Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anti-Lemons: School Reputation and Educational Quality

Friedman (1962) argued that a free market in which schools compete based upon their reputation would lead to an efficient supply of educational services. This paper explores this issue by building a tractable model in which rational individuals go to school and accumulate skill valued in a perfectly competitive labor market. To this it adds one ingredient: school reputation in the spirit of Holmstrom (1982). The first result is that if schools cannot select students based upon their ability, then a free market is indeed efficient and encourages entry by high productivity schools. However, if schools are allowed to select on ability, then competition leads to stratification by parental income, increased transmission of income inequality, and reduced student effort---in some cases lowering the accumulation of skill. The model accounts for several (sometimes puzzling) findings in the educational literature, and implies that national standardized testing can play a key role in enhancing learning.
Effects of pitfall trap preservatives on specimen condition in carabid beetles

Pitfall trapping is one of the most widely used methods for sampling ground-dwelling insects (Gullan & Cranston, 2004). The type of preservative used in pitfall traps may affect not only the sampling efficiency but also the condition of the samples (Lemieux & Lindgren, 1999; Schmidt et al., 2006). Furthermore, the type of preservative may affect the suitability of samples for further investigation, as demonstrated by a molecular study of spiders (Gurdebeke & Maelfait, 2002) and measurements of heavy metal concentrations in woodlice (Hendrickx et al., 2003). In most insects, the condition of the gonads (e.g., egg maturation) and morphology of the genitalia can provide useful information. Gonad condition is often used to estimate reproductive season (Loreau, 1985; Telfer & Butterfield, 2004) or as an index of parental investment (Morrow & Gage, 2000; Simmons & Emlen, 2006). The morphology of the genitalia can be examined for valuable taxonomic (Sasakawa & Kubota, 2005; Takami & Sota, 2006), phylogenetic (Sasakawa, 2005; Sota et al., 2005), and/or functional (Pitnick et al., 1999; Sasakawa, 2006) information. However, to date, no studies have examined the effects of preservatives on the condition of internal organs (e.g., gonads and genitalia) in collected samples. This study provides the first descriptions of such effects of pitfall trap preservatives on the morphologies of gonads and genitalia, using three carabid species.
An Exploratory Study Into the Relationship Between Personality and Student Leadership

This study explores the relationship between personality as measured by the True Colors Word Sort and student leadership as measured by the Student Leadership Practices Inventory© (SLPI). By understanding personality, an instructor can open lines of communication with all students, thus helping the students to direct their focus on the tasks at hand. if students understand their behavior and the behavior of their peers, they will be able to increase their performance level within a group or within the classroom. Research studies have reported True Colors™ personality types and SLPI data for hospitality management students; however, no research has been conducted to compare the two. The link between personality and leadership is contentious, with some researchers stating a definitive link between the two and other authors stating no link between the two components. Results of data analysis suggest that the Green True Colors personality trait influences one component of the leadership profile. Recommendations for teaching leadership using personality types and for additional research are made.
Familial aggregation of Parkinson's disease: The Mayo Clinic family study

Data on the familial aggregation of Parkinson's disease (PD) remain conflicting. We conducted a historical cohort study of 1,001 first‐degree relatives of 162 probands with PD and of 851 relatives of 147 control probands representative of the population of Olmsted County, Minnesota (from 1976 through 1995). In addition, we studied 2,713 first‐degree relatives of 411 probands with PD referred to the Mayo Clinic from 1996 through 2000 and 625 spouses of PD or control probands. Whenever possible, relatives were interviewed and screened for parkinsonism either directly or through a proxy, and those who screened positive were examined or a copy of their medical record was obtained to confirm the diagnosis (family study method). Thirty relatives of population‐based PD probands, 18 relatives of population‐based control probands, 65 relatives of referral PD probands, and 8 spouses had developed PD. Combining population‐based with referral PD probands and population‐based control probands with spouses, the relative risk was modestly increased (relative risk, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.11–2.64). Relatives of probands with younger onset (≤66 years; first tertile) had a more significantly increased risk (relative risk, 2.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.66–4.15), whereas relatives of probands with later onset had no increased risk. The relative risk decreased when the incidence of all types of parkinsonism was considered. Ann Neurol 2004;56:495–502
New hybridities, old concepts: the limits of 'culture'

Approaches that find hybrid social forms to be results of interculturality and diasporic relations claim that these are able to transcend "old ethnicities" and that they constitute transgressive cultural formations. I shall argue that the concept of hybridity, although denoting important developments and challenges to static and essentialist notions of ethnicity and identity, presents both conceptual and substantive difficulties. In addition, approaches to "hybridity" may unintentionally provide a gloss over existing cultural hierarchies and hegemonic practices. I shall reformulate the basis for treating "identities" outside the parameters of the old ethnicities, by developing the concept of "translocational" positionality. It is argued that this is a more adequate means for addressing the range of issues relating to belonging hailed by the notion of hybridity.
MMSE-Based Distributed Beamforming in AF Relay System under Network Power Constraint

