Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Management effectiveness of China nature reserves: status quo assessment and countermeasures].

Based on the questionnaire of World Bank/World Wide Fund for Nature (WB/WWF) management effectiveness tracking tool, a survey was conducted in 535 China nature reserves to assess their management effectiveness, with the countermeasures suggested. The 535 nature reserves had an average score of 51.95, and 69.35% of them had a score less than 60, illustrating that the general management level of our nature reserves was relatively low. There was a significant difference (P < 0.01) in the scores of management effectiveness among the nature reserves of different class and established at different time, i. e. , the higher class and the longer establishing time, the higher score of management effectiveness. However, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the scores among the reserves with different area and type. The average scores of management base, management mechanism, management behavior, and management effectiveness were 1.55, 1.44, 1.52, and 1.90, respectively. The indices (management of protection targets, condition assessment, reserve boundary, resource management, and management agency) had the highest average scores, while equipment use and maintenance, community co-management, budget sources, budget expending and management, and management system and regulations had the lowest ones. The management system for China nature reserves had been generally established, the major targets and their values had been successfully protected, but there were still many problems in the management of China nature reserves, such as management mechanism and management base construction. To improve the management effectiveness, some countermeasures should be taken, e. g. , establishing rational distribution and management mechanisms of budgets, strengthening ability construction, and promoting community participation.
Explorations of Neighbourhood and Educational Outcomes for Young Swedes

The aim of this study is to estimate the impact of neighbourhoods on educational outcome for adolescents in Sweden. Using a multilevel statistical approach and the PLACE database that consists of a census of individuals in 1990-2000 in Sweden, the paper explores different domains of neighbourhood characteristics that predict educational outcomes in adolescents. Educational achievement in year 2000 was measured for three cohorts, geocoded to their neighbourhood environments. It was found that neighbourhood characteristics related to socioeconomic resources and demographic stability are predictors of individual educational outcomes. A strong association between neighbourhood socio-cultural capital variables and education were also observed. Despite national policies on availability and access to education in Sweden, there are substantial inequalities in educational outcomes that are not simply a result of differences in individual characteristics.
Interleukin-6-receptor polymorphisms rs12083537, rs2228145, and rs4329505 as predictors of response to tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis

Tocilizumab (TCZ), a monoclonal antibody targeting the human interleukin-6-receptor (IL-6R), is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined whether three IL6R single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs12083537, rs2228145 (formerly rs8192284), and rs4329505 with previously reported functional effects were associated with clinical response to TCZ in a retrospective study cohort consisting of 79 RA patients. Three months after initiation of TCZ therapy, changes in swollen joint count (SJC) and, subordinately, tender joint count (TJC), serum-CRP, DAS28-CRP, and EULAR-response were tested for association with the IL6R-haplotype or genotype. The major allele (A) of rs12083537 and the minor allele (C) of rs4329505 were associated with a poor SJC response (P=0.02 and 0.02, respectively). Moreover, the AAC-haplotype (for rs12083537, rs2228145, and rs4329505, respectively) was associated with a poor SJC response (P=0.00004) and, with borderline significance, EULAR-response (P=0.05). These data suggest that genetic variation in IL6R may aid in predicting TCZ therapy outcome in RA patients.
Developmental differences in acute ethanol withdrawal in adolescent and adult rats.

BACKGROUND Withdrawal from an acute high ethanol dose induces behaviors reminiscent of withdrawal from chronic ethanol exposure. While such "hangover"-related anxiety has previously been shown to be considerably less pronounced in adolescent compared to adult male rats, ontogenetic studies are limited and few experiments have directly compared sex- and age-related differences in sensitivity to ethanol hangover. METHODS The current experiments examined consequences of a previous ethanol challenge (4.0 g/kg i.p. injection, 20% v/v) on anxiety and exploratory behavior in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and holeboard (HB) tests, respectively, in adolescent and adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS In Exp. 1, evidence of hangover-related anxiety and withdrawal-induced hypoactivity emerged at both ages and in both sexes. As several procedural variables were changed in Exp.1 relative to previous studies from our laboratory showing age-related differences in these hangover measures, Exp. 2 explored the possible contribution of 2 variables to ontogenetic expression of withdrawal-induced anxiogenesis: (1) isolation vs. social context during the postchallenge recovery period and (2) EPM testing alone or immediately following a 5 minute HB test. Results of Exp. 2 revealed few significant interactions of these variables with age- and ethanol exposure-related anxiety measures, although sequential testing (HB before EPM) notably suppressed activity in the EPM and altered the major underlying component of EPM behavior from anxiety to activity as revealed in factor analyses of these data. Additional analyses conducted on animals tested only in the EPM revealed attenuations in withdrawal anxiogenesis among adolescents, along with withdrawal-related decreases in activity at both ages. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results suggest that adolescents do show an attenuated sensitivity to hangover-induced anxiogenesis in the EPM, an age difference not evident under other pretest conditions. Therefore, caution should be exerted when using the EPM to index anxiety across age. The robustness of withdrawal-related hypoactivity at both ages suggests that adolescents may not be globally insensitive to the consequences of previous binge-like exposure to ethanol, but rather less likely to express certain hangover-related consequences.
Political uncertainty in a data-rich environment

