Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paying to punish on a free ride: member and nonmember punishments in voluntary coalitions

We explore public good experiments in which players have the opportunity to form cooperative coalitions. The decision to join a coalition is voluntary as is a member's decision to comply with the terms of the coalition. An informal enforcement mechanism is examined in which coalition members and nonmembers can impose costly punishments on one another. We find that when punishments are purely voluntary, coalition members and free-riding nonmembers are equally likely to punish noncompliant coalition members. Moreover, the extent to which nonmembers punish noncompliance does not change regardless of whether the members can credibly enforce compliance within their coalition.
A Yield Premium Model For The High-Yield Debt Market

A simple method for determining whether the high-yield debt market is “rich” or “poor” at any point in time uses the concept of break-even yield to measure the current market premium that investors can expect to receive over the yield of the benchmark—default-risk-free bonds. Covering the sample period 1988 to 1994, analysis of premiums and implied default rates for each of the high-yield bond rating categories, as well as the overall high-yield market, indicates that premiums over the break-even yield have varied dramatically during the past six years, from 0.5 percent to 8.0 percent. Also, total returns are significantly positively correlated with lagged premiums. This result implies an effective model for predicting returns over 6- and 12-month horizons.
Metaanalyses Are Observational Studies: How Lack of Randomization Impacts Analysis

Although metaanalyses are often syntheses of many experiments, they are themselves observational studies. As such, when performing or reading metaanalyses, we must consider the sources of bias that we usually expect in an observational study. The main two sources of bias for metaanalysis are publication bias and systematic heterogeneity. I consider the nature of both of these sources, methods to detect this bias, and ways to correct for the bias.
Parasympathetic activity in brain death: effect of apnea on heart rate variability

Background: Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability is a useful monitoring of brain‐damaged patients. However, the effect of artificial ventilation is not clearly demonstrated in assessing vagal activity because the locus of its activity is originated close to the respiratory center in the brain stem. We studied heart rate variability during artificial ventilation and apnea test as part of an assessment of brain death.
Hotelling competition and teaching efficiency of Italian university faculties. A semi-parametric analysis.

In this paper we explore the effect of competition (a la Hotelling) on teaching efficiency of the Italian university system at faculty-level, over the period 2004 to 2008. The analysis is performed in two stages. First, we use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to calculate an index of teaching efficiency. Second, a parametric approach is used to evaluate the determinants of teaching efficiency, focusing on the impact of competition. Our results are in favour of competition: when faculties operate in a more competitive environment, they are induced to carry out teaching activity in a more efficient way.
Effects of Information and Country of Origin On Chinese Consumer Preferences for Wine: An Experimental Approach in the Field

Wine is a product whose value largely depends on the reputation associated with its region of production. China is a newcomer and latecomer to wine production and consumption. Wine consumption, especially imported wine, rarely exists outside of major urban areas. Therefore, understanding the Chinese local markets and consumer preference for wine products is important for foreign wine producers. WTP (Willingness-to-Pay), in economics, is the maximum amount a person would be willing to pay for a good, which is a useful tool to address consumers’ preference. In our study, we investigate the effects of information and origin of production on Chinese consumers’ WTP for wine. By using a second-price sealed-bid auction mechanism, which was first developed by Vickrey (1961), we organized experimental auctions in both Beijing and Shanghai, China. The items for auctions are four different wine products originated in China, France, USA, and Australia. And there are two comparison groups, with or without information exposure. With 436 participants in total, our experiments collected data on their WTP’s and socio-demographics. Our data shows that participants would like to pay the highest price for the wine from France, while their WTP for the Chinese wine is the lowest among the four. Furthermore, we find important factors affecting their WTP for wine, including age, gender, employment status, education status, household income, and household size. Our results provide meaningful and insightful marketing suggestions for the “new world” and Chinese wine producers, such as the target consumers and pricing strategy.
Clinical insights gained from eight new cases and review of reported cases with Jeune syndrome (asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy)

