribute to synaptic efficacy and to learning and memory processes. These excitatory actions of the peptide, as well as the expression of the CRH receptor type that mediates them, are particularly prominent during early postnatal life, suggesting that endogenous CRH may contribute to processes involved in maturation of hippocampal circuitry. To further elucidate the function(s) of endogenous CRH in developing hippocampus, we used neurochemical and quantitative stereological methods to characterize in detail CRH-expressing neuronal populations during postnatal hippocampal differentiation. These experiments revealed progressively increasing numbers of CRH-expressing neurons in developing hippocampus that peaked on postnatal day 11–18 and then declined drastically to adult levels. These cells belonged to several discrete populations, distinguished by GAD67 mRNA expression, morphology, and distinct spatiotemporal distribution profiles. Importantly, a novel population of Cajal-Retzius-like CRH-expressing neurons was characterized that exists only transiently in early postnatal hippocampus and is positioned to contribute to the establishment of hippocampal connectivity. These findings suggest novel, age-specific roles for CRH in regulating early developmental events in the hippocampal formation.
The influence of textual presentation order and graphical presentation on the judgements of non-professional investors

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of textual presentation order and graphical presentation on the judgements of non-professional investors. Adopting an experimental approach and drawing on the belief-adjustment model, the study captures whether a recency effect prevails and whether this effect can be moderated by the inclusion of a graph. Additionally, the study utilises eye-tracking to provide a novel insight into the processes individuals use to assess financial information and form judgements. The results reveal that non-professional investors are susceptible to recency effects due to the strategic presentation ordering of narrative information. Non-professional investors give a lower performance rating if the negative information is presented last. The recency effect is not reduced through the inclusion of a graph.
Contemporary psychological contracts: How organizational change and generational differences affect employer employee relationships

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Cells in the monkey ponto-medullary reticular formation modulate their activity with slow finger movements

• The reticulospinal tract is an important pathway communicating instructions for movement from the brain to the spinal cord • Although the reticulospinal tract is usually associated with gross movements such as postural adjustments and walking, recent work has shown that it also connects to spinal centres involved in hand function • In awake monkeys, we recorded from the origin of the reticulospinal tract (the reticular formation) during performance of a fine finger movement task. Cells modulated their firing during finger movements • Stimulation of sites within the reticular formation sometimes activated hand muscles, and some cells within the reticular formation responded to the sensory input following externally imposed movements of the digits • This work supports a role of the reticulospinal tract in hand function in healthy individuals. Additionally, this tract may be able to mediate some recovery of hand function when other pathways are damaged, such as after stroke
Excitation of skeletal muscle is a self-limiting process, due to run-down of Na+, K+ gradients, recoverable by stimulation of the Na+, K+ pumps

The general working hypothesis of this study was that muscle fatigue and force recovery depend on passive and active fluxes of Na+ and K+. This is tested by examining the time‐course of excitation‐induced fluxes of Na+ and K+ during 5–300 sec of 10–60 Hz continuous electrical stimulation in rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles in vitro and in vivo using 22Na and flame photometric determination of Na+ and K+. 60 sec of 60 Hz stimulation rapidly increases 22Na influx, during the initial phase (0–15 sec) by 0.53 μmol(sec)−1(g wet wt.)−1, sixfold faster than in the later phase (15–60 sec). These values agree with flame photometric measurements of Na+ content. The progressive reduction in the rate of excitation‐induced Na+ uptake is likely to reflect gradual loss of excitability due to accumulation of K+ in the extracellular space and t‐tubules leading to depolarization. This is in keeping with the concomitant progressive loss of contractile force previously demonstrated. During electrical stimulation rat muscles rapidly reach high rates of active Na+, K+‐transport (in EDL muscles a sevenfold increase and in soleus muscles a 22‐fold increase), allowing efficient and selective compensation for the large excitation‐induced passive Na+, K+‐fluxes demonstrated over the latest decades. The excitation‐induced changes in passive fluxes of Na+ and K+ are both clearly larger than previously observed. The excitation‐induced reduction in [Na+]o contributes considerably to the inhibitory effect of elevated [K+]o. In conclusion, excitation‐induced passive and active Na+ and K+ fluxes are important causes of muscle fatigue and force recovery, respectively.
HIPPARCOS age metallicity relation of the solar neighbourhood disc stars

