Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GENDER AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

The gender difference in OCD was studied in 52 patients attending the psychiatric OPD and it was found that 35 (67.30%) patients were males compared to 17 (32.70%) females, which constituted 0.72 % and 1.03% of the male and female patients attending the OPD during the study period, respectively. Hence, inspite of the male preponderance in the study sample, it might not reflect the true prevalence of the disorder in the community. The age of onset for males was lower than that for females, but it did not reach statistical significance. The mean duration of illness for the entire sample was 7.48±7.66 years. The mean duration was found to be significantly longer for females compared to males. The females had higher obsessive, compulsive and total scores on YBOCS indicating a more severe psychopathology. All female patients had compulsions compared to 25.71 % males who had no compulsions. Females had increased frequency of obsessive rumination with obsessions of dirt and contamination along with compulsive washing. An interesting finding was that obsessive imagery with obsessions of sex and religion along with repeating rituals were found exclusively in males. A high celibacy rate was found amongst the males. There was no difference in the family history between the males and females.
Validation of the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI): A cross-cultural confirmation of its factorial structure

This research investigated whether music performance anxiety (MPA) can be theoretically understood as a unidimensional construct, and whether the factorial structure is robust across different populations of musicians with different levels of expertise. K-MPAI scores were obtained from 455 Peruvian tertiary music students (mean age = 21.19 years, SD = 3.13, range = 18–40 years) and 368 Australian professional orchestral musicians (mean age = 42.07 years, SD = 10.21, range = 18–68 years). A high order exploratory factor analysis with the Schmid-Leiman solution was performed on the K-MPAI items. Unweighted Least Squares extraction method and optimal implementation of parallel analysis revealed one high order factor and two first order factors for both samples. High Cronbach’s and ordinal alpha levels for items belonging to each first order and high order factor in both samples were also obtained. Structural similarities between the two samples and an invariance analysis signified a comparable structure and conceptual interpretation of K-MPAI scores in both populations. The factorial structure obtained supported a unidimensional interpretation of the construct of MPA. First order level interpretations are also possible and have been demonstrated to be clinically useful.
The Impact of Policy Initiatives on Credit Spreads during the 2007-09 Financial Crisis

This paper assesses the impact of the various “unconventional” U.S. Federal Reserve policies and fiscal policies, introduced during the 2007–09 financial crisis period, on credit market spreads. I also examine the impact of the “conventional” monetary policy stance, defined as the difference between the effective federal funds rate and the rate implied by a Taylor rule. Examining policies initiated between July 2007 and January 2009, I find that fiscal policy announcements did not, in general, reduce market spreads. I also find that while the multitude of “unconventional” monetary policy initiatives were effective in reducing market spreads, the effects were relatively modest. Finally, increases in the Taylor-rule residual are associated with an increase in credit market spreads.
Quality of life, fertility concerns, and behavioral health outcomes in younger breast cancer survivors: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women younger than age 50 years. Cancer treatments in younger women may cause premature menopause, infertility, and negative psychosocial effects. In this systematic review, we examined three key domains of functioning that are particularly relevant for younger breast cancer survivors: health-related quality of life (QOL), menopausal symptoms and fertility concerns, and behavioral health outcomes. METHODS We conducted a literature review using PubMed and secondary sources and examined 840 articles published between January 1990 and July 2010. Inclusion criteria for articles were 1) published in English after 1989; 2) exclusively analyzed female breast cancer survivors aged 50 years or younger or premenopausal at diagnosis, with baseline characteristics and/or quantitative or descriptive analyses for this age group; 3) investigated QOL (health-related QOL including physical functioning and mental health, depression, and anxiety), menopause- or fertility-related concerns, and weight gain or physical activity-related behavioral health outcomes. Data were extracted using a standardized table collecting the purpose, design, population, and results of each study. Extracted data were reviewed for accuracy by two investigators and presented as descriptive tables. RESULTS A total of 28 articles met the inclusion criteria (15 cross-sectional studies, eight longitudinal studies, and five randomized trials). Regarding data review, no discordance between investigators was noted. Standardized measures of QOL and depressive symptoms identified worse outcomes as being more frequent or severe in breast cancer survivors aged 50 years or younger when compared with the general age-matched population of women without cancer and to older women (aged >50 years) with breast cancer. Concerns about premature menopause, menopausal symptoms, and infertility were common in younger women (aged ≤ 50 years) and had a role in the level of distress after treatment. Weight gain and physical inactivity were common health outcomes in younger women. CONCLUSIONS Younger women with breast cancer were found to experience distinct psychosocial and menopause-related concerns, weight gain, and physical inactivity. A need for more longitudinal research, including efforts at intervention to manage these symptoms and adverse health outcomes, remains.
α-Lipoic Acid Prevents Endothelial Dysfunction in Obese Rats via Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase

