Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self- and Informant-Perceptions of Psychopathic Traits: Do Attitudes Predict Behavior Beyond Personality Ratings?

Recent empirical evidence suggests that psychopathic individuals are capable of accurately self-reporting on their personality style and externalizing behaviors; however, little is known about their attitudes toward those traits and behaviors. The present study examined the convergence of selfand informant-reports of psychopathic personality traits as well as antisocial and prosocial externalizing behaviors among a sample of undergraduate roommate dyads (N = 164). Further, analyses explored the attitudes toward psychopathic traits, including judgments of psychopathic traits as normal, socially desirable, and advantageous to the self or others, and potential variations in attitudes according to the rater’s own psychopathic trait severity. Results indicated moderate to strong correspondence between selfand roommate-reports of psychopathic traits (i.e., boldness, meanness, disinhibition). Within perspectives, psychopathy ratings were significantly associated with reported antisocial behavior (e.g., physical aggression) and prosocial activities. Psychopathy ratings from the reciprocal perspective, however, generally demonstrated little incremental utility in predicting outcomes. Concerning value judgments, boldness in particular was viewed favorably; however, only attitudes toward meanness and disinhibition demonstrated responsiveness to psychopathic trait severity, with those relatively elevated in such traits holding more approving views. Contrary to hypotheses, incremental utility of these attitudes was not generally observed. Overall, the present findings suggest that psychopathic individuals do possess insight into their core personality traits, but may have distorted views concerning the value of these characteristics.
Multistation Validation of Waveform Correlation Techniques as Applied to Broad Regional Monitoring

Abstract Waveform correlation is garnering attention as a method for detecting, locating, and characterizing similar seismic events. To explore the opportunities for using waveform correlation in broad regional monitoring, we applied the technique to a large region of central Asia over a three‐year period, monitoring for events at regional distances using three high‐quality stations. We discuss methods for choosing quality templates and introduce a method for choosing correlation detection thresholds, tailored for each template, for a desired false alarm rate. Our SeisCorr software found more than 10,000 detections during the three‐year period using almost 2000 templates. We discuss and evaluate three methods of confirming detections: bulletin confirmation, high correlation with a template, and multistation validation. At each station, 65%–75% of our detections could be confirmed, most by multistation validation. We confirmed over 6500 unique detections. For monitoring applications, it is of interest that a significant portion of the Comprehensive Nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty Organization’s Late Event Bulletin (LEB) catalog events was detected and that adding our confirmed detections for the LEB catalog would more than double the catalog size. Waveform correlation also allows for relative magnitude calculation, and we explore the magnitudes of detected events. The results of our study suggest that doing broad regional monitoring using historical and real‐time‐generated templates is feasible and will increase detection capabilities.
Globalization and Migration: The Impact of Family Remittances in Latin America

Abstract Taking as its point of departure the relationship between migration and globalization, this article highlights the salience of remittances in the national economies of Latin America, especially Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It looks at the various actors that participate in the transfer of remittances and suggests that incorporating migrant labor dynamics as a category of economic integration will reveal a distinct landscape in the economies of Latin America.
Negative externalities as the engine of growth in an evolutionary context

We present a simple growth model which has two original features: the strategic context considered, which is an evolutionary game, and the growth mechanism described, in which growth is caused by negative externalities. The emphasis in this growth mechanism is evidently different from that placed on positive externalities by current endogenous growth models. In this model welfare depends on three goods: leisure, a free environmental renewable resource, and a non-storable output. The environmental resource is subject to negative externalities, that is, it is deteriorated by the production of the output. Faced with a forced reduction of the resource, agents may react by increasing the labor supply in order to produce and consume substitutes for the diminishing resource, i. e. they can raise their defensive expenditures. The increase in production and consumption that follows, i.e. growth, generates a further deterioration of the environmental resource, thus giving rise to a self-feeding growth process. The conditions under which multiple equlibria and Pareto-worsening growth dynamics arise, are analysed. Beside showing the logical possibility that negative externalities are the engine of growth, we suggest that the case analysed may be of practical relevance, i.e., that negative externalities may play an important role in many episodes of growth. This role is widely recognized by social sciences other than economics. We suggest that the model may be interpreted as a push development model and that it may also contribute to explain some aspects of growth in advanced countries.
Traffic Noise as a Factor Influencing Apartment Prices in Large Cities

