Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NON-EXPECTED UTILITY THEORY

The expected utility/subjective probability model of risk preferences and beliefs has long been the preeminent model of individual choice under conditions of uncertainty. It exhibits a tremendous flexibility in representing aspects of attitudes toward risk, has a well-developed analytical structure, and has been applied to the analysis of gambling, games of strategy, incomplete information, insurance, portfolio and investment decisions, capital markets, and many other areas. This model posits a cardinal utility function over outcomes (usually alternative wealth levels), and assumes that an individual evaluates risky prospects on the basis of the expected value of his or her utility function In situations of objective uncertainty (e.g., roulette wheels), this expectation based on the objective probabilities involved. In situations of subjective uncertainty (e.g., horse races) likelihood beliefs are represented by the individual’s personal or subjective probabilities of the various alternative occurrences. First proposed by the Dutch mathematician Daniel Bernoulli in 1738 as a solution to the well-known St. Petersburg Paradox, the expected utility model has since been axiomatized under conditions of both objective and subjective uncertainty. Many consider these axioms and the resulting model to be the essence of rational risk preferences and beliefs.
D-Glucose Stimulates Mesangial Cell GLUT1 Expression and Basal and IGF-I–Sensitive Glucose Uptake in Rat Mesangial Cells: Implications for Diabetic Nephropathy

The complications of diabetes arise in part from abnormally high cellular glucose uptake and metabolism. To determine whether altered glucose transporter expression may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, we investigated the effects of elevated extracellular glucose concentrations on facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT) expression in rat mesangial cells. GLUT1 was the only transporter isoform detected. Cells exposed to 20 mmol/1 glucose medium for 3 days demonstrated increases in GLUT1 mRNA (134%, P < 0.002), GLUT1 protein (68%, P < 0.02), and Vmax (50%, P < 0.05) for uptake of the glucose analog ]3H]2-deoxyglucose (3H2-DOG), when compared to cells chronically adapted to physiologic glucose concentrations (8 mmol/1). The increase in GLUT1 protein was sustained at 3 months, the latest time point tested (77% above control, P < 0.01). In contrast, hypertonic mannitol had no effect on GLUT1 protein levels. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I; 30 ng/ml) increased the uptake of 3H2-DOG by 28% in 8 mmol/1 glucose-treated cells (P < 0.05) and by 75% in cells switched to 20 mmol/1 glucose for 3 days (P < 0.005). These increases in 3H2-DOG uptake occurred despite a lack of effect of IGF-I on GLUT1 protein levels (P > 0.5 vs. control). Therefore, hyperglycemia and IGF-I treatment both lead to increases in mesangial cell glucose uptake, and hyperglycemia induces increased GLUT1 expression, which can directly lead to the pathological changes of diabetic nephropathy. The effects of high glucose and of IGF-I to stimulate 3H2-DOG uptake also appear to be additive.
Three country study: impact of support on employee attitudes

ABSTRACT This study examined the mediating effects of perceived organizational support and affective commitment in the relationships among perceived supervisor support, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) (individual and organizational), and turnover intentions. The proposed relationships were tested by conducting the same study involving restaurant employees in three different countries – India, USA, and South Korea. The mediating effects of perceived organizational support and affective commitment between perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions were found to be consistent across the three countries. However, the relationships among OCBs differed. While affective commitment was significantly related to both OCBs in the South Korean sample, affective commitment was significantly related only to OCBs towards organization in the US sample, and neither relationship was found to be significant in the Indian sample. This study helps to explain how contextual factors influence responses to each study variable and the proposed relationships.
A comparative study of helminth parasites from the fish Tilapia zillii and Oreochromis leucostictus in Lake Naivasha and Oloidien Bay, Kenya

