Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lateral OFC Activity Predicts Decision Bias due to First Impressions during Ultimatum Games

Despite the prevalence and potentially harmful consequences of first impression bias during social decision-making, its precise neural underpinnings remain unclear. Here, on the basis of the fMRI study using ultimatum games, the authors show that the responders' decisions to accept or reject offers were significantly affected by facial trustworthiness of proposers. Analysis using a model-based fMRI method revealed that activity in the right lateral OFC (lOFC) of responders increased as a function of negative decision bias, indicating a greater likelihood of rejecting otherwise fair offers, possibly because of the facial trustworthiness of proposers. In addition, lOFC showed changes in functional connectivity strength with amygdala and insula as a function of decision bias, and individual differences in the strengths of connectivities between lOFC and bilateral insula were also found to predict the likelihood of responders to reject offers from untrustworthy-looking proposers. The present findings emphasize that the lOFC plays a pivotal role in integrating signals related to facial impression and creating signal biasing decisions during social interactions.
Psychotic illness in ethnic minorities: clarification from the 1991 census

Synopsis Age and sex-adjusted first admission rates for operationally-defined schizophrenia and other non-affective psychosis in different ethnic groups were calculated over the period 1988–1992 in a defined catchment area in South London. Standardized rates for schizophrenia, corrected for age- and gender-related under-reporting in the 1991 census and a 20% underestimate of the size of the ethnic minority populations in the area, were not only higher in the Afro-Caribbean group (SMR: 3·1; 95% Cl: 2·0–4·7), but also in the African group (SMR: 4·2; 95% Cl: 2·8–6·2). It was further found that higher rates were not specific to schizophrenia. These findings suggest that some common factor associated with ethnic minority membership is important in producing an excess of psychotic illness.
MEK kinase 1 regulates c-Jun phosphorylation in the control of corneal morphogenesis.

PURPOSE To study the in vivo role of MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) in corneal development. METHODS Wild type and Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD mice eye tissues were examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin for morphogenesis and Masson's trichrome for extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. The cells expressing ECM gene transcripts of Collagen I, Keratocan, and Lumican in corneal stroma were identified by in situ hybridization and the level of Collagen I mRNA in the developing cornea was quantified by real-time RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry staining was employed to study the expression and N-terminal phosphorylation of c-Jun and the expression of epithelium differentiation markers and intercellular structural proteins of the corneal epithelium. RESULTS Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD mice exhibited the "eye open at birth" phenotype (EOB), and developed eye defects and severe pathology secondary to impaired eyelid formation. The corneal stroma of Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD fetuses, although exhibiting normal morphology, thickness, and keratocyte proliferation, showed reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, corresponding to a decrease in transcription of Lumican, Keratocan, and Collagen I. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that MEKK1 ablation caused a remarkable reduction in the expression of occludin and zonula occluden protein-1 (ZO-1), components of tight junction, but had no effect on the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin for adherens junctions, desmoplakin and desmoglein for desmosomes and cytokeratins 12 and 14 for cornea-type epithelial differentiation in the developing cornea. c-Jun was abundantly expressed in the developing corneal epithelium and its phosphorylation was considerably reduced in Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD fetuses. CONCLUSIONS In addition to its role in eyelid morphogenesis, MEKK1 is crucial for corneal development such that its ablation caused a reduction of ECM deposition in corneal stroma and disturbance of tight junctions in corneal epithelium. c-Jun phosphorylation in corneal epithelium is a downstream event of the MEKK1 pathway, likely contributing to corneal development and function. Altogether, MEKK1 plays a major role in ocular surface morphogenesis and its ablation leads to damage and various eye manifestations at postnatal stages.
The role of social media in the collaboration, interaction, co-creation and co-delivery of a social venture in an uncertain conflict environment

This research case study examines the creation and development of a bottom-up social enterprise immediately after the outbreak of a civil war in an Arab country by a group of young patriots in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings in the 2010s. Drawing on Linders’ (2012) model of social action lifecycle, our study examines how different actors become involved and co-created a socially entrepreneurial venture (SEV), how these actors contributed to the coproduction and co-delivery of the social actions (values) over time, and how social media play roles in these processes. Drawing from the empirical evidences of citizen co-production within the existing literature, we found that SEVs operate in very different ways in which the role of social media is critical, both from their equivalents operating in a penurious but stable environment, and those intending to pursue political action within a conflict situation. In our case study, social media was not intended for mass-mobilisation, but for selected mobilisation amongst those within the network. This is due to the insecure environment and the fear of infiltration from opposing parties. We also examine how new actors were, over time, being carefully screened and selected, and potential harmful existing players being excluded, which in turn contributed to the evolving nature of the social enterprises.
Co-Movements Between Key Components Of Aggregate Productivity And Real Exchange Dynamics In Developing Countries

