Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uncertain search: a model of search among technologies of uncertain values

In the standard search problem there is an infinite pool of items whose distribution of values is known. A decision maker draws an item from the pool, observes its value, and decides whether to keep it or to draw another item. He can keep only one item, and he seeks the item with the largest value. In the standard uncertainty resolution problem there is only one item, and the value of that item remains uncertain even after it is drawn. The decision maker sequentially collects observations on the value of the item and decides whether to keep the item, discard the item, or take another observation. Uncertain search marries the sequential drawing from a pool of items from the search literature with the unknown value of a drawn item from the uncertainty resolution literature. Presented in the context of technology adoption, it considers drawing from a pool of new technologies whose values remain unknown even after being drawn. The decision maker sequentially purchases information in order to Bayesianly update the prior distribution of the technology's value. After each observation, the decision maker either adopts the technology (and hence quits searching), takes another costly observation, rejects the technology and quits searching, or rejects the technology and draws the next technology from the pool for observation. The solution to this uncertain search problem is surprisingly simple: solve the version of the uncertainty resolution problem in which the return to rejecting the technology is replaced by an exit value. Then use successive approximation to find a fixed point: an exit value that equals the expected value of the uncertainty resolution problem.
Does Chevron Matter

In this article we evaluate whether the Supreme Court's much-discussed decision in Chevron v Natural Resources Defense Council (1984) signaled a lasting difference in how the justices decide administrative law cases, by comparing and testing the predictions of three distinct theories of Supreme Court behavior. The legal model predicts an increase in deference to administrative agencies. This prediction is shared by the jurisprudential regime model, which also predicts that the justices evaluate key case factors differently before and after Chevron. The attitudinal model predicts no change in the justices behavior as a result of Chevron. Although we find that attitudes matter, the fact that we also find support for the legal and jurisprudential regime models undermines the assertion of the attitudinal model that law cannot explain Supreme Court votes on the merits.
Pedigree analysis of an elite rice hybrid using proteomic approach

The definition of dominance or epistasis is generally on the basis of a descriptive characterization for these crops in the field, such as yield per hectare and the weight of grain. Since these trait examinations lack molecular information, how to precisely predict the phenotypic changes in filial generation is still a problem in heterosis studies. For rice, the genetic information caused by hybridization can be archived through analyzing of proteomes of rice seeds. Differential analysis of proteomes was introduced for the rice seeds of three cultivars, 9311, PA64S and LYP9, an elite rice hybrid from cross between 9311 and PA64S. In the three rice endosperms, the expression profiles of proteins were similar with the stained spots of 47 ± 1, 46 ± 0.6 and 44 ± 0.6, for 9311, PA64S and LYP9, respectively; however, the number of proteins expressed in the rice embryos was significantly increased with the stained spots of 395.3 ± 12.9, 350 ± 9.2, and 389.3 ± 16.4, for 9311, PA64S and LYP9, respectively. Importantly, the image comparisons and protein identifications have revealed in significantly different embryo protein spots among the three rice cultivars. By carefully analyzing these different 2‐DE spots, many of them from the three embryos were shown to display a mirrored relationships between parents and the first filial generation. Furthermore, all of stained spots in LYP9 embryo were found on the 2‐DEs from its parents, indicating that there was a genetic linkage. These results suggest that proteomic approach is able to serve pedigree analysis and functional prediction for new rice breeds.
Critical factors in quality management and guidelines for self-assessment: The case of Singapore

Total quality management has evolved beyond its roots in statistics and the quality control function. Today, it is believed to be a framework for 'competitive' management. The quality measurement instruments for service organizations developed by Parasuraman et al . have been successfully applied in many such organizations. Saraph et al . developed an instrument to measure the overall organizational quality management practices for both manufacturing and service firms. This instrument was tested for consistency and validity using data from US firms, United Arab Emirates firms and Indian firms. The present study attempts to corroborate the results of the studies just mentioned. Using data from 33 manufacturing and service firms in Singapore, internal consistency, criterion-related validity and construct validity are tested. Additionally, the study shows how this instrument could be used as a self-assessment tool by quality managers for continuous monitoring of quality-related performance. In conclusion, th.
miR‐200c‐3p spreads invasive capacity in human oral squamous cell carcinoma microenvironment

