Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel decision making in patients with prefrontal or posterior brain damage

Patients with lesions of the frontal lobes experience greater difficulties in performing nonroutine tasks, but their ability to cope with novel situations has not been studied. We assessed novel and previously practiced decisions in normal subjects and patients with frontal or posterior brain damage using a unimanual two-choice response time test. Patients with frontal damage had a dramatic impairment on novel decision, whereas practiced decision was normal. Relative Judgment Theory analysis suggested that the basic disorder concerns the ability to create internal referents that are determined from instructions and are subsequently required to associate the current stimulus with the appropriate response. The results of the study suggest that the prefrontal cortex is critical for novel decision making and that it operates mainly at the stage of creation of internal referents that associate some subsequent event with the selection of appropriate processing. This basic disorder may underlie some behavioral changes such as apathy and difficulty on tests that are sensitive to frontal damage.
The Bank Account Presidency: A New Measure and Evidence on the Temporal Path of Presidential Influence

Using headcount data covering the years 1953-74 and focusing on the Johnson administration (1963-68), the research investigates whether or not presidents experience a "bank account presidency"; whether they lose congressional support and influence over their tenure in office. This paper applies a new data set and defines a useful approximation of presidential influence called presidential sway. The paper tests two expectations about the "temporal path" of initial support and sway. The paper also tests four conjectures to account for temporal paths. The evidence suggests that President Johnson lost initial support but maintained sway over his tenure. The research then compares the Johnson experience with that of three other presidents, finding no support for the bank account model. It further demonstrates that dynamic forces like the president's prestige, the state of the economy, the organization of the opposition, and the focus of the administration's agenda help determine its temporal path.
Comparative study on the susceptibility of different Glossina species to Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection.

Teneral Glossina morsitans centralis, G. austeni, G. palpalis palpalis, G. p. gambiensis, G. fuscipes fuscipes, G. tachinoides and G. brevipalpis from laboratory-bred colonies, were allowed to feed simultaneously for 34 days on the flanks of ten goats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei isolated in Tanzania or in Nigeria, and then the tsetse were dissected. The seven tsetse species and subspecies showed salivary glands infections over the range of 0% to 40.4%. Survival of the Tanzanian and Nigerian T.b. brucei was best in G. m. centralis and very poor in the other tsetse species. It is suggested that there are differences in the gut of different laboratory-bred Glossina species and subspecies allowing T. b. brucei parasites to survive better and undergo the complete developmental cycle more readily in some species than in others.
Growth and pathfinding of regenerating axons in the optic projection of adult fish

In contrast to mammals, teleost fish are able to regrow severed long‐range projection axons in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to recovery of function. The optic projection in teleost fish is used to study neuron‐intrinsic and environmental molecular factors that determine successful axon regrowth and navigation through a complex CNS pathway back to original targets. Here we review evidence for regeneration‐specific regulation and robust expression of growth‐ and pathfinding‐associated genes in regenerating retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons of adult fish. The environment of the CNS in fish appears to contain few inhibitory molecules and at the same time a number of promoting molecules for axon regrowth. Finally, some environmental cues that are used as guidance cues for developing RGC axons are also present in continuously growing adult animals. These molecules may serve as guidance cues for the precise navigation of axons from newly generated RGCs in adult animals as well as of regenerating RGC axons after a lesion. The application of new molecular techniques especially to adult zebrafish, is likely to produce new insights into successful axonal regeneration in the CNS of fish and the absence thereof in mammals. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How Much More XXX is Generation X Consuming? Evidence of Changing Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Pornography Since 1973

We use data from the General Social Survey (GSS) over a 40-year period (1973–2012) to evaluate changes in attitudes about pornography and pornography consumption among American young adults. One of the major challenges in making comparisons across birth generations is separating the effect of birth cohort from age and period effects. We use an intrinsic estimator to separately identify the effects of age, birth cohort, and time period using 40 years of repeated cross-section data. We find that, relative to the general population, young people's beliefs about whether pornography should be illegal have stayed relatively constant over this 40-year period and, if anything, have slightly increased. We also find that pornography consumption has been increasing across birth generations, though this increase has been smaller than would be inferred based on differences across generations at a single point in time, due to a strong age component in consumption patterns.
Residential water price elasticity and full water cost estimation according to the European Water Framework Directive