Abstract The parasitic fauna of two fish species, namely gill-netted samples of 652 Oreochromis leucostictus and 448 Tilapia zillii from Lake Naivasha and Oloidien Bay was investigated during the period from the end of October 1995 to September 1996. Five larval helminth parasites were recovered including the nematode, Contracaecum sp. , the acanthocephalan Polyacanthorhynchus kenyensis, the digenetic trematode, Clinostomum sp. and two cestodes, Amirthalingamia sp. and Cyclustera sp. Both prevalence and intensity of the infection of these helminths increased in larger sized fish, whereas male fish were more heavily infected than females. No seasonality in infection level were observed. The health status of both fish species remained unaffected, although O. leucostictus from Oloidien Bay which harboured heavy infections of Contracaecum exhibited stuntedness and the lack of fatty deposits around the digestive caecum.
A Longitudinal Adoption Study of Substance Use Behavior in Adolescence

Although cross-sectional twin studies have assessed the genetic and environmental etiologies of substance use during adolescence and early adulthood, comparisons of results across different samples, measures, and cohorts are problematic. While several longitudinal twin studies have investigated these issues, few corroborating adoption studies have been conducted. The current study is the first to estimate the magnitude of genetic, shared environmental, and non-shared environmental influences on substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana) from ages 14 to 18 years, using a prospective longitudinal adoption design. Adoptive and control sibling correlations provided substantial evidence for early genetic effects on cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use/no use. Shared environmental effects were relatively modest, except for alcohol use, which showed increases in late adolescence (age 17 to 18 years). Sibling similarity for quantity/frequency of use also support additive genetic influences across adolescence, with some shared environmental influences for all three substances. To test the stability of these influences across time, a series of independent pathway models were run to explore common and age-specific influences. For all substances, there were minimal age-specific additive genetic and shared environmental influences on quantity/frequency of use. Further, there was a trend toward increasing genetic influences on cigarette and alcohol use across ages. Genetic influences on marijuana were important early, but did not contribute substantially at age 17 and 18 years. Overall, the findings indicate that genetic influences make important contributions to the frequency/quantity of substance use in adolescence, and suggest that new genetic influences may emerge in late adolescence for cigarette and alcohol use.
Ca2+ sensitization via phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase targeting subunit at threonine‐855 by Rho kinase contributes to the arterial myogenic response

Ca2+ sensitization has been postulated to contribute to the myogenic contraction of resistance arteries evoked by elevation of transmural pressure. However, the biochemical evidence of pressure‐induced increases in phosphorylated myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and/or 17 kDa protein kinase C (PKC)‐potentiated protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor protein (CPI‐17) required to sustain this view is not currently available. Here, we determined whether Ca2+ sensitization pathways involving Rho kinase (ROK)‐ and PKC‐dependent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and CPI‐17, respectively, contribute to the myogenic response of rat middle cerebral arteries. ROK inhibitors (Y27632, 0.03–10 μmol l−1; H1152, 0.001–0.3 μmol l−1) and PKC inhibitors (GF109203X, 3 μmol l−1; Gö6976; 10 μmol l−1) suppressed myogenic vasoconstriction between 40 and 120 mmHg. An improved, highly sensitive 3‐step Western blot method was developed for detection and quantification of MYPT1 and CPI‐17 phosphorylation. Increasing pressure from 10 to 60 or 100 mmHg significantly increased phosphorylation of MYPT1 at threonine‐855 (T855) and myosin light chain (LC20). Phosphorylation of MYPT1 at threonine‐697 (T697) and CPI‐17 were not affected by pressure. Pressure‐evoked elevations in MYPT1‐T855 and LC20 phosphorylation were reduced by H1152, but MYPT1‐T697 phosphorylation was unaffected. Inhibition of PKC with GF109203X did not affect MYPT1 or LC20 phosphorylation at 100 mmHg. Our findings provide the first direct, biochemical evidence that a Ca2+ sensitization pathway involving ROK‐dependent phosphorylation of MYPT1 at T855 (but not T697) and subsequent augmentation of LC20 phosphorylation contributes to myogenic control of arterial diameter in the cerebral vasculature. In contrast, suppression of the myogenic response by PKC inhibitors cannot be attributed to block of Ca2+ sensitization mediated by CPI‐17 or MYPT1 phosphorylation.
Sensitivity and specificity of the individual CT signs of appendicitis: experience with 200 helical appendiceal CT examinations.

