Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing the « Lemons » Model: an Experimental Market for Insurance

Akerlof’s (1970) classical paper demonstrated that adverse selection can eliminate markets. These findings by Akerlof gave rise to a proliferation of theoretical models on insurance with adverse selection. However, there exists no empirical test for the model of Akerlof in the context of insurance. In fact, it is not possible to observe a market a la Akerlof in a real context, since that market would have in fact disappeared. The main objective of this work is to test the predictions made by Akerlof, in the context of an experimental insurance market. This experiment is, to our knowledge, the first done in this area. The major interest of this experiment lies in that it allows us to bypass the usual obstacles for testing the model of Akerlof. To fit in perfectly within the framework of analysis drawn by Akerlof, we integrate the assumption that individuals differ in their level of risk aversion (heterogeneity). Also, we allow for the possibility that the insurers adopt strategies of pricing contracts that differ according to the reasoning adopted. We conduct eleven independent experimental sessions in which two insurers in Bertrand competition interact over 60 rounds with height potential insurance contributors. The latter differ in their risk level and can not be differentiated by insurers. The data shows that market functioning depends on insurers’ reasoning (sophisticated versus naïve) and individuals’ risk-aversion levels. Yet, in line with the theoretical prediction, low-risk individuals are driven out of the insurance market.
Abnormal tau-containing filaments in neurodegenerative diseases.

It has been known for some time that the neurofibrillary pathology in Alzheimer's disease consists of so-called paired helical and straight filaments made up of the microtubule-associated protein tau. The degree of dementia observed in the disease correlates better with the extent of neurofibrillary pathology than with the Abeta amyloid deposits, the other characteristic defining pathological fibrous deposit in Alzheimer's disease. However, no familial cases of Alzheimer's disease have been genetically linked to the tau protein locus. Recently a group of frontotemporal dementias with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 has been shown to be caused by mutations in the tau gene. Some are missense mutations giving altered tau proteins, whereas others affect the splicing of the pre-mRNA and change the balance between different tau isoforms. Histologically these diseases are all characterised by various kinds of filamentous tau protein deposits, mostly in the complete absence of Abeta deposits. The abnormal tau filaments show different morphologies, depending on the nature of the tau mutation. These diseases show that tau mutations can be a prime cause of inherited dementing illness and may throw some light on the pathological process in the much larger number of sporadic cases of Alzheimer's disease.
Kinetics of the Gas-Phase Reactions of Chlorine Atoms with CH 2 F 2 , CH 3 CCl 3 , and CF 3 CFH 2 over the Temperature Range 253 – 553

Relative rate techniques were used to study the title reactions in 930–1200 mbar of N2 diluent. The reaction rate coefficients measured in the present work are summarized by the expressions k(Cl + CH2F2) = 1.19 × 10−17 T 2 exp(−1023/T ) cm3 molecule−1 s−1 (253– 553 K), k(Cl + CH3CCl3) = 2.41 × 10−12 exp(−1630/T ) cm3 molecule−1 s−1 (253–313 K), and k(Cl + CF3CFH2) = 1.27 × 10−12 exp(−2019/T ) cm3 molecule−1 s−1 (253–313 K). Results are discussed with respect to the literature data. C © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet
The influence of dietary intake and sunlight exposure on the vitamin D status in an elderly Spanish group.

Traditional dietary habits and the living style in Spain should theoretically be enough to assure a healthy vitamin D status: a very high fish intake and one of the highest sun exposure rates of all countries in Europe. However, in spite of this, there is a high percentage in the elderly showing low vitamin D serum values. This paper is part of the Euronut-SENECA study, a major multicentre survey assessing the nutritional status in the elderly from 19 centres over 12 countries in Europe. In it, the vitamin D status in 55 healthy individuals from Spain has been studied and assessed by measuring dietary and supplemental vitamin D intakes; the influence of sunlight exposure such as physical activity, permanence in the sun, clothing, etc.; and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH)D] serum concentration. The mean dietary intake was 1.3 +/- 1.5 micrograms/day, being fish, and specially fatty fish, the main source (62%). Of the total, 85% of the elderly did not reach the Spanish recommended dietary intake (2.5 micrograms/day). The mean 25(OH)D serum level was 25 +/- 14.7 nmol/l and there was a high percentage with deficit (13%) (8.4 +/- 1.9 nmol/l) and marginal (62%) (19.8 +/- 4.2 nmol/l) levels. People who usually walked 1.9 +/- 1.3 hours/day or stayed in the sun "every day" or "as much as possible", had higher (p < 0.05) serum 25 (OH)D concentrations (27.7 +/- 2.4 nmol/l and 31.3 +/- 3.7 nmol/l, respectively) than people who did not (16.6 +/- 1.2 nmol/l and 21.3 +/- 2.1 nmol/l, respectively). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[A Meta analysis on the associations between air pollution and respiratory mortality in China].