The relationship between water abstraction and water availability has turned into a major stress factor in the urban exploitation of water resources. There is a wide recognition nowadays that there is a need for strategies for the sustainable use of water resources and water demand management. In the city of Volos-Greece the number of water counters has been almost tripled during the last 3 decades. The fact that water sources have remained stable has created a derangement of water balance. In order to evaluate various aspects of current water policy, investigate the perspectives of water saving, explore new approaches toward sustainable water management in the water supply sector and evaluate water price elasticity, a survey has been performed recently in the city of Volos, concerning the residential sector. The influence of some selected variables is examined, residential water demand curve is calculated using the fixed-effects and random effects model and elasticity with respect to marginal and difference price is estimated. Estimations of future water demand under different pricing policies are also performed. Full water cost in the city of Volos is finally estimated and essential conclusions concerning water pricing and public participation evoke.
Towards Implicit User Modeling Based on Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Styles and Web Interaction Data

A key challenge of adaptive interactive systems is to provide a positive user experience by extracting implicitly the users' unique characteristics through their interactions with the system, and dynamically adapting and personalizing the system's content presentation and functionality. Among the different dimensions of individual differences that could be considered, this work utilizes the cognitive styles of users as determinant factors for personalization. The overarching goal of this paper is to increase our understanding about the effect of cognitive styles of users on their navigation behavior and content representation preference. We propose a Web-based tool, utilizing Artificial Intelligence techniques, to implicitly capture and find any possible relations between the cognitive styles of users and their characteristics in navigation behavior and content representation preference by using their Web interaction data. The proposed tool has been evaluated with a user study revealing that cognitive styles of users have an effect on their navigation behavior and content representation preference. Research works like the reported one are useful for improving implicit and intelligent user modeling in engineering adaptive interactive systems.
Profile of circulating vasoactive substances in hemorrhagic shock and their pharmacologic manipulation.

(a) Hemorrhage in dogs (to 45-50 mm Hg) was associated with a 10-fold increase in plasma renin activity (PRA) which remained elevated throughout the time-course of shock including the irreversible (decompensation) stage. The presence of angiotensin II (AII) in arterial blood was demonstrated by the bloodbathed organ technique and confirmed by blockade with specific AII antagonists (cysteine(8)-AII or isoleucine(8)-AII). The contribution of AII to systemic peripheral resistance during hemorrhage shock in dogs was established by administering AII antagonists which immediately cause a further fall in blood pressure. (b) Plasma catecholamines (CA) steadily increased during hemorrhage and peaked during compensation (a 100-fold increase). The CA decreased progressively during decompensation. (c) Prostaglandin (PG) E-like material was observed in arterial blood for 15-60 min (after hemorrhage); the peak arterial concentration was 2.6 ng/ml blood. Indomethacin (i.v., before 80% of maximum bleedout): (i) confirmed the presence of PGE, (ii) increased blood pressure, and (iii) increased blood loss. (d) Thus: peripheral resistance during hemorrhagic shock seems temporally correlated with blood CA levels (and not PRA), and the renin-AII system contributes to the maintenance of vascular resistance and may markedly decrease perfusion of organs, such as kidney; the administration of the proper combination of specific antagonists of vasoconstrictor humoral substances may radically improve organ perfusion and could contribute to ultimate recovery from hemorrhagic shock.
Pacific Anthropogenic Carbon Between 1991 and 2017

We estimate anthropogenic carbon (Canth) accumulation rates in the Pacific Ocean between 1991 and 2017 from 14 hydrographic sections that have been occupied two to four times over the past few decades, with most sections having been recently measured as part of the Global Ocean Ship‐based Hydrographic Investigations Program. The rate of change of Canth is estimated using a new method that combines the extended multiple linear regression method with improvements to address the challenges of analyzing multiple occupations of sections spaced irregularly in time. The Canth accumulation rate over the top 1,500 m of the Pacific increased from 8.8 (±1.1, 1σ) Pg of carbon per decade between 1995 and 2005 to 11.7 (±1.1) PgC per decade between 2005 and 2015. For the entire Pacific, about half of this decadal increase in the accumulation rate is attributable to the increase in atmospheric CO2, while in the South Pacific subtropical gyre this fraction is closer to one fifth. This suggests a substantial enhancement of the accumulation of Canth in the South Pacific by circulation variability and implies that a meaningful portion of the reinvigoration of the global CO2 sink that occurred between ~2000 and ~2010 could be driven by enhanced ocean Canth uptake and advection into this gyre. Our assessment suggests that the accuracy of Canth accumulation rate reconstructions along survey lines is limited by the accuracy of the full suite of hydrographic data and that a continuation of repeated surveys is a critical component of future carbon cycle monitoring.
Using sequential floating forward selection algorithm to detect epileptic seizure in EEG signals