PURPOSE Our goal was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic value of individual signs at helical appendiceal CT. METHOD Two hundred helical appendiceal CT scans (100 appendicitis and 100 normal appendix cases) were interpreted for individual signs of appendicitis. Scan findings were correlated with appendectomy or clinical follow-up results. RESULTS Individual CT signs identified and their sensitivity and specificity, respectively, included fat stranding (100%, 80%), enlarged (> 6 mm) unopacified appendix (93%, 100%), focal cecal apical thickening (69%, 100%), adenopathy (62%, 66%), appendolith(s) (44%, 100%), arrowhead sign (23%, 100%), paracolic gutter fluid (18%, 86%), abscess (11%, 100%), cecal bar (10%, 100%), extraluminal air (8%, 97%), phlegmon (7%, 99%), ileal (3%, 86%) or sigmoid (3%, 95%) wall thickening, and diffuse cecal wall thickening (0%, 91%). CONCLUSION Individual appendiceal CT signs of appendicitis vary in sensitivity, specificity, and thus diagnostic value. An enlarged appendix with periappendiceal fat stranding occurs in 93% of appendicitis CT cases. Less common but specific signs [cecal apical changes, appendolith(s) are usually present in the remaining appendicitis cases. Some signs seen with appendicitis (adenopathy, fat stranding, adjacent bowel wall thickening, fluid) can also be noted with alternative conditions, and in these cases normal appendix identification is the key to excluding appendicitis.
Sequences from the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein (LRP) Cytoplasmic Domain Enhance Amyloid β Protein Production via the β-Secretase Pathway without Altering Amyloid Precursor Protein/LRP Nuclear Signaling*

Increasing evidence suggests that the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) affects the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid β (Aβ) protein production as well as mediates the clearance of Aβ from the brain. Recent studies indicate that the cytoplasmic domain of LRP is critical for this modulation of APP processing requiring perhaps a complex between APP, the adaptor protein FE65, and LRP. In this study, we expressed a small LRP domain consisting of the C-terminal 97 amino acids of the cytoplasmic domain, or LRP-soluble tail (LRP-ST), in CHO cells to test the hypothesis that the APP·LRP complex can be disrupted. We anticipated that LRP-ST would inhibit the normal interaction between LRP and APP and therefore perturb APP processing to resemble a LRP-deficient state. Surprisingly, CHO cells expressing LRP-ST demonstrated an increase in both sAPP secretion and Aβ production compared with control CHO cells in a manner reminiscent of the cellular effects of the APP “Swedish mutation. ” The increase in sAPP secretion consisted mainly of sAPPβ, consistent with the increase in Aβ release. Further, this effect is LRP-independent, as the same alterations remained when LRP-ST was expressed in LRP-deficient cells but not when the construct was membrane-anchored. Finally, deletion experiments suggested that the last 50 amino acid residues of LRP-ST contain the important domain for altering APP processing and Aβ production. These observations indicate that there are cellular pathways that may suppress Aβ generation but that can be altered to facilitate Aβ production.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter G26 Is Required for Male Fertility and Pollen Exine Formation in Arabidopsis1[W][OA]

