Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
2 Developmental changes and individual differences in temporal discounting during adolescence

This study examined age-related changes in a specific aspect of adolescent decisionmaking, namely the preference for future versus immediate outcomes. A sample of 622 Dutch adolescents aged 12 -17 years completed a temporal discounting task. Participants were asked to choose between a delayed reward of €50 or an immediate reward of lower value. The delay interval was varied in three blocks (1 week, 1 month, 6 months). Results showed that preferences for large delayed rewards over smaller immediate rewards increased with age: late adolescents made more longterm decisions than early adolescents. A higher level of education was associated with an increased preference for long-term rewards, though the difference between the two groups decreased with age. These results suggest that late adolescents are less susceptible to the competing presence of an immediate reward when making longterm decisions, a skill which becomes increasingly important as they transition into adulthood.
The Demands of a Changing Society: English in Education in Kenya Today

English plays a key role in Kenya's educational system, not only as an important subject but especially as the medium of instruction. It has been claimed that the model and the norm of the English used in Kenya, apart from pidgin varieties, is the British Standard variety and in particular, Received Pronunciation (RP) (Schmied, 1990; Zuengler, 1982). Is this indeed the case? If not, what are the actual norms of correctness and appropriateness with regard to pronunciation, grammar, semantics, or pragmatics within the Kenyan community? There exists a discrepancy between the theoretical norm and the actual language behaviour, what challenges does this state of affairs present to an education system that relies heavily on the use of the English language? In examining these issues the paper adopts a historical perspective and discusses the factors that indicate the presence of a discrepancy between a theoretical norm and the actual language behaviour and then explores the consequences of such a situation. It also considers the valuable lessons that could be learnt, firstly from local creative writers' adaptation to the sociolinguistic/sociocultural reality, secondly from the move towards the democratisation and Africanisation of education in Kenya's history, and thirdly from what is happening in other non-native English contexts.
Iterative pass optimization of sequence data

The problem of determining the minimum‐cost hypothetical ancestral sequences for a given cladogram is known to be NP‐complete. This “tree alignment” problem has motivated the considerable effort placed in multiple sequence alignment procedures. Wheeler in 1996 proposed a heuristic method, direct optimization, to calculate cladogram costs without the intervention of multiple sequence alignment. This method, though more efficient in time and more effective in cladogram length than many alignment‐based procedures, greedily optimizes nodes based on descendent information only. In their proposal of an exact multiple alignment solution, Sankoff et al. in 1976 described a heuristic procedure—the iterative improvement method—to create alignments at internal nodes by solving a series of median problems. The combination of a three‐sequence direct optimization with iterative improvement and a branch‐length‐based cladogram cost procedure, provides an algorithm that frequently results in superior (i.e., lower) cladogram costs. This iterative pass optimization is both computation and memory intensive, but economies can be made to reduce this burden. An example in arthropod systematics is discussed.
Narcissism and Intrinsic Motivation: The Role of Goal Congruence

Abstract This study investigated the effects of narcissists' chronic preoccupation with satisfying ego concerns on intrinsic motivation. Extending Harackiewicz and Sansone's (1991)“goal-matching” model, we hypothesized that intrinsic motivation depends on the congruence between the goals supported by the environment and the chronic goals the individual brings to the situation. High and low narcissistic students were randomly assigned feedback emphasizing either ego goals (competence is assessed relative to others) or mastery goals (competence is self-referential). Consistent with prediction, male narcissists experienced the most enjoyment, most positive affect, and least apprehension in the ego-goal conditions, whereas low narcissists showed the highest intrinsic motivation with mastery-focused goals. Potential gender differences in narcissism are considered to explain the absence of this pattern for females. The findings extend current understanding of the phenomenology of narcissism, as well as supporting the “goal-matching” model. Discussion revolves around the processing dynamics of male narcissists and possible negative consequences of their continual struggle to demonstrate competence relative to others.
Being Called A ‘Streber’: The Roles of Personality and Competition in the Labelling of Academically Oriented Students

