Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Foresight Effect: Local Optimism Motivates Consistency and Local Pessimism Motivates Variety

Consumers sometimes prefer to repeat their past choices; at other times the same consumer prefers to try something new. We demonstrate that a consumers’ situational future outlook, that is, local optimism or pessimism about an imminent outcome, can systematically affect the sequential consistency of consumer choices. Specifically, local optimism increases sequential choice consistency, whereas local pessimism increases sequential variety seeking. We test this foresight effect in two experimental paradigms, using both real and hypothetical consumer choices, across six studies. We first establish the basic effect of situational future outlook on sequential choice consistency (studies 1 and 2). Then we provide evidence that differences in the preference for self-continuity underlie the effect (studies 3, 4, and 5). Last, we extend this effect to choices between broadly defined usual and novel consumer products (study 6). Across the studies, we rule out differences in mood, causal attribution, and perceived control as alternative explanations. These findings have theoretical implications on the relationship between future-oriented cognition and consumer behaviors, as well as broad managerial implications for when consumers will be more apt to repeat past purchases or more open to novel product adoption.
Theorizing benefits and constraints in collaborative environmental governance : a transdisciplinary social-ecological network approach for empirical investigations

When environmental processes cut across socioeconomic boundaries, traditional top-down government approaches struggle to effectively manage and conserve ecosystems. In such cases, governance arrangements that foster multiactor collaboration are needed. The effectiveness of such arrangements, however, depends on how well any ecological interdependencies across governed ecosystems are aligned with patterns of collaboration. This inherent interdisciplinary and complex problem has impeded progress in developing a better understanding of how to govern ecosystems for conservation in an increasingly interconnected world. We argue for the development of empirically informed theories, which are not only able to transcend disciplinary boundaries, but are also explicit in taking these complex social-ecological interdependences into account. We show how this emerging research frontier can be significantly improved by incorporating recent advances in stochastic modeling of multilevel social networks. An empirical case study from an agricultural landscape in Madagascar is reanalyzed to demonstrate these improvements.
Irreversible Choice of Uncertain Technologies with Network Externalities

In this article, I explore the problem of sequential and irreversible technology choice in the presence of network externalities when the technologies stochastically evolve over time. Early potential users are shown to adopt an irreversible technology too early compared to the social optimum. The effect of increasing the uncertainty of the technologies on an early potential user's decision is analyzed. I find that the sponsor of new emerging technology might choose a research strategy that is too safe. I also study the consequences of allowing side payments between generations of consumers and demonstrate that an ex post optimal standardization policy can impair ex ante social welfare.
Predictors of duration of admission following an act of deliberate self-harm , a cross section study from Oman

Objective: This study aims to determine the predictors of the length of inpatient hospital admission following deliberate self-harm (DSH). Method: This is a retrospective study; medical notes for all patients admitted from Jan 20012 to Jan 2014 with DSH were reviewed for sociodemographic information, clinical diagnosis and length of hospital
Extreme Measures of Agricultural Financial Risk

Risk is an inherent feature of agricultural production and marketing and accurate measurement of it helps inform more efficient use of resources. This paper examines three tail quantile-based risk measures applied to the estimation of extreme agricultural financial risk for corn and soybean production in the US: Value at Risk (VaR), Expected Shortfall (ES) and Spectral Risk Measures (SRMs). We use Extreme Value Theory (EVT) to model the tail returns and present results for these three different risk measures using agricultural futures market data. We compare the estimated risk measures in terms of their size and precision, and find that they are all considerably higher than normal estimates; they are also quite uncertain, and become more uncertain as the risks involved become more extreme.
The circumstellar environment and evolutionary state of the supergiant B[e] star Wd1-9

Context. Historically, supergiant (sg)B[e] stars have been difficult to include in theoretical schemes for the evolution of massive OB stars. Aims. The location of Wd1-9 within the coeval starburst cluster Westerlund 1 means that it may be placed into a proper evolutionary context and we therefore aim to utilise a comprehensive multiwavelength dataset to determine its physical properties and consequently its relation to other sgB[e] stars and the global population of massive evolved stars within Wd1. Methods. Multi-epoch R -a ndI-band VLT/UVES and VLT/FORS2 spectra are used to constrain the properties of the circumstellar gas, while an ISO-SWS spectrum covering 2.45–45 μm is used to investigate the distribution, geometry and composition of the dust via a semi-analytic irradiated disk model. Radio emission enables a long term mass-loss history to be determined, while X-ray observations reveal the physical nature of high energy processes within the system. Results. Wd1-9 exhibits the rich optical emission line spectrum that is characteristic of sgB[e] stars. Likewise its mid-IR spectrum resembles those of the LMC sgB[e] stars R66 and 126, revealing the presence of equatorially concentrated silicate dust, with a mass
Impact of Industrial Effluents Discharge on the Quality of Nwiyi River Enugu South Eastern Nigeria