Abstract Environmental factors are among the key determinants of real estate prices. They include landscape attractiveness, land relief, exposure to sunlight and proximity to natural features. In large urban centers, traffic noise emissions significantly affect decision-making on the real estate market. Weakly developed road networks and the absence of ring roads that shift road traffic outside residential districts are a widespread problem in the cities of Central-Eastern Europe. The prevention of traffic noise pollution, one of the key environmental problems in Europe, is an important goal of European Union policy. This paper analyzes the correlations between apartment prices and traffic noise levels in Olsztyn, the capital city of the Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship (province) in north-eastern Poland. A linear correlation analysis was performed, and the distribution of unit prices of apartments was mapped by ordinary kriging.
A brief cognitive-behavioral intervention for stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms in dental students

The objective of the study was to implement a brief cognitive-behavioral psychological intervention focused on helping dental students to cope with symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression and to describe the main reasons for consulting and the changes perceived by participants of this intervention. The study consisted of an A-B-C design of a series of individual cases, with evaluations at the beginning of treatment, during treatment, and one month after the last session. The sample was composed of five university students who voluntarily requested psychological care for symptoms related to their studies and work in dentistry. To evaluate the symptoms we used the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ) 45.2, the Dental Environment Stress Questionnaire and a semi-structured exit interview. After attending 8 sessions, all 5 participants reduced their perceived stress in the dental environment. Two of the 5 participants initially had dysfunctional scores according to the questionnaire OQ-45.2 and by the end had normal scores. At the same time, the other 3 participants maintained their scores in the normal range. These results match the qualitative outcomes obtained from the exit interview. The participants reported improved coping skills after the intervention. The main limitation is that it was a non-experimental study; likewise causation cannot be attributed to the intervention and generalizations cannot be formed based on so few cases. Nevertheless, the results were promising in that the dentistry students reported that the intervention was necessary and useful for their psychological well-being.
Salt Induced Change of Gene Expression in Salt Sensitive and Tolerant Rice Species

The aim of this study was to quantify the expression of the SalT , LTP-Plant , CDPK and PP1 genes, described as responsive to salinity in rice genotypes, describe the promoter region of these genes and identify possible cis -elements that may be involved in the induction of gene expression under salinity. The cultivars BRS Bojuru (tolerant) and BRS Agrisul (sensitive) were subjected to 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of exposure to salt. For the analysis of qRT-PCR, two detoxification/defense genes and two cell signal transduction genes were selected. In the identification of cis- elements, a region spanning 1.000 bp in the promoter region of genes was analyzed. The Os01g0348900-SalT gene presented an increase in quantification of the relative expression (QR) of 2.081 times in the sensitive and 63.7 times in the tolerant cultivar. The Os03g0251000-LTP gene showed a contrasting increase of the expression between the cultivars BRS Agrisul (QR = 11.0) and BRS Bojuru (QR = 1.54). The genes Os03g0688300- CDPK and Os02g0820000-PP1 apparently do not show response to salinity, since in most treatments, the QR values were lower than the control. Thirty-eight cis- elements distributed in the four analyzed genes were identified. Of these, six were found only in the Os01g0348900-SalT gene promoter, suggesting a possible involvement of these cis- elements in the induction of expression of this gene under salinity. Based on these results, it can be concluded that these genes do not maintain a direct relation with salinity tolerance, but with mechanisms that allow acclimation to this condition.
Subsurface geology and hydrothermal alteration of Cachaços-Lombadas sector, Ribeira Grande geothermal field, São Miguel island, Azores

The present report focuses on the high temperature geothermal area of CachaçosLombadas in the 245°C two-phase liquid dominated Ribeira Grande geothermal system in São Miguel Island. Subsurface geology and hydrothermal alteration are studied, using data from four of the eight existing wells. Emphasis is laid on the determination of the lithostratigraphy and identification of possible correlations between the geological units and the permeability encountered in the wells, including the analysis of tectonic structures inferred in the area. The present work reveals that pyroclastic rocks dominate the upper part of the subsurface geology, locally interrupted by trachyte lava flows and, at deeper levels, basalt lavas are the predominant lithological unit. Furthermore, the results show that north-northwestern trending structures probably play a very important role in the distribution of permeability in the Cachaços-Lombadas area. Temperature distribution in the area was also investigated and the results are consistent with the main conclusions from previous studies, showing a clear boundary of the geothermal system in the southern part of the area and suggesting that the location of the upflow zone of the geothermal system is likely to be in the east to northeastern parts of the Cachaços-Lombadas area. The alteration mineralogy allowed determining the alteration zoning pattern in the Cachaços-Lombadas area, identifying two zones of hydrothermal alteration, smectite zone and chlorite zone, beneath a shallow zone of relatively unaltered rocks. The hydrothermal alteration investigations were complemented with the study of fluid inclusions, allowing determination of the thermal history of the geothermal system. The results reveal that the geothermal system was hotter at some point in the past. However, since cooling has occurred, the system has been in equilibrium, with evidence of some fluctuations of the fluid levels within the geothermal reservoir. Franco 114 Report 10
Can ruminal inoculum from slaughtered cattle replace inoculum from cannulated cattle for feed evaluation research?

