Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Welfare effects of demographic changes in a Ramsey growth model

Population ageing and decline are inescapable facts for Germany which are expected to have - especially due to the labour force decrease - negative impacts on the economy. In this context it is often referred to the possibility of countering potentially negative economic effects of population ageing by a fertility increase or immigration of people at the working age. Of course, changing fertility and immigration are both suited to reduce population ageing. But they influence the population structure, labour supply and thus the economic conditions in substantially different way. This discussion paper focuses on one aspect which is related to this issue. It is examined by simulations how different demographic scenarios affect consumption development and thus average welfare of individual cohorts. The analysis is based on a Ramsey growth model and refers to the demographic structure in Germany. The model results imply that welfare of cohorts with a life expectancy up to 50 years is higher without immigration. Instead, when a consumer faces a life expectancy higher than 50 years or will be born in the future immigration has a positive influence on welfare. Independently of his life expectancy and year of birth a consumer is worse off if fertility rises.
Preservation of potential fermentables in sweet sorghum by ensiling

Pressed and wilted samples of sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. Rio] were ensiled for periods up to 155 days. A kinetic study of the biochemical changes which occurred during ensiling showed that in wilted sorghum ensilage invert sugars and mannitol levels collectively were maintained at 65% of the original ferment able sugar content of the sorghum. The acidic environment produced by ensiling also served as a pretreatment that resulted in enhanced yields of reducing sugar when the sorghum was contacted with cellulolytic enzymes. The quantity of sugar obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis more than compensated for carbohydrate used by organisms during the ensiling process. Both Saccharomyces uvarum and Clostridium acetobutylicum were able to ferment a medium constituted from pressed sorghum juice and the solution resulting from enzymatic hydrolysis of sweet sorghum ensilage.
Personality traits, quality of life and perceived health in adolescents with congenital heart disease

This study investigated how the Big Five personality traits were related to quality of life and perceived health in adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD). Adolescents with CHD were selected from the database of paediatric and congenital cardiology of the University Hospitals Leuven. A total of 366 adolescents (15–20 years) participated; 364 were matched on sex and age with community controls. Adolescents’ personality was assessed using the Quick Big Five, quality of life was measured using a Linear Analogue Scale and several domains of perceived health were assessed using the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Adolescents with CHD displayed similar Big Five levels as controls, except for a lower score on Extraversion. Whereas disease-specific domains of perceived health were mainly related to Emotional Stability, several traits contributed to patients’ quality of life and generic perceived health. Hence, the present findings demonstrate that the Big Five is a valuable framework for examining linkages between personality and disease adaptation in chronic disease populations. Moreover, these findings underscore the importance of examining patients’ personality to shed light on their daily functioning. Future research should explore potential mechanisms detailing how personality influences disease adaptation over time in these patients.
Incentives for Attracting FDI in South Asia

Incentive offers along with performance requirements are a notable feature of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies of South Asian countries after they opened up to trade and investment in the 1990s. Since FDI operates in an imperfect market environment, a government policy that tries to counter this imperfection by insisting on performance requirements could well improve welfare. Incentives are then offered to soften the impact of performance requirements. There are no systematic studies to assess the cost and benefits of these incentives offered competitively in South Asian countries. Often, the purpose of these incentives may have been to generate funds for side payments to the bureaucracy of host countries. Incentives seem to affect mainly footloose FDI or, at best, lead to relocation of FDI within a region. This latter advantage disappears when countries of a region tend to compete in incentives. The limited number of studies on the South Asian region that are available seem to identify an increase in employment and/or wages, reduced prices or improved product quality, more revenues for the government and indirect benefits through professionalism, learning and technology diffusion as benefits. The impact of providing facilitation to foreign investors on national savings, deterioration in trade conditions and balance of payments are cited as the cost of incentives. Coordination in FDI policy making among South Asian countries is the main policy prescription that emerges out of this study.
Selective migration, union wage setting and unemployment disparities in West Germany

There are wide and persistent disparities between regional unemployment rates in West Germany. Furthermore, regions with high unemployment tend to have relatively low effective wages and vice versa. Internal migration is driven by these spatial disparities. However, mobility will not work as an adjustment mechanism, but rather perpetuate regional imbalances if there is a skill bias within the group of internal migrants. Correspondence Address: Jens Suedekum, University of Konstanz, Fach D132, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. Email: jens.suedekum@uni‐konstanz.de JEL Classification: J6, R11
Differential roles for neuropeptide Y Y1 and Y5 receptors in anxiety and sedation