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes over 90% of all cancers in the oral cavity. The prognosis for patients with invasive OSCC is poor; therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms of invasion and subsequent metastasis not only to prevent cancer progression but also to detect new therapeutic targets against OSCC. Recently, extracellular vesicles—particularly exosomes—have been recognized as intercellular communicators in the tumor microenvironment. As exosomic cargo, deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) can shape the surrounding microenvironment in a cancer‐dependent manner. Previous studies have shown inconsistent results regarding miR‐200c‐3p expression levels in OSCC cell lines, tissues, or serum—likely because of the heterogeneous characters of the specimen materials. For this reason, single‐cell clone analyses are necessary to effectively assess the role of exosome‐derived miRNAs on cells within the tumor microenvironment. The present study utilized integrated microarray profiling to compare exosome‐derived miRNA and exosome‐treated cell‐derived mRNA expression. Data were acquired from noninvasive SQUU‐A and highly invasive SQUU‐B tongue cancer cell clones derived from a single patient to determine candidate miRNAs that promote OSCC invasion. Matrigel invasion assays confirmed that hsa‐miR‐200c‐3p was a key pro‐invasion factor among six miRNA candidates. Consistently, silencing of the miR‐200c‐3p targets, CHD9 and WRN, significantly accelerated the invasive potential of SQUU‐A cells. Thus, our data indicate that miR‐200c‐3p in exosomes derived from a highly invasive OSCC line can induce a similar phenotype in non‐invasive counterparts.
Sunlight-induced mortality of viruses and Escherichia coli in coastal seawater.

w The potential of sunlight for lethality toward enteric microorganisms was examined with use of pure cultures of Escherichia coli and three bacteriophages (MS2, ~JX-174, and T7) suspended in filtered coastal seawater. At temperatures that are common in temperate coastal waters, in vitro microbial mortality in sunlit seawater was significantly greater than that in seawater kept in the dark. Escherichia coli populations in sunlit seawater exhibited convex semilogarithmic mortality curves, suggesting that sunlight-induced death of Escherichia coli resulted from cumulative photochemical damage. Sunlight lethal for bacteriophage MS2 and Escherichia coli was not blocked by a polyacrylic filter, which exhibited a transmission cutoff a t 370 nm. Under identical conditions of ambient sunlight exposure, Escherichia coli populations died more rapidly than populations of the single-stranded, RNAcontaining bacteriophage MS2.
Nurses' knowledge on diabetic foot ulcer disease and their attitudes towards patients affected: A cross‐sectional institution‐based study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assess nurses' knowledge on diabetic ulcer disease and their attitudes towards patients suffering from it and to identify factors which influence them. BACKGROUND Diabetic wound care is an evolving specialty with the rising prevalence of diabetes foot complications. As nurses play a key role in wound care, their knowledge and attitudes are important in providing optimum care to patients. DESIGN Descriptive cross-sectional survey design. METHODS The study was conducted in three teaching hospitals. Data were collected using a pretested, validated, self-administered questionnaire from purposively recruited, voluntarily participating nurses (n = 200) who were in diabetic wound care practice for ≥1 year. RESULTS Lack of formal wound care training was reported by 91.2%. Mean knowledge score was 77.9 (range 53.3-100 on a scale from 0-100) with 57.8% of nurses obtaining ≥80%. Nurses demonstrated an overall positive attitude towards caring for diabetic ulcer patients (median = 41, range 23-50 on a scale from 10-50). However, the study identified deficits in core knowledge and some negative attitudes such as insensitivity to pain. Statistically significant associations were seen between nurses' knowledge and duration of nursing, wound care experience and the type of unit they are attached to. In-service education (77.2%) and knowledge sharing with peers (77.9%) were the most popular knowledge-updating sources. Although 98.6% of nurses were interested in wound care, only 8.3% wished to engage in research. No correlation was observed between nurses' knowledge and attitudes. CONCLUSION Gaps in core knowledge and negative attitudes may be attributed to inadequate training, suboptimal update of knowledge and lack of interest in wound care research. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Wound care training should be made mandatory to improve quality of care given by nurses to patients with diabetic ulcers. Continuous professional development, evidence-based practices and wound care research should be encouraged.
Synthesis and Characterization of Bio-Based Polyesters: Poly(2-methyl-1,3-propylene-2,5-furanoate), Poly(isosorbide-2,5-furanoate), Poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene-2,5-furanoate)

In the present study, three new biobased furanoate polyesters with potential use in food packaging applications, named poly(isosorbide furanoate) (PIsF), poly(methyl-propylene furanoate) (PMePF) and poly(1,4-cyclohexane-dimethylene 2,5-furanoate) (PCHDMF) were synthesized. As monomers for the preparation of the polyesters, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and diols with irregular or complicated structure were used, including isosorbide (IS), 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (MPD) and 1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol (CHDM). The polymerization process was carried out via melt polycondensation method. The structural characteristics and thermal behavior of the polymers were studied. The kinetic fragility of the amorphous phase of the polymers was evaluated. The thermal degradation was studied by means of thermogravimetry and a pyrolysis Py-GC/MS (Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy) system to estimate the degradation mechanism.
The Europeanisation - or the Erosion - of Industrial Relations?