The highly resistant biopolymer, sporopollenin, gives the outer wall (exine) of spores and pollen grains their unparalleled strength, shielding these structures from terrestrial stresses. Despite a limited understanding of the composition of sporopollenin, it appears that the synthesis of sporopollenin occurs in the tapetum and requires the transport of one or more sporopollenin constituents to the surface of developing microspores. Here, we describe ABCG26, a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily, which is required for pollen exine formation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). abcg26 mutants are severely reduced in fertility, with most siliques failing to produce seeds by self-fertilization and mature anthers failing to release pollen. Transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed an absence of an exine wall on abcg26-1 mutant microspores. Phenotypic abnormalities in pollen wall formation were first apparent in early uninucleate microspores as a lack of exine formation and sporopollenin deposition. Additionally, the highest levels of ABCG26 mRNA were in the tapetum, during early pollen wall formation, sporopollenin biosynthesis, and sporopollenin deposition. Accumulations resembling the trilamellar lipidic coils in the abcg11 and abcg12 mutants defective in cuticular wax export were observed in the anther locules of abcg26 mutants. A yellow fluorescent protein-ABCG26 protein was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. Our results show that ABCG26 plays a critical role in exine formation and pollen development and are consistent with a model by which ABCG26 transports sporopollenin precursors across the tapetum plasma membrane into the locule for polymerization on developing microspore walls.
Heterothermal acclimation: an experimental paradigm for studying the control of thermal acclimation in crabs.

A method for the study of the control of the attainment of thermal acclimation has been applied to the crabs, Cancer pagurus and Carcinus maenas. Crabs were heterothermally acclimated by using an anterior-posterior partition between two compartments, one at 8 degrees C and the other at 22 degrees C. One compartment held a three-quarter section of the crab including the central nervous system (CNS), eye stalks, and ipsilateral legs; the other held a quarter section including the contralateral legs. Criteria used to assess the acclimation responses were comparisons of muscle plasma membrane fatty acid composition and "fluidity. " In both species, the major fatty acids of phosphatidylcholine were 16:0, 18:1, 20:5, and 22:6, whereas phosphatidylethanolamine contained significantly less 16:0 but more 18:0; these fatty acids comprised 80% of the total. Differences in fatty acid composition were demonstrated between fractions obtained from the ipsilateral and contralateral legs from the same heterothermally acclimated individual. In all acclimation states (except 22CNS, phosphatidylcholine fraction), membrane lipid saturation was significantly increased with acclimation at 22 degrees as compared with 8 degrees C. Membrane fluidity was determined by using 1,3-diphenyl-1,3,5 hexatriene (DPH) fluorescence polarization. In both species, membranes from legs held at 8 degrees were more fluid than from legs held at 22 degrees C irrespective of the acclimation temperature of the CNS. Heterothermal acclimation demonstrated that leg muscle membrane composition and fluidity respond primarily to local temperature and were not predominately under central direction. The responses between 8 degrees C- and 22 degrees C-acclimated legs were more pronounced when the CNS was cold-acclimated, so a central influence cannot be excluded.
Dementia time to death: a systematic literature review on survival time and years of life lost in people with dementia

ABSTRACT Background: Life expectancy with dementia directly influences rates of prevalence and service needs and is a common question posed by families and patients. As well as years of survival, it is useful to consider years of life lost after a diagnosis of dementia. Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature on mortality and survival with dementia which were compared to estimated life expectancies in the general population. Both were then compared by age (under 65 years vs. 65+ years), gender, dementia type, severity, and two epochs (prior to and after introduction of cholinesterase inhibitors in 1997). Results: Survival after a diagnosis of dementia varies considerably and depends on numerous factors and their complex interaction. Relative loss of life expectancy decreases with age at diagnosis across varying gender, dementia subtypes (except for frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies), and severity stages. Numerous study deficiencies precluded a meta-analysis of survival in dementia. Conclusion: Estimates of years of life lost through dementia may be helpful for patients and their families. Recommendations for future research methods are proposed.
Influence of the North Atlantic SST on the atmospheric circulation

Using the monthly COADS dataset and NMC‐NCAR archives we show that significant anomalies of the atmospheric circulation are related to previous SST anomalies in the North Atlantic. A signal over the northwest Labrador Sea in late spring is associated with the dominant mode of SST variability during the preceeding winter. It is more clearly seen in the mid‐troposhere than at sea level and appears to be related to the anomalous surface heat exchanges that slowly damp the SST anomalies. In addition, a NAO‐like signal in early winter is associated with SST anomalies east of Newfoundland and in the eastern subtropical North Atlantic during the preceeding summer.
Developmental Reorganization of the Core and Extended Face Networks Revealed by Global Functional Connectivity

