Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Private Information and Insurance Rejections Nathaniel

Across a wide set of non-group insurance markets, applicants are rejected based on observable, often high-risk, characteristics. This paper explores private information as a potential cause. To do so, we develop and test a model in which agents have private information about their risk. We derive a new no-trade result that can theoretically explain how private information could cause rejections. We use the no-trade condition to generate measures of the barrier to trade private information imposes. We develop a new empirical methodology to estimate these measures that uses subjective probability elicitations as noisy measures of agents’ beliefs. We apply our approach to three non-group markets: long-term care, disability, and life insurance. Consistent with the predictions of the theory, in all three settings we find larger barriers to trade imposed by private information for those who would be rejected relative to those who are served by the market. For those who would be rejected, private information imposes a barrier to trade equivalent to an implicit tax on insurance premiums of roughly 65-75% in long-term care, 90-130% in disability, and 65-130% in life insurance. JEL classification numbers: C51, D82
Beasts and Geometry : Some Constellations of the Peruvian Quechuas*

The astronomical systems of Pre-Columbian and modern Andean populations have never attracted the amount of attention which has been devoted to the study of the Mayan and Aztec calendrical and astronomical systems. The advances made in Mesoamerican ethnoastronomy, with its wealth of hieroglyphic material giving precise recordings of planetary and astral sidereal and synodic periods, has tended to obscure the advances made in New World ethnoastronomy elsewhere. This is true for both North and South America and the major reason, I suspect, is the precision afforded by the hieroglyphs, a precision which as yet cannot be approximated (at least unambiguously approximated) anywhere else in the Americas. Perhaps only with Incaic ethnoastronomy do we find a system with a potential for yielding something close to the Mesoamerican measure of calendric and astronomical precision. Nordenskiold's (1925) study of the calendrical numbers found in Incaic quipus was an early attempt to demonstrate that a system of record-keeping existed in Incaic times which could be used for both calendrical notation and calculation. More recently, Zuidema (1977) has developed a theory for interpreting the numerical and organizational properties of the ceque system of Cuzco as a calendar system
Consumers’ Preferences for Purchasing mHealth Apps: Discrete Choice Experiment

Background There is growing interest in mobile health apps; however, not all of them have been successful. The most common issue has been users’ nonadoption or abandonment of health apps because the app designs do not meet their preferences. Therefore, to facilitate design-preference fit, understanding consumers’ preferences for health apps is necessary, which can be accomplished by using a discrete choice experiment. Objective This study aims to examine consumer preferences for health apps and how these preferences differ across individuals with different sociodemographic characteristics and health app usage and purchase experiences. Methods A cross-sectional discrete choice experiment questionnaire survey was conducted with 593 adults living in Hong Kong. A total of 7 health app attributes that might affect consumers’ preferences for health apps were examined, including usefulness, ease of use, security and privacy, health care professionals’ attitudes, smartphone storage consumption, mobile data consumption, and cost. Mixed-effect logit regressions were used to examine how these attributes affected consumer preferences for health apps. Fixed effects (coefficient β) of the attributes and random effects of individual differences were modeled. Subgroup analyses of consumer preferences by sex, age, household income, education level, and health app usage and purchase experiences were conducted. Results Cost was the attribute that had the greatest effect on consumers’ choice of health apps (compared to HK $10 [US $1.27]—HK $50 [US $6.37]: β=−1.064; P<.001; HK $100 [US $12.75]: β=−2.053; P<.001), followed by security and privacy (compared to no security insurance—some security policies: β=.782; P<.001; complete security system: β=1.164; P<.001) and usefulness (compared to slightly useful—moderately useful: β=.234; P<.001; very useful: β=.979; P=.007), mobile data consumption (compared to data-consuming—a bit data-consuming: β=.647; P<.001; data-saving: β=.815; P<.001), smartphone storage consumption (compared to >100 MB—around 38 MB: β=.334; P<.001; <10 MB: β=.511; P<.001), and attitudes of health care professionals (compared to neutral—moderately supportive: β=.301; P<.001; very supportive: β=.324; P<.001). In terms of ease of use, consumers preferred health apps that were moderately easy to use (compared to not easy to use—moderately easy to use: β=.761; P<.001; very easy to use: β=.690; P<.001). Our results also showed that consumers with different sociodemographic characteristics and different usage and purchase experiences with health apps differed in their preferences for health apps. Conclusions It is recommended that future health apps keep their mobile data and phone storage consumption low, include a complete security system to protect personal health information, provide useful content and features, adopt user-friendly interfaces, and involve health care professionals. In addition, health app developers should identify the characteristics of their intended users and design and develop health apps to fit the preferences of the intended users.
CALCAREOUS PLANKTON HIGH RESOLUTION BIO-MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHY FOR THE LANGHIAN OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA

