Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indebtedness and the Household Financial Health: An Examination of the Canadian Debt Service Ratio Distribution

The household debt-to-disposable income ratio in Canada increased from 110 per cent in 1999 to 127 per cent in 2007. This increase has raised questions about the ability of households to service their increased debt if faced with a negative economic or socio-economic shock. The debt service ratio (DSR) measures the proportion of disposable income that households must devote to servicing their debt obligations. The aggregate DSR for Canada, as reported in the Bank of Canada's Financial System Review, has drifted up recently but remained below its historical average in 2007Q4. This would suggest that households' debt burden has remained broadly manageable. However, the aggregate DSR could mask potential vulnerabilities for the most heavily indebted households. The main contribution of this paper is that it examines the distribution of debt service burden amongst Canadian households using micro-data. This work shows that the density of households in the vulnerable tail of the DSR distribution has actually decreased somewhat since 1999, especially for lower-income households. Overall, our micro data analysis support inferences based on the aggregate data that, despite the increase in the debt-to-income ratio since the late 1990s, households remain well positioned to manage their increased debt levels. The paper also compares the DSR distributions for Canada and the U.S. The cross-country comparison suggests that, in 2004, the household sector in Canada seemed to be in a better financial position than U.S. households.
Pulmonary function tests in preschool children with cystic fibrosis.

Pulmonary function tests have rarely been assessed in preschool children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The objective of this multicenter study was to compare pulmonary function in 39 preschool children with CF (height, 90-130 cm; 16 homozygous Delta F508) and in 79 healthy control children. Functional residual capacity (helium dilution technique) and expiratory interrupter resistance (Rint(exp)) (interrupter technique) were measured. As compared with control children, children with CF had significantly higher Rint(exp), expressed as absolute values and as Z-scores (1.05 +/- 0.36 versus 0.80 +/- 0.20 kPa.L(-1). second, p < 0.0001; and 1.31 +/- 1.72 versus 0.19 +/- 0.97, p < 0.0001), and significantly lower specific expiratory interrupter conductance (1.29 +/- 0.34 versus 1.63 +/- 0.43 kPa(-1). second, p < 0.0001). The effect of the bronchodilator salbutamol on Rint(exp) was not significantly different between children with CF and control children. Rint(exp) Z-scores were significantly higher in children with CF who were exposed to passive smoke (n = 8) (p < 0.03). Children with CF and with a history of respiratory symptoms (n = 31) had significantly higher functional residual capacity Z-scores (p < 0.02) and lower specific expiratory interrupter conductance Z-scores (p < 0.04). Genotype did not influence the data. We conclude that Rint(exp) and functional residual capacity measurements may help to follow young children with CF who are unable to perform reproducible forced expiratory maneuvers.
Reliability, Distribution, and Validity of Age-Related Cognitive Deficits in the Morris Water Maze

In the present study, F-344 rats throughout 1.5 to 26 months of age were tested in the reference memory version, a moving-platform repeated acquisition version, and in a cued platform version of the Morris water maze. The results suggest that: (1) performance in the water maze declines continuously, beginning at the earliest age, and very closely fits a linear function; (2) there are robust, reliable differences between individuals in terms of their performance in the Morris water maze, but chronological age accounts for only a fraction of the variance between individuals; (3) there is no evidence of a bimodal distribution among aged rats--there is no distinct subgroup of individuals that performs so poorly that they are qualitatively different from the majority of the population, and distinctions between "impaired" and "unimpaired" subjects must be based on arbitrary criteria that may not be consistent from one study to the next; (4) age-related deficits in the Morris water maze may not be restricted to learning and memory, but may also include deficits in attention, the ability to process spatial information, and/or the ability to develop efficient spatial search strategies; and (5) swim distance is the most appropriate measure of cognitive function in the Morris water maze, but the relationship between this measure and other measures of noncognitive function make it clear that swim distance may not be a pure measure of cognitive function. Although the Morris water maze remains a valuable preclinical test with better validity and specificity than many other behavioral tests, measures of performance in the Morris water maze should not be considered synonymous with cognitive function.
Pricing and scheduling under uncertainty

• A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers.
Cooperation in modern society: Promoting the welfare of communities, states, and organizations

Why do so many people volunteer to help others in need in society today? What makes people give up the convenience of driving their car to benefit a better environment? And why are citizens, in general, quite prepared to pay taxes to ensure adequate health care, and support for the elderly and unemployed? These are examples of a more fundamental question addressed in this book: why do people cooperate for the welfare of their community, state, or organization? Cooperation in Modern Society is a unique collection of contributions from internationally reputed scholars across the social sciences.
Opioid Use Is Not Associated with Incomplete Wireless Capsule Endoscopy for Inpatient or Outpatient Procedures