Abstract Prior studies on development of functional specialization in human brain mainly focus on age‐related increases in regional activation and connectivity among regions. However, a few recent studies on the face network demonstrate age‐related decrease in face‐specialized activation in the extended face network (EFN), in addition to increase in activation in the core face network (CFN). Here we used a voxel‐based global brain connectivity approach to investigate whether development of the face network exhibited both increase and decrease in network connectivity. We found the voxel‐wise resting‐state functional connectivity (FC) within the CFN increased with age in bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus, suggesting the integration of the CFN during development. Interestingly, the FC of the voxels in the EFN to the right fusiform face area and occipital face area decreased with age, suggesting that the CFN segregated from the EFN during development. Moreover, the age‐related connectivity in the CFN was related to behavioral performance in face processing. Overall, our study demonstrated developmental reorganization of the face network achieved by both integration within the CFN and segregation of the CFN from the EFN, which may account for the simultaneous increases and decreases in neural activation during the development of the face network.
Recent Administrative and Managerial Practices and Public Service Motivation: Evidence from Seoul City Government, South Korea

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the impact of recent administrative and managerial practices of public organizations on public service motivation. Using data from a survey of 1840 civil servants in Seoul City Government, this research uses hierarchical linear modeling to empirically assess the aforementioned associations. The results show that recent administrative and managerial practices have both positive and negatives on public service motivation. At the end of the study, the administrative and managerial implications of the study are also discussed in light of these results.
Two histidines of the coat protein of turnip yellow mosaic virus at the capsid interior are crucial for viability

RNA–coat protein interactions in turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) have been shown to involve low pK proton‐donating groups. Two different types of interaction have been proposed. In the so‐called type I interaction, protonated C‐residues interact with acidic amino acids at low pH, thereby providing a rationale for the high C‐content (38%) of the genomic RNA. The type II interaction involves charged histidines interacting with phosphates of the RNA backbone. Site‐directed mutagenesis of the TYMV coat protein and subsequent in vivo analysis were performed to distinguish between these two types of RNA–protein interaction. The results reveal a prominent role for the histidines H68 and H180, since mutation to an alanine residue inhibits symptom development on secondary leaves, indicating that spreading of the virus in the plant is blocked. Viral RNA and coat protein synthesis are not altered, showing that these two histidines may play a role in the process of RNA encapsidation. Overexpression of the TYMV coat protein in Escherichia coli leads to the formation of bona fide capsids, showing that the two histidines are not critical in capsid assembly. Mutagenesis of the acidic amino acids D11, E135, and D143 to alanine apparently did not interfere with virus viability. The functional role of the histidines during the infection cycle is discussed in terms of the structure of the coat protein, both at the level of amino acid sequence conservation among the members of the Tymoviridae family and as the three‐dimensional structure of the coat protein. Proteins 2004;9999:000–000. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional embedding for the classification of gene expression profiles

MOTIVATION Low sample size n high-dimensional large p data with n<<p are commonly encountered in genomics and statistical genetics. Ill-conditioning of the variance-covariance matrix for such data renders the traditional multivariate data analytical approaches unattractive. On the other side, functional data analysis (FDA) approaches are designed for infinite-dimensional data and therefore may have potential for the analysis of large p data. We herein propose a functional embedding (FEM) technique, which exploits the interface between multivariate and functional data, aiming at borrowing strength across the sample through FDA techniques in order to resolve the difficulties caused by the high dimension p. RESULTS Using pairwise dissimilarities among predictor variables, one obtains a univariate configuration of these covariates. This is interpreted as variable ordination that defines the domain of a suitable function space, thus leading to the FEM of the high-dimensional data. The embedding may then be followed by functional logistic regression for the classification of high-dimensional multivariate data as an example for downstream analysis. The resulting functional classification is evaluated on several published gene expression array datasets and a mass spectrometric data, and is shown to compare favorably with various methods that have been employed previously for the classification of these high-dimensional gene expression profiles.