High-resolution quantitative and qualitative analyses of the planktonic foraminifer and calcareous nannofossil content have been carried out on three Middle Miocene sections, from the Mediterranean area. Such sections (Cretaccio section, Tremiti Islands, Southern Italy; Moria section, Marche Region, Central Italy; DSDP Site, 372 succession, Balearic Basin), all well known in the literature, have been chosen because of their high-quality biostratigraphic potential. Remarkable magnetostratigraphic data were provided by the Site 372 succession where all chrons and subchrons of the interval C5Br-C5AAn have been recognised. The investigated interval falls between the First Occurrence (FO) of Praeorbulina glomerosa sicana and the Last Occurrences (LO) of Sphenolithus heteromorphus and Globorotalia peripheroronda. The LO of S. heteromorphus was detected in the uppermost part of the investigated sequence of Site 372 at the same stratigraphic level as the G. peripheroronda LO. A drastic decrease in abundance of S. heteromorphus (Last Common Occurrence -LCO) was detected slightly below its last occurrence; this event is well correlatable with the same event astronomically calibrated at Ras-il Pellegrin section (Malta Island), which has been recently ratified as the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Serravallian by the International Union of Geological Sciences. The stratigraphic correlation of the studied sections is based on first and last occurrences, abundance fluctuations of selected taxa and additional biohorizons. In particular the peculiar distribution pattern of some taxa, e.g. Paragloborotalia siakensis and Helicosphaera waltrans, offered the opportunity to increase the biostratigraphic resolution of the Langhian interval. The resulting integrated calcareous plankton bio-magnetostratigraphic scheme represents the downward extension of that one previously established for the Serravallian - Tortonian interval. The biostratigraphic correlation of the studied sections with the Langhian historical Stratotype pointed out its low degree of reliability. On the other hand, none of the sections here studied is suitable to be proposed as candidate for defining the Langhian GSSP. Thus the problem of finding, in the Mediterranean area, a valid section which could yield a new GSSP for the Langhian Stage is still open.
STELLAR POPULATION MODELS AND INDIVIDUAL ELEMENT ABUNDANCES. II. STELLAR SPECTRA AND INTEGRATED LIGHT MODELS

The first paper in this series explored the effects of altering the chemical mixture of the stellar population on an element-by-element basis on stellar evolutionary tracks and isochrones to the end of the red giant branch. This paper extends the discussion by incorporating the fully consistent synthetic stellar spectra with those isochrone models in predicting integrated colors, Lick indices, and synthetic spectra. Older populations display element ratio effects in their spectra at higher amplitude than younger populations. In addition, spectral effects in the photospheres of stars tend to dominate over effects from isochrone temperatures and lifetimes, but, further, the isochrone-based effects that are present tend to fall along the age–metallicity degeneracy vector, while the direct stellar spectral effects usually show considerable orthogonality.
Spatial genetic structure and dispersal of the cacao pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa in the Brazilian Amazon