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder involving spontaneous seizures. While electroencephalography (EEG) is a useful diagnostic approach of epilepsy that records the electrical activity of the brain, detection of epileptic seizures is still clinically difficult. This study proposes a segmental classification approach for the detection of epileptic seizure in EEG signals. Regularized least squares and smoothness priors methods are applied to minimize the nonstationary components in the signals. The optimal frequency band energy features are selected by using the sequential floating forward selectrion (SFFS) algorithm, with linear, quadratic and cubic discriminant function as classifiers. The results show that when the quadratic discriminant function is applied, the sensitivity and specificity of seizure detection reach a maximum of 98.1% and 95.6% respectively for discriminating health subjects against epileptic subjects in seizure period, and the overall classification rate is 97.2%.
Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background and Aims: Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is commonly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Prevalence of NASH in type 2 DM has not been well studied and there is an epidemic rise in type 2 DM in Asian and Western populations. Its association with chronic liver disease in the form of NASH makes it an important health problem. Hence we have studied its prevalence and correlation of biochemical parameters with histological grades of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in otherwise asymptomatic type 2 DM patients.
Formal and Real Power in General Equilibrium

We integrate individual power in groups into general equilibrium models with endogenous group formation. We distinguish between formal power (the say in group decisions) and real power (utility gain from being in groups). Their values will be determined as part of the equilibrium. We find that higher formal power does not necessarily translate into higher equilibrium utility or higher real power. One reason is that induced price changes may offset the groupmember’s increased influence. A second reason is that the group may dissolve when a group member gains too much influence, because other members can exercise the option to leave. We also show that maximal real power can be compatible with Pareto efficiency. We further identify circumstances when changes of formal power in one group do not impact on other groups. Finally, we establish existence of competitive equilibria, including equilibria where some individual enjoys real power.
Patrol Officer Daily Noise Exposure

Previous research shows that police officers are at a higher risk for noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). Little data exists on the occupational tasks, outside of the firing range, that might lead to the increased risk of NIHL. The current study collected noise dosimetry from patrol officers in a smaller department and a larger department in southern Wisconsin, United States. The noise dosimeters simultaneously measured noise in three virtual dosimeters that had different thresholds, criterion levels, and exchange rates. The virtual dosimeters were set to: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hearing conservation criteria (OSHA-HC), the OSHA permissible exposure level criteria (OSHA-PEL), and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). In addition to wearing a noise dosimeter during their respective work days, officers completed a log form documenting the type of task performed, the duration of that task, if the task involved the use of a siren, and officer characteristics that may have influenced their noise exposure, such as the type of dispatch radio unit worn. Analysis revealed that the normalized 8-hour time weighted averages (TWA) for all officers fell below the recommended OSHA and ACGIH exposure limits. The tasks involving the use of the siren had significantly higher levels than the tasks without (p = 0.005). The highest noise exposure levels were encountered when patrol officers were assisting other public safety agencies such as a fire department or emergency medical services (79 dBA). Canine officers had higher normalized 8-hr TWA noise exposure than regular patrol officers (p = 0.002). Officers with an evening work schedule had significantly higher noise exposure than the officers with a day or night work schedule (p = 0.023). There were no significant differences in exposure levels between the two departments (p = 0.22). Results suggest that this study population is unlikely to experience NIHL as established by the OSHA or ACGIH occupational exposure levels from the daily occupational tasks that were monitored.
Solubility of crystalline thorium dioxide

Summary The solubility of thorium oxides of different crystallinity is investigated at 25°C by different experimental approaches. The dissolution of bulk crystalline ThO2(cr) is a very slow process and the Th(IV) concentrations measured after one year at pH 1-3 in 0.1 and 0.5M HCl-NaCl solutions do not represent equilibrium data. Coulometric titration of thorium nitrate solutions in the low pH range of 1.5-2.5 leads to the formation of microcrystalline ThO2·xH2O(mcr) particles which subsequently agglomerate to a precipitate. The solubility of this solid, in equilibrium with Th4+(aq), is measured from the oversaturation direction. The solubility product is determined to be log K´sp=-49.9±0.4 in 0.5M NaCl corresponding to log K°sp=-53.2±0.4 (converted to I=0 with the SIT). It is close to the thermochemical value for ThO2(cr) and about 6 orders of magnitude lower than that of X-ray amorphous Th(IV) hydroxide or hydrous oxide. The differences in the solubility products are discussed with regard to the particle size and compared with analogous data for U(IV), Np(IV) and Pu(IV). Above the threshold of hydrolysis of Th4+ at pH>2.5, the dissolution of microcrystalline ThO2·xH2O(mcr) is found to be irreversible. In near-neutral to alkaline solutions, the measured thorium concentrations approach those of amorphous Th(OH)4(am). Similar results are obtained with crystalline ThO2(cr) in 0.5M NaCl-NaOH solutions. The solubility is not controlled by the bulk crystalline solid but by amorphous fractions on the surface.
A Study of the Role of Prior Attitude and Persuasion Knowledge in the Effect Process of Mobile Application Contents for Public Interest

