Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the robustness and optimality of alternative decision rules with varying assumptions

Abstract Several alternative decision rules have been proposed for how individuals assess and choose options, such as mates and territories. Three of these rules are the threshold rule, where individuals choose the first option that exceeds a preset level of quality, the best-of- n rule, where individuals assess a fixed number of options and then choose the best of those options, and the comparative Bayes rule, where individuals use estimates of options to selectively assess and choose options. It has been previously concluded that the threshold rule produces higher average fitness than the best-of- n rule when assessment costs are not trivial. However, previous comparisons assumed that time and options are infinite, individuals can estimate the distribution of option quality without uncertainty or mistakes, and individuals receive perfect information about the quality of assessed options. I found that the best-of- n rule produces higher average fitness than the threshold rule despite significant assessment costs, when time for choosing an option is limited, when individuals are choosing from a small pool of options, when estimates of the distribution of option quality are error-prone, and when there is uncertainty about the distribution of option quality. I also found that the comparative Bayes rule produces higher average fitness than the threshold and best-of-n rules when time or options are limited and when individuals receive imperfect information about the quality of assessed options. Therefore, the optimality of alternative decision rules depends on more than the size of assessment costs and the previous conclusions of empirical studies that have assumed such need to be re-examined. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .
Trust and Risk

Philosophical conceptions of the relationship between risk and trust may be divided into three main families. The first conception, taking its cue from Hobbes, sees trust as a kind of risk assessment involving the expected behavior of another person, for the sake of achieving the likely benefits of cooperation. The second conception of trust sees it as an alternative to calculative risk assessment, in which instead of calculating the risks of relying on another person, one willingly relies on them for other reasons, e.g., habitual, social or moral reasons. The third conception sees trust as a morally-loaded attitude, in which one has a moral expectation that one takes it to be the responsibility of the trusted person to fulfill. In the context of interpersonal relationships this attributed moral responsibility creates spheres perceived to be free of interpersonal risk, in which one can pursue cooperative aims. In this chapter we examine how these three views account for two prima facie relationships between risk and trust, and we look at some empirical research on risk and trust that employs these different conceptions of what trust is. We then suggest some future areas of philosophical research on the relationship between trust and risk.
Transgenic mouse models of human CYP3A4 gene regulation.

CYP3A4, the predominant but variably expressed cytochrome P450 of adult human liver, is subject to multifaceted constitutive regulation as well as transcriptional induction by a variety of structurally unrelated xenobiotics. Using transient transfections in HepG2 cells, we previously demonstrated the existence of a potent xenobiotic-responsive enhancer module located between - 7.2 and - 7.8 kilobases upstream of the CYP3A4 transcription start site. Induction is mediated by interaction of transcription factor binding sites in the XREM with the nuclear receptors pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). To determine the in vivo relevance of these findings and to establish a mouse model of human CYP3A4 regulation, we have generated transgenic mice carrying constructs comprising the upstream regulatory region of the human CYP3A4 gene linked to the lacZ reporter gene. Constitutive expression was observed in a developmental, tissue- and cell-specific fashion that mirrors the human situation. In addition, robust hepatic and intestinal induction with a range of reagents known to activate PXR and/or CAR (e.g., dexamethasone, pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile, and phenobarbital) was observed. However, no expression or induction was apparent with a construct lacking upstream sequences beyond - 3.2 kilobases. Histochemical staining for beta-galactosidase activity revealed that dose-dependent increases in transgene levels were associated with a zonal expansion of lacZ expressing hepatocytes, suggesting that xenobiotic induction of CYP3A genes operates primarily through the recruitment of more cells committed to expression. In summary, CYP3A4/lacZ transgenic mice provide an in vivo model for the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of a significant human drug metabolizing enzyme.
How evaluation guides AI research