Central administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) causes both anxiolysis and sedation. Previous studies suggest that both effects are mediated via NPY Y1 receptors. However, most of these studies were carried out before the advent of specific NPY receptor ligands. Therefore, a potential role for other NPY receptors in anxiety and sedation remains a possibility. In the present study, we addressed this issue by testing the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of NPY as well as specific receptor agonists for the Y1 receptor ([D‐His26]NPY), Y2 receptor (C2‐NPY), and Y5 receptor ([cPP1–7,NPY19–23,Ala31,Aib32,Gln34]hPP) in the elevated plus maze and open field tests. As with NPY, the Y1 agonist had a dose‐dependent anxiolytic‐like effect in both behavioral tests. In contrast to NPY, which caused significant sedation in the open field test, the Y1 agonist was without sedative effect. The Y2 agonist showed neither anxiolytic‐like nor sedative effects. The Y5 agonist showed anxiolytic‐like activity in both behavioral tests and caused sedation in the same dose range as NPY in the open field test. These results indicate that anxiolytic‐like effects of i.c. v. ‐administered NPY in rats are mediated via both Y1 and Y5 receptors, whereas sedation is mediated via Y5 receptors. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ipsilateral cortical connections from the second and fourth somatic sensory areas in the cat

The ipsilateral corticocortical connections of the second and fourth somatic sensory areas (SII and SIV) were traced with the aid of anterograde or retrograde axonal transport techniques involving horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin (HRP‐WGA) or tritiated amino acids. The injections were placed into physiological defined components of the body representation in SII or SIV. The results from cases with localized injections into SII showed precise topographically organized, reciprocal connections with SI and motor cortex area 4. The distribution of connections in SI included areas 3a, 3b, and 1–2. A uniform pattern of cell and fiber labeling was seen across area 3b and 1 within the zones that were homotypical to the injection site in SII as though only a single representation of the cutaneous surface of the body existed in SI. Intrinsic connections within SII were also topographically arranged. Additional areas found to be interconnected with SII included, in decreasing order of density: area 5, insula, perirhinal cortex (area 36), and ventrolateral orbital cortex. SII connections with area 6 were seen only in the region of the lateral bank of the presylvian sulcus. There may be interconnections between SII and SIV but these were from possible local intrinsic connections in the AEG. The results from injections involving SIV showed reciprocal connections with area 5, the suprasylvian fringe, insula, dorsolateral orbital area, and area 6. The densest connections for SIV were with area 5. No topography was noted in the connections for SIV.
Calcium signaling in mouse mesenteric small arteries: myogenic tone and adrenergic vasoconstriction

In this study, we sought, first, to observe (through confocal imaging of fluo‐4 fluorescence) the changes in [Ca2+] in individual smooth muscle cells (SMC) of mouse mesenteric small arteries during development of MT, and second, to determine whether α1‐adrenoceptor induced Ca2+ signaling is influenced by MT. Before MT developed spontaneously, at 32°C and intraluminal pressure of 70 mm Hg, propagating Ca2+ waves (previously shown to be dependent on InsP3 receptors) were present in most SMC. In these arteries, α1‐adrenoceptor activation (phenylephrine, PE, 0.1 to 10.0 μM) caused strong vasoconstriction and markedly increased the frequency of Ca2+ waves. However, when cytosolic [Ca2+] was elevated experimentally ([K+]o, 20 mM), PE caused vasoconstriction and raised [Ca2+], but failed to elicit Ca2+ waves. During the spontaneous development of MT, the cytosolic [Ca2+] in individual SMC increased to an estimated level of ~ 400 nM. Ca2+ waves disappeared, and small Ca2+ ‘ripples’ appeared in ~ 25% of cells (frequency; ~ 0.05 Hz). The angiotensin II competitive antagonist, [Sar1, Ile8]‐Ang II (10 nM), inhibited the ripples and caused a small (< 10 %) decrease in MT. In arteries with MT, PE elicited only spatially uniform increases in [Ca2+], and smaller vasoconstriction (than in absence of MT). However, when cytosolic [Ca2+] was decreased by nifedipine, PE did again elicit Ca2+ waves. RT‐PCR indicated the presence of Type 1 InsP3 receptor (Ca2+ inactivated) in these arteries. We propose that in mouse arteries with MT, the markedly elevated cytosolic [Ca2+] and/or local Ca2+ influx around L‐type Ca2+ channels may inactivate Type 1 InsP3 receptors, accounting for inability of α1‐adrenoceptor agonists to elicit Ca2+ waves.
Crowded out? The capacity of HR to change healthcare work practices

This article analyses the role of HR in changing healthcare work practices. It uses a large, mainly qualitative, empirical study of a national HR initiative in England, document review and secondary sources to indicate how HR struggles to carve out a role for itself within the crowded space of workforce modernisation. The concept of regulatory space is used to indicate how government policy placing HR at the forefront of workforce change is challenged, first, by its complexity, and second, by the reality of regulating workforce practice at local levels. The highly technical nature of work organisation in healthcare, and constraints on the capacity and capability of the HR function, meant that such changes tended to be controlled and designed by clinicians, in contrast to the broad, strategic approach to HR envisaged by policymakers.
Use of vascular access ports with intrathoracic drains for treatment of pleural effusion in three dogs.