Objective. Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is commonly used to directly visualize the small bowel. Opioids have variably been linked with incomplete studies and prolonged transit times in heterogeneous cohorts. We aimed to investigate the effect of opioid use on WCE for inpatient and outpatient cohorts. Methods. We performed a retrospective review of patients receiving WCE at our institution from April 2010 to March 2013. Demographic data, medical history, and WCE details were collected. Transit times were compared by log-rank analysis. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were utilized. Results. We performed 314 outpatient and 280 inpatient WCE that met study criteria. In the outpatient cohort, gastric transit time (GTT) was not significantly different between opioid and nonopioid users. Completion rates were similar as well (88% and 87%, P = 0.91). In the inpatient cohort, GTT was significantly longer in patients receiving opioids than in patients not receiving opioids (44 versus 23 min, P = 0.04), but completion rates were similar (71% versus 75%, P = 0.31). Conclusion. Opioid use within 24 hours of WCE did not significantly affect completion rates for inpatients or outpatients. GTT was prolonged in inpatients receiving opioids but not in outpatients.
Perturbation correction factors for the NACP-02 plane-parallel ionization chamber in water in high-energy electron beams

Recent dosimetry protocols for clinical high-energy electron beams recommend measurements of absorbed dose-to-water with a plane-parallel or cylindrical ionization chamber. For well-guarded plane-parallel ionization chambers, the ionization chamber perturbation factor in water, pQ, has a recommended value of unity in all protocols. This assumption was investigated in detail in this study for one of the recommended ionization chambers in the protocols: the Scanditronix NACP-02 plane-parallel ionization chamber. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of the NACP-02 ionization chamber with the EGSnrc code were validated against backscatter experiments. MC simulations were then used to calculate pwall, pcav and pQ perturbation factors and water-to-air Spencer–Attix stopping powers in 4–19 MeV electron beams of a calibration laboratory (NPL), and in 6–22 MeV clinical electron beams from a Varian CL2300 accelerator. Differences between calculated and the currently recommended (Burns et al 1996 Med. Phys. 23 383–8) stopping powers, water-to-air, were found to be limited to 0.9% at depths between the reference depth zref and the depth where the dose has decreased to 50% of the maximum dose, R50. pwall was found to exceed unity by 2.3% in the 4 MeV NPL calibration beam at zref. For higher energy electron beams pwall decreased to a value of about 1%. Combined with a pcav about 1% below unity for all energies at zref, this was found to cause pQ to exceed unity significantly for all energies. In clinical electron beams all three perturbation factors were found to increase with depth. Our findings indicate that the perturbation factors have to be taken into account in calibration procedures and for clinical depth dose measurements with the NACP-02 ionization chamber.
Journal of Structural and Functional Genomics

The official journal of the International Structural Genomics Organization (ISGO) provides a peer-reviewed forum for the exchange and discussion of new data in structural and functional genomics. The scope includes: Determination of the three-dimensional structures of gene products including those with unknown biological functions Structure determination methodologies spanning X-ray crystallography, cryoEM, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, molecular modeling, and hybrid methods Research and new methodologies for selection of molecules for study and sample production Experimental and structure-based functional analysis, data base design, and data mining Discussion of results of structural and functional genomics projects The Journal of Structural and Functional Genomics presents scientific articles in the following categories: original research articles, reviews, short structure notes, new software application notes and functional characterization notes. Details Concerning the Submission and Publication Procedures: No Page Charges No Fees for Online Color Images Optional Color Images in Print – Euro 950, Optional Open Access Publication Fee (APC) – USD 3000,/ Euro 2200,-
The Legal and Institutional Preconditions for Strong Securities Markets

An important challenge for all economies, at which only a few have succeeded, is creating the preconditions for a strong market for common stocks and other securities. A strong securities market rests on a complex network of legal and market institutions that ensure that minority shareholders (1) receive good information about the value of a company's business and (2) have confidence that a company's managers and controlling shareholders won't cheat them out of most or all of the value of their investment. A country whose laws and related institutions fail on either count cannot develop a strong securities market, forcing firms to rely on internal financing or bank financing - both of which have important shortcomings. In this Article, Professor Bernard Black explains why these two investor protection issues are critical, related, and hard to solve. He discusses which laws and institutions are most important for each, which of these laws and institutions can be borrowed from countries with strong securities markets, and which must be homegrown. A shorter and earlier version of this article was published as "The Core Institutions that Support Strong Securities Markets," Business Lawyer, Vol. 55, pp. 1565-1607, 2000. This earlier article is available at http://ssrn.com/abstract_id=231120
SATIE / UMR 8029 , ENS Cachan 61 , avenue du Président Wilson 94235 Cachan Cedex , France . ( 2 ) GEA , IUT