Moniliophthora perniciosa is the causal agent of witches’ broom in Theobroma cacao (cacao). Three biotypes of M. perniciosa are recognized, differing in host speciﬁcity, with two causing symptoms on cacao or Solanaceae species (C- and S-biotypes), and the third found growing endophytically on lianas (L-biotype). The objectives of this study were to clarify the genetic relationship between the three biotypes, and to identify those regions in the Brazilian Amazon with the greatest genetic diversity for the C-biotype. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the rRNA ITS regions showed that the C- and S-biotypes formed a well-supported clade separated from the L-biotype. Analysis of 131 isolates genotyped at 11 microsatellite loci found that S- and especially L-biotypes showed a higher genetic diversity. A signiﬁcant spatial genetic structure was detected for the C-biotype populations in Amazonia for up to 137 km, suggesting ‘isolation by distance’ mode of dispersal. However, in regions containing extensive cacao plantings, C-biotype populations were essentially ‘clonal’, as evidenced by high frequency of repeated multilocus genotypes. Among the Amazonian C-biotype populations, Acre and West Amazon displayed the largest genotypic diversity and might be part of the centre of diversity of the fungus. The pathogen dispersal may have followed the direction of river ﬂow downstream from Acre, Rond ^ onia and West Amazon eastward to the rest of the Amazon valley, where cacao is not endemic. The Bahia population exhibited the lowest genotypic diversity, but high allele richness, suggesting multiple invasions, with origin assigned to Rond ^ onia and West Amazon, possibly through isolates from the Lower Amazon population.
Comparison of thermoregulatory mechanisms in heat sensitive and tolerant breeds of Bos taurus cattle

Six Angus steers (319±8.5kg) were assigned to one of two groups (hot or cold exposure) of three steers each, and placed into two environmental chambers initially maintained at 16.5–18.8°C air temperature (Ta). Cold chamber Ta was lowered to 8.4°C, while Ta within the hot chamber was increased to 32.7°C over 24 hours. Measurements included respiration rate, and both air and body (i.e., rectal and skin) temperatures. Skin temperature was measured at shoulder and rump locations, with determination of sweat rate using a calibrated moisture sensor. Rectal temperature did not change in cold or hot rooms. However, respiration rate nearly doubled in the heat (P<0.05), increasing at a Ta above 24°C. Skin temperatures at the two locations were highly correlated (P<0.05) with each other and with Ta. In contrast, sweat rate showed differences at rump and shoulder sites. Sweat rate of the rump exhibited only a small increase with Ta. However, sweat rate at the shoulder increased more than 4-fold with increasing Ta. Increased sweat rate in this region is supported by an earlier report of a higher density of sweat glands in the shoulder compared to rump regions. Sweat rate was correlated with several thermal measurements to determine the best predictor. Fourth-order polynomial expressions of short-term rectal and skin temperature responses to hot and cold exposures produced r values of 0.60, 0.84, and 0.98, respectively. These results suggest that thermal inputs other than just rectal or skin temperature drive the sweat response in cattle.
Wet tropics sustainable agriculture survey interim report: A survey of rural landholders within the wet tropics natural resource management region

This report describes the results of a survey conducted among 1,600 rural landholders in the Wet Tropics region of Far North Queensland in 2007-2008. The main purpose of the survey was to investigate key social and economic issues affecting landholders’ decision making in regards to the use of natural resource management practices, and to examine landholders’ adoption of and attitudes toward selected currently recommended practices for various industries. A total of 320 usable responses were received. This report provides a summary of responses to the survey using descriptive statistics, with a breakdown of the responses according to the primary purpose for land ownership provided where this break-down is appropriate. Reports of the analyses of relationships between responses to various topics and socio-economic characteristics will be compiled following completion of the current report and are expected to be released in May 2008. The survey was undertaken one and a half years after Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry caused a great deal of destruction to the environment, crops and built infrstructure in the Innisfail and southern Atherton Tablelands parts of the region.
Identifying, communicating and integrating social considerations into future management concerns in inshore commercial fisheries in Coastal Queensland.

