Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Four essays on equilibrium selection, fair allocation and voting

This dissertation contains three chapters on equilibrium selection, fair allocation and voting. The first paper in chapter 2 contains results that make it easier to use global games for deriving equilibrium predictions in games of strategic complementarities. Moreover in a second paper, we analyse the relationship between noise independence of this global game selection and the property of equilibria to be robust to incomplete information. Chapter 3 considers the problem of achieving a fair and efficient allocation of indivisible goods. Here we find that a number of fairness criteria are incompatible with one another. Besides such impossibility results, we identify a new solution that satisfies a maximal number of our fairness criteria as well as Pareto efficiency. Chapter 4 analyses voting procedures with respect to their ability to aggregate voters preferences despite the fact that voters may vote strategically. In particular we characterize the Borda Rule and Approval Voting according to a small number of intuitive axioms.
Lack of detection of human papillomavirus DNA in male urine samples.

OBJECTIVES--To evaluate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology for the detection of urethral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection by examining urinary sediment from males. SETTING--Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Leeds General Infirmary. SUBJECTS--73 male patients attending for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, including 14 patients with genital warts which did not involve the urethral meatus. METHODS--Urinary sediment was tested for HPV DNA and human beta globin gene DNA by PCR methodology. A consensus primer set capable of detecting a wide range of HPV types was used. PCR product was analysed by gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. RESULTS--HPV DNA was not detected in any of the specimens. Human beta globin gene DNA was identified in 40 of the 73 specimens (55%). CONCLUSIONS--Screening urinary sediment for HPV DNA by PCR methodology with analysis of PCR product by gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining is probably unhelpful for studying the prevalence of urethral HPV infection in men.
New voltage level shifting circuits for low power CMOS interface applications

A new design method for level shifting circuits is presented in this paper. We propose two level shifting circuits that reduce problems that exist in complementary level shifting circuits described previously. Using HSPICE parameters of a 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS process, simulations have been performed under various capacitive loading and operating conditions. The simulations show that our design method can achieve 16.6% low-to-high propagation delay decrease and 27.2% low-to-high power delay product improvement when converting 3.3 V to 5 V compared with conventional level shifting circuits. In addition, as the working voltages being converted are reduced, the design yields still greater advantage without degrading circuit performance.
Human mannose-binding protein functions as an opsonin for influenza A viruses.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) cause substantial morbidity and mortality in yearly epidemics, which result from the ability of the virus to alter the antigenicity of its envelope proteins. Despite the rapid replication of this virus and its ability to infect a wide variety of cell types, viremia is rare and the infection is generally limited to the upper respiratory tract. The preimmune host defense response against IAV is generally, therefore, successful. We have previously provided (and summarized) evidence that neutrophils contribute to defense against IAV, although neutrophil dysfunction and local tissue damage may be less salutory byproducts of this response. Here we provide evidence that the serum lectin mannose-binding protein directly inhibits hemagglutinin activity and infectivity of several strains of IAV. In addition mannose-binding protein acts as an opsonin, enhancing neutrophil reactivity against IAV. Opsonization of IAV by mannose-binding protein also protects the neutrophil from IAV-induced dysfunction. These effects are observed with physiologically relevant concentrations of mannose-binding protein. Two different allelic forms of recombinant mannose-binding protein are found to have similar effects. We believe, on the basis of these data, that mannose-binding protein alone and in conjunction with phagocytic cells is an important constituent of natural immunity (i.e., preimmune defense) against IAV.
Collaborative learning: Pluses and problems

Training future engineers for efficient team work is an urgent problem to be solved through collaborative learning approach in professional education by practicing real life communication between students and faculty. The paper aims at showing the experience of collaborative learning in teaching an engineering pedagogy course at a national research university. The authors show the advantages of collaborative learning supported by empirical facts, as well as the obstacles to dissemination of this approach. The paper is to be of interest to those who value collaborative learning ideas.
COMPARISON OF MACULAR THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS BETWEEN TIME-DOMAIN AND SPECTRAL-DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHIES IN EYES WITH AND WITHOUT MACULAR ABNORMALITIES

Purpose: To compare Stratus time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with Cirrus spectral-domain HD-OCT for measuring macular thickness in eyes with and without macular abnormalities. Methods: Seventy-five eyes of 48 patients were included in the study. Forty-one eyes of 29 patients had a normal macular thickness, and 34 eyes of 26 patients had an abnormal macular thickness. Macular scans were performed by 2 examiners (E1 and E2) with both OCTs. The agreement between the two OCT systems and interrater repeatability of each OCT system were determined using the Bland-Altman method. Results: Mean agreement between the 2 OCTs as 1.96 × standard deviation of the mean difference between the measurements of central macular subfield was 21 μm in normal eyes and 36.8 μm in abnormal eyes. In five macular subfields, the agreement was significantly better in normal eyes. Cirrus HD-OCT repeatability was significantly better than Stratus in five macular subfields in normal eyes and in six macular subfields in abnormal eyes. The repeatability was significantly better in normal eyes in five macular subfields for Stratus and in three macular subfields for Cirrus HD-OCT. Conclusion: The agreement between the two OCTs is low and varies in each macular subfield. Cirrus HD-OCT has shown a better repeatability than Stratus OCT, especially when measuring eyes with a thickened macula.
Comparison of two positive reinforcing stimuli: pups and cocaine throughout the postpartum period.