Objective—Lipid accumulation in vascular endothelial cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in obese subjects. We showed previously that α-lipoic acid (ALA) activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and reduces lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle of obese rats. Here, we investigated whether ALA improves endothelial dysfunction in obese rats by activating AMPK in endothelial cells. Methods and Results—Endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation was impaired, and the number of apoptotic endothelial cells was higher in the aorta of obese rats compared with control rats. In addition, triglyceride and lipid peroxide levels were higher, and NO synthesis was lower. Administration of ALA improved all of these abnormalities. AMPK activity was lower in aortic endothelium of obese rats, and ALA normalized it. Incubation of human aortic endothelial cells with ALA activated AMPK and protected cells from linoleic acid–induced apoptosis. Dominant-negative AMPK inhibited the antiapoptotic effects of ALA. Conclusions—Reduced AMPK activation may play an important role in the genesis of endothelial dysfunction in obese rats. ALA improves vascular dysfunction by normalizing lipid metabolism and activating AMPK in endothelial cells.
Eating the Dead to Keep Atherosclerosis at Bay

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Despite effective lipid-lowering therapies and prevention programs, atherosclerosis is still the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Moreover, the prevalence of CHD in developing countries worldwide is rapidly increasing at a rate expected to overtake those of cancer and diabetes. Prominent risk factors include the hardening of arteries and high levels of cholesterol, which lead to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. However, cell death and efferocytosis are critical components of both atherosclerotic plaque progression and regression, yet, few currently available therapies focus on these processes. Thus, understanding the causes of cell death within the atherosclerotic plaque, the consequences of cell death, and the mechanisms of apoptotic cell clearance may enable the development of new therapies to treat cardiovascular disease. Here, we review how endoplasmic reticulum stress and cholesterol metabolism lead to cell death and inflammation, how dying cells affect plaque progression, and how autophagy and the clearance of dead cells ameliorates the inflammatory environment of the plaque. In addition, we review current research aimed at alleviating these processes and specifically targeting therapeutics to the site of the plaque.
An American Wordless Picturebook in Italian Classrooms: Inspiring Global Connections of People, Places, and Environments

ABSTRACT What happens when five teacher candidates and their professor bring a wordless picturebook into Italian classrooms? This article presents a grounded discussion of our immersive experiences from the United States and the minilessons they taught stemming from a piece of children's literature through our study abroad program in Italy. The opening of Italian classroom doors provided reflective observations of the critical and creative thinking processes of more than 200 Italian students (ages 7–16). We (one professor and five early childhood and special education teacher candidates) taught minilessons in five Italian schools during a monthlong study abroad program offered by our university (further described in Author 1, 2017). Although this project was conducted in Italy, we have since used this minilesson successfully in our own classes, and we invite you to adapt our use to fit your teaching.
Fiscal Policy in an Incomplete Markets Economy

We study the quantitative implications of fiscal policy decisions in an heterogeneous agent model with incomplete markets, and where equity and government debt are not perfect substitutes. This set-up allows us to study the impact on macroeconomic activity, cross-sectional wealth distribution, asset prices and the risk premium, in a unified framework. For a given level of government expenditures, a 10% increase in government debt to GDP decreases the capital stock between 1.0% and 1.5%, depending on how the new debt is financed, while the cost of government debt increases by between 6 to 12 basis points, inducing households to hold the extra bonds. Given the crowding out of investment the return on capital also rises. Despite the modest impact of fiscal policy decisions on asset returns we show that it is very important to measure the impact of those decisions in a model where the capital stock and government bonds are not perfect substitutes. More precisely, our results identify the portfolio re-allocation behavior of households (asset substitution channel), as extremely important for determining the impact of fiscal policy decisions on capital accumulation, and aggregate economic activity in general. On the other hand, the crowding-out effect of taxes through the tightening of liquidity constraints is very small since the households potentially affected by these constraints own a very small fraction of the capital stock. JEL Classification: E21, E62, G12.
Estimating the DOA and polarization parameters with sparse collocated loop and dipole cross array

In this paper, the direction of arrival (DOA) and polarization parameter estimation algorithm with sparse collocated loop and dipole cross array is proposed. According to the rotational invariance relationship between the dipoles and the loops, the polarization parameter estimations are obtained. On the basis of the subspace theory, the array steering vectors are got, the phase differences of the virtual array elements are acquired according to the feature that the phase differences between the array elements of two ends of diameter and the coordinate origin are opposite. The virtual short baselines between the virtual and actual array elements are obtained, the rough but unambiguous estimates of DOA are herein achieved. The precise but ambiguous estimates of DOA are got by using the long baseline of actual array elements, these above-mentioned ambiguities can be disambiguated by using the virtual baseline method, the high-precision estimations of DOA are herein acquired. The parameters of this method can be automatically matching. Simulation examples have verified the correctness and validity of our method.
Rapid Nongenomic Action of Aldosterone on Protein Expressions of Hsp90(α and β) and pc-Src in Rat Kidney