CASE DESCRIPTION 3 dogs (9 to 12 years old) were evaluated because of recurrent pleural effusion that was refractory to treatment of the underlying cause. CLINICAL FINDINGS Dogs were evaluated because of cough, dyspnea, tachypnea, or lethargy or a combination of these clinical signs. Radiography, ultrasonography, or thoracocentesis were used to confirm the presence of pleural fluid in each dog. A neoplastic cause of pleural effusion was confirmed in 2 dogs. In 1 dog, fasciitis of the mediastinum and the left parietal pleura was diagnosed, with no evidence of neoplasia. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Each dog was anesthestized, and thoracotomy was performed with manual perforation of the mediastinum. Permanent, subcutaneously placed vascular access ports were attached to intrathoracic, Jackson-Pratt drain tubing for repeated drainage of pleural fluid. Drains were used successfully in the 3 dogs for periods of 6 weeks, 11 weeks, and > 3 years. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings suggest that subcutaneous vascular access ports attached to intrathoracic drain tubing may be an effective way to remove recurrent pleural effusion in dogs.
Firm Organization, Technology And Performance: An Empirical Study

The purpose of the study is to characterize different styles of work organization in French firms and their current changes and to link them to the use of specific technologies and to firms performance. The data which are used arc of two kinds: a labor force survey (1 470 blue collar) and a business survey (7 089 firms). We show that two main variables create differences among firms' organization devices: the intensity of communication within the workshop and the level of autonomy of workers (facing technological and hierarchical constraints). The use of advanced technologies and the skill of the labor force are positively linked to both organizational variables. Therefore. 'Communicating organization' and organizational innovation seem to aim at creating conditions for individual and collective learning on new technologies. They also enhance the ability of the firm to adapt to changing market conditions through technological innovation and inventory reduction, These views are supported by econometric estimation.
On the Growth Implications of Foreign Aid for Public Investment Co-Financing

In this paper we present an endogenous growth model with foreign transfers for public capital formation in order to analyze the implications for growth maximization when the public sector in recipient countries co-finances investment projects. Our main innovation is to show that, first, there is a unique growth-maximizing absorption rate of funds that decreases with the co-financing ratio and, second, that high amounts of assistance may be an impediment to growth due to the excess domestic taxation required to co-finance investment projects. We then derive a policy rule for designing the growth-maximizing co-financing share under a given level of assistance. Finally, we also highlight some implications for EU regional policies, which aim at fostering growth in poorer EU countries by co-financing public capital formation.
Fleet sizing and empty equipment redistribution for center-terminal transportation networks

Fleet sizing and empty equipment redistribution are important issues in managing transportation systems. Most of the mathematical models that have been developed for these problems are complex and computationally demanding, including dynamic linear programming and stochastic/dynamic mathematical programs. Our research takes an alternate approach by building from inventory theory and developing decentralized stock control policies for empty equipment. This approach is applied to hub-and-spoke networks (i.e., center-terminal networks), by first analytically modeling the stochastic processes representing various stock-control variables, and then comparing the analytical results to monte-carlo simulations. A decomposition approach is also developed to determine stock-out probabilities as a function of the fleet size as a whole, and as a function of localized control parameters.
Measuring the Economic Impacts of Transgenic Crops in Developing Agriculture during the First Decade: Approaches, Findings, and Future Directions

"As progressively more farmers in developing countries begin using biotech crops, careful evaluation of such crops' benefits becomes ever more important. This food policy review examines the applied economics literature regarding the impact of biotech crops on non-industrialized agriculture and investigates the research methods used in assessing how these crops affect farmers, consumers, the agricultural sector as a whole, and international trade. This analysis offers a tool for researchers who seek to produce objective, relevant analysis of emerging crop biotechnologies that can in turn be used by national policymakers in developing countries. A vast literature has accumulated since transgenic crop varieties were initially released to farmers in 1996. Several years after their introduction in the United States, crop varieties with transgenic resistance to insects or herbicide tolerance were supplied to farmers in countries with developing economies and nonindustrialized agriculture. Essays, editorials, newsletters, web conferences, articles, and books have argued the pros and cons of transgenic crops. The global debate continues in this second decade of their use. A comparatively minor segment of this literature consists of studies conducted by agricultural economists to measure the impact of transgenic crop varieties on farmers, the size and distribution of the economic benefits from adopting them, consumer attitudes toward products made with transgenic ingredients, and implications of the use of transgenic crops for international trade. An even smaller subset treats the impacts of transgenic crops in developing economies. " "Authors' Abstract
Share price anticipation of earnings and management's discussion of operations and financing

