Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health or wealth: decision making in health insurance

In this thesis we investigate whether health insurance decisions can be explained by loss aversion. We use a model of reference dependent preferences as developed by Kőszegi and Rabin (2006) to show that under loss aversion there are di erent maximum willingness to pay for private health insurance. We do not endogenise the reference point. Instead we attempt to alter the reference point through framing in a laboratory setting, in a manner which is consistent with the original Tversky and Kahneman (1981) formulation of prospect theory. We nd that the framing e ect did not result in a di erence between the proportion of subjects who purchased private health insurance. We do nd that subjects make decisions closer to that of an expected utility maximiser in the treatment which is framed such that the reference point is consistent with having private health insurance, where there is a loss in health and a gain in wealth from giving up the insurance. Our result highlights the importance of framing for governments or policy makers who are attempting to in uence individuals behaviour.
Hyperglycemia associated with pasireotide: results from a mechanistic study in healthy volunteers.

CONTEXT Pasireotide (SOM230) is a somatostatin analog with affinity for somatostatin receptor subtypes sst₁₋₃ and sst₅. Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of pasireotide in treating Cushing's disease and acromegaly but have also shown adverse effects on glucose metabolism. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the mechanism of pasireotide-associated hyperglycemia. DESIGN We conducted a randomized, single-center, open-label study. SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTION Forty-five healthy male volunteers were randomized to pasireotide 600 (n = 19), 900 (n = 19), or 1200 μg (n = 7) sc twice a day for 7 days. Randomization to 1200 μg was discontinued because of increased severity of gastrointestinal adverse events in this arm. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), a hyperglycemic clamp test, and a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp test were performed on 3 consecutive days at baseline and treatment end. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The effect of pasireotide on insulin secretion and hepatic/peripheral insulin sensitivity was measured. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effects of pasireotide on oral glucose absorption. RESULTS Pasireotide treatment resulted in significant decreases in insulin AUC0-180 min during both the hyperglycemic clamp test (-77.5%; P < .001 in both dose groups) and the OGTT (-61.9%; P < .001 in both dose groups). Suppression of glucagon levels was less pronounced. No significant changes in hepatic or peripheral insulin sensitivity were found during the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp test. Additionally, significant increases in glucose AUC₀₋₁₈₀ min (+67.4%) and decreases in AUC₀₋₁₈₀ min glucagon-like peptide-1 (-46.7%) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide levels (-69.8%) were observed during the OGTT. No dose dependency or unexpected adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS Pasireotide-associated hyperglycemia is related to decreases in insulin secretion and incretin hormone responses, without changes in hepatic/peripheral insulin sensitivity.
Comparative Analysis of Regions with Distorted Segregation in Three Diploid Populations of Potato

Genes associated with gametic and zygotic selection could underlie segregation distortion, observed as alterations of expected Mendelian genotypic frequencies in mapping populations. We studied highly dense genetic maps based on single nucleotide polymorphisms to elucidate the genetic nature of distorted segregation in potato. Three intra- and interspecific diploid segregating populations were used. DRH and D84 are crosses between the sequenced doubled monoploid DM 1-3 516 R44 Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja and either RH89-039-16 S. tuberosum or 84SD22, a S. tuberosum × S. chacoense hybrid. MSX902 is an interspecific cross between 84SD22 and Ber83 S. berthaultii × 2 × species mosaic. At the 0.05 significance level, 21%, 57%, and 51% of the total markers mapped in DRH, D84, and MSX902 exhibited distorted segregation, respectively. Segregation distortion regions for DRH were located on chromosomes 9 and 12; for D84 on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8; and on chromosomes 1, 2, 7, 9, and 12 for MSX902. In general, each population had unique segregation distortion regions and directions of distortion. Interspecific crosses showed greater levels of distorted segregation and lower recombination rates as determined from the male parents. The different genomic regions where the segregation distortion regions occurred in the three populations likely reflect unique genetic combinations producing distorted segregation.
Properties of single central Ia afferent fibres projecting to motoneurones.

