Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Who Takes Risks?

National leaders confront risky decisions on a regular basis. Although leaders may differ widely in their tolerance for risk, students of foreign policymaking lack compelling explanations for these differences. One of the few attempts to grapple with this problem holds that decision makers accept risks to avoid losses but refuse to take risks to make comparable gains. This tendency, embodied in prospect theory, is experimentally robust but consistently fails to predict the behavior of one third or more of the subjects. To investigate the contribution of individual differences to risk taking, the authors administered three questionnaires assessing risk propensity and two personality inventories (the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory) to 126 subjects. The results identify strong personality predictors of generalized risk taking. Contrary to prospect theory, some people were especially willing to take risks to make gains, whereas others were particularly unlikely to take risks when facing potential losses. Statistical analyses lend support to a three-stage model of risk taking. The findings suggest that if students of international conflict want to understand risk taking, then they must consider not only how leaders frame conflicts but also the character of the leaders themselves.
Olympic: A Hierarchical All-Optical Photonic Network for Low-Power Chip Multiprocessors

The continuous increase of the number of cores in tiled chip-multi-processors (CMP) will prevent traditional electronic networks on chip (NoC) to maintain an acceptable tradeoff between performance and power consumption. Recent advances in silicon-photonics open new opportunities for fast and low-energy on-chip interconnections but specific design and tuning is needed. This paper proposes Olympic, an all-optical NoC architecture using a hierarchical topology made up of replicated and cascaded simple photonic building blocks (rings). Local rings connect tiles within clusters directly and a global ring glues together local ones and enables inter-cluster communications. The all-optical approach allows to achieve a low-energy solution, very important for future embedded CMPs. The cost of these benefits resides mainly in the additional optical-electronic-optical conversions needed for inter-cluster transmissions and in this paper we single out promising design tradeoffs using the PARSEC benchmark suite. We show that a careful design of our Olympic clustered architecture can achieve 65% energy reduction with only 1% slowdown compared to a full 2D mesh, for a 16-core CMP.
Surface slope effects on shingling frequency and postural balance in a simulated roofing task

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of surface slopes (18°, 26°, 34°) on the maximum acceptable roof shingling frequency for males performing a simulated roof-shingling task. The psychophysical roof shingling frequency was also compared to the postural sway and trunk motion values. The maximum acceptable roof shingling frequency and selected trunk motion decreased significantly with an increase in slope. Postural sway however increased significantly with an increase in slope. The study also revealed that workers were experiencing a greater postural sway at the earlier phase of task on the steeper surface. This suggests that there might be an adaptation period associated with working on a slope and the body's ability to compensate for a loss of balance. Therefore, more emphasis should be given to the workers in this adaptation period, with additional monitoring and cautionary measures. Collectively, the findings of the study could be utilized for improving work practices on roofs, while reducing the potential risks of falls in roofing construction.
DISMANTLABLE CLASSIFYING SPACE FOR THE FAMILY OF PARABOLIC SUBGROUPS OF A RELATIVELY HYPERBOLIC GROUP

Let $G$ be a group hyperbolic relative to a finite collection of subgroups ${\mathcal{P}}$ . Let ${\mathcal{F}}$ be the family of subgroups consisting of all the conjugates of subgroups in ${\mathcal{P}}$ , all their subgroups, and all finite subgroups. Then there is a cocompact model for $E_{{\mathcal{F}}}G$ . This result was known in the torsion-free case. In the presence of torsion, a new approach was necessary. Our method is to exploit the notion of dismantlability. A number of sample applications are discussed.
Distribution of adenosine receptors in human sclera fibroblasts

