Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expressed Preferences and Behavior in Experimental Games

It is traditional in experimental games to allow participants to choose only actions or possibly communicate intended play. In sequential two-person games, we require first movers to express a preference between responder choices. We find that responder behavior differs substantially according to whether first movers express a hope for favorable or unfavorable treatment. We find that such preference expression after favorable first-mover play on average increases both the social surplus and the lowest payoff received by 15-20%. Expressed preferences for favorable responder behavior by first movers who have not behaved favorably are largely ignored, however, and may even be counter-productive. Our results replicate earlier findings, in that subjects assign a high positive weight to another person’s payoffs when ahead and misbehavior elicits a strong negative response. Logit regressions estimate the weight placed on another (nonmisbehaving) person’s payoffs to be positive, even when one is behind. While the degree of positive reciprocity is not significant either with or without expressed preferences, there is evidence that positive reciprocity is enhanced when a preference for favorable treatment is expressed.
Ankylosing spondylitis: an overview

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a complex, potentially debilitating disease that is insidious in onset, progressing to radiological sacroiliitis over several years. Patients with symptomatic AS lose productivity owing to work disability and unemployment, have a substantial use of healthcare resources, and reduced quality of life. The pathogenesis of AS is poorly understood. However, immune mediated mechanisms involving human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, inflammatory cellular infiltrates, cytokines (for example, tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 10), and genetic and environmental factors are thought to have key roles. The detection of sacroiliitis by radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography in the presence of clinical manifestations is diagnostic for AS, although the presence of inflammatory back pain plus at least two other typical features of spondyloarthropathy (for example, enthesitis and uveitis) is highly predictive of early AS. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) effectively relieve inflammatory symptoms and are presently first line drug treatment. However, NSAID treatment has only a symptomatic effect and probably does not alter the disease course. For symptoms refractory to NSAIDs, second line treatments, including corticosteroids and various disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, are employed but are of limited benefit. Emerging biological therapies target the inflammatory processes underlying AS, and thus, may favourably alter the disease process, in addition to providing symptom relief.
Functional Gain Computations for a 1 D Parabolic Equation using Non-Uniform Meshes

In this paper we consider a numerical algorithm for computing functional gains that define optimal feedback laws for Dirchlét boundary control of parabolic equations. The focus here is on using non-uniform meshes to improve convergence of finite element schemes. Since boundary control problems of this type often lead to functional gains with support near the boundary, uniform meshes are not optimal. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of using a non-uniform mesh concentrated near the boundary. 1 A Boundary Layer Control Problem We consider a control problem motivated by the viscous Burgers equation ∂ ∂t w(t, x) = μ ∂ ∂x w(t, x)− ∂ ∂x [w(t, x)] 2 , 0 < x < 1, t > 0, (1.1) with homogenous boundary condition at x = 0 w(t, 0) = 0, (1.2) This research was supported in part by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under grant F4962096-1-0329 and by the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, while the author was a Visiting Scientist in the Air Vehicles Directorate’s Control Science Center of Excellence. This research was supported in part by National Science Foundation under grant DMS 0072629. This research was supported in part by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under grant F4962000-1-0299 while the author was a Visiting Scientist in the Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics. 1 and Dirchlét boundary control at x = 1 w(t, 1) = u(t). (1.3) The initial condition is given by w(0, x) = w0(x) (1.4) where w0(x) ∈ L(0, 1) and 0 < μ << 1. The problem is motivated by flow control problems where the control action is located on the walls (boundary) of the flow (see [1] and [7]). If one linearizes the problem and applies LQR theory (LQG, MinMax, etc.), then the optimal controllers have the form uopt(t) = −Kw(t, ·) = − ∫ 1 0 k(x)w(t, x)dx, where k(x) is called the functional gain. In the paper [7] a finite element method on a uniform mesh was used to compute k(x). Typical convergence of these functional gains is illustrated in Figure 1 (here μ = 1 60 and a large penalty is placed on the solution near the boundary). 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 −100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 N=10 N=20 N=40 N=80 N=160 N=320 Figure 1: Convergence of the Functional Gains Observe that the functional gain is supported near the boundary and becomes “singular” at x = 1. Also note that convergence is not achieved even when a large number of elements is used. Clearly, the form of the functional gain suggests that one might be able to do better with a non-uniform mesh concentrated near x = 1. We investigate this issue in this paper. 2 1.1 The Control Problem The details of the problem and the theoretical framework may be found in ([7]). Thus, we briefly describe the problem and outline the results. Let bL = 1 − √ μ and define q(·) : [0, 1] −→ R by q(x) = { qL, bL ≤ x ≤ 1 qS, 0 ≤ x < bL , (1.5) where 0 < qS << qL are positive numbers. For r > 0 and α ≥ 0, we define the cost function by Jα(u(·)) = ∫ ∞ 0 e {( ∫ 1 0 q(x)|w(t, x)|dx )
Age effects on explicit and implicit memory