The objective was to test the hypothesis that ruminal inoculum obtained from slaughtered cattle can replace inoculum from cannulated cattle in trials evaluating animal feedstuffs through in vitro gas production and digestibility. Five adult Holstein × Zebu steers with ruminal cannula were used to collect and compare rumen liquid from in vivo and slaughtered animals. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD) and ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations did not differ between inoculum sources (slaughtered × cannulated) for all byproducts and levels tested. Total in vitro gas production in the ruminal inoculum of cannulated animals was greater (P < 0.001) than slaughtered cattle for different levels of licuri cake. However, the greatest total concentrations of in vitro gases for slaughtered animals were observed when evaluating different levels of crude glycerin (P < 0.001). No differences were observed for diets containing castor bean meal (P >0.05). Thus, the ruminal inoculum obtained from the ruminal contents of slaughtered cattle can replace the use of fistulated animals and is a viable alternative to digestibility analysis. This approach is ethically more correct because it alleviates the suffering of animals by avoiding an invasive procedure.
Mechanistic prospective for human PrPC conversion to PrPSc: Molecular dynamic insights

PrPC conversion to PrPSc isoform is the main known cause for prion diseases including Crutzfeldt-Jakob, Gerstmann-Straussler-Sheinker syndrome and fatal familial insomnia in human. The precise mechanism underling this conversion is yet to be well understood. In the present work, using the coordinate file of PrPC (available on the Protein Data Bank) as a starting structure, separate molecular dynamic simulations were carried out at neutral and acidic pH in an explicit water box at 37°C and 1 atmosphere pressure for 10ns second period. Results showed that the acidic pH accelerates PrPC conversion to PrPSc by decreasing the protein gyration radius, flexibility and protein-solvent hydrogen bonds. In acidic conditions, PrPC attains a more folded and less flexible tertiary structure compared to its native structure at neutral pH; otherwise, the decrease of protein-solvent hydrogen bonds at acidic pH will enhance the hydrophobic character of PrPC that may exhibit association as multimeric assemblies. It can also lower water solubility and increase resistance to proteolytic degradations. Data indicated that there was no sensible protein denaturation during this conversion. It is hypothesized that the formation of slightly misfolded conformations with minor structural changes in secondary and/or tertiary structures are enough to menace scrapie formation in PrPC. Our findings show that scrapie formation seems to be a theoretically reversible process.
Acceptability of amaranth grain-based nutritious complementary foods with dagaa fish (rastrineobola argentea) and edible termites (macrotermes subhylanus) compared to corn soy blend plus among young children/mothers dyads in Western Kenya

We assessed acceptability of two flours and porridges of complementary foods based on germinated grain amaranth and maize with or without edible termites and dagaa small fish named “Winfood Classic” (WFC) and “Winfood Lite” (WFL), respectively, compared to Corn Soy Blend Plus (CSB+) among mothers and young children. A total of 57 children consumed each of the three foods on separate days with one-day washout between foods. Each food was considered acceptable if the child consumed at least 75% of the serving. Most mothers preferred WFL flour and porridge (63.2% and 70.2%, respectively) compared to WFC (24.4% and 10.5%) and CSB+ (12.3% and 19.3%). Children consuming at least 75% of served porridge were 43%, 19.6% and 21% for WFL, WFC and CSB+, respectively. No adverse effects were observed for all the foods throughout the study period and follow up lasting 4 weeks. All foods were acceptable and can be further developed and be tested for efficacy.
Prevalence of Cardiovascular Emergencies in Specialized Hospital, Addis AbabaEthiopia

