Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shredding the Safety Net

Abstract Recent federal legislation bans receipt of cash and food assistance to individuals convicted of a drug felony. This study examines the different definitions and methodologies used in estimating substance abuse among welfare recipients. It then analyzes a stratified sample of predominantly low-income young mothers on the basis of welfare receipt and consequences associated with alcohol and drug use. Results indicate that young mothers who received welfare for more than two years had lower reported drug use consequences than mothers who never used welfare or relied on it for a period of less than two years. Variables measuring consequences of drug use were not found to mediate length of time on welfare.
Indicators of business environment, institutional quality and foreign direct investment in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries

This paper empirically investigates the effect of five business environment indicators and four measures of institutional quality on FDI inflows in GCC countries. The empirical results reveal that the time required to start a business, the time required to enforce a contract, the time required to register a property and the time required to resolve insolvency are negatively and statistically significantly correlated with FDI inflows. Our findings also confirm that political instability and absence of democracy, in fact, encourages FDI inflows. We conclude that the business environment strongly matters for FDI inflows into the GCC countries.
The intensity of internet use by volunteers: empirical results for the internet portal of the German Football Association

Research question: What are the socio-economic factors that explain the intensity with which volunteers use the internet platform of the German Football Association (DFBnet)? Is the internet a substitute or complement for traditional volunteer work? Research methods: A survey among volunteers was conducted by means of an online questionnaire. Estimation of an ordered probit model helped to trace out the socio-economic determinants of the intensity of usage of DFBnet. Estimation of multivariate linear regression models helped to trace out the correlation between the intensity of internet usage and the time spent on volunteer work. Results and findings: Male volunteers used DFBnet more often than female volunteers. Elder volunteers tended to use DFBnet more often than younger volunteers. The time spent on volunteer work correlates positively with the intensity of using DFBnet. This correlation continues to hold when the potential influence of other control variables is taken into account. Implications: The results are useful for sports associations and sports clubs to develop internet-based tools that help to structure the communication with their volunteers. The results inform about which groups of volunteer workers use internet-based tools, to what extent they use them, and what connection exists between internet use and the length of time spent on volunteer work.
Rising Autism Prevalence: Real or Displacing Other Mental Disorders? Evidence from Demand for Auxiliary Healthcare Workers in California

Autism is a development disorder that has increased in prevalence from 0.5 to 14.7 per 1,000 children over 1970–2010. Using annual wages and provider counts from the American Community Survey and information from 21 regional development centers in California, we estimate the labor demand for auxiliary health providers. We focus on this subset of providers because, unlike physicians and psychologists who can diagnose autism, these workers cannot induce their own demand. If the incidence of autism is increasing independently of other mental disorders, then the demand for auxiliary health providers should increase, leading to higher wages and labor supply. Otherwise, the increase in autism diagnosis is merely displacing other mental disorders. We find that a 100% increase in autism cases increases the wages of auxiliary health workers over non-autism health occupations by 8–11% and the number of providers by 9–14%. Furthermore, we find that one of every three new autism diagnoses is merely supplanting mental retardation diagnoses, but does not displace other mental disorders. These estimates suggest that at least part of the increase in autism diagnoses, about 50–65%, reflects an increase in the true prevalence of the disorder.
The Rudin-Blass ordering of ultrafilters

Abstract We discuss the finite-to-one Rudin-Keisler ordering of ultrafilters on the natural numbers, which we baptize the Rudin-Blass ordering in honour of Professor Andreas Blass who worked extensively in the area. We develop and summarize many of its properties in relation to its bounding and dominating numbers, directedness, and provide applications to continuum theory. In particular, we prove in ZFC alone that there exists an ultrafilter with no Q-point below in the Rudin-Blass ordering.
Some Analytical Results for a Two‐Product Newsboy Problem

A recent Decision Sciences paper considered maximizing the probability of achieving a profit target in a two-product newsboy problem. Numerical solutions to this problem revealed some intriguing properties, but the authors were unable to analytically explain many of their results. This paper presents an analytical solution procedure to this problem for the case of uniformly distributed demands. The analytical structure reveals more intriguing properties and these properties are proven and explained.
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of a Canned Sardine Product from Portugal

