Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The 2df SDSS LRG and QSO survey: evolution of the luminosity function of luminous red galaxies to z= 0.6

We present new measurements of the luminosity function (LF) of luminous red galaxies (LRGs) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the 2dF SDSS LRG and Quasar (2SLAQ) survey. We have carefully quantified, and corrected for, uncertainties in the K and evolutionary corrections, differences in the colour selection methods, and the effects of photometric errors, thus ensuring we are studying the same galaxy population in both surveys. Using a limited subset of 6326 SDSS LRGs (with 0.17 < z < 0.24) and 1725 2SLAQ LRGs (with 0.5 < z < 0.6), for which the matching colour selection is most reliable, we find no evidence for any additional evolution in the LRG LF, over this redshift range, beyond that expected from a simple passive evolution model. This lack of additional evolution is quantified using the comoving luminosity density of SDSS and 2SLAQ LRGs, brighter than M0.2r − 5 log h0.7 = −22.5, which are 2.51 ± 0.03 × 10−7 L Mpc−3 and 2.44 ± 0.15 × 10−7 L Mpc−3, respectively (<10 per cent uncertainty). We compare our LFs to the COMBO-17 data and find excellent agreement over the same redshift range. Together, these surveys show no evidence for additional evolution (beyond passive) in the LF of LRGs brighter than M0.2r − 5 log h0.7 = −21 (or brighter than L*). We test our SDSS and 2SLAQ LFs against a simple ‘dry merger’ model for the evolution of massive red galaxies and find that at least half of the LRGs at z 0.2 must already have been well assembled (with more than half their stellar mass) by z 0.6. This limit is barely consistent with recent results from semi-analytical models of galaxy evolution.
Variability and rapid increase in body mass index during childhood are associated with adult obesity.

BACKGROUND Body mass index (BMI) in childhood predicts obesity in adults, but it is unknown whether rapid increase and variability in BMI during childhood are independent predictors of adult obesity. METHODS The study cohort consisted of 1622 Bogalusa Heart Study participants (aged 20 to 51 years at follow-up) who had been screened at least four times during childhood (aged 4-19 years). BMI rate of change during childhood for each individual was assessed by mixed models; BMI residual standard deviation (RSD) during childhoodwas used as a measure of variability. The average follow-up period was 20.9 years. RESULTS One standard deviation increase in rate of change in BMI during childhood was associated with 1.39 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-1.61] kg/m(2) increase in adult BMI and 2.98 (95% CI: 2.42-3.56) cm increase in adult waist circumference, independently of childhood mean BMI. Similarly, one standard deviation increase in RSD in BMI during childhood was associated with 0.46 (95% CI: 0.23-0.69) kg/m(2) increase in adult BMI and 1.42 (95% CI: 0.82-2.02) cm increase in adult waist circumference. Odds ratio for adult obesity progressively increased from the lowest to the highest quartile of BMI rate of change or RSD during childhood (P for trend < 0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS Rapid increase and greater variability in BMI during childhood appear to be independent risk factors for adult obesity. Our findings have implications for understanding body weight regulation and obesity development from childhood to adulthood.
TERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISM: NEW EVIDENCE

This paper analyses the impact of terrorist activity on international tourist flows. To this end, we have estimated a cross‐sectional gravity equation for tourism from the G‐7 countries to a sample of 134 destinations over the period 2001–2003. Within this framework, we evaluate the deviation from ‘normal’ tourist flows due to terrorist activity, which is considered as negative advertising for the affected country. The analysis suggests that both domestic victims and international attacks are relevant factors when foreign tourists make their choice. This result is robust under alternative specifications. Moreover, the impact of terrorism is more severe in developing countries. The author is indebted to Salvador Gil and José Antonio Martínez‐Serrano for valuable observations. I am grateful to two anonymous referees and the editor for very helpful comments and suggestions. Thanks also to the World Tourism Organisation for kindly providing data on the number of tourist arrivals. Financial support from Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (project SEJ2006‐07238/ECO), Generalitat Valenciana (project GV04B‐070) and Agencia Valenciana de Ciencia y Tecnología (Grupos 03/151) is gratefully acknowledged
Educating the Right Way: Markets, Standards, God, and Inequality