Background: Ethiopia demonstrates that a considerable proportion of the disease burden is due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic diseases. Hence, this study tried to (a) Estimate prevalence of cardiovascular emergency in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (b) Identify the outcome of cardiovascular emergency admitted in specialized hospital. Method: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 205 patients admitted in Emergency room (ER) aged beyond 13 years in specialized hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All six month patient charts were selected by convenience method to fill the structured pre-tested check list. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 16 software. Result: The prevalence of cardiovascular emergency in the ER of the specialized hospital was 11% of the medical emergency admission was due to cardiac emergency in ER. The mean age of the admitted patients was 41 years out of which 55.4% were females and 44.6% were males. More than half 111(54%) patients were of Addis Ababa from the total patients of cardiovascular emergencies. Majority of the patients were presented with Rheumatic valvular heart diseases (40%), followed by hypertension (26%) and ischemic heart disease (15%), Congestive heart failure (44%) followed by stroke (22% ) and Cardiac arrest(11%). 25% of the patients died during their hospital stay. Conclusion: Rheumatic vavular heart diseases (RHD) were the principal cause of cardiac emergency. Hypertension and ischemic heart diseases was in the second and third position. The government and other sectors have to promote public awareness on the burden of RHD, high blood pressure and ischemic heart diseases. Improvement of emergency care along with lifestyle modification is essential to minimize the burden of cardiac emergencies.
The Effects of Joining a Monetary Union on Output and Inflation Variability in Accession Countries

New EU member countries are supposed to adopt the Euro as soon as economic convergence is achieved. This paper analyzes the effects of joining a monetary union on output and inflation variability in small acceding countries. An asymmetric macroeconomic two-country model is specified and combined with two different monetary policy regimes: (i) national monetary policy, (ii) monetary union. The performance of the two regimes is analyzed in terms of inflation and output variability for a broad range of structural parameter specifications.
Investigation of the CCN Activity, BC and UVBC Mass Concentrations of Biomass Burning Aerosols during the 2013 BASELInE Campaign

ABSTRACTBiomass-burning (BB) aerosols, acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), can influence cloud microphysical and radiative properties. In this study, we present CCN measured near the BB source regions over northern Southeast Asia (Doi Ang Khang, Thailand) and at downwind receptor areas (Lulin Atmospheric Background Station, Taiwan), focusing exclusively on 13–20 March 2013 as part of 2013 spring campaign of the Seven SouthEast Asian Studies (7-SEAS) intensive observation. One of the campaign’s objectives is to characterize BB aerosols serving as CCN in SouthEast Asia (SEA). CCN concentrations were measured by a CCN counter at 5 supersaturation (SS) levels: 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.45%, 0.60%, and 0.75%. In addition, PM2.5 and black carbon mass concentrations were analyzed by using a tapered element oscillating microbalance and an aethalometer. It was found the number-size distributions and the characteristics of hygroscopicity (e.g., activation ratio and κ) of BB aerosols in SEA have a strong diurnal pattern, and different behaviors of patterns were characterized under two distinct weather systems. The overall average κ value was low (0.05–0.1) but comparable with previous CCN studies in other BB source regions. Furthermore, a large fraction of UV-absorbing organic material (UVBC) and high Delta-C among BB aerosols were also observed, which suggest the existence of substantial particulate organic matter in fresh BB aerosols. These data provide the most extensive characterization of BB aerosols in SEA until now.
An Empirical Analysis of the Financial Structure of Small and Large Australian Manufacturing Enterprises

The small business literature frequently refers to the concept of a “finance gap” in order to explain differences in the capital structures of small and large firms. However, little evidence, if any, exists to support this “finance gap” explanation. This paper, while canvassing the finance gap literature, offers an alternative explanation —Myers’ Pecking Order Framework. This framework focuses on management funding preferences as a major factor in the capital structure of firms. In order to test the applicability of this view, a mail survey was conducted for small and large firms operating in the Metal Trades sub-sector of the Australian Manufacturing sector. The responses provided detailed information on the types of debt used by small and large firms. While recognizing the limitations of mail surveys and the restricted information permissible in such surveys, the results provide a unique opportunity to compare the capital structures of small and large firms. Overall, the results support the proposition that capital structure is influenced by Myers’ Pecking Order Framework and that differences between small and large firms may be attributed to small firms operating under a “constrained” pecking order.
Examining the Reliability and Validity of a Turkish Version of the Community of Inquiry Survey

The aim of this study was to describe the validity and reliability of a Turkish language version of the CoI survey developed by Arbaugh et al. (2008). Adaptation of the survey into Turkish is described. Data was obtained from 1150 students who study in different departments and take courses through online learning. The data were randomly divided into two parts: the first part was subjected to exploratory factor analysis; the second part underwent confirmatory factor analysis. Three-factor structures of the CoI framework explained 75.28% of the variance in the pattern of relationships among the items using the first split-half sample. All three presences had high reliabilities (teaching presence = .965, social presence = .953, and cognitive presence = .972). The three-factor structure of the CoI framework with teaching, social, and cognitive presences confirmed the validity of the Turkish version of the CoI survey.