Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peer Effects in Risk Aversion

We estimate peer effects in risk attitudes in a sample of high school students. Relative risk aversion is elicited from surveys administered at school. Identification of peer effects is based on parents not being able to choose the class within the school of their choice, and on the use of instrumental variables conditional on school‐grade fixed effects. We find a significant and quantitatively large impact of peers’ risk attitudes on a male individual's coefficient of risk aversion. Specifically, a one standard deviation increase in the group's coefficient of risk aversion increases an individual's risk aversion by 43%. Our findings shed light on the origin and stability of risk attitudes and, more generally, on the determinants of economic preferences.
The IS Identity Crisis

Defining the central identity of the information systems (IS) field is a subject of ongoing concern and debate among IS researchers. Published empirical studies to date have focused on restricted sets of IS-related journal publications spread across relatively short time periods. This paper offers a broader review of the central identity of the IS field, using three dimensions proposed by Albert and Whetten [1985]: central character (i.e., what topics do IS scholars research? ); temporal continuity (i.e., to what extent has the identity of the IS field remained static over time? ); and distinctiveness (i.e., how unique is research published in IS vs. non-IS research journals? ). The first two dimensions are examined using a dataset containing 6,466 journal citations drawn from seven leading IS journals over a 32-year period, and the third is evaluated by comparing results from these seven journals with research published in 15 leading non-IS business journals over the same time period. Results suggest that articles published in leading IS journals do share a strong central character that is distinct from research published in non-IS journals, and yet an identity that has continually shifted over time. This study contributes to the literature by providing an empirically supported review of who we are, how we are different, and some thoughts about where we may be going as a discipline.
Mutagenicity of the 1-nitropyrene-DNA adduct N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene in mammalian cells.

The mutagenesis of the major DNA adduct N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene (C8-AP-dG) formed by 1-nitropyrene was compared with the analogous C8-dG adducts of 2-aminofluorene (AF) and N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (AAF) in simian kidney (COS-7) cells. The DNA sequence chosen for this comparison contained 5'-CCATC GCTACC-3' that has been used for solution NMR investigations. The structural and conformational differences among these lesions are well-established [Patel, D. J., Mao, B. , Gu, Z. , Hingerty, B. E. , Gorin, A. , Basu, A. K. , and Broyde,S. (1998) NMR solution structures of covalent aromatic amine-DNA adducts and their mutagenic relevance. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11, 391- 407. ]. Accordingly, we found a notable difference in the viability of the progeny, which showed that the AAF adduct was most toxic and that the AF adduct was least toxic, with the AP adduct exhibiting intermediate toxicity. However, analysis of the progeny showed that translesion synthesis was predominantly error-free. Only low-level mutations (<3%) were detected with G-->T as the dominant type of mutation by all three DNA adducts. When C8-AP-dG was evaluated in a repetitive 5'-CGC GCG-3' sequence, higher mutational frequency ( approximately 8%) was observed. Again, G-->T was the major type of mutations in simian kidney cells, even though in bacteria CpG deletions predominate in this sequence [Hilario, P., Yan, S. , Hingerty, B. E. , Broyde, S. , and Basu, A. K. (2002) Comparative mutagenesis of the C8-guanine adducts of 1-nitropyrene,and 1,6- and 1,8-dinitropyrene in a CpG repeat sequence: A slipped frameshift intermediate model for dinucleotide deletion. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 45068- 45074. ]. Mutagenesis of C8-AP-dG in a 12-mer containing the local DNA sequence around codon 273 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, where the adduct was located at the second base of this codon, was also investigated. In this 5'-GTGC GTGTTTGT-3' site, the mutations were slightly lower but not very different from the progeny derived from the 5'-CGC GCG-3' sequence. However, the mutational frequency increased by more than 50% when the 5'-C to the adduct was replaced with a 5-methylcytosine (5-MeC). With a 5-MeC, the most notable change in mutation was the enhancement of G-->A, which occurred 2.5 times relative to a 5'-C. The C8-AP-dG adduct in codon 273 dodecamer sequence with a 5'-C or 5-MeC was also evaluated in human embryonic kidney (293T) cells. Similar to COS cells, targeted mutations doubled with a 5-MeC 5' to the adduct. Except for an increase in G-->C transversions, the results in 293T were similar to that in COS cells. We conclude that C8-AP-dG mutagenesis depends on the type of cell in which it is replicated, the neighboring DNA sequence, and the methylation status of the 5'-C.
2014 Consensus conference on viscoelastic test–based transfusion guidelines for early trauma resuscitation: Report of the panel