Jeune syndrome, originally described as asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy by Jeune et al. [Jeune et al. (1955); Arch Fr Pediatr 12:886–891], is an autosomal recessive osteochondrodysplasia with characteristic skeletal abnormalities, and variable renal, hepatic, pancreatic, and retinal complications. We present eight patients, including two brothers with Jeune syndrome, and an extensive review of 118 cases in the published literature with the purposes of: (1) defining the clinical and radiological diagnostic criteria for Jeune syndrome; (2) comparing our cases to those in the literature meeting the documented clinical and radiological findings of Jeune syndrome, in order to: (3) provide an accurate clinical characterization of Jeune syndrome with frequency of associated complications and outcome data. In order to estimate the frequency of phenotypic abnormalities in Jeune syndrome as precisely as possible, we did not include reports in the literature with incomplete descriptions of the radiologic and clinical findings, nor those reports having additional findings overlapping with other syndromes. We found that the occurrence of renal, hepatic, and ophthalmologic complications is variable; does not correlate with severity of the skeletal phenotype; nor is it predictable even with the presence of a well‐defined skeletal phenotype, as in this study. Based upon these cases with Jeune syndrome, renal and hepatic abnormalities occur in ∼30% of cases, with renal failure occurring in 38% of those with kidney involvement. Eye abnormalities are reported in 15%, but it is unclear whether this represents under‐ascertainment. There is a 1.2:1 ratio between living and deceased patients; a respiratory cause of death is most common, occurring almost exclusively in those less than 2 years of age, and a renal etiology accounts for all deaths between the ages of 3–10 years of age. There is a paucity of affected individuals reported in the literature greater than age 20 years of age, and a lack of longitudinal data to obtain accurate data on morbidity and mortality of Jeune syndrome at older ages. This study provides a well‐defined group of patients with Jeune syndrome with delineation of the frequency of associated findings, which may form a basis for current and future genotype–phenotype studies. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dexrazoxane Abrogates Acute Doxorubicin Toxicity in Marmoset Ovary1

ABSTRACT Preservation of ovarian function following chemotherapy for nonovarian cancers is a formidable challenge. For prepubescent girls, the only option to prevent chemotherapy damage to the ovary is ovarian tissue cryopreservation, an experimental procedure requiring invasive surgeries to harvest and reimplant tissue, which carries the risk of cancer reintroduction. Drugs that block the primary mechanism of chemotherapy insult, such as dexrazoxane (Dexra) in the context of anthracycline chemotherapy, provide a novel approach for ovarian protection and have the potential to overcome current limitations to oncofertility treatment. Dexra is a catalytic topoisomerase 2 inhibitor that protects the mouse ovary from acute doxorubicin (DXR) chemotherapy toxicity in vitro by preventing DXR-induced DNA damage and subsequent gammaH2AX activation. To translate acute DXR ovarian insult and Dexra protection from mouse to nonhuman primate, freshly obtained marmoset ovarian tissue was cultured in vitro and treated with vehicle or 20 μM Dexra 1 h prior to 50 nM DXR. Cultured ovarian tissue was harvested at 2, 4, or 24 h post-DXR treatment. Dexra prevented DXR-induced DNA double-strand breaks as quantified by the neutral comet assay. DXR treatment for 24 h increased gammaH2AX phosphorylation, specifically increasing the number of foci-positive granulosa cells in antral follicles, while Dexra pretreatment inhibited DXR-induced gammaH2AX phosphorylation foci formation. Additionally, Dexra pretreatment trended toward attenuating DXR-induced AKT1 phosphorylation and caspase-9 activation as assayed by Western blots of ovarian tissue lysates. The combined findings suggest Dexra prevents primary DXR-induced DNA damage, the subsequent cellular response to DNA damage, and may diminish early apoptotic signaling in marmoset ovarian tissue. This study provides initial translation of Dexra protection against acute ovarian DXR toxicity from mice to marmoset monkey tissue.
Point-Counterpoint: β-d-Glucan Testing Is Important for Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections

ABSTRACT Invasive fungal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who receive immunosuppressive therapy, such as solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Many of the fungi associated with these infections are angioinvasive and are best diagnosed by visualizing the organism in or culturing the organism from deep tissue. However, obtaining such tissue often requires an invasive procedure. Many HSCT recipients are thrombocytopenic, making such procedure too risky because of potential bleeding complications. Additionally, positive blood cultures are rare for patients with angioinvasive fungal infections, making this diagnostic strategy of little value. Undiagnosed fungal infections in these patient populations are a significant cause of mortality. Prophylactic use of antifungal agents, such as the echinocandins, during periods of neutropenia or graft-versus-host disease may prevent some fungal infections but increase the risk for others. Detection of fungal antigens in body fluids, including cryptococcus capsular polysaccharide, histoplasma antigen, galactomannan, and β-d-glucan, is viewed as being clinically useful for at least the presumptive diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. β-d-Glucan is an attractive antigen in that it is found in a broad range of fungal agents, including the commonly encountered agents Candida spp. , Aspergillus spp. , and Pneumocystis jirovecii. Cross-reactions with certain hemodialysis filters, beta-lactam antimicrobials, and immunoglobulins, which raise concerns about false-positive tests, have also been described. As a result, the use of this testing must be closely monitored. In this point-counterpoint, we have asked Elitza Theel, who directs the Infectious Disease Serology Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic, to address why she believes that this test has value in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. We have asked Christopher Doern, Director of Clinical Microbiology at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, why he questions the clinical value of β-d-glucan testing.
Polo-like kinase is necessary for flagellum inheritance in Trypanosoma brucei