Purpose Systemic treatment with adenosine receptor antagonists has been reported to affect the biochemistry and ultrastructure of rabbit sclera. This study was conducted to determine whether adenosine receptors (ADORs) are present in human scleral fibroblasts (HSF). Methods Primary HSF were cultured in vitro and identified with anti-vimentin, anti-keratin, anti-desmin, and anti-S-100 antibodies. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to study the distribution of ADORs in the HSF cell lines and in the frozen human scleral sections. ADOR protein expression in HSF and human sclera was confirmed by western blot analysis of cell lysates. Results ADORs were expressed in both HSF and human sclera. This was confirmed by western blot. ADORA1 expression was concentrated in the nucleus. ADORA2A was concentrated mainly in one side of the cytoplasm, and ADORA2B was found both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm. ADORA3 was expressed weakly in the cytoplasm. Conclusions All four subtypes of ADOR were found in HSF and may play a role in scleral remodeling.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor in the Osteogenic Differentiation of Rat Bone Marrow Stromal Cells

Purpose Several signaling pathways have been shown to regulate the lineage commitment and terminal differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling has important effects on the process of skeletogenesis. In the present study, we tested the role of bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR) in the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells in osteogenic medium (OM) with or without BMP-2. Materials and Methods BMSCs were harvested from rats and cultured in OM containing dexamethasone, β-glycerophosphate, and ascorbic acid, with or without BMP-2 in order to induce osteogenic differentiation. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay and von kossa staining were used to assess the osteogenic differentiation of the BMSCs. BMPR mRNA expression was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The BMSCs that underwent osteogenic differentiation in OM showed a higher level of ALP activity and matrix mineralization. BMP-2 alone induced a low level of ALP activity and matrix mineralization in BMSCs, but enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs when combined with OM. The OM significantly induced the expression of type IA receptor of BMPR (BMPRIA) and type II receptor of BMPR (BMPRII) in BMSCs after three days of stimulation, while BMP-2 significantly induced BMPRIA and BMPRII in BMSCs after nine or six days of stimulation, respectively. Conclusion BMSCs commit to osteoblastic differentiation in OM, which is enhanced by BMP-2. In addition, BMP signaling through BMPRIA and BMPRII regulates the osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs in OM with or without BMP-2.
Use of an ion-selective electrode to determine free Ca ion concentration in the milk of various mammals

Milk is a heterogeneous fluid in which the colloidal phase is homogeneously dispersed in the aqueous phase. Calcium is partitioned between the colloidal and aqueous phases and is in complex electrochemical equilibrium with several major milk components. In human and bovine milk, calcium is mainly distributed between the aqueous and casein micelle in the colloidal phases (Holt & Jenness, 1984; Neville et al. 1994). Caseins form a complex micelle structure that contains approximately 25000 phosphorylated monomers that react with calcium phosphate complexes in the milk to bind 20–40 mole calcium per mole casein (Holt & Jenness, 1984; Neville et al. 1994). Thus, the distribution of calcium between the colloidal and aqueous phases appears to be governed by the level of casein in the milk (Holt & Jenness, 1984; Neville et al. 1994). In human milk, the casein level is low; ∼25% of calcium is associated with casein, whereas in cows and goats the corresponding figure is higher at ∼65%. In rats, casein levels are among the highest in mammals and 95% of calcium is associated with casein (Neville et al. 1994). In the aqueous phase, calcium is divided among ionic calcium (Ca2+), calcium citrate and calcium phosphate. Calcium citrate and calcium phosphate constitute most of the aqueous calcium in bovine milk in contrast to less than 50% in human milk (Holt & Jenness, 1984; Neville et al. 1994). As the concentration of Ca2+ in milk appears to be essential in preserving the integrity of the mammary tight junctions during lactation (Neville & Peaker, 1981), it is important to follow its concentration precisely in mammary secretions in different stages of the reproduction cycle.
Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Sorghum based on combined sequence data from cpDNA regions and ITS generate well-supported trees with two major lineages.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Wild Sorghum species provide novel traits for both biotic and abiotic stress resistance and yield for the improvement of cultivated sorghum. A better understanding of the phylogeny in the genus Sorghum will enhance use of the valuable agronomic traits found in wild sorghum. METHODS Four regions of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA; psbZ-trnG, trnY-trnD, trnY-psbM and trnT-trnL) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were used to analyse the phylogeny of sorghum based on maximum-parsimony analyses. KEY RESULTS Parsimony analyses of the ITS and cpDNA regions as separate or combined sequence datasets formed trees with strong bootstrap support with two lineages: the Eu-sorghum species S. laxiflorum and S. macrospermum in one and Stiposorghum and Para-sorghum in the other. Within Eu-sorghum, S. bicolor-3, -11 and -14 originating from southern Africa form a distinct clade. S. bicolor-2, originally from Yemen, is distantly related to other S. bicolor accessions. CONCLUSIONS Eu-sorghum species are more closely related to S. macrospermum and S. laxiflorum than to any other Australian wild Sorghum species. S. macrospermum and S. laxiflorum are so closely related that it is inappropriate to classify them in separate sections. S. almum is closely associated with S. bicolor, suggesting that the latter is the maternal parent of the former given that cpDNA is maternally inherited in angiosperms. S. bicolor-3, -11 and -14, from southern Africa, are closely related to each other but distantly related to S. bicolor-2.
Inversion of marine heat flow measurements by expansion of the temperature decay function