This study aims to assess the environmental impacts of canned sardines in olive oil, by considering fishing, processing, and packaging, using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The case study concerns a product of a canning factory based in Portugal and packed in aluminum cans. It is the first LCA of a processed seafood product made with the traditional canning method. The production of both cans and olive oil are the most important process in the considered impact categories. The production of olives contributes to the high environmental load of olive oil, related to cultivation and harvesting phases. The production of aluminum cans is the most significant process for all impact categories, except ozone depletion potential and eutrophication potential, resulting from the high energy demand and the extraction of raw materials. To compare to other sardine products consumed in Portugal, such as frozen and fresh sardines, transport to the wholesaler and store was added. The environmental cost of canned sardines is almost seven times higher per kilogram of edible product. The main action to optimize the environmental performance of canned sardines is therefore to replace the packaging and diminish the olive oil losses as much as possible. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by half when plastic packaging is considered rather than aluminum. Frozen and fresh sardines represent much lower environmental impacts than canned sardines. Nevertheless, when other sardine products are not possible, it becomes feasible to use sardines for human consumption, preventing them from being wasted or used suboptimally as feed.
A Subjective Well-being Equivalence Scale for Mexico: Estimation and Poverty and Income-distribution Implications

The estimation of equivalence scales is crucial in cases where a well-being comparison of persons living under different household arrangements is needed: for example, to identify the poor, to calculate poverty rates and to estimate income inequality. In spite of the importance of equivalence scales for economic policy, there is little theoretical guidance on their estimation, and most empirical studies have been carried out in developed countries. Traditional estimation methods have been criticized because of their limitations for making welfare comparisons. This paper uses a subjective well-being approach to estimate equivalence scales. The approach provides an equivalence scale founded on economic satisfaction, which can be used to make welfare comparisons for persons living under different household arrangements—for example, in households of different sizes and with different age composition of household members. The empirical study has been carried out for Mexico using a large database. The implications of the subjective well-being scale for the assessment of poverty and income inequality in Mexico are shown on the basis of a national survey and by comparison with alternative scales.
The Provision of Local Public Services Through Mixed Enterprises: The Italian Case

The rules regulating the creation of mixed enterprises companies (public-private companies) for the provision of local public services have been subjected, in Italy, to a rather complex evolution over time. The new rules introduced allow the creation of a mixed private public enterprise, with either public or private majority; in any case the private shareholder must be selected through a public tender procedure. The data seems to show that mixed enterprises have been used by municipalities as a tool that allows the exploitation of economies of scale and of scope, without necessarily losing control of the leadership and direction of the local utility. Better flexibility of mixed enterprises is also shown by the proportion of mixed enterprises acting outside the territory which is higher than the proportion of public enterprises similarly engaged. Moreover the presence of multi-service units is proportionally higher in mixed enterprises. Copyright 2007 The Authors Journal compilation © CIRIEC 2007.
Proposal of an Information Signal Measurement Method in Display Image Contained in Electromagnetic Noise Emanated from a Personal Computer

The display image on the monitor can be reconstructed by receiving and analyzing the unexpected electromagnetic noise emanated from a personal computer system. This fact is one of information leakage threats in information security. Therefore, it is important to evaluate and prevent the information leakage caused by the unexpected electromagnetic noise. In this paper, we propose a measurement method of the information signal, which is contained in electromagnetic noise from a personal computer. The information signal is correlated with the RGB signal constructing a display image, because it can reconstruct the similar image to the display image. In order to detect the information signal, we displayed a vertical stripes pattern with a specific periodicity on the monitor as a test image. Then the RGB signal constructing the test image has the specific frequency component, so the information signal has also the same frequency component. Thus the information signal can be defined as the periodical signal frequency of the vertical stripes pattern. By means of this definition, the information signal can be detected and measured in the electromagnetic noise. This measurement method is possible to evaluate quantitatively the information signal leaking through the electromagnetic noise. In order to check the validity of our proposed method, test experiments were carried out. These results showed the correspondence with the reconstructed images and the measured levels.
Definitive Management of Open Tibia Fractures Using Limb Reconstruction System.

INTRODUCTION Open fractures are treated as surgical emergency and early administration of intravenous antibiotic coupled with early irrigation and debridement decreases the infection rate dramatically. Limb Reconstruction System (LRS) is a unilateral rail system which consists of Shanz pins, rail rods and sliding clamps. It is specifically designed to enable the surgeon to perform simple and effective surgery as it offers rigid fixation of fracture fragments, allowing early weight bearing and reduces economic burden. AIM To determine the efficacy of Limb Reconstruction System for treatment of compound tibia fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective study was carried out where in 54 cases out of 412 compound tibia fractures having Modified Gustilo Anderson Type IIIA and IIIB with a mean age of 42±5 years were treated using LRS over a period of 26 months. Limb reconstruction system was used in acute docking mode or with corticotomy and bone transport was done depending upon the bone loss. The soft tissue condition was assessed and split thickness skin grafting and flap repairs were done as per the need. Clinical and radiological assessment was done at every follow-up. Bony and functional assessment was done by Association for the Study and Application of the Methods of Illizarov (ASAMI) criteria. RESULTS Among 54 patients, bony results as per ASAMI score were excellent in 36, good in 14, fair in 2 and poor in 2 patients. Functional results were excellent in 43, good in 7, fair in 4 patients. The average fracture union time was 8 months. Post-surgery patient satisfaction was excellent since fixation allowed weight bearing immediately. Average hospital stay was 7 days and financial burden was reduced by 40% as compared to multi staged surgery. The average time of return to work was 20 days. CONCLUSION LRS is an easy, simple and definitive surgical procedure that allows immediate full weight bearing walking. It reduces hospital stay, is cost effective with excellent patient compliance and can also be used for bone lengthening/transportation.
UR Scholarship Repository UR Scholarship Repository Exploring differences in social disclosures internationally: A Exploring differences in social disclosures internationally: A stakeholder perspective stakeholder perspective