This paper deals with minimal bounds in the Bayesian context. We express the minimum mean square error of the conditional mean estimator as the solution of a continuum constrained optimization problem. And, by relaxing these constraints, we obtain the bounds of the Weiss-Weinstein family. Moreover, this method enables us to derive new bounds as the Bayesian version of the deterministic Abel bound.
Essays on higher order approximation solution Mmethods for DSGE models

I compare the performance of solution methods in solving a standard real business cycle model with labor market search frictions. Under the conventional calibration, the model is solved by the projection method using the Chebyshev polynomials as its basis, and the perturbation methods up to third order in both levels and logs. Evaluated by two accuracy tests, the projection approximation achieves the highest degree of accuracy, closely followed by the third order perturbation in levels. Although different in accuracy, all the approximated solutions produce the simulated moments similar in value. JEL classi cation: C63, C68, E32
The Effects of Stimulus and Consumer Characteristics on the Utilization of Nutrition Information

This research investigates the effect of consumer characteristics (e.g., familiarity and enduring motivation) and stimulus characteristics (e.g., information format and content) on the utilization of nutrition information. Results indicate that both types of charcteristics influence information processing and decision quality. Moreover, stimulus characteristics, in general, were found to facilitate these activities irrespective of consumer differences. Copyright 1990 by the University of Chicago.
The Relative Age Effect in Spanish Female Soccer Players. Influence of the Competitive Level and a Playing Position

Abstract The purposes of the study were to examine relative age effects (RAEs) in Spanish female soccer and to identify the influence of a playing position. The sample comprised all female players (n=4035) of five different competitive levels in the 2010-2013 seasons: First, Second and Third divisions (n=936, n=1711 and n=870, respectively), and National and Regional (n=232 and n=286, respectively) teams were included. Differences between the observed and expected birth-date distributions were tested based on data from the general Spanish population, using the chi-square statistic followed up by calculating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results revealed that the birth-date distributions of almost all groups of football players showed an overrepresentation of players born in the first quartile. Only in the lowest level was age distribution not significantly different from that of the general population. Moreover, the RAE risk progressively increased with a higher level of involvement. It was also observed that at some playing positions the birth-date distributions were significantly biased. That was the case for goalkeepers and defenders. It could be concluded that in the current structure of Spanish female soccer there is a relative age effect, probably due to the early processes of talent identification.
Trade Variety and Export Performance of ASEAN-5 (Kepelbagaian Perdagangan dan Prestasi Eksport ASEAN-5)

English Abstract: ASEAN-5 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) exports have grown rapidly over the last few decades. This speedy growth of exports may adversely affect economic welfare if it is followed by deterioration in the terms of trade. However, increases in the variety of products traded and improvements in technology will move a country up the value chain and halt the terms of trade deterioration. Another important characteristic of ASEAN-5 exports is the heavy reliance on imported intermediate components; thus import variety may also be an important factor that affects the growth of ASEAN-5’s exports. This study measured the dynamics of the export and import varieties of ASEAN-5 for the period from 1991-2008 using variety indexes based on Shannon’s entropy. It then determined whether expansion in the varieties of products exported and imported, if any, have helped to explain the rapid growth of exports.Indonesian Abstract: Eksport negara-negara ASEAN-5 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Filipina, Singapura, dan Thailand) telah berkembang dengan amat pesat sejak beberapa dekad yang lalu. Namun pertumbuhan pesat eksport boleh menjejaskan kebajikan rakyat sesebuah negara jika ia diikuti dengan kemerosotan terma perdagangan (terms of trade). Peningkatan jenis-jenis produk yang didagangkan dan teknologi dapat menggerakkan negara ke arah yang lebih tinggi dalam rantaian nilai dan menghentikan kemerosotan terma perdagangan. Satu lagi ciri penting bagi eksport Negara-negara ASEAN-5 adalah kebergantungan pada pengimportan komponen pengantara; dengan itu kepelbagaian import juga merupakan faktor penting yang dapat memberi kesan kepada pertumbuhan eksport ASEAN-5. Kajian ini mengukur dinamik untuk kepelbagaian eksport dan import bagi negara-negara ASEAN-5 bagi tempoh 1991-2008 menggunakan indek-indek kepelbagaian berdasarkan entropi Shannon. Ia kemudian menentukan sama ada perkembangan kepelbagaian dalam jenis produk yang dieksport dan diimport dapat menerangkan pertumbuhan pesat eksport di negara-negara ASEAN-5.
Redefining the Crisis/Redefining Democracy: Mobilising for the Right to Housing in Spain's PAH Movement

