Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Good or Bad, We Want it Now: Fixed-Cost Present Bias for Gains and Losses Explains Magnitude Asymmetries in Intertemporal Choice

Intertemporal tradeoffs are ubiquitous in decision making, yet preferences for current versus future losses are rarely explored in empirical research. Whereas rational-economic theory posits that neither outcome sign (gains vs. losses) nor outcome magnitude (small vs. large) should affect delay discount rates, both do, and moreover they interact: while large gains are discounted less than small gains, large losses are discounted more than small losses. This interaction can be understood through a reconceptualization of fixed-cost present bias, which has traditionally described a psychological preference for immediate rewards. First, our results establish present bias for losses, where it describes a psychological preference to have losses over with now. Present bias thus predicts increased discounting of future gains, but decreased (or even negative) discounting of future losses. Second, since present bias feelings do not scale with the magnitude of possible gains or losses, they play a larger role, relative to other motivations for discounting, for small magnitude intertemporal decisions than for large magnitude intertemporal decisions. Present bias thus predicts less discounting of large gains than small gains, but more discounting of large losses than small losses. The present research is the first to demonstrate that the effect of outcome magnitude on discount rates may be opposite for gains and losses, and also the first to offer a theory (extending present bias) and process data to explain this interaction. The results suggest that policy efforts to encourage future-oriented choices should frame outcomes as large gains or small losses.
Religiousness: An Inter-Disciplinary, Multi-Demographical and Multi-Regional Study

This study was based on an interdisciplinary paradigm for religious research, with the manifestation of inter-disciplinarity in terms of content (the specific field being the psychology of religion which traditionally coincide within two separate disciplines), as well as the methodology (embracing a true positivistic approach). Although 40 624 individuals from a large public service institution in South Africa participated in the study, only 32 413 datasets were usable for this study. Religiousness, comprising of two factors, namely Salience and Participation was measured. The instrument reported an acceptable internal consistency in terms of the Cronbach alpha coefficient and inter-item correlation. High reliability scores were reported on the eight Salience and three Participation items. Overall, religion was seen as an important aspect in the lives of all the participants. All the participants had a positive attitude towards religion and all agreed that religion played an important part in their family life, their wellness, their work performance and in their relationships with others. The overall participation in religious activities, including the involvement in Religious leadership roles, the frequency of Religious participation, as well as the extent of Religious expression, measured high. Religiousness (expressed as the aggregate score of the two factors) measured high, which is an indication that the participants generally believed in a higher power and had positive attitudes towards institutional/religion-specific practices. The participants also indicated that they valued religion as an important aspect of their lives. No meaningful inferences could be made in terms of the impact of race, gender, age and the specific religion on Religiousness.
Consistency of adjacency spectral embedding for the mixed membership stochastic blockmodel

The mixed membership stochastic blockmodel is a statistical model for a graph, which extends the stochastic blockmodel by allowing every node to randomly choose a different community each time a decision of whether to form an edge is made. Whereas spectral analysis for the stochastic blockmodel is increasingly well established, theory for the mixed membership case is considerably less developed. Here we show that adjacency spectral embedding into $\mathbb{R}^k$, followed by fitting the minimum volume enclosing convex $k$-polytope to the $k-1$ principal components, leads to a consistent estimate of a $k$-community mixed membership stochastic blockmodel. The key is to identify a direct correspondence between the mixed membership stochastic blockmodel and the random dot product graph, which greatly facilitates theoretical analysis. Specifically, a $2 \rightarrow \infty$ norm and central limit theorem for the random dot product graph are exploited to respectively show consistency and partially correct the bias of the procedure.
Establishing a common ground for the use of structural equation modelling for construction related research studies

The use of structural equation modelling (SEM) for research studies in construction related field has been on the increase over the years. The essence of this study is not to compare the level of usage of SEM with other modelling methods, neither is it to examine its extent of adoption in construction management - as this has been researched in previous works - but to arrive at a common ground for future construction related research works, based on the findings and recommendations from existing studies on the subject of SEM. Research materials within and outside the field of construction management were reviewed and it was discovered that SEM using AMOS (covariance approach) is the most appropriate method for construction research studies. This is not just because it is the most available of the software programs, but because of the numerous benefits and advantages highlighted from previous studies. The study also recommended appropriate sample size as well as cut-off value for various required goodness-of-fit tests of SEM model.
Utilization of delta-aminolevulinic acid for livestock: blood characteristics and immune organ weight in broilers

