Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Discourses of the Prisoners' Dilemma: The Role of the Local Press in Environmental Policy

This article explores the role that the local press plays in relation to environmental policy at the local authority level. It seeks to examine the inter-connections between the policy agenda established in local newspapers and the factors influencing collective action on environmental problems at the local scale. Theoretically it follows the call of Udehn [1996] to supplement the insights of an institutional rational choice approach with a sensitivity to the importance of discourse and particularly the media. The research shows how the incentives structures, which shape both the nature of the environmental policy problems and the range of potential solutions to these problems, may be influenced by the character of discussion in the local press.
A Study of Short Term Mean Reversion in Equities

Mean reversion in equities has been consistently documented as a source of positive alternative investment returns over the last nine decades. Mean reversion investing attempts to capitalize on the tendency for an asset’s price to move from extreme levels towards long term averages and it can be conducted on an absolute or relative basis. In an absolute mean reversion model a stock’s attractiveness is determined solely by the relationship of its current price to its long term average. The downside to this is that the model will persistently flag stocks as undervalued in a declining market and overvalued in a rising market. Alternatively, in a relative mean reversion model a stock’s attractiveness is judged relative to the movements of other stocks. The benefit of using a relative measure of mean reversion is that the underlying drift of the equity market is removed allowing each stock’s attractiveness to be determined from the merits of its idiosyncratic movements relative to the group. In a rising market, a relative mean reversion portfolio will concentrate its long positions in stocks that have appreciated in price the least, while focusing its short positions in stocks that have appreciated in price the most. Conversely, in a falling market the portfolio will concentrate its long positions in stocks that have depreciated in value the most, while focusing its short positions in stocks that have depreciated the least. In this way, the model is indifferent to the absolute return of any of its holdings because it derives return from the relative movement of its long and short positions.
Optimal Intramuscular Needle-Penetration Depth

OBJECTIVE. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has needle-length recommendations for intramuscular vaccinations in the thigh and shoulder on the basis of the age of the child. Underpenetration of the intramuscular layer with short needles has been documented; however, few studies have focused on the risk for overpenetration of the intramuscular level with needles that are too long. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal needle length for intramuscular vaccination of children of various ages and sizes at the shoulder and thigh levels by using MRI and computed tomography scan measurements. METHODS. A total of 250 MRI and computed tomography scans of shoulders and thighs of children who were 2 months to 18 years of age at a large children's hospital were reviewed. The thicknesses of the subcutaneous fat tissue and muscle layers were measured. Measurements were correlated with age and weight, and regression analysis was performed. RESULTS. Use of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended 1- and 1 ¼-in needles for intramuscular vaccination in the thigh of children ≥1 year of age would result in 11% (11 of 100) and 39% (34 of 88) overpenetration, respectively, with a minimal risk for underpenetration at 2% (2 of 100). Patients with vaccinations in the shoulder with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–recommended \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \({5}/{8}\) \end{document}-, \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \({7}/{8}\) \end{document}-, and 1-in needles would experience 11% (16 of 150), 55% (83 of 150), and 61% (92 of 150) overpenetration, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. There is a substantial risk for overpenetration of the intramuscular layer when using current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for vaccination needle lengths. We recommend a revision of the needle-length guidelines for thigh and shoulder injections to minimize the risk for needle overpenetration on the basis of the variability observed in the fat thickness.
Efficiency and productivity of Greek banks in the EMU era

We provide a characterization of the Greek banking system's efficiency and productivity under the new environment that the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) participation implies. We consider cost and profit efficiency as well as productivity change of commercial banks using the nonparametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) Malmquist Index. The period under study is 1998–2003 covering Greece's entry into the euro area in 2001 and the run-up to it. Moreover, enhanced competition along with lower inflation and interest rates has further motivated financial innovation and Off-Balance Sheet (OBS) business. Our findings suggest that cost efficiency has risen by 4.3% over the 6 years under study. Moreover, Greek banks seem to enjoy relatively high profit efficiency (on average 75%) showing an increase by 93% over 1998–2003. Similarly, productivity seems to have risen by 15% and this was mainly driven by the improvements in the performance of best-practice institutions. Our results do not show any role for OBS activities in Greek banks’ efficiency. Finally, while the impact of profitability and size on efficiency and productivity yields mixed results, our empirical findings seem to corroborate previous studies in that controlling for risk preferences is important in determining bank efficiency.
Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the mental adjustment to cancer (MAC) scale

