Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The economics of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean: stylized facts

T his article aims to provide an overview of the main regular patterns in the economic impacts of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean, including the corresponding adaptation and mitigation processes. The key results show that the economic costs of those impacts in Latin America and the Caribbean are significant, heterogeneous, nonlinear and growing over time; and that there are specific thresholds beyond which irreversible losses occur. The available evidence also reveals a positive relation between the trends of per capita emissions, energy consumption per capita and income per capita. Projections are for per capita emissions to continue to grow regionwide, with the levels for individual countries converging in absolute terms; and at the same time emissions will gradually become decoupled from economic activity. KEYWORDS
Experience-Based Discrimination: Classroom Games

The authors present a simple classroom game in which students are randomly designated as employers, purple workers, or green workers. This environment may generate "statistical" discrimination if workers of one color tend not to invest because they anticipate lower opportunities in the labor market, and these beliefs are self-confirming as employers learn that it is, on average, less profitable to hire workers of that color. Such discriminatory equilibria may arise even when workers are ex-ante identical, and the employer has no prior information regarding potential workers. The exercise typically generates a lively discussion about discrimination and how it may be addressed by alternative public policies.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization Hierarchy, Coercion, and Exploitation: an Experimental Analysis

The power to coerce workers is important for the efficient operation of hierarchically struc-tured organizations. However, this power can also be used by managers to exploit their subordinates for their own benefit. We examine the relationship between the power to coerce and exploitation in a laboratory experiment where a senior and a junior player interact repeatedly for a finite number of periods. We find that senior players try repeatedly to use their power to exploit junior workers. These attempts are successful only when junior workers have incomplete information about how their effort impacts on the earnings of senior players, but not when they have complete information. Evidence from an incentive-compatible questionnaire indicates that the social acceptability of exploitation depends on whether the junior worker can detect she is being exploited. We also show how a history of exploitation affects future interactions.
Supporting WCET Analysis with Data-Flow Analysis of Java Bytecode

Worst case time execution time (WCET) analysis is crucial for developing hard real-time systems. Many WCET analysis tools rely on manual annotations, which are however not an ideal solution, because they have to be maintained and checked for correctness. Furthermore, a WCET analysis tool for object oriented languages requires knowledge about the receivers of invoked methods in order to minimize the pessimism for virtual function calls. In this paper, a data-flow analysis framework is presented, which was developed to aid WCET analysis. Currently, a receiver type analysis and a loop bound analysis are implemented. However, the framework is not limited to these analyses and may be extended as needed. The framework is tailored to the needs of the Java Optimized Processor, and the implemented analyses model its behavior accurately. Nevertheless, the framework and the analyses should be adaptable for other platforms with reasonable effort. This paper also presents results that show the feasibility of our approach. Furthermore, the results provide an insight into programming idioms that are difficult (or impossible) for automatic program analysis.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization Incomplete contracts and the boundaries of the multinational ﬁrm (cid:2)

Using data on U.S. intra-ﬁrm and arm’s-length imports for 5705 products imported from 220 countries, we examine the determinants of the share of U.S. imports that are intra-ﬁrm. We examine two predictions that arise from Antràs (2003), Antràs and Helpman (2008) and Antràs and Helpman (2004). First, we ﬁnd that, consistent with the implicit logic of Antràs (2003) and the explicit predictions of Antràs and Helpman (2008), vertical inte- gration is increasing in the importance of non-contractible headquarter inputs relative to non-contractible supplier inputs. In other words, we show that only non-contractible head- quarter inputs affect the ﬁrm’s make-or-buy decision. Second, we also provide empirical support for the Antràs and Helpman (2004) prediction that intra-ﬁrm trade is largest where non-contractible headquarter inputs are important and productivity is high. yield two important insights about the determinants of the share of total U.S. imports that are imported by U.S. multinationals from their foreign afﬁliates (i.e., intra-ﬁrm). First, Antràs (2003) argues that when the U.S. headquarters ﬁrm provides the bulk of the non-contractible inputs, underinvestment in inputs is reduced by highly incentivizing the headquarter. Vertical integration provides such incentives because it allows the headquarter to control at least some of the supplier’s inputs even if bilateral bargaining breaks down. In contrast, when the foreign supplier provides the bulk of the non-contractible inputs, the foreign supplier must be highly incentivized. This is done by outsourcing: outsourcing strips headquarters ﬁrm of any control over the supplier’s and thus strengthens the bilateral bargaining position of
Synergistic Exposure of Rice Seeds to Different Doses of γ-Ray and Salinity Stress Resulted in Increased Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Gene-Specific Modulation of TC-NER Pathway