Summary Polo-like kinases play an important role in a variety of mitotic events in mammalian cells, ranging from centriole separation and chromosome congression to abscission. To fulfill these roles, Polo-like kinase homologs move to different cellular locations as the cell cycle progresses, starting at the centrosome, progressing to the spindle poles and then the midbody. In the protist parasite Trypanosoma brucei, the single polo-like kinase homolog T. brucei PLK (TbPLK) is essential for cytokinesis and is necessary for the correct duplication of a centrin-containing cytoskeletal structure known as the bilobe. We show that TbPLK has a dynamic localization pattern during the cell cycle. The kinase localizes to the basal body, which nucleates the flagellum, and then successively localizes to a series of cytoskeletal structures that regulate the position and attachment of the flagellum to the cell body. The kinase localizes to each of these structures as they are duplicating. TbPLK associates with a specialized set of microtubules, known as the microtubule quartet, which might transport the kinase during its migration. Depletion of TbPLK causes defects in basal body segregation and blocks the duplication of the regulators that position the flagellum, suggesting that its presence on these structures might be necessary for their proper biogenesis. TbPLK migrates throughout the cell in T. brucei, but the specific locations to which it targets and its functions are geared towards the inheritance of a properly positioned and attached flagellum.
A Public Accountability Model Of Accounting Regulation

Abstract Accounting as a social choice function has an important impact on societal welfare. The significance of two important societal intermediate goals, efficiency and equity, is highlighted. It is argued that corporate reporting must give explicit consideration to both these criteria. The accountability framework is selected as the most appropriate societal viewpoint because of its broader perspective. The principle of public accountability is advocated and the need to report financial and non-financial information to stakeholders with a legitimate interest in the enterprise is advanced. The accountability paradigm views corporate reports as essential to provide feedback to stakeholder groups. Goals of efficiency and equity are explicitly incorporated. Regulation is advanced as an important instrument to promote such accountability. The model offered in this paper is derived from theories of accountability and regulation. An initial framework for operationalising the model is also given. The model calls for the provision of a greater amount of data than is now provided in corporate reports. As advocated in the proposed model, wider board representation by stakeholders (including producers) is likely to increase the acceptability of accounting rules. This structural change along with legal backing of accounting standards in all probability would increase the level of compliance. The combination of these elements will create a more equitable and efficient environment for the reporting of corporate information congruent with the precepts of public accountability.
Retooling the Traditional Approach to Studying the Belief–Attitude Relationship: Explaining Landowner Buy-In to Incentive Programs

Perceived threat from traditional command-and-control implementation of the U.S. Endangered Species Act has resulted in the underprovision of endangered species habitat on private lands. Voluntary incentive programs aid recovery by reducing landowner costs and increasing benefits; however, program efficacy is directly related to participation. I used the reasoned action framework to examine landowner attitudes and beliefs about participating. Using data from a mail survey of Texas landowners, I employed two seldom-used methods (structure coefficients and commonality analysis) to enhance explanation from a regression of attitudes on behavioral beliefs. Two of eight measured beliefs (beneficial outcomes for an individual's land and for the target species) accounted for the majority of the variation in attitude. Landowner concerns about future regulations and technical assistance contributed least to attitude. Results provide program administrators with necessary information to create targeted messages to increase participation and thus enhance program efficacy. The use of structure coefficients and commonality analysis highlighted relationships with the greatest explanatory power, as well as those that would have been otherwise missed or marginalized. I recommend these methods be employed in all reasoned-action studies analyzed using multiple regression.
Obesity and Weight Loss Attempts among Subjects with a Personal History of Cancer.

OBJECTIVES Obesity is a risk factor for many cancers and obese cancer patients have a poorer prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and attempts to lose weight among cancer survivors. The effects of cancer treatment and time since cancer treatment were also evaluated. METHODS The 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey data were analysed between 2011 and 2013; respondents with (n = 966) and without (n = 6,093) a personal history of cancer were identified. Each respondent's body mass index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported height and weight measurements and categorised as normal (<25 kg/m(2)), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m(2)) or obese (≥30 kg/m(2)). RESULTS Cancer survivors were older (mean age = 63.4 versus 44.7 years for those with no history of cancer). Overall, there were similar percentages of overweight (37.6% versus 34.1%; relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75-1.31) and obese (31.4% versus 27.5%; RRR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.79 1.39) respondents among both cancer survivors and those without a history of cancer. Among overweight and obese participants, cancer survivors did not demonstrate increased weight loss attempts compared to those without a history of cancer (61.6% versus 66.3%; odds ratio = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.73 1.20). CONCLUSION A high prevalence of overweight and obese cancer survivors were identified without any association with cancer treatment. However, cancer survivors did not demonstrate increased attempts to lose weight in comparison to those without a history of cancer despite awareness of their degree of body fatness. Increased efforts to promote the maintenance of a healthy weight among cancer survivors are needed.
Relation between bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and levels of IgE antibody against Dermatophagoides farinae and serum IgE in asthmatic children

