The effect of loss aversion and entitlement on cheating: An online experiment

We investigate how loss aversion and entitlement influence lying. We conduct an online experiment with a cheating task in which participants draw and report a number. Participants can cheat by reporting a different number to earn a higher payoff. We vary whether participants perform (or not) a real effort task to generate their endowment before the cheating task to evoke a sense of entitlement, and whether participants can cheat for an additional gain or to avoid a loss using a 2 (earned/not earned endowment) × 2 (loss/gain) design. We find no effect of loss aversion on cheating and only weak evidence of a prior stage of real effort on lying behavior. Furthermore, we find a correlation between real effort task performance and lying, but only in the gain domain. This is the first study to look at how entitlement affects cheating behavior in both the gain and loss domains.

Semantic Data Integration Service for eHealth Applications

Technologies for health have been receiving considerable attention with the popularization of devices for internet access. The Internet can be seen as a repository of knowledge due to its large amount of available information; however, on the other hand, in the midst of this vast amount of content, there is information either scientifically inaccurate or incomplete. This work presents a semantic integration service to provide information of diabetes from medical databases to eHealth applications.

Propensity to sell stocks in an artificial stock market

This experimental study of an artificial stock market investigates what explains the propensity to sell stocks and thus the disposition effect. It is a framed field experiment that follows the steps of a previous observational study of investor behavior in the Finnish stock market. Our experimental approach has an edge over the observational study in that it can control extraneous variables and two or more groups can be compared. We consider in particular the groups of amateur students and professional investors because it is well established in the literature that the disposition effect is less pronounced in professionals. The disposition effect was measured by both the traditional metric and a broader one that properly considers return intervals. A full logit model with control variables was employed in the latter case. As a result, we replicate for the broader definition what already has been found for the traditional measure: that investor experience dampens the disposition effect. Trades with positive returns exhibited higher propensity to sell than trades with negative returns. For the overall sample of participants, we find the disposition effect cannot be explained by prospect theory, but we cast doubt on this stance from partitions of data from amateurs and professionals.

Lotka’s law for the Brazilian scientific output published in journals

Lotka’s law is a power law for the frequency of scholarly publications. We show that Lotka’s law cannot be dismissed after considering a massive sample of the number of publications of Brazilian researchers in journals listed on the SCImago Journal Rank and the Journal Citation Reports. For the SCImago Journal Rank, we found a power law with the Pareto exponent of 0.4 beyond the threshold of 50 papers. This means computing the ‘average number of publications’ of either a researcher or a discipline is of no practical significance.

Preschoolers and the endowment effect

We show that preschoolers exhibit the endowment effect as evidenced by experiments where children generally chose to keep their own toys rather than trading them for similar ones. Furthermore, we relate the emergence of this effect to children's innate psychobiological traits--emotional state, gender, handedness, and digit ratio. The trials were conducted with 141 children across 6 kindergartens. We also found support that children, like adults, exhibit a preference for physical possession as opposed to ownership. As with adults, emotions also seem to matter, as children who were described as quiet and calm were more likely to present the endowment effect. Also of note, right-handed children described as quiet were more likely to exhibit the phenomenon. Furthermore, female children were generally found to be calmer than males, while males tended to be more fearful than females. This result was also previously found in teenagers.

Psychophysiological correlates of the disposition effect

We assess the psychophysiological characteristics underlying the disposition effect and find that subjects showing greater disposition effect are those who sweat more and present lower body temperature and heart rate.

p16 (INK4a) has clinicopathological and prognostic impact on oropharynx and larynx squamous cell carcinoma

