Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reasoning about Dead Agents Reveals Possible Adaptive Trends

We investigated whether (a) people positively reevaluate the characters of recently dead others and (b) supernatural primes concerning an ambient dead agent serve to curb selfish intentions. In Study 1, participants made trait attributions to three strangers depicted in photographs; one week later, they returned to do the same but were informed that one of the strangers had died over the weekend. Participants rated the decedent target more favorably after learning of his death whereas ratings for the control targets remained unchanged between sessions. This effect was especially pronounced for traits dealing with the decedent's prosocial tendencies (e.g., ethical, kind). In Study 2, a content analysis of obituaries revealed a similar emphasis on decedents' prosocial attributes over other personality dimensions (e.g., achievement-relatedness, social skills). Finally, in Study 3, participants who were told of an alleged ghost in the laboratory were less likely to cheat on a competitive task than those who did not receive this supernatural prime. The findings are interpreted as evidence suggestive of adaptive design. Let nothing be said of the dead but what is good. —Solon O ver the past few years, the cognitive science of religion has become something of a hothouse for evolutionary critique
Translating Constructivism into Instructional Design: Potential and Limitations

Instructional designers are expected to be familiar with the epistemological underpinnings of several theories and their consequences on the process of instruction. Constructivism is the dominant theory of the last decade and supports construction of knowledge by the individual. This paper discusses the basic principles underlying constructivism, particularly active, collaborative and authentic learning. Application of these principles on the process - analysis, development, evaluation - of instructional design poses certain challenges with regards to issues such as pre-specification of knowledge, authentic evaluation and learner control. Most of the problems are attributed to the fact that constructivism is a learning theory and not an instructional-design theory. Therefore, instructional designers must attempt to translate constructivism into instructional design through a more pragmatic approach that focuses on the principles of moderate - rather than extreme - constructivism and makes use of emergent technology tools. This shift could facilitate the development of more situated, experiential, meaningful and cost-effective learning environments.
The determinants of board compensation in SOEs An application to Italian public utilities

This paper investigates the determinants of board compensation for a sample of Italian State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). To that purpose, we use a newly collected panel data of 106 local public utilities observed for the years 1994-2004, which includes detailed information on the boards of directors. During this period, the deregulation process inspired institutional interventions that forced utilities, traditionally owned by local municipalities, to change their juridical form and ownership structure, thereby facilitating the entrance of private investors. The corporate governance literature shows that such changes may exacerbate the agency conflicts between shareholders, top executives and the board. However, board compensation could reduce the agency costs by aligning the incentives of managers with the interests of shareholders. This paper addresses this issue by investigating the impact that board composition, firm characteristics and performance have on board compensation. We find that the average board pay is negatively related to board size and positively related to firm dimension. The public or private nature of the major shareholder does not influence board compensation but the juridical form does. Finally, while the proportion of politically connected directors is found to negatively influence the level of per capita compensation, the impact of firm performance is uncertain.
Greenland Ice Sheet exports labile organic carbon to the Arctic oceans

Runoff from small glacier systems contains dissolved organic carbon (DOC) rich in protein-like, low molecular weight (LMW) compounds, designating glaciers as an important source of bioavailable carbon for downstream heterotrophic activity. Fluxes of DOC and particulate organic carbon (POC) exported from large Greenland catchments, however, remain unquantified, despite the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) being the largest source of global glacial runoff (ca. 400 km 3 yr −1 ). We report high and episodic fluxes of POC and DOC from a large (>600 km 2 ) GrIS catchment during contrasting melt seasons. POC dominates organic carbon (OC) export (70–89% on average), is sourced from the ice sheet bed, and contains a significant bioreactive component (9% carbohydrates). A major source of the "bioavailable" (free carbohydrate) LMW–DOC fraction is microbial activity on the ice sheet surface, with some further addition of LMW–DOC to meltwaters by biogeochemical processes at the ice sheet bed. The bioavailability of the exported DOC (26–53%) to downstream marine microorganisms is similar to that reported from other glacial watersheds. Annual fluxes of DOC and free carbohydrates during two melt seasons were similar, despite the approximately two-fold difference in runoff fluxes, suggesting production-limited DOC sources. POC fluxes were also insensitive to an increase in seasonal runoff volumes, indicating a supply limitation in suspended sediment in runoff. Scaled to the GrIS, the combined DOC (0.13–0.17 Tg C yr −1 (±13%)) and POC fluxes (mean = 0.36–1.52 Tg C yr −1 (±14%)) are of a similar order of magnitude to a large Arctic river system, and hence may represent an important OC source to the near-coastal North Atlantic, Greenland and Labrador seas.
Spine-Board Transfer Techniques and the Unstable Cervical Spine

