Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Payoff-Based Belief Distortion

Heterogeneous beliefs often arise among people with the same information but different personally experienced payoffs. To explain this, I propose a mechanism in which experienced payoffs distort beliefs: gains lead an agent to relatively underweight negative new signals and thus to become overoptimistic, whereas losses do the opposite. I experimentally test this mechanism and find behaviour consistent with its predictions. The experiment created a setting where payoffs carried no informational value for Bayesian updating, and thus offered a strong test for the effect of payoffs on beliefs. The findings were robust, and distinct from alternative mechanisms in important ways.
Forecasting Equicorrelation

We study the out-of-sample forecasting performance of several time-series models of equicorrelation, which is the average pairwise correlation between a number of assets. Building on the existing Dynamic Conditional Correlation and Linear Dynamic Equicorrelation models, we propose a model that uses proxies for equicorrelation based on high-frequency intraday data, and the level of equicorrelation implied by options prices. Using state-of-the-art statistical evaluation technology, we find that the use of both realized and implied equicorrelations outperform models that use daily data alone. However, the out-of-sample forecasting benefits of implied equicorrelation disappear when used in conjunction with the realized measures.
Dosage of conventional neuroleptic medication and subjective cognitive functioning in schizophrenia

&NA; Subjective cognitive and perceptual disturbances as assessed with the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire (FCQ) were correlated with chlorpromazine equivalents in 40 schizophrenic inpatients, who were treated with conventional neuroleptics. In line with previous research using ‘objective’ neuropsychological tests, both correlations and partial correlations (controlling for the effects of psychopathology, extrapyramidal symptoms and length of illness) confirmed that higher neuroleptic doses significantly worsen several cognitive and perceptual domains (r = 0.44 ‐0.54; P ≤ 0.005 ‐0.05) with the possible exception of mnestic functions (r = 0.21 ‐ 0.24, n.s.) and language (r = 0.37 ‐0.38, P ≤ 0.1). The clinical importance of self‐report scales for evaluating both the risks and benefits of neuroleptic treatment is discussed.
Bacterial Adherence to the Upper Respiratory Tract of Ferrets Infected with Influenza A Virus

Abstract A ferret model was used to study bacterial adherence in animals with influenza. Ferrets were inoculated intranasally with influenza A3/Hong Kong/1/68 virus. Antiviral serum antibodies were apparent by Day 5. On Days 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, three virus-inoculated and two uninoculated controls were anesthetized, exsanguinated, and decapitated, and the lower jaw was removed. Each animal was inoculated intranasally with a 1-ml suspension containing 20 mg (dry wt) of either 3H-labeled Staphylococcus aureus or 3H-labeled group B Streptococcus type la and incubated for 45 min at ambient temperature. In animals challenged with staphylococci, 80% of the original inoculum remained free in suspension; of the remaining 20%, the distribution in the upper respiratory tracts of virus-infected and control animals was significantly different. Of the staphylococci remaining in the nasopharynx of control animals, 74% was present in mucinous plugs, 11% was bound to host cells present in washes of the nasal cavity, and 15% was released by protease treatment of the nasopharynx. Of the staphylococci remaining in the upper respiratory tract of virus-infected ferrets, 36% was recovered in plugs, 24% was bound to cells in nasal washes, and 40% was released by enzyme treatment. Overall, adherence-positive staphylococci represented 64% of recoverable bacteria in virus-infected ferrets versus 26% in controls. Adherence was increased twofold (Days 5 and 7) to threefold (Days 3, 9, and 11) in virus-infected ferrets compared to uninfected controls. In contrast, only 7% of the original streptococcal inoculum was recovered from virus-infected and uninfected control animals and virus infection did not enhance streptococcal adherence except for an approximately threefold increase that was seen on Day 11.
Hartmann Reversal: Obesity Adversely Impacts Outcome