Recent reports have underlined the potential of gamma (γ)-rays as tools for seed priming, a process used in seed industry to increase seed vigor and to enhance plant tolerance to biotic/abiotic stresses. However, the impact of γ-rays on key aspects of plant metabolism still needs to be carefully evaluated. In the present study, rice seeds were challenged with different doses of γ-rays and grown in absence/presence of NaCl to assess the impact of these treatments on the early stages of plant life. Enhanced germination efficiency associated with increase in radicle and hypocotyl length was observed, while at later stages no increase in plant tolerance to salinity stress was evident. APX, CAT, and GR were enhanced at transcriptional level and in terms of enzyme activity, indicating the activation of antioxidant defence. The profiles of DNA damage accumulation were obtained using SCGE and the implication of TC-NER pathway in DNA damage sensing and repair mechanisms is discussed. OsXPB2, OsXPD, OsTFIIS, and OsTFIIS-like genes showed differential modulation in seedlings and plantlets in response to γ-irradiation and salinity stress. Altogether, the synergistic exposure to γ-rays and NaCl resulted in enhanced oxidative stress and proper activation of antioxidant mechanisms, thus being compatible with plant survival.
Vanishing of TOR over complete intersections

In this paper we are concerned with the vanishing of $\textnormal{Tor}$ over complete intersection rings. Building on results of C. Huneke, D. Jorgensen and R. Wiegand, and, more recently, H. Dao, we obtain new results showing that good depth properties on the $R$-modules $M$, $N$ and $M\otimes_RN$ force the vanishing of $\textnormal{Tor}^{R}_{i}(M,N)$ for all $i\geq 1$.
A Regional Dynamic General-Equilibrium Model of Alternative Climate-Change Strategies

Most analyses treat global warning as a single-agent problem. The present study presents the Regional Integrated model of Climate and the Economy (RICE) model. By disaggregating into countries, the model analyzes different national strategies in climate-change policy: pure market solutions, efficient cooperative outcomes, and noncooperative equilibria. This study finds that cooperative policies show much higher levels of emissions reductions than do noncooperative strategies; that there are substantial differences in the levels of controls in both the cooperative and the noncooperative policies among different countries; and that high-income countries may be the major losers from cooperation. Copyright 1996 by American Economic Association.
Duodenal Wedge Resection for Large Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour Presenting with Life-Threatening Haemorrhage

Background. Duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are an uncommon malignancy of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We present a case of life-threatening haemorrhage caused by a large ulcerating duodenal GIST arising from the third part of the duodenum managed by a limited duodenal wedge resection. Case Presentation. A 61-year-old patient presented with acute life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. After oesophagogastroduodenoscopy failed to demonstrate the source of bleeding, a 5 cm ulcerating exophytic mass originating from the third part of the duodenum was identified at laparotomy. A successful limited wedge resection of the tumour mass was performed. Histopathology subsequently confirmed a duodenal GIST. The patient remained well at 12-month followup with no evidence of local recurrence or metastatic spread. Conclusion. Duodenal GISTs can present with life-threatening upper GI haemorrhage. In the context of acute haemorrhage, even relatively large duodenal GISTs can be treated by limited wedge resection. This is a preferable alternative to duodenopancreatectomy with lower morbidity and mortality but comparable oncological outcome.
Development of a New Scalable Parallelization Strategy for GCM Varsha and its Historical Perspective

In any parallel computing experiment scalability limits the extent to which available computational resources can be used gainfully. In India, though parallel meteorological computing has been in use for over two decades, the issue of scalability has been elusive. The present paper analyses the issues impeding scalability in existing parallelization strategy and proposes alternative having superior features through asymptotic analysis of volume of communication.
Molecular, Topographic, and Functional Organization of the Cerebellar Nuclei: Analysis by Three-Dimensional Mapping of the Olivonuclear Projection and Aldolase C Labeling

The olivocerebellar climbing fiber projection pattern is closely correlated with the pattern of aldolase C expression in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Based on this expression pattern, the olivocerebellar projection can be classified into five “groups” of functional compartments. Each group originates from a subarea within the inferior olive that projects to multiple cortical stripes of Purkinje cells, all of which are either aldolase C positive or aldolase C negative. However, no equivalent compartmental organization has been demonstrated in the cerebellar nuclei (CN). Thus, in the CN of the rat, we systematically mapped the location of olivonuclear projections belonging to the five groups and determined their relationship to the expression of aldolase C in Purkinje cell axonal terminals. The CN were divided into caudoventral aldolase C-positive and rostrodorsal aldolase C-negative parts. The olivonuclear terminations from the five groups projected topographically to five separate compartments within the CN that partly crossed the traditional boundaries that define the fastigial, interposed, and dentate nuclei. Each compartment had mostly uniform cytoarchitecture and the same aldolase C expression (either positive or negative) that was found in the corresponding olivocortical projection. These results suggest a new view of the organization of the CN whereby the pattern of olivonuclear terminations links portions of different CN together. We propose that each compartment in the CN, along with its corresponding olivary subarea and cortical stripes, may be related to a different aspect of motor control.
I-deals: Idiosyncratic Deals Employees Bargain for Themselves

Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction 1. What Is an Idiosyncratic Deal? 2. Everyday Idiosyncrasy and Its Many Forms 3. Shady Deals: What I-deals Are Not 4. Signs of I-deals in Organizational Research 5. I-deal Types: Six-Plus Ways Employees Bargain 6. Employees and the Negotiation Process 7. Coworkers: The I-Deal's Most Interested Third Parties 8. Organizational Perspectives on I-deals as a Human Resource Practice 9. Cross-National Factors and Idiosyncratic Deals 10. Learning from I-deals Notes About the Author Index
A Procedure for Evaluating Income Distribution Policies

The paper develops a procedure for evaluating the social benefits of income redistribution programs. The procedure makes social benefit a function of both the mean and the variance of family income and needs of the recipients over time, with sensitivity tests to see how benefits change under various assumptions about donor preferences. Costs include budget costs and any gains or losses in producer or consumer surplus. The procedure is applied to three income redistribution programs: negative income taxes, public employment, and minimum wages. Using longitudinal data, we simulate the income needs paths of 2000 families with and without the programs and compare the social benefits and costs for the three programs.
Assessment of Stromal Invasion for Correct Histological Diagnosis of Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Stromal invasion (invasive growth of tumor tissue into portal tracts and fibrous septa) is now recognized as the most important finding in the diagnosis of the well-differentiated type of early hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). In differentiating stromal invasion from pseudoinvasion (benign hepatic tissue in fibrous stroma), the following 5 items are useful: (1) macroscopic or panoramic views of the histological specimen, (2) the amount of fibrous components of stroma, (3) destruction of the structure of portal tracts, (4) loss of reticulin fibers around cancer cells, and (5) cytokeratin 7 immunostaining for ductular proliferation. Knowledge of stromal invasion is also useful for a better understanding of the vasculature (hypovascular HCCs) and histological features (fatty change) of early HCCs. Invasion of preexisting arteries and portal veins causes hypo-vascularity of HCCs. Further, hypovascularity causes fatty change as a hypoxic change of cancer tissues.
Seasonality in Australian Residential Real Estate Prices

Seasonality has long been documented in the context of equity market returns, but only recently has been tested for in the residential real estate market. This paper argues, in line with the previous research in this area, that no month should, on average, demonstrate superior (or inferior) returns to any other. Using parametric tests and regression analysis this hypothesis is supported for the Australian market. The reason that the belief of a 'better' selling month exists is shown to be a result of the inadequacy of primitive market return measures to account for the heterogeneity of the market.
Fertilizer Subsidies and Voting Patterns: Political Economy Dimensions of Input Subsidy Programs

Agricultural input subsidies often have implicit or explicit political economy objectives. Using panel data from Zambia, this article empirically tests whether election outcomes affect targeting of subsidized fertilizer and whether fertilizer subsidies win votes. Results suggest that the Zambian government allocated substantially more subsidized fertilizer to households in constituencies won by the ruling party in the last election, and more so the larger its margin of victory. However, past subsidized fertilizer allocations had no statistically significant effect on the share of votes won by the incumbent president. Rather, voters rewarded the incumbent for reductions in unemployment, poverty, and income inequality.
Is firm growth proportional? An appraisal of firm size distribution

The aim of this paper is to shed light on the phenomenon of firm growth, analyzing the evolution of young firms within some selected industries. We find that the firm size distribution is fairly skewed to the right during the infancy stage, whereas it converges towards a more symmetric distribution, via selection mechanisms, with the passing of time.
The Significance of Bladder Trabeculation in the Female Lower Urinary System: An Objective Evaluation by Urodynamic Studies

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bladder trabeculation, urinary function, and the stage of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The medical records of 104 patients with POP who underwent cystoscopies and urodynamic studies were reviewed retrospectively. Age, incidence of detrusor instability, stage and site of POP, and the parameters of urodynamic studies of patients with and without bladder trabeculation were compared. The difference in the incidence of bladder trabeculation was estimated between patients with and without a suspected bladder outlet obstruction. There were significant differences in the patients' age, stage of POP, and maximal voiding velocity. Patients with a suspected bladder outlet obstruction had a significantly higher incidence of bladder trabeculation. In addition, patients with advanced stages of POP were also found to have a higher incidence of bladder trabeculation.
The nature and experience of agency working in Britain