SUMMARY Marine heat flow data, obtained with a Lister-type probe, consists of two temperature decay curves, frictional and heat pulse decay. Both follow the same physical model of a cooling cylinder. The mathematical model describing the decays is non-linear as to the thermal sediment parameters thus a direct inversion is not possible. To overcome this difficulty, the model equations are expanded using a first-order Taylor series. The linearised model equations are used in an iterative scheme to invert the temperature decay for undisturbed temperature and thermal conductivity of the sediment. The inversion scheme is tested first for its theoretical limitations using synthetic data. Inversion of heat flow measurements obtained during a cruise of R/V SONNE in 1996 and needle probe measurements in material of known thermal conductivity show that the algorithm is robust and gives reliable results. The programme can be obtained from the authors.
The practice of episiotomy in public hospitals in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE To review the use of episiotomy during vaginal delivery in Hong Kong public hospitals. DESIGN Prospective observational survey. SETTING Public hospitals, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Women who underwent normal vaginal delivery of a singleton foetus with cephalic presentation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Number of women having an episiotomy, severe-degree (third- or fourth-degree) tear, other types of tear, blood loss at delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, need for blood transfusion, puerperal pyrexia, wound infection, gaping wound that required suture removal, and drainage or resuturing of a perineal wound. RESULTS Between 1 January and 31 March 2003, there were 6222 singleton spontaneous normal vaginal deliveries in the public hospitals of Hong Kong. Of the 6167 women in whom the status of the perineum was known, episiotomy was performed in 5274 (85.5%). Primiparous women were more likely to undergo episiotomy at delivery than multiparous women (97.9% vs 71.4%). Women with episiotomy had significantly less perineal tearing of any kind than those without. The occurrence of any type of perineal tear and severe-degree (third- or fourth-degree) tear was significantly lower in primiparous women who had an episiotomy than those without (P<0.05). Women with episiotomy had increased mean blood loss at delivery but other complications were not significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS In Hong Kong, episiotomy is routinely performed during normal vaginal delivery. It is associated with a significantly lower overall rate of perineal tearing. This study was observational, nonetheless the occurrence of other complications was likely to increase when episiotomy was performed. Firm evidence from several randomised controlled studies shows that routine episiotomy is unjustified and possibly harmful. Routine episiotomy should not be promoted in Hong Kong without further randomised controlled study.
Metabolic theory and diversity gradients: where do we go from here?

