Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sequential auditor decision making: Information search and evidence evaluation*

Abstract. This paper presents the results of an experiment that examined five hypotheses related to the information search and evidence evaluation that takes place as part of an auditor's sequential decision process. The results indicate the following. (1) When given a choice, auditors examined the most reliable type of evidence. (2) Auditors who stopped at intermediate stages in the sequential task had, on average, more extreme assessments of the outcome, although there were differential effects depending on whether the auditors based their decisions on positive or negative evidence. (3) Changes in the direction of the auditor's judgments were consistent with the signal in the audit evidence. (4) Negative evidence, in general, led to greater judgment revisions than positive evidence, and the most reliable negative evidence led to the greatest revisions. (5) Auditors searched for corroborating evidence, but their evaluation of that evidence did not impact the assessment of evidence received earlier in the sequential task. RA©sumA©. Les auteurs prA©sentent les rA©sultats d'une expA©rience portant sur l'analyse de cinq hypothA¨ses reliA©es A la recherche d'information et A l'A©valuation de l'information probante qui s'inscrivent dans le processus de dA©cision sA©quentiel du vA©rificateur. Les rA©sultats obtenus indiquent ce qui suit: 1) lorsqu'ils ont le choix, les vA©rificateurs examinent l'information probante la plus fiable, 2) les vA©rificateurs qui s'arrAatent A des A©tapes intermA©diaires de la tA¢che sA©quentielle produisent, en moyenne, des A©valuations plus extrAames des rA©sultats, bien que l'on observe des incidences marginales selon que les vA©rificateurs ont fondA© leurs dA©cisions sur des informations probantes expresses ou tacites, 3) les modifications dans l'orientation des jugements posA©s par le verificateur sont conformes aux indications livrA©es par l'information probante, 4) l'information probante tacite mA¨ne, en gA©nA©ral, A une rA©vision plus importante des jugements que l'information expresse, et l'information tacite la plus fiable mA¨ne A la rA©vision la plus approfondie, et 5) les vA©rificateurs cherchent A obtenir des preuves de corroboration mais leur A©valuation de cette information probante n'a pas d'incidence sur lA©valuation de l'information probante obtenue aux A©tapes antA©rieures de la tA¢che sA©quentielle.
Subcellular Trafficking of the Arabidopsis Auxin Influx Carrier AUX1 Uses a Novel Pathway Distinct from PIN1[W]

The directional flow of the plant hormone auxin mediates multiple developmental processes, including patterning and tropisms. Apical and basal plasma membrane localization of AUXIN-RESISTANT1 (AUX1) and PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1) auxin transport components underpins the directionality of intercellular auxin flow in Arabidopsis thaliana roots. Here, we examined the mechanism of polar trafficking of AUX1. Real-time live cell analysis along with subcellular markers revealed that AUX1 resides at the apical plasma membrane of protophloem cells and at highly dynamic subpopulations of Golgi apparatus and endosomes in all cell types. Plasma membrane and intracellular pools of AUX1 are interconnected by actin-dependent constitutive trafficking, which is not sensitive to the vesicle trafficking inhibitor brefeldin A. AUX1 subcellular dynamics are not influenced by the auxin influx inhibitor NOA but are blocked by the auxin efflux inhibitors TIBA and PBA. Furthermore, auxin transport inhibitors and interference with the sterol composition of membranes disrupt polar AUX1 distribution at the plasma membrane. Compared with PIN1 trafficking, AUX1 dynamics display different sensitivities to trafficking inhibitors and are independent of the endosomal trafficking regulator ARF GEF GNOM. Hence, AUX1 uses a novel trafficking pathway in plants that is distinct from PIN trafficking, providing an additional mechanism for the fine regulation of auxin transport.
A single-image method for x-ray refractive index CT