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive analyses are lacking to identify predictors of postoperative complications in patients who undergo a Hartmann reversal. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify predictive factors for morbidity after reversal. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at Cleveland Clinic Florida. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients from January 2004 to July 2011 who underwent reversal were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Variables pertaining to Hartmann procedure and reversal were obtained for analyses in patients with and without postoperative complications. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients (mean age 61 years, 56% male) underwent reversal, with an overall morbidity of 46%. Patients with and without complications had similar demographics, comorbidities, diagnoses, and Hartmann procedure intraoperative findings. Patients with complications after reversal were more likely to have prophylactic ureteral stents (61% vs 41%, p < 0.05) and an open approach (91% vs 75%, p < 0.04). Complications were associated with longer hospital stay (8.8 vs 6.9 days,p < 0.006) and higher rates of reintervention (9% vs 0%, p < 0.03) and readmission (16% vs 2%, p < 0.02). Predictors of morbidity after reversal included BMI (29 vs 26 kg/m2, p < 0.04), hospital stay for Hartmann procedure (15 vs 10 days, p < 0.03), and short distal stump (50% vs 31%, p < 0.05). BMI was the only independent predictor of morbidity (p < 0.04). Obesity was associated with significantly greater overall morbidity (64% vs 40%, p < 0.04), wound infections (56% vs 31%, p < 0.04), diverting ileostomy at reversal (24% vs 13%, p < 0.05), and time between procedures (399 vs 269 days, p < 0.02). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: Hartmann reversal is associated with significant morbidity; BMI independently predicts complications. Therefore, patients who are obese should be encouraged or even potentially required to lose weight before reversal.
Heart rate variability and fractal dimension during orthostatic challenges.

Heart rate variability (HRV) spectral analysis has been used as a tool for short-term assessment of parasympathetic (PNS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) control of heart rate. However, it has been suggested that the PNS and SNS indicators are superimposed on a broad-band noise spectrum in which the power spectral densities are inversely proportional to their frequency (1/f beta). In this study, we have used coarse-graining spectral analysis to extract the harmonic components for calculation of PNS and SNS indicators and to obtain the slope (beta) of the 1/f beta component to estimate fractal dimension (DF) of a trail of HRV. DF was regarded as an indicator of cardiovascular system complexity. Ten healthy young subjects (6 women and 4 men) were studied in supine rest and with sequential applications of four levels of lower body negative pressure (LBNP; -10, -20, -30, and -50 mmHg) and head-up tilt (HUT; 10, 20, 30, and 70 degrees). In the 20 tests, there were six occurrences of presyncopal symptoms that required the test to be terminated before the planned end point. At low levels of LBNP or HUT, arterial pulse pressure (PP) was not changed from rest, and calculated DF was very high (beta approximately 1.00). At the higher levels of LBNP and HUT, PP decreased. Coincident with this reduction in PP, PNS activity decreased, SNS activity increased, and DF was reduced, each with a significant linear relationship to the change in PP (PNS: r = 0.56; SNS: r = 0.57; DF: r = 0.70, P < 0.01). Each occurrence of presyncope was associated a low PNS indicator as well as DF < 2.50 (beta > or = 1.80). These data indicate that the cardiovascular system is operating at a reduced level of complexity and further suggest that reduced complexity might not be compatible with cardiovascular homeostasis.
Determinants of primary care specialty choice: a non‐statistical meta‐analysis of the literature