Previous in vitro studies indicated that aldosterone nongenomically phosphorylates epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) through activation of upstream signals, heat shock protein 90β (Hsp90β), and cytosolic (c)-Src kinase. We demonstrated that aldosterone rapidly elevates EGFR phosphorylation in rat kidney. There are no in vivo data regarding renal Hsp90(α and β) and phosphorylated (p)c-Src protein expressions. The present study further investigates the expressions of these proteins. Male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline solution or aldosterone (Aldo: 150 μg/kg BW). After 30 minutes, abundances and localizations of these proteins were determined. Aldosterone enhanced renal Hsp90β protein abundance (P < 0.001), but Hsp90α and pc-Src protein levels remained unaltered. Expression of Hsp90(α and β) was induced prominently in the proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs). Activation of Hsp90α was observed in vascular and outer medulla regions, whereas Hsp90β was induced in the cortex. Immunoreactivity of pc-Src was elevated in PCT with obvious staining at the luminal membrane. This in vivo study is the first to demonstrate that aldosterone nongenomically elevates Hsp90(α and β) protein expressions in rat kidney. Aldosterone had no effect on pc-Src protein levels but modulated localization. These results indicate that aldosterone regulates upstream mediators of EGFR transactivation in vivo.
Describing Greenspan ’ s Conduct with Taylor Rules : Is Interest Rate Smoothing Important ?

In this paper we estimate simple Taylor rules paying a particular attention to interest rate smoothing. Following English, Nelson, and Sack (2002), we employ a model in first differences to gain some insights on the presence and significance of the degree of partial adjustment as opposed to a serially correlated policy shock. Moreover, we estimate a nested model to take both interest rate smoothing and serially correlated deviations from various Taylor rates prescriptions into account. Our findings suggest that the lagged interest rate enters the Taylor rule in its own right, and may very well coexist with (usually omitted) variables that relate to asymmetric preferences on the output gap, or financial market indicators. Therefore, while we cannot exclude that serially correlated policy shocks may play a role in describing the federal funds rate path, our results significantly support the importance of the lagged interest rate in Taylor-type models. JEL classification system : E4, E5.
A pr 2 00 2 Trigonometric osp ( 1 | 2 ) Gaudin model

The problems connected with Gaudin models are reviewed by an al zi g model related to the trigonometricosp(1|2) classicalr-matrix. The eigenvectors of the trigonometric osp(1|2) Gaudin Hamiltonians are found using explicitly constructe d creation operators. The commutation relations between the creation operators a nd the generators of the trigonometric loop superalgebra are calculated. The coordinate re pr s ntation of the Bethe states is presented. The relation between the Bethe vectors and solut ions to the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation yields the norm of the eigenvectors. The generaliz d Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov system is discussed both in the rational and in the trigonome tric case. E-mail address: kulish@pdmi.ras. ru ; On leave of absence fr om Steklov Mathematical Institute, Fontanka 27, 191011, St.Petersburg, Russia. E-mail address: nmanoj@ualg.pt
Stakeholders’ understanding and perceptions of bio-banding in junior-elite football training

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the understanding and perceptions of professional football academy staff, youth players and parents/carers in the use of ‘bio-banding’ during a seven week, pre-season training period. Data included a series of one-to-one semi-structured interviews and semi-structured focus groups with the three participant groups. Data were collected at three distinct times: (1) pre-bio-banded training; (2) during-bio-banded training; and (3) post-bio-banded training. Data were analyzed qualitatively using a constant comparative approach. Results suggested that there are six key themes associated with bio-banding pre-season training: (1) interpretation of bio-banding; (2) perceived disadvantages; (3) perceived advantages; (4) changes to coaching planning and practice; (5) educating stakeholders; and (6) logistical issues. This study concludes by proposing applied practitioners consider the findings as a framework to guide operationalizing bio-banding in their environment.
The role of public and private information in a laboratory financial market