A study was conducted to assess the impact of industrial effluents on Nwiyi River Enugu, Nigeria. Four sampling points were established 100m apart from AMA Breweries, and samples were collected on 2 hourly bases over a period of 24 hours. The samples were then analyzed for pH, EC, TSS, TDS, hardness, alkalinity, acidity, nitrate, phosphate, chloride, sulphate, DO, BOD , COD, turbidity, oil and gas, phenol compounds, Mg, Ca, AS, Al, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn, Cr, Cd, cyanide, total plate count, and total coliform using standard methods. Results obtained were analyzed statistically using mean and compared with national and international regulatory agencies guidelines. Results show that EC, turbidity, phosphate, Fe, COD, BOD, alkalinity, total plate count, total coliform were significantly above FEPA/WHO permissible limits in water, while TDS, TSS and pH were within the limits but have the potentials to exceed the limits if the trend continues without checkmating. However, there were no traces of phenol compounds, oil and gas, As, Al, Cr, Cd, cyanide, Pb and Ni. The DO was reduced due to high BOD and COD contained in the water. The study revealed that the quality of Nwiyi River is poor and pollutants of organic, inorganic and fecal origin are entering into the river due to industrial effluent discharge. It was recommended that regulatory agencies should mandate industries to install efficient waste and wastewater treatment plants so that waste and wastewater emanating from their
Microscopic theory of convective constraint release

We develop a microscopic description of the contribution to stress relaxation in entangled polymer melts of convective constraint release, which is the release of entanglement constraints due to the effects of convective flow on chains surrounding a given chain. Our theory resolves three of the main shortcomings of the Doi–Edwards model in nonlinear rheology, in that it predicts (1) a monotonically increasing shear stress as a function of shear rate, (2) shear stress independent of molecular weight at sufficiently high shear rates, and (3) only modest anisotropies in the single chain scattering function, in agreement with experiment. In addition, our approach predicts that a stress maximum and resulting shear-banding instability would occur for living micelle solutions, as observed.
Functional vision barriers: a new concept analyzed in terms of human visual performance

In this work we introduce a new category of barriers that we call "functional vision barriers. " This expression refers to lighting and visual elements that may complicate or hinder functional vision and may make life even more difficult for people with visual defects. These barriers appear as a consequence of certain negative effects caused by the poor design of the visual stimulus or visual environment that surrounds it in which lighting is one of the main factors. We use the term "functional vision" because this expression refers to the ability of the visual system to perform everyday tasks. We analyzed some of our previous results with regard to situations that can be considered "functional vision barriers": (1) stimuli with low luminance contrast information in which the addition of chromatic contrast improves visual performance and (2) tasks that are performed in the presence of a glare source in the visual field, diminishing visual performance and reducing brightness perception.
Epidemiology and outcomes of advanced necrotising enterocolitis

Background: A life-threatening gastrointestinal emergency, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) presents commonly in neonates. It may be medically or surgically managed. The demographics of NEC patients in the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) and their long-term outcomes are largely unknown. Aims: To investigate factors associated with NEC, including methods of management, and correlate these with outcomes (mortality/discharge). Methods: A retrospective service evaluation comparing inborn and outborn infants diagnosed with NEC during a 5-year period, who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), UHW. The Vermont-Oxford Network (VON) criteria determined the confirmed cases and the data was collected from the ‘BadgerNet’ database and IMPAX image viewer. Results: All infants with poor outcomes (mortality) were preterm. Most were born by emergency caesarean, had low APGAR scores and birth weights <1kg. There was a significant difference in the volume of feeds at diagnosis between the inborn and outborn cohort (p<0.01) and between those who died and those with better outcomes (p<0.05). Discussion: Most infants in UHW with NEC require surgical input, but surgery alone does not correlate directly with higher mortality. Low gestation/birthweight and larger volume of feeds at diagnosis are high contributors. Further research will expand the database and permit follow-up of the cohort post-discharge.
Flow Regimes in Fine Cohesive Powders

Granular materials exhibit several regimes of behavior: plastic, inertial, fluidized, and entrained flow, but not all materials can pass through all of these states. Our concern is with the criteria that determine the transition from one regime to another and with the boundaries to the various flow regimes that these criteria define. Experimentally we have focused on fine, cohesive powders, where the interparticle cohesive force dominates over gravitational force and where entrained air can cause moving powder to become fluidized. [S0031-9007(98)08339-2]
Optimization of Selective Acid Hydrolysis of Cellulose for Microcrystalline Cellulose using FeCl3

