Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Good News is No News? The Impact of Credit Rating Changes on the Pricing of Asset-Backed Securities

We assess the impact of credit ratings on the pricing of structured financial products, using a sample of more than 1300 changes in Moody's or Standard and Poor's (S&P) ratings of U.S. asset-backed securities (ABS). We find that rating downgrades tend to be accompanied by negative returns and widening spreads, with the average effects stronger than those that have been reported in prior research on corporate and sovereign bond ratings. A portion of the negative implications of ABS downgrades are anticipated by price movements ahead of the rating action, although to a lesser degree than has been found for bond ratings. Accordingly, ABS market participants appear to rely somewhat more on rating agencies as a source of negative news about credit risk. Nevertheless, because ABS rating downgrades are relatively rare events, their effects account for only a small fraction of the variance of returns. In contrast to our results on downgrades, market reactions to ABS rating upgrades are virtually zero, on average. Together, the results imply even greater asymmetry in the value-relevance of ABS rating changes than has been found in event studies of changes in bond ratings.
Brain Sex Differences and Function of the fruitless Gene in Drosophila

The fruitless (fru) gene in Drosophila plays a pivotal role in the formation of neural circuits underlying gender-specific behaviors. Specific labeling of fru-expressing neurons has revealed a core circuit responsible for male courtship behavior. Females with a small number of masculinized neuronal clusters in their brain can initiate male-type courtship behavior. By examining the correlations between the masculinized neurons and behavioral gender type, a male-specific neuronal cluster, named P1, which coexpresses fru and doublesex, was identified as a putative trigger center for male-type courtship behavior. P1 neurons extend dendrite to the lateral horn, where multimodal sensory inputs converge. Molecular studies suggest that fru determines the level of masculinization of neurons by orchestrating the transcription of a set of downstream genes, which remain to be identified.
Dimeticone-Based Pediculicides : A Physical

Resistance of head lice to insecticides with a neurotoxic mode of action, such as permethrin and malathion, is increasing in incidence and geographic extent. As a consequence, physically acting pediculicidal products have emerged. Dimeticones are synthetic silicone oils of low surface tension and can therefore coat most surfaces, thus also killing head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) by physical means. Considering this mode of action, the development of head lice resistance in the future is very unlikely. In this review, ex vivo and clinical evidence on the efficacy of dimeticones against head lice is presented. Besides the high adulticidal and excellent ovicidal ex vivo efficacy, clinical efficacy of high concentrated dimeticone has been shown. We conclude that dimeticone-based products are a safe and effective option for those patients who prefer not to use pediculicides with a neurotoxic mode of action, especially in areas where resistances of head lice against permethrin and malathion-based products have been reported, or are suspected.
Pregnancy outcome after laser surgery for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Background. Little is published about obstetrical problems after treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with the CO2‐laser. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of low birth weight in the subsequent pregnancy after laser conization or vaporization in a follow‐up study of women treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).
Complete mitochondrial genome of striped gourami, Trichogaster fasciata (Perciformes: Osphronemidae)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of Trichogaster fasciata is determined in this study. It is 16,635 bp in size and consists of 2 rRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes and 1 non-coding control region (D-loop). The overall base composition of the heavy strand of the T. fasciata mitochondrial genome is A: 29.18%, T: 30.22%, C: 25.14%, and G: 15.46%. A 78 bp AT tandem repeats was identified in the control region. This present study will be helpful to bring out the fact of genetic divergence among the genus Trichogaster.
Paying to see a bug on my food: how regulations and information can hamper radical innovations in the European Union

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the European Novel Food Regulation (ENFR) on consumers’ acceptance of and willingness to pay (WTP) for radical food innovations. The research question is focussed on determining whether the ENFR is hampering the market potential of insect-based food products in the European Union (EU). The authors position this question within the domain of regulatory barriers related to food innovations. , – Using a choice experiment, the authors assess the presence and relevance of these failures through the analysis of consumers’ acceptance and WTP for insect-based food products with different product attributes directly imposed by the ENFR. Namely, the authors assess the effect of the visualization of insects in the product, the use of logo, and nutritional information. , – The results show that consumers prefer and are willing to pay a premium price for insect-based products with a nutritional health claim and logo, but they are not willing to pay for a product with a visualized insect. , – This paper highlights the risk of regulatory failures for novel foods in the EU, such as insect-based food products due to the ENFR.
Serial electron beam CT measurements of coronary artery calcium: Has your patient's calcium score actually changed?