1. Electrical potentials in the cat lumbosacral spinal cord evoked by the action of single medial gastrocnemius Ia afferent fibres were recorded using low impedance, bevelled micropipette electrodes and the spike triggered averaging technique. 2. Axonal potentials from the Ia fibres recorded extracellularly appeared as brief triphasic predominantly negative potentials. 3. Terminal potentials recorded in regions of Ia afferent termination appeared as brief diphasic positive‐negative waves, often with additional wavelets. 4. Focal synaptic potentials, recorded extracellularly in regions of the medial gastrocnemius Ia afferent termination, appeared as slow (about 10 msec duration) negative potentials following terminal potentials. 5. Excitatory post‐synaptic potentials, recorded intracellularly in Ia target cells of the medial gastrocnemius, appeared as slow (about 10 msec duration) positive potentials following terminal potentials. 6. Analysis of the temporal progression of these potentials through the spinal cord allowed calculations of the Ia conduction velocity in the dorsal funiculus stem axon (50‐60 m/sec), in major collateral branches (8‐19 m/sec) and in terminal branches (0.2‐1.0 m/sec). 7. The number of major collateral branches (nine or fewer) and their spacing along the spinal cord (1071 micron mean value) were determined by analysing the extent of the triceps surae motoneurone column. 8. The structural and functional properties of medial gastrocnemius Ia afferent fibres are discussed in relation to recent single fibre anatomical data and the present single fibre electrophysiological data.
Does Paternal Unemployment Affect Young Adult Offspring’s Personality?

Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), we analyze the impact of paternal unemployment on the “big five” personality traits of young adult offspring aged 17–25. Results from longitudinal value-added models for personality show that paternal unemployment makes offspring significantly more conscientious and—to a smaller extent—less neurotic. The uncovered effects are robust to the presence of selection on unobservables and correlation between the error term and the lagged outcome. We also discuss heterogeneous effects and the potential mechanisms behind our findings.
SIALYL-Tn ANTIGEN DISTRIBUTION IN HELICOBACTER PYLORI CHRONIC GASTRITIS IN CHILDREN: AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Sialyl-Tn antigen (STn) is a mucin-type carbohydrate normally present in goblet cells of small and large bowel. STn expression has been demonstrated to occur in complete and incomplete intestinal metaplasia as well as in many carcinomas but in no normal gastric cell. The aim of our present study was to evaluate the distribution of STn in Helicobacter pylori chronic gastritis (HpCG) of pediatric patients. Eighteen gastric biopsies from 15 children (mean age: 11.5 years) with HpCG, 9 gastric biopsies from 9 children without H. pylori infection, and 1 heterotopic gastric mucosa in Meckel's diverticulum were immunostained using the anti-STn antibody STn1 (18/18), NCL-MUC-1 (7/18), and NCL-MUC-2 (18/18) antibodies. Also, sulfated mucosubstances were investigated with the Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid Schiff (AB-PAS), pH 1.0 stain. Although with different intensity (weak in 5/18, moderate 9/18, and intense 4/18) all cases with HpCG exhibited STn immunoreactivity. The expression of STn was found to be located mainly to the supranuclear region of the epithelial cells at the foveolae and glandular necks, with occasional cells showing diffuse cytoplasmic staining. When reactivity was intense, it was for the most part found in the cells at the neck of the glands. The mucus out of the luminal border above the positive cells was usually also stained. MUC-1 was negative (2/7) or weakly positive (5/7) in a few surface mucous cells. MUC-2 was negative (16/18) or occasionally detected in some foveolar and surface cells (2/18). AB-PAS pH 1.0 revealed the presence of sulfomucins in the cytoplasm of isolated cells of gastric pits and glands of most cases (11/15). None of these findings was observed in the control group. We conclude that STn can be identified in gastric cells of pediatric patients with HpCG and that this does not correlate with other mucosubtances markers. Thefindings could indicate that minimal intestinal metaplasia takes place in children with HpCG.
Experiences of International PhD Students in Denmark as Quest Stories

This article explores how the metaphor of quest can be used to conceptualise PhD experience and be employed in PhD supervision practice. As part of a small-scale study of the PhD experience of international students in Denmark, whose numbers have significantly increased in recent years, we conducted narrative interviews with nine doctoral students. They were asked to select and describe up to five photo-graphs that represent what they will remember about their PhDs. These narratives were first analysed inductively and then deductively organised using the quest met-aphor. The findings indicate that the quest metaphor can capture the complexity of the PhD experience and provide a starting point for discussion. However, it also presents certain limitations, so one direction for future studies might be to com-bine ‘quest’ with other metaphors.
Skeletal muscle 1H MRSI before and after prolonged exercise. II. visibility of free carnitine

Carnitine (Car) buffers excess acetyl‐CoA through the formation of acetylCar (AcCar). AcCar's acetyl group (AG‐AcCar) gives rise to a peak at 2.13 ppm in 1H MR spectra of skeletal muscle, whereas the trimethylammonium (TMA) groups of both, AcCar and Car, are thought to contribute to the TMA peak at 3.23 ppm. Surprisingly, in previous studies both resonances, AG‐AcCar and TMA, increased after exercise. The aim of this study was to assess if the exercise‐related TMA increase correlated with AcCar production. Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (pulse repetition time/echo time = 1200/35 ms) was performed before and after prolonged exercise in the lower leg and thigh of eight runners and eight cyclists, respectively. TMA and AG‐AcCar increased after exercise (P < 0.001). TMA's increase correlated with the AG‐AcCar increase (R2 = 0.73, P < 0.001, lower leg; R2 = 0.28, P < 0.001, thigh). The correlation of ΔTMA with ΔAG‐AcCar suggests that the TMA increase is due to AcCar formation. As total Car (Car + AcCar) remains unchanged with exercise, these findings suggest that the contribution of free Car to the TMA peak is limited and, therefore, is partly invisible in muscle 1H MR spectra. This indicates that the biochemically relevant cytosolic content of free Car is considerably lower than the overall concentration determined by radioisotopic assays, a potentially important result with respect to regulation of substrate oxidation. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Within‐limb somatotopic representation of acute muscle pain in the human contralateral dorsal posterior insula