Study Design. A repeated-measures design using a cadaveric model was used in this preliminary investigation on the effectiveness of spine-board transfer techniques. Objectives. To compare the amount of angulation (flexion–extension) motion that results at the cervical spine during the execution of the log-roll maneuver and the lift-and-slide technique; and to examine how changes to the integrity of the cervical spine impacts the amount of motion generated during the transfer process. Summary of Background Data. Very little research has been performed to establish the efficacy of spine-board transfer techniques. Early studies have indicated that the log-roll maneuver may not be appropriate for transferring victims with thoracolumbar injuries. Also, there has not been a single study that has reported the impact of transfer techniques on the unstable cervical spine. This lack of data necessitated the present study. Methods. Four groups (with six participants each) were asked to execute the log-roll maneuver and the lift-and-slide technique on five cadavers. An electromagnetic motion analysis device was used to assess the amount of angulation motion generated at the C5–C6 segment during the execution of these transfer techniques. To examine how changes to the integrity of the cervical spine impacts the amount of motion that is produced during the transfer process, flexion–extension motion was assessed under various conditions: across a stable C5–C6 segment, after the creation of a posterior ligamentous injury, and after a complete segmental injury. Results. No significant differences in angulation motion were noted between transfer techniques. However, significant differences were noted between all three injury conditions. That is, as the severity of the injury increased, the average amount of angulation motion produced at the site of the lesion also increased, regardless of technique. Conclusion. The participants of this study were able to restrict flexion–extension motion equally well with thelog-roll maneuver as with the lift-and-slide technique. However, more research is needed to fully ascertain the effectiveness of spine-board transfer techniques.
Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination cycles in patients with unilateral tubal blockage diagnosed by hysterosalpingography

Background: Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycle is an ideal protocol for some subfertile patients. So, we decided to try this therapeutic protocol for the patients with unilateral tubal blockage diagnosed by hysterosalpingography (HSG). Objective: To evaluate the effect of unilateral tubal blockage diagnosed by HSG on cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) of the stimulated IUI cycles. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed between October 2006 and October 2009 in an academic reproductive endocrinology and infertility center. Two groups of patients undergoing stimulated IUI cycles were compared. Sixty-four infertile couples with unilateral tubal blockage diagnosed by HSG as the sole cause of infertility in the group (І), and two hundred couples with unexplained infertility in the group (II). The patients underwent 3 consecutive ovarian hyperstimulation (Clomiphen citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin) and IUI cycles. The main outcome measurements were the CPRs per patients for 3 consecutive stimulated IUI cycles. Results: Cycle characteristics were found to be homogenous between the both groups. CPRs were similar in group І (26.6%) and group II (28%) (p=0.87; OR=1.075; 95% CI: 0.57 -2.28). Conclusion: Unilateral tubal blockage (diagnosed on HSG) has no effect on success rate of stimulated IUI cycles, so COH and IUI could be recommended as the initial therapeutic protocol in these patients.
Meissner effect and vortex dynamics in quark stars. A model for soft gamma-ray repeaters

We present a new model for soft gamma-ray repeaters based on a quark star born with temperatures above the critical value (Tc) for the onset of the colour-flavor locked superconductivity. The quark star then quickly cools below Tc, expelling a fraction of the surface magnetic field via the Meissner effect. We show that if a small fraction (≤10%) of the surface magnetic field (10 14 −10 15 G) is expelled, it quickly decays via magnetic reconnection and heats up the quark star surface to temperatures >10 9 K. Created (e + , e − ) pairs annihilate into gamma rays emitted in a giant burst (the first burst in our model), with a luminosity of ∼10 45 erg s −1 . Subsequent bursts result from the restructuring of the surface magnetic field following the formation and relaxation of a vortex lattice which confines the internal magnetic field. During this phase, energy is sporadically released as a consequence of magnetic reconnection events in the entangled surface magnetic field as it evolves into a smooth, more stable, configuration. The star eventually enters a quiescent phase in which energy is continuously supplied by vortex annihilation at the surface. As the star spins down, the outermost vortex lines will be pushed to the surface where they annihilate and release their confined magnetic field. We show that the corresponding luminosity is Lv ∼ 10 36 erg s −1 for a typical soft gamma-ray repeater spinning with a period of 8 s and a surface magnetic field not exceeding 10 15 G. Our model can be applied to any situation where a T > Tc quark star is generated. We discuss the connection between anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma-ray repeaters in the context of our model.
Achievement Gap in United States History End of Course Assessment Scores in GA High Schools