This study explores the effect of consumers' prior smoking attitudes and persuasion knowledge in the effect process of corporate social responsibility communication. Preceded by a pilot study, a survey of consumers' perception is conducted toward a mobile CSR application. First, consumers' prior smoking attitudes and persuasion knowledge are revealed to have interaction effects on reputation of the tobacco company. Second, interactivity properties of the branded content and consumers' persuasion knowledge have interaction effect on the perceived authenticity of the company. Toward reputation, interactivity of the branded content and consumers' persuasion knowledge have no significant interaction effect, on the other hand, the level(high/low) of branded content has the direct effect on reputation. Practical implications, limitations and future study directions are discussed.
Resistive and capacitive response of nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanotubes film humidity sensor

Dielectric oxides are traditionally used to fabricate resistive surface humidity-sensing devices, as well as capacitive sandwich-structured sensors. In the present work, relative humidity (RH) sensors were fabricated by employing vertically aligned TiO2 nanotubes array (TNA) film produced using electro-chemical anodization of Ti foil followed by a nitrogen-doping process, simultaneously showing resistive and capacitive humidity-sensing properties in the range of 11.3–93.6%. For the sample formed at optimized experimental conditions, the capacitance (CS) and resistance (RS) of the as-fabricated RH sensors made from nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanotubes film could be simultaneously obtained. Both the resistive and capacitive sensitivity (KR and KC) of the as-fabricated TiO2 nanotube RH sensors show distinct dependence on the frequency of alternating current (AC) voltage signal and RH. At higher water coverage, water–water interaction will result in lowering of the water dissociation barrier, leading to an increase of conductance. With the increase of RH, the polarization of as-adsorbed water molecules will also occur, causing a sharp increase of capacitance. For an explanation of the frequency response of both CS and RS, ionic transport, as well as the polarization effect, should be comprehensively considered. The changes of capacitance and resistance at different temperatures are plausibly caused by thermal expansion and surface state modification by adsorption and desorption of oxygen and water.
Exchange Rate Misalignment and International Trade Competitiveness: A Cointegration Analysis for South Africa

Based on Edwards' (1989) intertemporal general equilibrium model of a small open economy, this study attempts to estimate the degree of real exchange rate misalignment and its impact on the international trade competitiveness of the South African economy for the period 1985:1-2000:4. For this purpose, an error-correction model (ECM)and five years moving average technique have been employed to estimate the exchange rate misalignment, while impulse response analysis and variance decomposition techniques of cointegrated VAR (vector auto regression) have been established to assess the impact of the misalignment on trade competitiveness. The study reveals that the real exchange rate had been consistently overvalued during the period 1988:3-1998:2 but undervalued during periods 1998:3-2000:4. For most of the periods during 1985:1-1988:2 the rand had been undervalued. Moreover, the study discloses that the exchange rate misalignment debilitates South Africa's international trade competitiveness accounting for 20 percent of the variation in competitiveness.
The site of attachment in human rhinovirus 14 for antiviral agents that inhibit uncoating.

WIN 51711 and WIN 52084 are structurally related, antiviral compounds that inhibit the replication of rhino (common cold) viruses and related picornaviruses. They prevent the pH-mediated uncoating of the viral RNA. The compounds consist of a 3-methylisoxazole group that inserts itself into the hydrophobic interior of the VP1 beta-barrel, a connecting seven-membered aliphatic chain, and a 4-oxazolinylphenoxy group (OP) that covers the entrance to an ion channel in the floor of the "canyon. " Viral disassembly may be inhibited by preventing the collapse of the VP1 hydrophobic pocket or by blocking the flow of ions into the virus interior.