Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Memories of uncertain origin: Dreamt or real?

The existence of a memory whose origin, real or dreamt, was uncertain was reported by just over half of an undergraduate sample of 358. Each respondent described one such memory if they had one. The memories were typically of mundane events, although 10 respondents described possible crimes. Respondents were often concerned to resolve the origin of these memories. Their plausibility, vividness, and how well the events fitted into one's life were often considered by the respondents, but where resolution occurred it was frequently based on evidence obtained from the physical or social environment. The reported qualities of the event did not correlate with whether the respondent thought it more likely to have been originally a dream or a real event.
The species of Cortinarius, section Bovini, associated with conifers in northern Europe

Cortinarius bovinus and morphologically similar conifer-associated species were studied using material mainly from northern Europe. To stabilize the nomenclature, relevant types were examined. Phylogenetic relationships and species limits were investigated with rDNA ITS and nuclear rpb2 sequences as well as morphological data. We recognize seven species: C. bovinus (neotypified) and six new species, C. anisochrous, C. bovinaster, C. bovinatus, C. fuscobovinus, C. fuscobovinaster and C. oulankaënsis. Their taxonomy, ecology, distribution and relationships are discussed, and a key to species is provided. Based on our phylogeny and morphological data the species were placed in section Bovini.
Exchange Rates and Sovereign Risk

An increase in a country’s sovereign risk, as measured by credit default swap spreads, is accompanied by a contemporaneous depreciation of its currency and an increase of its volatility. The relation between currency excess returns and sovereign risk is mainly driven by default expectations (rather than distress risk premia) and exposure to global sovereign risk shocks and also emerges in a predictive setting for currency risk premia. We show that a sovereign risk factor is priced in the cross-section of currency returns and that it is not subsumed by the carry factor. This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, finance.
Identification of bdm-1, a gene involved in G protein β-subunit function and α-subunit accumulation

Targeted disruption of Galpha and Gbeta genes has established the requirement of an intact G protein signaling pathway for optimal execution of several important physiological processes, including pathogenesis, in the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. We now report the identification of a G protein signal transduction component, beta disruption mimic factor-1, BDM-1. Disruption of the corresponding gene, bdm-1, resulted in a phenotype indistinguishable from that previously observed after disruption of the Gbeta subunit gene, cpgb-1. The BDM-1 deduced amino acid sequence contained several significant clusters of identity with mammalian phosducin, including a domain corresponding to a highly conserved 11-amino acid stretch that has been implicated in binding to the Gbetagamma dimer and two regions of defined Gbeta/phosducin contact points. Unlike the negative regulatory function proposed for mammalian phosducin, the genetic data presented in this report suggest that BDM-1 is required for or facilitates Gbeta function. Moreover, disruption of either bdm-1 or cpgb-1 resulted in a significant, posttranscriptional reduction in the accumulation of CPG-1, a key Galpha subunit required for a range of vital physiological processes.
Governance, Risk Management, and Risk-Taking in Banks

This paper examines how governance and risk management affect risk-taking in banks. It distinguishes between good risks, which are risks that have an ex ante private reward for the bank on a stand-alone basis, and bad risks, which do not have such a reward. A well-governed bank takes the amount of risk that maximizes shareholder wealth subject to constraints imposed by laws and regulators. In general, this involves eliminating or mitigating all bad risks to the extent that it is cost effective to do so. The role of risk management in such a bank is not to reduce the bank's total risk per se. It is to identify and measure the risks the bank is taking, aggregate these risks in a measure of the bank's total risk, enable the bank to eliminate, mitigate and avoid bad risks, and ensure that its risk level is consistent with its risk appetite. Organizing the risk management function so that it plays that role is challenging because there are limitations in measuring risk and because, while more detailed rules can prevent destructive risk-taking, they also limit the flexibility of an institution in taking advantage of opportunities that increase firm value. Limitations of risk measurement and the decentralized nature of risk-taking imply that setting appropriate incentives for risk-takers and promoting an appropriate risk culture are essential to the success of risk management in performing its function.
Effects of Duration of Cold Storage of Host Eggs on Percent Parasitism and Adult Emergence of Each of Ten Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera) Species