This paper analyzes and synthesizes the literature on primary care specialty choice from 1987 through 1993. To improve the validity and usefulness of the conclusions drawn from the literature, the authors developed a model of medical student specialty choice to guide the synthesis, and used only high-quality research (a final total of 73 articles). They found that students predominantly enter medical school with a preference for primary care careers, but that this preference diminishes over time (particularly over the clinical clerkship years). Student characteristics associated with primary care career choice are: being female, older, and married; having a broad undergraduate background; having non-physician parents; having relatively low income expectations; being interested in diverse patients and health problems; and having less interest in prestige, high technology, and surgery. Other traits, such as value orientation, personality, or life situation, yet to be reliably measured, may actually be responsible for some of these associations. Two curricular experiences are associated with increases in the numbers of students choosing primary care: required family practice clerkships and longitudinal primary care experiences. Overall, the number of required weeks in family practice shows the strongest association. Students are influenced by the cultures of the institutions in which they train, and an important factor in this influence is the relative representation of academically credible, full-time primary care faculty within each institution's governance and everyday operation. In turn, the institutional culture and faculty composition are largely determined by each school's mission and funding sources–explaining, perhaps, the strong and consistent association frequently found between public schools and a greater output of primary care physicians. Factors that do not influence primary care specialty choice include early exposure to family practice faculty or to family practitioners in their own clinics, having a high family medicine faculty-to-student ratio, and student debt level, unless exceptionally high. Also, students view a lack of understanding of the specialties as a major impediment to their career decisions, and it appears they acquire distorted images of the primary care specialties as they learn within major academic settings. Strikingly few schools produce a majority of primary care graduates who enter family practice, general internal medicine, or general practice residencies or who actually practice as generalists. Even specially designed tracks seldom produce more than 60% primary care graduates. Twelve recommendations for strategies to increase the proportion of primary care physicians are provided.
[A case-control study for assessing the relation between the incidence of malignant lymphomas and environmental factors in Sichuan province].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationships of malignant lymphoma (ML) and exposure factors, including environmental, drug using, socioeconomic level and life style etc. METHODS (1) Hospital-based case-control study with 1:2 matching was used; (2) 150 cases of ML and 300 controls were resulted; (3) logistic regression was used. RESULTS (1) Adjust odds ratios (aOR) regarding contact to organic solvents were: benzene aOR = 2.78, P = 0.001;banana oil aOR = 2.28, P = 0.043; paint aOR = 1.96, P = 0.023; (2) aOR on pesticides contact: organic phosphorus aOR = 1.98, P = 0.034; chrysanthester aOR = 2.57, P = 0.013; organic nitride aOR = 2.55, P = 0.003; (3) aOR of using aspirin was 2.36, P = 0.005; (4) dog-raising: aOR = 1.76, P = 0.034; (5) the aORs of interval-term exposure to small dosage X-ray was 0.49, P = 0.015, and frequently catching cold was 0.67, P = 0.024; (6) the P-value of different occupations was more than 0.05; cigarette smoking OR = 1.01, P = 0.897; giving up smoking OR = 1.17, P = 0.073; alcohol-drinking aOR = 1.01, P = 0.414; hair-dyes OR = 1.06, P = 0.850; hair-perms OR = 1.26, P = 0.438; socioeconomic level OR = 1.00, P = 1.000 and with introversive character OR = 1.26, P = 0.266. CONCLUSIONS (1) Factors that might increase the risk of suffering from malignant lymphomas would include direct contact to organic solvents and some pesticides (organic phosphorus, chrysanthester and organic nitride), intake of aspirin, as well as dog-raising. (2) Regular exposure to small dosage X-ray and frequently catching cold seemed to decrease the risk of suffering from ML. (3) Occupation, smoking, giving up smoking, alcohol-drinking, hair-dyes, hair-perms, socioeconomic level and introversive character showed no significant relations to the risk of suffering from ML in this study.
New Classes of Optimal Variable-Weight Optical Orthogonal Codes Based on Cyclic Difference Families

SUMMARY Variable-weight optical orthogonal code (OOC) was introduced by G-C Yang for multimedia optical CDMA systems with multiple quality of service (QoS) requirement. In this paper, a construction for optimal (v, {3, 4}, 1, {s/(s + 1), 1/(s + 1)} )-OOCs is given. Fors = 2, it is proved that for each prime v ≡ 1 (mod 24), there exists a (v, {3, 4}, 1, {2/3, 1/3})OOC. A recursive construction for cyclic difference family is also presented. By using these constructions, a number of new infinite classes of optimal (v, {3, 4}, 1,Q)-OOCs for Q = {1/2, 1/2} and {2/3, 1/3} are constructed.
Invasive Group a Streptococcal Soft Tissue Infection and the Streptococcal Toxic Shock Like Syndrome

