Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Trust in Privatization

This article is based on a qualitative study of the privatization process of an electricity utility in a less developed country—the Gambia. The electricity utility in the Gambia went through three forms of privatization between 1965 and 1999. Each form was characterized by a different governance structure. This article explores the organizational dynamics under the three governance structures using trust as an analytical construct. The authors argue that the dynamics of trust in each governance structure shaped the organizational culture and performance. The findings suggest that organizational factors such as trust generation may be as crucial as economic factors in ensuring the success of deregulation and privatization in less developed countries (LDCs).
Hip osteoarthritis: influence of work with heavy lifting, climbing stairs or ladders, or combining kneeling/squatting with heavy lifting

The aim of the study was to evaluate the evidence for an association between hip osteoarthritis (OA) and physical work demands. Systematic searches were made and epidemiological studies on hip OA and heavy lifting, including farming and construction work and climbing stairs, were reviewed for the period 1966–2007 inclusive. The quality of the studies was assessed and best-evidence syntheses of a causal relation between hip OA and physical demanding work have been made using specific criteria of the different degrees of evidence of causality. Limitations of the studies include few participants, use of different diagnostic criteria, and a poor description of the exposure. It is concluded that moderate to strong evidence was found for a relation between heavy lifting and hip OA. The burdens have to be at least 10–20 kg and the duration at least 10–20 years to give a clearly increased risk of hip OA. For farmers the risk of hip OA seems doubled after approximately 10 years of farming and the evidence is considered as moderate to strong. The evidence for a relation between hip OA for construction workers is limited and there is insufficient or no evidence that climbing stairs or ladders causes hip OA.
Governance Characteristics and the Market Reaction to the SEC's Proxy Access Rule

We examine the wealth effects of the SEC’s recent proxy access rule to facilitate director nominations by shareholders. We focus on how a firm’s governance characteristics affect the market reaction to the rule. We find more negative announcement effects for firms with high probabilities of being targeted by shareholders. The announcement effects of the proxy access rule are positively related to the fraction of independent directors and the ratio of non-cash-based compensation, while announcement effects are inversely correlated with board size. Our findings suggest that the marginal shareholder does not perceive the proposed rule as value increasing.
The Effects of Seoul's New-Town Development on Suburbanization and Mobility: A Counterfactual Approach

The author explores the effects of Seoul's new-town development on suburbanization and mobility by evaluating a counterfactual situation involving variable urban spatial structures and citizen mobility in situations with and without the presence of new towns. Two different scenarios are tested: a scenario with new towns (baseline); and one with no new towns (no-new-town scenario). Both scenarios are tested by constructing two types of random-utility-based location-choice models which focus on employment and shopping locations. Findings reveal substantial suburbanization driven by the development of the new suburban towns, as well as both positive and negative consequences of new-town development. Seoul's new town development has positively contributed to decreases in travel time due to the relief of congestion in the central city. This congestion relief results in major transportation cost savings of US$0.6 billion per year. The positive effects of new-town development, however, are off set by the negative consequences of suburbanization of the new towns. Negative consequences of suburbanization include longer times of travel for commuting and shopping trips, and increased emission levels.
Age-Dependent Changes in the Incidence and Etiology of Childhood Thrombocytosis

To determine the incidence and etiology of childhood thrombocytosis, over 15,000 platelet counts in 7,539 patients performed at a single regional hospital were reviewed. When thrombocytosis was defined as ≧500 × 109/l of platelet counts, the condition could be diagnosed in 6.0% (456 cases) of the patients. All patients were classified as having secondary thrombocytosis. The incidence of thrombocytosis dramatically changed throughout child development; it was 12.5% in neonates, peaked to 35.8% in 1-month-old infants and then returned to 12.9% in 6- to 11-month-old infants. Thereafter, it gradually decreased with age to only 0.6% in 11- to 15-year-old children. Frequent causes of thrombocytosis included infection (67.5%), Kawasaki disease (9.4%), prematurity (7.7%) and iron deficiency anemia (6.4%). Thrombocytosis was an incidental finding in a substantial population of early infants. Thrombocytosis as a reaction to several types of infection and Kawasaki disease was more common in children under 7 years old, while autoimmune disease and tissue damage were major causes in children aged 11–15 years. No child had thromboembolic complications. These findings indicate that childhood thrombocytosis is a benign condition and its incidence and etiology seem to depend on age.
Why do migrant workers not participate in urban social security schemes?: the case of the construction and service sectors in Tianjin