It is well-documented that explicit memory (e.g., recognition) declines with age. In contrast, many argue that implicit memory (e.g., priming) is preserved in healthy aging. For example, priming on tasks such as perceptual identification is often not statistically different in groups of young and older adults. Such observations are commonly taken as evidence for distinct explicit and implicit learning/memory systems. In this article we discuss several lines of evidence that challenge this view. We describe how patterns of differential age-related decline may arise from differences in the ways in which the two forms of memory are commonly measured, and review recent research suggesting that under improved measurement methods, implicit memory is not age-invariant. Formal computational models are of considerable utility in revealing the nature of underlying systems. We report the results of applying single and multiple-systems models to data on age effects in implicit and explicit memory. Model comparison clearly favors the single-system view. Implications for the memory systems debate are discussed.
Investigation of low-pressure adhesion performance of mushroom shaped biomimetic dry adhesives

The effectiveness of biomimetic dry adhesives at different ambient pressures was investigated. Biomimetic dry adhesives have great potential for space applications but there have been few studies on how these adhesives perform in low-pressure environments. The best performing geometry for dry adhesives with respect to normal adhesion has previously been determined to be mushroom shaped fibers, but the pressure sensitivity of these designs has been unclear – with some groups reporting pressure dependent adhesion, and others claiming no effect. We have compared the microscale adhesion of mushroom shaped polymer fibers at different ambient pressures and have determined that suction cup effects are negligible for fibers with caps less than 16.4 μm in diameter. Further investigation in this work showed that a simple suction cup model provided estimates for the geometry requirements for a non-negligible suction cup effect and determined that the minimum cap radius for the 10 μm pillar diameter used in this study should be over 26 μm – past the dimension that can be successfully fabricated using this technology.
Does the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) have a prognostic role in esophageal cancer?

The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), which combines indices of decreased plasma albumin and elevated CRP, has reported independent prognostic significance in colorectal cancer, but its value in upper gastrointestinal cancer is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of mGPS in patients with operable esophageal malignancy.
Topiramate Reduces Excitability in the Basolateral Amygdala by Selectively Inhibiting GluK1 (GluR5) Kainate Receptors on Interneurons and Positively Modulating GABAA Receptors on Principal Neurons