Evaluation should be a mechanism of progress both within and across AI research projects. For the individual, evaluation can tell us how and why our methods and programs work and, so, tell us how our research should proceed. For the community, evaluation expedites the understanding of available methods and, so, their integration into further research. In this article, we present a five-stage model of AI research and describe guidelines for evaluation that are appropriate for each stage. These guidelines, in the form of evaluation criteria and techniques, suggest how to perform evaluation. We conclude with a set of recommendations that suggest how to encourage the evaluation of AI research.
Effects of Digital Story on Academic Achievement, Learning Motivation and Retention among University Students.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the learning environment where digital stories are used as a learning material on the motivation, academic success, retention, and and students' opinions. The study was carried out with mixed method which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative research approach. The study was implemented in Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Education Faculty Turkish Education Department. Participants included 61 students, 31 in experimental group and 30 in control group. To analyse the quantitative data; descriptive statistics, Student's t test and Paired sample t test were used. In analysis of qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews, content analysis was performed. Study results showed that digital stories have a positive effect on the academic achievement, motivation and retention in the experimental group. In addition, the students in the experimental group were found to report a positive opinion on the application of digital stories.
Functional Analyse of GLUT1 and GLUT12 in Glucose Uptake in Goat Mammary Gland Epithelial Cells

Glucose transport, mediated by glucose transporters, is necessary for mammary gland development and lactation. GLUT1 and GLUT12 could both be expressed in the pregnant and lactating mammary gland to participate in the glucose uptake process. In this study, the goat GLUT1 and GLUT12 genes were cloned from Saanen dairy goats and transfected into goat mammary gland epithelial cells to assess their biological functions and distributions. The results showed that both goat GLUT1 and GLUT12 had 12 predicted membrane-spanning helices. Goat GLUT1 and GLUT12 each influenced the mRNA expression of the other transporter and increased the glucose consumption and lactose yield in GLUT1- and GLUT12-transfected goat mammary gland epithelial cells, respectively. The overexpression of GLUT1 or GLUT12 also increased the expression of amino acid transporters SLC1A5, SLC3A2 and SLC7A5 and affected genes expressions in GMGE cells. Using immunofluorescence staining, GLUT1 was detected throughout the cytoplasm and localized to the Golgi apparatus around the nuclear membrane, whereas GLUT12 was mainly distributed in the perinuclear region and cytoplasm. This study contributes to the understanding of how GLUT1 and GLUT12 cooperate in the incorporation of nutrient uptake into mammary gland epithelial cells and the promotion of milk synthesis in the goat mammary gland during lactation.
Publication Productivity of Social Scientists in the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram: A Bibliometric Analysis

The study analysed the research productivity of social scientists at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram, during 19998-2008. The paper gives a summary and review of the various research evaluation studies of institutions and disciplines. There were 599 research articles published by the CDS researchers, including 38.23% journal articles, 23.54% chapters in books and 15.03% working papers. The highest number of publications was in the year 2008. Kerala’s developmental issues (32%) and industry, technology & development (26%) were the leading areas of research during the period of study. Authorship pattern revealed that majority of the contributions were singeauthored (56.59%) and the remaining were multi author contributions (43.41%). The degree of authorship collaboration is found to be 0.43. More than 66% of journal articles published are in Indian journals and 33.19% are published in foreign journals. Economic and Political Weekly, contributes the highest number of articles, 79 (34.50%) followed by Indian journal of Labour Economics with 7 (3.06%). The journal distribution pattern of the CDS publications does not fit the Bradford’s distribution pattern.
EMFIT Ferroelectret Film Transducers for Non-Contact Ultrasonic Testing

Cellular polypropylene ferroelectret films, combining strong electromechanical (EM) response with a low density and softness, are considered as a promising material for the air-coupled ultrasonic (ACUS) transducers. Our impedance spectroscopy study of the commercially available EMFIT films reveals acceptable EM properties: EM resonance above 500 kHz, very low acoustic impedance ZA, low dielectric and mechanic losses, absence of dielectric dispersion out of EM resonance. Low coupling factor K complicates the application, but taking in to the account both important parameters, K and ZA, EMFIT film has advantages in comparison with a PVDF film or piezoelectric composites. Influence of electrode materials (metal, thickness, deposition technology) on the EM properties was investigated. Electron beam evaporation technology was adapted to the EMFIT films to prepare samples with Au and Al electrodes without reducing or suppressing of the EM properties. Prototype transducers, based on EMFIT film, were developed. In spite of the simple construction and absence of matching layers, high sensitivity of the EMFIT transducers was proved in the ACUS experiment. Both reflected and transmitted pulses were detected through the air path length up to 50 cm. EMFIT transducers were used as a sender/receiver of the ACUS system "USPC 4000 AirTech Hillger". Amplitude and delay time scanned images of the polyethylene step wedge with holes, obtained in both pulse-echo and transmission modes, demonstrate that non-contact ultrasonic testing with EMFIT transducers is possible.
Do Measures of College Quality Matter? The Effect of College Quality on Graduates' Earnings