Purpose – To examine the experience of agency employment for workers and employers' use of agency workers in Britain to evaluate competing claims made about this form of work.Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on results from three recent representative surveys of employment in Britain to examine the current nature and experience of agency work: the Labour Force Survey; the Workplace Employment Relations Survey and the Working in Britain, 2000 Survey.Findings – The findings indicate that there is little evidence of the purported association between agency work and the emergence of the “knowledge economy”, as suggested by some. Turning to employers' use of agency labour, it is found that this has been driven by pressures relating to labour costs, possibly reflecting short‐term considerations. As for workers' experience of agency employment, this paper reports their dissatisfaction with many aspects of agency work, resulting in low levels of commitment and high anxiety about their work situation.
The Development of INT131 as a Selective PPARγ Modulator: Approach to a Safer Insulin Sensitizer

INT131 (formerly T0903131, T131, AMG131) is a potent non-thiazolidinedione (TZD) selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ modulator (SPPARM) currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This new chemical entity represents a second generation SPPARM approach developed after the first generation PPARγ full agonists to address their inherent limitations. INT131 was specifically and carefully designed using preclinical models to exhibit a biological profile of strong efficacy with de minimis side effects compared to PPARγ full agonists. As a potent PPARγ modulator, INT131 binds to PPARγ with high affinity. In pharmacology models of diabetes and in early clinical studies, it achieved a high level of efficacy in terms of antidiabetic actions such as insulin sensitization and glucose and insulin lowering, but had little activity in terms of other, undesired, effects associated with TZD PPARγ full agonists such as edema and adipogenesis. Ongoing clinical development is directed at translating these findings into establishing a novel and effective treatment for T2DM patients with an improved safety profile in relation to that currently available.
The genetically unstable dwarf locus in azuki bean (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & Ohashi).

We characterized a spontaneous dwarf mutant showing extremely short internodes and dark green leaves originating from azuki bean (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & Ohashi) cultivar "Erimo-shouzu. " F(1) plants of 3 cross combinations between the dwarf mutant and several representative wild-type plants, Erimo-shouzu, V. angularis accession Acc2265 and wild relative V. riukiuensis accession Acc2482, supported the dwarf genotype being recessive. In a total of 3328 F(2) progeny of these 3 crosses, 65 dwarfs (2.0%) and 5 chimeric dwarfs (0.2%) segregated and the remainder were wild-type plants (97.8%). In F(3) progeny derived from self-pollinated dwarf F(2) plants, we observed wild type (54.3%), dwarf (39.1%), and chimeric dwarf (6.5%) plants. Two types of chimeric plants were observed: dwarf branches on the axils of wild-type plant stems and wild-type branches on the axils of dwarf stems. In 21 dwarf F(2) plants, the dwarf trait cosegregated with simple sequence repeat marker CEDG154 on chromosome 4. Conversely, homozygote F(2) plants at this chromosomal segment from the dwarf mutant frequently (>90%) expressed the wild-type phenotype. We concluded that the dwarf phenotype is mitotically and meiotically inheritable and controlled by a single genetically unstable locus, designated Azuki Dwarf1 (AD1), which converts between 2 phenotypic states bidirectionally.
Pleated turtle escapes the box – shape changes in Dermochelys coriacea

SUMMARY Typical chelonians have a rigid carapace and plastron that form a box-like structure that constrains several aspects of their physiology and ecology. The leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, has a flexible bony carapace strengthened by seven longitudinal ridges, whereas the plastron is reduced to an elliptical outer bony structure, so that the ventrum has no bony support. Measurements of the shell were made on adult female leatherbacks studied on the feeding grounds of waters off Nova Scotia (NS) and on breeding beaches of French Guiana (FG) to examine whether foraging and/or breeding turtles alter carapace size and/or shape. NS turtles exhibited greater mass and girth for a given curved carapace length (CCL) than FG turtles. Girth:CCL ratios rose during the feeding season, indicating increased girth. Measurements were made of the direct (straight) and surface (curved) distances between the medial longitudinal ridge and first right-hand longitudinal ridge (at 50% CCL). In NS turtles, the ratio of straight to curved inter-ridge distances was significantly higher than in FG turtles, indicating distension of the upper surfaces of the NS turtles between the ridges. FG females laid 11 clutches in the breeding season; although CCL and curved carapace width remained stable, girth declined between each nesting episode, indicating loss of mass. Straight to curved inter-ridge distance ratios did not change significantly during the breeding season, indicating loss of dorsal blubber before the onset of breeding. The results demonstrate substantial alterations in size and shape of female D. coriacea over periods of weeks to months in response to alterations in nutritional and reproductive status.