1. Markets, Standards, God, and Inequality. Introduction. Joseph's Story. Conservative Agendas. Mapping the Right. Contested Freedom. Marketizing the World. Restoring. Cultural Order. Church and State. Economics and religion. Managerialism. Analyzing Conservative Modernization. 2. Whose Markets, Whose Knowledge? Introduction. Neoliberalism: Schooling, Choice, and Democracy. Neoconservatism: Teaching "Real Knowledge". Authoritarian Populism: Schooling as God Wanted It. The Professional and Managerial New Middle Class: More Testing, More Often 3. Producing Inequalities: Conservative Modernization in Policy and Practice. Gritty Materialities. Right Turn. New Markets, Old Traditions. Markets and Performance. National Standards, National Curriculum, and National Testing. Creating Educational Triage. Thinking Strategically. 4. Who "No Child Left Behind" Leaves Behind: Class and Race in Audit Cultures. Introduction: What No Child Left Behind Has Given Us. Accountability and Inequality. Changing Commonsense and the Growth of Audit Cultures. New Managerialism in Class Terms. The Dispossessed and Support for Audit Cultures and Markets. On Possibilities. Workable Alternatives. Being Honest About Educational Reform. 5. Endangered Christianity. Darwin, God, and Evil. Secular Dangers. From Insiders to Outsiders. Southern Cross. 6. God, Morality, and Markets. Bringing God to the World. Politics and the Clergy. The Electronic Clergy. A Christian Nation and Free Speech. Godless Schools. We Are Not Doing Anything Different. The Structures of Feeling of Authoritarian Populism. How Can Hate Seem So Nice. Turning Straw Into Gold. 7. Away with all Teachers: The Cultural Politics of Home Schooling. Situating Home Schooling. Satan's Threat and the Fortress Home. Attacking the State. Public and Private. Conclusion. 8. Inside Home Schooling: Gender, Technology, and Curriculum. Introduction. Resources and the Realities of Social Movements. Technology and the Growth of Home Schooling. Understanding Social Movements. Technology and Doing Home Schooling. Home Schooling as Gendered Labor. Solving Contradictions. Marketing God. Emotional Labor and the Daily Life of Curriculum and Teaching in the Home. Conclusion: Children and Living the "Right" Life. 9. Righting Wrongs and Interrupting the Right. Culture Counts Contradictory Reforms. "Racing" Toward Educational Reform. Making Challenges Public. Thinking Heretically. Can Alliances be Built Across the Religious and Secular Divide? Making Critical Educational Practices Practical. Hope as a Resource
The Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment: A Question of Life and Death

The debate over the legitimacy or propriety of the death penalty may be almost as old as the death penalty itself and, in the view of the increasing trend towards its complete abolition, perhaps as outdated. Not surprisingly, and as is generally recognized by contemporary writers on this topic, the philosophical and moral arguments for or against the death penalty have remained remarkably unchanged since the beginning of the debate. One outstanding issue has become, however, the subject of increased investigation, especially in recent years, due to its objective nature and the dominant role it has played in shaping the analytical and practical case against the death penalty. That issue is the deterrent effect of capital punishment, a reexamination of which, in both theory and practice, is the object of the paper.
Loneliness among the Oldest Old, a Comparison between Residents Living in Nursing Homes and Residents Living in the Community

Two groups of individuals, eighty years of age or older, were compared with respect to the experience of loneliness and the influence of social relationships. One group was living in nursing homes. The other group was living alone in their own homes in the community. There were no significant differences in experienced loneliness between residents with close contacts with members of family and friends compared to residents without such contacts in either of the two groups, with one exception: institutional residents with existing contacts with former neighbors reported significantly lower levels of loneliness compared to institutional residents without such contacts. Frequency of contacts with family and neighbors did not influence significantly the degree of loneliness for residents in institutions. For residents in the community there were significant differences in experienced loneliness between those who had frequent contacts with family members and neighbors and those with infrequent contacts. Institutional residents, like residents in the community who desired more frequent contacts with family members and friends, reported higher levels of loneliness, compared to those who reported sufficient contacts.
Monetary Theory and Policy, 2nd Edition

Monetary Theory and Policy presents an advanced treatment of critical topics in monetary economics and the models economists use to investigate the interactions between real and monetary factors. It provides extensive coverage of general equilibrium models of money, models of the short-run real effects of monetary policy, and game-theoretic approaches to monetary policy. Among the topics covered are money-in-the-utility-function models, cash-in-advance models, money and public finance, the credit channel of money, models of time consistency, monetary policy operating procedures, and interest rates and monetary policy. The book uses dynamic simulations to evaluate quantitatively the significance of the channels through which monetary policy and inflation affect the economy. It extensively examines modern approaches to monetary policy that stress the incentives facing central banks and the strategic interactions between central banks and the private sector. Where most treatments of monetary policy emphasize money supply control and money demand, this book focuses on the implications of interest rate control for monetary policy. The book is designed for advanced graduate students in monetary economics, economic researchers, and economists working in policy institutions and central banks. This second edition includes new discussions of empirical evidence on the interest elasticity of money demand, the fiscal theory of the price level, the new Keynesian model, optimal policies in forward-looking models, stability and the Taylor principle, and open economy new Keynesian models. It also expands its coverage of multiple equilibria, the role of timing assumptions in cash-in-advance models, and the Ramsey approach to optimal monetary taxation. A new chapter treats policy analysis in new Keynesisan models; the discussion includes the derivation of the policy objective function, optimal commitment and discretionary outcome, targeting rules, and instrument rules.
Social security expenditure and GDP in OECD countries: A cointegrated panel analysis