CDKN2A encodes proteins such as p16 (INK4a), which negatively regulate the cell-cycle. Molecular genetic studies have revealed that deletions in CDKN2A occur frequently in cancer. Although p16 (INK4a) may be involved in tumor progression, the clinical impact and prognostic implications in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of the immunohistochemical expression of p16 (INK4a) in 40 oropharynx and 35 larynx from HNSCC patients treated in a single institution and followed-up at least for 10 years in order to explore potential associations with clinicopathological outcomes and prognostic implications. Forty cases (53.3%) were positive for p16 (INK4a) and this expression was more intense in non-smoking patients (P = 0.050), whose tumors showed negative vascular embolization (P = 0.018), negative lymphatic permeation (P = 0.002), and clear surgical margins (P = 0.050). Importantly, on the basis of negative p16 (INK4a) expression, it was possible to predict a probability of lower survival (P = 0.055) as well as tumors presenting lymph node metastasis (P = 0.050) and capsular rupture (P = 0.0010). Furthermore, increased risk of recurrence was observed in tumors presenting capsular rupture (P = 0.0083). Taken together, the alteration in p16 (INK4a) appears to be a common event in patients with oropharynx and larynx squamous cell carcinoma and the negative expression of this protein correlated with poor prognosis.

ErbB receptors and fatty acid synthase expression in aggressive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

SUMMARY

Overexpression of ErbB receptors is frequent in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and seems to be correlated with tumor progression and metastasis. Fatty acid synthase (FASN), the key lipogenic enzyme responsible for the endogenous synthesis of fatty acids, is regulated by ErbB2 and overexpressed in several human malignancies.

METHODS

This study was performed to examine the immunohistochemical expression patterns of ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, ErbB4, and FASN in a tissue microarray, containing 33 representative areas from aggressive primary HNSCC (whose patients had distant metastasis), and 21 matched lung metastasis.

RESULTS

Strong correlation among the expression of ErbB family receptors was found (ErbB1-ErbB2 P = 0.008, ErbB1-ErbB4 P = 0.018, EbB2-ErbB3 P = 0.001, ErbB2-ErbB4 P = 0.006, ErbB3-ErbB4 P=0.012) in the HNSCC. FASN expression was significantly associated with ErbB2 (P = 0.024). Lymphatic permeation was correlated with ErbB3 (P = 0.033) and histological grade with ErbB4 staining (P = 0.050). ErbB1 and ErbB2 were found mainly in patients with smoking habit (P = 0.011 and P = 0.027), and ErbB2 was associated with alcohol consumption and clinical stage (P = 0.014 and P = 0.031). Finally, FASN was overexpressed in lung metastasis, in comparison with matched HNSCC samples (P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

  The results showed that high FASN immunohistochemical expression is a feature of HNSCC lung metastasis, and ErbB1-ErbB2, ErbB1-ErbB4, ErbB2-ErbB3, ErbB2-ErbB4, and ErbB3-ErbB4 expression levels are correlated in the respective primary tumors, being ErbB2 the preferred coexpression partner of all the other ErbB receptors.

[Molecular research methods in the detection of germinal mutations in hereditary colorectal cancer]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main causes of death in South American countries. The hereditary forms of CRC are, familial adenomatous (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or Lynch Syndrome (LS), which is the most common form. The detection of mutations in the DNA repair genes (MMR) and in the APC genes enables the development of prevention strategies. Some of these methods for molecular diagnosis are applied in research and the detection of mutations of these genes, such as the partial thromboplastin time test (PTT), the single strand conformational polymorphism test (SSCP), the Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography test (DHPLC) and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in real time (qPCR).

Fatty acid synthase expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: clinicopathological findings

BACKGROUND

Overexpression of fatty acid synthase (FAS), the cytosolic enzyme responsible for the conversion of dietary carbohydrates to fatty acids, has been reported in several human malignancies and pointed as a potential prognostic marker for some tumors. This study investigated whether FAS immunohistochemical expression is correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical features of 102 patients with OSCC of the tongue treated in a single institution were obtained from the medical records and all histopathological diagnoses were reviewed. The expression of FAS was determined by the standard immunoperoxidase technique in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens and correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors.