ABSTRACT There has been an increased interest in the use of viscoelastic testing to guide blood product replacement during the acute resuscitation of the injured patient. Currently, no uniformly accepted guidelines exist for how this technology should be integrated into clinical care. In September 2014, an international multidisciplinary group of leaders in the field of trauma coagulopathy and resuscitation was assembled for a 2-day consensus conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This panel included trauma surgeons, hematologists, blood bank specialists, anesthesiologists, and the lay public. Nine questions regarding the impact of viscoelastic testing in the early resuscitation of trauma patients were developed before the conference by panel consensus. Early use was defined as baseline viscoelastic test result thresholds obtained within the first minutes of hospital arrival—when conventional laboratory results are not available. The available data for each question were then reviewed in person using standardized presentations by the expert panel. A consensus summary document was then developed and reviewed by the panel in an open forum. Finally, a two-round Delphi poll was administered to the panel of experts regarding viscoelastic thresholds for triggering the initiation of specific treatments including fibrinogen, platelets, plasma, and prothrombin complex concentrates. This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of this consensus conference.
Effects of folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements on folate and homocysteine metabolism in pigs during early pregnancy

The present experiment aimed to determine the effects of supplements of folic acid (FA) alone or in combination with vitamin B12 on folate and homocysteine metabolism in gestating nulliparous Yorkshire–Landrace (YL) and multiparous Landrace (LD) occidental sows and multiparous Chinese Meishan–Landrace (ML) sows. LD sows were randomly assigned to two treatments: 0 or 15 mg FA/kg diet while YL and ML sows were assigned to three treatments: 0 mg FA/kg diet, 15 mg FA/kg or 15 mg FA+160 μg vitamin B12/kg diet. Supplements were given from the oestrus preceding insemination up to slaughter on day 15 of gestation. At slaughter, a uterine flush was collected to determine uterine contents of homocysteine, methionine, tetrahydrofolate (THF), 5-methyl-THF, pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) and vitamin B12. Blood samples were taken at first oestrus, at insemination and on days 5, 10 and 15 of gestation to determine plasma concentrations of homocysteine, methionine, THF, 5-methyl-THF, P5P, vitamin B12 and relative total folate-binding capacity. In occidental sows (YL and LD), the FA supplement tended to decrease uterine flush content of homocysteine (P=0·06) and concentrations of plasma homocysteine (P=0·09). Nulliparous YL sows had lower concentrations of plasma homocysteine, methionine, THF and 5-methyl-THF (P<0·05) than multiparous LD sows. Multiparous ML and LD sows had similar concentrations of plasma THF, 5-methyl-THF, methionine and vitamin B12, but ML sows had lower concentrations of plasma homocysteine (P<0·05). The vitamin B12 supplement increased concentrations of plasma vitamin B12 (P<0·05) both in multiparous ML and nulliparous YL sows, but had no effect on the composition of either uterine flush or plasma. The present results showed also that sows had a low vitamin B12 status (<200 pg/ml) and high circulating homocysteine levels (>15 μM) during the first 15 d of gestation. Furthermore, the vitamin B12 content in uterine secretions represented between 180 and 300 % of the total content in plasma. The low plasma concentrations of homocysteine in multiparous ML sows suggest a more efficient remethylation pathway which may not be dependent upon dietary supply of FA or vitamin B12. In nulliparous YL sows, low concentrations of both homocysteine and methionine suggest that the methionine requirement for protein deposition might have reduced the amount of methionine available for the methylation pathway. The results of the present experiment suggest that the reduction of uterine homocysteine may be an important aspect of the role of FA supplement on the uterine environment in occidental sows. The presence of high levels of vitamin B12 in uterine secretions merits further investigation in relation to embryonic development.
Homology of some Artin and twisted Artin Groups