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on blood characteristics and immune organ weight in broilers. One-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments with six replicates of 20 chickens each. Treatments were basal diet supplemented with 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg ALA. The two-phase experimental diets were formulated to meet the NRC requirements for chicks and fed for 5 weeks. Growth performance was not affected by supplementation of ALA during any of the experimental periods. Blood cell counts (WBC, RBC and lymphocyte), serum total protein, albumin, iron concentrations, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were also not infl uenced by dietary treatments. Haemoglobin concentration tended to increase with an increased ALA supplementation level (linear effect; P<0.10). Dietary ALA addition did not infl uence liver weight. However, spleen and bursa of fabricius weights were increased with the increased ALA supplementation level (linear effect; P<0.05). The current data indicate that supplementation of ALA in commercial broiler diets could partly improve haemoglobin concentration and immune organ weights, without infl uencing growth performance and other blood characteristics of broilers.
Time damping of linear non-adiabatic magnetoacoustic waves in a slab-like quiescent prominence

We study the time damping of linear non-adiabatic magnetoacoustic waves in a homogeneous, isothermal and bounded magnetic slab of plasma with physical properties akin to those of quiescent solar prominences. Because of the chosen configuration, our results are related to short or intermediate period prominence oscillations and show that the damping times of fast modes are very long compared to those of slow modes. In an attempt to mimic optically thick prominences, differ- ent prominence regimes have been considered by reducing radiative losses. Then, when the temperature and/or density of the prominence are modified, the damping time varies in a complex way which also depends on the prominence regime considered. In all the prominence regimes, a minimum of the damping time can be obtained for a certain value of temperature and density. Finally, the consideration of different heating mechanisms, the case of no heating included, can modify the damping times in a substantial way while the periods are only slightly affected.
CO2 Capture by Absorption in Activated Aqueous Solutions of N,N-Diethylethanoloamine

Abstract The CO2 absorption process using aqueous amine solutions has been the most promising technique used for the removal of CO2 from gas streams in energy sector. In recent years, many researchers tested solutions which are composed of several compounds: a slow reacting tertiary amine- and a fast amine acting as an activator. In this paper, the CO2 absorption rate in an aqueous solution of N,N-diethylethanoloamine (DEEA) and activated solutions DEEA is investigated experimentally. The activators considered are sterically hindered amines: 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (AMPD) and N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine (MAPA) from the group of polyamines. The experiments were conducted over the temperature range of 303-333 K and the total amine concentration of 2 M. From the CO2 absorption experiments into mixed aqueous solutions of DEEA and MAPA, it was found that the addition of small amounts of MAPA into aqueous DEEA solutions has a significant effect on the enhancement of the CO2 absorption rate. The application of hindered amines: AMP or AMP as activators resulted in a marginally improvement of the absorption rate of CO2.
Neuroregenerative role of transplanted olfactory ensheathing cells in a model of sciatic nerve crush injury in rats histological study

Background: Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are highly specialized glial cells that guide olfactory receptor axons from nasal mucosa to olfactory bulb. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are attractive candidates for transplantation-mediated repair of injured nervous system owing to their neuroregenerative properties. Aim of the work: To evaluate the neuroregenerative role of OECs in a model of sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. Materials and Methods: OECs were isolated from the olfactory mucosa of 15 male albino rats (100 gm). Thirty adult female albino rats (200-250 gm) were used and divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Group I (control group) underwent sham operation. Group II underwent crush injury of sciatic nerve. Group III underwent sciatic nerve crush injury then injected with single dose of 3×104 OECs at the lesion site. All rats were sacrificed after 3 weeks from the onset of the experiment. Results: Histological examination of sciatic nerves of group II rats showed discontinuity of nerve fibers with vacuolated axoplasm. OECs transplantation in group III revealed restoration of the normal histological architecture of the sciatic nerves. A significant decrease in the diameter of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness was recorded in group II compared to the control group. However, group III revealed a significant increase in the previous parameters compared to group II. Conclusions: Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have neuroregenerative properties which might represent a new vision in human cell based therapy.
The Role of HRM System and Organisational Culture in Employee Engagement and Organisational Performance