The study reveals how fishing people in three Queensland regions have faced a series of challenges arising from management and policy changes, with only limited consideration of, and support for the social, personal and family implications of such change. Our research findings suggest that the current management focus on economic and ecological goals fails to sufficiently address the cumulative short and longer-term social impacts of fisheries change, in particular, the effect on the health, well-being and quality of life of the people interviewed for this study. These findings are analysed from the views and responses of the fishers and their families to the personal and social consequences they continue to endure.
A Longitudinal Study of Families Created Using Egg Donation: Family Functioning at Age 5

Findings are reported from Phase 2 of a longitudinal study of family functioning in heterosexual-couple families with 5 year olds conceived using identity-release egg donation. Seventy-two egg donation families were compared to 50 in vitro fertilization (IVF) families (ethnicity: 93% White British) using standardized observational, interview, and questionnaire measures. There were no differences between family types in the quality of mother–child or father–child interaction, apart from lower structuring by fathers in egg donation families. Egg donation mothers and fathers reported higher levels of parenting stress and lower levels of confidence and competence than their IVF counterparts. Egg donation mothers reported lower social support and couple relationship quality, greater anger toward their child, and perceived their child as more angry and less happy, compared to IVF mothers. Egg donation fathers showed greater criticism and anger toward their child, less joy in parenting, and were less satisfied with the support they received, than IVF fathers. Children in egg donation families showed higher levels of externalizing problems than IVF children as rated by mothers, fathers, and teachers, whereas they were rated as having higher levels of internalizing problems by teachers only. Externalizing problems were predicted by mothers’ lower initial social support, steeper increases in parenting stress and greater concurrent criticism, whereas internalizing problems were associated with poorer initial couple relationship quality as rated by mothers. Both were predicted by fewer gains in reflective functioning. There was a moderation effect such that parenting stress was a stronger predictor of externalizing problems for egg donation than IVF families.
United States Historical Climatology Network (US HCN) monthly temperature and precipitation data

This document describes a database containing monthly temperature and precipitation data for 1221 stations in the contiguous United States. This network of stations, known as the United States Historical Climatology Network (US HCN), and the resulting database were compiled by the National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, North Carolina. These data represent the best available data from the United States for analyzing long-term climate trends on a regional scale. The data for most stations extend through December 31, 1994, and a majority of the station records are serially complete for at least 80 years. Unlike many data sets that have been used in past climate studies, these data have been adjusted to remove biases introduced by station moves, instrument changes, time-of-observation differences, and urbanization effects. These monthly data are available free of charge as a numeric data package (NDP) from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center. The NDP includes this document and 27 machine-readable data files consisting of supporting data files, a descriptive file, and computer access codes. This document describes how the stations in the US HCN were selected and how the data were processed, defines limitations and restrictions of the data, describes the format and contents of the magnetic media, and provides reprints of literature that discuss the editing and adjustment techniques used in the US HCN.
Ultrasound‐Guided Coccygeal Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation and Steroid Injection: Combination Therapy for Coccydynia

Coccydynia is characterized by pain in tailbone region, which affects the quality of life. Various interventional procedures are performed for coccydynia that is unresponsive to conservative treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound (US)‐guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and steroid injection of the coccygeal nerve in patients with idiopathic and traumatic coccydynia.
a partisan

This paper discusses the levels, trends and causes of income inequality in Europe and the US. On the one hand, it finds that although market income inequality has generally risen, it did so more in some countries and less in others. On the other hand, disposable income inequality has had a puzzling irregular development. The latter is higher in the US, whereas in Europe three clusters of countries exist: Mediterranean and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries have the highest disposable income inequality –with the UK being the only rich EU country belonging to this group. Continental Europe has medium to low inequality while the lowest is found in the Scandinavian ones. The only exceptions to this ranking are some of the CEEs who belong to the group with the lowest disposable income inequality. It is argued that the best explanation for this classification and the national disposable income inequalities’ history is the different national public policy, that is, national redistributive policies, different taxation systems and social security contributions, which stems from the political ideology of the ruling party, the overall effectiveness and generosity of redistributive policies.
Mining of Mineral Deposits

