Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in the U.S. Federal Workforce: Representative Bureaucracy and the Challenge of Multiculturalism

In 2013, the United States is becoming increasingly racially and ethnically diverse. With these demographic changes, attitudes and approaches toward representation are likewise shifting. Public administration scholarship and practice can continue to contribute to this dynamic process of defining representation and crafting initiatives to meet the needs of the public. To do this, social injustices of the past must be addressed through the recognition and valuation of historically-underrepresented groups in public organizations. Yet, much public affairs discourse and numerous policy decisions are rooted in multiculturalism. The central question this research explores is whether multiculturalism is detrimental to theorizing and to enacting a representative bureaucracy, and if so, why. To answer this question, the work begins with a critical review of the representative bureaucracy, affirmative action, and multiculturalism literatures. Then, linking these reviews to practice, the study performs a critical discourse analysis of several executive orders and guidance documents from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to trace how views of representation in U.S. national government agencies changed between 1998 and 2011. This research finds that a shift from “Affirmative Action” to “Multiculturalism” occurred. EOs 13078, 13163, and 13171 were heavily rooted in the Affirmative Action approach, while the 2000 OPM Agency Diversity Guide, EOs 13518 and 13583, and the Government-Wide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan 2011 were anchored in the “Multicultural” approach. Ultimately, this study concludes that multiculturalism poses significant challenges for representative bureaucracy as a result of its lack of clear and explicit definitions and its treatments of differences, especially group-identity classifications. Rethinking the relationship between representative bureaucracy and multiculturalism and focusing on historically-underrepresented groups hold the potential to contribute to the further attainment of normative goals of bureaucratic representation.
Workforce profile of Australian occupational therapists working with people who are terminally ill

BACKGROUND/AIM The role played by Australian occupational therapists with clients living with terminal illness has recently been highlighted in the Occupational Therapy Australia () position paper on palliative care. To date, little evidence exists about the work profile of these therapists, the type of clients seen, their practice settings and how long therapists are planning to remain in this clinical role. This paper presents results from a national survey of Australian occupational therapists working with people who are terminally ill. METHODS The largest ever sample (n = 171) of Australian occupational therapists working with clients who are terminally ill were purposively surveyed in this national mixed-method study, which was analysed using descriptive statistics and grounded theory. RESULTS Results revealed a predominantly full-time, publicly employed (81%), female (93%) workforce, with an average six years of experience in this setting. Most therapists treated clients in the community (49%), with slightly fewer working in inpatient settings (40%). Many had dual caseloads, employed in palliative care clinical roles, aged care or oncology settings. Neoplasms of varying kinds represented the dominant clinical diagnostic category. The majority of respondents planned to remain in their current role on average seven more years, citing job satisfaction as the main reason for doing so. CONCLUSIONS Results from this study reveal important data for future workforce planning in this clinical area. The information gathered about client diagnoses and practice contexts will enable more targeted preparation of students for graduation.
Institutions Supporting Technical Advance in Industry

elsewhere (1982), economists' beliefs that modern capitalism is a fine innovation-generating machine have no intellectual grounding in contemporary neoclassical theory. The twin theorems take technologies as given. The apparent effectiveness of capitalism in this arena must reside in characteristics and mechanisms other than those featured in the microeconomic theory textbooks. In our book, we attempt to analyze these. It also is true that the capitalist engine is a much more complicated one than many economists seem to think. I presently am
Implications of Chinese Casino Visitor Characteristics in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study employs logit analysis to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics and travel behavior patterns of Chinese casino visitors. This study presents the trends of China's outbound travel market. The findings show that a typical Chinese casino visitor to South Korea has a high income level; but a low level of education; has no religious preference or believes in the traditional Chinese religion; travels with friends and colleagues affiliated with an institution or organization; is in his/her 30s and 40s; and tends to have a prior overseas travel experience. This study will help tour operators, wholesalers, and casino operators to establish effective marketing strategies to better meet the needs of these Chinese casino visitors.
Using Taylor Rules to Understand European Central Bank Monetary Policy

Abstract Over the last decade, the simple instrument policy rule developed by Taylor has become a popular tool for evaluating the monetary policy of central banks. As an extensive empirical analysis of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) past behaviour still seems to be in its infancy, we estimate several instrument policy reaction functions for the ECB to shed some light on actual monetary policy in the euro area under the presidency of Wim Duisenberg and answer questions like whether the ECB has actually followed a stabilizing or a destabilizing rule so far. Looking at contemporaneous Taylor rules, the evidence presented suggests that the ECB is accommodating changes in inflation and hence follows a destabilizing policy. However, this impression seems to be largely due to the lack of a forward-looking perspective in such specifications. Either assuming rational expectations and using a forward-looking specification, or using expectations as derived from surveys result in Taylor rules that do imply a stabilizing role of the ECB. The use of real-time industrial production data does not seem to play such a significant role as in the case of the United States.
Cross-Sectional Study of 24-Hour Urinary Electrolyte Excretion and Associated Health Outcomes in a Convenience Sample of Australian Primary Schoolchildren: The Salt and Other Nutrients in Children (SONIC) Study Protocol