We asses the general robustness of previous findings claiming that policy uncertainty exerts non-trivial influences on the US economy. Measuring the dynamic effects from a shock to policy uncertainty within a FAVAR model permits gauging the response of many more variables to policy uncertainty than is possible in a simple VAR model. Our results summarized by impulse responses are all corrected for small sample bias using a bootstrap-after-bootstrap method. Our findings support the view of policy uncertainty exerting a statistically significant influence on the economy, which is however not always as economically significant for a number of variables as found in previous studies.
Open Innovation Climate Measure: The Introduction of a Validated Scale

Open innovation describes how organizations open up their innovation processes for external influence and collaboration. Despite this recent, and increasingly popular, development in the industry as well as in academic literature, the field lacks valid assessment tools. As a supportive organizational climate is argued to be a crucial element for successful implementation of open innovation, we propose in this paper Open Innovation Climate Measure (OICM). This three-dimensional assessment tool is tested in three units located in a multinational automotive corporation in the process of incorporating open innovation principles in practice.
Output maximization using direct torque control for sensorless variable wind generation system employing IPMSG

A variable-speed wind power generation system, based on direct torque control (DTC) of an interior permanent magnet synchronous generator (IPMSG), is proposed herein. The proposed system can achieve the MPPT control without wind speed in addition to the speed and position sensorless control as well as the current control method. DTC has several advantages such as simple system configuration, easy control of flux-weakening, and it doesnpsilat need a position sensor. In particular, the proposed control method can maintain the voltage and current at the rated value in the high speed operating region. Furthermore, as the armature resistance is the only necessary parameter, the system is insensitive to parameter variations. The performance of the proposed wind generation system was validated experimentally.
Strategic transmission of costly information

IT IS OFrEN THE CASE that an individual's decision is at least partly based on information received from another. And when the agents' payoffs depend on both the former's decision and on the latter's information, there is an incentive for the informed individual to attempt to bias the decision maker's decision in his or her favor by strategically manipulating the information transmitted. In a seminal paper, Crawford and Sobel (1982) (hereafter, C/S) study such strategic information transmission in the context of an abstract sender/receiver game. Variants of the Crawford and Sobel model have been applied widely, and as the application varies so often does the interpretation of "type. " In some cases, "type" refers to a preference parameter given by Nature-as, for example, in bargaining theory (e.g., Farrell and Gibbons (1989), Matthews (1989)), whereas in other settings-for instance, legislative decision making or expert testimony -"type" refers to more or less technical information concerning how decisions map into final consequences and, as such, is acquired information (e.g., Gilligan and Krehbiel (1987), Milgrom and Roberts (1986)). When the information has to be acquired, it is natural to suppose the acquisition is costly; for otherwise, there is no reason why such information is asymmetrically distributed. So long as the receiver can observe surely-or, at least, accurately infer-whether the sender is informed, and so long as messages are cheap-talk, there is no issue here for strategic information transmission (save whether to become informed at all). However, there are many circumstances when it is inappropri- ate to assume the receiver has such knowledge. One possibility is that a receiver may know that a sender has some relevant informa- tion, but be uncertain of the quality of this information. A second, perhaps more important, possibility is that a receiver is unable to tell whether a (potential) sender is uninformed. Inter alia, this problem constitutes the rationale for "ignorance of the law" being inadmissible as a legal defense (were it admissible, then "informed" miscreants would mimic "uninformed" transgressors); leads voters to be skeptical of politicians claiming ignorance of illegal arms deals; and makes the SEC sensitive to problems in distinguishing insider trading from legitimate good judgement. So there is an intrinsic asymmetry in that it is generally possible for, say, senders to verify possession of at least some information, but it is typically prohibitively difficult to verify any lack of knowledge
The role of enterovirus in chronic fatigue syndrome