Work engagement is a desirable attribute of employees that organisations must attempt to foster and enhance. Engaged employees are focused and fully immersed in their tasks, resilient to high levels of job demands, and experience a sense of pride and meaningfulness within their work. Therefore, it is important that organisations understand the mechanisms that enhance work engagement, particularly whether and how its HRM systems contribute to levels of engagement. The present study examined the contributions of HRM systems to engagement. Furthermore, although organisations implement HRM systems with the purpose of increasing the performance of their workforce, empirical evidence supporting the relationship between HRM systems and organisational performance is scarce, therefore this is also a focus of this study. Additionally, organisational culture will be investigated as the social context that enhances engagement and performance beyond the effects of existing HRM systems. Hence, this study explored the role of HRM systems and organisational culture on employee engagement and perceived organisational performance. Ninety-seven Thai employees from various organisations completed an internetbased survey. Results from multiple regressions suggest that engagement can be maintained or enhanced to the extent that employees are offered responsibility in the organisation and participate less in job training, and that the organisational culture is one that focuses on flexibility, individualism, entrepreneurship, and innovativeness. Moreover, the findings show a positive association between organisational performance and opportunities for advancement, job security, and competitive and goal oriented organisational culture. The limitations and implications of this study were addressed, along with recommendations for future research.
HPV and methylation indicators in paired tumor and saliva in HNSCC

Human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) is a causative agent for some head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and an independent risk factor for oropharyngeal SCC. The goal of this study was to examine HPV16 associated gene methylation in paired saliva and tumor DNA with assessment of the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive value for saliva HPV as a test for HNSCC. HPV16 status was determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in 35 primary HNSCC paired tumor and saliva specimens. Tumor cut points >=0.03 and >=0.1 and saliva cut points >0 and ? 0.001 were used to classify results as HPV positive or negative. Aberrant methylation was determined by the methylation-specific multiplex ligation probe amplification (MS-MLPA) assay. The frequency of promoter hypermethylation in tumor samples was 66% (23/35) versus 17% (6/35) in saliva. Two of 35 paired tumor and saliva samples had commonly methylated genes. HPV and methylation were correlated for IGSF4 (p=0.01) in tumor samples (cut point ? 0.03) and for ESR1 in saliva samples (cut point >0). Although the sensitivity of HPV detection in saliva was significantly reduced when saliva cut points were increased from >0 to >=0.001, the specificity and positive predictive values were 100% at saliva cut point of >=0.001, regardless of tumor cut points. Within clearly defined parameters, HPV detection in saliva DNA shows promise as a non invasive approach for tumor HPV status. Methylated genes detected in saliva may be useful in early detection and as potential predictive markers of HNSCC. Further confirmation and validation in larger cohorts is required.
A New Determination of the High-Redshift Type Ia Supernova Rates with the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys

We present a new measurement of the volumetric rate of SNe Ia up to a redshift of 1.7, using the HST GOODS data combined with an additional HST data set covering the GOODS-North field collected in 2004. We employ a novel technique that does not require spectroscopic data for identifying SNe Ia (although spectroscopic measurements of redshifts are used for over half the sample); instead, we employ a Bayesian approach using only photometric data to calculate the probability that an object is an SN Ia. This Bayesian technique can easily be modified to incorporate improved priors on SN properties, and it is well-suited for future high-statistics SN searches in which spectroscopic follow-up of all candidates will be impractical. Here the method is validated on both ground- and space-based SN data having some spectroscopic follow-up. We combine our volumetric rate measurements with low-redshift SN data and fit to a number of possible models for the evolution of the SN Ia rate as a function of redshift. The data do not distinguish between a flat rate at redshift >0.5 and a previously proposed model, in which the Type Ia rate peaks at redshift ~1 due to a significant delay from star formation to the SN explosion. Except for the highest redshifts, where the signal-to-noise ratio is generally too low to apply this technique, this approach yields uncertainties that are smaller than or comparable to previous work.
Decision-Centred Visualisations for Tactical Decision Support on a Modern Frigate

Decision support is a focus of attention for the mid-life upgrade of the Combat Control System (CCS) of the Canadian Navy’s HALIFAX Class frigate. We are exploring concepts for developing decision aids to assist the ship’s Command Team with tactical Command and Control. This paper proposes a nonlinear, empirical framework for the investigation. It then gives an overview of work aimed at assessing the feasibility and value for its analysis and design activities of a Cognitive Systems Engineering framework, known as Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA), for modeling intrinsic work demands and determining computer-based support interventions incorporating advanced decision aids to support these demands. It focuses on one aspect of the CWA feasibility study looking at the use of CWA for deriving decision-centred visualisations to enhance operators’ situation awareness and action responses. This leads to preliminary requirements for an interface for the ship’s tactical coordinator that have been captured in a storyboard.
The actor-driven dynamics of decarbonization