Previous research on social welfare participation has uncovered a number of reasons for unwillingness to participate. However, these studies have not examined whether prospective participants are really aware of, or understand, the schemes. The assumption behind existing research, therefore, is that individuals have made informed decisions on whether to participate. This chapter argues that in the context of rural to urban migrants in China information is not always available for informed decision making. I use in-depth interviews with 70 rural to urban migrants in the construction and service sectors in Tianjin to demonstrate that migrant workers are not always aware of the existence of social insurance schemes and even if they are aware of their existence, they may not necessarily understand the schemes. The chapter considers the implication of such research findings for future policy analyses.
Germination and persistence of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis in soil microcosms

Decontaminating large, outdoor spaces of Bacillus anthracis spores presents significant problems, particularly in soil. Proof was sought that the addition of germinant chemicals could cause spores of B. anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis, a commonly used simulant of the threat agent, to convert to the less resistant vegetative form in a microcosm.
Small for gestational age birth outcomes in pregnant women with perinatally acquired HIV

Objective:To compare small for gestational age (SGA) birth weight in children born to women with perinatally acquired HIV (PAH) vs. those with behaviorally acquired HIV (BAH). Design:Retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected pregnant women who received care and delivered a live born at a single hospital in New York City from January 2004 to April 2011. Methods:We collected data via chart review on demographics, behavioral risk factors, HIV clinical markers, antiretroviral therapy (ART), mode of HIV acquisition, and pregnancy outcomes on study participants. We compared rates of these exposures among participants by method of HIV acquisition. Generalized Estimating Equation was applied to evaluate the effect of HIV acquisition type on SGA birth weight, adjusting for potential confounders. Results:Of 87 live births evaluated, 17 were born to 14 women with PAH. Overall, 20 (23%) were SGA. Eight of these SGA neonates were born preterm. Live births to women with PAH were more likely to be born SGA in our unadjusted analysis [odds ratio (OR) = 4.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.38–12.41). After adjusting for mother's age, substance use during pregnancy, nadir CD4 cell count during pregnancy, viral suppression at delivery, and second-line ART use during pregnancy, this relationship persisted with an adjusted OR of 5.7 (95% CI = 1.03–31.61). Conclusion:In comparison to infants born to women with BAH, infants born to women with PAH were at high risk for compromised intrauterine growth. Future studies are warranted to determine possible causal mechanisms.
Strategic Choice in the Irish Housing System: Taming Complexity

This article examines the strategy choices of various agents in the housing system in the Republic of Ireland with a view to understanding the range of choices and the environmental factors that drive strategy and outcomes in the housing domain. Using a complex adaptive systems (CAS) framework, the strategic decisions in 50 different organizations are analysed to identify types of agents, strategies employed and decision factors. In addition, the system outcomes that both affect and are affected by agent behaviour are identified. The careful elaboration of each of these components of the housing system provides insight into the dynamics of a “whole” system of housing that spans public, private and non‐profit providers as well as those organizations involved in influencing housing policy. As such, the article applies a new analytical framework to the phenomenon of policy networks in housing.
Starting the first family

In Finland and Spain, marriage rates are equally low, yet cohabitation is rare in Spain and common in Finland. The fertility rate has fallen sharply in Spain, whereas in Finland it is relatively high. Spaniards delay childbearing later than Finns. These characteristics of family formation are not attributed to modern contraceptives, cohabitation or to the female employment rate. Neither women's labour market position nor family policy is the key explanatory factor for the differences in patterns of first family formation and fertility. However, the employment and financial insecurity of young people seem to be an influential factor having negative effects on the first family formation in Finland and Spain.
Tobin's q-Ratio and Market Reaction to Capital Investment Announcements

There is a significant positive relation between Tobin's q-ratio and the magnitude of stock market reaction to capital investment announcements. The findings have the following implications for capital investment theory: (i) the results provide evidence substantiating the link between the q-ratio and real investment for industrial firms. For public utilities however, no such link exists. (ii) The study finds that average q and marginal q are correlated but the relation is somewhat more complicated than simple quality as assumed by numerous empirical studies. (iii) The findings suggest that investors can use average Tobin's q-ratio to identify companies with profitable real capital investment opportunities. Copyright 1997 by MIT Press.
Expression of coxsackie and adenovirus receptor reduces the lung metastatic potential of murine tumor cells

The coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is involved in the epithelial cell tight junction, the downregulated expression of which is observed in different cancer types. In the present study, we examined CAR's role in tumor metastasis using a B16 melanoma and CT26 colon adenocarcinoma model of experimental metastasis. In lung metastasis, the colony number of B16 cells stably expressing CAR (B16CAR) was significantly lower than that of the control CAR‐negative B16 cells. B16 and CT26 cells transiently expressing CAR, which were transduced with adenovirus (Ad) vector expressing CAR, also reduced lung metastasis, suggesting that CAR plays a role in the early stage of metastasis. CAR expression significantly decreased the accumulation of B16 cells in the lung after i.v. injection and the migration in vitro. CAR expression reduced expression of αv, α4, β3 and β1 integrin, which play important roles in attachment to cells or basement membrane. Thus, CAR expression likely acts as a metastatic suppressor. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changing the Size of a Futures Contract: Liquidity and Microstructure Effects

We analyze the relation between contract size and liquidity using data from the respecification of Sydney Future Exchange's (SFE) Share Price Index (SPI) and 90-day Bank Accepted Bill (BAB) futures contracts. Respecification of SPI and BAB contracts presents a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of a change in futures contract size. SFE decreased the size of SPI futures by a factor of four while increasing its minimum tick. The BAB contract was doubled in size with the minimum tick size left unchanged. We find, after controlling for market factors, that the respecification of the SPI futures resulted in higher trading volume, while that of BAB futures decreased trading volume. The results regarding spreads are ambiguous. Based on two cases investigated, we conclude that decreasing the futures contract size was effective in terms of enhancing liquidity while increasing the size resulted in a reduction in liquidity. Copyright 1999 by MIT Press.
Diverse Actions and Target-Site Selectivity of Neonicotinoids: Structural Insights

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are targets for human and veterinary medicines as well as insecticides. Subtype-selectivity among the diverse nAChR family members is important for medicines targeting particular disorders, and pest-insect selectivity is essential for the development of safer, environmentally acceptable insecticides. Neonicotinoid insecticides selectively targeting insect nAChRs have important applications in crop protection and animal health. Members of this class exhibit strikingly diverse actions on their nAChR targets. Here we review the chemistry and diverse actions of neonicotinoids on insect and mammalian nAChRs. Electrophysiological studies on native nAChRs and on wild-type and mutagenized recombinant nAChRs have shown that basic residues particular to loop D of insect nAChRs are likely to interact electrostatically with the nitro group of neonicotinoids. In 2008, the crystal structures were published showing neonicotinoids docking into the acetylcholine binding site of molluscan acetylcholine binding proteins with homology to the ligand binding domain (LBD) of nAChRs. The crystal structures showed that 1) glutamine in loop D, corresponding to the basic residues of insect nAChRs, hydrogen bonds with the NO2 group of imidacloprid and 2) neonicotinoid-unique stacking and CH-π bonds at the LBD. A neonicotinoid-resistant strain obtained by laboratory-screening has been found to result from target site mutations, and possible reasons for this are also suggested by the crystal structures. The prospects of designing neonicotinoids that are safe not only for mammals but also for beneficial insects such as honey bees (Apis mellifera) are discussed in terms of interactions with non-α nAChR subunits.
The Socio-Demographic and Psychological Predictors of Residential Energy Consumption: A Comprehensive Review

This article provides a comprehensive review of theory and research on the individual-level predictors of household energy usage. Drawing on literature from across the social sciences, we examine two broad categories of variables that have been identified as potentially important for explaining variability in energy consumption and conservation: socio-demographic factors (e.g., income, employment status, dwelling type/size, home ownership, household size, stage of family life cycle) and psychological factors (e.g., beliefs and attitudes, motives and intentions, perceived behavioral control, cost-benefit appraisals, personal and social norms). Despite an expanding literature, we find that empirical evidence of the impact of these variables has been far from consistent and conclusive to date. Such inconsistency poses challenges for drawing generalizable conclusions, and underscores the complexity of consumer behavior in this domain. In this article, we propose that a multitude of factors—whether directly, indirectly, or in interaction—influence how householders consume and conserve energy. Theory, research and practice can be greatly advanced by understanding what these factors are, and how, when, where, why and for whom they operate. We conclude by outlining some important practical implications for policymakers and directions for future research.
What's in a name? The effect of a brand name on consumers' evaluation of fresh milk

It is commonly accepted that packaged fresh milk available from reputable retail outlets taste the same and that when consumers choose between relatively similar products, such as milk, the purchasing decision tends to become simplified by considering product images and relying on brand names with clear and positive associations. One may thus ask whether the brand name of milk can influence consumers' evaluation of the actual sensory taste delivery. A quasi-experimental milk tasting was conducted to investigate this question. The procedure involved 312 participants who assessed milk from various milk brands that were decanted from either branded or unbranded packaging. The findings confirmed that the subjective associations bestowed on a brand name do indeed influence the way in which consumers experience the taste delivery of a milk product. This poses a challenge to milk brand manufacturers to identify alternative ways in which they could differentiate milk product offerings from competitor brands in order to retain or establish positive brand associations and ultimately ensure consumer loyalty.
Permeability of Nitrobacter agilis to Organic Compounds