We begin the paper with a simple formula for the second integral homology of a range of Artin groups. The formula is derived from a polytopal classifying space. We then introduce the notion of a twisted Artin group and obtain polytopal classifying spaces for a range of such groups. We demonstrate that these explicitly constructed spaces can be implemented on a computer and used in homological calculations.
Bilingual children with specific language impairment: Theoretical and applied issues

Bilingualism is often considered an inappropriate developmental choice for children with specific language impairment (SLI) because, according to a widespread belief, these children's limited capacity for language would be overtaxed by learning two linguistic systems. However, there has not been adequate empirical investigation of SLI in bilingual children to support, or refute, this belief and the professional practices that are based on it. On the theoretical side, two opposing perspectives concerning the nature of the deficit in SLI make different predictions for the outcome of children with SLI learning two languages, and one set of predictions is consistent with the popular belief stated above. This article is aimed at addressing both the applied concerns and the theoretical debate with evidence from two studies examining the morphological acquisition of French–English bilingual children with SLI as compared to French and English monolinguals with SLI.
LMI-Based Nonlinear Fuzzy Observer-Controller Design for Uncertain MIMO Nonlinear Systems

Based on the variable structure system theory, we develop a nonlinear fuzzy observer-controller design method for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems that can be represented by a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model. We use a sliding mode observer and a sliding mode controller as the local state observer and the local controller. In terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), we derive sufficient conditions for the existence of the fuzzy observer and the fuzzy controller. We also derive LMI conditions for the existence of the fuzzy observer and the fuzzy controller guaranteeing the alpha-stability or generalized H2/Hinfin performance constraints. We show that the observer and the controller can be independently designed, i.e., the separation property holds. Finally, we give simple LMI-based design algorithms, together with an example.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid gland: Anastamosis of the facial nerve with the great auricular nerve after radical parotidectomy

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid gland is a rare and slowly growing, but highly malignant tumor. Surgical resection of a malignant parotid tumor should include resection of the facial nerve when the nerve is involved in the tumor. Facial nerve reconstruction is required after nerve resection. A 14 year-old female presented with complaints of painless enlargement of the right parotid gland and facial asymmetry. Physical examination revealed a firm mass in the region of the parotid gland as well as right facial paralysis. Biopsy obtained from the mass showed an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid gland. A radical parotidectomy with a modified radical neck dissection was carried out. Grafting material for the facial reconstruction was harvested from the great auricular nerve. The proximal main trunk and each distal branch of the facial nerve were coapted with the greater auricular nerve. The patient received radiotherapy after surgery and was seen to achieve grade IV facial function one year after surgery. Thus, the great auricular nerve is appropriate grafting material for coaptation of each distal branch of the facial nerve.
The anatomy of fertilization in the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria

Female yellow dung flies, Scathophaga stercoraria, can influence the traffic of sperm stored in their spermathecae to the site of fertilization in the bursa copulatrix. However, the anatomical mechanisms employed are largely unknown. We investigated the anatomy of the female genital tract, seeking structures involved in sperm transfer and egg fertilization. We found a membranous structure descending from the ends of the spermathecal and accessory gland ducts into the bursa copulatrix. We call this the prolatus. Sperm accumulate in the prolatus during oviposition. When an egg is in the bursa the egg micropyle, rather than being aligned towards the dorsal openings of the spermathecal ducts, lies on the opposite, ventral side. We also confirm the presence, and suggest a function for, a cuticularized pouch on the ventral wall of the anterior bursa copulatrix. This pouch, plus a previously undescribed chamber, may be homologous to the ventral receptacle/fertilization chamber found in other dipterans. Further, we describe a translucent cap, apparently transversed by channels, covering the micropyle. Sperm were observed to aggregate on and in the micropyle cap, which appears to attract and hold sperm. We interpret the prolatus as a structure that allows an ovipositing female to transfer a few sperm onto the ventral bursal wall and thus, indirectly, onto the micropyle cap. Such anatomy potentially gives the female a large degree of control over sperm traffic from storage to the site of fertilization. J. Morphol. , 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patterned Purkinje cell degeneration in mouse models of Niemann‐Pick type C disease