Abstract Using panel data unit root tests and panel cointegration tests, as well as estimation techniques appropriate for heterogeneous panels such as the full modified OLS, this paper re-examines the long-run co-movement and the causal relationship between GDP and social security expenditure in a bivariate model, employing data on 25 OECD countries from 1980 to 2001. Our cointegration test results show strong evidence in favour of the existence of a long-run equilibrium cointegrating relationship between GDP and social security expenditure after allowing for a heterogeneous country effect. Regarding the panel-based error correction model, we find that GDP and social security expenditure lack short-run causality, but reveal the existence of long-run bidirectional causality. This shows that, in the long run, economic growth must be based on a social welfare policy that should be carried out, and economic growth can facilitate contiguous development in a social welfare policy. Lastly, we also provide evidence to support that social security expenditure can affect growth through the savings and human capital accumulation in OECD countries.
Entry and Competition in the Pharmaceutical Market following Patent Expiry

This dissertation encompasses three essays on entry and competition in the German generic drug market. The first paper examines the market entry decisions of generic companies and finds that original drug producrs do not create barriers to entry by launching a generic version of the brand drug prior to patent expiry. The second paper examines generic market share dynamics and patients‘ switching behaviors among generic drugs. The analysis shows that generic market shares are little influenced by prices and highly persistent over time, conferring a substantial advantage to first generic entrants. Price differentials likewise have a negligible impact on the likelihood that patients switch to a generic drug offered by a different manufacturer. The third paper investigates generic price differentials and provides evidence of economies of scope and reputation effects.
Dividends and Taxes: A Re-Examination

This study re-examines the impact of the differential taxation of dividends and capital gains on assets’ prices. Our analysis shows that the time horizon used to define and measure the dividend period is a key issue when interpreting the empirical results. Our results indicate that most of the return variation previously attributed to dividends is not because of a cross-sectional variation in returns, but due to the time-series variation in returns around the dividend payment. In light of the lack of cross-sectional return variation, interpreting the higher return around the dividend distribution as a tax effect is problematic.
Millennial cultural consumers: co-creating value through brand communities.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise millennial cultural consumers (MCCs) to bring together strands of consumer theory with branding theory to consider how to attract and retain younger audiences in arts organisations. Within that the authors single out for attention how “brand community” theory might apply to MCCs. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a conceptual paper that reviews and comments on concepts relevant to helping arts organisations develop strategies to attract and retain younger consumers in their audiences. Findings – Thoughtful conceptual insights and four research propositions for further work by academics and/or practitioners on Millennials and the art and culture world are derived from this review and commentary. Managerial implications are also drawn out. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the knowledge development of such concepts as value and brand communities. It also provides an explanation of these concepts conncecting academic thought on val.
Physiotherapists’ Pain Beliefs and Their Influence on the Management of Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Purpose. Little is known about physiotherapists’ pain beliefs and whether they influence behavior within therapeutic encounters with patients. This qualitative study explored physiotherapists’ pain beliefs with the purpose of highlighting the nature of their beliefs and the role they played within their management of chronic low back pain. Methods. Six physiotherapists were purposefully sampled along with 12 of their patients with chronic low back pain (two patients each). A qualitative exploration of physiotherapists’ pain beliefs within the context of a clinical situation was carried out using semistructured interviews and observations at designated stages throughout therapeutic encounters with their patients. The data were prepared and analyzed according to a grounded theory approach. Results. The themes that emerged from the data indicated that the pain beliefs of physiotherapists in this study were determined by a number of perspectives including their beliefs regarding the development of craft knowledge needed to manage chronic low back pain, beliefs regarding the clinical characteristics of patients with chronic low back pain they considered to be “good” to treat and the challenge of patients who were “difficult” to treat, and pain beliefs within the therapeutic encounter. A tentative theory was developed which proposed that the physiotherapists’ biomedically oriented pain beliefs influenced their clinical reasoning processes including the explanations given to the patients. Conclusions. The findings suggest that in order to maximize the rehabilitation potential of patients with chronic low back pain, physiotherapists need to be aware that their pain beliefs may influence their management of these patients.
The economic efficiency of Irish dairy marketing co-operatives

This paper is concerned with an empirical test for the economic efficiency of Irish dairy marketing co-operatives. The paper develops a test for the pricing behavior of dairy marketing co-operatives based on previous work by R.J. Sexton, B.M. Wilson, and J.J. Wann (1989) and K. Conrad and R. Unger (1987). The proposed test is implemented with data for the Irish dairy-processing sector. The findings suggest that Irish co-operatives behaved “as if” they were profit maximizers, and we could find no evidence that this behavior coincided with postulated co-operative pricing rules. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the economic impact of the EU dairy quota on the Irish dairy-processing sector. We also discuss the emergence of Public Limited Companies (PLCs) as the dominant organizational structure in the Irish dairy sector. lJEL citations: D21; Q13.r © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 20: 143-153, 2004.
Cost‐effectiveness of primary cytology and HPV DNA cervical screening

