Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning Inhibition in the Monty Hall Problem

Despite repeated trials, people consistently fail to learn the solution to the Monty Hall problem (MHP). This research examines the links between learning, counterfactual thinking, and memory for decision/outcome frequencies. Study 1 participants completed 60 MHP trials and listed their thoughts following losses. Results showed that participants tended to counterfactualize switch losses more than stick losses, adhered to the prescriptions of their counterfactuals more frequently following switch losses than any other decisions/outcomes, and were less likely to learn the solution as counterfactuals increased. Furthermore, memory for switch losses was significantly overestimated, and the relationship between counterfactuals and learning was mediated by misestimation of decision/outcome frequencies. In Study 2, counterfactual salience was manipulated. Learning was less likely to occur when counterfactual salience was high than when it was low, a relationship that was again mediated by memory of decision/outcome frequencies. Findings are discussed in light of their theoretical and applied implications.
Gene flow despite complex Robertsonian fusions among rock-wallaby (Petrogale) species

Complex Robertsonian rearrangements, with shared arms in different fusions, are expected to prevent gene flow between hybrids through missegregation during meiosis. Here, we estimate gene flow between recently diverged and chromosomally diverse rock-wallabies (Petrogale) to test for this form of chromosomal speciation. Contrary to expectations, we observe relatively high admixture among species with complex fusions. Our results reinforce the need to consider alternative roles of chromosome change, together with genic divergence, in driving speciation.
Statistical Timing Yield Optimization by Gate Sizing

In this paper, we propose a statistical gate sizing approach to maximize the timing yield of a given circuit, under area constraints. Our approach involves statistical gate delay modeling, statistical static timing analysis, and gate sizing. Experiments performed in an industrial framework on combinational International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS'85) and Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC) benchmarks show absolute timing yield gains of 30% on the average, over deterministic timing optimization for at most 10% area penalty. It is further shown that circuits optimized using our metric have larger timing yields than the same optimized using a worst case metric, for iso-area solutions. Finally, we present an insight into statistical properties of gate delays for a commercial 0.13-mum technology library which intuitively provides one reason why statistical timing driven optimization does better than deterministic timing driven optimization
Drivers and Inhibitors of E-Commerce Adoption in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

E-commerce have become increasingly popular in our everyday business and personal lives. For many organizations, competitiveness in e-commerce requires a successful presence on the web. This paper provided an insight about factors affecting business-to-business e-commerce adoption and implementation in small and medium-sized enterprises. The research is based on a wide literature review, focused on proposing a theoretical model of technological, environmental and organizational factors influencing e-commerce adoption and implementation. The results of the empirical research provided indication to small and medium-sized enterprises interested to adopt business-to-business e-commerce, large companies interested to conduct e-commerce transactions with small and medium sized companies and policy makers.
Sequence-function relationships provide new insight into the cleavage site selectivity of the 8–17 RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme

Many sequence variations of the 8–17 RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme have been isolated through in vitro selection. In an effort to understand how these sequence variations affect cleavage site selectivity, we systematically mutated the catalytic core of 8–17 and measured the cleavage activity of each mutant deoxyribozyme against all 16 possible chimeric (RNA/DNA) dinucleotide junctions. We observed sequence-function relationships that suggest how the following non-conserved positions in the catalytic core influence selectivity at the dinucleotide (5′ rN18-N1.1 3′) cleavage site: (i) positions 2.1 and 12 represent a primary determinant of the selectivity at the 3′ position (N1.1) of the cleavage site; (ii) positions 15 and 15.0 represent a primary determinant of the selectivity at the 5′ position (rN18) of the cleavage site and (iii) the sequence of the 3-bp intramolecular stem has relatively little influence on cleavage site selectivity. Furthermore, we report for the first time that 8–17 variants have the collective ability to cleave all dinucleotide junctions with rate enhancements of at least 1000-fold over background. Three optimal 8–17 variants, identified from ∼75 different sequences that were examined, can collectively cleave 10 of 16 junctions with useful rates of ≥0.1 min−1, and exhibit an overall hierarchy of reactivity towards groups of related junctions according to the order NG > NA > NC > NT.
Nardilysin is involved in autoimmune arthritis via the regulation of tumour necrosis factor alpha secretion