Niemann Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) is an inherited, autosomal recessive, lipid‐storage disorder with major neurological involvement. Purkinje cell death is a prominent feature of the neuropathology of NPC. We have investigated Purkinje cell death in two murine models of NPC1, BALB/c npcnih and C57BLKS/J spm. In both cases, extensive Purkinje cell death was found in the cerebellum. The pattern of Purkinje cell death is complex. First, zebrin II‐negative Purkinje cells disappear, to leave survivors aligned in stripes that closely resemble the pattern revealed by using zebrin II immunocytochemistry. Subsequently, as the disease progresses, additional Purkinje cells die. At the terminal stages of the disease, the surviving Purkinje cells are concentrated in lobules IX and X of the posterior lobe vermis. Purkinje cell degeneration is accompanied by the ectopic expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and the small heat shock protein HSP25, both associated preferentially with the surviving cells. The pattern of cell death thus reflects the fundamental compartmentation of the cerebellum into zones and stripes. J. Comp. Neurol. 456:279–291, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Colonic Eosinophilic Inflammation in Experimental Colitis Is Mediated by Ly6Chigh CCR2+ Inflammatory Monocyte/Macrophage-Derived CCL11

Recent genome-wide association studies of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease have implicated the 17q12 loci, which contains the eosinophil-specific chemokine gene CCL11, with early-onset inflammatory bowel disease susceptibility. In the current study, we employed a murine model of experimental colitis to define the molecular pathways that regulate CCL11 expression in the chronic intestinal inflammation and pathophysiology of experimental colitis. Bone marrow chimera experiments showed that hematopoietic cell-derived CCL11 is sufficient for CCL11-mediated colonic eosinophilic inflammation. We show that dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment promotes the recruitment of F4/80+CD11b+CCR2+Ly6Chigh inflammatory monocytes into the colon. F4/80+CD11b+CCR2+Ly6Chigh monocytes express CCL11, and their recruitment positively correlated with colonic eosinophilic inflammation. Phenotypic analysis of purified Ly6Chigh intestinal inflammatory macrophages revealed that these cells express both M1- and M2-associated genes, including Il6, Ccl4, Cxcl2, Arg1, Chi3l3, Ccl11, and Il10, respectively. Attenuation of DSS-induced F4/80+CD11b+CCR2+Ly6Chigh monocyte recruitment to the colon in CCR2−/− mice was associated with decreased colonic CCL11 expression, eosinophilic inflammation, and DSS-induced histopathology. These studies identify a mechanism for DSS-induced colonic eosinophilia mediated by Ly6ChighCCR2+ inflammatory monocyte/macrophage-derived CCL11.
Hamsters vs. rats: metabolic and ventilatory response to development in chronic hypoxia.

The postnatal developments of the rat and hamster were compared after the animals were raised from birth for 21 days either in normoxia (control animals) or chronic hypoxia (PO2 of 80-90 Torr). Compared with control rats, hypoxic rats had a reduction in body mass. Hypoxic rats had lowered O2 consumption (VO2) and increased (67%) ventilation (VE), whereas hypoxic hamsters maintained the same metabolic rate as control hamsters but increased VE by 100%. As a result, when raised in hypoxia both species increased VE/VO2 to the same extent. When acutely exposed to hypoxia, control animals of both species increased VE (54-58%) and lowered VO2 (26%). Thus, whether the exposure to hypoxia is acute or chronic, both species hyperventilated (i.e., increased VE/VO2) to approximately the same degree. However, in the rat VO2 decreased similarly in both acute and chronic hypoxia, whereas in the hamster VO2 decreased with acute hypoxia but was maintained under chronic hypoxia. Within 1 day of the animals being returned to normoxia, metabolic and ventilatory parameters of hypoxic animals returned to control values. In conclusion, the semifossorial hamster seems better suited to development in chronic hypoxia than the surface-dwelling rat because by avoiding prolonged hypometabolism it can better maintain body growth.
Receptor Specificity of the Fibroblast Growth Factor Family