This set of experiments investigated the appetitive or motivational processes underlying the performance of maternal behavior. The place preference paradigm was adapted to simultaneously investigate the reinforcing properties of cocaine and pups for maternal, lactating dams. These modifications allowed the authors to assess which stimulus, either a 10 mg/kg s.c. injection of cocaine or 3 pups, had the strongest reinforcing value. At Postpartum Days 10 and 16, the dams preferred the cocaine cue-associated chamber, whereas the dams tested at Postpartum Day 8 preferred the pup cue-associated chamber. Overall, the data revealed an interaction between the postpartum period at testing and the exhibited preference for cocaine or pups. Further testing will investigate the neural circuitry underlying the appetitive processes of each stimulus.
Temporal and spatial distribution of activated caspase‐3 after subdural kainic acid infusions in rat spinal cord

The molecular events initiating apoptosis following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) remain poorly understood. Soon after injury, the spinal cord is exposed to numerous secondary insults, including elevated levels of glutamate, that contribute to cell dysfunction and death. In the present study, we attempted to mimic the actions of glutamate by subdural infusion of the selective glutamate receptor agonist, kainic acid, into the uninjured rat spinal cord. Immunohistochemical colocalization studies revealed that activated caspase‐3 was present in ventral horn motor neurons at 24 hours, but not 4 hours or 96 hours, following kainic acid treatment. However, at no time point examined was there evidence of significant neuronal loss. Kainic acid resulted in caspase‐3 activation in several glial cell populations at all time points examined, with the most pronounced effect occurring at 24 hours following infusion. In particular, caspase‐3 activation was observed in a significant number of oligodendroglia in the dorsal and ventral funiculi, and there was a pronounced loss of oligodendroglia at 96 hours following treatment. The results of these experiments indicate a role for glutamate as a mediator of oligodendroglial apoptosis in traumatic SCI. In addition, understanding the apoptotic signaling events activated by glutamate will be important for developing therapies targeting this cell death process. J. Comp. Neurol. 464:463–471, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incidence of pregnancy-related discomforts and management approaches to relieve them among pregnant women.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of pregnancy-related physical symptoms in healthy pregnant women and their management strategies. BACKGROUND In normal progression of pregnancy, many symptoms were experienced. Pregnancy-related physical symptoms may have a negative effect on pregnant women's quality of life. However, pregnant women avoid taking medications from the fear that the medication they use may have a harmful effect on the foetus. Therefore, they practise nonpharmacological methods to help them manage their pregnancy-related physical symptoms. DESIGN This study used a comparative and descriptive design. METHODS The study population comprised of pregnant women who were visiting for routine check-up and/or examination in the obstetrics gynaecology outpatient clinics of three hospitals in Erzurum, Turkey. The data were collected via a questionnaire including socio-demographic items and questions to identify the pregnancy-related physical symptoms that they experienced and their management strategies. RESULTS The top three most reported complaints were nausea-vomiting (87·8%), fatigue (77·9%) and breast pain-tenderness (76·2%) during the first trimester, whereas polyuria (79·9%, 88·4%), fatigue (75·6%, 88·4%) and heart burn (71·3%, 81·8%) during the second and third trimesters. Depending on the symptoms, the pregnant women either did nothing or took correct, incorrect or empirical actions to manage their problems. Data revealed that the major source of knowledge was based on their previous experience and that of close relatives. As their education level increased, the percentage of women taking scientifically proven action to correct the problem increased. CONCLUSIONS Various physical symptoms were experienced by women in each trimester of pregnancy. The majority of the women did not do anything to alleviate their physical symptoms. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Midwives and nurses should question the strategies used by pregnant women. In this way, the inappropriate and incorrect practices can be determined, and education on the appropriate practices can be provided.
Autologous transplantation in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin's disease

Abstract: The current data support the use of high‐dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as standard procedure for the majority of patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) relapsing or progressing after combination chemotherapy. Prognostic factors reflecting unfavourable prognostic features of the disease as well as resistance to conventional salvage therapy have been identified. Preliminary data suggests a high efficacy of high‐dose sequential chemotherapies in these patients. An ongoing randomized trial is comparing standard HDCT versus sequential HDCT in patients with relapsed HD.
The structure and nature of phonological neighbourhoods in children's early lexicons*