Abstract Improving parasitoid mass rearing techniques is important to reduce costs of biological control programs and supply natural enemies at times of high demand. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs stored at 5 °C for different time periods as a host for Trichogrammatoidea annulata (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and for 9 Trichogramma species (T. acacioi, T. atopovirilia, T. benneti, T. brasiliensis, T. bruni, T. demoraesi, T. galloi, T. pretiosum, and T. soaresi). The experiment had a factorial design with 10 parasitoid species, 9 host storage periods (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 days, and a no storage control) and 20 replications, each consisting of one card (0.4 × 2.0 cm) with 40.70 ± 0.03 eggs of A. kuehniella. Trichogrammatoidea annulata, T. acacioi, T. brasiliensis, T. bruni, T. pretiosum, and T. soaresi parasitized eggs of A. kuehniella stored up to 24 days; T. atopovirilia parasitized eggs stored up to 16 days. Trichogramma demoraesi and T. benneti parasitized eggs stored for 15 days and T. galloi parasitized eggs stored for up to 13 days. The percentage of parasitized eggs decreased when the storage period increased. Among the tested parasitoids T. acacioi parasitized eggs stored for longer periods and showed the highest percentage both of parasitism and adult emergence.
Epstein-Barr virus encoded interleukin-10 inhibits HLA-class I, ICAM-1, and B7 expression on human monocytes: implications for immune evasion by EBV.

Monocytes and macrophages play a central role in viral infections, as a target for viruses and in activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has evolved elaborate strategies to dampen the immune system and to persist within the host. There is evidence that the product of the BCRF-1 open reading frame of EBV, viral interleukin-10 (vIL-10), inhibits the capacity of monocytes/macrophages to induce T cell activation, but the full mechanism of this effect is unknown. To determine whether this effect might involve modulation of the expression of accessory molecules known to be important in T cell activation, we analyzed by flow cytometry the influence of vIL-10 on the basal as well as on IFN-gamma-induced up-regulation of HLA molecules, ICAM-1, and two members of the B7 family B7.1 (CD80) and B7.2 (CD86) at the surface of human monocytes. Viral IL-10 in a concentration-dependent manner inhibited both basal- and IFN-gamma-induced HLA-class II, ICAM-1 (basal levels of ICAM-2 and ICAM-3 is unaffected), CD80, and CD86 up-regulation when added simultaneously with IFN-gamma. In contrast, complete inhibition of HLA-class I expression on monocytes/macrophages occurred only when vIL-10 was present 2 h prior to the addition of IFN-gamma, implying that vIL-10 affects an early step in the IFN-gamma signaling pathway. As both monocytes and macrophages can be infected by EBV, we propose that vIL-10-mediated impairment of monocyte/macrophage antigen-presenting function could help the virus-infected cells to avoid detection by the host's T cells on one hand and contribute to its immunosuppressive properties on the other.
Patch testing in discoid eczema

We report a retrospective study of patch testing in patients with discoid eczema. 48 patients with persistent or severe discoid eczema were patch tested. The mean age of patients was 45 years and the median duration of symptoms was 6 months. 24 patients (50%) had positive patch tests, and 16 of these (33%) were considered to be clinically relevant. The most common allergens implicated were rubber chemicals, formaldehyde, neomycin, chrome, nickel (5, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 reactions, respectively). 13 of 16 patients were followed up by telephone in 1996, and 8/13 (61%) slated they had benefited from patch testing. This study suggests allergic contact dermatitis is relatively common in persistent discoid eczema, and allergen avoidance may be of benefit. We recommend patch testing should be considered for all patients with severe or persistent discoid eczema.
Association between serum estradiol level and coronary artery calcification in postmenopausal women

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate whether coronary artery calcification is associated with serum estradiol (E2) level in postmenopausal women. Methods: We performed a multidetector CT scan of the heart and measured the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in 436 postmenopausal women who did not take postmenopausal hormone therapy. Women were divided into two groups according to the CACS (≥100 or <100). Serum E2 level, lipid profile, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, current statin treatment status, and other coronary risk factors were analyzed in these two groups. Results: The proportion of women with a higher serum E2 level (≥20 pg/mL) was significantly higher in the lower-CACS (<100) group compared with the higher-CACS (≥100) group (34.0% vs 12.5%; P < 0.05). The distribution of CACS was significantly different between women with higher and lower (<20 pg/mL) serum E2 levels (P < 0.05), and the CACS was significantly lower in the group with a higher serum E2 level (P = 0.002). After adjusting various risk factors by weighted logistic regression model using inverse probability of treatment weighting, women with a higher serum E2 level had a reduced chance of having a higher CACS (crude odds ratio, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08-0.95; P = 0.04; adjusted odds ratio, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07-0.86; P = 0.03). Conclusions: Postmenopausal women with a higher serum E2 level had a reduced CACS independent of age and other coronary risk factors. These retrospective analyses might suggest that a higher level of E2 possibly lowers the calcified-plaque burden of coronary arteries in postmenopausal women.
Psychometric characteristics of Clinical Reasoning Problems (CRPs) and its correlation with routine multiple choice question (MCQ) in Cardiology department