The current research investigated a phenomenon that has received little attention so far: the labelling of students who are characterised by a strong academic orientation. We analysed whether personality predicts being labelled a ‘Streber’ (literally a person who strives for success; German origin, similar to the English word ‘nerd’) and labelling others as Strebers. Besides individual characteristics, we examined the impact of the classroom context. In Study 1 (N = 317), eighth–grade students nominated classmates who were considered to be Strebers and provided self–ratings on how often they had labelled others as Strebers. In Study 2 (N = 358), using a round robin design, we had students rate each of their classmates on the extent to which the students perceived their classmates to be Strebers. Results showed that being labelled was associated with introversion and conscientiousness. Labelling others was related to extraversion, low conscientiousness and low agreeableness. Furthermore, the labelling and the expected relation between individual characteristics and labelling were stronger in high–achieving than in low–achieving classes. Results are discussed with respect to personality traits as potential risk factors in peer stigmatisation and the impact of the classroom context. Copyright © 2012 European Association of Personality Psychology
The Scandinavian Connection in Early Estonian Nationalism

This article outlines the context and genesis of the idea of a Scandinavian-Estonian connection in early Estonian nationalism. Mnemopolitical (the role of the myth of ‘the good old Swedish times’) and geopolitical (Sweden understood as an alternative regional power to Germany and Russia) aspects of Estonian nationalism's engagement with Scandinavia are considered as factors that produced and reinforced this image of Nordic identity that has remained a persistent part of Estonian nationalist discourse.
Insights into Educational Administration: The Need for a Cross-Cultural Comparative Perspective

Abstract This article summarizes the case for adopting a cross-cultural comparative approach to the study of educational administration and leadership. In the first section, we state the main arguments for strengthening a societal cultural approach to educational administration and leadership. The second and third sections outline why culture is a useful concept for analysis and comparison in educational administration, and briefly review the concept of culture itself. The fourth section outlines an influential approach for investigating the influence of culture, that of Hofstede, and suggests that his framework provides a worthwhile starting point for educational researchers. The final section notes a number of important issues which researchers need to consider when exploring the influence of societal culture on educational administration. In summary, we suggest that a cross-cultural comparative approach to educational administration and leadership can expose the value of theory and practice from different cultural perspectives which may then, in turn, inform and influence existing dominant paradigms.
VOLATILE FATTY ACIDS PRODUCED BY SOME LACTIC ACID BACTERIA. I. FACTORS INFLUENCING PRODUCTION OF VOLATILE FATTY ACIDS FROM CASEIN HYDROLYSATE.

Abstract The effect of several conditions of substrate on total and individual volatile fatty acids (VFA) produced from casein hydrolysate by resting cells of three strains of lactic streptococci and two strains of lactobacilli has been studied. Fatty acids were steam-distilled from the reaction mixture and total and individual VFA determined by titration with alkali and by gas chromatography. Optimum pH of substrate was in the neutral or slightly alkaline range. Optimum temperature of incubation was 32 C for streptococci and 42 C for lactobacilli. Shaking incubation was more favorable to production of VFA than static incubation. There was no appreciable difference in total VFA production between incubations with air and with nitrogen atmosphere. Addition of sodium caseinate to casein hydrolysate stimulated VFA production, whereas addition of lactose or milk fat showed a slight inhibitory effect. Patterns of individual VFA varied from strain to strain, depending on the conditions of substrate.
Defining the structural origin of the substrate sequence independence of O-GlcNAcase using a combination of molecular docking and dynamics simulation

Protein glycosylation with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a post-translational modification of serine/threonine residues in nucleocytoplasmic proteins. O-GlcNAc has been shown to play a role in many different cellular processes and O-GlcNAcylation is often found at sites that are also known to be phosphorylated. Unlike phosphorylation, O-GlcNAc levels are regulated by only two enzymes, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAc hydrolase (O-GlcNAcase or OGA). So far, no obvious consensus sequence has been found for sites of O-GlcNAcylation. Additionally, O-GlcNAcase recognizes and cleaves all O-GlcNAcylated proteins, independent of their sequence. In this work, we generate and analyze five models of O-GlcNAcylated peptides in complex with a bacterial OGA. Each of the five glycopeptides bind to OGA in a similar fashion, with OGA–peptide interactions primarily, but not exclusively, involving the peptide backbone atoms, thus explaining the lack of sensitivity to peptide sequence. Nonetheless, differences in peptide sequences, particularly at the −1 to −4 positions, lead to variations in predicted affinity, consistent with observed experimental variations in enzyme kinetics. The potential exists, therefore, to employ the present analysis to guide the development glycopeptide-specific inhibitors, or conversely, the conversion of OGA into a reagent that could target specific O-GlcNAcylated peptide sequences.
A Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis was undertaken, including 21 studies, to determine the impact of parental involvement on the academic achievement of minority children. Statistical analyses were undertaken to determine the overall effects of parental involvement obtained for each study as well as specific components of parental involvement. Four different measures of academic achievement were used. The possible differing effects of parental involvement by gender and socioeconomic status were also considered. The results indicate that the impact of parental involvement overall is significant for all the minority groups under study. For all groups, parental involvement, as a whole, affected all the academic variables under study by at least two tenths of a standard deviation unit. However, among some of the races, certain aspects of parental involvement had a greater impact than did others. The significance of these results is discussed.
Radicalization into Violent Extremism I: A Review of Social Science Theories