It is well established that the insular cortex processes noxious information. We have previously shown that noxious inputs from the arm and leg are coarsely organized somatotopically within the dorsal posterior insula. The same has been shown for inputs from C tactile afferents, which mediate affective touch, and it has been suggested that the insula may be responsible for the localization of some somatosensory stimuli. Knowing the degree of spatial detail may have significant implications for the potential role of the dorsal posterior insula in the processing of noxious stimuli. Using high‐resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we compared insula activation patterns in 13 subjects during muscle pain induced by injection of hypertonic saline (5%) into three muscles within the same limb: shoulder (deltoid), forearm (flexor carpi radialis), and hand (first dorsal interosseous). Mapping the maximally activated voxels within the contralateral dorsal posterior insula in each individual subject during each pain stimulus revealed a clear somatotopy of activation within the contralateral dorsal posterior insula. Shoulder pain was represented anterior to forearm pain and medial to hand pain. This fine somatotopic organization may be crucial for pain localization or other aspects of the pain experience that differ depending on stimulation site. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 in Patellar Tendinosis

Patellar tendinosis is characterized by longstanding localized and activity-related pain, swelling and tenderness on palpation, and characteristic features on magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography and during surgical excision. Histologic examination of tendinosis tissues shows disrupted collagen matrix, increased cellularity, and increased proteoglycan stainability, but lack of inflammatory cell infiltration despite the clinical signs resembling inflammation. Disturbances in inflammatory response may be associated with the development of tendinosis. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and transforming growth factor-β1 were detected in tendinosis, and the in vitro production of prostaglandin E2 by tendinosis and healthy tendon fibroblast cultures also was observed. Eleven patients with patellar tendinosis and 12 control subjects with healthy patellar tendons, but deficient anterior cruciate ligaments, were included in the current study. The percentages of immunopositive cells in tendinosis samples for cyclooxygenase-2 and transforming growth factor-β1 were 66.75 and 56.40, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (25.15 and 23.06 respectively). Tendinosis fibroblast culture also produced more prostaglandin E2 and active transforming growth factor-β1. These findings indicate the involvement of prostaglandins and cytokines that may explain the clinical symptoms and nonhealing features of tendinosis.
Perioperative oral administration of cystine and theanine enhances recovery after distal gastrectomy: a prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND It has been reported that cystine and theanine, amino acids related to glutathione synthesis, have immunomodulatory effects, such as suppressing inflammation after strenuous exercise. In this study, we examined the effects of oral administration of cystine and theanine during the perioperative period as a pilot study. METHODS Forty-three cases of distal gastrectomy for cancer conducted in our department were assigned to the cystine and theanine group (CT group) or to the placebo control group (P group), and a randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study was then performed. Cystine (700 mg) and theanine (280 mg) or a placebo was administered to participants for 10 continuous days (4 days before to 5 days after surgery). Changes in pre- and postoperative interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, total lymphocyte count, resting energy expenditure (REE), and body temperature were compared and examined. RESULTS Ten patients were excluded, leaving 33 patients in the study. The CT group had significantly lower IL-6 values (postoperative day [POD] 4), CRP levels (POD 7), neutrophil counts (POD 4), and body temperatures (POD 5) than the P group (P < .05). In addition, REE in the P group peaked on day 1 (1.14 ± 0.16 [pre- and postoperative ratio]), whereas the CT group did not show any increase on POD 1 (0.99 ± 0.21, P < .05 vs P group). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that oral administration of cystine and theanine during the perioperative period may alleviate postgastrectomy inflammation and promote recovery after surgery.
Caulobacter crescentus Synthesizes an S-Layer-Editing Metalloprotease Possessing a Domain Sharing Sequence Similarity with Its Paracrystalline S-Layer Protein