X-ray refraction-based computer tomography imaging is a well-established method for nondestructive investigations of various objects. In order to perform the 3D reconstruction of the index of refraction, two or more raw computed tomography phase-contrast images are usually acquired and combined to retrieve the refraction map (i.e. differential phase) signal within the sample. We suggest an approximate method to extract the refraction signal, which uses a single raw phase-contrast image. This method, here applied to analyzer-based phase-contrast imaging, is employed to retrieve the index of refraction map of a biological sample. The achieved accuracy in distinguishing the different tissues is comparable with the non-approximated approach. The suggested procedure can be used for precise refraction computer tomography with the advantage of a reduction of at least a factor of two of both the acquisition time and the dose delivered to the sample with respect to any of the other algorithms in the literature.
On the Periphery? Understanding Low and Discontinued Internet Use Amongst Young People in Britain

In the UK, the Internet has become an important feature of the lives of the majority of young people for all aspects of their lives. However, there is a significant minority of young people who are not able to navigate or connect properly with the online world. They are, in other words, outside the digital mainstream.Evidence for this group has been found in nationally representative surveys, where around 10% of young people (aged 17-23) define themselves as lapsed Internet users. That is, they used to use the Internet but no longer do so (OxIS, 2011). This study aims to find out more about this group. Specifically we aim to: Examine why young people are outside the digital mainstream, and determine the extent to which this is due to reasons of exclusion or choice.Explore the implications this has in their daily lives. Consider how the experiences of these young people can inform the digital inclusion strategy in the UK.This nine month qualitative study investigated these objectives in four overlapping steps: a literature review of academic research and policy documents; analysis of the Oxford Internet Survey (2011) and the Learner and their Context Survey (2009), which contain valuable information on lapsed Internet users; 36 in-depth interviews with young people who consider themselves to be infrequent or lapsed Internet users; and a workshop with key experts in the field.
Evaluation of Sediment Load in a Natural River

Abstract In this paper, an empirical formula for prediction of the river's suspended and bed load is presented. Utilizing the data obtained from the Vanyar guaging station on Adji-chai river in Tabriz, Iran, and by means of regression analysis on the relationship between the suspended load and water discharge, two empirical equations with high regression coefficients have been given to calculate the river's suspended load for the wet and dry seasons. Using the dimensional analysis and the Buckingham II—theorem, a dimensionless semiempirical equation on the bed load has also been presented. Comparisons have been made between the last proposed equation with common ones on sediment hydraulics after their unified descriptions. The proposed semiempirical formula agress well with the measured data and could be regarded as optimal compared with other common formula.
Serum-free medium cultivation to improve efficacy in establishment of human embryonic stem cell lines.

BACKGROUND Serum-containing and serum-free media were used to derive human embryonic stem (HES) cells from donated oocytes and embryos. METHODS AND RESULTS Inner cell masses (ICM) were isolated by immunosurgery. The HES cells were found to be easily obtained and expanded in a serum-free medium. The efficacy in establishing human embryonic stem cell lines improved in a serum-free medium compared with that in serum-containing media. Four HES cell lines were derived from 13 isolated ICM on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers. All four cell lines possess the same characteristics and differentiating potency: normal 46, XX or 46, XY karyotype; and expressing a series of surface markers such as APase, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, but not SSEA-1. They can form embryoid bodies in suspension culture and develop teratomas comprising derivatives of three embryonic germ layers when injected into severe combined immunodeficient mice. CONCLUSION These preliminary results suggest that serum-free cultivation may be superior to serum-containing cultivation for deriving human embryonic stem cells.
What's in the Air: Interlicense Synergies in the Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Personal Communication Service Spectrum Auctions*

In this article, we analyze the extent of synergies among wireless licenses using information from the first two broadband Personal Communication Service (PCS) spectrum auctions by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). We use a reduced‐form regression of the winning bid for each license on a set of regressors capturing the demographics of the license region, its regulatory environment, the degree of competition for it, and the network synergies among that property and other wireless licenses, both cellular and PCS. In both auctions, the winning bid for a license was higher when the second‐to‐last bidder had a large national cellular telephone network or when the license was located adjacent to other PCS licenses won by either the winning or second‐to‐last bidder. We also find strong evidence that the state or states in which a license was located affected bidding, and there is some evidence that these effects are related to state‐level wireless regulation.
Silicon Waveguide Integrated Germanium JFET Photodetector With Improved Speed Performance