In discourse about countering terrorism, the term "radicalization" is widely used, but remains poorly defined. To focus narrowly on ideological radicalization risks implying that radical beliefs are a proxy—or at least a necessary precursor—for terrorism, though we know this not to be true.Different pathways and mechanisms of terrorism involvement operate in different ways for different people at different points in time and perhaps in different contexts. This article explores the problems in defining radicalization and radicalism, and suggests that radicalization—and more specifically, involvement in terrorism—might best be viewed as a set of diverse processes. It goes on to review several potentially promising theories that might support further study of those processes, including social movement theory, social psychology, and conversion theory. Finally, it describes some possible frameworks for understanding how the processes might facilitate terrorism-related behavior. This article is available in Journal of Strategic Security: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol4/iss4/2 Journal of Strategic Security Volume 4 Issue 4 2011, pp. 7-36 DOI: 10.5038/1944-0472.4. 4.1 Journal of Strategic Security (c) 2011 ISSN: 1944-0464 eISSN: 1944-0472 7 Radicalization into Violent Extremism I: A Review of Social Science Theories Randy Borum University of South Florida wborum@usf.edu
Why are English Youths More Violent Than Swedish Youths?

Most cross-national studies of crime and violence explore variation in levels of crime without empirically addressing the causes of these variations. Drawing upon the theoretical framework of the situational action theory of crime causation (e.g. Wikström 2006), in this study we aim to explore and test whether the difference in levels of violence among young people in England and Sweden can be explained (fully or partly) by country differences in young people's crime propensities and lifestyles and their interaction. To achieve this we use data from the English Peterborough Youth Study and the Swedish Eskilstuna Youth Study. The findings show that in both cities (1) young people's self-reported violent behaviour is predicted by crime propensity and lifestyle, and their interaction, and (2) a substantial proportion (40 percent) of the difference in the level of violence vanishes when taking into account national differences in young people's crime propensity and lifestyles. We conclude that the findings support the notion that one major cause of the difference in the level of violence among young people in England and Sweden is that more young people in England have a higher crime propensity and are living criminogenic lifestyles than in Sweden.
The Comparative Reactivity Method ? a new tool to measure total OH Reactivity in ambient air

Hydroxyl (OH) radicals play a vital role in main- taining the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere. To under- stand variations in OH radicals both source and sink terms must be understood. Currently the overall sink term, or the total atmospheric reactivity to OH, is poorly constrained. Here, we present a new on-line method to directly measure the total OH reactivity (i.e. total loss rate of OH radicals) in a sampled air mass. In this method, a reactive molecule (X), not normally present in air, is passed through a glass reactor and its concentration is monitored with a suitable de- tector. OH radicals are then introduced in the glass reactor at a constant rate to react with X, first in the presence of zero air and then in the presence of ambient air containing VOCs and other OH reactive species. Comparing the amount of X exiting the reactor with and without the ambient air allows the air reactivity to be determined. In our existing set up, X is pyrrole and the detector used is a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer. The present dynamic range for ambient air reactivity is about 6 to 300 s 1 , with an overall maximum uncertainty of 25% above 8 s 1 and up to 50% between 6- 8 s 1 . The system has been tested and calibrated with dif- ferent single and mixed hydrocarbon standards showing ex- cellent linearity and accountability with the reactivity of the standards. Potential interferences such as high NO in ambi- ent air, varying relative humidity and photolysis of pyrrole within the setup have also been investigated. While interfer- ences due changing humidity and photolysis of pyrrole are easily overcome by ensuring that humidity in the set up does not change drastically and the photolytic loss of pyrrole is measured and taken into account, respectively, NO>10 ppb in ambient air remains a significant interference for the cur- rent configuration of the instrument. Field tests in the tropical rainforest of Suriname ( 53 s 1 ) and the urban atmosphere of Mainz ( 10 s 1 ) Germany, show the promise of the new method and indicate that a significant fraction of OH reac- tive species in the tropical forests is likely missed by current measurements. Suggestions for improvements to the tech- nique and future applications are discussed.
Self-compassion and empathy across cultures: Comparison of young adults in China and the United States