Ida, S. (Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.), and M. Alexander. Permeability of Nitrobacter agilis to organic compounds. J. Bacteriol. 90:151–156. 1965. —None of a variety of inorganic ions or organic compounds served as a sole energy source for the growth of Nitrobacter agilis, and the test substrates were not oxidized by either intact cells or extracts of the obligate chemoautotroph. The organic substances did not serve as sole carbon sources for the bacterium in a synthetic medium, and they failed to enhance the rate of nitrite oxidation. The organism was permeable to acetate and a number of other simple carbon compounds, however, and exogenously supplied acetate was converted to a number of products. On the basis of these findings, possible reasons are examined for the inability of the chemoautotroph to use exogenous organic compounds as energy or carbon sources.
Vaginal yeast colonization and promiscuity. A study of 197 prostitutes

Summary. In order to study the role of promiscuity in yeast colonization of the vagina we examined vaginal smears of 197 prostitutes. Forty‐two (21%) showed yeast infection on culture, and Candida albicans was isolated in 93% of these cases. This rate is comparable to the rates in reports of large series of non‐promiscuous women in the literature and does not suggest that promiscuity alone is a predisposing factor for vaginal yeast carriage. The rate of Candida infections was approximately the same in prostitutes taking oral contraceptives as in those not taking the pill (22 and 21%, respectively; P<0.05). The prevalence of vaginal yeast colonization, however, was significantly higher in prostitutes under the age of 31 (30%) as compared with those over 30 (10%; P<0.002), thus suggesting that women in the third decade of life are more prone to vaginal Candida infections than older age groups.
Measuring the Performance of Acquisitions: An Empirical Investigation Using Multiple Criteria

The performance of corporate acquisitions is a popular research topic. Researchers have employed various criteria in their attempt to evaluate acquisition performance. This paper replicates and extends a previous study by investigating the comparability of the three most widely used measures of acquisition performance, namely accounting-based measures, cumulative abnormal returns and managers' subjective assessments, in a non-Anglo Saxon setting. Empirical testing is based on a sample of 50 domestic acquisitions carried out by Greek firms. Overall, results from the three measures indicate failure rates from 50% to 60%. However, the most impressive finding stems from the comparison (correlation analysis) of the alternative measures. Accounting-based measures are positively correlated to managers' subjective assessments. Contrarily, cumulative abnormal returns are not correlated to either accounting-based measures or managers' subjective assessments. This lack of statistically significant relationships between the performance criteria may provide a plausible basis for explaining some of the contradictory results often reported in the mergers and acquisitions literature. In light of these findings, we discuss their implications for both theory and practice and suggest ideas for future research.
In vivo characterization of colonic thermal injury caused by argon plasma coagulation.

BACKGROUND Argon plasma coagulation has been rapidly accepted for endoscopic obliteration of vascular lesions and superficial tumors. Depth of injury is thought to be limited through preferential discharge of energy to nondesiccated tissue. However, argon plasma coagulation-induced injury has not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to characterize argon plasma coagulation-induced colonic injury by using a porcine model. METHODS Laparotomy was performed in 6 female swine and the colon exteriorized with the subjects under general anesthesia. Lesions were made with an argon plasma coagulation probe held perpendicular and 2 mm from the mucosa. Variables studied were as follows: power (45 W, 60 W, and 75 W) and duration (1, 2, or 3 seconds; n = 11 for each power/duration combination). Injury was graded as either superficial or deep, involving the muscularis propria. RESULTS Circular muscle layer injury correlated closely with power (p = 0.02), duration (p = 0.001), and total energy delivered (r = 0.977). Longitudinal muscle damage was associated with duration of burn (p = 0.001) and total energy delivered (r = 0.855), but correlated poorly with power (p = 0.40). No perforations occurred. Submucosal injection of saline solution had a protective effect with reductions in circular (90% to 10%, p = 0.002) and longitudinal muscle injury (50% to 0%, p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS Injury to the muscularis propria occurs at recommended settings for argon plasma coagulation. Injury correlates with power setting, duration of burn, and total energy delivery. Protective arcing to nondesiccated tissue does not appear to be significant in vivo. Submucosal injection of saline solution protects against deep injury.