Climate change represents an unprecedented challenge in the history of humankind. It requires not only a transformation of the present fossil-fueled global economic system to a sustainable system based on renewable energy, but, equally important, a reorientation of the relations between nations from the present system of individual competition to a global cooperative network of interdependent entities striving to preserve a common habitable planet. Science can facilitate these transitions by analyzing the conflicts of interest and inherent rigidity of perceptions that are presently hindering progress in both areas of transformation. But scientists should investigate not only the difficulties, but should also identify and highlight the most promising paths for overcoming the analyzed hindrances. This is an essential pre-condition for creating the necessary incentives for effective social, economic and political actions.
Top Management Pay: Impact of Overt and Covert Power

This paper examines variations in executive pay as a function of CEO power. We assume that CEOs optimize their pay conditional upon their ability to shape decisions that favour their interests. Power is inferred from overt manifestations such as share holdings, but also from covert sources such as a CEOs' social capital. Two components of compensation are considered: base pay and bonus. While financial performance, firm size, and other factors are held constant, the results show overt power as measured by CEO, and CEO-family equity holdings, to have a curvilinear relationship with executive compensation. Proxies of covert power include tenure, being (one of) the founder(s), and firm diversification. These variables magnify or moderate the effect of equity holdings on compensation. The power effects are most pronounced for the size of CEO bonus.
Accurate numerical simulations of inspiralling binary neutron stars and their comparison with effective-one-body analytical models

Binary neutron-star systems represent one of the most promising sources of gravitational waves. In order to be able to extract important information, notably about the equation of state of matter at nuclear density, it is necessary to have in hand an accurate analytical model of the expected waveforms. Following our recent work [L. Baiotti, T. Damour, B. Giacomazzo, A. Nagar, and L. Rezzolla, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 261101 (2010). ], we here analyze more in detail two general-relativistic simulations spanning about 20 gravitational-wave cycles of the inspiral of equal-mass binary neutron stars with different compactnesses, and compare them with a tidal extension of the effective-one-body (EOB) analytical model. The latter tidally extended EOB model is analytically complete up to the 1.5 post-Newtonian level, and contains an analytically undetermined parameter representing a higher-order amplification of tidal effects. We find that, by calibrating this single parameter, the EOB model can reproduce, within the numerical error, the two numerical waveforms essentially up to the merger. By contrast, analytical models (either EOB or Taylor-T4) that do not incorporate such a higher-order amplification of tidal effects, build a dephasing with respect to the numerical waveforms of several radians.
Kernel Meets Sieve: Post-Regularization Confidence Bands for Sparse Additive Model

Abstract We develop a novel procedure for constructing confidence bands for components of a sparse additive model. Our procedure is based on a new kernel-sieve hybrid estimator that combines two most popular nonparametric estimation methods in the literature, the kernel regression and the spline method, and is of interest in its own right. Existing methods for fitting sparse additive model are primarily based on sieve estimators, while the literature on confidence bands for nonparametric models are primarily based upon kernel or local polynomial estimators. Our kernel-sieve hybrid estimator combines the best of both worlds and allows us to provide a simple procedure for constructing confidence bands in high-dimensional sparse additive models. We prove that the confidence bands are asymptotically honest by studying approximation with a Gaussian process. Thorough numerical results on both synthetic data and real-world neuroscience data are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the theory. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Electric vehicle battery charging behaviour: findings from a driver survey

This study explores driversr charging preferences in the Western Australia Electric Vehicle trial. Drivers in this trial have experience of planning trips using plug in electric vehicles (EV). There are trade-offs between charging options in terms of cost and time. In this study each driver was given a set of four stated choice experiments; they picked their best and worst options for charging EV from each experiment. Labelled experiments contained mainly three choices: work, home and public with different values of charging cost, duration, and time of day. Drivers were given assumptions before doing the experiments, for example: that they are planning a trip for their next working day. The findings of this study give several insights into driversr charging behaviour: drivers preferred to charge EV at home or work rather than at a public charging station; drivers having solar panels at home prefer to charge EV at home; people having travel commitments involving other family members do not like to charge EV at home but generally prefer to use a public charging station. Members of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association, one of the partners in the WA EV trial, preferred to charge at home. Drivers were in general sensitive to cost and showed a strong preference for low cost EV charging.