ABSTRACT This research examines phonological neighbourhoods in the lexicons of children acquiring English. Analyses of neighbourhood densities were done on children's earliest words and on a corpus of spontaneous speech, used to measure neighbours in the target language. Neighbourhood densities were analyzed for words created by changing segments in word-onset position (rhyme neighbours as in pin/bin), vowel position (consonant neighbours as in pin/pan/) and word-offset position (lead neighbours as in pin/pit). Results indicated that neighbours in children's early lexicons are significantly more often distinguished in word-onset position (rhyme neighbours) and significantly less often distinguished in word-offset position (lead neighbours). Moreover, patterns in child language are more extreme than in the target language. Findings are discussed within the PRIMIR framework (Processing Rich Information from Multidimensional Interaction Representations; Werker & Curtin, 2005). It is argued that early perceptual sensitivity aids lexical acquisition, supporting continuity across speech perception and lexical acquisition.
Judicial Rehabilitation in France: Helping with the Desisting Process and Acknowledging Achieved Desistance

Shadd Maruna, in his masterpiece, Making Good (Maruna, 2001, 2011) advocates the creation of an institutionalized redemption ritual which would reinforce the offender's own certitude that he or she has indeed desisted successfully, and convince the community and society itself, that he/she has now become a good citizen. Such a ritual, which would preferably be judicial, exists in the French legal system, under the name of Judicial Rehabilitation. However, prior to fully acknowledging achieved desistance, the French legal systems aims at helping with the desistance process through a host of procedures that expunge all or part of criminal records. In this jurisdiction, criminal records are seen as constituting obstacles to employment and thus, as being counterproductive. Drawing on legal methodology, this article will first explain the penological grounds of criminal records, of expunging techniques and lastly, of judicial rehabilitation.
Prevalence, virulence profiles, and clinical significance of Shiga toxin-negative variants of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 infection in humans.

BACKGROUND Escherichia coli O157, of the H7 clone, exists in humans and in the environment as Shiga toxin (Stx)-positive and Stx-negative variants. Stx production by infecting organisms is considered to be a critical requirement for the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which occurs in approximately 15% of E. coli O157-infected patients. It is unknown if loss of the stx gene during the early stage of an enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection prevents HUS, or if absence of the stx gene from E. coli O157 reduces or ablates virulence. METHODS We determined the frequency of stx-positive and stx-negative E. coli O157 isolates in stool samples obtained from patients who experienced sporadic cases of diarrhea or HUS, as well as the frequency in samples obtained during outbreaks, and investigated the clinical course of the disease. RESULTS Among E. coli O157 isolates obtained from samples related to sporadic cases of diarrhea, stx-negative strains accounted for 4%. The proportion of stx-negative strains was significantly higher among sorbitol-fermenting, nonmotile E. coli O157 isolates (12.7%) than among non-sorbitol-fermenting E. coli O157:H7 or nonmotile isolates (0.8%; P<.001). stx-Negative sorbitol-fermenting E. coli O157 isolates were also observed in samples related to 3 HUS outbreaks and 1 outbreak of diarrhea caused by sorbitol-fermenting, nonmotile enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157; additionally, they were the only pathogens that were isolated in 2 other outbreaks of diarrhea without HUS. CONCLUSIONS Strains of stx-negative E. coli O157 isolated from stool samples of patients are either inherently stx-negative strains that cause mostly uncomplicated diarrhea, or strains that descended from enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157 by the loss of the stx gene during infection; the latter strains may still cause severe disease.
Compartmented neuronal cultures reveal two distinct mechanisms for alpha herpesvirus escape from genome silencing

Alpha herpesvirus genomes encode the capacity to establish quiescent infections (i.e. latency) in the peripheral nervous system for the life of their hosts. Multiple times during latency, viral genomes can reactivate to start a productive infection, enabling spread of progeny virions to other hosts. Replication of alpha herpesviruses is well studied in cultured cells and many aspects of productive replication have been identified. However, many questions remain concerning how a productive or a quiescent infection is established. While infections in vivo often result in latency, infections of dissociated neuronal cultures in vitro result in a productive infection unless lytic viral replication is suppressed by DNA polymerase inhibitors or interferon. Using primary peripheral nervous system neurons cultured in modified Campenot tri-chambers, we previously reported that reactivateable, quiescent infections by pseudorabies virus (PRV) can be established in the absence of any inhibitor. Such infections were established in cell bodies only when physically isolated axons were infected at a very low multiplicity of infection (MOI). In this report, we developed a complementation assay in compartmented neuronal cultures to investigate host and viral factors in cell bodies that prevent establishment of quiescent infection and promote productive replication of axonally delivered genomes (i.e. escape from silencing). Stimulating protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathways in isolated cell bodies, or superinfecting cell bodies with either UV-inactivated PRV or viral light particles (LP) promoted escape from genome silencing and prevented establishment of quiescent infection but with different molecular mechanisms. Activation of PKA in cell bodies triggers a slow escape from silencing in a cJun N-terminal kinase (JNK) dependent manner. However, escape from silencing is induced rapidly by infection with UVPRV or LP in a PKA- and JNK-independent manner. We suggest that viral tegument proteins delivered to cell bodies engage multiple signaling pathways that block silencing of viral genomes delivered by low MOI axonal infection.
Self-reported smoking effects and comparative value between cigarettes and high dose e-cigarettes in nicotine-dependent cigarette smokers