Because cost‐effectiveness of different cervical cytology screening strategies with and without human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is unclear, we used a Markov model to estimate life expectancy and health care cost per woman during the remaining lifetime for 4 screening strategies: (i) cervical cytology screening at age 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 55 and 60, (ii) same strategy with addition of testing for HPV DNA persistence at age 32, (iii) screening with combined cytology and testing for HPV DNA persistence at age 32, 41 and 50, iv) no screening. Input data were derived from population‐based screening registries, health‐service costs and from a population‐based HPV screening trial. Impact of parameter uncertainty was addressed using probabilistic multivariate sensitivity analysis. Cytology screening between 32 and 60 years of age in 3–5 year intervals increased life expectancy and life‐time costs were reduced from 533 to 248 US Dollars per woman compared to no screening. Addition of HPV DNA testing, at age 32 increased costs from 248 to 284 US Dollars without benefit on life expectancy. Screening with both cytology and HPV DNA testing, at ages 32, 41 and 50 reduced costs from 248 to 210 US Dollars with slightly increased life expectancy. In conclusion, population‐based, organized cervical cytology screening between ages 32 to 60 is highly cost‐efficient for cervical cancer prevention. If screening intervals are increased to at least 9 years, combined cytology and HPV DNA screening appeared to be still more effective and less costly. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterisation of the conformational changes in platelet factor 4 induced by polyanions: towards in vitro prediction of antigenicity

Summary Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is the most frequent drug-induced immune reaction affecting blood cells. Its antigen is formed when the chemokine platelet factor 4 (PF4) complexes with polyanions. By assessing polyanions of varying length and degree of sulfation using immunoassay and circular dichroism (CD)-spectroscopy, we show that PF4 structural changes resulting in antiparallel β-sheet content >30% make PF4/polyanion complexes antigenic. Further, we found that polyphosphates (polyP-55) induce antigenic changes on PF4, whereas fondaparinux does not. We provide a model suggesting that conformational changes exposing antigens on PF4/polyanion complexes occur in the hairpin involving AA 32–38, which form together with C-terminal AA (66–70) of the adjacent PF4 monomer a continuous patch on the PF4 tetramer surface, explaining why only tetrameric PF4 molecules express “HIT antigens”. The correlation of antibody binding in immunoassays with PF4 structural changes provides the intriguing possibility that CD-spectroscopy could become the first antibody-independent, in vitro method to predict potential immunogenicity of drugs. CD-spectroscopy could identify compounds during preclinical drug development that induce PF4 structural changes correlated with antigenicity. The clinical relevance can then be specifically addressed during clinical trials. Whether these findings can be transferred to other endogenous proteins requires further studies.
Macrophage inflammatory protein‐1 alpha is produced by human multiple myeloma (MM) cells and its expression correlates with bone lesions in patients with MM

Summary. Macrophage inflammatory protein‐1 alpha (MIP‐1α) is a chemokine primarily associated with bone absorption. We examined whether MIP‐1α was produced by purified fresh tumour cells isolated from bone marrow samples from 31 multiple myeloma (MM) patients. High levels of MIP‐1α were found in supernatants of myeloma cell cultures. Immunohistochemical staining showed MIP‐1α in the cytoplasm of myeloma cells. MIP‐1α mRNA expression was detected in 18 of 31 patients. Bone lesions were seen in 16 of the 18 MIP‐1α‐positive patients but only in six of the 13 MIP‐1α‐negative patients (P = 0·0097,χ2‐test). The data indicate that MIP‐1α is produced by myeloma cells and possibly plays a role in the pathogenesis of bone lesions in MM patients.
How to Counteract the Suppression of Exploration in Publicly Traded Corporations

Top management teams frequently overemphasize efforts to exploit the current product portfolio, even in the face of the strong need to step up exploration activities. This mismanagement of the balance between explorative R&D activities and exploitation of the current product portfolio can result in the so‐called success trap, the situation where explorative activities are fully suppressed. The success trap constitutes a serious threat to the long‐term viability of a firm. Recent studies of publicly traded corporations suggest that the suppression of exploration arises from the interplay among the executive team's myopic forces, the board of directors as gatekeeper of the capital market, and the exploitation–exploration investments and their outcomes. In this paper, system dynamics modeling serves to identify and test ways in which top management teams can counteract this suppression process. For instance, we find that when the executive board is suppressing exploration, the board of directors can still prevent the success trap by actively intervening in the exploitation–exploration strategy.