METABOLIC THEORY Ecology, Vol. 88, No. 8 Ecology, 88(8), 2007, pp. 1898–1902 O 2007 by the Ecological Society of America F ORUM METABOLIC THEORY AND DIVERSITY GRADIENTS: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? B RADFORD A. H AWKINS , 1,,9 J OSE A LEXANDRE F ELIZOLA D INIZ -F ILHO , 2 L UIS M AURICIO B INI , 2 M IGUEL B. A RAU JO , 3 R ICHARD F IELD , 4 J OAQUI´N H ORTAL , 3 J EREMY T. K ERR , 5 C ARSTEN R AHBEK , 6 M IGUEL A . R ODRI´GUEZ , 7 AND N ATHAN J. S ANDERS8 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697 USA ˆnia, GO, Brazil Departamento de Biologia Geral, ICB, Universidade Federal de Goia´s, CP 131, 74.001-970, Goia Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologi´a Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain School of Geography, University of Nottingham NG7 2RD UK Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 Canada Center for Macroecology, Institute of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark Departamento de Ecologi´a, Universidad de Alcala 28871 Alcala´ de Henares, Madrid, Spain Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 USA I NTRODUCTION Evaluating the Metabolic Theory of Ecology (MTE) of Brown et al. (2004) with respect to broadscale diversity gradients (see Allen et al. 2002, 2006) was the motivation of Hawkins et al. (2007). We used 46 data sets to test predictions for the slope(s) describing the relationship between species richness and temperature. The predicted slopes were found in very few data sets, leading us to question MTE as a general framework for understanding terrestrial diversity gradients. Latimer Manuscript received 23 December 2006; accepted 4 January 2007. Corresponding Editor: A. M. Ellison. E-mail: bhawkins@uvi.edu (2007) reanalyzes some of our data sets using a Bayesian approach and supports our conclusions, whereas Gil- looly and Allen (2007) [hereafter G&A] disagree with our approach and raise a number of epistemological issues regarding our evaluation of MTE. Here, we address these issues, focusing on the structure of theories and how a change in epistemological framework undermines the relative strengths of MTE. T HEORIES , H YPOTHESES , AND M ODELS We view MTE as a general theory, deﬁned as ‘‘a logical construction comprising propositions, some of which contain established information (axioms) while others deﬁne questions (postulates). The working part of
Comparison of KRAS Mutation Assessment in Tumor DNA and Circulating Free DNA in Plasma and Serum Samples

Testing for mutations in the KRAS oncogene for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is generally performed using DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue; however, access to specimens can be limited and analysis challenging. This study assessed the identification of KRAS mutations in circulating free DNA (cfDNA) using a commercially available KRAS polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit. Matched plasma, serum and tumor samples were available from 71 patients with mCRC who had received prior therapy but whose disease progressed following therapy. Yields of cfDNA from plasma and serum samples were comparable. Analyses were successful in 70/71 plasma-extracted samples (specificity: 97%, sensitivity: 31%) and 67/71 serum-extracted samples (specificity: 100%, sensitivity: 25%). This study demonstrates that KRAS mutations can be detected in cfDNA using a commercially available KRAS PCR kit, confirming cfDNA as a potential alternative source of tumor DNA in a diagnostic setting if access to archival tumor specimens is limited.
The Role of Exercise Dependence for the Relationship between Exercise Behavior and Eating Pathology

Our study examined the potential mediating or moderating effect of exercise dependence on the exercise—eating pathology relationship. Female university students (N = 330) completed Internet-based self-report measures of exercise behavior, exercise dependence, and eating pathology. Exercise dependence served as a mediator for the relationship between exercise and eating pathology. This unidirectional causal model suggests that an individual's pathological motivation or compulsion to exercise is the critical mediating component in the exercise—eating pathology relationship. The best target for removing the link between exercise behavior and eating pathology may be reformulating exercise dependence symptoms.
An Uneasy Alliance

This study illuminates the conflicts that emerged in a collaboration between a feminist- oriented victim advocacy group and law enforcement personnel in a rural area. Observations and interviews conducted during an 18-month period document disagreements between participants and elucidate why these conflicts arose. Results suggest some potential strategies for overcoming barriers to collaboration between victim advocates and the police, including provisions for conflict resolution and practical/financial commitment to cross-training. Moreover, training should include discussions of philosophical and protocol differences between agencies, as well as structural barriers to leaving an abusive relationship in rural areas.
Endocannabinoid system as a potential mechanism for n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid mediated cardiovascular protection