A recent increase in the number of patients with severe group a streptococcal soft tissue infections and the streptococcal toxic shock like syndrome (stsls) in Edmonton sparked the interest to review eight cases that occurred between March 1991 and December 1993, including two patients after cosmetic surgery. These cases were felt to be sporadic and not linked. Four of the eight patients (age range 25 to 64 years), including one patient following upper blepharoplasties, developed invasive infection without shock. These patients presented one to seven days after the initiating event with only mild fever, but severe pain and localized erythema and swelling in the affected area which progressed quickly with the formation of bullae. Two streptococcal specimens were serotyped as M1 and contained streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (spe) a and B. Management included surgical debridement, penicillin, and clindamycin (interferes with M-protein and toxin production). All four patients recovered. The other four patients, including one patient following rhytidectomy, (age range 45 to 83 years) were much more ill and developed stsls. They rapidly developed septic shock within 12 to 24 h and progressed to multiorgan involvement despite surgical debridement. One streptococcal specimen was serotyped as M1 and positive for spe a and B, another specimen as M12 and positive for spe B, and another specimen as M-nontypable and positive for spe B. Two patients died within five days of presentation. The other two patients recovered following lengthy hospitalization, reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation.
Reply to Szuwalski: Policies robust to uncertainty in causes of productivity changes are needed

Szuwalski (1) has greatly misinterpreted the principal message of our report (2). We did not claim you could reliably estimate regime shifts for individual stocks. Table 2 in our report (2) clearly shows that the chance of improper assignment of the hypothesis is very high, even when you have a long time-series of data in hand. At any point in time, managers will rarely know if observed changes in productivity are a result of regime changes, changes in biomass, or random.
Self-regulation of commitment to reduce cigarette consumption: Mental contrasting of future with reality

The model of fantasy realisation (Oettingen, 2000) specifies mental contrasting of a positive future with negative reality as a strategy that creates strong goal commitments. We propose that fantasies about a positive and negative future produce strong goal commitments when contrasted with the respective reality. The present study supports this hypothesis in the area of reducing cigarette consumption. Mental contrasting of a positive future with negative reality as well as mental contrasting of a negative future with positive reality led to taking immediate action when participants had high expectations of success. Results indicate that both fantasies about a positive future and a negative future can be used to commit to goals that benefit health and prevent disease.
Maternity care providers' attitudes and practices concerning HIV testing during pregnancy; results of a survey of the Canterbury and upper South Island region.