3 Dedication . 4 Acknowledgments.5 List of Tables . 8 List of Figures . 9 List of Abbreviations . 10 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 11 Overview . 11 Background . 11 Problem Statement . 16 Purpose Statement . 18 Significance of the Study . 19 Research Question(s) . 21 Definitions.22 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 25 Overview . 25 Theoretical Framework . 25 Related Literature.31 Summary . 55 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS . 56 Overview . 56 Design . 56
Impact of Calcium Signaling during Infection of Neisseria meningitidis to Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

The pili and outer membrane proteins of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci) facilitate bacterial adhesion and invasion into host cells. In this context expression of meningococcal PilC1 protein has been reported to play a crucial role. Intracellular calcium mobilization has been implicated as an important signaling event during internalization of several bacterial pathogens. Here we employed time lapse calcium-imaging and demonstrated that PilC1 of meningococci triggered a significant increase in cytoplasmic calcium in human brain microvascular endothelial cells, whereas PilC1-deficient meningococci could not initiate this signaling process. The increase in cytosolic calcium in response to PilC1-expressing meningococci was due to efflux of calcium from host intracellular stores as demonstrated by using 2-APB, which inhibits the release of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, pre-treatment of host cells with U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor) abolished the cytosolic calcium increase caused by PilC1-expressing meningococci demonstrating that active phospholipase C (PLC) is required to induce calcium transients in host cells. Furthermore, the role of cytosolic calcium on meningococcal adherence and internalization was documented by gentamicin protection assay and double immunofluorescence (DIF) staining. Results indicated that chelation of intracellular calcium by using BAPTA-AM significantly impaired PilC1-mediated meningococcal adherence to and invasion into host endothelial cells. However, buffering of extracellular calcium by BAPTA or EGTA demonstrated no significant effect on meningococcal adherence to and invasion into host cells. Taken together, these results indicate that meningococci induce calcium release from intracellular stores of host endothelial cells via PilC1 and cytoplasmic calcium concentrations play a critical role during PilC1 mediated meningococcal adherence to and subsequent invasion into host endothelial cells.
Retrospective exposure assessment for carcinogenic agents in bitumen waterproofing industry in Finland and denmark.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study was (i) to identify the carcinogenic agents that may cause confounding when studying the exposure-response relationship between bitumen fume exposure and cancer among roofing membrane-manufacturing workers and roofers and (ii) to assess exposures to the identified carcinogens and bitumen fume in roofing membrane manufacturing and roofing in Finland and Denmark from 1950 to 2005. METHODS Information on the use of carcinogenic agents and other relevant data were collected through semi-structured interviews of senior employees in the industry. Semi-quantitative exposure assessments were made on the basis of available measurement data and information obtained from the interviews and literature. RESULTS Most of the production line workers in roofing membrane plants in Finland were exposed to asbestos until the mid-1970s. Also, some of the mixer operators in the plants were exposed to asbestos in Finland during the 1970s and in Denmark from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. In both countries, coal tar pitch was used in roofing membrane manufacturing until the mid-1960s, and consequently, exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the plants was high in the 1950s and still significant in the early 1960s. Exposure of production line workers to quartz dust was high until the 1980s and is still relatively high compared with current occupational exposure limit values. Bitumen roofers' exposure to coal tar-derived PAHs may have been significant in both countries until the end of 1960s. Roofers' exposure to asbestos and quartz was estimated to have been near background level. CONCLUSIONS The estimated average annual exposures to asbestos, coal tar-derived PAHs and quartz dust in the bitumen waterproofing industry in Finland and Denmark were significant in the past but have a clear declining trend. Exposure to bitumen fume was found to follow a similar trend.
The Welfare Consequences of Monetary Policy and the Role of the Labor Market: a Tax Interpretation

We explore the distortions in business cycle models arising from inefficiencies in price setting and in the search process matching firms to unemployed workers, and the implications of these distortions for monetary policy. To this end, we characterize the tax instruments that would implement the first best equilibrium allocations and then examine the trade-offs faced by monetary policy when these tax instruments are unavailable. Our findings are that the welfare cost of search inefficiency can be large, but the incentive for policy to deviate from the inefficient flexible-price allocation is in general small. Sizable welfare gains are available if the steady state of the economy is inefficient, and these gains do not depend on the existence of an inefficient dispersion of wages. Finally, the gains from deviating from price stability are larger in economies with more volatile labor flows, as in the U.S.
The Correlation Between The Age Of Starting School And Academic Achievement