Topiramate [2,3:4,5-bis-O-(1-methylethylidene)-β-d-fructopyranose sulfamate] is a structurally novel antiepileptic drug that has broad efficacy in epilepsy, but the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic activity are not fully understood. We have found that topiramate selectively inhibits GluK1 (GluR5) kainate receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic responses in rat basolateral amygdala (BLA) principal neurons and protects against seizures induced by the GluK1 kainate receptor agonist (R,S)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-tert-butylisoxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid (ATPA). Here, we demonstrate that topiramate also modulates inhibitory function in the BLA. Using whole-cell recordings in rat amygdala slices, we found that 0.3 to 10 μM topiramate 1) inhibited ATPA-evoked postsynaptic currents recorded from BLA interneurons; 2) suppressed ATPA-induced enhancement of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) recorded from BLA pyramidal cells; and 3) blocked ATPA-induced suppression of evoked IPSCs, which is mediated by presynaptic GluK1 kainate receptors present on BLA interneurons. Topiramate (10 μM) had no effect on the AMPA [(R,S)-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid]-induced enhancement of spontaneous activity of BLA neurons. Thus, although topiramate inhibits GluK1 kainate receptor-mediated enhancement of interneuron firing, it promotes evoked GABA release, leading to a net inhibition of circuit excitability. In addition, we found that topiramate (0.3–10 μM) increased the amplitude of evoked, spontaneous, and miniature IPSCs in BLA pyramidal neurons, indicating an enhancement of postsynaptic GABAA receptor responses. Taken together with our previous findings, we conclude that topiramate protects against hyperexcitability in the BLA by suppressing the GluK1 kainate receptor-mediated excitation of principal neurons by glutamatergic afferents, blocking the suppression of GABA release from interneurons mediated by presynaptic GluK1 kainate receptors and directly enhancing GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory currents.
Glutaredoxin Protects Cerebellar Granule Neurons from Dopamine-induced Apoptosis by Dual Activation of the Ras-Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase and Jun N-terminal Kinase Pathways*

Glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2) from Escherichia coli protects cerebellar neurons from dopamine-induced apoptosis via nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, which is mediated by the expression of redox factor-1 (Ref-1). An analysis of the mechanisms underlying Grx2 protective activity revealed dual activation of signal transduction pathways. Grx2 significantly activated the Ras/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/NF-κB cascade in parallel to the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/AP1 cascade. Dopamine, in comparison, down-regulated both pathways. Treatment of neurons with Ref-1 antisense oligonucleotide reduced the ability of Grx2 to activate Akt and AP-1 but had no effect on the phosphorylation of JNK1/2, suggesting that Akt/NF-κB and AP-1 are regulated by Ref-1. Exposure of the neurons to JNK1/2 antisense oligonucleotide in the presence of Grx2 significantly reduced AP-1 and NF-κB DNA binding activities and abolished Grx2 protection. These results demonstrate that dual activation of Ras/phosphoinositide 3-kinase and AP-1 cascades, which are mediated by Ref-1, is an essential component of the Grx2 mechanism of action.
The effect of levosimendan on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is an important cause of myocardial damage by means of oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential cardio protective effects of levosimendan in a diabetic rat model of myocardial I/R injury. Methods A total of 18 streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar Albino rats (55 mg/kg) were randomly divided into three equal groups as follows: the diabetic I/R group (DIR) in which myocardial I/R was induced following left thoracotomy, by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 min, followed by 2 h of reperfusion; the diabetic I/R levosimendan group (DIRL), which underwent I/R by the same method while taking levosimendan intraperitoneal 12 µg kg−1; and the diabetic control group (DC) which underwent sham operations without tightening of the coronary sutures. As a control group (C), six healthy age-matched Wistar Albino rats underwent sham operations similar to the DC group. Two hours after the operation, the rats were sacrificed and the myocardial tissue samples were examined by light microscopy for evidence of myonecrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Results Myonecrosis findings were significantly different among groups (p=0.008). Myonecrosis was more pronounced in the DIR group compared with the C, DC, and DIRL groups (p=0.001, p=0.007 and p=0.037, respectively). Similarly, the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration showed significant difference among groups (p<0.0001). Compared with C, DC, and DIRL groups, the inflammatory cell infiltration was significantly higher among the DIR group (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, and p=0.020, respectively). Also, myocardial tissue edema was significantly different among groups (p=0.006). The light microscopic myocardial tissue edema levels were significantly higher in the DIR group than the C, DC, and DIRL groups (p=0.001, p=0.037, and p=0.014, respectively). Conclusion Taken together, our data indicate that levosimendan may be helpful in reducing myocardial necrosis, myocardial inflammation, and myocardial tissue edema resulting from ischemia–reperfusion injury.
The Utility of Serum IgG4 Concentrations as a Biomarker