Introduction: Clinical reasoning is one of the most important skills in the process of training a medical student to become an efficient physician. Assessment of the reasoning skills in a medical school program is important to direct students’ learning. One of the tests for measuring the clinical reasoning ability is Clinical Reasoning Problems (CRPs). The major aim of this study is to measure psychometric qualities of CRPs and define correlation between this test and routine MCQ in cardiology department of Shiraz medical school. Methods: This study was a descriptive study conducted on total cardiology residents of Shiraz Medical School. The study population consists of 40 residents in 2014. The routine CRPs and the MCQ tests was designed based on similar objectives and were carried out simultaneously. Reliability, item difficulty, item discrimination, and correlation between each item and the total score of CRPs were all measured by Excel and SPSS software for checking psycometeric CRPs test. Furthermore, we calculated the correlation between CRPs test and MCQ test. The mean differences of CRPs test score between residents’ academic year [second, third and fourth year] were also evaluated by Analysis of variances test (One Way ANOVA) using SPSS software (version 20)(α=0.05). Results: The mean and standard deviation of score in CRPs was 10.19 ±3.39 out of 20; in MCQ, it was 13.15±3.81 out of 20. Item difficulty was in the range of 0.27-0.72; item discrimination was 0.30-0.75 with question No.3 being the exception (that was 0.24). The correlation between each item and the total score of CRP was 0.26-0.87; the correlation between CRPs test and MCQ test was 0.68 (p<0.001). The reliability of the CRPs was 0.72 as calculated by using Cronbach's alpha. The mean score of CRPs was different among residents based on their academic year and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this present investigation revealed that CRPs could be reliable test for measuring clinical reasoning in residents. It can be included in cardiology residency assessment programs.
The Contribution of Product and Consumer Characteristics to Consumer’s Impulse Purchasing Behaviour in Singapore

This study intends to evaluate the impact of product characteristics and consumer characteristics on Singaporean consumer’s impulse purchasing behavior. Therefore, in order to conduct the study, a sample of 100 Singaporean customers has been collected randomly in 3 major shopping centres in Singapore. Meanwhile, the SPSS tool has been used to assess the relationship between the variables. Based on the chi square analysis results , there is a significant relationship between consumer characteristics (Gender, Age, Mood, Materialism, Shopping enjoyment, Impulse buying tendency) and Singaporean consumers’ impulse purchasing behaviour except for the variable of materialism which has no significant relationship with Singaporean consumers’ impulse purchasing behavior. Moreover, there is also a significant relationship between product characteristics and consumers’ impulse purchasing behavior in Singapore.
Quantitative measurement of the serum C reactive protein in different clinic categories of late spontaneous and therapeutic abortion

The goal of our prospective and controlled study was to dose the serum C reactive protein by Tina-quant immunoturbidimetric technique in parallel with leukocytes counting, in case of patients in the second gestational trimester with threatened abortion of unknown cause, that did or did not evolve towards spontaneous abortion during hospitalization, or with recurrent abortions in their priors, or with subclinical chorioamnionitis with or without broken membranes, or hospitalized for medical induction of the abortion for fetal reasons (such as retained dead fetus), or with acute pyelonephritis, subclinical mixed vaginitis or areolar mammary abscess, or with a normal pregnancy. Our results constantly indicate a significant (more accentuated after exogenous administration of prostaglandins in induced abortion) and maximum increase of serum CRP concentration (but not of the leukocytes number) at 24 hours postabortum, followed by a progressive decrease, of minimum 18%, of the same parameter, at 48 hours after non complicated second trimester abortion. Only the pregnancy complicated with high urogenital bacterial infections is accompanied by pathological values of the serum CRP (but not of the leukogram) that are significantly increased with respect to those from a normal pregnancy or one complicated with threatened abortion of unknown and non evolutive cause, or recurrent abortions in history. The obtained results suggest that a repeated measurement of the serum CRP concentration could be a valuable predictive marker for intrauterine infection, both in the late periabortum period as well as in the latency phase of the extremely premature rupture of the membranes or even when the fetal membranes are intact in the second trimester Key-Words: CRP, intrauterine infection, second trimester pregnancy
Gait Velocity and Chair Sit-Stand-Sit Performance Improves Current Frailty-Status Identification