Objective Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays an important role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). TNF-α is synthesised as a membrane-anchored precursor and is fully activated by a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17)-mediated ectodomain shedding. Nardilysin (NRDC) facilitates ectodomain shedding via activation of ADAM17. This study was undertaken to elucidate the role of NRDC in RA. Methods NRDC-deficient (Nrdc–/– ) mice and macrophage-specific NRDC-deficient (NrdcdelM ) mice were examined in murine RA models, collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) and K/BxN serum transfer arthritis (K/BxN STA). We evaluated the effect of gene deletion or silencing of Nrdc on ectodomain shedding of TNF-α in macrophages or monocytes. NRDC concentration in synovial fluid from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA) were measured. We also examined whether local gene silencing of Nrdc ameliorated CAIA. Results CAIA and K/BxN STA were significantly attenuated in Nrdc–/– mice and NrdcdelM mice. Gene deletion or silencing of Nrdc in macrophages or THP-1 cells resulted in the reduction of TNF-α shedding. The level of NRDC is higher in synovial fluid from RA patients compared with that from OA patients. Intra-articular injection of anti-Nrdcsmall interfering RNA ameliorated CAIA. Conclusion These data indicate that NRDC plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis and could be a new therapeutic target for RA treatment.
Safety and effectiveness of controlled-release paroxetine in routine clinical practice: results of a postmarketing surveillance study of patients with depression

Objective Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly used in the pharmacotherapy of depression. However, adverse events can lead to their early discontinuation. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of paroxetine controlled-release (CR) tablets in Japanese patients with depression/depressive state (hereafter referred to as depression) in routine clinical practice in Japan. Patients and methods This was an open-label, noninterventional, prospective, postmarketing surveillance study. A total of 3,213 patients aged 12–92 years with depression were prescribed paroxetine CR for 8 weeks at the physician’s discretion. Safety was evaluated on the basis of the reporting of adverse drug reactions. Effectiveness was evaluated on the basis of the physician’s assessment using the Clinical Global Impression-Global Improvement (CGI-GI) and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-SI) scales, as well as on the basis of the patients’ self-reported satisfaction. The primary effectiveness outcome was the improvement rate based on the physician’s assessment using the CGI-GI. Results The incidence of adverse drug reactions was 11.2% (359/3,213; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.1%–12.3%). The common adverse drug reactions that accounted for 1.0% or more of the incidence were nausea (3.5%) and somnolence (2.7%). The proportion of patients who continued paroxetine CR at week 8 was 80.2% (2,577/3,213; 95% CI: 78.8%–81.6%). The improvement rate at week 8 (last observation carried forward) was 72.8% (2,132/2,927; 95% CI: 71.2%–74.4%). The proportion of patients with CGI-SI scores of moderately or severely ill decreased from 63.6% at baseline to 17.9% at week 8. The proportion of patients who were satisfied with paroxetine CR treatment was 69.8% (2,040/2,921; 95% CI: 68.1%–71.5%). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that paroxetine CR is a well-tolerated and efficacious treatment for depression in routine clinical practice.
Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 Protects Cells against Lipotoxicity-Mediated Apoptosis in Proximal Tubular Cells