Country of origin is considered to be an important determinant of the level and type of corporate social disclosure. In this paper, we use stakeholder theory to explain diﬀerences in social disclosure among countries. We argue that the manner in which the role of a corporation and its stakeholders is deﬁned in a society will aﬀect the extent and quality of corporate social disclosure (CSD) in annual reports. Our ﬁndings based on a content analysis of 1998 and 1999 annual reports for 32 Norwegian/Danish companies and 26 US companies in the electric power generation industry, lend support to the stakeholder explanation for observed international diﬀerences in CSD. the extent large social initiatives are mainly funded by the (e.g., welfare programs), we would expect higher government expenditure as a percentage of in countries with a stronger emphasis on social issues. In government expenditure as a percentage of GDP for and was 19%, respectively (World Bank, (voter participation rates and government expenditure as a percentage of the in classify
Interposition of a connective tissue graft or a collagen matrix to enhance wound stability - an experimental study in dogs.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of a connective tissue graft (CTG) or a collagen matrix (CM) interpositioned between flaps and non-shedding hard surfaces on wound stability. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty bone dehiscence defects were prepared in five Beagle dogs. Three treatments were performed in 12 sites per dog: (1) repositioned flaps were sutured onto instrumented dentin surfaces (control), (2) repositioning of flaps with an interpositioned CTG and (3) repositioning of flaps with the application of a CM. To allow postoperative healing with n = 5 for 1, 3, 7 and 14 days before evaluation, the sutures were removed, incision lines retraced and tensile forces applied to the flaps. The minimum magnitude of forces required to detach the flaps from the wound bed was recorded. RESULTS After 1 week of healing, 6 N had to be applied to disrupt flaps from their wound bed in the CTG group. In the control group, a similar magnitude of resistance was achieved after 2 weeks (6.1 N). Flap resistance to tearing was highest in the CTG group (maximum 9.1 N) 2 weeks postoperatively. On the third postoperative day, the mean tearing forces of all groups differed significantly, displaying a 50% lower resistance to tearing in the CM compared to the CTG group. In comparison, flap resistance to tearing forces established earlier and in higher magnitude in sites with an interpositioned CTG than in flaps repositioned on dentin or CM. CONCLUSIONS Application of a CTG, sutured to a non-shedding hard surface, significantly increased flap resistance to tearing when applying disrupting forces compared to controls. A less pronounced effect was achieved by interpositioning of a CM.
Time to failure after rotator cuff repair: a prospective imaging study.

BACKGROUND Failure of tendon healing after a rotator cuff repair is demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a fluid-filled defect within the tendon. The frequency of, and factors associated with, failure of the tendon repair to heal have been the focus of many clinical studies. The timing of when these defects occur has not been previously studied in a large prospectively defined patient population, to our knowledge. It was our hypothesis that the majority of failures occur within twelve weeks after surgery. METHODS One hundred and thirteen patients were enrolled in a multi-institutional prospective study. All patients had a standardized arthroscopic repair of a full-thickness tear of 1 to 4 cm as well as sequential MRI studies at six intervals from two weeks to fifty-two weeks. MRIs were reviewed at the time of imaging by the treating surgeon. Standardized patient-oriented clinical data were collected, physical examination was performed, and strength measurements were made preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS The treating surgeons diagnosed a recurrent tear with MRI in nineteen (17%) of the 113 patients within one year after surgery. The mean time to the retear was 19.2 weeks. There was a linear increase in retears over the first twenty-six weeks after surgery, and one additional tear was diagnosed between twenty-six and fifty-two weeks after repair. CONCLUSIONS Retears primarily occur between six and twenty-six weeks after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and few additional tears occur thereafter. A substantial number of retears occur between twelve and twenty-six weeks after repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Recommendation sources on the intention to use e-books in academic digital libraries