IgG4-related disease is a new disease entity involving IgG4 in its clinical presentation and having 6 characteristic features: (1) systemic involvement; (2) solitary or multiple lesions showing diffuse or localized swelling, masses, nodules, and/or wall thickening on imaging; (3) high serum IgG4 concentration >135 mg/dL; (4) abundant infiltration of lymphoplasmacytes and IgG4-bearing plasma cells; (5) a positive response to corticosteroid therapy; and (6) complications of other IgG4-related diseases. To date, most IgG4-related diseases have been recognized as extrapancreatic lesions of autoimmune pancreatitis. This paper will discuss the utility of IgG4 as a biomarker of IgG4-related diseases, including in the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis and its differentiation from pancreatic cancer, in the prediction of relapse, in the long-term follow-up of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis and normal or elevated IgG4 concentrations, and in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis and extrapancreatic lesions, as well as the role of IgG4 in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease.
Lactococcal plasmid pWV01 as an integration vector for lactococci

A Bacillus subtilis strain was constructed that contained the repA gene of the lactococcal plasmid pWVO1 in its chromosome. This strain was used to construct the pWVO1-based integration vector pINT1, which lacked the repA gene. The 3.6-kb plasmid pINT1 was not able to replicate in Lactococcus lactis MG1363 but integrated into the chromosome via a Campbell-like mechanism when a lactococcal chromosomal DNA fragment was incorporated in the plasmid. Transformants were obtained that carried between one and four plasmid copies, in stable tandem arrangement on the chromosome. The results indicate that pWVO1 can be used for the development of a Campbell-like integration system fully derived of lactococcal DNA, with which stable multiple copies of any gene of interest can be generated in the lactococcal chromosome.
Electrophysiological Characteristics of Canine Atrial Plateau Fibers

Right atria from dog hearts were immersed in Tyrode's solution with the endocardial surface of the anterior wall exposed. Glass microelectrodes were used to impale fibers in different anatomical areas of this preparation. Electrical characteristics of atrial plateau fibers located along the caval border of the crista terminalis were compared with those of regular atrial fibers from other sites. The former conducted at a rate (0.803±0.110 M/sec) two to three times more rapidly than pathways composed of regular atrial fibers. A period of supernormal excitability was demonstrated for plateau fibers but not for regular fibers. Graded premature responses could be elicited in plateau fibers by both electrical stimulation and propagated action potentials. Duration of the effective refractory period of plateau fibers (196.1±2.5 msec) was longer than that of regular fibers (147.8±5.4 msec). Plateau fibers required a lower level of membrane potential (−62.1 ± 0.8 mv) to generate a propagated action potential than did regular fibers (−65.5 ± 1.3 mv). Regular atrial fibers could respond at faster rates to high frequency stimulation than plateau fibers.
Quantum Local Symmetry of the D-Dimensional Non-Linear Sigma Model: A Functional Approach

We summarize recent progress on the symmetric subtraction of the Non-Linear Sigma Model in D dimensions, based on the validity of a certain Local Functional Equation (LFE) encoding the invariance of the SU(2) Haar measure under local left transformations. The deformation of the classical non-linearly realized symmetry at the quantum level is analyzed by cohomological tools. It is shown that all the divergences of the one-particle irreducible (1-PI) amplitudes (both on-shell and off-shell) can be classified according to the solutions of the LFE. Applications to the non-linearly realized Yang-Mills theory and to the electroweak theory, which is directly relevant to the model-independent analysis of LHC data, are briefly addressed.
BI as an assertion language for mutable data structures