RESULTS

Eighty-one cases (79.41%) were positive for FAS. Microscopic characteristics such as histological grade (P < 0.05), lymphatic permeation (P < 0.001), perineural infiltration (P < 0.05), and nodal metastasis (P < 0.02) were associated with FAS status. A significantly lower survival probability for patients with advanced clinical stage (log-rank test, P < 0.001), lymph nodes metastasis (log-rank test, P < 0.001), presence of vascular permeation (log-rank test, P = 0.05), and perineural invasion (log-rank test, P = 0.01) was observed in the studied samples.

CONCLUSION

The expression of FAS in OSCC of the tongue is associated with the microscopic characteristics that determine disease progression and prognosis.

Proliferation of Fibroblasts Cultured From Normal Gingiva and Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis Is Dependent on Fatty Acid Synthase Activity

BACKGROUND

Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is the enzyme that synthesizes palmitate from malonyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA. Recent studies have shown that FAS is overexpressed in human cancers and that its activity is necessary for cell proliferation. Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a genetic disease manifested as a progressive enlargement of the gingiva. The pathogenesis of this condition is not understood; however, a proliferative advantage of HGF fibroblasts in comparison with cells from normal gingiva (NG) has been described. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of FAS in NG and HGF fibroblast proliferation.

METHODS

NG and HGF fibroblasts had their proliferative potential assessed by automated cell counting and immunocytochemistry against Ki-67 or proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The production of FAS, androgen receptor (AR), and ErbB2 was analyzed by Western blot and the pattern of FAS expression studied by immunocytochemistry. FAS activity was blocked by the specific inhibitor cerulenin.

RESULTS

Higher proliferation rates were found in fibroblasts isolated from HGF than from NG. HGF fibroblasts with greater proliferative potential produced more FAS and AR than the cell lines with lower growth rates, and all studied cell lines produced similar amounts of the ErbB2 protein. In addition, the FAS inhibitor cerulenin was able to significantly reduce the proliferation of both NG and HGF cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that FAS is expressed by gingival fibroblasts and that highly proliferative HGF cells produced more FAS and AR than the other fibroblast cell lines. Moreover, FAS inhibition significantly reduced both NG and HGF fibroblast growth, suggesting a role for the androgen-driven fatty acid biosynthesis in their proliferation.

Long term results of percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty in patients with valvular aortic stenosis

The results of percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) in 62 consecutive patients with valvular aortic stenosis are reported. The age of the patients ranged from 11 months to 72 years (mean 28 +/- 12 years). Hemodynamically successful dilatation was achieved in 58 out of 62 patients. This was associated with marked clinical improvement in these patients. The left ventricular aortic peak to peak gradient decreased from 96.67 +/- 38.4 to 28.14 +/- 26.5mmHg (p < 0.01). There were no deaths during the procedure. Only one patient died in the hospital during the same admission. There was an increase in aortic regurgitation (AR) by at least one grade in 25 (40.3%) patients. Femoral arterial thrombosis was seen in 9/62 patients, 5 of them requiring surgical intervention. Follow up was available in 28 (45.1%) patients over a period of 2-15 months (mean 9 +/- 3 months). Two patients died during the follow up period. Doppler evaluation of gradients was done in all 28 patients with 15 consenting to undergo repeat cardiac catheterisation. Although hemodynamically the restenosis rate was 35.7% (10/28), only 2 of these patients showed symptomatic deterioration. The success of dilatation and restenosis rate were independent of the etiology of aortic stenosis, presence of calcification and the number of balloons used. This study demonstrates that PBAV is feasible in valvular aortic stenosis at low risk and is able to produce significant clinical and hemodynamic improvement in most cases with a restenosis rate of 35.7% at a follow up period of 9 +/- 3 months.

Methods for the study of the human foetal arterial system

Microarteriography followed by enlargement of the photographs, resin cast preparation and serial sections were techniques applied to study the arterial system of the human foetal abdomen from 12 to 20 weeks ovulation age. In order to illustrate the advantages of these techniques, the blood supply of the second portion of the duodenum of the developing foetus was demonstrated for the first time. Particular attention was directed to the recognition of anatomical variations. Vascular patterns were found to be complete in the age group studied.