The relation between non‐specific bronchial responsiveness and allergic sensitivity was evaluated in children with asthma. Bronchial responsiveness was determined by methacholine inhalation challenge test, and was expressed as a provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20). RAST titre for Dermatophagoides farinae and serum IgE level were evaluated as parameters of allergic sensitivity. When the PC20 vaiues, RAST titres for D. farinae. and serum IgE levels of 47 asthmatic children and 16 normal controls were compared. the asthmatic children had significantly lower PC20 values and higher D. farinae‐RAST titres and serum IgE levels than the normal controls. The correlation analyses in 47 asthmatic children have shown that there is no significant correlation between PC20 values and RAST titres for D. farinae (r= 0.04. P > 0.1) or between PC20 values and serum IgE levels (r= < 0.03 P > 0.1). These results suggest thaty although both bronchial hyperresponsiveness and allergic sensitizalion may be in some way related to one another in children with asthma, the magnitude of allergie sensilization does not influence the degree of the non‐specific bronchial responsiveness.
Theories of Liquidity

We survey the theoretical literature on market liquidity. The literature traces illiquidity, i.e., the lack of liquidity, to underlying market imperfections. We consider six main imperfections: participation costs, transaction costs, asymmetric information, imperfect competition, funding constraints, and search. We address three questions in the context of each imperfection: (a) how to measure illiquidity, (b) how illiquidity relates to underlying market imperfections and other asset characteristics, and (c) how illiquidity affects expected asset returns. We nest all six imperfections within a common, unified model, and use that model to organize the literature.
CFD simulations and real world measurements of drag of biologically inspired underwater robot

This paper discusses the differences between physical measurements of drag of underwater robot and computer simulation of drag of biomimetically inspired underwater robot. The hydrodynamic properties are modeled with methods of computational fluid dynamics. In particular, we simulate an elliptical cylinder and the biomimetic robot and we compare simulation data with data gathered in real physical measurement of the robot. Our research is aiming to create a biomimetic underwater robot and therefore we are interested in minimizing the drag created by the robot. The results of the computational fluid dynamics simulations show that the ideal body of the robot has a low drag but its current implementation can be improved a lot. It also gives us further guidelines for improving the design of our biomimetic underwater robot.
Bridging between normal mode analysis and elastic network models

Normal mode analysis (NMA) has been a powerful tool for studying protein dynamics. Elastic network models (ENM), through their simplicity, have made normal mode computations accessible to a much broader research community and for many more biomolecular systems. The drawback of ENMs, however, is that they are less accurate than NMA. In this work, through steps of simplification that starts with NMA and ends with ENMs we build a tight connection between NMA and ENMs. In the process of bridging between the two, we have also discovered several high‐quality simplified models. Our best simplified model has a mean correlation with the original NMA that is as high as 0.88. In addition, the model is force‐field independent and does not require energy minimization, and thus can be applied directly to experimental structures. Another benefit of drawing the connection is a clearer understanding why ENMs work well and how it can be further improved. We discovered that ANM can be greatly enhanced by including an additional torsional term and a geometry term. Proteins 2014; 82:2157–2168. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Iran’s Economic Considerations after the War and its Role in Renewing of Iran-Saudi Diplomatic Relations

Iran-Saudi relationship has constantly been frictional after Islamic revolution of Iran. In general, Saudi heavy support of Iraqi government during Iran-Iraq war and Iran’s holding political demonstration so-called the Liberation from Infidels gave rise to frigidity of mutual relations of the two countries. Meanwhile, one of the means that Saudi Arabia, as ally of Iraq, applied to put Iran under pressure was oil and reduction of its price in order to decrease Iran’s foreign exchange revenues in which it could not supply its essential armaments. The problems, finally, led to cutting off Iran-Saudi bilateral relations in 1988. However, after termination of the war and in the early years of 1990s, Iran’s relations with Persian Gulf countries in particular Saudi Arabia improved gradually. The present article hypothesizes that Iran’s internal economic necessities such as reconstruction of the war-torn areas, improvement of economic situation and also public demands for better life in 1980s, mainly resulted from Iran-Iraq eight-year war, in one hand and its dependency on oil revenues to change the terrible situation on the other hand caused Iran to re-conciliate its relations with Saudi Arabia due to its influence on oil price and quota within OPEC. The study concludes that Iran’s reliance on petrodollars and its endeavor to increase oil revenues as well as regaining its previous leadership in OPEC led to renewing of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia in 1991 and also their cooperation within the organization afterward.Key words: Iran; Saudi Arabia; Iran-Iraq war; Economic considerations; petrodollars