The relationship between productivity growth and the real exchange rate has dominated the field of international economics for a long time. However, previous empirical studies do not focus on the nexus between real exchange rate and unraveling sources of productivity growth, i.e., technical change and several exhaustive measures of efficiency. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between the real exchange rate and key components of aggregate productivity for a sample of countries in four developing country regions. Our methodology proceeds in two stages. First, a non-parametric method is used to estimate the Hicks-Moorsteen total factor productivity (HMTFP) change, which is decomposed into technical change and different exhaustive measures of efficiency change. This methodology allows one to extract different exhaustive measures of efficiency change. Second, system-GMM models are used to explore the dynamics of the real exchange rate and different components of productivity while controlling for other exchange rate fundamentals and civil conflicts. The results for total factor productivity (TFP) and TFP efficiency indicates that the TFP has not changed much in the sample period. In addition, the average TFP efficiency has remained relatively low because only a few countries defined the best practice frontier while a majority of the countries operated below this frontier. In particular, Africa has lagged behind other regions in terms of TFP improvement. Our results also indicate that the main differences in TFP change are explained by differences in efficiency, an indication of disparities in the use of available technology across countries and regions. We also find that a positive change in technological innovation and its diffusion tend to appreciate the real exchange rate. These results are robust across different model specifications. Two key policy implications can be extrapolated from our results. First, our results show significant differences in the evolution of different components of TFP across regions; indications that policy targets to improve productivity growth across regions are unlikely to be uniform. Second, our results also show that policies that target specific drivers of productivity change have the potential to also influence the international competitiveness of a country through the real exchange rate-technological-efficiency change linkages.
Gene expression analysis of human thymoma correlates with tumor stage

Thymoma is one of the most common solid tumors in the mediastinum. The recent development of high‐density oligonucleotide arrays provides a unique opportunity to generate gene expression profiles of cells from various stages of tumor progression as it occurs in actual neoplastic tissues. We used oligonucleotide arrays to monitor in vivo gene expression levels in early‐ (stage I or II) and late‐ (stage IVa) stage thymoma tissues in 36 patients. These in vivo gene expression profiles were verified by real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR using LightCycler. Using both methods, 2 candidate genes were identified that were more highly expressed in advanced‐stage thymomas. One was a well‐known gene, c‐JUN, and another was an unknown gene, AL050002. AL050002 expression, but not c‐JUN expression, was also correlated with the WHO classification (type B3 vs. type B1, B2 or AB). The combined use of oligonucleotide microarray and real‐time RT‐PCR analyses provides a powerful new approach to elucidate the in vivo molecular events correlated with tumor stage of thymoma. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hippocampal subfields at ultra high field MRI: An overview of segmentation and measurement methods

The hippocampus is one of the most interesting and studied brain regions because of its involvement in memory functions and its vulnerability in pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative processes. In the recent years, the increasing availability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners that operate at ultra‐high field (UHF), that is, with static magnetic field strength ≥7T, has opened new research perspectives. Compared to conventional high‐field scanners, these systems can provide new contrasts, increased signal‐to‐noise ratio and higher spatial resolution, thus they may improve the visualization of very small structures of the brain, such as the hippocampal subfields. Studying the morphometry of the hippocampus is crucial in neuroimaging research because changes in volume and thickness of hippocampal subregions may be relevant in the early assessment of pathological cognitive decline and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The present review provides an overview of the manual, semi‐automated and fully automated methods that allow the assessment of hippocampal subfield morphometry at UHF MRI, focusing on the different hippocampal segmentation produced. © 2017 The Authors Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Application and effectiveness of a mini-implant- and tooth-borne rapid palatal expansion device: the hybrid hyrax.