This paper describes a study of the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the mental adjustment to cancer (MAC) scale developed in England. The scale was completed by 455 Japanese cancer patients. The internal consistency was similar to that of the original version (Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the subscales ranged from 0.60 to 0.78) and the Japanese version had moderate to moderately high stability (correlation coefficients were above 0.64). Correlations between the MAC scale score and emotional states measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) indicated the concurrent validity. The results suggest that the Japanese version, like the original MAC scale, is a reliable and valid clinical research tool in Japan. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of sex differences in zebrafish (Danio rerio) brains during early sexual differentiation and masculinization using 17α-methyltestoterone†

Abstract Sexual behavior in teleost fish is highly plastic. It can be attributed to the relatively few sex differences found in adult brain transcriptomes. Environmental and hormonal factors can influence sex-specific behavior. Androgen treatment stimulates behavioral masculinization. Sex dimorphic gene expression in developing teleost brains and the molecular basis for androgen-induced behavioral masculinization are poorly understood. In this study, juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) were treated with 100 ng/L of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone (MT) during sexual development from 20 days post fertilization to 40 days and 60 days post fertilization. We compared brain gene expression patterns in MT-treated zebrafish with control males and females using RNA-Seq to shed light on the dynamic changes in brain gene expression during sexual development and how androgens affect brain gene expression leading to behavior masculinization. We found modest differences in gene expression between juvenile male and female zebrafish brains. Brain aromatase (cyp19a1b), prostaglandin 3a synthase (ptges3a), and prostaglandin reductase 1 (ptgr1) were among the genes with sexually dimorphic expression patterns. MT treatment significantly altered gene expression relative to both male and female brains. Fewer differences were found among MT-treated brains and male brains compared to female brains, particularly at 60 dpf. MT treatment upregulated the expression of hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 2 (hsd11b2), deiodinase, iodothyronine, type II (dio2), and gonadotrophin releasing hormones (GnRH) 2 and 3 (gnrh2 and gnrh3) suggesting local synthesis of 11-ketotestosterone, triiodothyronine, and GnRHs in zebrafish brains which are influenced by androgens. Androgen, estrogen, prostaglandin, thyroid hormone, and GnRH signaling pathways likely interact to modulate teleost sexual behavior. Summary Sentence 17α-Methyltestosterone treatment significantly alters gene expression in juvenile male and female zebrafish brains during sexual development.
Government expenditure and economic growth in Zimbabwe: an ARDL-bounds testing approach

In this study, we examine the causal relationship between government expenditure and economic growth - using the recently developed ARDL-bounds testing approach. The causal relationship between government expenditure and economic growth has been a subject of extensive debate in recent years. Currently, there exist three views regarding the relationship between government expenditure and economic growth. The first view maintains that it is government expenditure that drives economic growth. The second view argues that it is economic growth that spurs government expenditure. The third view maintains that both government expenditure and economic growth promote one another. The results of our study show that there is a unidirectional causal flow from economic growth to government expenditure. This applies both in the short run and in the long run. The causal flow from government expenditure to economic growth, however, could only be detected in the short run.
A theory of leadership for quality: Lessons from TQM for leadership theory1

Abstract Despite their implications for the management of quality in organizations, leadership theories have not explicitly focused on quality and on the role of leaders as managers of quality. Building on recent attempts in the leadership and total quality management literatures, this article develops a theory of leadership for quality, focusing on leader traits, values, and behaviours based on underlying TQM principles. Contributions of the TQM literature to the leadership literature are identified and discussed. A set of leader traits, values, and behaviours are extracted from the TQM philosophy and integrated into an articulation of a theory of leadership based on these constructs. The core principles of TQM are addressed and a number of propositions are developed, identifying both generic and specific leader behaviours in the domains of customer focus, teamwork and participation, and continuous improvement. The theory developed here makes incremental contributions by examining these hitherto unexamined behaviours in the leadership literature. The framework adds value to the literature by embedding key leadership constructs in organizational processes. Contributions to the TQM and leadership literature, limitations of the approach, and implications for research and practice are discussed.
Discrepancy Between Antihypertensive Effect and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibition by Captopril