An amplify-and-forward (AF) wireless relay strategy consisting of a source with multiple M antennas, distributed N relays with only a single antenna, and a destination with multiple L antennas is investigated in this paper. This paper presents an optimal relay amplifying matrix at the relays, transmit beamforming vector at the source, and receive beamforming vector at the destination under the network power constraint of the source and relays using the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion. Then, this paper proves that, for the considered amplify-and-forward (AF) wireless relaying system, minimizing the mean square error (MSE) is equivalent to maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Additionally, this paper presents the relationship between the achievable rate and the MMSE. This paper also investigates the relay amplifying matrix, SNR, and MMSE cost function (CF) behaviors numerically and analytically. Finally, this paper numerically and analytically shows that the MMSE CF values are less than 1 at all times, regardless of N.
Anterior pituitary axis hormones and outcome in acute ischaemic stroke

Abstract. Neidert S, Katan M, Schuetz P, Fluri F, Ernst A, Bingisser R, Kappos L, Engelter ST, Steck A, Müller B, Christ‐Crain M (University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; SphingoTec GmbH, Borgsorf, Germany; Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland) Anterior pituitary axis hormones and outcome in acute ischaemic stroke. J Intern Med 2011; 269: 420–432.
Correlation between Preoperative Sizing of Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) by White-to-white and Sulcus-to-sulcus Techniques, and Postoperative Vault Size Measured by Sheimpflug Imaging

Purpose: To evaluate correlations between preoperative sizing of Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) by white-towhite and sulcus-to-sulcus techniques, and postoperative vault size measured by Sheimpflug imaging.Setting: Persian Eye Clinic, a private eye clinic located in Isfahan city, Iran.Design: Prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial.Methods: This prospective clinical trial included 63 eyes of 49 patients who were candidates for implantation of Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL). Preoperatively, both WTW and horizontal STS were measured in all eyes. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on ICL sizing method used for lens ordering (WTW group, STS group and M group). In the third group ICL size was determined according to the average of WTW and STS. Postoperative vault was measured 3 months after surgery by means of Scheimpflug tomography.Results: Mean WTW and STS diameters were 11.68 ± 0.52 mm and 11.82 ± 0.74 mm, respectively. Linear regression analysis found a statistically significant correlation (p=0.004) between them, however, there was a large degree of scatter as indicated by R2=0.128. Ideal vault (400-550 μm) was achieved in 20% of WTW, 28% of STS and 13% of M group. There was no statistical difference in achieved ICL vault between three groups (p=0.273). Based on the statistical analysis of our results, we developed equations for better optimization of ICL sizing.Conclusion: According to our results, there is poor correlation between STS and WTW. Sulcus-to-sulcus measurement did not significantly improve ICL sizing, and Sizing based on each technique alone may result in poor vaults in considerable number of cases. Comparison of WTW and STS to postoperative vaults provided regression models that allowed the development of new equations. Farther studies are needed for evaluating accuracy and reliability of these models.
In Search of the Center of European Party Systems

Duverger's famous dictum that “the center does not exist in politics” is the starting point of an inquiry into the possible meanings of the concept of a center, and of center parties, in European party systems. This article consists of six sections; the first five sections deal with the center as a pivot in voting, the center in traditional left-right distributions, the notion of a center in multidimensional party spaces, the center in terms of mechanics, applying rather different metaphors of scales-in-balance and of centripetal versus centrifugal forces, and the center analyzed in terms of social cleavages. Following this search for conceptual meaning, in which the writings of Duverger and Sartori receive particular attention, the record of European party systems is examined to see whether the presence or absence of center parties in party systems can contribute to a realistic classification of European party systems.
Adalimumab for the treatment of patients with moderately to severely active psoriatic arthritis: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE Adalimumab, a fully human, anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody, was evaluated for its safety and efficacy compared with placebo in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS Patients with moderately to severely active PsA and a history of inadequate response to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were randomized to receive 40 mg adalimumab or placebo subcutaneously every other week for 24 weeks. Study visits were at baseline, weeks 2 and 4, and every 4 weeks thereafter. The primary efficacy end points were the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement (ACR20) response at week 12 and the change in the modified total Sharp score of structural damage at week 24. Secondary end points were measures of joint disease, disability, and quality of life in all patients, as well as the severity of skin disease in those patients with psoriasis involving at least 3% of body surface area. RESULTS At week 12, 58% of the adalimumab-treated patients (87 of 151) achieved an ACR20 response, compared with 14% of the placebo-treated patients (23 of 162) (P < 0.001). At week 24, similar ACR20 response rates were maintained and the mean change in the modified total Sharp score was -0.2 in patients receiving adalimumab and 1.0 in those receiving placebo (P < 0.001). Among the 69 adalimumab-treated patients evaluated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), 59% achieved a 75% PASI improvement response at 24 weeks, compared with 1% of the 69 placebo-treated patients evaluated (P < 0.001). Disability and quality of life measures were also significantly improved with adalimumab treatment compared with placebo. Adalimumab was generally safe and well-tolerated. CONCLUSION Adalimumab significantly improved joint and skin manifestations, inhibited structural changes on radiographs, lessened disability due to joint damage, and improved quality of life in patients with moderately to severely active PsA.
Understanding Citizens' and Local Governments' Digital Communications During Natural Disasters: The Case of Snowstorms