This letter reports our recent results on the high-speed silicon-waveguided germanium junction-field-effect-transistor (JFET)-based photodetector. Although the Ge layer's footprint on wafer is as small as 2 μm × 2 μm, low standby current (0.5 μA at 1 V), high responsivity (642 mA/W), and high speed (8 GHz) are achieved. The reported Ge JFET is a promising solution for photodetector's further scaling-down.
Quality Control Procedures for Genome‐Wide Association Studies

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) are being conducted at an unprecedented rate in population‐based cohorts and have increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of complex disease. Regardless of context, the practical utility of this information will ultimately depend upon the quality of the original data. Quality control (QC) procedures for GWAS are computationally intensive, operationally challenging, and constantly evolving. Here we enumerate some of the challenges in QC of GWAS data and describe the approaches that the electronic MEdical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) network is using for quality assurance in GWAS data, thereby minimizing potential bias and error in GWAS results. We discuss common issues associated with QC of GWAS data, including data file formats, software packages for data manipulation and analysis, sex chromosome anomalies, sample identity, sample relatedness, population substructure, batch effects, and marker quality. We propose best practices and discuss areas of ongoing and future research. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 68:1.19. 1‐1.19. 18 © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Improving the Request Process to Increase Family Consent for Organ Donation

The greatest impediment to organ donation is refusal of family consent. This study examined the impact of 3 modifiable elements of the donation request on family consent rates: (1) decoupling (ie, the family understands and accepts brain death before discussion of organ donation is begun); (2) the procurement coordinator participates in the request for consent; and (3) donation is requested in a quiet, private place. Data on the request process were collected prospectively for 707 medically suitable potential donors who had been referred to 3 organ procurement organizations. The average rate of consent for donation was 62.2%. Higher consent rates were independently associated with the 3 characteristics studied. These components were summarized in the Request Process Scale. Multivariate regression analyses indicated that consent rates can be as high as 74% when all 3 process elements are present. Hospitals and organ procurement organizations should incorporate these elements into their standard of practice when requesting organ donation.
Early surgery in Crohn’s disease patients with entero-urinary fistulas: does it change the prognosis?

Abstract Background Entero-urinary fistulas (EUF) are observed in only 2–8% of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Aim To compare the outcome of patients with EUF, after surgical treatment, with those with non-penetrating and non-stenosing, penetrating, and stenosing phenotypes (B1, B2, and B3 phenotypes). Methods Case-control study of 21 CD patients with EUF submitted to surgical treatment. Each patient with EUF was compared with six patients, two of each group: B1, B2, and B3 phenotypes. They were randomly selected from inflammatory bowel disease database and had the same extent of disease, smoking status, perianal disease, and age at diagnosis. Results One hundred and forty-seven patients were included (n = 21 EUF; n = 42 of each group B1, B2, and B3). Comparing B3 group with EUF, the former was more steroid-dependent and resistant (54.8% versus 19.0%, p = 0.037) and needed anti-TNF therapy more frequently (59.5% versus 23.8%, p = 0.004). Moreover, B3 patients had a poorer response to anti-TNF therapy without remission free of steroid therapy in comparison with EUF patients (45.2% versus 95.2%, p < 0.001). EUF patients did not differ from B2 group regarding anti-TNF therapy (p = 0.956) and steroid-dependence or resistance (p = 0.141). Surgery rate after index surgery was inferior in EUF in comparison with B2 and B3 groups. Hospital admission rate of patients with EUF was also lower than the B3 group. Conclusion Early surgery seems to be a good choice for patients with EUF as their response to surgery appears not to differ from B2 patients and had a better prognosis than phenotype B3 patients.
Integrating Multidisciplinary Results to Produce New Knowledge About the Physician–Patient Relationship

The INTERMEDE Project brought together a number of research teams to study the interaction between a patient and their general practitioner, and how this can produce social inequalities in health. The ultimate objective of the project was to formalize a core of common findings by integrating qualitative and quantitative results. The methodology chosen for the integration was inspired by the Delphi participatory method. It involves several rounds of questions and feedback in writing between all members of project teams, in order to compare contradictory opinions and identify key concepts arising from the project. This interdisciplinary research has provided a more nuanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying physician–patient interaction by revealing the convergences of the various disciplinary approaches.
Two-stage global search designs for linkage analysis using pairs of affected relatives.