This article considers the impact of European integration on industrial relations. An industrial relations regime can be understood as a tension between employment structured by market dynamics and broader social regulation, between the principles of contract and status. Economic Europeanisation threatens this relationship. Its survival may depend on new forms of supranational regulation, but not necessarily as the ‘social dimension’ of Europeanisation is customarily conceived.
Geographical Spillovers and University Research: A Spatial EconometricPerspective

Using data for U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, an earlier study of aggregate local geographic research spillovers generated by universities (Anselin et al.1997) was extended to a sectorally disaggregated level. These findings suggest the existence of significant sectoral variation with respect to local university effects on innovation. Apparent differences were found across sectors with respect to the “mix” of applied local knowledge inputs in general, and the extent to which university research plays a role in innovation in particular. The main conclusion is that local university spillovers seem to be specific to certain industries, such that at the two‐digit SIC level, no university spillover effects are at work in the Drugs and Chemicals (SIC28) and in the Machinery (SIC35) sectors. On the contrary, very strong and significant university research spillovers are evidenced in the Electronics (SIC36) and the Instruments (SIC38) industries. These spillovers extend beyond the boundary of the MSA within a 75‐mile range from the central city.
An exploration of multi‐country political conflict/cooperation interdependence

Previous investigations of dynamic conflict actions and reactions among major countries have generally assumed the unit of analysis to be either a dyad or a triad. Our objective of the papa‐is to explore this assumption. The empirical analysis employs quarterly political conflict/cooperation among the United States, the (former) Soviet Union, China, Japan, and (West) Germany from 1950 to 1991. The model consists of a system of dynamic multiple regression equations. Various groups formed among mese countries are tested to find out whether they can be considered an autonomous unit of analysis. The analysis reveals several groups of countries whose political relations can be considered to be autonomous. In particular, either the United States‐the Soviet Union dyad or the United States‐the Soviet Union‐China triad is not an appropriate, autonomous unit of analysis in dynamic conflict action‐reaction models, because these countries are significantly influenced by the presence of other countries. New directions for future research are also suggested.
Comparison of Intra-articular Thoracic Facet Joint Steroid Injection and Thoracic Medial Branch Block for the Management of Thoracic Facet Joint Pain

Study Design. A prospective observational study. Objective. The aim of this study was to show the effect of intra-articular (IA) thoracic facet joint (TFJ) steroid injection for the management of TFJ pain, and to compare it with the effect of therapeutic thoracic medial branch block (MBB) with a local anesthetic and steroid. Summary of Background Data. Several studies have shown the effects of thoracic MBB with local anesthetics with or without steroids and radiofrequency neurotomy in managing TFJ pain, but thus far, the effectiveness of IA TFJ steroid injection has not been studied. Methods. Forty patients with TFJ pain were recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups, the IA steroid injection and the MBB group, each with 20 patients. For IA TFJ steroid injection and therapeutic MBB, we injected 0.5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine, mixed with 10 mg (0.25 mL) of dexamethasone. We assessed the severity of TFJ pain using a numeric rating scale (NRS) before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Results. Compared to the pretreatment NRS scores, the NRS scores at 1, 3, and 6 months after each treatment showed a significant decrease in patients in both the groups. Intergroup changes in the NRS scores were not significantly different over time. Six months after the treatment, 65% of the patients in the IA steroid injection group reported successful pain relief (pain relief ≥50%), and 40% of the patients in the MBB group showed successful pain relief. Conclusion. In the present study, both IA TFJ steroid injection and therapeutic MBB significantly relieved TFJ pain. Their effects persisted for at least 6 months after the procedure. Thus, we think that both IA TFJ steroid injection and therapeutic thoracic MBB are useful treatment options for managing TFJ pain. Level of Evidence: 2
Macro‐Hysteresis Test for Brazilian Exports of Manufactured Products: A threshold Panel Approach

type="main"> This study tests for macro-hysteresis in Brazilian exports of manufactured products using a panel model with threshold parameters according to Hansen. To test hysteresis, the threshold variables are built based on studies by Parslei and Wei, and Penkova. There is evidence of asymmetrical responses, with more pronounced increases in the price elasticity of demand during periods of high depreciation of the exchange rate compared with periods of more pronounced currency appreciation. We also estimate the relative price intervals that correspond to the inaction band.
Adventitious Sounds Identification and Extraction Using Temporal–Spectral Dominance-Based Features