Two and a half decades after coining of the term chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), the diagnosis of this illness is still symptom based and the aetiology remains elusive. Enteroviruses are well known causes of acute respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, with tropism for the central nervous system, muscles, and heart. Initial reports of chronic enteroviral infections causing debilitating symptoms in patients with CFS were met with skeptism, and had been largely forgotten for the past decade. Observations from in vitro experiments and from animal models clearly established a state of chronic persistence through the formation of double stranded RNA, similar to findings reported in muscle biopsies of patients with CFS. Recent evidence not only confirmed the earlier studies, but also clarified the pathogenic role of viral RNA through antiviral treatment. This review summarises the available experimental and clinical evidence that supports the role of enterovirus in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Changing Geography of Metropolitan Opportunity, The: The Segregation of the Poor in U.S. Metropolitan Areas, 1970 to 1990

This analysis uses census tract-level data to measure the segregation of the poor in large U.S. metropolitan areas in 1970, 1980, and 1990. Two measures of segregation are used? the indices of dissimilarity and isolation. The report begins with a description of these two indices and the data used for the analysis. The subsequent discussion presents a cross-sectional analysis of the isolation of the poor in the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas in 1990. The next section covers how segregation of the poor changed from 1970 to 1990 in these areas, and finally the report summarizes the findings of the analysis.
The Cost of Capital and Optimal Financing Policy in a Dynamic Setting

This paper revisits the Modigliani–Miller propositions on the optimal financing policy and cost of capital in a dynamic setting. In an environment without taxes and bankruptcy costs, the results are generally consistent with the Modigliani–Miller Propositions 1 and 2. However, the first proposition should be presented and interpreted more carefully, as given firm characteristics, there is only one optimal capital structure. Thus, a firm’s capital structure is relevant. A relaxation of assumptions about either taxes or bankruptcy costs leads to conclusions that are generally different from those in Modigliani and Miller (1958). The model predicts that leverage and sales-to-capital ratios decrease but firm size and capital stock increase with the subjective discount factor of the firm’s manager if there are taxes and bankruptcy costs. The empirical analysis supports these predictions.
The direction of green accounting policy: critical reflections

Believes that green accounting should be rendered open and accountable and be properly subject to a democratic process to avoid shrouding it in a mystifying expertise. Offers a timely and substantive contribution to the debate about how green accounting might be regulated. Believes the accounting profession will stop some distance short of recommending a substantive interventionist regulation. Feels that a voluntarist and market‐based stance is likely to be advocated or preferred. Makes out the case for a substantive interventionist form of regulation and points to the need in practice for something better than the status quo. Seeks to justify an interventionist stance in terms consistent with critical theory.
Optimal Power Allocation and Outage Analysis for Cognitive MIMO Full Duplex Relay Network Based on Orthogonal Space-Time Block Codes

This paper investigates the power allocation and outage performance of MIMO full-duplex relaying (MFDR), based on orthogonal space-time block codes (OSTBC), in cognitive radio systems. OSTBC transmission is used as a simple means to achieve multi-antenna diversity gain. Cognitive MFDR systems not only have the advantage of increasing spectral efficiency through spectrum sharing, but they can also extend coverage through the use of relays. In cognitive MFDR systems, the primary user experiences interference from the secondary source and relay simultaneously, owing to full duplexing. It is therefore necessary to optimize the transmission powers at the secondary source and relay. In this paper, we propose an optimal power allocation (OPA) scheme based on minimizing the outage probability in cognitive MFDR systems. We also analyse the outage probability of the secondary user in noise-limited and interference-limited environments in Nakagami-m fading channels. Simulation results show that the proposed schemes achieve performance improvements in terms of reducing outage probability.
Determinants of the Commodity Structure of U.S. Trade: Comment

Theoretical and empirical analyses of international commodity trade patterns have developed in several directions since Wassily Leontief's article on the validity of the Heckscher-Ohlin theory. Robert B aldwin's recent article in this Review provides a comprehensive survey of the important issues in contemporary trade literature. His efforts at location and consolidation of data from many sources have shed new light on several competing hypotheses attempting to explain trade patterns. This paper will attempt to improve Baldwin's statistical results by combining his data with some developed by Gary Hufbauer in a parallel study of the industrial characteristics of trade. Also, the relationship between export performance and technological innovation will be explored by a new approach which focuses on actual change in the production function and not merely potential improvement by Research & Development (R&D) efforts. Finally, economic and industry characteristics of several countries other than the United States will be used to provide additional information concerning the relationship of technological change and economies of scale to trade flows.
Roles and impacts of non-governmental organizations in Natura 2000 implementation in Hungary and Poland