We investigate the two-stage procedure proposed by Elston [(1992) Proceedings of the XVIth International Biometric Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand, December 7-11, 1992, pp 39-51, and (1994) "Genetic Approaches to Mental Disorders. " Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, pp 3-21] for performing a global search of the genome to locate disease genes by linkage analysis using affected relative pairs. The optimal design depends on the type of pairs studied, the effect of the disease locus, the relative costs of recruiting affected persons and typing markers, how informative the markers are, and the amount of genetic heterogeneity. It is specified by the initial number of markers to use, the number of affected relative pairs to study, the initial significance level alpha* to use at the first stage, and the number of flanking markers to use at the second stage around markers significant at the first stage. Asymptotically, the optimal design does not depend separately on either the desired final significance level or power, but rather on a function of the two. Both as the effect of the disease locus increases and as the relative cost of recruiting a subject increases, the optimal number of initial markers increases and the optimal number of pairs decreases. The expected cost of the study decreases as the effect of the disease locus increases, but increases as the relative cost of recruiting a subject increases. The optimal initial number of markers decreases but the number of pairs increases when there is genetic heterogeneity present; conversely, the optimal initial number of markers increases when markers are less than fully informative. Compared to a one-stage procedure, a two-stage procedure typically halves the cost of a study.
Assessing Service Quality, Switching Costs and Customer Loyalty in Home‐Delivery Services in Taiwan

Abstract This study empirically investigated service quality, switching costs and customer loyalty from home‐delivery services' customers' perceptive. With regard to service quality attributes, findings indicated that customers were most satisfied with ‘range of delivery’, followed by ‘seldom loses parcels’, ‘invoice accuracy’, ‘prompt and reliable collection’ and ‘delivery by due time’. They were least satisfied with competitiveness of price. A structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was employed to analyse the impact of service quality and switching costs on customer loyalty from customers' perspective. Results revealed that service quality positively influenced switching costs and customer loyalty, and switching costs had a positive effect on customer loyalty. Investigation of the moderating effect of switching costs on the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty indicated that it was significantly important. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings for firms providing home‐delivery services are discussed.
Cytokines in response to proteins predicted in genomic regions of difference of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Cellular immune responses are responsible for both protection and pathogenesis in tuberculosis, and are mediated/regulated by a complex network of pro‐inflammatory, T helper (Th) type 1 and type 2 cytokines. In this study, the secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐1β; Th1 cytokines interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), IL‐2 and tumor necrosis factor‐beta (TNF‐β); and Th2 cytokines IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐10 by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of pulmonary tuberculosis patients was studied. PBMCs were cultured in vitro in the absence and presence of complex mycobacterial antigens and peptides corresponding to 11 regions of difference (RD) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that are deleted/absent in all vaccine strains of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG). The culture supernatants were tested for secreted cytokines by FlowCytomix assay. PBMCs from the majority of patients (53–100%) spontaneously secreted detectable concentrations of all cytokines tested, except for IL2 (29%) and IL‐10 (41%). The profiles of proinflammatory cytokines were largely similar for various complex antigens or RD peptides. However, with respect to Th1 and Th2 cytokines, the antigens could be divided into three groups; the first with Th1‐bias (culture filtrate of M. tuberculosis, RD1, RD5, RD7, RD9 and RD10), the second with Th2‐bias (whole cells and cell walls of M. tuberculosis, RD12, RD13 and RD15), and the third without Th1/Th2‐bias (M. bovis BCG, RD4, RD6 and RD11). Complex mycobacterial antigens and RD proteins with Th1‐ and Th2‐biases may have roles in protection and pathogenesis of tuberculosis, respectively.
Targeting of miR-20a against CFLAR to potentiate TRAIL-induced apoptotic sensitivity in HepG2 cells.