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the comparative value of cigarettes versus high dose e-cigarettes among nicotine-dependent cigarette smokers when compared with money or use of their usual cigarette brand. The experiment used a within-subject design with four sessions. After baseline assessment, participants attended two 15-min unrestricted smoking sessions: one cigarette smoking session and one e-cigarette smoking session. Participants then attended two multiple-choice procedure (MCP) sessions: a session comparing cigarettes and money and a session comparing e-cigarettes and money. Participants (n=27) had used cigarettes regularly, had never used e-cigarettes, and were not currently attempting to quit smoking. The sample consisted primarily of males (72%), with a mean age of 34 years. When given the opportunity to choose between smoking a cigarette or an e-cigarette, participants chose the cigarette 73.9% of the time. Findings from the MCP demonstrated that after the first e-cigarette exposure sessions, the crossover value for cigarettes ($3.45) was significantly higher compared with the crossover value for e-cigarettes ($2.73). The higher participant preference, self-reported smoking effects, and higher MCP crossover points indicate that cigarettes have a higher comparative value than high dose e-cigarettes among e-cigarette naive smokers.
Government Finances and Banks Bailouts: Evidence from European Stock Markets

Using a sample of European banks and a series of events affecting governments' finances, we conduct an event study to examine whether there is a relationship between governments' fiscal difficulties and banks' stock returns. We find a significant reaction of banks' stocks to news concerning governments' finances. Banks' stock returns fall in response to a deterioration of governments' financial situation. We find little difference in the reaction between large and small banks. The evidence points towards all banks being equally likely to be bailed out. Our data are consistent with a policy during the Eurozone sovereign-debt crisis in which “no bank is too small to save”.
Low-power embedded SRAM modules with expanded margins for writing

A low-power embedded SRAM module implements a writing margin expansion for low-voltage operation, a write replica circuit for low-power operation and a low-leakage structure. The replica circuit reduces active power by 18%, and a 512kB module operates at 450MHz, has 7.8 /spl mu/A leakage in standby, and a minimum V/sub DD/ of 0.8V.
Heterogeneity of proteolytic enzyme activities in milk samples of different somatic cell count

Milk contains the alkaline proteinase plasmin and lysosomal proteinases; the significance of the latter is ill-defined. The objective of this study was to investigate composition and activities of several different proteolytic enzymes in milk samples of varying somatic cell count (SCC). Increasing milk SCC was correlated with increased plasmin, cathepsin D and cysteine protease activities, with concomitant increases in proteolysis in milk. Addition of plasmin inhibitors confirmed the heterogeneity of proteinase activities in milk, as urea-PAGE analysis of milk samples showed casein hydrolysis in milk after 7 d storage even in samples with inhibitors added; extent and heterogeneity of proteolysis was correlated with milk SCC. Rennet coagulation properties were not significantly correlated with SCC, or activities of measured enzymes. Milk of increasing SCC also exhibited decreased physical stability during incubation of milk at 37 °C. Pasteurized milk was more stable than raw milk, suggesting that the enzyme(s) or mechanisms leading to such instability are impaired by pasteurization. Overall, milk has a very heterogeneous proteolytic enzyme population, with a higher significance of non-plasmin enzymes, such as cathepsin D and cysteine proteinases, than perhaps previously recognised.
The Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children.

Abstract The reliability of DSM-III/DSM-III-R childhood anxiety disorder diagnoses was determined using a new semistructured interview, the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children child and parent versions (ADIS-C and ADIS-P). The interviewer-observer paradigm was used. Pairs of independent clinicians examined 51 outpatients and their mothers and assigned independent primary and secondary diagnoses. Product-moment correlations were calculated between pairs of raters and by computing kappa coefficients, based upon perfect matches on primary diagnoses. Both overlap and differences were evident in the anxiety disorders diagnosed. Agreement between clinicians was moderate to high, with the exception of overanxious disorder. The latter resulted in a low kappa coefficient based upon the child interview data only. Reasons for diagnostic disagreements between the parent and child interviews are discussed.