Saturated fatty acid (SFA)-related lipotoxicity is a pathogenesis of diabetes-related renal proximal tubular epithelial cell (PTEC) damage, closely associated with a progressive decline in renal function. This study was designed to identify a free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism-related enzyme that can protect PTECs from SFA-related lipotoxicity. Among several enzymes involved in FFA metabolism, we identified stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), whose expression level significantly decreased in the kidneys of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice, compared with non-diabetic mice. SCD1 is an enzyme that desaturates SFAs, converting them to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), leading to the formation of neutral lipid droplets. In culture, retrovirus-mediated overexpression of SCD1 or MUFA treatment significantly ameliorated SFA-induced apoptosis in PTECs by enhancing intracellular lipid droplet formation. In contrast, siRNA against SCD1 exacerbated the apoptosis. Both overexpression of SCD1 and MUFA treatment reduced SFA-induced apoptosis via reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress in cultured PTECs. Thus, HFD-induced decrease in renal SCD1 expression may play a pathogenic role in lipotoxicity-induced renal injury, and enhancing SCD1-mediated desaturation of SFA and subsequent formation of neutral lipid droplets may become a promising therapeutic target to reduce SFA-induced lipotoxicity. The present study provides a novel insight into lipotoxicity in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Unicast and Broadcast Throughput Maximization in Amplify-and-Forward Relay Networks

Cooperative communication (CC) offers an efficient and low-cost way to achieve spatial diversity by forming a virtual antenna array among single-antenna nodes that cooperatively share their antennas. It has been well recognized that the selection of relay nodes plays a critical role in the performance of CC. Most existing relay selection strategies focus on optimizing the outage probability or energy consumption. To fill in the vacancy of research on throughput improvement via CC, we study the relay selection problem with the objective of optimizing the throughput in this paper. For unicast, it is a P problem, and an optimal relay selection algorithm is provided with a correctness proof. For broadcast, we show the challenge of relay selection by proving it nonprobabilistic hard (NP-hard). A greedy heuristic algorithm is proposed to effectively choose a set of relay nodes that maximize the broadcast throughput. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithms can achieve high throughput under various network settings.
Psychometric Properties of Questionnaires on Functional Health Status in Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: A Systematic Literature Review

Introduction. Questionnaires on Functional Health Status (FHS) are part of the assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia. Objective. To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the psychometric properties of English-language FHS questionnaires in adults with oropharyngeal dysphagia. Methods. A systematic search was performed using the electronic databases Pubmed and Embase. The psychometric properties of the questionnaires were determined based on the COSMIN taxonomy of measurement properties and definitions for health-related patient-reported outcomes and the COSMIN checklist using preset psychometric criteria. Results. Three questionnaires were included: the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), the Swallowing Outcome after Laryngectomy (SOAL), and the Self-report Symptom Inventory. The Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ) proved to be identical to the Modified Self-report Symptom Inventory. All FHS questionnaires obtained poor overall methodological quality scores for most measurement properties. Conclusions. The retrieved FHS questionnaires need psychometric reevaluation; if the overall methodological quality shows satisfactory improvement on most measurement properties, the use of the questionnaires in daily clinic and research can be justified. However, in case of insufficient validity and/or reliability scores, new FHS questionnaires need to be developed using and reporting on preestablished psychometric criteria as recommended in literature.
Cardiac Arrhythmias Induced by ECT in Elderly Psychiatric Patients: Experience with 48-Hour Holter Monitoring

Serious adverse events associated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are uncommon and consist mostly of cardiovascular complications, mainly arrhythmias. The risk of complications is increased in elderly and physically ill patients. In the current study, a 24-hour pre-ECT and 24-hour post-ECT Holter recording was performed on 26 elderly patients during their first ECT treatment. ECT caused a significant increase in bigeminy/trigeminy and supraventricular tachycardia, but did not increase other arrhythmias. Pre-ECT arrhythmias correlated with post-ECT arrhythmias. All patients in the current study completed the ECT course. Thus, the clinical significance of arrhythmias remains uncertain. The present findings support the usual practice of continuous electrocardiogram monitoring during ECT and recovery.
P-TEFb regulation of transcription termination factor Xrn2 revealed by a chemical genetic screen for Cdk9 substrates