OBJECTIVE To analyze the associations between air pollution and adverse health outcomes on respiratory diseases and to estimate the short-term effects of air pollutions [Particulate matter with particle size below 10 microns (PM(10)), PM(10) particulate matter with particle size below 2.5 microns (PM(2.5)), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone (O₃)] on respiratory mortality in China. METHODS Data related to the epidemiological studies on the associations between air pollution and adverse health outcomes of respiratory diseases that published from 1989 through 2014 in China, were collected by systematically searching databases of PubMed, SpringerLink, Embase, Medline, CNKI, CBM and VIP in different provinces of China. Short-term effects between (PM(10), PM(2.5), NO₂, SO₂, O₃) and respiratory mortality were analyzed by Meta-analysis method, and estimations were pooled by random or fixed effect models, using the Stata 12.0 software. RESULTS A total of 157 papers related to the associations between air pollution and adverse health outcomes of respiratory diseases in China were published, which covered 79.4% of all the provinces in China. Results from the Meta-analysis showed that a 10 µg/m³ increase in PM10, PM(2.5), NO₂, SO₂, and O₃was associated with mortality rates as 0.50% (95% CI: 0-0.90%), 0.50% (95% CI: 0.30%-0.70%), 1.39% (95% CI: 0.90%-1.78%), 1.00% (95% CI: 0.40%-1.59%) and 0.10% (95% CI: -1.21%-1.39%) in respiratory tracts, respectively. No publication bias was found among these studies. CONCLUSION There seemed positive associations existed between PM(10)/PM(2.5)/NO₂/SO₂and respiratory mortality in China that the relationship called for further attention on air pollution and adverse health outcomes of the respiratory diseases.
Small Acoustic Neuromas: Surgical Outcomes Versus Observation or Radiation

Objective: Evaluate factors affecting outcomes of small acoustic neuroma (AN) removal via a middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach, and compare results to published data on observation and radiation therapy. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Academic tertiary referral center. Methods: 162 consecutive patients (ages 19-70) with unilateral AN (0.2-2.5 cm in largest dimension) removed through a MCF approach were reviewed focusing on preservation of hearing, facial nerve function and complications. One hundred thirteen patients had pre-operative word recognition scores (WRS) >70%. Results: Both tumor size and pre-operative WRS were related to post-operative WRS (p < 0.01). Overall, at least some hearing was preserved in 94 (60%) of the 156 patients who had hearing before surgery. If the WRS was also >70% (N = 113), 56 (50%) maintained WRS >70%. Importantly, WRS for 12 others improved to >70% after surgery. When the patients were stratified by tumor size, the patients with small tumors (2-10 mm) faired better than the overall group. At least some hearing was preserved in 65 (72%) of the 90 patients. If the WRS was also >70% (N = 66), 39 (59%) maintained WRS >70%. WRS for eight others improved to >70% after surgery. When the tumor was 1.1-1.4 cm (N = 34), the chance of preserving some hearing decreased to 42% (14/33). If the WRS was also >70% (N = 23), 9 (39%) maintained WRS >70%. WRS for three others improved to >70% after surgery. When the tumor reached 1.5-2.5 cm (N = 35), the hearing preservation rate was 43%. If the WRS was also >70% (N = 24), only eight (33%) maintained WRS of 70%, and one other improved to >70%. The addition of intra-operative whole eighth nerve near field monitoring improved results during small tumor (≤ 1.0 cm) removal preserving some hearing in 80% (32/40) and preserving >70% WRS in 76% (22/29) of those with >70% pre-operative WRS. Good facial nerve function (HB I-II) was achieved in 97% (86% HB I). When tumor size was ≤ 1.0 cm (N = 93), however, good facial nerve function was obtained in 100% (94% HB I). Complications included CSF leak: 9 (5.5%); seizure: 2 (1.2%); and recurrence: 1 (0.6%). Conclusion: Our results suggest that removal of unilateral AN through an MCF approach when the tumor is small and hearing is good provides the best opportunity for hearing preservation and normal facial nerve function. Observation historically results in tumor growth in young and middle-age patients with subsequent hearing loss. Radiation may prevent most tumors from growing, and more data are needed to determine long-term tumor control and hearing preservation rates.
Diaphragm‐like strictures of the colon induced by non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs