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to develop a model for determining the smallest statistically significant change in the coronary artery calcium score (CAC) between serial measurements in a given subject. MATERIALS AND METHODS We assembled a convenience sample of 2,217 pairs of repeated electron beam CT coronary calcium scans acquired in quick succession. Each scan consisted of forty 100-msec, 3-mm sections obtained at 60% of the ECG R-R interval. A single observer quantified calcium in each scan independent of knowledge of calcium quantity in the repeated scan. We then modeled a relationship between the variation of the differences between repeated measurements of calcium and the magnitude of the calcium score and formulated 95% repeatability coefficient equations for the Agatston and volumetric CAC score. The equations allow determining the smallest statistically significant interval change in the calcium score between two serial measurements in a given subject. RESULTS In a subject with measurable CAC at baseline, the smallest statistically significant interval change is +/- (4.930 x square root of baseline Agatston CAC score) or +/- (3.445 x square root of baseline volumetric CAC score). In a subject with no measurable CAC at baseline, a follow-up CAC score exceeding 11.6 Agatston units or 9.5 mm3 qualifies for statistically significant progression. The results were similar in men and women. CONCLUSION By examining repeatability of quantitative electron beam CT measurements of coronary calcium as a function of the magnitude of the calcium score, we developed a model to determine the smallest statistically significant change between serial measurements in a given subject.
Stimulus‐selective spiking is driven by the relative timing of synchronous excitation and disinhibition in cat striate neurons in vivo

What patterns of synaptic input cause cortical neurons to fire action potentials? Are they stochastic in nature, or do action potentials arise from the specific timing of synaptic input? We addressed these questions by measuring the membrane potential fluctuations associated with the generation of visually evoked action potentials in cat striate cortical neurons in vivo. In response to visual stimulation, action potentials occurred at the crest of large‐amplitude, transient depolarizations (TDs) riding on sustained depolarization of the membrane potential. The magnitude, duration and rate of depolarization of these transient events were tuned for stimulus orientation. Using numerical simulations, we find that these transient events can arise from the temporal interplay between synchronous excitation and inhibition. To validate these findings, we made conductance measurements, at the preferred stimulus orientation, and showed that the TDs arise either from an increase in excitatory conductance, or from a combination of increased excitatory and decreased inhibitory conductance, both riding on sustained changes in synaptic conductances. The properties of the TDs and their underlying conductance suggest that they arise from a specific temporal interplay between synchronous excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs. Our results illustrate a mechanism by which the timing of synaptic inputs determines much of the spiking activity in striate cortical neurons.
Visual Object Agnosia and Pure Word Alexia: Correlation of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Lesion Localization

We present a case of a 64-year-old, right-handed female with a metastatic breast cancer lesion involving the left posterior inferior temporal lobe causing complete loss of the ability to recognize visually common objects and words. After her symptoms resolved on corticosteroid therapy, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mapping demonstrated strong left-hemispheric dominance for word recognition and right-hemispheric dominance for object recognition. The case illustrates the relationships among ventral occipito-temporal cortical activation, lesion localization, and lesion-induced deficits of higher visual function. The relationship between hemispheric dominance determined by fMRI and risk of postoperative deficit depends on the specific visual function of interest.
A literature Analysis about Social Information Contribution and Consumption on Social Networking sites

Social networking sites (SNSs) have emerged as a center for daily social interactions. Every day, millions of users contribute information about themselves, and consume information about others on SNSs. In recent years, we have witnessed a growing number of studies on the issue of social information contribution and consumption behaviors on SNSs. This paper aims to provide a systematic literature review on this topic across different disciplines to understand the current research state and shed light on controversial findings of SNS usage regarding users’ well-being. We identified 126 relevant articles published between 2008 and 2014, and provide an overview of their antecedents and associated outcomes. Our analysis reveals that a majority of existing work focused primarily on social information contribution, its antecedents and favorable outcomes. Only few studies have dealt with contribution behavior and the dark sides of SNS use. Nevertheless, we could identify different characteristics of social information determining the favorability of contribution behavior. Further, we categorized the scarce papers of consumption behavior regarding the social information characteristics and identified different underlying processes: social comparison, monitoring and browsing. These findings contribute to the Information Systems (IS) discipline by consolidating previous knowledge about SNS usage patterns and individual well-being.
Heminested PCR assay for detection of six genotypes of rabies and rabies-related viruses