Sansó et al. identified ∼100 putative substrates of human positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), which were enriched for proteins implicated in transcription and RNA catabolism. Among the RNA processing factors phosphorylated by Cdk9 was the 5′-to-3′ “torpedo” exoribonuclease Xrn2, required in transcription termination by Pol II.
Circumscriptive Event Calculus as Answer Set Programming

Recently, Ferraris, Lee and Lifschitz presented a general definition of a stable model that is similar to the definition of circumscription, and can even be characterized in terms of circumscription. In this paper, we show the opposite direction, which is, how to turn circumscription into the general stable model semantics, and based on this, how to turn circumscriptive event calculus into answer set programs. The reformulation of the event calculus in answer set programming allows answer set solvers to be applied to event calculus reasoning, handling more expressive reasoning tasks than the current SAT-based approach. Our experiments also show clear computational advantages of the answer set programming approach.
Differential synaptic innervation of neurons in the internal and external segments of the globus pallidus by the GABA‐ and glutamate‐containing terminals in the squirrel monkey

The present study aimed at comparing the pattern of synaptic innervation of neurons in the external (GPe) and internal (GPi) pallidum by gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐ and glutamate‐immunoreactive terminals in the squirrel monkey. Four major populations of terminals were encountered in GPe and GPi. Our findings combined with those obtained in previous tract‐tracing studies reveal that the synaptic innervation of perikarya in GPe is strikingly different from that ba GPi. Although the GABA‐positive type I boutons (from the striatum) represent 85% of the terminals in contact with somata in GPe, only 32% of the axosomatic synapses involve this type of terminal in GPi. However, the type II terminals (from GPe), which display a moderate level of GABA and glutainate immunoreactivities, account for 48% of the boutons in contact with perikarya in GPi but only 10% in GPe. In both pallidal segments, less than 10% of the axosomatic synapses involve the glutamate‐immunoreactive type I11 terminals (from the subthalamic nucleus). Finally, the type IIa boutons (unknown source), which show levels of immunoreactivities similar to the type II terminals, account for 12% of the boutons in contact with perikarya in GPi but only 4% in GPe. In contrast to perikarya, the innervation of dendritic shafts is similar in both GPe and GPi; more than 80% of the axodendritic synapses involve the type I terminals, 10–15% involve the type III terminals, less than 5% are formed by the type II boutons, and less than 1% involve the type IIa terminals. Three other categories of boutons (types IV, V, VI) account for less than 1% of the total population of terminals in GPe and GPi.
Response Shift and Adaptation in Chronically III Patients

The purpose was to explore the impact of response shift on quality-of-life measurement and consequently on cost-effectiveness analysis. This was done by using data from an earlier study. Adaptation to illness provides a probable explanation for the occurrence of response shift. In the case of proxy respondents, it is likely that the adaptation effect is absent. Therefore, two hypotheses were tested: 1) retrospective quality-of-life measurement does not differ from ratings given by proxies; and 2) proxy ratings differ from prospectively assessed pretreatment quality-of-life scores. Quality of life was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS), time tradeoff (TTO), and the standard gamble (SG). Analyses revealed that neither hypothesis could be rejected, indicating that prospectively assessed pretreatment quality of life is enhanced by adaptation to the imperfect health state during the pretreatment period. Consequently, the cost-effectiveness ratio is different when using proxy measures or retrospective assessments of pretreatment quality of life, compared with using assessments of the quality of life in currently ill patients. Key words: quality-of-life measurement; adaptation; response shift; proxy measurement; cost-effectiveness. (Med Decis Making 2000;20:186-193)
Nicotine‐prevented learning and memory impairment in REM sleep‐deprived rat is modulated by DREAM protein in the hippocampus

REM sleep deprivation is associated with impairment in learning and memory, and nicotine treatment has been shown to attenuate this effect. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of DREAM protein in learning and memory processes. This study investigates the association of DREAM protein in REM sleep‐deprived rats hippocampus upon nicotine treatment.
Animal models for the study of prostate carcinogenesis