SUMMARY Captopril, an inhibitor of angiotensin conTerting enzyme, was administered twice daily to 13 hypertensive patients for a mean period of 9 weeks. Continuous blood pressure control in the ambulatory patients was established with a portable Mood pressure recorder. Notwithstanding, in eight patients with normal renal function, plasma converting enzyme was found to resume normal activity before administration of the morning dose of captopril. Only in 5 patients with impaired renal function did some blockade of plasma converting enzyme persist for more than 12 hours. Measured plasma converting enzyme activity seemed to reflect total conversion of angiotensin I, including conversion in the pulmonary vascular bed, since changes in its activity were closely paralleled by changes in plasma aldosterone levels. Bradyklnin accumulation seems unlikely when converting enzyme and thus, presumably, klninase II has resumed normal activity. Captopril administration does not seem to alter plasma epinephrine or norepinephrine levels. Blood pressure reduction in the face of normal angiotensin converting enzyme activity is probably due to hyporesponsiveness of the arterioies to pressor hormones, which may be due to specific renin-rdated and/or nonspecific effects of captopril.
The Statistics of Cycling

We present an analysis of data from a small number of bicycle counters, located on cycle routes in the United Kingdom. We first apply methods of cluster analysis to the cleaned data. We then attempt to link the results of this clustering to explanatory variables, with our main focus on multinomial logit models, and we note some of the problems one faces with small datasets.
Designing to Govern: Space and Power in Two Wuhan Communities

In particular, two strategic trends reflect this impact: 1. increased government intervention in urban planning and residential design; and 2. the national programme to revamp grassroots governance through 'community building' (shequ jianshe). Concerned with the problem of how to govern an increasingly complex urban environment, China's city authorities have realized that attention to spatial order is a vital component of community governance. Acknowledging the extent to which space and power are mutually constitutive, I explore how new urban residential spaces facilitate particular forms of local community governance. Based on socio-spatial fieldwork undertaken in two residential compounds in Wuhan, this article demonstrates the close inter-connection between urban design and the operation of local power.
Age‐related changes in cortical porosity of the midshaft of the human femur

Complete cross‐sections from the femoral midshaft of 180 individuals of known height and weight, aged 21–97 y, from a modern Australian population were examined using automatic video image analysis to quantify total subperiosteal porosity (TSPP). More specifically, the aim was to investigate whether age changes were similar in both sexes in (1) total subperiosteal area (TSPA), cortical area (CA) and medullary area (MA), (2) intracortical porosity (ICP), and (3) the respective contributions to TSPP made by MA and intracortical void area (ICVA). Our findings indicated that both sexes showed a significantly greater height normalised TSPA in the 70s as compared with the 20s. Males had consistently larger bones with a greater height normalised CA. In both sexes CA showed a tendency to increase till the 7th decade and then to decline, more so in females. MA approximately trebled in females and doubled in males over the age range studied. Although ICP also increased, from 4–6% in young adults to over 9% in the elderly, it showed a significant difference between the sexes only in the 3rd decade, being greater in males at this stage. By contrast, TSPP became significantly greater in females (from that recorded in the 3rd decade) by the time they reached the 50s, while in males this did not occur till the 80s. It increased from ∼25% in young adults of both sexes to ∼50% in females and ∼37% in males in their 80s. However, in the elderly there was great variability in both sexes in the appearance of bones from individuals of similar chronological age. Some bones differed little from those in younger subjects, others showed greatly increased ICP, still others displayed reduced cortical widths with low ICP. The femoral midshaft resembles other skeletal sites in that age changes in TSPP are more marked in females than males.
The United States Marriage Market

The empirical implementation of theoretical contributions in the social sciences usually rests on variables defined and measured by persons other than the theorist. Such is the case with the theory of marriage. For the United States, the only relevant demographic quantity measured with accuracy is two-person, male-female legal marriage. Thus, my decision to study legal marriage was imposed by the Bureau of the Census and the inherent difficulties of measuring other forms of communal living. This does not seem to be restrictive for the United States, where consensual marriage is often a prelude to legal marriage, but it may be important in countries such as those in Latin America, where legal and other social institutions (i.e., divorce laws) differ.1 That a model of marriage based on rational choice has substantial explanatory power is demonstrated in this study. Three factors-the ratio of the sexes, the potential returns to marriage, and the cost of divorceexplain many of the areal differences in marital behavior in the United States. It is also evident that the marriage market has important indirect effects on the reproduction rate.
Deep Residual Learning and PDEs on Manifold

In this paper, we formulate the deep residual network (ResNet) as a control problem of transport equation. In ResNet, the transport equation is solved along the characteristics. Based on this observation, deep neural network is closely related to the control problem of PDEs on manifold. We propose several models based on transport equation and Hamilton-Jacobi equation. The discretization of these PDEs on point cloud is also discussed.
Strategy, Structure and Performance of Korean Business Groups: A Transactions Cost Approach