This study reviews and explores varying effects of college quality caused by different measures of college quality, including Barron's ratings, mean SAT scores of entering freshman class, tuition and fees, and Carnegie Classification. Data for this research come from NCES's Baccalaureate & Beyond study. Results indicate that the estimated effect of college quality is sensitive to the measure of college quality, suggesting that different measures of college quality may provide a partial explanation for varying effects of college quality in previous studies. More importantly, this analysis shows that the common wisdom—that it pays to attend high-quality colleges—is robust to these measures.
Theory of superconductor-ferromagnet point-contact spectra: The case of strong spin polarization

We study the impact of spin-active scattering on Andreev spectra of point contacts between superconductors (SC) and strongly spin-polarized ferromagnets (FM) using recently derived boundary conditions for the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity. We describe the interface region by a microscopic model for the interface scattering matrix. Our model includes both spin filtering and spin mixing and is nonperturbative in both transmission and spin polarization. We emphasize the importance of spin-mixing caused by interface scattering, which has been shown to be crucial for the creation of exotic pairing correlations in such structures. We provide estimates for the magnitude of this effect in different scenarios and discuss its dependence on various physical parameters. Our main finding is that the shape of the interface potential has a tremendous impact on the magnitude of the spin-mixing effect. Thus, all previous calculations, being based on delta-function or box-shaped interface potentials, underestimate this effect gravely. As a consequence, we find that with realistic interface potentials the spin-mixing effect can easily be large enough to cause spin-polarized subgap Andreev bound states in SC/FM point contacts. In addition, we show that our theory generalizes earlier models based on the Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk approach.
Including play in a social skills intervention for children with autism

Group-based social skills training (SST), is a common treatment for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - a condition characterised by social impairments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week SST intervention with a play component (unstructured versus semi-structured) for children with ASD. Forty-five children aged 8 to 12 years participated in the study. Data were collected from a parent, teacher and the child at pre-test, post-test and at 3-month follow-up. Compared to a waitlist control group, children who participated in the SST intervention showed significant gains in social skills and social competence and they exhibited a reduction in social worries and emotional distress over time. Observational data during SST sessions, however, revealed that those in the unstructured play environment exhibited lower levels of social participation and engagement with peers compared to children assigned to semi-structured play.
Coupling between limb tremor and postural sway in Parkinson's disease

Increased tremor and postural instability are motor problems commonly associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite the similarity between these oscillatory forms, little is known about the relation between them, especially for individuals with enhanced tremor. This study was designed to examine the nature of any relation between center of pressure (COP) excursions and postural/resting limb tremor of young, older individuals, and Parkinsonian participants in their different medication states. The resting and postural tremor for the PD participants was characterized by a single, prominent peak frequency between 4 and 7 Hz. The postural tremor for young/older participants contained smaller peaks between 1 to 4 and 7 to 12 Hz although no prominent peak was seen in their resting tremor. The AP and ML COP dynamics of all participants was characterized by a major peak between 0.1 and 0.5 Hz. An additional peak was observed in the COP output of the PD participants between 4 and 7 Hz. While no tremor‐COP coupling was observed for the young/old groups, coherence analysis revealed a significant degree of coupling between COP motion and tremor between 4 and 7 Hz for PD participants. These results highlight that the amplified tremor in PD can manifest itself in COP dynamics. This finding may have implications for postural stability for this patient group. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Modal Development: Input-Divergent L1 Acquisition in the Direction of Diachronic Reanalysis