A cross-cultural study was conducted to examine differences in self-compassion and empathy among Chinese and American undergraduates. Forty Chinese and 41 American undergraduates completed the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Groups did not significantly differ in overall Self-Compassion or Empathy. However, significant differences were found in the Self-Kindness, Common Humanity, Isolation, and Over-Identification SCS subscales and the Personal Distress IRI subscale (Chinese > American). American students reported significantly higher scores on the Fantasy and Empathic Concern IRI subscales. Gender differences were stable across groups. The results of this study have implications for understanding self- and other-directed pro-social attitudes, beliefs and behaviors across cultures.
Alienation and engagement: exploring students’ experiences of studying engineering

This article reports on an investigation of students’ experiences of learning, using a framework that focuses on the concepts of alienation and engagement. Thirty-six third year chemical engineering students were interviewed about their learning experiences. Alienation is defined here as the absence of a relationship that students might desire or expect to experience. Using this focus, six possible ‘relationships’ were identified: to one's studies; to the broader university life; to home; to the career; to one's classmates; and to the lecturer. In each category a range of both alienated and engaged experiences were identified. With regard to the latter two categories, important de-alienating strategies were noted, and in particular the role that lecturers can play in facilitating these strategies.
The Declining Representativeness of the British Party System, and Why it Matters

In a recent article, Michael Laver has explained ‘Why Vote-Seeking Parties May Make Voters Miserable’. His model shows that, while ideological convergence may boost congruence between governments and the median voter, it can reduce congruence between the party system and the electorate as a whole. Specifically, convergence can increase the mean distance between voters and their nearest party. In this article we show that this captures the reality of today's British party system. Policy scale placements in British Election Studies from 1987 to 2010 confirm that the pronounced convergence during the past decade has left the Conservatives and Labour closer together than would be optimal in terms of minimising the policy distance between the average voter and the nearest major party. We go on to demonstrate that this comes at a cost. Respondents who perceive themselves as further away from one of the major parties in the system tend to score lower on satisfaction with democracy. In short, vote-seeking parties have left the British party system less representative of the ideological diversity in the electorate, and thus made at least some British voters miserable.
Assessing right ventricular function: the role of echocardiography and complementary technologies

The physiological importance of the right ventricle (RV) has been underestimated; the RV was considered mainly as a conduit whereas its contractile performance was thought to be haemodynamically unimportant.1 However, its essential contribution to normal cardiac pump function is well established with the primary RV functions being: RV function may be impaired either by primary right sided heart disease, or secondary to left sided cardiomyopathy or valvar heart disease.2 In addition, it should be considered that RV dysfunction may affect left ventricular (LV) function, not only by limiting LV preload, but also by adverse systolic and diastolic interaction via the intraventricular septum and the pericardium (ventricular interdependence). Moreover, RV function has been shown to be a major determinant of clinical outcome3–9 and consequently should be considered during clinical management and treatment.10 Thus, the need for diagnosis of RV dysfunction is evident. In practice, clinicians largely rely on non-invasive imaging methods for assessment of RV function. Two dimensional echocardiography is the mainstay for analysis of RV function, but recently alternative techniques have been proposed, including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) techniques,11 three dimensional echocardiography,12 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and even invasive assessment of pressure–volume loops.13–17 An overview of these imaging modalities for assessment of RV function is provided in the current manuscript. Due to its widespread availability, echocardiography is used as the first line imaging modality for assessment of RV size and RV function. The quantitative assessment of RV size and function is often difficult, because of the complex anatomy. Nevertheless, when used …
Symbolic leadership culture and its subcultures in one unified comprehensive school in Finland

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a symbolic-interpretative research on the leadership culture and its subcultures in one unified comprehensive school in Finland. Design/methodology/approach – The research is a phenomenological, qualitative case study. Its methodology is based on triangulation. Findings – The leadership culture of the unified comprehensive school studied in the present research seemed to be based on equality, communality, appreciation, flow of information and humor. Besides examining the general leadership culture of the school, an attempt was made to study the possible subcultures of the school by examining the six subject groups into which the teachers were divided in the school on the basis of the teachers’ education and tasks. These subject groups formed the subgroups of the research. If a subgroup's interpretation of the leadership culture of the school differed significantly from those of the other subgroups, the subgroup was considered to have a subculture of its o.