AIM Rapid palatal expansion (RPE) is used for treatment of skeletal crossbites. It may be combined with a face mask if the maxilla is to be protracted. Conventional tooth-borne appliances rely on an almost complete dentition to transmit the relatively high forces to the bony structures of the maxilla and midface. In most situations, tooth-borne appliances produce adverse effects such as buccal tipping of the lateral teeth, imposing the risk of recessions and vestibular bone fenestrations. To overcome these drawbacks, an RPE appliance was developed that utilizes mini-implants anteriorly in the palate for skeletal anchorage. Because this device is also attached to the first molars, it can be denominated as a bone- and tooth-borne appliance (hybrid hyrax). The objective of this clinical pilot study was to investigate its dental and skeletal effects. METHODS RPE was performed in 13 patients (seven females, six males; mean age 11.2 years). In 10 patients with a skeletal Class III occlusion, a face mask was used simultaneously for maxillary protraction. Three-dimensional scans of the individual study models were digitally superimposed for the assessment of the dental effects. Skeletal effects were evaluated by lateral cephalograms taken before and after RPE and protraction. RESULTS The time needed to achieve the intended expansion ranged from 4 to 14 days (mean 8.7 ± 3.6 days). The mean expansion in the first premolar/first primary molar region was 6.3 ± 2.9 mm and 5.0 ± 1.5 mm in the first molar region. The Wits appraisal changed from -5.2 ± 1.3 mm to -2.5 ± 1.5 mm (mean improvement 2.7 ± 1.3 mm). The right first molar migrated 0.4 ± 0.6 mm mesially and the left one 0.3 ± 0.2 mm. CONCLUSIONS The hybrid hyrax is effective for RPE and can be employed especially in patients with reduced anterior dental anchorage. Since most teeth are not in the appliance, regular orthodontic treatment can start early. The combination of the hybrid hyrax with a face mask for maxillary protraction appears to be effective in minimizing mesial migration of the dentition.
Deposition of Crystalline Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles on Y-TZP Ceramic: A Potential Solution to Enhance Bonding Characteristics of Y-TZP Ceramics

Objectives: Many advantages have been attributed to dental zirconia ceramics in terms of mechanical and physical properties; however, the bonding ability of this material to dental structure and/or veneering ceramics has always been a matter of concern. On the other hand, hydroxyapatite (HA) shows excellent biocompatibility and good bonding ability to tooth structure, with mechanically unstable and brittle characteristics, that make it clinically unacceptable for use in high stress bearing areas. The main purpose of this study was to introduce two simple yet practical methods to deposit the crystalline HA nanoparticles on zirconia ceramics. Materials and Methods: zirconia blocks were treated with HA via two different deposition methods namely thermal coating and air abrasion. Specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results: In both groups, the deposition techniques used were successfully accomplished, while the substrate showed no structural change. However, thermal coating group showed a uniform deposition of crystalline HA but in air abrasion method, there were dispersed thin islands of HA. Conclusions: Thermal coating method has the potential to significantly alter the surface characteristics of zirconia. The simple yet practical nature of the proposed method may be able to shift the bonding paradigm of dental zirconia ceramics. This latter subject needs to be addressed in future investigations.
Investments on the Norwegian Continental Shelf - an Empirical Analysis

Investments in oil and gas fields are regressed against variables on panel field-data from the start of oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf in 1968 until 2016. Two alternative models track the observed investments aggregated across fields from 1970 until 2016 relatively accurately, except for the period 2012-2015. These years were marked by an almost world-wide recession in the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2008 and by the increase in production of shale-gas in the US. However when using data until 2010 in the estimation of the model, the fixed effect regression predicts rather accurately the development of aggregated across fields from 2011-2016. By using data only from 1995 until 2016 in the estimation of the fixed effect model the observed development after 2011 is also well tracked. The models imply rather strong and significant effect of the lagged oil price (Brent Blend) on investments. When data for the shorter period 1995-2016 is used, we get significant asymmetric price effects on investments, implying that an increase in the oil price has more positive effects on investments in periods with rising oil prices. In periods with declining prices the price history has a rather strong dampening impact on the effects of prices increases on investment. We also find strong and significant negative effects of lower expected remaining reserves on investments.
What Drive Innovative Work Behavior among Engineers? The Role of Transformational Leadership

This paper intends to examine the relationships between Transformational Leadership, and Innovative Work Behavior among telecommunication engineers in Jordan telecommunication Industry. Its purpose is to study the effect of Transformational Leadership on engineers Innovative Work Behavior. A total of 218 questionnaires were collected from telecommunication engineers working in telecommunications organizations in Jordan. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS). Findings of this study found that Transformational Leadership has a positive and significant relationship with Innovative Work Behavior. These findings provide a better understanding of the Transformational Leadership style in the attainment of telecommunication engineers’ Innovative Work Behavior. Keywords: Innovative Work Behavior, Transformational Leadership, Engineers, Jordan.
Percutaneous penetration of local anesthetic bases: pharmacodynamic measurements.