SUMMARY The ecological network of Natura 2000, an European Union (EU) initiative to halt biodiversity loss across Europe, has dominated biodiversity governance in the new EU member states in recent years, as implementation was a condition of accession. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have generally assisted Natura 2000 implementation. In two Central and Eastern European countries (Poland and Hungary), NGOs became involved in different ways; this paper seeks to analyse and explain these national differences by researching the theoretical background of policy networks and advocacy coalitions in both countries. In Hungary, NGOs worked closely with governmental authorities and contributed significantly to site selection. In Poland, NGOs initially opposed government plans, but later moved toward close cooperation with public institutions; this resulted in a significant expansion in the area and number of designated Natura 2000 sites. In both countries, NGO influence increased during the Natura 2000 process owing to the establishment of multi-level policy networks with the European Commission and public institutions, based on resource dependencies and shared beliefs. In post-socialist countries, the progression from government-monopolized biodiversity conservation implies a growing importance and contribution of NGOs, and their ability to use resources appropriately in the new governance contexts.
Offshoring of Service Jobs

Many previously-nontraded services have become tradable, or are expected to become so, as a result of technological advances in information technology. This situation has raised concerns about the future of jobs and workers' incomes in advanced countries, especially in the United States. However, a review of the U.S. evidence shows that the current extent of service offshoring is very modest in the United States, not only as a share of GDP but also in terms of its contribution to worker displacements. Service offshoring is currently a minor part of the overall international economic competition that the United States faces. Service offshoring appears to have been relatively intense for IT occupations, but the employment and wage trends in those occupations still compare favorably to U.S. averages. While offshoring might become much more significant in the future, a closer look at occupation details reveals that most U.S. service jobs are not suitable for performing remotely from abroad, even when some significant cultural and institutional barriers are ignored. In addition, a range of transaction and adjustment costs slow offshoring growth, and it would take a long time, possibly decades, for offshoring to attain its potential limits, although the available estimates of those limits and when they would be reached are very uncertain. This paper's assessment is that the share of existing jobs in the United States that have the possibility of exposure to competition from service offshoring is limited to 10 to 20 percent, and the impact will be sufficiently gradual to blend in with the ongoing ordinary structural changes in the U.S. economy.
[Cell therapy to treat heart failure].

INTRODUCTION Systolic heart failure is mainly due to a decreased left ventricular systolic function after myocardial infarction. Despite significant improvements in medical management of heart failure, the prognostic remains poor, with a 5-years survival only of 30%. PURPOSE Current treatments are only able to delay progression toward end-stage heart failure. Heart transplantation is accessible only for selected patients. Thus, in the context of post-myocardial infarction, cell therapy appears to be a new original technique, available for the majority of patients and potentially non-invasive. CONCLUSION After promising results in experimental models, a phase I clinical trial has been conducted in France, showing the feasibility of intracardiac autologous skeletal myoblast implantation. Other studies in Europe and USA are currently testing a variety of cells and delivery systems. A phase II-trial will begin in France.
Decision aids and breast cancer: do they influence choice for surgery and knowledge of treatment options?

PURPOSE To describe the effect of decision aids on the choice for surgery and knowledge of surgical therapy among women with early-stage breast cancer. METHODS A systematic review was conducted between years 1966 to 2006 of all studies designed to assess the effect of decision aids on surgical therapy. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), the Cochrane Network, HAPI databases, and bibliographies were searched. Of the 123 studies screened, 11 studies met criteria. Meta-analyses were performed to assess the pooled relative risk for surgical choice and the pooled mean difference in patient knowledge. RESULTS Results from randomized controlled trials indicated that women who used a decision aid were 25% more likely to choose breast-conserving surgery over mastectomy (risk ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.40). Decision aids significantly increased patient knowledge by 24% (P = .024). The data also suggested that decision aids decreased decisional conflict and increased satisfaction with the decision-making process. Decision aids were well received by surgeons and patients, facilitated patients' desire for shared decision making, and were feasible to implement into practice. CONCLUSION Decision aids are important adjuncts for counseling women with early-stage breast cancer. Their use increases the likelihood that women will choose breast-conserving surgery, and enhances patient knowledge of treatment options.