Background Dietary sodium and potassium are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Data exploring the cardiovascular outcomes associated with these electrolytes within Australian children is sparse. Furthermore, an objective measure of sodium and potassium intake within this group is lacking. Objective The primary aim of the Salt and Other Nutrient Intakes in Children (“SONIC”) study was to measure sodium and potassium intakes in a sample of primary schoolchildren located in Victoria, Australia, using 24-hour urine collections. Secondary aims were to identify the dietary sources of sodium and potassium, examine the association between these electrolytes and cardiovascular risk factors, and assess children’s taste preferences and saltiness perception of manufactured foods. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenience sample of schoolchildren attending primary schools in Victoria, Australia. Participants completed one 24-hour urine collection, which was analyzed for sodium, potassium, and creatinine. Completeness of collections was assessed using collection time, total volume, and urinary creatinine. One 24-hour dietary recall was completed to assess dietary intake. Other data collected included blood pressure, body weight, height, waist and hip circumference. Children were also presented with high and low sodium variants of food products and asked to discriminate salt level and choose their preferred variant. Parents provided demographic information and information on use of discretionary salt. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe sodium and potassium intakes. Linear and logistic regression models with clustered robust standard errors will be used to assess the association between electrolyte intake and health outcomes (blood pressure and body mass index/BMI z-score and waist circumference) and to assess differences in taste preference and discrimination between high and low sodium foods, and correlations between preference, sodium intake, and covariates. Results A total of 780 children across 43 schools participated. The results from this study are expected at the end of 2015. Conclusions This study will provide the first objective measure of sodium and potassium intake in Australian schoolchildren and improve our understanding of the relationship of these electrolytes to cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, this study will provide insight into child taste preferences and explore related factors. Given the cardiovascular implications of consuming too much sodium and too little potassium, monitoring of these nutrients during childhood is an important public health initiative.
Trading Costs in Early Securities Markets: The Case of the Berlin Stock Exchange 1880-1910

Based on daily prices (amtliche Kurse) we estimate effective spreads of securities traded at the Berlin Stock Exchange in 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910. Several extensions of the Roll measure are applied. We find surprisingly tight effective spreads for the historical data, comparable with similar measures of the MDAX and DAX at the end of the 20th century.
Application of a multi‐criteria model for determining risk premium

Purpose – For publicly traded firms, calculating the cost of capital is predicated typically on information from the financial markets. Small businesses do not have the necessary market-based information. As an alternative to traditional proxy approaches, this paper presents a multi-criteria model to determine an appropriate equity risk premium, and thereby, a cost of capital. Design/methodology/approach – The study applies a multi-criteria model – an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) – to determine the cost of capital for small businesses. It is a useful tool for the complex world in which small businesses function. Arbitrary and capricious ways of allocating resources is a luxury that small businesses can ill afford. The application of the model to a small business in South Africa is shown in this study. Findings – The use of the AHP model is clearly a method to determine the equity risk premium and the cost of capital for small businesses. Research limitations/implications – The model requires small business managers to identify all information sources for the required input data. This prepares the managers in advance for their information need. Thereafter, management is required to offer subjective thoughts on qualitative oriented criteria. This is attractive particularly to small business management since AHP pairwise comparison procedure allows managers to provide relative rather than absolute preference assessment one at a time on those qualitative factors. The inconsistency checking mechanisms within the AHP model allows management to identify inconsistencies at early stages of the solution process. Originality/value – The paper offers practical help to lenders and small businesses wishing to invest in new capital projects.
New Evidence on the Export-Led Growth Nexus: A Case Study of Malaysia

This paper revisits the highly debated export-led growth hypothesis in a number of different ways using Malaysia as a case study. First, the hypothesis is tested in terms of labour and total factor productivity growth as a potential channel via which exports can affect or be affected by GDP growth. Considering the impact of imports on GDP and productivity growth serves a similar purpose. In addition, GDP is trade-adjusted to avoid the double-counting problem arising from the national income identity. Second, the relationships are examined using the relatively recent Toda and Yamamoto (1995) causality tests. These results have major implications and are necessary to reassess the effectiveness of trade policy as a strategy for economic development.
Karl Polanyi and Markets in the Ancient Near East: The Challenge of the Evidence