This thesis explores the proposed causal link between child language development and language change from the language acquisition perspective. While theorists have argued for a causal link between acquisition and change for over a century (Meillet, 1912; Paul, 1920; i.a.), but little research has investigated whether this proposal makes sense for child language (c.f. Baron, 1977; van Gelderen, 2011: 21-26; Cournane, 2014). I investigate whether child input- divergent patterns (i.e., analyses which diverge away rather than converge towards the adult target) are compatible with innovations we see in the historical record. I present a series of naturalistic and experimental studies focusing on modal expressions (e.g., must, can, have to, be going to ) in English development. Modal expressions develop diachronically in a unidirectional manner: (a) syntactically, from verbs to functional verbs to INFL-elements (Roberts, 1985; i.a.), and (b) semantically, from root meanings (e.g., ability, obligation), to epistemic meanings (e.g., inference) (Traugott, 1989; i.a.). The studies in this thesis first propose what would need to be true of child language in order for child input- divergence to be the source of historical innovations, and second, test whether these input- divergent patterns indeed occur in child development. The corpus studies on naturalistic modal development provide evidence for syntactic re- categorization biases (i.e., for treatment of expressions which belong to lower categories like v in the input, as higher categories, like INFL , in the child grammar). These studies also show that the delayed onset of epistemic modal uses relative to root modal uses is best explained by grammatical development, not conceptual development (Papafragou, 1998; i.a.). The experimental studies provide evidence that preschool age children increasingly attribute epistemic-type interpretations to polysemous modal constructions, regardless of the presence or absence of meaning-determining aspect cues which adult speakers rely on (Condoravdi, 2002; Hacquard, 2006). Children appear to show U-shaped development for modal meaning and the direction of non adult-like meaning attributions is compatible with the diachronic root > epistemic trajectory. Taken together, the studies in this thesis show that children have persistent input- divergent developmental biases in both the syntactic and semantic development of their modal expressions. Both developmental patterns are consistent with the view that there are grammar internal biases in development towards treating modal expressions as increasingly abstract and functional (higher scope, higher in the tree), the same directionality observed in historical development (von Fintel, 1995; Roberts & Roussou, 2003; i.a.).
Coarsening in an integro-differential model of phase transitions

Coarsening of solutions of the integro-differential equation formula here where Ω ⊂ ℝn, J(·) [ges ] 0, ε > 0 and f(u) = u3 − u (or similar bistable nonlinear term), is examined, and compared with results for the Allen–Cahn partial differential equation. Both equations are used as models of solid phase transitions. In particular, it is shown that when ε is small enough, solutions of this integro-differential equation do not coarsen, in contrast to those of the Allen–Cahn equation. The special case J(·) ≡ 1 is explored in detail, giving insight into the behaviour in the more general case J(·) [ges ] 0. Also, a numerical approximation method is outlined and used on tests in both one- and two-space dimensions to verify and illustrate the main result.
Empirical Investigation of Retail Expansion and Cannibalization in a Dynamic Environment

Managers of retail chains who seek to add new stores or close existing ones need to know the net impact of a store's opening/closure on the overall chain performance. This requires inferring the extent to which each store generates incremental sales as opposed to competing with other stores belonging to the chain for the same set of customers. However, when the chain is experiencing a growth or a decline in sales, not accounting for these dynamics in goodwill is likely to yield misleading estimates of incremental sales versus cannibalization. Moreover, firms might have been strategic in opening outlets in locations with favorable characteristics. We need to control for this location endogeneity while inferring the marginal effect of store opening/closure. In this paper, we develop a demand model that accounts for dynamics in goodwill, location endogeneity, and spatial competition between geographically proximate retail outlets. We calibrate the model parameters on both attitudinal and behavioral data for a fast food chain in a large U.S. city. The results imply that consumers perceive a travel cost of $0.60 per mile. As regards the composition of sales at individual stores, on average, 86.7% of sales constitute incremental purchases with the rest derived from cannibalized sales from nearby stores belonging to the chain. We also find significant decay in cannibalization with distance such that when the distance between stores increases by one mile, the sales lost due to cannibalization decreases by 28.1%; there is virtually no cannibalization at a distance of 10 miles. In terms of managerial applications, we discuss how managers can use the model presented in this paper to make two key decisions: (a) isolating locations that can be closed by identifying stores that yield the lowest marginal benefit to the chain and (b) dealing with franchisees' potential concerns about cannibalization. This paper was accepted by Preyas Desai, marketing.