We derive age-metallicity relations (AMRs) and orbital parameters for the 1658 solar neighbourhood stars to which accurate distances are measured by the HIPPARCOS satellite. The sample stars comprise 1382 thin disc stars, 229 thick disc stars, and 47 halo stars according to their orbital parameters. We find a considerable scatter for thin disc AMR along the one- zone Galactic chemical evolution (GCE) model. Orbits and metallicities of thin disc stars show now clear relation each other. The scatter along the AMR exists even if the stars with the same orbits are selected. We examine simple extension of one-zone GCE models which account for inhomogeneity in the effective yield and inhomogeneous star formation rate in the Galaxy. Both extensions of the one-zone GCE model cannot account for the scatter in age - (Fe/H) - (Ca/Fe) relation simultaneously. We conclude, therefore, that the scatter along the thin disc AMR is an essential feature in the formation and evolution of the Galaxy. The AMR for thick disc stars shows that the star formation terminated 8 Gyr ago in the thick disc. As already reported by Gratton et al. (2000) and Prochaska et al. (2000), thick disc stars are more Ca-rich than thin disc stars with the same (Fe/H). We find that thick disc stars show a vertical abundance gradient. These three facts, the AMR, vertical gradient, and (Ca/Fe)-(Fe/H) relation, support monolithic collapse and/or accretion of satellite dwarf galaxies as likely thick disc formation scenarios.
Systematic review of studies of productivity loss due to rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating disease with a significant impact on workplace productivity. AIM To perform a systematic review of studies of the relationship between RA and reduced workplace productivity. METHODS Screening of 307 titles identified in bibliographic database searches resulted in 38 articles subject to systematic review. Productivity loss was expressed by three different measures: work disability, work loss (synonymous with absenteeism or short-term sick leave) and work limitation (reduction in productivity while present at work). RESULTS A median of 66% (range 36-84%) of employed RA subjects experienced work loss due to RA in the previous 12 months, for a median duration of 39 days (range 7-84 days). The times from RA diagnosis until a 50% probability of being work disabled varied from 4.5 to 22 years. In inception cohort studies, the baseline variables consistently predictive of subsequent work disability were a physically demanding work type, more severe RA and older age. CONCLUSIONS RA-related work-disability rates were similar in the USA and European countries. An apparent decrease in the prevalence of RA-related work disability since the 1970s may be related to a decrease in physically demanding work rather than to epidemiologic changes in RA. The majority of the literature addresses permanent disability and temporary work loss; none of the studies reviewed reported the effect of RA on presenteeism, i.e. work limitation from the employer perspective, and there are few published studies of the effectiveness of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in reducing work-related productivity loss.
Analysis of Ebola Virus Entry Into Macrophages

Abstract Ebolaviruses constitute a public health threat, particularly in Central and Western Africa. Host cell factors required for spread of ebolaviruses may serve as targets for antiviral intervention. Lectins, TAM receptor tyrosine kinases (Tyro3, Axl, Mer), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) proteins, integrins, and Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) have been reported to promote entry of ebolaviruses into certain cellular systems. However, the factors used by ebolaviruses to invade macrophages, major viral targets, are poorly defined. Here, we show that mannose-specific lectins, TIM-1 and Axl augment entry into certain cell lines but do not contribute to Ebola virus (EBOV)-glycoprotein (GP)–driven transduction of macrophages. In contrast, expression of Mer, integrin αV, and NPC1 was required for efficient GP-mediated transduction and EBOV infection of macrophages. These results define cellular factors hijacked by EBOV for entry into macrophages and, considering that Mer and integrin αV promote phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, support the concept that EBOV relies on apoptotic mimicry to invade target cells.
Higher‐order approximations in the parabolic equation method for water waves