The authors use the transactions cost approach to analyze the diversification strategy and the resulting structure chosen by Korean business groups to overcome market imperfections prevalent in developing countries. Business groups that have multidivisional struc ture are thought to show superior economic performance because such s tructure reduces transactions costs arising from organizational failure. Also, major Korean business groups have a "relational structure," showing both vertical integration and the characteristics of the conglomerate. The authors modify the model of R. E. Caves and M. Uekusa (1976), used for Japan, to obtain the empirical result tha t group-affiliated firms show superior economic performance. Copyright 1988 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Phosphorylation of the MADS-Box Transcription Factor MEF2C Enhances Its DNA Binding Activity*

Members of the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors activate muscle gene expression by binding an A/T-rich DNA sequence in the control regions of muscle-specific genes. There are four MEF2 factors in vertebrates, MEF2A-D, which share homology in an amino-terminal MADS domain and an adjacent region known as the MEF2 domain, that together mediate DNA binding and dimerization. We show that serine 59 located between the MADS and MEF2 domains of MEF2C is phosphorylated in vivo and can be phosphorylated in vitro by casein kinase-II (CKII). Phosphorylation of this site enhanced the DNA binding and transcriptional activity of MEF2C by increasing its DNA binding activity 5-fold. In vivo 32P labeling experiments showed that serine 59 is the only phosphorylation site in the MADS and MEF2 domains. Mutagenesis of this serine to an aspartic acid resulted in an increase in DNA binding and transcriptional activity of MEF2C comparable to that observed when this site was phosphorylated, suggesting that phosphorylation augments DNA binding activity by introducing negative charge. This phosphorylation site, which corresponds to a CKII recognition site, is conserved in all known MEF2 factors in organisms ranging from flies to humans, consistent with its importance for the functions of MEF2C.
Education and Civil Conflict in Nepal

Between 1996 and 2006, Nepal experienced violent civil conflict as a consequence of a Maoist insurgency, which many argue also brought about an increase in female empowerment. This paper exploits variations in exposure to conflict by birth cohort, survey date, and district to estimate the impact of the insurgency on education outcomes. Overall conflict intensity, measured by conflict casualties, is associated with an increase in female educational attainment, whereas abductions by Maoists, which often targeted school children, have the reverse effect. Male schooling tended to increase more rapidly in areas where the fighting was more intense, but the estimates are smaller in magnitude and more sensitive to specification than estimates for females. Similar results are obtained across different specifications, and robustness checks indicate that these findings are not due to selective migration.
Antecedents and Outcomes of Diversity and Equality Management Systems: An Integrated Institutional Agency and Strategic Human Resource Management Approach

This study examines the development and impact of diversity and equality management systems (DEMS). A national sample of human resource managers from 155 Canadian firms responded to surveys about their firm's diversity and equality management (DEM) practices. Cluster analysis and latent class modeling identified three distinct approaches to DEM: classical disparity DEMS showing limited development of DEM-related practices, institutional DEMS involving complex selection mechanisms and monitoring of employment statistics, and configurational DEMS linking diversity to business strategy. Hypothesis-testing analyses indicated that both institutional and configurational DEMS were predicted by coverage by the Canadian employment equity program, federal contractor status, and the presence of a diversity expert on staff. Only configurational DEMS was predicted by inclusion of HRM in developing business strategy. Configurational DEMS positively predicted the employment of workers with disabilities and members of visible minority groups as well as ROA. These findings support the proposition based on strategic human resource management (SHRM) theory that DEM practices should be considered as bundles and that vertical linkage to strategy is important for DEM effectiveness. As such, SHRM theory explains how managers can structure strategic responses to institutional pressures that go beyond requirements to achieve strategic goals.
Investor Sentiment and Volatility of Stock Index --An Empirical Analysis from the Perspective of Behavioral Finance

In this paper, some proxy indicators are selected to represent market sentiment. Then a principal component analysis is applied to those indicators to construct a market sentiment index. The result shows that this index has a strong correlation with shanghai composite index which stands for the trend of stock market. The market index is helpful to estimate the future trend of stock market.
MRI of liver metastases: Limitation of spleen‐liver model in optimizing pulse sequences

The spleen‐liver model, as a predictor for contrast‐to‐noise ratio (C/N) in liver metastases, was verified for seven sequences in 22 patients with 70 colorectal metastases. Optimization of conventional spin‐echo, T1‐magnetization‐prepared gradient‐echo and fat frequency‐selective presaturation inversion‐recovery fast spin echo can be done using the spleen‐liver model. C/N of liver‐spleen and liver‐metastases, however, differed significantly on our T1 gradient‐echo and T2‐weighted fast spin‐echo images, with and without fat‐selective saturation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;9:369–372. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.