Purpose. This paper discusses the release of acidity and toxic metals from acid sulfate soils in the Kelantan plains due to the oxidation of pyrite. Methods. A study was conducted in the field and laboratory using leaching column to quantify the release of acidity and metals from these acid sulfate soils. Findings. The highest pyrite content of 6.3% was recorded in the subsoil in the south region. Titrable actual acidity was significantly high (23.2 cmol H/kg) in soils of the southern part where jarosite occurred in the topsoil. Most of the acidity has been released at the beginning of the laboratory leaching experiment, indicating that in the real field situation, the oxidation of pyrite occurred immediately after the area was drained Originality. The depth at which pyrite layer occurs in the soils has important implication on land quality and crop production in the area. High amount of Al (0.36-0.81 cmolc/kg) and Fe (0.35-0.7 cmolc/kg) were found in the leachates. Practical implications. Opening an area of acid sulfate soils in the Kelantan Plains for agriculture had oxidized pyrite in the sediments, resulting in the release of high acidity and toxic level of Al, Fe and trace elements into the soils and waterways, which can affect crops and aquatic life. This is made worse by the release of As, B, Cu, Mn and Zn into the soil solution and waterways.
Management and outcomes with 5‐year mortality of patients with mildly elevated high‐sensitivity troponin T levels not meeting criteria for myocardial infarction

To examine management and outcomes of patients presenting to EDs with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome, who have mild non‐dynamically elevated high‐sensitivity troponin T (HsTnT) levels, not meeting the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction (MI) criteria (observation group).
ÁREA VASCULAR DEL ALANTOCORION OVINO: UN POSIBLE INDICADOR POST-MORTEM DE SOBREVIVENCIA EMBRIONARIA Ovine Allantochorionic Vascular Area: A Possible Post-mortem Indicator of Embryonic Survival

The objective of this research was to determine allantoid vascular area (VA), expressed as the percentage of the total area of ovine conceptus in normal (NP) and induced multiple (IMP) pregnancies on days 20, 28 and 35 of gestation.A total of 24 ewes divided into 2 groups (NP and IMP) with the same number of animals in each were used. The IMP group was synchronized by using 60 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) soaked in sponges placed in the vagina for 13 days. At 48 hours before withdrawal of the sponges, each ewe was given 1500 IU of PMSG, i.m. Ewes were bred in their third heat period with a ram (natural breeding). Animals were euthanized at the above-mentioned gestational ages; afterwards their reproductive tracts were removed as well as the conceptus, which were photographed and their VA determined through a digital image analyzer. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-Student tests and correlation coefficient determination. VA was not greater than 8% of the total area of conceptus. However, AV increased drastically to a range of near 100% every 8 days in both groups. No statistically significant differences (P<0.05) were found at any age between viable embryos from both groups. Highly statistical significant differences (P<0.01) were found between viable and non viable embryos from the IMP group, and there was a highly significant positive association between AV and embryonic viability on days 20, (r=0.78; P<0.01); 28 (r=0.90; P<0.01) and 35 (r=0.91; P<0.01). Embryos can survive despite a 14 Recibido: 15 / 06 / 2004. Aceptado: 08 / 11 / 2004. scarce AV before day 35 of pregnancy (means range from 1.67 to 7.03%). Independent of when functional blood flow starts in the allantois, it is clear that embryonic mortality in sheep, as well as in other species, seems to be associated with a failure in allantoid vascularization. Thus, AV could be used as an accurate measurement to determine embryonic viability in post mortem evaluations.