Local anesthetics do not penetrate readily through human skin if applied in their salt form; however, if applied in their base form various effects may be observed, such as a decrease in pricking pain and a change in burning, itch, and thermal sensations. These effects occur after skin penetration and may be attributed to the action of the anesthetics on nociceptors and thermoreceptors, i.e., on C and Adelta nerve fiber respectively. As there is little known about the time course of the pharmacodynamic response of cutaneously applied local anesthetic bases, this study was conducted to characterize various local anesthetics pharmacodynamically by measuring thermal thresholds over time with a thermal sensory analyzer. The results show that the investigated local anesthetics affect thermal thresholds to a different extent, with tetracaine and lidocaine being most efficient. From the response versus time profiles of all eight study subjects various response parameters were obtained: only the cold sensation parameters proved suitable for characterization of the local anesthetics, possibly because cold receptors are located in the epidermis and can easily be reached. Lag times of onset are short and the maximum anesthetic effect is reached within 2-3 h. Cold sensation parameters correlate linearly with the solubility of the local anesthetic bases in medium chain triglycerides and with the drug flux of 50% saturation, indicating that medium chain triglycerides may have similar properties with regard to the local anesthetics solubility as the stratum corneum lipids.
Associations of Maximal Strength and Muscular Endurance with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Abstract The aim was to study the associations of maximal strength and muscular endurance with single and clustered cardiovascular risk factors. Muscular endurance, maximal strength, cardiorespiratory fitness and waist circumference were measured in 686 young men (25±5 years). Cardiovascular risk factors (plasma glucose, serum high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure) were determined. The risk factors were transformed to z-scores and the mean of values formed clustered cardiovascular risk factor. Muscular endurance was inversely associated with triglycerides, s-LDL-cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure (β=−0.09 to − 0.23, p<0.05), and positively with s-HDL cholesterol (β=0.17, p<0.001) independent of cardiorespiratory fitness. Muscular endurance was negatively associated with the clustered cardiovascular risk factor independent of cardiorespiratory fitness (β=−0.26, p<0.05), whereas maximal strength was not associated with any of the cardiovascular risk factors or the clustered cardiovascular risk factor independent of cardiorespiratory fitness. Furthermore, cardiorespiratory fitness was inversely associated with triglycerides, s-LDL-cholesterol and the clustered cardiovascular risk factor (β=−0.14 to − 0.24, p<0.005), as well as positively with s-HDL cholesterol (β=0.11, p<0.05) independent of muscular fitness. This cross-sectional study demonstrated that in young men muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory fitness were independently associated with the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, whereas maximal strength was not.
Perceived Peer Behavior and Parental Support as Correlates of Marijuana Use: The Role of Age and Gender

ABSTRACT Introduction: Parental support and perceptions of peer behavior on substance use are well-studied, but precisely how their associations vary as a function of age, and how those age-specific patterns vary by gender, remain unknown components of the developmental process underlying substance use. Methods: Using data from an 18-year longitudinal study of predominantly African-American students at high-risk for high school dropout in Flint, Michigan (baseline average age = 14.8 years), we examined longitudinal associations between past 30-day marijuana use and three self-reported variables: perceived friend drug use, perceived friend aggression, parental support. We used varying-coefficient regression models to semiparametrically estimate how covariate effects on past 30-day marijuana use vary smoothly as a function of age; gender differences in these age-specific coefficient trajectories were also tested. Results: In the unadjusted tests, the risk-enhancing effect of perceived friend drug use decreased with age in both genders, but the effect of perceived friend aggression varied only in females; in both cases, gender differences were not significant. In males, parental support had protective effects that decreased with age. The effect of both parental support differed in females, with less protective baseline effects and no evidence of age-variation. Adjusted models simultaneously including both friend and parental variables produced qualitatively similar results. Conclusions: Prevention strategies focusing on social exposures may be more effective if they are age- and gender-specific. In particular, interventions focusing on perceived peer behaviors may be more appropriate during adolescence, and those involving parental relationships may be more appropriate for males.
Effects of corporate social responsibility on employee organizational identification: Authenticity or fallacy

Greenwashing implies the predominance of the fallacious application of the corporate social responsibility (Symbolic CSR) over its authentic practice (Substantive CSR). It represents, by definition, a conceptual conflict, worth it to observe in light of its impact on the organizational identification of employees. This work examines this impact by carrying out a cross-sectional investigation and analyzing it through structural equation modeling. The study is applied to a sample of two hundred and twenty professional employees in Colombia. Results obtained are mainly in line with the theory; they show a positive effect of Substantive CSR on employees’ organizational identification, as well as a futile character of Symbolic CSR on this same attitude. However, the study also finds a direct correlation between Symbolic CSR and Substantive CSR, which suggests a possible tacit acceptance of greenwashing as a valid organizational practice. This work contributes to enhance the theory, given the fact that a recently proposed conceptual model was academically tested for the first time ever. Likewise, at a practical level, results suggested that the decision-making process when related with CSR is under continuous scrutiny by employees, in function of its sense of authenticity and therefore with consequences that may affect their behavior.