In the process of acid hydrolysis of cellulose, hydrolyzing the amorphous regions while retaining the crystalline regions is the key technology for obtaining microcrystalline cellulose products. This paper investigated the influence of FeCl3 on selective acid hydrolysis of crystalline regions and amorphous regions of cellulose. X-ray diffraction data indicated that FeCl3 can enhance the selectivity of acid hydrolysis for amorphous regions of cellulose, thus improving the crystallinity of hydrocellulose. Meanwhile, the crystalline structure did not change. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the crystallinity of hydrocellulose with respect to FeCl3 concentration, HCl concentration, reaction time, and temperature, and the relevant mathematical regression equation model was established. Under optimal conditions, the crystallinity of hydrocellulose was as high as 63.59% at 88.28 °C, 2.46 M HCl, 0.4 M FeCl3, and reaction duration of 64.02 min, which was in agreement with the predicted value.
Maximising clinical benefit with adequate patient management beyond the second line in mCRC

New therapeutic options for refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) include trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) and regorafenib. However, the optimal chemotherapeutic regimen for use of each agent beyond the second line for patients with mCRC remains unclear and various factors may influence treatment decision. Available efficacy data suggest treatment with either trifluridine/tipiracil or regorafenib may be appropriate as both can extend patient survival. Thus, the safety profiles of each agent, along with patient performance status, are likely to determine treatment choice. The safety profiles of trifluridine/tipiracil and regorafenib are markedly different: higher levels of non-haematological adverse events such as fatigue, diarrhoea, hypertension and hand-foot skin reaction are reported with regorafenib, while haematological events such as neutropaenia are more common with trifluridine/tipiracil. In general, neutropaenia is a manageable treatment-related toxicity, while hand-foot skin reaction can be troublesome for patients, affecting their ability to carry out everyday activities and get on with their lives, while also affecting treatment adherence. Thus, the occurrence of any potential adverse effects and patient adherence should be closely monitored at each clinic visit. As quality of life is an important issue for patients with mCRC, it is important to balance extended survival and the likely quality of this extended life. Likewise, discussing possible side effects along with treatment expectations with patients can greatly facilitate adherence to therapy, and ultimately improve patients’ quality of life and eventual clinical outcomes.
Bargaining Regimes and Wage Dispersion

The paper studies the relationship between wage dispersion and centralization. We distinguish between two sources of wage differentials: Heterogenous -workers with different skills and firms with varying levels of economic rent per employee. The corresponding dimensions of centralization, i.e. coordination across skills or across firms and industries, are studied separately. The analysis shows that centralization may produce both lower and higher skills differentials, depending on the relative factor shares of the different types of workers. Inter-firm or -industry wage differentials among workers of identical productive characteristics, on the other hand, is always reduced with a higher degree of centralization. With a high- and a low-wage sector, the central union tends to gain from the shift in employment associated with a narrowing of the wage gap since more workers are employed in the high-wage sector.
Studying the Effectiveness of Collective Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention on Reducing Problematic Video Game Playing (PVGP) in Female and Male Adolescents

This study investigates the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral intervention on the reduction of Problematic Video Game Playing (PVGP) in high school students. In this quasi-experimental research, pretest-posttest design was used with control group. Sample included high school girls and boys in Ahvaz, southwest Iran. Sampling was done by random clustering method. To do so, 48 boys and girls students (24 boys and 24 girls) with mean age 16.5 years and highest score in PVGPT (King et al, 2011) were randomly divided into two test and control groups. Then, eight 45min cognitive-behavioral intervention was administered for test group students. In the last session, it was administered for both groups. Covariance analysis results indicated significant difference between test and control groups regarding after PVGPT (King et al, 2011) after cognitive-behavioral intervention. And, PVGP was reduced. Accordingly, cognitive-behavioral intervention was effective on improving adolescents played video games in a
Integration of Structured Cooperative Learning in Mathematics Classrooms

Cooperative learning model played a dynamic role in improving students’ achievement in mathematics. The purpose of this research study was to compare the effects of three instructional methods on students’ mathematics achievement and attitudes toward mathematics among secondary students in Natore, Bangladesh. These instructional methods were used to teach students in three experimental groups such as group 1 with structured cooperative learning, group 2 with unstructured cooperative learning and group 3 with conventional teaching. 105 students took part in the experiment and completed pre-test and post-test of mathematics achievement and attitudes toward mathematics. The statistical analysis such as ANOVA, MANOVA and post hoc pairwise comparison were used to analyze the data. The results showed a significant effect of structured cooperative learning on mathematics achievement and attitudes toward mathematics. The findings revealed that the structured cooperative students outperformed the unstructured cooperative and conventional students on mathematics achievement due to structured form of cooperative learning integration. Therefore, structured cooperative learning can successfully be implemented to promote students’ achievement in mathematics.
Beyond the User Preferences: Aligning the Prototype Design to the Users’ Expectations