Abstract This paper combines research on the measurement of disclosure quality and the measurement of share price anticipation of earnings to produce a new test of the usefulness of the information disclosed in management discussions of operations and financing for predicting future earnings. Market-Based Accounting Research has shown that earnings changes are anticipated and impounded in prices well before the financial year for which earnings are reported. This price anticipation leads to downward biased earnings response coefficients (ERCs) in the commonly estimated regression model of returns on contemporaneous earnings changes. We exploit predictable differences in the biasedness of the ERC estimate across firm-years to test the hypothesis that share prices are better informed when the annual report contains a detailed discussion of the firm's operations and financing. Our results suggest that such voluntary disclosure may have been useful in predicting future earnings changes. The effect would appea.
Correlation between Student Performance and Use of an mLearning Application for High School Mathematics

This paper describes a research study which was conducted to determine the effect of traditional classroom teaching augmented by mobile learning on student performance. The study was undertaken in an effort to address the extremely low pass rates of mathematics in the Caribbean. Two groups of students were investigated: a control group which received only classroom teaching and an experimental group which received classroom teaching augmented by a mobile learning application. Contrary to popular opinion, both groups performed roughly the same in a post-test. However, the research also uncovered some interesting relationships between student performance and their usage of the mobile learning application. These findings are also presented.
The Issue of Representativeness in Hong Kong English

Abstract Few scholars have addressed the issue in specific terms of what constitutes representativeness among the users of a new English variety. Some recommend “educated users” be employed, and others recommend “expert users. ” However, few define who these speakers are. Researchers, in turn, have made different or even conflicting assumptions, and often take for granted the representativeness of users or samples they have chosen for analysis, which sometimes even leads to differences in results. This article deals with the issue of representativeness among users, specifically of Hong Kong English (HKE), and discusses several related issues. It recommends that a wider range of users be utilized for research purposes, beginning with first-year university students, and also that different kinds of studies may require targeting different groups of users. In addition, Schneider’s framework for the development of post-colonial Englishes has important implications for research into HKE in terms of the kind of individual variation to be expected at the beginning of phase 3 (nativization), and future research directions. In the future, more research into HKE needs to be focussed on the key area of lexico-grammatical features.
Graduate career‐making and business start‐up: a literature review

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a selective review of literature on the career‐related decision‐making processes in terms of the transition from student to business start‐up, and the nature and influence of support and guidance.Design/methodology/approach – Primarily, a critical review of a range of recently published literature (1995‐2005) addressing the theoretical and practical aspects of the journey from student to start‐up. The literature is divided into sections: the graduate labour market: a state of flux; Conceptual and definitional issues; Career choice and decision‐making; and Start‐up training and support.Findings – The paper finds that despite an increasing body of theoretical and empirical literature on career choice in general and on the career choice to start‐up a business in the form of intention models, there remains a lack of in‐depth research on the stories, circumstances, contexts and complexities of graduates on their journey from student to business start‐up. A tr.
Immunohistochemical localisation of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus VP-60 antigen in early infection of young and adult rabbits.

This study evaluated the time course distribution of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) structural protein VP60 in tissues from experimentally infected rabbits from three different age groups. Viral VP60 antigen could not be detected in tissue samples from animals under four weeks, and only a few hepatocytes (0.01 to 0.2 per cent) were stained in the 6-week-old animals. A 6-week-old rabbit euthanised at 72 hpi showed VP60-labelling in hepatocytes and macrophages close to areas of inflammation. Viral VP60 antigen was detected as early as 12 hpi in a few hepatocytes (0.03 per cent) from adult animals. Within this age group, the extent of hepatocyte labelling considerably increased at 18 (3.0 per cent), 24 (25.5 per cent), 36 (50 per cent) and 48 (60 per cent) hpi. Extrahepatic viral VP60 antigen was also detected at 36 and 48 hpi in spleen macrophages and lymphocytes from adult rabbits. These findings support the hypothesis that the hepatocyte is the only cell type in the liver able to support RHDV replication almost immediately after viral infection.
Policy transmission and the consumption-wealth channel

This study investigates the effects of monetary policy on consumption through the wealth channel. Based on a structural VAR framework it is found that endogenous changes in wealth, due to an increase in the short-term interest rate, have little impact on consumption. This result means that the substantial portion of the real effect of a short-term interest rate shock to consumption is attributable to its effect through channels other than wealth. Also, the above result suggests that wealth is influenced not only by the interest rate but also by the mounting price pressures, to which the Central Bank endogenously responds.