Purpose – Few library studies have investigated recommendation classifications for e‐book (electronic book) usage, while none have directly compared what recommendation sources (word‐of‐mouth, advertising, and expert recommendation) might influence e‐book usage intentions. To fill this gap in the literature, the main purposes of this study are to: examine how users perceive the influence of recommendations on the intention to use e‐books for academic purposes; and to measure the level of the perception of trust and perceived risk when users receive e‐book recommendations from peers, advertisers, and experts.Design/methodology/approach – Data for this study were collected from 382 academic digital library users between the ages of 18 and 25. A multiple regression analysis was then conducted to identify the key causal relationships.Findings – The comparison of three recommendation sources (word‐of‐mouth, advertising, and expert recommendations) revealed that word‐of‐mouth (WOM) played a more important role .
Accruals Quality and Corporate Cash Holdings

This Work Uses Panel Data For Firms Listed In The Spanish Stock Exchange Over The Period From 1995 To 2001 To Analyse The Effect Of Accounting Quality On Cash Holdings. The Results Show That Firms With Good Accruals Quality Hold Lower Cash Levels Than Firms With Poor Accruals Quality. This Finding Suggests That The Quality Of Accounting Information May Reduce The Negative Effects Of Information Asymmetries And Adverse Selection Costs, Allowing Firms To Reduce Their Level Of Corporate Cash Holdings. The Results Also Show That Cash Holdings Decrease When Firms Increase Their Use Of Bank Debt And In The Presence Of Cash Substitutes. In Contrast With This, Firms With Higher Cash Flow Hold Higher Levels Of Cash.
Looking inside for competitive advantage

Executive Overview Strategic managers and researchers have long been interested in understanding sources of competitive advantage for firms. Traditionally, this effort has focused on the relationship between a firm's environmental opportunities and threats on the one hand, and its internal strengths and weaknesses on the other. Summarized in what has come to be known as SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, this traditional logic suggests that firms that use their internal strengths in exploiting environmental opportunities and neutralizing environmental threats, while avoiding internal weaknesses, are more likely to gain competitive advantages than other kinds of firms.1 This simple SWOT framework points to the importance of both external and internal phenomena in understanding the sources of competitive advantage. To date, the development of tools for analyzing environmental opportunities and threats has proceeded much more rapidly than the development of tools for analyzing.
A MEMS tunable photonic ring resonator with small footprint and large free spectral range

We demonstrate a MEMS tunable silicon photonic ring resonator with a 20 μm radius and a 5 nm free spectral range (FSR) for wavelength selection in reconfigurable optical networks. The device shows a loaded Q of 12000, and 300 pm tuning range at a wavelength of 1544 nm.
How Financial Aid Affects Persistence

The Pell Grant program is the largest means-tested financial assistance available to postsecondary students across the United States, yet researchers have only limited evidence on the causal effects of these grants. This paper examines the effect of Pell grants on student persistence after the first year. The paper uses unique, student-level data from all public colleges in Ohio. The data include detailed financial data which allow me to identify small discontinuities in the Pell grant formula. I exploit these discontinuities to identify the causal effects of the voucher. The results based on discontinuity approaches suggest that Pell grants reduce college drop-out behavior. The results in this paper support other evidence that find a relationship between need-based aid and college completion (e.g. Dynarski 2002, Turner and Bound 2002).
Kinematics and ground reaction forces in horses with superficial digital flexor tendinitis.

OBJECTIVE To measure and correlate kinematic and ground reaction force (GRF) data in horses with superficial digital flexor tendinitis. ANIMALS 6 sound horses. PROCEDURE Horses were evaluated before (sound evaluation) and after (lame evaluation) induction of superficial digital flexor tendinitis in 1 forelimb (randomized) by injection of collagenase. As each horse trotted, kinematic data were collected by use of an optoelectronic system, and GRF data were measured by use of a force plate. Three-dimensional kinematic and GRF data were projected onto a 2-dimensional sagittal plane. RESULTS Lame limbs had significantly lower peak vertical GRF, less flexion of the distal interphalangeal joint, and less extension of the metacarpophalangeal joint, compared with compensating limbs. Carpal joint kinematics did not change. Compensating limbs had a more protracted orientation throughout the stance phase and higher braking longitudinal force and impulse; however, total range of rotation from ground contact to lift off did not change. Transfer of body weight from lame to compensating limbs was smooth, without elevation of the body mass into a suspension phase. Propulsive components of longitudinal GRF did not differ between limbs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In horses with experimentally induced superficial digital flexor tendinitis, changes in vertical GRF were reflected in angular excursions of the distal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints, whereas changes in longitudinal GRF were associated with alterations in the protraction-retraction angle of the entire limb.