Sir Contrary to what Dr Glen would have us believe, hydrogen peroxide is indeed in the same category as the other agents mentioned in our Review. Hydrogen peroxide has its place in surgery, but it has its dangers as well. It may be more useful than methylene blue or saline in the assessment of internal openings of anal fistula, but its potential dangers are greater than those of these other agents. I have found exploratory probes to be of immense value and without attendant ills so far in my practice, and I use them routinely in the surgery of anal fistula and abscess’. No doubt the probe is dangerous if due respect is not accorded. As Dr Glen would say: ‘The fault lies not with the metal, the fault lies with the man’.
RNAIII-INHIBITING PEPTIDE IN COMBINATION WITH THE CATHELICIDIN BMAP-28 REDUCES LETHALITY IN MOUSE MODELS OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL SEPSIS

ABSTRACT A mouse model of staphylococcal sepsis was used to evaluate the efficacy of RNAIII-inhibiting peptide (RIP) combined with the cathelicidin BMAP-28. Preliminary in vitro studies showed that both peptides, alone or combined, were able to inhibit the lipoteichoic acid-induced production of tumor necrosis factor &agr; and nitric oxide by RAW 264.7 cells. For in vivo experiments, the main outcome measures were lethality, quantitative blood cultures, and detection of tumor necrosis factor &agr; and interleukin 6 plasma levels. BALB/c mice were injected i.v. with 2.0 × 106 colony-forming units of live Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 or with 5.0 × 108 heat-killed cells of the same strain. All animals were randomized to receive i.v. isotonic sodium chloride solution, 10-mg/kg RIP, alone or in combination with 2-mg/kg BMAP-28, 7-mg/kg imipenem, or 7-mg/kg vancomycin, immediately and at 6 hours after bacterial challenge. In in vivo experiments performed with live bacteria, all compounds reduced lethality rates and bacteremia when compared with controls. In general, combined-treated groups had significantly lower bacteremia when compared with single-treated groups. Lowest lethality rates and bacteremia were obtained when RIP was administered in combination with BMAP-28 or vancomycin. In the experiments performed using heat-killed organisms, only BMAP-28 demonstrated significant efficacy on lethality rates and cytokines plasma levels when compared with controls. RIP combined with BMAP-28 exhibited the highest efficacy on all main outcome measurements. These data were observed on both immediate and delayed treatments. These results highlight the capacity of RIP and BMAP-28 to reduce the septic effects of bacterial cell components and exotoxins, and suggest their potential use in the treatment of severe staphylococcus-associated sepsis.
Randomized Phase II Study of Cabazitaxel Versus Methotrexate in Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Previously Treated With Platinum-Based Therapy