A heminested reverse transcriptase PCR (hnRT-PCR) protocol which is rapid and sensitive for the detection of rabies virus and rabies-related viruses is described. Sixty isolates from six of the seven genotypes of rabies and rabies-related viruses were screened successfully by hnRT-PCR and Southern blot hybridization. Of the 60 isolates, 93% (56 of 60) were positive by external PCR, while all isolates were detected by heminested PCR and Southern blot hybridization. We also report on a comparison of the sensitivity of the standard fluorescent-antibody test (FAT) for rabies antigen and that of hnRT-PCR for rabies viral RNA with degraded tissue infected with a genotype 1 virus. Results indicated that FAT failed to detect viral antigen in brain tissue that was incubated at 37 degrees C for greater than 72 h, while hnRT-PCR detected viral RNA in brain tissue that was incubated at 37 degrees C for 360 h.
Exploring the Role of Pseudodeductibles in Auto Insurance Claims Reporting

Many who purchase insurance understand that by reporting covered losses to their insurers they increase the chances of future premium increases or reductions in insurance coverage. If under such circumstances a policyholder decides not to report an otherwise covered loss, the policyholder is effectively displaying the presence of a “pseudodeductible. ” That is, given a covered loss occurs, a policyholder may define a personal and unobservable threshold that is greater than any stated deductible in the policy below which an insurance claim for the loss will not be reported. The scant amount of empirical research on this topic suffers from a lack of information about losses for which insurance claims were never filed. This research relies on a unique dataset that captures when policyholders choose to forgo insurance claims and why. The findings increase our understanding of the role that pseudodeductibles play in the claims reporting behavior of policyholders.
Improvement in Provider Immunization Knowledge and Behaviors Following a Peer Education Intervention

Provider education programs that use academic detailing to improve childhood immunization have been implemented in several states. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of these types of programs to improve immunization-related behaviors in private provider offices. The intervention included peer-based academic detailing in which teams of 1 physician, 1 nurse, and 1 office manager visited pediatric and family practices to deliver an educational presentation and develop practice-specific action plans. Comparison of pre—post intervention surveys showed that providers' willingness to give the maximum number of immunizations due at 1 visit (P < .001) increased. More providers reported routinely screening immunization records at sickness or injury visits (P < .05) and using minimum intervals (P < .001) postintervention. Mean change in baseline and postintervention overall scores was significant for pediatric practices (0.40, P < .05), small practices (0.64, P < .01), Vaccines for Children (VFC) practices (0.74, P < .05), and non-VFC provider practices (0.67, P < .01) but not for family or large practices.
Do Company Visits Add Value for Professional Investors?

This paper looks at relationships between managerial characteristics and actions on the performance, management fees, trading behavior, and systematic risk of investment managers of US equity portfolios and Global portfolios during the period 2008 through 2010, focusing on the impact of company on-site visits. Company on-site visits significantly enhance performance and reduce portfolio turnover of US equity managers but not Global equity managers. Higher employee ownership of the investment management firms increases their on-site visit activity. This supports the agency hypothesis that managers with greater personal stakes in their companies invest more in collecting non-public information for trading decisions.
In vitro evaluation of nicotinamide riboside analogs against Haemophilus influenzae

Exogenous NAD, nicotinamide mononucleotide, or nicotinamide riboside is required for the growth of Haemophilus influenzae. These compounds have been defined as the V-factor growth requirement. We have previously shown that the internalization of nicotinamide riboside is energy dependent and carrier mediated with saturation kinetics. Thionicotinamide riboside, 3-pyridinealdehyde riboside, 3-acetylpyridine riboside, and 3-aminopyridine riboside were prepared from their corresponding NAD analogs. These compounds and several other nicotinamide riboside analogs were evaluated for their ability to support the growth of H. influenzae and for their ability to block the uptake of [carbonyl-14C]nicotinamide riboside by H. influenzae. 3-Aminopyridine riboside blocked the uptake of [carbonyl-14C]nicotinamide riboside and inhibited the growth of H. influenzae when NAD, nicotinamide mononucleotide, or nicotinamide riboside served as the V factor. The antibacterial activity of 3-aminopyridine riboside was found to be specific for H. influenzae but had no effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli. In additional experiments by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, it was determined that whole cells of H. influenzae degrade 3-aminopyridine adenine dinucleotide to 3-aminopyridine riboside, which is then internalized. Inside the cell, 3-aminopyridine riboside has the ability to interfere with the growth of H. influenzae by an undetermined mechanism.
The Financial Support for Long-Term Elderly Care and Household Savings Behaviour

We analyse how the financial support for long-term elderly care affects the level of household savings. Using a difference-in-differences estimator, we investigate the 2002 Scottish reform, which introduced free formal personal care for all the elderly aged 65 and above residing in Scotland. Our semiparametric estimation technique allows the policy effects to be flexibly estimated across age groups. We find that the Scottish policy reduced the average household saving by about £7,200. Moreover, the estimated effects are heterogeneous across age groups of the head of household: these effects are particularly strong among those aged between 40 and 60. The largest effect is observed at age 49 with the reduction in the average household saving by £12,764.
Recent Private Capital Inflows to Developing Countries: Is the Debt Crisis History?