ABSTRACT Strains of Caulobacter crescentus elaborate an S-layer, a two-dimensional protein latticework which covers the cell surface. The S-layer protein (RsaA) is secreted by a type I mechanism (relying on a C-terminal signal) and is unusual among type I secreted proteins because high levels of protein are produced continuously. In efforts to adapt the S-layer for display of foreign peptides and proteins, we noted a proteolytic activity that affected S-layer monomers with foreign inserts. The cleavage was precise, resulting in fragments with an unambiguous N-terminal sequence. We developed an assay to screen for loss of this activity (i.e., presentation of foreign peptides without degradation), using transposon and traditional mutagenesis. A metalloprotease gene designated sap (S-layer-associated protease) was identified which could complement the protease-negative mutants. The N-terminal half of Sap possessed significant similarity to other type I secreted proteases (e.g., alkaline protease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa), including the characteristic RTX repeat sequences, but the C-terminal half which normally includes the type I secretion signal exhibited no such similarity. Instead, there was a region of significant similarity to the N-terminal region of RsaA. We hypothesize that Sap evolved by combining the catalytic portion of a type I secreted protease with an S-layer-like protein, perhaps to associate with nascent S-layer monomers to “scan” for modifications.
Effect of a Perturbation-Based Balance Training Program on Compensatory Stepping and Grasping Reactions in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Compensatory stepping and grasping reactions are prevalent responses to sudden loss of balance and play a critical role in preventing falls. The ability to execute these reactions effectively is impaired in older adults. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate a perturbation-based balance training program designed to target specific age-related impairments in compensatory stepping and grasping balance recovery reactions. Design This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Setting The study was conducted at research laboratories in a large urban hospital. Participants Thirty community-dwelling older adults (aged 64–80 years) with a recent history of falls or self-reported instability participated in the study. Intervention Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a 6-week perturbation-based (motion platform) balance training program or a 6-week control program involving flexibility and relaxation training. Measurements Features of balance reactions targeted by the perturbation-based program were: (1) multi-step reactions, (2) extra lateral steps following anteroposterior perturbations, (3) foot collisions following lateral perturbations, and (4) time to complete grasping reactions. The reactions were evoked during testing by highly unpredictable surface translation and cable pull perturbations, both of which differed from the perturbations used during training. Results Compared with the control program, the perturbation-based training led to greater reductions in frequency of multi-step reactions and foot collisions that were statistically significant for surface translations but not cable pulls. The perturbation group also showed significantly greater reduction in handrail contact time compared with the control group for cable pulls and a possible trend in this direction for surface translations. Limitations Further work is needed to determine whether a maintenance program is needed to retain the training benefits and to assess whether these benefits reduce fall risk in daily life. Conclusion Perturbation-based training shows promise as an effective intervention to improve the ability of older adults to prevent themselves from falling when they lose their balance.
Impact of Property Tax on Housing-Market Disequilibrium in Different Regions: Evidence from Taiwan for the period 1982–2016

Although Taiwan has had a unique property tax system for a long time, oversupply and increasing prices have persisted in the regional market during recent decades. In order to shed light on this problem, this study investigated the impact of property taxation on housing markets in different regions from a disequilibrium viewpoint based on the stock-flow model. The panel data of 20 counties or cities in Taiwan for the period from 1982 to 2016 was examined. The empirical findings verified that housing price was the most important factor for influencing the long-run housing supply and demand in regions both with and without oversupply. The low interest rate policy was an important factor driving the long-run housing demand, but only in over-supply regions. The current property tax system cannot impact the long-run housing demand, only the short-run demand in both regions. Moreover, the property tax cannot effectively disturb the supply behavior in the long-run in both regions. This study also confirmed that housing-market disequilibrium existed in regions both with and without oversupply, making up the gap. The property tax’s impact on the adjustment speed to long-run equilibrium in over-supply regions was weaker than under-supply regions.
PATTERN OF HAEMOGLOBIN AMONG HIGH AND LOW ALTITUDE CHILDREN OF SOUTHWESTERN SAUDI ARABIA

Objective: To determine the levels of haemoglobin and to study some of its correlates in high and low altitude children of the Southwestern region of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1331 Saudi children aged 1-15 years born and living permanently at high altitude (2800-3150 m above sea level) and 1185 Saudi children of comparable age born and living permanently at low altitude (500 m above sea level) was conducted. Their haemoglobin levels were estimated by using cyanmethaemoglobin method and correlated with age, weight and height. Results: The mean haemoglobin levels were significantly greater in highland children compared with lowland children (p<0.0001 for both boys and girls). There were no significant differences in the mean haemoglobin levels between boys and girls at each study site. In both high and lowland children haemoglobin levels rose with age although lowland girls showed a drop beyond the age of 11-13 years and highland girls did not show any increase beyond the age of 9-11 years. In both boys and girls haemoglobin was found to be positively and significantly correlated with weight and height. Conclusions: The difference in haemoglobin levels between high and lowland children was attributed to the combined effect of high altitude hypoxia and the higher incidence of tropical infections among lowland children.