Human prostate carcinogenesis has been viewed as a multi‐step process involving progression from low histologic grade, small, latent carcinoma to large, higher grade, metastasizing carcinoma. However, recent data suggest that a variety of pathogenetic pathways may exist. The precise etiology and pathogenesis of human prostate cancer remain largely undefined. It is difficult to investigate stages in the development of human prostate cancer, but some animal models provide opportunities in this regard. Short‐term treatment of rats with chemical carcinogens produces a low incidence (5–15%) of prostate cancer, provided that prostatic cell proliferation is enhanced during carcinogen exposure. Chronic treatment with testosterone also produces a low prostate carcinoma incidence. A high carcinoma incidence can only be produced by chronic treatment with testosterone following administration of carcinogens such as N‐methyl‐N‐nitrosourea (MNU) and 3,2′‐dimethyl‐4‐aminobiphenyl (DMAB). Testosterone markedly enhances prostate carcinogenesis even at doses that do not measurably increase circulating testosterone. Thus, testosterone is a strong tumor promoter for the rat prostate. All such MNU‐or DMAB‐initiated and/or testosterone‐promoted tumors are adenocarcinomas; most originate from the dorsolateral and anterior, but not ventral, prostate lobes. These tumors share a number of important characteristics with human prostate cancer. A high frequency (70%) of activation of the K‐ras gene by a G35 to A mutation occurs in these carcinomas. Another high incidence prostate carcinogenesis model, representing a different pathogenetic pathway, involves chronic administration of estradiol‐17β to rats in combination with low‐dose testosterone. The resulting carcinomas are low‐grade and originate exclusively from periurethral ducts of the dorsolateral and anterior prostate. While it is unknown whether testosterone is a tumor promoter in this system, preliminary studies indicate the formation of a DNA adduct in the target tissue, which suggests that estradiol‐17β acts as a tumor initiating agent in this system. The high incidence models mentioned earlier are adequate for the study of chemoprevention of prostatic carcinogenesis. Analysis of shifts in the relative incidence of metastasizing carcinoma, grossly apparent but not‐metastasizing carcinoma, microscopic‐size carcinoma, and carcinoma in situ or atypical hyperplasia may allow study of the modifying effects of potential chemopreventive agents on tumor progression in these animal models of prostatic carcinogenesis. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Body burden of aluminum in relation to central nervous system function among metal inert-gas welders.

OBJECTIVES The relationship between elevated internal aluminum loads and central nervous system function was studied among aluminum welders, and the threshold level for adverse effect was defined. METHODS For 65 aluminum welders and 25 current mild steel welders body burden was estimated, and the aluminum concentrations in serum (S-Al) and urine (U-Al) were analyzed with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman background correction. Referents and low-exposure and high-exposure groups were defined according to an aggregated measure of aluminum body burden, the group median S-Al levels being 0.08, 0.14, and 0.46 micromol/l, respectively, and the corresponding values for U-Al being 0.4, 1.8, and 7.1 micromol/l. Central nervous system functions were assessed with a neuropsychological test battery, symptom and mood questionnaires, a visual and quantitative analysis of electroencephalography (EEG), and P3 event-related potentials with pitch and duration paradigms. RESULTS Subjective symptoms showed exposure-related increases in fatigue, mild depression, and memory and concentration problems. Neuropsychological testing revealed a circumscribed effect of aluminum, mainly in tasks demanding complex attention and the processing of information in the working memory system and in the analysis and recall of abstract visual patterns. The visual EEG analysis revealed pathological findings only for aluminum welders. Mild, diffuse abnormalities were found in 17% of the low-exposure group and 27% of the high-exposure group, and mild to moderate epileptiform abnormalities at a frequency of 7% and 17%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Both objective neurophysiological and neuropsychological measures and subjective symptomatology indicated mild but unequivocal findings dose-dependently associated with increased aluminum body burden. The study indicates that the body burden threshold for adverse effect approximates an U-Al value of 4-6 micromol/l and an S-Al value of 0.25-0.35 micromol/l among aluminum welders.