Lessons Learned Cabazitaxel has activity in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and taxane-resistant cell lines. For the first time, cabazitaxel was investigated in incurable patients with recurrent SCCHN. Patients were randomly assigned to cabazitaxel every 3 weeks or weekly methotrexate. This phase II study did not meet its primary endpoint. Cabazitaxel has low activity in SCCHN. The toxicity profile in this population also was not favorable owing to the high rate of febrile neutropenia observed (17%). Background. Cabazitaxel is a second-generation taxane that improves the survival of patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer following docetaxel therapy. Cabazitaxel has activity in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and taxane-resistant cell lines. In this randomized phase II trial, we investigated cabazitaxel in patients with recurrent SCCHN. Methods. Patients with incurable SCCHN with progression after platinum-based therapy were randomly assigned to cabazitaxel every 3 weeks (cycle 1, 20 mg/m2, increased to 25 mg/m2 for subsequent cycles in the absence of nonhematological adverse events [AEs] greater than grade 2 and hematological AEs greater than grade 3) or methotrexate (40 mg/m2/week). The patients were stratified according to their performance status and previous platinum-based chemotherapy for palliation versus curative intent. The primary endpoint was the progression-free survival rate (PFSR) at 18 weeks. Results. Of the 101 patients, 53 and 48, with a median age of 58.0 years (range, 41–80), were randomly assigned to cabazitaxel or methotrexate, respectively. The PFSR at 18 weeks was 13.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5%–25%) for cabazitaxel and 8.3% (95% CI, 2%–20%) for methotrexate. The median progression-free survival was 1.9 months in both arms. The median overall survival was 5.0 and 3.6 months for cabazitaxel and methotrexate, respectively. More patients experienced serious adverse events with cabazitaxel than with methotrexate (54% vs. 36%). The most common drug-related grade 3–4 AE in the cabazitaxel arm was febrile neutropenia (17.3%). Conclusion. This study did not meet its primary endpoint. Cabazitaxel has low activity in recurrent SCCHN.
Intravenous acetaminophen reduced the use of opioids compared with oral administration after coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate if intravenous acetaminophen compared to oral administration reduced the consumption of opioids and their side effects without an increase in pain during the stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN Prospective, randomized study. SETTING An ICU in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS Eighty patients with written informed consent undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. Anesthesia was based on propofol and fentanyl combined with sevoflurane. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to 2 groups: acetaminophen, 1 g every sixth hour during the postoperative period, either as tablets or intravenously after extubation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The amount of opioids administered during the study period was measured starting with acetaminophen administration during the stay in the ICU until 9 o'clock the following morning. Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was noted. Pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10. Three patients, 2 in the oral and 1 in the intravenous group, were excluded because of incomplete data. The intravenous group received less opioids than the orally treated group, 17.4 +/- 7.9 mg compared with 22.1 +/- 8.6 mg (p = 0.016). PONV incidence and VAS scores did not differ. During the first hours after extubation, 50 of 77 patients reported VAS scores >3 with no difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous acetaminophen had a limited opioid-sparing effect when compared with oral administration after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The opioid-sparing effect was not accompanied by any reduction in the incidence of PONV. The clinical significance of the opioid-sparing effect could therefore be questioned.
The culture and transplantation of human limbal stem cells

The cornea is the clear front of the eye and its surface is composed of an epithelium. This is renewed by stem cells located at the limbus, which encircles the periphery of the cornea. These limbal stem cells become lost or deficient in the blinding disease of limbal stem cell deficiency. In this review article, we discuss the historical perspective in managing limbal stem cell deficiency as well as describing the more contemporary treatment options, and in particular the culture and transplantation of human limbal stem cells. This treatment was first proposed 13 years ago and many case series have been presented to date showing promising outcomes of this technique. However, challenges still remain in treating the debilitating disease of limbal stem cell deficiency. Here we discuss some of the questions, which remain to be answered in this field. J. Cell. Physiol. 225: 15–19, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrophysiological properties of neurons within the nucleus ambiguus of adult guinea pigs.