European anti-austerity movements are challenging fundamental assumptions about the role of the market and the state. In Spain, the twin claims of the movements are a demand for ‘real democracy’ and an end to austerity measures resulting from the global financial crisis. I argue that these demands are intertwined. Using critical discourse analysis, I explore the Platform of Those Affected by Mortgages' controversial escrache campaign to show how social movements actively resisting austerity measures transcend the specific issues around which they mobilise to contest hegemonic definitions of crisis and of democracy, laying the groundwork for the reconfiguration of Spain's political landscape.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT : A PROPOSAL FOR EVANGELISTIC AGENDA

The paper considers all the process of ministering the entrepreneurial personality, right from childhood to the time of retirement from active entrepreneurial practice, if ever possible, as development. It also specifies development as a construct used to explain economic expansion. It posits an agenda of developing the entrepreneur from cradle to the grace which involves active participation of virtually all forms of institutions in the society; the models to be used as vehicle for evangelistic entrepreneurial development are presented. The paper contends that the era of relying on natural entrepreneurs for economic development, based on the experience from south East Asia is gone. Therefore, if we hope to have great and dynamic economy, we must develop indigenous entrepreneurs by equipping them with necessary capacity to face the challenges of the 21 century. This calls for active involvement of all economic, social, political, technical institutions and offices. It also demands the development of multiple skills in our entrepreneurs. Twenty eight of such skills are outlined for future trainers of indigenous entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
Impact of methodological variables on functional connectivity findings in autism spectrum disorders

Growing evidence suggests that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) involves abnormalities of multiple functional networks. Neuroimaging studies of ASD have therefore increasingly focused on connectivity. Many functional connectivity (fcMRI) studies have reported network underconnectivity in children and adults with ASD. However, there are notable inconsistencies, with some studies reporting overconnectivity. A previous literature survey suggested that a few methodological factors play a crucial role in differential fcMRI outcomes. Using three ASD data sets (two task‐related, one resting state) from 54 ASD and 51 typically developing (TD) participants (ages 9–18 years), we examined the impact of four methodological factors: type of pipeline (co‐activation vs. intrinsic analysis, related to temporal filtering and removal of task‐related effects), seed selection, field of view (whole brain vs. limited ROIs), and dataset. Significant effects were found for type of pipeline, field of view, and dataset. Notably, for each dataset results ranging from robust underconnectivity to robust overconnectivity were detected, depending on the type of pipeline, with intrinsic fcMRI analyses (low bandpass filter and task regressor) predominantly yielding overconnectivity in ASD, but co‐activation analyses (no low bandpass filter or task removal) mostly generating underconnectivity findings. These results suggest that methodological variables have dramatic impact on group differences reported in fcMRI studies. Improved awareness of their implications appears indispensible in fcMRI studies when inferences about “underconnectivity” or “overconnectivity” in ASD are made. In the absence of a gold standard for functional connectivity, the combination of different methodological approaches promises a more comprehensive understanding of connectivity in ASD. Hum Brain Mapp 35:4035–4048, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals,Inc.
Measurement and analysis of truck and rail shipping environment in India

Free trade agreements have been on the rise in all regions of the world in the past decade. This has allowed for global distribution and marketing of products in an international market. Products once produced for domestic markets must now be able to compete in international markets without trade barriers. Increased international commerce and manufacturing have forced many packaging and logistics engineers to broaden their true understanding of the global distribution environment. India is a recent entrant on the global arena for manufacturing and services. While China's economic developments have dominated global headlines, India's own growth has been impressive as well, with a gross domestic product rising 5% per annum on average since 1990. India is hence primed to follow China as the next low‐cost manufacturing super power. With an increasing interest from multinational corporations in conducting commerce with India, there arises a great need to understand the conditions of the transportation infrastructure there to promote logistical understanding of the distribution environments. This paper provides a brief overview of the road and rail transportation environment in India. It also provides the results of a 2 year study that measured and analysed truck and rail transport vibration for the major freight distribution routes between New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkatta. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.