Application of the parabolic equation method to wave propagation problems implies that the propagation direction of all major components of the wave field must be con- fined to some narrow band of directions centered on a prechosen principal propagation direction. The allowed directional bandwidth is then delimited by the maximum allowed error in the principal direction wavelength when a transverse wavelength (wave turned at an angle) is imposed. In this paper we investigate higher-order approximations which have the effect of opening the directional bandwidth to better than 45 o around the principal direction and which fit within the computational framework of the lower- order approximation. The problem is discussed within the context of the pure-diffraction limit (constant depth), after which a higher-order scheme is provided for waves in domains with slowly varying depth and ambient current. Several computational examples are provided to show the improvements in the higher-order approximation relative to the existing lower- order approximation. We then examine several forms of computational noise which arise in practical applications of either higher- or lower-order approximations and suggest methods for suppressing the nonphysical, computational modes of the solutions.
Adoptive Transfer of Treg Cells Combined with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Facilitates Repopulation of Endogenous Treg Cells in a Murine Acute GVHD Model

Therapeutic effects of combined cell therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have recently been studied in acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) models. However, the underlying, seemingly synergistic mechanism behind combined cell therapy has not been determined. We investigated the origin of Foxp3+ Treg cells and interleukin 17 (IL-17+) cells in recipients following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) to identify the immunological effects of combined cell therapy. Treg cells were generated from eGFP-expressing C57BL/6 mice (Tregegfp cells) to distinguish the transferred Treg cells; recipients were then examined at different time points after BMT. Systemic infusion of MSCs and Treg cells improved survival and GVHD scores, effectively downregulating pro-inflammatory Th×and Th17 cells. These therapeutic effects of combined cell therapy resulted in an increased Foxp3+ Treg cell population. Compared to single cell therapy, adoptively transferred Tregegfp cells only showed prolonged survival in the combined cell therapy group on day 21 after allogeneic BMT. In addition, Foxp3+ Treg cells, generated endogenously from recipients, significantly increased. Significantly higher levels of Tregegfp cells were also detected in aGVHD target organs in the combined cell therapy group compared to the Treg cells group. Thus, our data indicate that MSCs may induce the long-term survival of transferred Treg cells, particularly in aGVHD target organs, and may increase the repopulation of endogenous Treg cells in recipients after BMT. Together, these results support the potential of combined cell therapy using MSCs and Treg cells for preventing aGVHD.
Modelling IS Student Retention in Taiwan: Extending Tinto and Bean’s Model with Self-Efficacy

Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore an Information System (IS) student retention model by modifying the integrated model of Tinto and Bean. The proposed model extends the integrated model by adding a construct named self-efficacy which is a psychological factor borrowed from self-efficacy theory. Data was collected from six private institutions in Taiwan and participants included students studying in the IS discipline in 2009. Structural equation modelling was utilised to validate the proposed model. Although the measures used in assessing the fit of the model obtained reflected the overall strength of the hypothesized model, the present study was not entirely supportive of Tinto’s or Bean’s models. Based on the significance of the factors in affecting the retention of IS students, the following intervention programs are suggested: (1) promoting self-efficacy programs, (2) provision of career consultancies and services, and (3) improvement of the teaching of IS core courses.
Cyber-crime Science = Crime Science + Information Security

Cyber-crime Science is an emerging area of study aiming to prevent cyber-crime by combining security protection techniques from Information Security with empirical research methods used in Crime Science. Information security research has developed techniques for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets but is less strong on the empirical study of the effectiveness of these techniques. Crime Science studies the effect of crime prevention techniques empirically in the real world, and proposes improvements to these techniques based on this. Combining both approaches, Cyber-crime Science transfers and further develops Information Security techniques to prevent cyber-crime, and empirically studies the effectiveness of these techniques in the real world. In this paper we review the main contributions of Crime Science as of today, illustrate its application to a typical Information Security problem, namely phishing, explore the interdisciplinary structure of Cyber-crime Science, and present an agenda for research in Cyber-crime Science in the form of a set of suggested research questions.