Respiratory sound (RS) signals carry significant information about the underlying functioning of the pulmonary system by the presence of adventitious sounds (ASs). Although many studies have addressed the problem of pathological RS classification, only a limited number of scientific works have focused on the analysis of the evolution of symptom-related signal components in joint time-frequency (TF) plane. This paper proposes a new signal identification and extraction method for various ASs based on instantaneous frequency (IF) analysis. The presented TF decomposition method produces a noise-resistant high definition TF representation of RS signals as compared to the conventional linear TF analysis methods, yet preserving the low computational complexity as compared to those quadratic TF analysis methods. The discarded phase information in conventional spectrogram has been adopted for the estimation of IF and group delay, and a temporal-spectral dominance spectrogram has subsequently been constructed by investigating the TF spreads of the computed time-corrected IF components. The proposed dominance measure enables the extraction of signal components correspond to ASs from noisy RS signal at high noise level. A new set of TF features has also been proposed to quantify the shapes of the obtained TF contours, and therefore strongly, enhances the identification of multicomponents signals such as polyphonic wheezes. An overall accuracy of 92.4±2.9% for the classification of real RS recordings shows the promising performance of the presented method.
Employers, quality and standards in higher education: Shared values and vocabularies or elitism and inequalities

This paper is based on a research project funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England which investigated employers' needs for information on higher education quality and standards. A key issue was identifying the type of knowledge that employers utilise in graduate recruitment. A finding of the study was that information on quality and standards was being used by some employers in a way that could undermine equity and widening participation initiatives. Whereas employers reported that, in initial recruitment, they placed least emphasis on information about quality and standards and most emphasis on graduates' interpersonal and communication skills, over a quarter used league tables/Top 20 lists in their decision-making processes and 80 per cent of employers cited the importance of the reputation of the higher education institution in their decision making about marketing and individual recruitment of graduates. Reputation was based on real or imagined league tables, `grapevine? knowledge, personal, regional and professional networks, performance of past graduates and prejudice against new universities. The hierarchy of opportunity within the labour market often appeared to correspond to a highly stratified higher education sector.
Testing the predective validity of the time trade-off and the Stardard Gamble

This paper tests the consistency of health utility measurements with individual preferences. We compare three methods, the time trade-off, the standard gamble and a version of the standard gamble that corrects for the deviations from expected utility modelled by prospect theory. Individual preferences are measured both through a ranking task and through a choice task. In decisions involving no risk the time trade-off is most consistent with people’s preferences with the standard gamble a close second. In decisions involving risk the corrected standard gamble is most consistent with people’s preferences. Our data do not support the common assumption in health economics that utility is transferable across decision contexts.
Chronic Refractory Hypochromic Anaemia with Disturbed Haem‐metabolism

HYPOCHROMIC anaemia refractory to oral iron therapy has long been known both in adults and in children. Apart from those due to infections and Mediterranean anaemia, most of these cases seem to be the result of disturbances in absorption from the digestive tract, such as in steatorrhoea, and they respond normally to parented iron therapy (Hawkins, Pecney and Cookc, 1950; Badenoch and Callcnder, 1954; Coleman, Stevens and Finch, 1955). Rarely, patients have been described who do not respond even to parcnteral iron therapy (Zetterstrom and Delava, 1955). The present communication is concerned with a I 5-year-old boy who has had pronounced refractory hypochromic anaemia for more than 10 years. Detailed analysis indicates a disturbance in the haem-metabolism of unknown cause. It is suggested that this disturbance may be the direct cause of the anaemia.
Off-Farm Work Participation of Israeli Farm Couples: the Importance of Farm Work Participation Status

This article claims that coefficients of off-farm work participation equations for farm residents might be estimated inconsistently if selectivity based on farm participation is ignored. Participation equations will be different for farm residents who do not work on farm, especially with respect to the dependence of reservation wages on farm attributes. I estimate an endogenous switching regression model in which farm and off-farm participation equations are estimated jointly while the off-farm participation coefficients are different for those who work on farm and those who don't. Using the 1981 Israeli Census of Agriculture data, I reject the hypothesis of insignificant selection bias and the hypothesis of equal coefficients in the two subsamples.
Effects of Orienting Instructions, Feedback-Information, and Trait-Anxiety Level on State-Anxiety

This study evaluated the effects of orienting instructions and feedback-information on state anxiety (A-state) for Ss who differed in trait anxiety (A-trait). A-state and A-trait were measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Differential orienting instructions (ego vs task) had no effect on change in A-state scores from a pretest to a test period. However, differential feedback-information was a significant determinant of change in A-state, with failure-feedback inducing greater increases in A-state than either no feedback or success-feedback. The largest differential increase in A-state scores between Ss high and low in A-trait occurred with the failure-feedback, though this effect only approached statistical significance.
Is there a difference between domestic and foreign risk premium? The case of China Stock Market

This article studies the dynamic return and market price of risk for Chinese stocks (A-B shares). A Multivariate DCC-GARCH model is used to capture the feature of time-varying volatility in stock returns. We show evidence of different pricing mechanisms explained by the difference in the expected return and market price of risk between A and B shares. However, the significance of the difference between market prices of risk disappears if GARCH models are used.