In mammals, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are encoded by 22 genes. FGFs bind and activate alternatively spliced forms of four tyrosine kinase FGF receptors (FGFRs 1–4). The spatial and temporal expression patterns of FGFs and FGFRs and the ability of specific ligand-receptor pairs to actively signal are important factors regulating FGF activity in a variety of biological processes. FGF signaling activity is regulated by the binding specificity of ligands and receptors and is modulated by extrinsic cofactors such as heparan sulfate proteoglycans. In previous studies, we have engineered BaF3 cell lines to express the seven principal FGFRs and used these cell lines to determine the receptor binding specificity of FGFs 1–9 by using relative mitogenic activity as the readout. Here we have extended these semiquantitative studies to assess the receptor binding specificity of the remaining FGFs 10–23. This study completes the mitogenesis-based comparison of receptor specificity of the entire FGF family under standard conditions and should help in interpreting and predicting in vivo biological activity.
Protein degradation and phosphorylation after freeze thawing result in spermatozoon dysfunction

Cryopreservation is widely used in many assisted conception units. Semen cryopreservation is the only proven method that offers many couples the chance to have children. However, spermatozoa are exposed to physical and chemical stressors during freezing and thawing that result in adverse changes in membrane lipid composition, sperm motility, viability, and acrosome status. Wang et al. (Proteomics 2014, 14, 298–310) evaluate the protein content of freeze‐thawed sperm samples relative to that of fresh sperm samples from the same normozoospermic donors. Four proteins are verified via Western blot and immunofluorescent staining, which are putatively involved in spermatozoon dysfunction. These marked differences demonstrated by Wang et al. suggest that dysfunctional spermatozoon after cryopreservation may be due to protein degradation and protein phosphorylation.
An empirical approach to multimodal customer knowledge management

This paper describes a comparative evaluation study carried out to assess the effect of incorporating avatars with facial expressions into interfaces of Electronic Customer Knowledge Management Systems (E-CKMS) on not only usability of E-CKMS, but also the user's trust and knowledge. Although the implementation of E-CKMS encounters several challenges, such as the lack of trust and information overload, few empirical studies were devoted to examine the role of metaphors of audio-visual nature. As a result, an empirical investigation was carried out by implementing avatars-enhanced multimodal E-CKMS (ACKMS) and comparing it with the text with graphics E-CKMS (VCKMS) and anther multimodal E-CKMS (MCKMS) that incorporated speech, earcons and auditory icons. The three experimental systems were evaluated by three independent groups of twenty users each (n=60) who performed eight common tasks of increasing complexity and design based on three different styles. The results therein revealed that the ACKMS outperform both MCKMS and VCKMS with regard to effectiveness, efficiency and the user's trust and knowledge.
Serum neurofilament light chain levels are increased in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome

Background Neurofilament light chain (NfL) represents a promising biomarker for axonal injury. We present the first exploratory study on serum NfL in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and healthy controls. Methods We investigated serum NfL levels in 100 patients with CIS with a short conversion interval to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) (fast converters (FC), median (IQR) conversion time: 110 days (79–139)); 98 patients with non-converting CIS (non-converters (NC), follow-up: 6.5 years (5.3–7.9)); and 92 healthy controls. Results NfL levels were higher in FC (24.1 pg/mL (13.5–51.8)) and NC (19.3 pg/mL (13.6–35.2)) than in healthy controls (7.9 pg/mL (5.6–17.2)) (OR=5.85; 95% CI 2.63 to 13.02; p=1.5×10−5 and OR=7.03; 95% CI 2.85 to 17.34; p=2.3×10−5, respectively). When grouping FC and NC, increased serum NfL concentration was also associated with increasing numbers of T2 hyperintense MRI lesions (OR=2.36; 95% CI 1.21 to 4.59; p=0.011), gadolinium-enhancing lesions (OR=2.69; 95% CI 1.13 to 6.41; p=0.026) and higher disability scores (OR=2.54; 95% CI 1.21 to 5.31; p=0.013) at CIS diagnosis. Conclusions If replicated in future studies, serum NfL may represent a reliable and easily accessible biomarker of early axonal damage in CIS and MS.