Frailty is characterized by a loss of functionality and is expected to affect 9.9% of people aged 65 and over. Here, current frailty classification is compared with a collection of selected kinematic parameters. A total of 718 elderly subjects (319 males and 399 females; age: 75.4 ± 6.1 years), volunteered to participate in this study and were classified according to Fried’s criteria. Both the 30-s chair stand test (CST) and the 3-m walking test were performed and a set of kinematic parameters were obtained from a single inertial unit. A decision tree analysis was used to: 1) identify the most relevant frailty-related parameters and 2) compare validity of this classification. We found that a selected set of parameters from the 30-s CST (i.e., range of movement, acceleration, and power) were better at identifying frailty status than both the actual outcome of the test (i.e., cycles’ number) and the normally used criteria (i.e., gait speed). For the pre-frail status, AUC improves from 0.531 using the actual test outcome and 0.516 with gait speed to 0.938 with the kinematic parameters criteria. In practice, this could improve the presyndrome identification and perform the appropriate actions to postpone the progression into the frail status.
Dust spectral energy distributions of nearby galaxies: an insight from the Herschel Reference Survey

Although it accounts only for a small fraction of the baryonic mass, dust has a profound impact on the physical processes at play in galaxies. Thus, to understand the evolution of galaxies, it is essential not only to characterize dust properties per se, but also in relation to global galaxy properties. To do so, we derive the dust properties of galaxies in a volume limited, K-band selected sample, the Herschel Reference Survey (HRS). We gather infrared photometric data from 8 μm to 500 μm from Spitzer, WISE, IRAS, and Herschel for all of the HRS galaxies. Draine & Li (2007, ApJ, 663, 866) models are fit to the data from which the stellar contribution has been carefully removed. We find that our photometric coverage is sufficient to constrain all of the parameters of the Draine & Li models and that a strong constraint on the 20−60 μm range is mandatory to estimate the relative contribution of the photo-dissociation regions to the infrared spectral energy distribution (SED). The SED models tend to systematically underestimate the observed 500 μm flux densities, especially for low-mass systems. We provide the output parameters for all of the galaxies, i.e., the minimum intensity of the interstellar radiation field, the fraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), the relative contribution of PDR and evolved stellar population to the dust heating, the dust mass, and the infrared luminosity. For a subsample of gas-rich galaxies, we analyze the relations between these parameters and the main integrated properties of galaxies, such as stellar mass, star formation rate, infraredluminosity, metallicity, Hα and H-band surface brightness, and the far-ultraviolet attenuation. A good correlation between the fraction of PAH and the metallicity is found, implying a weakening of the PAH emission in galaxies with low metallicities and, thus, low stellar masses. The intensity of the diffuse interstellar radiation field and the H-band and Hα surface brightnesses are correlated, suggesting that the diffuse dust component is heated by both the young stars in star-forming regions and the diffuse evolved population. We use these results to provide a new set of infrared templates calibrated with Herschel observations on nearby galaxies and a mean SED template to provide the z = 0 reference for cosmological studies. For the same purpose, we place our sample on the SFR − M∗ diagram. The templates are compared to the most popular infrared SED libraries, enlightening a large discrepancy between all of them in the 20−100 μm range.
Risk Fact or Fiction: The Information Content of Risk Factor Disclosures

Inconsistent with concerns of uninformative boilerplate or ‘copy and paste’ disclosure, I find that managers time their identification of new risk factors and removal of previously identified ones to align with the expected occurrence of future adverse outcomes. By using individual risk factors as the unit of disclosure, I am able to provide novel evidence that managers remove stale disclosures on a timely basis. After controlling for firmspecific heterogeneity, I find that the count of individual risk factors disclosed, rather than an aggregate word count, explains time-series variation in managerial disclosure decisions, consistent with the regulatory intent. To shed light on what shapes the disclosure equilibrium, I study the managerial response to demand ‘shocks’ from public and private enforcement actions. The results show that firms respond to investor demand in a manner consistent with the litigation shield hypothesis, and that this effect persists for multiple years. Consistent with the regulatory cost-benefit function, public enforcement does not result in a net increase in disclosed risk factors, but does evoke more definitive disclosures through more specific language and an increased use of numbers. JEL Classification : M41; D83; G14
International Accounting Standards and Accounting Quality

We examine whether application of International Accounting Standards is associated with higher accounting quality. The application of IAS reflects the combined effects of features of the financial reporting system, including standards, their interpretation, enforcement, and litigation. We find that firms applying IAS from 21 countries generally evidence less earnings management, more timely loss recognition, and more value relevance of accounting amounts than do a matched sample of firms applying non-US domestic standards. Differences in accounting quality between the two groups of firms in the period before the IAS firms adopt IAS do not account for the post-adoption differences. We also find that firms applying IAS generally evidence an improvement in accounting quality between the pre- and post-adoption periods. Although we cannot be sure that our findings are attributable to the change in the financial reporting system rather than to changes in firms' incentives and the economic environment, we include research design features to mitigate the effects of both.