A growing number of citizens and local governments have embraced the use of Twitter to communicate during natural disasters. Studies have shown that online communications during disasters can be explained using crisis communication taxonomies. However, such taxonomies are broad and general, and offer little insight into the detailed content of the communications. In this paper, we propose a semi-automatic framework to extract and compare, in retrospect, the digital communication footprints of citizens and governments during disasters. These footprints, which characterize the topics discussed during a disaster at different spatio-temporal scales, are computed in an unsupervised manner using topic models, and manually labelled to identify specific issues affecting the population. The end objective is to offer detailed information about issues affecting citizens during natural disasters and to compare these against local governments' communications. We evaluate the framework using Twitter communications from 18 snowstorms (including two blizzards) on the US east coast.
The capacity region of a multiple-access discrete memoryless channel can increase with feedback (Corresp.)

The capacity of a single-input single-output discrete memoryless channel is not increased by the use of a noiseless feedback link. It is shown, by example, that this is not the case for a multiple-access discrete memoryless channel. That is, it is shown that the capacity region for such a channel is enlarged if a noiseless feedback link is utilized.
A Factor Analytic Study of the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool of Hypothesized Variables

The Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner, 2008) postulates that occupational participation is influenced by volition, habituation, three skill areas, and the environment. The Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST) (Parkinson, Forsyth, & Kielhofner, 2004) was developed to provide a broad assessment of the factors that influence a client's occupational participation. The purpose of this study was to ask whether there was evidence that the items of the MOHOST meaningfully cluster into these theoretical sub-constructs. Nine occupational therapists used the MOHOST with 166 clients in the US and the UK, and a series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted. The six-dimensional model fit better than the one-dimensional model, and the standardized coefficients also indicated that the items were well designed and captured each factor. The results of this study confirmed the hypothesis that the MOHOST contains six factors and provides further evidence of the validity of the MOHOST.
When “It” Becomes “Mine”: Attentional Biases Triggered by Object Ownership

Previous research has demonstrated that higher-order cognitive processes associated with the allocation of selective attention are engaged when highly familiar self-relevant items are encountered, such as one's name, face, personal possessions and the like. The goal of our study was to determine whether these effects on attentional processing are triggered on-line at the moment self-relevance is established. In a pair of experiments, we recorded ERPs as participants viewed common objects (e.g., apple, socks, and ketchup) in the context of an “ownership” paradigm, where the presentation of each object was followed by a cue indicating whether the object nominally belonged either to the participant (a “self” cue) or the experimenter (an “other” cue). In Experiment 1, we found that “self” ownership cues were associated with increased attentional processing, as measured via the P300 component. In Experiment 2, we replicated this effect while demonstrating that at a visual–perceptual level, spatial attention became more narrowly focused on objects owned by self, as measured via the lateral occipital P1 ERP component. Taken together, our findings indicate that self-relevant attention effects are triggered by the act of taking ownership of objects associated with both perceptual and postperceptual processing in cortex.
Children’s Imitation of the Majority in a Goal-Directed Task: Examining Number of Demonstrators and Demonstration Modality

Children’s imitation is not random, but depends on the context of the demonstration and imitation opportunity. For example, children are more likely to copy acts modeled by multiple people versus a single individual. In this study, I investigate the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon by manipulating the number of demonstrators and mode of presentation for a goaldirected task. Children saw either one or two adults demonstrate unnecessary target acts while opening boxes to retrieve toys, and demonstrations were presented either live or on video. Children imitated the target acts at equal rates across conditions. This may reflect children’s heightened attention to reproducing the salient goal (i.e., opening the box to retrieve a toy) as opposed to copying the acts used to achieve the goal. Future studies should manipulate children’s prior experiences, goal salience, and the majority influence to determine the relative importance of each of these factors in guiding social learning. INDEX WORDS: Imitation, Cognitive development, Social cognition, Observational learning, Preschool-aged children CHILDREN’S IMITATION OF THE MAJORITY IN A GOAL-DIRECTED TASK: EXAMINING NUMBER OF DEMONSTRATORS AND DEMONSTRATION MODALITY
News Organizations and Information Gathering During a Natural Disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina

News organizations are uniquely situated to gather and transmit information during times of natural disaster, which can help citizens and policy-makers understand the scope, causes, and consequences of the unfolding disaster. Yet, news organizations are also subject to institutional biases that may lead to distorted presentations of reality and that perpetuate misinformation, stereotypes, and misunderstanding. In this article, we utilize examples from Hurricane Katrina to critically examine the role of the television news media during natural disasters. We contend that the institutional characteristics of news organizations are invaluable in the reporting of ‘breaking news’ and developments on the ground but hinder their ability to gather contextually rich information on the causes and consequences of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
Does Wage Rank Affect Employees ’ Well-being ? September 2007 Forthcoming in Industrial Relations

How do workers make wage comparisons? Both an exper imental study and an analysis of 16,000 British employees are reported. Satisfaction and well-being levels are shown to depend on more than simple relative pa y. They depend upon the ordinal rank of an individual’s wage within a comparison group. ‘Rank’ itself thus seems to matter to human beings. Moreover, consistent with p sychological theory, quits in a workplace are correlated with pay distribution skew n ss. JEL codes : J3; J28; I31.
Selective demonstration of mural nerves in ganglionic and aganglionic colon by immunohistochemistry for glucose transporter-1: prominent extrinsic nerve pattern staining in Hirschsprung disease.

OBJECTIVE Hypertrophic nerves have long been considered a histopathologic feature of the aganglionic segment in Hirschsprung disease, but they remain incompletely explained. The purpose of this study was to define the nature and diagnostic importance of hypertrophic nerves in Hirschsprung disease and to clarify their relation to nearby smaller nerve fibers. METHODS We used an immunoperoxidase staining technique to compare the distribution of 2 nerve markers-erythrocyte-type glucose transporter (GLUT-1), a marker of perineurium, and nerve growth factor receptor, a marker of both nerve fibers and perineurium-in aganglionic tissue (12 resected specimens and 4 rectal biopsies) and control tissue (6 autopsy specimens and 17 rectal biopsies) of children. RESULTS In control ganglionic tissue, the myenteric and submucosal areas contained only occasional GLUT-1-positive nerves (usually less than 50 microm in diameter), but extramural extrinsic (serosal) nerves were invariably positive for GLUT-1. In aganglionic tissue, GLUT-1-positive nerves in the myenteric and submucosal areas were frequent and included both large (50-150 microm) and small (<50 microm) diameter nerves. Nerve growth factor receptor-positive fibers were frequent in all layers of all tissue studied. In aganglionic bowel, a distinct perineurium could be identified in the largest nerves, but nerve growth factor receptor had poor discrimination for small perineurium-sheathed nerves. CONCLUSION Most nerves, of both large and small diameter, in the myenteric and submucosal plexus of aganglionic bowel are GLUT-1 positive. Serosal extrinsic nerves stain identically, supporting the interpretation that the mural nerves are of extrinsic origin. Mural GLUT-1-positive nerves, when they are multiple and especially when they are greater than 50 microm in diameter (a figure which may be used as a threshold for hypertrophic nerves), are suggestive of Hirschsprung disease.
Congregations and Crime: Is the Spatial Distribution of Congregations Associated with Neighborhood Crime Rates?

Few studies have focused on how religious congregations are associated with crime rates, especially at the neighborhood level. Using data for more than 400 block groups in Indianapolis, we focus on the relationship between different types of congregations (e.g., evangelical Protestant, civically engaged) and eight different types of crime controlling for a variety of neighborhood characteristics. The results suggest that neighborhoods with more evangelical Protestant congregations have higher rates of both violent and property crimes. Neighborhoods with more mainline and black Protestant congregations have higher rates of property crimes, but not violent crimes. Finally, although civically engaged congregations are associated with lower neighborhood crime rates, the association may be limited to some types of property crimes. Therefore, the positive association between evangelical Protestant congregations and crime may be more general, and the negative association between civically engaged congregations and crime more limited, than previous research has suggested.
Core Goals and Their Relationship to Semester Subgoals and Academic Performance

This study was designed to examine the nature of core goals and to investigate how core goals are related to semester subgoals, time spent on subgoals, and academic performance. The study provides evidence for a set of core goals that tend to become the central focus of behavior. The importance of these goals was demonstrated by participants who set and accomplished more core semester subgoals than secondary semester subgoals and who spent more time on those goals. In addition, participants who spent more time on their core subgoals and accomplished more core subgoals tended to perform better academically. Thus results indicate that courses designed to increase student retention rates such as University 101 or learning and study strategies courses may profit from activities designed to help students think about their goals and to examine the alignment of their most important goals with their subgoals and how they spend their time.