It is important for practitioners to conceptualize and tailor a prototype in tune with the users’ expectations in the early stages of the design life cycle so the modifications of the product design in advanced phases are kept to a minimum. According to user preference studies, the aesthetic and the usability of a system play an important role in the user appraisal and selection of a product. However, user preferences are just a part of the equation. The fact that a user prefers one product over the other does not mean that he or she would necessarily buy it. To understand the factors affecting the user's assessment of a product before the actual use of the product and the user's intention to purchase the product we conducted a study, reported in this article. Our study, a modification of a well‐known protocol, considers the users’ preferences of six simulated smartphones each with different combination of attributes. A sample consisting of 365 participants was involved in our analysis. Our results confirm that the main basis for the users’ pre‐use preferences is the aesthetics of the product, whereas our results suggest that the main basis for the user's intention to purchase are the expected usability of the product. Moreover, our analysis reveals that the personal characteristics of the users have different effects on both the users’ preferences and their intention to purchase a product. These results suggest that the designers should carefully balance the aesthetics and usability features of a prototype in tune with the users expectations. If the conceptualization of a product is done properly the redesign cycles after the usability testing can be reduced and speed up the process for releasing the product on the market.
Experimental Investigation of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Concrete is a very popular material in the construction industry—it is, however, susceptible to quasi-brittle failure and restricted energy absorption after yielding. The incorporation of short discrete fibers has shown great promise in addressing these shortfalls. A natural fiber such as sisal is renewable, cheap, and easily available. It has also exhibited good tensile strength and can significantly improve the performance of concrete. In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of sisal fiber-reinforced concrete were reported. Sisal fibers were added in the mix at percentages of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% by weight of cement. Physical properties measured are workability, water absorption, and density while mechanical properties reported are compression strength, split tensile strength, and static modulus of elasticity. The computed modulus of elasticity of sisal fiber-reinforced concrete was compared with predicted values in some common design codes. From the study, it was concluded that sisal fiber can enhance the split tensile strength and Young’s modulus of concrete but cannot improve its workability, water absorption, and compressive strength.
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF ADULTS WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER

The postsecondary experiences of adults diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) were examined in this qualitative research. Tinto’s Student Integration Model (SIM) (1975, 1997) provided the theoretical framework that guided the study. Tinto posits that the interplay of background characteristics, academic integration, and social integration affect persistence in postsecondary education. The participants included four adults with FASD (3 males and 1 female) and their parents. In-depth interviews were conducted with the adults with FASD and their parents responded to open-ended questions in an online survey. Only one of the adults completed a postsecondary program. It was found that the background characteristic factor, and specifically having FASD, affected academic and social integration. Suggestions for revisions to the SIM are proposed, recommendations for postsecondary course instructors and academic counselors are made, and factors to consider when selecting a postsecondary program for an individual with FASD are described.
Long-Term Cyclic-Oxidation Behavior of Selected High Temperature Alloys

Long-term cyclic oxidation resistance is often needed for high temperature alloys used in gas turbine engines for extending their operating lives. This study evaluates the cyclic-oxidation behavior of commercially available Ni(HAYNES 230, 214, HASTELLOY X, and HR-160 alloys) and Fe-based alloys (HR-120 and 556 alloys) in flowing air at 982C, 1093C, and 1149C for a total exposure of one year. Test samples were thermally cycled every 30 days at temperature followed by air cooling to room temperature. Alloy performances were assessed by analyzing the weight-change behavior and extent of attack, as measured by metal loss and average internal penetration. The results clearly demonstrated the effects of alloy composition and temperature on long-term cyclic oxidation resistance. The 214 alloy exhibited superior oxidation performance owing to its ability to form and maintain protective alumina scale. Amongst the chromia-formers, 230 alloy performed the best at all temperatures; while Fe-based alloys exhibited rather poor oxidation resistance due to poor scale adhesion. By contrast, the HR-160 alloy showed the lowest weight-loss at 1149C of the chromia-forming alloys; however, this alloy underwent extensive internal attack. This study also compared cyclic oxidation resistance of 230, HR-120, and HR-160 alloys in flowing and still air. It was found that alloy composition has a profound effect on the extent of oxidation in flowing air compared to that in still air. For instance, the Fe-based HR-120 alloy exhibited improved performance in flowing air while Ni-based alloys (230 and HR-160 alloys) performed better in still air. The factors that may have influenced the oxidation behavior of alloys in flowing and still air will be discussed.