1. The purpose of this study was to determine the electrophysiological properties of neurons within the region of the nucleus ambiguus (NA), an area that contains the ventral respiratory group. By the use of an in vitro brain stem slice preparation, intracellular recordings from neurons in this region (to be referred to as NA neurons, n = 235) revealed the following properties: postinhibitory rebound (PIR), delayed excitation (DE), adaptation, and posttetanic hyperpolarization (PTH). NA neurons were separated into three groups on the basis of their expression of PIR and DE: PIR cells (58%), DE cells (31%), and Non cells (10%). Non cells expressed neither PIR nor DE and no cells expressed both PIR and DE. 2. PIR was a transient depolarization that produced a single action potential or a burst of action potentials when the cell was released from hyperpolarization. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), the maximum magnitude of PIR was 7-12 mV. Under voltage-clamp conditions, hyperpolarizing voltage steps elicited a small inward current during the hyperpolarization and a small inward tail current on release from hyperpolarization. These currents, which mediate PIR, were most likely due to Q-current because they were blocked with extracellular cesium and were insensitive to barium. 3. DE was a delay in the onset of action potential firing when cells were hyperpolarized before application of depolarizing current. When cells were hyperpolarized to -90 mV for greater than or equal to 300 ms, maximum delays ranged from 150 to 450 ms. The transient outward current underlying DE was presumed to be A-current because of the current's activation and inactivation characteristics and its elimination by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). 4. Adaptation was examined by applying depolarizing current for 2.0 s and measuring the frequency of evoked action potentials. Although there was a large degree of variability in the degree of adaptation, PIR cells tended to express less adaptation than DE and Non cells. Nearly three-fourths of all NA neurons adapted rapidly (i.e., 50% adaptation in less than 200 ms), but PIR cells tended to adapt faster than DE and Non cells. PTH after a train of action potentials was relatively rare and occurred more often in DE cells (43%) and Non cells (33%) than in PIR cells (13%). PTH had a magnitude of up to 18 mV and time constants that reflected the presence of one (1.7 +/- 1.4 s, mean +/- SD) or two components (0.28 +/- 0.13 and 4.1 +/- 2.2 s). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Recognition of physical activities in overweight Hispanic youth using KNOWME Networks.

BACKGROUND KNOWME Networks is a wireless body area network with 2 triaxial accelerometers, a heart rate monitor, and mobile phone that acts as the data collection hub. One function of KNOWME Networks is to detect physical activity (PA) in overweight Hispanic youth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in-laboratory recognition accuracy of KNOWME. METHODS Twenty overweight Hispanic participants (10 males; age 14.6 ± 1.8 years), underwent 4 data collection sessions consisting of 9 activities/session: lying down, sitting, sitting fidgeting, standing, standing fidgeting, standing playing an active video game, slow walking, brisk walking, and running. Data were used to train activity recognition models. The accuracy of personalized and generalized models is reported. RESULTS Overall accuracy for personalized models was 84%. The most accurately detected activity was running (96%). The models had difficulty distinguishing between the static and fidgeting categories of sitting and standing. When static and fidgeting activity categories were collapsed, the overall accuracy improved to 94%. Personalized models demonstrated higher accuracy than generalized models. CONCLUSIONS KNOWME Networks can accurately detect a range of activities. KNOWME has the ability to collect and process data in real-time, building the foundation for tailored, real-time interventions to increase PA or decrease sedentary time.
Emerging roles for the gerontological nurse practitioner.

As the new millennium is approached, two massive changes within the culture are currently taking place: the aging of the population and the restructuring of the health care system. Current demographics show that the fastest growing segment of society is the older population, with the fastest growth rate occurring in those over the age of 85 (Hoffman, Rice, & Sung, 1996). The frail elderly are a medically vulnerable group, often experiencing problematic accessibility to health care and requiring costly medical services. The maintenance of health in this population requires the extensive coordination of medical, nursing, rehabilitative, mental health, social, and environmental assessments and interventions. Early detection and interventions can make the critical difference between main; taining functional independence or hospitalization and institutionalization. According to Hoffman et al. (1996), 10% of Medicare beneficiaries account for 70% of medical expenditures. Rehospitalizations for Medicare participants currently account for at least one quarter of all admissions to hospitals (Naylor et al., 1994). As the health care system changes from an episodic-acute care model to a primary care-prevention model, this population of frail elderly will require particular attention if costcontainment of health care expenditures is to be realized. Many experts believe that costs can be contained only in a system that rewards better coordination of care through primary care case management and efficient use of services (Hoffman et al., 1996). The interdisciplinary geriatric health care team is becoming a rapidly recognized necessity in the care and management of the frail elderly. The gerontological nurse practitioner, as a vital member of this team, is currently expanding the nurse practitioner role into new community and acute care domains. The emphasis on defragmentation and continuity of care places the gerontological nurse practitioner at the forefront of these changes. This article examines the role of the gerontological nurse practitioner in the geriatric team