OBJECTIVE Elevated expression of caspase-8 (CASP8) and Fas-associating protein with a novel death domain (FADD)-like apoptosis regulator (CFLAR) increases sensitivity against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced cell apoptosis, but with an unclear mechanism. A previous study showed decreased microRNA-20a (miR-20a) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient's tumor tissues. Bioinformatics analysis showed potential targeting relationship between the 3-UTR of CFLAR and miR-20a. This study investigated if miR-20a played a role in regulating CFLAR expression and HCC apoptosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Expressions of miR-20a and CFLAR in model rat HCC tissues were compared to normal tissues. HCC patients were also collected for measuring miR-20a and CFLAR expressions between tumor and adjacent tissues. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to evaluate the relationship between miR-20a and CFLAR. Cultured HepG2 cells treated with 120 ng/ml TRAIL were mixed with miR-20a mimic and/or si-CFLAR followed by measurement of Caspase-8/3 activity and cell apoptosis by flow cytometry, cell proliferation by MTT assay and protein expression by Western blot. RESULTS MiR-20a expression was significantly decreased in rat HCC tissues, while CFLAR was over-expressed. HCC patients had lower miR-20a level and higher CFLAR level in tumor tissues. MiR-20a targeted 3'-UTR of CFLAR to inhibit its expression. TRAIL remarkably up-regulated CFLAR expression, whilst inhibiting miR-20a expression and/or silencing CFLAR significantly potentiated caspase-8 and caspase-3 activity, enhanced sensitivity of HepG2 cells towards TRAIL-induced cell apoptosis, and decreased cell proliferative function. CONCLUSIONS HCC had lower miR-20 and higher CFLAR expression. MiR-20a targeted and inhibited CFLAR expression, facilitated activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, and enhanced sensitivity of HepG2 cells towards TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and subsequently reduced cell proliferation.
Posttranscriptional Regulation of Histone Lysine Methyltransferase GLP in Embryonic Male Mouse Germ Cells1

ABSTRACT The epigenetic status of germ cells changes dynamically during development. In this study, we analyzed the dynamics of histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), a highly conserved mark of epigenetic silencing, and the expression of two lysine methyltransferases, G9a/Ehmt2/KMT1C and GLP/Ehmt1/KMT1D, in murine male embryonic germ cells after sex determination. Our previous studies established that G9a and GLP are the primary enzymes for H3K9me2 and predominantly exist as a G9a-GLP heteromeric complex that appears to be a functional H3K9 methyltransferase in vivo. During the period from Embryonic Day (E) 13.5 to E18.5 in mice, gonadal H3K9me2 levels were substantially lower in germ cells than in cells of nongerm lineage. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that during this phase in development, GLP level, but not G9a level, was also significantly lower in male germ cells. However, GLP mRNA was present in E13 and E16 male germ cells, with levels similar to those in cells of nongerm lineage. Interestingly, GLP is upregulated in embryonic male germ cells deficient for Nanos2, which encodes a germ cell-specific RNA-binding protein. Our data suggest that GLP protein expression is posttranscriptionally regulated in murine embryonic male germ cells after sex determination and that low H3K9me2 level results from the absence of GLP (severe reduction of the G9a-GLP heteromeric complex).
Prenatal two‐ and three‐dimensional imaging in two cases of severe penoscrotal hypospadias

We present the prenatal two‐ and three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) findings in two cases of severe penoscrotal hypospadias. 3D sonography was used for better definition of ambiguous genitalia. The images were compared with postnatal clinical features. Despite hypospadias being the most common urogenital anomaly of male neonates, the diagnosis is often missed before birth. Performing prenatal ultrasound should include the study of genitals, not only determining the sex. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011