The main advantages of a laboratory financial market with respect to field data are: (i) it allows us a perfect monitoring of the available information to each subject at any moment in time, and (ii) it gives us the possibility of recording subjects' trading activity in the market. In our experimental design the information distribution is endogenous, since the subjects can buy costly private information. Inspired by the debate on the role of rating agencies in the recent financial crisis, additional to the private information we introduce an imperfect public signal. The study of the interplay between public and private information constitutes our contribution to the experimental literature on laboratory financial markets. In particular, in this paper we study the perturbation created by the introduction of a public signal on the information acquisition process and on the price efficiency in transmitting information. We conclude that the public signal might drive the market price if private information is not of good quality, leaving the financial market in “the hands" of the institution which releases the public information.
Ambiguity in Social Categorization

Two studies tested the hypothesis that perceivers' prejudice and targets' facial expressions bias race categorization in stereotypic directions. Specifically, we hypothesized that racial prejudice would be more strongly associated with a tendency to categorize hostile (but not happy) racially ambiguous faces as African American. We obtained support for this hypothesis using both a speeded dichotomous categorization task (Studies 1 and 2) and a rating-scale task (Study 2). Implicit prejudice (but not explicit prejudice) was related to increased sensitivity to the targets' facial expressions, regardless of whether prejudice was measured after (Study 1) or before (Study 2) the race categorizations were made.
Banking Deregulation and Industry Structure: Evidence from the French Banking Reforms of 1985

This Paper empirically investigates the impact of distortions in the banking sector on the structure and dynamics of product markets as well as on firm level outcomes. Our analysis suggests that an increase in the efficiency of the banking industry can have first-order effects not only on the lending relationship between banks and firms, but also on the structure and dynamics of product markets overall. The particular reform we consider is the deregulation of the French banking industry in the mid 1980s. This deregulation eliminated government interference in bank lending decisions and allowed French banks to compete more freely in the credit market. Post deregulation, we find that banks are less willing to bail out poorly performing firms and that these firms experience a steeper increase in the cost of capital. Subsequently, firms in the more bank-dependent industries have a somewhat higher propensity to undertake restructuring measures. At the industry-level, we observe an increase in asset and job reallocation in the bank dependent sectors, mostly due to higher entry and exit rates of firms. We also find an improvement in allocative efficiency across firms as well as a decline in industry concentration ratios. Overall, these findings are consistent with a model where distortions in bank lending create artificial barriers to entry in the real sectors of the economy. A more efficient banking sector therefore appears to play an important role in fostering a Schumpeterian process of ‘creative destruction’.
On the origin of cores in simulated galaxy clusters

The diffuse plasma that fills galaxy groups and clusters (the intracluster medium) is a by-product of galaxy formation. The present thermal state of this gas results from a competition between gas cooling and heating. The heating comes from two distinct sources: gravitational heating associated with the collapse of the dark matter halo and additional thermal input from the formation of galaxies and their black holes. A long-term goal of this research is to decode the observed temperature, density and entropy profiles of clusters and to understand the relative roles of these processes. However, a long-standing problem has been that cosmological simulations based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and Eulerian mesh-based codes predict different results even when cooling and galaxy/black hole heating are switched off. Clusters formed in SPH simulations show near power-law entropy profiles, while those formed in Eulerian simulations develop a core and do not allow gas to reach such low entropies. Since the cooling rate is closely connected to the minimum entropy of the gas distribution, the differences are of potentially key importance. In this paper, we investigate the origin of this discrepancy. By comparing simulations run using the GADGET-2 SPH code and the FLASH adaptive Eulerian mesh code, we show that the discrepancy arises during the idealized merger of two clusters and that the differences are not the result of the lower effective resolution of Eulerian cosmological simulations. The difference is not sensitive to the minimum mesh size (in Eulerian codes) or the number of particles used (in SPH codes). We investigate whether the difference is the result of the different gravity solvers, the Galilean non-invariance of the mesh code or an effect of unsuitable artificial viscosity in the SPH code. Instead, we find that the difference is inherent to the treatment of vortices in the two codes. Particles in the SPH simulations retain a close connection to their initial entropy, while this connection is much weaker in the mesh simulations. The origin of this difference lies in the treatment of eddies and fluid instabilities. These are suppressed in the SPH simulations, while the cluster mergers generate strong vortices in the Eulerian simulations that very efficiently mix the fluid and erase the low-entropy gas. We discuss the potentially profound implications of these results.
The impact of accessibility on the valuation of cities as location for firms

In this paper the relation between the attractivity of cities as a location for firms and the accessibility via the road network is analyzed. First a brief theoretical introduction on the relation between transport infrastructure and spatial patterns of economic activities is given. In the remainder of this paper the relation between the attractivity of cities as industrial sites, the image of cities and the accessibility of these cities via the road network is analyzed in an empirical study for the Netherlands. The correlation and the regression analysis both indicate a strong coherence between the valuation of cities as location sites for companies and the relative position of those cities in the Dutch road network