The essay challenges Karl Polanyi's position—that ancient Near Eastern economies knew state and temple administration but not price-making markets. It is found that the prerequisite functions of a market economy listed by Polanyi—the allocation of consumer goods, land, and labor through the supply-demand-price mechanism; risk-bearing organized as a market function; and loan markets—were all present in the ancient Near East. Although Polanyi criticized stage theories with their “predilection for continuity” he imposed his own version of continuity on history in lumping together many thousands of years under the rubric of “archaic society. ” This perspective prevented him from recognizing that ancient Mesopotamia experienced lengthy and significant periods of unfettered market activity as well as periods of pervasive state regulation.
Heterologous sensitization of adenylate cyclase is protein kinase A‐dependent in Cath.a differentiated (CAD)‐D2L cells

Persistent activation of Gαi/o‐coupled receptors results in a paradoxical enhancement of subsequent drug‐stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The exact mechanism of this up‐regulation in the cyclic AMP signaling pathway, known as heterologous sensitization, remains undefined. The present study was designed to investigate the involvement of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase in D2L receptor–mediated sensitization in a neuronal cellular environment. The current studies were conducted in the Cath.a differentiated (CAD) cell line transfected stably with the D2L dopamine receptor (CAD‐D2L). Long‐term 18 h treatment with the D2 receptor agonist, quinpirole, resulted in a two‐fold enhancement of forskolin‐stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Similarly, long‐term treatment with the PKA inhibitors, H89 or Rp‐8Br‐cAMP, also enhanced adenylate cyclase activity. In contrast, long‐term activation of protein kinase A (PKA) by forskolin, isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), or dibutyryl cyclic AMP caused a significant reduction in subsequent forskolin‐stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and reduced both quinpirole‐ and H89‐induced heterologous sensitization. The effects of PKA inhibitors and activators did not involve changes in PKA subunit expression. RT‐PCR analysis of adenylate cyclase isoform expression patterns revealed the expression of mRNA for ACVI and ACIX in CAD‐D2L cells. The ability of ACVI to be negatively regulated by PKA is consistent with the observation that inhibition of PKA results in heterologous sensitization of adenylate cyclase activity in CAD‐D2L cells.
RADIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SOME COMMON FOODS OF SOUTHERN PART OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

An appreciable portion of human exposure to natural radioactivity comes from food and drinking water. Gross alpha radioactivity has been measured in thirty one food items consumed almost every day by the people of southern part of West Bengal, India, by using the solid state nuclear track detector LR-115. The annual effective doses due to intake of alpha-emitting radionuclides through these food items have also been estimated, and the total average annual dose received by an adultthrough ingestion of these foodstuffs calculated, considering the food habit of the people of the region. The total average annual dose is below the 1 mSv y-1 limit proposed by WHO, and over half of this annual dose comes from consumption of cereals.
Influence of medial hamstring tendon harvest on knee flexor strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A detailed evaluation with comparison of single- and double-tendon harvest.

BACKGROUND The advantages of hamstring tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are well known; however, concerns have arisen regarding the influence of hamstring tendon harvest on postoperative weakness in knee flexion. PURPOSE To evaluate the influence of hamstring tendon harvest on knee flexion strength in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN Prospective randomized study. METHODS Ninety patients were randomly assigned at surgery to undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with either a semitendinosus tendon autograft or a semitendinosus and gracilis tendon autograft. Quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength was tested before surgery and at 6, 12, and 18 months after surgery. RESULTS There was no significant difference in clinical results between the groups and neither group showed a significant decrease in isokinetic hamstring muscle strength. However, when the subjects' knees were at positions of 70 degrees or more of flexion, both isokinetic and isometric measurements revealed a significant decrease in hamstring muscle strength in both groups. The strength in the group with semitendinosus and gracilis tendons was considerably less than that in the group with semitendinosus tendon alone at 18 months. CONCLUSIONS Tendon harvest causes significant weakness of hamstring muscle strength at high knee flexion angles, but such weakness can be minimized if the gracilis tendon is preserved.
Community entrepreneurship - cases and conceptualization *

As starting and managing a small business means both social and economic risk taking so is building a robust community a social as well as an economic endeavour. Such a community is a most vital context for entrepreneurship. If located in a remote area and if the environment is hostile cooperation is stimulated between firms and other community groups. Their success is especially ascribed to qualified community entrepreneurship, i.e. personal and innovative ways of building support for local autonomous entrepreneurs. An integrative approach to local economic development is illustrated by two successful, albeit contrasting, Swedish cases. The cases are reviewed with the help of a conceptual framework that particularly points out the importance of local and global networking in both community and autonomous entrepreneurship. In a mixed economy such networks must be carefully managed and encompass linkages on, beside the market, institutional and political arenas. The very role of the community entrepreneur .
Hospital workers bypass traditional occupational injury reporting systems when reporting patient and visitor perpetrated (type II) violence.