Reynolds has developed a logic for reasoning about mutable data structures in which the pre- and postconditions are written in an intuitionistic logic enriched with a spatial form of conjunction. We investigate the approach from the point of view of the logic BI of bunched implications of O'Hearnand Pym. We begin by giving a model in which the law of the excluded middleholds, thus showing that the approach is compatible with classical logic. The relationship between the intuitionistic and classical versions of the system is established by a translation, analogous to a translation from intuitionistic logic into the modal logic S4. We also consider the question of completeness of the axioms. BI's spatial implication is used to express weakest preconditions for object-component assignments, and an axiom for allocating a cons cell is shown to be complete under an interpretation of triplesthat allows a command to be applied to states with dangling pointers. We make this latter a feature, by incorporating an operation, and axiom, for disposing of memory. Finally, we describe a local character enjoyed by specifications in the logic, and show how this enables a class of frame axioms, which say what parts of the heap don't change, to be inferred automatically.
Global Analysis of Pub1p Targets Reveals a Coordinate Control of Gene Expression through Modulation of Binding and Stability

ABSTRACT Regulation of mRNA turnover is an important cellular strategy for posttranscriptional control of gene expression, mediated by the interplay of cis-acting sequences and associated trans-acting factors. Pub1p, an ELAV-like yeast RNA-binding protein with homology to T-cell internal antigen 1 (TIA-1)/TIA-1-related protein (TIAR), is an important modulator of the decay of two known classes of mRNA. Our goal in this study was to determine the range of mRNAs whose stability is dependent on Pub1p, as well as to identify specific transcripts that directly bind to this protein. We have examined global mRNA turnover in isogenic PUB1 and pub1Δ strains through gene expression analysis and demonstrate that 573 genes exhibit a significant reduction in half-life in a pub1Δ strain. We also examine the binding specificity of Pub1p using affinity purification followed by microarray analysis to comprehensively distinguish between direct and indirect targets and find that Pub1p significantly binds to 368 cellular transcripts. Among the Pub1p-associated mRNAs, 53 transcripts encoding proteins involved in ribosomal biogenesis and cellular metabolism are selectively destabilized in the pub1Δ strain. In contrast, genes involved in transporter activity demonstrate association with Pub1p but display no measurable changes in transcript stability. Characterization of two candidate genes, SEC53 and RPS16B, demonstrate that both Pub1p-dependent regulation of stability and Pub1p binding require 3′ untranslated regions, which harbor distinct sequence motifs. These results suggest that Pub1p binds to discrete subsets of cellular transcripts and posttranscriptionally regulates their expression at multiple levels.
Nephrogenic adenoma of the urinary tract: a review of the microscopic appearance of 80 cases with emphasis on unusual features.

A detailed review of the microscopic features of 80 nephrogenic adenomas of the urinary tract was undertaken. The lesions occurred in patients who ranged in age from 15 to 94 (average, 52) years. There was a 2:1 male/female ratio. Fifty-five percent of the lesions occurred in the urinary bladder, 41% in the urethra, and 4% in the ureter. The most common microscopic pattern, present in 96% of the cases, was tubular. The tubules were usually small, hollow, and round, but some were solid and occasionally elongated. Their arrangement varied from orderly, sometimes laminar, to pseudoinfiltrative. A basement membrane was appreciable around the tubules in 25% of the cases but was rarely prominent. In two prostatic urethral cases tubules involved the fibromuscular prostatic stroma. A cystic pattern was seen in 72% of the cases. The tubules and cysts most commonly contained eosinophilic secretion but in 25% of the cases the secretion was basophilic. In 12% of the cases some of the tubules were tiny and when they contained basophilic secretion occasionally mimicked signet-ring cells. The third most frequent pattern, seen in 65% of the cases, was papillary to polypoid. Edematous polyps were commonest but thin, delicate filiform papillae were present in 10% of the cases. A complex branching pattern with prominent budding of small papillae was seen in three cases. The papillary-polypoid pattern was usually associated with a tubular component but in three cases it was pure. The final pattern, present in 14% of the cases, was diffuse, but it was prominent in only one case. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)