This empirical study finds that while debt reduction and policy reforms in debtor countries have been important determinants of renewed access to international capital markets, changes in international interest rates have been the dominant factor. We calculate the effects of changes in international interest rates for a 'typical' debtor country. We conclude that increases in interest rates associated with business cycle upturn in industrial countries could depress the secondary market prices of existing debt to levels inconsistent with continued capital inflows.
Electrostatic energy characterization for an atomic force microscope probe

An accurate model for the total electrostatic energy associated with an atomic force microscope probe (AFM) has been developed. Unlike other models, the model takes account of the electrostatic energy associated with the fringing field capacitances between the AFM probe cantilever and the substrate to result in a more accurate energy expression. The model then used to develop a closed-form model for the electrostatic collapse voltage between the probe and the substrate. Excellent agreement between the model determined collapse voltage and the previously published experimental results validates the accuracy of the model.
Differences of promethazine and terfenadine on ion channels in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

异丙嗪，第一产生抗组胺，有一棵南洋箭毒树导致心律不齐和试验性的心律不齐的 ischemia-reperfusion 上的有韵律的效果。 然而，是的 terfenadine 抗组胺的第二代，被报导了得到低血压， bradycardia， QTc 间隔的延伸和岩山果汁饮料 de pointes (TdP ) 相似室的心律不齐。 这也许由于 terfenadine 的整流器 postassium 电流(I_k ) 上的阻塞，导致行动潜力持续时间(APD ) 和极化持续时间的分散的延伸，它可能挑起多态的室的 tachydysrhythmia 的一种特定的形式，即 TdP。 Inclinical 然而，练习有韵律的代理人，在 I_k 上指向并且延长行动潜力持续时间和 QTc 间隔，很少导致的班Ⅲ南洋箭毒树心律不齐。 另外的行动必须被认为在异丙嗪和 terfenadine 堵住的 I_k. Though 上除它的抑制以外位于 terfenadine 的 arrhythmogenic 趋势下面 H1 受体，一定在心脏的 myocytes 的离子隧道上的二混合物之间有不同药理学侧面。 整个房间的补丁夹钳技术被用来调查 H_1 受体在的这二个对手的效果在心脏的电的活动的主要离子水流。
A Novel Membrane Protein, Ros3p, Is Required for Phospholipid Translocation across the Plasma Membrane in Saccharomyces cerevisiae *

Ro09-0198 (Ro) is a tetracyclic peptide antibiotic that binds specifically to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and causes cytolysis. To investigate the molecular basis of transbilayer movement of PE in biological membranes, we have isolated a series of budding yeast mutants that are hypersensitive to the Ro peptide. One of the most sensitive mutants, designated ros3(Ro-sensitive 3), showed no significant change in the cellular phospholipid composition or in the sensitivity to amphotericin B, a sterol-binding polyene macrolide antibiotic. These results suggest that the mutation of ros3affects the PE organization on the plasma membrane, rather than PE synthesis or overall organization of the membrane structures. By functional complementation screening, we identified the geneROS3 affected in the mutant, and we showed that the hypersensitive phenotype was caused by the defective expression of theROS3 gene product, Ros3p, an evolutionarily conserved protein with two putative transmembrane domains. Disruption of theROS3 gene resulted in a marked decrease in the internalization of fluorescence-labeled analogs of PE and phosphatidylcholine, whereas the uptake of fluorescence-labeled phosphatidylserine and endocytic markers was not affected. Neither expression levels nor activities of ATP-binding cassette transporters of the ros3Δ cells differed from those of wild type cells, suggesting that Ros3p is not related to the multidrug resistance activities. Immunochemical analyses of the structure and subcellular localization showed that Ros3p was a glycosylated membrane protein localized in both the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum, and that a part of Ros3p was associated with the detergent-insoluble glycolipid-enriched complexes. These results indicate that Ros3p is a membrane glycoprotein that plays an important role in the phospholipid translocation across the plasma membrane.