The presence of an active and functioning endocannabinoid (EC) system within cardiovascular tissues implies that this system has either a physiological or pathophysiological role (or both), and there is a substantial literature to support the notion that, in the main, they are protective in the setting of various CVD states. Moreover, there is an equally extensive literature to demonstrate the cardio- and vasculo-protective effects of n-3 long-chain (LC)-PUFA. It is now becoming evident that there appears to be a close relationship between dietary intervention with n-3 LC-PUFA and changes in tissue levels of EC, raising the question as to whether or not EC may, at least in part, play a role in mediating the cardio-and vasculo-protective effects of n-3 LC-PUFA. This brief review summarises the current understanding of how both EC and n-3 LC-PUFA exert their protective effects in three major cardiovascular disorders (hypertension, atherosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction) and attempts to identify the similarities and differences that may indicate common or integrated mechanisms. From the data available, it is unlikely that in hypertension EC mediate any beneficial effects of n-3 LC-PUFA, since they do not share common mechanisms of blood pressure reduction. However, inhibition of inflammation is an effect shared by EC and n-3 LC-PUFA in the setting of both atherosclerosis and myocardial reperfusion injury, while blockade of L-type Ca2+ channels is one of the possible common mechanisms for their antiarrhythmic effects. Although both EC and n-3 LC-PUFA demonstrate vasculo- and cardio-protection, the literature overwhelmingly shows that n-3 LC-PUFA decrease tissue levels of EC through formation of EC–n-3 LC-PUFA conjugates, which is counter-intuitive to an argument that EC may mediate the effects of n-3 LC-PUFA. However, the discovery that these conjugates have a greater affinity for cannabinoid receptors than the native EC provides a fascinating avenue for further research into novel approaches for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis and myocardial injury following ischaemia/reperfusion.
Overexpression of Raidd cDNA inhibits differentiation of mouse preadipocytes

Abstract. RAIDD (RIP‐associated ICH‐1 homologous protein with a death domain) is an adaptor molecule that mediates the action of cysteine proteases involved in apoptosis. To study the possibility of a novel system of cell ablation mediated by RAIDD, a preadipocyte cell line (3T3L1) was stably transfected with a plasmid containing the murine Raidd cDNA under the control of the adipocyte specific promoter aP2. Instead of the expected apoptosis, a blockage to differentiation upon hormonal induction was observed as judged by an absence of lipid accumulation, a lack of expression of adipocyte‐specific genes and a fibroblastic appearance. Proliferation rate of Raidd‐transfected clones remained unaffected. Overexpression of Raidd cDNA in 3T3L1 cell therefore inhibited differentiation, suggesting that Raidd plays a role in controlling differentiation of mouse preadipocytes and, perhaps, in other cell types, in addition to its established role in apoptosis.
Interaction of HP1 and Brg1/Brm with the Globular Domain of Histone H3 Is Required for HP1-Mediated Repression

The heterochromatin-enriched HP1 proteins play a critical role in regulation of transcription. These proteins contain two related domains known as the chromo- and the chromoshadow-domain. The chromo-domain binds histone H3 tails methylated on lysine 9. However, in vivo and in vitro experiments have shown that the affinity of HP1 proteins to native methylated chromatin is relatively poor and that the opening of chromatin occurring during DNA replication facilitates their binding to nucleosomes. These observations prompted us to investigate whether HP1 proteins have additional histone binding activities, envisioning also affinity for regions potentially occluded by the nucleosome structure. We find that the chromoshadow-domain interacts with histone H3 in a region located partially inside the nucleosomal barrel at the entry/exit point of the nucleosome. Interestingly, this region is also contacted by the catalytic subunits of the human SWI/SNF complex. In vitro, efficient SWI/SNF remodeling requires this contact and is inhibited in the presence of HP1 proteins. The antagonism between SWI/SNF and HP1 proteins is also observed in vivo on a series of interferon-regulated genes. Finally, we show that SWI/SNF activity favors loading of HP1 proteins to chromatin both in vivo and in vitro. Altogether, our data suggest that HP1 chromoshadow-domains can benefit from the opening of nucleosomal structures to bind chromatin and that HP1 proteins use this property to detect and arrest unwanted chromatin remodeling.
The Making of Law: An Ethnography of the Conseil d’État

Bruno Latour, The Making of Law: An Ethnography of the Conseil d’Etat, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2009, i–xii + 297pp. , £18.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-7456-3985-7 For and among us, of all our contemp.