BACKGROUND Under-reporting of type II (patient/visitor-on-worker) violence by workers has been attributed to a lack of essential event details needed to inform prevention strategies. METHODS Mixed methods including surveys and focus groups were used to examine patterns of reporting type II violent events among ∼11,000 workers at six U.S. hospitals. RESULTS Of the 2,098 workers who experienced a type II violent event, 75% indicated they reported. Reporting patterns were disparate including reports to managers, co-workers, security, and patients' medical records-with only 9% reporting into occupational injury/safety reporting systems. Workers were unclear about when and where to report, and relied on their own "threshold" of when to report based on event circumstances. CONCLUSIONS Our findings contradict prior findings that workers significantly under-report violent events. Coordinated surveillance efforts across departments are needed to capture workers' reports, including the use of a designated violence reporting system that is supported by reporting policies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:853-865, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Early operation or conservative management of patients with small bowel obstruction?

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcome after initial non-operative treatment in patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO). DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING University hospital, Norway. PATIENTS One hundred and fifty-four patients with 166 episodes of SBO admitted during the period (1994-1995). Patients younger than 10 years as well as patients with large bowel obstruction, paralytic ileus, incarcerated hernia or SBO caused by cancer were excluded from the study. INTERVENTIONS Patients with signs of strangulation were operated on early. The rest were given a trial of conservative treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Need of operative treatment. Incidence of bowel strangulation, complications and death. RESULTS There were 166 cases of SBO. Twenty patients were operated on early among whom bowel was strangulated in 9. Among the 146 patients initially treated conservatively 93 (64%) settled without operation, 9 (6%) had strangulated bowel and 3 (2%) died. Of the 91 patients with partial obstruction but no sign of strangulation, 72 (79%) resolved on conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS Patients with partial obstruction with no sign of strangulation should initially be treated conservatively. When complete obstruction is present, it may settle on conservative management, but the use of supplementary diagnostic tools might be desirable to find the patients who will need early operative treatment.
A Risk Minimizing Strategy for Portfolio Immunization

Consider a fixed-income portfolio whose duration is equal to the length of a given investment horizon. It is shown that there is a lower limit on the change in the end-ofhorizon value of the portfolio resulting from any given change in the structure of interest rates. This lower limit is the product of two terms, of which one is a function of the interest rate change only, and the other depends only on the structure of the portfolio. Consequently, this second term provides a measure of immunization risk. If this measure is minimized, the exposure of the portfolio to any interest rate change is the lowest. THE TRADITIONAL THEORY OF immunization as formalized by Fisher and Weil [6] defines the conditions under which the value of an investment in a bond portfolio is protected against changes in the level of interest rates. The specific assumptions of this theory are that the portfolio is valued at a fixed horizon date, that there are no cash inflows or outflows within the horizon, and that interest rates change only by a parallel shift in the forward rates. Under these assumptions, a portfolio is said to be immunized if its value at the end of the horizon does not fall below the target value, where the target value is defined as the portfolio value at the horizon date under the scenario of no change in the forward rates. The main result of this theory is that immunization is achieved if the duration of the portfolio is equal to the length of the horizon. The assumption that interest rates can only change by a parallel shift (that is, by the same amount for all maturities) has been the subject of considerable concern. Bierwag [1, 2], Bierwag and Kaufman [3], Khang [7], and others have postulated alternative models of interest rate behaviors. Each of these specifications implies a different measure of duration, with immunization attained if this duration measure is equal to the horizon length. A limitation of this approach is that the portfolio is protected only against the particular type of interest rate change assumed. In a more recent development, Cox et al. [5], Brennan and Schwartz [4], and others have investigated immunization conditions when interest rates are governed by a continuous process consistent with a market equilibrium. Depending on the specilfication of the interest rate process, there is a duration-like measure (possibly multidimensional, as in Brennan and Schwartz) such that the portfolio is immunized if a proper value of this measure is maintained. This assumes a continuous rebalancing of the portfolio. Again, immunization is achieved only if interest rate changes conform to the specific process assumed. In this paper, we wish to pursue a different approach. If it turned out that the