Article History: Received 03.12. 2016 Received in revised form 25.04. 2017 Accepted 21.06. 2017 Available online 29.07. 2017 Schooling age and the level of school readiness are considered critical concepts in students’ adaptation to school, in their academic achievement and in attaining educational objectives. Therefore, the issues of schooling age and school readiness are frequently discussed within educational matters. In Turkey, schooling age is 60 months or older in the 4+4+4 educational system. According to this legal arrangement, students who turn 60 months at the time are allowed to start school with parental consent, which means that students can start school one year earlier. In this study, the relation between the fourth grade students’ schooling ages and their academic achievement is investigated. The data for the fourth grade students who studied in schools both in the city and in the province under the Niğde Provincial Directorate of National Education in 20152016 academic years were investigated by the study. The data were collected from the students’ second term grade-point averages by scanning the e-school databases of schools in Niğde. The data was analyzed using descriptive, comparison and relational tests. The results of the study revealed weak, negative and significant relations between students’ schooling ages and their academic achievement. When compared in terms of schooling age groups, a significant difference in terms of low age groups was found in students’ academic achievements. According to this result, students’ grade-point averages increase as their schooling ages decrease. © 2017 IOJES. All rights reserved
Full 3D Tomography for the Crustal Structure of the Los Angeles Region

We apply full 3D tomography (f3dt) to a regional dataset in the Los Angeles area. In f3dt, the starting model as well as the model perturbation is three- dimensional and the sensitivity (Frechet) kernels are computed using numerical schemes that account for the full physics of 3D wave propagation. f3dt can account for the nonlinearity of structural inverse problem through iteration, thus providing the most efficient means for assimilating seismic observations into dynamic ground- motion models. We have successfully applied a scattering-integral (si) formulation of f3dt to improve a 3D elastic structure model, the Southern California Earthquake Center (scec) Community Velocity Model version 3.0 (CVM3.0) with lowest shear velocity clamped at 1 km/sec, in the Los Angeles region. Our data are time- and frequency-localized measurements of phase-delay anomalies relative to synthetics computed from the 3D elastic starting model. The Frechet kernels for our measurements were computed by convolving the earthquake wave fields generated by point earthquake sources with the receiver Green tensors (rgts), which are the spatial- temporal fields produced by three orthogonal unit impulsive point forces acting at the receiver locations. We inverted 7364 phase-delay measurements of P and S body waves by using the lsqr method. The revised 3D model, LAF3D, provides substantially better fit to the observed waveform data than the 3D starting model. To our knowledge, this study is the first successful application of f3dt using real data in structural seismology.
Is selective mutism associated with deficits in memory span and visual memory?: an exploratory case–control study

Our main aim in this study was to explore the association between selective mutism (SM) and aspects of nonverbal cognition such as visual memory span and visual memory. Auditory–verbal memory span was also examined. The etiology of SM is unclear, and it probably represents a heterogeneous condition. SM is associated with language impairment, but nonspecific neurodevelopmental factors, including motor problems, are also reported in SM without language impairment. Furthermore, SM is described in Asperger's syndrome. Studies on nonverbal cognition in SM thus merit further investigation. Neuropsychological tests were administered to a clinical sample of 32 children and adolescents with SM (ages 6–17 years, 14 boys and 18 girls) and 62 nonreferred controls matched for age, gender, and socioeconomic status. We used independent t‐tests to compare groups with regard to auditory–verbal memory span, visual memory span, and visual memory (Benton Visual Retention Test), and employed linear regression analysis to study the impact of SM on visual memory, controlling for IQ and measures of language and motor function. The SM group differed from controls on auditory–verbal memory span but not on visual memory span. Controlled for IQ, language, and motor function, the SM group did not differ from controls on visual memory. Motor function was the strongest predictor of visual memory performance. SM does not appear to be associated with deficits in visual memory span or visual memory. The reduced auditory–verbal memory span supports the association between SM and language impairment. More comprehensive neuropsychological studies are needed. Depression and Anxiety 23:71–76, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tractable Combinatorial Auctions Via Graph Matching

Combinatorial auctions play a key role in distributed AI as a mechanism for eciently allocating resources or tasks, both for cooperative and competitive scenarios. The complexity of the general problem has lead to interest in finding ecient algorithms for useful instances. Tennenholtz introduced an approach which finds polynomial solutions for certain classes of combinatorial auctions by a reduction to graph matching problems. This paper looks at the possibilities and limits of this graph-matching approach. We extend the set of known tractable combinatorial auctions identified by Tennenholtz to accommodate subadditive symmetric bids over bundles of unlimited size, certain restricted cases of asymmetric discounts over bundles, and certain restricted cases of superadditive bids. We provide results on the ultimate limits of the approach, identifying classes of auctions which cannot be reduced to 2D graph matching, and classes which are NP-equivalent. We provide complexity results for the solution of the identified classes of tractable auctions, using the current best available graph matching algorithms.