AIMS To assess current attitudes and practice toward antenatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk assessment, HIV testing and barriers towards implementation of these among midwives, general practitioners (GPs) and obstetricians in the upper South Island METHODS A survey was conducted among maternity care providers by anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Most questions were dichotomous, forced choice or Likert scale format but there were four open- ended questions asking for a written response. RESULTS The response rate was 57% overall. The main finding was that 275 (66%) of respondents assessed risk of HIV in less than 10% of patients, and 328 (midwives 93, 85%; GP's 226,77%; obstetricians 9,64%) respondents had performed less than three HIV tests in the past twelve months. Most respondents strongly agreed that detection of HIV during pregnancy is beneficial to mother 318 (83%) and to baby 367 (96%) and to mother prior to pregnancy 353 (92%). 202 (52%) supported and 44 (11%) were opposed to an antenatal screening programme in New Zealand. Most knew how to assess risk for HIV saw themselves as having an important role in antenatal HIV testing, and were comfortable performing risk assessment. Multiple reasons for current practices were offered, including perceived reluctance by women to be tested, lack of time, skills, knowledge and support services, and low rates of HIV in the community. CONCLUSIONS The current policy of routine HIV risk assessment is not working among respondents. A systematic reassessment and implementation of a workable strategy needs to be undertaken in New Zealand.
Hospital arrival time after onset of different types of stroke in greater Taipei.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The effectiveness of stroke treatment is highly dependent on the post-onset time of treatment. Recent reports have established the importance of aggressive medical or surgical intervention in the hyperacute stage. In order to design an appropriate treatment program for acute stroke patients, we studied the arrival time after onset of different types of stroke at a tertiary medical center serving the greater Taipei area. METHODS This was a prospective study of acute stroke patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) during a 1-year period (1997). There were 842 patients with accurate records of hospital arrival time who were either directly or indirectly admitted to the ED during the study period. Each stroke patient had a diagnosis of either cerebral infarction (CI), cerebral hemorrhage (CH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or transient ischemic attack (TIA). CI was further divided into five subtypes: large artery atherothrombosis, lacunae, cardioembolism, other specific causes, and undetermined cause. The arrival time after stroke onset was stratified into seven different time intervals: 0 to 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12, and 12 to 24 hours, and 1 to 3, 3 to 7, and more than 7 days. RESULTS Stroke patients who came directly to the ED arrived much sooner after onset than those who came via an indirect route (80.5% vs 36.5% in the first 24 hours). Of the 617 patients in the direct group, the percentage of patients arriving at the ED within 3 hours after onset was significantly greater among CH (66.2%), SAH (68.4%), and TIA (57.9%) patients than among CI (27.4%) patients. The percentage of CI patients who arrived early (0 to 3 hours) was significantly higher in those with cardioembolism (56.3%) than in those with large artery atherothrombosis (24.5%), lacunae (15.3%), other specific causes (13.6%), or undetermined cause (23.2%). CONCLUSIONS These results show that direct transportation to the ED after stroke onset resulted in shorter treatment delay; hospital arrival time varied significantly among the different types of stroke and subtypes of CI. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke (CH and SAH) and cardioembolism were sent to the ED with the shortest delay. These results may be useful in strategic planning for stroke management.
Characterization of neuronal subsets surrounded by perineuronal nets in the rhesus auditory brainstem

The distribution of perineuronal nets and the potassium channel subunit Kv3.1b was studied in the subdivisions of the cochlear nucleus, the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, the medial and lateral superior olivary nuclei, the lateral lemniscal nucleus and the inferior colliculus of the rhesus monkey. Additional sections were used for receptor autoradiography to visualize the patterns of GABAA and GABAB receptor distribution. The Kv3.1b protein and perineuronal nets [visualized as Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) binding] were revealed, showing corresponding region‐specific patterns of distribution. There was a gradient of labelled perineuronal nets which corresponded to that seen for the intensity of Kv3.1b expression. In the cochlear nucleus intensely and faintly stained perineuronal nets were intermingled, whereas in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body the pattern changed to intensely stained perineuronal nets in the medial part and weakly labelled nets in its lateral part. In the inferior colliculus, intensely labelled perineuronal nets were arranged in clusters and faintly labelled nets were arranged in sheets. Using receptor autoradiography, GABAB receptor expression in the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus was revealed. The medial part of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body showed a high number of GABAA binding sites whereas the lateral part exhibited more binding sites for GABAB. In the inferior colliculus, we found moderate GABAB receptor expression. In conclusion, intensely WFA‐labelled structures are those known to be functionally involved in high‐frequency processing.
Design of a very High Sensitivity acquisition system for a space GNSS receiver

Increasing the GNSS receiver sensitivity and robustness in very harsh environments has become a central topic for the GNSS community. This paper addresses the design of a very High Sensitivity (HS) acquisition scheme for weak GNSS signal detection down to 5/10 dB-Hz in the particular space environment of the Lunar Low Orbit. A theoretical analysis for the determination of optimal extended coherent integration time and non-coherent accumulations allowing the achievement of pre-defined acquisition metrics will be presented and then validated by means of simulations. Complete data navigation bits and secondary code synchronization achieved thanks to the use of external aiding sources or self-assistance techniques is considered along the analysis which will provide results for weak GNSS signal acquisition in the GPS L1/L5 and Galileo E1/E5 frequency bands. Presence of a Doppler aiding source is considered and a detailed study on the required Doppler aiding accuracy is also presented.